Lady Leia and the Prince, Part 10

They were off to Coruscant in two hours, after Hera dropped her son with her father in the near-by village. Leia was still getting used to her new metal hand. Kanan told her that as long as she kept it oiled, she shouldn't have a problem with it. Even with the oil, it still felt stiff and a little, well, foreign. She held Luke's reigns with her other hand as she did exercises with her metal one. She wore armor she borrowed from Ahsoka over a black tunic and trousers. It wasn't as elaborate as her father's armor, but it did fit her a bit better. Chewbacca trotted alongside them, sniffing around and barking at squirrels and deer.

“Ahsoka?” The older woman was riding beside her on the driver's seat of Kanan and Hera's carriage. Sabine had decorated it with colorful artwork depicting Naboo's history, which did make it resemble the equally bright gypsy carts. Most of the others were either in the cart, or had gone on ahead with Lando. “Ahsoka, there's something I want to ask you. You're the only one who really remembers the Alliance Wars. Kanan and Hera say they were children then.”

“I was a kid then, too.” Ahsoka shrugged. “But not as young as them. I was the youngest general in Naboo's history at 14.”

Leia didn't know how to approach the subject of her father. “Leia...Palpatine told me Father worked with him after the Alliance Wars. He killed a lot of people.” Her voice dropped. “Including children.”

“I did hear that.” Ahsoka sighed. “I'd already left the order by that time. He was supposed to have married your mother, Leia. Jedi were essentially warrior-monks. Getting married wasn't part of our order, but he did it anyway. He truly loved your mother. Almost all of us figured out what was going on between them early-on, no matter how they tried to hide it.”

“But why?” Leia demanded. “Why would he work for Palpatine?”

“Ordered to, he was.” Yoda's light appeared next to Ahsoka on the driver's seat. “Counselors wanted him to find out what Palpatine was up to. Suspected him of wrongdoing, even then.” The old elf sighed. “Wanted to help your mother, he did. Left Palpatine when he wanted him to attack Mace Windu, one of our leaders. Palpatine killed him instead.”

Leia narrowed her eyes. “Father told me he was there. That story about Windu trying to murder Palpatine? That was all lies. Palpatine drained him and knocked the remains out the window of his suites. Father fought with Palpatine, but he wasn't strong enough to take him down completely. He gave him the scar on his face and thought he left him for dead.”

“He came to Obi-Wan and me after that,” Ahsoka explained. “He was genuinely remorseful for what he'd done. Your mother was just about to give birth to you two. Obi-Wan wouldn't speak to him for over a month....and it took more than a year of mediation with your mother and father for him to really trust Anakin again. After Padme gave birth to you and Luke, we decided it was best that the four of you and Obi-Wan left Coruscant. Bail helped, promising to visit and keep an eye on you.”

“Which he did. He visited us at every couple of years, and we went to see him once a summer. I used to love running in the fields at Alderaan Manor and playing hide-and-seek with Luke and Uncle Bail in the garden.” Leia's face fell. “Uncle Bail is all right...or at least, Palpatine hasn't drained his energy yet, or Aunt Breha's. I can feel his energy, but it's not really his anymore. It doesn't even feel human.”

“No longer human, they are.” Yoda nodded. “Fond of twisting humans, Palpatine is. Takes their energy until they are dust, or turns them into beasts or seals them in stone or crystal. Cares only about magic and power.”

“Skyguy had a temper on him.” Ahsoka chuckled. “That's what I called him. He loved the sky. We spent so many hours looking up at the stars, and wondering what it would be like to fly among them, to see clouds and constellations close-up.” She reached over and stroked Luke's golden mane. “You're a lot like him. He was a dreamer, too. Obi-Wan was so practical. They were best friends, but I don't think he understood Skyguy like I did. I used to watch him make furniture for the Jedi Temple or toys for the younglings.”

Her fathomless blue eyes darkened. “When he killed those children...Obi-Wan and I could feel his pain. He let the black magic take over and guide his actions, and he did horrible things. When Padme and I asked him about it later, he said all he could see was the power...until the kids' bodies were laying at his feet.”

“I can't believe that.” Leia's fingers tightened around the reigns. “My father was a good man. He never harmed anything worse than a piece of wood.”

“Bail saw him, Leia.” Ahsoka frowned. “So did Kanan. He told me.”

Leia turned to Yoda. “I know Father did things that he regretted...but he'd never hurt a child. He couldn't even bring himself to spank us. Mother did that.”

“Came to me, he did, after Palpatine left him for dead.” Yoda sighed. “Remorseful, he was. Angry, mostly with himself. No one believed Palpatine was black magician until it was too late. Brought young Skywalker in with promises, then used him to further his conquest of kingdoms. Couldn't stop deaths of other Jedi.”

