A few weeks later
Leia walked the halls of Bail Organa's home carefully, her body still recovering from being so close to the Epicenter of the shockwave. The Force had yet to return to her, and she was beginning to doubt it ever would, but she was coming to peace with that. If it never returned, in her opinion, it was a small price to pay for all the horrible things she had done. Sighing, she remember the first moment she had gotten alone with Obi-Wan, shortly before she left.
She had expressed her sorrow at the loss of his hand and he had assured her that it was alright and he had forgiven her. There was something different about him, more than just ordinary passage of time, he seemed happier than he had been even back when she was still with the Order. She wondered at its cause.
Breha's voice cut through her thoughts, "I see you're up and about again. You know Nema told you to take it easy." While it was an admonishment, there was also a note of humor in her voice. Leia sighed and said "I knew the Council would take some time to decide my fate, but I honestly never thought it would take this long."
"Don't worry." Breha said in a comforting voice, putting a gentle hand on Leia's arm, "You are not the only one they are having to consider, Padmé did ask for their help in figuring out what to do with all members of the Dark Force, especially those who surrendered in the last half of it." "I know, its just… even if they do decide to be lenient with me, I can't go back to being a Jedi, not if the Force doesn't come back to me. What am I going to do?"
"You are smart and resourceful, like your mother. You'll find something to do." Breha said with a smile. "I need to find some way to atone for what I've done, to make up for all the wrongs I have done." Leia said, almost as if she hadn't heard Breha. The older woman frowned and used her hand that was still on the younger one's arm to bring her attention to her. Once she had Leia facing her she said "What happened is not your fault, Maul was behind it all."
"I could have fought harder, I could have let him kill me on the numerous training lessons where he tried." Leia said, tears in her eyes. "Don't say that!" Breha said with more force than she meant to, but perhaps that was necessary, "If it hadn't been you there, who knows how the story would have ended. He would have found another Apprentice, one who would have followed him to the end and where would we be then?"
Leia sighed and said "You're right but…" Bail walked up to them just then. He noticed that he had stopped some conversation, one which by Breha's face was important, but this was too. Turning to Leia, he said "You're mom has requested you to return home. The Council has decided and is waiting for you to pass judgment." Leia sighed once more and turned to Breha, though she was speaking to both of them as she said "Thank you so much for letting me stay here these past few weeks."
"You are very welcome Leia. It has been fun for me, having you here made me think what it would have been like if we had been blessed with a daughter like you." Breha said, ending her statement with a hug for the younger woman. She didn't need to be a Jedi to tell that Leia was frightened about what the future held, but she was impressed with how well she remained looking outwardly calm. This girl would go far, if she would only give herself half a chance.
XXX
Leia stood before the Council. It's faces had changed somewhat in the years since she had been gone, but some were still the same. Obviously Yoda was still a big part of it and the others seated around the room were all familiar to her in some way. There was Obi-Wan Kenobi, Kit Fisto, Shaak Ti, Plo Koon, Depa Billaba, Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Caleb Dume, Saesee Tiin and Stass Allie. Some had been around since the Clone Wars, others having gained their seats only in recent years. Some gave her encouraging smiles, others gave her a wary glance that had nothing to do with her father this time.
"Leia, we do find you responsible for some of the things that happened during your time as Darth Keeran. While we understand that Maul had a hold on you, some of us feel you could have done more, put up more of a fight." Aayla started. "The crimes we do hold you responsible for are the deaths of those that you caused when Maul was not around, which by your count was no less than fifty and probably more." Ki-Adi-Mundi broke in.
"However, we do admit that you did much to save many lives, probably adding up to more than what you took." Stass Allie said with a smile. "We are grateful for those that you were able to spare, though do not think that you will escape all punishment." Saesee Tin spoke up. "Therefore we do strip you of your Jedi status and, should the Force ever return, you will not be allowed back in and be forced to wear an Inhibitor bracelet at all times." Shaak Ti finished.
Leia nodded her understanding and said "You have been more than fair with me Masters. Are you sure you do not wish to do anything more?" Her question shocked the Council somewhat and, while there was more to her punishment, they were unsure how to continue. They looked to Yoda who calmly asked "More you think is required?"
"I've hurt so many, took away more than just the lives of those that I did kill but I took them away from those who knew and loved them. Honestly, I wouldn't protest if you required my own life in their place." Leia said softly. Kit Fisto stood up from his seat and walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We all have done things in this war that we wished we would never have to, took lives of those who simply were trying to survive. Though we always did what we could to just wound, it wasn't always possible when the fear of Maul proved stronger than pain." He said.
"Kit is right, Leia." Luminara Unduli said from her seat, "You have been away from us for twelve years, yet you think your count was roughly fifty. That shows me that you were doing your best in a bad situation. Do not hold onto so much blame, who is to say that we would be able to have held back as much as you obviously did." Obi-Wan grieved quietly in his seat for the daughter of his friend, one who was like a brother to him and Leia was therefore like a niece.
