"How's the patient?" Luke asked, dropping his branches.
"A dislocated shoulder. She's heavily strapped and I've given her some painkillers but I'm not a physician, she needs proper medical attention." Winter said, half glaring at Han.
"I am still here you know." Leia added.
Han added his wood to Luke's and crouched in front of Leia.
"You okay sweetheart?" He asked her.
"I feel like I've been trampled by a Bantha! But I'll be fine." She said.
"You hungry? Only Luke said something about making us ration stew once we get a fire going."
Han said.
"I said no such thing!" Luke denied. "It's dry rations all round I'm afraid."
Nobody seemed to mind too much. They ate their rations, lit their fire and settled down as night fell.
"You look exhausted." Han whispered to Leia.
"It's Winter's painkillers. She makes them herself from herbs and plant extracts." Leia said.
"Told you she was a white witch!" Han said under his breath. Leia half laughed, half grimaced. Then he offered her his arm. "Can I escort you to your room?"
"Is it to my expected standard?" She asked, sleepily.
"I guarantee you'll sleep like a baby." He answered.
He pulled a blanket from each of their two backpacks and laid one in a clear patch of earth. Gingerly, she laid on the blanket and let Han wrap the rest of it gently around her. Then, cautious of her shoulder, Han lay behind her, spooning himself against her body and pulling his blanket around them both.
Winter was on the verge of protest, when Luke explained. "It's for warmth."
He'd seen them hunker down like that on missions before, though he noticed tonight how Han slid his arm beneath Leia's head for added comfort and from beneath their blankets he could see Han's fingers interlaced through Leia's. That had nothing to do with warmth. Or comfort. That was a sign of protection. It said that to get to her, you had to go through him first.
"Doesn't it bother you?" Winter asked quietly, nodding at the sleeping couple.
"Why should it?" Luke answered.
"Well...your sister. And your best friend." Winter wrinkled her nose at Han.
"There was a time, before I knew Leia was my sister, when I thought maybe she and I could..I dunno..maybe..you know.. But that was before Han was taken by that bounty hunter, Boba Fett, and after that it was obvious where her heart lay. Even if I hadn't been family, I wouldn't have been able to compete with Han." He told her.
"He's just so...inappropriate!" Winter scowled.
"He's in love with her. And she's in love with him. What could be more appropriate than that?" Luke smiled.
By the time Luke's chronometer signalled the end of the four hour rotation, he was fit to drop. His Jedi training had taught him techniques to slow his metabolism, to remain calm under pressure, even to fly his sister through the air to safety.
But nothing, nothing, felt as great as good old-fashioned sleep.
Winter was already best part asleep on his shoulder and he hated having to wake her, but he needed her to check Leia's shoulder before they settled down to sleep and left Han and Leia at watch.
Not that there seemed to be anything to watch for.
There had been no movement, except for the odd stirring from Han fidgeting on the ground. And a couple of small insects that fluttered past without offering even the slightest trouble.
While Winter assessed Leia, Han found a spot to relieve himself and Luke added a little more wood to the fire.
When Han returned to the camp both Luke and Winter were curled on their blankets, backpacks supporting their heads.
"Cute couple." Han teased and nodded toward Luke and Winter as he crossed to sit beside Leia. She had been sitting against a tree stump which Han deemed too uncomfortable for her so he eased her forward and gently helped her to lean back against him instead.
"Can't you ever be serious?" Leia chided, sinking into Han's embrace.
"Sure I can. I'm serious about you aren't I?" He said.
"I don't know, are you?" She said, fighting the urge to close her eyes and sleep some more.
"You know I am. I'm just not the kind of guy to go around shouting about it. I'm a gambler remember, never reveal your hand to your opponents." He said, cuddling her to him but careful not to jostle her arm.
"You sound like you think you won me in a game of sabaac." Leia yawned.
"No, sweetheart. You were won in a much higher stakes game than mere sabaac." He said, then added whispering. "You know, if you want to get a little more shut-eye I can manage the watch on my own."
Leia shook her head, though her eyes struggled not to close.
