A/N: I was watching Disenchantment one day and Bean, Luci and Elfo wandering drunk and causing problems just made me think of Rey, Finn and Poe. I don't know why, but this sprouted out of that idea. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Set in a historical fantasy style AU.

Chapter One:

It was early evening but the heat was still stifling as Ben and Kylo rode into Niima, the capital of Jakku. They had ridden ahead of their parents retinue, fed up with the slow pace and being under the relentlessly harsh and empty sky.

Despite bearing no markings of their rank, they were still stared at. The people in Niima tended to have tanned or dark skin and be on the small side compared to the pale skin and broad build of the twins.

After riding a little way, they found a tavern that looked promising. While it was clearly not the sort of place princes would usually frequent, it wasn't a complete sink either.

As they ducked through the low doorway (everyone here really was short), a wall of noise and warmth hit them along with a mixture of scents, the strongest being incense and unidentified meat roasting.

It was a large space, crammed with tables and chairs in no particular arrangement, and thankfully it was so busy that not many people noted their entrance.

As they sat in a corner, sampling their ale which was apparently made with rice, Ben finally allowed himself a sigh of relief.

They had been travelling, slowly, for two long weeks and he was glad it was over for a few days. He was less happy about the reason for being in Niima though. Neither he nor Kylo were pleased when their mother, the Queen of Alderaan and Naboo, informed them it was time they married.

They had put it off before, but this time their father had agreed with her, as had their grandmother.

Jakku wasn't their first stop, they had been to various other lands since their mother's decree at the beginning of the year.

However, both of them were yet to settle on a suitable bride.

Jakku's King Iridian had nine children by five wives, seven of them female and none of them married.

Part of Ben felt like they were walking into a lion's den, he wasn't looking forward to tomorrow when they'd be introduced.

Kylo poked him in the arm, "Quite being miserable and drink, tonight at least, we are free."

Ben snorted softly, "We are never free," still, he tipped his cup back and nodded for more.

The rice beer, as they called ale here, turned out to be quite pleasing, somehow it was kept cool and the pottery mugs it was served in sweated with condensation as they sat on the rickety wooden tables in the dimly lit room.

They drank mostly in silence, just soaking up the ambiance of somewhere new, somewhere different, somewhere where no one recognised them.

As they were chewing on skewers of whatever meat was roasting on the spit in the fireplace, licking gravy off their fingers and sopping the rest up with bread, there came an outraged yell over the general hubbub.

There had already been a few scuffles, quickly suppressed by the large strongarm employed to keep things from going too far, but the man wasn't anywhere in sight as yet.

Leaning around to get a better view Ben saw a youth holding a bloody knife squaring off with a rough looking man who was clutching his arm and glaring menacingly at them.

"Touch me again and you lose your kriffing hand!" the youth snarled.

The man spat on the floor and took a step forward, pointing an accusing finger, "If you don't want touching you wouldn't be dressed like that!"

Ben frowned, trying to work out what was wrong with what the boy was wearing, his eyes widened as the boy looked to the side and he realised she wasn't a boy at all.

"Well that's new," Kylo said, lopsided smile reaching his eyes.

"She can wear what she wants," two men had come up to stand by her, it was the darker one who spoke, "Now, maybe it's time you left."

The rough man was backed up by four others though. Ben could see Kylo calculating the odds and considering jumping in - his brother could be rather hot headed.

The wounded man made a rush towards the girl, the others following and in one of the most brilliant moves he had seen for some time, she whipped her body around and used the momentum to kick the man in the side of his head.

He went flying, crashing to the floor and down for the count, but his friends didn't stop coming. The girl's two allies had moved to stand in front of her now, oddly determined to keep her out of it despite how capable she seemed.

The strongarm finally appeared, wielding a cudgel which he liberally used on anyone who ignored his orders to stop.

Ben and Kylo watched with interest as the assailants were thrown out and the girl and her two friends received a stern lecture before being allowed to stay. It sounded as though this was not the first time they had been in trouble.

The atmosphere returned to what amounted for calm in such a chaotic place and Ben finished his drink.

"Another?" he asked as he stood up.

Kylo nodded, and Ben weaved his way to the bar and along to where the girl and her friends were leaning.

Girl was perhaps a little under the mark he realised, young woman would be more appropriate. Slender, with finely boned features, clear tanned skin graced by a scattering of freckles and perfect pink lips.

While she was definitely in men's clothing, the material was good quality and the cut was as well.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to stare?" Pretty hazel eyes glared up at him.

Somewhere behind him, he was certain he could hear Kylo snigger.

"If she did, I don't remember it," he answered, probably too truthfully. He hurried on, "I meant no offense, just, ah, wanted to congratulate you on the way you put that guy down, it was impressive."

If anything, this seemed to make her more angry, "I bet you wouldn't be saying that if I'd been a kriffing man, would you?"

Ben wasn't used to women who didn't simper and smile and try to make him notice them. He shrugged uncomfortably, "I probably would, if they were as small as you."

That had evidently been the wrong thing to say. Choked off laughter came from her two friends.

She looked him up and down with narrowed eyes, "Size doesn't matter. If you want to take this outside, I'll prove it to you."

