Introduction - A Star Wars Fairy Tale: Empire

May the 4th be with you! It's extremely appropriate that I finished this story today. Star Wars fans celebrate today as a kind of unofficial holiday. The first film in the Original Trilogy opened on this date in 1977, changing everything most people knew about sci-fi, movies, and pop culture!

I just hope I did this story justice. The Empire Strikes Back has been my favorite movie, period, since it first started turning up on cable around 1987. You might say Han and Leia were my first ship, even before I knew how that word could apply to couples. I learned a lot of what I knew as a child about romance from this movie and Jedi. Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and Lando Calarissian are still my favorite characters from the Original Trilogy, and they're all a big part of this story!

Hope you enjoy! Look for the last part, based around Return of the Jedi, later this month or early next month!

Oh, and I updated the Story Ideas page with some new ones, including a darker Original Trilogy fairy tale and a Star Wars-based Christmas fantasy.

A Star Wars Fairy Tale: Empire, Part 1

Rating: PG-13 (violence, mild language, implied sexual content)

Pairings: Han/Leia

Disclaimer: The franchise belongs to George Lucas and the Walt Disney Company. I just got back into this fandom after more than a decade away and decided I wanted to play, too.

Notes: One of the many inspirations for Star Wars was beloved fairy and folk tales. I decided to go back to the source, so to speak. Among the stories I'm borrowing ideas from are “Tarzan,” “East of the Sun and West of the Moon,” “Baba Yaga,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Sweetheart Roland,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Rapunzel,” “The Girl Without Hands,” “King Arthur,” and “Robin Hood.”

Notes 2: This is based around the Original Trilogy, though a few characters from Star Wars: Rebels and The Force Awakens have cameos.

Once upon a time, in a world very far from hours, there lived a young knight, a princess with no kingdom, and a gypsy thief. Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, and Han Solowolf had rescued each other, and the valiant Rebels of the Woods, from the evil Kingdom of the Empire and its demon ruler, Lord Vader. The two men and the old Master Force Knight Sir Benjamin Kenobi had freed the princess from her wicked father, but at the cost of Kenobi's life. It took Luke's kindness to a group of mistreated dragons and Han's sudden change of heart about leaving his new friends to send Vader back to the Parched Mountains and drive him from the Enchanted Woods.

Avoiding the Empire's troops, the Rebels fled deeper into the Enchanted Woods. The Woods knew all, heard all. It was the embodiment of the Force, in all its manifestations. It knew the Rebels wanted to restore order and balance to the Kingdoms. The Woods would protect them.

The Empire's legions kept hounding them. Even without the Sith Dragons, they had vast fleets of men and battle carriages at their disposal. The Rebels, however, had resources that were just as important – wit, determination, and a knowledge of the Woods and its nooks and crannies that the city and mountain-based Imperial Army lacked. Imperial nobles were terrified of traveling through the Enchanted Woods, lest one of the Rebel bands attack them and relieve them of their worldly goods.

After the discovery of their camp in the Kingdom of Yavin, the Rebels had been forced to flee to the remote Kingdom of Hoth. The northernmost of all the Kingdoms, it snowed for ten out of twelve months of the year, and the ice almost never melted. It was a frigid, dangerous land...but one that was perfect for a band of outlaws who didn't wish to be found to do their business.

Brendol Hux Sr, Earl of Rowling Estate in the Kingdom of the Empire, was on his way to Bast Castle in his heavily armed carriage. It was filled to the very top with tax money collected from the citizens of the Kingdoms of Hoth, Lothal, and Corellia. “I don't mind telling you, sir, that I'm not crazy about us bein' out here,” his driver fussed. “You don't know what'll get ya in these woods. They say they're magic. And there's those Rebels...”

“I'm not concerned about the bloody Rebels,” Hux claimed. “I'm more worried that we won't get this to Bast Castle treasury by nightfall.”

That was when Hux heard the thump. A tree had fallen in front of them, blown to the ground by the howling winds. “Would one of you see to that?” the tall, red-haired man called from under his three fox fur blankets. He heard movement, then thought he heard something leap on top of the carriage. A head swathed in gray scarves poked in. Hux thought he saw wisps of scruffy cinnamon-brown under the thick fabric. “Don't worry, Earl, we'll have this ol' log of yours out in a jiffy.”

Hux squinted. “Are you...new here?”

“Uh, yeah,” the man said quickly. “Just started a few days ago.”

Hux thought he heard movement in the back of the carriage, and a female voice. “What's taking so bloody long?”

Another head popped in. This one belonged to a much smaller trooper in white armor. “We thought we saw bandits out there, sir!” the trooper said with a voice that was oddly high for an Imperial soldier. He seemed almost boyish, and much too small for a fighter.

“Bandits?” Hux groaned. “Wonderful. That's all we need. If I don't get this shipment to Bast Castle by tomorrow, Lord Vader will squeeze the breath out of me.”

The driver in gray climbed into the carriage as more movement was seen outside. “Hey, nice place you got here,” he chuckled. He picked up one of the fur blankets. “Is this real?”

Hux grabbed it back. “Yes, it is real, and I would thank you not to handle it!”

The man put his hands in the air. “All right, all right, your Imperial-ness. Don't get your nose in a snit. I was just admiring quality merchandise.”

That was when the man was hit in the head with a snowball. More snowballs were hurled into the carriage from the tree-tops. “It's an ambush!” The man ducked out. “We'd better get out of here!”

“Wait!” Hux was too busy ducking around flying snow to realize that not only did the man take his fur blankets, but he'd stolen the sapphire ring he wore as well. “What are you doing?”

A smaller figure in gray, this one wearing a shapeless gray hat over velvet-brown wisps, with large dark-brown eyes, addressed him. “Sir, we've located the bandits,” they said in a voice that sounded strangely feminine. “We're pursuing them into the Woods.” He swore he heard someone saying “Come on, Your Worship, we've got the loot!”, but it was muffled by the falling snow.

Another head poked inside. “Hey, this is really nice!” This soldier was even shorter than the last and had distinctly bluish hair under the muffling gray scarves. “You have a really fancy set-up, sir.”

He was joined by a slightly taller soldier in pink-ish armor. “Could use a little color. Maybe a splash of orange here, a little lime-green on the ceiling...”

“Children, please.” A taller soldier – Hux swore he saw a brown bun poking out from under the helmet – pulled the other two away. “Sorry, sir. New recruits. They're very excited about working with you.”

Hux reached for his fur blankets, only to find that they weren't there. “Have you seen my...” but the men were gone.

The driver looked in. “We've moved it, sir. We're ready to move on.”

“Please do so!” Hux exclaimed. “I don't like this. Something doesn't seem right.”

“Er, yeah.” The so-called driver pulled out. “Ok everybody, let's move 'em out!” But instead of climbing onto the carriage, the man pulled the fox blankets over his shoulder and leaped onto a huge, shaggy brown stallion instead.

Leia rode up to him on her golden stallion as the carriage lurched off. “Did you really need to do that? The tax money will be more than enough to pay for food for the starving villagers of Lothal three times over.”

Han unwound the stifling scarves and ran his fingers over the fox blankets. “Do you know how much these would bring in the open markets, Your Worship? I still have to pay back Jabba, you know.”

A woman with long pale braids that almost seemed greenish in their cast drove her carriage past them. “Save the arguments for when we get back to camp. It seems like all you two ever do is fight.”

Han smirked at Leia. “Her Worship enjoys it. It gives her something to do.”

Leia glared at him. “I have plenty to do without you causing trouble.” She turned to the other woman. “Hera, get your group back to Camp. Captain Solowolf, Commander Skywalker, and I will take this money to Lothal to purchase food and supplies for the villagers.”

Luke, pulling off his Imperial armor, shook his head. “I can do it, Leia. It'll be easier with just one person.”

The man with the knot in the back of his head agreed. “He's right, Your Highness. A group may be detected, but one person buying food is far less obvious.”

She nodded. “All right, Kanan.” Leia turned to Luke. “You be careful. We don't know what's out there, and the snow is getting worse.”

Han smirked. “Yeah. The big, mean snow monsters might get ya.” His horse Chewbacca let out a snort.

“I can take care of myself.” Luke turned his snow-alpaca around. “I'll see you in a few hours.”

Han shook his head as they rode in the opposite direction. “I hope that kid knows what he's doin'.”

“He's gone on supply runs before.” Leia pulled her heavy white cloak around her shoulders. “He'll be fine.”

“Yeah, but he always had one of us with him.”

Leia looked over her shoulder, making sure the rest of the Rebels were right behind them. “If he can deal with dragons, he can deal with snow monsters.”

