Eeeek! You guys! This chapter I really liked even if I had to rewrite 3 times just yo make sure it was up to par! I finally have the base I wanted to build and endless possibilities for different directions. Again, you have blown this mom of two away with you support and comments! And because of it, my daughter is asking me to read "my stories" to her! *sniffle* So keep it up, guest, follower alike, your suggestions have fuelled the fire for a long running story!
As always, all rights to the mighty Disney. I own nothing.
Chapter 13
Because of the possible threat of attack now, Ben and Rey had come back to all their stuff in one hut and an extra bed set up, crammed into a small space at the back. Rey set her stuff on that one as it made sense with her smaller frame, while the close quarters seemed to add a level of awkwardness due to it no longer being an option to cohabitate and now a necessity.
Tsaro returned briefly a couple of hours after to advise them the shields would remain up at all times now, and that they could rest easy knowing that they were safe from an attack from any aerial attack.
"It late now. We have talk in morning. Rest now, Master Ben, Master Rey." She said gently, giving a small bow before leaving, to the utter disbelief of them both.
Rey directed Ben to sit so she could deal with his cut while having R2 get the first aid kit for her. Getting water and clothes she perched herself on the arm of chair she usually sat in on, by his right side, cleaning away the dried blood first on his cheek before dabbing the gash carefully, Ben sitting bone straight during her administrations.
"Must be something about this side of your face." she muttered absentmindedly, then freezing, realizing she had stated the thought out loud and turned a bright shade of pink.
Ben's eyes drifted to glance briefly in her direction without actually turning his head before a ghost of a smile played on his lips. He could sense her anxiety over what she perceived as a laps in thought, so he reached over and placed a gentle hand on her knee, imparting his unguarded humor in her comment.
Rey smiled as she felt his thoughts clearly and continued to clean the cut, "It might scar..." She said quietly, leaning in close to attached the closing strips carefully.
Ben couldn't help himself and closed his eyes at her caring, enjoying the soft scent of her soap floating through the space between them, her hands treating him as he was a fragile thing and not the former supreme leader.
"There. Best I can do." She said leaning back and cleaning up the empty packages as he reluctantly slipped his hand from her knee.
"Thank you." His low voice deep and truly genuine as he gently touched his bandaged cheek, eyes following her around the small space. "We should take shifts just in case." He added, getting back to the reality of the situation they were in.
The next morning dawned bright and clear, the night having passed calm and quiet even though they swapped during the night keeping vigil just in case, Ben had taken the later shift to let Rey sleep till the suns were high in the sky.
Once she was up, it didn't take long for Tsaro to make her way into the hut with the morning meal, setting things up first before she got her regular stool out. She shuffled to her wheelbarrow and brought out a very thick, very heavy book, thudding down on the small table between Rey and Ben before turning and sitting in her spot with a weary groan.
"That Annals of Lanai." She said, as she sat on the stool. The book was, easily, over six inches thick, bound with fraying crude cord, a severely weathered cover showing barely legible writing that was badly faded. There was an old musty odour coming off the thick paper that was uneven and rough, peaking out around all the sides of the cover except for the bound side.
Rey immediately set her food to the side, quickly forgotten and, ever so gently, ran a hand over the rough cover, feeling the texture of the ancient leathery surface. "Is this a document of your history?" Rey asked breathlessly. She had taken to books since joining the Resistance, devouring anything she could get her hands on, and had been reverently taking care of the Jedi texts.
"Yes. Back to days of balance and before." Tsaro said quietly and gave, what would pass for a frown. "Elder, Alcida-Auka not be happy if know you see Annals." Her gravely tone conveying her disagreement with that plan. "You need truth." She added with resolve and shifted to stir the coals around the kettle.
Rey carefully opened it, scanning the pages quickly, before turning to the next page slowly, taking her time and treating each page as a precious thing between her fingers.
The language was written in a looping scrawl, interspersed with glyph like characters and intricate, hand drawn pictures. To her dismay she couldn't understand the language, but continued to look through the pages with rapt fascination, pointing out things here and there to Ben as he hovered over the table looking at the pages just as critically.
