Han barely made it half-way to Corellia before he felt it happening. First, he noticed his shirt unravel, the buttons popping off. The carriage itself began to shake as a brilliant blue glow surrounded it. The horses stopped neighing and started squeaking. His hair flopped in his eyes again, released from whatever substance had been holding it to his head.
With a final burst of blue light, the carriage rolled to a stop. Han now sat in hay, Chewbacca by his side and Falcon behind him. The mice and lizards scurried off into the woods. “That old man wasn't kidding. I guess I should have been more careful, but...” He scratched his head. “Leia was worth it. She's so...so...amazing. I've never met a girl like her.”
He lead Falcon out of the cart and hitched him to the front. “If I don't bring all of this home, Jabba will have my head.” Han stroked the skinny old horse's nose. “Come on, boy. You can outrun Jabba. He's probably still at the ball. We'll be back in the stables pilling hay long before Jabba gets anywhere near the manor house.”
Most people wouldn't believe it by looking at him, but Falcon was the fastest horse in all of Corellia. He may have been old and thin, but he could run like a champion athlete. They were soon far from the Naboo palace, rushing by even a group of royal guards on horseback.
It was very early in the morning when Han pulled into the stable. He couldn't believe the two piles of hay sitting side-by-side in the center of the building, separated perfectly into good and spoiled pieces. The horses were already sleeping in their stables, their doors now shut again. Han decided he didn't want to know how they opened in the first place. He put Falcon back in his stable and fed him and Chewie, the staggered up to his loft. He barely made it into bed before falling asleep, worn out from the day's events.
He awoke to bellowing. “Solo!” Han scrambled down the ladder to his loft. Jabba and three of his boys stood underneath, all looking a little worse for the wear. Well, except Boba Fett. It was hard to tell what he looked like under that armor. “You lazy piece of horse fodder! Why haven't you loaded the good hay into the hay cart?”
“It took me long enough to get it all separated last night, Jabba.” Han shrugged. “I must have fallen asleep.”
Jabba nodded. Boba smacked him on the back of his head. “Well then, you won't mind if you load this hay before you have breakfast. Then, you'll serve my sons and me before you leave on your next courier job.” Jabba winced. “Including the hangover remedy. My sons and I made a little too merry at the ball last night.”
“Gee, that's too bad, Jabba,” Han said without a hint of sympathy. “Did you get to see the Princess?”
“Why, yes, we did. She was rather pretty, for a human.” The slovenly troll shook his head. “Terrible taste in mates, though. Boba was just getting to know her when some prince from a foreign country arrived. She spent the entire rest of the night with him.”
“I'd like to put an arrow in that so-called prince's throat,” Boba growled. “Every time I tried to dance with her, he'd just pull her away.” Boba jabbed his crossbow at Han. “You wouldn't know anything about that, would you, brother?”
“Me?” Han gave him his best innocent smile. “You know I didn't go to the ball last night. You made sure of that.” He grabbed a rake. “Which reminds me, I have to get this loaded. The horses can't eat it on the floor.”
“Father,” Boba whispered to the troll as they made their way back to the house, “there's something strange about Solo. I think he was the 'foreign prince.' No crown or fancy suit could hide that smirk or that swagger.”
“I think you're right.” Jabba nodded. “Keep an eye on him today while he does his chores. He may be planning on returning to the princess. I want to know where he got the suit and crown and fancy carriage, too. He couldn't have stolen them. There's no one that rich around for miles.”
Han didn't hear Jabba and Boba's plotting...and even if he had, he wouldn't have cared. His mind was filled with Princess Leia and the ball. He danced with Chewie and with the rake. He danced while making his brothers' eggs, bacon, and toast, even after he accidentally dropped bacon on Boba's lap and was banished to the stable to do repairs on Jabba's carriage. He danced, and he hummed, his hazel eyes sparkling with the memory of the night.
He was shoveling ashes from the fireplace into a metal pail to be dumped outside when he heard two voices just beyond the door to the kitchen. “The princess?” The first was certainly Bossk's raspy hiss. “She's coming here?”
