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A Journey of Discovery ― Book Three: Prism

Chapter Four

"Coward."

The word stopped Luke cold, but Mara felt no sympathy. He had been reaching for his cloak from the foyer closet when she had silently slipped into his suite.

"If you don't tell them we're married, I will." Even as she said the words, Mara knew it was an empty threat. Revealing their marriage to his sister and friends was Luke's privilege, and responsibility. "Are you that afraid they won't approve?" she continued. "Do you fear they believe I bewitched you into trusting me?" She glared at the back of his tense frame, his clenched fists. "Or are you afraid yourself, deep down, that you've been so head over heels in love with me from day one that you'd believe anything I told you. That maybe I am still an Imperial, and you've been too blind to see it."

Luke slowly turned around to face her, his hands now hanging limp, and Mara knew he was willing himself to remain calm. He didn't speak, but instead opened his mind completely to her. The two of them had long ago dissolved the barriers between them, but now even the thin wall that kept their every thought from surfacing in the other's mind was gone. This was not like their Force bonding experiences. Luke forcibly thrust every thought, every belief, every memory of his into her mind.

Mara staggered slightly, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of his power and by what he was revealing. She saw that even though he'd been lied to his whole life, he still believed her, and believed in her. And she saw that his trust hadn't wavered in the face of Han and Leia's accusations.

Luke slowly held out one hand to her. Mara noticeably trembled, feeling unshed tears glistening in her eyes. After several long, strained moments, she took his hand, and Luke pulled her into a fierce embrace. She buried her head on his shoulder, shame and regret preventing her from meeting his gaze.

"I'm so sorry, Luke," her muffled voice whispered. "I should never have doubted—"

"Shhh," Luke hushed, stroking her hair. "I'm the one that should be apologizing. I never meant to hurt you or belittle our relationship. It's just ... I want them to believe in you for your own merits, not because you're married to me. As soon as they accept you, then we'll ease into the wedding details."

"And if they never have a favorable opinion of me?"

"They will. I know they will." He lifted her chin, tenderly stroking her face. "How can they not, when you're the most intelligent, trustworthy, beautiful woman in the galaxy?"

"Humph," Mara muttered, letting a smile creep onto her countenance. "Calrissian you'll probably convince, talking like that, but your sister?"

"She will, too." Luke flashed her one of his most disarming smiles, almost immediately followed by a pathetic attempt at a glare. "By the way, I know you were irritated with me this morning, but did you have to tell them that I was practically ... you know ..."

Mara laughed lightly at his obvious embarrassment and hugged him tightly. "Sweetheart, you can count on one hand the number of times in your life that you've had relations. I hardly think that qualifies you as being promiscuous."

"Same number of times as you," he muttered, trying to look annoyed and again failing miserably.

"Ah, but no one was challenging my intimate experiences. I'm the wanton vixen who's taking advantage of the innocent Jedi solely to pry secrets out of him."

"You don't have to pry." Luke's blue eyes sparkled even in the dim light of the foyer. "Every trace of me is yours, down to the last smidgen."

All thoughts of a smart comeback evaporated as Mara melted into Luke's arms, their lips meeting in a nearly desperate joining, their hands clutching each other without reserve.

A resonant chime signaled that their escort had returned. Luke drew back reluctantly, gave Mara one last soft kiss, then pulled her hood into place. "C'mon," he said. "Let's go haggle for some norumite crystals for the New Republic, and then we can get down to the business of playing house together."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Trailing behind in what was Mara's usual spot, Luke followed every flirtatious overture that their newly assigned escort was making toward his wife. Granted, the overly zealous Second Aide Serl-and-Jeem Vazan-Jayce—or simply Jayce, as he insisted Mara should address him—didn't know that the beautiful padawan was already spoken for, but it still galled Luke to have to be a witness to the philandering display. Their earlier sojourn to breakfast had been bad enough; this return trip to the ambassadorial wing was downright painful for the young Jedi.