They arrived at the Rebels' camp. It had been dug into a series of ice caves in a clearing in the Woods. They'd been here for nearly six months, and so far, the Imperials hadn't been able to find them. Leia only hoped their luck held. They'd spent the last three years been driven further and further into the Woods, away from the ever-expanding Imperial territory.

They were greeted by General Carlist Rieekien, once one of the Kingdom of Aldran's top military advisers, now one of the heads of the Rebels In the Woods. “It's good to have you back,” he said as Han and Leia climbed off their horses. “Did you get the money?”

Leia nodded. “Luke's taking most of it to Lothal now to buy food and clothes for the villagers there.”

“General,” Han started, “I have to leave. I can't stay here any longer.”

Rieekian frowned. “You're one of our best archers and horsemen, Solowolf. I hate to lose you.”

Han shrugged. “If I don't get that money I owe to King Jabba soon, I'm a dead horseman.”

Rieekian shook his hand. “I wish you luck, Solowolf. That kind of mark's not easy to live with.”

“Thank you, General.” Han turned to Leia, who was just giving him the same glare she had on the ride there. “I guess this is it, Your Highness.”

Leia nodded coolly. “That's right.”

“Now I know why they called you 'the Ice Princess' back in Aldran,” Han snapped.

Leia sauntered up to him. “You think you're the one to supply some heat?”

“I would if I had the time.” He started towards the Falcon. Leia followed him.

“Han,” she started, “we need you. The Rebels need you...”

Now Han was the one glaring. “Please, Your Worship. I don't want to hear any more about how important the Rebels are to you. Do you ever think of anything besides your cause?”

“Do you ever think of anything besides yourself?”

They had been going at each other in the same fashion for years. For all the bickering, Leia admired Han's courage, his strength, and his devil-may-care recklessness in the face of danger. Han was amazed by Leia's integrity and her incredible will. Trouble was, not only would neither of them admit it, they just as often got on each others' nerves. Like now, for instance.

“Yeah, sweetheart,” he said with that famous lazy grin of his. “I think about many things. You, for instance.”

Leia didn't want to admit how she found that grin utterly captivating...and completely annoying. “I thought the only thing you loved was money.”

Han continued to smirk at her. “I can't have something else? There has to be a reason for you to be following me. Afraid I was going to leave without giving you another kiss?”

She was about ready to forget her royal upbringing and hit him harder than she had at the ball. “I'd rather kiss that pile of fur you generously call a horse!”

“I could arrange that!” He stormed off, yelling “You could use a good kiss!”

Even as they fought, Luke was in a more dire predicament. He had made it to Lothal Village, where he used part of the tax money to purchase food and clothing for some of their poorest residents. Lothal had once been a very pretty village on the edge of the Hoth and Danton kingdoms. The Empire's taxes had hit them hard, and now most residents were starving, barely able to survive on day-to-day rations.

It was coming home where he ran into trouble. He was riding a snow-alpaca, one of the furry beasts reared in Hoth for transportation, when he was knocked senseless by an enormous white Wampa, one of the fearsome carnivores that lived in the ice caves in the mountains above Hoth. Luke awoke to find himself frozen to the wall in one of the caves! He was grateful he could move his arms. His legs were coated in ice and unable to move a single step.

He managed to pull out his sword and cut himself free from the ice just as the Wampa shuffled in. Luke tried to reason with the creature, but it was frenzied with hunger. It was only in tune with the Force so far as the Force could lead it to its next meal. It didn't care that this small thing wanted to talk to him. It just wanted dinner. It lunged for Luke, long, furry arms outstretched. Luke hacked at the arms, cutting one off. It ducked away, just as Luke hurried out of the cave...and into a blinding snowstorm.

Luke remembered little else for nearly a week. He later recalled swirling snow, and temperatures so cold, he could barely feel most of his body, even under the patched wool clothing he wore. He'd just collapsed into the piles of ice crystals when a voice stood out in his head. “Luke,” old Sir Benjamin Kenobi stated, “Luke.”

“Ben?” He gasped. He thought he saw the outlines of a figure...a white and blue figure who greatly resembled his former Force Knight master.

“You will go to the Dagobah Swamps. There you will learn from Yoda, the great Force master sage.”

“Ben, please!” Luke tried to reach for him, but he was exhausted. He heard another voice...one that distinctly sounded like Han Solowolf's...before he fainted.

When Luke awoke in the camp's medical cave, the first things he saw were his dear friends Han, Leia, Arthur the mute blacksmith, and Cecil, the former butler turned translator and adviser for the Rebels. Han had even lead his beloved Wookie Stallion Chewbacca into the room.

“You look great, kid!” Han exclaimed. “Strong enough to pull the wings off a Sith Dragon.”

Luke smiled gently at him. Leia had told him Han was on his way to the Kingdom of Tatoon when he found Luke and returned him to camp in his much-repaired carriage, the Falcon. “Thanks to you.”

The gypsy thief smirked. “Keep in mind I've saved your rear twice, Junior.” He turned to Leia. “And I'm sure you're thrilled to see me.”

“If you can call it that,” Leia sniffed. “General Rieekian said it's too dangerous for anyone else to leave until the blizzard has subsided.”

“I think you're just can't bear to let my beautiful self out of your sight,” Han said with a grin. Luke rolled his eyes behind him. Han and Leia's bickering had been amusing at first, but after three years of their constant fights, he was ready to lock them in the back of the Falcon and let them be done with it.

Leia narrowed her eyes. “Shows what you know, Arrow Head.” She glared at them. “I'm not in love with anyone. You know, I was doing just fine, until you two horse jockeys came riding into my life. I don't need either of you.” She stormed off.

“Han,” Luke said with a sigh, “won't you two ever stop carrying on like five-year-olds?”

Han made a face. “I will if she will.” Chewbacca nudged him, whinnying. “Well, she's acting pretty childish, too.”

Luke sighed. “She's a really nice girl, Han. She's always been good to me. You should give her a chance.”

“I have given her a chance,” Han grumbled. “She thinks she's too good to give me a chance.” He patted Chewie's back. “Doesn't matter, anyway. As soon as this storm blows over, we're on our way to Tatoon.”

Luke smiled wanly. “Good luck, Han. May the Force be with you.”

Han tried to give him his usual grin, but it was rather lopsided. “You too.”

A Star Wars Fairy Tale: Empire, Part 2

As it turned out, everyone would be leaving sooner than expected. Ever since his defeat in the Enchanted Woods at Yavin, the half-demon war lord Vader had been obsessed with finding his daughter and the two men who had aided her and the Rebels during the battle. The boy who lead the dragons had particularly captured his attention. There was only one way he could have turned the Sith Dragons against him, and that was with the Force. He'd felt a strange ripple in the Force at the ball, one that wasn't Leia or old Sir Kenobi. He'd never felt powers that were so raw and untapped, yet so strong. He had to have them.

He'd had his best spies find out more about those young men in the three years since the Sith Dragons left the Kingdom of the Empire. They'd discovered that the archer was Han Solowolf, a notorious thief and trader. The boy's name was startlingly familiar – Luke Skywalker. It was a name he hadn't heard in decades, not since he...not since his Padme left this world. This Skywalker was a humble farmer's nephew who had come to Aldran to get a job and had been befriended by Kenobi and Solowolf.

“Sir,” Brendol Hux Sr. was whining, “this is the fourth time this month Rebels In the Woods have attacked us. We lost more than fifty thousand credits worth of tax money!”

Vader was only half-listening. “You said you were attacked in the Kingdom of Hoth.”

Hux nodded. “Yes, on the outskirts of the Enchanted Woods. I knew it was too dangerous to pass through there. We should have gone through Coruscant. It's far safer. You shouldn't be so reckless...”

That was when Hux began gasping. “I want results, not your complaints.” Vader clenched his fists. Hux dropped to his knees. “Who attacked you?”

“Don't know...” Hux gasped. “Looked like my men...they weren't...don't know what happened to my men...” He grabbed at Vader's fingers. “My Lord...please...my wife is with child...she needs me...”

Vader finally dropped him. He nearly ended up on the floor. “I have even more need of you. Alert Captain Needa of the Guardsmen that we're going to attack the Kingdom of Hoth, near Lothal Village.”

“Yes...sir...” Hux managed to gasp.

Vader strode out to prepare the men. He sensed Skywalker's powers. Like his daughter's, they were strong, even stronger than hers, but untapped. Kenobi had tried to turn the boy from him, but he wouldn't allow it. He wouldn't lose this apprentice. He would train him and Leia, and they would join him at his master's side.

