Thank you for coming back!

This chapter, there is still come violence, but it's mostly our favorite Black Knight figuring out where she is.

And as always, thank you for reading! Let me know what you think?

Ben rides before dawn.

He grew up in these woods. Even though it's been years since he was last this close to home, he still knows them like an old friend. Only Poe rides by his side. He knows the old stories of grace and redemption, of magic and downfall.

"Where do you think he might have hidden her?" Poe asks.

It's not even been a day since he saw her or at least that's how it feels. He could smell the dampness of the stones. Feel the cold metal under his hands as he opens the door to her cell. Feel her bruises as he helped her up.

A single tear runs down his cheek.

"I'm not sure anymore. I don't feel him or hear him in my head anymore. Do you?"

"Not since that last battle." Poe says.

Ben still isn't sure how Snoke connected them all together but he did. It wasn't anything like being able to do what he was able to with Rey yesterday, but it was an extra sense one could compare it to. He knew where Snoke was at all times. Along with knowing where Poe, Hux and Bodhi were.

But instead of disappearing when he thought he killed Snoke, the link to one another remains.

Ben pulls his horse to a stop with Poe doing the same. "I saw her."

"You saw who?" Poe asks.

"Rey, the Princess."

"How?"

"I can't explain it. One moment I was trying to go to sleep then the next I had a candle in my hand walking towards her."

"Where was she?"

"I think it was in a dungeon. But the only dungeons are this one in Naboo and-"

"The one in Alderaan," they say together. "But he destroyed the castle," Ben continues.

"You don't think-" Poe begins.

"I have no idea. I knew that he wanted the crown. I just didn't think he'd do something like this."

"Does Snoke know that you married the Princess?"

"No one knows but the ones at the castle who need to know."

"Should we ride on to Alderaan?" Poe asks.

"Yes, but let's ride to the travelers camp on the other side of the forest."

"Why would you want to do that?" A new voice comes from the direction the just left- the castle. Both men turn to look and Ben isn't surprised to see one of King Cassian's knights, Finn.

"I have my reasons," Ben greets him. "Have you come to help look?"

"I'm going to look for Rey. If we all happen to be going the same way-"

"Then we may as well ride together," Poe finishes. "Come along friend."

Ben scowls at both of them, but leads the way anyway. Compared to when he and Rey- his heart breaks thinking of that night that feels so far away- walked it.

"I don't understand where he could have hidden her." He must have said that out loud because Poe and Finn both stop their horses to look at him.

"We'll find her," Poe encourages.

"We have to," Finn adds.

Even in the early light of morning, they can see people moving about at the traveler's camp. "Is that Luke?" Poe whispers.

"Poe?" A woman asks. Poe nudges his horse to go faster, getting to the camp first. He's also the first to dismount with the lady catching him before his feet touch the ground.

"Who's that?" Finn asks.

"His mother." Before Finn can ask, Ben adds, "Ten years. We've been gone for ten years." Poe waves at Finn, motioning him over to meet his parents.

Ben watches Finn go to Poe while more of his extended family come out of their wagons to see what woke them so early. Nana Padme makes her way through the crowd, and he dismounts to embrace her. "Where's Rey?" She asks.

"He took her," he whispers.

"He's still alive?" Nana murmurs as she steps back so she can see him in the dawn's light.

He feels like a failure. Years of pain and torture was going to be redeemed in a minute when he agreed to help Cassian. Kill Snoke. It sounded so easy.

If he'd done his duty the first time, he'd still be in the bed with his new bride.

Nana doesn't wait for his answer, instead bellows, "Luke! Where are you?"

"I'm right here." Luke pops up behind his mother, surprising Ben and Nana both. "Where's Rey?"

"Snoke is still alive."

"How? I saw you-"

"He's gotten more powerful."

"He's found the crystals."

"He found the crystals?'' Nana interrupts. "I thought we had the mines guarded."

