A Star Wars Fairy Tale: New Hope, Part 7

The Falcon was half-way down the mountain when Ben sat back, his face drawn and pale. Luke pulled Tauntaun up alongside the carriage. “Master, are you all right?”

Ben's face was already turning a rather pasty shade of white. “It felt as if thousands of voices cried out in terror before suddenly being silenced.”

“You don't look so good, Master.” Luke didn't like how helpless the older man suddenly seemed. “We'll have to get you to a healer in Aldran Town.”

“That won't be necessary, Luke,” Ben insisted. He rubbed his temples. “The vision is already subsiding.”

Han snickered from his perch on the driver's seat. Chewbacca whinnied next to him. “Had a little too much to drink at the party, old man?”

Ben's eyes flicked towards the smuggler. “Not at all. I only drank punch at the ball. I believe I just had a Force vision. Part of the Force magic is the ability to see into the future, though this is stronger for some than others.”

Han snorted. “Sounds like a lot of mumbo-jumbo to me. No one can see into the future.”

Luke ignored Han, rubbing his own head. “Master, I hear something. I'm wondering if I'm having a vision. I hear beating wings, but it's too heavy to be bird's wings, and birds wouldn't be out at this time of night anyway.” Luke concentrated. “I hear...hissing. Like lizards.”

Han rolled his eyes. “Probably nocturnal animals lookin' for their early mornin' snack.”

Ben's blue eyes filled with revulsion as the beating of leathery wings and hissing became louder. The moon, whose soft glow had filtered softly through the trees that lined the road, was blotted by hundreds of long bodies covered in dully glistening scales. “Those are no ordinary lizards,” Ben whispered. “They're Sith Dragons.”

“But they're extinct!” Luke had never seen a dragon up close. As a child on his aunt and uncle's farm in Tatoon, he'd dreamed of slaying dragons and becoming a knight...but now he was wondering if that was such a good idea. The dragons were long, scaly beasts, longer than the largest battle carriage ever built. He could see their long, sharp claws and spike-like rows of teeth even from this distance.

“Turn the carriage around,” Ben ordered Han quickly.

Chewbacca pointed behind him. “That isn't possible, Old Magician. There's no where else to go. They're coming from the direction of the the castle. They probably already burned it.”

Luke watched the dragons as they soared in the indigo early-morning sky. “Master,” he breathed in shock, “I think they're going towards Aldran Town.”

“Isn't there some way we could get around it?” Cecil wailed. Arthur rolled his eyes, his fingers moving rapidly. “I'm not being a coward! I'm being sensible! Sith Dragons are known to eat anything in their paths, including humans. And anything they don't eat, they burn to death!”

“I don't think we can get around it,” Ben insisted. “This is the only road out of Aldran.”

“The old man's right.” Han just flicked the reins. “The only thing we can do is plow through and hope we don't get charbroiled.”

Luke looked up as a dragon started breathing right along the road. “Watch out!” He just managed to pull Tauntaun out of the way before she was hit by a wall of flame.

Han flicked the reins harder. “Chewie, try to talk to the horses. See if you can get them to go any faster.”

Chewbacca shook his shaggy head. “Han, they're already going at top speed, and that's with them being frightened by those bloody flying reptiles in the sky.”

Cecil let out a screech. Arthur's face went pale and his fingers flew rapidly. “I believe those dragons have suddenly decided that we're on the menu for tonight's meal!”

Luke screamed, slashing wildly when one tried to bite at Tauntaun's tail. The dragon reared back, his face now slit open. Luke's sword had begun to glow blue. He slashed at the dragon again...and this time, the light cut right into the dragon. Luke hit the toothsome monster again, letting the light stab it through the heart. He watched in surprise as the light consumed it, finally turning it into a burst of flowers that scattered their petals around the road.

Arthur's fingers flew again. “Arthur is impressed by your showing, Sir Luke,” Cecil insisted, “and so am I. How were you able to perform such feats?”

Han raised an eyebrow. “That's a nice trick, kid.”

Luke's eyes were as large as two blue robin's eggs. “I'm not entirely sure how I did that. I just...I held the sword, and I thought that I wanted the monster gone, and I attacked it, and...that happened.”

“You attacked it in self-defense.” Ben's green sword plunged light into another dragon. It changed into soft dust that sparkled in the waning moonlight. “You were trying to rescue us. The Force acknowledged this. The light side of the Force magic cannot kill. It can only transform.”

“Yeah, well, transform is good enough for me.” Han looked over his shoulder as he flicked the reins harder. “We should be in Aldran Town in a few minutes.”

Chewbacca pointed a thick, hairy finger at the dragons. “Looks like someone got there ahead of us, mate.”

Indeed, when they arrived in Aldran Town, it was already ablaze. Dragons soared in the sky, puffing great clouds of red-orange smoke onto thatched roofs and timbered walls. Soldiers in black and white Imperial trooper armor fanned the flames, using torches to burn whatever the dragons didn't manage to destroy. What wasn't burned was shredded by dragon claws or hacked into pieces by troopers. Horrified citizens scurried through the streets, fleeing for their lives.

There was some commotion when they arrived at the town square. Cecil and Arthur stuck their heads out. “What's all this rabble doing here?” Cecil fussed. Arthur's fingers few in his friend's face. “I know they're people, not rabble, but they are commoners. More to the point, they're blocking our way.”

Ben Kenobi sat back in the carriage, his face even paler than before the dragons arrived. “It's a demonstration. It reminds me...” he closed his eyes “...of when the Imperial Army betrayed the Knights of the Force Order.”

Luke's eyes widened. The crowds had become so thick, he had to climb off Tauntaun and lead the terrified pony through the streets. Han and Chewie lead the six white and gray horses, removing their fancy plumage and bridles. The Falcon was already drawing attention. Imperials whispered and pointed. Ordinary peasants glared at such a showy display at a time of crisis.

“Glad I left the crown in the Falcon,” Han muttered. “The way people are lookin' at us, you'd think we were Imperials or somethin'.”

“They probably think we're rich,” Chewbacca whinnied back.

Ben stepped out of the carriage, waving his hands. “Shh!” They'd arrived at the center of Aldran Town. Normally, the town's main square was a beautiful green area, bordered by dusty roads, with a stunning fountain in the center. Tonight, the fountain lay in ruins on the ground, and the grass was blackened and flecked with blood. Luke couldn't really see much more. The square was too busy. Ben, however, watched in horror, his face draining rapidly of color again.

“Citizens of the Kingdom of Aldran,” said the small, bony man in the gray silver-trimmed uniform, “you and your people are now a part of the Kingdom of the Empire.” Gasps, yells, and general murmurs went up in the crowd. “My name is Moff Tarkin, and I will be your new ruler.” The murmurs in the crowds were growing louder, stronger.

“You were known for supporting the Rebels of the Woods, the traitors who have maliciously robbed and assaulted Imperial tax collectors, soldiers, and nobles,” Tarkin went on coldly. “The Kingdom of the Empire will not stand for such insubordination.”

