As it turned out, everyone would be leaving sooner than expected. Ever since his defeat in the Enchanted Woods at Yavin, the half-demon war lord Vader had been obsessed with finding his daughter and the two men who had aided her and the Rebels during the battle. The boy who lead the dragons had particularly captured his attention. There was only one way he could have turned the Sith Dragons against him, and that was with the Force. He'd felt a strange ripple in the Force at the ball, one that wasn't Leia or old Sir Kenobi. He'd never felt powers that were so raw and untapped, yet so strong. He had to have them.
He'd had his best spies find out more about those young men in the three years since the Sith Dragons left the Kingdom of the Empire. They'd discovered that the archer was Han Solowolf, a notorious thief and trader. The boy's name was startlingly familiar – Luke Skywalker. It was a name he hadn't heard in decades, not since he...not since his Padme left this world. This Skywalker was a humble farmer's nephew who had come to Aldran to get a job and had been befriended by Kenobi and Solowolf.
“Sir,” Brendol Hux Sr. was whining, “this is the fourth time this month Rebels In the Woods have attacked us. We lost more than fifty thousand credits worth of tax money!”
Vader was only half-listening. “You said you were attacked in the Kingdom of Hoth.”
Hux nodded. “Yes, on the outskirts of the Enchanted Woods. I knew it was too dangerous to pass through there. We should have gone through Coruscant. It's far safer. You shouldn't be so reckless...”
That was when Hux began gasping. “I want results, not your complaints.” Vader clenched his fists. Hux dropped to his knees. “Who attacked you?”
“Don't know...” Hux gasped. “Looked like my men...they weren't...don't know what happened to my men...” He grabbed at Vader's fingers. “My Lord...please...my wife is with child...she needs me...”
Vader finally dropped him. He nearly ended up on the floor. “I have even more need of you. Alert Captain Needa of the Guardsmen that we're going to attack the Kingdom of Hoth, near Lothal Village.”
“Yes...sir...” Hux managed to gasp.
Vader strode out to prepare the men. He sensed Skywalker's powers. Like his daughter's, they were strong, even stronger than hers, but untapped. Kenobi had tried to turn the boy from him, but he wouldn't allow it. He wouldn't lose this apprentice. He would train him and Leia, and they would join him at his master's side.
First, however, he had those infuriating Rebels to drive out of the forest and into the open, and that meddling Solowolf to contend with. His men said that Solowolf was seldom seen without Skywalker or Organa, and they were seldom seen without each other or him. They always worked in tandem. He would have to find a way to separate them. They would be more vulnerable without the gypsy's protection.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There was little warning. Luke and Leia sensed Vader's presence before most others...and the Woods sensed it before them. The snow-coated branches shook. Icicles fell into the snowdrifts, their needles making musical tinkles in the clear, crisp air. Snow foxes and squirrels dove into their trees and holes, growling and chattering at the intruders.
“General,” Leia insisted, shivering as she entered Rieekian's cave. “we have to evacuate. The Kingdom of the Empire found us. The Imperials are on their way.”
“Are you sure?” Even as Rieekien spoke those words, horses rode into camp. Luke had said he felt well enough to lead Wedge and some of the others in another carriage raid. Leia regretted letting him go now. None of them were in good shape. Luke had Dak laying on Tauntaun. Wedge was nursing a wound that clearly once had an arrow in it.
“It was a trap.” Wedge winced as he climbed off his horse Rogue. Leia and another woman helped Luke with Dak. “There were at least sixty men in that carriage, and we saw more coming.”
Luke nodded. “Including Lord Vader. I saw him in the air. He'll be here any minute.”
Rieekian nodded at Leia. “Give the evacuation order.”
Han didn't care about evacuations. He was working on the Falcon with help from Arthur the Blacksmith. Arthur's friend Cecil occasionally threw in his two credits. “At least the wheels look better now. Hopefully, those nails of yours will keep the passenger's side door on. Thanks, Art.”
Arthur's fingers flew. Cecil nodded. “Arthur says he appreciates being able to help. He knows how you feel about this vehicle. It's been too long since we worked on a carriage that wasn't Rebel-issue.” Arthur rolled his eyes at Cecil, his fingers somehow looking annoyed. “Well, I worked on it, too! I handed you the tools! That's hard work. You keep them in such disarray, I never know where I'll find them. I once found the hammer in a stew pot! Thank goodness it wasn't near dinnertime.”