"It wouldn't be fair to you, or to Luke or Winter. No." She said, opening her eyes unnaturally wide. "I'll take my turn like everyone else."
A lesser mortal would have taken advantage of the offer. But Han had learned some time ago that Leia was far from a lesser mortal.
He wondered now if her strength and fortitude was a legacy of her adoptive father's teachings or if indeed it was a throwback to her real parentage.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
The morning again dawned bright but misty.
There had been no incidents, nothing to report overnight.
Winter helped Leia prepare for their journey into Theed whilst Han and Luke made similar preparations with the droids.
Once they were ready to get under way, and with no objections from either Luke or Winter, Han fell in alongside Leia offering to assist her in the transit down to Theed.
She wanted to tell him to leave her alone, that although she knew he was only trying to be protective he was starting to smother her. Instead, she accepted his offer on the understanding that he did his bit with the droids too.
The terrain was just as difficult to navigate down as it had been to journey up. Leia's shoulder throbbed and every unsteady jolt would send waves of pain through her body.
Winter had fashioned a makeshift sling which helped immobilise Leia's arm but also limited her movements, making for an arduous time.
Finally, they emerged into a level area of grassland and there before them lay Theed.
The city was as expansive as Moenia had been sparse. Ornate spires rose from the tops of grand buildings. A wide tree-lined avenue lead to the Royal Palace which Leia announced was where they should start.
Han had voiced his doubts they would even be allowed into the Palace but was silenced when, with practised ease, the group were granted admittance and taken to an anti-chamber to await formal greeting from the senior household.
"I have to hand it to you Winter, I didn't think you'd get us past those guards." Han said.
Winter acknowledged his compliment with a gentle bob of her head.
"Of course, the real test is being able to get back out again." Han continued, unable to help himself.
Two huge doors swung aside and a woman in Senatorial clothing entered the room. She was tall, graceful and exuded a warm, gentle aura.
"I am Senator Amailma, welcome to the Royal Palace." The Senator said.
Winter stepped forward, extending a hand. "I am Leia Organa and these..."
Senator Amailma interrupted, smiling. "You are not Leia Organa. Nor is the real Leia Organa your handmaiden. We have long practised the art of decoy meetings on Naboo. But you are among friends here, there is no need for deception." She appraised the group before naming them. "Winter Retrac, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and this, therefore, must be Leia Organa." She took in Leia's injured right arm.
"My transport required repairs." Leia said. "We landed close to Moenia and travelled by foot from there." Indicating her arm, she continued. "I was injured and came here hoping to find some medical assistance."
"My personal physician is at your service, Your Highness. I shall make arrangements for your stay. How long do you think your transport might take to repair?" Amailma asked.
"I left my co-pilot working on the ship. Shouldn't be too much left to do." Han said.
"Perhaps we can provide some technical assistance as well." Amailma offered.
"Oh, no. Thanks, but the Falcon can be a bit temperamental. She's best left in the hands of those who understand her." Han said.
"As you wish." Amailma agreed and summoned an aide to take Luke, Han and Winter to quarters whilst she arranged for Leia to be examined by her medical team.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Han stood outside the rooms Leia and Winter had been allocated and straightened his collar. He sounded the chime to announce his arrival and was delighted to see Leia answer the call. She stepped aside to allow him access.
She wore a full length red dress, draped loosely over one arm whilst the other remained bare. Her bare shoulder revealed a small bacta strip where the medics had removed a sliver of chipped bone from when her shoulder dislocated. They had administered a strong sedative directly into the muscles which effectively deadened her arm but also allowed time for her muscles to start their repair.
Han had thought Luke would have taken longer to get ready so was disappointed to have his admiration of how Leia looked interrupted by the chime sounding again.
When Luke entered the quarters, he too was struck by how attractive his sister looked. Perhaps it was just that she was more relaxed now that the pain in her arm had abated, but to Luke she had rarely appeared more beautiful.
"What are you two looking at?" Leia asked, blushing.
"You look...stunning!" Luke said, to Han's amusement. "Well, she does." Luke said simply.
"Anyone would think you hadn't seen a woman before." Leia said, unwilling to meet their eyes.
