The Handmaid's Tale

by Wezan

On Naboo

When they told me how he died, in my shock, I feared I would lose the baby. In the antechamber I held myself apart, trying to contain my grief. I am of the mountain clans and it is unworthy to show emotion to outsiders. My cousin gently sat me down, her beautiful face, normally so imperturbable, was filled with concern for me. She ordered the herald to stop his dreadful testimony.

"No," I said. "I must hear the full telling."

I had to know. My beloved husband had stood with the host, that defended the Jedi, and when their cause was lost the vermin Sith tracked him down, hacked his body into pieces, and fed them to their weir beasts. They knew he was the lady's warrior. In those years Palpatine, took special delight in mutilating and killing everything precious to her. I do not know how my queen endured it, and the worse things, that were to come. The war was lost. But no one dared speak that truth. Those were the darkest times.

I know because I was there, and everything I have lived through has made me who I am.

I am Lady Beru, a handmaid of Theed.

It is our custom to burn the bodies of our dead, to reunite their spirits with the Winged-Goddess, but my husband's spirit is forever held in the earth, and all I have left of him, is my beautiful daughter, and the talisman he carried with him to war. It was returned to me by Lord Panaka, who found it laying bloodied on the field of battle. My husband died saving the Jedi. He held the battle line, against the Sithian clone-droids, willingly sacrificing himself in the name of the Winged-Lady.

In the year that my husband died, I was thirty-five years old, and six weeks pregnant with a child, I had been told, I could never conceive. It is a difficult thing to be told that you can never have children, so my daughter's beginning was especially precious to me. She was born at sunrise on the midwinter feast of No'ta'chan: it is a special celebration day of our family. I so feared that I would lose her that she came, into this world, very slowly.

The birth pain began in early evening, my mother lit the ceremonial tapers, and Queen Amidala composed the birth poem, as she sat beside me through the long hours. She made me laugh, even when the pain was at its worst, and I wanted to scream my child into the world, she offered to scream with me--saying she needed the practice. Only recently she leaned she carried twins. The healer droid, had senselessly informed her of all the problems that can happen with multiple births. She never said anything but I know she was terrified of losing them. Their father's genetics presented risks. I know the Jedi spoke to her of this, but I do not know fully what was said. I will always remember the look on her face, the devastation in her eyes after their audience. She was trying not to show emotion. She gently touched the sleeve of my chamber robe and signaled for me to stay after the others. When the room was empty, she looked at me, her eyes hard and furious.

"The Jedi have much to answer for!" She said with shedding anger.

I nodded, shocked, our closeness, and kinship, was only shared in private. Outsider's think us an overly formal people, but our courtly manner, makes us what we are. For Amidala to show special favoritism to me, would have given great insult to the other handmaidens. Our sisterhood, is a sacred pledge, we are all guardians of each others lives.

For Amidala to breech that protocol, was inexplicable, until I understood why.

"They lied to me. Anakin is not dead," She said still unbelieving . " He still lives, Oh, thank the goddess he is alive." She rejoiced.

"How is that possible " I said?" "No one could survive that molten ....fire."

"Anakin could!" She said defiantly. "Oh, Beru, he will come back to us, I know it."

Her voice fluoresced with such hope. The Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi was with her all that morning, but I sensed that he did not share Amidala's faith. I thought, at the time, my understanding must be wrong. But as the months passed it truly seemed that Anakin had vanished from the world. We never saw him or heard from him again. Even when the black rumors of his betrayal were everywhere, she refused to believe.

There was such nobility in her, and such passion for forgiveness. She loved him with every part of her being, and her heart once given could not be made false. Not even the Jedi could, turn-a-side her love. In trying to convince her of Anakin's betrayal they erred.....and all the galaxy now knows how they paid for their errors.

When I gave birth to my daughter Amidala's hands were the first to hold her. She was a new life in our small clan. The wars had taken so many of us, that all our children were especially precious. She came into the world screaming, all wet and wriggley, and after I saw that everything was perfect, I lay back exhausted and thankful.

She was the image of her father. Amidala's strong arms held her aloft as she sang the birth poem. Amidala's voice is clear and strong, my daughter seemed to know a moment of great gravity was happening: Because she was silent and smiling in the arms of my queen. When she was finished Amidala laid her in my arms, and we smiled, as our hands touched over her.

"Her father died protecting me," Amidala said softly.

"I give you my promise and pledge, as your Queen, and your cousin, we will raise our children together, forever one family."

