She had never felt so frozen as she did here: here, at the designated battle arena for war; here, in a darkness of blinding ice and snow that cursed her human body for resisting the temptation of dropping almost entirely in temperature. But above all this, Leia Organa was lonely.

She had escaped the clutches of her less-than-companion, Captain Han Solo.

Or, as she preferred to title him, the stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder.

Exactly why she had turned away from those who had explained to her that if she didn't get to a transport she would be dead, the woman could not comprehend. She knew Darth Vader had landed on the planet Hoth, and somehow this was a comforting thought to her. Something about his contrary semblance, about his mercilessness and sharp attitude was so intriguing to her. And Leia was more than certain that - if she were, right then, to approach and even appear to him - he would hold her hostage once again.

The idea sounded sweetly perfect to her.

As the ex-Princess trudged through the collapsing Rebel Base, her imaginings brought motivation to her in the midst of the harsh surroundings. Prospects of being trapped again, free to hold thoughts and plans that were not for the Alliance to hear at a meeting later… All this Leia dreamed with pleasure. But Vader himself was at the forefront of her musings.

He had answers. And she craved them.

Some stormtroopers were blasting away in the near distance, and Leia prayed that they wouldn't charge at her on account of Vader's orders. A wall came crumbling down to her left, surprising Leia so that she made an exclamation.

In moments, Vader's vilifying voice sounded: "I have sensed your presence since I landed."

He hadn't bothered to utter her name, and yet Leia took his greeting to be polite enough. She stepped forth from the wall that had separated her and the Sith Lord, then pursed her lips before announcing, "Then we are both in agreement of a much-needed discussion.

"Much about you has changed," observed Vader, noticing primarily the age in her face but sensing a maturity beyond which he had thought her to be capable. "The Rebels have been tested, and most of them failed. I see you are still standing, unscathed."

"Not quite so," answered the younger, "but never mind that. You owe me information, Vader. I wish to leave on your transport."

Not the least bit stunned, Vader pressed her, "What would you like to know? History has passed my eyes long enough."

His conversational tone disconcerted Leia, whereupon she suggested, "We should be leaving. This base your lot has destroyed won't hold us for much longer."

"Very well. Commander, take her inside." Two stormtroopers on either sides of Vader obeyed, lining up behind Leia as she proceeded to the inside of the ship.

…

"You knew my parents, did you not?"

The abrupt question stabbed at Vader internally. She speaks of Padmé, of Anakin. "What brings your mind to such a conclusion? Have you sensed it?"

Underneath the table at which they had gathered, Leia played with the torn hem on her clothing. "I don't know what you mean. You obviously knew them, since your thoughts were upon my 'dead parents', as you put it."

"Your mother was once a senator." He only had to mention Anakin's late wife in order to inspire the slightest anger in him. "Of Naboo."

"Her name?" urged Leia, confused ever still.

"I cannot… That name is one I wish not to give. She was…in her last moments…" He so sinfully wanted to finish with "a traitor", but Vader's accompaniment completed the sentence for him, albeit tentatively:

"Taken ill?"

"No."

"Then what happened to her? And what about my father? What happened to him?"

This child of mine has no knowledge, thought Vader. A part of him yearned to tell everything to her, as long as he was to keep her forever in his custody and never to let her go. But for some reason which the unnaturally concerned Sith Lord could not understand, he wished not to reveal his former identity. "Your father was killed by the late Obi-Wan Kenobi. You know of him."

"At this declaration, Leia found herself unable to believe Vader. "That can't be… Obi-Wan was a friend of my father. I can't believe you." She was neither upset with Vader nor underwhelmed; in fact, she hated the mere fact that this tyrant had planted such an idea in her head. "Obi-Wan thought fondly of my mother. Why would he…?"

"Now you see," Vader hummed in a hypnotic voice. "Obi-Wan and the other Jedi were never a peaceful people. If you see it as I do, perhaps you will consider joining the Emperor in service to him."

"How dare you offer such a horrid -"

"If you would forget your unforgiveable allegiance to the Rebel Alliance and concentrate on your destiny," demanded Vader, his body emerging from its seat across from the woman. "You may not know it, but the Dark Side of the Force has proved itself strong in your family. Your father had that strength -"

"You're wrong!" countered Leia, her energy building far too quickly for her to control. The detestation she had for the Sith Lord before her had escalated within minutes, and instantly she cursed herself for having thought his company to be beneficial to her thirst for knowledge. "I demand to be sent away from here."

"That can be arranged, by me," bellowed Vader.