Winter joined them from her sleeping quarters, wearing an emerald green dress. Her hair had been braided in a similar fashion to Leia's.
She too drew looks of admiration from both Han and Luke.
Winter, however, was not one to blush so easily.
Luke offered Leia his arm. "May I escort you down?" He asked.
To Han's annoyance Leia accepted Luke's offered arm with a soft smile.
"Looks like I'm all yours Winter." Han said and proffered her his arm.
She considered ignoring the offer but felt it would be impolite.
"Don't go getting any ideas though!" He whispered, flashing her a characteristic wink.
Taking his arm, they left the quarters and followed Luke and Leia down to a simple dining room where Senator Amailma waited for them and entertained them over a light supper.
After dinner, whilst Han called Chewie for feedback on the Falcon, Amailma guided Leia, Luke and Winter through to a drawing room where drinks had been made available for them. The room was immaculately decorated and reminded Leia of some of the rooms at the Imperial Palace on Alderaan. A portrait caught her eye and in spite of all she had been taught as a young girl growing up in that Palace, she found herself staring up at the picture.
"Our youngest Queen." Amailma said, breaking Leia's thoughts.
"I'm sorry. You must think me terribly rude. My father often scolded me for staring. But old portraits fascinate me. Their history. The story behind the portrait. And, of course, the person behind the story." Leia explained.
"No apology necessary." Amailma smiled. "That is Padme Amidala. She was Queen of Naboo around the time of the rise of the Empire. She would most likely have served with your father in the Senate at that time. You're quite like her, you know."
"I am?" Leia asked, careful not to let her emotions show.
"She was young, idealistic. Willing to fight for what she believed in, even if that fight meant risking her own life. It was terribly tragic really." Amailma said, taking a seat.
"She died fighting the Empire?" Leia asked, sitting beside Luke.
"Not exactly. It was all rather a mystery actually. She'd gone to see a young Jedi at the time of her death and, although no cause of death could be determined, her Head of Security concluded either she was killed by that Jedi or by someone known to him."
Leia looked back at the portrait. So this was her mother. Murdered by her own father.
"The worst of the tragedy was, Padme was pregnant at the time of her death. Both she and her child died that day." Amailma concluded looking directly at Luke.
"How sad." Leia whispered.
"And the Jedi?" Luke asked. "Was their meeting investigated?"
"The Jedi in question died shortly afterwards himself." Amailma answered. "It was during the great purge. He was seen to fall into lava flow on Mustafar and his death was reported by Jedi Master Kenobi himself. No further investigations were considered necessary."
Han entered and sat down with a glass of something sparkling in his hand.
"Well Chewie confirms the repairs are finished, so we should be able to get out of here tomorrow." He said, gulping back his drink. "Everything okay in here?" He asked, looking from one solemn face to another.
"Indeed." Winter said, rising. "Senator Amailma was just about to show us the gardens."
"In the dark?" Han asked, confused.
"Senator, if you would excuse me, I might retire. The day has been quite exhausting and my shoulder could benefit from a good night's sleep." Leia said.
"Of course Your Highness. Perhaps we would all benefit from a good night's sleep." Amailma said and bid them all good night.
In the quarters she shared with Winter, Leia poured herself a glass of water. Luke and Han were seated, watching her pace.
"She knew." Leia reflected. "She knew exactly what we were here for."
"Do you think she knows who you and Luke are?" Winter asked.
"I didn't get that sense from her." Luke said. "But then, I didn't get much of a sense from her at all."
"There's more. I know there is." Leia said.
Han shook his head. "Leia, sweetheart, give it up."
"But we're so close." She said, rounding on him.
"Close to what?" He asked, both facing the other down.
"Close to the truth." She said. "Don't you see that?"
"Leia, you already know the truth. We all do." He answered. "Your mother was Padme Amidala. She was in love with and fell pregnant to Anakin Skywalker. Something happened to Anakin, I don't know, maybe he thought she'd been fooling around. Something happened and he killed her. But not before you and Luke were born and given away maybe to keep you from knowing about your parents or maybe from knowing about each other. And not before whatever it was that broke him also turned him into Darth Vader. And you know what sweetheart? I can understand how he felt because seeing you like this, I'm thinking of turning to the Dark Side too."
