Song of Kylo: The Jedhan War

Summary:

After years of war, peace is finally struck between Jedha's King Luke and High King Snoke. But when Poe of Dameron steals Snoke's ward, Finn, in the dead of night—the peace treaty is not the only thing that collapses. King Snoke and his best warlords bring their armies to the beaches of Jedha, determined to take back Finn…among other things. Among the Achaeans, is Kylo of Ren, the demigod warlord feared throughout the land.

Kylo's loyalty is put to the test when he discovers that his war prize, Rey is not all she appears to be.

Can snoke win "The war that will be remembered for one thousand years." without his best warlord?
Can Kylo's soul be saved?
Can the prophecy be believed?


Notes:

So, this is a giant hodgepodge of history, The Iliad, Troy, and Song of Achilles in which Kylo stars as the demigod with but one weakness...and Rey is that weakness.

Rey is not in this chapter but worry not, she is on the way, and she will not be the wilting flower that Briseis is in the film version.


μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος

οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρί' Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε' ἔθηκεν,

"Sing, goddess, of Achilles ruinous anger

Which brought ten thousand pains to the Achaeans,

And cast the souls of many stalwart heroes

To Hades, and their bodies to the dogs

And birds of prey."

-Homer, The Illiad


Prologue:

Peace

Peace negotiations.

Kylo found the idea amusing if not a bit misguided. The warrior plucked at the small bunch of purple grapes on his plate as his dark eyes scanned the sea of men and women who crowded the grand dining hall in the great city of Moraband. News of today's auspicious event had traveled far and wide. All those who heard it gathered to bear witness to the once unachievable peace treaty.

Peace between the collection of Achaean cities now called the First Order and the ancient kingdom of Jedha.

Peace between High King Snoke of Moraband and the idealistic recluse, King Luke of Jedha.

Because that couldn't possibly end badly.

A tall, blonde, amazon of a woman sidled up to Kylo's table. Kylo hardly recognized her without her heavy armor. She sat beside him arranging her long limbs beneath the skirt of her silver peplum. "You know, this is a peaceful gathering. Dressing in full armor might offend our guests. Sends the wrong message and all that."

Beneath his helmet, Kylo glared at the Queen of Illum. "That's the point."

"Still not on speaking terms, then?" She gave a knowing smirk. "Where's Hux? Aren't you two usually joined at the hip?"

Kylo shrugged, "Off flirting with the wealthy daughters and sons, I'd wager."

"Well, I'll leave you to your brooding. I'm going to go meet our guests." Queen Phasma of Illum rose and stalked to the table of honor where she proceeded to kiss hands and courtesy.

Princess Leia of Jedha sat beside her husband pirate turned royal, Han. Kylo's eyes didn't linger on the pair. Too much pain. Too much history.

Instead, his eyes found their adoptive son. Poe of Dameron. The greatest warrior in Jedha was a broad, muscular man with tight brown curls and tawny skin. His face was handsomely sculpted, every bit the model prince, despite his low birth. Leia and Han couldn't have found a better champion if they tried. The thought left Kylo cold.

A loud gong signaled the arrival of their host. Kylo's master, High King Snoke swept in with his entourage. The crowd fell silent in the wake of his steps, holding a collective breath as he approached Princess Leia.

Kylo felt his fists clenching around the grapes, the juices staining the leather of his gloves.

Neither Leia nor Snoke smiled. A look of resigned understanding passed between them. This was a hard won peace. Not easy for either of them to swallow. But it was a necessary evil for the sake of both the Jedhan and Achaean people.

It didn't go unnoticed by Kylo that King Luke wasn't present. Instead, he'd sent his twin sister to do his negotiating. King Luke was holed up somewhere in Asia Minor in his Lost City. There were rumors about the Lost City. Rumors of its riches, its opulence. Snoke practically drooled when he spoke of it. Kylo was certain that the Lost City was a big motivating factor behind this peace treaty.

