I do not own these characters and most of these situations
CHAPTER 1:
"We would be honored if you join us."
Han closed his mouth and looked to his so-called friend, Lando Calrissian. Lando grimly frowned, "They arrived right before you did. I had no choice. I'm sorry."
Solo glanced down at the pallid face of the princess. He took her hand and squeezed it, "I'm sorry, too."
Leia tried to slow her respiration. The last thing she wanted to do was give Darth Vader the satisfaction of seeing the fear that he inspired in her. She clutched Han's hand as if her life depended on it. Maybe it did. If she was here alone facing down Vader, would she be able to hold herself together? She'd rather not think of that.
"Please, take a seat," Darth Vader's deep voice reverberated against the walls, and the bounty hunter standing on Vader's left side shifted the EE-3 blaster to the right.
Leia, Han, and Chewbacca stayed frozen where they were. The princess' eyes roamed the long table before her, and her stomach churned. The various dishes neatly arranged in a line down the table were traditional Alderaanian delicacies usually served during the solstice festivals in Aldera. Her mouth went dry when she noticed that each dish was her favorite. Her eyes flew to Vader's helmeted face. How--? Though she could not see his eyes, she knew he was watching her. Leia raised her chin and stared him down.
"What is wrong, Your Highness?" There was a viciously playful lilt in his voice. "Do you not find the entrées to your liking?"
Han's brow creased and he glanced down at his companion. Without looking at him, she squeezed his hand tighter. "These foods are only served during the summer solstice festivals. No Alderaanian would touch them at any other time. It would bring bad luck."
Vader chuckled, and a chill ran down Han's spine. He pulled Leia closer to him.
"It is the summer solstice, so no ill-luck should fall upon you," Vader assured her.
"Yeah, we're real lucky right now," Han sniped.
The princess' mouth opened slightly as she stared at the deep chestnut morsels arranged in a perfect circle on the silver dish nearest to her. Was it really the summer solstice? How could she have forgotten? Days, let alone dates hadn't had much meaning to her lately. And it certainly was easy to forget the seasons when there seemed to be only one season on Hoth: winter. Still guilt formed as a lump in her throat, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't quite swallow it down.
"Where are your manners, Your Highness?" Vader waved his hand, and Leia's body lurched a meter to the side against her will, breaking her grasp on Han. "Captain Solo certainly hasn't been a good influence on you." He waved his hand again, and the chair nearest to the girl slid back. "Or maybe it's your association with the rebels."
"Maybe it's—" Han's hands flew to this throat, and he fought for breath. Chewbacca roared and lunged forward, and the bounty hunter at Vader's side pointed his weapon at the raging Wookie.
"STOP!" Leia yelled.
"All of you, just stop," she whispered. She defiantly stared at Darth Vader as she sat down on the chair he had telepathically pulled out for her. She looked up at Han and forced a smile, "Han, why don't you sit next to me?"
Solo ripped his eyes off of the dark lord and sat himself down between Vader and the princess. Chewbacca sat across from Han and Leia. Vader took the seat at the head of the table, but the bounty hunter remained standing at Vader's side.
Han smirked, "Not hungry, Fett? Or are servants not allowed to join the guests."
Fett. Leia paled and looked to Han. She had heard about Boba Fett's ruthless reputation and that he'd stop at nothing to capture his prey. And she was certain he was here to collect Han. She grabbed Han's closest hand with both of hers as if her tiny hands were enough to keep Boba Fett from taking him away from her.
"Solo, you never knew when to shut up," Fett's voice was almost as tinny and mechanical as Vader's.
Leia tightened her grip on Han's hand, and Han bit back his angry retort. They were in enough trouble as it was, and Han didn't want anyone's anger toward him to be taken out on Leia or Chewie.
"Lord Vader." Everyone turned toward the forgotten man. "Are my services needed any longer?"
Vader took a moment to scrutinize the nervous administrator, "Calrissian, this party would not have taken place without you. Of course, you should be here for this impromptu celebration."
"Yeah, pal," Han scowled in Lando's direction. "We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
Lando subtly grimaced and took a seat several places away from Chewbacca yet not too close to the dark lord.
Vader scanned his "guests", his hands placed on either side of the empty plate before him. Although the princess remained poised-- her chin held high, her dark eyes on the Wookie across from her—he could feel the anger and fear that burned around her aura. And that anger and fear seemed to be the source of her strength.
