Rey is still churning over Finn's refusal to accompany her and Poe to meet Maz hours after the occurrence itself.
She had come to Lady Phasma's manor packed and ready to go, a few bags of essentials tied tightly to BB8s saddle and hope tied so tightly in her heart. She had been so worried about herself, Luke, and Ben that she hadn't considered needing to actually be worried about her friends and their involvement (well, at least she had been correct about Poe).
Now, as she and Poe rode silently together, she couldn't help but feel stupidly selfish. She had been angry at Finn and his answer, she still was in all honesty, but she was now a little more clear headed to see the logic in his response. He was Lady Phasma's only heir, her only family for that matter, and if war was on the horizon (which it most certainly was) he would need to be by her side when it hit. Who knew how long this trip to Maz would take and what would follow after it. Rey was trying to do right by her family in this endeavor, and Finn was only trying to do the same.
(Still, it hurt).
Poe, thankfully, had been a quiet but reassuring presence. He didn't press her to talk about it, didn't jump to make excuses for Finn or even try to validate her feelings. He was just there, waiting for whatever move she would make and respond to that in kind. (He knew her so well).
So, for the first few hours of the trip (that included a quick stop to his estate to get his own belongings), the air had been filled with nothing but their breathing and the noises from their horses. Rey was too occupied with the thoughts in her mind to notice or be bothered by it. And whatever was occupying Poe, well, it seemed to be doing the job.
"Poe," She said suddenly, her voice even foreign to her ears for being quiet for so long. "You never really explained-not that I gave the chance to-your involvement in all this. Why you had been scouting the trade routes and gathering intel."
"Oh, well," He began, as if that answer had been obvious all along. "You know your Aunt is Magistrate of the area and my parents are in close counsel with her. They had heard the rumors of the First Order for some time now and had been sending several riders out to gather whatever information they could. I was only a recent volunteer."
"Why? Volunteer, I mean."
He shrugged. "Seemed like the right thing to do."
Rey shook her head. "No, I didn't ask that right. You would volunteer, that's the kind of man you are. I meant, why now? It seems this First Order has been around much longer than this past year. I'm sure Leia has been trying to counteract them for sometime, so why would you only just volunteer?"
"Oh," Poe seemed to fluster a little at the question. His jerked nervously to the side and his gaze focused somewhere far in the distance. "You're right, of course, Lady Solo has been aware for sometime. And I-well, I never volunteered before because…" Poe scratched at the back of his head. "Rey, I don't really have a good answer to that question. I just did, okay?"
The response wasn't snappish nor did it bear any ill will toward her, but it still made Rey frown. There was an answer, it was obvious on Poe's face, he just didn't want to give it to her. .
"Poe, quite a few people have lied to me-or at least omitted the truth-quite frequently in the past couple days. I would hate for you to be added to that list."
"...would you trust me when I say the answer is really not all that important?"
"I trust you, but I still want to know."
He smiled ruefully. "Of course you do. Look, I hadn't volunteered my services because, for one, I never fully understood the gravity of the situation. There is always bad people out there doing bad things, you can't stop them all. So, when my parents first informed me of the matter, I didn't take it seriously. Maybe, in my defense, they hadn't presented it all that seriously either. And at the time, I was content where I was. Learning my father's business, spending my days with you and Finn, I didn't really feel any call to service."
"And then?" Rey prompted.
"Simply said, the situation grew more serious. It wasn't just some people running around breaking the law here and there. It was a following, a large and organized group that wanted to do real harm. So I wanted to help."
"But that's not all?" She guessed, or why else would Poe try to avoid talking to her about this.
"No, it's not." Poe sighed. "Don't get upset, okay? I-I didn't volunteer at first because-well, I was gathering up the courage to ask to court you."
A instant flame exploded within Rey's cheeks.
"Look, we don't have to talk about it. At all. I'm just answering your question. Obviously, my plan didn't fall through and with the threat of the First Order growing, I left."
