Lady Leia and the Prince, Part 8

“I don't like this.”

Han made a face at her as they made their way down the tree-lined boulevard. “Well, what would you like?”

Cyril shrugged. “They did let us through the gates.” Artello tweeted his own unease.

Chateau Bonne Chance was a sprawling residence in the Bespin Mountains, overlooking Ville Du Nuvage, the City of the Clouds. She'd never seen such an enormous dwelling. It was twice the size of Solo Castle and far more modern, with wider, less forbidding towers and shorter spires. The grounds were a burst of greens and reds and golds and tinkling fountains that went all the way up to the edge of Mount Lucas.

Luke had been uneasy the entire trip, though. Come to think of it, he'd been skittish ever since they left Takodana. Even at night, he mentioned his misgivings about the trip. She kept thinking about what the little green man had said.

As they lead their mounts to the main door, a handsome dark-skinned man approached them. He was surrounded by six other men in pale blue and gold uniforms, including a tall bald man who held his cane. The dark man was dressed as finely as any king in a blue satin tunic and trousers the color of sky that were trimmed with gold embroidery, shiny black leather shoes, and black satin cape with golden silk lining. Gems glittered on his fingers and around his neck. He also didn't look terribly happy. His cocoa-brown eyes were narrowed over his thin black mustache.

“You have a lot of nerve coming here, Henry,” he snarled. “After what you pulled years ago...”

Han put up his hands and tried his best to look innocent. “I thought we discussed everything that happened with Q'ida and Bennett. That was years ago.”

“Yeah, it was.” The man's face finally spread into a blinding white smile. “How are you doing these days anyway, Your Highness?” His frown momentarily returned, even as Han tried to shush him. “How's your mother? We've heard about her illness here. I'm really sorry. She's a good lady, and a damn fine queen.”

“First of all, I'm still going under the name Han Solo. None of that formal talk.” He put an arm around Lando. “Second, that's what we're here to talk to you about.”

The moment he saw Leia, the duke pushed past his princely friend. “I'm Duke Lando Calarissian, the ruler of this fine land.” He kissed Leia's hand. “And what might your name be, fair princess?”

“I'm no princess, sire.” Leia curtsied, grateful that her mother had taught her how to behave before nobility. “My name is Lady Leia Skywalker of Naboo.” She stroked Luke's nose. “This is...or normally is...my brother Lord Luke Skywalker. He's under a curse. We'll need a room for him at night.”

“A curse?” Lando's dark cocoa eyes widened. “I didn't know there were still unicorns left, much less cursed ones.” He chuckled as Luke whinnied and nuzzled his cheek. “At least he's a friendly sort.”

Han pulled Leia away from him. “All right, all right, you old smoothie. She's with me.”

Lando went to Falcon next. The ancient stallion nudged his cheek and nibbled at his hair. “How's Henry treating you, boy?” He turned to Han, mock-glaring at him. “What have you done to my horse?”

“Your horse?” Han's snort matched Falcon's. “Remember, you lost him to me fair and square.”

“And how are you doing, boy?” Chewie jumped on Lando's knees, nearly knocking him down. “Still hanging around with this loser?” He gave the wolf a scratch behind the ears.

Cyril went over to him as Chewie ran over to Han. “Hello, sir. My name is Cyril Thrombottom, and this is my counterpart, Artello Deton. My abilities include...” Lando was too busy admiring Leia's rear in tight trousers as she and Han headed for the house to pay much attention to Cyril. “Well, really!” Artello helped two of the men lead Luke and Falcon to a stable a few meters away.

“How's all this working out for you?” Han waved his hand at the wide main entrance hall, with its fine tapestries and sparkling metal and crystal chandeliers.

“Not as well as I'd like.” The baron sighed. “We're a fairly small outpost, and not very self-sufficient up here, especially with all the trouble with Palpatine and his taxes. I've had supply problems, I've had workers invent something they called a strike...”

Han chuckled. “I can't believe how responsible you sound. Who would have thought the greatest gambler in the Alliance would settle down?”

Lando gave him that bright grin again and wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulder. “You know, seeing you sure brings a few things back.” He managed to shrug. “Sure, I'm responsible. Price you pay for being successful.”

Cyril followed behind an amused but cautious Leia. As they were passing into a narrower corridor, he thought he heard familiar flute notes. “Oh, Artello!” He groaned. “What has that man gotten himself into now?”

It wasn't Artello in the garden. Four men clad in white and black armor patrolled the grounds. All four turned their mechanical bows on him the moment he stepped out. “Oh, I'm terribly sorry!” He tried to step back and find Lady Leia. She should know about this! It seems she and her brother were right all along about the duke. “I didn't mean to intrude. I really need to find my friends...”