“With her brother and uncle.” IG-88's mechanical clockwork voice sounded more like a jumpy tick-tock. “The courier just left. Apparently, this is the home of the man who called himself Prince Harron.”
Jabba's laughter boomed across the grounds as he waddled into their group. “Perfect. She's playing right into our hands. We'll lock up her beloved brother and that ancient knight who keeps an eye on them until she agrees to marry one of you. She'll forget all about that silly prince when the lives of her family are at stake.”
Han's eyes widened. He had to warn Leia! She couldn't come here. He snatched the pail of ashes and rushed out the door, as fast as his long legs could carry him, dropping the bucket by the door in his haste.
“Falcon! Chewie!” He flung open the door to his beloved horse's stall, Chewie padding behind. “Come on, boys. We have to get out of here. Leia's in trouble.” He climbed on bareback, ignoring Falcon's whinnied protests. “I know, I know, but there's no time for saddling. They could be here any minute. I have to get them to turn around.” Chewbacca barked, trotting after them.
Han had gotten maybe a league or two down the road when he heard horses. “Damn it!” A glance over his shoulder revealed Boba Fett's armored carriage, the Slave I. Two huge chestnut horses thundered down the road. Boba flicked the reins, driving them on. Three more men leaped out in front of Falcon...the very bandits Han had rescued the royal twins and old Obi-Wan from the other day.
The aged equine let out a surprised whinny as a bulky man in heavy tunics, his face swathed in bandages, dropped onto his back. “Miss me, boy?” He flung his arms around Han's torso. “You're not so smart now, are you?”
“You'd be surprised...” Han started, breathless. The bandit clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him off Falcon before he could finish. Falcon streaked off into the distance, leaving nothing but dust in his wake, Chewbacca hurrying after.
Boba climbed off. “Forget the animals. My brother is the important thing.” He opened his visor, giving Han a hard look. “What did you hear?”
“Everything.” Han glared right back. “I know what you're going to do to Leia. She's a lot tougher than you think. She'll fight her way out before she marries any of you, and rescue her brother and uncle, too.”
Fett gave him a nasty smirk. “Perhaps.” He grabbed Han by the collar of his shirt. “But who's going to rescue you?” He nodded at the men behind him, all of whom held strong rope. “Tie him up and gag him. Don't let him out of your sight.”
They fell on Han before he had much of a chance to fight. He kicked out as they threw rope around his arms and torso, but Bossk easily lifted his legs and bound them. Boba wound rope so tightly around his wrists and ankles, they quickly became numb. Another man forced a handkerchief into his mouth, cutting off his angry curses. He was hauled into the back of the Slave 1 and dropped on the floor like a sack of grain. Bossk tied him to a crate, in such an awkward position he could barely move.
Boba pulled the Slave 1 around the back of the house. To Han's horror, they carried him through the storm door and into the basement. He knew this was where Jabba and his boys questioned, and sometimes even tortured, anyone who opposed them. (And even some who didn't.) Few who emerged from the basement came out alive...or if alive, in their right mind.
Han was dropped onto a heavy wooden chair in the center of the dim, dusty room. He didn't like the look of the shelves filled with razor-sharp and forbidding equipment. A door on the other side showed Jabba's wine cellar, with rows and rows of bottles and barrels in neat racks. Jabba was already there, searching through a drawer in a splintered desk. He looked up briefly as the men untied Han, then lashed him to the chair. They left him gagged, his screams coming out a soft, muffled mumble.
“Han, my boy, you disappoint me. Running off like you did! After all I've done for you.” He lifted the auburn-haired man's square jaw. “You went to the ball last night. That was you, dancing with Princess Leia.”
Han nodded, but his voice was a growl under the gag, and his hazel eyes glinted with steely hatred. “So what?” could barely be discerned under the folds of cotton cloth.
“How did you get those clothes? That carriage? We have nothing like them here, and there's no way you could have stolen it so fast.” Han nodded at the word 'stolen.' Jabba snorted. “I don't believe you. Even you're not that clever.” The fat troll wagged a finger in his face. “You deserve some form of punishment for trying to give away the game to Her Highness before it's even begun. I think we should kill you. You're no longer an asset to this company. Tie a rock to his ankles and drop him in the river. The currents will make swift work of him.”
