A Star Wars Fairy Tale: Return, Part 7

The Rebels knew nothing of Palapatine's scheming. They had returned to the Enchanted Woods in triumph. Sequoya Village was a small town on the edge of the Kingdom of Endor and the Kingdom of Aldran. Leia was surprised at all the different creatures that roamed among the tents. Ewoks chattered; Wookie horse herds pranced and leaped; humans of every size and color talked among themselves. Chewie went to his mate Malla and colt Lumpy the moment he arrived.

Wicket rushed to Leia. You're all right! He patted Han's hand. Is this your mate? He looks good and strong. Is he a great warrior?

Leia laughed. “Yes, Wicket, this is my mate.” She turned to Han, who looked rather perplexed. “Han, this is Wicket, who helped Cecil and me get to Jabba's palace. Wicket, this is Han.”

Wicket threw himself into Han's arms. Any friend of Leia's is a friend of mine!

Han rolled his eyes as Chewie and Malla whinnied in laughter behind him. “Well, short help is better than no help at all, you two,” he finally admitted. “What's your clan doing here, anyway?” Chewie whinnied louder. “Leia...called them with the Force?” He turned to her with surprise.

Leia smiled. “I called them two weeks ago. They came as soon as I told them you – and we – were in trouble.” She looked down at Wicket. “What about all of you?”

The trees told us you needed help, Wicket explained. They said your friends are good humans. They want to get rid of the Bad Humans...and we do, too! We want them to leave our trees alone!

Han grinned at Lando, who'd traded his guard's uniform for the more dapper tan, green, and pale blue uniform of the Rebels of the Woods. “And well, look at you! I heard they made you a general.” Han himself had returned to his old black leather vest, yellowed tunic, and brown trousers.

Lando chuckled. “Someone told them about my little maneuver at Tenaab City.”

“Don't look at me, pal,” Han insisted. “I told them you were good in a fair fight. I didn't know they were lookin' for someone to lead this crazy group.”

The baron grinned at his friend. “I'm surprised they didn't ask you.”

“Maybe they did, but I ain't crazy.” Han shrugged. “You're the respectable one, remember?”

Lady Mothma, joined by Chief Chirpa, Attich, the head of the Wookie herds, and old Admiral Ackbar, a squid-man who had once been the head of the military in the Kingdom of Mon Calimaria, stepped to the center tent. “King Palapatine has made a critical error, and the time for our attack has come.” She put a hand on Attich. “Attich and the Wookie horse clans have generously volunteered to provide mounts and trained fighters for the group who will be fighting the guards at the base of the mountains. Once the second team has lowered the drawbridge and opened the vault, the first team will be able to enter and take care of the guards inside.”

Admiral Ackbar nodded at Chief Chirpa. “General Calarissian and Commander Antilles will be leading the Rebel Squadron in the castle attack.”

“Good luck,” Han told his friend with his famous smirk. “You're gonna need it.”

General Madine took over. “The second team will enter through the main doors. We've stolen a small Imperial Battle Carriage. Disguised as a shipment of sacred wood from Endor, they'll distract the king's guards and open the drawbridge for Rogue Squadron.”

Leia, now comfortably dressed in the tunic, breeches, and pale-blue vest of the Rebels, leaned over Han. “I wonder who they found to pull that off?” she asked.

To her surprise, Madine turned to Han. “General Solo, is your strike team ready?”

“My team's ready,” Han began. “I need a crew and horses for the carriage.” Chewie nudged him, whinnying and nodding at himself and Malla. “Well, here's two.”

Leia smiled proudly at her fiancee. There was a time when he wouldn't even admit he was with the Rebels. Now, he was a leader, a true part of the whole. “General, count me in.”

“I'm with you, too!” Luke joined them, leading Tauntaun. “And here's your third horse.” Chewie nudged the boy, delighted to see him again.

“Where were you?” Leia asked. Her brother had disappeared into the Woods early that morning, as soon as they arrived. This was the first she'd seen of him since breakfast.

Luke only gave her one of his sunny, sweet grins. “I was having a chat in the Woods with an old friend.”

