Lady Leia and the Prince, Part 7

The Takodana Inn was the most incredible building Leia had ever seen. It was enormous, more like a castle than a typical country inn. The winding Imperial Road that went past it was lined with the flags of each Alliance kingdom. A towering statue of a woman in round spectacles stood at the castle's entrance. The moon sinking slowly behind it gave it an even eerier appearance, like an enchanted castle from one of her mother's fairy stories.

“You can go...right in.” Han winced. “Maz has more potions than most people have scars. She should be able to give me something for my head and a room for us to stay in.”

Leia frowned. “But it's the middle of the night.”

“She doesn't keep regular hours.” Han's fingers massaged his temples. “Good thing, too. I feel like goblins are drilling in my skull.” He clutched his head, his voice rising fearfully. “The pain...I can't...they'll hurt me...”

“Han!” Luke got to him first as he listed in Falcon's saddle, but he pulled away as if he'd been stung. “Leia,” the young man gasped, “the darkness is back. You're going to have to help him. I can't touch him like this.”

Leia put her arms around his other side. “We have to get you inside.” She and Cyril managed to get him off the horse, but his knees buckled on contact with the ground. All three of them ended up on top of each other.

“I'll be...'kay...” Han muttered when they managed to get him to a shaky standing position.

“You're nothing of the kind. You can barely walk,” Leia snapped in annoyance. Chewie nudged him from behind, whimpering. “Come on. Let's find this Maz of yours.”

“Jus'...don't stare,” Han croaked. “Wha'ever you do, don't stare.”

Luke frowned. “At what?”

Han groaned. “Anything.”

She understood what Han meant the moment they walked in the door. The lobby and main tavern were occupied by some of the strangest beings she'd ever seen in her life. There were furry creatures that walked like men and those with lizard's skin. There were humans of every stripe, from dwarfs in heavy armor to elves in pale silver armor that gleamed like the sun. There was a harlequin actress in full makeup reclining against the fattest, most grotesque smuggler she'd ever seen.

“Han! Henry Solo!” A voice boomed over the crowd. “And Chewbacca!” A diminutive reddish old woman bounded over to their group. Chewie howled happily as she scratched his stomach. “Who's Maz's favorite boy? I've got some nice, juicy bones for you behind the bar.”

“Mistress Kantana?” Leia frowned. “You...you're awfully small for a witch.”

“And you're small for a warrior, Lady Skywalker.” Maz went behind the old, polished oak bar, with the line of dusty chipped mugs hanging over it. “But we both have something in common. We care for Henry's well-being.”

“Henry? Maz, I thought my name was Han.” Han rubbed his forehead.

“You don't know who you are.” Maz peered at him accusingly through her thick glasses. “You never did...or at least, you never wanted to. Not since your father died.”

“Maz, can't you help him?” Luke's blue eyes grew wide. “He's suffering so badly, I can barely touch him. The darkness has most of him trapped somewhere in his head. If this continues, we may lose him.”

Maz peered up at Luke. “You, young Skywalker. I've lived for over a thousand years, and I've seen the same eyes in different people. Yours, I once saw on a great noblewoman, the best counselor Naboo ever had, before Palpatine ran her out.” The glasses swiveled to Leia. “And yours, while they have your mother's brown, have the fire of your father, Naboo's greatest Jedi Knight.”

“Father and Uncle Obi-Wan were training us as Jedi.” Those brown eyes of Leia's narrowed. “Until Palpatine killed them. And now, he's going to kill the queen too, just like he did them.”

Luke frowned. “He's draining Queen Jania, isn't he? Stripping her of her energy, just like he did to our mother.”

“Yes. Draining her, then giving her poisons to keep her sick.” Maz got under Han's shoulder. “Cyril, you and your little friend help me get him to my room upstairs. It isn't what he's used to, but it'll work for our purposes.”

“Maz,” Han choked, “please help! They're...they're hurting me...they won't let me go...”

