#leia's pov

[hydesjackiespuddinpop]

Now I'm down bad, cryin' at the gym (Cryin' at the gym)

Everything comes out teenage petulance

"Fuck it if I can't have him" (Can't have him)

Jeia - Down Bad (Taylor Swift)

[from-a-legends-pov]

Star Wars Legends: Poll of the Week - Out-Of-Context Pictures

Which of these out-of-context pictures from a Star Wars Legends property is your favorite? (Context provided below)

1: “Heat stick”: Oh, no, that certainly doesn’t look like anything else, no….

2. Laser-eyes Leia: Is it possible to learn this power?

3. Hit where it hurts: He had it coming.

4. “Turn off the foam, Threepio!” I don’t know, that looks kind of fun, Luke.

5. Han punches an otter? An otter wearing fancy jewelry, no less.

6. Playing ships with a Sith: Vader plus younglings doesn’t usually go well….

And now, for some context:

1: “Heat stick” - Wedge Antilles and Wes Janson spend a cold night together on a mission, and yes, that is supposed to be a heat stick used to warm them and not a glowing something else (Star Wars - original Marvel Comics)

2: Laser-eyes Leia: Meet Leia Organa II, a replica droid of the Princess, designed to speak, move, and act like the real Leia, and equipped with blasters in her eyes. The real Leia Organa is captured and nearly forced to marry Trioculus, a three-eyed warlord claiming to be Palpatine’s son (he wasn’t – that was a different three-eyed guy), but right before the wedding Leia’s friends switch her with Leia Organa II. At the altar, the replica droid blasts Trioculus with a little pew pew straight from her eyes, killing him, and the real Leia is able to escape (Queen of the Empire)

3: Hit where it hurts: When Black Sun boss Prince Xizor’s attempted assault of Leia Organa (by drugging her with his powerful Falleen pheromones) is interrupted by Chewbacca coming to the rescue, Leia gives Xizor a well-deserved knee to the groin before escaping (Shadows of the Empire)

4: “Turn off the foam, Threepio!” On a mission with Leia and the droids, Luke Skywalker uses extinguisher foam to subdue some Blackhole troopers aboard a Hrakian ship (“Gambler’s World,” Early Star Wars Adventures)

5: Han punches an otter? Han Solo’s evil cousin Thrackan Sal-Solo has imprisoned Dracmus, a female Selonian who has been trained as a diplomatic envoy to humans. He forces Dracmus to fight Han, whom he has also imprisoned, but Han is familiar enough with Mandaba, the Selonian language, to convince Dracmus to go easy on him during the fight without Thrackan catching on. Han still loses the fight, but gains Dracmus’s trust, and when Dracmus is later rescued, Han is allowed to come along (Assault at Selonia)

6: Playing ships with a Sith: Plourr Ilo recalls her brother Harran (Harrandatha Estillo), who from childhood was an evil, vicious person who wanted her dead so that he could become ruler. Harran idolized Darth Vader, and when Harran met the Sith as a child, Vader made Harran his protégé, taking advantage of his sadistic personality and apparently also playing ships with him for hours (Star Wars comics, X-Wing: Rogue Squadron - The Warrior Princess)

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[hylialeia]

I never did write and post my thoughts after I finished reading Priory of the Orange Tree but given I've been thinking about the state of the fantasy genre a lot lately - across YA, adult, and "new adult" categories - I figure now is a good time to do that.

I didn't particularly like this book.

And I find this weird to write, because unlike most books I end up disliking, Priory was consistently well written in a technical sense, had a narrative voice I generally navigate towards, and consisted of some genuinely impressive worldbuilding and well-thought-out fantasy concepts.

Yet it took me months to finish it. I even hit a point where I almost DNF'd the entire thing, I was so surprised by my lack of motivation to continue. This book hooked me, presented me with something interesting, and then... completely flat-lined.

While a lot of this could have just been media burnout on my end (you can never really account for how your own personal mood and context when you start something new), I at least know for sure that my lack of enthusiasm had nothing to do with the novel's length. In fact, one of my technical criticisms of Priory is that I think it would have benefited immensely from splitting its story into a series and extending things, fleshing out more of the characters in each of their respective settings, as well as allowing for a lot more build-up towards the climax and eventual intersection of the characters' storylines.

As it stands, those are the areas that felt the most rushed and underwhelming to me. There were several potential instances of conflict throughout the novel that the narrative brushes over or ignores in a way I found particularly disappointing. In a book that grounds itself in examining religious bias, propaganda, xenophobia, and sexism, there were surprisingly few deeper conflicts or tense moments between our main characters. This became especially apparent by the end, when widely accepted histories (and religions) are turned on their heads and most of our POV characters carry on without any sense of fallout, betrayal, or lasting hurt. Each and every character puts aside their personal biases and histories in a way that should feel admirable and satisfying, but instead felt less than believable and even... underwhelming, given the speed with which it was done and the potential (fascinating!) conflicts that those agreements squandered.

I couldn't help but feel that the characters of Priory were either half-baked or intentionally watered down for the purposes of being palatable. Tané, Niclays, and Sabran were (in my totally subjective opinion) the most interesting characters by far; it doesn't escape me that they were also the ones who did, said, and/or thought some of the more uncharitable and even downright terrible things within the novel. Tané's inferiority complex and self-sabotaging nature, Niclays's mixture of pessimism, cowardice, and bitterness, and Sabran's privilege and willful prejudice, all served to make them more fascinating to me. They gave me clear character flaws that made their respective stories more interesting, flaws that stoked my desire to see them improve (or deteriorate) on the course of their character arcs. I found myself disappointed when those arcs became rushed in the final act, those flaws never proving a sufficient obstacle to their dynamics or growth.

Ead and Loth were sadly the worst case scenario. I wanted desperately to like them, but every POV chapter they had seemed to be written by an author terrified to make them in any way unlikable, or even portray them as in the wrong. Ead ends up being completely right about everything; the falseness of Sabran's history, her religion, and her country. Her only missteps result from a lack of information, which she quickly overcomes or is the first to genuinely discover, thus erasing any feeling of culpability that otherwise may have been implied; I never feel any legitimate moments of shame, grief, horror, or regret on her part, because the author never gives her legitimate reason to feel those things. Niclays is interesting in his betrayals and moments of cowardice, and the moments where he overcomes them are all the more meaningful for having seen him falter. Ead, arguably our main protagonist, never really gets something similar. She doesn't make any mistakes, and this is the greatest disservice Shannon could do to her as a character.