Ben collapsed on his knees as a familiar figure was dragged through the crowd. Luke gasped in horror. Arthur almost lunged from the carriage, only to be stopped by Cecil, his brown-gold eyes filled with tears. Han narrowed his eyes, while Chewbacca let out a whinny of pure fury.

King Bail Organa was thrown on his knees before Tarkin. “Where are my wife and daughter?” the black-haired man demanded.

“Oh no, Organa, you're not asking the questions here anymore.” Tarkin's grin became almost skeletal. “The rest of your family are making quite interesting statues at Bast Castle.” One corner of his mouth turned up, now a hideous sneer. “Except your niece Princess Leia. Lord Vader is preparing her to wed his master at Bast Castle. She'll make a fine Queen of the Empire.”

“Leia will never agree to that,” Bail spat. “She's too independent for even Vader to control. She knows her own mind too well.” His dark eyes crinkled in a knowing smile. “She's too much like her father.”

“Perhaps.” Tarkin turned to the soldiers behind him, all holding the black longbows and silver-tipped arrows of the Imperial Army. “I have no more use for him.” He turned to one of the dragons. “You may devour him. He looks like he'd be a good solid morsel.”

“No!” Luke started towards the remains of the fountain, but there were too many people. There was the sickening sound of the king screaming, then crunching bones, spurting blood, and gnawed flesh. People shrieked in horror, turning in disgust and shock from the sight.

Luke was already the old man's side. Ben looked faint, like he was barely awake. “Master, isn't there something we can do to stop this?”

“Are you crazy, kid?” Another arm wrapped itself around Ben's shoulders. “This crowd's noisy enough as it is.” Han helped Luke get Ben to his feet and into the carriage. “I think we'd better get out of here. This is gonna get uglier, and I don't really feel like either bein' shot by the Imperial Army or cooked over easy by a dragon.”

Cecil was weeping openly in the cart. “Oh, my poor Master Bail! He was such a good employer. He always knew where the good porcelain was, and he never scolded anyone who didn't deserve it.” Arthur blew his nose loudly. “Those terrible Imperials! How could they do this?”

“You heard Tarkin.” Han looked up at Cecil as he and Luke got the half-conscious Ben into the carriage. “He doesn't want anyone goin' against him. Your employer must have gotten to his goat somehow.”

Ben opened his eyes. “The royal family of Aldran openly aided the Rebels in the Woods.” He took the message from Arthur. “That's what this is about. It's for the Rebels. It's a warning from Bail about the dragons. They're going to burn the Enchanted Woods.”

Luke's soft blue eyes were filled with pure horror. “Oh no! We can't let them do that!”

Han was shaking his head. “All I want is my money.”

Ben looked up at the gypsy. “Which you won't be able to receive unless we can get to the Rebels.” He frowned. “We must find Princess Leia. She's the last remaining member of the Royal Family of Aldran.”

“Wait a minute!” The gypsy thief stepped away, his hazel eyes flabbergasted. “Didn't you hear Tarkin? They have her at Bast Castle. Even if you could get up the Black Crystal Mountain, it's guarded by a thousand troops, not to mention the Sith Dragons.”

Chewbacca glared at him. “I can't believe what I'm hearin', mate. That poor lass is locked up in some tower, and you want to abandon her?”

“He's right.” Luke nodded. “We have to go after her. She's the only one who knows how to find the Rebels In the Woods.” He murmured into Han's ear. “You know, she's rich.”

“Rich.” Han looked up at the boy with interest.

“Han, she's a princess. The Rebels will probably be willing to pay you a huge reward for her.”

Han raised an eyebrow. “How much are we talking about?”

Luke grinned. “More well than you can imagine!”

“I dunno.” The gold flecks in Han's almond-shaped hazel eyes glimmered. “I can imagine quite a bit.”

Ben looked up from the carriage. “You'll get it, Solowolf, and more.”

“I'd better.” Han climbed into the driver's seat. Chewbacca somehow managed to fall in next to him. “If we leave now, we can get at least a day's start on those flying barbecues.”

What they didn't realize was that they were being watched. The man in the green armor whom Han Solowolf had avoided at the ball kept a vigil in the woods near the square. He sat rigidly in a large, rounded gray and red carriage as imposing as his gray-green apparel. When they headed for the road to the northern kingdoms, he went in the opposite direction, towards the Kingdom of Tatoon.

A Star Wars Fairy Tale: New Hope, Part 8

Leia watched the destruction of Aldran Town from the window of the tallest, most isolated tower in Bast Castle. It was called the Death Tower, for this is where only the most important and guarded prisoners were held. Indeed, the security on the Tower was so tight, the window was the only way in or out. There was no doorway, nor stairs. Magical charms had been placed on the tower to keep out flying animals and carriages.

Leia had tried to assuage her anger and loneliness by pulling her velvety brown hair out of the two thick buns and combing out the tangles with her fingers, but all she could think of was the pain she felt. She knew her uncle and aunt were dead. She could feel it. They had passed on to the Netherworld. She closed her eyes, trying to will the visions away, but all she could see was her aunt's lovely face frozen forever in a stone mask, her uncle being lifted into a mouth filled with needle-like teeth...

“Leia!” A sonorous, almost mechanical hiss disrupted her unsettling vision. “Leia, my daughter, let down your hair!”

She did as she was told. The only way to get into the tower was by climbing her dark tresses. They were so long, they brushed the ground beneath Vader's feet. “Father,” she complained, wincing as he started up the side of the tower, “be careful. All that armor makes you heavy! I don't want you yanking my hair out!”

Lord Vader was more nimble than Leia would have thought, given all the metal he wore. She supposed it was part of his Black Knight training. He finally made it in, carrying a burlap bag with him. “I want to have a father-daughter discussion with you, my girl.”

She rolled her eyes. “I already know about the birds and the bees.”

Vader wasn't listening to her snippy retort. He pulled out a handful of black crystal. Her breath quickened. “You know what these are, daughter. Black Khyber crystals can manipulate a creature in any way the holder chooses. They can drain the very lifeblood from a man...or wring the truth from a stubborn girl.”

“Father,” Leia said in exasperation, “I told you where the Rebel base is, and you burned my home to the ground and killed my aunt and uncle. What more do you want from me? I'd give you my blood, but we already share that, not that I'm proud of the fact.”

Her father's shiny-gloved hand suddenly wrapped around her slender white throat. She fought for air as the breath was violently torn from her lungs. “You'll not talk to me in that insolent manner.” He ran one long black-clad finger across her cheek. “Tell me about those two men you were dancing with at the ball. My officers claimed they saw you with a man in black velvet and a knight in antique armor.”

She struggled to get the words out. “I don't...” She tried to breathe, but the squeezing only became more violent. “I don't know. The taller one claimed...to be a prince. The boy was...an apprentice...to an older knight.”