Caleb looked to Yoda before saying, "Wait outside for a minute Leia, please." Leia nodded and left the room, finding Luke and her parents waiting for her. True to his words, Anakin had stepped down from being a Jedi the moment they had returned from Tatooine. Now he wished he had held onto it a bit longer and could insist on being in on the Council meeting, but not even Padmé with her title of Chancellor could, or would, do that.
Once Leia had left the Council, Caleb said "I think she is punishing herself more than enough, in fact I would keep an eye on her for the time being so that she doesn't do anything drastic to herself. Maybe we should require her to check in with Nema every week or so?" "I agree with you Caleb." Said Depa Billaba, "Let's drop the rest of her punishment, at least for now." Everyone agreed and Leia was called back in. "The only thing else we require of you, Leia, is you must check in with Nema, not just for your physical health, but your mental until Nema tells us it is no longer necessary, agreed?" "Agreed, thank you Masters. Once again, I am sorry for everything." Leia replied, before quietly turning and leaving the room.
XXX
It was another week before Leia felt like much company, at which time Padmé hosted a small party of their close friends. It was held on Naboo and so those with secret families could attend with them. Leia was made privy to Obi-Wan and Caleb's secret, something she left grateful to be entrusted with. Lux Bonteri was in attendance and it pleased her to see her Master hanging out with him and treating him like more than a friend. She was sure that there would soon be a third family to be kept secret. The Bridgers, Freemakers and Becky had also been invited, and though she never knew them, except for Becky whom she had met in passing, they were all friendly towards her. Naare joked with Mara about something Leia didn't quite hear, but it caused the red head to blush.
Jyn and Cassian hadn't been able to make it, but Maketh was there and Leia was grateful to be reunited with her friend. And of course her grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousin and her fiancé were there. But, besides Luke and her parents, the most important guest to her was Han. And he had yet to show up. Turning to her mother, an hour into the party she sighed and said "He isn't coming is he?" "If he doesn't he has a good reason I'm sure. Either that or he will wish he did, once I get my hands on him." The last part was said with a wink and earned the giggle it had set out to make.
Just then, she saw his face in the small crowd and she gasped slightly as she said "There he is!" Padmé left her side to give her some time alone with the man she loved. Han reached her, apologizing as he said "Apparently Maul didn't care for those of us who often shuttled the Jedi. Even though he's dead, people seem to think that his bounty on our heads is still good. I ran into a bounty hunter who wanted to have me for the bounty."
"I'm glad you could make it then, is there anything left of the bounty hunter?" she asked mischievously, to which Han chuckled and replied "Yeah, but he's going to be tied up for a while." Then he bent down and gave Leia a kiss. "I'm glad the Council didn't put you away forever, I don't know what I would do without you in my life." Most of the time during her time at Alderaan, Han had been there and the two had become inseparable. He had to make a quick supply run for the Jedi and had hoped to be back before Leia had been called in for her sentencing but had been unable to make it, nor had they seen each other since then.
Leia sighed and said "It's not fair for me to be so happy with you, when friends and family of mine who are still in the order can't do so, at least not openly. Something needs to change." "So why don't you do something about it? I mean you may not be a Jedi anymore, but that doesn't stop you from having a voice." Han said, causing her to look up at him with a stunned expression before she quietly said "You're right. I am going to do something about it."
Her family watched the conversation and, while unable to hear what had been going on, they saw the change come over Leia, the purpose for something filling her with excitement. Whatever it was, they knew it was going to bring changes to their lives, but the question was what would that change be?
XXX
Several weeks later
"You ready for this?" Luke asked his twin, who glanced over at him nervously. "Ready, but I just hope that everyone who helped me with this won't live to regret it." Leia said. "They won't. They agree with you, that it's time for a change." Luke reassured her. Leia would have said something more, but at that moment they were summoned into the Council chamber.
For once, in way to many years, the whole Council was together in person. Leia took a deep breath and caught the reassuring looks of Obi-Wan and Caleb from the corner of her eye. "Something to discuss with us you have, young Skywalker?" Yoda said in addressing her. Oh for the Force so she could sense what was going on, but Luke would do his best to convey what the others were feeling, so she took a deep breath and said, "Yes Master, I do."
"It has come to my attention that for too long have we worked on the bases that a connection is a bad thing." Holding up her hand, she said "Now hear me out, I know some of you want to question my use of we along with what right do I have to talk of such things, but hear me out." Luke could sense some of the Masters yearning to do just what she said, but for now they held their peace. A good sign, they wouldn't have made it this far if Mace was still around.
"Now, there have been some connections that were encouraged, twin bonds being the highest among those, which was always odd to me as otherwise you would always try to separate families, like Master Depa and her sister, even though both were Jedi much like Luke and I were both Jedi. Tiplar and her sister never turned to the Dark Side, nor considered it, no matter that familia bond. Yes, I did, but so have many Jedi who were kept from their families, like Dooku."
