Not speaking for the entire trip to the Garden Palace, Leia stared out the window of the transport trying to collect her thoughts. She desperately tried to think of a reason that it would have to be Han and not some other man from off-system.
No, she finally thought. It would take even more time for anyone else to get here. Plus, it has to be someone I can trust.
She would never tell him, of course, but she did trust Solo. Maybe that potion is affecting me, after all, she thought, surprised at the easy admission.
She wondered how she truly did feel about him. She remembered being immediately attracted to him. It was natural. He was very handsome, self-assured and courageous. Of course, she came to understand quickly that also meant arrogant and unquestionably reckless. Later on, she saw it not so much reckless as calculated risk-taking… well, maybe not so much 'calculated' as reliant on luck.
While that 'Famous Solo Luck' had proven itself to him, she was less enthusiastic about that approach and preferred planning and preparation in her approach to life. They were too different, she had decided and hence forced herself not to think about him in a romantic way for a long time. Yes, they were too different.
Besides all of that, she constantly reminded herself that he was leaving which he never failed to make clear. What would be the point of pursuing a romance when it would lead to certain heartache? She had a Rebellion to run. She didn't have the time nor energy to put into romance with someone who didn't share her goals and had one foot out of the door all the time.
This is the way it had been in her head since early on. It didn't matter that just looking at him could make her heart pound. It didn't matter that she had a nearly impossible time keeping thoughts of him out of her head when her mind wandered. Or that he was the reason it wandered in the first place. It most certainly didn't matter that a part of her couldn't help herself from seeking him out even if she knew it would end in a heated argument.
Leia would just tamp down those feelings every time they occurred, did her best to ignore them and soundly admonished herself for them. At the same time, she had allowed herself a logical and decidedly practical concession of developing a friendship of sorts with Solo and a war-time trust. Either one could be swearing they hated the other up and down at any given moment and still be counted on to save the other's life at that same moment. Their time on the Death Star had cemented their bond as far as that went.
Bonding, Leia smirked to herself as she thought about it. With Han? What am I going to do about this?
Upon arrival, they were greeted by the very formally attired major domo of the palace.
"Greetings, Your Highness, Captain Solo." The tall, thin and meticulous local humanoid bowed properly. "I am Sefiirs."
Before the Princess or Han could respond, Sefiirs saw a second transport pull up and barely flicked a finger on the right hand held stiffly at his side. "I see the speeder with your things is arriving now." His staff made a subtle scramble towards the transport. Sefirs practiced formality was efficient, "Everything has been arranged for your stay. Dinner will be ready in 45 minutes standard."
Gently gesturing in a short sweeping motion, his voice contained the assurance of one who would stand for nothing less than perfection for anything under his direction, "You will not be disturbed. Security is stationed only at the perimeter of the grounds. I am at your service should you require anything at any time during your stay. Princess, your bedchambers are up stairs on the right. Captain, your chambers are on the left across the hall. The dining room is straight ahead and to the left corridor. May I have someone come in and serve the beverages in the adjoining room or perhaps you would prefer to rest upstairs before dinner?"
"That won't be necessary, Sefirs. However, could you explain what 'things' the King has sent?" Leia answered unable to shake the idea of the uncanny resemblance to a certain protocol droid. She was curious what was being offloaded from the second transport since she and Han had not taken any type of baggage with them off the Falcon.
"Princess Leia, the King has sent fresh attire for both you and Captain Solo for your comfort during your time with us. If there is nothing else I can help you with at the present time, will you excuse me? I will check on dinner." With another bow, he left to meet the speeder.
Leia and Han looked at each other. Solo rolled his eyes and Leia sighed knowing he was less than losing patience already just like he would with Threepio. Some things never change. Without a word, Leia headed to her room upstairs to freshen up and think. Han went straight for a drink – a very stiff one.
A short while later, Leia came down to join him. She found Han pouring himself what had to be at least a second drink. He noticed her arrival without looking up at her.
"Wanna a drink?"
"Why not? Thanks." The Princess, suddenly restless, walked around the room absently admiring the artwork on the walls while he took a second glass and poured her drink. Dressed in an elegant, dark lavender gown with a fitted bodice and a single brown braid falling down her back, Leia swept back one of several wisps softly framing her face as she wondered why she felt a little unsure of herself.