He squeezed harder. “You were interested in them.”

“No...” She desperately wrapped her smaller hands around his. “The boy...nice enough...something familiar about him. The prince...was an arrogant ass.”

“Your eyes say differently.” He took hold of her long hair and yanked her face until her wide brown eyes faced his. She was still breathing heavily, trying to take deep, long swallows of air. “Look at me, child. I want to know who they are. One of them was a Light Force magician. The other was a liar.” He pressed one of the black crystals close to her soft neck. “You will not have them. The King will provide for you and train you to become a black sorceress. You'll have power you never believed possible.”

She tried to twist her head from his hands, but he held her plaits tightly. “If power means I become a monster who destroys an innocent kingdom and murders its king and queen in cold blood, I want no part of it!”

Vader let out an angry hiss, finally lifting her in the air and throwing her against the far wall. Her left elbow hit solid rock. She grabbed it with a cry, her eyes bearing all the anger and hatred buried in her torn heart. “I may be your daughter, but I'm not your property.”

“That remains to be seen.” He dragged her to the window, threw her hair over, letting it flow to the ground. “You will be a prisoner in this tower until you see the error of your rash ways. When I come with food for you, I'll call you to let down your hair.”

She turned from him, still angry. “I'd rather starve than eat something you've provided.”

“If that's what you wish.” Leia watched him writhe down her cascading locks, looking more and more like a metallic version of the dragons he controlled. As soon as he left, she pulled up her hair and began combing out the tangles with her fingers again...but she didn't get too far before the tears started to come. Soon, she was weeping into her hair, weeping for her home in flames and her dead family and the father who had become more of a demon than a man.

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

It took nearly a day for the six men in the golden carriage to arrive at Bast Castle. The terrain in the Kingdom of the Empire was the most treacherous in the entire Seven Kingdoms. Any land that wasn't rocky or barren was sticky, murky swampland.

Finally, as dusk began to overtake the Parched Mountains, the jagged edifice of Bast Castle loomed in the distance. It truly took one's breath away. Luke couldn't believe how slick and glassy it looked, even from a distance.

Practical Han, as usual, was less concerned with the mountain's gleaming appearance. “How the hell are we gonna get up that thing? It's too steep to just ride up. I don't see any roads, either. And what about that drawbridge? It probably has a hundred guards surrounding it.”

Ben turned to Luke on his pony. “We could use our magic.”

“Can we do that?” Luke was a bit surprised. “The carriage is awfully big, and what about Tauntaun?”

Ben leaned out of the carriage and took Luke's hand. “We can if we do it together. We'll need all the light magic we can muster to lift all of us, the horses, and the carriage.”

Arthur closed his eyes, his fingers wiggling the message that Cecil should do the same. “Very well,” the taller man in the gold uniform said with a sigh, “but I'm not certain it'll work. We're moving a lot more than just our group this time.”

Chewbacca closed his eyes. “Trust the magic, Stiff-Legged One, and it will guide you.” Han kept his eyes open, since he was driving, but he did concentrate.

There was nothing for a few moments. The carriage continued to gallop along. Han frowned as he heard more hooves behind them. “If you're gonna get us up that mountain, old man, you'd better do it now.” Han pointed over his shoulder. “There's at least three or four Imperial soldiers on our tail.” He ducked as arrows started flying.

Han couldn't exactly describe how it happened. One minute, they were on the ground, the black crystal mountain looming directly over them. The next, there was a dusty blue light, like thousands of stars, gathering around the carriage and the horses. As the stars gathered, the horses and the carriage lifted off the ground, and the carriage flew up the mountainside, hardly even scratching the sheer surface. The Imperial soldiers on horseback were left far behind.

Han loved it. He cheered loud and long. “This is great!” he hooted. “I always wanted to fly. How is this happening, anyway?”

“Force magic, mate,” Chewbacca said simply. They kept flying, gliding to the very top of the mountain and right over the castle's walls and closed drawbridge and into the main courtyard. Han finally landed in what appeared to be a stable. He could see rows of black and gray horses, with imposing carriages and carts to match them.

Luke almost fell off of Tauntaun. “Whew!” He wiped his brow, holding onto his horse to keep him steady. “That takes a lot out of you.”

Arthur and Cecil had their arms around Ben. “It requires a great deal of power to lift seven horses, six humans, and a large carriage,” the older knight explained. “We'll be back on our feet in a few minutes, after we rest.”

Han looked over his shoulder. “I don't think we're gonna have the time.” Three guards and two officers were already making their way to the stables. “I think someone saw us on the way in.” He looked over his shoulder at the inside of the Falcon. “I have an idea.”

To the surprise of the soldiers and officers, there was no one in the Falcon when they arrived. They searched every crack and crevice thoroughly, but found nothing but velvet trim and leather seats. Searching the stables turned up nothing, either. All of the men stood and saluted when Lord Vader himself strode into the stables, the hay crunching under his metal-booted feet.

Vader wasted no time. “Have you found anything?”

“No, sir,” one of the officers reported. “They may be hiding in the courtyard.”

Vader shook his head. “There wouldn't have been time. I want you to get tools. Burn this carriage, if you have to.”

The Dark Lord had his reasons. “I feel...something...” He murmured as he left. It was the same feeling he had at the ballroom. A faint but familiar flicker in the Force magic...and the very familiar magic of his old master, Sir Benjamin Kenobi. He must have come to rescue the Princess of Aldran. He never could resist a damsel in distress.

The flashback came unbidden. He and Ben in the Queen's room at Naberrie Castle, now Bast Castle, seemingly centuries ago, but really just two decades past. The scorpions, so close to his beloved Queen Padme's cheek. The boy who leaped in, sword drawn, slicing the rasping, spiny creatures in two, even as she awoke. Her. His Padme, she of the eyes like the rich earth of Naboo, the hair that curled around shoulders as delicate as a swan's, the smile that could light up the gloomiest day. She who believed in him, always. She looked so much like her daughter, his Leia...whom his old master wanted to take away. He would not let it happen.  

A Star Wars Fairy Tale: New Hope, Part 9

 The moment the men trooped away, following their master, a touseled brown head popped out of one of the seats. “All clear.” Han pushed the seat off, revealing him and Luke.

“It's a good thing you had these compartments.” He and Cecil had joined Han in the right seat. Ben was already helping Arthur and a cramped Chewbacca out of the left one.

“I use them for smuggling,” Han explained. “Never thought I'd be smuggling myself in them.”

Luke just barely managed to climb out of seat in the silver armor. “Well, now what do we do? The Imperials will be back here any minute!”

Han grinned. “You know...we might be able to use those guys.”

Arthur's fingers were flying. Cecil stretched his long limbs as he translated his friend. “Pardon Arthur and me, Captain Solowolf, but just what do you mean by that?”

“This.” He popped his head out of the stables. “They're coming back. Three of them. I think we can take them.”