Leia stroked the vein in his head that throbbed like a wound. “Whatever has you trapped, we'll save you. Luke and Chewie and I won't let this magic hurt you.”

Maz lead them into a small bedroom that was little more than a wardrobe, a heavy old dark wood bed with a thick, bright woven blanket, and a mirror. “Some Sith mage cursed his mind, trapped his memories behind fear and self-hatred. Unless he fights off those demons in his head, he may lose his mind entirely.”

“Palpatine did this to him.” Luke sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, by Han's side. “He cursed him. Just like he cursed me.”

“Yes, my boy.” Maz went to a shelf filled with strange clay jars. She plucked two and mixed their powdery greenish contents into a bowl, adding a bit of water from a brass basin. “Henry actually ended up helping him, in a way. He never wanted to remember who he was, either. Always hiding his real name and title under bravado and charm, just like King Josiah before he married Jania.”

Leia hesitated. “He's Prince Henry.” Chewbacca nodded. Leia helped the big wolf climb into the bed and curl up next to Han. He wrapped an arm around his furry friend, clutching him to his side.

“Him?” Cyril's jaw nearly dropped to the wooden planks. “That scruffy outlaw is the son of a queen and the possible ruler of the entire kingdom when she passes on?” Artello looked less surprised, his flute sounding rather amused. “You knew the moment you saw him? You've only known him a few hours! He looks like a common criminal.”

“That's what he wants the world to think.” Maz brought Han a battered tin cup. “Here, Henry. I want you to drink all of this. It'll soothe your mind enough for us to help you.”

“Not...m'name...” Han muttered, but he did as he was told. He had no sooner swallowed the liquid than his restless tossing and turning abated. Maz murmured something into his ear. The others watched as his eyes closed, and his breathing became even. His handsome face remained troubled, even as his body settled into the scratchy hay-filled mattress.

“He's not sleeping,” Maz explained. “The herbs calmed him. He should be settled enough for you two to go into his mind and help him expel the black magic.”

“Us?” Luke frowned. “What can we do?”

“You're both light magicians...and more importantly, he trusts you. His mind is being ravaged by Palptine's black magic and the demons of his past.” Maz took both their hands. “Only you two can dispel them.”

“All right.” Leia nodded. “We'll help. I...well, if he is the prince, the kingdom needs him.”

Luke nearly wept at Chewie's heartbreaking howl as he pushed his nose into his half-awake friend's side. “And I can't stand to see anyone suffer. Han is Chewbacca's friend...and he's our friend, too.”

“Now, concentrate.” Maz placed their hands and her tiny red ones over Han's heart. “Think of Henry, or Han, if you prefer. Focus on pulling through the black magic. I'll be able to let you in, but I can't join you. He barely remembers me.”

The twins closed their eyes and focused on Han and each other. Their breathing slowed, became even and in perfect time with each other. Leia thought she could feel Han's heart thud in his chest. A soft blue and green light wrapped around the duo after a few minutes. When it subsided, they were both gone.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Leia had never felt such darkness. It was all around her, smothering her, invading her chest and lungs. She could barely breathe. “Luke!” Even her screams were swallowed by blackness. “Luke! Ha..Henry! Where are you?”

“Leia!” Soft, slender fingers grasped her smaller ones. “Thank gods you're here!” As the fingers wrapped around hers, the other hand pulled out a familiar silver sword handle. A green light managed to penetrate some of the stiffing gloom. “Where are we?”

“Han...Henry's mind, I'm guessing.” Leia pulled out her own sword and raised it into the air, letting the blue crystal light their way. “Who knew his mind was so darn dark? I figured it would be all cards and horses and gambling halls and pretty girls.”

They gasped as one as they stepped into what appeared to have once been a great hall. The furnishings had been reduced to splinters, except for one towering stone throne resided on by a figure in a familiar heavy black cloak. Smaller demons and monsters, some with fur, others with scales, danced around a tiny square cage constructed of thick black bars and intricate locks and handles.