No one heard the screams that were quickly muffled, or saw two men carry a slender third one to a smaller stone building in the back of the garden. A few gardeners noticed the black vulture landing in the backyard, but they quickly went back to pruning rose bushes.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Leia had never had such palatial treatment. She was taken to her own suite of rooms as soon as they got upstairs. The parlor room alone was three times the size of her parents' entire cottage. Two maids scrubbed her hair and body in a tin tub and sent her armor off to be repaired and polished. After they dried her in a soft cotton blanket, she reached for her white tunic and hose, only to find they weren't there.

“Oh, they were so grubby, the Duke sent them off to be washed.” The smaller maid flung open an oak wardrobe painted with spring flowers. “He said you're to wear these while you're here. He had these made for his female guests.”

Leia's finger trailed on one of the gowns. Each one was as delicate as a spiderweb, made from the finest silks and linens, light as air. “Oh,” she began, “I couldn't wear these. I'm no princess. I'm the daughter of a carpenter.”

“The Duke says you're a knight, Your Ladyship.” The older made fussed around her. “And that makes you as noble as any princess or duchess in the Bespin court.” She gentled settled Leia down on a heavy oak chair. “Now, let me do up that beautiful long hair of yours.”

The girl was grateful for their help. For the next two days, she, Han, and Luke when he was human, toured the grounds and Ville du Nuvage together. They saw the copper mines, with their endless stream of soot-stained workers entering ore-crusted caves. Lando brought them to tall stone churches with stained glass windows that sparkled in the light, to small shops and massive gardens. He took them to a ball at the house of a local official. Leia spent most of her time dancing with Han, to Lando's annoyance. In fact, Lando and Han kept trying to win her favor, both remaining at her side as much as possible.

“Something is wrong here.” Leia was in her parlor room with Han two evenings later. Chewie, Artello, and Luke had gone to explore the grounds. “No one has seen or knows anything about Cyril. He's been gone too long to have gotten lost.” She could have sworn she saw a black vulture staring at her through the window. Come to think of it, she'd seen that vulture a lot lately. Every time she was out with Lando, he seemed to be glowering in a tree. She went to get a better look, but he'd fluttered away.

“Relax, sweetheart.” Han kissed the top of her head. “Everything is fine. Lando's people are already out looking for him.”

Leia frowned. “I don't trust Lando.”

“I don't trust him either.” Han settled down next to Leia. “But he is my friend.” Twinkling hazel eyes gazed at her, dreaming of how beautiful she looked in her red silk gown with the gauzy flowing sleeves, soft white underskirt, and expensive lace from the Atch-To islands. Her long, velvety brown locks were wound with pearls and topped by a small silver and pearl circlet. “As soon as we round up supplies, we'll head off to Coruscant.”

“And then you're as good as gone, aren't you?” She turned away from him. “Are you still going to Tatoonie to settle your debts with the Sultan?”

“I will, but not now. I have to get back to Mother. I want to find out exactly how Palpatine is making her sick.” He gave her that little smile. “I'm not abandoning you two, Your Worship. You need me too much.” She frowned when his fingers went to his head. “Besides, I want to have a few words with the chancellor, none of them repeatable around delicate stomachs.”

She sighed, rubbing the side of his head to soften the ache. “You're still getting those headaches. Let me help you. I'm not the healer Luke is, but Father taught me a few massage tricks.” Her eyes sought his sparkling orbs and soft pink lips, his muscular chest straining in the hand-made white linen tunic and navy cape. The gold circlet around his brown locks made him look every inch the prince charming he actually was.

They'd just kissed and were about to wrap their arms around each other and go further when two figures entered the room.. “Leia!” Luke and Artello marched in, followed by Chewbacca. Her brother's white linen tunic and gray cape were covered in dirt and grunge. “We found him!” Artello nodded. His own white and blue tunic had a streak of dirt across it. “Someone dumped him in a junk pile.”

Artello nodded at Chewie, who looked rather pleased with himself. “Chewie sniffed him out. Once we got him out to the garden, he knew right where to find him.”

“Cyril?” Leia and Han jumped up at once as the skinny servant was dropped on a couch. Or what was left of him. His yellow suit was dirty and torn, and his face, shoulder under the tattered jacket, and hands were bloodied and bruised. Artello went right to his friend's side and took his hand. Luke put his hand on Cyril's shoulder, focusing on stopping the bleeding. “Luke,” Leia started, “what happened?”