Indeed, the three soldiers barely had the time to cry out before one was felled by an arrow in the arm, another was hit over the head with a sword, and the third had a hairy hand around his neck. Han, Cecil, and Chewbacca put on the armor right away, making use of Ben's magic to get it to fit the muscular horse-man. Luke and Ben used what little magic they had to make their own armor more closely resemble the white and black pieces worn by the Imperial army.

Cecil and Arthur bound the men with rope and rags, then piled hay over them. Arthur's fingers flew. “We were able to ask the men a few questions before we gagged them,” his taller friend explained. “They're keeping Princess Leia in the Death Tower. Castle scuttlebutt has it that Lord Vader has personally ordered her to remain there until such time she agrees to wed the King Palapatine, the ruler of this country. It's quite against her will, apparently. She has no desire for such a union to take place, but His Lordship is firm in allying the Kingdom of Aldran to the Kingdom of the Empire.”

“So he can take over the lands for both,” Han finished. “Pretty typical for royalty.”

“Oh no!” Luke wailed. “That poor girl. That's worse than choosing your husband at a ball. We have to rescue her!”

“What about all those guards out there?” Han reminded him. “Not to mention Vader. And unless you two have enough magic left to get us over that wall, we're going to need to get the drawbridge open.”

Ben pulled out his sword. “Leave that to me.”

Luke leaped to his side. “I want to come with you.”

“No, Luke. You help the others rescue the Princess. She, the servants, and that message have to be delivered to the Rebels, or the remaining Seven Kingdoms will suffer the same fate as Aldran.” Ben put a hand on the boy's shoulder, even as he protested. “Our destinies are on different paths from here on, my boy. Put your faith in the Force...and in yourself. You're stronger than you believe.”

Luke watched sadly as Ben went in the opposite direction from them, toward the front of the castle.  

Han took his arm. “Kid, if we're gonna do this, we have to get goin' now. Let the old man do what he has to do.”

“All right.” The five men hurried along the courtyard, trying to look like ordinary soldiers. It wasn't easy when one of them was smaller than the average soldier, one of them was thinner, one was far larger, and one was in a footman's uniform, but they somehow managed to avoid the regular guards.

Han lead the group, his longbow slung as casually over his shoulder as possible in armor. “Does anyone know where we're going? This is a big courtyard.”

Arthur's fingers flew. He had grabbed an apron back in the stables and thrown it over his uniform to appear less conspicuous. Not that it helped much. The apron was almost twice as large as he was, more resembling a dress on him than an an apron. He spoke with the fingers of one hand while holding up the apron with the other.

“Arthur, slow down!” Cecil sounded exasperated. “You know I have trouble translating when you talk with one hand.” Arthur made a face, his gestures becoming a bit less rapid. Cecil turned to the others. “He says he found out from one of the guards in the stables that the Death Tower is in the back of the complex, the tallest tower in the prison area.”

“That still doesn't give us much to work with, mate,” Chewbacca snorted.

That was when Han heard an absolutely beautiful voice. “Hey, what's that?” It was a woman's voice, a deep, gentle contralto. He'd never heard anything that was more beautiful...or sadder.

Luke heard the music, too. “I've never heard such a pretty voice.”

Arthur was already weeping on Cecil's arm. “Please control yourself, Arthur. You'll rust my armor!” Cecil turned to the others. “The song she's performing is an old Aldran folk tune about a young woman who was imprisoned by her jealous father, who had killed her lover.”

Han made a face. “Not exactly your light listening.” Luke was already darting towards the back of the Castle, following the voice. The others hurried after him. “Kid, hold on! She's probably got a hundred guards surroundin' her. We're gonna have to be careful.”

Luke stopped suddenly. His breath quickened. “No,” he gasped, “not a hundred guards. Just one. A black magician...I can feel it.”

Han grabbed his arm. “How the hell are we gonna get past a black magician?”

Chewbacca pulled them all back into an alley between two buildings. “Mates, watch out! There's someone comin'!”

That someone was the Black Knight, the same imposing figure Luke saw at the ball. It seemed rather odd for him to be carrying a picnic basket, but there it was, a typical wicker specimen hanging over his armored arm. He stopped before the tower and called to the one window in his booming bass voice, “My daughter, let down your hair!” The longest brown hair Luke ever saw dropped to the ground.

“Well, well.” Han smirked. “Looks like we have our way in.”

“Yeah, but what about Vader?” Luke rubbed his head. “His magic is strong. I've never felt black magic like this.”

Han shrugged. “So we wait until the father-daughter moment's over.” He turned to the others. “Is anyone here a good mimic? I'm not great at imitations myself, but if one of us could sound like Big, Dark, and Ugly out there, we might be able to get the Princess to let down her hair and get us into the Tower.”

Luke grinned, despite his headache. “Oh, I love doing voices. I used to mimic the stable masters for some of the other servants, and I did the voices of farmers in Tatoon for my friends when I lived there.”

Han nodded. “Perfect. Do you think you could manage Vader, kid?”

Luke shrugged. “I could try. I don't see any other way of us getting in.”

A crash and a screech from the tower made them all jump. When Luke looked up, Vader was climbing down the hair again. He carried the basket again, but Luke could distinctly see a dent in it where it had been thrown or kicked. Vader just looked angry. He stormed away from the Tower, his black cape flowing behind him.

Cecil looked faint. “I'm not sure this is a good idea, Sir Luke. It seems that Lord Vader left the Tower in a frightful temper. Princess Leia does have a rather peppery temper herself. Perhaps we should let her alone to calm herself before we attempt to remove her from the premises.”

“We can't do that,” Han complained, “or we'll be here all day. She's a princess. Who knows how long it'll be before she finishes her tantrum?”

Luke nodded. “Han's right. It has to be now.” Still rubbing his head, he crept to the Tower, making sure no guards were around before he did so. “My daughter, let down your hair!” he yelled in the deepest bass voice he could manage.

“Father,” called the beautiful voice from the Tower, “I told you, I'm not speaking to you. And do you have a cold? Your voice sounds strange.”

“Uh, no, daughter,” Luke said quickly, “but I wish to discuss a matter of great importance.”

“That's what you always say.” There was a sigh, and then an annoyed “very well,” and the velvety-brown tresses tumbled out of the window.

It was far easier for Luke to climb the Princess's hair than it was for Vader. He was smaller and lighter, and his armor wasn't as cumbersome. Leia noticed, too. “Father?” she said as Luke pulled himself towards the window, “did you finally take off some of that armor? You're not as heavy as usual.”

Something was different about this one, though. It wasn't her father. It was the shortest guardsmen she'd ever seen. Usually, the Kingdom of the Empire prided itself on conscripting only the strongest and heartiest young men in the land for its Imperial Army, but this one was almost scrawny under his ill-fitting armor. She raised an eyebrow. “Aren't you a bit small for a guardsman?”

“Your Highness?” The guard said hurriedly. “Oh...my armor is different.” He pulled off the helmet. “I'm Luke Skywalker. From the ball. I'm here to rescue you.”

