Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Sunsets and New Beginnings
Several hours later...
Princess Leia sighed deeply as she felt the tender touch of tropical winds caressing her face, thinking back on recent life-altering events as the sun started to set.
"Two days," She muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, as she stared at the beauty of the alien sky above her. "It only took two days for Luke to break the dam I placed around my heart these past few years."
Despite everything, the stranded senator couldn't help but chuckle as a thought crossed her mind. "I guess that's what I get for avoiding my brother for so long after the Battle of Endor."
She stood on the shore, breathing salty air most deeply while her toes were soothed by the coming waves, her gaze centered on the horizon as she felt like swimming into the past.
"A credit for your thoughts?" She suddenly heard as she noticed the approaching footsteps.
Leia smiled as she turned back to her wonderful, nude brother, carrying two cut-open coconuts in his hands. "I don't think credits will be that useful to us in the foreseeable future."
The Jedi Knight chuckled at that; his gaze sheepish. Then he got closer.
"In that case, how about a coconut for your thoughts?"
The princess laughed merrily, unable to stop herself from getting amused at the absurdity of their situation.
"That will do, Luke. Thank you." She said as she took him up on his offer.
And so, they looked back at the setting sun, gulping down the water inside the shell as they found comfort in each other's company. The tropical winds were soft and pleasant on her cheeks and soon, she felt her twin put an arm around her naked shoulder. She sighed, humming in contentment as she tilted her head to the side and into her beloved's chest. But soon, she took a deep breath and answered him.
"I was thinking about time wasted and lost opportunities," Leia admitted. "I shut you out after our victory at Endor. I am so sorry Luke."
She felt her brother hug her closer to him at that and she let him, her heart racing in his warm embrace.
"You were grieving," He said simply, his voice soft. "And I turned your world upside down by telling you the truth."
"Yes, but I also failed to see that you were grieving too," She admitted. "Han was your best friend and you lost him too, even after everything we did to rescue him from Jabba. And instead of being there for you and letting you be there for me, I choose to work as much as possible so that I could keep finding excuses to avoid you and talk about what I really needed to get off my chest. Forgive me."
Luke was quiet for a while, and so, the beach was silent aside from the sound of the wind and the crash of the waves. She inhaled deeply, her lips curling into a sad smile as she smelled her brother's rich scent off his torso.
"Then tell me, what did you want to get off your chest?"
Leia shut her eyes in response, her jaw clenching. "That as I looked up at the Second Death Star being destroyed, I did not feel satisfied or victorious, but angry," She admitted, shaking her head. "Angry at Han for dying on me so soon after we rescued him and with victory so close at hand. Angry at the Empire for taking him from us. Angry at the Emperor for living long enough to make that Empire in the first place. Angry at the people of the galaxy for not opposing his obvious tyranny quickly enough and leaving my generation to carry the weight of the Rebellion that finally brought him down after it had become much harder to do so."
Her brother said nothing in response, but he hugged her closer, letting her know he was there for her. And she loved him all the more for that, since sometimes, all you really need is someone to listen to your troubles that you trust not to judge.
And so, she took a deep breath and continued to let it all out.
"I was furious at Vader for everything he did to me," The Rebel Princess continued, biting her bottom lip as she looked down. "Furious that I now had to deal with the realization that my biological father stood by and let my homeworld be destroyed by Tarkin. Furious that in doing so, he allowed my adopted family to be massacred in the process. Furious at you for making me feel that way by being considerate enough to give me the truth when no one else did..."
Leia realized that she had started crying at some point, her tears falling into the sand. But she couldn't stop now and so she didn't bother to contain her sobs, her lips quivering as she leaned on Luke for support.
"And in that moment back at Endor, I hated the caring father who raised me for never telling me something so important," She confessed, her voice small. "I hated him for not adopting you as well, denying us the chance to grow up together as twins should. I hated the fact that because of his support in the decision to split us up, I grew up in luxury in one of the most beautiful and free worlds in the galaxy while my brother grew up in a harsh desert world run by gangsters and slavers."
She broke away from his embrace then, needing space to breath as she walked deeper into the bay. Luke made no move to follow her so she continued, closing her eyes as if the warm seawater could drown her worries. But it couldn't, so when her knees were submerged, she turned back, her hair flapping with the breeze as water droplets trailed down her chest.
"And I hated myself...for coming to hate you for even one moment," She admitted, her eyes wet as she fought the urge to avert them. "For even entertaining the fleeting thought that you were going to join our monstrous father on the Death Star and turn against us after everything you have done for the Rebellion, and for me, specifically. And for thinking that my blood was cursed with darkness...since I feared I had more than enough hatred in my heart to feed it."
Leia exhaled then, unable to stop herself from looking down to avoid her brother's gaze. But he must have sensed that she had said her piece because in moments, he was also knee deep in the water, standing before her. She opened her trembling jaw again, but he clearly learned what she was about to say through their growing Force-bond because he hugged her on the spot, their heartbeats pounding against each other.
"There is nothing to forgive," He whispered.
Five words. Just five simple words. But tried as she had to deny it for the past couple of years, she had been longing to hear them from him. And so, she came undone, sobbing as she fell deeper into the water. But her brother followed her as she let it all out and allowed the waves to wash away her lingering rage and grief.
"I love you just the way you are," Her beloved brother said as he held her wet form in his embrace. "And I swear that I will be there to help you for as long as you will have me."
Leia said nothing but words weren't necessary. Not when she knew that he could feel her heart swell with gratitude and relief through their bond. So, she just let him hold her as the sun continued to set in the world that had become their temporary home. But eventually, she smiled as the moon rose.
For she had really needed that, as she soon realized that she now felt lighter than she had in years; like a weight been lifted from her shoulders. And while she knew that their new trials on the island were only just beginning, she suddenly felt more certain than ever that it would all turn out alright.
After all, tomorrow was another day in a brave new world full of possibilities. But tonight, she had this quiet, loving moment with her chosen knight.
Thus, all was well.