The door to the basement flung open. “Jabba, the Royal carriage approaches.”
“Very good.” He drew his fingers down Han's cheek, leaving a trail of slime. “We don't have time to get him to the river now. Load him into one of the empty wine caskets. We'll take care of him later.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Royal Carriage nearly ran right into the spooked horse. “Stop!” Leia jumped out of the carriage, Luke following closely behind. “Luke, doesn't this horse look familiar?”
Ahsoka poked her head out. “Um...it looks like a glue factory reject.”
“Yes!” Luke stroked the trembling creature's nose. “It's Han's horse, Falcon.” Chewbacca jumped on the prince's leg. “And Chewie. What's wrong, boy?”
“He's scared to death, and the dog is angry and upset.” Obi-Wan followed them. He frowned as he rubbed the frightened animal between the ears. “Han was captured. He wanted to warn us about...something...what is it, boy?” The horse whinnied and nodded behind him. “He wants us to come with him. He thinks the men who captured Han may try to hurt him.”
“Probably Jabba's boys.” Ahsoka's azure eyes moved towards the road. “I have a bad feeling about this. I think we're walking into a trap.”
“So do I.” Leia leaned over Chewbacca. “You're a dog. Do you think you could lead us to Han?”
Obi-Wan tapped his head. “With the help of a few Jedi powers.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Jabba met the Prince and Sir Kenobi at the door. “Hello, Your Majesty! And one of the King's dearest friends! You honor my humble lodgings.”
“Yes.” Obi-Wan's keen blue eyes took in the peeling paint, smoke-stained walls, worn furniture, and soot-covered hearth. “Very humble.”
Luke held out the navy jacket. “We followed the man who left this behind at the ball last night to this address. Does it belong to one of you? The man whom it belongs to will marry my sister.”
“How wonderful!” Jabba slowly moved aside. “I'm afraid I haven't fit in something that small in a...month or so. However. I'm sure one of my sons or my fine men here will fit it. We were all at the palace last night. We even had that lovely chat with you. Perhaps,” he gave Obi-Wan an oily smile, “after one of my sons weds the Princess, we can talk business arrangements? I have many ideas to expand both my holdings and that of the kingdom that I'm sure His Majesty will be dying to here.”
Obi-Wan gave Jabba a small smirk. “I'm sure.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Even as the other men attempted to fit into the jacket, two figures, a horse, and a dog were creeping around the back yard. Both figures were small and lithe, but one wore brown robes and had a blue and white headdress, while the other sported a simple tan and blue riding outfit. Chewbacca put his nose to the ground, sniffing for his missing master. Ashoka sent Falcon to the stables. “We'll send someone for you if we need back-up,” she told the worried equine.
“I just hope this walking carpet knows what he's doing.” Leia followed Chewbacca as he chased a squirrel, relieved himself against a tree, and dug up two bones. “Look, I'm glad you found lunch, but we're in a bit of a hurry here. We need to find Han, before that piece of slime and his sons do something to my future husband, my brother, and my father's head adviser.”
Ashoka rubbed the dog between his ears, pulling him back towards the house. “Come on, boy, focus. Where is your master?”
“I wish we had the jacket.” Leia stumbled over a bucket that had been dropped by the door, spilling ashes everywhere. “We could have him sniff it and pick up his master's scent.”
Chewbacca apparently had the same idea. He sniffed noisily at the bucket, taking a lick at the handle. He then nudged Leia, tugging at her trousers. “The bucket?” Chewbacca let out a happy bark, nudging her forward. “The bucket belongs to Han?”
“He must have used it sometime earlier. Probably had to clear out the fireplace.” Ashoka dodged a rake, making for a storm door. The dog whined, nudging the door with his nose. “Is that it, boy?” He nodded, his head of fur shaking like a storm. “Stand back, Leia.” Ashoka pulled out her two blue crystal swords. She used one to hack open the lock on the door, then reduce the door itself to splinters.
