Chapter 19: Redeeming Barriss

Ahsoka, Master Unduli, and I all arrived at the prison where Barriss was. We all entered Barriss's cell in silence. "Barriss?" I called. "I forgive you."

Barriss's eyes widened. "I almost got you killed," she protested.

"So did my twin sister," I replied, "but I risked my own life to save her because I love her."

"But why would you forgive me, either of you, any of you?" Barriss asked.

I touched her shoulder and said, "Barriss, an act of true love will thaw a frozen heart. I had been planning on coming back here—I would have if my ship hadn't got frozen—and forgiving you earlier—thus thawing my own frozen heart."

Barriss explained to us what happened to cause her fall and we joined her in the Council Chamber where she again explained the situation. Apparently during some battle of the Clone Wars, she had tried to use one of Master Unduli's teachings, but it backfired when she tripped over the dead body of a child. She then discovered that many children were dead and she just fell apart over the loss of so much innocent life.

I slid one arm over Barriss's shoulders. "Masters, may I speak to the Chancellor about the possibility of Barriss joining me in Arendelle?" I asked.

"You may," Master Kenobi said.

I hurried to the newly elected Chancellor Skywalker's office. "Chancellor, Barriss fell because many innocent children were slaughtered during one of the battles of the Clone War," I explained. "There is a chance that she can be redeemed but I also believe that there is a chance that through her redemption she will redeem Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."

"Of course, what do you suggest?" Padmé asked.

"Allow me to take Barriss with me to Arendelle, we'll stop at the Southern Isles and pick up Hans and they can both join the Queen's Fire," I explained. "It's basically an elite group of peacekeepers—we make sure the people of Arendelle are safe and alert the guards of any possible attack coming from the direction in which we are heading on patrol. There's also the Queen's Ice, headed by Kristoff, which deals with basically the same thing."

"You may take Barriss with you, this service will serve as her punishment," Padmé replied.

I quickly ran off and informed Master Unduli and Barriss of what was to happen. "Barriss, you and I are to go to Arendelle together," I explained. "You will join me in the Queen's Fire—no we're not warriors, we're peacekeepers and the police of Arendelle—we arrest criminals and hand them over to Elsa, I mean, Queen Elsa, for their trials."

"Why is it called the Queen's Fire?" Barriss asked.

I held up my hand and a ball of fire formed. "Because I am the leader," I replied. "And I have control over fire."

Then I paused. "Oh, and we're stopping in the Southern Isles to pick someone up," I said, smirking.

"We have to pick someone up?" Barriss asked nervously.

"Yeah, the guy tried to kill me," I admitted. "It's Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."

"This guy tried to kill you and you expect me to travel with him?" Barriss demanded.

"Barriss, remember what I told you about an act of true love thawing a frozen heart?" I asked.

She nodded. "Hans has a frozen heart and he needs you to redeem him," I said.

"But I haven't completed my redemption," she protested.

"Hans's redemption is your redemption," I replied. "By redeeming Hans, you'll be able to redeem yourself."

The two Mirialans nodded and Master Unduli, Master Kenobi, Barriss and I headed for Arendelle.