A week of medication and rest passed and Padme was officially discharged from the medcenter. Sola and Darred had returned home to Naboo on the second day after she assured them she would be fine with Anakin, the words tasting like ash on her tongue. Though he had remained loyally by her side, sleeping in an uncomfortable seat beside her bed despite it wrecking his neck and back, she sensed the distance growing between them. He was right here with her but also worlds away.
Instead of taking her back to her apartment, they decided to spend a few days in the privacy of his wing of the palace. There would be no pitying looks from her staff there, no flowers or condolences she would have to face. She wasn't ready for any of it. Padme hadn't even spoken with her mother, leaving Anakin to deal with her family's communications as she drifted between silent tears and sleep.
Inside his bedroom, the space the cradle had awaited its charge was wide and empty and the vacant spot left in its wake sent a throb of breathless agony tearing through her body.
After helping her change into a sea-blue nightgown she left here before and its matching, unattached sleeves which reached above her elbow, Padme carefully slipped a silver headband bearing glittering aqua stones into her hair to push the freshly washed, bushy curls out of her face until she did something with them later. Guiding her to the bed, Anakin dutifully peeled back the blankets and helped her ease into their warmth. He was quiet and stiff beneath her touch which had become the norm lately. When he made to walk around the bed toward the door, Padme caught his sleeve in her fist, "Wait! Can you stay with me, please?" All she wanted in the galaxy right now was to lay in his arms again, she had missed him so much despite his proximity to her.
His eyes softened and he threaded his fingers through hers softly. "I'm supposed to be showing Ahsoka how to meditate right now..."
Ah, the girl he brought back from Crait. Anakin talked about her potential and the ramifications of her powers though Padme hard barely been listening. "I understand…but," her eyes lowered for a moment before returning to his, "Could you stay just a little longer? Please?"
Anakin studied her for a long moment and then smiled gently, lifting her fingers to his lips. "Of course, Angel. I'm sure Ahsoka will understand." He kicked off his boots and climbed onto the wide bed beside her, keeping their hands entwined between them as they lay face to face. For a small time, she was content... until something began to eat at her. Softly at first and then an unignorable ache which grew more and more until the Senator could hold it back no longer.
"Ani, can I ask you something?" She whispered.
"Of course," he stroked his free hand through her hair gently, "anything you like."
A pang of guilt swelled within her even before she drafted the words on her tongue, but whether the answer would hurt her or not, Padme needed to hear it from him. She had to know the truth. "Do you feel relieved that I lost the baby?"
His eyes snapped open wide and he jerked away from her, dropping her hand on the bed as if it had burned him. "What the hell are you talking about? Why would you even say that?"
Her lip trembled and she shook her head, trying and failing to find the right words as she followed him upwards. "I just need to know what happens now, Anakin. We don't have a baby to think about anymore and that's what you wanted, isn't it?" When she told him about Luis, when she showed him the scan, he wanted her to end it – he all but asked her to do it! He told her he didn't want children and now that was a possibility for him again. Padme just wanted to understand how he felt about that. "I mean… you don't have to lose your titles now. We don't have to get married anymore."
When she was brave enough to lift her gaze to meet his, Anakin looked appalled. He shook his head and slid out of bed, reaching for his boots. "I can't talk about this right now," he rasped, "I have to meet with Ahsoka."
Her eyes burned. "Not Vader? You haven't so much as said his name since you got back."
"He's… busy."
"With that? What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing, Padme," he shook his head as he tugged on his boots. "A lot is going on, that's all. I have to go." Anakin drew close to her once more, brushing his lips softly against hers. A ghost kiss. Cold and distant. "We can talk tonight. I'll bring dinner home."
She watched him leave, stewing and glaring at the doorway for several minutes before shoving the blanket off her body and climbing out of bed. If Anakin wouldn't speak to her then she would find someone in this damn palace who was willing to. Pulling on a pair of soft slippers, the Senator left her lover's bedroom and private quarters. At first, as she made her way through the empty palace hallways, Padme had no idea of where to go. The only people she truly knew here were Vader and Sabe, but the latter was off handling media coverage about both of the Prince's return, praising the empire's great victory.
The idea struck.
