The huge, arched stone window offered a panoramic view over the spectacular valley below the castle, and acted as a dramatic frame for the two women standing in front of it as Han rounded the corner to the highest chamber of Maz's mountain retreat. He had made his way up from the courtyard before the others so that he could talk to Leia privately. He had to get some things off his chest and wanted to tell her about Chandrila personally.

He paused in the doorway and leant against the wall, watching her as she was concluding a discussion with the much taller figure of Eldon Blake over a datapad. She had abandoned the more utility garb she had favoured in recent months and returned to her traditional, Alderaanian simplicity of a white flowing dress and turquoise cloak, her hair loose but pulled back with a single braid and twisted metal hair piece. He smiled to himself. He had always admired how she made her modest way of dressing more regal and graceful than any of the flashy women they often socialised with on Chandrila.

"Make sure everyone has a copy of this information and let me know when they are all here." She handed Blake the data pad, clasping her hands in front of her and gazing out of the window at the view. Blake spotted Han in the doorway.

"Captain," she acknowledged. He straightened up.

"Blake," he nodded, coming down the steps towards them. Leia turned, her body relaxing and her face brightening.

"I didn't see you there," she said.

"I'll leave you two alone," Blake said and departed through an archway on the other side of the room.

Leia reached out her hand to take Han's as he approached. She wore twisted metal bracelets on each arm that matched her hairpiece. He took her hand.

"Are these new?" he admired them.

"Goodness no. When do I have time for shopping?" she laughed.

"They look nice," he flattered, pulling her closer. She looked a little drawn from her trauma but her eyes held their familiar vibrancy and fire. He took her face in his hands and kissed her so tenderly, she had to hold on tight to him to stop the overwhelming feelings weakening her legs more than they were already.

The touch of her lips encouraged all the emotions he had been trying to control, forcing him to hold her to him as tightly as he could without hurting her. He kissed most of her face, finally resting his cheek on hers.

"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear. "I'm sorry I didn't protect you." She pulled her head back to look at him, squeezing an arm free and reaching up to place her fingers on his lips.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm sorry I worried you. I never meant for you to witness something like that." She could see the pain in his eyes.

"Why did you do it? Why didn't you let him use that thing on me?" he implored.

"Because it would have killed you. I knew I had a better chance of surviving it. I've had training and I've resisted it once before. I made a strategic decision." Han frowned.

"Strategy?" He exclaimed. Leia smiled sympathetically.

"That and the fact that, if you had died, it would have been more painful to me than anything the interrogator could have done." Her eyes welled up. Han smiled thinly and pulled her into a hug again. He understood how that felt.

"Don't ever do that again," he said with quiet conviction. "You need to stop taking all the responsibility for people on yourself."

"I can't help that," she said into his chest. "You need to understand that, sometimes, it's my turn to save you." She looked up into his face, smiling weakly. He breathed out heavily and mirrored it.

Leia pushed him away slightly.

"Now we've cleared the air. Perhaps you'd like to elaborate on your trip to Chandrila, Captain Solo." She had a wicked gleam in her eye. A guilty smile spread across Han's face and he started a blustering laugh as he thought of a defence. He might have known she'd rumble him before he had a chance to put a spin on it. "Don't bother." She read his mind, slapping his chest to halt his excuses. "I can't leave you alone for five minutes without you doing something rash."

"To be honest, I've been thinking about it for a while, I just hadn't got around to it. Then the opportunity arose while I was putting them straight on a few other things, and you know I like to go out in style." He spread his arms cockily and sat on the back of a sofa behind him. Leia shook her head and grinned. Solo style, she thought.

"Well, thank you for standing up for me."

"Sweetheart, that goes without saying."

"What are you going to do now?" she enquired. He took both her hands.

"I thought, as you agreed to make an honest man of me, I should live up to it, start my own cargo haulage business." She looked pleasantly surprised.

"Is that a fancy way of saying smuggling?" she teased. He put on a mock pained expression.

"No. Strictly by the book." She laughed.

"Well, good. I'm sure I can give you lots of contacts who could do with a service like that."

"I was hoping you would," he smiled, examining her face. She was starting to look pale.

"You OK?" he asked, frowning.

"A little dizzy actually," she replied. She had been standing quite a while and was beginning to feel faint.

"You need to sit down," he noted, guiding her to a nearby sofa bench. Then he remembered something and held a finger up to her, looking animated.

"I said I'd brought something to cheer you up. I almost forgot. Wait there." He bounded back up the steps and out of sight, returning a few moments later with a familiar face. Leia's smile broadened.

"Lando," she enthused.

Han's old friend's wide, charming smile spread across his face when he saw her. He looked her up and down with his usual suave style and came down the stairs to greet her, Han lounging on an opposite sofa. Lando took her hand and kissed it, as was his favourite thing to do, sucking air in through his teeth as he looked at her.

"You look absolutely stunning, Leia," he flattered. She knew she looked terrible, dark rings under her eyes and pasty skin from the toxins that were still in her system.

