Chapter 25

It was a very peaceful day on Hapes. The sun shined brightly over the landscape and architecture of the Royal Palace of the Queen Mother. The fountain in the courtyard continuously flowed with water, creating gentle ripples and bubbles. A warm breeze blew through the trees. It was a day as if nothing could go wrong, and it was this day that Leia and Han took a walk through the courtyard, enjoying the peace. Both knew they had to enjoy it while they could, for the peace would not last long. A new battle was starting and they might never get another chance to enjoy such a perfect day. They crossed by the fountain, when Leia was suddenly overcome by a horrible feeling.

She froze, unable to move. An extreme cold overcame her, and she gasped as she tried to fight against it. She bent low, trying to catch herself as the world distorted, and she sat on the edge of the fountain. Han noticed something was wrong with Leia, seeing his wife's obvious distress.

"Leia, what is it?" Han asked as he sat next to her.

"I've just had the most horrible feeling," Leia said as she looked at her husband, her eyes wide. "it feels as if the worst has happened."

"What do you mean?" Han asked.

"Something," Leia said. "Something has happened to Luke."

"Luke?" Han said. "What happened to Luke?"
"I…can't feel his presence anymore," Leia said. "Han, he's gone." She collapsed and cried in her husband's arms.

"Leia, don't cry," Han said as he lifted Leia's head back up and looked into her eyes. "Luke can't be gone."

"He is, Han," Leia said as tears streamed down her face. "I feel it in the Force. He was there a moment ago and then he was gone."
"It can't be true," Han said. "You must be mistaken. Luke is too strong to be defeated."

"No, Han, I'm not," Leia said. "I've never been sure of anything than I am right now."

"I don't believe it." Han said as he stood up and walked away.

"Han?" Leia asked. Han stopped.

"Do you really expect me to believe that Luke is dead?" Han said, not turning around to face Leia. "Luke can't be dead."

"Han, I know, I can't believe it too." Leia said. "But he is."

"First Chewie, then Anakin," Han said, his voice choking. "Now Luke."

"Han, I know," Leia said and embraced Han. "Everything's changing. But we have to go on."

Han turned to face Leia.

"Does Jaina know yet?" Han asked. "Or Jacen?"

"Jaina knows," Leia said. "I feel it. But Jacen, something's wrong with Jacen."

"What do you mean?"

"Jacen knows, but something's happened." Leia said. "I feel that something horrible happened to him as well."

"But Mara and Saba are with him," Han said, his voice full of worry. "What could have happened?"
"I don't know," Leia said. "Something is preventing me from communicating with him in the Force. Something murky is dampening my connection with him."

"I don't like this," Han said. "What about the other Jedi? Do they know yet?"

"Yes, they must know by now." Leia said. "We should gather everyone now. We have much to discuss. Too many things have happened to fast, and we must prepare for what's to come."

"Yeah," Han said. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Three hours later, the Nilum came flying back in to Hapes, and Jacen Solo and Saba Sebatyne came out, beaten and battered.