There was a groan and a hand came to rest on her arm, "Rey, no. Not again."

She, Rey, shook the hand off irritably but before she could answer, Ben felt Kylo come up behind him and rest his chin on Ben's shoulder.

"Sorry if my brother's bothering you, pretty lady, he doesn't get out much."

If Kylo had hoped to diffuse the situation, he was in for a surprise.

"I am not a kriffing lady!" Rey curled her lip and scowled at them both.

There was the loud sound of someone deliberately clearing their throat and they turned to see the barkeep watching them. The man raised an eyebrow and said mildly, "Rey, if you don't calm down, I am cutting you off. No more starting fights."

There came an outraged sound, quickly stifled as one of Rey's companions clapped a hand over her mouth, "It's alright, Korso, she'll behave."

The barkeep nodded and focused on Ben and Kylo, "Perhaps you'd like to go back to your table and I'll have someone bring you over your beer."

Ben felt slightly disappointed but nodded all the same and followed Kylo back to their corner.

"Well, she seemed nice," Kylo said dryly as they sat down.

Rolling his eyes, Ben chuckled, "I bet Mother would like her."

Kylo leaned back in his chair against the wall, amusement sparking in his dark eyes, "She would. Shame she isn't a lady."

"I don't think you'd survive the wedding night with that one," Ben replied, "In fact, she'd probably kill you before you even got to the altar."

'

They enjoyed the rest of their evening, quietly drinking, observing everything. It was a good way to get the feel of a place, the get to know a King through the eyes of his people.

When they had had enough and departed to find a more reputable place to stay the night, they left Rey and her friends still at the bar. She was more relaxed now, limbs loose as she laughed with her friends, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling.

If one of the princesses they met tomorrow looked anything like her, Ben thought he may actually be tempted.

"~*~ ~*~"

Despite the alcohol they'd put away last night, Ben and Kylo suffered no ill effects. Their leisurely breakfast was substantial, taken in a market square beneath colourful canopies that were set up to shield from the already cruel sun.

They were enjoying cups of delightfully bitter kaf when they heard the sound of a royal herald in the distance.

Kylo sighed dramatically, "Ready to do your duty again?" he asked Ben before necking his remaining kaf.

Finishing his own drink, Ben nodded and stood up, "As I'll ever be… I suppose to some people we appear to be ungrateful."

"If they had to live with Mother for a week they'd change their mind," Kylo muttered darkly as they made their way to where their horses were corralled, "Three days if you added in Father."

'

They joined up with the retinue just before they entered the palace grounds, their uncle waving them through as the Niiman guards attempted to stop them

"Your father's going to be so disappointed, he bet me a barrel of Tevraki whiskey at least one of you would have a black eye," Luke said, looking slightly smug.

Kylo glared at him, "We're not idiots."

Luke smirked, "Of course not," he didn't sound like he believed it.

Their uncle was insufferable, and Kylo deeply resented him. Luke had refused the Naboo throne, and Leia had decreed that after she died, Kylo would have the Naboo crown, as Ben would have the Alderaan one.

Being the eldest, Ben had always expected to rule, whereas Kylo had enjoyed being in the shadows, an easy life.

That had been shattered by Luke and Ben was fairly sure Kylo would never forgive their uncle and now the need for an arranged marriage only made Kylo angrier.

'

The palace at Niima was large, but not very remarkable. It sat on the top of a hill with the rest of the city below it and an almost sheer cliff behind it. The palace itself was a mishmash of sand coloured stone buildings that had obviously been added to over the years, many times, spreading until it was pressed right up against the cliff.

There was very little decoration, but everywhere you looked there were colourful bushes and flowers and large green succulents with sharp looking spines. It was a wonder, seeing such abundant life in so harsh an environment.

'

King Iridian met them with his eldest son and heir. He was a short man, brown skinned and dark eyed, his hair was white yet he still held himself straight backed, dressed in orange, purple and gold silk robes. It seemed that Niimans lived for colour, in contrast to their surroundings.

Han helped Leia down from her palanquin and Ben and Kylo went to join them.

Iridian smiled as he reached out to kiss Leia's hand, "Queen Leia, it has been too long since last we met," he turned to greet Han, who was doing his best not to glare, "Prince Han, a pleasure as always."

Leia smiled back at him but Ben could see her briefly squeeze his father's hand in warning, "King Iridian, it is a pleasure to see you again, may I present my sons, Benjamin and Kyloren." she gestured absently to Ben and Kylo and as usual, she got them the wrong way round.

Not bothering to contradict her, they greeted Iridian and were in turn introduced to his son, Nakaar, who like him was short and dark, though unlike the king, his eyes were unfriendly.

"You must be fatigued after your long journey, please, go and relax and wash away the dust and join us for the midday meal," Iridian smiled widely at Ben and Kylo, "And you can meet the rest of my children once you are rested."

'

Inside, the palace was a little more grand, cool because of the thick walls and marble floors, there were delicate porcelain ornaments, elegant marble statues, vivid silk wall hangings and rugs made in a riot of colours and textures.

