XXIII: Meet the Moffs.

"Nana, is this really necessary?" Rebecca asked as she sat in front of her mirror putting in her earrings. "It's just dinner...why do we have to get all dolled up?"

Elsa sighed as she sorted through her granddaughter's closet. "Rebecca darling, this is no ordinary dinner. We're going to Moff Vorru's estate for the evening."

Rebecca whirled around. "What?? THE Moff Vorru?"

"That's right. He's a dear friend of mine. Ah, here we are..." She pulled a violet satin one-shoulder gown from the closet and placed it on her bed. "You can wear this one."

Rebecca walked over and held the dress up." Nana, why this one? Isn't this a bit too formal?"

"Oh no-- not at all. After all, an affair at the Moff estate deserves on the best. And besides, dearest-- that was his birthday gift to you. He couldn't make it to the party to deliver it in person."Elsa smiled. "Well go on and get ready! We leave within the hour." she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.

"Uhuh..." Rebecca sighed as she removed her clothes and changed into the floor length evening gown. She moved in front of the full-length mirror to see how she looked and was surprised to see that the dress fit perfectly. Nana had something to do with this, I'm sure of it.... Returning to her dresser, she brushed her long wavy hair back and styled it with a silver hair band. That should do... she thought as she then slipped into her heels and made her way downstairs where Elsa was waiting for her, dressed in a similar fashion.

"Good, you're read to go. Moff Vorru is waiting." She said, leading her granddaughter to the speeder.

Rebecca was silent for much of the ride until she finally spoke up. "Is anyone else attending this dinner party?"

"No, just us." She replied. "This is a private affair." The speeder arrived at the estate and Elsa led Rebecca out and to the front door where a service droid let them inside. Moff Vorru was coming down the front staircase to greet them.

"Elsa!" he grinned, embracing her warmly. "It's been too long."

"Indeed it has, Fliry." she smiled, gesturing to Rebecca standing behind her. "You remember my granddaughter, Rebecca."

Moff Vorru turned and nearly did a double take. "Is this Rebecca? Baby Becky?"

Rebecca blinked, giving a curteous nod and smiling shyly at him. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

"oh no, dear. The pleasure is all mine." Moff Vorru gave her a charming grin. "You probably don't remember, but the last time I saw you was years and years back...you were only maybe...what? Four years old?" he asked, looking to Elsa.

Elsa nodded. "yes, that's right-- when her parents went on a second honeymoon."

"You were so small...and look how you've blossomed." He grinned. "You're quite the looker." Rebecca blushed. "And...I'm done embarrassing you. Come on in, make yourselves comfortable." He led them to a large sitting room. "Unfortunately we won't be able to sit down to eat until my son Ariam arrives. He's running a little late."

"Ariam?" Elsa asked, sitting down in a chair. "Which son is he?"

"The eldest. My twin boys Jorden and Harnon are on Coruscant studying at the Raithal Academy."

"How wonderful!" Elsa grinned. "Serving our glorious Empire. They should be proud."

"They are, as am I. For a man there's no greater proof of loyalty to our beloved Emperor than to serve in every way possible."

"And what of women?" Rebecca asked. "Surely we have equal chances to show our appreciation for the Emperor?"

Moff Vorru leaned on the arm of the couch where Rebecca was seated and smiled down at her. "Why of course, my dear: by entertaining our men of course; keeping us pleased, and continuing our bloodlines." He tilted her chin up gently. "The military is absolutely no place for a lovely, delicate flower such as yourself. You must be kept safe, protected at home." He said. "That is what our Emperor wants." Moff Vorru noticed the blank expression on her face. "My dear child, you weren't thinking of joining the military, were you?"

Rebecca quickly shook her head. "No, my lord, of course not..." she trailed off.

"Thank the maker for that. Such harsh and grueling conditions would ill fit a lady of your caliber." He stood and glanced out the front window. "Ah, Ariam has arrived." he moved to the entrance hall as his son entered the estate.

"Sorry I'm late, father. I hope you weren't waiting for too long." Ariam said. He was tall, thin and handsome man with blue eyes and short spiky light brown hair.

"No, of course not. Go on in and say hello. Lady Everon is waiting for you. I need to touch base and find out when dinner will be served."

"Yes father." Vorru parted to the kitchen and Ariam walked into the sitting room  and immediately headed to where Elsa was seated. "Lady Elsa! it's been a long time!"

Elsa stood and hugged Ariam. "Indeed it has! And look at you-- you're so handsome..."

"I've always been handsome." he grinned.

Oh brother.... Rebecca rolled  her eyes. 

Elsa giggled. "Indeed you have. Come, take a seat." She smiled, gesturing to the couch across the room.

"Don't mind if I do!" He turned to sit and stopped upon setting eyes on Rebecca. "Well well...my father didn't say you were coming..." he said, walking over to her. Rebecca started to stand but he immediately protested. "Oh no-- don't get up." He sat down beside her and gave a dashing smile.. "I'm Ariam. And who might you be?"

"Rebecca Everon." She said, giving him a small, shy smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ariam."

"No, milady. I can assure you," he gently took her hand into his own and kissed it. "The pleasure...is all mine." Without letting go of her hand, he looked up and locked his eyes with her own and flashed yet another debonair grin, causing her to deeply blush.

Elsa had left the room and was standing in the corridor with Moff Vorru watching the interaction between Rebecca and Ariam. "What did you want to talk about?" She asked quietly. "I know this arrangement was for more than a simple dinner party."

