AN: This is the sequel to 'The Witness Stand' and you MUST read that story first to fully comprehend this one. I do not own any of the characters but the two lawyers. Thanks for everyone who posted reviews on the last story. Please R&R this one. Thanks so much for waiting
I didn't like watching him walk off into the night. What he had told me was true. About our relationship. I had always known that he was my brother even though I hadn't realised it before he had told me. And I knew what he said about Vader was true, too.
But as I watched his retreating form, I felt that I was losing something more than gaining a brother I had always dreamed of. I didn't like that feeling. Luke was dear to me.
I felt tears spring to my eyes as I thought of the questions he had asked me. Mother… our mother died and I had had so much to tell him about her. About what I remembered of her. I hadn't talked of her to anybody; not even Bail… Father.
Han came out to see why Luke and I had left the Ewok gathering.
I didn't tell him anything of the discussion Luke and I had had. I wouldn't tell him until I was ready. I needed to be alone, but I didn't. I couldn't explain it. I needed Han to be there, just to hold me, but I needed to have time alone to think things through.
Han didn't expect anything from me when he realised that I wasn't going to tell him.
I didn't say anything of my relationship to either Luke or Vader until the Death Star was destroyed. Even then, I kept my relationship to Vader a secret.
When Luke came back as the celebrations started that night, I knew he was hiding something.
"What is it?" I had asked him.
He told me, taking me from Han's side. He had told me that Vader… our father… was still alive. I was furious that he had not let him die. I didn't want anything to do with Vader. Nor with anybody how did. I had told Luke that it was either me or that monster that had destroyed my world, my home.
I didn't know how much pain I had caused Luke during those moments of rejection. I knew it was in his nature to forgive our father, but I couldn't. I was sure that I could never do it.
Luke had returned to the fleet orbiting Endor's moon. I had already gone with Han and the Dark Lord. I could never describe the deep sadness I felt through those days before the trial.
Vader was going on trial and I knew there would be no witnesses for him. He would have trouble finding even a lawyer who would talk for him. But then, one young lawyer did step forward.
She had more guts than I did. I couldn't even face my own father.
I went to the med-lab for the first time since Luke was admitted there. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't feel like talking to him.
Neither did he, it seemed. A rift had formed between us, and I knew it was because of me.
"How is he?" I asked 21-B.
"Resting."
I nodded. I turned to leave when Luke said, "Leia, there's good in him and one day, you'll see that."
I didn't say anything. I didn't even bother to give him a glance but left. How could he say that? The goodness that had been my father had been destroyed when Alderaan had been destroyed. Bail was my father, not Vader.
I didn't want to admit that Luke was right. I had no guts. Luke was willing to be by Vader's side. I wasn't. And that lawyer, Yasmine Vinnicombe, was on his side.
I didn't know whether or not she was forced to take the job or not, she was still his lawyer. I was not happy about the arrangement. The first few days of the trial went very quickly and the prosecution presented a very good case. I wondered what Yasmine would do for the comeback.
I knew Luke was there, right throughout the trial. But so was a lot of other high ranking Rebellion members. This trial was a highlight for most of them. Han and I sat in the middle of the courtroom of the prosecution side. I couldn't see where Luke was sitting from where I sat.
There was a break for recess and then when we came back, the defence would present its case. I was sure that Luke wouldn't be placed on the stand. Yasmine would be a fool if she did. Luke wouldn't have anything to defend Vader with. Little did I know of what had happened on the Death Star between Vader, Luke and Palpatine.
Yasmine rose to call the first defence witness to the stand. It was my brother.
I stiffened. I hated him! My anger boiled inside of me. Han could tell that I was angry.
"What the hell does he think he's doing?" Han snarled in my ear.
I didn't reply. I hated Luke for agreeing to do that. I heard his say something in my mind, but I blocked him out. If he even mentioned my name once… I'd… I'd kill him.
His reply to one of the questions I dreaded was truthful. Han, beside me, couldn't stop clenching his fists in anger. Looking to me, he glared. I wanted to shrink in my seat. What was I to do? Luke wasn't one to lie, and I knew that the information would be brought up somehow.
I squashed my anger. It wouldn't serve me with anything but destruction. How could Luke find something to defend in that… that monster?
But he did. He answered and found a way around complicated questions — until he was asked about me. I was just about ready to leave. I wanted to so badly.
Han turned his gaze upon me. I didn't know how he knew, but he did know that I was scared. It had to be showing on my face. He couldn't get around the fact that I was related to… to Vader.
I didn't want to talk to Luke before the trial. And I didn't want to talk to him then, during it. But as Luke answered later questions, I realised that he was trying to protect me. He hadn't wanted to bring me into the trial at all.
We had a recess and I watched my brother be taken to a small room as he was still on the witness stand. I wanted to get out of there quickly. I needed to have the ten-minute break alone.
I was beginning to realise that Luke was right. He was there on the stand, defending his father and trying to protect me. He was willing to let his life go to be by our father's side. Luke was telling me that Vader had changed. But I was still angry. I didn't want to know Luke or Vader now. My… brother was making the worst mistake in his life.
I wiped my eyes. I hadn't realised that I had started to cry. Mother… I missed her. I had wanted to tell Luke about her, but now, he had sided with Vader.
Han was waiting for me to make our way back to the courtroom.
"Is it true, about what Luke said?"
"It is," I nodded. There was no use denying it. He already knew that Luke was my brother.
"Damn fool."
I didn't tell him that it was my brother he was talking about. I didn't defend Luke like he was with our father. In fact, I secretly agreed with Han. Luke was a fool, damned to go down with Vader.
And I would go down with them.
I sat down next to Han in the same spot that we were sitting in before. Luke was brought back into the courtroom and our wyes locked once more. He broke eye contact and looked towards Vader. Something in that moment when our eyes were locked told me that something was wrong. Not with me but with Luke. There was something he wasn't telling me or anybody else.
The prosecution got up for his second questioning of Luke, I began to seriously worry. Luke was injured and he was hiding it.
And then, the truth about what happened aboard the Death Star came out. Luke was suffering. He collapsed.
Vader… Father rushed forward. I couldn't help but rush forward myself. "Let me through!" I commanded the guards who where blocking my way. "That's my brother up there!" I forced my way through.
I heard Father whisper to Luke as I drew near to his side. "Luke? Can you hear me? Don't do this to me, Luke." Something I didn't expect the once Dark Lord to do, happened. I swear I heard the man sob.
"We need the medics in here now!" I heard someone call. I didn't bother to distinguish who had called as my mind was on my brother and the man before me. Luke had been right. There is some good in him.
"I'll be with him," I whispered to Father.
He nodded to me. Leaving with Luke was one of the hardest choices I could have made at the time. I was beginning to see the man behind the mask.