Chapter 6

A Crystalline Night

Late afternoon sunlight spilled into the Nov Sensum valley and directly into Ben's eyes. Even though this caused him great discomfort, he was too tired to move from his bench outside the healing hut. Rey had been in there for hours, but he had only just arrived a short while ago from a pampering session.

He was now fitted with new, loose fitting robes and pants, not completely black but dark enough to keep him satisfied. The Noves, as they called themselves, drew him a bath, gave him new clothes, and supplied him with smoked meats and fresh vegetables he had never seen anywhere else in the galaxy. Stomach full and his body finally clean, he sat back and closed his eyes to the suns. He felt rooted to his spot, as if the universe had been steering him to this very spot, this very moment, for weeks. His memory struggled to recall a settlement so gracious and kind to him. Not showing up as the evil Supreme Leader had probably helped his case.

Villagers bustled around him, carrying bundles of kindling and wares from the market. Dozens of hooves hit the dirt and sunlight glinted through the charms on their horns. Once in a while a Nove would stop and stare but never for too long. Ben couldn't say he enjoyed the attention but not having everyone around you want to blast you to kingdom come was a nice change of pace.

"Solo."

Ben jumped at his name and opened his eyes to find Exbi standing only a few feet away, hands on his cane. An intense look occupied his yellow eyes.

"I want you to walk with me for a moment. There are things I wish to discuss."

Ben looked at the entrance to the hut where Rey was, a thick curtain blocking his view inside.

"Your friend Rey will step out of that building as soon as we are done. Don't worry about missing her." Exbi began to shuffle away, expecting his guest to follow along.

Ben stood up in a hurry, unease clenching his chest. He didn't want to stray too far from Rey, but whatever the village leader wanted to talk about was probably important. Dirt scraped under boots and hooves alike as they slowly journeyed out of the main village and into the cool shade of the surrounding evergreen trees. Their sleek black shuttle was parked a little ways away. They followed a rough road through the forest, the soft thuds of Exbi's cane coming down in time with his footsteps.

"You love her, don't you?" the older alien asked when Ben had been silent for a number of minutes.

"What?" He stopped dead in his tracks. His heart hammered, a guilty sound.

"Judging by your tone, I will take that as a yes."

"No, it's not like that. I—" He angrily bit his lip and looked into the thick forest to collect his thoughts. Visions of her flashed in and out of sight like sparks in the night. Her stand against him on Starkiller Base, her face afraid yet determined. The shine of her wet hair in the light of the fire on Ach-To. Her graceful and ferocious technique on display in Snoke's throne room.

"Yes," he finally sighed in resignation.

"There it is," Exbi said softly, no trace of sarcasm or pettiness in his words. "There's no need to feel ashamed, my friend."

He didn't want this conversation to go any further. Every faint breath of wind scraped on his skin, he felt so vulnerable.

"I asked you this to confirm my suspicions and to give you advice. The Force binds all living things. It is true that the Force is powerful, but it takes that power from living things. Your actions are your own. Yes, the circumstances may line up in just the right way, but you chose to reach out to her. You chose to save her from that crash. You chose to forgive her and look within yourself to fix matters between you two."

Ben had spent years fortifying himself both physically and mentally, but now this stranger was reading him like a children's book. Shame broiled his insides. He finally swallowed his pride and looked into Exbi's face, which wore a patient and accepting expression.

"You've had choices to make this entire time. A choice to abandon her or to nurture her. To kill her or to save her. The Force may be guiding you part of the way, but your heart will take you where you want to go."

The village leader paused. Ben gritted his teeth and waited for more.

"I've only known you two for a number of hours, but I can tell you need each other. Don't ever give up on her and she will never give up on you. Keep making those choices. Not only will you bring balance to the galaxy but also to one another."

This was a lot to take in. Ben stood silently, mouth open in astonishment. The relief coursing through his body came as a surprise as well. Saying his feelings and being given advice had helped instead of hurt.

Exbi moved towards the way they had come. His long robes dragged on the ground behind him. "I just hope when the time comes you'll know what to do."

Ben followed a short distance back, emotionally defeated. He wanted to ask what the older Nove had meant, but his gut told him that asking was useless. Only a vague, cryptic response would await him.

They made it back to the wall of huts. Like Exbi had predicted, Rey was standing outside the stony entrance of the medicinal building in the midst of a huge crowd of Nove women. Her new clothes resembled her older ensemble, all wrappings and crisscrossing fabric. However, these clothes shone a sunny yellow and, paired with her radiant smile, she almost glowed.