"She is my daughter,--" Amidala touched her growing belly. "--as much as my children belong to you." There were tears in my eyes as I held my daughter close, and I prayed that on her own birthing-day Amidala would have such joy.

Fate is a strange gift. I was eight years old when my cousin Amidala was born. She came into the world, under the protection of the goddess. The winged messenger flew above our house-holding and circled all that day.

"Her spiral circles bind us into the world's destiny," my father said.

He and Aunt Leian stood watching the heights, their eyes filled with awe and trepidation. They knew even then, Amidala's birth was wondrous, and soon enough the entire world agreed with them. She was voted Queen when she was only twelve years of age; the goddess's choosing cannot be refused.

In my life time I have taken two men into my bed. My first husband Lord Ryalla, asked for my hand in marriage on a windswept pediment on the heights above our mountain pasture. I was thirty-four years old and had accustomed myself to a life of quiet days. I love the mountains, and, all wild-country, and I count myself fortunate to have been born upon the crags.

But, unknown to me a childhood dream was about to be revisited. I had always desired to serve the Winged-Lady as a handmaiden of Theed. When I was young, I studied diligently for the testing. It was during the short reign of Amidala's predessor, Queen Veruna, that I went before the judges. When my time came, other women, more talented then I, were chosen. My dream was an honest, if foolish one. I was not of the city clans, and did not fully understand what the competition involved--or the sacrifice.

I sadly accepted my fate and returned home. At that time I wasn't disposed to marry. I thought marriage a fine thing for other women, but not for me. So the years passed and I busied myself with tending our pastures, and helping my brothers and sisters care for our growing homestead.

Then the wars came, and many handmaidens were killed at the battle of Mar'dran. My cousin was almost lost, If not for her handmaidens courage she and many others would have perished.

On a hot summer day only a few weeks after, while I was helping my father set his power kites, the summoner came from the Court of Theed ....... And that evening, under the watching stars, I was sworn into the handmaiden's sisterhood. The dream that I had set aside seventeen years before was given back to me, with simple ceremony--and dreadful portents. My life changed forever that day. I was far beyond the age, that such a choosing normally happens. I was shocked that I was even considered, they told me, that seventeen years before I had been one of the finalists, I had never known that. I accepted the choosing without a moment's doubt. One does not walk away from dreams, especially when they come a second time. Joyfully I went into my cousin's royal household, and pledged myself into her destiny.

I met Lord Ryalla, my husband when he was recovering from wounds he took at the battle of Mar'dran. He was in the healing house not far from the great Palace. Amidala bade me carry him her thanks, and a special poem for his full recovery. He was of patrician lineage, his family is one of the noblest of our world, and has elected many Queens and Lords. I, being from a poor mountain clan, that had only elected one Queen, my cousin Amidala, was not used to calling upon powerful Theed Lords. I was very new to my duties, and very concerned not to embarrass my parents or my cousin.

He was the handsomest man I had ever seen, with silver hair so fine the stars seemed to dance upon his brow. One is not supposed to be taken with such things when they are as old as I, but it happened for both of us. I knew the moment our eyes met, that we would marry. A week later he sought me out on the mountain, and made me his wife.

It seems like a dream, even after twenty years.......The war, with its breakdown of all the normal social conventions made our love possible. I will remember, until the day I die, the taste of his body, and the sound of his laughter. The daughter that he gave me is the image of his beauty. Some among us have the gift of foresight. I believe he had a dire-sensing, he knew his life was to be short. The six weeks that we had together as man and wifewere the happiest I have ever known.

When he returned to war . . . He carried Amidala's talisman. Only a sacred person can wear the black feathers of the Seluu bird, Amidala's royal headdress was made of them, to protect her in her travels. The Seluu is the most powerful protector from our most ancient myths, the chosen messenger of the goddess. She is the sacred caller, she watches the sky, and defends our world. The Seluu lives only in the highest crags of the world-rim-mountains. Even I, have only seen them, twice in my life, and I am mountain born. They are powerful omens, and have the power to make wishes happen.

When the warriors prepared to return to battle, Amidala took down her cloak and headdress of Seluu feathers, and ripped them into pieces. There were tears in her eyes as removed each feather. All of us tried to stop her, but she would not be stopped.

"Our warriors will not go against the enemy without her protection." She said, holding in her hand a clutch of loosened feathers. "In the hour of greatest need--Call upon me." Amidala quoted from the great poem of the Winged-Goddess. For each war leader we fashioned talismans, of silver and black their bases fastened with poems of victory and steadfastness.