“Come on.” Luke held back, but Leia tugged at his hand. “I know you're scared, but we have to find Han. He should be around here somewhere.”

She tugged him through the crowd, poking demons in the back or pushing them aside. Some of them were laughing and pointing at the cage in the center. Others jeered and taunted and called it plain, ugly, stupid, unloved, unwanted.

Han...or Henry...wept helplessly, his lanky body scrunched into the tiny prison. He was completely naked, his tanned and muscular body glistening under sweat and dusky-scented oils. Demons cropped his auburn waves close to his head with their claws and slashed the sharp cheekbones with their arrow-like tails. His neck was circled by the thick iron collar worn by slaves in wilder countries like Tatoonie and Jakku. A thick chain leading from his collar acted as a leash that the demons would occasionally yank at. His wrists and ankles were wrapped from head to toe in heavy chains, his wrists held tightly to the bars behind his head.

“That...that monster.” Luke gasped. “He's evil. Pure evil. I can feel it from here.”

“So can I.” Leia's eyes were wide. “What's he doing in Henry's mind? Why doesn't he fight them?”

The figure in the cloak glided to the captive prince as if was made of air. “You thought you could escape us, boy. You can't outrun your past. Did you think that girl out there, the great Jedi warrior you admired, could love a creature as loathsome as you? You, who ran out on Princess Amilyn and your mother?”

Henry's eyes flamed with shame at the mention of his mother, but the figure cackled. “Oh yes, you ran away from your mother, from your fiancee, from every responsibility you ever had. You gambled your mother's money away, tricked and lied and smuggled and stole more from every corrupt merchant and government in the Alliance. So did your father. You're just like him...and you'll die like him. Alone and unloved. Your people hate you, or they believe you dead. Only a wolf and a broken-down nag will mourn you.”

Bony white fingers yanked at Henry's long scarred chin through the bars. The prince tried to cry out, but not a sound emerged from his cracked lips. “Don't bother screaming. You have no voice. You'll remain buried here, forgotten by the rest of the world, an eternal slave to your demons...and to me.”

“NO!” Leia leaped forward, pushing past the laughing, snarling demons and in front of the cage. “I champion this man!”

The cloaked figure cackled even louder. “Well, well. I didn't think you were that strong, warrior maiden...or that loyal. How could you care about this worthless blackguard?”

“He's not worthless!” The demons recoiled in horror as Luke stepped up to the dais. “He's a good man, and he's our friend!” He seemed to...glow, like the first rays of the sun as it rose over the treetops of Endor Woods.

Leia pulled out her sword. “Release him this minute!”

But the creature only kept laughing. “I have nothing to fear from you, girl, or from your dear innocent brother. You can't kill me, and Henry knows it.” He caressed Han's bloody cheek. “He's mine. He belongs to me. There's only one person who can destroy me.”

“I don't care!” Leia slapped the creature's hand away, ignoring how it felt like a block of ice. As the cloaked figure hissed and withdrew, the warrior maiden slammed her blue crystal blade against the lock on the cage door, but it refused to open.

“Leia,” Luke gasped, “I need your help!” He kicked one of the smaller demons away. “They're too fast, and there's something wrong with my magic!”

“Han...Henry.” Leia gently touched his arm. “Don't you recognize me? Or us? It's Leia and Luke, the ones you've been traveling with for the past month. Your friends.” Henry tried to squirm away from her, his hazel eyes clouded and fearful of her touch. “I won't hurt you. I would never hurt you. Friends don't hurt friends.”

“Leia!” Luke's tenor squeaked urgently. “I'm having a problem here!”

Out of the corner of her eye, Leia could see smaller demons leaping onto Luke, trying get their claws into him. She took one of Henry's hands and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I'll be back, Henry. I promise. I won't leave you.”

