Surrendered

Chapter One : Home

Chapter One

I couldn't believe that my own father was having this conversation, about one of his own daughters. He was selling us off like cattle or a piece of meat. But these were the terms of the surrender, to relinquish power and offer one of his daughters or have his entire planet and people slaughtered.

'It's for the greater good' he insisted.

But I knew he was passing one of us off for a life of misery at the hands of the First Order. The unlucky one would be forced to marry an officer and follow their regime of evil and pain. This isn't what I wanted and but neither did my father, it's burning him inside to make this decision I could feel it. 

The battle for the planet was raging on and had been for ten years. The army just couldn't hold the First Order back any longer, they were too powerful. They knew that and exploited it, that's when the first offer of surrender on their terms was given. However, Father refused, he was too proud to give up his own title, planet and a daughter. But as time wore on, he knew that the situation was desperate and as much as he hated to admit it, he knew time had come.

That night he came to my quarters
"Aurora" He called out, I pretended to be asleep. "Aurora, darling"

He walked in and gently stroked my cheek, I continued to ignore him.

"I know you're awake, I've signed a treaty with the order. The war is over, we are invited onto their ship tomorrow. I know this isn't what you wanted but I have to keep my people safe." 

He sighed sitting heavily on my bed. I continued to ignore him and he eventually gave up and left, feeling defeated.

The next morning, I awoke with a dread deep within my chest, I'd barely slept all night my eyes were so heavy it felt as if they could fall out of my skull. The maids did their best to make me look presentable, but my eyes were circled by heavy purple even after all of the make-up they had carefully applied. 

I was pulled into my best dress; it was deep purple velvet with a train. The bodice was heavily laced with silver and a corset pulled at the waist. It was a dress that always drew many compliments, but I knew it was chosen just to simply show me off. The eyes of the galaxy were upon us, and we needed to make the right impression.

After breakfast I boarded the shuttle with my two sisters and father towards the Supremacy to await our fate.

I gazed across at my two sisters,  I am the middle child and I've always felt that I was the plainest.

Pandora was the eldest and by far the prettiest, she had large hazel eyes and long, brown hair. She had many secret boyfriends that father didn't know about, she looked like how a princess should look. Ophelia was the youngest, she was also a brunette with long hair and this time green eyes, she was incredible to look at. She was also known for her sweet nature, she could hold a conversation with anyone, whilst my shyness always got the better of me.

I on the other hand didn't even look like my sisters nor did I look how a princess should look. Not on my home planet anyway, I had long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. For as long as I could remember I'd always been painfully shy and not particularly skilled at anything. In fact, there was nothing at all remarkable about me. As a child I felt like I didn't fit in. All I wanted was to be as beautiful as Pandora or as kind as Ophelia. But instead I was just plain old reliable Aurora, who didn't look like either of her parents or have their charisma. I felt like the black sheep of the family, not ever feeling like I belonged.

My stomach lurched as the ship docked on the supremacy, there were storm troopers lined out in the entrance of the ship. With black clad people alongside them, trying to show how much power they had no doubt. There was a ginger haired man waiting for us, he sneered at father and led us all away down the long black glossy hallways.

We were taken into what I thought was the throne room, it was red and, in the middle, sat a large grotest creature. I wondered if at some point it had ever been human, perhaps it lost its way so badly that it had become that thing. It made me feel queasy, I wished that I hadn't eaten breakfast as I was dangerously close to it making a reappearance. 

To the left of the throne stood a hooded masked creature, I couldn't be sure if it was human, but I got a sense of darkness and evil radiating from it. If this is what happened to people that joined the first order, I desperately didn't want to be a part of it. These creatures all seemed lifeless. 

"Duke Ezra we finally meet, and you brought your lovely daughters with you" The large creature smiled wickedly.

"Yes, I have kept to my terms, I relinquish my title and claim to Zembarr and you choose one of my daughters. But you leave my people alone" Father called out as he walked closer to the creature.

"And I am spoilt for choice, may I take a closer look?" He asked getting up from his throne, the sheer height of him was astonishing. I'd met giants that were smaller than him, maybe he was a giant before he became this? He walked towards us with a swagger in his step.

My heart pounded as he got closer, there was no good feeling or light about him, he was just a bleak empty shell. He gazed into my face and smiled.

"That one." He said, pointing at me.

My stomach lurked, and my heart pounded.

"No!' I screamed and turned to run away, I needed to get out of here as quickly as I could.

But my path was blocked by storm troopers, there was no escape I was trapped.

"Aurora" Father reached out his hand.

 "Please don't be afraid, don't show any fear, I am so sorry. If there was any other way you know I'd take it, please forgive me" He whispered as he pulled me closer into a hug.

"I have made my choice; now shall we agree to our terms?" The creature smirked.

The room was emptied aside from father, the creature and that hooded thing they stood opposite from me and father.

"My child, I am Snoke I will take care of you and help you enhance and capture your...special skills" The creatures cold dead eyes stared at me.

'Special skills? What was he talking about?' I thought perplexed.

"Your people are safe Ezra, and you are free to go. But you must vacate your palace and give up your riches to the first order" Snoke said to father. "You must leave now"

Tears welled up in my eyes, my home was to be given to these monsters. The place where I felt most safe and I'd never see it again. A single tear rolled down my cheek and I felt the masked creature staring at me.

"Today has been hard on you child, tonight you will settle into your new home. Say goodbye to your father" Snoke said.

"Please no, you can't leave me here, please" I begged as I held my Dad for one last goodbye hug.

"I love you, please send me communication whenever you can" He squeezed me tightly before I was pulled away by a trooper.

"Nooo, please!" I let out a scream as I was pulled away.

"Ask General Hux to settle her in" Snoke said. "Be gentle, she's very important to us."

Just before I was pulled away from the room I stared at my Dad, I couldn't know when or if I'd ever see him again. His eyes were wide, and his heart was breaking as he watched me being taken away.