Hi guys! I'm so thrilled to be able to share this story with you and I'm really excited for the characters and their journeys. I've certainly enjoyed writing it so far and I hope you enjoy reading it. A big thank you to those of you that left reviews in the last chapters, they are much appreciated and have definitely motivated me! 3 :)

and now lets move on to chapter 6...

Jakku

The streets of Nima which the week before had been lively, colorful and filled with music were now empty and bleak. News of the impending attack on the kingdom had spread like wildfire. The five young Princes of Jakku were preparing for war and the king himself, too old to ride into battle, placed the responsibility of leading his army to his eldest son and heir, Prince Samm. As the newest addition to the family, the Princess's betrothed, Prince Sahan of Coruscant and a legion of his own soldiers would be riding with them to honor their newfound alliance.

In her chambers, Rey was arranging the little alcove in the corner of her room where she kept a small effigy of her goddess. The men riding out to war meant long days and sleepless nights for the women and children of the kingdom, praying in front of their altars and preparing remedies and medicine to treat the wounded.

Fear was holding Rey's heart in a tight grip. In her mind, she had kept replaying the events of the night she had gone to see the First Order trooper. The next morning, they had found his cell empty. She was terrified that it would somehow trace back to her and that the spy her parents had set on her would be forced to reveal that she had been the last person to see him. But no one said anything to her on the matter and Poe Dameron had kept his word. They never spoke of that night.

But why had the trooper revealed the First Orders plans to her? How did he escape? Had it all been a trap, a ruse?

A dozen thoughts were going through Rey's mind as she arranged flowers and candles around the alcove she felt frightened for her brothers and her fiancée. She hardly knew her husband- to- be, but he had called on her the day after their betrothal, as Rey was grinding spices and herbs on the balcony of her room.

"What are you doing?" He'd asked, squatting in front of her

She had been surprised to see him, but glad nonetheless

"I'm making a remedy for joint pain. It's for my father"

"Oh so you're the royal doctor?" he said, his eyes shining with humor

Rey emptied the contents of her pestle into a stone bowl before answering.

"Well, my second oldest brother was attacked by a tiger a few years ago. He was seriously hurt when they brought him home, so my father called in a very special healer to treat him"

Rey stirred the paste in the bowl

"He's the best in the country and he brought his own herbs and he made his medicine in our courtyard. I was about thirteen years old then and my mother let me watch him. He noticed my interest and after that, he came to our palace once a week for about three years to teach me about herbs and medicine"

"Well, you're lucky you found a useful study to pass your time. But in Coruscant, there's never a boring day, you'll be busy all day everyday"

This was probably a reminder for Rey that she would be leaving her home soon. She didn't look up, but continued stirring the paste.

"I met with your father this morning" the Prince continued "He's going to declare war on the First Order"

Now Rey looked at him

"He's making the first move? Why? Before we even know if they intend to go to war with us?"

She had to be careful. She couldn't reveal to him that she knew about the attack that was being planned by the First Order against them.

"Well, declaring war on your enemies in writing is the most honorable way to start a war. And last night, a captain of your fathers guard told him of some information he'd gotten out of that First Order prisoner. Apparently there's a whole battalion of them hiding out in the Unknown regions, planning a surprise attack on the kingdom. Then this morning, that prisoner's cell was empty. He'd escaped"

Worry lined the Prince's face, he swallowed and then continued

"We think he may have had help"

"Help?"

"Yes. From one of his own, and your father is furious at the idea of First Order soldiers looting holy places and roaming freely in the kingdom. He's declaring war before they get the chance to play us again"

"I'm sure we have a chance to defeat them" Rey asserted 'I'm not worried"

Rey hadn't told him about her burning desire to see Kylo Ren defeated

The Prince smiled "Well, we're preparing for a war now"

"I'm ready" Rey murmured

"You know this means we'll have to postpone our wedding" He said

"I can wait" Rey assured him

But Rey became more worried as each day passed, and now as she sat lighting the candles, illuminating the beauiful and compassionate face of her goddess she wondered what would happen if they lost the war. No she thought we have the blessings of the Gods and they support the good and righteous, they would never let evil prevail. They were doing the right thing by going to war. But whenever she tried to console herself, she somehow felt that something was amiss.


The Unknown regions

Just as General Hux had anticipated, the Emperor found them. He had been sneaking around Nima and had also rescued one of their own soldiers who'd been held prisoner there. Hux was also sure that Jakku soldiers would be hot on Kylo Ren's heels, but it was only a few days later that a messenger shot an arrow into one of their tents, with a letter from the king of Jakku himself, declaring war on the First Order. Hux had smirked as he read the letter, things were going exactly as he had planned, and now war with Jakku was inevitable no matter what the Emperor thought.

