The day she married Kylo Ren was the day the First Order was reborn. It was the New Empire instead, indeed ruled by a lone, powerful Emperor. Snoke. And just below him, his heir. Ren.
And now, Rey. His wife. Consort. Future Empress.
It had shocked the Resistance—or rather, what remained of it—when Snoke had offered this "compromise." Luke, imprisoned. Leia, exiled. And Rey, married.
Leia had been the least surprised. "He must win over the people now that he has crushed them," she explained, looking at Rey with a look she had never seen before. "And now it is his choice of what to do with the last pieces on the board."
Luke left the choice up to Leia. And after a long, endless night of strategizing, plotting, and considering, she left the choice up to Rey.
"Anything else we try will only destroy our cause's resources. We must have something left to fight another day. But I won't make that decision, not when it is you who is most affected," the general told her, sitting on Rey's own bed. She had Rey's hand in her own as Rey looked upon her, stunned by the whole thing. Why, why her?
"You are the biggest threat to Kylo Ren and the First Order." Leia said, seeing the confusion in Rey's eyes. "It only makes sense for them to want to keep you close."
"But…marriage?" Rey asked, throat dry.
Leia sighed. "A union, of one hated and one beloved of the people…it would basically place you on their side. And a child, born of such a union…that is something Snoke probably wants the most."
"A child?" Rey couldn't keep the horror off her face. She and Kylo Ren had met countless times in battle since that fateful day on Starkiller. There was something in the force that naturally crackled between them, but Rey thought it was fear and anger, maybe even hatred. How could she marry, how could she sleep with such a man whose blows had left scars on her body? Who she assumed hated her, body and soul?
Once upon a time, even before BB-8 and Finn and Han and the Resistance, Rey had dreamed of loving someone. Of being loved back. If she ever did give herself to someone, it would be because of love. Had that just been her own fanciful dreaming? Was it too much to want?
"It's your choice, Rey." Leia said. "You are like my own daughter. I…I wish that there was an option here that would allow you some happiness."
Rey shook her head. "Can we not flee?"
Leia looked her deep in the eyes and then shook her head slowly. "We are surrounded. They sent the message straight here. They know where we are."
Rey let herself cry that night after she made her decision. She wouldn't watch her friends die. But she vowed never to cry again.
And she didn't cry. Not as they led Luke away in handcuffs. Not as they locked Poe and Finn and Chewie up. Not as Leia kissed her goodbye, her one-way shuttle destined for the Outer Rim.
"You're never alone," she promised. "And now you shall truly be my daughter."
Rey's lips had parted in surprise. It was so easy to forget that the Jedi-Killer, Knight of the First Order was the cool General's son. She hadn't realized what the marriage had meant in that regard. Leia squeezed her hand as a last goodbye and then was gone.
She was taken into custody and held in a glorified prison cell for weeks. She grew pale and restless, but the second week she was given two gifts: a date of her marriage, and an old friend. BB-8.
She had wrapped her arms around the round droid and tried to swallow the lump in her front. BB-8 squeals and squeaks of happiness were so loud that they hurt her ears, but she was so grateful to see a familiar face. Possibly the only one that wasn't imprisoned.
"Why, how did you-?"
"Lord Ren had him released into your care." The trooper said shortly. "And to tell you that your wedding date is in seven days."
"Why doesn't he grace me with his presence then?" She asked haughtily, but the trooper left with no more words.
"They took my tools out," BB-8 said sadly.
"it's alright," Rey soothed. "They probably just thought they could be used to break out of here."
"They'd be right," BB-8 beeped mischievously, and Rey laughed for the first time in ages.
It was so unusual for Ren to do something…kind. There had to be some other motive. But then again, how would Rey know how he usually acted? She curled up her knees to her chest while sitting on the floor by BB-8. She didn't know him at all, nor had seen hide or hair of him.
BB-8 asked her if she was sad, and Rey shrugged and tried to feign a smile. "Better now that you're here."
He stayed the right in one of her bunched up blankets, and for once she didn't feel so lonely. But now that she knew that in seven days, it was all to be over, that she would have to be forever bonded to a man she hated.
Her wedding day begun like any other. Breakfast was delivered to her via a slot in the wall. She had a sanisteam and dressed in the plain, nondescript garments that came from the slot as well. She chatted with BB-8 and he helped her with her work-out routine. But it was interrupted by a certain Captain Phasma, the woman who had brought her here and oversaw the imprisonment of her friends.
She was brought to a ship—with BB-8 rolling alongside her—and delivered to a whole new planet. One that wasn't too far though, but she wasn't used to the Core Worlds and didn't have a very good map in her head. No one told her where she was going or even mentioned that she was getting married, which was fine by her. She didn't need to be reminded that her life as she knew it was ending.