"But…." She should be quiet. Really, she should be quiet. But her curiosity was nagging painfully at her. "Why did you, um, change your mind?" And there went the blush anew.
The question, though, seemed to not embarrass Poe. If anything, it caused him to look at her curiously, maybe even a little hopefully (Rey wasn't sure how she felt about that but she knew she wanted to know the answer).
"You…" He paused, considering his words. "Something, I believe, happened to you."
"What?"
"It was almost a year ago, maybe a little more. You just, changed one day. Everyone noticed but we didn't really say anything because, well, you became very closed off and hard to talk to."
Rey's back straightened. No, he couldn't be talking about what she thought he was. How could he possibly even-
"It was right after Ben left."
Oh Lord, he was talking about it.
"Nothing that drastic happened to you Rey, another reason we really didn't pursue it, but it was enough for us to notice a change. You were just, well, less you I suppose. Didn't come out as much, more quiet, more antisocial-more than you usually are anyway." He chuckled. "Eventually, obviously, you got better. Your letters showed it, and Finn's confirmed it."
"I was-it was-"
"Rey, you don't have to explain-"
She shook her head. "No, I-I want to. Poe, it was just a little rough patch. It hadn't been that serious it had just been...hard."
Poe looked at her tentatively. "Did it have to do with Ben?"
Her silence was answer enough.
"I figured. We all figured really. You two had been so close and Ben had become so distant at that point. So when he left, it just seemed natural you would be upset over it."
"I...was." It wasn't a lie, just not the whole truth.
Poe nodded. "So it wasn't really the best time to tell a girl you fancy her."
Rey bit her lip. "I suppose you're right."
"But, like I said, we don't have to talk about it. It's in the past and, ah, it can stay there."
"Poe-"
"Really Rey. There's a lot more important things to focus on now."
True, but it still didn't feel right with her that Poe, happy charming Poe, has harbored feelings for her for so long. Feelings he never talked about, never acted on, except for one moment that she had promptly walked away from. And while they did need to focus on the task at hand, Rey still felt the need to say something.
"Maybe we don't have to talk about it now, but...maybe, in the future?"
It wasn't much, but it was enough to bring a smile to Poe's face.
The weren't too far from the southern shores, but it was still a good three day ride.
Rey and Poe busied themselves with catching up with each other during all that time, swapping stories and sharing interesting tidbits about the other's live since Poe had been away. It was pleasant, carefree, and a much needed break from all the sudden stress that had befallen them. They managed to always find some village for shelter by nightfall, and spent cozy nights on a soft bed, still sheltered from the impending doom sure to come.
Topics that involved Ben were avoided, which was easily done since he had been just as absent as Poe had in the past. Finn, too, was still a touchy subject but only in the sense of the past couple days, nothing before then.
Poe was delighted with stories of her aunt and uncle, which wasn't surprising since he always idolized the two. Leia was a strong, fierce woman with a brilliantly strategic kind of mind and Han a carefree but terribly loyal rogue who knew the ins and outs of this world like no other. Everyone admired the couple, but no one so much as Poe who had unofficially made them his mentors not so long ago.
In turn, Rey was fascinated to hear of all the places Poe had travelled to. She never really got much of the opportunity to explore the world, even though Luke often did. More often than not he ordered her to stay home went he went abroad, but it had never truly bothered her since she always had the company of her friends and family to fall back on. That, a family, had always been her dream in life, not the world. Still, she enjoyed the tales of far off places as Poe described them with his usual vigor.
Time passed quickly for them with such pleasant company, and Rey almost-almost-forgot the gravity of their mission. But then the day had come to finally reach Takodana. They were in the midst of an extremely dense forest with trees that were thick, tall, and bountiful. They reached high above and their branches completely enveloped the area, making any glimpse of the sky near impossible. Likewise, their roots were ancient and strong, popping up from the ground and snarling this way and that, making it very hard for even two lone riders to navigate through.
