"BEN!" Luke called out as he hurried through the thick underbrush, with Leia and Jaina closely behind. He had been reaching out with the Force to sense his son, but it was obvious Ben was shielding himself.

Leia skidded to a stop. "They're close."

"Ben?" Jaina asked. If Luke couldn't sense Ben, it was unlikely Leia could.

"No… I can sense Jacen and Han."

Jaina nodded, her expression growing concerned. "I can sense them, too. And that means that he can probably sense us by now."

"Which isn't a good thing," Leia said, thinking about Han. If Jacen realized that Han had sent them a signal, there was no telling how he'd react.

A rustle sounded from the bushes, and a few seconds later a bedraggled Ben appeared, looking somewhat abashed. "Hi, Dad."

"Ben Skywalker," Luke said sternly, unable to hide the relief that swept over him. "What were you thinking, running off like that?"

"I wanted to see if I could find Mom."

Luke repressed a sigh. It would do no good to argue with Ben about whether they'd seen a vision of Mara. "Well, as long as you're back and safe, I guess that's all that matters."

"I found her."

"What?"

"I found Mom!" Ben said excitedly. "I found her, and I even talked to her."

Leia and Luke exchanged dubious gazes, while Jaina stepped forward, worried about her young cousin. "What did she say to you?"

"Well…" Ben hesitated, unsure of how much he should reveal. "She said that Jacen used the darkside of the Force to send her to this planet, and she's having a hard time remembering things. I can relate to that, because I know what Jacen can do to a person's mind. I think she's stuck in some type of in-between place. She's not dead, and she can't come back. At least not yet." He turned to Leia. "Did I hear you say Jacen's close by? We need to find him, before he runs again and leaves this planet."

Luke was seldom at a loss for words, but this time he couldn't think of a way to argue with his son. It was obvious that Ben was truly convinced that Mara was somehow still alive, and that they could rescue her. "Let's find Jacen, then," he finally said. "Maybe he can give us some answers about this mystery woman."

"She's not a mystery woman," Ben said hotly. "I've talked to Mom, face to face. You're going to feel really dumb when I'm proven right."

"Ben, I'd appreciate it if you'd show me some respect," Luke said. "Not only as your father, but as a Jedi Master."

"I'll show you respect when you've earned it," Ben responded, then stomped off down the path, forcing the others to follow, both dismayed and silent in his angry wake.


Fortunately for Han, the horses had slowed to a walk. They rode single file, with Lancelot in the lead, and Han in the rear. Jacen suddenly pulled on his reins, and Han's horse automatically stopped short.

"Jace? What's the matter? Why did you stop?"

"They're here…" the younger Solo said softly.

"Who?"

Jacen blinked and shook his head. "What?"

Han frowned at his son. "You said, 'they're here'. Who's here?"

"Mom, Uncle Luke, Jaina. Ben, too, I think. You've betrayed me."

The Corellian swallowed nervously. "I didn't .."

"Yes, you did," Jacen shouted, turning his horse to face his father. "I don't care that you'd do this to me, but you've signed Allana's death-warrant!"

"Kid, listen to me," Han said evenly. "Your mom and Uncle Luke have no intentions of hurting Allana."

Jacen pulled the hilt of his lightsaber from his belt. "How stupid can you be? They'll kill me and take Allana back, and then she'll be the target of every revenge-minded psychopath in the galaxy."

"No one is going to kill you," Han responded. It was taking all his will-power not to reach for his blaster. He knew it would be a useless gesture. Jacen was far too powerful for him to stand a chance. His only hope was in convincing his eldest son of his true intentions. "If you've really rejected the darkside, then this is your chance to prove it. Not only to me, but to Luke and everyone else. That's why I sent them the signal, Jacen. So we can start to put our family back together again."

"It won't happen," Jacen said bitterly. "No one will believe me. All they want is to get revenge for Aunt Mara's death."

By this time, Sir Lancelot had brought his horse around and approached the men. "Why dost thee pauseth? My mount grows skittish, surely a sign the Beast tis nigh at hand."

"I'm continuing this quest by myself," Jacen informed Lancelot, his face flushed red. "I'll take care of the Beast and return with its head. You stay here and tend to my frail and elderly father. His befuddlement seems to be getting worse with every passing moment." Without giving either man a chance to response, Jacen dug his heels into his horse, and galloped away.