“We don't know.” The young mage's green light wound gently around Cyril's damaged shoulder. “Chewie lead us to him, and we helped him dig him out. He was buried in the scrap pile near the pig pen.” Luke chuckled as Artello tooted his flute. “Yes, those pigs were awfully curious. After Chewie chased them back to their pen, I don't think they'll bother us again.”

Chewie strutted a bit around his master, giving a proud growl. Han scratched him under the belly. “Nice, buddy. Didn't know you counted pig-herding among your many talents.”

Leia smirked. “Like pet, like master?”

Luke rolled his eyes as Han made a face. “You're funny, Princess. Just for that crack, I have half a mind not to accompany you out tonight.”

Lando came in as Luke pulled a woven blanket over Cyril. “Sorry, am I interrupting anything?”

Leia didn't like the way his eyes roamed over her. Han liked it even less. She pulled her white lace cape further around her shoulders. “Not really.”

“You look truly beautiful.” Their host's blinding grin out-shined the sliver of moon overhead. “You belong with us among the clouds.” He took her hand, kissing it again. “I'm holding a formal dinner in the main dining hall to introduce you to some very important officials. Everyone's invited, of course.” He kissed Luke's hand. “Including you, my lord.” He scratched Chewie under the ear. “And I had my cook save a nice, juicy steak for you, boy.”

Luke blushed. “Thank you, Your Excellency.”

Artello ran his fingers quickly over his flute. “He's going to stay with his friend,” Luke explained. He frowned, leaning over Artello as he played a few small, soft notes. “I don't trust him either,” he added in a whisper. “I want you to stay here and keep an eye on Cyril. Look out for Naboo troops. I'll stay with the others, at least as long as the moon holds out.”

Their host raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at what was left of Cyril. “Having some trouble with your servants?”

“No,” Han said quickly, at the same time Artello's flute fluttered. “No trouble at all.” He grabbed Leia's hand and followed Lando out. Luke sighed as he brought up the rear.

Lando was telling them more about the mining facilities as he and his manservant Laurence lead them back to. Leia was only half-listening. “Lando, do you think maybe we could come to some kind of an agreement, once Mother's up to it?” Han put an arm around him. “We could sure use that iron ore, especially if Palpatine gets it in his head to try attacking us.”

“I'll see what we can do.” Lando's face was impassive, but Leia noticed he seemed a bit twitchier and more nervous than usual, especially as they drew closer to the dining hall in the back of the castle. “Once I talk to my new, er, sponsor, I shouldn't have a problem with Palpatine or his men. I just made a deal that will keep him out of here forever.”

Chewie's angry snarl the moment Laurence opened the door revealed what that “deal” must have involved. Boba Fett and a platoon of stormtroopers in their gleaming white and black armor stood on the other side of the elaborate walnut oak table, set with every kind of food. “Hello there, Your Highness.” She could almost hear Boba Fett's sneer. “Looks like you remembered your name after all.”

“You bastard!” Han's snarl matched Chewie's. He had just pulled out his mechanical bow and Leia and Luke had drawn their swords when the stained glass window blew open. The vulture that Leia had seen so often in Ville du Nueve soared into the room, a trail of black light writhing around him. When it subsided, an older man stood in its place.

“Why don't you join us for dinner, Your Highness?” It looked something like Palpatine, but his hair was silver rather than frazzled and nearly gone, and his skin, while still wrinkled, didn't resemble a walking skeleton so much as it did a normal man of maybe 60 years. The eyes still glowed a sickly shade of yellow, though. Han tried to shoot him, but he brushed away the arrow, then made the mechanical bow seem to leap into his hands. “Such manners! Jania taught you better, Henry.”

Leia spoke for Han while he was still in shock. “What did you do to his mother, you sick fiend?” Chewie growled menacingly behind her.

“Just took as much of her energy as I could without it being obvious.” Palpatine laughed. “Such a feisty young lady! You and your brother will do well as my apprentices.”

Leia slapped his hand away. “I'd rather kiss a toad.”

Luke glared at him. “Stay off of my sister!”

Palpatine turned to Lando. “I thank you for detaining them, Your Excellency. I'll leave this beautiful house and your country in the same shape I found them.” He waved his hand. Guards grabbed Luke, Leia, and Han, forcing them to the door. Another threw a chain leash around Chewbacca's neck. “Bring the servants in their rooms, too. I could use two more hands at the Mid-Summer Festival. Bring the girl, boy, and Wookie wolf to my carriage. I'll handle Prince Henry myself.”

“You...” Henry struggled wildly in the arms of two soldiers. “It's you. Damn it to hell, Palpatine, you did this! You were the one who sent that ambush and got me on the rack! You cursed me!”