Leia leaped into the fray...but her arms felt like clay. The demons were ferocious fighters. She'd no sooner slash two of them than six more would leap onto her. The sword's light remained dim. Luke tried to turn the creatures into harmless animals or bind them with flower garlands, but the light wouldn't appear.

“Han! Henry!” She screamed as one of the larger, heavier demons slashed her in the side, drawing blood. “You have to trust us! You can break free. I know you can!”

Luke started towards Henry's cage, but three large demons blocked him. “Henry, you're not any of the things that...that person said you were.” The youth waved his hand at the sorcerer. “This is all just in your head. You have to believe that there are people out there who love you. We do. Maz does. So do Chewie and Falcon and all the people we've helped on this trip. Obi-Wan believed in you before he died.”

Henry watched from the cage as the man glided towards Leia. She lay on the ground, battered and bloody and bruised, struggling to a sitting position. “Foolish girl! Your prince isn't worth your kindness, and he knows it. You yourself called him a scoundrel.”

“That...” Leia gasped “...was before I knew him...” She had no sooner gotten on her knees than a blast of purple lightning flung her into the darkness, slamming her against an unseen wall.

“You're no warrior, little girl.” The cloaked man cackled louder. “You're barely a child.” He slammed her with his magic again, leaving her smoking and shrieking in pain. “What can you do? The prince doesn't know you, or your meddling brother. He belongs to me.”

“Han!” Leia's screams rose over the din. “I can take him down, but not unless you help!” Wide brown eyes met the bound prince's fearful ones. “I know you can do it. Don't let him control you...Henry.”

Henry closed his eyes, tugging slowly at his bonds. After a few minutes, one of the iron chains on his wrist slowly broke apart. He pulled hard, breaking the ones on the right. He strained and struggled until he finally managed to shatter the last of them and snap open the collar. He yanked roughly at the lock on the cage, his stiff fingers barely able to get it open.

The moment he was free, he rushed over to Leia and wrapped his sweaty body around her. She was surprised at how solid, how REAL he seemed, for a lost memory. Her screams pierced the air as another wave of black Force magic swept over them. Luke lunged for them, putting his arms around Leia's other side.

“Henry,” Leia said softly, “are you all right?” He nodded, giving her a gentle, very real smile, not at all like his flirty smirks. “If we work together, we can take him down.”

Henry shook his head as he stumbled to his feet. “No!” Leia tried to grab his arm as he made his way to the man in the cloak, but Luke took her shoulder.

“Leia, let him do this.” Her brother's blue eyes glittered. “He needs it.”

Henry launched himself at the figure head first. The moment he reached him, the figure vanished. “Do you really think you can destroy me?” The heavy black cloak swirled behind him. “You're nothing but a wastrel. No one can ever love you!”

A small but familiar gravelly voice bubbled from Henry's voice. “M...my friends do.” His fist plowed into the figure as he raised his hand again. The force behind that punch flung the figure half-way across the room. When he did land, he was little more than a tattered black cloth and a trail of black and purple mist.

Leia stepped towards him gingerly. “Henry?” He ignored her, slowly making his way to the cloth as the demons writhed and screamed behind them. “Henry, are you ok?” His fingers brushed over the cloth, making sure nothing remained in it but thick black dust.

“I think that man was Palpatine.” Luke gently placed his hand on Henry's shoulder. “Or at least, his magic. It was the curse.”

“Y...yeah, kid.” Henry turned to them, trembling like a leaf in the wind. “I...h...he...h..hurt...me...”

“It's over now.” Leia took his other hand. “We can help you...but you also have to help yourself. You can't keep running away. That's how he managed to curse you in the first place.”

As Henry put his arms around both of them, they were surrounded by a brilliant green and blue light. When the light subsided, the twins realized they and the remaining demons were now in the great hall at Solo Palace...only it was freshly painted and repaired, the thrones decorated with red velvet and gilt. The pervasive gloom had been replaced by beams of rainbow light coming from stained glass windows.

