lauraflute

Your destiny...

Four hours later the words still echoed in Leia’s head as she lay in her bed, making no more sense than they had when Luke spoke them. Ten years ago the Imperial Senate and the people of Alderaan were her destiny. Four years ago it was the Rebellion. Six months ago, being with Han. Until today that seemed a constant in her life. Now the Jedi Order was calling to her. Despite her initial protests, the call was strong. The second Luke called her over Bespin, something in her blood was stirred, and refused to be silenced. It would make itself known at odd times without her intent. Luke’s voice in her mind, other peoples’ thoughts making themselves known, objects she was toying of rearranging in her apartment suddenly in their new places when she turned around. It begged her for control, and the bottom line was she didn’t know how.

But her heart pulled just as hard in the other direction. She just got him back a year ago. To leave would be the ultimate betrayal. He begrudgingly accepted her decision to reenter politics with the promise she would resign when they married, a compromise that came surprisingly enough from her mouth. After all they went through the quiet family life appealed to her. They wanted a quiet existence, just the two of them and any little Solos they brought into the galaxy.

Luke’s words came back to haunt her at the thought of children. They would most certainly be tested for midichlorians. The chances of being perfectly benign, non-Force gifted children were slim. They would be the grandchildren of Darth Vader, the nieces and nephews of Luke Skywalker. Private test results or no, everyone would expect them to attend the revived Jedi Temple. If she sent them, she would become little more than a Jedi birthing machine whose children were ripped from her arms the second they were deemed trainable. If not, they would face great temptation and possible ridicule.

Stop getting ahead of yourself, she snapped at herself. You and Han aren’t even engaged yet and you’re panicking over the fate of your non-existent children.

Unfortunately, it was a point of consideration. Whatever she decided affected everyone who loved her, everyone she loved.

And no matter what her decision, someone would wind up terribly hurt.

She hoped it wasn’t herself.

For anyone who missed Chapter 1 or needs a refresher Nor Love, Part One.