“All right, you two, enough.” Han had gotten used to their constant bickering by now. For all their fussing at each other, Han had to admit he was almost starting to like them. Arthur was even teaching him some of the Language of the Mutes. He might be able to get some new customers.
“Han!” Luke rode over on Tauntaun, his few possessions slung in saddlebags. “We're evacuating camp. Vader's on his way with half the Imperial Army.”
“Damn.” Han threw the last wrench into the Falcon. “Good thing I was on my way out anyhow.” He saw how pale the young man looked. “You all right, kid?”
Luke nodded. “Yeah.” Chewie nudged him, whinnying. The Wookie Stallion adored Luke and Leia like they were his own colts. Luke scratched the horse behind the ear and fed him a sugar cube. He turned to Han and smiled. “Thanks again for saving me.”
“Anytime.” Han patted the younger man on the shoulder. “You be careful, kid.”
Luke nodded. “You too.” He headed off into the caves on Tauntaun. Han frowned and went in the opposite direction. He'd hoped Leia had already left. He heard rumbling outside the caves, even as he and Cecil hurried down the halls.
Leia was in Rieekian's cave, giving orders to the remaining staff to evacuate. The sounds of arrows and cannonballs from battle carriages could be heard outside. One ball blew through the roof, shattering everything around it, including a great deal of equipment. “Your Worship, I heard the main cave's been hit.”
“Why are you still here?” Leia snapped. “You were given your clearance to leave nearly an hour ago!”
“Solowolf is right, Your Highness,” Rieekien added. “I'll be leaving here myself shortly. The first carriages will be out in a few minutes.”
Leia nodded. “Keep as many of our horsemen around the supply carriages as possible.”
That was when a second ball blasted through the wall...and Han heard the sound of booted feet and breathing that closely resembled that of a snake. “Come on. That's it. We have to go.”
They tried to make their way towards the main entrances, dodging falling balls, arrows, and icy debris. Leia heard the ball coming before Han did and managed to pull him down with her as it shattered the ceiling and walls around them, causing most of the cave to collapse.
When the dust cleared, they were thankfully unhurt, but the cave was filled to the top with jagged pieces of ice. Han shook his head. “We'll never dig through that. I'll have to get you out on the Falcon.”
“Are you crazy?” Leia followed Han to the carriage storage cave. “That bucket of bolts would never get past the Imperial battle carriages!”
“You'd be surprised, sweetheart.” He was glad Chewie was already hitched up to the Falcon. He reached into the back of the carriage and grabbed his longbow and arrows before leaping into the driver's seat.
“Wait for me!” Cecil hurried towards the Falcon as fast as his long legs could muster. “I was blocked from the other carriages by the cave-in. I don't want to be left to the snow monsters or the Imperial Army!”
“Will you just get in?” Leia wrenched the back door open, threw Cecil in head-first, and shut it again. She jumped into the driver's seat alongside Han, just as they heard arrows thumping into flesh and snake-like breathing.
Vader arrived just in time to see Solowolf's aging gypsy carriage fly out of the cave. It plowed through soldiers and Rebels alike, Solowolf getting off a few shots at his men as the vehicle bounced over the snow. The Wookie Stallion was so quick and agile, no one could catch up with it. Several carriages hurried after them. All Vader could do was watch as the carriage disappeared into the snow-laden woods.
“I want that carriage followed,” Vader demanded. “Bring me the Princess and the Wookie Stallion unharmed. Do what you wish with Solowolf.” The troopers bowed and hurried to their long, heavily armed battle-carriages, fearful of what the half-demon warlock would do to them if they disobeyed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Han drove them deeper and deeper into the Enchanted Woods, his horse Chewbacca galloping as fast as his hooves could carry them.
Leia looked over her shoulder. “There's three battle carriages coming right after us!”
Han flicked the reins harder. “I can't get Chewie to go any faster in this deep snow.” He frowned as Leia climbed into the cart. “What are you doing?”
“I'm looking for a comb.” She pushed past Cecil, who was trembling on Han's bunk, and opened up a trunk. She tossed out various bits of clothing and accessories until she let out a “Perfect!” She pulled out a long wooden comb with sharp teeth.