"What does it say about the bond." Ben directed to Tsaro, while focusing on a page and placing a hand on Rey's for a moment to prevent her from turning to another page as he examined a picture in one of the corners.
Tsaro sighed a little before launching into her explanation of the bond, "Not known as to start or how, and rare to find. Pairs only, never more than two. Are connected, powerful, have different strengths." She said, starting to shift the logs absently in the fire as she spoke, "Never seen more power, you have. Nothing in book tell of such ability you show. Said pair will live long, and whole force will mourn when gone. One unable to be without other."
At this last bit of information both Ben and Rey's heads turned away from the book and stared at Tsaro, who stared intently into the fire, not meeting their looks.
"What do you mean one cannot be without the other, Tsaro?" Rey said aghast at the thought of her life being so closely tied to Ben's considering the state of the universe at the moment.
"Enough time pass, you share life force, able to call with force. You. Are. One. In. Same." She stated clearly, separating her words to emphasize the importance of them.
Ben slumped back in his chair as the words truly hit him the book forgotten for the moment. Not only did the bond tie them together, but it tied their very life force to each other. On one hand, they would live an extended life, if able, but with him being hunted, a traitor, during a time of unrest, both could parish in one simple moment.
Rey felt the conflict and a sense of panic in Ben rise, mixing with her own confusion of this monumental information. She was truly bound to this man, in ways she never thought possible. Her mind churned on it like a swirling storm, before she took a deep breath and asked another question that was lingering, "The call. What is it, and who or what, exactly are we calling?" She said, a little sharper than she really intended. Tsaro was obviously not supposed to be telling them such guarded information, yet she was open and forthcoming so far.
"Not know what it is. Tried finding more, but book just says; great, swallowing darkness." she struggled with the words and finally moved to the book, flipping to a section near the back of the large book. The pages were obviously much older, some of the writing nearly illegible from wear and years on the page.
The picture on the page showed a depiction almost identical to the one in the pool in floor of the first temple, half dark, half light, but under there was a smudged, dark swirling mass depicted that was rising up, almost as if to swallow the balanced figure whole.
"Balance in dyad said to find weapon of binding." she said, pointing to a small picture on the side that resembled a red, corded rope, that wound decoratively around the page on the outside, still maintaining the intertwining sparkle of gold ink in a few places. "Save all from dark." she finished, placing her hand over the dark section of the page.
"What is this weapon?" Ben said, frustration coloring his tone. It seemed as if this was a rabbit hole they were falling down, finding more questions than actual answers.
"That lost. Was here." She explained and flipped a few pages over to where sections were obviously ripped out, only edges of a border remaining on the inch or so of the ripped-out pages.
"Great." Ben muttered darkly, scowling at the book like it was betraying him. "How did we make this call?" Ben asked, glancing at Rey.
She caught a brief moment of his train of thought and ducked her head, her cheeks burning at the memory of their kiss.
"Call through force done when in tune, drawing on great, deep emotion." She said, tilting her head and eyeing them both critically as Ben coughed into his tea cup and Rey examined a small detail on the book with focused attention.
"Must train further. Will teach how channel power of emotions different way." She said with a lift of her eyebrow as they both avoided her knowing gaze.
When she finally regained her composure, Rey questioned, "Will this great darkness show up for sure?"
Tsaro moved and sat back on her stool with a little shrug, "That unknow." She poked the fire a little more before glancing at the window.
"Must, do chores. Will return for last meal. Must take book." She explained rising, and put another batch of water in the kettle and on the fire.
Ben rose and gently picked up the book, closing it carefully to make sure it was all in order. He moved to her wheelbarrow and placed it softly in amongst the covering rags she had used to conceal it. "Your wisdom is appreciated Tsaro." Ben said softly to the old caretaker and opened the door for her.
She shuffled out slowly and Ben left the door open, letting in the sunlight and warm afternoon air. He leaned on the door frame with a heavy sigh, looking out over the compound, lost in thought.
