This story is set just before the events of A New Hope, and centers around Princess Leia as she is sent on a mission to Corellia. It ties in with the events depicted in the Star Wars radio drama. Let me know what you think, I'd love some criticism!

The Royal House of Alderaan was a term generally used to refer to the Alderaanian Royalty in general, not a particular building. But if she imagined it as a building, Princess Leia Organa figured that her role was probably akin to that of a pillar, using all her strength to support it. Of course, that was true only as far as it went; as a member, she was herself part of what was being supported. But she had always rather liked the idea- it bespoke a solidarity and teamwork that Leia was very much a supporter of. That was not really surprising, she figured: having grown up on Alderaan, the ideas of solidarity and pacifism were ingrained into her very being.

All around her Leia could see symbols of the proverbial Alderaanian peace and beauty. The palace gardens in Aldera were nothing if not breathtakingly beautiful. They spread out between the white spires and domes that made up the royal palace, not exactly big but certainly providing some of the most picturesque man-made. scenery on the planet. On Alderaan, that was saying something.

At the moment, she was entirely alone in one of the small enclosed courtyards, just relaxing and enjoying the warm sun on her face. Really, she figured, she should be too young to savour occasions like these. She should be going out, enjoying herself, having a laugh with friends, like most young people her age. But the truth was that time on her own meant a chance to relax, to not have to deal with other people all the time. All her life, as far back as she could remember, she had always been very much in the public eye. Being royalty was at times like being a celebrity: constant media attention, constantly the subject of wild rumours. She was used to it by now, she could deal with it, but still there were times when she simply wanted to be alone.

And none of the other young people her age were engaged in politics to the degree that she was. Becoming a senator at sixteen years of age had been a tremendous accomplishment, and Leia was suitably proud of it. And she knew that the Alderaanian people took great interest in her doings and that she was very popular. Leia felt gratified by the warmth that people exhibited when they met her. It had always been like that, as far back as she could think. Yet living in the public eye all her life and becoming involved in politics from such an early age had its price. Leia had few friends, apart from Winter, the young girl who had lived with her most her life. Everyone else she knew well, like her aunts or some of the other senators, were significantly older. And only a few of the senators she knew were real friends. There had never been boyfriends for Leia, only Lord Tion who, if Leia had any say in it, would never be a boyfriend or anything else to her. Of course, her aunts had different ideas.

That was another aspect of Leia's life from which she often needed to get away. Her extended family lived either on the palace grounds or frequently came to visit. Leia had had to memorise long lists of cousins, great-aunts and other distant relatives, some of whom she had never even met. But knowing one's family tree was an important part of being royal on most planets. Leia was eternally grateful to her father when he announced his plans to appoint her to the Senate, and not just because she had always wanted to become a senator. It meant that she was left pretty much alone now in terms of marriage. Before she became a senator, her three aunts had been tireless in their efforts to find her a good husband- that was, one with good connections- but now that Leia was not just Bail Organa's daughter but a member of the Galactic Senate, things were different. Leia was glad of it; she could not imagine herself in her aunts' place, constantly involved in petty worries and clever machinations. Not that she didn't like them, they were all fond of her and she of them, but she was just different.

The whole issue of marriage had been a much-debated one in the Organa household for a while. At one stage all of Leia's aunts had been ill with her for days, after she'd exclaimed that one day, she'd marry a commoner, someone without a credit to his name, and then they'd see how far their plans had got them.

For once in her life, Leia had witnessed her aunts actually startled speechless.

Leia watched a small rubybird fluttering among the blue and purple lorania blooms. It flew right into one of the magnificent flowers, its small body vanishing inside completely. Moments later it re-emerged, flitting about some more before landing on the bench beside the young princess. Leia watched it glance around with glistening deep blue eyes, ruffling its brilliant red feathers that had given it its name. She knew better than to try and touch it; it would sense any such attempt and fly off straight away. Instead she just sat there, content with just looking at it.

Rubybirds were originally native to Caamas, but refugees from the planet had introduced them here after their planet was destroyed during the Clone Wars. Leia had seen survivors from that atrocity, living quietly on Alderaan now, and she'd been impressed by their quiet dignity, their peace-loving ways despite their people's cruel fate. If any species could truly belong on Alderaan, it was the Caamasi. There had never been an official announcement about the Caamasi refugees; it was a little-known fact in the galaxy that so many of them lived here on Alderaan. And there had never been a need for Bail to officially sanction them; the Alderaanian people had never complained. That was not in their nature.

"Your Highness?"

The voice was female, quiet, and surprisingly clear for its volume. Leia recognised it instantly, even before the speaker stepped out into the small courtyard. Winter was so calmly confident, projected such an aura of dignified poise, that many people meeting her and Leia automatically assumed that Winter was, in fact, Princess Leia of Alderaan. Long, pearly white hair cascaded down her straight back, and her simple light-green dress accentuated her pale green eyes and revealed a slender regal figure. Substantially taller than Leia, Winter's quietly mature demeanour made her the essence of what Alderaanian people were. And despite having grown up with her, Leia was frequently amazed anew by this woman.

"Winter! Is everything all right?"

"Oh yes, certainly." Leia noticed now that the older girl was excited, happy at the good news she was bringing.

"Your father's spaceship has just landed."

"What?" Leia jumped up, feeling excitement catch hold of her. "I thought he was still on Cor- I mean, Imperial Center!"

"So did I," Winter replied with a smile. "He never said that he was coming home."

Leia grinned. "Well, that's just stellar! Can I go see him straight away?"

Winter nodded. "Tarrik told me that your father wants to see you as soon as possible."

Leia's spirits sagged ever so slightly hearing that. "What, bad news?"

Winter could only shrug. "I know as much as you do, now."

"Well then, let's go."