“Great.” Leia rolled her eyes. “We're going to have to hurry. If Jabba and his boys didn't hear that, they're all deaf.”
“Do you have any better ideas?” Ashoka swung opened the remains of the door. “We don't have the time for mind tricks.”
The basement was dark and musty. Ashoka waved her hand over her swords, which instantly cast an eerie blue glow over the whitewashed walls. She handed one sword to Leia and kept the other. “All right, boy.” She put the bucket handle under his nose. “Take a good whiff of this again.”
Chewie did, then let out a howl and dashed further into the basement. “Well, this looks like a fun place.” Leia held out a whip and a spike-covered ball. “I don't want to know what this is used for. This troll seriously needs a new hobby.”
That was when Leia heard the banging. Chewbacca barked at one of the wine caskets. Something was smashing against it, just enough to be heard. She put her ear to the back of the huge wooden barrel. “Han! Han, are you in there?” The garbled “Yeah, princess,” was enough to convince her. “Chewie, stand back. Han, if you can, pull your legs in. I'm going to cut this open.”
She stabbed the blue crystal blade into the wood. The Jedi light magic inside glowed, allowing it to slice through the wood like butter. The wood dropped off, revealing a pair of large feet clad in cracked, worn black boots. The legs thumped, accompanied by a series of mumbled grumbling.
“Han!” She and Ahsoka gently helped him out, untying his legs and arms. Chewie helped too, tugging the gag off. “What happened? We found the animals on the road. They were pretty spooked. Chewie was the one who lead us here.”
Han was a little unsteady on his feet. “Your Worship, Jabba's after the kingdom. He's going to use your brother and Obi-Wan as bait to force you into a wedding.”
Ahsoka and Leia only exchanged smirks. “He really thought we'd be crazy enough to come alone to a troll's house?” Ahsoka laughed. “Trolls never were the smartest monsters around.”
“Han,” Leia explained, “we have back-up coming, Duke Wedge and my father's guards. We just need to know how to keep them detained until they arrive.”
Han's lips quirked into his famous half-smirk. “Yeah, Your Worship, and I know how.” He turned to Ahsoka. “I know where Jabba keeps the cloaks and and skirts for the women servants. You'll need to pass yourself off as one.” He turned to Leia. “You and I will take care of my brothers.”
Ahsoka dressed in an old cloak that covered her scarf and a dirty maid's apron. She made her way to the kitchen. Han, Chewie, and Leia went in the opposite direction, Han stopping to grab a crossbow from Jabba's stash in the cellar.
They snuck up the stairs and through the shabby hallway, down to the main parlor. Han and Leia stuck their heads in, just in time to see Ahsoka come in, bringing food. Luke had just tried the jacket on Bossk, who could barely get a beefy arm in.
“Are there any other men in the household?” Obi-Wan sat back in his chair. “I seemed to remember hearing from a friend of mine that you have a certain courier who resides in your stables.”
“Him?” Jabba's booming laugh rattled the windows. “Oh, you wouldn't be interested in him. He's just household help.” He nodded. Bossk slammed the door shut, locking it. “Perhaps you would be interested in telling us where your sister is?”
“Leia will be along shortly.” Luke stepped back, his hand going to his hilt, as the men surrounded him. One grabbed his sword; another took Obi-Wan's. “What's this all about?”
Jabba nodded. One of the men trained a gun on Obi-Wan. Another yanked Luke's arms behind his back, forcing him to the floor. “I'm only going to ask this once,” Boba Fett hissed. “Where is Princess Leia?” The man jabbed his arrow just under Luke's right cheek. “Talk, boy, or your mentor will be getting an arrow in the gut.”
“I don't know where she is!” Luke was just wishing Wedge and his sister would hurry. “She said she was right behind us!”
“Han!” Leia hissed, turning to the man behind her, “we have to do something! I won't let them skewer my brother!”
“They won't.” Han smirked, grabbing the ends of a carpet behind Boba and Bossk. “Ok, Your Worship. On my count. One...two...”
