7
CHAPTER V
"Could I get you something else?"
Mara flinched. Sebastian, Melchik, and Devoltan disappeared from her thoughts. She glanced up. Danton pointed to her glass.
"You hardly touched your drink. I have a lovely Cabernet from the same region. Would you like to try it?"
"No," Mara shook her head. "The wine is good. My mind was elsewhere, that's all."
"Don't make that a habit," a friendly and familiar voice responded.
Luke and Lando had joined her at the bar, with the Twi'lek hostess standing behind them, holding several menus in her arms. Mara gave Luke a sly look. He had that silly grin when he thought he was funny.
"It's not good for a Jedi to have his or her mind constantly drifting off," Luke observed, a touch of humor in his voice.
"Come on, Luke, stop giving Mara a hard time," Lando joked.
"Sorry, Lando, but that's all he knows how to do," Mara inclined her head to the Jedi Master.
"What can I get for you this evening?" Danton asked, as he placed two more glass coasters on the bar.
"Have the waiter bring the best bottle of champagne to our table," Luke said.
"Champagne?" Mara exclaimed. "What's the occasion?"
"The cryptic message I got from Han it concerns a treaty Leia has been working on for several months," Luke explained.
"Shall I show you to your table?" The Twi'lek asked.
"You go ahead, Lando. I need to talk to Mara. We'll join you in a few minutes," Luke said.
"Would you like something to drink, Sir?" Danton asked.
"Um," Luke cleared his throat. "A shot of Zyla Whiskey, please."
Mara's jaw dropped, her eyes wide with surprise. "Zyla Whiskey? Since when did you start drinking that?"
"I had it for the first time last week. Wedge invited me to meet the new Rogues. They were doing shots at the cantina. I decided to try it. I liked it."
Mara chuckled. "I'm proud of you, Farm-Boy. You're becoming more of an adult."
"Don't I know it," he replied in a good-natured tone.
Danton placed a shot glass in front of Luke. He poured the red liquid into the glass. Luke gulped it down rapidly.
"Another one, Sir?"
"Yes. No more after that."
Mara leaned back, surprised, as she watched him down the second drink. Why did he need two shots of whiskey?
"You never cease to amaze me, Luke." Mara laughed, shaking her head.
"Yeah, well," Luke mused. "I like to surprise people." He narrowed his eyes. "Sometimes, I like to think I'm a man of mystery," he said in a low ominous, yet playful tone.
Mara rolled her eyes. "Come on. You're about as mysterious as a Randu slider," she sarcastically responded.
The two friends shared a good laugh at her joke. He playfully poked her on her arm while she responded with a kick to his leg.
"Did you get your invitation to the Annual Celebration Ball?" Luke asked casually.
"I did."
"Good," Luke rubbed the glass between his palms. "Glad to hear it."
Luke lightly tapped his fingers on the bar. He piqued her curiosity. She had only seen him do that when Luke was nervous. What was going on?
Is Luke going to ask me to be his consort for the Ball?
"Mara, there's something I'd like to ask."
Mara noted a slight wavering in his voice as though he was a bit unsure of what to say next. She shifted her position in her chair, giving him her full attention.
"Go ahead."
Luke stared into her beautiful emerald, green eyes. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Instead, he gulped and then cleared his throat.
"Um," Luke stammered. "Uh, well." He paused. "Want another drink?"
"No."
"Okay," he nodded. "Good.""
"Need another shot of whiskey," Mara asked.
"No, no." Luke shook his head. He looked at his hands, and then up to her. "Would you be interested in being part of the Jedi Honor Guard?"
"What?"
The question left them both stunned. Luke forced himself to smile, frustrated that he failed to ask her to the Ball. Mara raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Yes." Luke spoke rapidly in an attempt to sound professional. "Yonga Syn has agreed to take part as well."
"Don't you usually have a padawan serve," Mara countered, deadpan. "It's a Master and a padawan."
Luke tapped his fingers on the counter. She was right. "Yes, but you are reliable and dependable." He silently cursed himself in his mind.
"That's me," Mara rolled her eyes. She did not know whether to laugh or groan. "Reliable and dependable."
"Good," he nodded. "Yonga Syn has agreed to do so as well."
"You just said that" Mara's bland, matter-or-fact tone made Luke cringe.
"I guess I did." Luke forced himself to smile. "Let's head over to our table." He pulled several credits from his pocket and set them on the counter. "Han and Leia will be here any moment."
Mara sat down at the table between Luke and Lando. Leia and Han entered. They were happy, almost giddy with excitement.
"Lady and gentlemen," Han announced, as they took their seats. "My wife has achieved the impossible."
"What's that," Luke joked, "domesticating you?"
"Very funny, Kid," Han sarcastically responded once the laughter at the table died down. "But, tonight, I'm going to let that one slide. Tonight is Leia's night, and I am very proud of her." Han kissed his wife on the cheek.
The waiter brought an ice bucket to the table that held a bottle of expensive champagne. He uncorked the bottle and proceeded to fill their glasses.
