The Arcadia Chronicles

CHAPTER TWO



The rest of the morning was a hive of activity. There were preparations for the Birthday lunch to be finalised. Staff were running around in all directions but they all had time to say hello and wish their favourite Princess a "Happy Birthday your Highness". The royal family of Alderaan was much loved by the people and especially by the staff at the Palace.



Arcadia made her way through the maze of corridors to Leia's room. She stood outside the door for a moment as a sense of dread overtook her. A cold shiver ran up her spine that made her gasp, but as quickly as it came, it was gone again. Taking a moment to regain her composure, Arcadia thought about what it could mean. A thousand scenarios entered her head and were dismissed in an instant. "I'm being silly" she thought and pressed the door release to Leia's rooms.



"Arcadia, Hi! I was hoping to see you before I left this morning. Everything's been so rushed." Arcadia made herself comfortable on Leia's bed, disturbing the contents of Leia's travel bags in the process.



"So tell me Sis, what's so dreadfully important that you have to miss my birthday?"



Leia sighed. She knew how much Arcadia was looking forward to going to Andromeda tonight. It was supposed to be Leia's Birthday present to her. They had been planning it for months. Ever since they received the invitations to the official opening Arcadia's been on top of the world.

"Oh well," she thought,” She’ll just have to wait a little longer to attend her first real night club." Leia continued with her packing.



"You know, Cadi, just the usual, go find Obi-Wan Kenobi and bring him back to Alderaan." Leia said casually with a smile. She deliberately left out the other part of her mission. Arcadia didn't need to know how dangerous the mission actually was.



Arcadia's face lit up. "Obi -Wan Kenobi! You’re going to get Obi-Wan? Oh Leia, why didn't you say so? You know how much I love him. He's like a grand father to us. Can I come? Please Leia take me with you!" Arcadia was practically climbing all over Leia in her urgency to convince her.



"You know I can't. Daddy will never allow it."



Arcadia's face darkened, "Oh Leia your such a prude. Daddy doesn't need to know."



Leia was shocked. "Arcadia Organa, what are you saying. You are a Princess, not some nerf herder's daughter! You can't just run off like that without telling anyone. Do you want the entire system out looking for you?"



Arcadia knew Leia was right, if she disappeared, everyone would think that she had been kidnapped. It wouldn't be fair to put her parents through an ordeal like that again.



"All right Leia, you've made your point,” she pouted for emphasis. “How long are you going to be gone for?"



Leia was relieved; her sister could be reckless when she wanted to. "I should be back tomorrow morning if everything goes to plan. We can go to Andromeda the following night."



Arcadia smirked, "Whatever, its just not the same as opening night."



Leia looked up from her packing and saw the disappointed look on her sister’s face. She really hated that she was leaving but she knew that it was her duty and the mission was important, in fact, imperative.



"I know Cadi, but what can you do?" There was still a lot about the family that Arcadia didn’t know. She was still too young, too impetuous. Leia thought about telling her why she had to go on this mission but realised that Arcadia would be safer if she didn’t know. There was all the time in the world for Arcadia to find out about her family’s involvement in the rebellion against the Empire. “She will have to grow up soon enough,” Leia thought. “Let her remain safe in her innocence for a while longer.”



Climbing off Leia’s bed Arcadia said, “Oh well, I’d better leave you to it then.”



Leia took both of her sister’s hands in hers and said, “Happy Birthday Cadi,” then pulled her into her arms and hugged her for a long time. Pulling away from Leia Arcadia looked into her eyes.



“Have a safe trip, Sis. You know I love you.”



Leia smiled, “I love you too, Cadi.” And as an after thought, “Oh, and make sure that you behave yourself today. There’s going to be a lot of important people at your party. Maybe even your future husband,” Leia teased.



Arcadia gave Leia a wry look. “Yeah right, there all a bunch of stiffs. I’m more likely to meet my future husband at some sleazy night club than here.”



Leia raised an eyebrow, “So that’s why you want to go to Andromeda. It’s all so clear now.”



