The Future of the Family

[Laira Darkhold]

"As dangerous as they sound, the flesh eaters aren't much compared to a warrior in armor with proper weapons, so I'm still very impressed." Laira retorted to the young noble's humility. He was right, they didn't have the same psychological effect as flesh eating ghouls, but trained and equipped warriors commanded a bit more attention and respect than the mindless creatures, not to invalidate her own accomplishments.

For a nobleman, he was quite humble and absolutely beaming with positive emotions at her show of attraction and interest in him. The darkened skin young man's cheeks had the faint signs of pink in them from blushing. "Well, I was planning to visit the Apalis Coast one afternoon, stretch out on the beach for a while. I suppose I could go with you instead, so long as there is sun for me to lay in." Her grey eyes turned to her mother for approval. Laira didn't know this man and certainly had no reason to trust him herself, however her mother had set them up to meet. Her mother wouldn't have brought a snake to take her hand, so there was that.

She took a few more bites of her salad, realizing that her mother had pushed the plate away from herself. Something was bothering her, perhaps worry about her injury or adventures. Or just as likely, Faith was having some reservations about seeing her daughter fawn over a young nobleman. They would have to talk about it when they were alone, calling attention to it now would only make things awkward.

"So mom, what all have I missed around here? Dad and you getting along?"

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

"Nope threw him for leaving his socks laying about" the ongoing joke about his socks had been an inside joke for years. Back when they were first married and life was a bit more complicated. Did Faith approve, yes and no.

"You know the rules" they had been drummed into them all. If they went anywhere one of the Loyalists when with them, and if need be the royal guard would go to. Stay at a distance but yet be watchful. It wasn't expected that someone would do anything but Faith remembered the story of her Aunt Maeve so she wouldn't take that chance. She'd never forgive herself if she did.

She tried to smile though Laira could be sweet but she had to admit to herself she had doubts, and questions that would have to be answered. First born yes...but that didn't mean automatically did it.

"I love the coast, I love the lake too. Caleb do you ?"

Caleb shrugged, "Mam I love anything that keeps me outdoors." He smiled then looked to Laira, "I'm sure there's sun on the beach for you. We can go in the afternoon for an hour or two then came back to the City." He looked to Faith, "if its alright."

Was it alright the question again, "so long as you follow the rules."

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Oh, I'm sure you'll forgive him by tonight." She turned to Caleb, smiling, "Organa women are well known for their mercy and forgiving nature." Whether that was true or not Laira didn't know for certain, but it was believable. And her father could just about quell any rage in her mother's heart with a few soft words and gentle gestures, much like how Faith could chill the fires in Draco with the right look.

Laira grinned and he body language expressed excitement and contentedness at being allowed to go running off with the young attractive stranger. Granted she could take care of herself and wasn't much worried about anything untoward happening, from Caleb or from anyone else. Even still having one of her mother's loyalists and Knights follow them at a respectful distance wasn't an inconvenience for the redhead. "Oh, then its decided, we'll go after lunch and be back for dinner."

Continuing to cozy herself alongside Caleb, Laira began asking about the young man, hoping to know a little more about him before they ran off together for the afternoon. She was a flirt but she had boundaries she defended fairly diligently. The princess might have spent the better part of the last year galavanting around the galaxy on her own, but she was still the same woman she had been when she left. She liked the attention, she enjoyed the back and forth of flirting, she liked seeing someone else get awkward and flushed because of her, and she enjoyed that feeling others could stir in her. But it was all just innocent flirting and nothing more.

"So, Caleb, do you have any dreams, hopes, aspirations? I'd love to know more about what you want from your future." Besides how it was supposed to intertwine with her own. Laira wasn't a fan of arranged marriages, luckily she also knew her mother was not a fan either. There was no risk to that developing without her own approval, her mother was just trying to see if she was interested in any of the nobility since she had not found love elsewhere. Well, she had found affection and hope, but they had left her with troubles. It couldn't hurt to see if her interests and Caleb's were more shared than the two people she had developed affections for.

"And, you know," She started bashfully, eyes dipped low and looking up into the dark-skinned boy's own, "What kind of person are you hoping to share those with?"

