Bloodline

by Claudia Gray

His expression reminded her a little bit of Ben’s when he was little, running in after an afternoon of roughhousing with his friends, hair mussed, absolutely filthy, and proud of himself.

Leia found Ransolm Casterfo surprisingly easy to talk to. He was intelligent, cultured, and even witty. Also, he was young enough that she didn’t have to worry about any misunderstandings of the romantic variety—but not so young that she had to feel guilty about appreciating the view.

One day she would have to reveal all this to her son. The truth of Vader’s identity had shattered her; she could not imagine what it might mean to Ben. At least Luke could tell Ben the most important part—that Vader had, in the end, been redeemed. Anakin Skywalker had returned; the dark side had been defeated by the light. Leia knew this. She believed it. But she still did not understand it.

“You have a lovely home,” he said. Leia chuckled. “You say that now. Come back sometime after my husband’s been home for a few weeks. Socks everywhere.”

“The government needs authority. But I cannot fault you for your caution, Leia. What you lived through at the Empire’s hand—at Vader’s hand—no wonder you’re suspicious. During the war, I imagine paranoia was the only thing that kept you alive.” “And friendship, and love.” Leia knew that Luke’s selflessness in coming for her on the Death Star, and Han’s unspoken devotion in saving her on Hoth, had not only kept her alive but also changed the entire course of the galaxy for the better. “Those things matter, too, maybe more than all the rest.”

Yes, Leia had given her entire life to her duty, but at least she’d given it in a good cause. Thanks to her husband, brother, son, and many friends, nobody could say she’d sacrificed all her happiness or love.

In that instant, her anger rose to a nearly uncontrollable fury. If she’d had a blaster, she might have fired it. Her rage could have driven her to kill others—innocents—just to make sure Ransolm Casterfo didn’t have to needlessly die. She realized, then, something she had never fully understood before. She’d always wondered what had led her father to turn to the dark side, to become Darth Vader. She’d imagined it came from ambition, greed, or some other venal weakness. Never had she considered that the turn might begin in a better place, out of the desire to save someone or to avenge a great wrong. Even if it led to evil, that first impulse might be born of loyalty, a sense of justice, or even love. Had it been like that for her father? She could never know. But for the first time in a very long while, she had some sense of who Anakin Skywalker might have been before his fall, and of the goodness that must have survived in him through all the darkness, all the years.