Homecoming
Author's notes: This fanfic is based on movie canon only; it doesn't use any of the novels except those. I also use some items from fanzines, especially those printed in the 80s, such as Alderaani as the term for Alderaan's people and J.A. Lows' Halken symbol from her "Princess Tapes" zine. And I included a quote from Benjamin Franklin - "Even the sun has spots." - something he said when people said America would fall without a king. I started this story in late 1999 and haven't read anything about Episode II (I like being surprised) so the story can certainly conflict with the new movies. Lastly, I have to thank all the fans who stayed with the story, sending glowing reviews and encouraging me to finish it, and especially Sheyla, my beta-reader and Luke fan extraodinaire, who has stuck by me scene by scene, line by line, rewrite by rewrite. Without her, "Homecoming" would be less of a story.
The crowd pushed against the guards and the barriers that kept them from the speeders driving by. Most tried vainly to see through the darkened windows into the interiors. The vehicles were forced to slow down as the press of bodies pushed the crowd closer, cutting down the width of available space on the road.
In the second of the three-speeder motorcade, a security guard sat next to the droid driver. His superiors had warned him of the growing number of people gathering along the route from the spaceport to Theed Palace. Until now, as they drew in site of the palace itself, he hadn't seen anything to concern himself about. Granted the crowd was still orderly, but he didn't want to think of what it meant if that changed, not when he was the one guarding the royal party.
"Problem, officer?" The woman in the rear seat spoke up, obviously noticing his concern. He should have realized she would.
"Just watching the crowd, ma'am." he said.
"You didn't expect anyone?"
Mulling it over, he replied, "We did, but I would rather keep an eye on them. That's all."
She watched him carefully, her dark eyes searching his expression. She then turned to looking at the crowd herself. "They seem peaceful enough. And you can't blame them for being curious."
"No, ma'am. You can't."
The man next to her spoke; they said he was a Jedi. "Tell us what you're thinking."
"My job, sir, is to get you safely inside the Palace. The crowd's curious all right and I think it could go either way. After all the fighting we've been through Naboo has changed. We don't assume that everything's peaceful anymore."
The pairs of dark and light eyes returned to the crowd, gauging the emotion outside. "What do you think?" the woman asked her companion.
He watched through the windows a beat longer, and then shrugged. "I don't think they're hostile. Curious like you said, wondering. Maybe wary." He watched her measure his words. "You're the expert in these situations. Tell me what you think."
She returned to the crowd once more and made her decision. "I think we'll give them what they want."
She reached above her head for the window controls. Before the guard grasped what she was doing, she opened them so the passenger compartment was completely exposed, top and sides, save for the small doors. She heard the crowd start talking excitedly outside and quickly said to the guard, "Inform the rest of our party what's happening."
Her companion chuckled. "And get ready to hear a lot of cursing."
She started to sit forward but turned to the man next to her. "Let me go first. I'll motion for you in a second." A shutter closed over his face but he nodded. "We need to do this my way. Trust me."
He hesitated but nodded. "I do. Go ahead."
She couldn't spare time for more than a quick squeeze of his hand. Then she was standing up, letting the crowd see her. And though she had been on planet through the greeting at the spaceport and the trip through Theed's streets, the Naboo marked that moment as the one where Leia Organa, daughter of the late Queen Amidala, came to her mother's homeworld.
Inside the Palace throne room, King Jaron watched the scene displayed in holo form, fed from the newscams outside. Seated in front of him was the Royal Advisory Council, each member riveted to the same sight he was. As Leia stood in the speeder, Jaron turned his gray eyes to Diseks, Governor of Theed. "What do you think?"
Diseks shook her head in admiration, her auburn hair in its severe style catching the sunlight. "She's good. And she's obviously studied the situation. Notice how she keeps Skywalker back as she first greets the crowd. She knows she resembles her mother while he doesn't. And the people want to see Amidala, not someone who reminds them of Vader."
Pormet, one of the Council to have known Amidala herself, nodded. "She is good, but then so was her mother."
Diseks said, "I don't know if we can assume Princess Leia has her mother's skill. The late Queen didn't get a chance to train her daughter."
"No, she didn't," Pormet agreed. "But this daughter was raised and taught by the Organas. And the Organas knew what they were doing."
Jaron said quietly, "Yes, they did." He watched in silence before saying, "I still would like to see the son and how they'll handle the people's reaction to him."
Semay, seated closest to the King's right, shook her head with renewed surprise from the news announcement released days before. "Twins. Who even knew Amidala had children?"
