Chapter XXXVII: Kashyyyk

Leia did not entirely understand what had happened till several hours of travel after their escaped had passed.

She sat in the cockpit next to Luke, biting at her nails, her heart not beating fast as if she were running, yet pounding in a strange, constant manner.

"Would you calm down?" Luke said beside her. "What's done it's done."

Leia breathed out before speaking, forcing her voice to be relaxed. "I cut off his hand," she said to her horror.

"Oh," Luke kept flying without turning to see her. "Which one?"

"The metal one," she said, shaking her head nervously. "So I think it's all right…"

"You think it's all right?!"

"I mean, it's not like he lost anything new… he'll get another one— oh, loose that grin before I slap it from your face! Can't you see how freaked out I am? I never meant for any of this to happen…"

"Yeah, we never do."

"How are we ever to return after this?!"

"I guess we just don't."

He might've realized the hurt and despair on his sister's face, for he softened his voice and words, "I am sure his hand is the last thing bothering him right now, Leia. He must be going crazy looking for us."

"Well, that's a calming thought. Thanks."

"I'm sorry, that sounded better in my head."

Though very faintly, they both laughed.

"He lied to me, Luke."

"You always knew that. Deep down, you knew it."

"That didn't make it any less painful. There was a part of me that really believed… in him."

"And now?"

A somber cloud of rage passed over her face. "Forget it. I will never trust him again. I hate him, Luke. I know it's not right to hate my own father… but he earned it!"

"Hate is wrong, as you say, and unnatural. I am sure you don't mean that. The fever will pass, and you will forgive him."

"Never! After what he did to Han… I should probably go check on him now."

"He's better now, Leia. It's a wonder he's even whole after being Father's prisoner for so long."

Leia shut her eyes tight, the memory so fresh it cut her.

"It will not go unpaid. It's not okay for him to just bend everyone to his will. And in such a violent manner. I swear he will stop."

"How do you plan to convince him? You surely must be aware enough by now. Leia, our father will never change. The galaxy deserves better—"

"Stop. I did not come with you to join your treacherous cause. I will find another way to stop the Emperor and Queen Amidala."

"Good luck with that."

"Oh shut up."

"Where are we even going?" Leia asked after a while.

"I don't know. Away from the Empire."

"The Empire is everywhere, Luke."

"That's what you think."

"Please," she suddenly said with difficulty. "Don't bring me to a war zone. I can't again…"

"You're stronger than you're giving yourself credit," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. She didn't flinch from the touch. She almost smiled. "But don't worry, I would never do that to you. It is entirely your choice—I will never put you in danger."

There was a beautiful note of protectiveness on his voice. Leia needed it. It was everything to have someone she knew; someone who, in spite of everything, would give his life for her. The past hung still to torment her, but she was glad Luke was with her amidst it all.

She took his hand. Yesterday she might've killed him. Tomorrow she maybe will. But right now, he was her brother and he understood the position on which she was, the delicate thin line on which she trod; he walked it himself.

"Well this is touching," a voice said behind them. "I've yet to die, princess. In case you're still interested."

Leia's face lighted upon Han's presence. She ran to him. "You should still be resting. Don't worry, Luke can fly just as well—"

"Luke," Han interrupted, crossing his arms, eying the twins suspiciously. "So here it is, the famous young Prince Luke. With the equally young Princess Leia. Kid, I somehow expected you to be taller."

"It's nice to meet you, Captain Solo," Luke smiled. "I've heard a lot about you. Mainly of how you helped Leia escape the Empire. For that I thank you."

"I also rescued her from some rascals, Tatooine, a bounty hunter, and a Jedi," he said the last word with a kind of spite. "Not to mention the rebels."

Though he wasn't as tall, Luke still met his eye. "However it might've been, I thank you."

"She never would have been in danger had you not run, boy. I hope you realize the damage you caused—"

"Oh stop," Leia said. "If I can put all that aside for the time being, so can you."