"Both thee and thy offspring be odd creatures," Lancelot grumbled at Han. "We should give pursuit."

"Yeah, I guess we'd better," Han said. "Frail and elderly, my blaster. I'll show him who's frail."

A voice shouted from the winding trail behind them. "HAN!"

Han twisted in his saddle to look over his shoulder at four approaching figures. "Leia?"

"Dost thou knowest yon travelers?"

"Yeah. That's my wife, Leia Organa of, um, Alderaan, and my daughter, Jaina of Coruscant, and my brother-in-law, Master Knight Luke Skywalker of Tatooine and his kid, Ben."

"Kid? I see nary a goat. Why namest he a young goat, Ben?"

"What?" Han asked, totally confused. "Goat? What the kest is a goat? Ben is Luke's son."

"Then why dost thou sayeth Ben tis a goat?"

"I never said Ben was a goat!"

Lancelot shrugged his shoulders. "Thou dost not seemeth to take much pleasure at seeing thy family."

"I'm pleased," Han said, dismounting the horse. "I'm also a little bit worried."

"Why dost thou worry?"

By this time Leia was close enough that Han could see her angry expression. "Han Solo! How dare you take off with Jacen and Allana and not tell me your plans. What were you thinking?" She came up to his face, pointing her finger in his face. "I was worried sick. I thought Jacen had killed you, and I was never going to see you or my only grandchild again. Is Allana safe? Where is Jacen? You're lucky I don't hang you upside-down and shake you until your teeth rattle out for giving me such a scare."

Han rubbed the back of his neck, and glanced up at Lancelot, who was sitting still and quiet. "Do you understand now?"

"Verily," Lancelot replied, nodding.

Han leaned forward, and gave his startled wife a firm kiss on her lips. "Honey, I'd like you to meet Sir Lancelot. He's the Knight that's taking me and Jacen to find the Beast Glatisant."

Leia looked taken aback. "A beast? What kind of beast?"

"Some type of nasty monster, apparently. We're supposed to cut off its head and take it back to King Arthur."

"Why?"

"To prove we're good guys."

"You're Lancelot?" Ben asked, suddenly interested in the native human.

"None other but the greatest knight of the King's Roundtable," Lancelot said, bowing his head to the boy.

"You've heard of this guy?" Jaina asked.

"Mom told me his name," Ben said, giving his father a smug look. "She said when we found Jacen, he'd be with someone named Lancelot."

"Where is Jacen, anyway?" Luke questioned casually, putting his hand on Ben's shoulder.

Han turned his attention to the Jedi Master. "He got sorta mad at me that I let you guys know where we headed. So he took off to find Glatisant by himself." Han cleared his throat. "Luke… Jacen has renounced the darkside."

"I've got a planet for sale, real cheap too, as long as you're buying bantha droppings," Ben spoke up with a snort, ignoring Luke's fingers pressing harder into his flesh.

Han gave Ben a cautious glance. "Jacen wanted to bring Allana here 'cuz he's afraid she'd be killed if she stays in our galaxy."

"Yeah. Right."

"Ben," Luke warned his son. "Let's hear what your uncle has to say."

"Are you sure Jacen has come back from the darkside?" Jaina asked her father. "Maybe he just wanted to escape justice."

"If that were the case, then why did he bring me with him? He could've killed me once I took him to Allana and covered all his tracks," Han argued. "I really think he's come around."

"I hope he has," Luke said sincerely. He looked at the knight. "Lancelot? Will you take us to where this beast is located? Jacen might need our assistance."

Ben angrily shrugged off his father's grip. "Yes, Sir Lancelot. Let's go rescue Jacen. I sure wouldn't want the beast to kill him…..before I get my chance first."


Jacen used the Force to guide him as his horse trotted along the trail. His connection to all types of animals had remained strong, even through the years spent as a Sith, even if that connection had become distasteful since his brother Anakin's death. He could sense his horse did not want to go off the path, toward the right. Even using the Force, he couldn't convince the horse to move off the path, so Jacen dismounted and continued on foot.

He knew his family was following him, and he didn't have much time before they arrived. He stopped at the entry to a cave. The cave's gloomy entrance angled downward, and strongly radiated of the darkside. Jacen held his lightsaber in his grasp, then called, "Come out. I know you're in there."

After a few moments, a slender female figure emerged. "Tis been a long time."

