The light left the village not long after Leia walked out onto the walkway. Han was out there with her, and Anna had not seen the coupe for a while. Instead, she sat in the now-quiet hut, looking down at her lightsaber. She twisted it around in her hand, the metal giving off a sheen as it hit the dying light of the fire.
Part of her wanted to run to Luke, to help him fight this battle that he was so set on engaging in. She wanted to be at his side, fighting for what was good. The other part of her was telling her to stay here, as the galaxy could not afford to lose two Jedi, especially not in one night and especially when they were the last of their kind. The two opposing forces were holding her in an equilibrium state, forcing her to stay sitting in the hut, watching as the fire crackled and orange embers floated away, eventually going their glow and going dark. It was quiet in the hut know, with only Han and her remaining in the hut, along with the small group of Ewoks that had been described by Threepio as the Council of Elders. They occasionally murmured to one another, but neither Han, Threepio or Anna said a word, Artoo didn't beep, and Chewie didn't growl. The only sound that stayed consistent was the fire.
Han stood up from behind her, and watched as he walked out to the walkway where Leia and Luke had been. His light was gone, she knew that he had left the village despite Leia's best efforts. Anna swallowed, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her once more. Even though they had hit choppy waters in their relationship, there was no hiding the fact that she still cared a great deal about him. Maybe even further than that.
Do not say the L-word, she hissed to herself in her mind. There was no time to be deluding herself with such thoughts. She may not ever see Luke again. She knew that a man such as the Emperor that was fully committed to evil and the dark side was powerful enough to kill the young Jedi without a second glance. Underestimation would get Luke killed, as powerful as he thought he was. The Emperor was no fool; he would only kill the Jedi if he had to. Why kill someone who could benefit the Empire so much, being equally as powerful as Vader, if not stronger.
Luke would never turn, she thought to herself. Never. That darkness is not him like it is with the Emperor or Vader.
She looked up as Han returned to the inside of the hut.
"Leia's still out there," he said quietly. "I'm going to sleep for now. When she comes back, let her know where I went."
"No problem," Anna said as he picked up his weapons. Chewie stood up himself, following Han as the exited the hut.
She closed her eyes, trying to meditate, but her mind was bombarded with the opposing voices that refused to leave her alone. One screamed at her to go after Luke, while the other one told her to stay in the village, and to let him fight his own battles. It was an ongoing war in her head, and she let out a tortured sigh.
Leia walked in at that moment, and Anna turned around.
"Han went to his hut," she said.
"I'm not here to see him," Leia responded. "Luke told me something out there."
Anna stood up so that she could face the former princess directly.
"I'm his sister," she stated.
For whatever reason, Leia had expected the other girl to be more surprised by the revelation. "You knew?"
"No," Anna said. "Not exactly, I mean. I managed to put it together in my head, seeing how you behaved around him. I could see that you loved him, but different than your love for Han. Not romantic, but something else. I thought that you had known already."
Leia shook her head. "There was a part of me that always knew," she said. "I don't know how to describe it, but I knew." She sighed. "He's gone now. Told me that he was off to face his father in order to protect our mission here."
Anna nodded. "He told me that," she said. "To be honest, I don't even know why I'm still here. I do care for him after all; he's walking right to his death, and I'm not there to help him fight it."
Leia tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, looking out the door to the hut, where Luke had stood not long before. "Go after him," she said, then turned to face the other girl. "Anna, go follow him. I need to know that my brother is safe."
The phrase felt weird on the former princess' tongue. My brother. Luke. It was something that she never could've expected.
Anna opened her mouth to speak, but shut it again. She had fully expected Leia to talk her out of it, but the exact opposite had been spoken. It stunned the younger girl for a moment.
"I will go with a promise," Anna said. "I will come back, and I will make sure that the Death Star is gone. I will not allow him to succumb to the dark side."
Leia nodded. "I have faith in you," she said.
Anna clipped her lightsaber to her belt and turned to walk out of the hut. There was not much time left for her to reach wherever Luke was going. She could feel Vader's cold presence on the planet now, and would use it to direct her.
"Before you go," Leia said, making Anna pause in the doorway. "If the worst is to happen, make sure you tell him."
Anna nodded, knowing what Leia was talking about. "I hope it doesn't have to come to that," she said plainly, and strode out of the hut.