Pormet, lost in memories, answered softly. "Kenobi obviously and probably the Jedi Master he always spoke so highly of: Yoda, I believe. Of course, Sabé must have known as well as Rabé, Eirtaé, and the other handmaidens. They were too close to the Queen not to know."
"And never said anything," Diseks noted.
"Never. What protection they gave to her, they'd give to her children. And the Jedi knew better. Anakin Skywalker's and Queen Amidala's children? Palpatine would have killed them immediately. Or turned them into their father." He watched Leia Organa grasping the hands held out to her. "It must have devastated the Queen to separate the children right after everything that happened with her husband."
"Some husband," Diseks disdainfully noted. But she had children herself and thought of being in the late Queen's place. "Poor woman." She turned again to King Jaron. "Do we know exactly what happened to her?"
"No," he answered, eyes still not leaving the close up of Leia and the people reaching out to her, smiling, cheering. "Perhaps it's one of the things this Princess Organa will tell us." He did not think he had said it with any emphasis but most of the Council turned to him sharply.
Semay, scowling, said, "Surely Princess Organa realizes she has no claim to the throne here. The Naboo elect their rulers."
Jaron nodded to the scene happening outside. "And who do you think our people would elect at this moment?"
The cheers coming from the crowd were deafening and they pressed so close to the speeder, it was forced to stop. As it did so, Jaron noticed movement within its interior. "Ah, here we are. Finally. Luke Skywalker."
Immediately after she stood, Leia wasn't so much looking in Luke's direction as in the speeder ahead of her. Han was standing up and she knew exactly what that glare meant. She was out in the open. Security could never cover all the people in the street and the buildings lining the way to the palace. She was exposed to anyone who might want to take a shot at her.
But as she had told Luke, she must do this her way. Too much was at stake for herself and the newly victorious Alliance. And for Luke who was as torn inside as she was at this moment.
The crowd was at a fever pitch. As starved as Leia herself for memories of Amidala, they had latched on to the resemblance, to the regal bearing, and to the image of the royal leader greeting her people. At that moment, she was sure they didn't see Leia at all, but their Queen, somehow returned to them. And gods, it filled her with so much happiness, her heart stretched painfully with it. It was so much like Alderaan.
But the moment was imperfect since Luke deserved it too. She knew it and wanted him to share it. Once he stood, however, his resemblance to Anakin Skywalker brought memories of Vader into the equation.
So she had stalled for this brief moment, allowing herself to submerge herself in the crowd's joy, knowing with every smile she gave them, every touch she responded to, she was creating an atmosphere they couldn't easily abandon.
The cheers somehow grew louder; the people pressed closer. Han and Lando in the first speeder, the guard inside and those surrounding her own car, and Chewbacca in the last vehicle tried to watch everywhere, but at last seemed to trust her judgment, not drawing any weapons. Those in the multitude of bodies that couldn't reach her were starting to touch the brave men and Wookiee. As she enjoyed it all, the diplomat in her gauged with a trained eye for the right moment. Then she reached out a hand for Luke.
She watched. The people closest to the speeders grew quieter; they stopped holding out their hands. They looked him over, taking in the lighter hair and the blue eyes. It didn't matter if they were old enough to have been there themselves; they knew of the towheaded boy who came from Tatooine, who grew into a young man and devoted husband, who turned on Naboo's and everyone's trust to become the Sith Lord. It took less than a second to see it, and Leia had known it would happen.
She looked past the first row of people to the ones further back, those still caught up in trying to reach the speeders, not really able to see her let alone Luke behind her. She reached out to the closest one. The people hesitating while they stared at Luke now had a choice: give up their prime spot for the new push coming behind them, or give up their suspicion and get back in the moment. Leia held her breath for the too long second before someone in the first row reached out for her again.
She still had more to do though. No one wanted contact with Luke.
She signaled the driver to start moving again. Han up ahead and Chewie in the rear saw her and motioned their own drivers. Very slowly, the speeders inched forward.
The crowd pushed again as people were left behind, losing their chance to touch the royal party, and the others ahead finally saw theirs. Leia felt the emotions building once more. She never stopped grasping the outstretched hands, returning the smiles, and reacting to her name being shouted from person to person. She moved from one side of the speeder to the other, and as she squeezed past Luke yet again, she made her next move.
She took Luke's hand in her own so the next person she reached for touched them both. The person, a man, someone who looked the same age as her mother would have been, pulled back, his smile gone. But Leia kept hers firmly in place, locking eyes with him, beaming at him, and Luke, knowing what she needed from him, emanated waves of trust, smiling at the man himself. The speeder kept moving, and Leia reached for the next hands in the crowd, never letting go of Luke.