“I'll make it right.” Leia tugged at the reins. “I won't let Palpatine take me in like he did Father.” Luke whinnied. “And I'll die before I let him touch you, Luke. I know he wants your magic.”

“Take my magic, he cannot.” Yoda gave them a little smirk. “An elf, I am. Elf magic is different than human magic. Cannot be drained so quickly.”

Ezra chose this point to pop his head out of the window in the back of the cart. “Are we there yet?”

“Not yet.” Ahsoka rolled her eyes. “That's the fifth time you've asked since we started out. We'll tell you when we get to the gates, ok?” Ezra finally shrugged, tossed some meat scraps to Chewbacca, and pulled back in.

Lando rode up to them on Lady Luck a few minutes later. His nobleman's cape and suit had been replaced with the bronze and orange armor of the Coruscant Guards. “We should be at the gate within the hour. I'll stay with you until we're in the city, then see if I can integrate myself with the guards and find out exactly where they're keeping Han.”

“We have less than a day until the Great Confluence begins.” Leia frowned. “That's not a lot of time. He could be anywhere!”

“You'll know.” Ahsoka smiled. “You'll feel him.”

“That's the thing.” Leia's face fell. Luke shook his head. “I don't feel him.” Luke whinnied. “And my brother can't, either. He's alive, but imprisoned somewhere that blocks his Force energy.”

“As soon as we get into the gates, we need to find the home of Counselor Mon Mothma.” Ahsoka cracked the reins, leading them all onto the Imperial Road over rolling hills and past large, prosperous farms and sparkling lakes. “She's the head of the Rebel Underground. Her home is a gathering place for all the rebel cells scattered throughout the kingdom.”

“Besides, good friend, she is.” Yoda nodded. “Was friend and patron of the Jedi, before the order was disbanded.”

Coruscant was Naboo's largest city and it's capitol. It's shining spires could be seen for miles around. Leia saw the tops of the buildings and the white and red Solo Castle perched on a hill behind the main city well before she saw the gate. The thick wall that protected the residents from invaders was anchored by a massive iron gate that was surrounded by city guardsmen in orange and white armor.

“Hello there!” The head guard lifted his visor...revealing, to Leia's surprise, a pleasant young man with sleek black hair and bright blue eyes. “So, what brings your clan to our fair city, Mistress Gypsy?”

“We're here to perform for the Festival, Sir.” Ahsoka gave him her most charming smile, speaking in an accent that sounded vaguely like the gypsies of the Eastern tundra. “My niece and I do sword tricks, and we have dancers and singers and mind-readers.”

Lando gave the man his most charming smile. “I'm protecting them until they get into the city. Then I'll rejoin my unit.”

The knight nodded. “Good. Everyone could use the entertainment. Since the queen died and Palpatine declared himself King, morale has been at an all-time low in town.” Luke watched him the whole time with wistful blue eyes. Leia scratched him between the ears. She knew her brother well enough to understand when he was interested in a man...and to her amusement, the knight rather seemed to eye him back, squinting at him like he was trying to figure out why a unicorn had such soulful, human eyes.

Ahsoka raised an eyebrow. “We heard about the queen's death. That's terrible. We'll do everything we can to lift the spirits of the people.” Her voice slowed a bit here, was more deliberate. “And now, we must move along. May the great magic protect you all, good knight.”

“And you, Mistress Gypsy.” The knight turned to his men, who pulled the heavy iron gates open. He then rode on her other side, with three other knights flanking him. “Perhaps we'll give you an extra escort, Mistress Gypsy. You can never be too careful in town.”

Leia was about to say that wasn't necessary, but Ahsoka put up her hand. “We'd be honored, master knight, thank you.”

The knight bowed low on his orange and white horse. “Sir Wedge Antilles, Mistress.” He nodded at the other three knights in their orange and white armor behind him. “That is Sir Hobbie Killian, Sir Corran Horn, and Sir Wes Jansen. We are...or were...members of the Rogue Squadron, the royal family's elite guards.” He made a face. “Until we were taken off guard duty and put in charge of guarding the gate and the Festival after Queen Jania died. Palpatine says he has his own guards.”

“I'll bet the old goat killed her,” Sir Killian grumbled. “He's been wanting the throne for ages.”

“That's what why we're going...where we're going.” Sir Horn nodded ahead of them. “The White Lady will know how to deal with this.”

Leia raised an eyebrow. “The White Lady?”

“She's the head of our organization, Mistress.” He looked over his shoulder, petting Luke...before pulling his hand away. “That's an odd horse you're riding there. He seems almost human.” Leia was glad she'd made Luke's horn invisible before they arrived at the gates. He nudged Wedge's hand, then reached over and gave him a lick in the cheek when he opened his visor. “I think he likes me!”

“His name is Luke.” Leia chuckled. “He's very affectionate.”

