He woke her gently, "We're here." She moved slowly barely able to sit or stand unassisted. As she glanced out the view port, Alderaan's beautiful mountains came into view. She was home.
After the ship docked they were met by a Palace Guard. He bowed and said, "Your highness, welcome home. Your transport is waiting." He tried to usher her away and she stopped in her tracks refusing to move. Her body began to give out. Her legs would not support her weight and she could not catch her breath.
The Palace representative asked, "Are you alright Princess? Obi-Wan felt her imminent collapse before he saw the color drain from her face. He caught her as she fell and lifted her in his arms. He looked at the Guard, "We must get her to the Palace."
Bail met them with a medical team. Amira was taken to the Palace infirmary. He and Obi-Wan followed and stood outside the examine room watching as the staff attended her.
Bail stared at his sister, "You can't imagine how relieved I was to receive Dex's message that you were bringing her home. We received word just after you left here that she was to be executed."
A medical droid rolled up to Bail, "Although the Princess has sustained extensive internal bruising, her injuries are not life threatening. We will stabilize her and control her pain."
Bail's attention turned back to his sister. He saw for the first time the cuts and bruises that covered her body. His voice faltered "Four months, she endured this for four months." Obi-Wan turned away from him and looked down at the floor, "She suffered terribly."
As much as it would pain him to hear he needed to know, "Did she tell you anything?" Obi-Wan shook his head, "No…she did not want to tell me." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "On the ship she relived it in her dreams…I was able to…sense things."
Bail took a seat across from the examine room. Obi-Wan joined him. He glanced again at his sister and then lowered his head, "I must know." Obi-Wan replied, "She was interrogated by both Vadar and Sidious. They nearly killed her. She protected the children and…me. She paid dearly, but she kept our secrets."
Bail fought the tears he felt welling in his eyes, "She is safe now; we will take care of her. Thank you for bringing her back to us." Obi-Wan asked, "How can she be safe? Won't the Empire come to arrest her?"
Bail shook his head, "No, when word of her incarceration reached the Senate; they were outraged. The Empire could not provide a just cause for boarding her ship or arresting her. They won't be coming after her; they won't risk invoking any more sympathy within the Senate."
Obi-Wan rubbed his eyes and forehead, "The she must remain here, she cannot continue to organize a rebellion. If she continues, eventually they would have enough evidence to arrest her again." Bail nodded, "I agree, but you know how strongly she feels about opposing the Empire."
Obi-Wan looked wearily at Bail, "After what she has been through she may be of a different mind. I will try to talk to her." Bail nodded, "Good luck…You look tired let's get you a place to freshen up and rest."
He slept but not peacefully. He needed to leave, the longer he stayed the greater the danger to Amira and her family. If Vadar decided to pursue his belief that she knew his whereabouts and found him here, she would be executed. He dressed quickly and went to the infirmary.
He met the medical droid outside her room. Looking past the droid at Amira's sleeping form he asked, "Is she alright?" The droid responded, "The Princess is stable and will recover from all physical injuries."
He swallowed hard, "and mentally?" The droid replied, "That will take more time. The Princess has some residual mental injuries from her ordeal the extent of which is unknown.", "Thank you." The droid shuffled away and Obi-Wan quietly entered her room.
He sat next to her watching her sleep. When she became agitated he grabbed her hand, "No more bad dreams Amira. You are safe in the Palace surrounded by people who love you." He did not let go of her hand.
The voice behind him was feminine and gentle, "My husband asked me to check in on her. How is she?" Obi-Wan released Amira's hand and stood, bowing respectfully to Queen Organa, "Good evening your highness, the Princess seems to be resting." She swept into the room and said, "Please sit down, you've been through much."
He took his seat and resumed holding Amira's hand. The Queen smoothed the coverlet around her sister-in-law, "We are so grateful you found her. He replied, "I was fortunate to be in time." She looked up at him, "You risked much leaving Tatooine. Will you be staying with us for awhile?"
Amira moaned and he gently caressed her hand with his thumb, "No your highness I cannot stay it is too risky for the Princess; for all of you." She nodded, "You will go back into exile then?" He whispered, "Yes."
She shook her head sadly, "You have our eternal gratitude. For giving us Leia, for bringing Amira home safely. Your service to our family is immeasurable. You have given everything of yourself…but what of your happiness?"
