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Author	Topic: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH)
IrishEyedJedi Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 5/31/06 3:43pm Subject: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH) - Date Edited: 6/1/06 12:47pm (3 edits total) Edited By: IrishEyedJedi
	Title: My Immortal Author: IrishEyedJedi Timeframe: Post ANH Characters: Leia and a cameo by Han Genre: Drama/Song Fic Summary: Leia deals with the grief of losing her home and her family. I gotta thank Poe, Z, and Wyn for all letting me bug them while writing this. I've been working on this for a bit and I finally think it's ready to go. Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoy. _____________________________________ My Immortal I'm so tired of being here. Nothing seemed to matter now. Not eating, breathing, or even living. A small part of her had wished that the Death Star had succeeded in destroying the small moon. That way, at least the pain would be gone and she’d be with the ones she loved. It was like a blanket of sorrow had wrapped its way around her heart and refused to let go. Even now as she listened about the impending doom of the Yavin Base, she cared very little. She had been given the opportunity to take leave, but what was she going to do? Sit in her room and watch old holo-vids until she cried herself to sleep every night? Having some sort of schedule gave her some small amount of normalcy, but normal was never a word that others used when describing her. Suppressed by all my childish fears. She suddenly realized everyone was waiting on her to answer a question she hadn’t heard. Her father would have been so disappointed in her lack on concentration if he were alive. Going over her notes, she was able to answer the question flawlessly, but the moment the meeting was done, she rose and exited. She did not wait for anyone to ask how she was doing, or if she needed anything. Unless someone could bring back the dead, she didn’t want to hear it. No amount of “I’m sorry for your loss” and “I’m here if you want to talk” would help ease the guilt which caused her stomach to knot at the mere thought of the planet. And if you have to leave I wish that you would just leave. Walking through the base now took a great amount of effort. Avoiding eye contact with those who felt sorry for her, and to those who felt anger towards her. No Alderaanian would vocalize their anger, but she knew that they felt as if she betrayed their people. Luckily, a kid from Tatooine and a smuggler from Corellia had let it slip about all that she had gone through on the Death Star while under Vader’s care. This helped in quieting any rumor that she hadn’t done all she could. However, it wasn’t the people at the base that caused the most discomfort when she walked around. It was the father she’d never see again. 'Cause your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone. He was everywhere. In the ships that he had helped purchased, in the food, which he had helped smuggle from the Imperials, even in the leaders themselves. He had instilled a confidence in them, confidence that this conflict would end, as would the Empire. Her chest ached; it seemed that everywhere she looked, a part of him was there. She quickly walked to the hangar to get some air, feeling that she would drown in the memories and emotions that followed her every step. These wounds won't seem to heal. She could still see the small bruise the needle had left on her arm. The Imperials had done a good job of cleaning her up from any injuries the stormtroopers might have inflicted in their rough handling of her. Why they did she had no idea, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Vader had instructed them to do so. Just the thought of the monster caused her head to spin. This pain is just too real. She closed her eye as a throbbing coursed through her. She had endured long hours of mentally battling the assaults on her conscious. Trying to keep her sanity through the images Vader forced into her brain, the faint whispers of compromise that would end her suffering. Through it all, she never wavered, even when he punched the wall just mere inches from her head. There's just too much that time cannot erase. She opened her eyes to look out into the jungle. It bore no resemblance to her home world, especially with the large orange orb in the sky above. She would forever be comparing planets to Alderaan, to the majestic mountains and sparkling lakes, to the peaceful nature of her people, and to the academic pride they had. The memories of her youth came flooding back as she watched a small child trip over a large tree root. When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears. “It’s ok my little one,” Bail soothed as gathered her up into his arms, wiping her tears away with his thumb. “It hurts,” she whimpered. Bail gently blew on her scraped knee. “Better?” She gave a small nod. “Just remember,” he whispered. “We fall so that we learn how to pick ourselves back up.” When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears. Her piercing scream rang out as the stormtrooper continued to point his gun at her. “Leia!” Bail shouted as he and several others rounded the corner. “What are you doing?!” Picking up his daughter, Bail turned to the trooper. “She’s a child! Does she look like a threat to you?!” Without waiting for the stormtrooper’s response. Bail turned and walked away. “It’s alright. I won’t let them