The Senator turned and walked purposely toward the dark-haired Prince's rooms on the other side of the palace. Anakin said Vader was busy but surely he would spare a moment for her? Someone had to or else she would lose her mind here! It did not take long to cross the colossal palace and into the privacy of Vader's private wing. It was unlike him to be anywhere but his office Padme had learned so she strode to the rounded doorway and knocked twice.
As the door slid open, she found the Vader behind his vast desk seemingly as exhausted as she felt. He sat slumped over the projection from a holodisk reviewing Senate work Padme had left Dorme and her other handmaidens to handle in her absence for now. Though part of her ached to see all that she had missed, she ignored it in favour of the man she had come to visit.
Vader wore a simple white dress shirt, rumpled, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and unbuttoned to his mid-chest. He looked at her through the flicker of blue projection with storms swirling within his searing golden gaze. Something deep and warm trembled within Padme as he shut the disk off, bearing him to her fully.
"I…" She realised entirely too late that there was nothing in particular that she had come here to say to him. "I'm glad to see you're back in one piece."
A silence. A quiet moment and then he blinked. "Yes… Our business on Crait was… telling. It has given me much to consider."
He seemed different today. Off somehow. But perhaps whatever had taken place out there had simply depleted Vader as much as it seemingly had Anakin. Neither brother seemed entirely themselves right now.
"Yes," she nodded, drawing closer to his desk, "Ani told me about Ahsoka. I imagine it must have been quite the shock to find out there are others like yourself out there." Not even she could predict the public's reaction if they were to discover the mythic Skywalker bloodline was not the only one to breed such extraordinary powers. Sidious had ensured people knew what cruelties those powers made him capable of throughout his dark reign and it had created deep resentment in the hearts of some people.
With Ahsoka's presence, the force existing within others could no longer be a secret, not now the Rebel Alliance knew. It was information and it was only a matter of time before it spread. People were going to use it against the Empire and Vader in every way they could imagine.
"Shocking indeed," Vader muttered, dropping that golden gaze down to his desk. "My brother has been wise to keep the child out of my sight. I want nothing to do with her. The stunt he and the others pulled on Crait to keep his pet was insult enough, but to house her in my palace?" Vader shook his head, "Anakin's contempt is endless it seems." He spoke more to himself than her, muttering as though there was no one here to listen.
Padme crept forward again, close enough to trace the tips of her fingers on the smooth surface of the black desk. "What happened out there?" He spoke of Ahsoka as if her very existence was an insult to him. Her presence could be dangerous, yes, but if she was here and loyal to them, surely her allegiance was worth far more than her death?
"My brother," Vader hissed wildly, glaring murderously at the ceiling, "… my own damned brother has inspired loyalty amongst my people and my men which I have never thought to consider before. They turned on me, Padme, me, their future Emperor! And for him! They were clear in their intentions to follow Anakin over me… I haven't even sat on the throne yet and already my leadership is being questioned…"
Padme's stomach dropped sickly. A mutiny by the soldiers in Anakin's favour? Oh, gods, it was no wonder Vader was practically trembling with rage! What was Anakin thinking? How could he do that to his brother? She understood that the stress of the moment might have been difficult to consider everything but couldn't he see what a blow to the strength of Vader's future reign this could be?
"I'm sorry," she said quietly, "Anakin shouldn't have done that."
"No," Vader's eyes lifted to hers in surprise, "He should not have. I'm pleasantly surprised by your agreement."
"You two should be a team not on separate sides regardless of the matter at hand. You aren't merely brothers, you reign supreme over the galaxy, even if no one knows about it yet. If you can't trust the other to empower you at every turn then it will all fall to pieces."
A small pleased smile stole Vader's downturned lips. "I enjoy how likeminded we are. How is my brother, anyway? We haven't spoken since our return. I think he's hiding from me."
Oh. If Anakin hadn't spoken to Vader that meant he didn't know what happened. Padme's hand reached to touch her flat, empty stomach before falling away. There was nothing there to soothe any more. It was as if glass shattered around her ears. Telling Anakin what happened had been a brutal, agonising admission she had hoped to never re-live… and he hadn't even told his own brother? Why?
"That is due to me, actually," her throat began to close up. Gods, how was she supposed to get through this all over again? Wasn't saying the words once torture enough? How much more was she supposed to endure before her heart simply gave out? "Anakin has been taking care of me… because... I…" Padme's head shook of its own volition. "I lost the baby, Vader."