“Henry?” Leia pulled away first, her eyes wide. “You look so...regal.”

Luke dropped to his knees, grabbing Leia's elbow and pulling her down with them. “Your Highness.”

“Thanks, kid.” He bowed before them. “But I'm the one who should be kneeling for you. You helped save me from that old fossil's curse.”

Henry's auburn hair was down to his shoulders now, and brushed back under a glittering golden crown covered in precious gems. The leather vest, creamy white silk tunic, navy-blue trousers with the red stripes of the Corellian army, and flowing navy cape were all trimmed with embroidery of gold and silver threads. “I owe both of you one.” His grin, on the other hand, was as roguish and lazy as ever. “I can take it from here, kids. Without the curse, these demons are going to be a lot easier for me to deal with.”

“But Henry...” Leia tried to hold onto his hand, but the light around them grew fainter. Luke firmly pulled his sister away.

“Come on, Leia.” Her brother took both her hands. “We've done all we can here.” His slender fingers wrapped around hers. “Just concentrate on getting out of here.” He put his hand on Henry's chest.

Henry took their hands. “See you on the other side, kids.”

Leia felt the same rush of light that had brought her and Luke there. The darkness was still there...but it wasn't as thick, or quite as hopeless. In fact, there was a spark of real feeling, of real...hope. It was the last thing she felt before she passed out.

~*~*~*~*~*~

When Leia cracked open her eyes, she found herself laying on Han's left side. His strong arm was wrapped around her; the other was around Chewie. Luke's head was pillowed on his stomach.

“Welcome back.” Maz rubbed Chewie's back. “I was starting to wonder when you'd finish.”

“Han?” Leia shook him awake. “Han...er, Henry?”

Luke frowned, noticing the sun slowly rising in the window behind the bed. “Leia, I have to get outside. This room isn't big enough for a unicorn, and I don't think you want to explain me to the crowd downstairs, either.”

Han finally groaned, shoving Leia's hand away. “Five more minutes, Mama.”

Leia glared at him. “Do I look like your mother?” She yanked the pillow out from under his and Chewie's heads.

“Owwww!” The duo let out an almost identical howl at the same time. Han glared at her. “What was that for, sweetheart?”

“She's right, Your Highness.” Maz put her arms around Chewie, who licked her hand. She absently scratched his ears. “It's good to have you back.”

“Maz, don't call me that.” Han rubbed the back of his head. “Call me Henry if you must, but leave my title out of this. If anyone hears you...”

“Everyone went to sleep hours ago.” Maz helped Chewie down from the bed. “Come on, boy. Let's go get those bones.”

Luke threw his arms around Han. “Han...Henry...I mean, Your Highness...”

Han shook his head. “Han Solo is the name I use when I'm traveling, kid. I'd rather you called me that. Save Henry for when I introduce you to my mother.”

“Your mother isn't in good shape.” Maz looked up as she opened the door and let Chewie out. “Rumor has it that she won't last the week. If she dies, Palpatine takes the throne.”

“Like hell he will.” Han grabbed the pillow and dropped it on the bed. “Come on, Your Ladyship. Let's take the kid downstairs and get him breakfast, before he's eating it from a feed bag.”

Leia made a face. “Don't you want to tell me more about what landed you in Palpatine's tower in the first place?” She hit his shoulder with the pillow. “And what's this about Princess Amilyn?”

“We were, uh, betrothed for a while. Or we were supposed to be.” Han rubbed at his shoulder. “We'll talk about it downstairs over breakfast.”