Leia turned around in surprise. “The apprentice knight from the ball! How did you get here? My father has guards everywhere...”

“Magic, Your Highness.” Luke had to wince at the state she was in. Her white and silver lace gown had a jagged rip in the elbow where an angry purple bruise was forming, and the skirt was dusty and torn. He could see bruise marks on her wrists, and her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. He gestured at the window. “I'll explain it when we're on the ground. I brought the servants, and we have your message to the Rebels. My master Ben Kenobi is getting the drawbridge down...”

“Sir Benjamin Kenobi?” Leia now looked far more eager. “We have to help him! Did you bring the rope?”

Luke blinked. “Rope?”

Leia nodded. “How else are we going to get down? I can't climb my own hair.”

“I could try with my magic.” He concentrated. Luke was surprised when Leia did, too, gently taking his hand in hers. There was a soft blue light around their hand. When it subsided, a long, silken, braided rope lay on the floor.

Leia smiled. “We did it!”

Luke looked up at her, surprised. “You can...you're....”

“Force-sensitive?” Leia was already pulling her massive locks back into the two buns they were in at the ball. “Yes, I am. I can perform magic, same as you. I don't often do it. I prefer to do things the normal way. This is an emergency, though.” She grabbed the rope, tied it to a hook in the window, and threw it over. “Come on, White Knight.” Luke was too shocked to do anything but follow her to the ground.

Unfortunately, they had no sooner descended than they were spotted by a contingent of Imperial guards. Han and Chewbacca were already exchanging arrows with them. Han had taken off his helmet, complaining about the heat. Leia glared at him. “It figures you wouldn't know how to conduct a proper rescue. You can't even behave like a proper prince.”

“Hello to you too, Your Highness,” Han grumbled as he loaded another arrow. “You know, it wouldn't hurt you be a little grateful. The kid and I just saved your rear from that tower.”

“Well, you got in here,” Leia pointed out. “Do you have a plan for getting out?”

Han just nodded at Luke. “He and the old man are the brains here, sweetheart.”

Luke didn't have a chance to reply. Leia grabbed his cheap Imperial-issue bow and quiver and shot a flurry of arrows at the oncoming guards. “Do you at least have a carriage or a horse or a way for us to escape?”

“Yeah.” Han sent a perfect arrow right into a trooper's uncovered arm. “My carriage, the Falcon, is at the stables. It's guarded, but we may be able to make a distraction of some kind.”

“Good enough.” Leia tossed Luke his bow and arrow. “Alright, boys, concentrate. We're getting to the stables the quick way.”

Even as the troopers charged, there was a light around the group. To their collective shock, by the time they made it to the spot where the group stood, they had vanished. Only a burst of blue starlight remained to show where they had been.

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

The six reappeared in the stables in the same blue light. Three soldiers guarded the Falcon. Luke's sword, Han's bow and arrows, and Chewbacca's fists made short work of them. Leia was stroking the horses' manes, giving them the strangest looks.

She turned to the two men. “The horses are all right. The Imperials did nothing to harm them. In fact, they fed them. They were upset they didn't feed them cheese, though.” The princess' gaze turned from one man to the other. “They told me they used to be mice. There's only one way that could happen, and that's with Force magic.”

Han threw up his hands. “Don't look at us. That was the old man's idea.”

“Ben!” Luke exclaimed. “We've got to find him! He isn't here!”

Han had shed his armor and was already climbing next to Chewbacca on the driver's seat. Luke waved his hand, returning his armor to its original silver color. “Kid, we'll pick him up at the drawbridge. Everyone in who's getting outta here!” Leia jumped in the carriage. Luke climbed on Tauntaun, stroking his whitish-gray mane and doing his best to calm him.

Cecil wasn't having as much luck getting his armor off as he had getting it on. Arthur did his best to help. “This is why I became a butler, not a soldier!” the taller man wailed to his friend as he tried to pull off the leg guards. “Ouch! You're twisting my leg, you mop-headed ignoramus!”

Han made a face. “Are you two coming, or are you gonna keep playin' with the armor for the rest of the night?”

“I'm sorry, Captain Solowolf,” Cecil fussed, “but we're doing the best we...oh!” Arthur finally just opened the door, pushed his friend inside head-first, and followed him in.

Han looked over his shoulder. “Ok, that's everyone but the old man. We'll get him at the drawbridge. Let's go!”

Leia popped her head out the carriage door as they backed out of the stables. “Doesn't it seem rather strange that there aren't more guards here?”

Han nodded. “Yeah, you're right. I wonder where they all went?”

Several soldiers were running past them, even as they galloped across the complex. “I think we're about to find out, mate.” Chewbacca pointed towards the drawbridge, where the sounds of clanging metal and clashing crystal could be heard.

Luke gasped. Ben and the Black Knight Vader were locked in fierce combat, the light from their swords blazing in the oncoming night. Ben's green sword glowed bright and strong against Vader's blood-red saber. Just beyond them was the open drawbridge. Several soldiers were already running over, drawn by the confusion.

“The circle is now complete,” Vader was saying. “When I last fought you, I was but a learner. Now I am the master.”

“Only the master of evil, Black Knight.” Ben was doing his best to defend the Black Knight's blows, but they were far stronger than his. It had been years since the old knight had used his saber for anything besides training Luke. “You can't win. If you strike me down, I will only become more powerful.” Luke's eyes widened. Ben saw him and drew back before turning to Vader. “You only sense part of the Force magic. There's more to what we can do than power, Vader.”

“I care nothing for your foolish light magic, old man,” Vader snarled. “This game ends here.”

Ben only nodded. “I believe you're right.” Ben simply stepped away, throwing his sword to the ground. “It is time for the game to end.”

Luke screamed in horror when Vader's red saber sliced through Ben's head...but though the helmet rolled to the ground, there was no head in it. The gold and black armor clattered before Vader's feet, empty. Ben had disappeared in a soft puff of blue smoke. Vader was still checking the Master Force Knight's armor when he looked up...just in time to see the Falcon rolling by him.

Han had all six horses going as fast as they could. Luke shot arrow after arrow at the guards, venting all his anger and loss on the soldiers. Four guardsmen were quickly raising the drawbridge. “Kid,” Han yelled, “cut the chain on the drawbridge! They're tryin' to keep us in!”

Luke concentrated. The blue crystals in his blade lit up with a glow that brightened the inky darkness of midnight. He easily cut through one chain, then the other. Even as he swung his sword, he swore he heard Ben's voice. “Run, Luke,” it whispered, “run to the Enchanted Woods. You'll be safe there.” Luke nodded, following them. The Falcon and the horse flew down the mountain, speeding towards the forest.

A Star Wars Fairy Tale: New Hope, Part 10

Luke had forgotten one thing Ben told him. It was just a flicker at first. Han's black velvet jacket slowly transformed into an old leather vest; the flowing white blouse became a tattered yellowish shirt. Luke's silver armor was tarnished and rusted.