"Who says we have to? This is my ship, Prince; and there really isn't much preventing me from throwing you out on the first system we spot."

There was a note of rage on Han's voice that Leia couldn't comprehend. Long gone were the days in which she used Luke's name as a way to taunt Han's jealousy. Too much had happened in between for her to even remember that Han didn't know Luke was her twin brother.

"Actually there's a lot," Princess Leia said. "Whatever treacherous things he has done, he also helped us escape. He is still helping us while you're too… um, sick to fly."

"I can fly my ship just fine, Princess," he said, sort of wounded.

"I prefer to wait till you're completely recovered. We might be attacked at any moment, you know."

"Fine," Han sighed. "Where are we heading anyway?"

"That's a good question," Luke said. "I was thinking Dagobah—"

"No." Han and Leia said at the same time.

"Why?"

"Father knows that's where you were hiding." Leia said.

"How?!"

"I told him," Han said.

"What?! Why?" Luke neared him, he shook nervously.

"Well, I was under torture, Prince."

"I am sure he would've found out from Threepio either way. Maybe he did." Leia said.

"Threepio!" Luke called. The two droids appeared. "Did you tell the emperor I had been in Dagobah?" he looked at both droids.

Artoo beeped a negative. "Oh no, sir!" Threepio assured him.

Luke stared at Han accusingly.

"To be fair," Han said. "I didn't specifically say Prince Luke. I only said that's where Leia met the Jedi."

"But he must've made the connection by now." Leia said.

"But maybe a different one," Luke breathed with difficulty. "Master Kenobi, Master Yoda," he whispered the names. "May the Force be with them… Well, that settles it. We're going to Dagobah first."

"No!" Han and Leia shook their heads.

"I have to warn them!"

"Hey I'm sure their Jedi insight will protect them," Leia mocked.

"And we have a place to be actually," Han continued. "Kashyyyk."

"Are we to visit the Wookiee Chewbacca?" 3PO asked. "Yes, I was wondering why he went away so suddenly."

"Han I know what I said… but we can't be sure he's really there," Leia said, contritely. "What if it's a trap by Mara Jade to give us back to the emperor?"

"We've taken many chances. This will just be another one."

Leia looked pensive for a moment. "All right. Set course at once Luke."

The young prince seemed unsure.

"I haven't used any of the weapons the imperials 'provided' me with, kid. Don't make me use them on you. Do as the princess tells you."

"There is no way Dagobah wasn't attacked by the Empire, Luke. We would only give us to him if we go. Your masters are either hiding somewhere else—or they're dead." Leia said, not without the faintest hint of remorse.

Luke nodded and on they went.

The jungle of Kashyyyk brought awful memories to the princess. She deeply hoped and prayed to have a less eventful welcoming. Force knows, she could not even begin to imagine what she would do if again they should fall prisoners to the rebels. With this train of thought, she glanced at her brother, and she wondered whether his presence would help, or finish killing her heart.

"Why couldn't we have gone straight to the city?" Leia asked in a pretended annoyed voice.

"The Millennium Falcon is the most famous and wanted ship in the galaxy," Han said; "thanks to you and your prince. After all we've escaped it would be a waste to lose it simply parading ourselves."

"Yeah, that makes sense. I still think Luke ought to have come with us."

"Only I know where Chewie's home is, so I couldn't have stayed to guard the ship. And there's no way I would leave you alone with him."

"And Artoo?"

"We bring him so there's a small guarantee the prince won't flee."

"What about Threepio?"

"Oh the golden droid is famous, too, I am sure…" Leia stared, grimacing. "All right, I feel happy knowing he's bothering someone else for a change. I'm sure the prince is thrilled about it."

Leia shared his smile; she wished he would take her hand as he led the way.

"There's a beauty to it," Leia gazed at the sight before them. Rwookrrorro city. "It looks so different than what I had seen in history books and informative holos.