"So, don't keep us in suspense," Lando said. "Rumor has it that you were working on some treaty."
"I want to make a toast first," pronounced Han. He picked up his glass and turned to Leia. "To most brilliant and beautiful politician in the galaxy, my wife, Senator Leia Organa-Solo."
"I want to make add to that," Leia blushed. "To the most wonderful, loving and supportive husband," Leia lifted the glass to Han, and then to the others at the table. "As well as to my wonderful brother and fantastic friends without whom I don't think I could have accomplished this."
Leia leaned forward in her seat. "As you may all know, the galaxy has experienced some unrest, especially in the outer regions. Mon Mothma and I realized that we needed to strengthen our outer borders."
Mara felt a slight twinge in her body. Something about this conversation made her feel a bit uncomfortable.
"For the last several months, I have conducted secret negotiations with a part of the galaxy that has been reluctant to join the New Republic. The formal announcement is tomorrow, and the delegation will arrive in three days. I am very pleased to announce that the Qui'Tan System has agreed to join the New Republic. This new treaty will coincide with our annual Celebration Ball."
Qui'Tan.
Mara stared straight ahead. She put her right hand over her left, to keep from trembling. What am I going to do? Mara thought. I can't say anything right now.
"The Qui'Tan System has perfected the ability to combine nature and technology," Leia continued. "They have agreed to share this knowledge with us. They have wanted to join the New Republic for some time now."
"Why do they wait to join?" Luke asked.
"After the fall of the Empire, they wanted to focus on rebuilding their way of life. Also, some of their governors were reluctant to join."
"Luckily," Han added. "My wife did an excellent job of convincing them otherwise."
Lando stretched out his arm to rest on the back of Mara's chair. It was his way of letting her know her secret was safe with him. Mara breathed a sigh of relief. Lando is a trusted friend.
"Who will be in attendance?" Lando asked. Mara was secretly grateful of this question, but the possible answer made her a bit anxious. Mara squeezed her hand even tighter, waiting for the response.
"Duke Tirenne and his wife, Duchess Selah, along with their chief minister and advisor, Bek Kohle, and the newly elected Senator Raisa Castel. The Jedi Honor Guard will meet them to escort the delegation to the Senate."
"No one else?" Lando inquired.
"Just the usual attendants, personnel, and servants. Why do you ask?"
A sly smile formed on his face. "Haven't you forgotten when Queen Meilan from Dreysen visited? She said she was bringing a quote, 'small entourage,' unquote."
"Oh, no, how could I forget?" Leia wailed, and buried her head in her hands. "That was a nightmare."
"Yeah" agreed Han. "It looked as though she brought half the planet with her. We didn't know how many people were coming until they landed." Han laughed. "Watching Threepio scramble to find lodgings for everyone was a sight."
"Do you remember how many make-up people, wardrobe consultants, personal trainers and cooks she brought?" Leia shook her head. "For a queen who is an astute politician, I've never seen anyone so concerned about her appearance."
"You've never obsessed over your appearance, Princess," Han observed. "You are a natural beauty."
"Flattery will get you everywhere," Leia winked.
"Save that thought for later," Han blushed, a silly grin on his face.
"I get the distinct impression that we should leave," Luke motioned to Mara and Lando.
"Absolutely not," Leia insisted. "We are here to celebrate." She placed her hand on Han's arm and smiled.
The conversation was interrupted by the incoming message from Leia's interactive commlink.
"Don't tell me they've changed their minds?" Luke asked.
"No. It's just a message from Jena D'lan, my dressmaker. She wants me to come in tomorrow around 1500 for a final fitting for my dress for the Celebration Ball."
Leia gave Luke a hopeful look. He knew what it meant. She knew he wanted to ask Mara to the ball and had planned to ask her sometime before dinner. Luke glanced down at his folded hands, then looked up, an awkward, but bright smile on his face.
"Mara has agreed to be part of the Jedi Honor Guard to welcome the dignitaries," Luke announced. He looked around the table, hoping for some kind of support. Leia pressed her lips together, disappointed. Lando and Mara sipped their champagne. Everyone at the table fell into an awkward silence.
"So, Han, how's Chewie doing?" Lando quipped. He hoped that his question would help relieve the tension at the table.
"He's doing fine," he nodded.
"Now I forgot," Lando said, desperately trying to make a bit of small talk to ease the tension at the table. "What is the ceremony he's participating in?"
"It's a ritual on Kashyyyk that takes place every twenty years," Han explained. "Kind of a survival-slash-spiritual journey. It lasts for about six months or so. He didn't want to go, but Leia and I convinced him to participate in the tradition."
Everyone at the table fell silent. No one knew what to say. Han looked from his wife to his brother-in-law. She was not happy, and Luke was embarrassed. Han clapped his hands together, and opened his menu.
"I don't know about all of you, but I'm starving," Han chirped, hoping to change the moods of everyone at the table. "I hear this place is noted for their Octiban Steak. Remember. I'm buying."
Han smiled at everyone. Instead, they all buried their head in their menus, desperately hoping for dinner to end soon.