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

Mercy. Is that what it was called. Yes the look of icicles how often did her father ever receive that look hmmm? If she could have rolled her eyes she would have Laira didn't know a lot about relationships but she would learn in time. In time she'd might the one. Hopefully she wouldn't lose him.

ah...such thought sometimes Faith didn't know where they came from. She watched Caleb and Laira that could have been her and Draco. Her Knight Errant she had flirted with him a bit that day hadn't she. Yeah. But when you know its the right person the way she had felt that day. A connection that she couldn't explain she had not been looking. The guilt she suffered because of it well she had spent many sleepless nights.

But look at what they accomplished....children all the other things were just things. Children were the continuation of them their love for one another embodied in little bodies with hearts and minds of their own. Loved each other so much it had been easy to share it with Laira and Theo.

Yeah...the Vereen family knew how to show love to one another even on the bad days.

Faith's thoughts were broken by Laira's voice asking about Caleb's aspirations.

"My aspirations." he sighed heavily as he looked at Laira, "If it was me I'd like to spend 6 months on Hapes, Naboo, Coruscant, and Nubia to learn all about the architecture and history surrounding the planets. I love buildings, I know it sounds weird but when you look at a building you see history in how the windows changed, or the curve of the roof. I might not be a fighter Laira but there's beauty in everything and I'd like to see some of it before I have to settle into my duties as Duke Panteer. Alderaan is beautiful in its own right and it is home, but there's so much more to the galaxy." He shrugged a bit a hint of red in his cheeks as he had never really spoken that out loud and he wasn't sure why he had now.

He cheeks really burned red when she asked about the kind of girl he was looking for. "You know she's going to have to be understanding of family, she's going to have to be independent as well because with all that I have to do to run Castle Panteer she can't be a clinging vine. And she needs ideas of how to help others we have a lot of loyalists that look to my family for advice and help, and she's going to have to be able to think on her feet to do that. I don't want a wall flower Laira, she'd never survive the responsibilities that come with our station in life."

He smiled then, "What about you...I mean..you'll be Queen....what do you want for you? And how does someone fit into that? What qualities does your potential partner have to have?" He felt very grown in those moments able to speak his mind without fearing that what he said would be spread to his family. He didn't think the Queen needed someone who would say what she wanted to hear.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The redhead paid close attention to Caleb as he spoke, taking mental notes and comparing them to what she wanted out of her life until he returned the question back at her. At first she wanted to deflect it, especially with her mother in the room, but ultimately decided to answer him honestly. "I won't be queen for many years to come, and I plan on making the most of the time I have to be just me before that day comes." Her mother was a good queen, and Laira knew in her heart that she wouldn't be able to replace her any time soon.

"So in the meantime, I plan on seeing the beauty of every star upclose, learning about Jedi, about Sith, studying history out in the galaxy and hopefully making a little of my own. You're right, beauty is everywhere, but its up to us to seek it out. As for a partner, I don't care much about looks, gender, or even species so long as the being is good company and committed." She grinned back at her mother, "Granted tall, dark, and handsome aren't going to be counted against anyone."

"I suppose I'd want someone who would come with me when it suited us and be filled with the same spirit of awe and compassion I am when we traveled, they would have be okay if left alone. Someone I could trust to leave at home and handle themselves or even have their own adventures, but would pine for me and send me love notes everyday we were apart." She sighed with a soft smile, "I look for the adventurous types, I'm drawn to them. I don't need to be pampered or showered with gifts, they don't have to have money, just affection and attention." Laira grinned widely, "A lot of attention."

She'd found someone similar, or thought she had, at one point in her travels. He was a bit older, but sweet to her and then it had all been washed away. A facade to make their mission more likely to succeed and nothing more, and she was left vulnerable and hurting. Laira wouldn't talk about what she thought could have been though.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

Faith wondered what would she have done in this situation with her mother. Well her mother wouldn't have made it an option it would have been a command. She wanted to be sure Laira was not alone. Yes she could and likely would find someone suitable to her but right now Faith needed the comfort of knowing that for a little while she wasn't.