Wedge wiped his cheek with a grin. “I've never been kissed by such a handsome horse before.” It might have been her imagination, but her brother seemed to be turning red under his white fur.

Coruscant was the largest and busiest city in all the kingdoms. Leia looked around her wide-eyed at the throngs of people, pushing and chattering and bartering with one another. Every building was draped with black among the flower garlands; artwork of the queen and the royal family edged in black fabric and blood-red roses graced many windows. The homes in this part of town were magnificent, marvels of architecture, with gleaming turrets and white walls and iron trim...but they too sported black fabric banners wound in the flower garlands and vines, honoring the late queen and the land's new ruler.

“This is where you'll be performing.” Wedge nodded as they turned onto a path that lead to a lush, emerald green lawn and brilliant rose bushes in Naboo white, orange, and peach. “And this,” he lead them past the gardens, around the back, “is where we'll be meeting the White Lady herself.”

Ahsoka turned the carriage over to one of the stable boys. Leia hated to leave Luke, and Luke wouldn't leave Wedge, but it was still daylight. She'd fill him in later. Luke nuzzled Wedge, giving him licks all over. “Affectionate sort, isn't he?” He patted his golden mane, but he looked uneasy.

Leia sighed. “I'll explain about him tonight.” She gave her brother one last scratch under the mane, then followed Wedge. Chewbacca trotted between her and Wedge. He didn't quite trust all these new people. “So,” she began, “where is this 'White Lady' of yours?”

“Down here.” Wedge lead them to a door built into the lower part of the manor house, almost a storm door. “We meet on the lower floors, next to the wine cellar.”

Kanan smirked. “Well, at least if we die, we'll die happy.” Hera swatted his arm as he chuckled.

Corran flung open the two wooden doors, then bowed for Ahsoka. “After you, Your Ladyship.”

“Thank you, sir.” Ahsoka gathered the skirts of her bright gypsy costume and made her way down the steep stone steps. Leia went next, wrinkling her nose at the stale smell of drying herbs and fruits and spilled wine vinegar. The walls around the steps were dust-smeared granite that had likely been there for centuries.

They came down into a room that could have been the tavern back in Scarif with lower beams, with its many barrels and bottles of wine lining the walls and tables filled with people milling around. Maps of Coruscant adorned any wall that wasn't filled by a wine casket.

“Counselor Mothma.” Leia and the others bowed before the woman at the head of the table. Mon Mothma was one of the most outspoken opponents of Palpatine remaining in Naboo's Royal Council. She still wore the traditional white and gold robes of the women counselors.

“Lady Skywalker.” The older woman with the copper-red hair took Leia's hand. “I knew your mother well, when she was a counselor. Padme Amidala was a good woman and a strong fighter, one of the best speakers we ever had. Her death and your father's was a blow to us all.” Her eyes swept around the busy room. “Where's your brother? Lord Kenobi told me he was training him as a mage.”

“He's outside.” Leia frowned. “Palpatine captured him when he killed our parents. Luke is under a spell. I'll explain more about it tomorrow, after the moon comes back out.”

“Very well.” She gave Ahsoka a hug next, then Hera. “Fulcrum and Spectre. I'm so glad both of you could come.” Ezra and Sabine waved over Hera's shoulder. “And your children are growing like weeds, Hera.”

“They eat like weeds, too.” Hera chuckled. “I can never keep those two fed.”

“Leia!” Jyn hurried over. “I'm so glad you were able to make it. We've been here for almost a week. Cassian and Bodhi are in town, posing as guards at Solo Castle. They're supposed to be keeping an eye on Palpatine.” The young woman frowned. “Where's your friend Han? Did you ever figure out who he is?”

“Yes.” Leia sighed. “He was kidnapped by Palpatine shortly after we found out. Luke and I have been trying to reach out to him, but something is blocking us. We have no idea where he is now or what happened to him.”

Chirrut put his hand on Leia's shoulder. Baze glowered behind him. “We're sorry about your friend, miss. We'll do what we can to help him.”

“He was in Solo Castle,” she explained. “That much I know.”

Kay nodded as Admiral Ackbar, a ruddy old military man who somewhat resembled a gaping squid, raised his big hands for the room to be silent. “Tell us who he is later,” the tall, thin scholar whispered. “We've been making bets about his real identity since we left you. Personally, I think he's the mastermind behind that major cart theft in Mimban Town a few years ago.”

“Palpatine has made a critical error,” Mon Mothma stated as the packed house settled down, “ and the time for our attack has come. With most of his forces either dealing with Festival events, the funeral, or deployed throughout the kingdom in an attempt to engage us, Solo Castle itself is relatively unprotected. But most importantly of all,” she added in a darker voice, “we've learned that Palpatine himself will not only attend the Mid-Summer Festival, but intends to declare himself king and strike down his enemies with a show of power.” Her voice dropped, as if she were speaking the last part to herself. “Many of our best spies died to bring us that information.”

