Well, here it is, the long awaited sequel to "40 Days!" Welcome to "Promises!"
This is the second story in my trilogy, set specifically in between "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi." This is a great period of time for me to write about, because it's very open, and I can very easily connect everything I've written in "40 Days" to the time after and Leia's attempts to rescue Han. For instance, What happened when our lost Rebels returned to the Alliance? How did Leia cope with the loss of the man she loves, and what were the reactions to their relationship? How was the rescue for Han planned? And the burning question I know you all can't wait to find out…How does Leia feel about Han's response on Bespin? I hope that this story will answer these questions and bring a new light to the characters we know and love.
This is the second fic in the series, and I HIGHLY suggest reading "40 Days" before reading this one. While I'm sure you can read this story as a stand alone, there are many elements that are referred to in "40 Days" and most likely won't make sense if you haven't read that story. Plus, who doesn't love more Han and Leia to read?
The stories are intended to be read in the following order.
40 Days (Set during "The Empire Strikes Back" – Link on my Profile)
Promises (The Current Story)
Undetermined Title (Set during "Return of the Jedi")
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, the characters in this story or anything in the Star Wars Universe. I do on the other hand own a Lego Millennium Falcon and a couple Star Wars T-shirts, along with a few other random things…but that's it. Although I do, very much, wish I owned Han Solo (although some have pointed out that I own a Lego Han Solo…which is, in every aspect, true. LOL)
And please note: This story, just as all of my stories, is not proof read other than what I do. If you happen to find an error, which is more than possible, please do let me know and I'll fix it ASAP. I'm not perfect, but having a beta-reader is hard for me since I do write so fast and I like to update quickly. If you'd like to help out though, I'd be more than happy to have a proofreader or two that goes through after the chapter is up. =)
Also, some material in this story was NOT originally created by me! At the end of the story you can find a full credits list to all authors where ideas originally came from, along with sites that gave me any sort of information.
And FINALLY, I suggest you look into my blog, called "More Than 40 Days." It is the official location of the latest information involving this story, as well as my other fics. I post pictures relating to the story, hints about upcoming storyline and have polls for things such as Upcoming Story Titles. If you are interested, you can find a web address on my profile!
Thank you and Enjoy this story!
Promises
The moments on Bespin passed by quickly.
They left the carbon freezing chamber, Leia, Chewie and 3P0 surrounded by Stormtroopers, Lando walking calmly in front of them. Further ahead strode Boba Fett, leading the frozen form of Han Solo through the pristine halls of Cloud City.
But before Leia knew what was going on, Luke appeared, and she tried to warn him, because she had already lost Han, and she didn't need to lose him too. Yet all too soon she was pulled away by Stormtroopers.
Much to her surprise, Lando had more tricks up his sleeve. They were surrounded, but no longer by Stormtroopers, instead by Cloud City Security, and as Leia figured, Chewie attempted to choke the man who had betrayed them.
After realizing that Lando really meant to help them, they quickly hurried to try and rescue Han before Boba Fett left the city, but they just missed him, and instead had to make for their lives on the Falcon.
They rescued Luke, who had been hanging from the underside of Cloud City, and escaped, thanks to R2-D2, from the Imperials.
Now, safely in hyperspace, Leia sighed and relaxed back in her chair. She felt like curling up in the dark corners of the Falcon and dying. Han was gone, taken from her like everything else, and it was her fault. But before she could think about anything else, she had to think about Luke, currently sitting across from her in the cockpit. His arm was in a sling, his face scarred with cuts, and his eyes still wild with shock, but all Leia wanted to do was ask the questions running through her head, starting with who had done this to him.
Of course there would be time for questions, there always was, and she realized she would have to explain soon enough the events of not just the last few hours, but of the last month. She would have to explain what had happened on the fateful journey in which she had fallen in love with Han, and meet the disapproving eyes of High Command. Yes, she would have comfort in Chewie, but she knew the wookiee would leave, he would search for Han. Luke might help, but who knew what would happen with him after his experience on Bespin? But no matter what, she knew she wouldn't find the comfort she needed.
The truth was, she had no one. After Alderaan, it was Han. It had always been Han, and now he was the one missing. He was gone. And all she had to remember him by were the last words, the simple words echoing in her mind, over and over again. 'I know.'
"Leia?" croaked Luke, and Leia almost jumped at the sound of her name.
"Yeah?" she asked quietly, meeting his blue eyes.
"Are you ok?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing. Come on, let's get you back to the med bunk" she answered, standing up and avoiding his question, because as she knew very well, she was not ok.
Luke slowly stood as she helped him up, and followed her to the med bunk. He didn't complain when she laid him back down and tended a bit more to the wounds on his face and arm, but he knew he had to ask.
"Leia, what's bothering you?"
She stiffened with the question, but she answered simply, "Nothing."
"I know you better than that. Tell me, what's bothering you?" he asked again.