Again, she forced the crowd to choose; if they wanted her, they had to take Luke. It was a dangerous ploy. If she hadn't built enough trust or belief in the crowd, if they didn't want this last touch of Amidala as much as she thought, they'd never take the deal to accept her brother. It all counted on how well she had done what she wanted. She could feel Luke's tension, but he was still pushing that aside to keep the good faith flowing through the Force.
It took a few people but the deal was struck. People weren't letting them go by without trying to have some physical contact with them. The noise never lessened, the push didn't stop. Leia now kept Luke close but dropped his hand. She reached for the next hand in the crowd and, as it started to take hers, she pushed Luke's into it.
Again, she watched and timed it. The next few in the crowd never knew if they would get her hand or Luke's as she constantly slipped in his grasp for hers. Finally, she made her last move. She stepped beside him first, then finally behind him. She still seized some of the hands herself, but she made them take Luke first. At last, she moved away to the other side of the speeder.
By the time they finished their slow way to the Palace steps, Naboo had welcomed Amidala's son.
Stepping out of the speeder, Luke turned back to view the crowd still lining up to see them. He relaxed ever so slightly. The first move was done; they were at the palace steps with the Naboo accepting him. Well, perhaps that was a bit strong, but they had at least realized he wasn't just Lord Vader's son.
He clamped down on his feeling of resentment. It'd be so much easier if people just believed him when he said Anakin Skywalker had redeemed himself in the end. As it was, he wasn't sure even Leia believed him. No, that wasn't fair. Leia knew he spoke the truth; she just wasn't ready, in her own words, to let one "I'm sorry" wipe out all of Vader's crimes. And if she wasn't willing He stared out at the Naboo, seeing in them all the people of the galaxy so hurt by the Dark Lord of the Sith.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Han jumping out of his speeder. "That was a stupid move, Leia!"
She returned his glare, her voice a firm whisper. "Not here, not now."
Luke exchanged a grin with Lando behind the couple's back. He knew the Corellian was upset with Leia for risking herself as an easy target in the motorcade. The Emperor's death at Endor was only a short while ago, and Naboo had been his homeworld. While the Imperial force here had been removed, it was one thing to believe it was safe here and another for the planet to actually be secure.
Of course, Han didn't think they were safe anywhere but in the Falcon with its shields up. And he was protective because he cared. Leia knew it, but she didn't want to argue any of this, not when the King and his liegemen were now reaching the top of the palace steps.
Han dropped his voice to match her whisper. "Just promise you won't do anything else like that."
But the cunning look she gave him didn't make him feel any better. "I'm just getting started."
Behind them, Lando covered his laughter with a bout of fake coughing, fooling no one as he intended. Luke turned his face away to hide his own growing smile even as Han leaned closer to Leia, no doubt giving her an earful. But Leia had gotten them this far and they all knew it.
Luke's smile faded as he remembered his first promise to go along with whatever she planned. A big part of that plan was to combat what Luke saw as a growing fear of him in the galaxy. No, that wasn't quite right; people feared Vader and Palpatine, and they wondered about him. Leia was somewhat more protected having led a much more public life, one that included years of rejecting everything the Empire represented. He was more of an unknown by the galaxy at large who only now were learning of his war record. He hoped his twin wouldn't lose the safety margin she had in an effort to protect him.
Again, he felt irritated for being in this situation and expelled it once more. He saw Leia pause, frown, and then glance over to him concerned. She must be picking up on my frustration, he thought, pleased her skills were already awakening so strongly, but wanting to spare her anything else to worry about. He had faced death at the Emperor's hands, at Vader's hands, in an effort to know his father. He could take this understandable fear from the Naboo in order to know his mother. He smiled at her, letting her feel that he was all right.
She smiled back, then turned to Han as he grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear. "Do what you gotta do," he said. "Just be careful!"
She heard a murmur from the watching crowd and realized how their pose looked. Surprising Han, she cut off his comments with a beautiful smile and leaned in to kiss him. He leaned back into her, grinning against her lips as he heard the crowd cheer. "Now this," he spoke softly, "is the kind of move you should be making."