hurt you.” And I held your hand through all of these years. They walked hand in hand down the corridor. The classroom door was open showing the children playing and drawing. “I don’t wanna go,” she mumbled. “Can’t I stay with you?” Bail knelt down and held her shoulders. “What’s the matter?” “I don’t know anyway one. What if they all hate me?” “Tell ya what,” Bail whispered. “We’ll go in together and when you’re ready you let go. Ok?” He took her hand and gave it a squeeze But you still have . . . All of me. The memories seemed more vibrant now, the colors, the sensations all seemed so real, as if she was reliving them. A silent tear slid down her face as she continued to watch the small child pick herself up and run over to her parents. Never again would she have that safety net, someone to run to or someone to hold when the world was cold and cruel. She could never ask for his advice or listen as he talked about the days of the Republic. She was alone and her only comfort was the memories, which she would cling to. You used to captivate me by your resonating light. “Your Highness,” the golden droid shuffled to her position. “You have message.” “Who’s it from?” she asked as she began to head back into the hangar. For a moment the droid didn’t answer. “It’s from your father.” The droid waited a moment before continuing. “It seems he was able to send out a message just before the planet was destroyed. It was heavily encoded which is why it took so long for you to receive it – ” Breaking out into a full sprint, she ran to her quarters, pushing people out of her way. She entered her room to see the blinking light by her screen indicating an incoming message. Her hands shook as she pressed the button to play it. Now I'm bound by the life you left behind. “My dearest Leia,” he began. “I don’t have much time. A large space station has entered orbit and they are not responding to our hails. Our spies have told me that Vader has taken your ship. You might be on that very battle station as I speak. If something happens to me I want you to know how proud I am of you.” Hot tears streamed down her face as she reached out to touch the screen, wishing it were his tender cheek instead of a cold monitor. “You have a great destiny before you. Rebuild that which was lost, learn from the mistakes of the past and usher in a new Republic – a better one. You were born to do great things. I knew this from the moment I laid eyes on you. Just know that Breha, Padme and I will always be with you. I love you with all my heart and soul, and you will always be my little Leia.” Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams. She used to daydream about peace and justice, democracy and a Republic and the casual glance at a good-looking man. Now her thoughts always turned to her father and to the planet that only exists in memory. As she played with her dinner, not even the valiant attempts by the kid and the smuggler could get a smile out of her. She didn’t understand why, but every time she looked at them she could see her father. The blonde hair, blue eyed idealist had the Viceroy’s smile and temperament, while the jaded and cynical smuggler had his handsome features and strong will. And deep down, despite the Corellian’s bravado, she knew he wanted to do the right thing just like the kid. It was strange how these two men came into her life so soon after Bail was taken from her. She was too blinded by her grief too see just how important that connection would be. Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me. She couldn’t stand it any longer. Throughout the entire meeting, people had been unconsciously quoting her father about the Empire’s next move. Why couldn’t they see how much agony they were causing? Did no one care about the silent hell she was living in? Not even the worried glance from a fellow Alderaanian could calm her nerves. She slowly stood and excused herself, yet as she left the conference room she knew there was no place to find solace from the ghosts that were haunting her. These wounds won't seem to heal. She leaned against the wall in her shower. Lately she had been taking them twice a day, one in the morning and one at night. The hot water was the only thing to relieve the tension in her muscles. Of course the sweet water was always mixed with bitter tears that washed over her lips, and tonight was no different. His final message echoed in her mind as she tried to scrub away the memories of her time on the Death Star. Thinking that maybe one more lather of soap or splash of perfume would cover the darkness that she had lived in. This pain is just too real. Her head pounded from lack of fluids, while her stomached growled from lack of nourishment. Her muscles were tired from holding an extreme amount of tension and her eyes were red from the tears. Her mind felt cluttered while her heat felt empty. Despite all this, her soul felt numb. Numb from any feelings of joy, happiness, and above all, love. Could she ever open her heart again and love with as much passion and intensity as she once did? Or were the risks too much in a time like this? When one could die any day and at any time. There's just too much that time cannot erase. She sat on the edge of her bed and brushed her hair with a family heirloom, one of many trinkets, which value had taken on new meaning to her. She had taken out all her old Holo-Pictures and had begun to rotate them on her nightstand. The next picture in her rotation however caused another memory