Luke arrived home and ran to Leia's suite of rooms, "Leia?" he whispered and even tried to communicate through the Force, but their bond seemed stretched into a very thin line. When he entered her bedroom, he saw Jo sitting in a corner by the window, her knees pulled up around herself and wrapped with her thin arms.

"Jo?"

Luke approached the servant girl who immediately prostrated, "Prince Skywalker."

"Hey, please don't do that around me it makes me feel uncomfortable. Have you seen Leia?"

Jo knelt to Luke, but kept her eyes averted, "No, my prince I have not."

Luke could feel the substantial fear echoing off the servant girl and could feel her pain.

"Jo, are you okay?" Luke knelt beside her.

"Yes, I'm fine, your highness, I must go I have chores." Jo quickly stood to her feet and after bowing to Luke, she ran out of the room only to confront by the man she didn't want to see, the Emperor. "What are you doing in here? I ordered these rooms closed!"

"Forgive me, I didn't know." Jo cried.

"Ignorance is no excuse, get out of here!" Jo ran and didn't stop until she reached the kitchens.

"Luke, come we have much to discuss."

"Where's Leia?" Luke asked.

"Come."

Luke stood to his feet and grabbed his rucksack prior to exiting the room.

xXx

Leia removed her brown dress and put on a pair of pants and a long sleeved shirt. She heard a knock on the door and opened it. A girl with long black hair and clear blue eyes stood in front of Leia, "My name is Bian, and our father asked me to look out for you and to help you get used to our routines."

Leia sighed deeply and followed the girl who showed her the compound. Other than describing the facilities, Leia noticed how quiet Bian and unassuming she was.

"Once you get used to things, I think you'll like it here." She said at the end of the tour.

Leia thanked her and returned to her room, despite her wanting to control her tears and her shattered emotions; she couldn't help but to start crying.

Bian knocked on Leia's door and saw her asleep. "Leia, its time for dinner. Father doesn't like it when we are late."

Leia wiped the sleep out of her eyes and followed Bian to the dining room, a glass of blue milk and a plate of food set in front of her.

After saying a prayer of thanks, Leia start to eat, once she finished, she drank her milk. Governor Del Ray noticed how sullen and quiet Leia was over dinner. When Bian took her to the kitchen to show her some of the evening's chores, she also noticed Leia's disposition.

xXx

Anakin knew that Luke would likely become upset with Leia's betrayal and subsequent exile to Tatooine. Padmé would not likely approve either, but he felt he had no choice, he also knew that Governor Del Ray would look after his daughter. As a father he could forgive, but as a Sith, betrayal is something that there was no forgiveness, if she hadn't been of his own blood, death would have soon followed Leia's defrocking as the Princess of the Empire. Exile was a just punishment, in this case.

"Father, you seem distracted and where's Leia?" Luke asked while staring up at his father.

"Luke, please sit with me."

Luke sat across from his father and watched as father lowered himself to the floor, sitting on the comfortable cushion. "My son, your sister has betrayed us. She was seeking out to become a Jedi through my old master, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Why?"

"Because she has not forgiven me for taking her from Bail Organa and bringing her to her rightful home; even when he discovered that she was trying to get away from us, he supported her desire to help our enemies."

"I don't understand, Father, she belongs with us, she's my sister and your daughter, why would she want to leave us?"

"Because she believed that her life would be better without us in it, even when I brought your mother home, it made little difference."

Anakin could feel Luke's emotional pain from Leia's betrayal, "I love her father why would she want to leave us?"

"I do not know, son. We tried to give her what she wanted, but it wasn't enough. I will need your support when I explain this to your mother, and of Leia's subsequent exile. It will not be easy, your mother will likely disapprove, but I had no choice."

Luke smiled and hugged his father, "It is not your fault Father, and Leia betrayed us both." Anakin felt relieved at his son's words, he knew that convincing Padmé would be difficult and having his son's support would make it easier.

Padmé returned from her luncheon with the senators, her niece Ryoo joined her on the return to the Imperial Palace, with Han Solo as their escort.

After dinner that evening, Padmé, Anakin, and Luke sat in the family room and discussed Leia's exile. Padmé cried as she tried to convince Anakin what a big mistake this was, that Leia would only hate him more. Anakin told her that he had no choice that as an Emperor of the Galaxy, he had to set an example, and unfortunately, Leia went too far in contacting Obi-Wan Kenobi a dissident of the forgotten Jedi order.

"Forgotten Jedi order? Anakin, you were once Jedi!"

"My son, please leave us." Luke immediately stood to his feet, hugged, and kissed Padmé.

"Goodnight, Luke. I love you." Padmé whispered in his ear.

"I love you too, mom." Luke went off to bed.

"Padmé, listen to me, the Jedi didn't care about me or my needs. They made me their Chosen One, but they never truly cared, not like my mother or you. They wanted to take me away from my children and I even thought you were dead. Now we are family, Leia will eventually return from exile."

"When?"

"Once a year I will go to the school on Tatooine and see her progression. Unless she was agree to be completely stripped of the Force."

"You would sever Leia's abilities in the Force, isn't that a bit cruel?" Padmé asked, concerned.

"It would not hurt her, she wasn't showing much promise in any case, you could train her in politics, and eventually she could work her way up through the Senate."

"Could she ever regain her abilities if she wanted?"

