Lady Leia and the Prince, Part 6

It took nearly a week to ride to Alderaan Manor from Scarif. It might have taken even less time if they hadn't had to stick to the back roads and smaller villages. Leia kept an eye out for either the strange little elf or a rusty black crow, but they'd seen nothing but travelers and a few soldiers patrolling the roads for days.

Han was getting more used to sleeping outdoors. He wasn't much of a cook, but he was a fantastic shot with the mechanical bow, and did get the hang of setting up a tent and making a fire. He and Leia would go hunting together for small game to roast for their dinner and dry for later. Leia taught him how to forage for wild mushrooms, vegetables, and berries in the woods, and which ones were safe to eat. He did teach her how to use the mechanical bow; before long, she became nearly as good at it as he was.

At night, she, Luke, and Han would talk for hours over the fire. The twins told Han about their parents and Uncle Obi-Wan. Han didn't say much during these chats. They tried to play games with him that would help his memory, but most of it continued to be blocked. After he returned from hunting and had devoured his latest kill, Chewie would lay between the trio, letting them all scratch his ears and rub his tummy.

One morning, shortly after they had crossed over the border into the Kingdom of Aldra, Han returned from looking for berries with Chewie to find Leia had just awaken. She was braiding her long hair, cursing a blue streak as it got twisted in her hands. He stepped out from behind the tree, with Chewie snuffling along behind, as she finally managed to get it into a crown around her head.

“Hey there, sweetheart.” Han grinned and put the basket aside. “You look real good. Like a forest sprite, or a fairy. How did you learn to braid like that?”

“My mother taught me.” Leia began gathering the remains of her blankets and tent. “I'm not nearly as good at it as she was. Mother was a counselor and a noblewoman before she gave it up to marry Father. He was only a knight, but he loved her dearly.”

Han closed his eyes. “Yeah. I...have a mother. Somewhere. I know I do. I just wish...”

“You'll remember soon enough.” She loaded the blankets into a saddlebag on Luke's side.

“You know, sweetheart, I'm probably going to leave after we get you and Luke to Alderaan Manor.” Leia's continued to load the blankets. “I need to get away from Jabba, before he sends more goons after me.”

“I wish you wouldn't.” Leia dropped the berries into another bag. “The rebel underground could use you. You're good in a fight and with that bow of yours.”

Han frowned. “But what about your needs?”

Luke whinnied and nudged his sister, but she glared at Han. “My needs? I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Come on, sweetheart.” Han was starting to load his blankets into his own bags. “You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me.”

“Yes!” Leia insisted. “You were a big help with those guards back in Scarif.”

“No. That's not it.” He waggled a finger at her, smirking. “Come on, sweetheart. You're crazy about me.”

Leia snorted, ignoring Luke trying to push her towards Han. “You're imagining things.”

Han's smirk grew wider. “Am I? Then why are you arguing with me? Afraid I'm going to leave without a good-bye kiss?”

She put her hands on her hips. “I'd just as soon kiss that damn wolf of yours!” Chewie howled at the mention of his name.

“I can arrange that!” Han swept easily onto the back of Falcon. “You could use a good kiss!” He took off before she could reply, with Chewie on his heels.

It was hours before either of them spoke again. The roads were becoming narrower and dustier, less roads and more country paths. The countryside had changed from sprawling towns and dense forest to small villages and miles and miles of green rolling hills and acres of cropland. Peasant farmers could be seen pushing their plows behind their tired old horses. The trees were lush and bright here, not threatening or eerie like in the woods. The hills were dotted with the occasional barn or sprawling stone and timber manor house.

They stopped at a tavern in the small village of Lothal for lunch. “So,” Han said between bites of sausage and cheese, “tell me more about this Uncle Bail of yours.”

“He's my mother's half-brother.” Leia popped a few grapes in her mouth. “I don't know all the details, but he and Mother were fairly close. He and his wife Breha have no children, so they spoiled us. They would visit every now and then and bring treats, and we visited the Manor from time to time.” She smiled at him. “I love Uncle Bail. He's kind and funny and smart and tells wonderful stories. I think you'll like him.”

“Sounds like a great guy.” Han finished his stewed apples. “Hope he doesn't mind you traveling with a criminal and a wolf.”

“I'm sure he'll understand, when we explain how we found you.” Leia handed the waitress a few coins. “Let's get out of here. If we leave now, we'll be at Alderaan Manor within a few hours.”