It was a benefit to her to listen to what Laira wanted for herself and what someone who wanted to be with her needed to be. A lot of attention, that was Draco coming out in her. But he needed it because of how his life had been changed by not having attention. Attention between them was their way of reminding each other that they were together, they had each other, and the love they shared.

Yeah he wasn't a bad guy.

Caleb nodded, "I don't plan on settling down for a while Laira. Too young and too soon for all that responsibility but by my 25th year I'll have no choice my family will push the issue." He looked at the Queen, "unless someone intervenes for me." then he smiled.

She laughed as well, "we shall see, a lot can happen in 5 years." She knew life turned on a pinhead changing when you least expected.

Faith was certain there were things Laira wasn't mentioning, perhaps later.

"Well" Faith began, "this has been enlightening I need a cup of tea, anyone else?"

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"A lot can happen in five years. Who knows what we'll both be up to by that time." That said Laira was still going to give Caleb the college try to at least see if they were compatible to a degree. She owed her mother at least enough for that, and he wasn't bad or lecherous. Just an unexpected surprise. "Well, in the meantime, I'd like if we stayed in contact maybe dated whenever I come home or you get the itch to go visit a planet I could try and meet you out there. There is no harm in spending time together and getting to know one another a little better." Worst case scenario they decided against each other and went their separate ways.

"Oh, tea would be lovely, but Caleb, I haven't seen my mother for almost a year and I'd love to get the chance to spend some time with her. How about we meet back up after tea for you to take me to Cloud Shape Falls for the afternoon." Laira and Faith had a lot to talk about, more things with Caleb in the picture, but Laira was also her mother's daughter and deserved a little one on one time.

The Day of Demand was looming and they needed to make special preparations for it, as well as discuss her potential as heir, which bothered the princess greatly. It wasn't something she wanted to talk about because she knew she wouldn't be the Queen her mother was, she knew she could not live up to her mother's example. She was too wild and too free, and she avoided responsibility and attachment like it would bite her.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

"Oh yes I would like that too Laira. I must be going" he stood up taking the hint that they needed alone time. He smiled, "thank you for the invitation. I very much enjoyed dinner.

He bowed and took his leave. Faith stood up "thank you for coming" he seemed a good boy with a wonderful future whether it was with Laira remained to be seen.

Faith was glad though for the alone time. "Come sit dear"

Faith moved off to sit on a couch while the meal was cleared away.

Faith had to begin tasking Laira to her duties. "You know your father and I discussed the upcoming event. We've been having it restored as you know. The past history had put so much damage that well we couldn't have it kept in that dire condition. But its ready"

It was ready which meant Laira had to be ready.

"Would you like to go and get it?"

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Bye," Laira waved, "See you soon. Wearing something red to match me." The princess waved, wondering if her red swimsuit was still packed up or if she'd remembered to pack it into her overnight bag. It was her favorite and she had been planning on visiting the beach.

Then the conversation turned back to official matters, matters of state and importance to the family. The very things Laira was terrified of accepting. They could have a very long conversation about it, they could even argue about it. This was simply a formality Laira kept telling herself, something the Throne required of its children but there was no guarantee she'd ever even sit on the throne. It could be decades before Faith felt the desire to step down and even then Laira might be able to convince her to stay.

The redheaded princess never imagined herself as queen. She always imagined herself as a Jedi Knight or a Warrior of some other sorts rather than a monarch, but if she did not do some things, she would not be able to later in life.

"No." She said, frowning. Laira wanted to relax and have her vacation, discuss her plans for the future. Perhaps make out with Caleb on the beach if he played his cards right. She did not want to have to wander through the deepest parts of the palace in her pretty cocktail dress. "But I guess I have to, don't I." Laira swallowed hard and pushed her chair back.

The redhead stepped around the table, touching her mother on the back as she walked past the couch. "I guess I'll be back and then we can talk."

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Her heels clicked across the flagstone floors as she walked from the dining room. There was no need to change, her cocktail dress would suffice rummaging through the dungeons. Her father was mildly involved in the situation and thus she had an inkling that he would stick with ancient traditions, that was his modus operandi after all. Everything he did called back to the old ways, 'the foundations of civilization are the most pure' he would say.

