The Legend of the Jedi Queen

38. Princess Miri

Nellith entered the banquet hall, astounded by the beauty of the Rainbow Palace once more. She felt plain, even, in the simple dark blue gown she wore now, with a matching vest and elegant fingerless gloves that went up to her elbows. Previously she had thought the simplicity to be stunning and minimalistic.

Seeing now the intricate and colorful clothes of the Artorian nobles, it was easy to see why Artorias was famous for their arts, not just the landscape.

Despite her perceived plainness, Nellith entered the fray, searching for her parents or Tallis among the crowd. After nudging past a few people, Nellith saw two familiar faces who she hadn't seen in a while.

A girl with two dark blonde ponytails shooting out of a lilac headdress in a gauzy off-shoulder gown with a bubble shape turned, her rosy face erupting into a grin.

"Amilyn?" Nellith's voice was tentative.

"Nellith!" Amilyn Dameron embraced Nellith, nearly strangling her. "I've missed you!"

"Missed—you—too—"

Amilyn quickly let go, as Sam Tico, dressed in a shimmering golden cloak-like shirt and black pants joined Amilyn's side.

"Don't kill her," Sam said, smiling. He stuck out his hand. "How are you, Nellith?"

"Good," Nellith said, accepting it. "How have you been?"

"I've been helping Wedge train up more pilots and fix up the X-wings at the Academy," Sam said. "Mom and Dad won't let me do much more than that. They want me on the home front only."

"Because you aren't seventeen yet," Amilyn said chidingly. "We all still have three more years. Then we can join the war."

"Well, not you," Sam said, nodding toward Nellith. "I've heard some stories from the pilots, that you and Tallis Shan are a little more active in the war."

Thinking of Yavin, Nellith reluctantly nodded. "I wish we weren't."

"But you're doing something," Sam pointed out.

"So are you," Nellith said evenly. "We need mechanics and trainers."

"And we helped start this war," Amilyn reminded him. She looked back to Nellith. "But hopefully, it will be all over soon. So let's talk about something else. Whatever happened to Tallis? I heard he was coming because he was the direct heir to the Emperor of the original Empire."

"He should be somewhere," Nellith said, standing on tiptoe to look around. She spotted him nearly immediately.

Near the center blue crystal spire in the room, he stood next to the girl from earlier, was dressed differently— in the gorgeous sweeping robes of an Artorian noble. It only confirmed her earlier suspicion. Then she saw the diadem.

Oh.

Amilyn and Sam turned to see what Nellith was looking at.

"Oh, we haven't introduced you to the princess, yet!" Amilyn cried. "I met her at my school for young leaders, she's wonderful!"

Without any trace of shame and all abandon, Amilyn grabbed Nellith's wrist and dragged her into the crowd, seamlessly weaving past all the important people.

She approached, and the princess turned away from Tallis, smiling at Amilyn. There was mischief in that smile, a twinkle of the unrestrained wild that Nellith knew in all too many planets. Her red hair had been woven in with the diamond diadem, making it press securely into the princess's forehead.

"Amilyn Dameron and Sam Tico, stunning as ever," the princess said in a deep drawl. "Have you met Tallis Shan? He's the young Emperor the Second Order demands."

Nellith could feel the rain in Tallis's force-signature, any second about to turn to storm. She could feel the gusts of anxiety swooping in, making the gentle rain she liked the best in him turn to tempest.

"He's a friend," Amilyn said, with a warm smile. "Miri, have I ever introduced you to Nellith?"

The princess blinked, finally realizing Nellith was there. "Not Nellith Solo?"

"That's me," Nellith said with a quick, clumsy curtsy.

The princess gave a steadying hand, covered in diamond trinkets. "Careful there. I'm Miri. Also known as Princess Miranda Galfridian."

"It's nice to meet you," Nellith said, shaking the princess's hand. "I'm a friend of Tallis's."

"Oh really?" Miri looked coy as she glanced from Nellith to Tallis, then back again. "Why not? The Supreme Leader and the Emperor's bloodlines."

Tallis shifted uneasily again.

"We put a lot of stock in bloodlines," Miri said, finally sensing his unease. "We believe that it's the past that makes one special."

"Oh," Nellith said, thinking of her mother. "I've found that anyone can be special. Depends on what they do."

"Rey Solo is an anomaly," Miri said stiffly. "But you'd know the importance of mighty Skywalker blood, wouldn't you?"

Nellith could see a challenge in the princess's amber eyes. "I am not my father."

"So quick to disown," Miri said, shaking her head. "I heard that the two of you were close."

"I am not my mother, either," Nellith said quickly.

"Then who are you?" Miri said it as if she was being clever.

"I'm Nellith."

Behind Miri, she could see Tallis smirk ever so slightly. Then she swayed a little, leaning against Amilyn. She turned to see Andromeda Hux enter the room with her delegation.

With Abeloth and Snoke within her, Andromeda's Force signature was now the wild, untamed night, overwhelming with uncertainty and chaos, and so dangerous it felt like a knife cutting slits in Nellith's throat.

Then she felt the rain of Tallis, turned a hurricane. She looked to him— but he wasn't looking at Andromeda. When Nellith followed Tallis's line of sight, she realized that he was staring at the man beside her. About Rey's age, with a scruffy beard and light eyes, was a man with facial features and a build that were undeniably familiar.

Tallis clenched his fists, but his face wasn't angry. He looked like a little boy, betrayed and lost.

"Dad?"