It had been a year since Rey's eighteenth birthday, a year since they had began courting and he could easily say it had been the best year of his life. He was close to completing his training, at least that's what Uncle Luke said. He was twenty-one and of age and he felt ready to take the tests in order to become a Jedi. Even though he felt as thought he was ready, there was still the underlying fear of failure echoing in the back of his brain.
That was when he felt it for the first time.
The darkness.
It crept up on him like nothing had ever done before and as he was laying alone in his room, he heard the voice in the back of his head, telling him how powerful he could become if he would only give into the darkness. The voice was strong, dark and powerful, which scared Ben just as much as it fed his curiosity as to who it was that was speaking to him.
Shaking his head of the thoughts he rolled out of bed and walked to the meditation temple. He needed to clear his thoughts, become more focused on the important things. Like his tests. Like his plan to ask Rey to marry him. He stopped at the bottom of the steps as the thought crossed his mind. He had been planning on asking her to marry him for a few weeks now. He had asked Poe for advice on the matter and he had grinned, slapping him on the back, before providing him with the advice he needed.
He continued his way up the steps and when he reached the top he stopped again as he heard two familiar voices, Uncle Luke and...Rey? He hid behind a pillar and listened in.
"It's strong Master Luke. The force, it's stronger than what it was before" He heard Rey say to his Uncle.
"You are strong Rey, almost as strong as Ben, as myself" His eyes widened at this comment and he heard Rey suck in a breath. He could imagine her head cocked to the side in confusion and shock.
"How is that possible? I don't have Skywalker blood in me, how can I possibly be as strong and any of you?"
"I sensed it when you were just a baby, around the same time I sensed the bond between you and my nephew. It was strong, almost unbreakable. Some of the old Jedi would have called it a Force bond" Ben's brow furrowed deeper as he contemplated what his uncle said. Rey and he were bonded by the force?
"You mean, even if we weren't meant to get married...we would still have a connection?" Rey asked, voice small and in awe.
"Yes, that is inevitable"
Ben leaned against the pillar, a small smile on his face. It was then he realised that all his fears and worries of the darkness, as well as the dark voice in his head, were gone. Maybe he didn't need to meditate after all. Maybe he just needed to be near her for all his worries to leave him.
He waited until Rey and his uncle had left the temple before he came out from behind the pillar. He went to head back out of the temple when a voice stopped him.
"You really shouldn't eavesdrop" He groaned and turned around to face Rey, who was leaning against the same pillar he had come out from behind, a smile on her face.
"I was coming to meditate actually, I didn't mean to catch your conversation" he tried to explain himself but stopped when Rey laughed and moved over to him.
"It's okay, I was only teasing" she explained as she reached him, "So you heard?" she added, "That were bonded by the force?"
Ben nodded, "I always thought that was a myth" he said and she hummed.
"I didn't even know such a thing existed in the first place until Luke told me just now" she sighed and moved forward to hug him.
"I love you, you know that right?" he said to her, arm enveloping her as she hugged him and she hummed, nodding.
"I know" she smiled. "I love you too"
"Where are we going?" Rey asked as he pulled her along the pathway of the gardens towards the forest.
"Just, trust me" he said and she smiled.
"You know I trust you" she said and stopped short as they reached the clearing, "Oh"
He was nervous and he knew she could definitely feel it, so when she took his hand and squeezed it, whispering a quiet 'I love you' into his ear, he wasn't surprised. He felt himself relax incredibly and he moved to stand in front of her, "Rey"
"Ben" she quipped back.
"I told you not to call me that" he muttered but with a smile and she let out a laugh.
"True, but I remember saying that I'd only call you it when I needed to" she grinned "But fine, I'll indulge you just this once,Kylo" she teased and he shook his head, laughing.
"Rey" he began again, "When we were kids, I will admit I used to think of you as a thorn in my side, growing up with a girl following me around wasn't what I planned for my summers." he chuckled nervously, "But then, you suddenly weren't an annoying little girl anymore and you were actually a smart little girl who helped me through some really tough times I had growing up. Then- well- then you weren't a little girl at all, but a woman, a woman who I couldn't help but fall in love with" he trailed off and breathing in "This year, getting to know you on a whole different level, falling in love with you deeper than I ever thought I would for well, anyone really" He met her eyes. "It's been a thrilling ride that I wouldn't change for anything and I want to have more years just like this one, I want to grow up with you right there next to me because as my uncle said, we're bonded, forever." he reached into his back pocket and got down onto one knee in front of her, "So, Rey, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?"