When morning came and the soldiers were gone-back into the battle, Amidala, as was her custom, stood at the palace window, looking into the empty sky. I had to wonder what sacrifice would fall upon her, because she had given away her sacred shield? It is not right to think such things, but we both knew that for Amidala there was no escaping her fate. She had the same look as my husband had on his leaving day. I realized then that she was living, only for the babies she carried inside her.

* * *

On Alderaan

The wars went badly, and Naboo was over run. Thousands of free worlds fell before the clone armies. Naboo was a small loss, when compared against the full counting of horrors, but it was our home, and I will mourn its destruction forever. Theed was obliterated, by the orbital bombardment, and her fleeing survivors are scattered far across the galaxy. There are so few of us left, that in the future no one will ever know our people existed. The Gungan cities are gone, all that was beautiful was targeted for ruin, and Chancellor Palpatine did nothing, he was too busy plotting the destruction of the Jedi, to take pleasure in our destruction. We were given Refuge by Prince Organa. Amidala escaped Naboo, broken in heart and soul, we had no more tears to shed, our home was a wasteland, our families murdered, our cities leveled. I did not think things could get worse but they did.

A new power arose in service to Palpatine. His name was Darth Vader.

Amidala's health failed her after Leia and Luke were born. She gave birth to them in the city of Aldera, Luke was born first and then Leia, Amidala never made a sound as they came into this world, I sang their birth poem.......I think the Alderaani though us both mad. They are an idealistic people, much like the Naboo in many ways. There is one difference. They look foreward into the future with their art, where ours looks backward into the past.

Amidala's greatest fear is that Anakin will seek out his children. It is too much to hope that he does not know of their existence. But we are carefully hidden, and with the help of the Jedi, we will live through these terrible times.

But it was not to be.

I was with her when the end came, she had me bring the children to her bed. She raised herself up in spite of the pain so they would not be afraid. Luke and Leia were very quiet, having been told to be careful of her sickness. Luke sat on one side and Leia on the other. Amidala smiled at each of them.

"Momma, loves you both very much." she said.

Two pairs of eyes rivited on her. Luke watched her lovingly. "Momma, when will you get well."

Amidala reached out and touched his face.

"I don't know Luke," she said, the effort draining the last of her strength.

Prince Organa, seeing that, took the children outside, and then returned quickly.

Amidala smiled at me "I am not strong enough to see this through, I have failed you my cousin."

"No! Amidala," I said.

"I gave you Luke and Leia when they were born."

"I remember," I said.

"Take Luke to Tatooine..." she said softly. Her breath was coming hard, she was struggeled to stay with us."On Tatooine..On Tatooine ..my life began.....when I met him...."

At first I did not understand what she was saying, her mind was drifting away.

"He was such a funny little Boy." she said.

"Amidala do not talk, please, save your strength," I begged..

"Angels, they are the most beautiful creatures in the universe.....They are good and kind."

Prince Organa looked at me. "What is she talking about?"

"I don't know." I said, my eyes so full of tears I could not see.

She died at dusk when the long shadows of Alderaan's sun turns that world of grass into living ocean of gold. Thousands of snow cranes took flight when her spirit left the world.. I watched them circle the city twice, in silent respect, then they few west into the setting sun.

My cousin who had lead legions to war against the darkness, was sent to her final rest, in a small ceremony at the keep of the Organa family. The wars had winnowed them, like all families across the galaxy. Bail Organa had been a youngest son, in a minor branch of his Great World-Family.

Now he was poised to take the place of the Elector, he seemed bemused by the station fate has thrust upon him. He was a good man, and he loved my cousin with true devotion, and also loved the children, knowing their father's work, he did not flinch from them. He was not afraid of their Jedi blood, or their perilous destiny.

They burned, her after the custom of our people, it is not the Alderaani way, but they honored her according to our traditions. Amidala would have appreciated the care that was taken. All her life ceremony and ritual comforted her.

She lay on the bier, her hands folded upon her breast, holding the carved wooden talisman, that Anakin had given her eighteen years before. When the flames carried her into the sky, she returned his gift back to the Goddess. She was finally at peace

Prince Organa adopted her children, and mine. He shelters us against the unending terror. I fear for him as did Amidala, not wanting us to bring retribution down upon his besieged house.