"I can see why no one knows of this place," Poe grumbled, again having to urge his horse around a impossible tree that blocked the way. "It isn't worth half the trouble."
Rey did her best to not get too frustrated. "According to Luke's directions, we need to find a river."
That had been a quest within itself. Though the forest was filled with noises of different animals and the breeze rushing past bushes and leaves, there wasn't the slightest sound of even a trickle of water. It seemed like hours that they absently travelled around until finally they heard a drip drop of water on some surface. Rey urged BB8 into a gallop towards it, and cried out in relief when she finally found a small stream nestled between moss covered boulders.
"This will lead us to a river, it must! Come on Poe!"
They galloped hard and fast, well, as best as they could anyway, and it didn't take long before the thin quiet stream grew wider and wilder. It's size kept slowly widening until it spilled out into a vast lake, large with crystal blue water. And there along it's shores was an ancient looking castle.
"We made it," Rey breathed, hope blossoming within her chest.
It seemed impossible that the dense and empty forest could house such a lively castle. Outside was full of people mingling about, talking and selling things, and inside was ten times as worse. It was impossible to look across the room let alone actually try to walk through it. The crowds were loud and wild, talking and drinking without a care in the world.
Rey didn't even know what Maz looked like.
"So, start asking around?' Rey suggested, not even seeing another option.
"It seems like our only choice. But Rey, best keep our names to ourselves. Who knows who is here and what side they're on."
Rey nodded and lead the way into the room, Poe right behind her.
It seemed like the most sense to ask the bartender in the back first, since he obviously worked here, but the question prompted the tall and gangling man to snarl at Rey.
"What the hell do you want with her?" he spat, the glass in his hand slammed roughly down onto the wood.
"Calm down buddy," Poe said calmly yet sternly. "We're just here to speak with her."
"I've never seen either of you here before," The man continued, his beady eyes darting suspiciously between the two. "We don't take kindly to strangers in Takodana."
"Look, are you going to take us to Maz or not?" Rey snapped.
"I don't have to do anything girlie-"
"Bubba!" A voice boomed throughout the room. The music halted, and every single person grew deathly silent. The bartender's mouth slacked open and his eyes looked beyond Rey's shoulder.
"Is that anyway to treat guests?" The voice continued, a womanly voice that held obvious years of age to it. Despite that, though, it held the kind of authority Rey usually credited to her Aunt. "Get them two drinks, now. And make a Palpaloo for me as well."
The bartender quickly nodded his head and got to work.
Rey and Poe turned around, to finally meet who had to be the owner of this place-Maz. Oh yes, she definitely had a good amount of years on her shoulders. She was extremely petite, even smaller than Rey who wasn't that big to begin with, but stood with her back erect as she regarded the two. Her dark skin had wrinkles almost everywhere, and her hair was a mass of curls that were cut right right atop her ears. Thick rimmed glasses covered her eyes, eyes now pointedly looking Rey up and down.
"Skywalker." She stated plainly. "It's never exactly a good thing when a Skywalker or Solo pays me a visit."
"Um," Rey swallowed back her nervousness. "My fat-guardian told me where to find you. Professor Skywalker."
Maz waved her hand. "You can say father girl, I'm not so haughty to care about blood. Luke has no qualms calling you his daughter. But I know who you are Rey Skywalker and why you're here."
"The prophecy," Rey breathed.
"Yes, but best not to talk about it here. Pretty boy, grab our drinks and follow me."
Poe grinned and did as he was told. They followed Maz through the crowds that dutifully made way for her, bringing them all the way to the back of the room where a quieter alcove lay in wait with a table and chairs.
"Now, what is it you wish to know?" Maz inquired after they all settled in.
"Everything," Rey said eagerly. "Luke really didn't tell me much, just that there is a hope mentioned that will defeat a darkness."
"That is basically the gist of it."