I barely know what to say about Loth, mostly because he only began interesting me when he encountered Tané - a dynamic that was cut woefully short and could have been absolutely fascinating if it was deeply explored. Prior to this moment (which had to be in the last 10% of the book, if I remember correctly), Loth is "a walking camera" (quoting a friend). He has characteristics with potential; religious, loyal, and dedicated... but considering the entire basis of his faith is overturned by one of his closest friends, he has shockingly little reaction or issue with this. Due to the important of larger plot happenings, Loth has to dust himself off and just postpone his reaction to the utter disassembly of his religious background for another time - which we are then never able to see. His reactions to most everything are basic, reasonable, minimal, or even dull; he could have paralleled Sabran in his religious prejudice, even showed some effects of his society's religious fanaticism, but he never really seems to - at least, never in a way that truly feels like it's testing him. For all intents and purposes, Loth feels like a character who should be making snap judgments and loads of mistakes, but instead is relegated to keeping those thoughts to himself (even hiding them from the reader) and soldiering on.

Priory was mostly recommended to me based on the impressive scale of its worldbuilding, which was definitely a cut above the rest. I thought Shannon had a firm grasp on her setting and some legitimately excellent imagery for it. I've been made more appreciative of this by the analysis in Global Medievalism by Helen Young and Kavita Mudan Finn, which dissects how Priory (and others) takes the predominantly white interpretation of medievalism and medieval fantasy expands it in a way that's far more inclusive and also far more interesting than much of our modern day "high fantasy" media. I'm not without my criticisms, however; the worldbuilding is another area where the pacing hurts the story, as we only have one 800 page book to get to know the seemingly important settings in which these characters live. That may sound like a lot, but it's perilously little; balancing those vivid worldbuilding details with a packed plot and character arcs meant that, at any given time, one aspect was always getting the short end of the stick.

While I appreciate Shannon's attempts to write with a feminist approach to high fantasy, I think her efforts highlight an issue I have with many similar approaches. Primarily, I find it difficult for a work to address, untangle, disassemble, and analyze misogyny in a setting where they... don't really show it. We're in a state where I think many of us have become (understandably) distrustful of media claiming "realism" or "historical accuracy" to defend its portrayal of violence and various types of oppression, but lately, I've noticed the response to that gratuitousness (in the cases where these things actually are gratuitous instead of just uncomfortable-yet-intentional, that is), is to avoid these things in the narrative almost entirely. That's all well and good; you don't have to include racism, misogyny, ableism, or imperialism in your fantasy world, especially when your desire is to write an alternative escapism to these things.

But when a piece of media is striving to say something about those topics, as I assume Priory does since its driving conflict results from a history of dismissing women's bravery and sacrifice against evil and instead granting the reward of their efforts to a man, then I have to admit, I feel somewhat underwhelmed when the women in the story never face any of the trials I myself deal with in real life. Their male colleagues seem consistently respectful with rare few exceptions; women across the series are allowed to occupy roles from respected advisors to knights trained in combat. Sabran herself seems to be one of the only women deeply impacted by familiar misogynistic mindsets, as she's constantly pressured to marry a man and produce offspring for the continuation of her line. Yet even this could almost be argued to be a special case within the world, since this pressure results from the religious belief that the continuation of her line (through her, the queen, the matriarch) is keeping the main antagonist at bay. This area felt like it wanted to be a subversion to much of the gritty, "realistic" fantasy that plagues the market, but to me, it felt more like indecisiveness. Is there misogyny in this world or isn't there? Is there homophobia in this setting or not? The answer could simply be yes, no, or even somewhat, but instead it felt like a "maybe".

Overall, Priory of the Orange Tree fell flat for me, maybe because my expectations were too high, or maybe because I just wasn't in a place to really dig my teeth into it. Mostly, though, I believe it fell flat because Shannon failed in what I believe to be the most important area of focus in a work: character. I would have traded worldbuilding, plot, imagery, and much more for a cast of characters that felt more intensely raw and complex, that were more unabashedly real in their flaws even if they risked becoming unlikable. Sitting at a 5.5/10

[this-acuteneurosis]

I know that what Breha is thinking about Leia is spoilers since you said you will deal with that but like always I’m so curious about what everyone is thinking about Leia, any chance of an outside POV on Leia bit from anyone? If not, it’s completely fine! Thanks for the latest chapter, I had missed that story so much.

So many POVs, so little time. Alright, here we go.

~...~

The world is too big and too small all at once, and Luke wonders, yet again, how Leia has lived with herself for so many years. With a mind that spins on and on and on and never rests.

It's not that Luke didn't think about things. He'd thought about his family and his dead father and the farm and getting away and how many stars there were and if he could visit them all someday. He'd thought about speeders and ships and mechanical improvements. He'd thought about the voices that he heard on the desert wind, and the dreams he had of places he'd never been and people he'd never met (yet).

It hadn't occurred to Luke until after he'd really settled into his training that he was seeing and feeling and hearing and thinking about things other people just...didn't. And when he'd learned Leia was his sister, he'd assumed she was seeing and hearing and feeling the same things.

Now he's living in her head, touching the Force through her, and Luke is realizing more and more, every day, that he had no idea what Leia was doing. He'd just trusted the bond between them, the Force they both touched, to make things right.

And it had. Effortlessly, flawlessly, it had taken this stranger that was sharp edges, layers and layers, careful manners, political acumen, and a deep, burning love and had let him dance around her in perfect step. Catching her when she faltered, leaning on her when he was blind or weak or wandering.

Now though, he's inside her mind, looking through her eyes as she stares at rising mountains, feels bitingly cool air, moves with haunted confidence through arching halls. Everything is immediately familiar, she's never forgotten, not in the slightest detail. He's feeling her soul bleeding, her emotions burning and buzzing and roiling, her heart aching with memory after memory and ghost after ghost.

Luke's meeting Leia all over again, seeing her again for the first time.

She's beautiful and confident and devastating and dangerous. She's precise and calculating, she's soft and vulnerable, she's absolutely grounded, she's ready to fly away.

He wants to hold her hand, to curl around her and stroke her hair and whisper promises that it's alright, that she'll be safe.

But she's still those sharp edges, those layers. That dragon of the desert who conquered mountains, who made them hers.

She's the one who survived.

Luke relearns Leia, day after day, and marvels.

(The Emperor will never see this coming.)

[aprodaydreamer]

Older (Prologue Available on AO3)

Inspired by the Kenobi Series (2022) and Room (2015)

The one where Anakin fell... pregnant the same way his mother did before him:  because it was the will of the Force, and he only became Vader and joined Sidious to protect his children. His best-kept secret.

Except 10 years into their secluded life aboard their quarter on the Executor, Vader is presumed dead and Leia and Luke find themselves on a strange planet, hiding from their Ani’s Master...

[smallblueandloud]

tfw you come up with an au concept that is SO DELICIOUS specifically because it creates SUCH fucked-up/angsty situations or backstories but then you just kinda have to. sit there vibrating because in order to talk to anyone about it you have to explain the entire setup of the au and it probably wouldn't land as well anyway

[a-random-pillow]

star wars WHAT THE KRIFF IS YOUR MARKETING!