"Morgana," he responded, his tone neutral.

"Thou hast not come alone this time."

"My family is here," Jacen acknowledged. "I told you about them last time I spoke to you."

"Yes, thou did. But thou failest to tell me about thy cousin, Ben."

"Ben? He was only a small child when I was here last."

"He hast grown to become a powerful wizard in the years since," she said. "Although, he was rather easy to manipulate."

Jacen was startled, wondering how she knew what he'd done to Ben while he was Ben's mentor. "What do you mean?"

"I appeared to him as though I was his mother," she responded. "He sayeth thou smite Mara Jade. Is this not what be the darkside thou spoke about?"

"It was self-defense," Jacen shot back. "She came after me, intending to kill me. I had no choice in the matter."

"So thou sayeth."

"It's the truth!" Jacen said. "What did you say to Ben? Did he believe you were Mara?"

"Verily, he believeth. The boy tis angry with thou, Jacen. He desireth to kill thee."

"I am aware of that," Jacen said dryly. "But thanks for the unnecessary warning."

"Appearing as his mother, I telleth him I was not yet fully gone, and that I could be drawn back to the living, but only if he obeyeth me," she continued.

"Why would you do that?"

"To further both our ambitions, Jacen. Hast thou forgotten thy promise to me?"

"I have not forgotten," Jacen said. "But it seems rather pointless."

Her eyes grew dark and angry. "Pointless to thee, perchance. I taught thee well with my skills, and now thou shall repay my kindness by upholding thy end of the bargain."

Jacen laughed. "You were only a small part of my overall learning experience, Morgana. You may have been one of my teachers, once upon a time, but my skills have grown far beyond anything you'll ever comprehend. The bargain we agreed upon is null and void."

Morgana grew enraged. "Thou shall pay with thy life, Jacen, for thy treachery." She raised her hands, summoning her powers, then a fireball appeared in her hand and she flung it at Jacen.

With deliberate calmness, Jacen ignited his lightsaber and dissolved the fireball before it could touch him. Again, Morgana tried her spell, and again Jacen easily deflected her attack. "We could do this all day, Morgana," Jacen said, sounding bored. "I can guarantee that you won't be successful. Or I could just kill you and be done with it."

The sorceress dropped her arms. "Thou shall rue the day thy crossed me, Jacen." Then in a puff of smoke, she disappeared.

Even Jacen would admit he was surprised by her sudden disappearance. He cautiously peered into the cave using his lightsaber to see inside. It was not a large cave, and there was no other exit. Sighing, he headed back toward where he'd left his horse. He could sense his family was very close, and he dreaded the upcoming encounter.


Still on his horse, Lancelot led the way, while the others all followed on foot. "If you think one kiss is going to make me forgive you, you're in for a surprise," Leia told her husband.

"Would you rather I'd refused to tell Jacen where Allana was?" Han asked, looking over his shoulder at the horse he was now leading, glaring at the animal that was insistently nipping his right ear. "If he's still a Sith, he'd have pulled the information out of my brain and then killed me. Right?"

"Is Allana safe?"

"Yeah, she's fine." Han lowered his voice. "She's with King Arthur's wife, Guinevere."

"Why are you whispering?" Jaina whispered, moving closer.

"'Cuz I think Lancelot is having a fling with Lady Guinevere. But now Lancelot is all steamed because Guinevere has the hots for Jacen."

"If that's true, then the Queen must be insane," Ben remarked. "Is King Arthur normal?"

Han shrugged. "I guess he is. But he seems to put a lot of stock in what this strange wizard-type guy has to say. Merlin – that's the wizard – is actually the one that decided me an' Jacen had to go find the beast and cut off its head."

"I'll bet Jacen loved that idea," Ben said. "Killing things is his style."

"But it's not our style," Luke stated. "You'll do well to remember that, Ben."

"Yes, Master," Ben said sarcastically as he began quoting his father's lessons. "Revenge is from the darkside. A Jedi rejects hatred, and only kills in self defense, or defending the innocent. The Force brings calm and balance."

"I'm glad you know all that," Luke said patiently. "Now try to practice what you know."

The knight pulled his horse to a stop and pointed. "There stands Knight Jacen's mount. But he dost seemeth naught to be nigh. Tis very odd, indeed, since lair of Beast Glatisant lies further, beyond yon fairie dale."

