"Welcome" - E/C # 2 - PG

[jedimara77.livejournal.com]

Welcome, an E/C tale #2 

No smut in this one, but I hope you like it anyway!  

If you haven't yet, please read the Introduction to E/C!

WELCOME

by JediMara77

Mara fidgeted nervously in her suite, waiting for the maid, Inga, to finish straightening her dress. Mara had wanted to wear simpler clothing, or her uniform, but the council would have none of that. They insisted that this event be treated as the most formal of occasions, or else the Empire would never accept a Rebel into its fold. Even Leia had commed her to argue that Mara go along with the council. In the end Mara had rolled her eyes and given in to all her advisors, official and not. She was beginning to learn that giving in to everyone else’s demands was a big part of being Empress. She smiled to herself, wondering how Palpatine had dealt with such demands, then remembered that he didn’t have a council or advisory committee, just a long line of dead citizens in his wake. She rolled her eyes and pushed the thought out of her mind.

“There you are, dear.” Inga finished tying her dress and patted her shoulders in a comforting manner.

Mara smiled and looked at her reflection in the mirror. “Thank you, Inga.”

The maid smiled knowingly. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so nervous. Will you be all right? Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

Mara rolled her eyes again. She liked Inga a lot, but it’d only been a month and already the elder Togruta was treating her like a daughter. “I’m perfectly capable of greeting Luke on my own. You deserve a night off.”

Inga chuckled. “And you’ll probably be preoccupied anyway.”

Mara turned away, hiding the flush in her cheeks. “Maybe.” She looked down at her dress, smoothing out invisible wrinkles. Her hair was down, pulled back at the temples with crystal hairpins, and she wore a necklace and earrings made of Corellian bloodstones. She looked around the room—at the satin couch, plush carpeting, and woodwork on the walls. She’d grown used to living in an environment like this, but Luke had never seen anything like it. Would he be able to adapt, or would it be too much for him? She’d worried about that when she decided to take up the calling as Empress. He hadn’t hesitated to follow her to the Empire, proclaiming that he’d follow her anywhere, that he never wanted to leave her side. Besides, having the support of the Empress would make it much easier for him to rebuild the Jedi Order, he had said with a gleam in his eye.

Still, she worried about his reaction today. As Empress she always tried to please the people, and in doing so often ended up disappointing some. Would she disappoint Luke today? Would he prefer her as the tomboyish pilot he knew in the Rebellion, instead of the coiffed Empress?

Inga placed a hand on Mara’s back. “I’m sure he’ll think you’re beautiful.”

Mara nearly snorted. Luke would think she was beautiful if she was wearing a tuber sack. That was the least of her concerns. But she nodded, hiding her true concerns. Just then there was a knock on her door, and one of her guards stepped in. Mara nodded at him. “Well, I better go then.”

Inga kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Good luck…or should I say, ‘may the Force be with you’?”

Mara rolled her eyes again. “Very funny. Now go on, leave!”

Inga did as ordered, but turned back before leaving the room. “Remember, dear—smile!”

Mara obeyed, planting a fake smile on her face as she left the room. But the fake smile soon turned real as she neared the landing platform on the Palace roof. The shuttle came into view and her breath caught in her throat. This was it…

And then she stepped onto the platform and the only thing she could see was Luke, standing in front of the shuttle’s ramp with his hands clasped behind his back, looking unfathomably handsome in the dark attire that mimicked what the Jedi of the Old Republic wore. He was without a cloak, allowing her eyes to rake over his body, so missed after a month apart. Then her gaze lingered on his face, on the blue eyes that were locked onto hers, and the smile that threatened to split his expression in two. She paid no attention to the full honor guard standing at attention, to Pellaeon in his naval uniform, saluting her, to the full advisory council waiting to meet the man who would be Consort.

Somehow she managed to remember protocol, and made a mental note to thank Leia and Inga for their endless reminders of what she should do. She walked forward, two guards in front of her and two in back, one at her side. She stopped a meter away from Luke and regarded him as he bowed to her, most likely also remembering his “lessons” from his sister. When he righted himself Mara held out her hand and he took it, pressing her hand to his lips. Mara nearly melted at the touch, feeling lighter than she ever had even with the burden of being Empress riding heavy on her shoulders. Luke was with her again. She could do this. Everything would be perfectly fine.

I missed you, he sent to her, smile never leaving his face.

Her grin grew larger, reveling at the feeling of him in her mind again. I know. Then, out loud, she said, “Welcome to the Empire, Knight Luke Skywalker.” It was simple, but effective, and the entire Imperial contingent on the landing platform turned their attention to the slight Rebel pilot-turned-Jedi, and saluted him.

Comments

[jedimara77.livejournal.com]

Yes, the real reunion was penned by the lovely ginchy. ;)

While reading through all of these I realized that most of my early entries aren't smutty. But I actually did write a lot of the smutty ones, they're just later on. And ginchy wrote some that were non-smutty! :D

[jedi-lover88.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I hope this Mara is nicer to Luke than the Mara in Taming of the Jedi. ;)

[jedimara77.livejournal.com]

Hey now, this Mara is completely light side! Well, except for those rare moments she plays Pin the Head on Palpy...but that's for later. ;)

[ginchy.livejournal.com]

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

I suppose I should amend that to:

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee/cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love.Love.Love.

Did I mention LOVE??

And Inga. <3 She is someone that both Luke and Mara need, I think. I love her. And I love the way you write Mara here... and Luke kissing her palm... excuse me whilst I fan myself!!!

Seriously. E/C = Love.

[jedimara77.livejournal.com]

LMAO @ EEEEEEEEEEE/CCCCCCCCCCCCC!!! :D :D :D

Inga is the best!

I can't wait for you to post Bed. You should post it tonight. ;)

[briannakin.livejournal.com]

Oh. I just love Luke here. Such a gentleman. I also loved Mara's nervousness.

[jedimara77.livejournal.com]

He is a gentleman! Not so much in the next post, though. ;) Thanks!

[bkwrm112.livejournal.com]

I loved it. I could feel Mara's tension and I felt nervous for her. It was believable even knowing that nothing would keep Luke away from her.

I want more!

[jedimara77.livejournal.com]

Thanks! There's much more to come!

[valeria057.livejournal.com]

Awwww...Thank you, it really made my day :)

[jedimara77.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad! :)

[katajanmaria.livejournal.com]

Wooot!!!! Great start and lovely insight in Mara's inner jumble! Loooved to se Luke so mannerly!!

"Would he prefer her as the tomboyish pilot he knew in the Rebellion, instead of the coiffed Empress?"
He'll always prefer you without either, dear ;-P

[ana hazel (from livejournal.com)]

That was really nice! I get Mara's nervousness.