"Lando, that's a lie, but thank you for saying it," she laughed. He flapped his cape out behind him and sat down next to her.

"I couldn't lie to such a beautiful woman." He grinned, looking round at the chamber and it's decoration. "This is a fitting castle for you, incidentally."

"None of this is mine," she corrected him. He smiled.

"I know, it's Maz's but, between you and me, she hasn't used it for years. You could live here and she wouldn't notice. It suits you better." Leia laughed again.

"It's too much for me but thank you." She leant forward and kissed his cheek, appreciating his flattery. "It's lovely to see you but you've come so far. Why are you here?" He held onto her hand.

"This old pirate tells me you've agreed to marry him." He pretended to look hurt but softened it with a smile. "I secretly hoped you would agree to marry me one day but, I know he has a strange sort of charm and I suppose someone had to fall for it eventually," he teased, deliberately speaking to her as if Han wasn't there. Leia blushed.

Han rolled his eyes. This was the main reason he had brought Lando. He knew his friend's attentions towards Leia were really honourable and designed to annoy him but, even though Leia knew it too, Lando's flattery was giving her a boost. She was smiling and laughing brightly. If anyone could pick her up and make her feel well, it was Lando.

"I don't suppose you would consider changing your mind?" Lando whispered close to her, loud enough for Han to hear, looking out of the corner of his eye to make sure Han was watching. Leia giggled, placing her other hand on top of Lando's.

"I'm sorry, Lando. A promise is a promise." Leia went along with his subterfuge. He faked his disappointment.

"I understand. Well then. If I can't change your mind I will have to give you the wedding present I brought for you." She raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at Han. He smiled at her.

"But we're not married yet. Perhaps you should wait."

"You look like you could do with a present now," he insisted. "And personally, I don't think you should wait much longer to get married, in case you get yourself into more trouble. Plus I can't stay long and I expect to be invited."

He pulled a small decorative box out of his jacket pocket and presented it to her. She felt embarrassed. She was quite used to his flirtation but wasn't used to being given gifts.

"Open it. It won't bite," he encouraged. She lifted the lid, gasping at what was inside.

"Oh, it's beautiful." It was a shimmering metal necklace with a turquoise stone in the middle which shone brightly as the light from the window hit it. It was the most delicate piece of jewellery she had ever seen.

"Of course it's beautiful," he maintained. "It's for the most beautiful woman in the galaxy. I had it made especially out of the blue quartzite ore from the mine. I hope you like it." She had no idea that Lando's new mining operation could produce such amazing stones.

"I love it," she beamed, taking it out of the box and moving closer to him, turning and pulling her hair aside so that he could place it round her neck.

"I'm glad you wore that cloak today because now it looks like it was always meant to be there," he said as he did up the clasp. She turned back to face him, giving him a huge hug. "And that has made it all worthwhile." he chuckled.

"I'll share it with Han," she joked.

"Oh no, you keep it to yourself. I've given him a case of very expensive wine." He leaned close to whisper. "I'll tell you where he's hidden it later and you can help yourself to that too."

"Thank you, Lando," she said sincerely, touching the stone with her fingers. Han winked at her.

"Senator," Eldon Blake interrupted them. Not wishing to use an informal reference when they were in company, she picked a title she thought Leia would accept. Leia raised her head to acknowledge her. "Everyone's ready to discuss the assault plans."

"Thank you, Blake. I'll be there in a moment." Back to work. She breathed deeply. Han scowled.

"Wait a minute. What assault?" he quizzed both Leia and Blake.

"Come to the meeting and I'll explain it to you," Leia told him, holding out her hand to Blake so that she could help her up. She was trying to hide the shakes. Blake took her hand for support, offering her arm so that Leia could cross the room. Han jumped up to block her exit.

"You are in no state to go assaulting anyone," he insisted.

Leia gave him a look that warned she might assault him if he argued. He raised his hands up in complete resignation.

"Alright. I know, I know. I can't stop you. This is what you do, but I'm asking you, this time..." Leia let go of Blake's arm and stepped up to him, putting her hand over his mouth to shut him up, pointing over his shoulder and through the archway to the room beyond. He looked behind him. Gathered in the next room were General Madine, General Kobar, together with 3PO and Chewbacca.

"I brought back up," she reassured him. He couldn't say anything. She smiled. "See. Sometimes I do listen to you." Turning back to Lando she asked, "Would you like to join us? Extra combat experience would be helpful at this point."

"Wouldn't miss it," he replied. She took Blake's arm and left through the archway to join the Generals. Han blew air through his lips. Lando cackled.

"I thought you said she was operating on half power." Han rolled his eyes and Lando laughed harder. He slapped Han on the back. "She's exciting isn't she?"

"Yeah, well. I've had enough excitement for one week," he grumbled.

"Are you boys going to join us or muck about in the corridors all night?" Leia's voice demanded from the other room. Lando was having fun at his friend's expense.

"Stop laughing," Han pointed a warning finger at him. "or you'll be hitching a lift on the first pirate ship back home." He marched through the archway muttering under his breath.