Since I own this one, I will add reviews for each flavor as I try them

[space-blue]

CT-4240 has been on the streets of Daiyu for four years now, and he knows how to judge people at a glance. He can tell, from the way their step falters or how they avoid his gaze, if it's worth speaking his plea. 'Spare any credits? Help a veteran get a warm meal?' He doesn't expect the impact asking this one man will have.

Spoilers for the first 2 episodes of the Kenobi show. I couldn't help but feel like our clone veteran was an unfired Chekov's gun, so i changed that. What if he received the ping setting everyone after Kenobi, a Jedi? What if his chip sent him on the chase once more?

[yubsie]

One of my favourite things about the Kenobi series was the serious Crystal Star Jaina vibes tiny Leia gave off.

I am by no means saying that anyone should go read The Crystal Star after this but it was nice to see my favourite part of that book on screen.

[morganwrites-starwars]

Vod bal aliit pt. 1

Summary:  Luke Vader was an enigma that Leia was determined to solve. He was also apparently her brother. Which was... Well, it was something Leia hadn't been ready for.

A/N: Another side story for 'I stand here right before you'. It might make sense if you haven't read that- I don't really know.

Masterlist

Next>

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

           Leia hated Empire Day. There were no ifs ands or buts about it. She hated spending her birthday surrounded by stuck-up senators, Moffs, and their kids with over-inflated egos. Leia decidedly preferred the way they celebrated every year before this one when she got to spend her birthday at home on Alderaan. While publicly, their family still celebrated Empire Day- appearances and all that- privately, mother and father had always thrown her a party. There was cake and presents and the overwhelming feeling of being loved and cared for unconditionally.

           There were no such things at the party on Imperial Center. Instead of warm hugs, Leia was stuck curtseying at every person she met, her cheeks aching from her plastered smile. Leia couldn’t decide what she disliked more- the obvious shared disdain from her age-mates or the creepy pedophile vibes she got from the adults. If she had to listen to one more person tell her she was looking to be a beautiful woman when she was fully grown, she was going to…

           Do nothing. But she was definitely going to imagine decking them.

           And the worst thing of all was the Emperor. The best way to describe how he made Leia feel was slimy. His grandfatherly façade was ill-fitting with his hidden face and croaking voice. Her father said that it had fit better during the Clone Wars. It was hard to imagine.

           Leia smiled politely at the Emperor, pushing all her negative thoughts behind the shield that Fulcrum had helped her build some time ago. Fortunately, the Emperor played her little mind beyond asking her how she was enjoying her day. Too young to be of interest, too old to stay at home.

           Leia was not included in any of the conversations between the senators and the Emperor. Still, she avidly listened, taking mental notes on what was being said (or, more importantly, what wasn’t being said). Pretending to have only polite interest in the conversation was the hardest thing she’d done all day. Leia wasn’t sure if she was looking forward to the day when they’d include her in the conversation or not.

           The Emperor summoned a servant and muttered an inaudible request. The servant nodded and slipped into the crowd. Maybe a minute later, the servant appeared, the Imperial Prince following behind him.

           Father had told her this was also Luke Vader’s first official Empire Day appearance. Luke and Leia were the same age, so her father had her learn about the prince since a conversation between them was bound to happen. Leia could afford to go into most conversations with her agemates blind, but if she insulted the Imperial Prince…

           But her father had given her a different reasoning, his words vague and severe. Her father only ever spoke like that when the Alliance was involved. Apparently, she was also old enough to be involved with Rebellion's plans.

           So Leia would make friendly with Prince Luke, learn more about him, and hope that whatever plans were in the works were successful.

           “And this is my daughter, Princess Leia,” her father introduced.

           Leia curtsied. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, your highness.”

           Prince Luke gave a short bow. “And I, yours.”

           The Emperor set one of his hands on Prince Luke’s shoulder when he straightened. Leia internally shivered at the thought of the Emperor touching her.

           “Perhaps the two of you would prefer to get acquainted elsewhere? Get away from us old folks for a bit?” her father asked, prompting the other senators to chuckle.

           Prince Luke looked at the Emperor and, when he received permission, stepped towards Leia with his arm extended. Leia rested her hand in the crook of the prince’s elbow, and the two walked away. The prince felt as tense as Leia was. Prince Luke led her to the side of the room, closer to the Purge Trooper- the person that the Rebel’s plans were centered around- that was stationed at the wall. Leia suppressed a shiver at the expressionless black and red helmet. Leia had no idea how the prince dealt with it constantly.

           Leia didn’t say anything, as it was proper to let the person of a higher standing start the conversation. Prince Luke glanced over at the Purge Trooper in a movement Leia would have missed if she hadn’t observed the prince’s face intently. He had the same polite façade with barely hidden boredom that Leia knew was reflected on her face.

           Leia wouldn’t say she had high hopes for their conversation, but she figured it’d be better than most of the ones she’d had today. Despite being the Imperial Prince, Prince Luke was not a very public figure yet. But what information Leia could glean about his personality (at least his public one) showed that he seemed to be a nice enough person.

           After a few moments, Luke spoke. “So Princess, is this your first Empire Day on Coruscant?”

            “Yes, this year, my father deemed me old enough to attend. He worried I would get lost if I was younger.” Among other things that Leia couldn’t say.

           Luke nodded in understanding, but he clearly didn’t know how to consider the conversation. Leia imagined it was because he didn’t spend much time around other people his age. It was definitely an acquired skill. After another moment of silence, he asked, “What is Alderaan like?”

           Leia smiled at the unexpected question. She was half expecting the prince to talk about himself, a common trait many people Leia spoke to all had. Leia was more than happy to speak about Alderaan. “Oh, it’s beautiful! I’ve always loved watching the sun setting under the mountains around the palace! My favorite place is by far the Cloudshape Falls. The water’s spray makes it look as if there is a cloud resting at its base.”

           Mother and Father tried to take her there at least once a year, no matter how busy they were. Some of Leia’s first memories were of feeling the water on her face and the feeling of amazement.

           “That sounds wonderful,” Prince Luke said, and Leia was surprised to hear how genuine he sounded. He seemed very interested in what Leia had to say about Alderaan.

           But no matter how much Leia could go on about Alderaan, it was not polite. So, instead, she said, “Oh, yes, it is. How about you, your grace?”

           “Please, call me Luke,” Prince Luke, or just Luke, said. That was not something Leia was expecting. Leia considered him, assessing to see if this was some type of test. But, again, to Leia’s surprise, he seemed genuine.

           Leia decided to go with it, as it was always better to follow the lead of a person of higher standing. “Alright, Luke. Only if you will call me Leia.”

           Luke smiled, the most genuine one he’d given so far. Leia was very confused by him. “Agreed. Now, what was your question?”