Han had just gathered his cloak when he swore he saw a man in red, yellow, and green armor sitting at a table just across from them. That armor...he'd seen it before, and it's wearer caused him nothing but trouble. When he turned to get a better look, the man had vanished.

Leia didn't like what she saw when they stepped out into the sunshine. Chewie growled as troops in white armor marched past them. Some pushed people bound in irons ahead. Two soldiers drove a cart filled with other people of all walks of life, men, women, and children, all bound and crying out to be released.

Han grabbed the arm of a man selling fruit in a cart. “Hey there, buddy, what's going on?”

“All of these people are magicians. Witches. Mages.” The fruit seller shook his head. “All magic-users are under arrest and must go to Coruscant to be sent to trial. They may get kept there as slaves, or given fresh starts as normal people.”

“But none of them have done anything wrong!” Leia ran out, trying to stop one of the soldiers. “What have these people done? Have they committed some crime?”

“They're magic, lady.” The soldier shoved her away. “The Chancellor says they're dangerous.”

“But...” Leia glared at them. “Come on.” She climbed on Luke as Han got on Falcon. “Let's follow them. I want to find out what's going on here.”

Han made a face. “But don't we have to be at your uncle's house?” He said this to her back and Luke's swishing gold tail. She was already on her way through the crowds in the village square. He sighed and looked down at Chewie, who snorted. “Yeah, that's what I think. Let's go make sure she doesn't get into trouble.”

Leia followed them to the edge of the village. Most of them went on, following other merchants and nobles to the Imperial Road to Coruscant. Six troops in a smaller cart stopped by another house on the edge of town, a small cottage next to a blacksmith's barn. She pulled up in Luke just as they were dragging a dark-eyed man in a bun and a boy with floppy bluish black hair out the door.

“Not only is it rumored that these two practice Force magic,” the officer in the gray hose stated as he shoved the woman aside, “but I've heard you're part of the scum trying to bring down the Chancellor.”

The woman pulled out a bow, her black braids wound with green ribbons flopping around her caramel skin. “I order you to release my husband.” The sound of a baby crying echoed over her head. “I need him. He's the father of my son and our adopted children, and we'll never make our quota without him.” A little man in a patched orange tunic held a cudgel and gave the officer a mean look. Another girl, this one with short purplish-red hair and paler skin, held round metal balls. A towering man in a turban and loose robe clutched a sword with a curved blade.

“Let them go!” Luke leaped over the fence and into their yard. Leia jumped off him, aiming her sword right at the blond officer's neck. “They're innocent shopkeepers who have probably never done anything worse than making a bent nail. You're just a bully!”

The officer grabbed her hand. “This isn't your place to interfere, girl. These men are mages and enemies of the kingdom. I could throw in the tower for aiding and abetting criminals and disrupting an arrest.”

“No!” Falcon leaped over the fence now. “Don't you dare!” Han shot two of the soldiers who were about to attack the woman. Leia took down three more. Green light from Luke's horn wrapped garlands of flowers around the last one after Chewie bit him hard in the leg.

Leia held her sword to the officer's neck. “Why are you arresting poor peasants?”

The officer frowned. “It's not me, Your Ladyship. It's orders. If it were up to me, we'd leave these peasants alone. Palpatine wants all magicians in the kingdom rounded up in time for the Great Confluence on the first night of the Mid-Summer Festival.”

“The Great Confluence?” Leia exchanged looks with Luke, who shook his head.

“It's a major event.” The man with the bun took the officer's sword. “It's when all the magic in the kingdom, dark and light, is perfectly balanced and at it's strongest.”

“Yeah.” Han rubbed his head. “That's why we have the Mid-Summer Festival. To celebrate magic.”

The man with the bun and the officer were staring at Han strangely. “I swear I've seen you before.” The blond officer frowned. “Maybe at the castle?”

“I know you.” The woman made a face. “You came to us to fix that lame horse's shoes a couple of months ago. Challenged me to a race against my stallion Ghost. You won, barely. I lost four ducats off that.”

“I did?” Han smirked. “I'm not surprised I won. Falcon is the fastest thing on four legs.” Even Falcon looked pleased with himself, strutting almost as much as his master. Chewbacca rolled his eyes and growled a little.

