I sat at the window of my childhood room watching the raindrops cascade down the glass. It was rare to have this much rain on Alsakan. The meteorologists thought it would continue for the next week, possibly leading to a few blooms of the flowers which once covered the planet. The people of Alsakan had long since replaced those beautiful flowers with the sprawling city which laid before me; the bustle of transports taking people to and from work trickling in. I was going to miss this city.
"I know you're not packed yet," my mother said, walking into the room.
"You're right. I am not packed yet. And I don't plan on packing," I said, turning slightly to look at her over my shoulder.
She rolled her eyes and walked to my suitcase on the bed.
"Well, you better begin, or else you won't have anything to wear once we get there."
I rolled my eyes in turn.
"I can't wear any of my clothes there anyway. None of them are warm enough for Hoth."
"Yes, that is true. But that's why we've had fur lined cloaks made. And once we're all settled, we can have some wool dresses made for you. But you still need to pack the rest of your things. Your father is expecting us to keep up appearances. People expect a certain level of formality from the family of the Allegiant General," she said with a wide smile.
My mother was immensely proud of my father after his recent promotion. Not so much because she believed in the cause of the First Order, but because she loved the prestige being the Wife of the Allegiant General of the First Order brought.
That had been my life for the last 25 years. Every step, thought, choice, and relationship we made was all to bring prestige to the Pryde name.
I leaned by head back against the window.
"My jewelry and books are already packed. The long gowns and dresses are already in the transport. There's nothing else I want to bring," I said in as monotone of a voice as I could muster.
"Oh good!", she said, clasping her hands together, "We can leave earlier than expected. I'll send the butler up to pack this into the transport and we will head for the ship. Your father will be so excited!"
With that she exited, leaving me alone in my misery yet again.
We were moving to Hoth. I hear freezing to death can be rather peaceful.
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Snow. There was a lot of snow. As in a terrifying amount of snow. And it wasn't the nice kind of fluffy snow that they have at resorts. This was a dense, hard ice that the galaxy somehow managed to form into tiny little pellets that assaulted your face.
"Darling, hurry along now. Your father wants us to meet him before the Allegency ball and that only gives us 2 hours," my mother tsked at me as she passed.
"Heels are not the appropriate footwear for this climate, mother. I cannot 'hurry along'," I huffed, attempting to walk on my tiptoes. "I won't be able to go to the ball if I my twist my ankle."
Reovar, the newly constructed Capital city of the Empire of the First Order, was officially being instated tonight. Father had been on Hoth for the last 5 months designing new Storm Trooper armor just for the occasion. Honestly, I have no idea what my father does, but I assume the Allegiant General would have a say in Storm Trooper armor design.
But this wonderful display of (unnecessary) power needed to be commiserated (showboated) by a grand celebration. Thus, I am forced to attend the Allegency Ball. A stupid affair where I will wear an overly expensive gown, drink copious amounts of alcohol, and pretend like I have done remarkable things with my life when, in all honesty, all I've done is read every piece of literature published about plants.
I followed my mother up a set of stairs to the townhouse.
"Here it is. Our new home," she said, opening the front door.
Everything was either white or black. And the things that weren't white or black were a varied shade of gray.
"Lovely," I said, walking past her into the foyer. Living here is going to feel like living on a live action chess board.
"Now your room is upstairs to the right. Your father said he had your gown delivered yesterday, so it should be hung up in the bathroom."
"Yes, mother," I resigned, already exhausted with the day.
"2 hours!" she shouted after me as I made my way to the top of the stairs.
The bedroom which was set up for me was the same as the rest of the house. Black. White. Sterile. I sat down on the bed and dropped my head into my hands. This is going to be hell.
Life wasn't so bad before the First Order won the battle of Crait. Father was always away working for then Supreme Leader Snoke. Mother spent her time at whatever social function she had helped plan on Alsakan. And I was allowed to do whatever I wanted.
Now I lived on an overly militarized Capital planet under the watchful eyes of my parents. Isn't life silly sometimes?
Dragging my body out of its obligatory depressive state, I made my way to the bathroom where a garment bag was hanging.
Unzipping it I let out a long sigh. Of course.
The gown was floor length with a deep V cut and long, velvet sleeves. The skirt was a combination of lace, jewels, and feathers. And it was completely black. Exactly my father's taste.
Sighing, I sat down at the vanity and began working on my hair, twisting the chestnut locks into an elaborate braid and pinning in up off my shoulders, allowing a few strands to hang loose at the front. My sunkissed face stared back at me, gray eyes looking sad. I wonder how long it will be before my skin is as pale as the terrain.
I added a small bit of makeup and carefully pulled the dress onto my body. This was going to be the longest night of my life.
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The ball was being held in one of the main buildings in the center of the city. Pillars boasting the First Order's emblem towered over each side of the large double doors. Storm Troopers stood in an organized line along the front of the building as guests trickled in.
"There my girls are," My father's voice came from behind us.
"I'm sorry I couldn't meet you at the townhouse like we planned," he said, giving my mother a kiss on the cheek. "General Hux had a report that I needed to approve before the end of the day. Speaking of which, I wonder where the fine General is." He scanned through the small crowd around us. "We agreed he would meet us here so we could enter together."
I scrunched my brows together.
"And why would the General be entering with us, father?" I questioned, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Because, dear, it looks bad for us to enter without a suitor on your arm. You are 25 now. People will expect you to be marrying soon."
"Oh, Father," I sighed, shaking my head, "Are we going to do this again?"
"Yes, we are going to do this again," he bit out, turning towards me so the crowd wouldn't hear. "And we are going to keep doing this until you are betrothed to a respectable member of the First Order. Now smile. I believe I see Armitage."
Looking in the direction my father was facing I forced a small smile onto my face. Walking towards us was a man about 10 years my senior, his age and exhaustion showing on his face.
"Armitage, how lovely for you to join us," my father greeted, a look of superiority on his face.
"My apologies, Allegiant General. I got tied up at the base. Weaponry reports don't sign themselves," the man said, his voice carrying a deep softness.
"No matter, young boy. You arrived before we made it to the doors," father said, smiling a tight smile. "Allow me to introduce you to my daughter. Armitage, this is Eladia."
I smiled politely, holding out my right hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, General. Thank you for all your service."
The man took a step closer to me, slowly raising my hand to his lips. "If it takes fighting a war for us to meet it will have been worth it."
I gazed into his soft green eyes, feeling a warm blush travel up my neck.
"Well, I believe it's time for us to be announced," father interrupted, a large grin on his face.