“Hey!” Han exclaimed as she poked her head out of the cart. “That's my only comb!”
“The way your hair looks, you never use it anyway.” She concentrated on the comb, then threw it to the ground. The moment it landed, up sprang a grove of thorny bushes that tangled the first carriage so it couldn't move an inch.
Cecil was watching from the back. “Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but there's still two more out there!”
“I'm working on it.” She next pulled out a small mirror, placing a second spell on it. When it was thrown, it became a deep lake. The second carriage tried to drive through, but it became quite waterlogged and sank in the middle.
Han ducked two arrows shot in his direction. “There's one left. You got anything else up your sleeve, sweetheart?”
“I'm looking!” She dove further into the trunk, trying to stay away from the flying arrows. Cecil whimpered, hiding in one of the compartments Han used for smuggling contraband.
An arrow just barely missed Han's head. “I'll see if I can pick a few off.” He pulled his bow and arrows out from where they were hung on the walls in the cart behind the driver's seat. He did manage to get two men off the carriage while tying the reigns to the driver's seat before Leia emerged again, this time with an old basket. “Put that back,” Han fussed. “I use it for carrying smuggled goods!”
“Han, it's a splintered mess. We'll get you a new one later.” She tossed it into the snow. A grove of small, hardy trees sprang up from the basket, blocking the last carriage. The branches of the trees beat at the men, throwing them and scratching at them until they had no choice but to flee.
“What'll we do, Captain?” The lead trooper asked. “You know how angry Lord Vader will be when he found out we lost them.”
Needa squared his shoulders. He knew all too well how Vader will react. “I will take full responsibility for losing them and apologize to his Lordship myself.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Leia climbed back into the carriage. “I think that's the last of them.”
“Yeah, for now.” Despite the skepticism in his voice, Han did slow Chewie to a trot. “I wouldn't be surprised if there were more lurking in the snow somewhere.”
Leia shook her head. “They wouldn't go into the Woods. It won't let them.”
Han rolled his eyes. “How do you know how trees and grass feel?”
“It's part of my powers. I can sense it.” Leia shrugged. “I'm not as good at it as Father is, but I can pick up general feelings.”
Han smiled at her, taking her hand. “You know, you did pretty well back there, for a princess.”
Leia did not like him rubbing her hand. “Thank you, but I wish you wouldn't do that.”
“Do what?”
“Rub my hands. They're dirty.”
“Mine are dirty, too. What are you afraid of?”
“Afraid?” She wasn't afraid of anything...except losing control. To him.
“You're trembling.” Han couldn't believe how beautiful she looked just then. Even in the ragged white blouse and leggings the Rebels had pieced together for her from cast-off clothes and old fur, she still seemed as delicate and soft as the snow around them.
“I'm not trembling.” She couldn't tear her wide brown eyes from him. “I just...I like nice princes. You're not nice, or a prince.”
Han couldn't deny the latter part. “I'm a nice man.”
“No, you're not, hotshot. You're...” But they were kissing before she could even complete her sentence.
Leia didn't know how long they were kissing. Time seemed to have stopped. It was just the two of them and the muffled rhythm of Chewbacca's hooves in the snow.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted, then began to slow, scraping on the ground. A rather whiny, very proper dark-haired head in a tattered gold uniform popped out of the side. “Sir, we seem to have hit a rock in the road. The wheel is rather badly bent.”
“Damn.” Han looked over his shoulder. The lower-right-hand wheel was, indeed, dented in several places, thanks to a very prominent rock. Han turned to Leia, only to see her retreat into the cart. “Thank you, Cecil,” he growled at the former butler. “Thank you very much.”
Cecil was immune to sarcasm. “Oh, you're very welcome, Captain Solowolf.”
Han poked his head in the back. “I think I can get us down to the Woods in the Kingdom of Kashyyak. It'll be easier to fix the Falcon there than in deep snows. Besides,” he gave them one of his famous grins, “Chewie and I have family there.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Needa was right in thinking Vader wouldn't be happy to hear he lost the Falcon. He was dead by strangulation before he hit the ground. “Apology accepted, Captain Needa,” Vader said as he strode past the man. He didn't accept failure...from anyone.
“Sir,” said another officer as two Bast Castle guards gathered Needa's remains, “King Palapatine has arrived. He demands an audience with you.”