That meant she'd want her lightsaber. For whatever reason, old customs always involved fighting in some manner, hardly civilized. Perhaps that's what made them old she mused.

The redhead kept her pace casual, not bothering to rush through the hallways. If her father and mother wanted to be rid of her as quickly as she had arrived by sending her on some quest then they could sit and wait on the princess while she did it on her own time. Laira's only regret was that if she took too much time, Caleb might worry or feel that she was playing some game with him and that might make things tense or awkward to start their afternoon together with.

Finally Laira arrived at her room, nothing had been unpacked yet, just a bag on her mattress with all the things she had decided she couldn't possibly live without from her wardrobe. Even for a travelling spacer, the Princess managed to keep a healthy closet with more outfits than she honestly used.

First, that red bikini?

The redhead dug through her bag and found it with a devilish grin. It was her favorite, the one she'd worn on Manaan and a few other beaches she'd felt the need to drink for free. It was a shade darker than her hair and paired perfectly with a translucent sarong around her waist. Caleb would love it almost as much as Laira did.

Next, her lightsaber.

That one was kept in the same zipper as her Renegade Pistol and its holster. With an exasperated sigh, the princess just pulled out the whole belt and fastened it around her waist. It clashed so horribly with this dress. No one would ever wear a belt with this dress, but she wasn't changing three times today.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Once more the now horribly mismatched princess walked through the palace hallways. The belt and holster was meant to be worn low on the hips and tie around the thigh to keep the blaster in place. But in a black dress that was impossible, or impossible to do without losing her dignity.

Laira already knew where she was going, the very bottom of the palace, all the way into the old palace before it was rebuilt after the One Sith invasion where they used a sith spawn to destroy it. That seemed like ages ago, but the scars the planet bore were still fresh.

The main problem with going that deep into the dungeons was that the turbolifts only went halfway. The rest she'd have to climb, jump, or repel down and back up again when Laira was done.

The doors to the lift dinged and the princess made her wa aboard, waiting for it to close just hoping no one say her with the belt on. Her mother would certainly be catching some complaints about forcing her through this on practically no notice at all. Of course, with her luck, a few handmaidens and a noble woman entered the lift heading towards the main hall.

They didn't recognize the princess, especially since she wasn't in anything exactly regal in appearance, but she could hear the noblewoman muttering under her breath about the weapon on an otherwise well dressed individual. It was like finishing school all over again, you wear combat boots with one outfit you shouldn't to be comfortable and everyone makes fun of you for weeks. That was one of the reasons she was so particular about her appearance and reveled in being watched, looked upon, or ogled. Only one of the reasons though.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Her cheeks red with embarrassment, she waved as the handmaidens and their attending noble left the turbolift, leaving the princess alone at last. Oh, her parent's would be getting a tantrum if she ruined this dress down in the deepest parts of the dungeon. And Laira wasn't really known for throwing tantrums.

The lift continued down from the main-floor towards the basements, leaving the thoroughly embarrassed princess alone with her thoughts and fears.

Finally the turbolift opened at the bottom of its shaft, leaving the well dressed princess to wander the bottom of the new palace until she could find the openings to the old palace cellars. Rumors of the occasional child going missing or being eaten by sithspawn or vong-shaped horror still abounded, but most were completely baseless.

Most.

The Knights of the Eternal Flame had done hard work clearing the regions of Alderaan and Dimeria, her partner with the Ranger Corps, had told her tales of the sisters of the Order training in the old palace cellars and some of them fending off Vong creatures like Firebreathers and Voxyn. Dimeria could tease her sometimes, especially since the Knight had not known Laira's family lineage and believed the redhead had never been to Alderaan, but it was still a worry the Princess had as she slipped under a collapsed beam and into a hewn-stone spiral staircase descending into darkness.

Echoes of water dripping rang up from the shadows softly as the princess cracked her glowrod and continued into the depths, blazing red hair shining a brilliant golden-crimson in its light.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Spider webs, leaks from long busted pipes the new palace didn't even use, mold, and moss grew down in the old palace cellars that the new palace had been constructed atop. After the destruction wrought by the One Sith, the Alderaanians had prevailed after years of occupation and suffering. Many things had changed after that war, the people had changed, their hopes and aspirations. What they wanted in a Queen or a King.