"I thank you for accompanying us," Luke said as they entered their building's glittery vestibule, putting as much graciousness into his tone as he could muster. He moved forward, deliberately forcing the aide to relinquish his grasp of Mara's elbow. "I believe we can find our own way to our rooms."

"As you wish, honored Knight," Jayce responded smoothly, his dark eyes remaining transfixed on Mara. "I shall return in one standard hour to show you to the training hall." He reached out and lifted Mara's hand to his lips. "May I say I am looking forward to serving you during the remainder of your stay. Not only has Lorrd been graced with the presence of noble Jedi, but also with one of the most breathtaking Jedi in the history of the Order."

Luke narrowed his eyes in barely restrained vexation as Jayce once more brushed a soft kiss against the back of Mara's hand.

Mara pulled back from her admirer when Luke began clearing his throat. "Thank you for all your assistance," she said.

"My pleasure, m'lady." The aide gave a flamboyant bow, holding it until his charges disappeared through the arched doorway.

―――

"Sheesh. That guy is worse than Calrissian," Mara commented when she and Luke were finally alone.

"I'm glad you think so," Luke muttered.

"What? You think I enjoyed that?"

"You weren't exactly discouraging him." He glanced her way as they walked briskly down the statue-lined corridor, their heels clip-clopping lightly on the inlaid greel wood floor. "Are you going to have men chasing after you on every planet we go to? You could've warned me about this before I proposed."

"And miss seeing you squirm with jealousy?" Mara laughed in amusement.

"I wasn't jealous of the Prudens on Zembuhl," Luke said, reaching out to pull her close.

"Ah, so you admit to being resentful of Jayce's attention to me. Just because he's tall, dark, and handsome ..." She playfully kissed him on the cheek. "Surely jealousy leads to the dark side."

Luke finally let a little grin escape. "Only if I take my lightsaber to him." He paused as they reached the door to his suite, reaching out with the Force and sensing Mara do the same.

"I see they had no trouble breaking into your room, either," Mara said.

"Did you think they would?" Luke asked. "Han can hotwire just about anything."

"But how can they keep sneaking in here without anyone seeing them? Chewbacca especially should stick out like a Talz at a convention of Chadra-Fans."

"Have you seen anyone else around? Surely you've noticed we seem to have the entire wing to ourselves."

"I saw all the guards around the perimeter of the palace when we first arrived," she returned. "Explain how they get past them."

Luke shrugged nonchalantly and smiled. "What can I say? They're Rebels."

Mara replied with a melodramatic moan, then turned toward her own door. "Maybe I should—" she began, but Luke grabbed her arm.

"You can't avoid them forever." At her frown, he continued undaunted. "I asked them to accept you. That goes both ways. You can be civil, Mara. I want them to be as much your family and friends as mine." He squeezed her hand, then released it just before punching in his entry code and stepping through the doorway.

"Hey, kid!" Han greeted his younger friend.

"Making yourself at home, I see," Luke answered, forcing a smile on his face. His gaze went from Han and Leia sprawled on the couch, to Lando helping himself at the refreshment bar, to Chewbacca tinkering with a cleaning droid.

"Chewie's reprogramming it to ignore our presence," Han explained, "but to leave extra towels." He lazily rose and grabbed two bottles of red valjueen juice from Luke's cooling unit, then returned to his seat, handing one bottle to Leia. "Those were some good burhoney rolls you had in here," he drawled, nodding toward an empty basket setting on a low table.

"Sorry I missed 'em," Luke said. He unclipped his cloak and draped it over the back of a chair, then took a seat himself. Mara perched nearby on a high stool.

"So, junior, what's on your agenda for the rest of today?" Han took a long swig of the sweet-tasting drink, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"They're letting us do some drills in their battle simulators," Luke replied enthusiastically. "Then we have an informal lunch with their military commanders."

"They offered us the use of one of their exercise halls in the afternoon, to get in some saber practice," Mara added. "We haven't had a chance for a good workout since we left Coruscant."