“We can take care of this fellow.” The man in the bun put out his hand. “Kanan Jarrus. I'm a blacksmith by trade, but yes, I also know magic. I was training as a Jedi knight as a child, before Palpatine's purge put a stop to that.” He shook Leia's hand, then put his on the boy's shoulders. “This is my adopted son Ezra. I'm teaching him blacksmithing and magic. He's getting quite adept at them.”

“Thanks, Kanan.” The boy grinned under his fringe of blue-black hair. “Wanna see my sword? I made the kingdom's only combination mechanical bow-magic crystal knife. It's really neat.”

Leia chuckled. “Maybe another time. We really have to move on. We're going to Alderaan Manor to see my uncle about a personal matter.”

The woman frowned. “I don't know if that's a good idea. The manor was taken over by Tarkin and Palpatine's troops about a week ago. That's when the raids on magicians started. We've been trying to avoid going into town for anything but the most basic supplies since then.” She nodded. “And my name is Hera.” She patted the girl's shoulder. “This is my foster daughter, Sabine. We also have a baby boy named Jacen. Thank heavens he's napping right now.”

“I'm just disappointed I didn't get to use these.” Sabine put out the metal balls. “I created these for local festivals, but they're just as good for escaping the guards.” She tossed one into the yard, creating a puff of green smoke. “I have them in all colors. Next time we see you, I'll show you the pink.”

The big fellow held up the officer. “Zeb Garrab, Your Ladyship. We'll deal with this fellow. He helped lead the raid that destroyed my home kingdom of Lastat.”

“Chopper Charrington.” The little man in the patched orange clothes grunted. “If you're goin' to Alderaan Manor, tell Artello Deton to get his ass over here and help me with the blacksmithing. I could use his help in town.”

“Chopper, watch your mouth around our guests.” Hera sighed as a cry went up from the house. “That would be our son. Kanan, you give our guests anything they want for their horses. I think someone needs to be fed and have his diaper changed.”

Sabine and Ezra were already surrounding Luke. “Is he a real unicorn?” Ezra gently touched his green horn. “I heard only magicians can touch them.” Sabine frowned, but she did gingerly stroke Luke golden mane.

“Yes and no. He's under a spell.” Leia sighed. “Luke, you probably could at least use your shoes cleaned, Falcon could use new shoes all together, and my armor needs to be repaired.”

“Yeah, I could use a few new arrows. I've used up most of 'em.” Han grinned at Kanan. “How about we talk while you fix those shoes?”

They were off after a few hours, with Falcon in new shoes, dozens of arrows for Han, and Leia's armor hammered out and polished to such a hard shine, the sun's reflection off it nearly blinded her. “We're going to close the shop, leave Jacen with Hera's father, and head to Coruscant,” Kanan told them while putting the last shoe on Falcon. “Palpatine is up to something. Besides,” he stood, dusting off his hands on his heavy apron, “things are getting a little hot around here.”

“Tell me about it.” Han rubbed the side of his head. “Hey Kanan, what do you know about the royal family? There's rumors that Prince Henry might still be alive.” He closed his eyes. “That name is so familiar...”

Kanan frowned, putting a hand on Han's shoulder. “You need to be cautious, Solo. I don't know how you survived, but Palpatine's gunning for you, too. He doesn't want anyone getting in he way of the throne. If he figures out who you are...”

“Apparently, he already has. I spent a few days in the tower at the Death Star Fortress.” Han gave him a slightly shaky smile, trying not to show how fried his brain was. “Leia and her uncle and brother got me out.” He looked at Leia, who was explaining about Luke and his horn to a rapturous Ezra and Sabine. “That girl...she's really something.”

“Treasure her, Solo.” Kanan gave him a small smile as he watched Hera rock their son on the porch out of the corner of his eye. “After the Jedi mages died, I thought I had nothing. Hera and the Rebel underground saved me, gave me a reason to live again. She's an incredible woman.”

Han chuckled as Leia let Ezra rub Luke's horn, but then winced and held his head. “Yeah, pal.”

They all headed off shortly after. Hera's cart, pulled by her beloved gray stallion Ghost, went towards the Kingdom of Ryloth where her father lived. Han and Leia rode in the opposite direction, taking the narrow roads past more small farms and little red school houses and tall stone churches with steeples that scraped the sky.

“We should be there soon.” Leia's eyes were trained on the sky. “It's just over the next hill.”