First, however, he had those infuriating Rebels to drive out of the forest and into the open, and that meddling Solowolf to contend with. His men said that Solowolf was seldom seen without Skywalker or Organa, and they were seldom seen without each other or him. They always worked in tandem. He would have to find a way to separate them. They would be more vulnerable without the gypsy's protection.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There was little warning. Luke and Leia sensed Vader's presence before most others...and the Woods sensed it before them. The snow-coated branches shook. Icicles fell into the snowdrifts, their needles making musical tinkles in the clear, crisp air. Snow foxes and squirrels dove into their trees and holes, growling and chattering at the intruders.

“General,” Leia insisted, shivering as she entered Rieekian's cave. “we have to evacuate. The Kingdom of the Empire found us. The Imperials are on their way.”

“Are you sure?” Even as Rieekien spoke those words, horses rode into camp. Luke had said he felt well enough to lead Wedge and some of the others in another carriage raid. Leia regretted letting him go now. None of them were in good shape. Luke had Dak laying on Tauntaun. Wedge was nursing a wound that clearly once had an arrow in it.

“It was a trap.” Wedge winced as he climbed off his horse Rogue. Leia and another woman helped Luke with Dak. “There were at least sixty men in that carriage, and we saw more coming.”

Luke nodded. “Including Lord Vader. I saw him in the air. He'll be here any minute.”

Rieekian nodded at Leia. “Give the evacuation order.”

Han didn't care about evacuations. He was working on the Falcon with help from Arthur the Blacksmith. Arthur's friend Cecil occasionally threw in his two credits. “At least the wheels look better now. Hopefully, those nails of yours will keep the passenger's side door on. Thanks, Art.”

Arthur's fingers flew. Cecil nodded. “Arthur says he appreciates being able to help. He knows how you feel about this vehicle. It's been too long since we worked on a carriage that wasn't Rebel-issue.” Arthur rolled his eyes at Cecil, his fingers somehow looking annoyed. “Well, I worked on it, too! I handed you the tools! That's hard work. You keep them in such disarray, I never know where I'll find them. I once found the hammer in a stew pot! Thank goodness it wasn't near dinnertime.”

“All right, you two, enough.” Han had gotten used to their constant bickering by now. For all their fussing at each other, Han had to admit he was almost starting to like them. Arthur was even teaching him some of the Language of the Mutes. He might be able to get some new customers.

“Han!” Luke rode over on Tauntaun, his few possessions slung in saddlebags. “We're evacuating camp. Vader's on his way with half the Imperial Army.”

“Damn.” Han threw the last wrench into the Falcon. “Good thing I was on my way out anyhow.” He saw how pale the young man looked. “You all right, kid?”

Luke nodded. “Yeah.” Chewie nudged him, whinnying. The Wookie Stallion adored Luke and Leia like they were his own colts. Luke scratched the horse behind the ear and fed him a sugar cube. He turned to Han and smiled. “Thanks again for saving me.”

“Anytime.” Han patted the younger man on the shoulder. “You be careful, kid.”

Luke nodded. “You too.” He headed off into the caves on Tauntaun. Han frowned and went in the opposite direction. He'd hoped Leia had already left. He heard rumbling outside the caves, even as he and Cecil hurried down the halls.

Leia was in Rieekian's cave, giving orders to the remaining staff to evacuate. The sounds of arrows and cannonballs from battle carriages could be heard outside. One ball blew through the roof, shattering everything around it, including a great deal of equipment. “Your Worship, I heard the main cave's been hit.”

“Why are you still here?” Leia snapped. “You were given your clearance to leave nearly an hour ago!”

“Solowolf is right, Your Highness,” Rieekien added. “I'll be leaving here myself shortly. The first carriages will be out in a few minutes.”

Leia nodded. “Keep as many of our horsemen around the supply carriages as possible.”

That was when a second ball blasted through the wall...and Han heard the sound of booted feet and breathing that closely resembled that of a snake. “Come on. That's it. We have to go.”

They tried to make their way towards the main entrances, dodging falling balls, arrows, and icy debris. Leia heard the ball coming before Han did and managed to pull him down with her as it shattered the ceiling and walls around them, causing most of the cave to collapse.

When the dust cleared, they were thankfully unhurt, but the cave was filled to the top with jagged pieces of ice. Han shook his head. “We'll never dig through that. I'll have to get you out on the Falcon.”

“Are you crazy?” Leia followed Han to the carriage storage cave. “That bucket of bolts would never get past the Imperial battle carriages!”

“You'd be surprised, sweetheart.” He was glad Chewie was already hitched up to the Falcon. He reached into the back of the carriage and grabbed his longbow and arrows before leaping into the driver's seat.

“Wait for me!” Cecil hurried towards the Falcon as fast as his long legs could muster. “I was blocked from the other carriages by the cave-in. I don't want to be left to the snow monsters or the Imperial Army!”

“Will you just get in?” Leia wrenched the back door open, threw Cecil in head-first, and shut it again. She jumped into the driver's seat alongside Han, just as they heard arrows thumping into flesh and snake-like breathing.

Vader arrived just in time to see Solowolf's aging gypsy carriage fly out of the cave. It plowed through soldiers and Rebels alike, Solowolf getting off a few shots at his men as the vehicle bounced over the snow. The Wookie Stallion was so quick and agile, no one could catch up with it. Several carriages hurried after them. All Vader could do was watch as the carriage disappeared into the snow-laden woods.

“I want that carriage followed,” Vader demanded. “Bring me the Princess and the Wookie Stallion unharmed. Do what you wish with Solowolf.” The troopers bowed and hurried to their long, heavily armed battle-carriages, fearful of what the half-demon warlock would do to them if they disobeyed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Han drove them deeper and deeper into the Enchanted Woods, his horse Chewbacca galloping as fast as his hooves could carry them.

Leia looked over her shoulder. “There's three battle carriages coming right after us!”

Han flicked the reins harder. “I can't get Chewie to go any faster in this deep snow.” He frowned as Leia climbed into the cart. “What are you doing?”

“I'm looking for a comb.” She pushed past Cecil, who was trembling on Han's bunk, and opened up a trunk. She tossed out various bits of clothing and accessories until she let out a “Perfect!” She pulled out a long wooden comb with sharp teeth.

“Hey!” Han exclaimed as she poked her head out of the cart. “That's my only comb!”

“The way your hair looks, you never use it anyway.” She concentrated on the comb, then threw it to the ground. The moment it landed, up sprang a grove of thorny bushes that tangled the first carriage so it couldn't move an inch.

Cecil was watching from the back. “Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but there's still two more out there!”

“I'm working on it.” She next pulled out a small mirror, placing a second spell on it. When it was thrown, it became a deep lake. The second carriage tried to drive through, but it became quite waterlogged and sank in the middle.

Han ducked two arrows shot in his direction. “There's one left. You got anything else up your sleeve, sweetheart?”

“I'm looking!” She dove further into the trunk, trying to stay away from the flying arrows. Cecil whimpered, hiding in one of the compartments Han used for smuggling contraband.

An arrow just barely missed Han's head. “I'll see if I can pick a few off.” He pulled his bow and arrows out from where they were hung on the walls in the cart behind the driver's seat. He did manage to get two men off the carriage while tying the reigns to the driver's seat before Leia emerged again, this time with an old basket. “Put that back,” Han fussed. “I use it for carrying smuggled goods!”

“Han, it's a splintered mess. We'll get you a new one later.” She tossed it into the snow. A grove of small, hardy trees sprang up from the basket, blocking the last carriage. The branches of the trees beat at the men, throwing them and scratching at them until they had no choice but to flee.

“What'll we do, Captain?” The lead trooper asked. “You know how angry Lord Vader will be when he found out we lost them.”

Needa squared his shoulders. He knew all too well how Vader will react. “I will take full responsibility for losing them and apologize to his Lordship myself.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Leia climbed back into the carriage. “I think that's the last of them.”

“Yeah, for now.” Despite the skepticism in his voice, Han did slow Chewie to a trot. “I wouldn't be surprised if there were more lurking in the snow somewhere.”

Leia shook her head. “They wouldn't go into the Woods. It won't let them.”

Han rolled his eyes. “How do you know how trees and grass feel?”

“It's part of my powers. I can sense it.” Leia shrugged. “I'm not as good at it as Father is, but I can pick up general feelings.”

Han smiled at her, taking her hand. “You know, you did pretty well back there, for a princess.”

Leia did not like him rubbing her hand. “Thank you, but I wish you wouldn't do that.”

“Do what?”

“Rub my hands. They're dirty.”

“Mine are dirty, too. What are you afraid of?”

“Afraid?” She wasn't afraid of anything...except losing control. To him.