The Alderaani named my daughter Winter, in their language it is a name of honor. On Alderaan they esteem the seasons, in much the way we honor the Winged-Lady. Winter is a solemn child much like her father. She is four years old now. Before she died Amidala fashioned Winters birth poem into a remembrance talisman, woven with strands of her silver hair. I have it still, and when my mind is uneasy about her fate, I remember she is protected by a pledge, made in her name, by a dying queen.

The time was coming when I must take leave of Alderaan. It is a planet of rare beauty a world of sweeping fields and gentle people. The stars are brighter there then on Naboo, but not so bright as on Tatooine.

I stood under them with my daughter Winter. Knowing our final parting was coming. How do you put everlasting memory into the mind of a child? I stood with her in my arms under the sky, it was a rare year for celestial portends, I pointed out the comet, directing my daughter's darting eyes to its beauty, she smiled and said.

"I will remember mommy! I will remember forever!"

I hugged her fiercely, I knew the time of our parting was upon us. Understanding the necessity of it, did not make it any easier.

Under that same comet, Obi-Wan arrived to take us to Tatooine.

When I last saw my daughter, she and little Leia were curled together like two Gungan snart pups. The Alderaani have tales of changelings, where one child is taken in the night and another is left in its place. I now must take my given son into exile, into the only place where he will be safe. My daughter Winter now belongs to Alderaan. The promise I made to Amidala is kept. It will never be said of me that a handmaiden of the Theed did not honor her duty. My son Luke will not be raised by strangers, nor will he be a wizard's tool. As long as I live Luke will know the songs of our house and the names of the ancestors.

Through me, I promise you Amidala he will know us. On the day you were born I saw the Seluu flying above our holding.

The sacred bird watches over him as well.

I lifted my hand into a defiant gesture of pledge and promise. I felt Amidala's presence looking down and smiling on me. She watches us, I am certain of it. Under her approving gaze, I bore Luke to Tatooine, taking him away from everything he had ever known.

* * *

On Tatooine

Luke slept throughout the long journey, unaware of the changes happening around him.

There is only one sure way to protect a force-sensitive child, from a powerful demon trying to sense him. It is a cruel solution done at terrible risk.

I agreed to Obi-Wan's tampering, But I wish it had never been necessary.

I watched as Obi-wan gently touched Luke's temples seeking the path inside his innocent mind.

It was hard to watch. Luke slept through the mind touch, without knowing his mind was being altered. How easy it was to rob him of his identity, his birth right. I looked away, trying not to show my anger at this theft. Obi-Wan couldn't help but feel my disgust, but he said nothing.

"I have suppressed his force sensitivity and his memories" said the Jedi. "When he is older, I will restore his connection with the living force."

"Will he remember his mother" I demanded?

"I don't know?" Said the Jedi. "To tamper with memory, on a child as young as Luke....is dangerous.....When he is much older, and can quiet his mind...I think he will be able to remember her." Said Obi-wan.

"But you are not sure!" I said furiously.

"No, I am not sure." He said solemnly.

That day we took Luke's memories, I made a second vow, Luke would know his mother through me.

I have kept my pledge. I have told Luke of our family, of his grandfather and his grandmother, and all his cousins. I have told him every memory I have of his mother.....And the stories of our growing up together, but the rest I have not told. him, that his mother was a queen of Naboo, or how his father became a.....slayer.

Do I poison the future by my omissions? Am I any less a thief then Obi-wan? Both of us will have much to answer for.

It is unaccountable how quicky children can adapt to change. I did not adapt so easily, Tatooine is a harsh land, but I found a life there more unexpected then anything I could have ever imagined.

I married my second husband, in a boisterous ceremony, on a blisteringly hot spring day in the back country of Tatooine. All our friends were there, the Darklighters, the Seinans and the Sidkes. We were all in hiding, Tant Darklighter was from one of the inner-words, he never told me which one. Those were not questions you asked in those days. He was busy building his fortune, trading munitions to the outreach raiders. I often wondered if he was from the same world as Shmi Skywalker. They have similar family names. Someday Luke will want to know of his father's family. I had hopes that there were still people on Tatooine who remembered her, but those were false hopes. None of my careful queries ever found any answers. There was much dancing, and revelry...I think the tension of those times needed release. I have never danced so hard, as the night, I became a wife a second time. The people of Anchor Head are a rough and hardy breed. I like them. They have hard edges, but gentle souls. They are much like the people I grew up with--Hardworking and full of laughter.