He was by her side instantaneously, the screech of his chair the only sound in the room before he gathered Padme into his arms in an embrace she so desperately needed. Anakin had barely touched her since his return and when he had it had been mechanical, as if fulfilling a duty rather than a true desire to hold her. Her body sunk into the warmth of the Prince who cradled her now. After a moment, he murmured condolences into her ear, stroking a hand through her curls softly.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" He asked lowly, "Anything at all? Name it and it is yours."
Not unless you can bring my baby back...
"I'm fine," she began to pull away, reaching up to wipe at her wet cheeks. "I'll be fine but thank you. I appreciate it, Vader, truly."
He nodded stiffly, allowing his arms to fall limply by either side of his body, though he did not step away from her. "I hope Anakin has been taking sufficient care of you."
Sufficient and no more, Padme wished to say but bit her tongue. None of this was Anakin's fault, he never asked for the baby nor was being bound by legalities his own doing, how could she blame him? She had made assumptions since the very beginning of their relationship, telling herself that he desired the same life she did. Long, peaceful days on Naboo, marriage, children… but he didn't want it and that did not make his dreams any lesser than her own.
A heartbreaking clarity began to dawn upon Padme suddenly, though her heart screamed and tried to reject it, her mind could not deny the truth any further, doing so would only bring them both more pain. They were simply incompatible. Entangling their lives together would destroy one of them piece by piece until the resentment festered and the deep love they shared mutated and melted into hate. She could give up on having children for him but the ache of what was missing from her life would poison her day by day. He could have children to keep her in his life but the result would be the very same and there would be an innocent baby complicating matters.
It just didn't work! It was unfair to continue shoving against the wall that was their ending, it would never give, not even an inch.
"I don't know what's going to happen now," Padme whispered. A watery curtain filled her eyes so she could barely make out Vader's concerned face towering above her. Her head shook and her heart wept. How was she supposed to endure this? Would her life always be a trail of blistering heartbreak? Loss after loss?
"Give him some time," Vader clasped her shoulders once more, squeezing for soft reassurance. "Anakin will come around, I know that he will. He… He's a man. We often don't know what we want until we have it."
Forcing a smile, she lifted her burning gaze to meet his as his large hands rubbed soothing trails from her shoulders to her elbows and back, lingering on the flesh where her sleeves ended. "That's a generous lie," something tumbled out of her lips, perhaps a laugh or a scoff, Padme couldn't be sure. She twisted her engagement ring around her finger twice, as if the small act could put off the words she was about to say. "I want to have a baby," the admission was freeing, "I want a family of my own, Vader… but I don't want that with someone who doesn't really want it. I can't force him into a life he doesn't want, I love him too much to see him waste away like that."
Slowly, Vader's warm palm slid up and up, cupping her wet cheek, stroking away her tears with his rough, calloused thumb. Her breath began to shallow as his blistering, incandescent eyes watched the slight movement as if transfixed. His mouth fell open with a ragged breath which drifted upon Padme's face.
And then, their eyes met.
"You deserve everything you desire in the galaxy," he murmured, "anyone who would deny you, does not deserve you"
She made a small, surprised sound as Vader's lips found hers. Unlike last time, he did not kiss her in a desperate bid of unrequited passion, this time, the Prince was slow and languid, tasting her as if they had all the time in the galaxy to spare. He wrapped an arm around Padme's body, drawing her to him as one hand passed through her hair, tugging her head backwards to deepen the kiss.
Vader groaned sensually as her mouth opened, allowing him entry. Padme felt his tongue in her mouth, mating wantonly with her own as she began to reciprocate. Oh gods, what was she doing? This was… this was wrong! Shaking herself, she turned her head with a gasp to free her mouth from his, leaning her palms on his broad chest. "No! No! We can't…. we can't do this."
Sparks of pure, blazing heat tingled across every inch of her body, robbing all breath from her lungs.
"Don't you see?" Vader only held her tighter to him, "Padme, my life is empty! I gave up everything for the throne and now there is nothing left… but you, you are the first light to call upon me for years. Years. I'm drawn to you, unlike anything I have ever known… I – I'm in pain, Padme, I'm in agony trying to hold back my desire but I can't do it any longer. I refuse. I will give you everything you want… everything he won't! Give yourself to me, be mine and I'll worship you until my last day…" His lips brushed against hers softly, "You are my salvation…"
When Vader's lips came upon hers again, he pushed her backwards, so her backside slid up against his desk, kissing her so deeply that Padme couldn't feel anything but him. Vader. His mouth and his hands all over her quaking body.