“You're trembling.” Han couldn't believe how beautiful she looked just then. Even in the ragged white blouse and leggings the Rebels had pieced together for her from cast-off clothes and old fur, she still seemed as delicate and soft as the snow around them.

“I'm not trembling.” She couldn't tear her wide brown eyes from him. “I just...I like nice princes. You're not nice, or a prince.”

Han couldn't deny the latter part. “I'm a nice man.”

“No, you're not, hotshot. You're...” But they were kissing before she could even complete her sentence.

Leia didn't know how long they were kissing. Time seemed to have stopped. It was just the two of them and the muffled rhythm of Chewbacca's hooves in the snow.

Suddenly, the carriage jolted, then began to slow, scraping on the ground. A rather whiny, very proper dark-haired head in a tattered gold uniform popped out of the side. “Sir, we seem to have hit a rock in the road. The wheel is rather badly bent.”

“Damn.” Han looked over his shoulder. The lower-right-hand wheel was, indeed, dented in several places, thanks to a very prominent rock. Han turned to Leia, only to see her retreat into the cart. “Thank you, Cecil,” he growled at the former butler. “Thank you very much.”

Cecil was immune to sarcasm. “Oh, you're very welcome, Captain Solowolf.”

Han poked his head in the back. “I think I can get us down to the Woods in the Kingdom of Kashyyak. It'll be easier to fix the Falcon there than in deep snows. Besides,” he gave them one of his famous grins, “Chewie and I have family there.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Needa was right in thinking Vader wouldn't be happy to hear he lost the Falcon. He was dead by strangulation before he hit the ground. “Apology accepted, Captain Needa,” Vader said as he strode past the man. He didn't accept failure...from anyone.

“Sir,” said another officer as two Bast Castle guards gathered Needa's remains, “King Palapatine has arrived. He demands an audience with you.”

“I will speak to him in my chambers.” He saw the disgust on the man's face. “Have the huntsmen arrived yet?”

The officer nodded. “They're here, Your Lordship.”

Vader was already making his way across the courtyard. “I'll address them after I've spoken to my master.”

“Your Lordship,” the officer began, “are you sure it's wise to recruit such scum? Most huntsmen are said to be the worst sort of criminals. We don't need their kind.”

“Solowolf is also said to be the worst sort of criminal.” Vader entered the main fortress, the officer struggling to keep up with his long strides. “It takes a thief to catch a thief. There's already a bounty on Solowolf's head. The King of Tatoon wants him. They know his ways better than anyone in the Kingdom of the Empire would.”

The officer finally bowed. “Very well, Your Lordship.” Vader turned towards his tower as the officer made his way towards the greeting hall.

Vader had once shared his chambers with his beloved wife Padme. Back then, Naboo had been a place of happiness and joy. For everyone, that is, but him. As a light-powered Force Knight, he had sworn a vow of chastity...but he'd fallen deeply in love with Naboo's queen, the most intelligent, strongest, beautiful woman he'd ever known. They were secretly married in a small chapel in Naboo's Lake Country. That chapel was among the first buildings he'd ordered destroyed when Naboo became the Kingdom of the Empire and the love of his life saw her last breath.

He did have one reminder of her. Leia was as wise and lovely as her lost mother, with his strong will and hot temper. She had considerable Force skill, not quite to the degree of Skywalker, but more than average. That fool brother of Padme's, Bail Organa, had begged him to leave Leia alone and let her live her life, without the responsibility of such immense power. But Bail was now gone, ground up in the belly of a dragon. She was all he had now, and he would do with her which he saw fit.

The room was dark and stuffy. The windows were covered with boards. Not a speck of light showed through them. The furnishings were made of black crystal and heavy, muffling velvet. The walls were lined with old tapestries won from conquered lands that depicted Black Knights successfully defeating their enemies in battle.

Vader felt his master's presence long before he entered the room. Palapatine, King of the Empire and Master Black Knight, was the most powerful being in all the Seven Kingdoms. He was deceptively old and shriveled. The few people who could see beyond the heavy folds of his black cloak were only given glimpses of shrunken hands, beady yellow-red eyes, and a cold, deathless face that was a mass of wrinkles.

He knelt before the man. “Master,” he said, “there's a great disturbance in the Force magic.” He dared a gaze upwards. “We found the name of the man who turned the Sith Dragons against us. Luke Skywalker.”

“Yes,” the King hissed. “Yes. A very...familiar...name. One that may be useful for us.”

“His magic is strong,” Vader continued. “Not unlike the magic I feel in my daughter.”

“That reminds me.” King Palapatine turned his penetrating yellow gaze down to his servant. “When I gave you this...power...you promised me something in return. You have not yet fulfilled that promise.”

“I'm sending huntsmen to bring Leia to me.” Vader looked up at the black-cloaked figure. “That weak King Organa filled her head with romantic nonsense. I have no such illusions. She'll be married to you upon her arrival, and we will begin her training. She will make a strong Black Sorceress, and you will officially have the fertile Aldran as part of the Empire.”

“Very good. What of the reports of the Rebels horsemen gathering in the woods near Sullust City?”

“My men are already on their way to see to their capture or destruction.”

“You're doing well, Lord Vader.” The King gave him a small, chilling smile. “Soon the Rebels In the Woods will be no more. Skywalker will be one of us, and your daughter will belong to me.”

“Yes, Master,” was Vader's only reply.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Luke wished this Yoda fellow had chosen somewhere else to hide from the Empire besides the Dagobah Swamps. They weren't any more inviting than they had been when they were passing through on their way to the Enchanted Woods after rescuing Leia. Arthur had come with him. He insisted, as least as far as Luke could follow his twisting fingers, that he could be a kind of squire to Luke and help keep his sword sharp and his armor fresh and gleaming. Besides, he had no more desire to be taken by the Empire than his longtime companion Cecil.

He'd already stopped Tauntaun for the night. It was getting darker. He had no idea where he was, or even where this Yoda could be, or what he looked like. All around him, he and Arthur could hear the sounds of animals settling in, snakes slithering, and the large muck-monster that had attacked them a few years before splashing in the waters.

Arthur's fingers flew. He looked very nervous. Luke didn't blame him. “This place is so spooky.” He shuddered. “There's something...strange...about it. It's like something out of a dream. I don't know. I feel like...”

“How you feel?” Luke's short bow and arrow was out in a minute, aiming for a figure in a withered bush behind him.

Luke glared at the figure. “Like we're being watched.”

“Away with your weapon,” the little green figure commanded. “I mean you no harm. I am wondering, what brings you to these swamps?”

Luke lowered his bow. The creature was small, barely up to his knee, and as ancient as a lost treasure. He had a pointy little chin, white wisps of hair around his long, arrow-like ears, and large green eyes that followed his every move. He carried nothing but a gnarled walking stick. Luke seriously doubted he could do him any harm. “I'm looking for someone.”

“Looking?” The little goblin chuckled. “Found someone you have, yes?” He began to play with the objects in Luke's saddlebag, cackling with joy.

“Would you get out of there?” Yoda found a mirror Luke used to reflect light onto objects. Arthur tried to grab it back, but Yoda wouldn't let him.

“Mine! Mine!” the little green goblin yelled, tugging at it hard. “Or I will help you not.”

“I don't want your help,” Luke nearly whined. “I want my mirror back. I'm going to need it to get out of this slimy mud-pit. It wasn't a barrel of laughs the first time we were here.”

“Mud-pit? Slimy?” The creature gave the young knight his most indignant look. “My home this is!”

Arthur finally managed to snatch it from the creature's claw-like fingers, his own plump fingers flying angrily. To Luke's surprise, Yoda's gnarled claws flew right back. From the look on Arthur's face, what he'd signed was not complimentary. “Known to this little blacksmith, I am. Remembers me from the Seven Kingdoms Wars, he does.” Yoda's fingers kept going. Arthur looked like he was going to grab at him, but Yoda dodged him nimbly. “Get along well, we did not.”

“So I see.” Luke was ready to pick them both up and shake them. “Look, little fellow, it's nice that you two are able to reminisce about old times, but we have a lot of work to do.”

“No! Stay and help you, I will!” The little creature looked up at him with his big green eyes. “Find your friend!”

“I'm not looking for a friend,” Luke snapped. “I'm looking for a Master Force Knight.” Arthur snorted, but his fingers remained silent.

“Yoda!” The creature tapped Luke on the leg with his gnarled walking stick. “You seek Yoda!”

Luke leaned over him, eager. “You know him?”

“Oh, yes. Know him, well, I do.”

The youth looked around him, as if he expected the mysterious Yoda to materialize out of thin air. “Then where is he?”