Han turned to hand her the drink and immediately was taken aback by how beautiful she looked. Rarely had he had the opportunity to see Leia so formally dressed and appearing for all intents and purposes like a Princess. Seeing her now, he wished the occasion would come up more often.
"You look amazing," Han beamed with an obvious and appreciative smile lighting up his eyes as he gave her royal-like gown the once-over, then the twice-over. He intended to leer, but it came out differently than he expected, nicer. Yet, he was so busy in his intense appraisal of her that he hadn't noticed the difference. "I didn't know we were dressing for dinner."
While blushing a very pretty pink, she hated herself that he embarrassment was evident and even more for liking his open stare. Their hands brushed as she took the drink from him, giving off little shocks of electricity everywhere their skin touched.
"Thanks. Since we're here, I thought I might as well enjoy it," Leia answered shyly, trying to explain her change in attire. It felt good to be wearing dress clothes for a change and even more so that it had so obviously stunned the rough-around-the-edges smuggler.
Han silently seconded the idea as something they could both enjoy. This softer enchanting image of her made something in his chest do pleasant little flips whenever he looked at her.
Talking as innocently as possible throughout dinner, mostly about the food, both secretly wondered if that elixir would actually work. Once the subject of food was exhausted, they continued to speak guardedly, staying on safe topics, just in case. Both the smuggler and the Princess purposely watched their words and tone during each course.
Han put his unease down to being in an untried atmosphere. Here he was having dinner in a palace with a Princess supposedly with the express purpose of discerning their deep feelings towards each other. In the years that he had known Leia, he teased her enough about her royal status, but here it was in all its glory right in front of him. And it was definitely something to see.
As for Leia, she was feeling more and more comfortable in an element she had been forced to abandon a long time ago now. However, having dinner with Han Solo under such circumstances proved to be rather unnerving, especially with the thought that the preposterous elixir might just do enough to throw them into an unwanted conversation.
After dessert, the staff cleared the dishes and dutifully disappeared leaving the two of them alone and awkwardly wondering what to do next. Solo stood up. He needed to do something besides sitting around while the tension grew. The more he watched her, the more a strange feeling kept tugging at him.
"Well, how 'bout a walk around the grounds? I'd love to check this place out," Han suggested.
"That sounds good. I wouldn't mind walking off some of this rich food," Leia agreed, easily taking his arm without realizing he didn't exactly offer it.
With only a surreptitious glance at her hand grasping his bicep, Han led her out the side door and into the moonlit gardens. They wound along the flat stone path, breathing in the sweet delicate aroma of exotic flowers drifting in the warm night breeze. The gardens were an intricate maze of stone, small waterfalls, pools, and greenery with bursting with blooms of flowers everywhere. The inescapable romantic atmosphere spoke of hidden kisses and whispered pledges. King Antropo obviously knew what he was doing, Han noted snidely to himself.
After they had been walking a few minutes, the Princess strove to find something to say. "It certainly is lovely here. It reminds me of the Palace of Keliaan on Alderaan," Leia remarked.
"Keliaan. That was supposed to be your palace, right?" Han asked casually, trying to keep his tone light. Whenever Leia brought up Alderaan, his chest tightened in protective empathy. He was one of the very few people who had truly seen the depth of Leia's grief.
"Yes," Leia answered, striving to keep the memories positive in her mind. Alderaan had never fully left her thoughts since their conversation with the King. If anything, the memories were stronger and more vivid now than they had been in a long time.
They strolled on a little more before Han piped up again, "If this place is anything like Keliaan, then I can see why you liked it there. It suits you."
"Oh?" Leia raised her eyebrows. A sincere compliment from Han?
"It's not like you aren't an effective military leader, Sweetheart," Han began, somewhat unsure where he wanted to go with this. "But dressed for the part… being here…" He exhaled a quick sigh as his mouth tugged up at one corner, thinking of the contrast to her life now. "You seem like you belong here. Like it's what you were meant for."
Unable to hold the heartfelt moment, he grinned down at her and quipped, "I guess a princess is a princess, no matter the palace."
She closed her eyes momentarily in exasperation, but didn't say anything right away. One moment Han was paying her compliments and with the very next breath, his usual flippancy slipped firmly back into place. Leia wasn't sure what to make of his inane remark, but he had a point.
