A Star Wars Fairy Tale: New Hope, Part 1

A Star Wars Fairy Tale: New Hope

Rating: PG (violence, mild language)

Pairings: Han/Leia

Disclaimer: The franchise belongs to George Lucas and the Walt Disney Company. I just got back into this fandom after more than a decade away and decided I wanted to play, too.

Notes: One of the many inspirations for Star Wars was beloved fairy and folk tales. I decided to go back to the source, so to speak. Among the stories I'm taking ideas from are “Cinderella,” “Rapunzel,” “King Arthur,” “Iron John,” “St. George and the Dragon,” and “The Princess of the Glass Hill.”

Notes 2: This is based around the Original Trilogy, though it mentions characters from the prequels (and the next story may mention a few from Force Awakens).

Once upon a time, in a world very, very far from ours, there lived a beautiful princess named Leia Organa. Leia was the princess of the Kingdom of Aldran, a peaceful land that was a member of the Alliance of the Seven Kingdoms. She had been raised by her Aunt Breha and Uncle Bail, the King and Queen of the land. They were far more like parents than her real father. Leia only knew her father as a tall, imposing figure whom everyone spoke of in frightened whispers. Her mother had died moments after giving birth to her. She'd never known her, and her aunt and uncle refused to even mention her name.

Leia grew to be as lovely and graceful as any princess who ever ruled Aldran. She was a tiny thing, barely up to her uncle's shoulders, with enormous brown eyes, long lashes, and thick, velvety brown tresses that, like all Aldran women, was worn so long, it touched the floor. She had skin as white as snow and a wide, laughing pink mouth.

In many ways, though, Leia was different from most Aldran noblewomen. Where other girls preferred to attend parties and learn how to sew and dress in fine clothes and braid their long hair, Leia went with her uncle to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow and wield a sword, how to ride a horse like the wind, and how to effectively deal with any crisis. Where other ladies of the Aldran court simpered and giggled, she raged, argued, and fought. She was known as the Ice Princess, an outspoken noblewoman with a will as strong as iron. Many boys courted her, but she turned them all away. She would rather help her uncle with his political duties than wed some foolish, vain prince or duke.

In truth, Bail was becoming rather concerned about his niece and her future. He wanted her to rule, certainly, but not alone. He thought she needed to settle down and wed a nice young man who would match her fiery temper and biting wit. While he loved her dearly, he also loved his kingdom and wished to see its line continue.

It was his wife Breha who came up with the idea of the Grand Alliance Ball. Leia merely scoffed at the idea when they brought it up with her. She had just come from her archery and sword training with the kingdom's finest soldiers. Her brown tresses were back in a messy braid that was a nest of sticks and leaves, and her plain blue and tan tunic, hose, and soft boots had grass stains on them.

“Oh Leia.” Her aunt reached up and gently tugged the sticks out of her hair. “What am I going to do with you? You're a young lady now, old enough to be starting a family of your own.”

Leia just shook her head. “I'll think of that when the time comes. Right now, I'm too busy. I'll be joining the Alliance Court in just a few days. I would rather focus on my work with the other members of the court than on romance.”

“Yes,” said Breha. “About your joining the Court. I thought this was the perfect occasion for your coming-out ball...”

“Oh Auntie, no!” Leia recoiled from the suggestion like it was a snake. “I can't stand those fancy balls. They're so dull! I don't mind the dancing so much, but I hate being shoved into some monstrosity of a gown and listening to royal idiots make boring conversation.”

“Leia,” her aunt countered, “it's tradition. Every Aldran noble who joins the Court has a ball. It introduces you to the best society, and is the perfect occasion to seek a husband...”

“I don't want a husband!” Leia shouted. She sighed at her aunt's downfallen expression. “If I do get married, it'll be on my own terms, to a man who will treat me like a partner and an equal, not like a prize to be won.”

“Leia, that will be quite enough.” Bail intervened. “You've been putting off the question of marriage for far too long. You will be attending this ball. It'll be a grand opportunity to meet the court, see new contacts.”

He took her aside as her mother went to talk to the dressmaker to see to Leia's gown. “I didn't want to mention this around your mother, but there's a possibility that Lord Vader and other Imperials may be at this ball.”

Leia frowned. The Kingdom of the Empire was the largest of the Seven Kingdoms. It swallowed other kingdoms whole and imposed cruel taxes and severe rules upon those citizens whose kingdoms they annexed. They'd been known to burn whole lands, destroying any kingdom that didn't submit to their harsh laws. They had recently started employing dragons, rare, fierce monsters, who breathed fire and were easily controlled by those with black magic, to burn any kingdom that disagreed with its laws to the ground.

Lord Vader, the Black Knight and right-hand man to wicked King Palapatine himself, was said to be the most evil and ruthless of all the Imperial warlords. He wore black armor that covered his entire body. Even his eyes were barely visible. It was said his black magic could rob a man of his breath without even touching him, or strip him of his senses, so he was barely a quivering mass of jelly. His dark powers gave him the ability to transform into any shape, including that of a demon with bat-like wings and horns sharper than a thousand swords.

“Leia,” he said softly, “there's a group of people gathering in the Enchanted Forests in the Kingdom of Endor who are collecting money for the poor and hungry and fighting to help those who have been displaced by the Empire.” He handed a scroll to the girl. “I want you to get this to my good friend and ally Sir Benjamin Kenobi, one of the last White Knights. He has already agreed to attend the ball. It's a dangerous mission. I'm too well-known to do it myself.”

Leia nodded. “I want to do this, Uncle Bail,” she said solemnly. “I know of the Rebels of the Woods. I believe that what they do is noble and good.” Leia didn't have the heart to tell her uncle she'd been working with them for over a year. In fact, the reason she wished to join the Imperial Court was to spy on them for the Rebels.

“Uncle,” she added, “one more thing. How could Sir Kenobi be a White Knight? I thought all of the Knights of the Force Order were wiped out years ago, when they turned on the people of the Seven Kingdoms.”

“Shh!” Bail shook his head. “That's just a myth. They were wiped out by the Black Knights, including Lord Vader. They lusted for the power the White Knights held. There are few White Knights left. Sir Kenobi is one of them. Like all of the Knights of the Force Order, he wields special magic that, when used for good, can heal wounds, read minds, and allow them to speak to animals.”

Leia held the parchment close to her. “I won't fail you, Father. This is far more important than any ball or dancing.”

“Yes, it is.” Bail affectionately kissed his niece's forehead. “But don't forget to have a good time, too.”

Leia smiled. “I won't.”