Leia spent the majority of the strategy meeting thinking of Han. What had gone wrong? Had she done something to drive him away? She and the fierce Corellian never seemed to be able to sustain their intimacy without tearing out each other's throats the next day. Could they ever have a real relationship? Leia had been so hopeful this time. She knew that he loved her. Why couldn't he just admit it? She shook her head absently. Maybe his leaving was for the best.
Hearing a scape of chair legs against the tile floor, Leia looked up and realized that the large crowd had started to thin in the war room. She felt relief that the meeting was over. Now she could go to back to her quarters and, hopefully, sink into a dreamless slumber. She had only the vaguest idea of what they had been talking about, something to do with potential weaknesses in the power grid of the latest Death Star.
She was gathering her datapad and a sheaf of flimsiplast when Mon Mothma appeared, hovering before her chair. Leia instantly sat straighter, her hand to her braids, tucking away any loose strands of hair. The mere presence of the woman made her feel inferior.
But when the older woman spoke, her words were kind. "I'm sorry to hear about Captain Solo. It's a shame he won't be joining our pilot squadron." Leia swallowed hard and nodded as Mothma continued. "Please let him know that he's welcome to reapply once he obtains the proper medical clearance."
What? Leia's thoughts began to swim violently and she had to grip the chair as the room began to spin. Han is ill? Too sick to fly? She swallowed down the bile and tried to conceal her feelings with a nod. The older woman didn't seem to notice her discomfort. As she bid Leia goodnight, the Princess only heard her earlier conversation with Han echoing through her mind. Given this turn of events, the words took on an entirely new meaning.
"What about us, your majesty? I'm just a lowly smuggler now. Do you still want to be seen with me?"
"Ugh. You disgust me."
"There's your answer, sweetheart. Whatever we had between us is over now. I'm moving on."
Leia blinked back tears as she hurried from the room.