She spotted him immediately and ran over. Her brown hair was pinned back in a loose half bun as it had been before. The soot and dirt had been washed from her face.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm glad to see you." She crossed her arms and cocked her head. "Are you alright? Your face is red, did you feel well?"

His blush from the conversation with Exbi hadn't disappeared in time.

"I'm fine," he muttered while struggling to keep his breathing steady, "but how are you doing?"

She proudly held up her arm. No cast or signs of damage were visible.

"Looks like they did a nice job," he commented.

"Not so helpless now, would you say?"

"I don't have to carry you around anymore."

"I guess not." Her voice was oddly wounded, but Ben didn't draw attention to it. Instead he and Rey began to stroll around the village. Rey took a great interest in the cliffside huts and babbled on and on about their ingenuity:

"Can you imagine how much work it would take to bolt those supports up there?"

"I wonder if they've had to scavenge for parts."

"Have you seen ships around? Do they have any?"

Ben listened patiently, giving the occasional grunt of acknowledgement, throwing in some of his takes on building. The gleam of her brown eyes and the elaborate gestures of her hands increased his admiration for her tenfold. Not only did she seem to know more about handiness than he had ever learned or will learn in his life, but every word she spoke carried passion and excitement.

All of the tension from that morning, from everything that had happened between them, seemed to evaporate into the afternoon sun like water. Ben only wished every moment with Rey could be like this, free of the pain and confusion of the past few weeks. Right now, they were two people talking about normal things, things that didn't concern the welfare of the entire galaxy.

When they reached what they assumed was the center of town a colorful sight met their eyes. The Noves were hanging gold and white banners between buildings and trees. Lanterns hung from the boughs of trees, not yet lit. Some villagers were sweeping the ground, a massive circle of roughly hewn stone tiles. A wooden platform stood at the edge of the circle as what Ben realized was a stage. Long tables circled the pavilion. This all had to be some kind of festival or party.

"Good. You two are here."

Exbi rounded a corner as Ben and Rey gazed at the spectacle around them. His robes were now gold with white trim and his horns were now adorned with pieces of clear crystal. His hooves clopped on the stone ground.

"You arrived here just in time for our monthly ball. Come to think of it, we wouldn't have been to hold it tonight if it wasn't for your help earlier today."

"I glad we could help," Rey nodded. "You've all been so kind to us. Is there anything we could do?"

The village leader pointed above them to a series of thick ropes tied between the surrounding trees. Two Nove men appeared, carrying a large bucket filled with the same crystals that hung from Exbi's horns. Each crystal had a hook clipped into the top.

"We could use a bit of Force power to get our decorations up there, if you wouldn't mind."

Both Ben and Rey lifted their hands to the ball. They looked at each other but shrugged and decided to work together. He felt the familiar floating sensation in his chest as the crystals levitated upwards like a reversed rainfall. One by one they settled onto their ropes and sparkled above the crowd of working villagers. Some of them had stopped what they were doing and gazed up at the Force-users' feat of beauty.

A couple of Noves clapped and cheered in their alien language. Rey turned to Ben and gave him a satisfied half smile. He nodded, trying to not to stare at her lips or eyes for too long.

"I suppose you two will be joining us for the festivities?" Exbi asked. He shot a knowing glance at Ben, who felt his insides simmer with frustration.

Exbi had struck a nerve during their talk and the more space between him and the older villager, the better.

"We'd love to! We'd be humbled." Rey jabbed him in the arm with her elbow. "Right, Ben?"

He'd never cared for dances. Many nights in his youth were passed clinging to his mother's leg while she and other politicians talked business over music that was played much too quietly to be enjoyed. Hours of dancing lessons had only affirmed his distaste for such events. He had wanted to walk back to their shuttle and settle there for the night. Even so, Rey's expectant smile softened his heart, and he nodded.

"We'll be starting shortly. Please, have a seat and take a drink." Exbi waved to the table to their right, which had been set up with wooden mugs of dark steaming liquid while they had talked. Rey darted towards the array of beverages and took a hearty sip out of one of the cups. Ben followed slowly, wary of her reaction.

"Here, take one, it's so good!" Rey held out a mug to Ben, her lips already dyed a deep red. The drink smelled sweet and smoky, like a spiced wine. Ben took one cautious sip. It was delicious, she was right about that. He looked at Rey and downed the entire thing in two swallows. This move impressed even Rey, who raised her eyebrows. She held her mug in both hands and chugged its contents, matching his speed.