Pleased, she saw Chewbacca and the droids had now caught up to them. "Ready?" she asked them all. She saw the same expression on each face: watchful. Han was waving Chewie to take a position on the other side of their party, trusting only the Wookiee as much as himself to keep an eye for their safety. Lando was looking ahead, gauging King Jaron and his Council. Having once been a city administrator, he had more of an idea of what she faced than the others did. And Luke was looking inside himself. Watching out for what? She knew how much it bothered him to be in the lone position of defending their father. Every time someone eyed him suspiciously, it reminded him of the battle he fought. And she knew she hurt him by being unable to join him in that defense. Luke clearly divided their father into two men: Anakin Skywalker, whose memory he embraced, and Darth Vader, a man he felt his father had vanquished. Leia, however, saw the lines much more blurred than her brother, and held the memory of Bail Organa too synonymous with the word father to easily give any part of the title to the Dark Lord. But she was stuck in a deal similar to the one she just pushed on the Naboo: to have Luke as her brother, she had to accept who genetically was her father. Perhaps here, surrounded by Amidala's memories, she could learn more about the man Anakin, if for no other reason than to bring peace between herself and her twin.
This time it was Luke who frowned and looked her way, picking up on her frustration. And she smiled at him, hoping it would work out all right. She shook all of this off as she walked up the steps to King Jaron.
The King watched as her delegation approached. He quickly took in the men's Republic uniforms and Leia Organa's senatorial robes: nothing that spoke of her royal title or the Jedi. As she reached him, she spoke first despite the fact that he should have greeted her as planetary leader meeting galactic leader. She bowed her head in respect. "King Jaron, thank you for meeting us."
He nodded in return. "The honor is mine. Welcome to our world." He smiled towards the throng of people still gathered. "As all of Naboo has turned out to show you."
She beamed. "It's more than I hoped for. May I present the rest of our party?" She nodded to Han and Lando on her left. "General Han Solo of Corellia, General Lando Calrissian of Torbin " She now indicated to her right. " Commander Luke Skywalker of Tatooine and Chewbacca of Kashyyyk."
Again she presented a Republic front, saying nothing of herself as a member of the Alderaani royal house or her brother as a Jedi Knight. He thought of the earlier conversation with his Council. Yes, the Organas had trained her well.
She also put him in the position of mentioning her royal title first, even as she respectfully showed she had no claims to Naboo's throne. Leia noticed his lips quirk in a small smile and knew he acknowledged what she had done.
"It's an honor, gentlemen, Princess Leia," he said. "If you'll follow me, my Council is waiting for us in the throne room." He motioned for Leia to walk with him. As she did so, Han noticed two of the Honor Guard move to the front point, but the rest took their posts at the entrance to the palace. The King's liegemen, on the other hand, took the Guard's position behind the Republic party. What he had heard about the liegemen being not just servants or advisors but bodyguards must be true. As he looked at them, he wondered why they all had the same coloring and build. In fact - he darted a look at King Jaron - they were the same as the King: gray eyes, black hair, lean frame. Was that a coincidence?
Leia was doing her own perusal of King Jaron. The man was polite enough; she certainly hadn't sensed anything wrong. However, Palpatine had chosen him for King; rumors circulated that his election wasn't a true one, but more of Palpatine putting him on Naboo's throne. His current political leanings were an unknown.
In contrast to her Republic robes, he dressed only in Nubian attire. Having studied all of Naboo's traditions as she searched for anything she could find about Amidala, she knew the ornate garb was standard for Nubian royalty, speaking of the long years the culture had survived. On his head was an intricate cross between crown and warrior's helmet; it actually took away from his face except for the traditional red strip splitting his lower lip. The scar of remembrance: that's what it was called, Leia remembered. In honor of the blood spilled by the Naboo in their warrior past.
"I'm glad to see you came here yourself," Jaron was saying. "We expected a Republic delegation, of course. I'm sure it won't surprise you when I say I'm well aware of the unease the galaxy feels for my planet. We are Palpatine's homeworld. It was only a matter of time before the Republic would arrive."
"We're sending delegations everywhere to transition the galaxy from the Empire to the rebuilt Republic," Leia said. "Naboo is no different in that respect." She paused. "However, you are correct. The populace at large wonders how much Naboo might have helped Palpatine achieve being Emperor and kept him there. The populace at large," she emphasized, "wonders that. The Republic has questions naturally, just as you must have questions about us. But we will not judge all of the Naboo by Palpatine's actions alone."
He accepted what she said with a nod. "And with the stories now coming to surface of Queen Amidala's escape and her having to hide yourself and Commander Skywalker from your father, the galaxy is now seeing how Naboo was also a victim to the Empire."
Leia saw Luke stiffen at the words. "As you say, with the facts such as our mother having to hide us from Vader and the Emperor," she saw Luke relax and felt his gratitude, "people will hopefully be more open minded regarding this world."
"I feel as if a line has been drawn: on one side, Palpatine and on the other, Amidala," Jaron said. "And the galaxy checks the Naboo against each column."
"It's an uncomfortable position," she agreed. "I understand how it feels."
"Yes, you must." He looked back at Luke for the first time. Then abruptly, he stopped and looked directly at her. "If I may ask, how has the Republic scored us?"