"Tell me to stop," he murmured into her neck, suckling at the skin there softly as throbbing heat began to flicker to life between Padme's quivering thighs. "Tell me you don't want this and I will leave you alone, I promise," Vader kissed along her jaw as one hand climbed her body to gently trace over the swell of her breast through the tulle and satin of her nightgown. The touch tore a small moan from her swollen lips and her back arched for more without meaning to.
Vader smirked and kissed her once more.
Only when his plush lips began a fiery trail of lust along her neck and down, down to the spot that it merged with her shoulder, Padme whimpered once more, tears filling her eyes. "I love him," she sniffled.
"Then love him," Vader said simply, deft fingers guiding the thick straps of her nightgown over the curves of her shoulders. "I still do." Her thighs felt slick as the blue material slipped lower. "Love him and give yourself to me."
She clenched her eyes shut as the dress pooled at her waist. Vader urged her body up, onto the desk and Padme complied as the heat between her legs shifted into a growing ache, begging for satisfaction. All thought began to flee her mind as her legs wrapped tight around his waist. His hard erection pressed against her, pulling deep groans from both their lips.
With the few boyfriends and lovers she had in the past, sex had merely been a curiosity, something she performed and endured because it had felt like the done thing. It had been a rare chore she engaged in until Anakin. With him, immense physical passion became something beautiful and pure. They had real love and trust in one another.
But with Vader, there was no love but there was desire and this one time, the absence of that soul-deep affection only made the heat and arousal burning between her legs twice as powerful. Her heart screamed in terror as her body begged him for more, her hips canting up to grind against that throbbing hardness and he gave it to her, sighing her name into her curls.
Anakin would never willingly walk away from her, he would sacrifice everything in his life if it meant they were together and he would do it gladly. He would have a family with her even if it made him miserable. He would willingly allow his titles and inheritance to be stripped to make Padme happy.
But if she was the woman who betrayed him with his very own brother…?
That was more than any love could withstand.
As Vader's lips descended her body, she let that desperate sadness drown in the red-hot lust coursing through her veins. Let Anakin hate her. It was for the best. This way, he could find someone who could truly make him happy in all the ways he deserved.
So this was bliss… this is what fucking paradise was. The softness of her lips. The smoothness of her skin beneath his. The little gasps of growing arousal escaping her parted mouth… Vader was a parched man who had stumbled across a lake of euphoria. How had he ever lived such a lonely, dark life without this fire?
Anakin will never forgive me.
The thought did nothing to subdue his desire but it did give him pause for one questioning moment. It passed all too quickly for the Prince as he wished to kiss the woman in his arms, to drown within her lush, carnal depths. She was not as eager in her touch as Vader was nor as daring but the sensation of Padme's soft hands slipping beneath his shirt to touch him made his cock throb in his pants anyway.
If Anakin didn't burn to marry this woman and give her the family she craved then Vader would gladly take that burden from him, fool that his brother was. Anakin may never forgive him, but somehow, a life with this intelligent, pragmatic, painstakingly beautiful woman would ease that suffering. She would give him heirs to build an everlasting dynasty to carry his legacy and help him rule their empire!
As his lips found one pert breast, he forgot that she had suffered a trauma, he forgot everything that was not his desire as he stepped
closer between her thighs and sucked a stiffening nipple into his mouth. Force, they had scarcely gotten started and he was already aching! Vader craved her more than his next breath! How could Anakin ever be damned foolish as to let this slip away?
He sensed her internal protests, her morals and desire battling one another for control of mind and body even as Padme ground herself against him, riding his clothed cock so sweetly, Vader forced himself to think of other, less exciting things for a moment.
"I have dreamed of this…" he breathed against her breast, "you have haunted my every fantasy for so long…" Could this be real? Or was he doomed to wake up in his large, empty bed alone yet again? Tormented by the dream of all he could never have in this life. But her scent… that sweet, floral scent filled his lungs, her moans were a quiet sympathy he never wished to end and she felt real beneath his fingers.