"I'm thinking the spell must have worn off?" Ben guesses. "When did you leave Alderaan?"

"Years," Luke answers. "But I'm never far. Mara and I go to the border once a year to establish the boundaries."

One of the reasons why Ben and Poe never returned to Alderaan after going to Snoke and realizing that they made a horrible mistake, was that Luke had set up a protection spell against anyone who served Snoke. "Do you think I can get in now?"

"Why?"

"I saw her."

"How?"

"It was a couple of nights ago. I was trying to go to sleep, when suddenly I was transported to a dungeon." He glances at Nana.

She wraps her arm around him like she would do when he was much younger. "Just tell me, love. I want her safe too."

He nods. "She was so battered she couldn't even open her eyes and see that it was me, much less move herself off the floor. I couldn't do much more than to help her up. Even then she passed out from the pain."

Nana's tears are running down her cheeks making him cry too. "And the only dungeons around-"

"Are hers at Naboo and the one at Alderaan."

"And you said that Snoke is becoming more powerful? Then he's figured out Papa's secret."

All three of them say together, "That the power is in the crystals."

"Have you been able to go back?" Luke asks.

"I've tried. It's like I'm being blocked."

"You might be." Luke offers as Poe and Finn walk over.

"Could be," is all Ben can say. He can't stop his mind from wondering what are they doing to Rey.

She isn't sure how long she's been lying here. Someone came back last night but didn't touch or talk to her. They did give her a tankard full of something. She doesn't care at this point what it was, but it was cool and wet. The pain never went away but she passed out all the same.

She can't open her eyes.

Not being able to mark the passing of time has her lost in this weird space of just being. Every little sound, roars in her ears like something terrible.

The hardest part is the feeling that someone watches her.

Because she can feel them. Someone is over there. They try not to breathe, but she can hear them anyway.

The best parts are when she actually goes to sleep. That's when the dreams come. Most of them are of Ben, her sweet husband. The little bit of time she spent with him is what she replays in her head over and over. But then there are the dreams where he's looking for her. He's always just right there, she could reach out and touch him if she could only move. But her arms won't work the way she needs them to. She tries not to think about if they are broken.

This is when she wakes up gasping for breath because she's been crying and she thinks her nose might be broken.

She gurgles when she breathes now.

And she hopes that the wetness she feels on her skin is from her tears and not fresh blood.

Then there are the dreams of home. Rose and Finn are out looking for her. She calls for them, but they never hear her. She cries when they always look in the wrong place for her.

Aunt Jyn and Uncle Cassian. She can feel their heartbreak because it feels like hers. She misses the way they've always made her feel safe. Will she ever feel that way again?

Then Maz comes to her. She can see her lips move but the only words she can make out is when she says, "This is important-"

She tries to sleep as much as possible. Most of the time she wonders if she's just passed out because of the pain the person in the corner keeps on inflicting-

Before he rides on to Alderaan, he stops to share with King Cassian and Queen Jyn what their plans are. somehow, he isn't surprised when Queen Jyn and a young lady along with half of Naboo's knights ride out with them along with Hux and bodhi to rejoin their friends.

It takes them a week to ride to the border of Alderaan. He would have ridden all day and all night, but a mysterious fog came sweeping in from the ocean. It clings to them like the bog fires the villagers build to stay warm. They rode into it after they passed the capital of Naboo and it lingered like the feeling that would come over him when he spent too much time in Snoke's presence.

Usually, the way to Alderaan is smooth. Either while he was gone, the ground moved or the fog clinging to them in a way no one can explain but it twice as long to reach the border.

"Stay back," Ben orders when he sees the line of giant oaks marking the different countries. The last time he was at this same spot was when Snoke ordered him to go home. One part of him was relieved that Snoke was dismissing him. But when he couldn't cross the border, the only place he could go was back to Snoke.

"Yeah, I remember that. The last time you did that, I had to pick you up off the ground." Poe reigns in his horse who dances away from the boundary line.