"Just think of all those recruits we miss out on because their families don't want to lose contact with them. Right now, more than ever, we need those younglings to strengthen our numbers once more so we can help the galaxy out wherever there is a need without hesitation. My father and those others who have left to have families, they could still be here, they could have been a big help in the time of war we just went through against the Dark Forces." Leia continued.
"I could bring you witnesses to attest that bonds with family have not created a problem, but rather provided emotional support when we were too busy to give it to them. Though I hesitate to do so, only because I do not want to get them in trouble should you decide to stay close minded in this subject." Leia finished. The Council was silent for a moment, before Ki-Adi-Mundi asked "How can we be sure you really have a witness? Everyone knows such connections are forbidden after all."
Before Leia could answer, a voice said "Perhaps, that is the problem itself. After all Anakin almost believed Palpatine because he felt he could not turn to us, imagine how much sooner we could have stopped him and the whole Clone Wars if we had only known." Depa was the owner of the voice, and she earned a nod from the Cerean Jedi before he responded "Be that as it may, I would like to hear one of these witnesses account on things."
Once again, before Leia could open her mouth, a voice said "Alright, I will give you one." Gasp were heard from several Council members as they realized the person speaking was Obi-Wan. "I deeply apologize Masters, but I have been married for the past few years and I even have a daughter. In fact you sent someone to check and see if she could become a Jedi, but Satine and I decided against it." There was silence for a moment before Kit Fisto said "Oh my gosh, Sundi is your daughter!"
Leia could tell some did not approve of Obi-Wan's secrecy and that he would be getting lectured on it soon. "Well, if Obi-Wan is going to come out and say it, I guess I can too. I recently married Hera Syndulla." Caleb broke in. Depa almost fell out of her chair as she shouted "And I wasn't invited!?" She too, earned glares for her remark. Naare, who had slipped in when Luke alerted her in the Force spoke up and said "I have been letting Rowan visit his siblings since day one. I know, you all are thinking my Master is rolling over in his grave right now, but I honestly don't care. It's what he and his family needed."
"And Obi-Wan and Ahsoka used to let us visit our parents." Luke spoke up from his sister's side, as Ezra popped in and said "And my name is Ezra Bridger. I found out a few years ago that the Bridgers are my parents and I have been spending time with them ever since." "Oh yeah, and I visited my grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin quite often." Luke added. "Not to mention it was my friendship, dare I say love, for Han that brought me back to the Light, along with the love of my family." Leia finished. The Council was quite for a good minute, before Yoda said "Discuss this we must, Obi-Wan and Caleb stay you can, unless not want to you do."
The two Masters chose to stay in the room, knowing that they would probably be deeply questioned if they did, while the others filed out. Leia sighed once the doors closed behind them and she asked "How do you think that went?" "As well as it could have. If they don't change their minds for this, then they will never change them.
XXX
Hours passed before the small group, which had grown to those they had mentioned (along with Hera, Satine and Sundi, who couldn't stay away knowing what this might bring for their families), were summoned back into the room. Obi-Wan and Caleb kept all emotion off of their faces and from leaking into the Force, so no one knew what to expect, nor if the news would be good or bad. Master Yoda stood and said "Our decisions is..."
Wow, this chapter kept going! I didn't realize how much I left undone (and I feel like I'm still forgetting something), for instance that I had totally forgotten about my Ahsoka/Lux side story, nor that Lux hadn't even been mentioned since the first story! That is a travesty, because I am such a Ahsoka/Lux fan (would love some suggestions for fanfics with not necessarily strictly focusing on their relationship, but with some of that in there, if you know of any please tell me!)!
Well anyways I hope you enjoyed this story and are looking forward to when I come back with the next one, which should come out (if I do it) after Episode 9. Until then, see you!
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Haha just kidding, don't worry, you won't have to wait long until you see what happens with the Council's decision. Seriously, that line has been around since my first story (literally copy pasted it from the note I've kept going with all of my ideas for this story) and I'm so glad to finally get to write it!
Ohh and the Council, I had to backtrack through my other two stories today and see who I had as part of the Council confirmed which ended up being ten, then went through the list of those who had been on the Council during the Clone Wars and picked out two since it listed twelve as being the number on the Council everywhere I looked, if I am wrong please let me know for future stories.
I have also decided that the Tholothian's are one of, if not my absolute, favorite species of Star Wars. I say this because I love Stass Allie, Adi Gallia and Katooni a lot. And of course, I love me some Rig Nema so I had to include her, seriously when that new season of Clone Wars comes out, I really hope they do some more with her, or at the very least mention her so I can fan girl XD Anyways if you read all that, sorry for my rambling I'm just so stoked about this story and now I'm kind of bummed its coming to an end, but its for the best and I can move onto new things this way so yay :D