Rey sat for a few moments and watched him, the soft breeze ruffling his hair around his cheekbones, the sunlight reflecting off his pale skin, his grey clothing contrasting his mood and his features. He still had an air of absolute power about him, even in his calm state that inspired a sense of caution when approaching him at times.
She stood, stretching a little, feeling the strain of their fight the night before in a few places walking over to him. She wrapped her slender fingers around his thick bicep and leaning into him a little, "Come with me." She said softly and moved out the door, letting her hand trail down his forearm as she exited.
Ben felt the heat of her hands through his shirt, leaving a path of fire as her fingers skimmed down his forearm. As she strode away, he couldn't help but appreciate how the sway of her hips moved before she briefly tossed a questioning look over her shoulder at him as to why he hadn't moved. Pushing off the door frame, cursing his mind before lengthening his already long stride so her would catch up to her quickly.
Rey led him up the hill, enjoying the change in the weather from overcast and cloudy to warm and sunny. The only sounds on the large hill being the porg's calls, gentle breeze, the crunching of their steppes on the short, course moss as their breathing came deep and regular with the effort of the climb.
As they reached the top, Rey directed him to the path and around an outcrop that shaded the next part of their trek to some stone steps and the doorway. "This is the first Jedi temple. Luke brought me here for my first lesson." She said and stepped through the threshold, the air significantly cooler in the cave, giving her a quick shiver.
Ben hesitated as Rey moved into the large space before proceeding and looked around the cavernous room in slight awe. "First lesson?" He asked, making his way over to the depressed pool, looking down at the still water. The image of the first Jedi clear under the glass-like surface.
"He taught me what the force was." She said remembering with a small grin.
Ben scoffed out a laugh, "Let me guess," bitterness coloring his tone, and turned his voice echoing of the walls, "It is the energy between all things, the balance."
Rey frowned at him, feeling how not all his feelings had quite resolved regarding his Uncle. "Yes." She retorted smartly and made her way to the ledge and stone where. She ran her hand over the stone and crack she had caused there when she talked to Luke.
"He told me to sit here." She said moving to where Luke stood for their lesson, the wind fanning through her hair, moving it across her face.
Ben tilted his head as he regarded her carefully, then moved forward and sat on the stone, in a meditative position.
Rey held her breath for a moment waiting for the bitter comment she though would come as he looked expectantly at her.
"Then what?" He asked calmly, feeling that this had been a significant moment in her life, so he wanted to know more, instead of focusing on his lingering bitterness.
"He told me to close my eyes and reach out." Ben did as she instructed, but reached out with the force, but not before he caught the image and memory of her reaching out with her hand and Luke slapping it with a reed. A full grin spread across his face unchecked as he kept his eyes closed.
"You didn't...really?" His tone warm and full of humor as he continued to sit with his eyes closed, feeling the embarrassment and humor fill her.
"Yes, I did. Now, focus." She said with chagrin, unable to keep a smile off her face either. "What do you feel?" She asked, closing down her side a little more so he could focus on his feelings and not her memories of it.
Ben narrowed his focus and concentrated on the island, "Life…death and decay, that feeds new life. Warmth, cold….peace, violence….balance, energy….the force." He responded, for the first time, in a long time, a sense of reverence in his voice.
Rey moved and sat in front of him, crossing her legs and reached out, taking his hands in hers, closing her eyes. The bond thrummed with power, their breaths slowing and becoming one as their heart rates matched each other in perfect unison.
They moved and explored each part of the island as the force flowed through it all, down to the tiniest porg and blade of grass and the largest Thala-siren. It wove through it all, as an intricate pattern, binding each thing to another and making its way up the mountain and through the temple, tying everything together and making its way through them in an endless circle.
As they basked in the balance and light and warms of all things, a shadow began to grow in the back of Rey's mind and her thoughts drifted to the dark place, and she led Ben to the edge where she had been before.
It's still calling me, calling us. She said cautiously, remembering Luke's warning, yet curious as to what else was there.
It wants to show us. It has answers. Ben's voice like a whisper in trance as her was suddenly beside her at the edge looking down into the dark home, and closing his eyes as if he were listening to a voice.