She was dressed in a dark grey dress by a few silent women who wouldn't answer her polite inquiries. They tried to do her hair but she pushed their quiet fingers away.
"I do it myself," she said crossly. She may have to wear this stupid, confining dress, but she wanted to look like herself in the mirror. They waited until she was done and then left her alone with BB-8.
"Did you see anything we could use as a weapon?" She asked.
He beeped a sad no.
While she waited she glanced at the full length mirror in the large room. The dress was high collared and tight, with loose sleeves that were bunched at her elbows. A long, full skirt covered even her toes. She felt ridiculous.
"Find me something, anything sharp," she instructed BB-8. He raced around the room as she tried to find a loose panel in the metal wall. Finally BB-8 wheeled over to her with a small piece of metal, She bent it until it snapped into a jagged edge.
"Perfect."
With it, she cut a notch and then tore the stiff collar and then half the sleeves. She was working on shortening the skirt when a woman came to fetch her. When she saw what had been done to the dress, the woman gasped and then fled.
Rey went back to her task until the door burst open a few minutes later.
"What are you doing?" Kylo Ren thundered.
Rey took him in quickly. He looked no different than usual. Marred mask, stiff black clothes. Why did she have to wear something so ridiculously formal?
"I'm adjusting this gown," she said with feigned politeness. "Lovely to see you."
Ren stomped over to her and grabbed her by the arm, forcing her to let go of her little razor. "Why are you so difficult? Why couldn't you just wear the damn thing?"
"I think it's fine for me to have at least some control over my life right now, thanks," she spit, wrestling her arm away from him. She couldn't believe the situation. The last time she had seen Kylo Ren, he had been trying to plunge his saber through her. Now they were arguing over a dress. How times changed.
"Fine. I don't care how you look," he growled. "As long as I don't have to drag you by your hair to the altar."
"What a lovely picture you paint," she snapped. "Unfortunately I have better sense and can walk myself there."
"Perfect."
"Good."
They glared at each other before he stalked off, presumably to said altar. Rey sighed, biting her lip to keep from yelling something childish after him.
The woman from before wouldn't let finish the dress, and instead led her off into the hall, to the altar. When Rey saw Ren's back, something inside her thudded and the old fear came back. This was real. This was happening.
She went to stand beside him and didn't hear anything that was said for the ceremony. When they turned towards each other, she was surprised to realize that his helmet was off, and there was no venom in his dark eyes. Instead he looked…sad. For a moment, Rey thought he very much looked like his mother and wondered if Leia could somehow sense this, even so very far away. Rey stared at him and he stared at her as the man before them said vows she didn't listen to. His gaze was intense, but not at all like she had seen it before. Not since he had interrogated her had he looked so…real.
His hand touched hers and she was startled by its coldness as it slipped a ring on her finger. She took a larger ring from the magistrate and put it on his single gloveless hand. A few more words were spoken, and then their eyes met once more before he carefully tilted his head and pressed his lips to hers very softly.
Something inside her jumped alive. Her lips burned with that gentle kiss, and she felt her chest heavy. She wanted something. Like before, when they fought, she had felt this pull, but never so intensely. He eased away and they were pronounced husband and wife, but Rey was numb. She didn't like what she had felt, it scared her more than the prospect of death.
He looked at her with cautious eyes and said her name. And then repeated it.
"Rey?"
"What?" She said, coming out of her stupor. He swallowed, and she watched his adam's apple bob almost nervously.
"It's time to leave." He said flatly.
With a sweaty palm she gathered her dress and followed him closely. He led her outside the building to a flash of lights and sound as people recorded their joining. He led her to a speed pod and she ignored his hand for assistance to get in. A moment after he got into the car, they were gone.
"Where are we going?" She asked, realization hitting her hard, as if she had just woken up from a hard sleep. They were flying through a dark place lit only by many lights below them. Other pods raced passed them, and
"To where we will live these coming months."
She licked her lips and tried to sit up more upright, but part of her dress was caught in the door.
"And where is here?"
He gave her a look as if she was supposed to already know. "Coruscant."
That explained the darkness. She tried not to look afraid. But a place with no sky was no place she wanted to be. Especially since the capital was here—possibly the most tightly controlled city in the galaxy. The First Order—No, the New Empire—thrived here.
"Wait. Where's BB-8?" She asked, panic seeping into her voice.
"He's being brought," Ren said shortly. "I don't see why you need an astromech droid."
"He's my friend," Rey interjected. He glanced at her.
"The only one you have left," he commented.
"Thanks to you," she said. He frowned.