Arcadia’s eye’s widened at Leia’s teasing, “Get out,” she said and pushed her sister good-naturedly. Leia laughed and pushed Arcadia back. Pretty soon they were rolling around on the floor, squealing, giggling and tickling each other.



“Are you two at it again?” They both looked up to see their father standing in the doorway. Trying to control their giggles, they laid flat on the ground taking deep breaths.



“Whatever gave you that idea, Daddy?” Leia asked trying to hide a smile. Arcadia burst into laughter again and hit Leia on the side of her thigh, making her sister lose her battle with her mirth.



“Look at you two,” said Bail smiling. “Princess Leia Organa, youngest Senator ever at eighteen, rolling around on the ground in hysterics with her sister, Princess Arcadia Organa, who by the way should be in her room getting dressed. I can see the headlines now; ‘Alderaan’s royal siblings sock it out on palace floor.’”



The two girls giggled louder at their father. “Oh, Daddy.” Arcadia climbed to her feet then helped Leia up off the floor, the two of them smiling broadly. Bail shook his head at them, clearly amused at their antics. He liked that they were close, best friends, sisters. He was so proud of them. They were just like normal girls in private, but in public, they were the epitome of royalty, Princesses to the core.



“Come on Cadi,” he said, “the party starts in an hour. You had better get organised.” Arcadia nodded; she didn’t want to leave Leia but knew that there was nothing that she could do about it.



“Okay Daddy. Leia, have a safe trip and hurry home.”



Leia hugged her sister again and replied, “Thank you, I will.”



Arcadia turned and walked to the door, before she could leave Leia called out to her, “Cadi, I will take you to Andromeda. I promise.” Arcadia smiled and left the room.



As she was walking back to her room, she thought about what Leia had said. “What can you do?” What can you do indeed? Without Arcadia even realising it she had started to formulate a plan. All this talk of secret missions and clandestine operations had Arcadia's mind spinning with possibilities. Could she really disobey her parents and go to the opening anyway? Was there a way to leave the system without anyone knowing?



"Where there’s a will there’s a way,” she stated out loud, as she walked past a royal guard.



"Excuse me Princess, is there something I can help you with?"



Arcadia looked up surprised by the sound of that voice. She hadn't realised that she had spoken out loud.



"Zac, Hi. Um, no I was just talking to myself."



Zac smiled at the Princess, "she is certainly growing into a beautiful young woman." He thought. With a smirk he said, "You know that's the first sign of going crazy."



Arcadia looked up at him taken aback for an instant, and then she too smiled and gave him a wry look accompanied by a good-natured punch in the arm.



"Watch it Zac. I'll have you taken off my list of personal guards and place you on sentry duty."



Zac feigned horror at the suggestion "Oh no, please your highness, I'll behave. I am your most humble of servants." He bowed low still smirking. Arcadia couldn't keep from laughing any longer.



Zac always made her feel better no matter what was wrong. He had been part of her personal guard for a year and a half now. Arcadia had taken an instant liking to him from the start. He wasn't much older than she was, with dark hair, emerald green eyes and a lean yet toned physique. He was like the brother that she never had. Everywhere she went Zac was close by. He was the one that had rescued her from her kidnappers and returned her to her family on Alderaan. Bail was so grateful that he commissioned him into the royal guards instantly. Ever since then, they had been inseparable.



Zac leaned over, indicating to Arcadia to come closer. Thinking that Zac wanted to tell her something in confidence, Arcadia obliged, still smiling widely at him. Zac looked deep into her eyes for a moment then kissed her softly on the cheek. Arcadia's eyes widened as a warm tingling sensation coursed through her. Zac then whispered into her ear, "Happy Birthday, Cadi." As he pulled away, he looked into her eyes again smiling then he turned and strode off down the corridor, disappearing around a bend.



Arcadia watched him leave in stunned silence. Her fingers gently touched her cheek where Zac's lips had momentarily been.



"Looks like the day is brightening up" she thought and with a smile, she continued in the opposite direction.