Star Wars: Darth Nyx (Book 1)

Ch34: Aunty Nyx

I'm lounging in a sofa in the freshly built palace on Lianna with little to do as I'm being updated on our progress by a few officers from the military when a guard enters the room. Once I acknowledge him, he mentions that there is a little girl here claiming that I am her aunty and who's demanding to see me but before he can finish said little girl comes rushing in, moving so fast she passes the guard before he can so much as move to intercept.

Leia: Aunty Nyx!

Visas, who'd been shrouding herself in darkness in the corner behind me, suddenly moves between us. Her hand hovers over her lightsaber but Leia stops well out of reach. Despite how she might act, she's a rather smart child, after all.

Me: It's okay, Visas. 

Visas, without taking her eyes off Leia, retreats until she's standing behind the sofa. Once she's out of the way, however, Leia comes rushing forward. Fennec had already told me what happened on Alderaan so I'm a bit surprised to find her this chirpy but I suppose at the end of the day she's still but a mere child. I mean, she's even taken to calling me aunty!

????: Leia! I-please forgive my daughter's rudeness, Your Majesty.

I watch as the woman lowers her head, earning a note of approval from the military staff in the room with us. She continues by introducing herself and Leia properly before thanking me for saving her and her daughter.

Me: You don't need to thank me for that. Consider it as me being a good aunt.

Leia beams up at me upon hearing those words and I can't help but laugh at how foolishly innocent this poor child is. It makes me wonder how long she would have lived if I hadn't sent Fennec to watch over her. 

I must admit, I am a bit weirded out by her calling me aunt. Even now, after so much time has passed, it still irks me that this child...well, teenager...calls me aunt. 

Me: I am glad you made it here safely. I trust Fennec was good to you?

Leia: She was.

Breha: Lady Shand was indeed most helpful. 

Me: Then it was a good decision to send her.

Breha: I am ever thankful for it.

Leia: Where is she, Aunty?

Me: Fennec? She's gone to do something for me.

Leia: Like a secret mission?

Me: I suppose you could say that.

Leia looks like she wishes to say more but her mother picks up on the likely sensitive nature of the topic and intervenes, changing the subject entirely by mentioning how she's a bit sad that they won't be able to celebrate Leia's birthday this year. 

That catches my attention and, turning to Leia who is seated beside me, I ask her what her age is and when is her birthday. For some reason, she suddenly turns shy, hiding her face behind her as she whispers that her birthday is in the next two weeks. When she doesn't elaborate further, her mother teases by revealing her age. She is apparently, 16 turning 17.

I am genuinely surprised by how old she is, especially since she's seemingly still acting like she did all those years ago. It's so striking to think it has been years but I suppose despite keeping an eye on her, I've been quite busy in the interim though if anything, it should be even more striking that her affection towards me hasn't waned in a decade without contact. One would think I was her mother-

Me: If that's the only thing bothering you now, we could always throw a birthday party here.

Breha: I am grateful for the offer but I'm not sure Leia-