Han frowned as Chewie sniffed at the air, howling. The sun was already starting to drop behind the hill, yet the glowing clouds were thick and black rather than gold and orange. “I smell smoke.” He blinked his watering eyes as heavy clouds of noxious black fumes drifted over the hills. “So does Chewie. Smells like a bonfire, or...”

Leia's eyes widened at sound of crackling and orange-red plumes of fire in the distance. “No! Uncle! Auntie!” She took off on Luke like a shot. Even Falcon, fast as he was, had a hard time keeping up with them.

Orange red flames flickered in stark relief against the oncoming twilight. Luke pounded as fast as he could before the moon came out and his legs would be that of a human. “Aunt Breha!” Leia almost leaped from his back, rushing headlong into the smoke. “Uncle Bail! Where are you?”

She concentrated, holding up her sword to light her way through the thick smoke. Luke used his horn for the same capacity. “Uncle Bail!” She called between coughs. “Artello! Cyril! Please!”

“Miss Leia?” A gold-clad arm popped out from under burning timber. “We're over here!”

Leia managed to push aside a few beams. Luke helped her, ignoring the burning in his mouth as he lifted larger ones. They finally dug out two men in the remains of servant's uniforms. The one who'd called out to her, a tall thin fellow in a tarnished gold suit, coughed as daintily as he could into his smoke-stained coat. She knew them well. The taller one was Cyril, her uncle's long-time butler; the shorter was Artello, the manor's blacksmith and head handyman.

“This is all your fault, you little idiot!” He glared at the smaller man Leia helped out from under the rubble. “If you hadn't tried to help Master Bail...”

The smaller man raised a pipe to his lip, playing a tune. “Artello says we were raided,” Cyril explained. “He still has no other way he can speak but the pan pipes.” Artello's fluttery tune sounded annoyed. “You could have taken all the soldiers if I'd let you? Artello, that's impossible. There were ten of them and only two of us!”

She cut them off before they went on all night. “Where are my aunt and uncle?”

Cyril whimpered. Artello's fluttery notes flattened. “I'm afraid they're in the hands of the troopers now,” the gold-clad servant fussed. “A very rude Imperial officer and his men took them away, claiming they were in league with traitors and enemies of the state. Artello wanted to fight them, but I thought it would be best if we hid in that closet.”

“You're lucky you weren't burned with the rest of the house.” Leia pushed through the wreckage. “I seem to be running into a lot of burning houses lately. My own home was destroyed, and my parents were murdered.” She concentrated; Luke's horn glowed an eerie pale green. “They're both alive.” She exchanged a shocked look with Luke. “But do you feel it? They're not...human...anymore. Not on the outside.” Luke snorted and nodded. “We have to get to Solo Castle and release them!”

“I think we'd better get out of here.” Artello fluttered on his flute. “He's right,” Cyril added. “The troopers could be back at any minute. And there was another man...”

“Hands up, lass.” A mechanical bow pressed into her back. “Put them where I can see them.” The man in the green, yellow, and red armor Leia saw in town earlier aimed his weapon at Cyril and Artello. “You too, boys. Put your hands in the air.”

“Yes, sir!” Cyril raised his quickly. He had to elbow Artello, but the little blacksmith finally did as well, glaring daggers at the man. Soldiers in white gathered around them, their swords trained at their backs. Another looped a rope around Luke's neck as he whinnied in horror.

“Who are you?” Leia gave the man her frostiest glare. “You've been following us since at least Scarif.”

“He's Boba Fett.” Han came up behind the man, Chewie growling by his side. “Bounty hunter, right?” He rubbed his hand, then waved it at the wreckage around them. “Did you do this?”

“No, I didn't.” Fett's monotone changed into a sneer. “Tarkin's boys got here before I did. They do nice work, don't they?”

Leia's hand went to the handle of her sword. “Where's my aunt and uncle?”

He held his bow and arrow right at her chest. “Tarkin arrested them for collaborating with traitors. They had papers and scrolls that identified them as two of the leaders of that underground rebellion folks have been whispering about. He took them to Solo Castle in Coruscant. He wants to have a nice, quiet chat with them at home before the Mid-Summer Festival.”

Fett turned on Han. “What about you, Your Highness? What's your angle in all this? I thought you were avoiding anything that had to do with the kingdom and your mother.”