Laira's fears were not on the possibility of Vong or Sith beast, but of the mantle she was predestined for. There was still time to turn back. There was still time to turn away and tell her mother she wouldn't be taking over the throne. It wasn't what she wanted, it wasn't what she was good at. Even now the last time she had been in charge of anything everyone under her had died to the Sith. Outcast Squadron had relied on her to get them out on Thyferra, they had trusted her to comeback while they held the corridor for civilians. And in the end, what had she done?

She had left them there to die, and die they did. They didn't even get a good fight or get to go down swinging. One moment they were holding the line across a city block while civilians fled to the tops of a building waiting for her and her shuttle to return for the next evacuation. And the next they were all pounded into vapor by the Sith Empire's ships bombarding the city. They had all trusted her to comeback for them. She had promised them she would as soon as she unloaded the next group of civilians, and then they were gone and she just landed on the Solemn Purpose and cried. Laira hadn't even gone back to check on them. She hadn't even given any possible survivors a chance! How was she supposed to go from that to ruling a planet?

Tears welled up in her eyes remembering smiling and waving at them from the cockpit while her Lambda carried off forty of fifty civilians towards the evacuation fleet, all of them so certain she would be right back, and then she never came. It was Laira's fault they hadn't made it. It was the Sith's fault they had been forced to fight there and had been bombarded, but it was her fault they had been left. The Thyferrans had offered them a way off and she had told the Commander she could get them away once she got back. They would be alive today if she hadn't taken responsibility.

Darkened corners shrunk as she passed slowly, careful to keep her footing in her heels. Posture wasn't as important, but she was managing it alright down in the depths of the old palace. The passageways were narrow and she only had a vague idea of where she was going through the maze of broken and collapsed tunnels.

Ping.

Laira stopped, frozen as the sound of metal against metal echoed through the corridors. It was somewhere off in the distance, but the noise was most certainly down in these dungeons with her. The redhead expanded her Force senses to their limit, searching for any signs of life down here with her. At first she missed it, a cold void where their should be something. She could feel the bacteria and the moss reacting to something near them but there was nothing there.

Someone was hiding or Force Dead and so that must be where she needed to go. Perfect.

Ping.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The noise continued, steady and growing louder with each step as she grew closer and closer. It wasn't until she got closer that she realized it was hammer against anvil, the shaping of metal.

Of course.

She rounded the corner and in the room she could see him. A large man, with a broad back and taunt shoulders. He was wearing trousers and a sleeveless shirt, a heavy leather apron over his chest. Thick leather gloves covered his hands. Dark hair speckled with grey covered his head and his face. Her father.

"Hey honey. Your mom said you'd be home today." Why did he come down to places like this to work? Was it because he liked being mysterious or just liked being alone sometimes?

"Yeah, I just left lunch with her. You won't believe what she did." Laira started laughing as she looked around the room. It was a forge, well maintained with all the tools necessary to work anything, but it only held the old tools. Regular hammer and avil, tongs, quench tank. He liked his antiques.

"Caleb? Yeah, he's a good kid." He responded, continuing working on the ring he was tapping on. The hammer in his hands was beautiful, pure crystal that shone in the dark. It pulsated power now that she could see it, like he had been masking it until she found him. Like he was masking it from everyone else.

"You knew and were okay with hooking me up?" Her eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, your mother can be quite convincing." He smiled, but didn't look up from his work, "Besides, he's a good kid and all she did was arrange a meeting. If you wanted you could have walked away as soon as you saw him. But you didn't, did you?"

"No, I met with him. He was really cute. We even set up a date for later today." She waited to see his response, hoping to get a rise out of her very protective father.

"Good. But that wasn't my point. My point was you met with him, not because you thought he was good looking, but because you want what your mother and I want for you. You are afraid of it, as well you should be. Faith and I have both worn the mantles of rulership, and its not easy." He finally stopped and straightened up to look at her in the eye, both of their grey eyes meeting one another. Hers bright and shining almost silver, his dulled and darkened from a lifetime of strife and struggle. "So where are your priorities?"