“What's happening?” Cecil called from inside the carriage. “The seats are losing their padding, the walls are splintering, and Arthur's back in his blacksmith's apron!” There was a pause before Cecil turned his head back to the carriage, sounding a little annoyed. “No, Arthur, we can't go back and look for your uniform. That was Sir Kenobi's doing, remember?”

Indeed, the entire carriage was changing, even as they charged down the Black Crystal Mountain. The Falcon's paint cracked and peeled. The tires became smaller, more bent. One door came off its hinge. Han managed to roll into a grove of thick, gnarled trees at the base of the mountain as the blue light became brighter and brighter. “Everyone out!” Han yelled as he jumped off the driver's seat.

All six managed to tumble into the grove before the last blast of blue light overwhelmed the carriage. When the light faded, the Falcon looked as dilapidated as it had three days before. Six white and gray mice scurried off into the trees. A shaggy brown horse trotted up to Han, nudging his cheek.

“Hi, Chewie.” Han stroked his friend's nose. “Guess it was too good to last, huh?”

Leia gave them all a very frosty look. “Would one of you mind telling me just who you are and what you're doing? You're not a knight and a prince, I know that much.”

Luke frowned. “My name really is Luke Skywalker.” He nodded at Han. “That's Han Solowolf. His horse is Chewbacca.” Han smirked and wiggled his fingers at the princess. Chewie snorted. “You probably know Arthur and Cecil from Aldran Castle.” Both men bowed deeply before her. “Your Highness, I am a knight..or at least, Sir Kenobi was training me as one.” Luke bit his lip, trying not to cry in front of the princess. “I don't know what I'm going to do without him.”

Leia put an arm around him. “There wasn't anything you could have done.”

Han winced as the sounds of wild animals were heard in the distance. “Come on, kids. We're not out of the woods yet. The Imperials will probably be around any minute.”

Luke and Han hitched the two horses to the Falcon. Leia and the servants kept an eye out for the Empire. The Princess rushed over as Han climbed into the driver's seat. “Here they come!”

Indeed, even as Leia spoke, a volley of arrows flew over Han and Chewbacca's heads. “Can you drive a carriage, Your Worship?” Han asked. “If you can drive, I'll deal with the Imperials.” He turned to Luke. “You handle with the ones with swords, kid.”

Leia climbed into the driver's seat as Han got down. “I learned to drive a carriage as soon as I could pick up the reins.”

“Good.” Han got in next to her, his longbow and quiver slung over his shoulder. “All right, Your Worship, I think we're...” he ducked another arrow “...ready.”

Han shot every arrow in his quiver at the four Imperials on horseback who were following them. Luke fought with two more with his sword. He cheered when he managed to get the man stuck in a thick tangle of brier bushes. “I got one, Han!” he exclaimed to his friend.

“Don't get cocky, kid,” Han countered. He couldn't help his own grin and cheer as he ably shot two more Imperials and knocked the driver of their carriage off his vehicle. The last carriage finally rolled into a ditch that had somehow opened in the middle of the forest floor.

“Where did that come from?” Han looked over at Luke. “Did you create that ditch?”

Luke shook his head. “I didn't even see it until a second ago.”

Leia shrugged. “Well, whomever made it did us a favor. I don't see any more soldiers.” She slowed Chewbacca and Tauntaun to a trot. “Papa always did say this place was called the Enchanted Woods for a reason. There's all kinds of magic here, dark and light. In Aldran, they say that if the magic in the Woods favors you, it'll protect you from all who would try to harm you.”

“It's done me no good!” Cecil wailed in the carriage. “I think I'm melting in this armor! This is all your fault, Arthur. You're a terrible footman. You can't even take off armor properly.” There was a pause, no doubt while Arthur's flying fingers gave his friend a scathing reply. “Easy for you to say! You're not the one wearing enough metal to cover a whole fleet of battle carriages!”

Han shook his head. “Not a bad rescue, huh Your Highness? Sometimes, I amaze even myself.”

Leia frowned. “Something's wrong here, Han. I sense it. I think we're being followed.”

The gypsy smirked. “Not this cart, little girl.”

The princess let out a sigh. “At least Arthur still has that message.”

“Why is that message so important, we were almost killed over it?”

“It's a warning,” Leia explained. “The Sith Dragons are going to attack the Enchanted Woods in three days. I only hope that when that message is analyzed, we can find a weakness in the dragons' make up that will allow us to defeat them. It's not over yet.”

“It is for me, little girl.” Han glared at her. “Look, I have no desire to be involved with your Rebels, no matter where they're hiding. I don't steal money for anyone but me. I'm in it for the reward.”

“You needn't worry about your reward,” Leia snapped. “If money is all that you love, then that's what you'll receive.”

Han frowned and leaned back, trying to ignore Leia. If he let himself admit it, he was beginning to like the girl. She had real spunk. Luke had become a good friend, too. He was a nice kid, too nice to be mixed up in all this rebel business. Han wasn't used to humans treating him kindly. He'd long decided that the only creature he could depend on besides himself was Chewbacca.

Luke replaced Leia in the driver's seat as she went in the back to rest. “What do you think of her, Han?”

“I'm tryin' not to, kid.” He watched the last of her shapely legs in the torn white gown make it into the cart. “I dunno, though. She's got a lot of spirit. Hey, do you think a princess and a guy like me...”

“No!” Luke said quickly. Han couldn't help his grin. It was obvious the kid had his own feelings for Her Royal Highness. Despite his amusement, maybe it was just as well he wasn't sticking around. He didn't really want to compete with Luke for the girl. They were both peasants. It was more than likely she'd end up marrying some prince from a distant land, anyway. That's what royalty did.

It was nightfall before the Han realized the ground was becoming stickier and more dense. The air was hideously humid, and thick enough to cut with a knife. It smelled rotten, heavy with ancient vegetation and mold.

Luke wrinkled his nose. “Where are we?”

Leia poked her head out, a piece of tulle over her mouth and nostrils. “I think we're in the Dagobah Swamps. They're on the edge of the Kingdom of the Empire and the Kingdom of Yavin.”

Han threw one hand over his face. “Yeah, and on the edge of killing my nose. What died?”

Cecil poked his head out, pushing a rag over his nose. “Many things die here, Captain Solowolf. The Dagobah Swamp is notorious for its strange and flesh-eating creatures and stagnant pools that will suck a man to their death.”

“Great,” Han muttered.

The two horses stopped suddenly before a great, wide pool of water. It was murky and black, with sludge and greenish algae blooms around the edges. Luke swore he heard rumbles beneath the surface. Tauntaun and Chewbacca reared back, neither budging another inch.

“Well, this is just wonderful.” Han took Chewie's reins. “Come on, old boy. Don't be stubborn on me.”

Leia stepped out of the carriage. “Nice to see your pet takes after you.”