Rey sucked in her breath images suddenly rushing at her and she jerked away from Ben's hands on the stone, breaking their connection and pulling him back from the dark. She was panting, her hands shaking as she opened her eyes while his brow furrowed in a deep frown.
"Why did you…." He started piqued, before he realized how pale she was, her hands trembling in her lap. "Rey, what is it?" Concern unmasked in his voice.
"It was there, trapped, behind the glass." She stammered with fear and looked at him, eyes wild with it and she was shocked that he hadn't seen it too.
"What?" Ben asked, desperately and reached out, taking her trembling hands in his and was immediately locked into her fear and the sensation she had got, images of power and hate. The great darkness was there, trapped, and the glass was starting to crack.
Ben focused and drew on the calm and light that had just been flowing through them, easing her back to a more relaxed state. "We should go back. Tsaro said she would be back to talk and I think we will need as much help as she can give us."
Ben eased off the stone and held out his hand to Rey, his eyes still showing concerned as he looked down his arm at her sitting on the stone. Rey looked up blankly, reaching out and taking his hand, sliding off the stone, her nerves still on edge from the vision.
They made their way back as the suns set behind the mount of the island, causing the air to become chilled, making Rey shiver slightly. Ben kept her hand the whole way, shortening his strides so that she didn't have jog to keep up, while being able to maintain a connection to ease her anxiety.
By the time they got back, the sky was starting to dot with the first stars and the porgs had become quiet, leaving just the sound of the wind. As soon as they got into the hut, R2 was chirping and whistling for Rey. She let go of Ben's hand with a small, thankful glance and moved over to crouch down in front of the droid.
"What is it R2?" She asked gently as he indicated that there were awaiting messages for her from Finn and Poe. "Go ahead and play them R2."
Finn's voice crackled over his speakers, "We got your message Rey. I am so glad you are okay." Rey glanced up to Ben as he rolled his eyes at Finn's specific lack of mentioning Ben. "We are okay here. We have any stragglers on the run, and the rest in custody so whenever you need a ride back, Chewie is ready to come get you." The hope in Finn's voice plain, Ben, making himself busy as he fumed.
R2 whistled and started to play the next message from Poe. "Finn told me you guys were okay. We are encountering cells of First Order soldiers all over and its slow work. If Re...Ben, has any further information as to where we could look, it could save a lot of lives and resources. It would also go a long way in convincing the newly formed counsel that he has changed and maybe, maybe help them let him off exile to find more of these cells." Poe explained the last part through obviously gritted teeth at the thought of Ben getting any kind of privileges.
"Nice friends." Ben muttered bitterly as me moved to finish getting a kettle of water on the fire to make some tea.
Rey sighed and got up rolling her head back and forth a little bit, trying to get the tension out of her neck just as Tsaro shuffled in with her wheelbarrow of food. "Tsaro. We need to talk." Rey said, wearily before sitting in her chair, Ben handing her a cup of tea.
Tsaro looked up at Rey with the seriousness of her tone, "Eat. Good for mind. Then talk, plan." She said with a firm tone allowing no room for argument.
They ate quickly amidst Tsaro's grumbling and critical stares, before settling with more tea and a nice warm fire. The wind had picked up again, seeping through the cracks in the hut, causing drafts to play with the flames in a mesmerizing dance.
Rey stared into the flames and shivered as she started in a soft voice, the memory taking over again, "The great darkness is here. It's trying to get out. The mirror is cracking."
Ben's concern for her returned and he reached over and covered her ice-cold hands with his large one in support. He looked over at Tsaro who, for lack of a better explanation, looked deathly pale, her eyes filled with fear. "Rey and I were in the temple this afternoon meditating. She took me through her memory of her lesson with Master Luke and how she found the dark place."
Rey looked up from the flames and continued, "It called me when I was here, wanting to show me something before, then now, again. I thought this time it would show us both…..something. But all I saw was hate, malice, and cold. It wants to consume the power of all things, leaving nothing." She finished, a tear sliding down her cheek.