She didn't flinch or evade his gaze. She answered him firmly. "I will tell you what I would say to any world I traveled to on behalf of the Republic. We," she indicated them all without breaking his look, "are here to answer your questions on the Republic and how you fit into it. If we had thought the Naboo remained true to the Empire, we would have brought more of the Fleet with us. If you ask me about your position specifically, I am here neither to replace nor support you. The Naboo govern themselves. The Republic will not determine their judgment."
He thought over her words then nodded. "Fair enough." He indicated a turn in the corridor off to his right. "This way, please."
As he turned, his back was to her for a brief moment. Leia quickly looked at the others. They knew their faces were hidden from the liegemen behind them. Han stared intently back at her, then darted his eyes to the King's back; the man was hiding something, he just knew it. Lando frowned for the same reason. Chewbacca scrunched his face up in his usual indication that something smelled funny about the whole thing, and Luke's impressions silently told her he didn't know. He was uncomfortable, like the others, but didn't really sense anything wrong. She spared a glance at the droids but, of course, could get nothing from them. Threepio had already briefed her fully on Jaron's record and the Imperial situation on Naboo. And despite the small comm unit fitted in her ear that tied her to the protocol droid - a standard setup for diplomats - he wouldn't be able to say anything the liegemen wouldn't overhear.
Even more confusing was the way Threepio and Artoo kept looking around. If Artoo wasn't mechanical, he'd be dizzy from the amount of head spinning he was doing. She couldn't blame anyone for gawking at the beauty of Theed's Palace; it was magnificent. She saw that for herself in the quick glances around while walking with King Jaron. The sculptures, the use of the marble and light streaming in from the windows, were art itself. For the first time, she felt gratitude towards Palpatine, grateful that he hadn't, for whatever reason, destroyed this beauty.
She heard Artoo make a soft inquiry to his counterpart which, surprisingly, Threepio didn't answer. If anything, she'd swear Threepio had questions for her but how she felt that, she didn't know.
It was only a few more steps to the throne room. Leia's breath caught in her throat. Luke moved next to her, every nerve as taut as hers, and she clasped his arm tightly.
Their mother's throne room.
So many of the images they found on Amidala had her here: greeting visitors, consulting with the Council, alone with her handmaidens, and looking out the great windows at Theed. Now, as the throne sat empty, the Council in its two lines forming an aisle towards it, even Leia's untrained senses picked up a palpable awareness of the presence here. Mother, it whispered, wife, friend, Queen, woman Amidala.
Then Jaron was standing before his throne and his liegemen took their places where Sabé, Rabé, and the other handmaidens had once belonged.
The King indicated the men and women standing before him. "May I introduce the Royal Advisory Council to you? Governor Diseks of Theed."
The tall stately woman bowed. "My pleasure." She noticed the two Republic generals and Wookiee fan out behind the Princess and Skywalker.
"Councilor Pormet," the King introduced.
Pormet shook hands with Luke, then held out his hand for Leia's. When she gave it to him, he kissed it gallantly, then held it between his own. "It's a great pleasure to meet you both. I was a great admirer of your mother's. I even had the honor of working with her for a brief time."
Luke asked, "You knew our mother?"
Pormet smiled. "Not well. I was brand new, fresh out of training, and assigned here in a minor capacity. Mostly, I watched the Queen at work. My big moment came when I handed her some dispatches from the Governor's office. I managed to be a nervous wreck who couldn't get a word out without stammering."
Both Luke and Leia laughed with him, glad for the one person who had showed them real warmth since leaving the crowd outside.
"Councilors Semay, Marnin, and Itlek." Han watched as the one woman and two men bowed in their turn, murmuring words of welcome. He especially watched as they looked over each Skywalker twin, weighing them in this first impression against a 'Mother vs. Father' scale. Semay, a heavyset woman with graying hair drawn in a bun, her brown eyes measuring, her full mouth frowning slightly. Itlek, dirty blonde hair, broad shouldered build with a slight, middle age paunch, his eyes open and smiling a bit as he took the Princess's hand. And Marnin, thinning salt and pepper hair, thin nose going to a point and thin lips pressed firmly together in disapproval. He wouldn't take either of the hands offered in friendship.
Han didn't know how Leia and Luke were taking it so calmly. He was ready to tell the whole lot of them they could take their judgments, and shove them so far even Chewie's strength couldn't pull them out.
Lando stepped on his foot. He shot Calrissian an angry glare to which the other mouthed, "What are you doing?" Han realized he was glaring at the Council, dissecting and judging them as badly as they were looking over Luke and Leia. He took slow deep breaths. How many times did I promise I'd do this Leia's way? I musta meant one of them.