"Just remember who the real enemy is," Luke adds. Ben meets his eyes and nods at his uncle. A gentle nudge, horse and rider walks through the boundary.

"It's either gone, or-"

"It's good to have you back nephew." Luke smiles. "Let's ride to the castle. Then if we need to, we'll come back and reestablish the borders.

"Lord Ren," Queen Jyn begins.

"Please, your majesty, call me Ben."

"Thank you. There's hours until dark, will we continue or stop here for the night?"

He has to admire Rey's aunt. Every hoof beat, she's kept up with him and his men, plus hers. He can see what she's gets her determination from.

He just hopes that it's keeping her alive.

The tankard is back.

She tries to make the liquid last, but it feels like forever since she's had something to drink. Her stomach rolls with a hunger that she's never felt before.

He still sits and watches. She heard him moving last night. This morning he beat her legs instead of her face.

He must have realized that he broke her nose three or was it four days ago? She doesn't know anymore.

No tears run down her cheeks as she sobs from the pain he gives her like a sinner paying for her sins.

The welcome darkness comes. Her loved ones come. Ben holds her while Aunt Jyn cries as she hugs them both. Finn fights someone while his sweet mother chants behind them.

Her lips crack open as she whispers in her pain induced sleep. "Hurry-"

"-hurry." reaches him on the night breeze. That one word steals his breath and leaves fear. He's paralyzed as he gets the glimpse he's been begging the heavens for.

But that can't be her, can it?

His heart breaks when he sees who is with her. It's one of his former friends, now enemies, Vicrul who repeatedly beats his bride. He closes his eyes against the vision, but he's still in it.

He's in it.

In the dungeon.

He can feel his heart speed up like it does before battle.

He marches to the man who's so wrapped up inflicting pain on his bride that he doesn't even notice that he's no longer alone with her. For once Vicrul doesn't have his helmet on and Ben takes full advantage of it.

Ben knows that Vicrul's guard is down since he had his helmet off. His sword over by the wall by itself is proof enough. Ben no sooner wishes the abandoned sword in his hand that it's there. Two steps and Vicrul's head rolls across the floor.

He stabs him in the heart just to make sure he's dead.

A moan reminds him of why he's here.

But what he sees steals the breath he's managed to inhale. "Rey? Princess?"

She curls up tighter on her side and he knows that she wishes she could disappear under the rag that is covering her.

What happened to the nightgown she was wearing before?

Her skin is not even the same shade that it was that evening when he saw her climbing out her window. In the dim lantern light, it's almost transparent. At least that's what he can see between the bruises covering her. And the dried blood from her cuts.

What makes his heart stop? He can hear her breathing. It sounds like someone with the death rattles. Her eyes are still swollen shut and her nose is sitting odd on her face.

"I wish I could heal that jackass and kill him all over again," his whisper is harsh. He wants to yell and destroy, but he knows that he'd rather die than to startle Rey.

Bloody streaks on her legs makes the rage stronger and all he can see is red. He knows he needs to stop or Snoke will be back to feed on his anger.

As much as he'd like to see his former master right now, he knows that he needs to find Rey and get her back to safety. He takes off his cape and covers her with it.

Her sigh of relief fills the cell.

He sees the cup by her side. He slowly picks it up and smells it. They must want to keep her alive if they've been feeding her this. For in the tankard is a mixture Snoke would make for his men. Morning dew from the wild flowers in the Alderaan woods. A dash of sunlight. A generous amount of fairy dust. Light from the midsommar moon. A dose of happiness. mixed with the purest spring water from Naboo's most secret spring. Stirred together with a kyber crystal.

If anyone wants to know what light tastes like, then it's in this cup. He looks around wondering where Vicrul has the rest of the batch. It's so pure, the Knights of Snoke, the same ones who refused his title of Ren after he joined King Cassian, can't even touch it. He's seen a single drop burn a hole in their armor.