“All right.” Leia smacked his shoulder one more time for good measure. “But we will talk.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Amilyn is the Princess of the Kingdom of Gatalenta.” Han tucked away a stack of wheat griddle cakes covered in honey at a table in the back of the tavern. “Mother arranged for us to be married about three years ago.” He made a face, then added more honey. “She wanted our kingdoms to be united. Gatalenta is a peaceful country of farmers, scholars, astronomers, and artists. It's also one of the richest lands in the entire Alliance. We would have gotten their money, crops, and respect. They could have shared our military and mining colonies.”

“I've heard of her.” Leia swallowed the last of her cheese and sausages. “She's smart, but a bit flighty. Wears diamonds and pearls out to tea, doesn't make a move without consulting her astrological chart. Things like that.”

“Don't get me wrong. Amilyn was a nice enough girl.” He made a face. “She was also kind of odd. I'm only interested in using the starts to guide me from place to place. I don't make my decisions based after what they say. She just wasn't my type...and at the time, I didn't really want to get married. I wanted to live a little, see the world. The castle hadn't been the same since Father died.” The prince sighed. “I took off about three days before the wedding and never looked back.”

“So,” Leia took a roll and slathered it with fresh-churned butter, “how did you end up in the Fortress in the first place?”

Han gulped his milk. “I was on my way back to Tatoonie to pay off Jabba when I was ambushed on the Imperial Road just outside Scarif. Managed to shoot a couple down and dodge them, but they dropped a rope around me while I was riding and yanked me off. They got Falcon, too, but Chewie ran for the woods.” He looked up at Leia. “They were demons, Leia. I was ambushed by demons and lizard-men and I don't know what else.”

“Palpatine's real army.” Maz cleared their remaining dishes. “We suspect that he's amassing power to raise stronger monsters. Human armies won't know how to defeat them.”

Leia looked up from her tin cup of milk. “That's why he wanted to eliminate the Jedi. Humans can't defeat those monsters...but magic might work.”

Maz nodded. “You three have to get to Solo Castle before the Mid-Summer Festival and The Great Confluence...and before Queen Jania passes on. If she dies before you can produce the real heir, Palpatine will take the throne by default and make his army.”

Han's hazel eyes turned worried. “Maz, is Mother really that sick? I was going to go home and check up on her after I'd paid off Jabba. I heard she wasn't well, but she's always been delicate...”

“I'm not going to lie to you, Henry.” Maz's straightened her thick round spectacles, her dark eyes grave under them. “She's dying. She wasn't well months ago, but I think Palpatine's been draining her energy and poisoning whatever he hasn't drained. He wants the throne.” She poked a finger into Han's chest. “Mark my words, boy. He may look like skin and bones when he's human, but he's a dangerous man. Keep an eye out, and don't underestimate him.”

“We need help getting into Coruscant without Palpatine knowing.” Han's face was more serious than Leia had ever seen it. “And I know who'll do it. Lando.”

Leia raised her eyebrows. “Lando Kingdom?”

“He's not a kingdom. He's a man.” Han gave her the familiar smirk. “Duke Lando Calarissian, or so he claims. Card player, gambler, scoundrel. You'd like him.”

Maz looked up from her tray full of dishes. “I thought he wasn't speaking to you after the whole incident with Q'ida and Beckett. Not to mention after you won Falcon off him in that card game.”

Han's smile tightened. “That was a long time ago. I'm sure he's forgotten all about that.”

They followed Maz to the kitchen. “Solo, I'd be wary, if I were you. Palpatine isn't going to just let this go. He's probably already after you.”

“So we'll leave as soon as we get the gear on Luke and Falcon and Chewie finishes his bones.” He gave the wolf a scratch on the head, but he was too busy with his breakfast to notice. “Everything will be fine, Maz. Trust me.”

“I'm not so sure about that.” Leia followed Han to the back door. “I don't know. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“It'll be ok, sweetheart.” Han leaned against the house, rubbing her hands.

Her eyes drifted downwards. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop that.” She frowned. “My hands are dirty.”

“My hands are dirty, too.” Han leaned in closer. “What are you afraid of?”

