When Luke woke next, he was in a comfortable bed. He almost thought that he had dreamed it all, but knew differently this time. He was not on the Praetorian and had not been for several days. He wondered: would Leia and Han be looking for him? He had promised that he would stay in contact – but they could suppose that he was simply taking his time.
He opened his eyes, he was no longer in the hut. The room about him was beautiful, with woodwork which was carved with the utmost of care. It was gentle, not harsh like most healing rooms which were sterile and without life. There were draperies, which were of the most luxurious of materials. The blankets on the bed were soft, and warm. He noticed that the walls were covered in shadows of leaves, and upon looking outside the window, he discovered there were a vast number of trees. Where was he? Was he dead, perhaps?
Ah yes, now he could remember. He was taken by soldiers the night before, the Vogelfrei camp was raided. They said they would take him to Cairn Corness, which he assumed must be the capitol of Tyrn. If this was the capitol's ward-room, then the rest of the place must be extraordinary. Indeed, for he was sure that not even Naboo could boast of such finery. Upon his thought of the ward-room he remembered them saying that 'the Captain' would not be very pleased with his condition. Speaking of. . .what was his condition?
The soft murmur of voices could be heard on the other side of the door. Quite different from the last time he woke. He could still hear Therizo's boisterous voice echoing through the small confines of the hut. He wondered what happened to Douleia? Would she be punished for her husband's crimes? He hoped not, for she seemed rather kind, despite her race. He listened closer to the voices. Females, as he discerned. He went as quiet as possible, so as to hear what they were saying.
". . .How long?" one woman said, her voice was young, and immature.
"Two days. Apparently, that woman who took care of him before said he slept for three. No doubt, it was the trauma to the head. Healer Adrianė was apparently quite upset when she saw him. She was surprised that he was still intact, and was still breathing, his ribs were not in the best of states. I don't know why. The Vogelfrei are a very violent people, and no doubt they did it to him" he heard the second woman say, she was older, brusquer, with a deeper tone.
"True, but did you hear what the Captain said? She was furious when she was informed, she would have had that Therizo brought before her! However, he was unconscious, thanks to his stupidity." the younger one said.
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"I hear he tried to escape, but failed. Hence the stupidity comment." the second said.
"He did, but Lieutenant Corliss was at the raid, or else the Captain would have had even more of a fit. Do you think that she'll want to see the patient?" the first asked.
"No doubt, remember, she stormed in here when she wanted to see Therizo. I'd say she wants a good reason to lock him up, even though they had a bargain." the second reminded.
"I think they respect each other. She is bold as brass, and he is tough as nails. They get along fine. Though apparently, there's something about them which is more congenial." the younger one said.
"What do you mean?" the elder inquired.
"They have no love for the Alliance" the youth replied.
"No love for the Alliance? Ha! I can understand that. That Alliance took her brother, he's probably dead by now. I wouldn't have any love for them either, they wouldn't help us here. They're off fighting the Empire, and a few of them sometimes come here by accident. They're a proud sort. And I'm sure that the Captain would like to get her hands on the leader of them all. Luke Skywalker, I think he's called. She blames him for her brother's disappearance." the door opened, and the two women came into the room.
"Ah, he's awake!" it was the younger girl, probably fifteen, exclaimed. The elder, who looked about forty with graying strands of black smiled warmly, "Aye, how are you lad?" she asked.
Luke smiled weakly, "I feel better than I did last time I woke" he said, remembering the splitting headache he had before. It was gone now, along with most of the pain in his chest.
"That's good, that's good. Eh, Karin, fetch Healer Adriané, tell her the patient is awake" the older woman said. Karin nodded, and left. "Now, lad, don't move too much. I'm Lourdes. Karin and I have been looking out for you for the last few days. You were in a terrible state – but I'll let our head healer tell you. She knows more anyway" the woman, now identified as Lourdes said, bustling around the room. "What's your name lad?" she asked.
Luke's heart raced, she had said earlier that they didn't like the leader of the Alliance – who they thought was him. "Lars" he said, but he only used the last name, what would he call himself as a first?
"Lars? Is that your first or last name?" Lourdes asked.
"First" Luke replied, "My last name is Starkiller" Starkiller? he repeated in his mind.
"Lars Starkiller." Lourdes repeated, "You're not from Tyrn, are you? I can tell from your way of speaking, its very much like those who came in from the old Republic."
"No, I'm from Tatooine." he said. Footsteps were heard from the other side of the door, which opened to reveal a young woman. She couldn't have been more than 20, and therefore struck Luke with surprise. "Ah, Healer. You see, he's awake" Lourdes exclaimed.
