Chapter Text
He'll come for me
"Your highness..."
He won't
" Your highness, please, your father-"
He'll come for me.
"(y/n), please"
He won't.
Sighing, you looked up from the now bare lily in your hand. No matter how many times you've done it, how many different flowers you grabbed, the answer always stayed the same - he wasn't coming. Maybe it was silly, but you'd done this ritual every day since you were 16, waiting to meet your soulmate, ever since his name appeared on your wrist. Today was your twenty-third birthday, and he had yet to appear.
Your handmaiden, Iania, tried once again to urge you to get a move on. Rolling your eyes, you stood up nonetheless, your robes flowing behind you. You were visiting Galactic City with your father; for talks of the senate and for him to try and get in with the Jedi.
"Do you know the type of power we'd have if a Jedi was sworn to our side? The power we could use over our enemies?" He'd whispered in your ear as you flew in, much to your annoyance. While you understood where he was coming from somewhat, as your kingdom was on the verge of war with another neighboring country, you also knew that the Jedi belonged to the force and the force only.
"The Jedi read minds, they'll see the greed in your mind," You insisted, stroking the inner of your wrist.
He opened his mouth to say something else but instead took your hand in his. "We'll find him, my dear, don't worry. He's not passed, otherwise, you'd feel it." Squeezing your hand, he gave you a sad smile.
Ducking your head down, you couldn't help but feel that it was an impossible task. "Father...I'm hitting my twenty-third year of age, I've heard of how they talk about me in court. You and Mother cannot afford to keep turning down engagements. If he hasn't come by now..." You trailed off, not wanting to give more power to the fear you held.
Most soulmates met each other by the age of 18, sometimes 15 to 16 - if you were lucky, but the cut-off was at 21. If you didn't meet them by 21, the chances of it happening decreased significantly, and even more so as time went on. Not everyone had a soulmate, of course, those who didn't have one were free to marry whoever they chose, etc. But to be given a soulmate and not meet them past 21 was not good. In addition to that, you were both the eldest of your family and the heir to the throne.
It left you in a dangerous situation, you could enter a political marriage and sign some treaty, but if your soulmate did come, then you might feel the soul tie and run off with them. Or your husband would be subject to the humiliation of you having an affair, which would risk compromising the marriage treaty and cause further issues.
Due to that reason, your father and mother were clinging to the throne, despite both having their health decline and wanting to spend their last years together without the stress that came with being the Queen and King.
"Shhh," your father consoled you, squeezing your hand as hard as he could, "Galactic City is a big place, for all we know, he could've been in the Senate or under the Emperor's hand this whole time, we will find you. I promise you,"
"(Y/n)?" Iania's voice brought you out of your head, your father was still waiting for you. Sighing, you throw the lily on the ground, grabbing her hand and pulling her away from the garden.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I'll explain it to Father," Grabbing your skirts, the two of you run back to the Palace.
~~~~
You heard him as you rounded the corner.
"The Jedi te- Ah! There she is!" You found your Father talking to Emperor Palpatine, which made you feel even worse. If you had known he'd caught the Emperor's ear, you would've left the moment Iania came to you.
"Supreme Chancellor, it is an honor to meet you," You say, curtsying deep, your skirts billowing out beneath you and your veil almost touching the ground.
"Please my child," he took your hand to lift you, "The honor is all mine. I have never met anyone of your circumstance before, and a princess nonetheless." It was times like this when you were grateful for the veil. If looks could kill, yours would. Whether he did it intentionally or not, it was obvious to you and no doubt your father, the insult hidden in his words.
Coughing, your father, did his best to move the conversation. "I-I had just asked the Chancellor by change if he knew anyone in the senate who had your name by chance, he was kind enough to indulge me,"
Emperor Palpatine smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Yes, as I was telling your father, there's no one in the senate with your name, unfortunately. I know that must be a blow to you, I know that things must be scary for you, as time goes on,"
Slipping your hand from his cold fingers, you took your Father's elbow.
"It is a bit, I'll admit, but luckily my parents are doing a wonderful job on running the kingdom, I'm very grateful. Forgive me for the intrusion, but I believe I heard someone mention the Jedi as I was coming around the corner?"
If you had angered the Emperor, he chose not to show it, just giving another fake smile.
"Ah yes my child, the Jedi temple was next on my stop and I invited your father to come with me, the invitation extends to you of course my dear,"
"I'd be delighted to your honor, thank you," you bowed your head.
"Of course, follow me please," he started walking another way, you and your father in tow.
"You may do as you please Iania, but take a guard with you if you want to explore. I'll see you at dinner," You dismiss her with a quick thumbs-up, and she hurries away before your father can object.
Keeping a respectable distance behind the Emperor, you bring your head to his ear.
"How'd you get the Emperor's ear so fast? I thought you were going to wait until Senate dismissed, and after you talked to our representative,"
"It was by chance, I got lost," he leaned in close to whisper the second bit, "Keep your distance, I don't like the way he looked at you,"
Nodding, you both remain quiet for the remainder of the journey, both in awe of the beauty of the city. And as stunning as it was, you couldn't help but feel off . The closer you got to the Temple, the more queasy and sick you felt.
"I-" you started to say, but the uneasy feeling you felt was getting stronger and stronger. Something was off. It was only then you noticed that your soulmate mark was starting to tingle. It had only done that once before when his name had first revealed itself on your skin. A pit of dread had formed in your stomach, and you didn't like what it foretold.
"And here," The Emperor pointed, "Is the esteemed Jedi Council," he stepped to the side, allowing you and your father to enter first. The stinging on your wrist was getting more and more intense by the minute.
"Father-" you were cut off by another wave of nausea and him dragging you into the room. You entered a room with windows for walls, with columns connecting them all. Men and women in plain beige robes sat in red chairs that were formed in a circle. Your father, not noticing you, took it in its glory. His eyes were wide at both the room and the power before him.
"Hmph" Gagging, you clutch your stomach, everything being too much.
"Your highness?! Are you alright?!" the Chancellor's voice was far away as you took a knee to the floor, hand over your mouth to stop you from throwing up.
"(y/n)?!" your father rushed to your side, supporting you so you didn't collapse on the floor. Many of the Jedi had stood to help, but none were quicker than an older man with long somewhat graying hair.
"Are you alright?" He took your wrist, blue meeting (e/c), and that's when you felt it. The stinging, nausea, it all stopped the minute he touched you...took your hand.
"Miss ar-" before he could even continue, you slapped him as hard as you could with your little strength.
"How dare you?" You whispered, only noticing that you had been crying when they fell to your collarbone, "How could you do this to me?" The words fell softly from your lips, but you felt like everyone could hear.
"I-"
You didn't let him talk.
"You've ruined me!" Thrusting your wrist in his face, in the air, for all to see. "Do you know how long I've been waiting?! Trying to reach out?!" You didn't care about the tears, that you were causing a scene. Years of anger, shame, and hurt had finally found their reason to be let out. His face remained blank, not giving anything away.
Before you could say anything else, he raised his hand, only saying one word.
"Sleep."
And everything started to go dark, despite your will wanting to stay awake. In the end, you lost, your eyes rolling into the back of your head, putting you in the dark.
"Chancellor, you should take their Highnesses back to their lodging. The Council and I must convene...alone," was the last thing you heard before fullying giving in.
You had been waiting for a man who had never planned to come.