The night air was cold when they all got outside, a slight wind transporting the icy chill through their clothes. Luke looked around him as he came down the ramp. The landing platform was in the large courtyard of a small, but picturesque, castle, imposing towers and balconies festooning the walls, and the large stones of it's architecture seemingly held together with cascades of climbing plants. It looked like an ancient, undiscovered relic but for the decorative flame torches that lined their entrance and the lighting coming from inside the structure that indicated life inside. The whole building was nestled in a protective circle of small, lush mountains and built into the side of one. The calling of forest animals was the only sound Luke could hear. It was beautiful and peaceful.

The diminutive figure of Maz Kanata was waiting for them as they disembarked.

"I didn't know you would be here," Han greeted her. She waved a dismissive hand as if it were nothing.

"I had to bring the medical droid. When you said it was urgent, I wanted to get it here quickly." She glanced at Chewbacca carrying Leia in his arms, saw the severity of the situation.

"Hurry, this way." She marched off, beckoning them to follow.

Leading them through wide, arched stone corridors and up deep steps, they eventually turned into a room where a medical droid and equipment was waiting and settled Leia into the large bed at one end.

The inside of the castle, although seemingly open to the elements at various points where the balconies overhung the courtyard, was strangely warm, it's lighting bright and cosy and comforting fires burning in large stone fireplaces in rooms they had passed on the way. The paintings, hangings and ornaments were few but Luke noted their quality and appreciated the keen eye of their collector.

The droid began it's work, helped by Mala, the Twi'lek girl from Maz's bar and another young humanoid girl. Han paced again as they waited for the report from the droid, splitting his route between the chamber and the balcony attached, his hand making a mess of his hair as Leia was connected to wires and tubes for life support.

"I had no idea those beasts were here the whole time." Maz stated in disgust. "I pride myself in knowing what's going on. I will have to step up my informants." She was frustrated. "The Adronian Jungle you said Chewie?" Chewbacca nodded. Maz shook her head. "No one goes near that place. That will have to change now."

"From what we can tell, they have been fairly secretive all over," Luke reassured her. "They kept their operations small and scattered. If it hadn't been for Leia's tenacity, we might not have uncovered what was going on." Han held his arm out towards the bed.

"And look where it's got her," he said angrily. Maz looked at him empathetically.

"Han, she's been fighting slavers even before she was fighting the Empire. You didn't expect her to drop it once she'd picked up the scent did you?" Han stopped pacing and looked at Maz, considering her matriarchal comment.

"No," he sighed.

"It's unfortunate that her friend ended up mixed up in it," Maz continued.

"Some friend," Han snorted.

The medical droid interrupted them, it's mechanically produced voice delivering the much awaited report.

"The princess's condition is critical. I can find no physical damage but, for some reason, she is not responding to stimuli. I am afraid there is nothing more I can do for her." The droid moved back from the bed to allow Han and Luke to stand either side of it.

Han pulled a chair out with his foot and sat on it, holding Leia's lifeless hand in both of his. The sense of grief he was beginning to feel made every minute thing much more noticeable. He studied the thinness of her hand and how the bones underneath the skin formed lines on the back of it, how her nails lengthened her fingers. Her body, stripped of her outer clothing so that the sensors could be attached, dressed in her basics with a blanket over her, seemed so tiny now in the large bed. It was hard to believe, looking at her, that such a small frame was capable of such ferocity. He looked at the detail of her face. The hydro-steamer had made a quick job of cleaning the dirt and dust from it so that her wounds could be dressed. Her simple beauty regime kept her skin pure, the odd freckle and blemish making her who she was, her chocolate eyes hidden behind her eyelids and long eyelashes.

"This isn't happening," he whispered. "Luke. Do something," he pleaded with his future brother in law. "Please."

Luke had been considering the problem himself. He was feeling desperate deep inside. His sister was dying and he was sure there was something he ought to be able to do. If Ben or Yoda were here, they would know the answer but since he and Leia had been given their sibling revelation, Ben and Yoda had left them alone. He had been reading lots of historical accounts of what was apparently possible with the Force but hadn't witnessed any of it or tried it himself. He considered Han's face while he mused.

"There is something. I don't know if I can do it and there are risks," he informed Han.

"Are the risks greater than this?" Han gestured to Leia. "She's dying."

Luke shrugged. He didn't know what might happen but it probably couldn't be worse than this.

"Then do it, kid," Han encouraged earnestly. Chewbacca growled an agreement. Maz stepped forward, touching Luke on the arm.

"You have the power within you," she assured him. "Believe in it and use the light." Luke looked at her with fresh eyes. Had she met Yoda? She certainly sounded like him and, now that he thought about it, her appearance was rather reminiscent of him too. Maz turned to Han.

"Remember what I told you about how you could help Leia?" Han thought back to their private conversation in the bar. He nodded. "Well now would be a good time to help." She reached over the bed, having to climb up slightly to reach, and took one of Han's hands, placing it in Luke's, making a connection between the two men and Leia.

Luke looked at what she was doing and resolved his decision.

"Ready?" he asked Han. Han nodded again. Luke placed his hand just above Leia's forehead and shut his eyes. Now was the time for the belief in the Force that Yoda spoke of so frequently. He did believe. He believed that he didn't want to lose his sister. He believed in what he had seen accomplished by the Force in the last few years. He believed in the strength that had grown inside him, especially since facing their father and resisting the Dark Side above Endor. Above all else, he believed in the love he had for the people in this room and he let it fill him, slowing his breathing and disappearing inside himself.