“I will speak to him in my chambers.” He saw the disgust on the man's face. “Have the huntsmen arrived yet?”
The officer nodded. “They're here, Your Lordship.”
Vader was already making his way across the courtyard. “I'll address them after I've spoken to my master.”
“Your Lordship,” the officer began, “are you sure it's wise to recruit such scum? Most huntsmen are said to be the worst sort of criminals. We don't need their kind.”
“Solowolf is also said to be the worst sort of criminal.” Vader entered the main fortress, the officer struggling to keep up with his long strides. “It takes a thief to catch a thief. There's already a bounty on Solowolf's head. The King of Tatoon wants him. They know his ways better than anyone in the Kingdom of the Empire would.”
The officer finally bowed. “Very well, Your Lordship.” Vader turned towards his tower as the officer made his way towards the greeting hall.
Vader had once shared his chambers with his beloved wife Padme. Back then, Naboo had been a place of happiness and joy. For everyone, that is, but him. As a light-powered Force Knight, he had sworn a vow of chastity...but he'd fallen deeply in love with Naboo's queen, the most intelligent, strongest, beautiful woman he'd ever known. They were secretly married in a small chapel in Naboo's Lake Country. That chapel was among the first buildings he'd ordered destroyed when Naboo became the Kingdom of the Empire and the love of his life saw her last breath.
He did have one reminder of her. Leia was as wise and lovely as her lost mother, with his strong will and hot temper. She had considerable Force skill, not quite to the degree of Skywalker, but more than average. That fool brother of Padme's, Bail Organa, had begged him to leave Leia alone and let her live her life, without the responsibility of such immense power. But Bail was now gone, ground up in the belly of a dragon. She was all he had now, and he would do with her which he saw fit.
The room was dark and stuffy. The windows were covered with boards. Not a speck of light showed through them. The furnishings were made of black crystal and heavy, muffling velvet. The walls were lined with old tapestries won from conquered lands that depicted Black Knights successfully defeating their enemies in battle.
Vader felt his master's presence long before he entered the room. Palapatine, King of the Empire and Master Black Knight, was the most powerful being in all the Seven Kingdoms. He was deceptively old and shriveled. The few people who could see beyond the heavy folds of his black cloak were only given glimpses of shrunken hands, beady yellow-red eyes, and a cold, deathless face that was a mass of wrinkles.
He knelt before the man. “Master,” he said, “there's a great disturbance in the Force magic.” He dared a gaze upwards. “We found the name of the man who turned the Sith Dragons against us. Luke Skywalker.”
“Yes,” the King hissed. “Yes. A very...familiar...name. One that may be useful for us.”
“His magic is strong,” Vader continued. “Not unlike the magic I feel in my daughter.”
“That reminds me.” King Palapatine turned his penetrating yellow gaze down to his servant. “When I gave you this...power...you promised me something in return. You have not yet fulfilled that promise.”
“I'm sending huntsmen to bring Leia to me.” Vader looked up at the black-cloaked figure. “That weak King Organa filled her head with romantic nonsense. I have no such illusions. She'll be married to you upon her arrival, and we will begin her training. She will make a strong Black Sorceress, and you will officially have the fertile Aldran as part of the Empire.”
“Very good. What of the reports of the Rebels horsemen gathering in the woods near Sullust City?”
“My men are already on their way to see to their capture or destruction.”
“You're doing well, Lord Vader.” The King gave him a small, chilling smile. “Soon the Rebels In the Woods will be no more. Skywalker will be one of us, and your daughter will belong to me.”
“Yes, Master,” was Vader's only reply.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luke wished this Yoda fellow had chosen somewhere else to hide from the Empire besides the Dagobah Swamps. They weren't any more inviting than they had been when they were passing through on their way to the Enchanted Woods after rescuing Leia. Arthur had come with him. He insisted, as least as far as Luke could follow his twisting fingers, that he could be a kind of squire to Luke and help keep his sword sharp and his armor fresh and gleaming. Besides, he had no more desire to be taken by the Empire than his longtime companion Cecil.
He'd already stopped Tauntaun for the night. It was getting darker. He had no idea where he was, or even where this Yoda could be, or what he looked like. All around him, he and Arthur could hear the sounds of animals settling in, snakes slithering, and the large muck-monster that had attacked them a few years before splashing in the waters.