She stopped smiling and her mouth fell, her tongue sticking to her teeth as she tried to feign exasperation to by time to think of an answer. "I don't know. I just want to explore and adventure."

"That's all you want? You sure you didn't come down here for something else?"

"Mom sent me down here for that. I don't want it. You want me to take the crown, you want me to sit on the throne. Not me. Every time I lead, people die!" The tears were back and the fear cracked in her voice as she spoke, her tone louder and angry. Scared. "I just can't do that anymore. I can't be the reason my friends keep dying, I can't keep being the one to walk away and have to see their kids and their wives alone knowing that they'd still be alive if it wasn't for me. I can't handle that when its a squadron of pilots, what makes you think I can handle it when its a planet?"

"Then why didn't you turn back? If you can't handle it why didn't you turn around? What's keeping you going forward?"

"I, uh. I don't want to have to listen to you two gripe at me. Its not worth the arguing. Why do you think I ran away for a year!" Laira retorted, going so far as to stamp her foot against the rough stone in protest, tears streaming down her face.

He didn't say a word, he stood there quiet like he always did when she got mad. He just stayed calm and stared at her. "You are willing to surrender to fear, here at the beginning of that path? That doesn't sound like you."

"Its a prison, you and mom had to sacrifice everything for the throne, I don't want to give up who I am. I don't want to be trapped." She said through her tears and the soft cracking of her voice. "I don't want to be the reason people I care about keep dying."

"Laira, sweetheart. Its not easy, but someone has to be that person. I asked you what kept you going when you could have turned back. You could have said no, why didn't you? Tell me the truth."

She leaned backwards, putting her back to the wall and shrugging her arms. "I don't know. I guess I just don't think I'll ever be ready for it, ever be good enough."

Draco smiled, "But you want to be, don't you?" All she could do was nod in response. Her mother had been her idol growing up, yes she had others she looked up to and admired, but Faith had always been her idol. The embodiment of everything she wanted to become and she constantly fell short. By the time Faith was her age she had accomplished so much meanwhile Laira was a grunt pilot. Faith was a senator by sixteen, Laira was still struggling with finishing school and felt as though she was barely scrapping by. The redhead had built the mantle and responsibility into something she could simply never achieve. Laira felt as though she could never follow Faith's act as Queen and had decided to run from it instead of try and fail.

"So, take the sword with you on your adventures. Pick a nebulous trial that will take a while, but most importantly learn from everything you do. Learn." He walked around the anvil and wrapped his arms around the petite frame of his daughter, "You'll never be your mother. Accept that, be yourself and do the best you can. The rest will come with experience. Its war, people die. Don't worry about how many you lose, keep track of how many you bring back. How many people get to go home because of you. Focus on that. Now, go." He dropped a ring into her hands and pushed her towards the door, going about cleaning up while Laira wiped tears from her face and stepped out of the forge back into the darkened tunnels.

 

[Rianna Organa]

Nnn.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Wetness clung to her cheeks from her tears, fear still clung to her heart like an icy vice. Doubts swam in her head and worry of failure stung her soul. But they always would, wouldn't they? She'd always have those fears. Her mother once said 'Courage is being afraid and acting anyway.' during a bedtime story about knights. Courage was one of the things her mother had always had when she ruled and it was something Laira was going to have to learn.

The darkened tunnels grew and grew until she found it. Before her opened what used to be the throne room and there sat in the chair were the crown and the sword of old. How many scared supplicants had walked this same passage way, had followed these same steps to find these things? How many of the heroes and heroines from her story books had put their hands on these same artifacts. She knew why her father had left them here, where they had been found first ages ago. He was always one for tradition.

She plucked the sword from the chair first, pulling the dark metal blade from the sheath just enough to take a look at it. The sheath was strong mandalorian steel and veshok wood, the obvious Mandalorian craftsmanship in its construction meant her father had made it himself just for her. The sword, while ancient glistened and shined. It was clear that it had been forged thousands of years ago, but it was sharp and as deadly as ever.