"Yes but how do you know it's me? And that the darkness is-" Rey stopped herself and darted a glance to Poe. She hadn't exactly told him yet the part where Ben was suspected to be the villain in the prophecy.
"Your cousin?" Maz said cooly, not aware of why she hesitated.
Thankfully, if Poe was surprised, he didn't show it or say anything.
Rey nodded.
"Girl, prophecies are ancient things. The Maker has only gifted some of us with the ability, or cursed us from other's perspective. We're more delivers of them then interpreters. If you're unhappy with the prophecy, I am sorry, but there is not much more I can do."
"But, I just don't understand. You specifically prophesied that Ben Solo is some kind of darkness that needs to be defeated by me?"
Maz sighed, deep and low, and closed her eyes. "My prophecy was more of the visual sense than verbal. I saw glimpses of our land, glimpses of death, blood, and agony. The First Order fighting against the legions your family had amassed. I saw you girl, fierce and beautiful and ready to reign hell on your enemies. And I saw him, Ben Solo. I saw a hand of darkness on his shoulder, with claws that pierced his skin and blackened his blood. The poison gnarled his face with hideous anger and brought a blade to his hand that killed all those in front of him. None stopped him, none met his rage, until he came upon you. As you two faced each other, light met dark, the world flashed, and my prophecy ended."
Rey felt the blood leave her face and swallowed thickly, horrified by the scene Maz had just painted her. Of course she felt anger toward Ben and everything that had happened between them, but could she ever face him on a battlefield like Maz had just described? No, of course not. She would never raise a blade to him and she knew, without a doubt, he would never do the same to her.
"You're wrong," Rey whispered, unable to even fathom such a scenario happening. "Ben and I would never do that to each other. Ever."
Dimly, Rey felt Poe's fingers brush against her hand.
Maz's eyes opened, large and wide behind her thick spectacles. It made it all the easier to see the pity shining back at her. "Child, are you so sure of your connection with him?"
"Yes" She answered back strongly.
"Yet this is the only part of the prophecy you have contention with? That he will turn against you? What about the others before you that are destined to die by his hand? Of the anger and hatred that will twist his heart? You do not protest these things because you know, though you try to deny it, it can-will-happen to him. And if he falls so easily into that darkness, then it is only a matter a time before his ire will turn towards you."
No, it wasn't possible. But she had been right. Rey only raged at the prophecy because she could not accept Ben would try and harm her. But everything else….she hadn't even bothered. Was she that selfish or did she truly believe Ben was capable of doing such things?
"You don't even know him," Rye spat.
"No, I don't. But you do girl, so search your feelings. Has the young Solo caused doubt within you? In his family? You all are making plans now, preparing to battle the darkness. But where is Ben? Do you, anyone of you, include him in this? Why is that? What company has he been keeping Skywalker?"
The chair clattered to the floor as Rey jumped up. She looked angrily at Maz, inwardly angry at herself, and shook her head. "This was a mistake. You're wrong, you're all wrong."
"Rey!" Poe called but she was pushing through the crowds, making herself lost in it. She needed to be alone right now. To think, to prove to herself everything Maz had been saying was wrong. She had to be wrong, Ben would never-he couldn't.
Yes, he was always bit of an outsider in his family. Yes, his relationship with his parents isn't that great. But that didn't mean he was going to turn into a psycho murderer! What kind of madness was that?
Rey didn't know where she was going until she realized she wasn't even in the main room of the castle anymore. Where she was is now is quite, dark, and devoid of any other living soul.
A crate of something was on the floor and Rey blindly kicked at. She let out a scream and kicked again, and again, and again. She kicked until the crate was nothing but splintered wood and her foot began to feel warm and wet with blood.
Poe was waiting with the horses when Rey returned.
He was quiet as she immediately went to BB8, stroking the stallion's hair and pressing her face against his neck. BB8, sensing her mood, gently nuzzle her hair.
"Rey," Poe said after a few more minutes. "I don't know much about prophecies but what Maz said...she could be wrong."