Leia leaned toward Han. "What did he say?"

"Jacen left his horse, but he's not around, and the beast lives farther away," Han supplied. "Don't worry, you get used to their way of talking pretty quick."

The Jedi Master put his hand on his lightsaber, and looked right, into the thick trees. A lone figure emerged from the forest. "Jacen."

"Hello, Master Luke," Jacen said, nodding. He turned to greet his mother and sister but never got the chance.

Ben Skywalker wasted no time as he vaulted over his father's head, and turned on his lightsaber, slashing out at Jacen's neck. If his father was not going to destroy the monster, Darth Caedus, then it was up to him. Even though Ben moved at lightning speed, everything felt like slow-motion. He could see the shocked expressions on the faces of his family, he could see the cousin he had once trusted turning on his weapon, raising the blade…

He was a second too slow, and Jacen blocked what would have been a decapitating blow. The blades sizzled as they impacted, and Ben spun around, attempting to cut Jacen off at the knees. Still he was too slow. Frustrated, he cried out in rage, pulling the weapon over his head and mindlessly slamming in down at Jacen, over and over, driving Jacen backwards.

Both Han and Luke reacted at the same time. Luke reached out with the Force and grabbed his son's wrists, while Han took the more dangerous approach of physically pulling Jacen out of harm's way by pushing his son behind him.

Tears were streaming down Ben's face as he slumped in defeat and faced his father. "You should have helped me. Together, we could've killed him."

"Your mother would be disappointed in you, Ben," Luke said sadly.

"NO!" Ben screamed, moving away from the group and shutting down his weapon. "No, she would not! If Caedus would've killed you, do you really think Mom would ever have forgiven that Sith? NO! No, she wouldn't have! She would have understood me! She would have HELPED me, instead of stopping me!"

To everyone's shock, Ben ran toward Jacen's horse, and flung himself on the animal's back, then galloped away.

"Forsooth! What manner of magic sticks dost thou holdeth?" Lancelot cried, finally finding his voice. "Ne'er hast I gazed upon such strange things. Drawest thy power from the very sun, tis appeareth." Eyes wide, he pointed toward Jacen. "Thou must be a sorcerer! Thy family be ALL spell casters! Guinevere shall be in dire danger keeping thou wicked offspring in her tender care. Wit that I save her, before thine faerie child turn into a serpent and devourest my Queen!" He dug his heels into his horse's side, and thundered away in a cloud of dust as he headed back toward the village and Guinevere.

Jacen was alarmed at Lancelot's reaction. "Allana… I have to get back and protect Allana." He grabbed the reins of Han's horse, jumped on and followed the knight down the path.

"Now what do we do?" Leia asked.

"I'm going to find Ben, and knock some sense into his thick head before it's too late," Luke replied. "I have to make him see how close to falling into the darkside he's getting."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

Luke shook his head negatively. "No. This is something Ben and I have to work out. Alone."

"I'll see you later," Leia called out as Luke headed off after his son.

"I still need to find that Glasiant beast," Han remarked.

"You can't be serious," Leia said, looking at her husband with an incredulous expression. "How are you going to find that thing, much less kill it?"

"Lancelot said we were close, so I'll just poke around by the fairy Dale," Han replied casually. He gave his wife a lopsided grin, unbearably happy to be with her again, even if she was mad at him. "I wonder what this fairy Dale person looks like, anyway?"

"A dale is an open field," Leia said, exasperated. "I'm coming along, since I can't trust what will happen to you when you're alone."

"Aw, Princess… you do still care."

"Jacen might need some help," Jaina said after some consideration. "Do you mind if I head into town?"

"Are you sure you can handle Jacen all by yourself?"

"I'm positive," Jaina replied. "And if I'm alone with him, I can see how serious he is about rejecting the darkside."

"Be careful," Leia admonished.

"Yeah, be careful," Han agreed, kissing Jaina on top of her head. "And don't let some short knight with a big stick sweep you off your feet. You wouldn't want Jag to come here and get all jealous."

"Dad!" Jaina protested with a groan.

They watched as the young woman headed off after her brother. "Looks like it's just you and me, sweetheart." He glanced around the thick woods as the sunlight filtered through the overhead branches. Songbirds fluttered through the leaves, and a small furry rodent with long floppy ears hopped nervously across the path. "Sure is pretty here, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is pretty," Leia agreed.

