Disclaimer: Star Wars and all the canon characters, creatures, things and places belong to George Lucas. The Original Characters, creatures, things and places are mine.
Genre: Action/adventure, some humour and romance.
Setting: 8 ABY. Shortly after The Courtship of Princess Leia and several months before Heir to the Empire.
Summary: An arrogant prince, an Imperial plot, a gang of ruthless pirates and the most feared assassin in the Core: all in a days work for Leia as she struggles to win around a wealthy and important world to the New Republic.

Dramatis Personae:

New Republic

Han Solo; captain Millenium Falcon (Human male)
Lando Calrissian; gambler (Human male)
Leia Organa Solo; Minister of State of the New Republic (Human female)

Principality of Daram

Piran Shan Ro; Admiral, Royal Daramian Navy (Human male)
Rian Shan Ro; Prince of Daram (Human male)
Thais Kar; personal assistant (Twi'lek female)

Other

Doran Skelt; Imperial Intel operative (Human male)
Zon Kerann; Imperial Intel operative (Human/Theelin female)
EV-10A6; Assassain/espionage droid (Male programming)

Darkness on Daram

Part 1

"We are coming out of Hyperspace now your Highness," said Captain Amar, his prehensile snout curling and uncurling in what she knew was the Orvanian equivalent of a smile. "I hope you enjoyed your journey."

Leia smiled in return. "Of course Captain." In truth she would have far preferred to be in the Falcon, but sadly that was not an option. The Daramians had been so horrified at the mere idea of an ex-smuggler like Han Solo coming to their moon that landing on Daram III in the Falcon would send them into mass apoplexy – and maybe even drive them into the arms of the Empire. Hence the reason she was arriving alone and by official New Republic ship.

Daram III was a pretty blue and green world – well moon, technically as it orbited the silvery gas giant Daram, but it was nearly as big as Alderaan was. Had been. Leia was reminded vividly of homeworld; and there were similarities; each world was wealthy, politically important, populated by humans and ruled by a monarchy. No surprise they had requested Leia specifically.

Twenty six minutes later when the ship landed at the Daramian capital of Onora Leia was reminded of one key difference between the Daramians and the Alderaanians. Well, besides the obvious anyway.

The Daramians clearly believed there was no point in an aristocracy if they didn't get to flaunt it. The welcoming committee was large, very large, and displayed enough jewels and expensive clothing to buy a planet in the Outer Rim. And at their head was the Prince of Daram himself.

"Your Highness, welcome to Daram III," Prince Rian bowed low, positively dripping charm, and displaying gleamingly perfect teeth. "May I say you are even more radiantly beautiful in person than I imagined. The Night Roses of Quarbar themselves are as nothing compared to thee."

"Thank you Your Highness," she smiled and gave a formal bow herself.

Then to Leia's horrified amusement Rian moved to kiss her hand.

"You don't need to kiss my hand," she whispered, making a subtle gesture with said hand.

Prince Rian bent back up, an unfocused look in his grey eyes. "I don't need to kiss your hand," he repeated mindlessly.

"You have already impressed me," continued Leia, making another tiny gesture.

"I have already impressed you," said Rian.

"You will take me to the Palace and we shall talk business later."

"I will take you to the Palace and we shall talk business later."

The Daramian ruler blinked, turned and glanced around haughtily at the courtiers that had accompanied him as a welcoming committee. "Come, we are returning to the Palace. You there: bring the Princesses luggage to her room." The flunky Rian had pointed at scurried to obey.

Leia suppressed a smile as the weak minded Prince turned away. It was probably un-Jedi of her to use the Force like that, but she had had a long journey and wanted nothing more than to relax in a bath for a while, without having to deal with the Prince for a few hours. Prince Rian clearly approved of her – or rather the way she looked, and he would probably have been buzzing around her all trip: she knew a ladies man when she met one and the Prince made Lando look a model of prudish restraint...

Besides she had a feeling Han would have approved.

As the Prince and Princess walked towards the waiting hovercar Leia could feel dozens of young women glaring at her jealously from the crowd. Prince Rian was young, extremely handsome with those grey eyes and that dark hair, and he was staggeringly wealthy. Now this famous, beautiful alien princess had arrived and clearly enamoured their ruler.

Leia stopped herself from rolling her eyes just in time. Just two months ago she had married Han Solo, the love of her life – and turned down a yet wealthier and more handsome prince than Rian of Daram III.

It was going to be a long mission.

----

Doran Skelt had been watching the proceedings for the past hour, from as far away as possible for his macrobinoculars to work. When the New Republic ship revealed its passenger he had at once transmitted an urgent coded message. Then he sat on his hands anxiously awaiting the reply.

Princess Leia Organa! Or was it Leia Solo these days?

Whatever it was the Imperial Intel agent knew she meant one thing: trouble.