"She is," Rey said immediately. "Ben is a lot of things, but he's not that."
"Then I trust you."
The sentiment did not make her feel any better. With her face still pressed against BB8, she whispered dejectedly, "What do we do now?"
Luke was gone, so was Han and Leia, and here she was supposed to be the turning tide in a war that had barely begun. It didn't feel right to just...just go home. To sit and wait while others were out there actually do something. It felt like defeat. It felt like uselessness.
Poe's hand fell on her shoulder, warm and comforting. He squeezed once. "Whatever you want to do Rey. Wherever you want to go."
She finally pulled back and looked at him. "Poe, you're involved in this. Don't you have somewhere to be? Orders or something?"
"I do. I'm to report to D'Qar soon. But that can wait, I'm with you now."
"You don't have to do that Poe."
"You're my friend Rey. Of course I do."
Now that made her smile, despite her mood. "Okay, how about-"
A scream split through the air and the two jolted with surprise. Another followed, then another, and another. They were cries of pain and horror, getting louder and more frequent with every second. But then other sounds entered the mix. Steel on steel, grunts of anger, things falling to the ground. Shouts now, orders and curses and other unrecognizable noises that made Rey tremble with fear.
A fight was breaking out, but not a simple scuffle that would happen late nights in taverns. This was much larger and much more violent.
"Get on your horse," Poe ordered sternly and was already walking towards his own. "Now"
But Rey was frozen. "People are getting hurt" She heard herself say.
"I know, but we can't help them. We can't risk you."
"But Poe-"
"Rey dammnit. Prophecy or no prophecy I'm not letting any First Order bastards get their hands on you. Now get on the horse."
He couldn't be sure it was the First Order. They had yet to see any attacker, only heard the madness they were causing not far off. But even though they couldn't know for sure, it was too much of a coincidence for it not to be them.
The war had finally come.
And though she hated herself for it, Rey saddled BB8. She could fight decently enough, Luke had no qualms of her teaching despite her gender, but to actually put her skills to use-it caused a immeasurably fear within her.
As she sat stupidly on BB8, torn with over what she was about to do, Poe spurred her to action. He slapped the stallion swiftly on its rump and let out a cry for it to run. It took a second for BB8 to sprint out of the stables, Poe and his steed right behind him.
It was mayhem outside.
The crowds that had been drowning Maz's castle were now all outside, like ants forced outside their earthly home into the fresh air. They were running wildly, screaming and crying, while others were trying to fight back from the sudden surge of aggressors.
The First Order. Finally, some kind of visual to place to the ominous name. Their soldiers were all in white-a odd choice, Rey couldn't help but think. White tunics and leggings, the only splash of difference was the black belt and matching boots. And they wore masks. White clothes wrapped tightly on their heads, only letting their eyes and nose be visible. They might as well be covered with the lifelessness staring back at everyone. They were making no qualms with whom they attacked, their swords cutting down every body that came too close to them.
Rey gasped as she saw a scrawny man, trying desperately to hit someone with a club, have a sword cut right into his shoulders. As his flesh was split in two blood poured from the wound like a waterfall and splashed onto the ground. It was more than Rey ever thought she would see in her lifetime. Her stomachs churned as the mean screamed, spit mixed with red dribbling from his open mouth. The First Order soldier ripped his sword from the flesh, and then kicked the man in the stomach so he stumbled to the ground. Then he rose his weapon up once more…
"Rey!" Poe screamed, only inches from her and trying to lead her back into the woods. "Move!"
BB8 was restless underneath her, the noises and aggression making him jittery and pawing at the ground. He was breathing loudly through his nose and waiting rather impatiently for Rey to command him to do something.
"Rey!" Poe cried again but then it was too late.