“Of course I did, silly boy. It was the only way I could keep you off the throne.” He smirked. “I can see I was wrong. You have tremendous energy. I may be able to use that...before I honor my agreement with the Sultan of Tatoonie and sell you to him, of course.”

Leia kicked the soldier in the foot and ran to Palpatine's side. “What if I fought you? If I win, you'll set us free, remove your remaining magic from Henry's mind, and leave this country.”

Palpatine cackled heartily. “You won't win, girl, but a duel will be excellent training for you. You need to learn a lesson in humility.” He pulled out a sword as Leia drew her own. Boba Fett stepped in front of Lando, while the soldiers held back the remaining men and the howling wolf.

Leia hadn't expected Palpatine to be as fast or as strong as he was. His ruby-red crystal blade sizzled in the thin air of the mountain night. A thin sliver of moonlight lit up his body as it seemed to glide through the air in his voluminous silver-trimmed black cape. She was just barely able to dodge his sword, which ripped through the gossamer sleeves of her gown. He managed to sideswipe her, knocking her to the ground as Luke gasped and Han called Palpatine names that would make his mother blush.

He held the sword close to her neck as Luke screamed his sister's name. She answered with a thrust of her own, her sword meeting his. He lunged for her, but she leaped over the table, landing as nimbly as she could in her long gown. “Impressive, child.” He thrust at her again, but she once again met him head on. “Most impressive. You're far stronger than I thought.”

“You'll find I'm full of surprises, Palpatine.” She lifted the table with her blue Force magic and shoved it on him, holding him back as she ran towards the guards. “Come on, boys. We're getting out of here.”

Luke nodded and kicked his guard, then grabbed the ornate woven blue tablecloth and threw it over them. Han elbowed the man holding him as Chewbacca bit his captor in the arm. Lando smacked another over the head with a gold plate. Leia easily took down three more who tried to shoot her. All four dove down the hall before Palpatine could recover.

“We'll split up here.” She grabbed Han's hand. “Luke, you go get Cyril and Artello. Lando, if you want to be useful, you go with him.” Lando was about to point out that they were in his home and that he should give the orders, but then he saw the raging fire in Leia's nut-brown eyes and opted to push the blond upstairs instead.

They'd just dove out the servant's entrance in the back kitchen when the wide dining room window suddenly exploded outwards, sending thousands of tiny glass shards in all directions. “Oh, my god,” Leia shrieked. “Look out!”

She, Han, and Chewie ducked down just in time to miss having their heads taken off by a black monolith with shining black scales. “Oh, my god.” Her eyes grew wide. “I can't believe this. I thought they were endangered!”

Han's eye were even wider. “I guess no one told him that.”

Leia had never seen a real dragon before. The monster was three times the size of Chateau Bonne Chance. His serpentine tail flattened flower beds and crushed trees, and the wings alone measured the length of Ville du Nueve. The thin bit of moonlight gave his the black horns and stiff ruff an eerie glow. He opened his mouth to reveal two endless rows of teeth as sharp as needles.

They rolled away just in time. The dragon that was Palpatine unleashed a spray of purple fire that left everything in it's path, including much of the garden, dried and withered. “Han,” Leia started, “go get Falcon. I'll take care of him.”

“But Leia...” Han hit the ground as another spray of purple fire nearly blew him off the side of the mountain. “Uh, yeah. I'll go get Falcon, Your Worship. Come on, Chewie.”

As soon as they were dashing across the lawn, Leia rushed at the creature that she was sure had been Palpatine. She concentrated, throwing the blue light from her sword at his chest. He reared back, giving her enough distraction to run at him and stab at his side. His hide was tougher than the strongest leather, and she could barely give him a glancing blow.

Leia continued to fight it, but she didn't know how much longer she could hold out. It was pushing her closer and closer to the edge of the mountain. “You're beaten, girl.” He finally swatted her to the ground as if she were a house fly, leaving her red skirt and white petticoats in rags. “Don't make me destroy you, like I did Mage Kenobi. You and your brother will join me, and we'll bring order to this lawless land.”

She let out a growl Chewbacca would have been proud of. “Luke and I will never join you! Not for all the magic in the Alliance!”

“You don't know the power of the dark arts.” Palpatine's cackle sounded more like a lizard's hiss. “Your father was stubborn like you. I greatly enjoyed draining every bit of life out of him.”

“He told me you wanted him to join him,” Leia snapped. “He didn't. He's not a power-hungry war-monger like you.”