“Your Highness? My mother?” Han winced, rubbing the side of his head. “I ain't got any idea what you're talkin' about. My name is Han Solo. I'm a gambler and smuggler, not some noble.” He closed his eyes, his mind fogging. “My mother...I don't know her.”

“That's what you always say. The Sultan's known for a long time that you were lyin' through your teeth about being just a gambler. No gambler could have the unlimited credits you do, or the unlimited luck.” Fett jabbed at him with the bow as Naboo Troopers in white armor surrounded them. “Sorry, Your Royalness, but Sultan Hutt has a fifty thousand ducat reward on your head.” He managed to shrug. “Nothing personal. It's just business.”

Fett was about to shoot Han when a green light picked him up and shook him until he rattled, then dropped him on his rear. “Nice of you to drop in, kid.” Han grinned as Luke lifted two men with his emerald green light and threw them into a near-by pond. “Thanks for savin' my rear.”

“You're welcome.” Luke nodded at the pond. “I'm going to see what I can do to put out the rest of the fire. Are you and Leia going to be ok here?”

Han rubbed the side of his head, watching as Leia used her blue light to throw another man into a tree and Chewie leaped onto another man, biting deeply into his arm. Artello hit a third trooper with a broken beam. “Yeah, we'll be fine, kid.”

Artello's pipes fluttered over the noise from the troopers. He pointed towards Boba Fett, who was rushing off towards a hulking armored carriage. Cyril let out a yelp. “Mistress Leia, that horrible Fett person is getting away!”

“Leia, take care of the rest of these guys.” Han leaped onto Falcon. “I'm goin' after the guy in green. He called me royalty. I wanna know why.”

“But...” Leia frowned as he took off. She wanted to join him, but not only did he have the only horse, but there were still troopers here. Her blue sword blazed as she leaped into the fray. The moment the remaining troopers saw her send light into three men at once, turning them into dust, the remaining soldiers leaped onto their horses and rushed off as fast as they could.

“I...how..” As the light returned to her sword, she was nearly blown off her feet by a blast of wind and a funnel of water. The funnel dissolved around the house, sending a shower of water over the remaining fire.

“Leia!” Luke darted over. “Are you all right? I'm sorry about the water. I couldn't figure out how else to put out the fire. We don't need to burn the entire hillside down!”

“Yes, but...” The young woman waved her no-longer-glowing sword. “I just...turned those men into dust. I didn't mean to! I was so angry about Uncle Bail and Aunt Breha...”

Luke's eyes widened. “Leia, I think we'd better find Han and get out of here. We'll talk about it somewhere that isn't blackened beams.”

“Damn it!” Han finally rode back as the water slowed to a trickle. “Fett went into the woods. Falcon's fast, but at this hour the night, I couldn't find a firefly with an extra-bright behind back there.”

Cyril shivered. “The gentleman is right that it's getting late. May I suggest we find a place to bed down for the night that isn't here?”

“Yeah.” Han rubbed his forehead, his knees shaking. “My head's killing me. Boba said he knew me. Called me royalty. Said he knew my mother.” His voice faltered, and his hazel eyes lost their sparkle and became far-away. “Mother...”

Chewie nudged him. “I'll be ok, boy. I just need rest.” He looked up, his eyes a bit brighter. “I know where we can go. There's an old inn and tavern owned by an old friend of mine, Maz Kantana, in Takodana Town. It's just a few leagues from here.”

Leia frowned. “Can we trust her?”

“I'm not sure. I figure it's worth a try.” Han winced as he held the side of his head. “Besides, she's a witch, or at least, I think she is. She might be able to help me with my memory. I can't keep passing out every time I remember something.”

“You're right.” Luke took Falcon's lead. “Let's get going, before more troopers arrive. The Mid-Summer Festival is in less than a week! We have to get there before that Great Confluence.”

“Right now, I'm more concerned about our aunt and uncle and the Rebels.” Leia took Falcon's bridle as Han climbed on his back. “Cyril, Artello, keep an eye on Chewbacca the wolf while you're back there.”

Cyril cowered behind Artello as Chewie growled at him. “I'm more worried about him deciding I'm his late-night supper!” Artello's flute waved in his face. “I'm not a coward! I'm just very careful. Wolves are dangerous creatures!”

“Nahh.” Han smirked. “Chewie's tame as a kitten. Right, boy?”

Cyril gulped as Chewie growled. “I'll take your word for it, sir.”