“Afraid?” Her eyes locked with his. “I'm not afraid of anything!”

“You're trembling.” She barely noticed him wrap his arms around her.

“No,” she began, “I'm not...”

“Your Highness! Lady Leia!” Cyril waved his yellow-clad arms. “The Naboo army is here, lead by no less than Grand Admiral Thrawn himself! We must leave this place at once!”

“Thanks, Goldenrod,” Han grumbled.

“No, Han, he's right.” Leia peered around his back, catching sight of a man with shiny blue-black hair and slightly blue-tinged skin in a white silk cape and tunic. “We have to get out of here, and now, before they catch us.”

Maz and Artello followed close behind Cyril. She thrust a burlap sack into Han's arms. “Here's food for your journey. Bespin is at least a three day ride from here, and that's if you don't make too many stops. There's a small paint horse in the stable that Cedric and Artello can use. I don't ride North Star all that much, anyway.”

Leia winced as a deep, slick voice as smooth as axle grease could be heard through a deadly quiet tavern. “Go!” Maz nearly shoved them out the door. “Get out of here! Hurry!”

“Are you sure?” More gunshots and raised voices could be heard from the main dining room. “I could help...”

“I can handle this.” The older woman took a thick staff from the wall near the window. “You two get those messages to the rebels in Coruscant at the Mid-Summer Festival.” She gave her one last push. “Now, go!”

They were just out of the stables and dashing down the road when they heard a deep voice ordering his men to go after them. Han tossed Leia a bow and a few arrows. “Let's see how much you've learned on this in the past few weeks, Your Ladyship.”

She grinned, catching them easily. “You're on, Your Highness.”

Thrawn, a tall man with stiff blue-black hair and a white silk cape, rode on his own horse, leading his troops. He didn't fight himself, but directed his men to shoot at them, making sure they kept their targets in sight. Han took out three and lead two more to run into trees. Leia shot four and lost two more when their horses tripped over roots and went down.

“Han!” Leia ducked another arrow whizzing over her head. “They're not going to leave us that easily!”

“I'll lead them off on the Road.” Han shot one driving a cart behind him. “You take 'em into the woods! I'll find you later! Trust me!” He and Chewie went flying down the Imperial Road, three soldiers on their tail.

Leia frowned as he turned Falcon down the dusty path. “Han, no! You'll get lost!” She ducked as another cart filled with men came flying alongside her. One shot at her, just managing to cut her arm. She threw the bow on her back and pushed Luke harder. With a little help from the green light from his horn, they leaped over a pond between some trees.

The soldiers were so busy watching them in astonishment, they didn't see where they were going. Leia chuckled as they rode directly into the pond. It was too deep for them to get it out again. They were just swimming for shore as she and Luke rode further into the woods.

They finally came to a stop by a thick fallen tree trunk. It was surrounded by branches and wood, and too thick for Luke to jump over. “Do you see Han?” Leia sighed, stroking Luke's golden mane. He snorted. “Me either. He couldn't find a cyclops performing country dances on a tavern table. Face it, we're lost again.”

“Speak colorfully, you do.” Leia and Luke both jumped at the same time. “Your friend is fine. Getting rid of the last of the soldiers, he is.” The little green man sat in a tall maple, almost blending in with its leaves. “Boasting about the fine job he's doing to his horse and wolf, he is. Much like his father. Josiah also boasted about his fast horses and his skills with weapons.”

“Yiiii!” Leia and Luke almost jumped at the same time. She turned him around to address the little fellow. “Oh, it's you. Don't do that! You scared us!” Luke nodded with a pert snort.

“Get your attention, I must.” The little man shook his head. “Go to Bespin, you must not. Seek help elsewhere, you should. Dark forces surround the City of the Clouds. All is not as it seems.”