"Is this a contest now?" he smirked.

"It could be," she said, licking her lips.

They stood and drank a couple more mugs as more and more villager trickled into the pavilion. They all wore gold and white robes like their leader. A small gathering of musicians took to the stage just as the two suns had started to set. A large white moon, pocked with craters, rose up over the mountains, bathing the village in a silvery glow. Ben looked up and saw the light refracting through the clear crystals, throwing pale sparks onto the circle of stone and its inhabitants.

The musicians plucked at small stringed instruments, their songs flowing through the cool evening air like splashes of water. Alien chatter began to ramp up. A burst of laughter would sound now and again. For a small town in a forest on a remote Outer Rim planet, the Noves sure knew how to throw a nice party. The tall marble columns and arched windows of his mother's galas were too cold and sterile. If Ben had gone to dances like this, he'd have more fond memories to think back on.

The crowd suddenly hushed almost instantly. Exbi slowly climbed up to the center of the stage, cane strinking the wooden planks. He gave a small cough and held up his hands before his people. Ben straightened up out of respect and Rey followed suit beside him, cheeks bulging with drink.

"Everyone, I'm sure you all are already aware of our guests and the great service they have done for us today. It is because of their valiant efforts to protect us that we are here at all. We only ask that our Bulani and Selisa, our moon and sun, make their way to the center of the circle and have our first dance of the night."

Blood rushed to Ben's cheeks, mouth gaping. Rey wore an almost identical expression of embarrassment. A hundred eyes searched them out in the crowd and an expectant quiet welled up. The pavilion was a sea of green scales, and Ben struggled to swallow his fear. A dance? With Rey? In front of all of these people? Moon and Sun? He could tell from Exbi's smug look that he had planned this from the very beginning.

He threw back his shoulders and took a deep breath. Exbi was giving him a chance with Rey, and he would be a fool not to take it.

He stood in front of Rey, one hand tucked behind his back and the other extended to her.

"Shall we?" he asked as coolly as he could muster.

Her flustered look turned soft and she put her hand carefully in his.

"Of course, your Highness," she answered with a bit of a sarcastic bite.

He led her out onto the center of the pavilion where the crowd had politely parted. Shards of moonlight refracted into the crystals above alighted on Rey's skin like flecks of snow. As she looked up into the sky Ben cautiously placed a hand on her shoulder.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

"Have you danced before?"

"No…" She glanced down at her waist and then into his eyes. They widened in confusion. "Is this how's it done?"

"In some cases. Follow me and you'll pick it up soon enough."

The band onstage struck up a swift yet elegant waltz. Ben's childhood lessons kicked in and he began to sway and step with the rhythm. The muscle memory hadn't faded with time at all.

Rey stumbled along, stepping on his boots and moving in and out of time. Her cheeks burned red and her hand began to sweat.

"Ben, this is…"

"Awful, I know." The eyes of the villagers drilled into the back of his head. "We'll get through it. Watch my feet, there's a pattern."

Rey stared down at his feet as they continued to waltz. The music would crescendo, then drop down again to keep them on their toes. It took a minute or so for Rey to finally get her bearings. Her movements grew more rhythmic and coordinated, hair swinging in time with their bigger steps. She gripped his hand more tightly and leaned into his hand on her shoulder more with each passing step.

"See, I'd knew you'd get it eventually," Ben assured her. His hair fell into his eyes as he glanced down at their shuffling boots.

"This is actually pretty fun, even with you," she commented, stepping extra wide so Ben had to lunge forward to keep up.

The tempo began to accelerate. Villagers around them paired off and escorted each other onto the dance floor. Soon dozens of dancers circled Ben and Rey, white robes twirling and golden trim catching the light of the crystal decorations above. An undercurrent of tinkling laugher and talk could be heard all around them. Each time Ben faced the stage he caught a glimpse of Exbi, watching the festivities proudly. Once or twice Ben swore he saw the village leader wink at him from afar.

Rey danced with a newfound passion, swinging around so that her yellow robes caught the air and fluttered. She had fully mastered the steps. Her hand was small and light in his, but she moved with such momentum that betrayed her true power. Her chest was so close his he prayed that she couldn't hear his heart pounding over the music and the din of the crowd.

During his long hours in his dark throne room he would imagine scenarios like this. Just nice, calm moments the two of them could share if they ever managed to escape the war. Now here he was, dancing with her as if nothing else in the galaxy could touch them. The most pleasant of daydreams paled in comparison to this.