Laira stuck the weapon back in its scabbard and slung it over her back, plucking the crown off the chair and turning around. The trek back wasn't nearly as difficult as the princess remembered. Every shadow sunk away from her, every aching burning fear in her chest was there, but it was easier. The sound of her father's forge was quiet and as she passed it on the way back it was quiet and cold, even the anvil was missing. It was as though he had never been there, the coals of the once blazing forge as cold as ice when she touched them. That mysterious arse.

Nevertheless, the Princess struggled with going up stairs on the way back up to the throne room, her toes hurting from walking through a dungeon in three inch heels, but she managed. It wasn't until she was back in the full light of the turbolift once again that the redhead realized her makeup was ruined, as little as she wore, and her dress was covered in soot and dust. Not ruined, but pretty damn close. As much as she wanted to be upset about it, she was more concerned that she had not stopped shaking since seeing her father. The nerves just wouldn't pass. The feeling that the worst was yet to come pressed on her and the anxiety played into her mind.

The lift opened and the princess returned to her mother, sword on her back and crown in her hands. "Here you go mother." She said through a shaky voice, but she managed to say it. The redhead placed the sword on the couch beside her mother and held the crown out to her to take until the day she was ready for it to be placed on her brow. "I spoke with dad, he seems to be doing well."

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith knew in her heart that Laira was running from duty. They were alike in many ways not wanting the burden of being responsible for an entire planet was the heaviest burden that could be held.

She had heard that defiance in her voice as she left. The voice if a condemned prisoner.

Yeah. She remembered that feeling to. Theo her brother gone the crown came to her by default. She had never wanted it. Never.

But here she was Queen the last 18 years. She felt old.

Anxiously she watched the door would Laira come back or run.

But then the door opened and in walked the next Queen of Alderaan. Faith couldn't help but smile, "your father i bet he told what you needed to hear."

She knew he said something, "youve been crying Laira. Come talk to me dear. "

While Draco could smooth Laira warrior heart only Faith knew the fears she faced.

Faith reached for Laira's hand, "you did well. They are only symbols remember. You are the heart and soul. "

There was much to discuss.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira sat beside her mother, leaning against her and nodding. She had been crying, the memory of all those she lost tore at her heart and at her mind. She distracted herself with fancy missions and she kept herself busy with Elpsis to keep herself distracted, but those memories clung to her. She could never be rid of them, and she wasn't sure she wanted to.

"It was just, I don't think I can handle it all. I've already gotten so many people killed, so many of my friends are gone now because of me, and I don't want that to keep happening." Her father told her to remember the people she saved and to focus on that, but she didn't know hardly any of them. She knew her friends that kept not coming back with her. "I'm just not ready for it all. I haven't lived yet, not really. There is so much I still wanna do, like find love, explore the galaxy, and I've always seen the throne as the antithesis to all that."

"I want to believe I could live up to what you've done and everything you've been, but I don't think I can. I don't think I ever will." She paused looking at Faith with narrow eyes, she knew that a lesson was coming, at least in the kindest meaning of the word. "But I'll try."

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith nodded and listened to her only daughter lament the loss of her friends. She reached out to comfort her a soft stroke to her cheek, an understanding nod, and an embrace to offer her protection and warmth.

"I was fortunate in some ways when your Grandmother sent me to be the Senator for Alderaan she said it was to get me out of the house after Dar'yaim and Bud had been gone for so long. I didn't want to go. Your Uncle Theo had held the position before me, and he was the heir. I knew what she was doing she was preparing me."

Yes she had felt it slowly creeping over her like sludge weighing her down and threatening to take away precious air.

"But I went. I learned I did my duty as your Grandmother wanted. I performed the Day of Demand, like she wanted and every day I wore my boots under my dresses because that part was still me." Doing things her own way, trying to show others how to do it. "You will do the same because you are my daughter and his daughter. He's never run from a fight in life. Neither will you. You will own this and make it fit you." Faith's brown eyes gazed into the storm cloud grey of Laira's.

"I rose through the ranks to a position that...had me putting people in harm's way. I never saw their faces but I saw their families. I felt responsible for it. I had given the order, I sent them to die I live with that every day. I try to make sure I don't do it needlessly again, life is precious and to achieve the safety of thousands sometimes millions of others we lose a few. That is our burden to protect the millions who call Alderaan home. I just sent 3 agents from Alderaan into sith space to gather information. For without the information millions could die, I'm weighing 3 lives against the lives of the Alderaan system."