Han rolled his eyes. “Thanks, Your Worship. And Chewie isn't a pet. He's more like my co-driver.”

“Tauntaun won't move, either.” Luke stepped into the brackish water, his sword drawn. “There's something alive in here. I feel it.”

Leia followed him. “Luke, I feel it, too...and it's hungry. We're going to have to find another way around.”

That was when they heard the growl and saw the tentacle slither out of the water. “Did you see that?” Luke exclaimed, slashing his sword at it.

That didn't prove wise. The moment Luke's sword touched the water, a tentacle reached out and grabbed the boy's metal-covered torso, dragging him into the water!

“Luke!” Leia screamed. She tried to stab at it with a fallen branch from one of the trees, but all she could see was an occasional tentacle.

“Damn it! Kid!” Han waded in after them with his bow and arrows. “Glad I found my emergency arrow supply in the Falcon! I used up most of them on the Imperial guards.” He shot at the creature, but the arrows did little besides sink into the mire.

Cecil turned to Arthur in horror. “Arthur, there must be something we can do! We can't just leave them there!”

Arthur nodded and rushed back over to the Falcon. He leaned into one of the trunks in the back of the cart, tossing things this way and that, before emerging with a long, thick coil of rope. He tossed one end at Cecil and threw the other in the water.

Han nodded, taking one part of the rope. “Kid, grab hold of this!”

Luke briefly emerged, tentacles coiled around his slender body. His hand was trying to cut the tentacle, but he couldn't reach it. “Han, shoot at it! I can't reach my sword!”

“Where?” Han yelled, trying to find a part of the creature that wasn't hanging onto his friend. The armor may have been magical, but it was also old. Han had his doubts about its ability to repel arrows, no matter what the old man claimed.

Leia tried to poke at it, her own slipper-shod feet skidding on the mucky ground. The boy and the creature finally disappeared under the muck, without so much as a splash indicating they'd ever been there.

Han gulped. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

The only sound for a few minutes was of animals chirping in the underbrush. Suddenly, there was another splash, and a wet, slime-crusted Luke emerged from the murk, coughing and hacking up sludge.

Leia and Han both got there first. “Kid,” Han exclaimed, “how did you do it?”

“I don't know.” Luke spit out more water. “He just let go of me and disappeared.”

“That's great,” Han complained. “Sludge monsters of unusual sizes. Guess it beats rodents.”

“Don't give the swamp ideas.” Leia frowned. “I think we're going to have to leave the cart here. We might get the horses around that monster, but the cart will get stuck. We'll have to come back for it.”

Han glared at her as he grabbed the rope, tossing the ends to her and Luke. “Look, Your Worship, it's my cart. I've worked hard on her. There's no way I'm going to leave her to the Imperial Army.”

Luke took the very end. “We'll come back for it later, Han, after we've found the Imperials.” He put a hand on his scabbard, only to realize it was empty. “My sword's gone!” He groaned. “I must have lost it when I tried to cut the tentacle. If Ben wasn't already dead, he'd kill me. He said that thing was my life!”

It took Cecil, Arthur, and both horses to tug the trio out of the thick sludge. “Luke,” Leia began when they were all sprawled on the shoreline, “we might be able to round up enough magic to cloak the horses from the monster, at least long enough to get across the lake.”

Luke nodded. “It's the only way.” He turned to his friend. “Han, bring anything you can't live without from the Falcon. We'll go back for it later.”

“We'd better,” Han muttered. “I need that cart for business.”

Cecil wiped his hands on the rag he'd used over his nose. “May I suggest we leave this wretched place far behind?” Arthur's fingers flew behind him. “Arthur agrees. While we were able to escape the creature in the water, there may be other servant-eating monstrosities we'd best avoid.”

Luke nodded, climbing on Tauntaun. Han slung saddlebags from the Falcon over both horses. “I'll take Leia. Han, you take Cecil and Arthur. Chewie's bigger. He can handle more weight.”

Arthur grinned and signed in Cecil's face. “He wasn't talking about me, you undersized ninny! He was talking about you. You may be smaller than I am, but you are much more plump. I've said you need to stop sneaking slices of rubyberry pie from under Cook's nose when she's not looking.”

“All right, enough with the comedy routine.” Han swung easily on the brown stallion. Arthur had to shove Cecil on. He pushed so hard, he nearly pushed him off again. Han held the thinner former butler on as Arthur shimmied onto the horse's rear. “Hold on, boys. We're going for a ride.”

Cecil's owlish eyes nearly tripled in size. “What do you mean, Captain Solo...whooaaa!”

Luke just shook his head as Han galloped off into the swamp, Cecil screaming behind him. “I think we'd better catch up with them,” he said with a chuckle, “before they all get lost and we need to rescue them again.”

“And I've seen how good you boys are with rescue missions.” Leia gave Luke a kiss on his cheek. “Good luck!”

Luke felt himself turn rose-red all over. The warm blush stayed with him throughout the entire ride through the swamps.

A Star Wars Fairy Tale: New Hope, Part 11

Vader and Tarkin stood at the balcony overlooking the Kingdom of the Empire. Tarkin had just returned from what remained of Aldran to learn that the Princess had escaped and Sir Benjamin Kenobi, a wanted fugitive from the Empire, had become one with the Force rather than fight his former pupil. He wasn't terribly happy about any of it.

“You know His Imperial Majesty will be angry when he finds out about all of this.” Tarkin glared at the armor-clad lord. “I shudder to think of what he'll do to both of us if this little ruse of yours doesn't work.”

“First of all, Tarkin, I can feel my daughter. Leia's presence in the Force is strong and forceful...and so is the presence of the boy with her.” Vader gazed out into the oncoming blackness of night. “She has a certain tenderness towards him, but it doesn't seem to be that of a lover. It more closely resembles the feelings one might have towards a close family member. This may be useful to us.”

“Are you sure the homing device is secure in their bags?” Tarkin leaned onto the balcony, his narrow eyes gazing towards the trees.

“It's secure, Your Lordship.”

Tarkin gave Vader a hard, skeletal look. “I'm taking an awful risk, Lord Vader. This had better work.”

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

Luke was beginning to wonder if they'd ever arrive at the Rebel camp. They'd been riding for nearly a week. While they left the Dagobah Swamp and its evil smells and creatures behind days ago, they still had no idea where Leia was leading them.

“I don't like this,” Han muttered. “Where are we?”

Leia leaned over Luke's shoulder to call to him. “We're in the Enchanted Woods in the Kingdom of Yavin. We should be at the camp any second now.”

Luke looked up quickly. “Leia, I heard something.”

Han held onto Chewie's reins. “It's your imagination, kid.”

That was when a figure dropped from the trees. A tall man with curly black hair and a mustache was accompanied by a slightly smaller fellow with straighter dark hair. Both wore the soft green, orange, and brown of the forest. They also held bows and arrows, both looking hand-carved, straight at them.