The only downside was that Kylo Ren was taking an unusual interest in Jakku. The plan had been all Hux's and the last thing he needed was Kylo Ren meddling with his preparations. He wanted all the glory, as well as the spoils.

"We can split into two groups" Kylo Ren suggested "You can lead one group through the flats, and I'll lead the other through the canyon, that way we can attack from all sides"

"Yes, that would be more effective" Hux agreed

"No doubt the Princes would be leading their armies. I want them all captured, alive" Kylo Ren added

"Your Majesty" Hux began, irritated "what use is there, keeping the enemy alive?"

"Plenty of use General" Kylo Ren said

Hux was seething. Everything he had carefully planned was being thrown out in favor of the Emperor's plans. But he didn't have a choice, he was just a general and his job was to obey orders.

In a few days, they were going to war and God willing, they would return victorious.


Jakku

On the day their troops rode out into battle, the people of Jakku came out of their homes and onto the streets to cheer them as they went by. The royal family stood on the Nima fortress, as the King and Queen blessed their five sons and their sister tied string from the holy shrines around their wrists for protection. They each bent their heads to her, and she said a prayer over them.

The Princess's future husband came next. He took her hand and kissed it

"Rey, I promise that I'll do everything I can to protect your home land. I'm willing to give up my life for it"

For the first time ever, Rey felt proud of him

"Well then, I'm honored to be your wife" She said

She and her parents, watched from atop the wall as procession made its way through the gate. This was it. Now all that was left to do was to hope, pray and wait.


Rey and Jess lay awake every night for five nights, and on the fifth night looking out of the balcony her of room, Rey noticed the whole kingdom had remained awake as well. She could make out little lights flickering in every home from a distance.

"Just in case we lose this war, we have to be ready to flee" Jess warned Rey

"Oh don't be silly Jess" Rey laughed "They'll never chase us out of our kingdom. We're going to win, just you wait and see"

"If you say so" Jess shrugged and walked over to the alcove where the Goddess stood, looking down on them.

Suddenly, a gush of wind blew in through the balcony. The candles at the feet of the Goddess flickered and died and a hissing noise suddenly filled the air.

"What was that?" Jess asked

A cold shiver ran down Rey's spine. An omen.

"Quick!" She cried "We have to relight them"

"Rey, this isn't good"

Rey ignored Jess and in her hurry to revive the candles, even managed to burn herself a few times. She looked up at the statue, and its face was enclosed in darkness. Her heart began to beat faster.

She closed her eyes and began to pray


She was woken the next day by the sound of shouting and banging outside.

"They're back, they're back!"

Rey and Jess rushed out, hair wild around their pale faces. One of the court ladies called Rey to the balcony over the courtyard where her parents were already standing, silent and alert.

"Our Princes, all five of them, they've been taken prisoner by the First Order!" A man cried from near the gate "It's over, we've lost!"

Rey looked on, hands shaking, fear and panic washing over her. Her own brothers had been taken hostage. Her mother was suddenly weeping hysterically in her father arms and all the women around her were crying, but Rey was numb to her surroundings. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, no, it can't be.

Then, through the gates, Poe Dameron rode in, dirty and bloody. Rey tried to catch his attention, but when he looked up and she searched his face for some sort of sign, there was nothing but pity in his eyes and he immediately looked away. Behind him some men were pulling a cart flanked by soldiers and there was something in it covered in a white sheet, a soldier perhaps. But one of the men pulled back the sheet, and this time Rey's legs gave way and she tumbled onto the sandstone floor. Lying there was her betrothed, pale and cold, his life taken from him too soon. Fresh cries and screams rose from the crowds, the Coruscants had lost their Prince.

"It was General Hux" She heard Poe saying "But the Prince fought hard to the very end"

"No" Rey whispered "No"

Nobody noticed Rey. They were all too busy mourning the dead Prince and the five lost Princes who they believed, at the hands of the First Order, were as good as dead.

Despite the mayhem and state of confusion, Rey felt arms encircling her and pulling her up.

"Come on Rey"

It was Jess, her face streaked with tears, she managed to pull Rey back to her feet and support her back to her chamber.

The room felt colder and darker than they had remembered when they left it and the candles they had lit at the feet of the Goddess were now just heaps of wax, burnt black. Jess helped Rey into bed and pulled the covers over her. Rey did not protest, she just let herself be guided. Jess sat up on the bed next to her and slowly stroked her hair. Rey wished she were in a dream, and that any moment she would wake up, and her brothers would be at home and she would still be getting married and her kingdom was still secure. But as each minute passed, the pain became more and more real, as if she were being stabbed in the chest repeatedly.

When she could bear it no more, she burst into tears