“Oh, but he did, little one.” Palpatine's laughter boomed over the Bespin Mountains, shaking trees and homes in their foundations. “He killed a great many people for me, including young children, before your mother told him she was pregnant. He chose her simpering entreaties and his family over the unlimited power I offered him.” He swiped at her again, almost stabbing her in the heart. Leia rolled away, but he left a bloody gash in her shoulder that hurt like hell. “Who do you think gave him that cut above his eye? He and Lord Mace Windu tried to arrest me after King Josiah's death. Windu had an...unfortunate accident with a window, but Skywalker escaped.”

“You're lying.” Leia clutched her wounded shoulder. Red blood seeped between her white fingers. “Father's not like you. He'd never work for you! He'd never kill people!”

“Search your feelings, girl,” the gigantic lizard hissed. “You know it to be true.”

Leia responded by swinging her sword at him with all her might. Her sword connected with his soft underbelly. In her anger, she'd missed his vital organs, but she still gave him a nasty gash across his stomach. The creature's screech echoed across the valley.

She couldn't move fast enough to avoid his claws. They swiped at her sword and wrist. All she knew after that was indescribable, white-hot pain. Her hand went over the cliff, and with it her father's sword. Her eyes followed them as far as they dared, before both were lost in the raging river below the mountainside.

“You have no choice now, my little one.” Palapatine's roar was one of triumph. “You will come with me. It's the only way.”

“Never!” She shrieked. “You festering lizard-swine!” Her dirt-smeared face twisted into a smirk. “And you can't take Luke. You can't touch him. That's why you couldn't take him before.”

“You're right, damn it.” His long tongue flicked across his scaly lips. “But if I can't have you and your brother, I can take that spoiled prince you love so dearly.”

Leia's eyes widened. “What?”

Palpatine had just reached for Leia when his claw was hit by an arrow. He reared back as Falcon charged into the garden, with Chewbacca howling on his heels. The aging stallion leaped over three hedges and a fountain, flying around corners and over flower beds. Han was astride him, his mechanical bow at the ready. Three more perfectly-aimed arrows shot off in quick succession, but they couldn't pierce his hide. Chewie bit into his underbelly. He screeched, but managed to shake the Wookie wolf off.

“Ahh, Jania's dear son. Perfect.” The dragon's hiss was entirely too satisfied for Leia's liking. “Sultan Du Hutt still wants you, my boy.”

Han shot off another arrow at his claw. This time, he swiped it away. “Not a chance, Palpatine. It's over. As soon as we get to Coruscant, I'll order every guard in Solo Castle to place you under arrest.” He jumped off Falcon, racing in front of Leia. Chewie got behind her, his teeth bared and foaming.

“Not if you come with me.” Leia screamed in horror and Chewbacca let out an anguished howl as the dragon swept Han into its talons. “I have plans for you, fair Prince Henry.”

“Gods damn it to hell, Palpatine!” Han kicked and struggled with all his might. “Let me go!”

Palpatine stroked his hair. “Of course not.” His hot breath tickled Han's ear as he ran his talons gently over Han's head. “Don't you want to see your mother again? I have her in a nice, safe place in my suites.”

Han's struggles lessened, and his eyelids drooped slightly. “My mother?” He turned to the heartbroken wolf. “Chewie, this won't help me. Save your strength. There will be another time. The lady and lord Skywalker...they need you. You and the servants have to take care of them.” Chewie whimpered and tried to scratch at the dragon's side, but even his claws couldn't penetrate the black crystal scales.

“No! Put him down this instant!” Leia grabbed at his claw with her good hand, but Palpatine swiped her away. She managed to dodge his claws long enough to give Han the most passionate kiss she possibly could. “Han, I love you!”

Han nodded. “I know.”

“This is so sappy.” Boba Fett leaped down from one of the tallest remaining trees onto the dragon's back. “Let's get to Coruscant, boss. I ain't really big on this town anyway. Too many manners and not enough loose women.”

“I agree. I also prefer the comforts of city living.” Palpatine rose into the sky as Leia was reduced to throwing a rock at him. Chewie leaped into the air, trying to get one last bite.

“No!” Leia wailed at the top of her lungs. She, Chewbacca, and Falcon chased after Palpatine as he soared into the indigo sky. She followed him until the edge of the mountain, clutching the stump of her hand, screaming his name and Han's. Palpatine flapped his wings, going off the edge of the cliff and over the valley. He continued to send hazy purple light over Han, until his eyes closed and he sagged in the dragon's talons, sleeping heavily.

“No,” she sobbed, falling to her knees on the very edge of the mountain. “No. Please, no.” Chewie licked her cheek. Falcon nudged her, giving her a worried snort. She was able to throw her arms around Chewie and sob into his fur before she finally passed out on the mossy ground.