Luke was five years old, and growing like a weed, when we settled into our moisture farm on the edge of the Jundland Wastes. I was happy there and sometimes it was briefly possible to forget the darkness that was relentlessly spreading across the galaxy.

At night when the memories overwhelmed me, my husband's arms gently held me, bringing comfort I have never known anywhere else. He gently sings my sadness away. It is unaccountable--Our love, the second unlooked for gift from the Goddess. Lord Ryalla, was my heart's fire, but Owen Lars has awakened the voices sleeping inside me. He has made a good life for the three of us. It is a hard life, pulling water from this parched land. It is soul draining work, but it is an honest life. All the friends we have made here I will cherish forever. Owen is a friend to all. He works tirelessly to make our lives safe.

I was born on a bountiful world. To know the desert is to touch the extremes of what life can call forth. The tiniest bits of moisture are cherished here, and the land abides our presence with heartless indifference, yet I am beguiled by its hard beauty, and I have taught Luke to treasure its gifts.

He is such a shy child, wide-eyed and thoughtful. He is in the round courtyard of our house playing Bantha and sticks with Owen and Obi-wan, his short legs racing to keep up with the limping Jedi, and Owen's stomping strides, as they chase the ball around the floor. They make a strange sight these three improbable stick-ball players, attempting to teach my five-year-old Luke how to play a game no sane person would attempt in this heat. It is a joy to see the Obi-Wan walking and laughing again, if he is still in pain he masks it well. He carries a terrible burden. He is last of his kind, the Jedi are destroyed. I was tending Obi-wan's wounds on Alderaan when the temple was crushed on Coruscant Even in his swoon he raised up out of his delirium, screaming when his world was obliterated. It was a terrible thing to see. Amidala and I did not believe he would come back into himself. But Jedi, are not allowed to die by their own hands, or to will their own ending. Luke shrieks with joy as he wacks the makeshift ball into the net.

"Uncle Ben, I win, I win!" He yells.

Obi-Wan sits down breathing heavily, smiling softly at Luke's excited face.

I know he sees another face, when he looks at Luke. I cannot imagine how hard this must be for him.

Tatooine is not as dangerous a place as people would suppose. It is a gangster world, but the moisture farmers have made a pact with the Hutts, those who control the water, control the world. Even the Hutts acknowledged that reality, so we are left alone. Years ago Amidala found her destiny in this forlorn land. It is a secretive world but its beauties are countless. My Luke knows its mysteries. He thinks I do not know of his wanderings. He has his mother's temperament her desire to understand everything, to touch the core of every experience.

As a child he learned the Jawa language, and was adopted among them. He never talks of this to his friends, lest they ridicule him. But Amidala would be proud of the person he has become. I have taught him our songs and our beliefs. He honors the lady, and can recite the names of our ancestors. He knows that we are mountain folk, driven from our lands in the wars, like so many others in the galaxy.

In his looks, Luke favors his great-grandfather. Those piercing blue eyes I remember so vividly in my grandfather's wrinkled face, have come again in Luke. It is a wonder to see him, so much an image of the past. It is heart stopping to look into eyes I thought I would never see again in a living face. He is a walking ghost--grandfather Lukan reborn. There are only four of our family alive now. Our clan was always small, the wars and the hate held against my queen, caused thousands to be hunted down and murdered. When they came into our land all were slaughtered, my parents, my brothers and sisters, Amidala's parent's were killed as they tried to protect little Lelan. He was so young, when his life was ended by the clone bred killers. They say grandfather swore a curse upon his murderer. It must be true because the red warrior that struck him down was in turn slaughtered by Vader, a fitting end!

I can see Luke outside.... pondering the schematic he has drawn. He is building a moisture trap, for my raman flowers. He is fascinated with machines, a gift which comes from his father, as well as his lightning fast reflexes; which work so fast he often stumbles as his body tries to keep up with his racing mind. He is still all feet and gangly nerves. Obi wan's exercises have helped him, but his temperament is to seek release in intense activity. Most wezan children are thus, Obi wan has told me. Luke does not understand he has special talents, and Owen and Obi-Wan are at impasse over when he should be told. The older Luke grows the more distant Obi-Wan becomes, and the more protective Owen emerges.

Luke is a delightful child, I had expected his force gifts to be more apparent. Most wezan children, discover their abilities in early childhood, it is natural for all children to use their talents. But without careful guidance Jedi children can fall into manipulation and trickery to get what they want. If these habits are not controlled when children are very young they are impossible to unlearn when they are older. It was very hard to punish Luke, when he used the force willfully, but it was necessary.