to surface. She hadn’t seen the picture since it had been taken. Why she kept it was a mystery but as she traced Bail’s sad features she was glad she kept it. It’s not often a child and a parent shares in the passing of someone close to them. When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears. “She’s in a better place,” Bail whispered in her ear, his own tears flowing freely down his face. She watched as they secured her mother’s body to the small boat. Once the flowers were in place, Bail gave the signal to release the craft. The ceremony was supposed to symbolizes the person’s journey from this world to the next. The shore was lined with people watching as their Queen was sent to the heavens. From miles on end Alderaanians had gathered to pay their respect, even the mountain villages had lit fires in a sign of mourning. When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears. The sun was setting, casting an orange huge over the sky. The lake had a faint mist which gathered around the sleeping queen. Once the boat was half way out the archers took their places and lit their arrows on fire. “From this world you leave, but your journey does not end,” Bail’s voice was shaky and unsteady. “May the Force guide you to the new shores and to your new life.” The fire streaked the sky before finding its mark. “No,” she couldn’t control her sobs as the boat went up in flames. And I held your hand through all of these years. Holding each other’s hands for support, the father and daughter stood until the crisp winds of night alerted them to how long they had been on the shore. The small dots of fires in the mountains could be seen more easily now and she marveled at the sight and when she and Bail turned around they discovered that no one had moved. The shoreline was now lit with small fires as the crowds remained. Winter approached them with warm blankets. “No one will leave until you do, Your Highness. Take as much time as you need.” With that, Bail and the Princess sat down in the sand and held each other as they continued to watch the water. But you still have . . . All of me. The memory brought a smile to her face. Winter had taken the picture showing Bail and her sitting on the beach with the small fires sprinkled in the horizon. They had spent the night reminiscing about certain memories, food was brought out and it had slowly turned in to a party. People began to tell stories about their first encounter with the Queen or watching her on the news and Bail listened to everyone. Putting the picture on her bedside table the Princess tried to get some sleep, but sleep was only a dream. I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone. She awoke with a start, drenched in sweat and reeling from the nightmares, which haunted her. She swung her legs over to the side of the bed and held her head in her hands, trying to calm herself down. Nothing seemed to work, the walls were closing in on her as she saw the pictures on her night stand, the blink light indicating the message she saved from Bail, and the small objects that littered her room each had their own memory and with each memory her chest tightened slowly suffocating her. She threw on clothes and shoved herself out of her room and into the cool corridors. But though you're still with me. She had to breathe. She had to get out of the base, out of the nightmares, out from under the shadows of her farther. She was so focused on her task at hand that she failed to hear the calls from a concerned smuggler. She didn’t care that it was the middle of the night or that wild creatures roomed the jungle surrounding the base, her life meant nothing to her now. She had no one; all she cared about was lost in the blink of an eye. Her chest heaved as uncontrollable sobs escaped her lips. Leaving the hangar, she let the tears spill. I've been alone all along. Her lungs burned as she continued to run away. Finally reaching a clearing, she looking up to the heavens and dropped to her knees and let out a blood-curdling scream that echoed into the night. “WHY?!” Her pain was so deep and her weeping so hard that one would have thought she was dying, and in a way a little piece of her was. Images from that fateful day began to assault her. When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears. She kept her eyes closed even though tears escaped them. Vader had been relentless in his quest for the location of the rebel base. She was beyond exhaustion, but she refused to give in to the monster. Even now that the truth serum had been administered, she was able to focus and keep her mind under control. Her cheeks were damp from the tears, and she didn’t care if they fell in front of Vader. The more important battle was the one raging in her head. When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears. Somehow, she had been able to silence the scream in the back of her throat. No sound escaped her lips as she looked at the blank monitor. Alderaan was gone, nothing was left, no one had survived, there was just nothingness. She couldn’t remember how she got back to her holding cell – maybe they carried her or maybe she had walked in a shocked, dazed state. The first thing she could recall was the cold steel floor as she sank down into a ball. Curling up in the corner like she had done as a child, she waited, but this time her father would not come and make everything better. This time no one would come. And I held your hand through all of these years. A pair of strong arms