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Topic:
Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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AngelQueen
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
12/31/05 1:13pm
Subject:
Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Title: Gifts Unknown
Author: AngelQueen
Timeframe: c. Swarm War
Characters: Leia Organa Solo, Luke Skywalker, minor Padmé Amidala
Genre: introspective, minor angst
Keywords: gifts
Summary: Leia recalls something from her faint recollections of her mother. Something she continues to see in another.
Many times others have told me I am like my mother, that she bestowed her abilities and gifts to me. My father always said I was a great deal like her, though I often sensed that he held back a great deal when he chose to speak of my birth family. He never spoke of my birth father and I always assumed - perhaps naively - that he did not know him well enough to say anything definitive of him. It was not until I knew the truth that I understood truly why he said nothing of the man. How does one tell a child that their father is a monster out of nightmares?
Once I knew the truth, I wanted nothing more than to forget it. I was content with my parents being Bail and Breha Organa. They had showered me with love. What more did I need?
But for you, my brother, there was no such consolation. Though your aunt and uncle - my aunt and uncle as well - cared for you in their own way, you had never had someone to call Father, or Mother. You never had the chance to bestow a child's adoration on a parent, as I did. You had no memories like faded holopics to touch upon whenever the need called for it.
I remembered so little of our mother that what I did recall seemed so inconsequential. They were more impressions than they were memories. Thick brown hair pulled back in a frayed braid, large brown eyes so like my own. Once, I thought her eyes fit her face rather perfectly, while mine often seemed to large to fit my more angular features.
She seemed to reach for something, someone, in my memories. I never knew who. And then there were the tears. I can remember her weeping brokenly, her gaze locked on some point far away from wherever she was at that moment.
I never understood why she was so sad. I once asked my father, and he told me it was because she had known she was dying and was being forced to leave to her daughter. That explanation was more than enough to satisfy a small girl, longing for an insight into a time she barely knew. But as time passed and more facts came to me, I knew there had to be more than to my father's words.
As I took the time to hone my talents as a Jedi, I learned to clear my mind of the chaos it had been engulfed in for so many years. A result of that was that my concentration became much more clear.
In my meditations, I felt compelled to look at those faint recollections. And to my surprise - I felt I had gone over them and discovered every possible detail - I saw, no, heard something knew.
I could hear a very faint voice...
There... is good in him... I know... I know...
Had I heard those words as a youngling, they would have made no sense. Perhaps that is why the Force did not reveal them to me. But now I understand.
Those words, words so similar to what you said to me that night on Endor's forest moon, were the last ones she said before she died.
She fell into death believing in him, even after he had left her to bear his children alone. Even after all the agony she had undoubtedly endured for his sake.
She believed, just as you did.
Do you not see, brother? Do you understand now?
I was not the only one who was granted something of our mother. She gave me her eyes, her abilities in the political arena. But to you she gave something just as precious, perhaps even more so, in the larger scheme of all that happened.
She gave you her faith. And a great and wondrous thing it was and continues to be.
Feedback? 
AQ
-----signature-----
"Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!"
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must."
"You will try."
Obi-Wan and Anakin
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ginchy
Registered:
May '05
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Date Posted:
12/31/05 1:24pm
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Wonderful!! I mentioned this idea to my husband after we had watched ROTS for like the 8th time, but you've worded it far better than I ever could!
Great, great, great job with this! I love it!
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Liesl
Registered:
May '05
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Date Posted:
12/31/05 1:45pm
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Very good.It eloquently says what we all know - that Leia looks like Padme, but Luke is more like her in personality. I really liked it.
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Proud Padawan of IrishEyedJedi  Read at Your Own Risk: Fics in Profile "The white whale drank some bad plankton and splashed through a coffee table." - Heathers
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RebelMom
Title: TFF Secretary
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
12/31/05 2:57pm
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Beautiful. So true. Luke was right there when she had said those last words - I guess subconsciously picked them up.
-----signature-----
Short Story: Pressure Point http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26961243/p1/?7 Jacen Solo and Anakin Skywalker - as it should have been. TFF: Cheryl
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AngelQueen
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
1/1/06 6:31am
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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ginchy: Wonderful!! I mentioned this idea to my husband after we had watched ROTS for like the 8th time, but you've worded it far better than I ever could!
Great, great, great job with this! I love it!
*blush* Thank you! The thoughts behind this ficlet were also spawned by RotS for me too. Luke laments he never knew his mother? Well, to see a remnant of her, he has only to look into his sister's eyes. To see her in himself, he has only to remember his belief that his father could be redeemed.
Liesl: Very good.It eloquently says what we all know - that Leia looks like Padme, but Luke is more like her in personality. I really liked it.
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed!
RebelMom: Beautiful. So true. Luke was right there when she had said those last words - I guess subconsciously picked them up.
