"Oh, Amidala." Mon Mothma
said, "I wanted to see you so much. I missed you. I missed the voice of
sanity, the peace maker, yet the adventurer."
"I was with the force, with you
ever minute, directing you."
"Okay, this getting to mushy
for my taste, I am off." Han said.
"And I with you." Saty
said.
"Hold it right there Han Solo
of Corellia. I need to have a chat with you." Amidala said, "tell me
a time, yes I can pop in on you at any time being with the force I am, but I
will await your convenience. But I WOULD like to do it some time in the next
hour."
"What about aboard the Falcon,
whenever you're done, I have a feeling with the mention of coordinates, we will
be using a ship, whether it be mine, or Luke's or both, I don't know, but i
want to fix it up, anyhow."
"All right." Amidala said.
And Han and Saty exited.
Everyone else stood there for a
while chatting. Then it came to the famous topic. "Leia, now I'll admit,
while keeping an eye on you and your brother I missed seeing the REAL Han Solo,
and anyone marrying MY daughter had better have a golden heart." Amidala
said, "Now I am pretty sure that General Solo meets that req. but, just
the same, I am going to talk to him. One suggestion, that you use so well,
ALWAYS make guys sweat, unless they are your brother or regular friends."
Luke laughed at that one. "I
agree." Leia said.
"And Luke, you have a pure
heart, something that can easily be manipulated, don't let yourself be."
Amidala cast her son a mischievous glance, "now I am going to tell you
something most mothers don't tell their kids, flirting a little more, at the
right times, doesn't hurt a soul-"
"Look who is talking."
Dadonna muttered.
"But i respect your drive to
find the one right woman." Amidala continued with a glare at Jan Dadonna.
"Mon Mothma their is, though, a
person out there with whom you need to make up, I am not going to tell you who
it is, I am going to go to that person, and then give you the coordinates where
you are meeting."
"Mother, did you ever forgive
Anakin Skywalker."
Amidala smiled
wryly, "Well, I know I should have been all philosophical and never been
mad at Anakin, but at Vader, but I was FURIOUS at the betrayal."
"...but, I forgave ANAKIN when
he saw the light when Luke showed it to him. I am still furious at Vader, but
not at Anakin."
"Notice the distinction,
Leia." Obi-Wan said.
"Now." Amidala reproved
him, "she has a right to be furious, he destroyed her life."
"Ami, if Leia doesn't forgive
him, and recognize him as her father she shall live in her shadow
forever." Obi-Wan said.
"Stop talking as if I am not
here." Leia cried, putting her arms on her hips.
They all laughed. "What is so
funny." Leia demanded, looking all the like like a 6-year old..
"You." Luke said, amidst
laughing.
When Leia made a mock pout, Luke put
his arm around her. "Aww come on Leia, you all have laugh's at my expense,
and i have some at yours."
"All right, it is now time for
my chat with Solo."
Amidala appeared in front of Han.
"All right, Han Solo, we need to have a chat."
Han looked up with an amused smile,
golly did that sound like Leia, maybe it was because traits carried in
families. "What, is this now it is questioned by the probably-to-be future
mother-in-law time."
Amidala laughed, "you have a
very formidable approach on life. Yes, I am going to ask questions and offer
motherly advice to her daughter of whether this man is worthy of her hand. But
not to see whether he was morals or ethics, or money, just a good heart and
love for my daughter. That is all I want to know for me telling Leia that this
marriage has my blessings, that you really care for Leia and will be there for
her."
Han gave one of his famous lopsided
grins, "that you can count on."
"Yes, well, I want to talk to
you anyhow." Ami said, rather sternly, "don't worry just a normal
conversation."
"With Mother-in-law, yeah
right." Han said under his breath.
Amidala decided not to answer, she
had seen, through Luke, what Luke had seen that Han liked to hide behind a
bravado, he didn't like showing fear...unless it was with Leia, and sometimes
Luke. Then he relaxed, this proved it, this proved the fact that General Solo
needed Leia. Now it remained to be seen whether SHE needed him. Well, AMidala
ammended, she needed him but would he remain under pressure, as the pressure
would be there.
Amidala talked with Han for awhile,
making sure he relaxed. They talked about normal topics, then Amidala asked
about Leia and Luke, and the New Republic. "You know, General Solo, you
put yourself down too much. You would be a great husband for Leia, if the force
has planned it that way. Just, be sure to take good care of her, I can't come
back often, you know."
Han laughed, "I will, I
will."
Amidala waved good-bye, then
dissapeared, and left Han staring after her. Amidala reminded him of the mother
he never had. Now, he knew that Luke and Leia had never really known her, but
still he felt envious. Amidala appeared again, "Han, go talk to Luke for
awhile, okay." She said, softly, she had dissapeared to see his emotion
after her 'leaving' and she had seen enough to prove Luke right.
Amidala then disappeared for real,
going to Luke. "Luke, I've sent Han to talk to you, you were right. His
life lacks love, and in many places security. Maybe you need to talk it out
with him, who knows if he will tell you or not, but try."
Luke and Han did a heart to heart,
where they told each other deep, dark secrets. Like Han's search for an
identity behind the name Han Solo, who his ancestor's where, etc. But how he
ended up only finding a cousin, evil Imperial Thracken Sal-Solo. Plus Luke's
escapades as a child, his inner emotions, etc. Han really let loose, like
Amidala had been hoping. She liked the 'kid' who had grown up to fast because
of the lack of love in his life.
Then Amidala disappeared.
"There the two of you are, I was looking for you! What were you
doing?" Leia exclaimed, coming aboard the Falcon where Luke and Han were
chatting.
"Just a guy to guy chat."
Han said.
Leia sat down, "include me in
it." she said.
