When in Mon Cala...
Somewhere on Mon Cala
They found out that the buckets were for their wet sarongs. And although they had to walk naked toward the next ablution, they were at least separated by their hosts and placed at opposite ends of a long, cavernous, communal shower. Although calling it a shower was an understatement. They were standing along the wall that Leia had seen from the entrance underneath the natural waterfall that had disappeared inside of the building.
The clear, cool water fell heavily down upon them and the mists enveloped their bodies in a natural curtain. Leia could see Han's silhouette off in the distance beside her, his long arms scrubbing at the hair on his head. She had avoided soaking her hair thus far throughout this process, but it was now unavoidable and she released the intricate braids and let the water flow through her unbound hair.
When done, to her surprise, she was handed a warm, soft robe to drape over her shoulders. She twisted her hair over one shoulder and down her chest to ring it out. Without her normal oils and conditioners it would be hell to get it back in a braid, but she guessed that she would have to worry about that later.
She and Han met up again around some large marble slab tables. Han was wearing a robe, just like she was. He winked at her and raised his eyebrows, signalling a "what next?" question with his eyes. She shrugged and gave her best "I have no idea" look before they were turned once again to face away from one another and unceremoniously relieved of their robes. The quarren helped Leia up onto the table. She had prepared herself for the stone to be cool and jarring, but it was warm and inviting instead.
A new, dry sarong was draped across her midsection before her legs were swung around and she was encouraged to lie down. She turned her head and saw that Han had done the same. He was looking at her again. The robe had not thoroughly dried her and the air was cool against her damp skin, producing a wave of goose flesh and hardening her nipples. Han's gaze felt more intimate than it had in the sauna. Perhaps because of the way he had touched her in the bath. There was a definite step change in the implications of her nudity. Of his and her nudity together. And she turned her head and looked up at the sky, taking in a deep breath and releasing it.
Something round and cool was placed over her eyes and she was thankful that she could shut them and relax into this next stage of their experience. A heavy, thick paste was then applied to her face and several sets of hands began to massage the rest of her body with a pleasant smelling light oil. Their hike through the forest felt like a lifetime ago, yet as deft fingers worked at her sore muscles, she was reminded of how exhausting the first half of this day had been. She was also surprised to feel hands working something through her hair and thought that perhaps braiding it wouldn't be an issue, after all.
After an undetermined amount of time where she may or may not have dozed off several times, her face was wiped clean and the cool objects removed from her eyes. She was then rolled onto her stomach and the muscles of her back, thighs and calves were treated to the same light oil massage followed by what felt like hot stones placed and pressed against her skin. The way they had turned her head was away from Han's table and she could only assume that they were doing the same to him. Regardless, she shut her eyes and enjoyed this treatment, not quite falling asleep but sinking into total relaxation free from all worries.
When they were done, she was helped off the table. One of the quarrens tied her sarong for her and then led her once again across the open chamber of the bathhouse. Her back had been deftly kept to the direction of Han's table, but she assumed that he must be behind her as she followed her host. They went deeper into the building, past the stairway leading down into the sauna and into another large vestibule that was obviously a changing room.
It was obvious because Han was already in it and halfway dressed in the provided attire. When he turned to look at her she instinctively covered her breasts again, like she had done in the beginning of this endeavor, feeling suddenly embarrassed and exposed.
He immediately averted his eyes away from her, easily reading her discomfiture. "There's a stack of clothes for you right there," he said, pointing to a small bench as he turned and continued to dress.
She quickly did the same. Her outfit consisted of loose-fitting pants with a cinched waist and a long-sleeved tunic that came down to her knees. The material was light and breathable with a lovely, intricate pattern. But it felt both comforting and smothering after being naked for so long. The shoes were soft slippers and when she was done dressing she walked over to the mirror and began twisting her hair up into the easiest hairstyle she knew.
She saw Han approaching her in the mirror. His outfit was similar to hers and he had merely run his fingers through his hair in way of styling it. Still, he looked dashing. And she suddenly felt as if she were in deeper waters than she realized when it came to her feelings for Han Solo.
Finished with her hair, she turned around to face him. He was holding two small, handleless earthenware cups with steam billowing out the tops of them.
"Herbal tea," he said, offering her one. "It's good."
"Thanks," she said, taking the cup from him and blowing at the steam before taking a tentative sip. It was good and it flowed down her insides, its warmth blooming inside of her.
"Well," Han said with a big breath. "We made it."
"Uh-hmm," she replied, taking another sip of her tea.
"Pretty much unscathed," he asked, looking at her a bit warily. "Wouldn't ya say?"
She looked at him, into his hazel eyes, their color as mercurial as their owner. He was studying her, trying to judge her state of mind, she could tell. Poor thing, she thought. She would have to figure herself out before he ever could.
"Leia," he began and it scared her. The sound of her name at the beginning of his thoughts.
"Han, I," she hurried to interrupt him, to stop him from wherever he was going. Because she knew that he was already there, waiting for her. She could envision him standing on the edge of a cliff and offering his hand down to her, but she just wasn't ready to be lifted up there yet. To that next level.
She didn't have to finish her sentence though. Their hosts showed up again and motioned for them to follow. She thanked the goddess for small miracles, because she had no idea what she was supposed to say. Maybe, just maybe, they would finally be brought in front of the elder tribesman and they could finally leave this place.
She had been thoroughly cleansed but she felt as muddled as ever.