A Caged Songbird

...This is a Man's World...

" Are you ready Novi? Big night for our little star!" Her 'mother', Rèmi, said as she very gently adjusted the foundling's helmet. The foundlings name was Novari..she couldn't remember what her last name had been,only what it was now. She had been taken in by Clan Jegor led by Baptisté Jegor, a follower of the way; and his wife Rèmi a beautiful singer. Novari's smile couldn't be seen behind her helmet but her excitement was there, " born ready momma!" She said excitedly before her father scooped her up in a bear hug. Baptisté was a real father to her, he supported her through her creed thus far and her wanting to also follow in her mother's footsteps, he'd watched his foundling balance two worlds on her little shoulders and was proud that at six years old she was going to use her gift to entertain their clan. He gave his daughter a big hug and held her on his hip for a moment, " me and momma will be right in the front stools ok? Just think of it as singing for us." He said before gently resting his helmet against hers. He didn't want to break their creed in such a public area to give his little girl a forehead kiss so he did what anyone would do, a very gentle Keldabe kiss. He'd made the mistake of doing it a little too hard to her once and almost cracked her helmet, forgetting she was a small girl and not a bigger member of the clan so he'd always make sure to do it gently .
    After a few moments Baptisté very gently set the little girl down and took her small gloved hand, while her mother took her other one. They lead their child out to the clan, and were proud to introduce her as their talent for the night. Novari was nervous but she didn't let the clan see that, once her parents had finished addressing the clan and had let go of her hands more nervousness hit her as she realized she was up there all on her own. She took a few deep breaths to ground herself, nearly missing the signal to singing given by her mother,but she was quick to jump right into what she was singing. She was doing great for someone so young, her voice as sweet as candy, and sounded beautiful with the piece picked for her by her mother. What was unknown to them was the horrors about to befall them that night as this young girl sang. Mere moments before that sweet little voice was ringing out with the words: "I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway Out of the darkness and into the sun But I won't forget all the ones that I love-" then all she heard were the sounds of bombs and screams, before darkness fell upon her.
     Those memories are what kept a now fifteen year old Novari from sleeping. She would claim it was the damp, moldy, spider infested cell that she was currently stuck in waiting to be dragged out at the beck and call of her captor. In hindsight trying to poison the man who destroyed your family while in a crowded bar where people will say anything for the right price was not the best idea, which is why she was now in the decrepit cell. She was lost in the memories that haunted her when the guard, the one she saw everyday and gave a new nickname to as he never called her by her name. The man unlocked the cell door and roughly grabbed the girl by her restraints, it forced her up and caused her to wince a bit. " hey dickface your mom pulled my hair  harder when i was coming up for air last night." She said very snarky like and proud of herself for the insult, until there was a hand colliding with her freckled face before she was thrown down on the cold stone floor of an all too familiar room.
    With blood trickling down her face from her nose, staining parts of her white hair that framed her delicate, freckled and scared face. She made brief eye contact with the man who captured her, the man who sought to make her life miserable everyday, and the man who'd broken her creed: Moff Gideon. He looked at her, nothing but hatred in his eyes for this disgusting girl in front of him, it wasn't enough for him to have removed her helmet and have it displayed where she could see it to be reminded of it. He had to make sure this girl knew he owned her, like every night he had a drink in his hand and some other what she assumed as other high up assholes. He took a sip of his drink still glaring into the soul of this hurting child before he finally spoke, " song number two mandalorian." He said his tone didn't sound menacing at all to those around him but to the girl it cut deep like a knife through butter.
    "Bite me." Novari spat while shooting a glare at the man before looking at the stone cold floor. He swiftly stood up, boots clicking on the floor as he walked,  as he repeated the request : " song number 2, mandalorian." He said it was more demanding that time. She didn't look at him but she was angry and her tone showed it, "i'll never sing for you!" She said before hearing the man laugh. " That's where you're wrong.." he said before grabbing the girl by her delicate freckled face, blood still running from her nose, and lifted her up, forcing her to look into his cold, callous eyes. His hand squeezing her delicate face with such force it caused her periwinkle eyes to fill with tears and her small face to become red and would definitely bruise. "I own you mandalorian, now sing." He growled before dropping the girl back on to the cold floor with a sickening thud.
    Novari was very quick to stand keeping her head down, like a child who had been caught drawing on the wall. Tears mixed with blood as they streamed down her swollen face as she drew in a very shaky breath. She picked her head up but made no eye contact with anyone in the room, she drew in another shaky breath before her beautiful but broken voice rang out with the words:
            "This is a man's world, this is a man's world, and it would be nothing..nothing without a woman or a girl.."