           “What is your home like?” Leia asked again, now a bit more interested in his answer.

           “Ah,” Luke hesitated. Curiously, his eyes glanced over to the Purge Trooper by the wall. Now, what could that be about? Luke was becoming more and more interesting by the second. “Well, when I’m not on Coruscant, I am on my father’s starship. I love looking at the stars when we’re not in hyperspace.” Luke smiled a little awkwardly. “There’s not really sunsets in space. But they’re nice on Coruscant.”

           Leia pursed her lips. That sounded horrible, spending your life almost always trapped on a ship surrounded by the blank faces of the stormtroopers and other Imperials. Frankly, it sounded like Leia’s own personal hell. But Luke seemed unbothered by it. “That sounds a bit lonely if you don’t mind me saying so.”

           Luke shrugged a little sheepishly. “It wasn’t so bad. I like traveling to different planets. And I have Cody.” Luke gestured to the Purge Trooper. Leia looked over at the Purge Trooper, Cody apparently, and he gave her a slight nod in recognition. Leia returned the nod with a polite smile on instinct. The mystery that was Luke was growing by the minute. Apparently, the Purge Trooper was more than just a bodyguard. Luke showed no dislike or disdain for the Purge Trooper lingering over his shoulder. Leia supposed that Cody would have to be a decent person for the Rebellion to want to help him. He was still intimidating. “He keeps me safe from threats and from boredom.”

           “That’s good. Everyone deserves a friend,” was all Leia could think to say. Or least, it was the only polite thing she could think of. Because how lonely life must be, to only have one person keep you company? Even Leia, who was generally separated from most of the populace by the nature of her status, had multiple people she considered friends. And they all had different roles in her life, the guards in the palace playing just one position. A friendly one, for sure, but not as friends.

           Luke nodded. He didn’t notice what was wrong with everything about his situation. “Yeah. He’s been taking care of me since I came to live with my father.”

           Leia cocked her head in curiosity. Ok, there was a lot to unpack there. Leia was not surprised that Lord Vader was a bad father. But that also added the factor that Luke would not let Cody go quietly. Leia figured that was where she factored in. A distraction, perhaps. Leia really hated being left out of the bigger plan.

“Do you mind if I ask if you lived somewhere else?”

           The question broke basically every rule about speaking to royalty that Leia had ever been taught. But, if she didn’t ask it, she was liable to keep pushing about Luke’s current living situation. And that was more likely to lead to Luke being offended. And father had also tasked her with gathering more information on Luke, so Leia figured she could be forgiven for the lack of decorum.

           Luke looked around nervously, his shoulders tensing. Leia quickly prepared to backtrack, Luke’s response startling Leia. She hadn’t expected that strong of an adverse reaction from her question. But before Leia could apologize and redirect, Luke’s shoulders relaxed, saying, “I lived on Tatooine until I was four with my aunt and uncle.”

           “Oh,” Leia said, caught off guard, both by the fact that he responded and the actual response itself. Tatooine was, well, Leia didn’t know much about the Outer Rim desert planet. Just that people didn’t tend to enjoy going there and that slavery was still rampant there.

           Luke chuckled, seemingly agreeing with her unsaid thoughts about Tatooine. “Yeah. I don’t remember a lot about it. Just that it was a lot of sand. Like a lot.”

           They both laughed. Leia commented. “Sand is nice. On the beach.”

           “Sometimes I think I can still feel sand all over,” Luke faked a shiver. Leia was surprised by her own enjoyment. Leia hadn’t gone into this party with any expectation of enjoying herself.

           Before their conversation could continue, someone started yelling. Leia tensed, her heart beating in her ears. Not out of fear but out of understanding that the Alliance’s plan was beginning. Ok, so it was a bit of fear, but not for her safety. Luke shifted towards her, both of them staring at the balcony. The Purge Trooper, Cody- Leia really needed to start referring to him with his name lest she accidentally just call him ‘the purge trooper’- reached them, blaster pulled out.

           The lights turned off, and the room shook. Leia could smell the smoke and again really wished her father had told her more of the plan.

           Leia would never admit it, but she jumped when Cody placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her and Luke closer to him, his armor digging into her side uncomfortably. At least she wasn’t going to have to fight to stay with Luke. It wouldn’t have been easy to follow a fully trained Purge Trooper quietly. Leia would get an easy way to keep her eye on Luke and see the Rebellion’s plan in action.

           Cody dropped his hand from her shoulder, much to Leia’s relief. They didn’t move for a moment, and Leia listened to the sound of yelling and people rushing around her. Occasionally she felt fabric brush her arm, and people tried to run away. Leia was actually glad she was kept close to the larger Purge Trooper. She would have easily gotten turned around in the dark otherwise.  

           Cody began to steer Luke and Leia towards the side of the ballroom, and Leia recalled the blueprint she had seen. He seemed to be taking them to a side exit. He ushered them into the tight, dimly lit hallway. Luke shuffled closer to Leia, their shoulders brushing, and Cody closed and locked the door. And, in a move that Leia both understood and felt was a little much, he shot the lock with his blaster.

           “Where are we going?” Leia asked quietly as Cody began to move them down the hallway. He stayed behind them until they reached a corner.

           “To safety,” Cody replied shortly, stepping in front of Luke and Leia. Cody lifted his blaster up and paused. Leia strained to hear anything. Cody didn’t seem to hear anything as well, as he quickly turned the corner, blaster up. Cody deemed it safe and gestured for Luke and Leia to continue following him.

           They continued in a similar fashion, hurrying along the narrow hallways before coming to quick stops. Leia had to walk faster than Luke and Cody since she was shorter than both of them. At least Cody saved her the humiliation of pulling her along or just picking her up. Leia would probably punch him if he did. It would hurt her more than him, but it would be a gut response.

           The silence was tense. Luke was exchanging concerned glances with her, both of them trying and failing to communicate their worries with hand signals. Clearly, they had been taught different types of non-verbal communication. Given a chance, Leia would quiz him on what the hell his signs were supposed to mean. Because, for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what the tapping of Luke’s fists together was supposed to mean. At least Luke seemed equally confused at her attempts to ask about where they were heading.

           Eventually, they reached a door, Leia having been lost for the last few minutes. Cody paused to listen before opening the door, positioning his body to block Luke and Leia from view. Cody stepped into the hallway, but Luke placed a hand on her shoulder to keep Leia in place. They followed into the hallway at Cody’s gesture, the waving of his hand making sense to Leia. Maybe Luke was just really bad at hand signals.

           They were in a lavishly decorated hallway. Across the hall was an unassuming door, but it was apparently where they were going. Probably the rooms Luke stayed in when he was on the Imperial Center.