He watched the rest of the introductions and settled himself for the duration of these 'pleased to meet you' festivities as he thought of them. He had been through a lot of them in the time he knew Leia. The best part of them, as far as he was concerned, was they gave him time to look around, size up the situation.
He darted looks around the throne room. Sharp looking place. Despite what some people might think of him, he appreciated other places besides smuggler's dives. And how could he not like Theed Palace? It was elegant, beautiful with an old world's charm and strength reflected everywhere. He noticed the statue of a warrior astride an animal - what kind of creature was that? - and next to it a scribe? Diplomat? Artist? He wasn't sure. They made him think of the towering figures in front of the palace: men and women warriors guarding the entrance; the figures on the archway they had traveled under, that animal again and a woman reaching out in peace. He liked this place. He liked it because
because it fit Leia so well, he suddenly realized. He watched her with Jaron and felt the powerful emotions rush through him all over again. The sort of schoolboy emotions that he swore he should have stopped feeling at twelve mixed with a man's mature passions.
Naboo fit her as he always imagined Alderaan did. Those warrior statues, his rebel leader; the elegant figure of the lady reaching out in peace, his Alderaani princess; the open love pouring from the Naboo people, his Leia.
He watched her trade official rhetoric with Jaron, completely in control of the situation. The kid was more than holding his own too: the edge and confidence that maturity had brought; the control being a Jedi gave him. His head was leaning slightly towards Leia as if he spoke to her, but Han knew Luke hadn't said a word.
Solo frowned. It was one thing for the kid to be a Jedi. Han still wasn't sure how much he believed in all this Force nonsense, but Luke obviously had something about him. That was great; he thought a lot of Luke, and if Skywalker wanted to say he was a Jedi, let him.
But more and more, Leia was showing signs of the same thing, at least where Luke was concerned, and that bothered Han a lot. For some reason he didn't understand, and he wasn't the type to deeply analyze himself, it was okay for Luke to play this game. That made Luke... well, Luke. But ever since Leia had first looked up at the second Death Star's destruction and said she felt Luke alive, Han hated every time she tuned into some silent frequency. That made Leia... a part of Vader. And it scared the hell out of him.
"... General Solo." Jaron speaking his name snapped Han back to the moment. I wonder what I missed.
"But I'm sure we'll have a chance to talk in the future," Jaron continued.
Didn't miss much, Han thought. He must have said he was sorry for not including me in the speech making. Now we'll get the official tour.
"Perhaps," the King offered, "you'd like a tour of the palace?"
Leia and Luke both agreed eagerly even as Han choked back a laugh. Thankfully, the captain of the guard's comm unit beeped for attention. The captain - what's that guy's name again? - moved away as to not interrupt the King. Jaron was standing, ready to usher them around the palace, when the captain turned suddenly and whispered in his ear. For the first time, Han saw the King show any emotion: shock caused by whatever news the guard just gave.
"Is something wrong?" Leia asked.
King and Captain exchanged glances, and then Jaron nodded permission. The Captain turned to the princess and her party. The man's tanned face revealed nothing, but his black eyes showed concern. "Someone has just came to the palace asking to see the King." He paused. "And you."
Han was sharply alert now. "Who?"
"No one really," Jaron interceded. "We're taking care of it. Gavit," the King turned to his captain. The rest of the sentence was in Nubian, which angered Han. If this person was asking for them, they had a right to know what was going on.
Leia was holding her hand to her ear's comm unit. He heard Threepio speaking very softly, obviously translating. Jaron heard the droid as well and wasn't quick enough to hide his anger before saying, "This conversation is private."
Han's curse was almost across his lips when Lando placed a hand on his arm. "We're sorry, King Jaron, but Han, Chewbacca, and I are responsible for the safety of the Republic party. If this visitor is a problem, we should know about it."
"Is it someone from the Imperial garrison you had here?" Leia asked.
Jaron eyed them, but he knew he couldn't fight this. He was in a precarious position, and to make too much out of this 'visitor' would put him in a bad light. He couldn't afford it. "The person isn't a threat. It's just impossible that she can be who she says."
Luke asked the obvious question. "Who does she say she is?"
Captain Gavit again looked to the King for permission. It was only a formality. He had to answer. Personally, he didn't see the big problem even if the woman was whom she said. After Jaron nodded, he said, "She says she's Rabé, one of the late Queen's handmaidens."
Leia and Luke both perked at that. Luke asked immediately, "Can she really be one of the handmaidens?"
