Across fictive worlds

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

General POV

"I really thought I would be failing Spanish because I was just so busy with everything going on", Leia said. She laid on her stomach on her favorite meadow, chewing on a blade of grass, as relaxed as she'd ever been. In reality she was at home, sleeping in her bed but in her dream, Bella was lying next to her, watching the clouds pass by.

"I never thought I would be so busy once I was no longer a princess. But there's school, there's playing in-between for the pack and the vamps, there's fishing with Charlie, going on dates, practicing my Force powers, blaster training and helping to decorate the new house. Alice is such an angel for giving me an answer sheet to memorize. I might have had to repeat a year if it wasn't for her."

"How's the house coming along?" Bella wanted to know.

The two girls had spoken just a week ago, when Leia updated her sister on the success of the vampire hunt and Bella had given her the good news that she'd saved her parents (again).

"Oh, it's coming along. Esme jumped right in and basically filled up everything with designer furniture. But she somehow still managed to find a style that feels homey enough for Charlie. I think he might have a crush on her, actually."

"Aww, poor Dad", Bella made and grinned. "I doubt he can compete with the good doctor."

Leia laughed. "Maybe he could if he wasn't half a century too young for her."

"How about René, how's she doing?", Bella asked curious.

"She's doing great, I think she really enjoys the traveling. I got another postcard yesterday. We mostly write emails though. She sounds happy."

Leia rolled onto her side to face Bella.

"But enough about my side of reality. How are you doing? Is Vader still behaving?"

"Yeah, everything is fine. I'm back to having to study though." Bella grimaced a bit. "The first day I arrived, I told him I'd like a handmaiden. You know, because Padmé always had some and you look like her, I wanted to build on resemblance. But I also explicitly told him I didn't want one of my old ones, I mean your old ones. They might know I wasn't you and I didn't want to give him another hostage. So of course, what does he do?"

Leia frowned worriedly even as Bella rolled her eyes.

"He captured one of my old handmaiden?"

"Well, sort of. Nymia said Bail assembled a bunch of servants and asked if anyone wanted to volunteer and she did."

"Of course she did", Leia said a bit sadly. "Nymia used to be my double and bodyguard. Her position at my side was always supposed to be life-long. She didn't give you any trouble, did she?"

"Not yet. She only arrived yesterday. I considered telling her I fell on my head one time too many during Rebellion missions and had amnesia or something. But I don't want that kind of thing to get back to Vader and I don't know if my room is bugged. For know I just told her I want to continue furthering my education and we've cobbled together a lesson plan with politics, history, diplomacy and etiquette. I added astronavigation and Bruno is training with me with a blaster. Bruno - that's one of my trooper watchdogs. The only thing that Vader doesn't let me do is practice flying. I'm not even allowed in the simulator."

"It's good that you have Nymia, especially if you're concerned about assassins. She'll protect you with her life. She is a good friend but... You can tell her you will be more distant so Vader doesn't get any ideas of using her against you. Nymia will understand."