"Are you ready to go cut off the head of a beast?"

"You sure do know how to sweet-talk a lady, Han Solo."


After a short hike, Luke found the horse Ben had fled upon grazing in a small field. It didn't take Luke too much longer to find his son sitting on a fallen tree trunk. Ben was hunched over, his face buried in his hands, his shoulders shaking. Pity for his grieving son warred with disappointment over his lack of obedience. Taking a deep breath, Luke approached his only child.

Without looking up, Ben spoke first. "How could you?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

The boy jerked his head up sharply. "I can't understand why you're letting him get away with murdering Mom. I can't understand how you can even consider forgiving him. Mom would've made it her life's goal to avenge your death."

Luke nodded at his son's words. "If that's true, then your mother would have been wrong. Revenge can never be an ulterior motive for a Jedi." Luke sat down next to Ben. "You have to find it in your heart to forgive people, or ultimately you're the one that will pay the highest price. Hate is evil, Ben. It's what powers the darkside."

"Don't you call Mom evil," Ben growled out.

"I would never do that. But sometimes your mom let her emotions override her Jedi standards. Going after Jacen was something she never should have done."

"She was trying to protect me!"

"I know that," Luke agreed quickly. "But still, she never should have confronted Jacen by herself, and she should not have assumed it was her responsibility to kill Jacen. And she should not have assumed that Jacen was beyond saving, either. If my father, after twenty years and countless evil acts, could return to the light, I have to believe Jacen could come back, too."

"So you plan on letting Jacen get away with killing Mom?"

"Not at all. He needs to be held accountable for his actions. If he's truly turned from the darkside, he will accept that fact."

"I don't think he'll accept responsibility," Ben stated. "Then what will you do?"

"I don't know," Luke replied. "All I know is that I'd never be able to give up on you, and I can't give up on my nephew, either." He stood up, and gazed sadly at Ben. "You're heading down a slippery slope toward the darkside, Ben. The same evil that gripped Anakin Skywalker and Jacen Solo is now reaching out for you. I can't lose you, too."

Ben stood up, and wiped his watery eyes. "I'm not turning into a Sith. I promise I won't try to kill Jacen again. Unless he starts something first."

The Jedi Master nodded. "Let's see if we can convince Lancelot we're not sorcerers."


"Does this look like a dale?" Han questioned his long-suffering wife as he glanced around a flower-filled meadow. "It sure doesn't look like a monster lives here. I thought monsters lived in caves. Or on top of spooky mountains. If we were still on Coruscant I'd have to add sewer systems to the list, but I don't think there are any sewer systems around here. I wonder where everyone goes, don't you? Behind a bush?"

"Listen," Leia said, holding up her finger to her lips.

Han cocked his head. "To what? I can't hear anything."

"Exactly. A little while ago, there were birds singing, and insects chirping. Now it's completely silent."

"Maybe we scared everything off," Han suggested. "You have been talking a lot."

"ME?!"

"Well, okay. Maybe I've been doing a little bit of talking, too."

"Han…"

"Most of it?"

"Behind you!"

Han spun around, drawing his blaster. At the far end of the meadow was a creature, about half the size of a bantha, with a long neck and a spotted torso, and it was loping toward them. The Corellian raised his blaster and took aim.

"Don't shoot it!" Leia yelled.

"What? Why?" He turned back to the beast, just as it jumped directly at his chest.


Jacen's horse had made good time, and he had caught up to the wild-eyed Knight, trailing him as both animals thundered across the drawbridge and back inside the walls of the village. At the base of the castle, Lancelot jumped off his steed and turned to face his pursuer, pulling out his sword.

"Stay thy hand, sorcerer!" Lancelot yelled. "Thou shan't bewitch my Guinevere again."

Jacen dismounted, and warily approached Lancelot. "I have no intentions of stealing Lady Guinevere. She's not my type. I only want my daughter."

"What manner of spells hast thy faerie child casteth upon my Lady?"

"Allana has done no such thing."

"Thou speaketh naught but lies," Lancelot returned hotly. "Ne'er hast a child besotted her like thine hast." The knight poked his sword at Jacen. "Takest up thy wicked light, and I shall smite thee down with none other than my brave and true heart."

"I don't want to fight you," Jacen said wearily.

Just then, King Arthur came running out of the castle, his guards and Merlin trailing behind. "Sir Lancelot! Thou hast returneth too late!"