“Not far,” the creature insisted. “Yoda not far.” He turned to Luke, poking at his leg. “Why must you become Knight?”

Luke was getting more and more annoyed. “A lot of it has to do with my father, I suppose.”

“Ah, yes, father.” The little fellow sat back with his own bowl. “Powerful knight was he. One of the most powerful.”

“How did you know my father? You're just a goblin who lives in the middle of a swamp!” He pushed the lamp aside. “What are we doing here, anyway? We're wasting valuable time!”

The goblin was not looking at Luke now. It's green-eyed gaze was focused somewhere off into the distance. “I cannot teach him. Has less patience than his father.”

Luke's eyes widened when he thought he heard old Sir Ben Kenobi's voice. “He will learn patience.”

And that was when Luke realized who the goblin was. His sky-blue eyes were wide with surprise. “Yoda? You're...Yoda?” Arthur's fingers flew behind him, his head nodding in agreement. Evidently, he'd known who the little goblin was all along.

Yoda finally turned his gaze back to Luke. The green eyes now seemed weary. “This one, long time have I watched. All his life, he has looked away, to the future. Focus on the now, he does not. Craves adventure, he does. Any Force Knight craves not adventure.” He poked his stick at Luke's chest. “You are reckless.”

“So was I,” said Ben, “if you remember.”

“He is not ready.” Yoda insisted. “Too old and set in ways to train.”

“I'm not!” Luke looked around for Ben. “Ben, tell him I'm not! I'm willing to learn. I learned so much with you!”

Yoda stared off into the distance. “Will he finish what he begins?”

“I won't fail you,” Luke said to the room in general. “I'm not afraid!”

“Oh, you will be,” Yoda said, knowingly. “You will be.”

A Star Wars Fairy Tale: Empire, Part 3

The Kingdom of Kashayyk was the greenest land Leia had ever seen. It was all tall trees, roaring waterfalls, and soft fields. There was a certain magic to it, Leia decided as the Falcon limped down the road. The Force was very much alive here. It embraced them, opened its arms to them. The winds whistled through the trees, their leaves swaying like gowns at a ball. Mushrooms with bright red and white polka-dots sprouted under waving ferns. It reminded her a great deal of what Aldran was like before...well, during her childhood. She hadn't felt this alive in months.

Han had been acting strangely ever since they kissed in Hoth. During the day, he was as gruff and sarcastic as ever, teasing her, mostly ignoring Cecil, and chiding Chewie to move faster. Leia could sense there was something brewing under that arrogant shell. She more than once caught him pulling his blanket or leather vest over her when she shivered on his bunk at night, even though he was sleeping next to Cecil on the floor. He would hold her when she leaned on him while he drove, stroking her thick braids.

She wondered where he was taking her. He kept insisting it was a surprise. “You'll see when you get there, Your Worship,” was all he'd tell her. “We're visiting family.”

Leia raised an eyebrow. “I thought your family was in the Kingdom of Corellia.”

Han made a face. “My father was a Corellian gypsy, or so the bandits I used to live with said. I don't remember. No idea about my mother. My only real family is here.”

It was more than a week after they'd left the snowy Kingdom of Hoth before Leia discovered what Han meant by family. He seemed to perk up as they drove through a wide lane of trees so old and tall, their thick brown limbs and brilliant green cover seemed to extend forever. The trees formed a canopy over the mossy road. Saucy yellow buttercups and slender white starflowers peeped out from around the trees, giving them a merry greeting.

Cecil just shivered. “I hope there are no servant-eating wild animals out there.”

Han snickered. “Goldenrod, you're too skinny to make much of a meal for them.”

Cecil made a face at him. “That isn't reassuring.”

Leia sighed. Han and Cecil had been annoying each other during the entire trip. “Enough, boys. Han, when are we going to get to...wherever we're going?”

Chewie looked up, even as she said this. He sniffed at the air, let out a neigh that couldn't have been anything but sheer delight, and picked up his pace. Han grinned. “I'd say right about now.”

They emerged from the forest into bright sunlight. Wild horses, most of whom were large and shaggy like Chewbacca, ran and played and leaped and nibbled and frolicked in the vast meadow before her. The meadow was bordered by a glassy pool ringed with mossy rocks, thick old trees, and bramble bushes dripping with jewel-like berries. The gray-streaked mountains of the Kingdom of Aldran reared majestically in the distance.

“What do you think, Your Worship?” Han asked her, his grin even wider than usual.

“It's amazing!” Leia said as she climbed off the driver's seat. “I've never seen anywhere like this!”

Two horses ran over to Chewie, even as Han released him from the reins. The shaggy stallion nuzzled a beautiful tan mare with a long, glossy mane and an adorable, fuzzy, plump colt. Leia laughed as the trio played and nuzzled and nibbled at each other. “Oh Han, they're wonderful. Is this Chewie's family?”

“Sure is. Might say they're mine, too.” Han patted the mare. “This is Malla. The little guy is Lumpy. We visit from time to time, usually when I need a quiet place to fix the Falcon and rest.” He grinned at her. “Hey, Your Worship, how are you with riding?”

Leia was stroking Lumpy, who whinnied happily at the attention. “I've been riding since I could sit on a horse.”

Han gave her that famous smirk. “Wanna race, sweetheart?” He pointed back into the Woods. “To the end of the road and back.” He looked over his shoulder. “How about you, Goldenrod? Up for a race?”

Cecil was petting another colt. “Oh, no thank you, Captain Solowolf. I'm no good at riding. I'd rather admire these fine animals from the ground.”

“Suit yourself.” Han climbed on Chewbacca. “You ready, Your Worship, or do you need a moment to get yourself a saddle and fancy equipment?”

Leia climbed onto Malla. “I'm ready when you are, Captain.”

Han called to Cecil. “Hey Goldenrod, you can say go and decide who wins.”

Cecil walked over, the colt following him. “Would you stop?” Cecil tried to push the small horse away. “I'm not your mother!” He looked up at Han, bowing. “I would be honored, Captain.”

The moment Cecil yelled “Go!”, the two horses took off like a shot from a cannon! The mare and the stallion galloped down the road, their hooves thundering against the soft moss and shiny blades of grass. Unfortunately, Malla had neither the stamina nor the speed of her larger mate. She soon fell behind.

Leia concentrated, speaking to the horse with the Force. Come on, girl. Do you want to lose to those two braggarts?

Malla looked more surprised than determined. You know our language? I thought only the Corellian gypsies and Force magicians could speak the language of horses, and the magicians were all dead.

Not all of them. She grinned. I know where Han keeps the sugar lumps. If you get to the end first, I'll give you the biggest one he has. Chewie won't get a nibble.

She could almost see Malla grin. Chewbacca has told me of sugar. He says it is sweet and crunchy. I would like to try it.

They were literally neck and neck as they circled back. Leia was surprised at how determined Han looked. Evidently, he took this race more seriously than she did. She wondered if he had ever raced horses professionally.

Cecil was there with Lumpy and some of the other Wookie horses at the end of the road, where the meadow began. They both came flying out of the Woods at the same time, Malla nose-to-nose with her mate.

Han threw up his hand in delight when he finally pulled Chewie to a stop. “Damn, I haven't had fun like that in ages. I don't think Chewie did either, right boy?” He ran his hand over Chewie's nose as the stallion whinnied in agreement.

Malla snorted. “It's been so long since I've ridden a horse just to ride,” Leia admitted. She looked over her shoulder at Cecil. “By the way, who won?”

Cecil's faintly yellowish face turned red. “I'm afraid I couldn't tell. It looked as if you both came in first.” Lumpy nodded and went to congratulate his parents on their fine runs.

Now Leia was smirking. “Who's the better rider now, Captain Solowolf?” Malla nudged her mate with a little smirk of her own.

Han rolled his eyes. Leia swore that Chewbacca did, too. “I can tell you're never going to let me live this one down. I'm going to go look at the wheels on the Falcon. Why don't you make a basket, since you lost my last one, and pick us some berries for dinner?”

Leia made a face. “I've never made a basket in my life. I wouldn't know how.”

Han was already on his way back to the Falcon. “Then use your hands. I'll catch us some fish later.”

Leia was not about to use her hands. She found a large wooden bowl in the cupboard in the Falcon and used that. She was sometimes allowed to pick berries from the gardens at Aldran Castle as a child, but she'd never actually had to gather them for sustenance, and not from bramble bushes full of thorns. Her hands were scratched and bleeding and her thick white leggings torn in three places when she made it back to the Falcon.

Han was banging at the dents in the wheel. “If I may venture an opinion, sir?” Cecil began.