wrapped their way around her. She fell back against the person’s chest as she continued to relive the memories. She finally had someone to lean on, someone to give her strength. She didn’t question the gesture but welcomed it. She poured her heart out in the darkened forest and to the stranger who she would be forever bound to for living in this moment with her. She felt the person weave their fingers between hers and hold her hand, trying to establish a level of intimacy. But you still have . . . “It’s ok,” the man’s voice rumbled against her ear. “Everything is going to be ok.” “No it’s not,” she choked. “They’re all gone.” The man didn’t speak for a moment, but she felt one of his hands leave hers. “Look up there.” She looked to where his finger was pointing and at first she didn’t understand, until the faint blue of the star she was starring at registered in her mind. It was the ghostly light of her planet. “As long as that light shines,” the man spoke softly. “You won’t ever be alone.” All of me. She finally turned to look at her savior and saw the face she least expected. The smuggler had a tender look about him. He used his thumbs to wipe away her tears in a way that mimicked Bail. Her breath caught in her throat as she began to see similarities in the two men. He held her face and looked at her in a caring way. “Thank you,” she whispered before leaning forward and resting her head on his shoulder. She couldn’t remember what happened next, or how she got back to her room, but when she woke up the next morning she felt rested for the first time in a week. As she sat up on her elbows, she noticed the Corellian asleep in her chair, while the kid was sitting on her steel box at the foot of her bed resting against the wall. Both men were sound asleep. The Princess looked over at her nightstand and noticed a new picture had been added. It was the three friends at the medal ceremony, each beaming a smile. She quietly put away the other pictures save one. Sitting next to the award picture was the picture of her father and her on the beach. One picture showing the family she had lost, while the other showed the family she had gained. The End -----signature----- "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." - Aristotle In The Shadow Of The Sith -- http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22398039/p1/?16 LASSES
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Trimaj Title: NFL Pick'Em Co-Winner Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 5/31/06 4:20pm Subject: RE: My Immortal - Post ANH Leia Song Fic
	wow... just wow. that was incredible ris. i honestly don't know what to say. that basically made me start crying several times. i've never done that before for a book in my life. you captured leia so well, the hardness that she tried to portray, but the weakness that she had. great, great job. i loved how you showed the scene with the closeness between han and leia, that was wonderful, and it showed a sign of han that doesn't turn up frequently enough. also loved how you showed the change, the lost for the gained. that's something you always have to realize in that kind of situation. if you will let it, things can be gained even during the loss. not easy to realize at the time, or any time soon there after, but you had the timing perfect, as well as the emotions that were shown. wonderful job ris. -----signature----- Love comes in spurts. ~ Murphy's 51st Law of Sex Sex is one of the nine reasons for reincarnation; the other eight are unimportant.~ Murphy's 53rd Law of Sex
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DarthIshtar Title: Former CR Registered: Mar '01	Date Posted: 5/31/06 4:23pm Subject: RE: My Immortal - Post ANH Leia Song Fic
	Exquisite flow of memories and current agonies. She couldn’t remember what happened next, or how she got back to her room, but when she woke up the next morning she felt rested for the first time in a week. As she sat up on her elbows, she noticed the Corellian asleep in her chair, while the kid was sitting on her steel box at the foot of her bed resting against the wall. Both men were sound asleep. The Princess looked over at her nightstand and noticed a new picture had been added. It was the three friends at the medal ceremony, each beaming a smile. She quietly put away the other pictures save one. Sitting next to the award picture was the picture of her father and her on the beach. One picture showing the family she had lost, while the other showed the family she had gained. -----signature----- "GET OUT OF THE WAY." Yoink It's coming
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jaina_clan_solo Registered: Dec '05	Date Posted: 5/31/06 8:17pm Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic (Post ANH)
	beautiful songfic! jcs -----signature----- Proud Padawan of BigFatty! Leading Blade http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/25450817/p1 NEW! Moments in Time http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/25790697/p1/?2
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PonyTricks Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 6/1/06 5:39am Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic (Post ANH)
	- That was just beautiful! -----signature----- Brain: Now, Pinky, if by any chance you are captured during this mission, remember you are Gunther Heindriksen from Appenzell. You moved to Grindelwald to drive the cog train to Murren. Can you repeat that? Pinky: Mmmm, no, Brain, don't think I can.