"Once she has proven her loyalty to our Empire and family, I could restore her abilities slowly. However, we are talking several years, Padmé. I will not rush though; she will have to work very hard to regain my trust."

xXx

The weeks following her exile, Leia became more part of the 'family' on Tatooine, despite her weekly-prescribed whipping; she didn't do anything to earn another beating. Unfortunately, it took her exactly four days to heal before she received another whipping. She began really to hate Atunday mornings. Governor Del Ray sent weekly messages to the Emperor about Leia's attitude, her behavior, and how she was progressing through her academics. He even recommended decreasing the lashes that she received from five to three. Governor Del Ray surprised Leia with the letter that her father sent.

Dear Leia,

I trust that this letter finds you in relative good health and that you are fitting in well with the other children. Governor Del Ray has requested that your Imperial lashes be lessened from five to three, which I gave consent. I have a proposal to offer you, if you would like to come home. The proposal would be that I would sever the Force from you until such time you have proven your trustworthiness. Your mother would like to see to your training in politics. Think about it and let me know.

Lord Skywalker

Leia decided to meditate as Luke taught her. Leia often felt overwhelmed with the Force and the brutal sessions with her father. It seemed like a good compromise, however, how would she ever regain her father's trust? Would she regain her title as first Princess of the Empire or would she remain a servant? She didn't like the way her father treated his servants, even though she had to admit despite his cruelty, he wasn't as vile as others were. Venya described how Lord Vader saved her from a beating, "He came to my rescue, and saved my life, I love him."

Leia amazed of how all the children seemed to adore the Dark Lord, whether he knew it or not he had secured all their loyalty. After Leia finished mopping the floor of the dining room, she returned the bucket and mop to the closet. Her chores and homework completed, she went to Governor Del Ray's office.

"Governor Del Ray, may I speak to you?" Leia asked as she opened the door.

"Certainly, Leia, come."

"May I send a holo-transmission to my father?"

"Certainly, is it regarding the letter he sent you?"

"Yes, sir." Leia replied.

Governor Del Ray set up the transmission and was surprised that Lord Skywalker was already receiving the message.

"Good afternoon, my liege, there is someone who would like to speak to you."

"Thank you, Governor, please leave us."

Leia decided that a bit of humility was in order here; she knelt before the figure of her father. She also hung her head, as tears welled up in her brown eyes.

"Rise, Leia." The soft intonation of her father's voice requested.

Leia stood to her feet, but kept her head lowered, as a servant.

"Please Leia, look me in the eyes."

Leia slowly raised her head, "Yes, my Emperor."

Anakin notice how contrite she seemed, but she before also had fooled him. "What is your decision?"

"I wish to return." Leia replied simply.

"Why?" Anakin asked.

"Because I miss you and my family; I am very sorry that I betrayed you, my Emperor."

"How do I know you are truly sorry? You have lied to me in the past."

"I am willing to have you sever the Force from me until you can trust me again."

"If I decide to leave you as a servant, what will you do then?"

Leia cried as she replied, "It is your choice, my Emperor. I will obey you."

Anakin realized that Leia learned something of her exile, that she still loved her mom and brother; eventually Anakin would be included.

"I will meditate on this and give you an answer tomorrow." Anakin replied.

Leia bowed and before she could say anything, the image of her father dissipated.

Leia went to her room and cried. She didn't know what more she could do to gain her father's trust.

Anakin entered the sanctity of inner meditation room, after lighting a few candles and aligning himself with the dark side. He realized that if he didn't 'forgive' Leia or strip the Force from her, she wouldn't return from exile and would become powerful enough to one-day overthrow Luke and become a very serious threat to the Empire and even to humanity. Her anger and hatred would consume her and everyone around her. The words of his former master ran through his mind, "Rise Lord Vader, show no mercy."

Padmé prepared to go to bed, when Anakin entered her bedchamber. "Padmé, I need to talk to you."

Anakin sat on the edge of the bed, as Padmé joined him, "What's bothering you Anakin?"

"Its Leia, she has agreed to be stripped of the Force until such time she can prove her loyalty. She misses us, or so she says."

"Please bring her home, Anakin." Padmé requested.

Anakin did not miss the pleading in her voice, and decided to go and pick up Leia himself. "I will bring her home, Padmé."

The next morning, Anakin briefed Luke and Mara Jade while they were training with each other, after giving a few pointers on stance and correct lightsaber handling, he sat them down and told him of the situation with Leia. Luke immediately asked if he could with him, "No, my son. I need you to stay here and continue going to classes and practicing your techniques, your telekinesis needs some work."

Anakin called upon Han Solo to watch over the family, "Sir, shouldn't someone accompany you?"

"No, I must go alone. This is something that I need to do with Leia. Thank you."

"Yes, sir. Please be careful."

Anakin smiled at the pilot and left with his black cloak whipping in the wind as he approached the ship.

xXx

Leia finished her class assignment and daydreamed out the window, would her father forgive her?

After school, she went to her quarters to change from her school uniform to her servant's dress. It was her job to clean the refreshers this week. She was so intent on scrubbing the floor, that she didn't hear the door open or recognize the heavier footfalls. Anakin stood there silently as he watched his daughter scrub the floors.

Leia stood up, to move to the next stall, when she saw a figure dressed in dark fine robes, her father arrived. Leia immediately prostrated to the floor. Anakin crouched to Leia's prone body; he gently helped her to her feet.

Leia kept her eyes averted. Anakin gently moved her head so she could look at him in the eyes. Anakin moved by her tears and brought her into an embrace; she felt the forgiveness and the love emanating from her father. Could she call him 'father'?

"Yes, Leia, I forgive you."

Leia's sobbing increased and she tightened her arms around his waist. When she stopped crying she said, "I love you, father."

"I love you too, daughter."

Leia looked up into the face of her father and his blue eyes shone.

The brightest light casts the Darkest Shadow; this was Anakin Skywalker and Lord Vader's curse and blessing.

The End?