Snoke's veiny, withered hand emerged from his heavy furs, extended toward Leia. She looked between it and his eyes for a moment. When she grasped his hand in hers the crowd erupted in cheers. The music resumed and dancing commenced.

As the night wore on, Kylo remained in his seat, observing. No one dared approach the armored sentinel in the corner. No one but Hux, who'd appeared to slap Kylo on the shoulder, then whine about the armor damaging his hand.

"You get an eyeful of Poe of Dameron? Never seen a man so pretty. Think he's as deadly as they say he is?" Asked Hux.

Kylo's lip pulled back from his teeth. "Doesn't matter. I could still beat him."

"I know you could," Hux said, "That's not what I asked, was it? This is why people don't like you."

"You like me. Phasma likes me."

Hux rolled his eyes but said nothing more as they were interrupted by the High King's mistress who appeared at their table in the finest silks, her dark hair all an artful tumble around her shoulders. Bazine of Netal smiled at Kylo, ignoring Hux entirely. "Warlord" She greeted.

"Bazine," said Kylo disdainfully, squirming a bit under her gaze. She swept closer, leaning in so Kylo had a good view of her cleavage. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Hux making gagging faces.

"Why don't you take off that silly helmet. I much prefer the sight of your gorgeous face."

"Perhaps I'm hiding from you," said Kylo.

She mistook his words for flirtation. A grin split her full lips and she said, "Well, I've found you. Now, it's my turn to hide. I'll be in the baths if you want to find me." She sauntered off, swishing her hips.

"Please tell me you're not encouraging this," said Hux, his cheeks as red as his hair.

Kylo shrugged, "She's a vile creature…but she passes the time. Have to relax somehow." Truth be told, he was considering the invitation. He was growing tired of the celebration, tired of hiding from the Jedhans. The sooner he was out of their sight, the sooner he could take off this ridiculous disguise. He got to his feet. Hux protested but Kylo waved him off and stalked to his stateroom.

He removed his armor, placing it reverently on its stand. He draped a linen tunic around his hips and padded on bare feet down the hall to the baths.

The air was close and steamy. The aroma of rose and lavender oil was a bit too strong but not unpleasant. He could already hear her inside. His body hardened in reaction to the sounds even if his mind protested. She was a distraction and nothing more. Besides that, she belonged to Snoke—though he didn't seem to mind sharing her. A cringeworthy thought.

He rounded the corner and froze. It was not Bazine that he'd heard. It was Poe of Dameron and Snoke's ward, Finn. Kylo slipped behind a pillar, using the steam as cover to get a better look at the two young men.

They were seated on a bench facing one another, their hands loosely resting on each other's elbows. Their heads were inclined toward one another and they were whispering something. Something Kylo couldn't quite hear over the ambient lapping of water.

What were they doing together?

Did Snoke know?

Did Bazine?

Kylo disected this new information in his mind. Their countries were at peace—finally. Ostensibly, there was nothing wrong here. Still, Snoke was unusually protective of his ward. No one was good enough to speak to him, let alone do…anything else to him. Then, there was Bazine. Kylo knew that on nights when he refused her, she found her way to Finn's bed.

Bazine wouldn't like this and Kylo was sure that the King of Kings would not approve of Poe of Dameron, peace treaty or no…and yet, Kylo found he had no desire to expose them.

Kylo had his fair share of secrets.

He knew what it was to harbor them.

The loneliness of it.

The shame.

No, he would not bother them. If Snoke and Bazine found out, it would be their battle to fight. Kylo wanted no part of it.

Kylo left them there in the baths, forgetting all about Bazine. He went to his stateroom and drifted off to sleep, happy with the knowledge that sun would rise and take the Jedhans far away from his home…then, everything would return to normal.


The sun did rise, as Kylo predicted. The Jedhans had already boarded their ships and were sailing across the Agean…but they left chaos in their wake.