Captain Solo was just as angry, only he simmered rather than burned, and his thoughts remained solely on the girl. It seemed to Vader that this man cared more for the diminutive princess than for his own wellbeing. Vader knew all too well where such feelings and attachments could lead to, and what little blood left in his living flesh curdled at the memory of his own loss. He looked down at the empty plate before him. Solo's anger and fear for the princess was the source of his weakness, and Vader had no qualms about doing what was necessary.
"Calrissian," the dark lord finally spoke, "why don't you pour our guests a glass of the Vuquarian wine?"
"Certainly," Lando jumped up and grabbed the pitcher, tending to each guest's goblet.
"Vuquarian is—was a vineyard on the palace grounds in Aldera." Vader informed his guests. "Isn't that right, Princess?"
Leia bristled inside as she stared at the silver goblet. She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head in Vader's direction, "That is correct, Lord Vader."
She picked up the glass, her hand trembling slightly, and swirled the light burgundy liquid around. She forced a sweet, political smile in Vader's direction and raised her glass to him. Then she repeated the diplomatic gesture in Calrissian's direction. He raised his glass in return but kept his eyes adverted.
Leia leaned toward Han, "You're going to like this."
He frowned at her. There was nothing about this whole situation he liked. But when her large dark eyes met his, and he saw her forced bravado, he smiled his trademark lop-sided grin, "You always know what I like."
Chewbacca groaned and Leia rolled her eyes, and for the briefest moment, he made her forget where they were and what horrible fate lied before them.
Then the regality returned to her countenance as the princess returned her attention to Vader, "It's most unfortunate that you, Lord Vader, cannot experience the pleasure of Vuquarian wine."
"I find pleasure in other activities, Your Highness," Vader responded, "other activities that I am sure you and your companions won't find as pleasurable."
"I always knew you'd be a selfish host," Han quipped.
Leia placed her hand on Han's thigh, hoping to calm his worries as well as soothe her own. She lightly touched her silver glass to his and then tipped it to her lips. Her eyes closed as the sweet liquid touched her tongue, and for a moment she savored the sensation of a piece of home. She couldn't help but take a few more sips of the sweet wine.
"This is good, Your Worshipfulness," Han gulped down the remains in his glass and reached for the pitcher to pour himself another glass.
"I'm glad you like it, Captain Solo," Leia held her glass out to him so that he could refill her glass. "What do you think, Chewie?"
Chewie grumbled and shook his head. Han scowled at his best friend, "Whaddya expect from someone who thinks Seroquelian ale tastes better cold?" Han held up the pitcher, "More wine, Lando?"
Lando hesitated, bit his bottom lip, and then held his glass out to Han. Han stood as he reached over to pour some wine into Lando's cup, and Boba Fett aimed his blaster rifle at Solo. Chewbacca roared and Leia gasped. Her glass slipped from her fingers and clattered against the spotless floor.
"Easy, Fett," Han finished pouring Lando his glass of wine, placed the pitcher on the table, and fearlessly stared down the bounty hunter.
Leia glanced down at herself. The treasured Vuquarian wine stained her tunic and the gauzy cloak. Han then forgot his foes and grabbed his napkin. He knelt down beside the shock-shelled girl and dabbed at the stains with his napkin. "It's okay, Leia," he whispered to her.
No it's not! She wanted to scream. It will never be okay! Instead, she picked up her napkin and helped him at the futile attempt to clean her dress.
"Perhaps this is a good time to end the festivities," Darth Vader stood up and Boba Fett relaxed his stance.
Vader nodded at Lando, and the nervous man scrambled to the doorway. He opened the door and signaled the stormtroopers waiting outside to enter the room.
Solo's stood up and sighed, "Only thirteen?" He then held his hand out to Leia. "You know," he smirked in the direction of the troopers, "I took on twice as many of you on the Death Star."
Princess Leia smiled as she took his hand. Her knees were weak, but Han, once again, managed to give her the strength she needed at the moment, and she allowed him to lead her away from the table, "You're being modest." She glanced over her shoulder at Vader, "I'd say it was at least four times as many troopers." She paused and raised an eyebrow, "Are you a little short on help these days?"
With a gloved hand, Vader signaled his troops, "Take them away."