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IrishEyedJedi Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 6/1/06 12:03pm Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic (Post ANH)
	Trimaj - wow... just wow. that was incredible ris. i honestly don't know what to say. that basically made me start crying several times. i've never done that before for a book in my life. you captured leia so well, the hardness that she tried to portray, but the weakness that she had. great, great job. i loved how you showed the scene with the closeness between han and leia, that was wonderful, and it showed a sign of han that doesn't turn up frequently enough. also loved how you showed the change, the lost for the gained. that's something you always have to realize in that kind of situation. if you will let it, things can be gained even during the loss. not easy to realize at the time, or any time soon there after, but you had the timing perfect, as well as the emotions that were shown. wonderful job ris. -- That's exactly what I wanted, that in all this sarrow and heartche was the small light of hope. I also think this time period isn't explored enough by H/L fans, cause I believe it was in these months before they got to Hoth that really played a key role in Han and Leia growing closer. Thank you for reading! DarthIshtar - Exquisite flow of memories and current agonies. -- Thank you Poe, it wouldn't have been exquistite with out your beta-ing jaina_clan_solo - beautiful songfic! -- Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoy it. PonyTricks - That was just beautiful! Coming from you that means a lot. Thank you for reading. -----signature----- "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." - Aristotle In The Shadow Of The Sith -- http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22398039/p1/?16 LASSES
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amidalachick Registered: Aug '03	Date Posted: 6/1/06 12:29pm Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic (Post ANH) - Date Edited: 6/1/06 12:30pm (1 edits total) Edited By: amidalachick
	I'm not sure what to say...that was so beautiful. You portrayed Leia's grief and pain so realistically, and you used the song perfectly. A pair of strong arms wrapped their way around her. She fell back against the person’s chest as she continued to relive the memories. She finally had someone to lean on, someone to give her strength. She didn’t question the gesture but welcomed it. She poured her heart out in the darkened forest and to the stranger who she would be forever bound to for living in this moment with her. She felt the person weave their fingers between hers and hold her hand, trying to establish a level of intimacy. She looked to where his finger was pointing and at first she didn’t understand, until the faint blue of the star she was starring at registered in her mind. It was the ghostly light of her planet. “As long as that light shines,” the man spoke softly. “You won’t ever be alone.” These parts gave me goosebumps. Absolutely beautiful, IEJ! -----signature----- "Special day? What have I forgot now? Don't panic...is it Bacon Day? No, that's crazy talk! She's getting impatient - take a stab at it! Happy...Valentine's Day?"
