Ok, since someone who shall be nameless is being ever so slightly... shall we say... 'impatient' ... an update a wee bit early. Thank you for reading and for the 'followers'! I am so pleasantly surprised by it all. Awesome!
Chapter 11: Zero Hour'Zero hour,' Han thought as he stood nervously on atop the dais and tugged at his collar. The great hall where the ceremony was about to take place reminded him of Yavin IV. However, this time, he was the one who would be watching Leia walk down the long aisle to him. Solo remembered how awkward and nervous he had felt walking that drawn out strip to the dais that day, although he had done his best to appear as if he were taking it all in stride. Leia had been what he could only describe to this day as an exquisite angelic vision waiting for them at the top of the steps to reward them with hero's medals. Han smiled resignedly to himself, admitting his feelings he held deep within. He had loved her even then, ever since he first saw her as a matter of fact. It was a feeling almost impossible for him to put words to, but Leia made him feel like no other woman.
Releasing a sigh of tension, he wished Chewie and Luke were here to see this. The big Wookiee would probably be making smart remarks the whole time, but at least it would've kept Solo's mind off the fact that he secretly wished this bonding wasn't all a charade. As much as he told himself to forget about the whole idea of Leia and him, Han couldn't. For almost three years, he had been around this woman. For that whole time, they excelled at aggravating each other one minute and trading secretly passionate melting glances the next. The former having been in the fashion of boisterous arguments and the latter having never been referred to out loud. Princess Leia was the most confusing woman he had ever known and that fact only served to intrigue Han all the more. He would love to pull her close and kiss her, just once, to see what would happen.
That's when it hit him. The kiss. His assistant had briefly mentioned it when going over the details of the wedding portion of the ceremony, but Han had only been half listening by then. He would be expected to kiss her as was customary of royal weddings in this system. It had something to do with signifying the loyalties of the two people and their respective families and ensuing connections. How was he going to handle that? He wondered if Leia realized it would be happening. She hadn't mentioned anything. Then again, Han wasn't surprised at that. Leia wouldn't face her feelings for him before and she was not about to discuss kissing him again. The first time, he had barely persuaded her to agree to do it for security's sake. Thoughts of how her lips would feel against his rushed through his mind. Those inviting lips that Han loved to watch simply entranced him.
Solo settled himself down. This whole business was a big deal for Leia and he couldn't blow it now by flustering the hell out of them both minutes before she was to be crowned. She would kill him if he did that. Not that he was afraid of infuriating her – he certainly had a lot of practice in the past with that – but he said he would do this for her and when Leia had thanked him, she had been so sincere that Han immediately felt like he would happily do almost anything just to make her look at him like that again. As tempting as it was to take advantage of this situation where he could freely kiss her and get away with it, Solo decided that he would hold back and see this through to the end. He would do what his instincts told him was right when the time came, that's all. Anxiously, Han hoped his instincts knew were what they were doing.
The lilting music changed and the huge doors at the rear entrance opened. Then, as if blown in gently by the breeze, a flowing figure in dazzling, glimmering white drifted through the doorway. Transfixed, Han's jaw dropped and his heart skipped several beats at the sight. Leia was absolutely stunning, leaving him breathless. She was the very definition of a fantasy princess, her dark hair wafting in thick, gentle waves down past her shoulders, ending somewhere near her waist with a sparkling jeweled tiara encircling her head. Her elegant, glittering gown fluttered in such a way that it looked as if she floated rather than walked down the aisle. Her blushing genuine smile caused Han's heart to thunk again as her eyes shyly met his for a mere moment before looking away to the guests in attendance. Amazed, Solo collected himself to beam his most charming lopsided smile as their eyes met again and locked for the remainder of the distance. Drawn into Leia's unwavering gaze, Han's body felt alive with sparks that rapidly shot through every nerve ending. Finally reaching the steps to the dais, she hesitated from moving further, averting her eyes.
Leia, don't give up now, Han thought. He could clearly feel her indecision as he quickly took action. Meeting her at the bottom step, Han held out his formally curved arm to her. The Princess raised her eyes nervously.
"It'll be all right. C'mon, Sweetheart," Han whispered softly, so that only she could hear. Exhaling, her expression revealed her anxious anticipation as she slipped her hand decisively around his bent elbow and allowed him lead her up the stairs. Once they reached the top, Leia dropped her grip from his arm as they turned to face each other. Reaching out, Han took Leia's trembling hands firmly into his and eased her a step closer to him. Squeezing her fingers, he gave her a reassuring wink and mouthed, 'You look beautiful.' Leia smiled back so brilliantly, Han felt himself become a little unsteady.