"Luke, listen. Right now we need to focus on you. You somehow lost an arm back on that planet and we're hardly out of the danger. Please, just leave me be."
Luke was surprised. While Leia often snapped back, it was almost always directed at Han, never at him. And he knew exactly why she was acting that way. It was because of Han. Something had transpired between them, and he had a pretty good idea of what that something was.
Journal of the Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan
28th Day, 5th Month, 3902nd Year
He's gone. He's really gone this time, and the odds of me getting him back aren't that great, because we all know he can't beat the odds every time. But I can't afford to think that way. Not with Luke injured and the Alliance waiting for me. No, I can't.
But every time I close my eyes I see him. I meet his gaze once again, the orange glow of the chamber lighting his face. His screams echo in my ears, and his final words plague my mind. I have this terrible feeling that I'll never sleep again, because I'm afraid to. Nightmares will undoubtedly interrupt my sleep, and I don't have Han to comfort me anymore. I have no one.
Sure, maybe Luke, but he's got his own problems. And he's not Han. There's Chewie, who can offer some comfort, but he has to focus on getting his best friend back. And he's not Han. Maybe Lando, but who knows if we can trust him. And, once again, he's not Han.
But this isn't how Han would want me to think. No, he'd want me to be strong, and if he were in my situation, I know he'd do anything to find me. He protected me in Cloud City, took my torture for me, and had strength in his eyes until the last moment. He would find me, and I will find him.
So what do I do now then? Obviously we go back to the Alliance, and I'm sure Chewie will leave as soon as possible to find Han, and Lando will probably go with him. Luke needs medical care, and that can, at least, help me avoid High Command for a while, but I'll have to face them as well. I suppose Rieekan will support me, but I'm sure the rest will oppose. But I'll leave if I have to. I will do anything to get him back.
Because I love him. And he knows.
Leia was curled up in the Captain's chair in the cockpit when Chewie found her. She had no idea how long she had been there, or what had been going on around her, but the wookiee's thoughts interrupted her solitude.
[Are you alright?]
She turned and looked at him, "honestly?"
[As honest as you feel you should be with me, but Han did tell me to protect you, keep that in mind.]
Leia gave a small smile. Even in times of tragedy, the amazing creature next to her still put his life-debt before anything else, and at the moment, it was Han's request for him to protect her. "No. I'm not alright."
[Do you want to talk about it?]
"I don't know Chewie. I don't know if I don't want to or if I can't. I don't know anything anymore" she finished, sighing.
[We'll get him back you know.]
"How? He's frozen in a block of carbonate Chewie! Han is captured by a bounty hunter and it's all my fault!"
[You know that's not true. Han would do anything for you, and he did. He was going to meet a bounty hunter ready to kill him sooner or later anyway, and it is most certainly not your fault.]
"But if it hadn't been for me, he would have left, and he would have paid off Jabba and then he'd still be ok. But he stayed because of me. That's why Chewie, nothing else!"
[Princess, I wanted to stay myself. And no matter what, Han stayed because he knew it was the right thing to do. Part of it was for you, but a lot of it was for him. Han hasn't had a family like what we make, you and me and Luke, for a long time. He didn't have someone to go home to like I did.]
"Well I don't have anyone to come home to either, at least not anymore."
[No matter what Leia, you still have me, and Luke. And pretty soon you'll have Han back. I promise.]
"And what if you break your promise?"
[I won't] he finished, standing and walking out of the room.
Leia watched him go and then turned her head to watch the stars outside the window. She knew Chewie would do everything with his ability to rescue his friend, but there was always the possibility that he would fail.
But in the last words they spoke to each other, there were unspoken thoughts. Yes, she loved him, and he did know, but within those five words, within the never-ending gaze, lived a promise, not unlike the one the wookiee had made just moments earlier.
"I will find you."
Alright…here's all the updates that I've got for you.
Please, like I said, continue to check out my blog for all the latest news, including my opinion on the newly announced Star Wars movies and the purchase of LucasFilm by Disney.
Secondly, here's the schedule. I leave for my family vacation in just 15 days, and that means that the schedule here might be a little messy…but no fear, I've got it figured out. This chapter is the prologue, and is shorter than the rest. The official "first" chapter of the story will be posted a week from Saturday, which is November 10, 2012. After that a new chapter will be posted each and every Saturday, including the two for which I am in Florida. But please note that if they are a day late or early or something, that I am a busy person down there. I do hope you will watch my videos that I'll be making for my trip as well, which can be found daily on my Youtube channel, which you can find via link from my blog.
I think that's about it, but I do hope you will enjoy "Promises." I have a bunch written, but I'm changing the storyline a bit so I have to go back and rewrite…it's the reason I'm doing once chapter per week. That gives me more than enough time to write and edit the chapter before it goes up, since I do everything myself (not that I'm complaining!)
So, as always, please leave a review if you feel so inclined, and follow this story if you like as well so you can receive an update each week when I post the new chapter. =)