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Amidala66 Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 6/1/06 6:28pm Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH)
	That was breathtakingly beautiful. I will never listen to that song in the same way again. -----signature----- I am Angel #2 of "Anakin's Angels" The Practical One It's baseball season: time for all good Jedi to use a bat and not a saber
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jedisister Title: FF Vice President Mi lwaukee WI USA Registered: Dec '01	Date Posted: 6/1/06 8:42pm Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH)
	Wow!! That was really, truly great writing. You made everything fit so well to each verse. Beautiful! -----signature----- I don't want to walk, I want to always dance. - O.M.C. The explanation to the universe IS the Creator. "Do or do not. There is no try." My short story...Vader's Thoughts: http://boards.theforce.net/The_Saga/b10476/16173086/?7
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Arkady Registered: Dec '04	Date Posted: 6/1/06 9:43pm Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH)
	I don't usually read songfics, but I saw who wrote it and gave it a try. That was so beautiful. You got me all choked up. Great job. Arkady
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Exeter Registered: Feb '05	Date Posted: 6/1/06 11:41pm Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH)
	What a great songfic, Leah! Though we've seen other stories where Leia's guilt/sadness over Alderaan plays out, you really put a unique spin on it here. Great song choice as well...I always liked this one. Even now as she listened about the impending doom of the Yavin Base, she cared very little. I liked this line because I think it's not only understandable but very accurate. I've felt like that before - it's like your in an emotional void, too spent to really feel anything else. You want to, try to, but in the end you're just pretending. Her father would have been so disappointed in her lack on concentration if he were alive. Though at that moment, her real father was probably still spinning around in his TIE fighter, searching for the nearest intergalactic rest stop Unless someone could bring back the dead, she didn’t want to hear it. No amount of “I’m sorry for your loss” and “I’m here if you want to talk” would help ease the guilt which caused her stomach to knot at the mere thought of the planet. This is also true. You hear those phrases so often you grow to hate them, and that irritation often funnels against the people that say them, even though they only want to help and you know they only want to help. They don't call emotion a roller coaster for nothing, I guess. Luckily, a kid from Tatooine and a smuggler from Corellia had let it slip about all that she had gone through on the Death Star while under Vader’s care. I love how you captured her mindframe by this point - hard to believe how close she'll come to both of them in just a few months. "A kid" and "a smuggler," gotta love it. No Alderaanian would vocalize their anger, but she knew that they felt as if she betrayed their people. That's unfortunate but not hard to imagine. If not privy to the inside story of what really happened, I would probably suspect the same. Princess of Alderaan captured, interrogated by the Empire; not long afterward Alderaan itself is throttled by an Imperial space station. The facts are indeed damning, and I imagine it took a long time for Leia to gain back the trust of some Alderaanians. The Imperials had done a good job of cleaning her up from any injuries the stormtroopers might have inflicted in their rough handling of her. Why they did she had no idea, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Vader had instructed them to do so. Tough love from dad himself. It's almost as if Vader was hiding her injuries from himself as much as anyone else. She would forever be comparing planets to Alderaan, to the majestic mountains and sparkling lakes, to the peaceful nature of her people, and to the academic pride they had. And few, if any, would match up to it. Alderaan was as beautiful a planet as they come - no doubt why it made such an effective target for the Death Star. Who would shed tears over Dagobah? “Just remember,” he whispered. “We fall so that we learn how to pick ourselves back up.” Nice Batman Begins reference. Never again would she have that safety net, someone to run to or someone to hold when the world was cold and cruel. She could never ask for his advice or listen as he talked about the days of the Republic. She was alone and her only comfort was the memories, which she would cling to. Never fear, Han Solo is here! Or, at least he will be. Eventually. When he gets around to it For a moment the droid didn’t answer. “It’s from your father.” The droid waited a moment before continuing. “It seems he was able to send out a message just before the planet was destroyed. It was heavily encoded which is why it took so long for you to receive it –” I enjoyed both the droid's hesitation (knowing the significance of the message and its author) and the way Leia doesn't even wait for the machine to finish, but just takes off. “You have a great destiny before you. Rebuild that which was lost, learn from the mistakes of the past and usher in a new Republic – a better one. You were born to do great things. I knew this from the moment I laid eyes on you. Just know that Breha, Padme and I will always be with you. I love you with all my heart and soul, and you will always be my little Leia.” These are great last words from father to daughter. Your