“I'm not interested in your opinion, Goldenrod,” Han said from under the carriage.

“Need some help, shepherd?” Leia asked him with a small smirk.

Han pulled out from the carriage. He frowned. “You don't look so good. Did you jump in the bushes?”

Leia dropped the bowl of berries next to him. “What did you expect me to do? Make them appear?”

Han just smirked right back at her. “You're the one with the powers, Princess.” He handed her a rag. “Why don't you go to the lake and clean those cuts out? I have a poultice I got off an old witch in the Kingdom of Dathomir.”

Leia tossed her head. “I'm fine, thank you anyway, Captain.” She stomped off to the lake. What was with him, anyway? Why did he have to be so damn annoying?

She knelt by the banks of the lake, using another bowl to scoop water and pour it over the cuts on her legs and arms. She then slowly took her hair out of the thick braids that wrapped around her head and draped her hair around her. She concentrated, letting her magic flow through her. The blood subsided; the flesh slowly reformed, scabbed, and vanished all together.

She felt him coming up behind her before she heard his big feet crunching in the grass. “Leia?”

His breath stopped. She'd never looked more beautiful, kneeling in the grass in her torn white leggings and tunic, her long brown hair flowing around her like a velvet waterfall. She looked like a white angel, a wood nymph, a dream. The water sparkled behind her in the rosy-golden light of the setting sun. Her Earth-brown hair and porcelain skin glowed with a nearly supernatural fire.

“You...” He tried to address her. “How did you...”

She looked up at him. He held a long wooden rod and another bowl. His hazel eyes were wide, and for once, he looked surprised. “I healed myself.” The young princess ran a slender finger through a lock of brown hair. “My hair has healing properties. It's part of the Force magic, I think. I'm not as strong as Luke, but I can heal small wounds.” She pulled her hair back into the braid crown. “You're lucky you got to see me like this. In Aldran, hair is revered. No man is supposed to see a royal woman with her hair unbound but her husband and the male members of her family, never mind touch it.”

“I can see why.” Han grinned. “That's a nice look for you, Your Worship. You should be getting your pin-up painted for the Royal Aldran Guards.”

Leia rolled her eyes. “I should have known you couldn't have romantic thoughts for five minutes.” She stood abruptly. “I'm going to slice those berries.”

Nightfall came, slowly but surely, and with it came the stars. Leia had seen stars in Aldran and while riding with the Rebels, but here in the Wookie Herd's Meadow, with no trees to hide them, they seemed...bigger. Closer. More immediate. Leia felt as if she could reach out and touch them.

Han's fish were delicious. Leia never tasted anything flakier or more succulent. When she asked him about how he did it, all he said was “I cooked 'em over an open fire, Your Worship.” The berries were enormously sweet and juicy. Cecil spent an hour complaining that his thin belly was about to pop before finally retiring to the Falcon to sleep.

The young princess lay down on the soft, wooly blankets she and Han spread out in the grass next to the Falcon. She hadn't felt this content in years. Chewbacca was cuddled with his mate and colt nearby, their bodies and limbs seeming to meld with one another. The stars twinkled above, giving off their warm, bright glimmers.

The Enchanted Woods were never so peaceful, so full of happiness. The moon shown down on the trees, giving the leaves a glossy, silver-green glow. Night animals prowled through the bushes, searching for their meals. Leia knew they wouldn't touch them. They could sense her – they knew these humans weren't interested in harming anything besides fish and plants.

She was just drifting off when something warm and soft was placed over her side. There was the whisper of grass and flowers sleeping for the night as Han lay on the blankets beside her. He wrapped his strong arms around her, lay his head on hers, and...it felt right. It felt good, safe. Was this love, she wondered? She would never have believed she could love such a stubborn, insensitive, ignorant peasant. But Han was so much more than that. He'd proved it a thousand times over. She didn't protest when he gently pulled her closer to him.

Han, for his part, was wondering how he'd come to have feelings for this strong-willed, bossy, royal brat. She's so brave, he thought. She lost everything, lost her home, her family, and she barely flinched. Her father is a nut-job of a demon, and she stood up to him. He thought he might love her, if he didn't have to leave. After he got her to the Rebels, he'd return to Tatoon to pay off his debt, and he'd probably never see her again. Jabba held him in an iron grip. He knew what he did to servants who didn't pay him.

For now, they snuggled together, for warmth, Han decided. Yeah, it was kind of chilly out. They fell asleep, listening to the horses' soft whinnies, the hooting of the owls in the Woods, the breeze whistling through the grass, and the sounds of their own gentle, content breathing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As the lovers were preparing to sleep, Vader was inspecting the motley group of huntsmen before him. Huntsmen were some of the most feared criminals in the Alliance of the Kingdoms. They worked for whomever would pay them the most. Though most were grimy humans in dirty armor, there were animals among them, demons, and even a mechanical man.

Vader walked down the line. “You're free to use any method necessary to trap the Falcon and its crew, but I want them alive. Especially Princess Organa and the horse.” He glared at one man in green and red armor. “No arrows in the back, Fett.”

“As you wish.” Boba Fett was the most feared huntsman in the Alliance. He was known for his tenacity and his ruthless nature. No quarry escaped him. No creature received his pity. He worked for crime lords and war lords alike, whomever paid him the most. He wore his green and red armor with its narrow visor, the distinct make of the Kingdom of Mandalore, at all times.

Vader didn't trust any of these men further than the end of his helmet, but they were his only link to Solowolf. He didn't want to think of that wily thief with the daughter he had planned to give to his King. He had promised the girl for his master in exchange for power, and he would keep that promise. Solowolf was of no consequence. He would sell the gypsy to some slaver who could use a strong back or turn him into stone.

One of his officers bowed before him as the huntsmen departed. “Sir,” he said, “we have reports that the carriage known as the Falcon was last seen going towards the Kingdom of Kashyakk. Shall we prepare your carriage for the journey?”

Vader nodded. “Prepare my carriage, but not to go to Kashyakk. The Light Magic is too strong there. The witch Maz rules in the Kashyakk Woods. She has charms in the Woods dark magicians are unable to penetrate.” He turned to the commander. “That doesn't mean, however, that my men can't get through. The wild Wookie Horse herds in Kashayakk are prized for their strength and speed. I want you and your troop to bring them to me. They would make great prizes for the Empire...and they would lure my daughter and Solowolf. Solowolf's closest companion is one of those animals.”

“Yes, Your Lordship.” The commander bowed before him before taking his leave.

Vader looked out into the suffocating blackness of night in the Empire. Night was when he was most content. It was when his powers were at their height. He dwelled in darkness. It enhanced his magic, gave him power. This was the only time he'd ever felt alive since he was trapped in this suit of armor.

He slowly peeled the top of the armor off, revealing his hideously calloused and burned back and torso. He also revealed his wings, his majestic wings that allowed him to fly. No, he couldn't go to Kashyakk to retrieve his daughter, but he could find Skywalker. The old Force masters couldn't shield him forever. Their magic wasn't as strong during the night hours. This was his time to fly.

Only the night predators saw the bat-like wings slowly appear in a black light. Only the owls noticed as the tall, broad-shouldered figure lifted into the air and soared towards the shining moon.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Luke's training was making progress. Yoda showed him how to run and jump in his father's flexible armor. He couldn't believe how amazing the little goblin was with a sword. It took weeks for Luke to even get his sword down, never mind defeat him. He was quick and light-footed. Luke tried to be quicker, surer, stronger, but he often felt like nothing he did impressed Yoda.

He spent his days running through the swamp, leaping over twisted limbs and swinging on vines, or riding on Tauntaun and leaping over fallen branches and muddy patches. He practiced his swordsmanship in the morning, and his magic in later in the day after lunch. Yoda rode on his back, commenting on and criticizing his exercises. He learned how to talk with every animal in the swamps, how to change hostile creatures into something less damaging, and how to change them back.

Luke couldn't believe the things he learned in the swamps. One day, he was doing his usual run with Yoda on his back and Arthur puffing along behind, when they stopped near a cave. “I feel cold there,” Luke shuddered. “Death.”

“Place of evil, darkness,” Yoda said softly. “Into it, you must go.” He frowned when Luke gathered his sword. “Your weapon. You will not need it.”

Luke ignored him. He felt anger in this place. Fear. Hatred. The cave was dark and clammy. He climbed around the dense vegetation, only to find what he thought was Lord Vader. He heard his breathing. To his horror, the villain turned into a demon, a huge creature with horns growing out of its head, leathery red-black skin, and wings like a bat's. They fought, but it was short...and it ended with Luke's own head appearing in place of Vader's when he cut it off. It was then that Luke realized he wasn't ready for such a confrontation.