He wishes he could bathe her in it, but for now, until he can find this dungeon that she's in, he drops some on her lips.

Like a starving newborn, she latches on to his hand. "Shhh I've got you. Drink some of this."

He tries to offer her some, but she croaks, "It's you. Where have you been?" she sobs. "I prayed for you to come back and here you are."

No tears.

That scares him more than the blood all over her.

"Drink and I'll tell you." He lifts her head and slowly she sips. "Do you know where you are? My men and I are out looking everywhere for you."

"I haven't been able to see since I was taken. Why don't they want me to see?"

He knows why. It's a ploy that Snoke uses to scare and disorient his prisoners. But he's not going to tell her that. "I'm not sure, sweetheart-"

"Don't call me that!" She hisses. "Only one person-" She can't finish because a coughing fit overtakes her.

"Shhhh- finish drinking. This will actually help you feel better until I can save you. I'll be right back. I need to find the rest of the water."

"Don't leave me! I-I-I'm sorry I snapped at you." She grabs for his hand. "My husband calls me that. I just hope he's alive. And I hope he knows that I am too."

"I'll make sure that he does. Listen to me." She turns her head towards him like she can see him. What he wouldn't give in this moment to be able to see her eyes. "You have to have this drink. I'll hurry."

Her exhale is heartbreaking.

"I'll be alright," she mutters.

"Hey, this water will help restore you. That's the only reason why I'm leaving. I promise."

"Just go so you can come back."

He quietly stands. The tankard is now empty, he notices with a smile. He grabs the lantern and almost runs out of the cell. He finds a flight of steps that lead up but when he looks up, and sees a starry sky, he almost shouts.

That son of a bitch has her at Skywalker castle.

They are only a day's ride away, but he hurries to the barrel they always made the water in. lined in gold, for if it touches anything else, it turns bitter and kills the ones who drink it instead of restoring them.

Dipping the tankard carefully, he fills it to the lip.

His trip back is quicker, and he softly says, "Princess." In order not to startle her. She still jumps and he wants to make it up to her. "Can you drink some more?"

"I'd love to." He helps her up again and she drinks half. She would have kept on drinking, but he pulls it away.

"Can I try something?"

"Well as long as you don't kill me, I think it will be alright," she quips.

"Well, they didn't, so I'm not even going to try," he teases back. Which surprises him. She's battered, he wants to kill everyone who's touched her and she's making him smile. He tears off the end of his tunic and dips it in the water.

He doesn't ring the water out, but carefully places the dripping wet fabric over her eyes. Her sudden inhale is pleasant and not full of pain he imagines it has been since he was taken.

"How does that feel?" He whispers.

"Amazing. It tingles but then it's heating up. What is that?"

"Let's give it a couple of minutes to see if my idea works. Can you drink some more?"

"Yes, I'm feeling better already. What's in that?"

The rag stays on her face as he lifts her and puts the cup to her lips. "Spring water, fairy dust, dew, moonlight, happiness."

"And Snoke gave this to you? But why?"

He doesn't want to tell her all the details, he'll do it later instead he tells her the short and simple one. "To keep up alive. Even though giving us pure light, and hope even is better than us dying."

"Well, I'm glad that you found me. This is almost burning my eyes. Can I take it off?"

"Yeah, let's see what's going on." He lifts the rag, and is shocked. The swelling is gone. Even the little cuts that were around her eyes are healed. Her eyes- those beautiful hazel green eyes are blinking at him in recognition.

"Ben? Are you real or not real?" she whispers, grabbing his arm.

"Well kind of real. I was tending the fire when I appeared here. Then I killed Vicrul-"

"You killed him? Oh, thank the good Lord." Her tears are back and he's glad for that.

"I think your nose is broken. Can we try something?"

"Can I kiss you?"

