Fame and the Force

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Epilogue

The morning after Evin's benefit concert

With Isabell balancing on his hip, Han paced the room as he watched the holo-viewer. Princess Leia stood on a platform in front of hundreds of reporters, her face calm and her posture regal as she spoke. Earlier in the day, Luke, Mara and Corran had accompanied Leia back to Coronet City to protect her as she gave her speech informing the galaxy about the Skywalker heritage. Both Luke and Leia had insisted Han stay behind for this event. It would do no good to have the media distracted by Evin Daysun standing on the podium behind his fiancee, they said, and Han reluctantly agreed. It eased Solo's mind a bit to see the Corellian Security forces had a very large and obvious presence located around the stage.

He glanced at the sofa, where Wedge, Iella, Tycho and Winter were sitting, then over at Lando and Wes, reclining in lounge chairs. Everyone's eyes were glued to the large viewer, and they were listening to Leia's carefully prepared speech with rapt attention.

"It was only after the battle of Endor that I found out that Luke Skywalker was my twin brother, and that our father, Anakin Skywalker, had become the Sith Lord known as Darth Vader," she was saying.

"And it was only a few weeks ago that we both discovered, through our biological aunt Sola Naberrie, that our mother was Padme Amidala Naberrie, a beautiful young Queen turned Senator from Naboo."

"It was our conversation with Sola Naberrie that finally allowed me to see that Anakin Skywalker had once been a brave young Jedi. Obviously, he had issues with anger and trust, which caused him to fall to the manipulations of Emperor Palaptine. But, just as obvious, if someone as good as Padme Naberrie fell in love with him, he must have possessed good qualities before his fall from grace."

"My brother has forgiven Anakin Skywalker because he saw him turn away from the dark side and return back to the light in order to save him from Palpatine. I have had many sleepless nights attempting to find that same forgiveness in my own heart."

"This forgiveness has been difficult for me because Darth Vader tortured me on the Death Star. He forced me to watch as my planet was destroyed and all my family and friends die in a single, horrifying second. Years later, on Cloud City, he forced me to watch as he tortured the man I loved. Then he forced me, once again, to watch as he froze Han Solo inside of carbonite... and that same carbonite eventually stole Han's life."

Leia took a calming breath, and stared down at the silent reporters. "Despite that, I have finally accepted the fact that Anakin Skywalker was my biological father, although I will always consider my true parents to be Breha and Bail Organa."

"I can only hope that the beings of the galaxy remember that my brother and I have always tried our best to do what's right, and put the welfare of others ahead of our own interests. None of us have a choice who we came from. Ultimately, all of us do choose what we become."

______________

A month later...

Han and Leia's wedding day somehow turned into two weddings.

A few weeks before the event, Leia came to Han with a request. "I'd like to have a small Alderaanian ceremony a few time-parts before the main ceremony," she said, carefully watching his reaction, "with only Luke, Mara, Chewie and Malla in attendance. Ideally, I'd love to have Carlist officiating, but since that's not possible, I'm hoping that Winter can get a certificate in time to officiate for us. Then we can say our vows as Han Solo and Leia Organa." Leia smiled at Han before adding, "I don't want to leave any loopholes available for you to wiggle out of this marriage."