Not all of Yoda's training was as terrifying. He truly enjoyed healing. He went out of his way to help the animals in the swamp, tending to their needs whenever he saw one hurt or sick. He healed Arthur several times, usually after he'd attempt swordplay with Luke and would cut himself or drop the hilt of the sword on his toe.

Lifting and moving things with his mind proved more difficult. Luke practiced on just about every rock, plant, and creature in the Dagobah Swamps that could be moved, including Tauntaun and Arthur, to their annoyance. He learned how to better send things from one place to another.

One day, Luke was working on lifting stones with his mind when Arthur hurried over to them, his flying fingers spelling out an urgent message. Luke and Yoda followed him to the very same pond where he, Han, and Leia had been trapped by the swamp creature several years before. Tauntaun was splashing around, trying to get away from a pair of tentacles that chased her.

“My poor girl! I've got to help her!” Luke started to draw his sword, but Yoda shook his head.

“Help with that, you cannot.” He tapped his head with his claw. “Help with this, you can.”

“Master,” Luke complained, “moving stones around is one thing. This is totally different!”

“No!” Yoda tapped his stick on the ground. “No different. Only in your mind.”

Luke sighed. “All right. I'll do what I can.”

He tried to concentrate, but it was hard with Tauntaun's frightened whinnies and the monster's yell and squishing tentacles going in the background. The poor animal barely lifted a few inches out of the mire before she settled back in, even more stuck than before.

“I can't do it,” Luke wheezed. “The mud is too thick. She's stuck.”

Yoda shook his head and shuffled out to the banks of the mire. He closed his green eyes and concentrated. A sparkling blue light surrounded Tauntaun and the water. The water rippled, then parted in two large waves. It easily carried the wide-eyed horse to the shore.

Luke and Arthur ran to their beloved friend. Arthur stroked her nose. Luke checked her all over. “Anything broken, girl?”

No, Master Luke, she replied in his head. I'm fine, just shaken. I was almost a meal for that slimy monster! I've never been so happy to walk on solid ground in my life! And she actually leaned over and seemed to kiss the sand beneath her hooves.

Luke looked over his shoulder at Yoda. “Thank you, Master,” he said, breathless. “I can't believe you were able to do that.”

Yoda just shook his head. “That is why you fail.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Han and Leia remained among the wild Wookie herd for over a month and a half. Leia was restless at first. She helped Han with the repairs to the Falcon as best she could. Not only did they fix the wheel, but he showed her how to crush berries and roots to make new paint for the Falcon's sides, how to get the door back on its hinges and hammer the floorboards that were coming loose. Cecil tried to help, but he was hopeless at anything that involved tools. His genius was in organization, not repairs.

The princess and the thief were slowly growing fonder of one another. They fought, but it wasn't as mean or petty as before. Han could still be a real bear during the day, either teasing her or arguing with her because she knew nothing about repairing a carriage. At night, though, he remained tender, offering her his blankets or leather vest to warm her, calming her disturbing dreams about the night Aldran was destroyed, laying with her on her blanket until she went to sleep.

Leia wasn't looking forward to the time when the Falcon was fully repaired and they would move on. While she did want to rejoin the Rebels and make sure Luke was all right, she didn't want Han to leave, either. Cecil, on the other hand, couldn't wait until the repairs were finished. He said so at least three times daily.

“I cannot wait until that carriage is fixed and we can be on our way,” Cecil whined one sunny afternoon. Leia was hammering shingles made from rough pine bark on the roof. Cecil was supposed to be handing her nails, but he was really fussing as much as possible.

“It won't be too much longer.” Leia hit the stubborn nail as hard as she could. “Han says we'll be on our way in anything from three days to a week.”

“We can't leave sooner?” Cecil handed her another nail. “Like today, for instance?”

“Cecil,” Leia said in annoyance, “I'm not finished the roof yet!”

“Where is Captain Solowolf, anyway?” the tall former butler asked.

“He said he's fishing.” She rolled her eyes. “It's more likely he's napping.”

“Perhaps I should find him.” Cecil rubbed his stomach. “It is almost time for the noon meal.”

Leia nodded. “I have one more row of shingles to finish, then I'll join you for lunch.”

Cecil nodded. “Very well, Your Highness.” Leia watched him stiffly amble back towards the Wookie Herd's Meadow.

Leia continued to hammer for a few minutes before she felt dizzy. There was something wrong. She could feel it vibrating in the air. She concentrated, trying to feel it. There were men on their way...men and women, too. Members of the Imperial Army. She tried to shield herself and the Falcon, deflect their minds from the carriage's presence, but she wasn't sure how well she did.

She remained where she was on the Falcon's roof, hoping not to attract attention to herself, as the group, maybe ten men and women, rode down the well-worn path. One of their horses pulled a huge wooden cart.

“I wish we didn't have to be here,” complained one man. “These Woods are full of spirits and evil things.”

A woman laughed. “You silly fool, it's no worse than the flatlands in the Kingdom of the Empire.”

Another woman shivered. “No, I feel it, too. Someone is out there, watching us.”

A second man sounded annoyed. “Don't be a goose. Those are just stories. All we need to do is round up the horses Lord Vader wants, load them into the cart, and be on our way. Vader will give a big reward to the group that brings him the Wookie herds.”

Poachers! Leia thought in horror. From the Kingdom of the Empire! I have to get to Han! She concentrated, disappearing in a blue light without thinking.

One of the men saw the blue light. “What was that?” He shivered. “I knew it. There are ghosts in these woods. I heard Force Knights were murdered in these Woods. The Woods were sacred to them.”

“Would you stop that?” His friend said, exasperated. “That's just stories. There's no such thing as ghosts.” They rode on, but the man still felt uneasy, even though he wasn't sure why...

Han was still laying back on his blanket on the banks of the lake when Leia appeared behind him. His eyes were closed, and he didn't appear to be listening to Cecil droning on about lunch and balanced diets. Poor Cecil nearly jumped a mile when she appeared out of nowhere. “Goodness gracious me!” he gasped. “Your Highness, I really wish you wouldn't appear so suddenly like that. It does frightful things to my nerves.”

“I'm sorry Cecil, but I had to get here as quickly as possible.” She shook Han's shoulder. “Han, we're in danger. The horses are in danger. Poachers from the Kingdom of the Empire are on their way here.”

“Huh?” Han looked over his shoulder. “Poachers? What do you mean, poachers?”

“She means people who trap defenseless animals and sell them illegally,” Cecil explained. “There's a thriving black-market trade in illegal pets in at least five kingdoms...”

“I know what it means, Goldenrod,” Han snarled. “What I don't get is what they're doing here?”

“Han, Vader wants the Wookie herds.” Leia frowned. “I wouldn't be surprised if this is a ploy to lure us out of the Woods.”

“Sneaky bastard.” Han smirked. “But we'll just have to be sneakier. There has to be some way to get rid of them without bein' seen.”

“They feel the spirits in the Woods,” Leia added. “They were really nervous about them. Two claimed they weren't, but they were. I could sense it.”

“Spirits in the Woods, huh?” Han's smirk grew wider. “Sweetheart, I just got a brilliant idea.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Capturing the Wookie herds was easier to do than she thought at first, Captain Elena Zahna considered. The animals fought and bit, but they had ropes and nets and poultices that would calm the creatures and keep them from running. They looped chains and harnesses around their noses and mouths to keep them from biting.

“That's all of them.” She looped a rope around one mare's neck.

“Not all of 'em!” Han smirked, riding right through the group on Chewbacca. “You'll never get this one!”

Captain Elena pointed at Han as he rode towards the water. “Office Dennar, Officer Stokes, go after that man. I recognize his face from the wanted posters. That's the thief Lord Vader is after. There's a huge reward for him!”

The men followed the on their own horses, but Chewie easily outstripped them. He lead them into a clearing, darting behind a small grove of rusty pine trees.

“Let's get him!” Dennar started towards the trees on his black Imperial stallion, but Stokes stopped him. He looked pale and spooked.

“I don't like this, Tren,” Stokes whispered. “I still think there's spirits in these woods. They say that the blood of every Force Knight slain in the Woods flows under the surface. The Knights want revenge for how they were tricked and killed.”

Dennar rolled his eyes. “Didn't you learn anything in school? That's not how the Force Knights worked! They didn't believe in revenge.” Stokes backed further into the clearing. “If you're going to be a coward, I'll just have to get the reward myself.”