"Indeed it was. As I'm sure you're well aware, Ariam, being the eldest son, has many duties to fulfull. He's been training to take my place as Moff should need be. However, there's one little issue. He's turning twenty seven this winter and he's still a bachelor."

"Ah," Elsa said, nodding. "I see now. And you're hoping he finds great interest in my granddaughter."

"I know for a fact that he already has. He spotted her in the city several weeks ago and has been infatuated ever since." Moff Vorru said, glancing into the sitting room. "What is she like?"

"Rebecca? She's a sweet young thing, very quiet, she keeps to herself most of the time. It took quite some time, but I've turned her into quite the obedient young lady. She'd make a perfect wife for your son...or any well-deserving man for that matter."

"What about her finances?"

"Fliry, you're looking at one of Corellia's soon-to-be most eligible ladies." Elsa smirked. "Her inheritance to the Okins estate is immense, one of the wealthiest on the planet. It's really only a matter of time until suitors start knocking on my door for a piece of it."  She nodded to the couple in the room. "And it appears one already has."

"Why is she still living at home with all of her wealth? She can't possibly need your financial support."

"Oh yes she does. I fixed her inheritance with the courts. She won't receive a single credit until she turns twenty-five. She still has four more years to go and I wasn't planning on marrying her off until around that time. But considering Ariam's fascination..." she trailed off.

"Elsa..." he began, "surely you can imagine the strength and wealth their union would bring. Two of the most influential, noble houses merging into one. The power we could all achieve together....and of course...the noble rights and privileges of every child she bears. Her sons would have the richest blood in all of Corellia."

He paused briefly, letting it all sink in for Elsa. "Half of the work is already done. Will you make Rebecca take interest in my son?"

"I'll see what I can do."

XXII: Birthday Blues

"Well now, that was a lovely party, wasn't it?" Elsa smiled as she sat down on the couch beside Rebecca. All around, household attendants bustled around the room cleaning up the scraps of wrapping paper littering areas of the tables and floor.

"You didn't have to throw such a big affair for me, Nana," Rebecca said quietly, looking at the piles of gift bags and boxes surrounding her, most of them containing fancier clothes, perfumes and pieces of jewelry.

"Nonsense!" Elsa exclaimed. "You know I had to-- it's not every day my beloved granddaughter turns 21 years old." she patted Rebecca's leg gently. "How's it feel being full adult now?"

Rebecca shrugged, "the same as it did yesterday? Except now I guess being 21 means I'm designated to meet every single one of your friends." She paused. "Why DID you invite all of those people I don't even know....and their sons?"

"Oh...." Elsa started, " well I wanted you to be around more people...I mean honestly, sweetheart-- you've been living here for three years now and you barely step foot off the estate, kriff, some days you don't even leave your bedroom..."

Rebecca shrugged again, looking down at one of her birthday presents sitting in her lap. "I don't have anyplace to go, anyone to see. And I like my room."

Elsa gave a small, reassuring smile. "I'm just looking out for you, love. I get worried sometimes. You're always so lonely." she brushed her fingers through  a lock of Rebecca's wavy red hair. "I know-- perhaps you need a man."

Rebecca froze for a second, not liking where this conversation was leading. "A man??" she asked, looking at her guardian, trying not to give off a horrified face.

"Of course! You're always so depressed, so lonely.A man will suit you just wonderfully!" She stood and started out of the parlor. "Lets see...Moff Vorru has several sons...I wonder if I still have his comm frequency..."

Rebecca watched her mumbling grandmother leave the room feeling very uneasy. Thanks a lot, Nana. That's exactly what I need right now... she rolled her eyes and gathered her gifts, taking a hint that now would be a good time to retreat back to her room before it gets too late. Returning upstairs, she entered her room and placed her birthday presents on her desk. She paused as something on her bed caught her eye. Turning slowly, Rebecca noticed a wrapped box placed in the center of her bed. She reached over and picked it up, not remembering how it got into her room in the first place. Upon seeing the tag reading "from Aria Brisard" on the outside, she eagerly ripped off the shiny wrapping paper and opened the box. As she expected, there were two envelopes sitting on top of a pile of tissue paper protecting the contents below. Rebecca laid down on her bed and opened the first envelope. She grinned as she read the birthday card from Aria, setting it on top of a large stack of Aria's other letters and messages she had accumulated throughout the years in her nightstand drawer and then reaching for the second, the one from her father. When she pulled it out of the box, the tissue paper began pulling up as well and she realized the object below was attached to the card. Gently, she turned the box upside down and let the heavy object fall onto the bed. After detaching and reading the card, she unwrapped the object slowly and gasped, gazing at a silver ornate jewelry box.

Daddy, you really shouldn't have... she thought as she turned the box around in her hands. As she did so, she heard something rolling around inside the box. She set it down on her lap and unlatched and lifted the lid. Her eyes lit up as she pulled out a silver locket pendant, admiring it. Inside of the locket she she noticed was a small image of herself and her parents taken back when she was a child. Smiling, she set the locket back into the jewelry box and paused, noticing a compartment hiding under the bottom lining of the box. Prying her fingers underneath, she removed the bottom layer to reveal a comm-link with a note attached to it. Rebecca eagerly took it out of the box, excited to own her very first comm unit.

Rebecca smiled upon reading the note attached. Thank you Daddy. Thank you so much.