songfic really reminds us what a good, strong, and wise man Bail was. I'm very glad we got to see that in ROTS - it is easy to see why Leia was so attached to him. I like the idea of Bail getting off a message to her, so that the last time they traded words wouldn't be some trivial conversation on Alderaan when everything had been peaceful. She used to daydream about peace and justice, democracy and a Republic and the casual glance at a good-looking man. Now her thoughts always turned to her father and to the planet that only exists in memory. It's funny how quickly war can do that to someone - idealism often evaporates in reality far quicker than one might expect. It returns, but those first stark moments of how tough things can be is often a major shock, both mentally and emotionally. I think that's what happened to Leia here, but she was able to recover and became much stronger for it (those early experiences helped shape her into the leader she eventually became). Though most of us were dissapointed in Padme's less fiery demeanor in ROTS, it's also possible that this is what happened to her. After so much hardship and without a person to lean on (Anakin was fighting the Clone Wars), she withdrew to raise her son and take a backseat to politics even as she was a Senator. Obviously we see a bit more of her idealism in the cut scenes regarding the formation of the rebellion, but it's still a possibility not to be overlooked. She couldn’t stand it any longer. Throughout the entire meeting, people had been unconsciously quoting her father about the Empire’s next move. Why couldn’t they see how much agony they were causing? A lot of people, myself included, make this mistake when dealing with difficult matters. In their desire to remember and make use of someone's memory, they often forget that others grieve in their own way. It's not so much being insensitive as it is being aloof. She watched as they secured her mother’s body to the small boat. Once the flowers were in place, Bail gave the signal to release the craft. The ceremony was supposed to symbolizes the person’s journey from this world to the next. The shore was lined with people watching as their Queen was sent to the heavens. From miles on end Alderaanians had gathered to pay their respect, even the mountain villages had lit fires in a sign of mourning. I loved this scene. It reminds me of some kind of Eskimo/Aleut custom or something. I can only imagine what kind of response the caring people would produce at the loss of their Queen. Very well-written. “From this world you leave, but your journey does not end,” Bail’s voice was shaky and unsteady. “May the Force guide you to the new shores and to your new life.” Nearly perfect lines, especially the addition of the Force metaphor here. Bail knows more than most the wonders of the Force. I also liked how you dealt with Leia's refusal to accept that her mother was gone. The small dots of fires in the mountains could be seen more easily now and she marveled at the sight and when she and Bail turned around they discovered that no one had moved. Kind of like in Return of the King, when they are lighting the consecutive mountaintop fires as an alarm or notification. At least, that's what I pictured here. A pair of strong arms wrapped their way around her. She fell back against the person’s chest as she continued to relive the memories. She finally had someone to lean on, someone to give her strength. She didn’t question the gesture but welcomed it. It was perfect how you transitioned from the nightmare/interrogation aftermath into this almost childlike need to be held - and of course, it's our old boy Han. She looked to where his finger was pointing and at first she didn’t understand, until the faint blue of the star she was starring at registered in her mind. It was the ghostly light of her planet. “As long as that light shines,” the man spoke softly. “You won’t ever be alone.” What a great line of dialogue. The end was also a wonderful upbeat conclusion to a sorrowful songfic, one that offered hope and a smile or two. It was really awesome how Han and Luke fell asleep watching over her, and placed the picture from the ceremony on the nightstand. Just a sign of the friendships to come. You really outdid yourself here, Leah. Frankly, I'm stunned at how well you integrated flashbacks and memories into her mourning for Alderaan. It felt like one fluid trip. Superb work, as always! -----signature----- "Are my eyes really that far apart? They make me look like Admiral Ackbar." - Liz Lemon, 30 Rock “Don't get mad at me just because you were dumb enough to fall for the old Wookiee prisoner gag.” - Sawyer, Lost Recognition Returns in 2010
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starwarsfan68 Registered: May '03	Date Posted: 6/2/06 6:35am Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH)
	First of all on it's own I love that song! And what you did with it...POWERFUL. excellent job! -----signature----- There is only one true movie romance, the one between Han and Leia http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=13094011&replies=6 September 2003 teaser
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kimmi Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 6/2/06 12:09pm Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH) - Date Edited: 6/2/06 12:10pm (1 edits total) Edited By: kimmi
	I, too, love that song.I always associated it with Leia and the loss of Alderaan but I never thought of a song fic. You did an excellent job with it. You are quickly becoming one of my favorite authors on the boards. Can't wait for more of your work.
