The Companion (Star Wars story)

Fanfiction
Title:	The Companion
Author(s):	M. Barrassed (Marti)
Date(s):	1997 or 1998
Length:
Genre(s):	non-explicit f/f
Fandom(s):	Star Wars
Relationship(s):
External Links:
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The Companion is a early rare f/f Star Wars story. The author is M. Barrassed (a pseud).

The story was published in 1997 or 1998 in the print zine The Revenge of the Garbage.

The story is about Leia's relationship with Belsa Phaos (original character) who was an official companion to Leia from the age of 14 to 17. The two begin a sexual relationship when they are 16, but Belsa end it a year later, telling Leia that they are on different paths, and that Leia is expected be a leader, as well as have children (both with Belsa implies cannot be with her).

Many years later, Leia is married to Han Solo and reminisces about her first love. She investigates Belsa and discovers her brave but tragic fate.

Excerpts

Leia had been only fourteen when Belsa Phaos had entered her life, a girl on the verge of womanhood, a child yearning to break free from her own youthfulness. Bail and the Lady Tavia had sensed their adopted daughter's increasing restlessness and in the tradition of the Royal House of Alderaan had provided her with a suitable companion. Belsa Phaos had been their choice and none could have proven better.

They had been together for over a year, learning all there was to know about one another. Belsa even shared Leia's large bedchamber, sleeping in a duplicate of the princess's canopied and curtained bed. They had weathered the unavoidable arguments friends usually have, growing stronger for them. They studied and competed against each other in all things, each girl excelling for the challenge the other represented, but with their friendship unharmed by the competition.

What developed next had been as natural as winter's turn to spring - and just as inevitable.

They reveled in the exploration of their newfound bond of sexuality, blossoming in their own individual sensualities. They held hands, took long walks through the royal gardens with their arms around each other, picnicked between stolen kisses under the shade of stately trees. They made love to one another, tenderly, gently, with a never-ending desire for more. They slept wrapped in lover's arms, blissful and at peace.

If others guessed at the new depth to the two girl's friendship, Belsa and Leia never heard word of it. In fact, the princess had even thought she'd seen an approving, knowing look in Lady Tavia's eyes once, but she'd chosen to let it pass. Leia was too happy to spoil it by questioning her good fortune. She loves Belsa with all her heart and body, and Belsa loved her. All was right with the universe.

Little had she understood then how fleeting some joys must be.

"Leia, I do love you, but you aren't meant for just this. You may not believe me now, and I'm not sure how I know, but I do. With all my breaking heart, I know you could never be truly happy living the rest of your life here with me. You're destined for so much more. One day, years from now, you're going to make a wonderful bondmate and mother, but first you have so much more to do. I'm only a dragstone for you now. I have to go and I have to find my own path, too." Belsa stepped nearer, reaching her open hand toward her friend.

Feeling secure in her life and her inner knowledge of who and what she was, Leia had one day impulsively initiated the research that had resulted in the datasheet now laying beside the friendship stone. She had suspected Belsa was dead, of course, but she'd never allowed herself to speculate much about it. With the facts before her, the princess could blot out the tears no longer.

And so she cried. She cried for the gentle, loving friend she had lost, for the anger of her last words to the lover who had opened a world of pleasure for her, for the woman who had so honorably stepped aside when destiny had called the princess forward. Leia wept for the selfishness of her own youth and for the selflessness of her dearest friend.