Ben squeezed her hands, trying to impart some heat to where she clasped them in her lap. They felt like ice and his brow knitted in concern and he noticed how pale she was as well. "We need to find how to bind this darkness again. And we need all of the Lanai to help." Ben said with determination.
Tsaro nodded slowly, obviously working on the information they had given her, "I go to Alcida-Auka now. Confess what done with training and book." Her voice dead serious as she rose, accepting that there would be a backlash for her training and showing them the Annals.
"Affects all now, Lanai cannot stay silent." She said with a grave nod before she exited the hut.
Rey took a deep, shaky breath in as she tried to calm herself and her mind. She hadn't been this scared or unsure since walking down into Maz's basement and had touched Vader's light saber. Ben was trying his best to be calm and direct it towards her, and that made her feel a deep warmth inside because of it. She thought they could have calm and space to train when they defeated the Final Order fleet, but all it had done was thrust them into a new danger.
Ben could feel the concern, fear and frustration washing over him in waves through their bond and it was rubbing him raw on the inside. He finally moved in front of Rey, crouching down, and captured her hands in his again.
"We have both overcome death. We will figure this out." He encouraged, his resolve firm. He had been the darkness and her light had broken through, destroying that.
Rey let a long, slow breath out, letting the heat from his hands make its way up her arms, pushing away the fear and fill her with calm. "We have no choice." She said, slightly resigned to their apparent fate.
Ben felt incredibly lost when it came to trying to make Rey feel better, all he knew was he didn't feel right when she was upset, but the longer he sat crouched in front of her, the longer his back heated up from the fire. He could feel the sweat dotting his forehead as he stood and move to his chair, somewhat reluctantly.
Rey couldn't help but smile at his thoughts coming plainly through, and she started to feel all the reassurance and strength that he was trying so hard to send through to her. "You are doing better than you think." She finally said looking over at him with her grin still in place.
Ben ducked his head knowing she would get the relief he felt now too, "I don't like not having all the information, or a plan." He confessed with a small frown.
Rey felt the last of her fears melting away as she grasped onto the strength of their bond and how it seemed like it continued to grow in power with each lesson they had. "We have the resources which is a good start." She reminded him.
R2 twittered and rolled over to where Rey was sitting, "He keeps saying he found something." Rey said to Ben with an utterly confused look.
"R2, slow down. What did you find? What where you looking for?" She asked, placing a hand on top of the excited droid as he bopped around in place.
He chattered on, ending with and excited whistle. "Wait. What?! Really?!" Rey said, hope blooming for the first time.
"Ben, he thinks he knows where a holocron is. Not just any holocron, but one that is said to have the oldest of knowledge on it." Rey explained with a beaming grin.
"Great! Where is it?" Ben said, saturated with her excitement.
R2 whistled and thrilled, and Rey's face fell a little. "It rumored to be the Grand Ball's prized auction item at this season's final pod race on Malastare." She said, her hope deflating.
Ben huffed in frustration, "That is by select invitation only and you have to have a ridiculous amount of credits invested in the gambling side for the race to get one." He stood, starting to pace, lost in thought. "R2, when is the race?" He asked as his mind worked.
The droid whirred and finally beeped the answer, "We have thirty days." Rey said with dismay.
Ben spun on his heal and paced back the other way again, repeating the pattern a few more times as Rey tried to figure what he was working out while he paced, as his mind had seemed to go into a high gear and she could only work out bits and pieces of a plan he was forming.
"R2, tell Poe he needs to come here in three days. I will give him all the locations he wants." He said with finality.
Rey tilted her head at Ben as she started to see his plan more clearly, "We get what we can from Tsaro and Alcida-Auka, then we get to Malastare and get that holocron. We are going to need Lando too." He outlined and opened his mind completely to Rey showing her his whole plan.
Rey's mouth opened slightly with a loss of words as she saw what he had started to work out, "You really think this could work?" She stammered out, slightly impressed at how fast he had come up with the idea.
Ben crossed the hut in two strides and sat firmly in his chair, still working on the details in his head, "I don't like how much can go wrong, but we have no choice. We are going to steal the holocron." He said with a fiercely determined look.