Rey was crying, tears slowly making their way down her face. Ben was about to ask her if he had said the wrong thing, misread the signs, when she nodded quickly before muttering, "Yes, yes of course I will"
Ben broke into a smile before sliding the ring, which was in the shape of a butterfly since that was her favourite creature, onto her finger before standing up and pulling her into his arms, into a tight hug, "Thank god" he muttered and she blinked, pulling away.
"You thought I would have said no?" she asked, quite shocked, "I've been waiting a year for that proposal Solo, and it was better than even I imagined it. There was no way I was saying no"
He rolled his eyes at her before pulling her up to him in a kiss. Their first kiss as an engaged couple. Right at that moment, there was no other thought in his mind other than Rey.
His parents were ecstatic when they told them. His mother already diving into plans for the engagement ball that they had to have as it was a part of society. His Uncle Luke just sent him a knowing smile.
It was a few days later when they were presented with their very own lightsabers. Ben's a light blue colour and Rey's a bright pink colour. She was the first Jedi in training to ever be presented with a pink lightsaber.
They were warned not to use the lightsabers for any other reason than a duel, or during practice and training when Luke would teach them how to use them properly and how to use them alongside the force.
They had no idea that the need to use them would come so quickly.
On the night of their engagement ball, which was meant to be one of the happiest days of their lives, turned one of the worst days of everyone's lives.
There had been whispers among the Jedi that there had been a shift in the force, the possible rise of the Sith from the ashes of the Empire, but that was all they were, whispers. Rumours. The very idea that another war could be upon them was a distant thought in everyone's minds, especially that night, the night when everyone was off their guard.
No-one acted on these rumours, so when they ambushed the party it had taken everyone by surprise.
Luke sprung into action, as well as his Jedi knights, protecting the people and the guests. The Stormtroopers smashed their way inside, aim intent of causing chaos and destruction in their wake.
Ben had grabbed his lightsaber, protecting himself as well as his friends and family. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Rey summon her own with the help of the force. With all thoughts of a celebration gone they used their new skills and training to help their friends, protect them from the sinister attack.
It was a blast from one of the bombs that separated them. Ben landing on one end of the room he grunted in pain before reaching for his saber that had been knocked out of his hands. He spun around and his saber connected with a shot from one of the Stormtoopers blasters, saving the life of a young child. He told the child to run and he made sure he was safe before turning his attention back to the fight.
His eyes scanned across the room, looking for Rey, but he couldn't see her. Rage overtaking in his mind at the thought that she could be hurt, fuelled his battle against the Stormtroopers and the members of the Sith that had taken over what was meant to be a special night. Explosions were going off right, left and centre, blowing innocent people into the air, killing them instantly.
Luke and his father, as well as his mother fought valiantly and the Jedi knights managed to take control of the situation, driving them out and back onto their ships and into the night. The questions running through everyone's minds were why had they come? What were they after? Why had they left so easily when they could have continued to fight and kill everyone in the room?
No-one knew any of the answers to any of the questions and it wasn't until some of the destruction was put back into place that they realised something wasn't quite right.
"Where's Rey?" It was Poe. He voiced the question, bringing Ben's attention to him as he looked around the room frantically. Where was she?
"Everyone split up, let's find her before someone else does" Luke addressed everyone and they all went their separate ways, searching the building, searching their home for his missing fiancée. He tried to ignore the fear and anger in his chest that was growing with every second. He should have been protecting her, he should have been watching her.
It was a wail from Chewie that brought his attention back to everyone else. His head shot to his furry friend who was carrying an object and as he looked closer he could make out that it was a lightsaber. His heart pounded in his chest as he approached the wookie. After a closer look at the lightsaber his own fell from his hand and clattered against the floor, echoing throughout the silent hall.
The saber was Rey's. It was her lightsaber. He felt everyone take a breath.
That could only mean one thing.
Rey was dead.