Luke made the most wonderful uncle. Since Jaina and Jacen had been born, Leia's brother had proved to be a significant and supportive figure in his nieces' and nephews' lives. He made sure they knew he was always around and that they could come to him as much as they could their parents. In fact, all five of the Solo children had grown up very close to their uncle and would spend extended week trips with him. Leia knew that he loved them as his own; she only hoped that he could understand that Memily was- different from her siblings as far as their destinies went. When the twins had only been children, Leia recalled her brother's excitement at training them, sculpting them into his greatest students. It appeared that the same was happening now with Memily and Leia prayed he would understand.
Seha Dorvald, Luke's aide, turned a suspicious look on Leia, shifting to lean closer to the door of the Council room. "The Council will soon be in sessions," she announced gently. "I wasn't told you were invited."
Leia couldn't pretend that she was offended. Though she often was simply expected to attend most of the Council meetings despite her inferior status within the New Jedi Order's ranks, she was an influential and active figure and the Council mostly trusted her to allow her attendance in most meetings. Although, Masters Horn and Durron were fond to joke that Leia had only squirmed her way in due to familial connections. She understood that today's particular meeting was not for her ears, but that was exactly why she had to go.
"I came to speak before the Council," Leia objected.
"With whose permission?"
"Jedi Dorvald, I know that Council is meeting on the topic of pairing the padawans with masters and I have my own concerns to make the Council aware of."
Dorvald offered her a respective nod, then she slipped into the conference room where the Jedi Masters of the High Council were meeting. Grand Master Skywalker sat at the pinpoint of the oval they formed, occupying the seat in the far back of the room. Dorvald met his bewildered gaze and bent. "Jedi Solo insisted that she must speak before the Council." Dorvald was frustrated with Leia, and understandably so as she entered behind her without an invitation.
"Inviting yourself in again," her brother greeted her with more amusement than Seha's frustration. "Forgive her, Jedi Dorvald. My sister is very good at getting the audience she wants. You know, she used to be a politician. Now, leave us please."
Dorvald fumed, but returned to her post outside.
"Now, Leia." Luke grinned at his twin. "You came to see me, I presume. As a Jedi Knight, an honorary member of this Council, or as my sister?"
"Both," Leia admitted pointedly, then added, "But also as a mother."
The rest of the masters had now taken theirs seats, their attention focused on Leia. A silent murmur of surprise zipped across the room, leaving a ripple in the Force. Luke nodded. "Go ahead."
Leia found Jaina occupying her usual seat in the Council across from her uncle. They shared a quick look in which Jaina fed her the reassurance she needed. Master Solo straightened in her seat and nodded her on.
"I wanted to talk to you about Memily."
Luke glanced around the room, hesitant. "Before the Council?"
"If I wait until after the Council has met, I'm afraid it'll be too late."
"We are listening, Jedi Solo," Jaina spoke, folding her hands.
"Excuse me for allowing personal relationships to form my concern, but I think the Council needs to consider Memily's future within the Order more carefully."
"Leia, the Council hasn't finalized its decisions in the pairings including Memily-"
"Perhaps, but I know fully well what you intend-"
"Jedi Solo." Master Katarn appeared to disapprove. "Do you not trust the Council to make the decisions that are best for each member?"
"I trust that the Council has the purest of intentions, but they might not be aware of how that may affect her. I don't think that Memily needs the Sword of the Jedi to train her. She doesn't need to be a warrior."
"A warrior?"
"Like Jaina," Leia offered. "Like Jacen and Anakin were both made to be. Like you and and every Jedi in our family. It's the Skywalker destiny, isn't it?"
"I don't understand the issue with Master Solo training Memily," Master Kam Solusar spoke up. "Jaina certainly has the credentials and is quite possibly the greatest-"
"Warrior?" Leia smiled bitterly. "Of the Order? Pardon me for saying so, but that's exactly the problem. Memily doesn't want to be shaped into a warrior like Jaina nor can she. The only reason she hasn't spoken up, I'm sure, is because she's afraid of disappointing you, Luke. She doesn't want to let you down. She doesn't want to let any of her family done. The only examples she has to look at are her older siblings and you. She sees that and she'll do it if it makes you happy. But, Luke, you have to know your niece better than that. It isn't her.
"Look, Luke, I know that you want to give Memily her greatest shot just like you did for the twins and Anakin, but this isn't the way. There is more to the Order than this, but she has no idea. Someone needs to open that chance up to her. Someone needs to show her that it's okay. The Order needs someone like her."
Luke allowed a long moment of silence to fall over the room. The Masters traded no looks with each other, but Leia knew they must be in deep conversation together. Talking, discussing, deciding. After the longest moment, Luke cut through the silence with a gentle yet powerful voice, "Master Solo." He cast his gaze to his niece. "What is your opinion on the matter?"
"While I would love the chance to train my own sister, I do believe that our mother is right. Memily holds a special set of skills that which even I do not. It would be unwise for me to train her, a waste of her talents- talents that the Jedi Order is very low on." She gave a nod, letting everyone's attention return to Leia.
"If you find Master Solo so unfit to train Memily," Master Horn began, "I'd be interested to hear if you have any ideas as to who should train her."
"There is one person I have in mind …"
