Star Wars: The Alderaan Affair/Part II - A Girl Named Leia

“Are you hurt?” the voice asked. “I’m used to it.” Epin replied as he sat up, rubbing the back of his head. Blood ran from his nose, where Arod had punched him, and his shirt was slightly torn from skidding on the pavement.

The girl kneeled next to him, and said, “That’s not what I asked Epin. I asked if you were hurt.”

“How do you...”, he started, but cut himself off mid sentence, with all the street lights now illuminating the area, he was able to see clearly and finally realized who it was. “How do I know what? Your name? It’s me, Leia.”, she said, sliding closer. “You’re bleeding. You are hurt aren’t you?”

“I’m alright, really, it’s just a bloody nose.”, Epin said, wiping his nose on his sleeve.

Epin had a crush on Leia, ever since he could remember. He would accompany his mother, Lania, into the city to sell Nerf hides, and occasionally he would see Leia, when they delivered to Aldera palace. They would talk, but just friendly banter, nothing serious, as he never got to see her for more than a few minutes. Epin always wanted to tell her that he liked her, but never found the guts. She was a pretty girl, about the same age as he, brownish blonde hair, which she usually wore tied into some kind of elaborate styling. But today, her hair was down, and it ran a few inches past her shoulders.

“What are you doing out so late?”, Epin asked, snapping himself back to reality.

“I had to stay after and clean the classrooms.”, Leia started. “Madame Vesta made me. She’s so mean, she reminds me of a...”

“Rancor?”, Epin interrupted.

Leia laughed, “Yeah. How did you know that’s what I was going to say?”

Epin scratched the back of his head and chuckled, “Ah, well, she does kind of look like one. I mean she’s all wrinkly and stuff.” The truth was, he himself didn’t know how, but he was able to somehow know what she was going to say, apparently before she did. He’d had that happen before, but was never able to do it when he wanted to. He had talked with his mother about it, and she called it “Telepathy”. Whatever that meant.

Leia giggled, “She sure does, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was part rancor!”

The two laughed together, completely unaware that it had begun raining.

Epin sat and looked at Leia for a moment. “What?”, she asked, “What is it?”

“Nothing, I just, always wanted to talk to you. You know, outside the palace.”, Epin responded.

“Well, why didn’t you?”, she replied, puzzled.

“Because, I was...scared.”

“Scared? Of me? Why?”, Leia asked, turning to face him.

“Well, what I mean to say is, I was afraid you wouldn’t want to. I mean, you’re the princess, and I’m just a farm boy.”, Epin said, slightly embarrassed.

“Just because we come from different sides, doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”, Leia responded.

“That’s not it, I’ve...wanted to tell you, that I think, you’re...very pretty.” As soon as he realized that he had simply blurted that out, he turned away.

There was a short pause, Epin looked out of the corner of his eye to find she was looking at the ground.

“You think I’m pretty?”, she said softly.

“Well, yeah...”, Epin said, looking at her.

Leia took her index finger and curled her hair behind her ear. She looked at him and smiled, “Thank you.”

"You're welcome.", Epin stood up and extended his hand to her, “Can I walk you home, your highness?”, he asked, placing one arm across his stomach in a mock bow. Leia took his hand and he pulled her up, but upon doing so, fell backward from the stress. Leia stumbled but remained on her feet. “Oh my, are you sure you’re alright?”, she asked taking a knee next to him. He struggled to his feet.

Leia stood up, “We’ve got plenty of bacta patches at the palace, come on.” With that, the started toward the palace.