           Luke opened the door at Cody’s request, Leia sandwiched between him and Cody. Once the door opened, Cody stepped forward, aiming his blaster at the door. Leia followed at the back of their group as they crept in. The cautiousness was seeping into paranoia, in Leia’s opinion. But she supposed when you’re at the heart of the Empire, you can never be too careful.

           “Stay here,” Cody told them. He went towards a hallway at the other end of the room.

           Leia was examining the room. It was sparsely decorated, which made sense since Luke said he spent most of his time in space. There was a jacket thrown over the couch and datapads lying on the table in front of it.

           Luke was tense next to her. He was frowning, biting his bottom lip, and looking around.

            “Luke, what’s wrong?” Leia asked.

           “I’m not sure,” Luke said, sounding strained. “Something feels… weird.”

           Leia was confused, but she remembered that Luke was Force-sensitive, so maybe he could tell that the Alliance’s plan was about to reach a climax.

           “A bad weird?” Leia asked, hoping that she could distract Luke enough that he didn’t disrupt the plan was.

           Luke shrugged, but there was a knock on the door before he could say anything. Leia flinched back on instinct. Luke pushed Leia behind him, further away from the door, and held his hand out. Leia watched in amazement as a metal tube- a lightsaber!- flew into Luke’s grasp. Luke held the lightsaber in front of him, pointing at the door.

           “Cody!” Luke called out. Cody quickly appeared from the hallway, his blaster already in his hand.

           There was another knock before anyone said anything else, followed by a whisper, “Luke? Cody? Are you there? It’s Ossea.”

           Oh, that was good. Ossea was the agent tasked with getting close and gathering information on Cody. If she is here, then the plan must be going well.

           Cody turned on the small video screen to the side of the door. The screen showed a birds-eye view of the empty hallway. Ossea was leaning close to the door.

           Luke moved forward and cut off Cody, opening the door for Ossea to slip in before locking it behind her.

           Leia was sort of shocked by Luke’s easy trust. Really, regardless if he trusted Ossea, he is on lockdown. Well, at least it made Leia’s job easier since she didn’t have to convince Luke to let Ossea in so she could do whatever Ossea needed to do.

           Ossea hugged Luke and shot a small smile at Leia, which Leia returned. Cody seemed to be quietly seething.

           “I was so worried. When the attack happened, I was in my workshop and heard them coming closer. This was the safest place I could think of,” Ossea said, smoothing a hand over Luke’s hair before pulling away from their hug. She looked at Cody and opened her mouth to say something else. Before she could, Cody stalked away, back to the hallway.

           Yeah, he was pissed.

           Leia only felt a little bad about her amusement.

           “What’s wrong with Cody?” Ossea asked Luke.

           “Oh, he’s just like that sometimes. I call it his battle mode,” Luke told her.

“Battle-mode, huh?” Ossea asked with a slightly teasing tone. Leia was confused at the weird term, and her pity for Luke came back 10-fold.

           “Yeah, he gets very focused if he thinks I’m in danger,” Luke said while shrugging his shoulder nonchalantly. He seemed a little uncomfortable with the topic, so Leia tried to look reassuring and non-judgmental. She wasn’t judging Luke (or Cody, she supposed); she was judging Vader and the Empire. “He did it more when I was younger and couldn’t protect myself at all.”

           Ossea hummed in understanding, but Leia couldn’t stop her slight frown because that had some implications that Leia wasn’t a fan of.

           “He is a good man. He cares very much for you,” Ossea said, smiling softly. “I’ll go see what his plans are.”

           Ossea walked towards the hallway that Cody had gone into. Leia quickly took a deep breath, adrenaline being to pump full force in her veins. It was time. Luke looked lost in thought, and Leia wanted to distract him so Ossea could do what she needed to. And she wanted answers to her questions.

           “When did you learn to protect yourself?” Leia asked, and she hoped it was more recently. Leia had started learning self-defense maybe 2 years ago. Before then, she was taught evasive techniques. She was fortunate enough to have never been attacked- her family being well-loved on Alderaan.

           Luke thought about the answer for a moment. “I guess I started training formally when I was eight, after I met the Emperor for the first time. But I didn’t get my lightsaber until I was 10.”

           That was the answer Leia was afraid of. Because no 10 year old needs a lightsaber. No 8-year-old’s safety should be so compromised that he had learned to fight before he was even close to puberty.

Before Leia could ask him more questions, Luke ran to the hallway where Ossea and Cody were. Leia let out a confused noise and quickly followed after him, struggling to keep up. She didn’t want Luke to react violently and hurt Ossea. That would definitely derail everything.

           Luke came to a running stop outside a door, Leia barely stopping herself from running into his back. Leia peaked around Luke and saw Ossea was kneeling next to Cody’s body, holding Cody’s blaster. Leia’s heart jumped into her throat, but she reassured herself that Ossea hadn’t shot Cody. There hadn’t been a noise of the blaster going off, and there was no smoke coming from the blaster or from Cody. And there was no way the Rebellion was planning to kill Cody if they were trying to get Luke’s trust (at least that was Leia’s current conclusion of her purpose). Leia didn’t understand Luke’s attachment to Cody, but she knew that killing Cody was cruel and unnecessary. And it would like cause Luke to go on some rampage. And Leia reasoned her father would never put her in that kind of potential danger.

           “Buir!” Luke cried. Leia took note of the unfamiliar word for later. Luke turned on his lightsaber, and Leia had to stop herself from gasping at that gold-orange blade that emerged. Leia had only seen Fulcrum’s lightsaber once during their few months together. Leia had begged and begged, and on their last day together, Fulcrum had turned on one of her white sabers. Leia had felt the same amazement as a 7-year-old as she does now. Lightsabers were amazing, their humming setting off a warm feeling in her chest.

           Ossea didn’t look scared as she gently set down the blaster. Luke demanded, “What did you do?”

Ossea slowly rose from her crouch and held her hands out in the traditional ‘I surrender’ pose.

           “It’s ok,” Ossea said in a soothing voice. Leia had a feeling that it was as much for Luke as it was for Leia. Ossea seemed to have noticed Leia’s frantic looks at Cody. Ossea took a small step further, but Luke just held his saber high and stepped back. Luke reached a hand back towards Leia, and Leia brushed her hand against his, hoping it was reassuring.

“Cody is ok. He’s just unconscious,” Ossea told Luke.

            “Why? What are you doing?” Luke demanded.

           Ossea sighed. “I’m with the Rebellion.” Ok, so apparently, they’re just being honest. Good to know. Luke tensed, and Leia heard a small creak as Luke tightened his grip on his lightsaber. “I want to help you and Cody.”

           “By knocking him out?” Luke scoffed, shifting nervously. Yeah, Leia also was curious about that. Couldn’t there have been a way to reason with Cody? ‘Like, hey, we want to help save you and Luke, so come with us.’ That would've probably worked if Cody was as attached to Luke as Luke was to him.