"I bet you didn't expect so many humans."

"I didn't expect any at all."

"Well, when the first Empire came to be, the Wookiees were enslaved. After Skywalker took over he freed them, which came as a surprise to many, as slavery was really booming the economy… that is until Skywalker brought the other slaves."

"My father outlawed slavery, Han."

"For convicted criminals, he didn't. Oh, they do not call it slavery, true. But even without masters the workers here aren't free."

Leia looked at the forest beyond, barely distinguishing the many humans and aliens cutting down tall trees. She walked unconsciously towards them. "Most of them are elders," she gasped, horrified.

"A lot of the convicts were so because they were slavers themselves. Poetic justice you might call it, Sweetheart."

"Or cruel vengeance…"

"There's a small percentage of free humans in the city. Let's hope we can blend in."

Leia still wore the royal gown she had been sporting when they first fled Coruscant. Between that, Han's weapons, and their astromech, she had little hope for blending in.

They stopped at a market place; Leia traded one of her earrings for garments. Two brown cloaks that well concealed them, and a cream-colored veil for her lovely face.

"Wait," Han arranged Leia's veil so that her features were still on display. "I would really miss not looking at your pretty face," he smiled softly and caressed her reddening cheek.

Through a struggle, she slapped his fingers away. "Stop that, this is serious." She hid again so that only her eyes were uncovered. She waited again for him to grab her hand, and when he failed to do so, she took it herself.

Artoo beeped something. "Quiet," Leia whispered and she also covered him with a cloak, but at every step he kept stumbling and they left him free again.

Leia's feet begin aching and she was sure she must have had blisters yet she didn't complain, even as night came and Han kept on guiding the way.

At long last they stood before a house as tall as the largest tree she had seen. The built itself looked like fine wood, and the flowers, though without color, were of the most marvelous scent.

"This is it?" Leia wondered aloud.

"Finally!" a sarcastic R2 bleeped.

"So it seems," Han said without a smile. His hand tightened around Leia's own.

"If he's no here—"

"Don't. We'll deal with it when it's before us."

Leia held her breath.

There was no doorbell. The handle was far too high for a human to reach it. Han knocked with his left hand, his right never leaving Leia's grip. His fist hit the door with a violence, so hard until his knuckles bled.

"Han, stop." Leia begged but he didn't listen.

There was a creaking noise and Han stepped back.

The door begin opening at a slow rate. A tall Wookiee stood before them. It wasn't Chewie. He cried something, growling so loud Leia couldn't help but to scream.

The Wookiee ran to them, he grabbed Han's collar and forced him into the house.

Leia and Artoo couldn't go in.

"Han! Han!" Leia cried, scared and almost weeping.

She tried to bang on the door but it was so hard she stopped after the first try, her hand shaking with pain.

She looked around. Not far the forest still stood, she called as many rocks as she could, and they banged against the door, some crashing back at her and R2-D2. The droid beeped something but she was so agitated she couldn't know what it was.

She cursed and tried to use the Force to open the door, but it was too difficult.

After what felt like a century long wait, the door opened again. She was so startled she threw stones towards the Wookiee's direction, but promptly she regretted her action. This one was Chewbacca.

Her heart was in her mouth, beating at a worrying rate, still she ran towards the Wookiee, who growled, Leia was sure something like an excited "Princess!" he picked her up like a little girl, and she cried on his hairy chest. "Damn you, you scared me!" she laughed amidst her tears.

Without touching the floor she felt as she entered the house. "Artoo!" she cried.

The little blue droid barely made it in before the tall door closed again.

Leia's eyes widened upon first entering the large cellar. Han was seated there smoking a cigar, three Wookiees talking to him.

Leia felt like smacking him.

"Sweetheart, come and sit with us," he said.

One of the Wookiees growled.