"Too late?" Jacen repeated. "For what?"

"My fair Guinevere hast been stolen away, by none other than my wicked sister, Morgana," the King replied, putting his hand over his heart. "I fear she may causeth my wonderful wife to come to great harm."

"Allana…" Jacen said, suddenly growing cold. "What about Allana?"

"Thy child hast been stolen, as well," Merlin said, a bit smugly.

"Morgana has Allana?" Jacen said, his head spinning. "I have to find her." He started to turn, but Lancelot quickly stepped between him and the exit.

"Thy child be a witch," Lancelot declared. "Just as surely as thou art, Jacen of Coruscant." He looked eagerly at Merlin for confirmation. "His entire wicked family shall descendth upon our village, for I have seen them and their craft practiced, from whence I came."

"What dost thee witnesseth?" Merlin questioned.

"Sticks of light… pulled from the very heavens above. Surely it be power drawn from the sun," Lancelot replied. "If enough be taketh, verily the sky shall turn dark forever!"

The King looked alarmed. "Dark forever? Surely the crops shall faileth, and all shall perish in cold and hunger! Whatever canst we do?"

"Allowest me, thy greatest knight, Sir Lancelot, to end this sorcerer's life in battle," Lancelot declared. "When he hast been dispatched, his family shall flee in terror, and I shall rescue thy Lady Guinevere from Morgana."

King Arthur clapped his hands. "Ready thy horses and lances, and let it be known to all in town that thou shall defeat Jacen of Coruscant in a joust to the death."


Han didn't even have time to cry out in surprise. The impact from the beast dislodged the blaster from his grip, and he ended up crashing backwards with such force his breath was knocked from his lungs. Dizzy from the blow, Han forced his eyes open, aware of a crushing weight on his chest. The reason for the weight became apparent since the creature was sitting on him, looking down while panting and drooling in Han's face.

"Leeha," Han gasped, trying to articulate words. He turned his head toward his silent wife. "Hepp me."

Leia stepped toward the beast. "Can you please get off Han?" she asked politely, patting the creature's side. "It's very hard for him to breathe."

To Han's utter shock, the odd beast hopped off, but not before it reached down and gave the Corellian a wet lick with a long, rough tongue. Han struggled into a sitting position, rubbing his chest. "It understands you?"

"Of course," Leia said. "He's sentient." The creature barked at Leia. "Oh, sorry. He's a she."

"Oh," Han replied. "Does Glatisant speak, too?"

The creature let loose with a loud barking noise, and thumped her tail.

"She doesn't like that name," Leia explained to Han. "She said her name is, um, I can't pronounce it exactly. It sounds like Cesxalqurekenstocz."

The beast gave a short wuff, and Leia smiled. "She says we can call her Cecil."

"Cecil?" Han repeated as he stood up and retrieved his blaster. "Well, that's just wonderful. The King wants us to prove we're good guys by bringing Cecil's head back, but now we can't do that, can we?" Han looked suspiciously at Leia. "How do you understand her, anyway?"

"I don't understand her verbal language, but she's communicating with me mentally, through the Force."

"Ah," Han muttered unhappily. "The Force. Yet again." Before he could duck, the creature gave him another lick, and Han backed away, wiping the slobber from his face. "Tell her to stop that."

"She likes you, Han." Leia struggled not to laugh. "You might have a new girlfriend."

"Tell her we're married," Han said worriedly. "Happily married."

"Happily? Says you."

"Hey!"

Leia burst out laughing, then frowned at the creature as she concentrated. "Cecil wants to let us know that she can help us."

"In what way?"

"She knows we've lost many of those we love, and she can feel the pain of our loss," Leia translated carefully. "She knows the way through to the portal." Leia touched Cecil's muzzle. "Portal? Where does this portal lead?" The Princess pulled her hand away, shaking her head. "That's not possible."

"What are you talking about?" Han demanded.

Leia turned to Han. "Cecil says she can guide us to the other side, and if we bring the Lady of the Lake something she desires, we can return to the land of the living with our loved ones. Han, do you know what that means?"

"Are you implying we can go find Anakin and Mara? And Chewie? Bring them back with us?"

"Yes," Leia said softly.