He entered a featureless environment, completely white. He could see Leia up ahead of him, dressed in a customary simple white dress, facing away from him. He called her name but she seemed distracted by something and didn't hear the first time. Leia, he called again. This time she turned her head, her smile broadening when she saw him. She turned to meet his approach. Where are you going? Come back with me. He encouraged. She continued to smile and took his offered arm. He led her back the way he had come, although he had no idea of the direction. He just imagined Han and the others waiting for them. Their progress was slow as if something was holding them there. He looked down at her face and she returned an accepting look as if she were letting him know it was OK for him to leave her. He frowned. I'm not leaving you here. You need to help me OK? She tilted her head at him, smiled, nodded and they continued walking.

Han thought about Maz's comment and the conversation he had had with her in the bar about how he could help Leia. He watched Luke's face, thinking of his love for her and hoping against hope that, somehow, Luke could tap into his feelings and use them.

Maz was watching Luke's hand above Leia's head with a satisfied expression. Han turned to see what had caught her interest. A light shone from Luke's palm, lighting Leia's face, increasing in intensity until it had spread across most of her upper body. He had no idea what Luke was doing but it wasn't for him to question it any more. He had been derisive of the Force a few years earlier but now he'd learned to keep quiet. He had his own faith that, whatever Luke was doing, it would work.

After what seemed to Han like an age, Luke opened his eyes and removed his hand, the light fading from the room. Han looked enquiringly at him. "Luke?"

Luke took a deep breath, looking strained. He had managed to bring her back to a point he was satisfied with, had felt the Force healing her nerve endings, eradicating the emotional pain that would come with memory. That was all he could do without risking her mind or her life.

"I think it's going to be OK. She won't feel the pain of the experience but I didn't want to risk damaging her memories by trying to remove this one. We'll just have to wait for her now." He sat on the edge of the bed, taking Leia's other hand. They sat quietly for a long while until Han sighed heavily.

"If we get through this, I was going to ask if you could marry us," he said to Luke. "Thought I might as well ask you now, whatever happens. I think she would like that and Maz said there's an old Jedi shrine at the top of this mountain. Sounded appropriate." Maz nodded in agreement. "I haven't asked her but I'm sure it's what she would want." He was rambling again, he could hear himself but was trying to be regain some optimism.

"It would be my honour," Luke smiled. "Better ask her, though, when she wakes up, or we could both be in trouble," he teased to lighten the mood. Han smiled.

"Afterwards, I told her I would show her the beaches and crystal swamps on Corellia, maybe visit Coronet City and take her to some fancy restaurants." Luke smiled.

"Sounds great. She'll love that Han." He appreciated the thought Han had obviously put into all of this.

"Giant flowers of Tamborra Major," Leia's weak and husky voice added, her fingers tightening on both their hands. Everyone in the room brightened and the medical droid moved to check readouts on it's data console. She opened her eyes, blinking to focus. She felt like she had lead weights on her eyelids. Han leant forward, a big smile on his face.

"You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice. I thought I'd lost you." He kissed her hand and stroked her hair back from her face.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." Her speech was still laboured. "You asked me to marry you and I'm going to hold you to it, flyboy." She tried to smile but it didn't really work. She turned her head to look at her brother, pulling his hand so that he leant down closer to her. "Thank you," she breathed in his ear. He smiled and sat back up.

"Anytime," he teased.

"Did I hear you insult my map, Skywalker?" she chided, remembering his comment in the cell. He grinned.

"Did I hear you call me something in foul, unprincess-like language, Organa?" he teased in return. Now she managed to smile. She closed her eyes again. Her eyelids were too heavy to keep open. Luke rubbed her forearm. "You'll be asleep for a while. Enjoy the rest," he said.

"She's stable now. All life signs normal," the medical droid reported. Maz patted Luke's arm, admiration on her face.

"I knew you could do it," she smiled proudly.

"I'm going to make sure she stays asleep for a while," Luke told the rest of them. "She'll be able to make a full recovery. I estimate she should be awake again in approximately three days." He turned to the medical droid. "Keep her on life support until she wakes up and let me know if anything changes."

"Yes, sir," the mechanical voice replied. Luke waved a hand over Leia's face, putting her in a deep sleep.

"Right." Han jumped up, feeling a new lease of life. "If we've got three days, there's some stuff I need to do." He looked round the room, pointing at 3PO. "Golden Rod. Get Commander Blake here as soon as possible. Leia's going to need her."

"Yes, sir." 3PO didn't argue. He left the room. "Come on, Artoo," he called to his counterpart over his shoulder.

"Chewie. I need to do something important for Leia. I'm going to need your help." Chewbacca growled and nodded. "Luke." He paused, smiled appreciatively and reached over to shake his hand. He wanted to thank him but knew it was unnecessary. Leia was Luke's sister. He wanted to help her as much as Han did. Still, he would be forever grateful the kid had some power. "I have a quick errand to run then I wondered if you would come with me on a quick trip to Chandrila. There's something I need to do in person." Luke was curious.

"Of course." He didn't press the issue. Han would explain in his own time.

"Maz, can you keep an eye on Leia until Commander Blake gets here?" Maz nodded.

"You've got your old sparkle back," she cackled. "Of course. You don't need to ask me."

Han smiled appreciatively.

"Come on, Chewie," he beckoned the large Wookie and swept out of the room on a mission.