Real, Vader decided… this was real. He was on the cusp of everything he had wanted for so damned long and he would not wait one moment longer. His trembling fingers danced lower, over her stomach, descending lower between Padme's slim thighs.
"Oh, gods!" She gasped, tipping her head back as his wandering fingers cupped her, teasing the wetness between her legs for him alone. She wanted him. She needed him. Her body was a ballad composed of desires only Vader could satisfy. He felt like a god amongst men as Padme writhed and whispered his name, pleading for more as his free hand slipped her nightgown off her body entirely.
Her thighs clamped down on his wrist as two fingers pressed against her clit, tracing gentle circles, working to seduce her free of any thought that wasn't of him and what he was doing to her. "You overwhelm me," he whispered, "you're an addiction I don't wish to overcome."
"Vader, please…" Padme panted, arching desperately against his hand as he teased her clit, watching, paying attention to what she responded to. She was so pliant in his arms, so soft and willing… The Prince bit his lip as his ravenous eyes raked across every perfect inch of her. She was a vision. Utter perfection. Nothing in the galaxy could compare to her vibrant beauty.
And she was so wet for him, moaning shamelessly and tipping her head back because of him. Vader. His cock throbbed in his pants, painfully envious as he slid two digits inside her. Vader's name tumbled from her soft, sweet mouth again, an invisible, erotic caress within his ears.
He could do this forever. Padme's proximity was addictive and heady, every little sound and movement utterly captivating. Vader lived for her gasping moans and prayed for them like she was a deity in his arms. His fingers surged into her at a lazy pace, teasing her, stretching her… Force help him, he wanted her desperately, madly, more than his next breath.
Their lips met again, clashing harshly as his fingers worked carefully, curling deep inside her, encouraging every writhe and arch her hips gave. He was the master of her pleasure, a student of her body, eager to study every glorious inch of her.
"Vader… Gods… Yes…" she cried, breaking her lips from his, "please don't stop…"
The sounds tumbling from Padme's lips were enough to leave her blushing. She was so wet for him, the wrongness of the act pure kindling for the passion throbbing inside her. Every perfect thrust of Vader's fingers washed away the pain in her heart, dragged away the confusion and disaster that was her life until it was all lost in a sea of agonising bliss she wasn't sure she could take much more of.
What are you doing? Something inside her mind screamed, howled, rattling against the cage she'd locked it away in for now, This is wrong! Stop this now!
She wouldn't. Couldn't. Not as the combined pleasure of Vader's lips tracing such worship along the slope of her throat and neck, sucking just above her pulse, a personal aphrodisiac, and his fingers reaching deeper… Padme clung to him, her thighs trembling as her hand snaked into his soft, ebony hair. She could only whimper as Vader fucked her harder, deeper…
Gods help her, this was perfect…
She couldn't stand it!
She might die if he stopped.
A litany of moans fled her parted lips as she strained against his fingers, meeting his surging fingers. "You're so fucking beautiful…" Vader hissed, "Fucking perfect!" His lips swallowed Padme's answering cry, his tongue curling seductively around hers.
Her belly quivered, tightening and tensing as that delicious pleasure he gave her built and built. She clung to him for dear life, spreading her thighs wider on the desk. Her whole body seemed to shudder, bracing itself for the climax Vader fucked her relentlessly towards. Tipping her head back, a symphony of filthy curses howled from her gasping mouth, thighs clamping tight around his wrist as her climax burned white-hot through her entire body.
Vader never stopped, wringing out every last morsel of pleasure her shaking body could bear to take. Finally, with a long, deep exhale, Padme slumped back on her elbows, panting and quivering as his fingers slipped away.
Drained and that sensual ache within her utterly satisfied, the galaxy came crashing down around her ears.
What had she done?
What had they done?
Sensing the shift in her mind, Vader caressed her face so softly, a silent plea to open her eyes and look at him, to hear whatever sweet words were on his lips. Padme began to shake, really shake as the room began to feel a little colder, and her eyes peaked open to see her nightgown discarded on the floor. Gods, what had she done?
This was… her heart began to race. Vader was Anakin's brother! His only family left and they had betrayed him. Caught up in her anger and grief, it was so easy to let herself be swept up in Vader's charm and the desire he inspired within her. A trembling hand came up to her mouth as the room seemed to spin around for a moment. "Vader…" Hot tears burned in Padme's eyes, blurring the Prince before her to a mass of midnight.