Mommy! *glops* Glad to see you! And you're right, Luke was right there next to his mother, being held in Obi-Wan's arms when Padmé said there was still good in Anakin. Granted, her husband was the biggest idiot in the galaxy, but there was still good in him.  
AQ
-----signature-----
"Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!"
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must."
"You will try."
Obi-Wan and Anakin
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VaderLVR64
Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
1/1/06 6:53am
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Oh great! I start off the New Year crying!  Beautiful and touching, sad and hopeful all at the same time. Bravo!
-----signature-----
If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories.
Proud New Army Mom - off to bootcamp!
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AngelQueen
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
1/1/06 3:00pm
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Vader: Oh great! I start off the New Year crying! Beautiful and touching, sad and hopeful all at the same time. Bravo!
*hands over a specially made New Years' tissue* 
Thank you, my friend! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
AQ
-----signature-----
"Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!"
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must."
"You will try."
Obi-Wan and Anakin
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JediMasterRev
Registered:
Dec '04
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Date Posted:
1/2/06 8:16am
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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How sad, but very touching. I like how you wrote Leia's thoughts on her mother and how she connected her best traits with her brother. This definitely shows how far she has come in order to accept her parentage. Very well done!
-----signature-----
"This above all, to thine own self be true." Polonius, Hamlet, Act I, Scene III For the Love of the Queen: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/24151408/p1/?0 The Naboo Chronicles: http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/18644312/?162
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NARRABIE
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
1/2/06 11:32am
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Very good. Can we have more ?? PLEASE
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May the force be with you !!!
I a member of the Leia fan club
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AngelQueen
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
1/2/06 6:23pm
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Rev: How sad, but very touching. I like how you wrote Leia's thoughts on her mother and how she connected her best traits with her brother. This definitely shows how far she has come in order to accept her parentage. Very well done!
Thanks, my friend! I rather think Luke had more of his mother's better traits than Leia did. She had too much of Darth Daddy Dearest's temper. Glad you enjoyed it!
NARRABIE: Very good. Can we have more ?? PLEASE
Thank you! As for more, well, this was meant to just be a nice little one-shot. Happy you liked it!
AQ
-----signature-----
"Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!"
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must."
"You will try."
Obi-Wan and Anakin
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SpiritofEowyn
Registered:
Mar '05
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Date Posted:
1/2/06 6:38pm
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Such a sweet moment of introspection.
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Suddenly Single Other Half: Force Twins Index : http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=22314061 "Stop the Skywalker Stupidity Cycle"
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AngelQueen
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
1/3/06 9:20am
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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SpritofEowyn: Such a sweet moment of introspection.
Thank you! 
AQ
-----signature-----
"Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!"
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must."
"You will try."
Obi-Wan and Anakin
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AzulSaber
Registered:
Sep '05
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Date Posted:
1/3/06 1:57pm
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Simply wonderful AQ!! I'm really glad ginchy gave me the heads up on this little vig.
You've beautifully expressed the bond between the twins and their mother in light of their characteristics, Leia's memories and politics and Luke's faith. I also liked how Leia remembered her mother's words, she just had to open herself up more and dig deeper.
I loved it! Great job. 
-----signature-----
I have a bad feeling about this.
Never tell me the odds.
30 Years of Geek Heaven.
Celebration IV here I come!
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AngelQueen
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
1/3/06 8:04pm
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Azulie: Simply wonderful AQ!! I'm really glad ginchy gave me the heads up on this little vig.
You've beautifully expressed the bond between the twins and their mother in light of their characteristics, Leia's memories and politics and Luke's faith. I also liked how Leia remembered her mother's words, she just had to open herself up more and dig deeper.
I loved it! Great job.
*grins and blushes* Thanks, Azulie! I really thought it was a good way for Leia to recall Padmé's final words. Sometimes, people cannot remember things for years, but it eventually comes to them. Just as what happened to Leia.
Thanks again!
AQ
-----signature-----
"Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!"
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must."
"You will try."
Obi-Wan and Anakin
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Gabri_Jade
Title: Fan Fiction Archive Editor Emeritus
Registered:
Nov '02
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Date Posted:
1/3/06 9:48pm
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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Lovely, AQ. Luke definitely inherited a lot of Padmé's personality. It would be nice if he knew that, so he could feel that connection to her.
-----signature-----
Evil Twin of LadyPadme  This concept of "wuv" confuses and infuriates us! - Futurama All I can do is be me. Whoever that is. -Bob Dylan The Space Between Heartbeats - L/M AU vig http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/28870280 !!11!1eleventy
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pregnantpadme
Registered:
Oct '04
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Date Posted:
1/3/06 10:29pm
Subject:
RE: Gifts Unknown (Leia, Luke, small Padmé, one-shot, introspective)
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That was really beautiful. I really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing.
-----signature-----
"What happens if you need a diplomat who can also practice philosophy, fight with a lightsaber, and levitate small objects? Who else are you going to call but us?"
Mara Jade Skywalker, Destiny's Way
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