I was breathing heavy by the time I reached the entrance to Coranath. The trail from the forest to the village was steep and I'd forgotten how hot the sun was without the shield of the forest. This was the first time Id left my seclusion in over a year. I lifted the hood of my cloak so I wouldn't draw attention to myself. The streets were busy with people bartering and selling their various supplies. The smell of baking bread caught my attention and I bought myself a loaf and paid to fill my canteen with water. The taste was almost unbearable after being so used to fresh creek water. I walked through the streets until I found a small alcove that I could sit on virtually unnoticed and eat in peace. I sat there and ate watching the world around me. It always amazed me that each person you see has their own life story. It's like reading a book with each glance you take. I watched a couple hold each other while their children played around them. I wondered how they had met and fell in love and if they loved their children as they loved each other.
I felt traitorous tears run down my face as I watched them smile and play with their children. My heart ached for what Id lost. I couldn't think about that though, I was here for a reason and so far the force has led me nowhere. I dusted the crumbs off my pants as I stood and dug deep within myself to find the feeling that's been plaguing me for days now. I felt a small tug as I began to walk again. It was pulling me deeper into the village towards the air base. I'd never been back this way before. It was only there for deliveries and visitors. I was never delivering or departing so I had no reason to be back here. My mouth shot open as I neared the aircraft. There were so many and they were all so huge. I'd never been this close to any before Id always wanted to board one but knew I never would. The force was pulling me past several men in white uniforms. Their faces covered in masks they had some type of gun in their hands I pulled my hood further down trying to remain invisible. I followed the feeling until it stopped. I turned around in a half circle trying to figure out what I missed. I was about to give up all hope when I heard a mans voice behind me. His voice caused a ripple to run through me and I knew it was him I was supposed to find.
"Hey sweetheart you wanna move," he said.
I spun around and was surprised by what I saw. He was an older man with grey hair and a stern yet handsome face. He had on a leather jacket white shirt and was staring at me like I was a complete moron. I stuttered but no words actually came out. I stepped to the side and allowed him to pass. I watched as he walked into a giant oval shaped ship. It looked old and beat up but still completely incredible. I made my way over to the entrance and looked up into the ship hoping the man hadn't gone too far. The ship was causing the Force to go crazy it was giving me a head rush. I knew this was where I was supposed to be. That thought was invigorating.
"Um, hello?" I called into the ship.
A load growl of sorts irrupted behind me and I screamed. A giant brown animal was standing behind me. Id never saw anything like it. He was making large motions with his paws and continuously growling.
"Hi, I'm sorry if I'm intruding. Please don't eat me." I whimpered.
"I don't think he's hungry but Id still be cautious. He is pretty untamed that one." said a voice behind me.
I sighed in relief as I saw the older man standing on the ramp leading to his ship. His arm was raised and placed on the top of the ship above him. He had a handsome smirk on his face that made me realize he was joking.
"Sorry, I feel foolish but I've never seen anything like him before," I said staring at the creature.
"His name is Chewbacca, he's a Wookie. I can't believe you didn't know that." he laughed.
"I don't exactly get out much." I smiled at him.
Chewbacca walked past me growled a few words at the man and went inside.
"So what can I do for you sweetheart?" the man asked me.
I don't know what it was about him but I felt extremely comfortable around him. It was almost like Id met him somewhere before.
"Well, my name is Elara, or El if you like," I said wondering how to approach why I'm here.
"Ok El I'm Han. Han Solo," he said reaching out to shake my hand.
I smiled at hearing him call me El. I was really starting to like that nickname.
"Wanna tell me why your here?" He asked, bringing me to the inevitable awkward explanation.
"Oh, well that's a bit harder to explain. I was sent here." I sputtered.
Confusion and mistrust covered his face as he looked at me.
"Who sent you here?" he asked grabbing my arm and pulling me into the ship.
He closed the ramp behind us and I began to regret coming here.
"Who. sent. you. here?" he said enunciating every word.
"The Force!" I hollered as he squeezed my arm none too gently.
He let me go and bent over to look me in the eye. I was starting to realize how short I was. The parallels between him and Kylo were also starting to confuse me. I realized now that's exactly who he reminded me of.
"The Force sent you to me? You've got to be kidding. Well, that's two now in a manner of days." he said laughing at me.
I had no clue what he was talking about but as I looked around I felt a ripple in the Force coming from further in the ship. Han noticed my gaze was glued towards that direction and sighed.
"Yeah, she's up there," he said rubbing the back of his neck.
"Funny how you lot always know," he said nudging me forward.
"I'm sure she's why you're here."
We walked through a corridor and into the ship's cockpit where a woman my age and Chewbacca sat. I could feel a strong power coming from the woman. She obviously had the Force and it was an incredible feeling knowing I wasn't alone. She spun around and met my gaze as she stood up to face me.
"You have the Force!" she exclaimed.
I was shocked as she hugged me and gave me the brightest smile I've ever seen.
"As do you," I said pulling away from her.
I wasn't much for physical displays of affection. "My name is Rey," she said.
I couldn't believe it but I felt a swell of recognition at her name. The Force wanted me to know that I knew her.
"Elara, but you can call me El," I said.
Rey smiled at me "I know you Elara." she stated.
The longer I looked at Rey the more I remembered her. She was in my dreams as a child. "A girl in white surrounded by sand,"I questioned.