Arthur's fingers flew. He looked very nervous. Luke didn't blame him. “This place is so spooky.” He shuddered. “There's something...strange...about it. It's like something out of a dream. I don't know. I feel like...”
“How you feel?” Luke's short bow and arrow was out in a minute, aiming for a figure in a withered bush behind him.
Luke glared at the figure. “Like we're being watched.”
“Away with your weapon,” the little green figure commanded. “I mean you no harm. I am wondering, what brings you to these swamps?”
Luke lowered his bow. The creature was small, barely up to his knee, and as ancient as a lost treasure. He had a pointy little chin, white wisps of hair around his long, arrow-like ears, and large green eyes that followed his every move. He carried nothing but a gnarled walking stick. Luke seriously doubted he could do him any harm. “I'm looking for someone.”
“Looking?” The little goblin chuckled. “Found someone you have, yes?” He began to play with the objects in Luke's saddlebag, cackling with joy.
“Would you get out of there?” Yoda found a mirror Luke used to reflect light onto objects. Arthur tried to grab it back, but Yoda wouldn't let him.
“Mine! Mine!” the little green goblin yelled, tugging at it hard. “Or I will help you not.”
“I don't want your help,” Luke nearly whined. “I want my mirror back. I'm going to need it to get out of this slimy mud-pit. It wasn't a barrel of laughs the first time we were here.”
“Mud-pit? Slimy?” The creature gave the young knight his most indignant look. “My home this is!”
Arthur finally managed to snatch it from the creature's claw-like fingers, his own plump fingers flying angrily. To Luke's surprise, Yoda's gnarled claws flew right back. From the look on Arthur's face, what he'd signed was not complimentary. “Known to this little blacksmith, I am. Remembers me from the Seven Kingdoms Wars, he does.” Yoda's fingers kept going. Arthur looked like he was going to grab at him, but Yoda dodged him nimbly. “Get along well, we did not.”
“So I see.” Luke was ready to pick them both up and shake them. “Look, little fellow, it's nice that you two are able to reminisce about old times, but we have a lot of work to do.”
“No! Stay and help you, I will!” The little creature looked up at him with his big green eyes. “Find your friend!”
“I'm not looking for a friend,” Luke snapped. “I'm looking for a Master Force Knight.” Arthur snorted, but his fingers remained silent.
“Yoda!” The creature tapped Luke on the leg with his gnarled walking stick. “You seek Yoda!”
Luke leaned over him, eager. “You know him?”
“Oh, yes. Know him, well, I do.”
The youth looked around him, as if he expected the mysterious Yoda to materialize out of thin air. “Then where is he?”
“Not far,” the creature insisted. “Yoda not far.” He turned to Luke, poking at his leg. “Why must you become Knight?”
Luke was getting more and more annoyed. “A lot of it has to do with my father, I suppose.”
“Ah, yes, father.” The little fellow sat back with his own bowl. “Powerful knight was he. One of the most powerful.”
“How did you know my father? You're just a goblin who lives in the middle of a swamp!” He pushed the lamp aside. “What are we doing here, anyway? We're wasting valuable time!”
The goblin was not looking at Luke now. It's green-eyed gaze was focused somewhere off into the distance. “I cannot teach him. Has less patience than his father.”
Luke's eyes widened when he thought he heard old Sir Ben Kenobi's voice. “He will learn patience.”
And that was when Luke realized who the goblin was. His sky-blue eyes were wide with surprise. “Yoda? You're...Yoda?” Arthur's fingers flew behind him, his head nodding in agreement. Evidently, he'd known who the little goblin was all along.
Yoda finally turned his gaze back to Luke. The green eyes now seemed weary. “This one, long time have I watched. All his life, he has looked away, to the future. Focus on the now, he does not. Craves adventure, he does. Any Force Knight craves not adventure.” He poked his stick at Luke's chest. “You are reckless.”
“So was I,” said Ben, “if you remember.”
“He is not ready.” Yoda insisted. “Too old and set in ways to train.”
“I'm not!” Luke looked around for Ben. “Ben, tell him I'm not! I'm willing to learn. I learned so much with you!”
Yoda stared off into the distance. “Will he finish what he begins?”
“I won't fail you,” Luke said to the room in general. “I'm not afraid!”
“Oh, you will be,” Yoda said, knowingly. “You will be.”
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