"No, I am not his," Leia said before she could stop herself. Everyone stared at her. She wasn't even sure that's what the Wookiee had asked Han, but she could swear it was.

"Not yet, that is," Han smiled. The same Wookiee growled again. "She understands a little. No, I don't think completely yet I fear we cannot discuss her so freely anymore."

"Han, why did you leave me waiting outside? I was terrified."

"Sorry, the walls are soundproof. I was just filling Chewie's brothers in as to our current… situation. They offered to hide us here for the night."

"We can't stay the night! Luke is waiting, and he must be so worried—"

Chewbacca growled something, looking down at the princess and the droid beside her.

"Yes," Han's smile faded completely. "That Luke. The Prince. The yellow pain they call Threepio's with him."

"Tell them I am very thankful for their offer, but we have to go." She looked at Chewbacca for a moment, wondering if he would go with them.

"Right," Han sighed. "Time is precious, and not to waste anymore. Come on, Chewie. I refused to have my ship piloted by that rich prick for another travel."

The Princess neared the two Wookiees that had scanned her so. She took a bow, "I will come back again. I will try to help however I can. It is so grim watching slaves work on the outskirts of the town."

They both growled furiously.

"Yes, they are slaves!" she argued, hoping she had caught the meaning again.

"Next thing I know you won't need interpreters," Han grinned. "Let's go before they rip your arms out. Insolent princess."

Leia glared at Chewbacca's brothers. Let them try…

Leia walked out and the others followed.

Chewie lingered until he finally caught up to them, and he opened the door.

Leia couldn't lie to herself, the city at night was scary. The constant, incoherent sound of thousands of Wookiees growling was an unsettling thing. The screams of the convicts working, who clearly at that time could no longer withstand the tiring working day. It all seemed like too much.

"I am glad you're all right Chewie," she said to the Wookiee, trying to convince at least them that she wasn't afraid. He growled and gave her a hug. Han told them to shut up.

It was safer to be quiet. How wondrous Chewbacca was not being watched after having been linked to them…

A few merchants tried to get their attention, which they of course refused.

How conspicuous must we look? Leia thought.

Artoo beeped, and Leia was thankful Threepio wasn't there to translate, for the small droid had no trouble complaining about captain Solo leaving the ship so afar.

Leia considered for a moment that maybe they should had stayed at Chewie's house for the night. She wasn't sure how much longer she could walk.

"Stop," she breathed out. "Please, just a moment."

"We have to get there before sunrise, Leia. You said so yourself."

"I know." Shut up. "A few moments won't hurt. This planet is safe."

Something about her own words made her uneasy. Safe. Too safe to be true… why hadn't anything happened yet? She shivered even amidst her sweaty body. She removed the veil and threw away her cloak.

"What are you doing?"

"I am burning up. No one's here… and I need to breathe."

Even R2 warned her against it.

"Just because we have been lucky so far doesn't mean things can't change on a second," Han warned. "And—"

There came the loud noise of spaceships.

"Uh oh."

Leia tried to put on the veil again but she couldn't find it.

"I have a very bad feeling about this." Leia said, fighting her fear and her own guilt.

"Maybe those are cruise ships," Han sniggered.

Of course they weren't.

Out of nowhere, stormtroopers marched from every corner, opening and entering shops and houses. Interrogating and fighting whomever they crossed.

"Nice dress, Your Highness," a voice said to Leia but this came from no imperial. One of the convicts had taken advantage of the situation to run away. "I found her!" he screamed and Han shot him.

He urged Leia and they ran trying to hide. Blaster fire echoed in her head. He stormtroopers were fighting, but not them. They fought Wookiees who had attacked first the imperials for having disrupted the city, causing the outlaws to escape.

"What do we do?" Leia asked.

"Run and mix till we're out of here."

Since she couldn't think of a better plan, she was okay with following his.

One of the shots got Chewbacca, he growled but seemed unfazed.

"Come on!" Leia entered a store and she threw herself on the floor.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I am gathering my breath!"

