He is annoyed; very annoyed but he doesn't want to show it. This was a gigantic waste of time but at least the fool had come to visit him instead of sending him ultra-long letters complaining about trifling matters. The new tactical approach, CORRECTION, HIS approach was working but still Snoke wasn't pleased. As if Hux hasn't has anything better to do than to deal with a petulant childlike heir.

As he is pretending to listen to Snoke his mind wanders… He will gladly play along with Snoke's antics. for now. In his mind he had already formulated a plan and all he had to do now was easy.

His plan was easy, and he knew it would work. You see, as a general, he had found that often the most intricate, difficult strategies were less effective in the field. Many wars had been won by dividing and conquering, it was a simple yet efficient method. Snoke's flag was raised in many a city or village throughout the country. He had been successful and why wouldn't he be? In comparison to others, aka the buffoon, he knew what he was doing.

Hux was one of the youngest generals of the continent and he prided himself for it. His cunning intellect was first noticed at the military academy where he was first and best in almost everything. After school he had made ranks fairly, ever developing his skills and expanding his knowledge.

Therefore, the presence of some snotty prince that had not even finished military school but was given a high rank anyway was an insult.

Armitage doesn't fret though. He is certain that the idea currently residing in his mind would be successful eventually. He just must bide his time and wait in the corridors before he could take the centre stage.

His plan was simple really. Win the war and ergo destroy the Solo family, install Snoke as king, wait for a couple of months, organize a quick coup, establish a mock trial with an execution as verdict and then... reign as leader.

No one would dare to challenge him. Snoke was the bastard child of King Solo and not directly in line for the throne anyway as far as he knew. Maybe the French would reject and would want to put forward a successor, but he would quickly get rid of them, not to mention he would build an army so strong it would be the terror of whole Europe. One battle against his army and the French would quickly concede. Then he would forcefully marry some neighbouring country's princess to legitimatize the whole thing. King Armitage Hux, it sounded good to his ears.

His ponderings get interrupted by Snoke ramblings unfortunately.

"You do realise, Armitage that I am to govern these people after the war. I am not sure how they would revolt against me at one point.", Snoke had said with a tired look on his face. What did he have to be tired for?

As if HE was the one laying in the trenches, watching his friends get slaughtered. Poor, poor Baron, Hux mocks in his mind. Armitage sighs and then faints interest as he speaks next.

"I understand, Baron but…. The lower half country belongs to you now and we are gaining territory each day. The people surrender willingly and quickly cast aside their allegiance to Solo, they have heard of what we done before with the previous village. They are highly frightened and willing to do anything to stay alive. We haven't had to burn a village in a week now", Hux says with a sinister smile.

He continues.

"As for the battlefield, we are rapidly gaining on the enemy each day. What possibly could you want more, Baron? I am sure that, when you shall become King, you will find a way to creature some goodwill with citizens. They'll accept you; they have no choice now do they?".

Snoke is silent and the general can see that he is processing what was said. Hux can not help but wonder what could possibly go on in that stupid head.

"Do you think it is time for a mediation with Lucas? Maybe he wants to surrender soon? ".

Hux shakes his head, folds his hands and lays them on the table.

"That would be a fruitless endeavour for they do not plan to give up any time soon, Baron. That's why we should continue fighting especially now we are close to victory."

"Besides why should we BEND when they refuse to BREAK.", Armitage says in a chilling manner.

Snoke looks at Hux. Somehow, he always forgets about it, but the realisation hits him every time regardless.

Those eyes are the coldest he has ever seen in his life.

Rey has been here a week now; she knows because she has been keeping track by putting another mark on the wall. One week. Already.

Her days follow a similar pattern. Eat breakfast in the dining hall and then back to her room to read. After finishing reading Don Quixote Rey had moved on to Romeo and Juliet by a William Shakespeare, a book she had selected herself. She had permission to visit the library as much as she wanted, and she was very grateful for that. Reading offered her solace and a way of escaping because she knew she psychically couldn't.

Rey had chosen Romeo & Juliet because the preface had intrigued her; Romeo and Juliet of opposing families but fell hopelessly in love with each other anyway. The book was interesting for, as the love grew between Romeo & his Juliet, there were these dark signs that the relationship would end in tragedy.

So, she engrosses herself in the book or so she tries to but stops after a couple of pages, then continues, then stops and thinks about…

She wondered if he would visit her tonight because he hadn't yesterday and then she immediately had scolded herself for wondering. Why on earth would she care if he came to see her or not? And why, why did she feel a bit disappointed when he didn't come by last night?

She must be losing her marbles. THIS man was very dangerous, she should fear him but... The odd thing was, he hadn't hurt Rey so far. While she was a prisoner of some sort, her stay had been rather comfortable till now. Also, he had not interrogated her much, well not in the formal sense of the word.

He kind of pretended to interrogate her by asking silly questions he KNEW the answer to anyway and Rey usually responds with either affirming or stating that he was wrong or saying she doesn't know.

The truth is, he uses their walks to get to know her better and Rey is highly aware of this. He had asked about her youth and what staying in the orphanage was like for instance. While Rey doesn't sugar coat things, she is wary of telling him everything and doesn't go into detail. She carefully omits speaking about the only friends she had and what happened to them.

As their conversations go longer, Rey's curiosity grows as well. If she must admit it, the truth is that he intrigues her in some way and she wants to know more about him. She is adamant that this has to do with wanting to get information out of Kylo for the Resistance, but she isn't sure if she believes her own lie.