Jacen was roughly led to a large, flat field that was divided length-wise by a short fence. Onlookers had gathered at the edges of the field, and the smell of food cooking filled the air. On the surface, it appeared to be a picnic, but looks could be deceiving. Jacen could sense an undercurrent of bloodlust permeating the crowd.

"I don't want to fight," Jacen protested as the guards pushed him toward a chestnut-colored horse, and pushed a large pole in his hands.

"Thou faileth to consider consequences toward thine actions," King Arthur stated. "Sorcerers shall be driven from Camelot."

"What about Merlin?" Jacen asked, pointing at the wizard. "He's a sorcerer!"

"Merlin is naught but our King's loyal advisor," Lancelot declared. "Taketh up thy lance, and mount thy horse. The King's subjects await thy end."

"How come you get to wear armor, and I don't?"

Merlin chuckled. "Thou hast the ability to cast forth spells, and summon yon very sun to thy aid. Surly that be equal to poor Lancelot's earthly protection."

"It's still not fair," Jacen grumbled as he was hoisted on his horse.


The young woman pushed her way through the thick crowd, her eyes widening at what she finally saw in the field. "Jacen?"

"Knowest thee yon sorcerer?" a man asked.

"Yes, I know him," Jaina responded. "He's my brother!"

"Truly?"

Jaina focused on the curious man. "Who are you?"

"Knight Lanval," the man replied, bowing deeply. "First to meet thy brother and his child and father. Jacen of Coruscant told me not that he hath such a beauty for a sister."

"Uh, thanks. My name is Jaina." She nodded her head toward the open field. "What's going on out there?"

"Knight Lancelot hast challenged thy brother to a joust to the death. Perhaps it not be wise for such delicate eyes as thine to witness such a brutal end for thy kin."

Jaina gave an unladylike snort. "I think I can handle it."

"Say not that I faileth to warn thee," Lanval responded. He looked down to his left at Jacen, then turned to the right and pointed at Lancelot. "Sir Lancelot shall tear his trusty steed down yon field, and impale thy brother with his lance. If that faileth to accomplish Jacen's end, then axes shall be taken up, then finally daggers. Jacen of Coruscant stands nary a single chance without armor."

"You don't know Jacen very well, do you?"

"I knew Jacen naught but for a brief time." Lanval smiled. "But know his sister better I would greatly desireth."

"Dream on."

"Thou shall invade all my dreams, both wake and sleep, from this day onward, fair Jaina."

"Let's just watch the joust before I get sick," Jaina muttered.

"Tend thee in sickness and health for all of eternity I shall, Jaina, my vision of heavenly joy," Lanval said with a sigh as he gazed at Jaina, no longer paying attention to the joust.


It took all of Jacen's willpower not to turn his horse the opposite direction, race off to find his child, and rescue her from Morgana. He could sense the presence of his sister, and he knew that Luke and Ben were also getting closer with every passing minute. If he didn't have Jaina watching, he knew what he would do, but this complicated matters.

Knight Lancelot raised his post, and gave a loud cry to encourage his horse. Reluctantly, Jacen prodded his horse forward and began the galloping charge.

Both lances were aimed at the others' chest, but Lancelot had the distinct advantage of heavy armor protecting him. All Jacen had was his pole… and the Force.


"Ask her how we can do that," Han told his wife eagerly. "I'd do anything to bring back Anakin and Chewie."

Leia concentrated on the creature, nodding from time to time. After long minutes, she turned back to her husband. "Cecil will guide us through the Mists. Once we are on the other side we will be able to locate our loved ones. But there is a catch, Han. The only way to bring them back is if we can offer the Lady of the Lake a gift in exchange for safe passage back. If we can't offer the Lady what she wants, we will end up stuck on the other side of the Mists, along with our loved ones."

"So we'll be dead, too," Han surmised correctly. "Does Cecil have any idea what kind of gifts this Lady will want?"

"Cecil says she can ask her first, before we enter the mists."

"That's mighty generous of her," Han muttered under his breath. "I'd rather know going in if I need to offer up the Falcon's hyperdrive coil in exchange for getting back. It'd be sorta hard to find a hyperdrive coil lying around on the other side."

"How do you know?"

Han opened his mouth to reply, then snapped it shut. "I don't." Then he got a happy expression on his face. "Do you think they have junkyards full of space cast-offs on the other side? That'd be great."

Leia sighed. "Only you would love that idea, Nerf."

"Come on," Han said. "Let's follow Cecil to this Mist."