Luke has a holo tape of Padme and Anakin on his lesson-computer. It is an old image-tape of them from our mountain home. It was taken after their wedding, when they visited us. They are dressed in plain mountain cloths, and hold each other lovingly. Padme smiles out at Luke from a happier time. Anakin laughs as he watches her wave to people we cannot see. The tape is only a few seconds long, but it is the only image he has of his mother and father. The holo starts with a crest of the winged-lady, and has stylized Seluu birds at the end of it.

"Aunt, what kind of bird is the Seluu?" Luke asked me pointing at the picture.

That took me aback, only Tatooine carrion-birds are known to him.

From his computer I called up a picture from the 'Atlas Galactica'

Luke studied it.

"A falcon!" he said, pronouncing the strange word.

I nodded.

"She's a beautiful bird," he said.

"--And very powerful guardian of our family." I told him. "Follow her, omens and she will always keep you safe."

Luke, smiles at me, pretending he understands.

"Falcons, I will remember aunt Beru."

* * *

"I don't understand why I need to know Diplomatic Inter-Lingua," said Luke.

I was at a loss of how to convince him of its usefulness. He is an intelligent boy, but learning the complex language of civilized galactic culture had no interest for him.

"Luke, Biggs knows Inter-lingua," I said trying to convince him

"I will build a translator droid, to translate for me," he said testily

"Luke if you, truly, want to go to the sector academy. You must know Inter-lingua."

"But that's not what the recruiter said!" Luke blurted.

My heart stopped at that. "Did you talk to in Recruiter about--"

"--I was with Biggs, Don't worry I didn't give them my name."

I sighed audibly, " Luke you must be careful."

"I know...Aunt Beru, I would never put you in danger." I smiled at him.

"The warrants for my arrest are still active." I reminded him.

"They will never find you. Uncle Owen and I will protect you," He said brazenly, trying to divert me away from the Inter-lingua argument.

I sighed at that. Luke is very stubborn. He must learn the language of cultivated society, but how to convince him?

Several days later Owen brought home the T-16 advanced repair manual that Luke had been trying for months to get a copy of. He handed the disks to Luke, "You better take good care of these. I had to get that, overcharging, Darklighter to bring it in from the Tarnal ship yards." I have never seen a thirteen-year-old leap for joy, as excitedly as Luke did.

"You really got it! Oh, thank you, Uncle Owen." . Luke put the disk into the reader, and his joy turned into instant disappointment.

"But, Uncle Owen the instructions are in Inter-lingua." Said Luke

"Then you will have to learn it won't you?"

"But, that will take days and days," said Luke

"Don't whine!"

"Yes...Sir."

He sat there dejected.....angry...but I could see resignation start to set in. Luke picked up the manual and language holo's and went to his room.

"He just needs the right motivation, Misses," said Owen smiling.

I had to admit sometimes, Owen understands Luke better then I do.

Raising a child is a series of crises. In this Luke was no different then any other child. Silya Darklighter is fearful for young Gavin. He tries to keep up with Biggs and Luke. She was here yesterday watching them installing the rebuilt ion engine into the T-16. Soon it will be ready to launch. She tries not to show how alarmed she is that Owen and I have allowed a fourteen-year old boy to have his own Skyhopper. For her, the speeder and the swoops were bad enough, but to have Biggs and Luke racing airspeeders between here and Mos Eisley is madness. Perhaps she is right. But I remember well what Amidala once told me.

"I never worry when, he flies, Anakin it is in the hand of the living force, his name, is his destiny"

Luke has the same name and the same skills as his father, like Amidala I refuse to worry about him when he is flying. Owen is less sympathetic, but in his own way concedes that if Luke is responsible enough to scavenge and build his own ship, then he is responsible enough to fly it. They have spent many hours together scouring the Lift-pits of Mos Eisley hunting down all the parts Luke needed. Owen has never discouraged Luke's fascination with speed. I think Owen shares a little of Luke's dreams of escape. Like many others, Owen's dreams were shattered when Palpatine unleashed his murderous rage against the Jedi. That is why he and Obi-Wan will never agree about Luke's Jedi training.

When Biggs Darklighter left for the Academy, we all knew that the Luke's childhood was ending. That spring Obi-Wan and Owen's long feud, broke into open hostility. Obi-Wan thought it was time for Luke to begin learning his Jedi heritage----

"It is a cursed weapon. You will never give that to Luke," said Owen furiously hurling the sword into the dust.

