A GREATER FORCE PT. 4
Luke sat cross legged on his chamber floor. He was attempting to perform his daily Jedi meditation. Yet disturbing images kept coming to the surface of his mind. An inexplicable sensation of pain and loss kept filling his consciousness. Finally he sighed rising and walking to his little kitchenette to make a hot chocolate. He knew the force would reveal its message to him in time when he was calm and at peace. The problem was he didn’t feel at peace at the moment. His encounter with Mara on the palace rooftop the night before had rattled him. He had thought the two of them were growing closer until she abruptly left Coruscant a few days ago. Then just as unexpectedly she returned even more tense and taciturn than when she left. Luke remembered Yoda’s caution that it was essential for a Jedi not to become too emotionally attached to one person. It was considered by the Jedi master that such an attachment would interfere with Luke’s judgment. Being a Jedi often meant that hard decisions had to be made, decisions based on logic and fairness. Yet now Luke found himself more and more spiritually disturbed as Mara’s face kept crossing his mind. Perhaps it was just as well she planned on leaving again when the Katana sale was finalized. Luke began to realize how much she had come to mean to him and that realization brought back disturbing memories of Gaerial and Callista. The two women Luke had dared to love and then lost tragically. He was not willing to expose Mara to the potential dangers that existed if he allowed himself to fall in love again.
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Leia Organa Solo tucked the blanket lovingly around her small son as he slept peacefully. A smile touched her lips as she gazed at her twins, the potential future of the Jedi. As the thought passed her mind she thought of her brother. Luke’s distraction and air of uncertainty had not escaped her notice. Being a twin herself the emotional bond she shared with her sibling was strengthened by the force. His pain became her pain and she knew she would not rest until she eased his troubles.
The chamber door opened behind her and a cheerful whistle told her her husband had returned from his negotiations with Mara over the Katana dreadnaughts. Although it had been Leia she had requested to speak with the princess felt it time for her husband to share the responsibility of these types of meetings. She also could not shake the feeling that Mara was somehow behind her brother’s consternation. Although Leia had tried to bond with Mara after her saving Luke at Mt. Tantiss she still found the former emperor’s hand difficult to read. She could not help but feel relief that Mara would be returning to the Wild Kaarde very soon.
‘Hey, beautiful’ her husband murmured as his arms slid around her waist.
Leia smiled as she felt his love flow over her, the strength of their union made her almost glad she had been taken prisoner by Governor Tarkin all those years ago. She still remembered their first meeting. The cavalier slightly sarcastic smuggler seemed the last man she would ever fall in love with. She turned in his embrace and rested her cheek on his strong shoulder. The two stood for a moment sharing their love, which unfortunately due to their mutual responsibilities was becoming more infrequent. Han leaned back and looked at his wife’s face his smile slowly fading,
‘Okay your highness,’ he asked, ‘what’s put that worry wrinkle right here’ he murmured brushing his thumb lightly between her eyebrows. Leia smiled, it still took getting used to, that she could not conceal her slightest concern from him. She slipped out of his arms and walked into the living room of their quarters not wanting to disturb the twins. Han followed and stood waiting for Leia to tell him what was on her mind.
‘It’s Luke,’ she said finally, ‘something is eating at him and I don’t know how to help.’
Han sighed and sat down on their comfortable sofa, he should have known his wife’s protective instincts toward all those she loved encompassed even the great Jedi master. An idea occurred to him, an idea that had been niggling away at him for some time.
‘It wouldn’t be a certain green eyed, redhead that’s got him all worked up,’ he said with a smile, remembering Mara’s anxiety to make the Katana deal as quickly as possible so she could leave Coruscant.
Leia stared at her husband open-mouthed, ‘I hope you’re not suggesting what I think you’re suggesting.’
‘Why not?’ he shrugged, ‘you have to admit she’s the one person who is ever able to shake that Jedi serenity of his.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous Han. You know they can barely tolerate each other.’
‘Were we that different when we first met?’ he asked unexpectedly.
Leia hesitated for a moment remembering the frustrated dislike she had initially felt for the man she now loved more than life itself. Then her protective instincts came to the fore.
‘Han I am not willing to see him go through what he went through after Callista left’ she said with finality.
Han looked at his wife wondering how she could see most things so clearly except when it came to her brother, ‘Sure, sweetheart,’ he replied finally, ‘I kind of think they’d be good for each other.’
Leia glared at her husband, ‘Han, it’s not happening.’
To be continued…………