Leia sat up straight, a look of concern filling her face. "But what about the negotiations? How are they going?"

"They're not," Mara replied bluntly. Luke sent a feeling of warmth her way, aware of the looks of vexation she was receiving for being brazen enough to join the conversation. Mara responded with a curt (Worry about yourself, farmboy.)

"Regent Ke'lor keeps pushing them back," Luke went on to explain, turning his attention back to the others. "It's as if an alliance with the New Republic isn't important to Lorrd."

"What has he said exactly?" asked Leia. "These negotiations are important, Luke. Even if Lorrd doesn't want to join the New Republic, surely we can work out some kind of trade agreement. We need those crystals."

"I know, I know," Luke replied defensively. "But every time I bring up anything about beginning the negotiations, the Regent and his ministers turn the conversation around so that it revolves around the Jedi."

"Around you specifically," Mara put in. "Your training, your experience."

"Exactly," Luke agreed. "I feel like I'm being interviewed for a job position."

"I should call Mon Mothma," Leia stated. "She'll want to know your progress." She gave Luke a slightly exasperated frown. "Or lack of progress."

"It's not my fault!" His miffed reaction turned into one of chagrin when laughter filled the room, and he slumped back into his chair, crossing his arms. "I told her I wasn't a diplomat."

Leia shook her head, then turned to Han. "Maybe I should use the comm on the Falcon. It would be more secure."

"And more doable," Mara said, noticeably tempering her usual sarcastic tone. "Apparently you freeloaders haven't noticed – farmboy doesn't have a comm terminal in here."

Four heads swiveled to reinspect the lush suite. There were the dark brown zati-suede conform chairs and couch in the middle of the common room that they were occupying, there was the wood-and-glass refreshment bar which Lando had been inspecting quite thoroughly earlier, there were numerous paintings and statues lining the walls, all examples of the flashy color combinations that Lorrdians seemed to love. What there wasn't was any type of computer terminal whatsoever.

"Did you check both bedchambers?" Lando asked. "I've never heard of cushy accommodations like this not having a communications array."

"Guys, I did look around when I first got here," Luke said. "Mara's suite doesn't have anything either, except for the intercom that buzzes Prime Aide Meend's office if we need anything." He waved a hand at a small screen next to the front door. "I found it rather odd, too, but since I didn't plan on spending all my free time watching old holovids, it didn't really bother me. In fact," he chuckled to himself, "I thought it might be nice not to be ... bothered ... by ..." Luke trailed off, wishing he could take back his last words.

"Not to be bothered by your sister checking up on you?" Leia supplied. She sent a humorless stare first to Mara, who was hiding a smirk behind a raised hand, then to Han, who became the unlucky recipient of an elbow in the side when he dared to laugh aloud. "But surely the Lorrdians have offered you access to a comm unit somewhere." At the negative shake of Luke's head, Leia continued. "How do they expect you to report in to the New Republic?"

"Maybe they don't," Lando spoke up. "I've worked enough business deals to recognize when one party doesn't have all its chips on the table. These Lorrdians have some kind of hidden agenda here."

"I think Lando's right," Leia agreed. She looked at Luke expectantly. "Have you sensed any deception from them?"

"They're hard to read," he said, a touch of defensiveness returning in his voice. He frowned, reviewing each encounter since he'd arrived. "But I haven't really been trying to sense their intentions."

"Maybe you should start, kid," Han said. "Put some of that fancy Jedi training to use."

"Han, I can't go around invading people's minds."

"I knew Mothma shoulda sent a sneaky politician to do this job, not some conscientious, never-cross-the-line do-gooder. A politician knows how to squeeze the truth out of people."

"Han!" Leia objected.

"Sweetheart, you could convince a Jawa to give you a background record on every piece of junk in his sandcrawler."

"Which is probably why the Lorrdians specifically didn't want an experienced diplomat," Lando pointed out.

Leia shook her head, unconvinced. "But why not just refuse to negotiate at all? If they've something to hide, why even allow a New Republic representative to come?"