Rey's smile faltered as she looked into my eyes. "A girl in green surrounded by trees," she answered.
Long forgotten dreams swirled across my memory. Rey was my first and only friend as a child. We would play together in my dreams. She would join me in the forest and I would join her in the sand. We also spoke to one another during the day if one of us showed any deep displays of emotion. Rey always spoke to me after my parents left. She was the only reason I never felt alone. As I grew up I allowed my anger to push all of my gifts aside and I forgot everything, even Rey. I gasped as I remembered everything. Hot tears fell from my eyes and I hugged Rey again this time completely ok with showing her affection.
" I can't believe we forgot each other," Rey said wiping away my tears.
"I'm so sorry Rey. I forgot everything after my parents abandoned me." I said drying my face with my cloak.
"It's ok Elara. Did the Force send you here?" she asked me.
I sat down behind Chewbacca "Yes I don't know who I'm hearing but a voice told me my destiny was here waiting for me." I told her.
Rey sat down in front of me as Han and Chewbacca checked the dials on the panel at the front of the cockpit.
"You're supposed to come with us to see Maz," Rey said with conviction.
"Who's Maz?" I asked.
"She's on Takodana. That's where we are headed. We only stopped here for supplies." Han answered for Rey.
"Supplies and you," Rey added with a chuckle.
Takodana, I couldn't go to Takodana. That would mean leaving everything behind. I stared at Rey with fear and anxiety. She knew exactly what I was going through. Rey and I went through a very similar situation. If anyone would know my fears it would be Rey.
"Elara, they aren't coming back for us," Rey whispered.
I wasn't waiting for them to come back. I just didn't want to leave everything I've ever known. Right? Could Rey be on to something is that what I've been doing all this time? The Force stirred inside of me as if to acknowledge that what Rey said was true. It showed me that this was where I belonged, where I was needed. Id been hiding for too long. I silently nodded at Rey who told Han we were ready to go. I felt Rey help me strap into my sit before she took the one beside me. Han used the ship's intercom to speak to someone called Finn. He told him to strap in and prepare for take off. I could hear everything that was going on around me but I was locked in disbelief and fear. Everything in my life was changing right in front of me and I was letting it happen. Never in my life did I expect my life to become this different this quickly. I closed my eyes and searched deep within myself for anything that might help calm my nerves.
The Force led me to a dark black room. A bed was sitting in the middle of the room and none other then Kylo Ren laid on top of it. He wasn't wearing his mask but I still couldn't see his face. He was lying on his stomach and his raven black hair was splayed across his face. I walked over to the side of the bed and sat down. There was no movement or sound. He didn't move an inch as I sat down. I lifted my hand and begged whoever was listening to let me touch him just this once. I reached out and tried to move the hair from his face. I almost made an audible sound as his hair moved away from his eyes. I could finally see his face. He was beautiful, his nose was large but fit his face perfectly. His thick lips were slightly parted as he breathed in and out. Finally at peace as he slept. I felt a tear slid down my face as pain sliced my heart. I barely knew this man, but no one deserved to feel so much anger and sadness all the time. His eyes fluttered open as I ran my finger across his lips.
"El?" he asked not moving.
"Yeah, it's me." I quietly answered embarrassed at being caught touching him.
"Why are you here?" he asked with a hint of anger in his deep voice.
The difference between his actual voice and his robotic one was striking.
"I'm sorry. I needed a safe place, and this is where the Force brought me." I answered him.
Kylo sat up on his elbow and looked me in the eye.
"Why did you need a safe place?" he asked.
I debated whether to confide in him or not. I guess there was no harm telling him the cliff notes version.
"The Force led me somewhere, and now I'm leaving my planet. I've never left home before and I'm terrified Kylo." I confessed.
Kylo slid up and sat beside me. His dark brown eyes searched my face.
"Why are you leaving, and where are you going?" he asked, trying to reign in his temper.
"I cant tell you where I'm going. But I'll tell you who with." I said.
I was trying to keep him calm but the Force was reminding me to watch what I tell him. He raised a brow waiting for me to speak.
"I met a man and his friends, and the Force told me to go with them," I said leaving out the names of who all I was with.
Kylo's face fell and then filled with anger.
"What man Elara?" he said with venom in his voice.
"He's just a man with a ship. He is kind, and so are his friends. I said confused by his reaction.
"I'm sure he is very nice. What did you have to give them for the free ride Elara?" Kylo spat at me.
I was horrified by what he was insinuating. I stood up and walked to the other side of his room fuming. Why did I keep coming back here? It was obvious this man had major issues. I could feel Kylo come up beside me and I spun around and slapped him. I smiled at the loud crack that sounded through the air as my hand met its target. The shock on his face was comical at best. He couldn't believe I had actually done that. I'm also sure he was surprised that I actually could. He reached out to me and frowned when he went right through me just like he had last time.
"How can you touch me?" his rough voice asked.
I shrugged and turned away from him.
"I guess because I asked," I told him. I turned around and saw his eyes closed. When he opened them he reached out to me again, but once again was denied access to me. He sighed and turned around.
"I'm sorry El," he mumbled. I touched his shoulder and the tension left him.
"It's ok," I said as I heard a voice in my ear.
He saw me looking into the darkness and called my name.
"I have to go Kylo, they are calling me," I told him.
I felt his energy mix with mine as he reached out to me but I was already gone.