"We have to get to the ship!"

"We will die before reaching it!"

"You pretend we stay here until the battle's over?"

"I don't know, Han. I just know I don't want any of us to die here tonight."

"Listen to the girl," a high-pitched voice said. They turned to see a young girl, hiding in the shadows. She must've been sixteen or so. A Wookiee and a human man were with her, sitting as if there was no battle raging outside.

There was a bottle on her hand. Cheap wine. Han hasted towards her and asked her for a sip. "You're too young for it anyway." He sipped for a long time. Leia shook her head in disapproval. Then she took a little for herself. She drank till the burning on her throat forced her to stop.

The man stared at Leia. He looked about Han's age. "That's a fine dress, and a pretty necklace, girl."

Han glared at him. "Keep your eyes to yourself man."

"Yes, do." The teen girl gritted her teeth. The Wookiee rose, he was small, Leia guessed him to be a teenager.

Leia rolled her eyes and took another sip of the cheap wine.

"You might want to pay for it," the man said.

"I do not." Leia didn't look at him.

The noise outside intensified.

"Oh shit," the girl said. "They're going to burn down the whole town. I think those are the rebels arriving now."

She ran towards the door and left it ajar. The small Wookiee by her side.

Leia was tempted to go have a look.

"How'd you know those are the rebels?" Leia asked.

"I am looking at them, girl."

"Well, if they want to play hero today who can stop them?" the man said. "Force knows, they are good at destroying attacked cities."

"Better than being sacked by the imperials," the girl said. "I hope the rebels beat them again."

"Do you think the Jedi is with them?"

"Possibly. Kashyyyk was very friendly with the Jedi. They fought with them to the very end of the Clone Wars." The teen Wookiee agreed.

"What about the Princess? Do you think she's helping them again?"

"Excuse me," Leia interrupted the conversation she so attentively had been prying on. "How you mean?"

"Haven't you heard girl? The Princess of the Empire herself is now helping the Rebel Alliance!"

"That's… absurd," Leia shook her head, offended. She spoke louder, as the noise almost swallowed her words. "You have it wrong, it's the prince, not the princess who—"

"No. I am well informed," the man spoke condescendingly. "The Emperor's daughter was abandoned in some desolate planet where the Empire is not even recognized. And the rebels saved her. So when the last attack in Corellia happened she helped save some rebels from destruction."

Leia was left speechless.

"What a hero," the girl sighed. "And she's only my age, too. So brave…"

"The princess is now twenty years old," Leia interrupted again, unsure of why that particular part had offended her so.

"And she's a hot blonde, at that," the man said. "Man, what I wouldn't give to have an hour with her—"

Leia saw Han fumed with anger, something she was sure showed in her face, as well.

"She's a brunette like the queen," Leia gritted her teeth.

"No-uh. She's blonde like the emperor."

Leia wanted to slap them.

"I heard she enjoys the occasional drink, and is quite promiscuous," Han said in an apparent serious voice.

"Yeah, that too." The girl agreed.

"Well, it's good to know the general public is so well informed in regards to politics," Leia sighed.

"What's politics?" the girl asked.

The level of ignorance made the princess wish for a minute the sky would fall on them.

Han laughed—till an explosion bursts next door.

"Time to get out of here!" Leia wasn't sure of who said that.

The man grabbed her breast and snatched the necklace that hung above it. The three strangers ran from the place.

"Hey!" Leia screamed.

"Sweetheart, it's just a piece of jewelry—"

Leia didn't care. She was angry and being robbed only aggravated her further. She stopped the man with the Force. She choked him until he was gasping for a last breath.

"She also hates thievery." The princess regained her stolen piece. She walked over the man, and just in case, she knocked over the Wookiee and the girl.

The city was aflame. Time would wait no longer. They needed to get to the Millennium Falcon.

Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and Artoo were separated amidst the chaos. More thieves. Soldiers. Rebels. Fire. Ships. Troopers. Civilians. Death. Destruction. She couldn't bear to see.

She pulled out her lightsaber, she wasn't sure of what she would do with it. For starters, a group of convicts were stabbing a fallen Wookiee. She slashed at him and the Wookiee rose and growled thanks.

She walked fast-pace, aware of what the weapon in her hands would cause, uncaring for the fact. She dodged the fire with her weapon. The glow of it shining on the black night… till there was another one.

Atop of a car, many meters above, Leia saw the green shine of her brother's blade. It was strange watching him fight in person. It did not seem like her brother, he was well cloaked, but that wasn't the reason…

She ran to him, he grabbed her arm and put her in the car. "Where's the ship?" she asked.

"Where we left it."

"We have to go!"

"Not I."

He jumped from the car. Clearly she could go now. Like he had said, he wouldn't force her into battle. She spotted Artoo with Chewbacca, she flew to them and got them into the car. "Fly to the ship, Chewie. I'm going to find Han!"

She jumped from the car, falling on her knees. She saw the car disappeared and found she couldn't rise again. A Wookiee helped her up. She walked with difficulty, limping at every step.

"Han!" she screamed. "Damn scoundrel."

A man, probably a convict, grabbed her from behind. Her left ankle twisted as she fought him, and she couldn't stand. He positioned himself above her, fighting her arms to keep her still. She heard blaster fire and the man above her had died. A soldier helped her rise. It was a rebel. Her ankle wouldn't let her. "I can't stand," she bitterly said.

"It's okay," the rebel said. He walked her to a corner and helped her be seated. She expected to be left alone after that but he kneeled and checked on her.

"Not broken," he smiled. "I have a cream that will ease the pain."

He pulled a small jar from his pocket.

"I am Princess Leia," she said, before being helped any further.

He looked up for a moment, regarding probably for the first time her jewelry and dress.

"So you are," he agreed and put the cream on her soring skin and bone.

"You should return to battle. Why are you helping me?" she was perplexed.

He even massaged where she hurt. "You should be fine now. Try to rise."

"Fool now I could kill you," she looked confused.

"You didn't need to stand to do that… Your Highness."

She took off the earring she had left and put it in his hand. "It is very expensive, you might use it as you wish."

He nodded. "Thank you, Princess. I will leave you now."

"Wait," she said. "Could you help me find my… pilot."

He looked somewhat embarrassed. "I wouldn't abandon anyone in danger. I helped you. You thanked me. But I am not commanded by an imperial authority. Blessed as you are by the mighty Force, you won't need me. Best of luck, Princess Leia." He bowed to her, Leia wasn't sure if mockingly.

She returned to the battle with the intention of finding Han. But the Force was treacherous, and she first spotted that rebel that had helped her. He was in trouble. Leia had to kill at least three troopers to save him. Her brother appeared to smile at her. She couldn't return the smile. Now it was Luke in trouble. She helped him deflect some of the fire.

She now could see more standing rebels than imperials. She knew they still wouldn't retreat. Till the last man fell down there'll be a fight. How sickeningly long must the fight be?

More ships came, and Leia was astonished because men were not exiting them, they were entering! Both sides were retreating.

A ship stood out from the others. Not imperial. Not from the Alliance.

The Millennium Falcon.

"Luke! Please come!" Leia screamed though they were side by side. Her brother helped her into the ship.

Her heart calmed down only after she had seen that they were all inside. Han and Chewbacca flew. The droids looked after her. Her brother was there…

"Thank the Force," she breathed out in relief.

"What are you thankful for?" Luke asked, genuinely confused.

She only shook her head.

"I say it's my turn to decide where we go," he said.

"Yeah, whatever." She then thought better. "Where?"

"Hoth."

She didn't know where or what that was.

"Han…Chewie…" she called. "Oh you tell them," she fell asleep, exhausted.