Leia could not believe the gall of her father. She was twenty-one years old now. An undercover member of the Rebellion, she had even played a small role in the destruction of the Death Star. Granted, there had been a slight mishap and she had almost been captured, but she escaped and the Empire was none the wiser. Unfortunately, though the Rebellion succeeded in this particular victory, the Empire was still at large. Rumors ran rampant about the construction of a second Death Star. Leia believed that soon she was going to join the Rebellion as an official member. Her father appeared certain to keep her from it.
He had hired her a bodyguard.
Leia did not know much about the pilot, but from what she heard, he was not exactly the gentleman type. Her best friend Winter told her a few moments before she saw her father's ship pulling into the driveway of the castle. Winter had heard from one of the cooks who heard from another source and so on. Leia seemed to be the last to know and she was livid.
Han Solo was a known smuggler! Best friends with a wookiee, he called no place home and traveled around the galaxy, leaving trouble in his wake. Then Winter had told her about Solo's trouble with Jabba the Hutt. Leia blanched in shock. He may have saved her father's life, and for that she would be ever appreciative, but no way was she going to allow that scoundrel to follow her around everywhere. Winter had also informed her of Solo's romantic reputation and if he even thought of claiming her as one of his conquests, she was going to kill him.
She stood in the grand doorway of the castle, waiting to pounce at the first moment. Leia thought if she could get to the matter right away, she might be able to stop it. Her father looked a little afraid as he stepped out of the ship.
As he rightly should, she thought to herself.
When Han Solo followed behind her father, she forgot for a moment to be angry. He was a handsome man- ruffled hair, strong body, tight fitting pants. As he came closer, he looked up at her for the first time. His eyes were the brightest hazel she had ever seen and for a moment she forgot to breathe. And that smile. Her stomach dropped. It was infuriating.
She remembered her purpose as they met her at the door. Turning her attention from Han, she looked at her father and glared.
For his part, her father didn't hesitate. "Leia, this is Captain Han Solo of the Millenium Falcon. He is a friend of the wookiee Chewbacca. We have something very important to discuss, but judging from the look on your face, I think you already know what it is I have to say. Why don't we step inside and let Captain Solo get acclimated. We can continue the conversation in a more comfortable part of the castle."
Not breaking her icy gaze, she stuck her hand out to Han. Her handshake was firm and diplomatic. She had years of practice. Solo took her hand and grasped it with equal firmness. For this, she was surprised and turned back to him. He smirked at her. Leia found it difficult not to roll her eyes. Instead, she nodded.
"Captain Solo, pleasure to meet you, I'm sure. I hope you enjoy your stay at the castle. Father, I will meet you in your office in twenty minutes."
Before either could offer a response, she turned on her heel and walked briskly away from them.
Leia flung herself onto her bed. Her bedroom remained mostly as it was from childhood. Milky white walls with soft pink flowers spread randomly across, her large canopy bed lay in the middle of the room, silky white sheets and comforter, with pink lace falling on the sides. A large white dresser stood opposite her bed, a vast closet next to it storing countless dresses and shoes that were required of a princess and senator. The window to the left of her bed looked out to the castle gardens, seeming to stretch on forever, with brilliant flowers and trees, both native and from other planets.
No pictures lined her walls. Posters of childhood crushes and favorite holofilms had long since been removed. The only picture that remained lay on top of the nightstand next to her bed. It was one of her, her father, her mother, and Winter. It had been of happier, more peaceful times before her mother fell ill. Lifting her head from the bed, she looked up at the photo.
She sighed, overcome with a longing she had tried to repress for a long time. Turning to look out the window, Leia smiled seeing the sun start to fade, illuminating the garden. Alderaan offered so much more than beauty, but sometimes, when she had those few rare moments to herself, she would look around to truly appreciate the wonders of the galaxy.
It was the feeling of hope inspired by these moments that kept Leia going, fighting, aspiring for a better future. She wanted nothing more than to join the Rebellion fulltime, but to do so would be to put her entire family, her planet, at risk. If the Empire knew of her ideals, they would try to destroy her and everyone and everything she held dear. For now, it was pivotal to keep her beliefs and roles secret. In the back of her mind, she supposed her father was doing what he thought was best.
She just wondered why it had to be Han Solo of all people. Not having known him for all of the few seconds it took them to be introduced, she felt a combination of feelings ripple through her. Dislike that stemmed from her aversion to the situation, suspicion at hearing of his reputation, and a twinge of attraction that she was trying to ignore.
While she had dated in the past, nothing had been all that serious, and now she didn't have the time or energy to be in a relationship. Romance would have to wait, but that was all part of the reason they were fighting.
Leia laid down on her back, lifted her arms above her head with her legs straight. Taking a deep breath, she held the air in, her eyes closed, and slowly let it out. Doing this a few more times, she laid down for a second more before standing up and heading out the door.
It was time to talk to her father and this Han Solo character.
She walked through the castle. Part of the deal between her and her father when she was younger and wanted to become involved in the senate, was that office and home life must always remain separate. It was this reason why she didn't have a desk in her room. Instead, she had an office adjoined to her father's, on the other side of the castle. To get there, she had to walk along a brightly lit hallway a good ways away. She never minded the walk because it always gave her a chance to clear her head, whether it be from work to everyday life, or everyday life to work.
Leia continued her breathing exercises as she walked, her hand gliding across the glazed mahogany wood of the walls as she passed. Peering outside, she saw it was almost completely dark now. She sighed, wondering how the day had passed her by so fast.
Reaching the end of the corridor, she stopped before stepping into the office area. She could hear voices, her father's, Han Solo's, and the easily recognized whuffing of a wookiee. Leia noted it must have been Chewbacca, but she had never before met him.