"Leia, what does this mourning
period entail." Luke asked.
"No public meetings except for
Prayer services and visiting the family of the dead for one of planetary
importance, the Alderaanian flag cast at half-mast, wearing black compulsary in
public, and basically no going anywhere for fun until its over, unless its to
the person who is dead's family or friend's house or a prayer."
Han whistled, "Alderaanians
don't like doing anything half way do they."
LEIA ORGANA SOLO - 10:25am Aug 1, 2000 PST (#47
of 113)
I
USED TO BE MORALS RULE, BUT THE ANNOYING THING DIDN'T POST, SO I CHANGED MY
NAME TO SEE IF IT'LL HELP
"No we don't." Leia
answered, "by the way, Luke, I think it would be best if you and han
stayed at the embassy, or at least you, and made appearances at the prayer
ceremonies, etc."
Leia, Threkin, Rogue, and Tia sat
and organized the mourning period while Luke and Han looked on from the back.
They decided, in respect for Bail's wishes his 3 days would be last, and 2nd to
last would be his wife's, and 3rd to last would be his honor guard general, 4th
to last would be the civilian woman who'd died, and 1st would be the civilian
male who'd died.
The mourning period came and went
without much stuff happening. Luke accompanied Leia, in black, to all of the
prayer services. Han accompanied them to most of them, missing only the ones
that coincided with his military duties.
"Well, Leia, the mourning
period is over." Luke said, the morning after the 15th day.
"Yeah, but now plans for Leia's
coronation must take place." Rogue said, coming in.
Leia groaned. "Another major
thing to plan."
"Yup." Rogue grinned,
"and did you know your crown that you are going to have to wear on all
official duties is The Heirloom Crown of the House Organa."
Leia groaned. "What is
it." Luke asked, puzzled.
"Don't tell me your childhood
on Tatooine was THAT sheltered." Han said, "even I on Corellia have
heard of it. Its this crown that was the rallying point for Alderaanians, its
jewels were mined from the heart of Alderaan, and it was put together by all
Alderaanians, everyone stringing one jewel on it, to symbolize the weight the
monarch was carrying, the weight of the people's will."
"Yeah, so its HEAVY, as a child
I touched it, it is HEAVY, and I will have to do official duties under it. I
CAN'T DO THAT." Leia said, almost to the point of hysterics.
"Honey, the point of it was the
fact that it was heavy." Amidala said, appearing, then she put on a
mischievous smile "besides, hasn't Luke taught you, nothing is impossible,
the fact that you don't believe is why you fail." (inside joke)
As Luke blushed as his mother said
that. Leia asked, looking from her brother to mother, "did I miss
something."
"Oh, its just something from
his Jedi training, see his X-wing sunk in a swamp, and he lamented, Oh, that
was my only way off of the planet. Master Yoda told him to levitate it out,
Luke was skeptical, he said, I can't do it. Master Yoda said to try, but
because he was still skeptical he failed, then Master Yoda did it and said that
line to him."
"Oh, so its a Jedi
philosophy." Han said.
"Yes, but it works for non-Jedi
as well.
"All right, so what you are
saying, in Basic is to practice, after my coronation, and use the force to
support it, if necessary."
"Yes." Amidala said, "and Luke can help train
you. One thing about being Queen, though, Leia, is be careful. This is what
happened to Palpatine, make sure you are working with a diverse group, as well
as people you trust, otherwise the information can get twisted to other's
advantage."
Leia knew that her mother's advice came from the heart. "I will,
mom," then she smiled at Luke, Han, Saty, Stephaine, Senta, and Alizabeth,
"but with this group as my advising committee helping me, along with
dedicated Alderaanians, I don't think we could get into any trouble."
Luke walked up to Leia, and put his
arm around Leia. "And I...uh, we will give u the best advice we possibly
can."
Leia gazed into Luke's eyes and
smiled, "now part of this advice would be not to do anything to breach the
Alderaanian people's trust, they are placing supreme trust in you and your
ability's, now I would have normally said lets ask your aunts how heavy the
crown was, and I would do a force simulation of the weight on your head. But,
in this circumstance...after coronation we'll practice." Luke said.
Leia was relieved to hear Luke talk
in such a fashion, "we have other things to work on, anyhow, such as
speeches. I set myself up for a lot of them."
Luke laughed, "I can see that
breaks and vacations will be in short supply, Leia."
"You can say that again."
Han said.
"Well, your highness, if I may
be of assistance." Leia's PR director said.
"Of course, this is your area
of expertise."
"Well, this is your first
impression. So this is the most important speech. But, in my opinion, this is
not one that can be prepared, it must come from the heart. Begging your
highnesses pardon, but that is the problem with many politicians, they prepare
too much, and compromise sincerity. But Alderaanians have historically proven
themselves to be blocked from that kind of softening."
"All right, Leia." Luke
asked, after her PR director was done, "what is it."
Leia turned away, "no good
hiding anything from you, is there. In the room, when they announced that they
wished me to be their monarch, in all the meetings I have been to, I have felt
pure trust. Pure trust in my abilities to lead. I am just afraid...I am just
afraid I will let them down."
"Leia, you are an instinctive
leader. So you must lead, and the moment you shirk your duty to lead you have
failed them, but as long as you are leading, you have not failed them.
Remember, as Luke said, you are not alone, we are all here for you." Han
said, in an uncharacteristically emotional and long speech.
"Han is right." Luke said,
covering everyone's shocked looks at Solo.
Leia walked over to Han, put her
hands on his shoulders, "thank you." she whispered.
"Well I guess Solo's guard has
finally melted." Amidala whispered to Master Yoda and Obi-Wan.
"Yes, finally, but only partly." Ben answered