"Thanks to you," he said. "You and traitors and thieves and—"
"Shut up," she snapped. "Just shut it."
Surprisingly he did, but they arrived only a few moments after.
She was out of the pod before he was, eyeing the grand building for only a moment before dashing inside to the shock of a waiting attendant.
"Lady Rey—"
Oh that was weird. Rey scrunched up her face and tried to focus, tried to find a place where she could just go and regroup and process what had happened—
"What are you doing?" Ren asked irritatedly.
He was carrying a bag, and she swallowed dryly.
"Never trying to get away from you," she said sarcastically, and his eyes narrowed.
"May I show you to the bedroom?" The servant asked politely. Ren stalked off in one direction, but Rey nodded.
The bedroom was a large suite with dark, red drapes that framed the large windows and even the bedframe. Dark wood of all things made up the furniture. Rey trod through the cold, tiled floors to two doors on the opposite side that opened onto a balcony that looked out onto the city. She watched with wide eyes as a few pods went by and watched the last light die from the edge of the horizon.
"Nice view."
She whirled around to see Ren looking at her and pressed her lips together. "Yes," she said awkwardly, not knowing what to say. She pushed past him and escaped to the refresher, where she was finally able to change into some fresh clothes that she found in a drawer. They fit very well and were tan and white, surprisingly. When she emerged, she found Ren sitting on the bed, waiting.
"Listen," he began, voice deep even without the modulator. "I didn't want this."
Her lips parted as her eyes roved over him.
"I had no say in this."
"You had more than I," she interrupted.
He glared. "My master didn't ask me. He told me. I obeyed him but—"
"But what?" She edged along the wall, going closer to the double doors outside. "But I should feel sorry for you?"
He scowled. "No, I'm just saying, you're not the only one—"
"Whose life was taken away? Who watched all her friends be taken away so she could be fed to the belly of the beast?"
He looked as if he'd argue but she continued, taking a few steps forward.
"You've hurt me, beat me down, interrogated me, tried to kill me, and I have to comply to this marriage, to you having sex with me and I—"
"Now, wait,-"
"No!" She yelled. "I don't want to wait anymore. I just want this to be over!"
She was almost there, almost about to cry, but she caught herself. Leia had told her to wait so they could fight another day. She just had to bear it all until that day would come. She had to.
"Just do it," she finally said, and stripped off her shirt. "Just take me and be done with it so I don't have to think about it anymore."
His eyes were wide as they took in her skin, paler now that she had been jailed for so long from the sun. She'd grow paler still here, maybe even as pale as he.
Her hands went down to her bottoms but then froze, forcibly. She looked up to see his outstretched hand and furrowed brow.
"Stop," he said raggedly, shoulders bunched up to his neck. "I won't do this now."
"Why?"
He let himself relax a little and met her curious stare. "Because I don't take unwilling women."
She barked out a laugh. "Don't hold your breath for me to be willing," she said.
He marched up to her and took her by the chin.
"I am doing this for you," he growled. "I did this all for you. I am no more happier than you are. But I thought you'd at least appreciate me giving you a choice to wait."
"I would have liked a choice that didn't involve me sleeping with you," she hissed.
He dropped her chin and she drew in a shaky breath. "Let me go," she demanded.
He did, and finally her limbs unfroze. Carefully she watched him as she grabbed her shirt from the floor.
"How long?" She asked.
He looked at her with an intense stare for too long of a moment.
"He comes in a month," he finally said. "He—he would know then. If we had not."
"And then?"
"For you? One of your friends wouldn't be in prison anymore. He'd be dead."
She drew in a breath and bit her own tongue to keep the words inside. After a minute, she asked: "And for you?"
He was silent.
"He would not be pleased," he finally said.
She wanted to ask what that meant, but kept it to herself.
"Sleep on it," he said when she didn't answer, gesturing to the bed. She looked at it and shook her head and headed out to the balcony.
He followed. "When will BB-8 be here?" she asked.
"It's here already. It's not allowed in here."
She scoffed and grabbed onto the edge of the roof that overhung onto the balcony.
"What are you doing?"
"Going to sleep," she said, pulling herself onto the roof. "I want some space." She wanted to feel and hear life again. Being in that silent, cold room she was held in had messed with her.
She found herself a nice spot on the scratchy roof and curled up there.
"Are you serious?" He said irritatedly. "If you're trying to escape you'll be shot down in a second."
"I'm not," she called back crossly. "Now leave me alone."
Finally he did, and she sighed. Alone at last. And not even in the most uncomfortable place she'd ever slept. The cool night air drifted across her skin and the hum of the city below reminded her of one of the resistance bases. It lulled her into a dreamless sleep.