The older officer rode into the clump of trees, his bow and arrow raised. Stokes heard him calling and his horse's hooves for a minute...but suddenly, there was the sound of rustling, and then a strange, low wailing noise, like the wind through hollow reeds, and then, nothing. Not even the sounds of the Woods. Everything was oddly quiet.

“Dennar?” Stokes finally followed him. “Dennar? Are you there?”

That was when he saw what happened...and he gasped. A small woman, dressed all in white, came towards him. Her gown looked like the ceremonial robes once worn by the Force Knights for special occasions, but it was tattered and covered in crusty, dark-red blotches. A hood hid all but red lips and a porcelain chin. Long, slender fingers with creamy white nails reached for him. She was enveloped by a strange blue glow...one that only surrounded the ghosts of Force Knights, or so the legend said.

“You killed us,” the spirit whispered. “The Emperor killed us. We died in these Woods, and now...you will die, too.”

“No!” Stokes' eyes nearly popped out of his skull. “No, this had nothing to do with me! I'm new to this! They only recruited me last year!” He backed further away as the female Knight came closer to him. “I thought the Force Knights were only legends! I never hurt one in my life!”

“You're an Imperial,” she whispered as she backed him against a tree. “They were murdered by the Kingdom of the Empire. You're no different than them.”

“No! Honest! I never hurt anyone!” She backed him against one of the pine trees. “Not even those horses! We're just taking them to Lord Vader! He won't hurt them!”

“That's what the King told the For..my people.” Stokes' eyes widened as another ghost, this one taller and wearing an ill-fitting robe, joined her, moaning for all he was worth. “You will pay for your crimes.”

“But...but...I didn't do it!” The moment Stokes backed into the tree, a rock fell on his head. Two hands grabbed him as he fell to the ground, unconscious.

“Nice work, Your Worship,” Han said as he tied rope around the two prostrate men on the ground. “I didn't know you were such a good actress.”

Leia pulled the hood down as the blue glow faded away. “I'm a politician. I have to act every time I walk into a throne room.”

Cecil pulled off his hood. “Pardon me, Captain Solo, but what are we going to do about the rest of them?”

Han was tugging off the men's armor. He tossed one to Cecil. “We're going to do some acting of our own.”

Captain Zahna thought there was something wrong the moment Dennar and Stokes rode back with two Wookie horses. Dennar seemed a bit...broader around the shoulders, and Stokes had gained at least a centimeter or two in height.

“What took you two so long?” She glared at them. “And why does your armor look like you put it on in a hurry and backwards?”

“Because we did put it on rather quickly,” Cecil began.

Han grabbed his shoulder. “We've only been here for a year. We're new at this.”

“You're not that new.” Captain Zahna growled under her armor. “Something doesn't sound right here. What happened to the man you were pursuing?”

“We lost him, Captain,” Han said quickly. “He was too fast for us. You know those gypsies.”

“Too fast for you?” The Captain's growl was quickly rising to a scream. “You idiots! You incompetent fools! He's just a stupid thief! How could you lose him?”

“Well,” Han began, “we sort of ran into Force magic ghosts.”

“Yes!” Cecil added, making his voice more and more fearful. “Horrible Force ghosts! They were terrifying! Worse than any campfire story!”

Zahna grabbed Han's arm. “I told you, Stokes, there is no such thing as ghosts!”

Han smirked as sparkling blue lights flitted around the harness and chains of the Wookie horses she lead. “Oh yeah? Then what's that?”

The moment Zahna was distracted, Han pulled out the sword he'd filched from Stokes and held it to her chin. “It's just what I said it was, Captain,” he grinned. “Force magic.”

Leia held her bow and arrow on another officer. The Wookie herd now galloped all over the meadow, chasing Imperial horses and nipping at their owners. “I released the other herds, Han.” She nodded at the horses running helter-skelter behind them. “They're taking care of things.”

“Good work.” Han looked over his shoulder at Cecil. “You see if you can round up the rest of the officers and get them into that cart. The Wookies will help.”

Leia gasped as Zahna pulled out her own sword. “Han, watch out!”

She was nearly too late. Han managed to pull away...but not before Zahna slashed his bare hand. Han dropped the sword, letting out a yell. “You won't take me so easily, gypsy bastard,” the woman snarled. She aimed for his neck this time. Leia started towards him...

But suddenly, Zahna went flying....right into the cart! Leia laughed as Zahna groaned, rubbing her sore rear. Chewie was just coming off his hind legs. Han cheered. “Nice kickin' there, Chewie. If you hadn't sent that lady knight for a ride, I'd be mutton hash right now!”

The remaining Wookie horses were carrying or kicking or nudging Imperials into the cart. Han hitched one of the Imperials' stallions up to the bars. She slapped its flank. “You take these folks back to the Kingdom of the Empire. Tell Lord Vader he failed...but don't tell him who did this. He'll probably figure it out anyway. And don't forget to pick up their two friends who are under the grove of pine trees. They're going to need clothes, too.” The horse nodded before taking off into the Woods.

Horses of every shape and size were gathering around Han and Cecil. The very largest, a shaggy old stallion, trotted up to the trio. The horses parted for him, lowering their heads reverently. My name is Attich, he spoke in the whinnying language of the Wookies. I am the Chief of the clan. We're already in the Solitary One's debt for rescuing my colt Chewbacca from the Dark Ones many years ago. We are now in your debt as well, Small One and Gold One. If there's anything we can do for you, name it.

Leia curtsied low before him. You are very kind, but we cannot remain here. We only ask for safe passage and directions to a place we can remain for the night and purchase supplies. We're already late as it is returning to our friends.

You are a magical human, Attich said. I thought I recognized the blue light. I have not seen such magic since the Wookie herds aided the great Force magicians in their battle against the Dark Ones. Maz Kantana, the Witch of the Woods, runs an Inn on the edge of the Kingdom of Kashyakk and the Kingdom of Takodana. She knows all, aids all. She will help you. The Solitary One and Chewbacca know her well.

Han grinned, patting Attich on the back. “Thanks, old boy. I can take it from here. I think I remember where Maz' place usually is. We'll at least be able to figure out what to do next.”

Chewbacca nuzzled his mate and his colt. Leia and Cecil found themselves giving out many pats on the back and scratches between the ears. If you ever need us, said Attich, Chewbacca will know how to call us.

“That's right.” Han started to hitch Chewie to the Falcon, but Leia shook her head. “You go wash out that cut. I'll take care of this.” She smiled as Malla nudged him in a motherly way down to the lake to attend to his wound. Cecil went with a barrel to gather fresh water for the journey.

The tall former butler groaned as he loaded the heavy barrel into the cart. “I hope this trip is much less bouncy than the one here. I think my rear appendage is still sore from that ride.”

“You should be fine, Goldenrod.” Han strolled back, a strip of cloth around his wound. “We're not far from Maz's, and the ground isn't as rocky in her part of the Woods.”

Leia got into the driver's seat next to Han. “Let me look at that hand.”

Han made a face. “It's fine, Your Worship.”

Leia ignored him as she removed the bloodied cloth. She pulled her braids out of the crown she was wearing them in that day and wrapped one braid around his hand. Han watched with wide eyes as the shining blue light flowed around his hand, his fingers. They felt warm, solid. The skin came together, solidified. The remaining blood dried, then vanished all together. When Leia removed her hair, the skin was no longer broken.

“How...” He shook his head. “I still don't understand that magic of yours, Your Worship.”

Leia shrugged as she pulled her hair back into its original style. “I've always been able to do that. Mother always said my magic somehow ended up in my hair. That's why Father was able to climb it, too. It's very strong, stronger than the thickest rope.”

Han gave her a wan grin. “Wish mine could do that. It just gets long.”

Cecil popped his head out of the window to the driver's seat. “Are we going to arrive at this Maz's Inn anytime soon?”

“I don't know.” Han looked around. “Her place should be around here somewhere. She can usually be found on the main path, but her Inn tends to run off.”

“How can an Inn run off?” Cecil frowned. “Buildings don't move.”

Han flicked the reigns. “Maz's does. She calls it her mobile home. Part of her magic, I think.”

Leia once again felt it before anyone saw it...but she couldn't believe what she felt. The leaves shook; the animals chattered. “Is that it?”

What appeared to be a two-story thatched cottage on chicken feet suddenly settled down on top of a series of rocks in a flower-strewn clearing over a charming old cobblestone bridge. Leia swore she heard a chirp from it and saw it bend over to gather sticks and grass, like it was creating a nest.

Cecil's jaw had nearly dropped to the floor. “Surely we aren't staying in that place?”

Han laughed. “Yes, we are.” Chewie was already trotting over the bridge, his hooves making smart clip-clops as he headed for the very odd cottage.