Luke recognized them on sight. “Biggs? Wedge?” He climbed off Tauntaun, hurrying to both. “What are you two doing here?”

“Luke?” The man with the mustache grinned and lowered his arrow. “Is it really you? We thought you were killed or captured when they burned Aldran Castle.”

“No, I escaped.” He and Biggs helped Leia off Tauntaun. “Ben Kenobi and Han and I got the horses out, then we went to get Leia.”

Biggs and Wedge both dropped to their knees before the young woman in white. “Your Highness,” Biggs said reverently.

Leia only shook her head. “We have no time for formality, Commander Darklighter. When I'm here, I'm just Leia Organa, Rebel, same as you.” She turned to Luke. “How is it you know these two?”

Luke put an arm around Biggs. “I've known Biggs for years. He was one of the only friends I had in Tattoon.” He patted Wedge's shoulder. “And Wedge and I worked in the same stable together.” He shrugged. “What are you doing here? I thought you went to school in the Kingdom of Coruscant.”

Biggs nodded. “I did, but then I heard about the Rebels. You know how I feel about the things that go on in Tatoon, Luke. I wanted to make a difference.”

Wedge nodded. “I'm from the Kingdom of Corellia originally. My family lost it's horse-breeding business to the Empire's taxes. I want to make sure that doesn't happen to anyone else.”

Dodonna, the stable master from Aldran Castle, followed them. “Your Highness,” he said quickly. “When we heard about the royal family, we feared the worst. Biggs and Wedge and the other stable boys and I did what we could, but the Imperials outnumbered us. We were forced to flee.”

Leia drew in a breath when he mentioned her family. She finally just said “There will be a time for mourning my parents, General. For right now, we have far larger problems to contend with. The Sith Dragons are following us. I sense their black magic. They'll be here within days.” Arthur came over with the now-wrinkled parchment, even as Cecil almost literally fell off Chewbacca's rear. “We need to use the information my servants have kept to find a weakness.”

Han held Chewie's reins. “You know, it's kind of quiet out here. Where's the rest of you?”

Dodonna nodded. “I'll take you to the camp. The others are aiding the refugees who were able to escape the Aldran holocaust.” He nodded at Han. “Can he be trusted?”

Leia sighed and nodded. “Yes, he can. He's one of the men who helped the late Sir Kenobi free me from Bast Castle.”

Dodonna's dignified bearded face fell. “I'm sorry about Sir Kenobi's death. I knew him for many years. He was a good man, and a good fighter.”

Luke nodded, trying not to cry in front of Wedge and Biggs. “I miss him so much. I don't know what I'll do without him.”

Dodonna turned to the young man. “I know how you can honor his memory, lad. Join our troops. You're the best horseman in our stable. I've seen you with the horses. They instinctively trust you. We need a good man like you.” He nodded at Han. “You too, Solowolf. I've heard you're quite the horseman yourself, and a fine archer.”

“I'll do it,” Luke said. “I know I could help.”

Han crossed his arms again. “I'm just here for the reward. I need to pay off King Jabba, before he decides to take the money out of my hide.”

Dodonna just nodded. “Very well. You did return Princess Leia to us.” He turned to Luke. “You also deserve a reward, my boy. You were just as instrumental in her rescue.”

Luke shook his head. “Honoring my father's memory and Ben's is enough reward for me.” Han rolled his eyes. He couldn't understand how that could be reward enough for anyone.

Luke was surprised at just how well-hidden the camp was. Small huts and tents were pitched under trees laden with more shiny green leaves than he'd ever seen in his life. The huts were covered in limbs and leaves, looking more like the trees themselves. There were people bustling here, there, and everywhere. Leia directed him to a hut he'd share with Biggs and Wedge. It was rather like the sleeping quarters for the stable boys at the castle – simple, but not uncomfortable, with thick woolen blankets over hay-filled pallets. He wondered how the Princess would adjust, given she was used to a life of luxury in the Castle.

He only wished Han would remain. He saw the older thief strapping saddlebags laden with credits onto Chewbacca's broad back early the next morning. “So this is it?” Luke asked, petulant. “You got your reward, and you're just leaving?”

Han shrugged. “Yeah. Every hunter in the Seven Kingdoms is probably after me. Besides, I need to dig the Falcon out of the swamp.” He turned to Luke. “Why don't you come with us? You're pretty handy with that sword, and you're good with Chewie. We could use you.”

“Han, I can't.” Luke shook his head. “You know what they're up against. You saw Aldran Town. You saw the dragons. They need a good fighter like you. You're turning your back on them.”

Han's attention suddenly turned to buckling the saddlebag down. “Kid, I need to pay this off. I don't want to be owned by that smelly ogre for longer than I can help it.” He rolled his eyes. “Besides, attacking those dragons ain't my idea of courage. It's more like suicide.”

Luke glared at him. “All right. If that's how you want it. Take care of yourself, Han. I guess that's what you're best at, isn't it?”

The young knight was about to stomp off when he heard Han call his name. “Hey Luke?” He smiled a little bit when the boy faced him...and for once, it was genuine. “May the Force be with you.”

Luke nodded. “You too.”

Han watched Luke leave. His head felt like it was in a jumble. Chewie gave him a whinny, followed by a series of snorts. “What are you talking about?” Han grumbled as he swung onto the worn leather saddle. “I know what I'm doin'.” But even as he rode out of the camp, Han wondered if he really did.

Luke stomped over to where Leia was talking to several former members of the Aldran Court. She looked up when she heard him come near. He thought she was still the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, even in a much simpler white peasant dress with a loosely-laced pale-green bodice and tan overskirt. She must have borrowed it from one of the women at the camp. It was too big for her. The blouse hung off her in folds, and he could see where the dress had been hitched at the waist with strips of cloth.

“Luke, what is it?” she asked, seeing the disappointed look on his face.

“It's Han,” Luke said sadly. “I tried, but he still wouldn't stay.”

Leia shook her head. “Luke, I was hoping he'd stay, too, but he's his own man. He has to follow his own destiny. No one can choose it for him.”

“I only wish Ben were here.” Luke would have given anything to hear his mentor's wise counsel, or Han's jokes and teasing.

Leia touched his heart. “Luke, Ben is still a part of the Force. Han is too, even if he doesn't believe it. They'll always be with you. Just like my family will always be with me.” He saw a shadow cross Leia's face at the mention of her family, but it passed so quickly he wondered if he'd imagined it.

Biggs came over to his friend. “Luke, we're ready to go.”

“Believe in the Force, Luke.” Leia gave him a kiss on the cheek. “It won't steer you wrong.”

Biggs let out a soft whistle as she went over to talk to Dodonna and some other Rebel officers. “I think she likes you.” The taller man nudged his buddy with a grin.

Luke was only half-listening. “What? Oh, we're just friends.”

“Right.” Biggs put an arm around the youth. “Let's go show those dragons who's boss, huh?”

Luke gave him the closest thing he could manage to Han's lazy smirk. “Of course.”