Chapter 145

"I imagine that Taylor has told them almost everything she has wanted to," Eean remarks as he walks back to the main plaza with Ari, Han and Chewbacca. They had eaten a leisurely meal, taking over an hour to order and eat.

Ari nodded, though she wasn't certain. She couldn't tell through the Force how Luke or Leia were taking this news. However, they had been through a lot and she was almost certain that they would take it as well as could be expected. Ari was certain there were even some things that Siri and Taylor hadn't told her.

As they approached the plaza where they had left the twins with Taylor, Ari scanned the area, looking for them. Her eyes took in all the people even as she reached out with the Force. She felt a sudden urge to look toward the right and it was there that she saw Taylor, Leia and Luke. Luke had one arm around Leia, who was nodding to something that Taylor was saying.

Then, Luke caught sight of Ari, Han, Chewie and Eean. He gave a nod to show it was alright for them to approach. Then he said something to Taylor and Leia, probably that the others had come back, since Leia and Taylor looked over. Ari noted that she saw Leia wipe at her eyes as if she had shed tears.

Yet, when she got closer, she couldn't see any trace of tears in the other young woman's eyes.

"Have a good talk?" Eean asked and Taylor nodded.

"We did," the Jedi agreed, tucking back a strand of her brown hair as she got to her feet. "And now it is time for me to go."

"Do you have to?" Ari spoke up.

Taylor nodded. "But we'll see each other again, I'm sure of it." Ari smiled at this, glad to hear this. She knew nothing could be certain, but she had a feeling that Taylor was right. They would see each other once again.

"May the Force be with you," Ari murmured to her.

"May the Force be with you," Taylor repeated. Then she glanced at Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie. "All of you," she added. With another wave, she took Eean's hand, then disappeared into the crowds of people.

Ari finally turned back to Luke and Leia. She could tell that some of what they heard bothered them. Yet, they still seemed to be dealing well with it. She wanted to ask about it, but stopped herself. They would have to come to terms with things first. Then, if they were willing to share, she would listen. First, they would need time to do that though.

Leia took a deep breath and let it out before brushing off her dress again. "We should go. It is getting late and I would like to seek an audience of the Queen." Ari knew she could reach out with the Force to see how Leia was handling all this, but stopped herself from doing that.

As they walked down the street, Ari noticed a number of marks in the ground and they looked new. She was walking next to Luke and motioned to some of them with her head, a questioning look on her face.

"Taylor said that the people of Naboo fought back against the Empire after the Death Star was destroyed. They managed to get them to leave Naboo, though there are still some Imperial supporters."

Ari smiled when she heard this. She imagined it was similar to the battle her mother talked about, the one that happened when Katri and Derin were children. That was when humans and Gungans allied together to beat the Trade Federation. Naboo was a small planet, but a proud one.

As they reached the entrance, Leia quickened her pace as she approached the doors. "I am Princess Leia Organa of the Royal House of Alderaan. I seek an audience with Queen Kylantha."

The guards looked at one another. One spoke into a comlink in hushed tones so none of them could tell what was being said. They kept back with Leia in the front, her chin raised, looking like the princess she was, even if she was an adopted member of the Organa family. She apparently had also done her research, since she knew who the Queen was, unless they had met at the Imperial Senate or some other governmental event.

The conversation on the comlink only took a few minutes and then the guard nodded. "Someone will be here to meet you shortly."

This meant that the group had nothing to do but wait. Ari was feeling nervous and briefly wondered if she seemed the part of a Jedi. She was not at all well known. Not like Luke or Leia. Not even as well as Han or Chewbacca. She was just another member of the Rebel Alliance and now she was going to meet another royal. Perhaps someone her mother knew, though Ari would never know. She and finished the journal and had a lot of information, but a lot had changed in these many years.

A few minutes later, a young woman came out to meet them. She had light brown hair and green eyes. "Welcome, Princess," she bowed to Leia then saw the others standing behind Leia.

"General Han Solo, Chewbacca, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker and Jedi Knight Arianna Narabe," Leia introduced them to the woman.

"Welcome to all of you as well. The Queen is currently in a meeting, but will be meeting with you when it is concluded."

She led the way with Leia. Following behind them were Han and Chewie with Ari and Luke bringing up the rear of the small procession.

Inside the palace was beautiful, just as her mother had always said. Ari wanted to see more of it, but the woman, whose name was Terra, continued to lead them to a path that seemed to lead to the Throne Room. However, she did point out a few areas, talking about their importance and why they were there. Once she mentioned Queen Amidala and Ari noticed that both Luke and Leia shared a look at this. They were walking the same halls their mother had. Ari then realized she was walking the same halls as her own mother. She might have followed in her mother's footsteps if not for all that had happened.

When they reached the doors to the throne room, Terra asked them to wait there. Leia assured her that they would and Terra entered the throne room, the guards closing the doors behind her before any of them could glance into the room.

They couldn't hear anything, so again it was more waiting. Ari noticed that Han was tugging on his jacket, uncomfortable. "Stop," Leia whispered to him. Then her face softened. "You always do fine." Her hand brushed his arm and he stopped and smiled back at her.

Ari decided to look at their surroundings and give the two of them relative privacy. She didn't look up until the doors opened. Terra wasn't there, but there was a young woman, a few years older than her, leaving the room, an aide at her side. She had light brown hair and brown eyes. She was about to walk past, then she caught sight of the group.

She stopped short when she saw them. "Leia?"

Leia was also looking surprised. "Pooja?" she asked. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"After the Senate was dissolved, I returned home to become an aide of the Queen." Then her eyes moved over the group in front of her. She clearly recognized some of the group, but Leia decided to introduce them all again, using the same titles as before.

"And this is Pooja-" she stopped short as if she had just realized something and Luke frowned. Ari could tell why. Even she could tell that Leia was distressed by something. What was it? She didn't sense anything amiss in the immediate area.

Leia seemed to regain herself and started again. "This is Pooja. Pooja Naberrie."