"So I see, how long has he been so?" the Healer, which Luke concluded must have been Healer Adriané, replied – moving to the side of his bed and inspecting a wound on his head. "Its looking better, they say that sleep is the body's best healer. Sleep and time." she muttered, examining his other wounds. Lourdes and Karin were silent, watching as the Healer looked over her patient. "He's doing well, no signs of brain damage, he's lucid. Not that that means anything, the brain is a rather unsuspecting thing, he could drop dead at any moment. His ribs seem to be in order, and healing nicely. Overall, how are you feeling?" she asked Luke.
"I'm feeling much better, I heard I've been here two days?" he asked.
"Your hearing also seems to be in order, which is a good thing." she replied, looking over a clipboard with papers. "Welcome to Cairn Corness, Mister -"
"Starkiller. Lars Starkiller" Luke supplied, still shocked with his choice of name.
"- Starkiller. And how is it you came here, Lars?" Adriané asked.
"I was looking for a friend of mine. He disappeared around this area" Luke replied.
"He disappeared around Cairn Corness?" Adriané's voice was skeptical.
"No, he disappeared at the same coordinates as Tyrn. I don't know where he is."
"How long ago?" she asked at length.
"I don't know, I came here – according to your saying how long I've been here, and Douleia's addition – five days back. He disappeared two days prior to that. A week?"
"Yes, your addition seems to be in order as well. You must be that ship that dropped into the river about five days back, I'm surprised you didn't die in the jungle." Adriané commented, pushing a mahogany lock out of her blue eyes. "Very well, Captain Llewellyn wishes to see you, she is interested in your time spent in the Vogelfrei camp. I'd say you should be able to go tomorrow, seeing as you are healing exceptionally well – which I'm guessing has to do with this, Douleia, as you called her. She seemed to have taken very good care of you" Adriané said, hanging the clipboard back onto the wall.
"Llewellyn?" Luke repeated, "The Captain's name is Llewellyn?" he asked – Prentiss' last name was Llewellyn. Were they related?
"Yes, the Llewellyns are the royals of the planet." Lourdes replied, "Why, Healer Adriané is a Llewellyn." that made sense, she had a much more 'refined' tone to her voice. It distinctly differed from the dialect that Lourdes and Karin spoke in. As a matter of fact, her tone reminded him of when he first met Leia. Her 'Aren't you a little short for a stromtrooper?' phrase, ran through his mind, which would have made him laugh – had he not been in the present company. If he thought of it, Prentiss had a rather 'princely' tone, as if he had been shielded all his life. Ambitious. Which, unfortunately, was part of the reason that he was not widely liked in the Alliance. He never endured what others had.
"Yes, thank you Lourdes." Adriané said curtly, pressing a few buttons on a panel, which then disappeared into the wall. "You will be released tomorrow to go to the palace, we will have an escort take you there. Meanwhile, you shall be fed, and you need to rest. We don't want you collapsing on your wrongdoers"
"Thank you" Luke said courteously.
The young Healer smiled, "You're welcome" she replied, opening the door and stepping out, "Sleep well" she said, closing the door behind her.
Lourdes and Karin began whispering and chuckling to each other, though Luke knew not what of. After all, they were speaking in a different language, much like the one that he heard Therizo speak in the forest.
"Well done, Master Starkiller." Lourdes said finally, "Although Adriané is the more cheerful of the Llewellyn girls, you made her smile. I can only hope the Force will be with you when you deal with her more cold-hearted sister"
"What is the Captain like? When I was with the Vogelfrei, I got the distinct impression that she was feared." Luke asked.
Lourdes laughed lightly, "When you are speaking to the Vogelfrei, they need to be afraid of her. They have crossed her three times already, and were let go. This time they will not be as well off." she exclaimed, "But as for the Captain. . .well, she used to be rather kind, and compassionate. She was an idealist, at one point. However, after her father died and her mother became Queen, she was forced to get into a position she was never intended to do. It has caused for her to be rather cynical. Poor thing" Lourdes explained, walking to the door "I'm going to fetch your food. Karin, you will be needed" and together, they left Luke to his own thoughts.
And what were Luke's thoughts? – you might ask. For that would be the most important, and interesting question for our hero. His mind was curious, and (in many ways) confused. He had many questions, but realized that he would never be able to ask them. The most important of them all: why did this place seem to hate the Alliance? To hate him? For Lourdes and Karin spoke of him, not knowing who he was, with disdain. This Captain Llewellyn would obviously be full of wrath if he met her with his true name. Lars Starkiller. Where in the galaxy did he come up with that? At least it would keep him safe … he hoped.
This thought led, in turn, to a question that bothered him even more: was he as safe here as he hoped? Was, perhaps, his hope in vain? Were these people as much of a haven as he was told? And if not, were they part of the Empire?