Obi-Wan stood impassive against Owen's rage. I knelt down and picked up the sword, surprised that it was so light in my hand. I had never touched a lightsabre before, they are accounted to be charmed weapons infused with the spirit of their makers. Obi-Wan had explained to me long ago that such ideas were only myth. But to a Naboo, existence itself is an unfolding myth. I could sense that Anakin's sabre has a long journey yet to complete.

I knew Owen would not understand, nor Obi-Wan appreciate my perspective. I stood between them.

"We all want what is right for Luke." I said softly.

I looked again at the weapon, Anakin's hands had made it, his force talents had aligned its crystals and called it into life. Only a Jedi can do that.

Obi-Wan is right, someday this sword will belong to Luke---But Owen is right also, today is not the day. This is why Amidala put me here. It is my judgement, not Obi-Wan's or Owen's. Luke will never be a pawn of Obi Wan's revenge. That is a promise I made to his mother. The Jedi are destroyed. It is not Luke's life-price to suffer their mistakes. Obi-Wan understands, but he has others he must answer to, my loyalty is to Luke and to Amidala. Luke must be allowed to choose his own path freely. If there is any honor in what we have done, it comes from that.

I gave the sabre back to Obi-Wan, and then went to stand with my husband.

Owen misunderstands my loyalty. Obi-wan does not. The Jedi bows to me. The first time in my life he has ever done so.

"I will Obey your wishes Lady Beru." He said formally.

Then he walked away, taking the sabre with him. Did he really think we would just turn Luke over to him? That was the last time Obi-Wan Kenobi, came to our house.

I was helping Luke with his studies. The lesson was 'The Realignment of the Galactic Government Under Emperor Palpatine's New Initiatives." Luke takes the advanced courses sent to him from the Higher Education Institute on Rastalt. He is not a scholar, but he understands that he cannot go to the academy unless he passes the sector exams. Luke hides his education from his friends, he understands already how not to draw attention to himself.

I was fast forwarding through the lesson when a holo picture of Princess Leia and my daughter flashed across the screen. There was a brief picture of the Galactic Senate Chamber on Coroscant and then a close up on both of them. I froze the image. I have not seen my daughter in sixteen years, but there is no doubt she is my child. She stands behind Princess Leia. Her long silver hair is braided in the intricate Alderaani style. She has grown into a beautiful woman. Obi-Wan had told me of her accomplishments, but this is the first picture I have seen of her.

The Princess is on the news holos often, especially since her election to the Senate. Her good works are known throughout the galaxy. Owen and I cannot afford access to the holo net, so Luke has never seen his unknown sister. Our isolation here, has been our greatest protection. I do not delude myself into thinking that Vader has given up searching for them. Obi-Wan and Amidala chose Tatooine because this was the one planet in the universe Vader has sworn never to return to. Her wisdom in this was flawless, Luke has grown up knowing and understanding his father's world.

I too have found my life's destiny on Tatooine. After Obi-Wan and I take Luke to Alderaan, after I have spent remembrance-time with my beautiful daughter, I will return to Tatooine. I will return to my hard-working husband, and I will finish my life here.

I have been driven from Naboo..... I have been driven from Alderaan.... I will not be driven from Tatooine. This is my home. I will not leave it.

Luke will be twenty years old in just a few weeks. It does not seem possible, how quickly the years have gone. My heart is burdened with what is to become of him.

I looked up from my writing, startled, Luke is standing in front of me. He moves so quietly now.

"Aunt Beru, may I talk with you?".

I nod to him. He is always deeply affected when he and Owen argue. He sat down across the table from me his face so serious, and troubled. His hands, always busy, were strangely still, he laid a droid's restraining bolt on the table.

"What's the matter, Luke?" I asked.

He paused and sighed. "The new droid is missing, I didn't lock him down-- I'm so stupid aunt Beru."

"You will find him in the morning." I said.

"What if the Sand People find him first? Uncle Owen is going to be so mad."

"Your Uncle loves you Luke, and both of us know he's been under terrible stress because of the water contracts."

Luke nodded.guiltily "He's just always so focused on the farm," said Luke with frustration. "I'm not supposed to tell you but Biggs was back in Anchor Head. a couple of months ago. He told me--" Luke hesitated, "-- he told me war is coming."