King Antropo started the ceremony following the script used for every royal bonding in the modern history of the Uluruan system. Neither Han nor Leia were paying any attention. They were completely focused on one another. Unable to wipe the awestruck expression off his face made Han feel slightly self-conscious in front of the Princess. Mostly though, he was ecstatic at having an excuse to be able to focus on her openly, up close and for an extended period of time.
To Leia, it all felt so incredibly real. She was bonding with Han Solo! Han Solo! A parade of opposing thoughts passed through her mind. She didn't know what to think about it at the moment except that it was all so mind-boggling - real or not. Han looked exceptionally dashing all dressed up in the refinery they had obviously forced him to wear. Regardless, he wore it well with his tall, muscular frame and broad shoulders. That was an understatement. As much as she found him attractive on a day-to-day basis, this was over and above anytime previously - well over and above. He was positively drop-dead gorgeous. Leia had never known a man before who could inspire that particular phrase to come to mind. When she first saw Han waiting for her on the dais today, her heart had skittered out of rhythm and she was unable to maintain eye contact for fear of completely melting before she reached him.
Leia was thankful that Solo had the presence of mind to retrieve her from the bottom of the steps. She was fine until she had reached that point. Momentarily, she had flashed back to her dream and it had disturbed her. Yet, that wasn't what had seized her. Vivid flashes of Alderaan being blown to bits had erupted through her mind. Although Leia knew she was doing the right thing for the people's sake and was set on making it all happen, she had stopped and had been frozen to the spot in fear of it all possibly happening again somehow. Thank the Force, Han quickly picked up on her hesitation before anyone could really notice and covered smoothly while at the same time giving her the encouragement she needed. Then almost as quickly as it had come, the fear had disappeared, and left her open to face the man standing in front of her once again. Mark another one up to Han Solo's Princess Rescue Service, Leia smirked to herself.
The King called Han's name, waking the absorbed couple to attention. In a slow and deliberate fashion, Han repeated the vows, falling so deeply into Leia's brown eyes that she felt faint. When the time came for her turn, she stammered and stumbled most of the way through, shaky in voice and demeanor. Understandable, since Han's rapt gaze never left hers the whole time. Declaring her love to Han Solo as he stood before her was one of the most unnerving things Leia had ever had to do - no matter what she might or might not feel for him. Grateful when her part was finished, Leia exhaled in relief.
As King Antropo droned on again for a few minutes, Leia finally realized what was coming next: the kiss! Staunchly traditional to this system's bonding ceremonies; there was no way around it. Her heart raced. She was would be forced to kiss Han in front of everyone. Fear gripped her worse than when being chased down by any Star Destroyer. This isn't how she had wanted to kiss Han for the first time, if she were going to kiss him at all, that is. Doing it here, in front of so many people watching was a nightmare come true.
Seeing the abrupt change in Leia's eyes, Han smirked, Guess she just remembered the kiss. With his next breath, his heart melted at the sight. Leia looked so… afraid. She was afraid of kissing him. Han never wanted Leia to fear him in an intimate moment.
Silence.
Everyone in the large hall sat remarkably still, waiting expectantly for the bonded couple's obligatory fateful kiss.
Reaching out, Han gently stroked his fingers along Leia's cheek as he slowly leaned in. Leia eyes fell closed at the touch of Han brushing his lips ever-so-softly across hers, barely touching them at all and scarcely long enough to appease the audience. Quickly, he pulled back right away.
When Leia opened her eyes, Han was staring questioningly back at her. Her reaction ran the gauntlet of emotions, not the least of which was surprise. Leia had expected him to take advantage of the situation, but he hadn't. Would the mysteries of Han Solo never cease? One other emotion stood out, too: disappointment. Although now she had a vague sense of what Han's lips felt like against hers, Leia wished for more. Realizing she was still staring blankly at Han, she allowed him to see small smile.
To cheers, the King announced the bonding ceremony over. The coronation was to come next. King Antropo stepped aside and Han stepped down a couple of steps behind Leia.
Royal attendants came and removed Leia's tiara. King Antropo resumed his former position and Leia knelt before him. At that point, the King began his officious speech, performed in the Uluruan system's native language and traditional to the coronation for ages. Mercifully, it was relatively short. Before long, King Antropo had laid the ceremonial crown on Leia's head and pronounced her 'Queen Leia of Uluruan.'
The new queen turned to face the crowded hall of people. Simultaneously, they all bowed their heads in reverence. Leia looked to Han who also had bowed his head. When he raised his eyes to meet hers, an encouraging wink and proud smile followed. Instantly, memories if the Yavin Battle medal ceremony played through her mind. Leia remembered how she had truly been able smile through her pain that day because of him.
The large crowd erupted into loud cheers and applause for Queen Leia of Uluruan. Leia reached out for Han's hand and pulled him up beside her. It felt good to have him standing there next to her as she faced everyone. The hardest part was over. Now all they had to do was get through the festivities.