“Here's five, six, and seven!” Cecil hurried over, followed by Arthur and Wicket. Arthur's fingers flew as he rolled his eyes. “I'll find something to do. I can translate you and Wicket and the other Ewoks and the Wookie horses, and they'll need someone to serve the noon tea!”

Wicket bounced up and down, squeaking happily. Cecil sniffed. “Exciting is hardly the word I'd choose.”

Han even offered the Falcon to Lando to carry him to Bast Castle. “Take her! I mean it! You need all the help you can get. She's the fastest carriage in the fleet.”

Lando just laughed. “All right already! I know how much she means to you. She won't get a scratch.”

Han looked over his shoulder at Lando and his beloved carriage. “I got your promise. Not a scratch.”

The Baron just shook his head as they headed for the carriages. “Will you just get going, you old thief?” But he was grinning as he clapped his friend on the back. “Good luck, Han.”

Han smiled. “You too. And thanks for coming after me.”

Lando climbed onto the driver's seat of the Falcon with his old friend Niem Numb of the Kingdom of Sullstia. “No problem.”

Everyone left for the Kingdom of the Empire the next day. The Ewoks and Wookie herds sent their finest warriors. Paploo, Teebo, and most of the Ewok fighters rode in smaller carts, pulled behind the larger carriage. Wicket insisted on staying with “his” humans, especially Leia and Han. Leia thought his loyalty was adorable. Han found him to be a bit annoying. He kept getting between him and Leia.

Luke and Leia became more and more nervous the closer they got to Bast Castle. Vader was there...and they knew he'd be after them the moment they entered the doors. Han looked over his shoulder at the duo as they neared the mountain. “Ok, kids. You know what to do.”

They nodded at each other, instantly understanding what the other was thinking. How do they do that? Han wondered as they took each others' hands and concentrated. Must be a Force magic thing. Soft blue light gathered on the underside of the carriage and the horses. Malla let out a surprised whinny. She'd never been lifted by Force magic before! Chewbacca and Tauntaun calmed her. They were more accustomed to their humans' abilities by now. The carriage and the trio of horses were lifted into the air, high enough to keep the horses off the slick black crystal.

Wicket squeaked his own surprise. He'd never seen the Great Magicians at work, and it was really kind of scary...but fun, too. His friends would be so jealous that he got to fly without a glider!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Vader himself was monitoring the troops in the main courtyard when the nondescript battle carriage and the cargo carts it pulled stepped up to the drawbridge. The main officer in charge of the drawbridge saluted him immediately. Vader only nodded at the man. “Did they give you the codes?”

“It's an older code, sir, but it checks out. I was about to clear them.”

He looked out of the small window to the line of carriages stretching across the mountain. The lead carriage appeared to be an ordinary Imperial cargo vehicle, followed by more primitive, older carts pulled by small Endor ponies. “Where do you come from, and what cargo are you pulling.”

The driver wore muffling gray and brown scarves and a heavy brown coat, despite the warm spring weather. His smaller companion in the passenger's side was equally muffled in black and mustard-gold. Floppy hats covered their heads and hid their eyes. “Logs, kindling, and Ewok pelts, tributes from the Kingdom of Endor.”

The Black Knight felt them. His children were on that carriage. His master had been correct. They'd come to him. Leia was determined to stop him and the Empire once and forever. Luke was nervous about the idea of confronting him, but equally determined to help his sister. He would have to find a way to separate them, from each other and the Rebels, and bring them to his master.

For now, he merely nodded. “Let them pass.”

Outside, Han was leaning over to scratch Chewie's back. “They're not going for it.”

Luke was wishing he was anywhere else. “I'm endangering the mission,” he murmured. “Leia and I shouldn't have come. Vader's there. He can feel us.”

“Don't get jittery, Luke.” Han kept scratching Chewie. “There's a lot of officers in there.” The shaggy Wookie Stallion gave Han a questioning whinny. “I don't know. Trot casual.”

After what seemed like decades to Luke, but was really a few minutes, the drawbridge slowly opening, the creaking heard for miles. “All right!” Han cheered. “I told you they'd go for it.”

The carts trotted in, riding past Vader and his men. Luke shrunk back, using his Force magic to at least temporarily cloak his presence. Even so, Vader seemed to be staring right at him.