"Don't do this…" he urged softly, cupping her face firmly, "don't pull away from me now, Padme! Don't let whatever guilt you're feeling override everything we share, please…"
She was a monster! A twisted, cruel and selfish beast because even now, part of her longed to sink into Vader's arms and let him carry her away. It craved whatever he would do to her, to feel his hands and mouth all over her body again. Vader leaned down to press a kiss against her clamped mouth. Unlike before, this wasn't an affectionate gesture or even a gentle, sweet one. It was an invitation. As he prized her mouth open and met her tongue with his own, Padme realised it was a challenge, a wicked plea to forget all about her fear and guilt and tangle herself between the sheets with him.
Vader grunted as Padme shoved him away, the force of it making him stumble backwards a step or two. Tears pooled in her beautiful, tortured eyes and painted her cheeks "I can't do this," she gasped, "I can't… I thought I could do this but I can't." She shook her head as a broken, tumbling sob wracked her trembling body and she leaped off the desk to redress herself. "This was a mistake, Vader – we… What were we thinking?"
He could not help the glare which contorted his face. She was letting her fear get the best of her, her worry and guilt were eroding her true desires. "He won't give you what you want, Padme. I'll give you an Empire and children. Think about what you're doing!"
"It doesn't matter!" Her eyes widened. "Even… even if we went through with this, do you really think that I would be with you? Do you think I could look him in the eye and then marry you? How could you… How could you want todo that to him?"
Something in his chest cleaved. Suddenly his mouth no longer tasted of her but of something bitter and regretful. She was running back to Anakin? After he offered her a family? Vader would give her anything she asked of him, a throne, the senate, all the damned moons in the galaxy! But she was turning her back on him. Being taken from him, slipping away before his very eyes.
He felt powerless. Weak. His stomach tightened.
"How could I?" He chuckled bleakly, "I could ask you the very same thing. Padme, don't think with your heart right now, I can accept that you don't love me yet! I understand these things take time but think of all we could do together! We could make things the way we want them to be with you by my side!"
Padme shook her head, stepping backwards. More tears slid down her reddening face. "I can't believe this… How could we have done this? I would never hurt my sister the way you want to hurt Anakin. What's wrong with you?"
"You love him more than you wish to build a legacy and create real change within the galaxy?" He asked coldly.
A moment of consideration and then a subtle nod. "Yes."
"Then perhaps you should stop."
Covering her mouth with her hand, Padme began to cry properly now, long, broken sobs tearing through her overworked body in painful gasps. "I have to tell him…" Pure horror crafted itself within her lovely features. "I have to tell him, Vader."
"Good," the Prince smirked as he set about pouring himself a whiskey. Maybe its sharp burn would chase away the sting she thrust beneath his skin? The cool crystal glass touched his lips as he considered his next words. "I want you, Padme. That isn't going to change… Whatever my brother does next, whatever his reaction may be isn't going to change that. So," Vader drained his glass in one burning gulp. "If his pride is too steep and he throws you away… I'll be here. My offer still stands. Marry me. Be my empress and help me shape the galaxy the way we see fit."
"I don't love you," she whimpered, "don't you want someone who does?"
Vader had tasted love and watched as his ambition soured its vibrant flavour. Perhaps in time, when and if Padme came around, his rule would preserve all that she gave him for a lifetime and if not… Well, a marriage, a family and a legacy were built upon more than mere love. He could survive without it so long as he had her, had her passion and beautiful mind.
"You can lie to yourself and to my brother when you go to him, tell him and yourself that you don't want me. That you feel nothing for me but we both know it isn't true. You desire me, Padme, perhaps merely physically but you do. Desire is not stone. It changes and alters depending on our experiences. In time, as I'm sure you know, it can even strengthen into love. I'm a patient man, I have no qualms about waiting for you to come around. After all, in the end, I think it'll do me and my empire good to have an angel by my side."
A calculated blow, Vader watched as it struck, his wounded pride thrilling as the hurt reflected upon her face. She wore her emotions so openly he scarcely needed to sense her to know the effect that particular word carried. Shaking her head, the disgust she felt poured out of her force signature. "He's going to kill you for this."
Face hardening, Vader brought a second glass to his lips.
"He will try."