He turned his head to look at Amira's face and said quietly, "I am happy that she is safe. I am happy that Leia is being raised by good people. I ask nothing more." She smiled sadly, "I won't take any more of your time from Amira; time is precious." She turned and left the room. He watched her go.
She joined Bail in his office a few minutes later, "The Princess slumbers peacefully watched over by her noble knight." He smiled, "What are you talking about." She replied, "General Kenobi, he is with Amira."
Bail put down the memo his was reading, "Oh, yes of course. He will be leaving soon; probably saying goodbye." She smiled a knowing smile, "He is in love with her." His head shot up to look at his wife, "What?"
She took a seat on the sofa, "Yes, You don't see it?" What man would do what he does for her if not for love? He came out of exile, risked everything to rescue her." He sat next to his wife and smiled, "You are a hopeless romantic my love. Obi-Wan is a Jedi, everything he does is out of duty."
Breha Organa shook her head, "No Bail, it's in his eyes, the way he looks at her, the way he holds her hand. I saw him just now with her. He has to leave her and his heart is breaking." Bail took his wife's hand and kissed it gently, "I hope you are wrong my love. They have no future together."
She felt the warmth of another human hand holding her own. She knew his presence before she opened her eyes, "Ben." He leaned closer, "Yes." He smiled but his eyes were weary, sad. She squeezed back her tears, "You are leaving." He lowered his head, "Soon." She asked, "Will I ever see you again?" He shook his head, "I don't know."
She forced herself not to cry and her chest burned with the effort, "I could always bring out another shipment of ale the next time I am in the area." He shook his head and his voice faltered, "No, never again, do you understand me? You must remain here on Alderaan. No more rebellion."
She turned her head away. She could not bear the sadness she saw in the blue depths of his eyes. He continued, "Promise me Amira; promise me you will quit this impossible crusade." A sob escaped her, "How can you ask that of me?"
He released her hand and stood up abruptly turning away from her as he crossed the room frustration in his voice, "Because I cannot be with you. I cannot protect you." He looked out the window, "The Emperor will not hesitate the next time. He will kill you."
Amira slipped slowly out of the bed and crossed the room. She stood next to him, "We have to lay the ground work for the next generation. We must form alliances now." He shook his head, "No, the time will come, but not now. The cost is too great."
She turned away and looked out at the mountains, "There is no greater cost than the cost of freedom, but it is a price I am willing to pay." He whispered, "You have already paid enough. You lost your fiancé, your brother and nearly your life" She touched his arm, "And when the day comes that the Empire falls and the Republic is restored. It will have been worth it."
He turned on her anguish reflected in his eyes, "Worth it?" She stepped closer too him and asked, "How many ways have you paid? How many times did you put your life on the line for the sake of the Republic? How much have you sacrificed?"
He lowered his head, "That was different. It was my duty." She placed her hand on his chest, "The only difference is I am not a Jedi. I am a citizen who loves freedom and will fight to defend it."
He found himself looking deeply into her beautiful brown eyes. He reached up and caressed the side of her face. "When I return to Tatooine it will comfort me to know you are safe."
She turned her face into his hand and he continued, "Right now there is too much attention. You can't possibly continue to nurture a rebellion with the eyes of the Empire constantly on you. Lay low for awhile. Let them look elsewhere. When the time is right you can act, we all will…promise me."
She looked up into his face, "I will wait. I don't know how long, but I will be patient." He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. Her head rested just under his chin. She could feel his heart beat. She sighed, "I will miss you." He kissed the top of her head and replied, "and I you."
Bail stood in the doorway. His Breha had been right. He had seen the exchange between Obi-Wan and his sister. They were in love. Amira turned, "Hello Bail" He asked, "How are you feeling?" She smiled, "I will live."
He cleared his throat and stepped further into the room, "The transport is here to take Obi-Wan to the ship." She nodded and turned back to Obi-Wan, "There are no words Ben, to tell you how grateful I am you came for me." Obi-Wan raised her hand to his lips and kissed it letting his lips linger as long as politeness would allow, "No words are necessary."
His eyes never wavered from hers. He released her hand and said, "May the Force be with you." She whispered, "And with you." She willed her heart not to break as he turned and walked from the room.