#ofvxder

The Rebel came out of nowhere, stabbing Aniasis in the side, not even bothering to look back. 

She gasped and clutched the wound, blood oozing through her dress and staining her hands. Aniasis had enough presence of mind to realize she wasn’t going to make it. Possible complications raced through her head:

cardiac tamponade - fluid was filling her pericardium, hindering its ability to beat.

Pneumothorax - her chest cavity was filling with air.

By the amount of blood, her assailant had managed to hit a major artery. Aniasis fell to her knees, her vision greying and head fuzzy. She was going into shock. 

She felt Qira’s presence. 

Joy.

Immense joy.

Aniasis could barely measure theamount of happiness she felt when she found out she was pregnant again.

Lord Vader was very pleased withthe news. Aniasis could tell he was happier than he let on. Another child meantanother ally in his final battle with Sidious. With Sidious gone, Lord Vadercould have his injured organs and missing limbs cloned and replanted. He couldbe rid of that nightmarish suit and be strong, healthy and vital again.

All the good what-ifs of childbearingcarried Aniasis through the first days and weeks.

Would it be a boy or another girl?

Who would this child take after,her or Lord Vader?

What’s in a name?

What would Qira think? Would shebe the protective older sibling? Or a jealous one?

Soon, the twelve-week mark was insight. She could start telling others! Who would she tell first, her mother orher older sister?

Then one night, she startedbleeding.

It wouldn’t stop. There was somuch blood that she tried to staunch.

Aniasis had been bleeding forhours when she found herself gripping onto the sink as her vision greyed andher head spun. She wasn’t ready to admit this was the end. Seeking medicalattention made it true. She fell to knees with a thud, alerting Vader.

He quickly scooped Aniasis off the‘fresher floor and hurried to the medbay within their palace. Distantly, he notedthat far too often their roles were reversed. Far too often he had crawled backto her as she dragged his useless wreck of a body to the very same medbay to besewn back together again.

With the amount of blood, Vaderknew that the babe was gone. Vader was not callous enough to believe thatAniasis could be sewn up as easily.

“No! No! No!” Aniasis wailed asmeddroids poked and prodded and examined.

Vader watched from the side,storing everything he felt for another battle. Disappointment. Helplessness.

Aniasis writhed, her facecontorted in emotional pain as tears fell freely from her bloodshot baby blues.The droids had to sedate her to calm her done so they could work.

She wanted this baby. This childalready meant so much.

Days later, the blood was cleanedup, the tears were dry. Aniasis was put on strict bed rest and Lord Vader wasnowhere to be seen.

They could try again soon.

Aniasis wasn’t as naïve to not realizethat she was convenient for Vader. As soon as Vader set eyes on her, she had arole. She would give him the heirs he needed. She knew that.

Aniasis felt like a failure. Yes,there was Qira, but would she be enough? The more children they had, the strongerVader was and Aniasis didn’t want to push Qira into anything (not that shevoiced this concern to Vader). If she would not stand as her father’sapprentice, perhaps the next child would be willing?

She failed Lord Vader as a wife,and she was failing as a woman. What kind of woman was she if she could not carryanother child to term? She was defective, something to culled from theline.

Aniasis was sat up in bed, lost inher own thoughts when she heard the door open. Qira stood, watching her.

Guilt crashed over her once numbmind like a tidal wave. With all the drama, Qira was pushed to the side, handedover to the handmaidens for her care and daily needs. What kind of mother wasshe? A terrible one, apparently. She didn’t deserve children.