“He wouldn’t be able to listen to my reasoning due to his ‘battle mode,’” Ossea explained, checking her watch. “He has a chip in his head.”

           Ok. So that was a thing that Leia thinks she vaguely remembers hearing about once. Leia had met many clone troopers, and a quick glance at Cody’s exposed face confirmed that he was a clone. They all had a haunted look in their eyes, twitching at any type of orders. Rex had tried to explain it to her one time, but Leia asked him to stop when his eyes began to glaze over as he recounted his fight against his orders to shoot Fulcrum.

           Leia suddenly felt more sympathy for Cody.

           “I know that,” Luke told Ossea, much to Leia’s surprise. Leia wouldn’t have guessed that Luke would’ve been ok with someone he cared about being mind-controlled. As far as Leia could tell, he just didn’t seem like that kind of person. Anger began to rise in Leia as she considered that maybe she was wrong about Luke. “What’s it got to do with anything?”

           Ossea sighed. “It’s a control chip- Cody’s ‘battle-mode’ isn’t Cody. It’s a soldier with no feelings, only dedicated to the Empire. It makes him a human droid.”

           Oh. Oh, poor Luke. Leia could see him tensing at that information. Leia felt her minor rage at Luke quickly dissipate. Luke’s hands dropped, no longer pointing his lightsaber directly at Ossea. Leia took a tiny step towards Luke and brushed her hand against his again, hoping to offer a modicum of comfort.

           “We can help him,” Ossea spoke. Luke raised his saber up again. “We’ve figured out a way to get it out- to free him.”

           “And ‘we’ is the Rebellion?” Luke softly, sounding tired yet hopeful. Leia could see Ossea’s face soften when she heard Luke’s tone. He sounded so young, and Leia was suddenly reminded that she and Luke were the same age.

           “Yes,” Ossea answered, just as soft. Luke’s tension left him, and he turned his lightsaber off. Luke curled in on himself slightly. Leia hated feeling so helpless.

           “You’ll help buir? You won’t hurt him?” Luke asked, all suspicion gone from his tone. He didn’t sound like a prince, a strong force user, or any other titles forced upon him. He sounded like a child scared for their parent’s safety. Maybe that was what buir meant.

Ossea nodded, and Luke took a deep breath, straightening his posture, falling back into a proper mask. Luke nodded and clipped his lightsaber to his belt. “OK. You can take him and help him. I will cover you so you may get away.”

            “No!” Leia exclaimed, pushed her way past Luke, and put her hands on her hips. There was no kriffing way that she was leaving Luke, her friend, alone in the Empire after everything she's learned. “You’re not leaving Luke here alone. My father would not allow that.”

           And Leia knew it was true. When Leia would tell him about Luke and Cody’s connection, one she still didn’t completely understand, and how kind Luke was (he had kept protecting her, even when he was distracted), father would immediately call for a vote for the Rebellion to save Luke. But they would probably say no because there was no doubt after this, the Empire’s security and Luke’s security would increase dramatically. So they needed to get him out now.

“Don’t worry, your highness,” Ossea assured Leia as she moved over to open the window in the room. “There was no intention of leaving Prince Luke here.”

           Leia released a breath as Ossea began to heft Cody up, but grunted under his weight. Good. Leia was considering just smuggling Luke out with her now, otherwise. Luke rushed forward to help Ossea carry Cody. They leaned him against the wall by the window. Leia stayed close by the door.

“Why were you planning on taking me?” Luke asked, worrying his bottom lip with his teeth, and Leia suppressed a scoff. Leia knew that sometimes mistreated and abused people didn’t realize they were being abused. That was probably the case with Luke, so Leia wouldn’t judge him.

           Ossea apparently seemed to agree with Leia’s thought if the look she shot at Luke was any indication. “Luke. This is not the place for a person to grow up. I am 100% confident Cody is the only reason you’re not, and pardon my language, a kriffing menace.”

           Luke didn’t respond, but he did look slightly sheepish. Good, at least he had some sense that his situation was shitty.

           A ship appeared outside the window, the boarding ramp extended. Corrine walked down the ramp carefully, nodded at Leia slightly when they made eye contact. Leia nodded back. Corrine and Ossea hefted Cody through the window, Luke watching with a lost look on his face. Leia wanted to hug him or something. His tooka eyes were so pitiful.

           When Cody was being dragged up the boarding ramp, Luke began to leave. But he stopped halfway out the window, looking at Leia with a frown.

            “Are you coming?”

           Leia shook her head but smiled slightly at his concern. “The rebels would have no reason to abduct me. I’ll go and try to cover for you before finding my father. Good luck.”

           Leia ran out of the room and paused in the living room. She heard a crash from the room, but there was no yelling, so she assumed it was fine. Leia knew she was on the clock now. Any minute, stormtroopers would be storming the room. Leia took a breath, apologized mentally to Luke for the mess she was going to make, and began throwing pillows, knocking over tables or chairs, and generally creating an environment that indicated an abduction.

           When Leia was content with the state of the rooms, she found the refresher in the hallway and attached a mini-EMP that she had been hiding in her belt. She set the EMP to detonate and destroy the doorpad in 1 minute. She sent a signal to her father before dropping and crushing her comm. Leia stepped into the refresher, and the door slid close behind her. Leia waited to hear the EMP go off. She steeled herself and hit the door multiple times, wincing as her knuckles split when she punched the door once. Leia didn’t try to stop the tears that began to fall. Leia also sped up her breathing to induce a panicked state. She kicked the door a good few times. She was nothing if not thorough.

           She sniffed and wiped her nose, cringing at the feel of some snot on her skin. Leia fell to her knees in front of the door and waited, keeping her tears flowing. She listened carefully, and when she heard the stomping of feet, the tell-tale shuffle of stormtrooper armor, the harsh breathing of Darth Vader that sent a shiver up Leia’s spine. Leia double-checked her mental shields.

           “Help!” Leia yelled, slamming her hands against the door again. “Please, I’m trapped! Help!”

           Multiple people ran towards her. Leia knocked again on the door. “In the fresher! I’m in here!”

           “Hold on, your Highness,” someone told her from the other side of the door. “You! Go get-“

           Before the man could continue, the door creaked and began to crumple and fold in on itself like a piece of paper. Leia reeled back in shock, her panic becoming real. Leia fell onto her bottom, and the door, which no longer looked anything like a door, was dropped on the floor beside the doorframe.

           Darth Vader was looming in the door frame, his rasping breaths clearly unnerving everyone. In one of his hands, he had an unlit lightsaber. The sight of it brought terror, the exact opposite feeling seeing Luke’s lightsaber brought. His presence was suffocating, and Leia was frozen on the floor.

           “Where is my son?” Vader demanded.