A hand had gripped her leg and pulled her roughly from the saddle. She went tumbling down without a fight, the dirt floor meeting her cheek with a sick thud. Biting back the pain, she looked wearily up to see a soldier in white raising up his sword. Just like the man with the club…
Then there was Poe, body slamming into the solider and away from Rey. The two men tumbled to the floor, grunting and grappling with each other as they did. The sword slid helplessly away from its owner, right in reach for Rey to take.
And take she did.
Rey finally felt her instincts kick in, the need to fight-not run, rush into her blood like a welcome friend. She grabbed the sword without any hesitation, and was up on her feet rushing to her friend. But then another soldier blocked her way before she got anywhere near Poe, who was now fist fighting the soldier he had knocked to the ground.
The soldier looked at her indifferently, like just another body for him to split in two, and raised his weapon. Rey met him with full force.
She knew how to fight with a sword, and had sparred with Luke, Han, and even Ben. But no one had ever tried to actually kill her before, this was something quite different. The soldier was ruthless-almost inhuman in his attacks. Rey was quickly getting breathless but the soldier didn't even look like he was breaking a sweat.
Thankfully, though the soldier was bodily strong, he was poor in skill. His attacks were full of power but lacked finesses and defense. It was easy for Rey to find enough openings to strike him down. She hesitated at first, and tried to find ways to just incapacitate the man. Finally, a opening arose as he missed a hit at her chest. He left his legs open, and Rey swooped in, slashing the flesh of his calves and watching the man scream and fall to the ground. Her sword sent a stream of blood into the air as she pulled away.
"Rey!" Poe called. He punched the soldier one more time in his face, sending him spiraling to the ground, and then rushed towards her. "Are you alright?"
"Fine," She breathed, though her stomach churned at the violence she had just committed. "I-I just,"
But then more soldiers were upon them. So many more. Rey was again clashing swords, and Poe along with her as he now had the one he took from his fallen soldier.
"Skywalker!" A voice called through the mayhem.
Rey looked wildly around till her eyes found Maz, rushing through the crowds and right towards her. It was a bit odd, to see such a old and frail looking woman running at such a pace as so many people fought and died around her. A pistol was clutched fiercely in her hands, and the unlucky men that got in her way were immediately shot in the chest.
"What are you doing here?" Rey cried as she reached her. She would think Maz would be safe in her castle or on some escape route if under such an attack.
"Making sure you get out of this alive!" She retorted, and shot at someone behind Rey. There couldn't be much bullets left. "We can't let the First Order have you! Rey," She looked up at her through those glasses, "You need to run, now!"
"I'm not leaving-"
"She's right," Poe interjected. "We'll hold them off so you can get away. Rey, go!"
"Poe!" Rey exclaimed, not even fathoming the possibility. The only reason he was here was because of her and now she was to abandon him?
"There's no time to argue!" Poe cried and then was hugging her, pushing their bodies tightly together that Rey gasped at the fierceness. But just as quick as it started, it was over. He pushed her toward the forest and turned his back, ready to face the next attacker.
Angry tears burnt at her eyes.
"Rey," Maz snapped, "Whether you accept it or not, you're too important. Leave, don't go home, find your family. They will keep you safe."
D'Qar. Luke was in D'Qar. But that was so far from here and to leave Poe…
"Go," Maz urged, pushing at her legs. "Go now."
Helplessly, she began to back away. Every cell in her body was screaming otherwise, but some part of her understood it was time to leave. She gave one last look at Poe, swearing to every god above she would see him again, and then turned and ran into the shelter of the trees.
Rey didn't get far until the bullet of a pistol shot the bark of the tree next to her head.
She was far enough from the castle that nothing but trees surrounded her, but no far enough that she still couldn't hear the fighting. And apparently not far enough that a soldier didn't follow her.
She turned around with a gasp, and saw a man in white aiming a gun at her. He was close enough to kill her, too close for Rey to try and dodge it. She was shocked he had already missed. But then a thought occurred to her-maybe they didn't want her dead. They wanted to bring her in alive.