With one last deep breath, she stepped inside.
"Father, I believe we have something to discuss."
Bail smiled at her and she thought the shine was a little too bright considering the situation.
"Yes, dear. Why don't you sit down next to Captain Solo?"
Leia declined the offer without a word. She stood aside the chairs, one empty meant for her, and the other two occupied by Solo and the lumbering wookiee. The office was large, brown, and windowless. Belonging to her father, two bookshelves stood behind the desk where her father now sat, filled with old books and records. His desk was a mess, but somehow, she had no idea how, organized. A lamp, datapad, and two picture frames sat on his desk. Leia knew that the pictures were of her and her mother. Another stab of longing flowed through her, but she shook it off. Now was not the time for nostalgic pining.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the door leading to her own office. It was much more organized, not a pencil or piece of paper out of order, and there were no pictures. She did not have time for distractions at her place of work.
Leia looked straight at her father. Her look told him, as you will.
Bail chuckled at her determination.
"Leia, as I am sure you know already, I have asked Captain Solo and Chewbacca to work and live here at the castle for an undetermined amount of time. I do not believe you have met Chewbacca yet. Chewbacca, my daughter Leia. Leia, Chewbacca."
The pair nodded at one another.
"Yes, well. I have hired them as an extra precaution as your involvement in the Rebellion becomes much more pressing. Captain Solo and Chewbacca, while they have not openly shown support for the Rebellion themselves, assure me that they have no sympathy for the Empire. I am inclined to believe them."
Leia trusted her father. She also was someone who relied heavily on her own perceptions because over the years, she had found to be quite intuitive. At the moment, she did not feel threatened. Annoyed, yes, but not uneasy.
Bail continued. "Before I say what it is we both know I am going to, I urge you to keep an open mind. Rather than prevent you from having any further involvement with the Rebellion-"
Leia opened her mouth to argue, but Bail held up a hand. She remained silent.
"I understand and support your beliefs, I share them, and therefore I cannot in good conscience keep the Rebellion from such an outstanding leader."
She felt a blush rising in her cheeks.
"In this case, and under such coincidental circumstances, I feel as though Captain Solo and Chewbacca will make excellent additions to our security team."
Leia could no longer help herself. "As babysitters?"
A touch of humor gleamed in Bail's eyes. "I would not quite use that term, but I suppose along those lines. While Chewbacca will remain here under the guise of an old friend visiting another, I am afraid Captain Solo's presence might bring some added excitement."
She felt her stomach jounce. He couldn't possibly be going where she thought he was.
"To keep the Empire's suspicions under wraps, and as an added benefit to Alderaan who will appreciate the distraction, Captain Solo is here under the impression of competing for your affections."
He went there.
"He is now an official consort, courting you for the next few months as you consider your future. Obviously, no expectations of marriage at the moment are legitimate, but the two of you must act as such."
Leia felt the beginning of a very bad migraine coming. She looked to Solo to gage his reaction. The damned smuggler was smirking at her. He was enjoying this way too much. She turned back to her father.
"The story goes that Captain Solo has been acting as your personal pilot for the past few months, and the two of you have taken a particular interest in one another. The pair of you then came to me to ask for my permission. Since Captain Solo has no royal ties of which we know, this is something I must seriously consider and the decision will be ongoing. Captain Solo must meet my approval, the approval of the planet, and of course, keep your affection."
Leia grimaced.
"When the time comes when he will no longer be of service, the two of you may have a clean break, stating that the delayed marriage was an excellent idea and the two of you realized you did not wish to be married."
Leia spoke after a long, awkward moment of silence. "I suppose there is nothing I can say to change your mind?"
Bail's face was serious. "I am afraid not, darling. It is the only way at the moment I can think of to protect you. Captain Solo is of course, a captain, and can fly you to and from the Rebel base at times when you are most needed and safest. It is the best I can offer you."
With a nod, Leia swiped at her forehead and took another deep breath. "Alright, then. When will the formal announcement be made?"
"Sometime in the morning. Dinner will be ready in the next few hours and until then, I think it is vital that you and Captain Solo get to know each other a lot better."
Bail smirked and motioned to the wookiee who stood up from his chair.
"Chewbacca and I will continue catching up as the pair of you talk in private. After all, if you are going to be married, you best know what you're in store for."
Watching as her father and the wookiee walked away, laughing and chattering in good humor, Leia could not remember a time she had held so much resentment towards her father. And on the day when she had almost lost him. It didn't seem right.
Hesitating, she stood in place for another moment, staring after their retreating forms. With utmost reluctance, she turned towards Solo and sat down in the chair next to him.
"Captain Solo-"
"Han."
"Excuse me?"
Han rolled his eyes. "Call me Han. Engaged to-be couples don't go around callin' one another by their formal titles, princess."
Her eyes rolled upwards at the way he denounced her title.
"You're right, Han. But please just call me Leia."
"Whatever you say your Royal Highnessness."
Leia wanted to hit him. She settled for a glare. Han laughed in response.
"Alright, princess. Where do ya want to start?"
Cringing at the title again, Leia frowned. A thought struck her and she smirked as she looked him up and down.
"Well, captain. First things first, if anyone is going to believe that you are courting me, and that I might even seriously consider such an option for even a second, I do believe you will have to change your attire."
Han looked down at himself and frowned. "Whattya mean change? What's wrong with my clothes?"
Leia sighed and stood up from the chair. "My father is right. We do have a lot to cover. Follow me."
Pausing in momentary disbelief, Han stood up from his own chair. After recovering, he shook his head and followed the princess out of the office.