"I can't tell you no," he whispers. His lips touch hers with the lightest of caresses because the rest of her is still battered and bruised. Their breaths mingle and that feeling that wrapped around him that night, their wedding night, embraces him again.

She's his home.

"I could do that forever, but you're still hurting." He dips the rag back in the cup and with it dipping light everywhere he lays it so it covers her nose and lips. "Does that feel good?" She nods. "Let me tell you this. If I disappear, don't worry. I'm about a day away. As soon as I go back, I'm coming here since I know where you are now."

"You promise?"

"I will always come back for you." He holds up the cup. "Can I go-"

She's nodding, not waiting for him to finish. Another kiss and he runs back to the barrel. He manages to take a quick look around and is surprised that no one else is here.

Then he remembers the spells that Luke set.

The Knights of Snoke can't be in Alderaan. So how—

He rushes back to the cell. When he looks around, his breath catches in his throat. Moments ago, where he left Vicrul's body, it's gone. His body, his helmet, his sword. Even his blood that spilled on the rock floor. gone. "How—" he whispers.

"Ben?" Rey croaks. "what's wrong?" he hears from the other side of the cell.

"Only that I'm not here in person, Sweetheart." He'll tell her everything when she's in his arms, safe and sound.

"I wish I could go with you now," she replies as he turns towards her.

"I do too. I'm not even sure how this is working. Like I said, as soon I as I go back, I'm coming for you." He reaches for the rag. "Let's see-"

He's speechless. Her nose, well it's her nose, perfect on her face again. Those lips, those kissable lips are smiling up at him. She first licks them, then touches them. "We are making that water as soon as we get home. Do you know how to make it?"

"This is amazing. Yes, he always got me or Poe to make it. We were the ones who still have light in us. He couldn't drive it away completely and I think he wanted to kill us."

"I'm glad he didn't." Something sparkles in her eyes. "I dreamed of you. You were looking everywhere for me."

"And I am." He feels the same tingles that brought him here. "I've got to go- damn it. Be brave my sweetheart, I'll be there so-"

And then he was back at the fire like he never left. Like he never found his wife. Like he never killed Vicrul. He hears Poe talking and looks over at the man. "How long have you been there?"

"Here?"

"Yes, there in that spot. How long?"

"Not long. What's wrong?"

"I know where the Princess is. Call Finn and the Queen. We are going on ahead, the rest can join us when the sun rises."

Jyn must have heard him because she comes running out of her tent with her dress on and Rose right behind her. "Let's go."

While Poe and Finn ready the horses, he briefly explains to Luke what happened. They agree for Luke to lead the rest of them to the old castle in the morning.

The five of them take off. As he starts to tell them about seeing and helping the Princess, he wants to urge his horse to go faster, gallop even. But even as he holds himself back, he lets the horse travel at its own pace.

"The water? Snoke's barrel was there?" Poe asks.

"Yeah, I'm glad it was. It must have been the last batch we made before we rode into battle."

"I remember that. He called you away and I was left to finish it. Even as it stirred it together, I found myself praying over it."

"Whatever you did, it worked." Ben smiles glad that Rey's eyesight has been restored.

"How was she?" Queen Jyn asks her voice thick with tears.

He's surprised by his own tears. "They beat her." Both women gasp but he continues, "Daily from the way it looks. With the water I was able to heal her eyes and her nose-"

"Her nose?" Rose squeaks.

"What did they do to her nose?" Queen Jyn asks.

"It looked like someone broke it."

"Let me guess, Vicrul was the one guarding her," Poe huffs. He must see Queen Jyn's question before she asks. "He likes to break noses."

Ben and Poe don't mention how he likes to break women's noses.

"But you healed it?" Queen Jyn asks.

"Yes, thank goodness. Then I was pulled back to the campfire. I killed him."

"The man who did this to her?" Rose asks.

"Yes." Ben guides his horse through the creek.

"Good," Rose says. "If you didn't, I was going to."