"I think they just wanted to meet a real Jedi," Mara said matter-of-factly. "They have this fascination with the Jedi Order as a whole, and they've been treating Skywalker here like a revered god. Except for General Chuckles and Viceroy Bloated Air, of course," she added.

"Who?" Leia asked, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"General Jur-and-Riss Chukla-Bref and Viceroy Dast-and-Yacit Blin-Ars," Luke rattled off, shooting Mara a disapproving frown. "Last night, they both seem to take issue with everything about us."

"These people sure have a mouthful of names," Lando commented.

"The first part represents the two clan names of the person's grandmothers," Han spoke up. "The beginning of the next hyphenated group is the person's own clan name, or family name, and the last part is the person's given name."

Leia gave him an incredulous stare. "How do you know all this?"

Chewbacca barked out a lengthy explanation, but apparently all Leia caught was a female-sounding name at the end. "Who's Fiolla?" she asked, eyes narrowing at Han. "An old girlfriend?"

/Yes/ woofed Chewie.

"No," Han corrected, scowling at his partner. "Hart-and-Parn Gorra-Fiolla. She was just some Lorrdian we met once, in the Corporate Sector."

/A very pretty Lorrdian/ the Wookiee added.

"Parn ... Gorra ...," Luke repeated. "I wonder if there's a connection between her and Admiral Ress-and-Parn Gorra-Vodma."

"Could be," Han conceded. "She had an uncle, but his name was Rewello."

"As fascinating as this genealogy lesson is, I need to contact Mon Mothma." Leia rose, heading for the door. "Come along, Chewie, you can escort me. I want to hear all about this Fiolla."

―――

"Thank goodness she can't understand half of what Chewie says," Han said after the door closed behind the pair.

"Threepio's on the ship," Lando reminded him. "He'll translate every glorious detail."

"In that case, I'm grateful Chewie doesn't know every glorious detail."

"Threepio's here?" Luke asked. "Did you bring Artoo along, too?" A pang of guilt shot through him that he'd barely thought about his mechanical friend since leaving on this mission.

"Nah, Wedge needed him for your replacement pilot," Han explained. "And we weren't about to let Goldenrod tell Artoo that we were comin' to rescue you. There wouldn't have been enough restraining bolts on Coruscant to keep him from stowing away."

(Getting nostalgic for the rolling trash can?) Mara sent silently, an amused smirk on her face.

(Did I forget to mention when we got married that Artoo and I are a package deal?) Luke returned. He knew that Mara didn't mind Artoo as much as she let on. She just liked to tease him about his faithful droid as much as everyone else did.

(As long as he stays out of the bedroom,) she ended the private conversation with an upraised brow.

"I guess he wouldn't have been much help here anyway," Luke conceded aloud. "Since there aren't any computer jacks."

Luke watched as Mara rose gracefully from her seat. He was proud of the way she had curbed her normally sharp tongue. And as a result, though the others hadn't really been friendly toward her, they had gradually softened their own frosty attitudes also. In fact, the sociable emotions he felt swirling in Mara suggested that she had rather enjoyed listening to the camaraderie of his group of friends while brain-storming. "Well, I'm ... ," she began, pausing as Luke caught and held her gaze. "I'm going to go change into something more suitable for lightsaber practice."

Luke gave her a barely perceptible smile as he nodded in acknowledgement, but his brow furrowed in consternation when a low whistle sounded after Mara sauntered out of the suite.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm." Lando smoothed his mustache, his dark eyes flashing in unabashed admiration. "That is one intense woman."

"What happened to your bruised ego at being fooled by her at Jabba's?" Han remarked. "And don't forget, she's an Imperial assassin."

"Was an assassin," Luke corrected.

Lando's white teeth flashed in a wide grin. "Ah, but that dangerous edge just adds to her charm."

"Yeah, yeah." Han glanced around at the rapidly emptying room and pursed his lips, as if a window of opportunity had just opened. "Say, Lando, instead of drooling over a woman who would just as soon put a blaster to your head as give you the time of day, why don't you make yourself useful?"