The Admiral took over, opening a map of the Coruscant marketplace area and indicated several markings already made. “As you can see, our people have already given us the location of every Naboo squadron assigned to cover the Festival. Two groups will be sent out to the Festival grounds in Corellia Park and to the marketplace to create a distraction. Once this is done, a third team will enter Solo Castle itself through a back servants entrance.”

Leia stood, looking gravely serious. “Sir, I request that my brother and I lead the attack on Solo Castle.” She continued before Ackbar could open his mouth. “Yes, I know I'm young and he's...under a spell, but I'm trained in fighting, and him in magic. We could be great assets. Besides,” her voice went into a growl, “we're...friendly...with Prince Henry.” She ignored some of the surprised reactions going up around the room. “The Prince is still alive, or was, until yesterday. He was traveling with my brother and me, until he was kidnapped by Palpatine.”

“I knew it.” Chirruit nodded sagely. “Your friend Han is the prince.”

“You mean, the guy who rode his horse over the fence and saved us was really the prince in disguise?” Ezra's face lit up like a bonfire. “Neat! I've never been rescued by royalty before!”

Hera shook her head. “I'm not sure we want the Prince on the throne, either. Everyone in the kingdom has heard that he's a scoundrel who has done deals with some pretty shady types.”

“He's not like that anymore!” Leia protested. “Well, not entirely like that. He really does want to make amends, and he was genuinely concerned about his mother the last time we saw him.”

Mon Mothma nodded. “I would still rather have him or another member of the Solo Family than someone like Palpatine.”

Jyn raised her hand and grabbed Kay's. “I volunteer us for Leia's strike team!”

Artello played a few fluttery notes only his flute before he raised his arm and Cyril's. “'Exciting is hardly the word I'd choose,” his taller friend grumbled.

Chirrut and Baze raised their hands. “We too would like to join the team,” Baze rumbled. “I have seen the young woman fight. She is a worthy warrior.”

His companion just smiled. “I have long suspected that her taller friend was not what he claimed to be. If he is the true prince, the throne is rightfully his.”

“Can we be in the marketplace?” Ezra grinned. “I want to show off my mind-reading skills to the Festival crowds.”

Hera rolled her eyes. “You really just want to swipe as many sweet pastries as you can fit in your pockets from the food booths. We're going with Lando to the park.”

“We'll lead Leia and Lando's teams to the servants' entrance and cover Leia after we get there. We know it well.” Wedge grinned wistfully. “It'll bring back a lot of memories of when we were full members of the castle guards.”

“General Lando Calarissian,” Ackbar continued, “has volunteered to lead the main attack on Corellia Park, the lands surrounding Solo Castle.”

“Good luck!” called Kanan, smirking. “You're gonna need it.”

Ackbar turned his fish eyes on the crowd. “Any other questions?” The room was dead silent. “Then everyone get to their carts or horses, and may the magic of the Kingdoms guide us all.”

“We still have Twilight and your cart,” Jyn told Leia as they made their way to the stables. “We'll take it to the marketplace first to pick up Cassian and Bodhi, before someone figures out that they're not stormtroopers.” She smirked a little. “They're both excellent shots, too good for those pansies they hire. That'll give them away in an instant.”

Cyril and Artello came up behind them. “May we remain with you, Lady Skywalker? We may still be of some service.” Cyril shrugged. “I speak dozens of languages, and Artello is good in a fight.” Artello's rapid flute playing sounded like rapid punches. His taller friend rolled his eyes. “You're not that bloody good! Even you can't take on thirty men at once!” The diminutive repairman fluttered his flute in his friend's face. “You took on that many at once while helping to save Mage Kenobi and Sir Skywalker in the Magic Wars? I would have remembered that!”

Kay rolled his eyes behind him. “Please save the stage comedy act for when we're performing. The odds are two to one that most people just find it annoying right now.”

Leia shook her head. “They're fine, Kay.” She sighed. “I just wish I knew where Han is. Something is blocking his energy. It's as if it's been sealed off behind a wall Luke and I can't get through.”

“He'll be all right, Lady Skywalker.” Cyril patted her shoulder. “He's quite clever for royalty, after all.”

“That's true.” Lando chuckled on her other side. “I've seen him get out of tighter squeezes than this!”

“Still, I should be able to feel him. I know Palpatine took him to Solo Castle.” She frowned. “After that..nothing.”

“Well, that's a good place to start.” Ahsoka had already appeared on the driver's seat of her cart. “I'll take Hera and the others to the marketplace.”

Wedge climbed onto his orange paint pony. “We'll take the others to Solo Castle.”

Leia climbed onto Luke. “How are you feeling?” Luke whinnied, shaking his gold mane. “Worried about Han. Me too.” Her eyes turned to the hazy blue sky as they followed Wedge and his men across the lawn.