The suite of rooms Ben and Kylo had been given consisted of two bedrooms with an adjoining sitting room, a large balcony that opened on both bedrooms, and a steam room.

The view from their windows seemed endless, but even up this high most of what you could see was just empty sand and sky.

The steam room was a queer way to get clean. The steam came from burning rocks that you poured water over, the hot moisture filling the air of the small enclosed room as you sweated and cleaned your skin with a scraper called a strigil.

It wasn't a particularly pleasant experience but it did feel good to be clean again.

Sand got everywhere.

Everywhere.

And the cold water they washed off with after the steam room was a welcome relief, cooling their heated skin.

'

When they were dried, they dressed in the trappings of their rank once more. Ben in trousers and shirt of grey with an over tunic of blue with silver embroidery and Kylo in similar outfit but in black and grey with red accents.

"If I do end up marrying one of them, they can visit home on their own," Kylo grumbled as he pulled his boots on and flipped his damp hair out of his eyes.

"At least Valin packed us lighter clothes, we'd be truly kriffed otherwise."

Currently it was winter in Alderaan and although they'd known that Jakku was a desert kingdom, it hadn't completely registered.

"Aren't you going to arranged your hair?" Leia asked critically as she swept into their sitting room without so much as a warning knock.

They both glared at her, but despite their size difference her regal bearing never faltered.

"No," Kylo told her shortly, "It's fine as it is."

Ben nodded agreement, currently enjoying the cool strands tickling his neck.

Leia sighed as if they were being particularly difficult, as if they weren't adults that could decide what to do with their own damn hair.

"I hope you will both behave while you are here, Kylo" she fixed Ben's twin with a steely glare, "Try not to look disgusted over everything, and Ben," she frowned at him, "You need to give these young ladies a chance before you dismiss them, what happened in Bespin was embarrassing."

Ben exchanged a look with Kylo, secretly agreeing she was a nightmare to live with.

"Now, it is time for lunch, don't forget to kiss their hands when they greet you Ben, and I want neither of you to actively confuse them over which of you is which."

Leia had banned them from wearing the same clothes a few years ago when she realised they were trading off for days away from their duties, now it was harder for people to mistake whom they were, but occasionally, somewhere new, they were able to play around a bit.

As they left their room, they found their father and Luke were lurking in the corridor outside their rooms, having a muttered argument, probably about whiskey.

'

They were led to a spacious room with high ceilings, cooled by large windows that were angled away from the sun.

Iridian was already there, and this time he was accompanied by his daughters and youngest son, as well as Nakaar.

Their features varied more than Ben had been expecting, two of the daughters were honey blonde and blue eyed, one was dark blonde and the young prince's hair was a sandy brown, the rest were dark, though.

Iridian smiled when they entered, a wave of his hand had his daughters lining up, as if this had been rehearsed.

That was when Ben realised there were only six young women.

"I trust you feel refreshed and ready for some lunch,-" Iridian started then frowned as there was the sound of running footsteps and the squeak of someones leather shoes sliding on the marble floor.

The footsteps made it to the doorway and everyone turned to see a girl, dressed in a simple green silk dress, skid to an unladylike halt making her skirts rustle around her before she hurriedly made her way over to stand at the end of the line, bobbing a quick curtsey to her father before stopping.

Iridian sighed, but the exasperated look on his face looked more fond than annoyed, "That, Queen Leia, is my youngest," he winked and smiled at Leia, "and most troublesome daughter, Aureya."

Ben stared. He couldn't help it, because unless she had a doppelgänger, that was the girl they'd met in the tavern last night. The one who had stabbed a man before knocking him out.

What in the hells was going on?

His father's elbow dug in his ribs and he remembered where they were and tried to shut his mouth and start thinking about the matter at hand.

Each princess was introduced properly, starting with the eldest Therava, after her came Sarkaya, Yoladan, Tiiona, Rieva and Kandri, all of whom behaved like cooing doves, blushing and smiling under their fluttering eyelashes.

Still, he did his duty and kissed each of their hands, trying not to breathe too deeply as they all seemed to think drowning themselves in perfume would make them more appealing.

Then came Aureya, she was dressed differently to the others, he noted, while her dress was silk, it was simple and without adornment, her hair was loose, pulled over one shoulder and looked suspiciously as if it were still drying. When he lifted her hand to kiss it, all he could smell was the scent of clean skin and a hint of something sweet like honey.

She hadn't been paying much attention until he looked up from kissing her hand and then he saw her eyes widen in shocked recognition.

"Kriff," it was said so quietly he didn't think anyone else heard, he barely did.

Then he had to move so Kylo could greet her too, he watched as she bit her lip, clearly waiting for the questions that no doubt burned behind their eyes.

Neither of them said anything though, for now, anyway.

Lunch was served at a low table surrounded by cushions, it wasn't the most comfortable position to eat in but that was probably partly due to Ben and Kylo's size - their father looked none to happy about it either.

At least their father wasn't sitting besieged by princesses, vying against one another for his attention. Ben wasn't even sitting with Kylo, each of them had been surrounded and the only one who didn't make any effort to speak to them, was the one he would have been most interested in talking to.