Faith stroked Laira's hair trying to give her comfort as well as herself. These stories still pained her, haunting her in moments of doubt. Just as Laira's would haunt her it was part of life unfortunately. She wished she could make it better, take the memories away.

"I've only ever been me. There is no image of me for you to live up to you. When you take on these roles they will be what you make them. My reign will be history, but you are the future." Faith laughed a bit, "If I had not been the Crown Princess, I would not have met your father. Your Grandmother met your Grandfather in a kidnapping. You don't know what you will find ahead of you these roles provide opportunity not isolation."
The one time Faith had problems saying what she needed to bring comfort to her child all she felt like was that she was rambling on.

"Don't let your fear rule you Laira. You are much stronger than they are. Don't focus on the negative look at the positive. Look at how many you can help, look at how you can influence the galaxy, how many leaders will share your vision and work with you to accomplish it. How the people here at home need someone with a vision of the future. Don't you remember the stories of Padme she was Queen and a Rebel. Of Leia who was a princess and lead a rebellion. You can be a leader instead of leading a few you will lead millions."

Faith wasn't sure if Laira would understand, or if her fears would keep her blinded to the potential of what being Queen could bring.

"Tell me about your friends." Good memories always combatted old. Faith wanted Laira to remember to inspire her as to why she should lead.


[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira listened, but not all of what her mother was saying sunk in to the redheaded Princess as she sat being comforted by her mother, the Queen. It was easy for Faith to say it would be alright, Alderaan was doing well and she had helped it into an era of prosperity, Laira would be responsible for keeping that era going and she was scared. Frightened. She didn't know anything about ruling or finances, or anything else right now. And even if she did, Laira did not want to be her mother as much as she looked up to Faith.

"Well," she sniffed, wiping her eyes. "I don't have enough time to go into everyone before I need to go get ready to meet Caleb, but I can run you through a few of them." She tried to think about the ones that weren't just memories that she carried, that were people she could pick up her comm and message and it was far too few. Despite how connected the Resistance was and how many were on good terms, few were close-knit friends and she'd made sure not to get too close to very many people anymore. She needed to change that, but it was painful to scribble their names in her X-Wing when they passed. "Well, I told you about Elpsis. She and I are... Complicated, but very close. She's a pyromancer and is so soft and sweet, you'd love her. Then there is, was, Danni Lest. She and I flew together for the Alliance for months before the War started. She was a hotshot, like me, so we were made to be besties. I'm a little flirty and bubbly, while she had a wry sense of humor so we clashed a lot in good fun." She stopped, Kaeshana had been Danni's last flight, the first name scribbled into her X-Wing.

"I guess there was my partner when I was with the Coalition Rangers. Dimeria Nykerian, one of the Knights of Alderaan on tour with me. She was like a big sister for a while, took care of me and watched over me. She didn't even know who I really was, but she was good to me. Oh, in case you haven't heard I made her the official ambassador to House Cadalthor of Tygara. She and the Duchess of that house had a relationship and they needed an excuse to be together, that was the best I could think of to help out." Dimeria was probably in heaven after years of depression and the feeling of loneliness. The young Knight had always felt alone and without a confidant on Alderaan, having to guard her emotions closely from everyone and never being able to open up to them, but for the foreigner who showed her kindness and love, she had melted. Laira simply had to help in anyway she could.

"Then there was Lukas. He was my commander when I was flying with the Alliance. Older gentlemen," she glanced up at Faith with a grin, "Purely platonic, don't worry. He and I were friends I'd like to believe. He trusted me with his life and liked to tell me I was his best pilot. He was encouraging, kept hoping I'd take over the reigns for one of his Squadrons, but I never did." He died on Thyferra waiting for her to return for them, but she never did. They got hit while she was still in transit and she stayed with the fleet as it jumped rather than go back and look for them.

"We need to talk about Caleb some too. And the Day of Demand."

[member="Faith Organa"]