"I must admit, it's closer to what I thought my life would be like when I was very young. But as I became older, I realized that the Empire had to be stopped. The Rebellion is my life now." Leia said the last with finality as if feeling the need to convince herself as well as Solo. Fate handed her this destiny and she would see it through to the end.
You don't have to tell me that twice, Han thought.
Leia continued, "Now that you've effectively joined the Rebellion-"
Stopping mid-stride, Han cut her off, correcting her, "Hold on a minute there, Your Worship. I haven't joined the Rebellion."
Han was compelled to follow as the Princess continued walking. She glanced up at him with an almost accusatory look, "Haven't you, Han? You've been with us for almost three years now. Face it, you're in almost as far as the rest of us and you haven't left. I'd say that qualifies as joined, maybe not officially, but joined nonetheless." She nodded as if to confirm her realization. Interesting how that concept had never fully formed in her head before tonight. The idea calmed her somehow. He had been there, had stayed.
"You make it all sound so simple," Han dismissed with an expansive wave of his hand washing through the night air.
"It's not though, is it?" Leia agreed. Feeling braver, she turned her searching gaze up to him as they walked on, "Why have you stayed this long?"
Han stiffened. How could he answer that? Han tried his best to sound nonchalant, "Things keep comin' up and gettin' in the way. Jabba wasn't exactly happy before, so by now he's bound to be in a real bad mood. The Rebellion is as good as place as any to avoid him until I can try to pay him and still keep breathing."
That was the truth, not the entire truth, but part of it. Han usually deluded himself into believing that he wasn't even sure what the entire truth was. Of course, Chewie had told him what it was many times: Solo stayed for the Princess's sake. Sometimes, Han hated when that big overgrown fuzzball was right.
Leia was not about to take that old excuse of his this time. She knew she was onto something. "You could've left to do that long ago," she surmised with a good amount of certainty. It was a very rare thing to get Han to talk about this subject. He would never fail to bring up leaving the Rebellion, but he hardly ever touched on his reasons for sticking around. Leia was eager to take any opportunity she could to know why. She had convinced herself that if she knew why he stayed, then maybe she could find a way to persuade him to formally join the Alliance. At least, that's what she always liked to tell herself. Sometimes, late at night, she would allow herself a different reason for wanting to know why, but never allowed those thoughts to see the light of day.
"Why else have you stayed?" Leia coaxed.
Halting abruptly, Han leaned in close to her ear, speaking in seductively low, challenging tones, "Testing the magic potion, Princess?" Pulling back slightly to see her reaction, a mischievous lopsided smile crept up his face while his eyes found hers in the moonlight.
"Maybe," she shrugged noncommittally, only now dropping her hand from his bicep. His voice rumbling so near had affected her more than she would have liked, yet the Princess was somehow able to maintain her casual demeanor despite the physical proximity of his handsome features.
"Do you really think it's gonna work?" Han asked evenly, standing straighter again. A part of Han suddenly pulled at him to tell her the rest: the main reason he stayed was for her. Could it be her possible negative reaction that was holding him back? Right now, it seemed to be the only thing that was holding him back. He cursed that ridiculous elixir for indeed having an effect on him.
Leia shrugged again, relieved that there now was more space between them. "I suppose it could. I take it you don't think so?"
"I've seen a lot of strange things, but I doubt it. If anything, I think your uncle is relying on nature." Han began, slowly closing the gap between them again, staring into her deep brown eyes suggestively, "Time alone, a romantic setting, a man and a woman might naturally find something to do together."
The Princess's eyes widened at his comment. There's that infuriating wink of his. To her dismay, she was amused by it, too. Annoyed with herself for feeling embarrassed, Leia blushed and looked away. Obviously, he was looking for a strong reaction to that comment and she refused to comply.
"He said it would only encourage existing emotions and couldn't manufacture feelings," she reminded him quietly.
The warm breeze swirled around them, tickling their faces as neither moved. Several unending seconds passed in complete silence, each considering how they felt. Han long suspected the Princess harbored real feelings for him beyond annoyance, but there was no way to be sure. Leia, tell me what you feel, Han's heart pleaded silently. The question burned at Han's lips, begging to be spoken. Suddenly, his urge to know the answer became a need he could no longer ignore. Finally, Han recaptured her eyes, his stare piercing into her soul.
"So what's already there, Princess?"