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IrishEyedJedi Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 6/5/06 3:33pm Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH)
	amidalachick - I'm not sure what to say...that was so beautiful. You portrayed Leia's grief and pain so realistically, and you used the song perfectly. These parts gave me goosebumps. Absolutely beautiful, IEJ! -- Thank you so much, this event shaped how she became such a strong leader and I felt it needed to be looked at from the inside out. Amidala66 - That was breathtakingly beautiful. I will never listen to that song in the same way again. -- That means a lot, especially since I feel the same way. jedisister - Wow!! That was really, truly great writing. You made everything fit so well to each verse. Beautiful! -- Thank you so much, I think this was probably my best work. Arkady - I don't usually read songfics, but I saw who wrote it and gave it a try. That was so beautiful. You got me all choked up. Great job. Arkady -- Awww thanks for stoping by and checking this out. I know it's a far cry from 14 year old Leia bossing Senator Solo around Exeter - What a great songfic, Leah! Though we've seen other stories where Leia's guilt/sadness over Alderaan plays out, you really put a unique spin on it here. Great song choice as well...I always liked this one. You really outdid yourself here, Leah. Frankly, I'm stunned at how well you integrated flashbacks and memories into her mourning for Alderaan. It felt like one fluid trip. Superb work, as always! -- It always means a lot when I get some of the old gang to read stuff. Thank you for putting up with me harassing you to read this. You really got everything I was trying to put into this and maybe found some thing I put in there unconsciously. starwarsfan68 - First of all on it's own I love that song! And what you did with it...POWERFUL. excellent job! -- Thank you very much. kimmi - I, too, love that song.I always associated it with Leia and the loss of Alderaan but I never thought of a song fic. You did an excellent job with it. You are quickly becoming one of my favorite authors on the boards. Can't wait for more of your work. -- Wow that is probably the best compliment an author can get, thank you. I always link all of my works in my bio so if you don't see me on the Saga bored (because it moves fast) you can always check there (I know shamless plug . . . but I had to) -----signature----- "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." - Aristotle In The Shadow Of The Sith -- http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22398039/p1/?16 LASSES
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Evil_Charity Registered: Jul '06	Date Posted: 7/13/06 1:22am Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH)
	“Just remember,” he whispered. “We fall so that we learn how to pick ourselves back up.” Lovely line. I can picture Bail saying that, as well. “As long as that light shines,” the man spoke softly. “You won’t ever be alone.” The nerfherder has his moments, eh? She couldn’t remember what happened next, or how she got back to her room, but when she woke up the next morning she felt rested for the first time in a week. As she sat up on her elbows, she noticed the Corellian asleep in her chair, while the kid was sitting on her steel box at the foot of her bed resting against the wall. Both men were sound asleep. The Princess looked over at her nightstand and noticed a new picture had been added. It was the three friends at the medal ceremony, each beaming a smile. She quietly put away the other pictures save one. Sitting next to the award picture was the picture of her father and her on the beach. One picture showing the family she had lost, while the other showed the family she had gained. AW, Han and Luke are so sweet! I just want to give all three of them a big hug. And I absolutely love the last line. Perfect. Excellent story. Good writing, good characterization, not to mention good song. Evil_Charity -----signature----- I would not deny you, but by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion, and partly to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption. -Much Ado About Nothing
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EmpressJade Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 7/13/06 2:53am Subject: RE: My Immortal -- Leia Song Fic cameo by Han (Post ANH) - Date Edited: 7/21/06 4:26am (4 edits total) Edited By: EmpressJade
	Oh poor Leia. I'm completley lost for words. All I can say is that, this is an excellent songfic, both beautiful and powerfully written. It's also a good insight to were we see Leia trying to recover from her suffering after the destruction of her homeworld and what she had endured aboard the Death Star... Anyhow you've done a great job interweaving the song My Immortal with the story and that the ending was truly enchanting as she shares it with the 'Corellian smuggler' Han. She finally turned to look at her savior and saw the face she least expected. The smuggler had a tender look about him. He used his thumbs to wipe away her tears in a way that mimicked Bail. Her breath caught in her throat as she began to see similarities in the two men. He held her face and looked at her in a caring way. “Thank you,” she whispered before leaning forward and resting her head on his shoulder. Wonderful! You have truly captured Leia's grief of losing those she loved and with her need of comfort in the form of Han. EmpressJade. -----signature----- "The Force, does indeed have a sense of humour." - Leia Organa (Allegiance) ~~~~~ Follow your dreams, you'll never know where they might lead you. ~Proud Master of SithGirl132
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