The officer with Vader stopped them. “Take the wood to the storage room for the fires and for furnishings. The pelts will be taken to the tannery to the oiled.”

Han nodded, turning Chewie, Malla, and Tauntaun in the direction the man indicated. As soon as they were in the courtyard, Han turned the group towards the stables. He, Leia, Luke, and Cecil helped the dozens of Ewoks out of the carts. They chattered noisily, waving their spears and bows and arrows.

Leia put a finger to her lips. “Shh! If the Empire hears you, we could be in a lot of trouble.” She turned to Han. “We have to get to the drawbridge. The Ewoks will cover us.”

Cecil had climbed back into the carriage. “I have decided that we shall remain here. It's safer. And anyway, you'll need someone to look after our carts and the horses.”

“Actually, that's not a bad idea.” Han nodded. “Goldenrod, you, Art, and a couple of the squirts stay here and keep an eye on the carts and the horses. If anything happens...” He patted Chewie's head. “Let ol' Chewie off his bridle. He'll handle them.”

Luke stopped Leia as the others started out of the stables. “Leia,” he said quietly, “do you remember your mother? Our mother?”

“Just a little bit,” she admitted. “She died when I was two years old.”

The blond Force Knight settled on a bale of hay. “Tell me about her.”

“I don't remember much,” Leia said as she joined him. “Just feelings, really. Images.”

Luke took her hand “Tell me.”

“She was very beautiful,” she said quietly. “Kind and gentle...but sad. So sad. I never understood why, until recently.” She sighed. “Uncle Bail knew her better. He was her half-brother. He used to tell me wonderful stories about how she and Father and Sir Kenobi fought together in the Seven Kingdoms' Wars.” She sighed. “Father was so different then.”

The sadness in his voice nearly broke her heart. “I have no memory of my mother, or my father. I never knew them.”

Leia knew what he was leading up to. “Luke, you don't have to take on Vader just because Yoda and Sir Kenobi said to.” She took his hand. “Run away! Far away! Anywhere but here. Use your powers. I'd go with you, but I have to stay with Han and the Rebels. They need me.”

“No, you don't.” They both stood at once. “You've always been strong. You've never run away from a fight in your life, and I'm not going to, either.”

“Why does it have to be you?” Leia's tears rolled down her cheeks in a hot rush.

Luke put his arms around her. “I'm the only one who can. It's me he really wants. I'll distract him and the King, give them something else to do while you take down the drawbridge.” He sighed, pulling her into a tight hug. “Besides, I can save him. I know I can. There's still good in him.”

He could almost feel his sister rolling her eyes. “No, there isn't. He tortured Han and me and has done everything short of burning the entire Alliance to the ground.”

“Leia, I felt it when he was speaking Arthur's language in the Enchanted Woods. He just needed to be reminded that he's loved, for more than his magic.” Luke gave her a kiss on her cheek. “You take care of yourself and Han, all right?”

She nodded. “I will. And you be careful.”

His normally sunny smile seemed almost sad. “Of course.”

Han took her arm as he walked towards the main building. “Where's the kid goin'?”

“He...” Leia spoke quickly, wiping hard at her eyes, “he's going to deal with Vader and Palapatine and keep them distracted while we open the drawbridge.”

“What? Is Luke crazy? He can't do that alone!” Han saw her tears. “Hey, are you all right?”

She wiped them away with the back of her hand. “Yes, I'm fine. I just...I want to be alone for a little while.”

“You're not fine.” He put an arm around her. The way Luke had a moment ago, Leia thought. “It's Luke, isn't it? I wish that kid would check his knightly impulses at the drawbridge sometimes.”

“Han, just...” She buried herself into his strong arms. “Hold me.”

He held her. He didn't understand any of what was going on here. He just held her like he'd never let her go.

What they didn't see was a certain figure in green armor skulking around the corner. Boba Fett smirked under his visor. Vader was going to be very interested to know that both his children were in the castle...and were planning on helping the Rebels rip him off. Not to mention, his little girl was still pretty damn chummy with Solowolf. Daddy made it clear that he didn't approve of the relationship at all. He made his way in the opposite direction towards the main building.