Not for Prying Eyes.

Illusions.

Before she knew it, the suns of Tatooine had already risen, filling the cell with a golden light that streamed in from the small hole in the wall that constituted a window. The bars on the cell lifted up and a few guards ready to escort them to the throne room stood in the doorway.

All the dancers lined up with their neck collars exposed for their chains to be attached. Leia stuck close to Lyn Me but the leader of the guards yanked her forward so they were leading the group.

Leia held her head high as they entered the throne room, trying to be confident just as Lyn Me had instructed, but as she saw the slimy slug atop his pedestal and the many vile lowlifes as their audience, Leia wrapped her arms around her middle again and avoided eye contact with everyone.

The long chains were handed over to Jabba who promptly ordered the music to start up with many cheers and hollars of agreement from the crowd. The band in the corner of the chamber roared into action, playing an exotic beat with every intention for the slaves to dance to.

Some of the dancers were told to told to stay with the band, probably just as background decoration and Leia wished she had been selected for that but was unlucky as she was pushed forward along with Lyn Me and Rystáll Sant into the middle of the throne room.

Jabba's booming laugh cut through the music as he ordered them to entertain him. Lyn and Rystáll immediately set off into their separated dances, each with their own unique sensuality to their movements. They had not even hesitated, showing just how normal this seemed to be for them.

What astonished Leia was how fluid and unwavering their movements were, one could almost mistake it for passion but if her conversation with Lyn had taught her anything, it was that all the slaves hated Jabba. The two seemed to twirl and twist their bodies to the music effortlessly as they smiled at the crowd and the slug with fluttering lashes as though they were enjoying themselves.

Leia was not dancing. She was standing there, shy and still as though she genuinely believed that if she didn't move, no one would see her.

The music stopped abruptly as Leia felt an agonizing jolt of electricity shoot through her entire body, originating from her collar again. Her legs buckled but the jolt was quick enough that she managed to keep her footing and not fall to her knees as she gritted her teeth in pain.

"Um... The mighty Jabba asks why you are not dancing for him?" 3PO translated for her in an uncertain tone - even if he was a droid - as Jabba rumbled something in Huttese.

"I can't..." Leia shook her head, even though she knew that was probably not the response that would keep her alive.

Leia sometimes hated always being right as before she even had time to recover from the shock collar, she was tugged aggressively by the chain around her neck. Stumbling forward with the chain, Leia barely had time to acknowledge the opening of what appeared to be a trap door beneath her feet.

The ground seemed to collapse from under her feet as she yelped in terror as she fell. The chain around her neck strained and almost violently made her head throw back as she found herself dangeling in a deep pit that led to force knows where, with the chain around her neck keeping her up but slowly constricting her to the point that her breathing was laboured. She saw Jabba looking over the trap door entrance, his head thrown back in a belly laugh as Leia spluttered and clawed at her neck to no avail.

She saw Jabba's mouth moving in what appeared to be words but Leia's blood was begining to pound at the lack of air. Leia could only stay there and wriggle.

3PO peered over the edge and though he was a droid, she could tell he was concerned as he seemed to be translating for Jabba yet again. She only managed to make out the vague idea that Jabba didn't want her to go to waste like this and would 'forgive' her is she danced this time.