After lunch Rey decides it is time to leave her room for, she has grown tired of reading. Unfortunately, she isn't "free" to wander everywhere by herself. No, she was steadfastly escorted by two guards that did not to leave her out of sight, any move she made was under scrutiny. She could sense that neither of them wanted to experience Ren's wrath if she was, by some miracle, able to get away.

Rey hated inconveniencing the soldiers, even if they were the enemy, she felt bad that these men had to follow her everywhere, but she wanted to stretch her legs a bit. When she had arrived here for the first time the guards had told her that Rey could explore the castle but was permitted to go outside.

Rey had the option of walking through the grand hall; back and forth or visit several rooms visits several rooms; one of which the library. She liked this castle very much; it was old and there was this sense of nostalgia still lingering in the air.

Domhnall Castle was abandoned now but Rey sensed that it had been the centre of attention back in its day. The dining room, for one; was grandly decorated with paintings and statues and had a lovely fireplace. Above the fireplace hang the coat of arms of the Gleeson family; the original residents and regents of the place.

Rey is close to the banquet hall now and she decides to see it again. This banquet hall was a bit on the smaller side from what she gathered about castles; yet very cosy. Rey thought about the weddings and feasts that must have taken place there, she could almost envision guests eating, drinking and dancing here.

At one point the guards always grow tired of walking back and forth with Rey and instruct her to return to her room. She obliges but always dreads what comes next in a couple of hours.

Dinner... him. Dinner with him; followed by a stroll outside.

She was happy to eat alone yesterday, or so she tells herself, and figured that Kylo couldn't get away in time. Maybe he couldn't make it today either? She is escorted back to her room and decides to journal a little bit; to pass the time until dinner. She then writes a letter to her friend Finn; even though she knows he will not be able to read it. She hopes and prays that Finn has woken up from his dark and ominous sleep by now.

Time passes and then she hears a knock on her room. Rey knows what that knock means.

As she enters the dining hall her hope of eating alone quickly goes out of the window for there he is, sitting at the table. His dark eyes follow her intently as Rey goes to her seat and sits down. She doesn't greet him.

The maid serves Rey her dinner upon which Rey thanks her. The maid politely nods and smiles before looking at Kylo. A quick move with his head is enough for the maid to understand she is no longer wanted in the room and then Rey is sans guard or maid and left alone with Kylo.

She starts eating her meal in silence and tries to look down at her plate when Kylo asks her how her day was. Rey responds with "fine" and "I read mostly"; intentionally giving short answers because for some reason she doesn't feel like talking today. Thankfully Kylo picks up on this and doesn't ask much further.

Dinner ends and the maid enters to pick up the dishes while another one gives Rey her coat to wear for her obligatory stroll outside. Rey doesn't like to be waited upon, but she doesn't want to cause any problems for the staff, so she obliges when the maid helps her with her coat.

Then Kylo and Rey head outside. The weather is a bit chilly, but Rey doesn't mind this at all, she is grateful to get some fresh air. They follow the same path as always, into the forest, go left at the lake and back to the castle again. The stroll with Kylo takes about half an hour to finish, or so Rey thinks and the first few minutes are always the most awkward she finds.

The silence is almost always broken by Kylo at one point.

"I've been meaning to ask you. What were you doing in the forest that day? My soldiers said you were cutting leaves off plants. Why?".

Rey bites her lip and doesn't know if she should tell him the truth or not, she thinks it is best if he knows half of it.

"I. In the orphanage they taught about how some plants have medicinal value when it comes to healing wounds, especially when you make some sort of balm of the leaves. Someone got hurt and I was trying to help.".

Kylo stops in his tracks suddenly and so does Rey for reasons beyond her imagination. She looks at him, he is not pleased.

"Was that your friend Finn by any chance? The one you were in the forest for? The one that got hurt?", Kylo says. There it is again, that snarky tone of voice. This time it is more apparent to Rey because he is frowning and increasingly getting angrier by the second.

"Good God Almighty", Rey thinks. Her worst fears have come true.

HE is JEALOUS. Oh NO.

She doesn't answer his question to not anger him further. She takes a step forward and walks away. She can hear him quickly following her.

Rey quickens her pace slightly. She wants to go back to the castle and really wishes to be alone again. As she walks faster, she makes the dumb mistake of not looking where she is going. She doesn't see the large branch which is densely camouflaged with leaves; and she trips over it. As she certain to fall rather harshly forward; on the ground and on her face; she feels one strong arm around her waist, the other proceeding to pull her up and ultimately preventing her from falling.

It is ridiculous really, but it takes her a minute to realise who is holding her; now both of his hands have embraced her waist. He breathes heavily and she can basically hear his heart pacing and her own at the same time as well.

Rey is unable to move and has also started to breathe heavily and Rey is sure that Kylo has noticed this. She is standing flush against him with her back and his grip on her seems to have tightened.

He feels warm and the heat of his body relays to her. It is a comfortable feeling, having someone so close to her but then Rey comes to her senses. She puts her hands on his to 'break free' from his grip but to her shock he grabs them; folds hers into hers, intertwining their fingers.

He then gently and very briefly moves his fingers across the back of Rey's hand, gently but firmly stroking it. Rey is certain her heart is going to jump out of her heart at any minute but collects herself.

Rey pushes his him away eventually, takes two steps forward and then turns to face him. She then quickly gazes down, for he is intensely staring at her with a look which she cannot decipher.

( WRITERS NOTE: It is desire, Rey, YOU DUMMY LOL).

"I want to go back if that is alright with you", she says.

He sighs then nods. They do not speak of the incident or at all on the way back to the castle.