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| Leia’s Tears by Queen Karendala |
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Leia was led quietly back to her holding cell surrounded by guards. The only sound breaking the silence was the occasional “move it” accompanied by a nudge or shove from her captors, and the sounds of their boots clicking on the floors.
Keeping her head up as she walked down the sterile hallways, she fought to keep the tears from forming. So many emotions flooded over her… most of all despair. The image of the planet exploding emblazoned into her mind. How could she have gambled with the lives of her home planet of Alderaan? Everything was suddenly gone. Would they have known the horror about to befall them? She hoped that it was quick without warning so that there would have been no fear or panic. When all they have known was peace could they have even comprehended the evil behind the destruction of their world? With no weapons to defend themselves, would they have felt helpless, regretting the idealistic peace that was the core of their society?
Even knowing that she was to be executed, she still thought more of others than herself. Her heart hoping that R2 would reach General Kenobi and all this death would not be in vain. Hoping that there would not be another planet to suffer the fate of her dear Alderaan. Hoping that somehow the Rebellion could destroy this morbid monstrosity and put an end to the tyranny of the Empire.
“Be confident… don’t show fear…” those were the tapes playing in her ears as she went face to face with Tarkin. His worn hallow face mocked her naivete. She thought she could change the universe, she thought she could save lives, she thought she could beat the Empire. Now she was not so sure.
She felt a guard grip tightly around her arm as they reached her cell. With a quick “whoosh” the door slid open and she was pushed inside. Shoving her into the cell, the guard sneered at her “Rebel scum…” She tripped slightly, but caught herself on the metal slab that was supposed to be her bed. Standing there for a moment, she caught her bearings then slowly lowered herself down.
The tears that had been trying so desperately to escape streamed down her cheeks. She would not allow herself to sob, just quietly crying in the empty cell. “Princesses aren’t supposed to cry,” she told herself, “let alone leaders of the Rebellion.”
Tired from all the weight put upon her shoulders, her eyes became heavy and she tried to wipe away the tears with her sleeve. She rested her head on her arm, looking blankly at the floor, the horrible vision of Alderaan replaying over and over. Her blinks became longer, and as she drifted off to sleep and began to dream, hazy images flashed passed her eyes.
Almost a backwards view of the past events… giving R2 the plans they had intercepted… on her ship trying to make the run to Tatooine… a stern but loving hug from the man she called “Father” before leaving on this important mission for the Rebellion… and further back still until her thoughts rested with the images of her mother…
The image of herself crying on the Death Star melted into her lying in a crib as a small child, the same tears running down her cheeks. A shadow darkened over her and the figure she knew as her mother stood next to her. Her beautiful face looking upon her daughter, a strand of long dark hair falling from behind her ears. Gently she picked Leia up and cradled her in a motherly embrace and whispered in her ear, “Shhh, little Princess… everything will be okay…” Whatever had been troubling the baby girl, vanished.
She heard the sound of another cry, another babe close by. Not crying like she had been, but more of an attempt to reach Leia. Her mother passed her to a man, her father perhaps? He had a strong voice, but spoke softly to her. She reached up and tugged on his beard, making him smile. That in turn made her smile at the man, even though there were still some tears on her cheeks. He looked at her and said, “I’m going to miss you, Leia. The force will be with you, always.”
Her mother returned holding another baby… unlike her dark hair, this baby had a mop of blonde. His voice had quieted when he realized Leia had stopped crying. “See little Princess, he will be there for you, to help protect you… like a Knight should.” For a moment, a wave of sadness washed over her, perhaps remembering something or someone. Then she snapped out of her memories, and looked again upon her babies. Some of the sadness left her mother’s face as she smiled at her two children.
She could hear her mother and the man continue talking, but Leia was too interested in the other baby. She felt a closeness to him, but could not comprehend yet that he was her brother. He reached out to her from their mother’s arms, trying to touch her. She in turn held her hand out to him…. and the vision began to fade.
“Whoosh,” the door of her cell flew open, awakening Leia from the images that had played in her mind. Groggily she looked at the stormtrooper, who cocked his helmet at her. Certainly he lacked the discipline of the others, and the height
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