"Don't move!" The man barked. "Or I'll shoot you in the leg. Got it?"
Rey didn't answer, but did do as he said. She looked around wildly, trying to find something-anything-that could help her. The sword in her hand was pretty useless when up against a pistol.
"Now, come closer, slowly. And drop the sword while you're at it."
With no other choice, Rey did as she was told. One step at a time, bile rising in her throat, Rey came closer to the soldier. She loathed to drop her weapon but she did, and it fell with a dull thud against the lush green ground.
"Good, closer now, closer..."
The man gasped. Rey froze. There, as if magic, a sword was suddenly through the man's chest. The blade's tip was red, and Rey stared at him dumbly as it sucked the life from the First Order warrior. The man fidgeted uselessly against it, and spat and cursed with each draining second. His blood was staining his uniform, and then the ground, and as he stared at the red growing larger and larger, life finally left him.
The sword drew back from his body and the soldier dropped to the ground. There, standing behind him, was Be Solo.
"Ben…" Rey whispered, shocked, horrified, and confused. What the hell was he doing here?
"How could you be so stupid?" He spat and walked over the dead man like he was nothing but the dirt beneath him. "How could you think coming here was a good idea?"
Rey was still trying to process that he was actually here let alone trying to answer him.
"Rey!" Ben barked and grabbed her roughly by the shoulder. "Snap out of it, we need to leave-"
"Solo"
The two turned their heads back towards the direction of the castle. A tall man with a group of soldiers had come upon them. Unlike the other, this man wore complete black, a stark contrast to the bright red hair combed neatly atop his head. His cold blue eyes stared vehemently at Rey, making her feel all kinds of wrong, before they slid to Ben. "You have her, well done."
Ben didn't answer and didn't remove his hand from her shoulder
"Bring her along, Lord Snoke will be pleased to hear of her capture."
Rey's eyes snapped to him. "Ben"
No, no, no, no, no.
"This was a mistake," Ben snarled, not to her but to the redheaded man. "I could have accomplished this mission on my own, like I assured you, and now you've exposed us like this. Snoke will not be pleased to hear about this."
"Your mission," The man retorted and apparently not phased by Ben's anger at all (a feat within itself), "Was to acquire the girl at her estate. That was why you argued to return home and to your family to begin with, was it not? And yet there you were, with ample opportunities, but did nothing until she left to go on this little expedition. I had no choice but to intervene."
Ben glowered at him. "I had it under control Hux, and now you've introduced the world to the might of the First Order before we planned to. And on a strike against Takodona no less."
Hux, the man Ben had told her he met in Naboo. The man who introduced him to Snoke.
Hux shrugged. "It was all in the name for her so I'm sure Lord Snoke will understand. Now, how about we end this little chat and leave this rat hole, hm?" He promptly turned on his heel and began to walk toward the castle, his soldiers following dutifully behind him.
Rey felt Ben tug her right behind them.
"How could you?" Rey breathed, horrified as Ben-Ben-brought her into the hands of the enemy. She wanted to fight, her fists itched to do so, but she knew it was useless. Even if she could escape Ben's grasp, Hux and his soldiers would be on her in seconds.
Ben didn't answer her, didn't even look at her. It was then she noticed his attire, pitch black, just like Hux. Rey's stomach churned.
As the castle came back into sight, as well as the mass of unmoving bodies on the ground, Ben's hold lessened slightly.
"Do you trust me?" He whispered, his voice too low for anyone but her to hear.
A horde of horses were now present in the castle's courtyard as well as several dark coaches. The First Order soldiers were beginning to mount, beginning to leave, apparently satisfied with the death they had brought upon this hidden place. Rey couldn't see Poe or Maz anywhere, and didn't know if they had escaped or were just one of the many bodies littering the ground.
What company has he been keeping Skywalker?
A tear escaped Rey's eye. "No, I don't."
Ben's hand squeezed her shoulder once more but the reason behind it was lost to Rey.