The music grew faster still. Ben, lost in thought, tripped over Rey's feet and plummeted to the ground. Before his face slammed into the dirt, however, the air seemed to solidify and catch him. Stomach dropping, he saw Rey with her arm stretched out to him. She had used the Force to save him to an embarrassing fall.

"And I thought I was bad at this," she mused

Then she laughed, a laugh unlike any he had heard from her before. It was hearty and genuine, and a smile couldn't help but cross Ben's lips at the sound of it.

She paused and met his eyes, warmth radiating from her round, freckled face. Ben felt himself being lifted back to his feet and they both paused, staring at one another as the music swelled around them. Time seemed to freeze under the pale glow of the moonlight.

The song abated and the dancers around them clapped politely. Exbi nodded to Ben from the stage and signaled for the musicians to continue on. A new song started, this time a lively and catchy jig.

"I can work with this," Rey said, and she grabbed Ben's hands before he could react. Swinging both their arms, she began to pull in in circles, feet skipping to the beat.

"I don't think I know this one," he told her.

"It's my own original technique," she boasted, switching directions and nearly knocking Ben to the ground again. He didn't mind in the slightest. His heart soared with the strings.

"Here, I've got another one for you," he murmured over the noise of the crowd. He placed his right hand on her back. "I'll dip you on three."

"If you say so."

Ben counted, and Rey leaned back onto his hand, hair grazing the stones of the pavilion floor. She let out a startled squeak but quickly laughed it off as Ben pulled her back up to the amused cheers of the surrounding dancers. Shouts of "Bulani" and "Selisa" rose up.

This song was shorter and ended as quickly as it had started. Another round of clapping echoed into the trees beyond. Ben and Rey were both panting from the effort. For the first time in his life the dark clothing he usually wore became too hot for him, even though the night air sat cool against his skin.

Once again, the musicians queued up a waltz, this one slower and heavier than the last. The dancing villagers around them wound down and spun in slow circles, clinging to one another with closed eyes and small smiles.

They assumed the same positions as the first dance, moving slower this time. Rey's eyes met his as they swayed and stepped.

Ben breathed in the music and sighed. "I don't know about you, but I'm enjoying myself."

Rey smirked. "To be honest, I am, too."

They stopped talking a moment before Rey spoke up: "Want to go back to the shuttle and sleep?"

Ben considered for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Let's get out of here."

The two of them walked briskly out of the pavilion, waving back to the rest of the villagers.

"Thank you all!" Rey shouted as the dancers shouted their good graces. "We'll be back, don't you worry!"

"We'll see you soon, sun and moon," Exbi called over the crowd, waving his cane in the air.

The path back to the shuttle was illuminated with soft moonlight. Music still trickled through the thick trees as they walked, soon giving way to a deep quiet. The only sounds now were the crunch of tree needles under two pairs of boots.

"Thank you," said Rey suddenly, her tone terse.

"For what?"

"For all of this."

"You're welcome," he replied gently.

"You know what's strange? I haven't thought about contacting Finn or Leia or the others this entire time."

Ben turned to her and found that her expression was one of guilt, her jaw clenched against whatever thoughts she had brewing in her head.

"I don't know why, but even when I was surrounded by people in the Resistance, I felt so much worse than I did now. Right now, with you, I feel… whole."

He ran his fingers down the length of his scar. "I feel it, too."

"Do you think… now and after all of this is over… we could be friends? Let the past between us die, as you say?"

Her hand extended to him, fingers trembling.

Ben swallowed his terror down. Now was the time that Exbi was talking about this afternoon. He knew what he had to do, what he must say to her. But even with the words sitting on the tip of his tongue he couldn't find the strength to do it. He chewed at his lip.

He took her hand slowly and nodded.

"Of course," he answered. Cold disappointment flooded his veins, but he forced the feeling back. There was still time to tell her. Maybe he still had a chance.

She smiled gratefully, then continued to walk beside him. "What I want to know is how you learned to dance like that. Did you practice with your guards in your throne room?"

"Well, my old lessons came in handy. Did I ever tell you the story of Madame Lefronte?"

"I don't believe you have. Is it an embarrassing sort of story?" Her eyes glinted mischievously.

"She was the worst, worse than Luke ever was. There was one lesson in particular that put me off ballroom dancing for life…"

They talked and laughed as they strolled deeper into the forest to their shuttle, the wind whispering through the trees. Sleep awaited both of them, and Ben looked forward to another restful night with Rey just a few feet away.