“On one hand, I agree with you, little man.” Leia sighed. “I could feel something wrong with this the moment Han mentioned his friend.” Luke nodded too, letting out a concerned whinny. His sister absently stroked his mane. “The trouble is, there really isn't anywhere else we can go. Palpatine probably has soldiers out looking for both of us by now. I'm hoping his friend really can help us get to Coruscant in time.”

“If go, you must, remember this. A good man can do wrong, but will do right if given the chance. A friend can seem like a foe, and a foe, a friend. The prince, blinded by the curse, he is, but you see clearly.” The little man lifted his hands. “And now, a lesson, I will give. The path back to the road is behind that log. Get rid of it, you must.”

“It's one thing to move stones with your mind.” Leia made a face. “But this is totally different.”

“No!” The little man stomped his tiny clawed foot. “No different. Only in your minds. You must unlearn what you have learned.”

“All right.” Leia sighed. “I'll give it a try.”

“No!” The little man made a face. “Do or do not. There is no try.”

Leia concentrated. So did Luke. Their combined blue and green light gathered around the log. They strained together, trying to lift as hard as they can...but could only do it when a thicker green light was added to theirs. The three lights carried the trunk off the road, leaving it in a clearing a few just a few feet away.

“Thank you, little man.” She turned to him. “It's hard to believe our powers could lift that heavy thing!”

The little man only gave her a hard stare. “That is why you fail.”

“Lady Skywalker?” Cyril and Artello came riding over to them on a small, fat donkey. “I wish we could have caught up with you, but this creature is terribly stubborn, and not nearly as fast as your equines.” Artello's flute fluttered in annoyance. “No, I will not let you drive! I know what I'm doing. This silly donkey just won't listen, that's all!”

Leia was about to introduce them to her small green friend...but when she looked up, he was gone again. All that remained was that green light. “I think we have to follow him.” The light fluttered around them, spinning circles around Cyril until he was dizzy, zapping Artello in the rear, before it floated into the trees. “Gentlemen, meet...a very small and annoying elf. At least, I think that's what he is.” She turned Luke around and went after the light. “Follow me.”

The met Han and Chewie on the Imperial Road. “Where have you been, sweetheart?” He gave her that lazy smirk. “How'd you do with yours? I ran the last of mine into a ditch a while back.”

“Luke and I landed them in a pond.” She chuckled. “They're probably still swimming for it.”

“Good.” Han smirked as another vehicle came down the road. “This is how we're going to get to Bespin. Follow me.”

It was a large caravan of heavy iron carts, carrying manure and animal droppings to a near-by scrap heap. Han rode alongside them, pulling his cloak over his head and blending in with the other riders. Leia did the same, making sure to cast a spell that would render Luke's horn invisible.

“How long are we going to ride with them?” The girl wrinkled her nose. “The smell is awful, and it probably won't take them long to figure out we're not really with them.”

“As soon as we make it to the Bespin Road.” Han pulled his cloak around him. “It gets cold up in the Bespin Mountains. Hope you packed your heavy clothes, sweetheart.”

Leia grinned at him. “You do have your moments. Not many of them, but you do have them.” She leaned over and gave him a kiss on his cheek. Han's face was scarlet under his hood all the way to the Bespin Mountain Pass.

Luke snorted...but he couldn't help feeling as they rode off down the Bespin Road that they were being followed. He had a good reason to. Behind them at a discreet distance was a man in familiar green, red, and yellow armor driving an armored carriage pulled by two bulky stallions. A black snake watched them from a tree, his tail wrapped around the limb. He hissed as they passed, stretching out his long neck to eat a small rodent on the ground underneath. As soon as he swallowed it, he was engulfed by a black light. A black vulture flew overhead, finally landing on Boba Fett's shoulder.

“Palpatine,” Fett rasped in his usual monotone. “They're on their way to the City of the Clouds in the Bespin Mountains.”

“Good.” The vulture let out a cackling hiss. “Everything is occurring as I have foreseen.” Even Fett shuddered as his unrelenting laughter.