Lando gave Han a wounded look before answering – an old game between the two long-time friends. "Sure, buddy, what's up?"

"Why don't you go poke around the city and see if you can dig up anything on why these Lorrdians are so hot on having a Jedi here?" He gave Luke a sideways glance. "No offense, kid, but a contagion of hero worship by an entire planet seems a little far-fetched."

Luke waved off Han's comments, his own thoughts focusing on his decision to keep his and Mara's marriage a secret. Now Lando was back to wanting to pursue her, too, besides the clearly smitten Jayce. Maybe he should reconsider and not wait to announce to the galaxy that Mara Jade was his. Maybe—

"Hey, kid, you still with me?"

Luke's head jerked up to find Han waving a hand in front of his face. "Yeah, Han. I was ... uh ... just thinking." He suddenly realized that he and Han were alone in the suite.

Han crossed to the bar and procured a pair of bottles of the local brew. "Want one?" he offered, tipping one in Luke's direction.

"No thanks." Luke blinked, getting a better look at what Han was holding. "I had that in here?"

"You're fully stocked, kid. Ale, fine wine, even Corellian whiskey."

Luke began having visions of a huge bar tab being handed him when his stay here ended. "Don't you have somewhere to go?" he asked, wondering why Han hadn't left with Leia or Lando.

"Tryin' to get rid of me?" Han plopped down on the end of the couch nearest Luke and took a swig from his bottle. "Hmm, not bad. Better than that juice stuff." He gave Luke a conspiratorial wink. "I just drink the healthy stuff in front of your sister."

"I've got to change clothes," Luke replied, edging out of his chair. "So if you'll excuse me."

"Sit down, junior," Han ordered, halting Luke's movement. "I wanna talk to you."

Luke eased back into his seat, bracing himself for the inevitable lecture. "If this is about Mara ..."

"Nah." Han looked him straight in the eye. "But if you're wantin' to unburden your conscience on what in the nine hells has possessed you to take up with her, I'm all ears."

"You don't trust my judgment," Luke muttered. It was neither an accusation nor a question.

Han issued a loud sigh. "I guess I have to. Look, kid ... Luke ... " He rubbed nervously at the scar on his chin, causing Luke to frown. "It's about Leia."

"Leia? What about her?" Luke sat up straighter as he shifted gears with his thoughts. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no. Everything's great with her; better than great." Han attempted a lop-sided grin, but it did little to alleviate Luke's worry. "The thing is ... well, ... I'm gonna ask her to marry me."

Luke's initial reaction was shock, but it quickly made way for unabashed elation. "That's great, Han!" he cried, springing from his seat and clapping his friend on the shoulder.

"Don't go gettin' all mushy on me, now," Han protested, even as he returned Luke's embrace. He waited until Luke returned to his own seat before continuing. "So, it's okay with you, then?"

"Of course it's okay with me. Why would I have any objections?"

"I just wanted to be ... well, ... sure—"

"Are you asking my permission?" Luke interrupted incredulously. He chuckled lightly at Han's hesitant stammering, so out-of-character for the normally self-assured pilot. "I'm not her father, Han."

"I know that!" Han snapped. "Can't a guy want to do things up right without being interrogated?" He relaxed back into his seat as Luke's enthusiasm washed over him. "So, you think she'll say yes?"

"Are you crazy? Why wouldn't she? She loves you."

"Yeah, I know. But sometimes the female mind is hard to figure out. She might not think I'm good enough—"

"Han!" Luke chastised. "When has Leia ever been bothered about a person's background or station?" He gave his friend a knowing wink. "I've heard a rumor that she likes scoundrels."

"She told you that?" Han shook his head resignedly. "Twins!"

"So when are you going to ask her?" Luke asked. "How soon do you think you'll get married?"

"As soon as possible, to both questions. In fact," Han gave Luke a shrewd stare, "if you could make yourself scarce, say, tomorrow evening, I could set up a nice, quiet dinner in here for the two of us."