           Leia released a shaky breath and managed to get to her feet. Leia clasped her hands in front of her to hide her trembling. “There was a woman- she apparently knew the Prince. She, Prince Luke, he let her in. And she, she knocked out the, uh, the trooper and locked me in here. I don’t- I don’t know what she did with Luke. I think I heard a ship-“

           Leia cut herself off with a shaky breath. Vader seemed satisfied with her response, and he stormed away. Leia ignored the twinge of irritation.

           “Assure the Princess’ health and return her to her father,” Vader commanded before he disappeared from sight.

           The command spurred the stormtroopers into action. They stepped back from the door, except for one with an orange pauldron. He stepped forward.

           “Captain Gess, your highness,” the captain introduced himself while saluting. Leia nodded in acknowledgment, and he returned to parade rest. “Are you alright, Princess?”

           Leia nodded, wiping off the tears that lingered on her face. “I am alright. I may need some bacta for my hands, however.”

           The captain nodded when Leia showed him her bloodied knuckles. “Understood. We will have a medic examine you while we wait for Senator Organa.”

           “Understood. Let us make our way there now. I imagine my father is worried,” Leia said, following the captain out of the fresher. Leia made it a point to subtly glance around the messy room with discomfort. She saw no sign of Vader in the rooms, but she could feel the stares of stormtroopers as they walked past.

           Leia held her head high as they traveled to a hastily set up triage center in the hallways and rooms surrounding the medical wing within the palace. Leia looked at the people occupying the cots as they passed. Many were covered in dust and blood. The aristocrats were disgruntled, huffing and puffing about being forced to wait for a medic to look over their minor scrapes and bruises. They did not care that there were people who were more injured- Leia spotted someone being carried past with red staining the side of their head. Leia everted her eyes, her stomach rolling with a combination of nerves, lingering adrenaline, and with the sight of so much blood.

           Despite her insistence that she could wait, Leia was led directly to a stretcher in the medical wing. It wasn’t a room, but the nurse who met them pulled curtains around the bed for privacy. Leia could see the captain walk away, but the other trooper that had walked her here stayed stationed outside.

           She assessed Leia’s hands, assuring her that Leia hadn’t appeared to have broken any bones. She gently wiped Leia’s knuckles with an alcohol pad and covered her knuckles in bacta patches. Leia had just informed the nurse- Saima she had introduced herself as- that she had kicked a door a few times when she heard her name being called.

           “Leia? Where is my daughter?”

           Leia perked up at the sound of her father. Someone clearly directed him towards her because in the next second, the curtain opened, and her father rushed in. He looked a bit disheveled and worried. There was still a light brushing of dust covering her father’s coat.

           “Leia!” father smiled when he spoke. He moved to the empty side of the bed, hands hovering over her, not wanting to touch her if she was hurt. Leia could see he was genuinely worried- likely, he had not expected any sort of injury to happen.

           “Princess Leia looks to be in perfect health, Senator,” Saima assured father. “She has only sustained minor abrasions to her hands, and I was just about to do a kick check of her feet.”

           “I was locked in a fresher and punched and kicked the door,” Leia said, acting sheepish.

           Her father looked at her with a fond and exasperated expression. “I am just glad those rebels left you unharmed. That is all I could ask for.”

           Leia grabbed one of her father’s hands and squeezed it. She smiled at her father’s answering squeeze as Saima quickly scanned her feet.

           “Some minor bruising, but no cracks or breaks,” Saima said as she began to clean up. “I would say you are as healthy as can be, Princess. However, you are welcome to wait for a medic to give a second opinion if you wish.”

           Leia had no interest in that as it was completely unnecessary. She could see the poorly hidden relief on Saima’s face when she said so.

           Saima left, pulling back the curtain behind her. The stormtrooper saluted Leia and her father when they moved toward him.

           “Senator, Princess, I am to escort you to your next location,” the trooper reported, holding the salute.

           Father rested a comforting hand on Leia’s shoulder and nodded at the trooper. Father began to gently steer them out of the medbay, the trooper following a step behind.

           “Very well. We will return to our ship and go back to Alderaan,” Father said as they exited the medbay at an increased pace. “I imagine my wife is worried sick about us at the moment. And you know what they say about worrying your wife…” father trailed off.

           “Uh, yes, sir,” the trooper agreed, clearly having no idea. “Do you need someone to gather your belongings?”

           Father waved his free hand. “No, my people have already begun to do so and will bring our things to our ship.”

           There was no more talking as they reached their ship. They were greeted by Captain Bymarin, who smiled and said, “I am relieved to see you both safe and unharmed.”

           The trooper saluted once more and was dismissed by Leia’s father. They followed Captain Bymarin up the ramp. He assured them that their bags would be there in a few more minutes and advised them to relax and get settled.

           Leia and her father parted ways just outside their respective rooms. Neither of them would say anything about what had happened beyond more assurances the other was alright. As long as they were on Imperial Center, not a word would be uttered about the Rebellion.

           Father hugged her tight and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I am so very proud of you, Leia. You were very brave today.”

           “Thank you,” Leia muttered in response before yawning. Father pulled back with a chuckle.

           “Go get some rest. Wouldn’t want your mother to think I’ve been keeping you up,” father nudged her towards her room. “We will speak more later.” With a final goodbye, Leia entered her room and felt every last bit of energy leave her as the door closed.

           She had half a mind to remove her shoes, belt, and jewelry before curling up under her comforter. She promised herself she would insist that she was able to see Luke again. She didn’t know why or how, but Luke had grown on her, and she was worried for him. He was alone, his guardian unconscious, surrounded by people who, at best, didn’t care much about him and, at worst, hated him.

           But in order to make a convincing argument, Leia needed rest. So she let herself fall asleep, listening to the faint noises of the ship and its inhabitants.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Next>

Masterlist 

[hydesjackiespuddinpop]

#in love (part 2)

[from-a-legends-pov]

Star Wars Legends: Poll of the Week - Crimes of Fashion

Which of these fashion crimes from a Star Wars Legends property is your favorite?