My heart stopped at that, Owen had heavy-handedly blocked Luke's academy registration, but my husband's tactics were not going to work much longer. Luke was right war was coming. Owen thinks he can stop the future, by positioning his obstinacy between us and harm. I love him so much for his tenacity, for his belief that honor and hard work, will solve everything. He has more then a little of the Jedi, in him. Even though it would anger him to hear me say it.

"Aunt Beru, I wanted you to know I've made a decision." I nodded for him to continue.

"I am not going to the academy. I'm going to stay here and help you."

"Luke that is not what your Uncle and I want. You have always dreamed of going into the space service."

"Uncle Owen's right, I need to take responsibility, here and now. If war is coming then even Tatooine might not be safe for you Aunt Beru. More Imperials come here every year, even the Hutt's can't buy them off any more."

"I'm grown up Aunt Beru," he said "You and Uncle Owen are all the family I have. I won't leave you." Then he looked at me with his startling blue eyes.... "My father abandoned my mother. I won't abandon you!".

"Luke you don't know the full story. Those were terrible times." I said.

"I won't run away to space like he did, and leave my family behind--Mother died because he left her, I know you never told me that, but I can feel your anger with him."

Luke continues to startle me with his insights, his knowledge is wrong, but his feelings are correct.

"Luke, Padme loved your father very much, she and Anakin, were born under crossed stars. The lady made their fates very difficult."

"All our family is dead!" said Luke angrily, "and we are in exile on this dead-end planet, I want to see the land where we came from, I want to see all the places you have told me about."

"Luke they are all gone. The wars destroyed everything."

"I know." He said, with a strange weariness like all the great events of our history are isolating him, and passing him by.

There is a new maturity in Luke. We have all have sensed it--along with his frustration. Obi-Wan says he is starting to awaken his force gifts

"I understand why we are hiding." He said emphatically. "I figured it out a long time ago. When you told me how grandfather Lucan fought in the clone wars, how the red-slayer killed him, and how you and mother escaped, because of his bravery--because he stayed to protect you. I just want you to understand." said Luke. "I am going to stay. Like grandfather stayed behind to protect mother. This is all I've thought about since talking to Biggs All my life you have told me about honor and family duty. I know our family isn't rich, or important like the Darklighters, but I promise you I won't be like father."

He stood up shuffled awkwardly, kissed me and, and left to go outside.

What could I say to that? I have raised an extraordinary child. He can reach into hearts and rend souls, Oh! Amidala he is so much your son it frightens me. What will the world do to him? Will his innocence be twisted because of the lies we have told? He is born under the same fate as you, will he ever forgive me?

Obi-Wans long vigil is ended. We all sense the time of change is at hand, even without knowing his Jedi ways, both Owen and I know it is time. The reckoning is tomorrow. Owen and I must tell Luke the truth.

Obi-Wan has called twice since yesterday. He is making his way to us. He has not come to our farm since he and Owen argued over the lightsabre. His messages are unusually haste, and Obi-Wan warns us to watch the sky and to be prepared to leave the farm when he arrives. Even I can feel the storm that is coming. Owen refuses to listen, but I know he too sleeps fitfully....and Luke, he stands outside, I can see him in the darkness. Sleep eludes him too. He is waiting for the dawn so he can find his wandering droid. Tomorrow his innocence will end.

I have known this day would come for twenty years. The three of us must tell him. The sadness makes my soul ache. Amidala told me that Anakin's path into darkness was built upon lies. I can hear her voice so clearly, saying with resignation.

"The future comes for us all Beru, It is in the Lady's hands"

I cannot sleep. The memories refuse to stay silent. So many deaths, so much killing. If only things had been different, if only.....

* * *

On the desert world of Tatooine in a darkened chamber a sad eyed lady sits in sculptured stillness. In her hands lay old tokens of memory, in one hand a talisman of ageing black feathers brittle with blood of her long dead husband, in the other a talisman of silver white hair, that shimmers like a shower of light, the memory of a daughter she has not seen for seventeen years. Tears stream down her face, long glistening tracks of infinite sorrow. In the chiaroscuro light, a woman who has never in her life asked for anything for herself--calls upon the great gift her family has always possessed--in moments of crisis the power to call down destiny. She sobs softly.... .'I would give anything to never to have to tell him. Never to tell Luke of the unspeakable past'... Tomorrow will be the hardest day. Oh spirits of our hearth and Dark-Winged-Lady.... 'Protect our children, and grant me escape.'