"Han Solo, covert romantic, about to settle down as a married man. Who'da thought it?" Luke's grin widened even more as he formed a mental picture of the resulting evening alone that he and Mara could then look forward to.

"Don't make fun, kid." Han shook his finger in mock irritation, then set his half-finished drink on the low table in front of him. "Hold on, let me show you something." He went into the spare bedchamber, and Luke could hear him rummaging around in what had to be his traveling case. When Han returned, he tossed Luke a small velvateen box.

Luke curiously opened the box, his eyes falling on a dainty jeweled ring. "What's this?" he asked, pulling the ring out and examining it closely. "It's not very big around." Out of the corner of his eye, Luke caught Han shaking his head in exasperation.

"It's for your sister, not you," Han said, snatching both the ring and its container out of Luke's hand. "When you ask a woman to marry you, you hafta give her a gift." Han held the ring up so its faceted gem would reflect the overhead light.

"Oh," Luke muttered under his breath, his excitement instantly dissolving. He hadn't even thought about getting Mara any type of present, for their engagement or their wedding. He remembered that Aunt Beru had worn a plain gold band, its shine dulled by years of manual labor. Maybe when they got back to Coruscant he'd better go shopping. If he could find something that he could afford, and if Mara even liked jewelry. He'd already given her a lightsaber, but that was three months ago. He doubted it would qualify. Maybe ...

Luke looked back up, suddenly aware that Han was still talking.

"... know it's not as ritzy as what she's used to, back when she had all her princess jewels drippin' off her, but I think it's pretty nice, if I do say so myself." Smiling to himself, Han snapped the box closed. "You'd better start learnin' about all these traditions you hafta follow, kid. Someday, when you're older, you may decide to get hitched."

"When I'm—?" Before he could stop himself, Luke's tone turned indignant. "So you think Leia's old enough to get married, but I'm not?"

"Now, Luke, don't get your feathers ruffled. All I'm saying is you need to get some more ... experience ... under your belt before you—"

"Thanks to you, Leia has plenty of 'experience,' doesn't she?" Luke's previous good mood continued to evaporate. "When I was out defending the galaxy, should I have been defending my sister's honor instead?"

Han gave his young friend a hard look, and Luke instantly regretted his harsh words. He shouldn't let his own feelings of self-reproach affect his conversation with Han, especially when Leia and Han's overt relationship didn't bother him in the least.

"Han, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

"It's all right, kid." Han's easy-going smile returned, though it seemed a bit strained. "You just need to loosen up." He gave Luke a sly wink. "Take advantage of opportunities for experience when you can get them." He drained his bottle, then rose to his feet, patting Luke on the shoulder as he crossed the room. "Until you can find somebody respectable enough to be wife material, that is."

Han started to pocket the jewelry box, then looked at Luke hopefully. "You mind hidin' this in your room? I'm afraid Leia might get pushy and decide she has to pick out what clothes I should be wearin' or something."

"You wear the same clothes every day," Luke replied automatically, his mind still reeling from Han's comment on finding a wife.

"Look who's talking," Han scoffed wryly, tossing the small box back into Luke's outstretched palm. "Well, I'd better get back to the Falcon before Chewie starts remembering too many old girlfriend tales. See ya later, kid."

Closing his hand around the small box, Luke nodded a silent acknowledgment, then grimaced at Han's retreating back. His hopeful plan of having his comrades accept Mara on an equal footing was definitely not going the way he'd imagined.

As Han opened the door, he turned back to Luke once more. "I guess it goes without saying that I want you and Chewie to stand up for me at the wedding. I know Leia would have a fit if you weren't part of the ceremony." He grinned widely as he added, "And don't think you'll get out of having us around when you finally tie the knot. We'll expect a front-row seat."

Luke didn't answer. He simply buried his face in his hands as the door slid shut. No, nothing whatsoever was going as smoothly as he'd optimistically anticipated.