The rejected designs for Mara Jade’s wedding dress, which included a computer-generated dress, a “traditional” design from a Hutt, a neo-Imperial design with a black cape and hood (Leia: “Yes, but the bride doesn’t want to look like the father of the groom”), and one design that was simply a thong and a large bow, which Mara refused to try on (Star Wars: Union comic)

Wes Janson’s cape that he had specially made for him on Adumar, adorned with flatscreen panels that played a holo of “a line of Jansons, arms linked, doing high kicks like a dancing chorus” (X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar)

Leia Organa’s Kabray dress – which, due to a luggage mixup, was the only dress she had to wear to an important diplomatic banquet – after a group of enthusiastic Zeltrons “fixed” it (read: cut it to pieces and added glitter) to make it more in keeping with Zeltros fashion and to hide the stains on it (Star Wars #95, original Marvel comics)

Prince Isolder of Hapes’ outfit when presenting the Hapan Consortium’s 62 gifts (plus himself, gift #63) to Leia Organa on Coruscant: “He wore a silver circlet that held a black veil in front of his face, and his long, blond hair fell down around his shoulders. The man was bare-chested except for a small silk half-cloak fastened with silver straps…” (The Courtship of Princess Leia)

The disguises for “Yokel Group” (Wedge Antilles, Myn Donos, and Face Loran) of Wraith Squadron, who for a mission dressed up as a group of stereotypical backwater tourists who had traveled from Agamar looking for brides, wearing shirts with loud prints, clashing shorts, and mismatched hats. “Sir, permission to kill Face?” “Granted. But keep your hat, like Face says” (X-Wing: Wraith Squadron)

Hobbie Klivian’s dress outfit to meet the perator of Cartann, “a riot of lines and angles…every hem of every garment was decorated with trim of eye-hurting yellow, making it almost a dizzying experience to look at him walk.” As Hobbie said: “There are three types of dress clothing…the type that offends the wearer, the type that offends the viewers, and the type that offends everybody. I’m going for the third type” (X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar)

Hungry for more Star Wars Legends content? Follow @from-a-legends-pov and check out our upcoming Star Wars Legends fanfiction event, From a Legends Point of View, HERE. Signups open April 28 — please encourage your favorite Star Wars writers to participate!

[hylialeia]

Netflix is going to generate like 10 seasons of You before Joe finally gets fucking obliterated and my sorry ass is going to watch all of them on the slim hope that I can see that bitch get stabbed by a vengeful woman and that it will be the most cathartic and satisfying moment I’ve witnessed on television in a decade

[this-acuteneurosis]

If you're still taking alternate pov requests, I'd kill to see somebody's perspective on Senator Darsana, be it another senator, an aide or even someone like Dooku.

Okay, so this took me so long to put together because actually, there aren't a lot of people thinking about Darsana in ways that cross the plot interestingly. Besides Shea, I suppose, BUT! I have found a contender. My new favorite.

Hope you enjoy. (Very minor spoilers for the next DB chapter at the end.)

~...~

In the official social ranks of people that interacted with Mistress Leia, Senator Darsana sat high, but not so high as Queen Jamilia, or Senator and Prince Consort Organa, or even Senator Amidala who was once queen.

And Threepio really wished someone had told him that on Tatooine, because he'd been rude and naked in front of a ruling monarch and how he was managing to bear the shame and work side by side with the senator, in the Republic Senate no less, was anyone's guess.

She was so gracious to never bring it up. Threepio would love her forever for it.

But.

Of all Mistress Leia's friends, Senator Darsana was Threepio's favorite.

He was pristine and deliberate in his dress without being gauche. He eschewed, generally, the excitement that caused Threepio so much distress that Senator Amidala and Mistress Leia couldn't seem to help but jump into. Senator Darsana was urbane, aware, and so pinpoint in his every word and gesture. He knew his own culture so well and delivered insults freely, but with such an air and such careful subtlety that if Threepio had been organic he might have been left breathless.

The senator was polite to Threepio, respected Threepio as an official representative of Mistress Leia's, and was, on the occasions when they interacted, perfectly polite to Mistress Shmi.

All of these things were more than enough to earn him a place of favor in Threepio's eyes.

But beyond the social graces and the wisdom to avoid danger was something more. Something Threepio wasn't entirely sure Senator Darsana knew he was doing. Something Threepio knew Mistress Leia had missed because she never asked, and Threepio had never taught her to see.

The senator loved Mistress Leia.

Loved her in a way that Threepio knew and understood because it was etched, with loving care, into his base programming. Placed there by small hands that had brought Threepio to life and given him focus and purpose and pleasure in both.

Senator Darsana could not interfere with Mistress Leia's duties. But he watched, and learned, and assisted.

He made her smile. Really smile. Not the polite, brittle, sharp thing she used on enemies, or the limpid, vapid thing she brought up against truly dangerous foes.

No, Senator Darsana saw and protected who Mistress Leia truly was. He valued her. Encouraged her. Stood by her when others faltered. Had faith when others were full of doubt.

Acted, always with restraint, so that she might be free, but as safe as he could make her.

It was, perhaps, the sort of love no one other than Threepio could have understood, because it was as much a love born of duty as it was of choice. It could afford no recklessness, knew it must come second to Mistress Leia's needs and wants, and carried itself with quiet contentedness that disguised it's true depths.

But when Senator Darsana was the first to arrive and inquire after Mistress Leia, Threepio discreetly made sure the senator received, separately from Senator Amidala's information, all the details Threepio had about what had occurred.

Someone had to look out for Mistress Leia's best interests.

[fanfictasia]

Chapters: 1/3 Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars Original Trilogy Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Leia Organa & Darth Vader, Leia Organa & Luke Skywalker (minor), Obi-Wan Kenobi & Leia Organa (minor) Characters: Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker (minor), Obi-Wan Kenobi (minor) Additional Tags: POV Leia Organa, Leia Organa-centric, Darth Vader Redemption, Darth Vader Finds Out Leia Organa is Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker's Child, Leia Organa Needs a Hug, Darth Vader Needs a Hug, Obi-Wan Kenobi Lives, Post-Star Wars: A New Hope, Canon Divergence - Star Wars: A New Hope, Father-Daughter Relationship, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Grief/Mourning, Family, Friendship, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Hopeful Ending

Summary:

Obi-Wan surviving the Death Star leads to Vader's TIE fighter being shot down in the dogfight over its surface as it approaches the Rebel base at Yavin IV. And when Vader crashes on the planet, not too far from the Rebels, Leia finds herself dealing with much more than her grief over losing Alderaan and her family there as she comes face to face with her birth father.

Read on:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14155408/1/Only-Hero-Left

https://www.wattpad.com/1280698250-only-hero-left-chapter-1-crash

[25centsoda]

Out of the Night - SW Fanfic

https://archiveofourown.org/works/40008342

For the wonderful @kittandchips for @ladyvader23 ‘s Luke & Vader Springish-Summerish Fic Exchange!

Summary: Leia and Han sneak on the Executor to rescue Luke after his capture two weeks ago, but something's off. It's almost like he doesn't want to leave...

Excerpt:

Luke had been right, when he told her about all that time ago when he first came to rescue her on the Death Star; it really was difficult to see out of stormtrooper helmets. Leia had no idea how they managed to do anything with these stupid buckets on.

She waved Han forward, and he joined her in the alcove. Artoo, painted black to match the other droids on the Executor , detached from the computer port next to her.

“Okay,” she said quietly, “Artoo said that there’s a secret set of rooms up ahead, and I’ll bet that’s where he’s keeping Luke.”