They tugged at the carpet as hard as they could. Chewie grabbed it by his teeth and helped. The two bounty hunters went smashing to the floor. Han was on Fett and Chewie was on Bossk before they had the time to move. Ahsoka returned Obi-Wan's sword to him and attacked two more men with hers. Luke delivered a swift kick in the rear to the man holding him. He went crashing into two more men and several chairs.
Leia held her own bow and arrow to Jabba's throat. “You will do no such thing. Jabba, you are under arrest.”
Jabba only hooted in her face as three more men surrounded them. Boba Fett, having gotten to his feet, aimed an arrow at her. “That's what you think, my dear. I believe you'll be a fine prize to hold for ransom, at least until your parents decide to turn over your dowry to my coffers.”
“Oh no, you don't.” Han was a blur as he grabbed a bow and arrow from one of the men. The arrow whizzed into Boba Fett's hand before he even had the time to load his crossbow. Chewbacca bit Bossk's hand. Leia shot an arrow directly into Jabba's heart before he tried to reach for her again.
The grotesque troll let out a hideous gasp as Duke Wedge, Commander Kes Dameron, and every king's guard in the entire kingdom smashed the door down and filed in. “Commander,” Leia wrinkled her nose, moving away from the gasping Jabba, “this...gangster...is under arrest for kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder.”
“Add larceny, resisting arrest, smuggling, counterfeiting, and illegal gambling to that list, too.” Han shoved Fett at Commander Dameron. “He'll be able to tell you more about it. He's Jabba's adopted son.”
“Thank you, sir.” Kes squinted at him. “I'm normally good with faces, but you...” His eyes widened. “Prince Harron, the princess' suitor from the ball!”
“Harron, yes.” Han frowned, turning to Leia. “My real name is Harron Solo. I'm not a prince. I'm an indentured servant to Jabba and his family. My father Josiah Solo sold my mother and me into slavery to pay off his debts.”
“You!” Ahsoka's eyes widened. “You're Lord Josiah's son! I wondered what happened to him.”
Han nodded. “He died when I was two. Left Mother and me so deep in debt, she passed on before she could pay it off. I was hoping to make enough myself to get far away from here.” He put a hand on a slightly dented chair. “This house belonged to my mother's family for years. It was among the things sold to pay off Father's debts.” Leia handed him the jacket. “Talk to Maz Kantana in Coruscant, at Maz's Tavern. She knew my parents for years. Father sold his clothes to her, including this suit.”
Leia helped him into the jacket. It fit perfectly, like it was made for him. “There.” She took his hand. “I don't care about that now. What matters is, you saved my life...and you helped me rescue my brother and our uncle twice. You're the only man for me.”
“Yeah, Your Worship.” Han gave her the smirk. “I think I have a thing about you, too.”
The moment they kissed, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka lifted their hands. Shimmering blue lights surrounded the pair. When they subsided, Leia and Han wore their outfits from the ball. Commander Kes whistled. Luke and Wedge exchanged grins. Chewbacca let out a delighted howl, pushing himself between the happy couple.
Jabba, Boba Fett, and the others were arrested for many crimes, among them kidnapping, extortion, and attempted murder. They were all tried and sentenced to life in prison. Jabba died there, never having recovered from the wounds the princess inflicted on him.
Leia brought Han to the palace to meet her parents, who, with much coaxing from Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and the twins, approved the marriage. They were wed a few months after Luke and Wedge. Luke and Wedge continued in the palace, eventually becoming king and regent after King Anakin stepped down. Han and Leia restored the Solo family holdings and lands, including the manor house. They used it as a summer home, racing Falcon and Swift Wing, fishing in the river, playing with Chewbacca, and raising their little son Prince Benjamin. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka remained their trusted advisers. Han also made Lando an adviser, the head of the treasury. He offered a position to Maz, but she said she was happier running her tavern.
Every year on the prince and princess' birthdays, Han and Leia held a special ball in honor of the anniversary of how they met. They always reserved a special dance just for them, never forgetting how it felt to be of one mind, and one heart.
The End
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