He could see his outburst had affected her from her heavy breathing, not to mention the anguish she was trying so desperately not to show.
"I have a star cluster to finish charting. And you have a New Republic to establish." He continued, taking her face in his hands and kissing her forehead. "Luke and I are going to go get some sleep. Leia, you want my advice, go have a real good cry for the people you love and lost. Then move on. Because if you don't...you will become the thing you most dread."
Luke hugged his sister and left with Han.
"He's right of course." Leia said after they had gone. "Except about the crying. How many times did my father tell me that Princess' don't cry?"
"Probably about as many as he told you not to stare at paintings, or to leave the Palace grounds without an escort or that men like Han Solo were not appropriate company for a Princess." Winter answered.
"Then why do I..." Leia started, her lip trembling.
Winter took Leia in her arms and held her, careful of her injured shoulder, whilst Leia allowed the tears for her father and her people to finally fall.
"Because that appalling creature Solo is turning you into a woman first and a Princess second." Winter said, without adding that he had earned her admiration for it.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
If it hadn't been for etiquette they would have sneaked away quietly. But convention called for a farewell breakfast and the promise of more visits to come. As she was leaving, Leia was called to wait a moment. Once the others were clearly out of earshot Senator Amailma gave Leia a small silver data disc.
"What's this?" Leia asked.
"It's a transcript of the archives your droid tried to access whilst we were all at dinner last night." Amailma replied.
Leia looked from the disc to the Senator.
"Had you asked..." The Senator continued. "I would have been happy to provide you with access to any information you requested. It's all in there. Everything you want to know, but I fear it's not what you hoped to hear. Padme and her child died as a result of injuries received on Mustafar, as did the person responsible for her death. She was mourned, buried and now she is part of the history of the Galaxy. As we will all be one day."
"And I suppose if I continued to search, I would find the archives of anyone involved in these incidents would read the same." Leia stated.
"I cannot speak for others, however, I should imagine you are correct." Amailma said. "My envoy will escort you in my swoop to your ship. And I wish you safe journey home."
Leia, once again wearing her makeshift sling, surreptitiously slid the disc inside then thanked the Senator once more for her hospitality and joined the others to travel back to the Falcon and The Alderaan where the envoy too wished them safe passage and left without further ceremony.
Chewie was angrily flailing his arms around and spewing a barrage of Shyriiwook at Han who was trying to calm his friend.
"Okay, okay. Look I'm sorry. I didn't know we were going to be gone so long. Honest!" Han was yelling back, without much success of placating the Wookiee. When Chewie finally stormed off into the Falcon, a contrite Han shrugged and apologised to his friends.
"He's a bit cranky." Han said.
"Yeah, we kind of got that." Leia smiled.
"Well, your Holiness, we better be on our way. There's a star cluster up there with my name on it." He said.
"As long as it's just your name and not your hide as well." Leia teased.
"You fly careful, you hear?" He told her.
"You too. I'll see you back on Coruscant." She promised.
Winter, Luke and Leia started to board The Alderaan.
"Oh Han, I forgot to give you something." Leia called and ran over to him.
Han stuck his thumbs in his pants waistband and waited for the onslaught. "Okay, let's get it over with. I'm an interfering, know-all mouthpiece who's going to meet his match one day and you just hope you're around to see it, right?"
Leia was shaking her head. "No." She said and with her good arm reached up, pulled his face down to hers and kissed him with more passion than ever before.
When she broke the kiss, Han was stunned into silence.
"That's what I came here for." She said, winking up at him before turning on her heel and heading back to her ship.
Han found he was unable to speak.
For a moment, he was unable even to breathe.
And despite Winter's prediction, Han found himself thinking that had been the first of many passionate moments he and Leia were going to enjoy in the coming years.
That's it, you'll be glad to know, my not-so-epic journey concluded. I'm not a writer remember, so please don't be too harsh - review if you wish or move on, I have more to come either way. Thank you for your continued support.