Pormet, as stunned as everyone else at this news, spoke his thoughts out loud. "We never really knew what happened to any of the handmaidens, Rabé included. They scattered when Amidala left. I don't know if they were trying to lead Palpatine away from the Queen..." He suddenly looked up at the twins. "...lead him away from you..."
Something in his voice and eyes made Leia swallow hard.
"... or if they were running for their own safety. No one ever heard anything more except-"
"Except what?" Han yelled. Why did this guy have to be so dramatic?
Pormet suddenly looked very old, the lines in his face standing out, his hair gray and thinning, his brown eyes hooded and sad. And yet, he was younger than Amidala would be. "Palpatine did declare them dead. There were newscam shots of their bodies. Being burned."
Now Han swallowed. Jaron closed his eyes seeking some peace, and his liegemen shifted in their seats. "Then this woman's lying," Han said.
"Yes, except-"
Again with except? Han thought. Can someone just tell us something straight out?
"- their families, no one here on Naboo, ever identified them. We were never sure."
Leia finally broke the tense silence. "Your Majesty," she said respectfully. She wanted to meet this woman, wanted to talk with someone so close to her mother. But even though Jaron's hesitation bothered her, she had to be respectful to get this woman past the guards and to the throne room. "What can it hurt to bring this person in? She must have brought something to prove who she says she is."
Han hated to agree with Jaron, but if this woman was some lunatic with a fantasy of being a handmaiden, Han didn't want her anywhere near them. "Leia-"
She shot him a look, then turned to Captain Gavit. "Has your guard found any security threat with her? Has that changed?"
Gavit shook his head. She just noticed he wore his hair long and tied in a ponytail under his uniform cap. "No, ma'am. Whoever she is, she's not a threat."
Lando decided to end this. "Your Majesty? Do you agree we should bring this woman up here?"
King Jaron was very aware of every pair of eyes on him. Once more his inner voice, his survivor's voice, told him he couldn't fight this without making it a bigger issue than it was. He turned to Gavit. "All right. Have her escorted here."
Gavit gave the order over his comm unit. The liegemen were on their feet, drawing nearer to King Jaron, ready to protect him if necessary.
Everyone waited, tense for different reasons. Luke grasped Leia's hand and she held it tightly. Her eyes went to Han and the hopeful, fearful look summoned him close to her side. Lando and Chewbacca also moved closer even as they all heard the steps approaching.
We shouldn't get our hopes up, Leia thought. The disappointment will be too much if this woman is a fraud.
Surprisingly, Pormet was the one to step in front of the group and, even more surprisingly, the droids moved up behind him.
Finally, two guards ushered the woman in. She wore a cloak of such deep purple, it appeared black until the sunlight struck it. It covered her petite form to the floor. The full hood, drawn around her head, revealed only her mouth and chin; the long sleeves went almost to her fingertips. She was an enigma.
She stopped in front of Pormet. Her lips quirked into a smile. "Councilor?" Then her head jerked back in surprise. "I don't believe it."
She pulled back the hood, revealing a thin, strongly planed face, dark hair with touches of early graying coiled at her neck, and dark eyes looking not at Pormet, but at the droids. "Artoo Detoo? Threepio? It is you, isn't it? How did you return to Theed?"
Luke took a deep breath. "With us."
Her head swung over to them, and she caught her own breath. Leia felt the other woman's eyes go through and over her, seeing everything. As the gaze switched to Luke, he drew himself up, and met her look with something needful in his. Go ahead, he seemed to say. Please, find something of my mother in me. I am hers, and not just my father's.
"Rabé," Pormet breathed.
"Yes," she answered, but she didn't take her eyes off Leia and Luke. A heartbeat later, she bowed to them, and turned to the Councilor with a smile. "But I hardly think my word is enough to convince everyone of the fact."
She approached the King, taking in the liegemen. She knew, better than anyone, what was going through their minds. She lifted her arms so her sleeves fell back, showing she had no weapons. Not moving too fast, she handed Captain Gavit the proof of her identity. He slipped it into a reader, and quickly scanned it.
She took the opportunity to look around. She looked to the seat that had been hers for all those years she had been Amidala's handmaiden. Luke saw her smile. Feels good, doesn't it? Being back.
In the next moment, the smile faded, and her eyes echoed sorrow. Leia didn't need to be attuned to the Force to know what Rabé was feeling. The good memories haunt as much as the pain.
Rabé's circuit took her once more to the droids. "Do you remember me?"
