Winter Solstice

"I hate ice!"

Han Solo spun around from his work on the Falcon to see Princess Leia limping into Echo Base from the harsh exterior of Hoth. The Rebellion had been stationed on Hoth for about three weeks now, and none of the Rebels had become used to the unforgiving environment.

Upon witnessing Leia grimace in pain as she hobbled along, Han leapt up and grabbed her elbow. Leia immediately shook his hand off violently and gave him a cold glare.

"I can walk just fine without your help, Captain Solo," she bit out.

However, Han could see the pain in her eyes, and guessed it was probably taking all of her might not to yell out in pain. Regardless, Han knew better than to challenge the princess' pride.

"What happened?" Han asked.

Leia let out an exasperated breath, as if this conversation was causing her more pain than her ankle.

"If you must know, this base is a death trap. I was simply walking outside, checking the panels for the shield doors, when it felt like the ground disappeared from underneath me."

"You slipped," Han stated.

"No!" Leia shouted. "Slipping is for bumbling idiots who don't have control over their own feet. I...I was merely a victim of this monstrous, stupid thing called ice!" Leia became flustered and began walking faster, only to have her ankle give out from underneath her.

Han reached forward and caught Leia around the waist, promptly pulling her back up to full height. Leia grudgingly mumbled a thank you and turned down a passageway.

"Where do you think you're going? Med center's this way." Han jerked a thumb back towards a different passageway.

Leia turned around with an incredulous expression on her face. She pointed towards her point of destination. "I'm going to the command center. I don't have time for treatment," she replied.

"With all due respect, Your Worship, you can barely stand," Han said.

Leia scoffed. "When have you ever given me due respect? I'm not going," Leia stated firmly, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Han rolled his eyes. "Fine. You give me no choice." He briskly approached Leia and with one fluid motion, scooped her up in his arms.

The princess yelped and struggled, thrashing about. "Put me down, you scoundrel! You are attacking an official of High Command! I will report you if you don't put. Me. Down!"

Han just smirked as he carried her to the med center. "You know, I don't think all of this protesting is helping your ankle feel any better."

Leia huffed, a cloud of cold breath escaping her lips. She hated it, but Han was right. Every small motion caused pain to shoot through her ankle, but she wouldn't let him have the satisfaction.

Once inside , Han dumped her onto a gurney. "Her Highnessness injured her ankle!" He shouted at the medical droids. "Make sure you take care of her before she escapes!"

With that, Han met Leia's disgruntled expression with his famous, lopsided grin. "Get well, Sweetheart."

~~~

Honestly, Han felt badly about Leia's injured ankle in the weeks to come. He watched Leia limp around the base, her face twisting in pain if she landed on it too harshly. Han figured the headstrong princess wasn't taking the pain medications for it, deciding to suffer in silence instead.

Han also noticed that Leia hadn't stepped outside once since her fall. Sometimes, the Rebels would blow off steam by heading outside to goof around in the snow. Even once her ankle healed, Leia would either watch forlornly from the sidelines or retreat to her quarters. It wrenched Han's heart to see Leia left out, so Han resolved to do something about it.