Neither droid said anything for a beat - unexplainable since a memory check would not take that long - until Threepio hesitantly spoke. "No, I'm afraid we don't, even though I believe we should." Artoo burst with sound, loud after the quiet moment, and Threepio's answer was much more like himself this time. "I was just explaining that, Artoo! Mistress Rabé " He stopped unsure why had he called her that. "Artoo and I are having problems with our memory banks. We've noticed it ever since we landed here. Many things are familiar, but we cannot make the connections as to why they are familiar." Artoo warbled again, but Threepio only simply translated this time. "Our memory has been wiped, but not completely."
Rabé gave them a sad smile. "The Queen probably did it on the way to Alderaan." Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Leia's jaw tighten. Most people wouldn't notice the subtle sign unless they were familiar with the princess - or her mother. "That would explain the haste, and it being not well done. She might have even keyed the wipe to certain events or keywords. She didn't want to clear your memory. She even considered encrypting a message for you to carry, but the danger If you were found, if Palpatine or If they broke the encrypting, they'd find too much."
They'd find us, Leia thought. Luke and me. Amidala wanted to leave a message, perhaps to her children? And fear of her husband and his Master stopped it.
The silence was awkward, for what was unsaid as well as said. Lando smoothly stepped into the moment, ending it, and earning everyone's eternal gratitude. He held out his hand for Rabé's. "We haven't been introduced. I'm Lando Calrissian, a general with the Republic fleet." He kissed the back of her hand. "It's my pleasure."
She smiled at the charm, even if he was deliberately being obvious. "The pleasure is mine."
They were interrupted as another guard brought in someone new: a young woman, close to Luke and Leia's age. At her abrupt entry, the liegemen, as well as the Republic party, snapped to attention, eyeing the potential threat. Lando, who was closest, could only see her profile. Luke felt a stronger awareness in the Force, his senses heightened and his connection to it more vibrant. He reached out to the visitor, but she was no more aware of the Force around her than anyone else, although he could tell from Leia's expression that she was feeling this too. He pushed out further, searching the room for something that had changed, but couldn't find the source of this new augmented link.
The newcomer had the same dark hair, as well as being petite, as Rabé. She did not wear the enveloping robe the other woman did, although she still dressed semi-formally in a floor length gown, and glanced around the throne room with open, frank curiosity. She didn't see much before Councilor Semay signaled the guard for an explanation. "What's this all about?"
The newcomer answered before her escort could. "I asked to be brought in. I wanted to make sure," she gestured to Rabé, "she was all right."
Han was reaching his boiling point. The guard could see it as the Corellian snapped, "You brought her here because she asked?"
The guard was defensive. "We checked for risks."
"Which are minimal," the woman answered. She turned to Han, sweeping across Lando. Both men took an appreciative breath. She might be a brunette and her complexion slightly swarthy like the elegant Rabé, but she was a touch more exotic. What struck Solo and Calrissian most, however, were her eyes. They were the most unusual amber and they hit with the full force of the woman's personality.
Amazingly, the whole situation amused her. "I mean look at me." She gestured at her small frame and lack of weapons with a smile. "I only know basic self defense. I'm no match for the group of guards out there or in here." The grin turned to a small laugh. "And I did ask them nicely."
Luke laughed softly. Those incredible eyes left Han and touched on him. A thunderbolt hit him as chemistry jolted every nerve. So caught in the moment was he that he didn't notice Leia's smile as she broke off their mental contact or Rabé's frown.
Luke saw the woman's eyes widen as she caught his gaze, and her smile became more personal, pleased with his appreciation. He matched her grin, enjoying her returned pleasure.
Then, a shadow covered her expression, her smile faded, and she turned away as she realized who he was. Disappointment struck him, hard.
She turned to Rabé. "You are okay? You've been gone awhile."
Semay lectured her sternly. "I can understand your concern "
Rabé supplied the name, that small, secretive smile falling into place. "Faren. My daughter."
"Daughter!" Pomet exclaimed. "Yes, of course. I had forgotten you were-" He stopped, uncomfortable.
"Pregnant when she left?" Faren finished for him. "It's all right to say it."
Rabé gently admonished. "I'm sure Councilor Pormet meant no offense. I don't want to create anymore awkwardness, or bring back any more bad memories."
"But we can't keep leaving things unsaid." Faren's open smile was a direct contrast to the secrets contained in her mother's. "And I hardly like to think I'm a bad memory."
King Jaron finally spoke. "No, of course not, my dear. It, unfortunately, has been an awkward day. Perhaps we can end that. Gavit?"
The Captain of the Guard finally looked up from Rabé's credentials. "These look good, Your Majesty."
Jaron nodded. "We might need further information. Blood tests, something of that nature."
Rabé nodded herself. "Anything that's necessary, Your Majesty. I'm tired of living in hiding. I want to come home."