Disclaimer: Star Wars is the property and creation of Lucas Film and Disney. I own none of the characters and places mentioned in this story.

Special thanks to my beta-readers Nixcomix, MotherKat (both from AO3), Seasonalstress (from twitter) and Meauxwalk (from tumblr) for helping me out with this chapter.

Part II

It was a somber day on Coruscant. Dark clouds adorned the sky, accompanied by a sweep of strong, cold winds.

Regardless of the weather though, today was a big day. Today was the day when the union between the Jedi killer and Lady Kenobi was about to take place. As well as the union between the general of the First Order and the traitor would-be assassin.

After hours of preparations, Rey was finally alone in her room. She still couldn't believe how quickly the time flew by. It seemed only like yesterday that she found out that she needed to marry Kylo Ren. Now here she was, about to finally do it. Her feelings regarding this were mixed. On one hand, she hoped against all odds that maybe she would be able to turn him from the dark side. On the other hand, she still dreaded the fact that she needed to uphold her promise to Kylo. A promise that made her recoil in disgust.

Funny how things turned out. After Ken found her, Rey always imagined her wedding day would be a happy one, not a sorrowful one. Even the weather reflected her mood.

The ceremonial room was small for a select number of guests, furnished only with the bare necessities for the occasion.

Only a few officials of the First Order, the Knights of Ren and some members of the Dark Disciples were present so far. In a corner, Kylo Ren stood with his arms crossed, watching everyone present. Observing them in silence. Trying to gauge their feelings. It's the only thing that distracted him, that offered him somewhat of a comfort. Before his fate is sealed.

He still hopes against all odds that Rey made a run for it.

Harlan, better known by others as Harth Ren, was really irate. She hated to be out in public at open events full of strangers. Especially wearing formal clothing such as a dress and makeup.

She also hated the she needed to stay on civil terms with the Dark Disciples and the first six original knights of Ren.

And she wasn't the only one who felt that way. The other knights of Ren of her faction felt the same way in regards to original faction and the Dark Disciples.

But all of them swore an oath to Kylo to stay by his side and support him no matter if that included participating in formal events such as this.

Kylo was about to implode. The ceremony would start any minute now, and Rey hasn't shown up yet. Mitaka came by a little earlier and told him that she was on her way.
What was taking her so long? All that he wanted was for this farce to be over with.

But all his worries and doubts dissipated into thin air the moment he saw Rey.

The moment Rey entered the ceremony room, all the eyes turned in her direction, scrutinizing her.

She tried to avoid all distrustful, critical and cold stares as her uncle Tao led her down the aisle. She tried to think about anything else in order to appear full of confidence and sure of herself. To seem strong, when all that she wanted was to run away.

During her walk down the aisle, Rey noticed Landa and general Hux to Kylo's left side. Hux was pouting while Landa, wearing a burgundy dress, heels, and Force suppressors, was emotionless, her face cold as stone.

Rey felt sorry for the woman and wished she could have done more. She knew all too well the feeling of having to marry someone you didn't love.

The moment Rey left her uncle's arm and got in front of Kylo, all thoughts flew from his mind. All he could do was admire Rey. Even if this was a sorrowful event, she still tried to look the best she could. She could have dressed in plain clothes in order to embarrass him, but instead she did the opposite.
She had a dark red inner tunic, a long light green scout-like outer tunic that reached to her knees, light grey Tabards, brown sash, beige pants and dark brown boots.

Her hair was arranged elegantly and yet simple in a pull-through braid hairstyle, adorned with a silver tiara and some kind of white pearl dangling in the middle of her forehead. In her hands, she held a bouquet of Zinthorn flowers, and she had makeup on this time around. She was dressed according to the occasion.

Maybe all hope wasn't lost after all.

The moment Rey got in front of Kylo Ren, her heart was about to burst out of her chest. That's how fast it was beating.

She took a good look at Kylo's outfit. He was wearing the same regalia as when they went to the opera together - including the mask. She wished that, at least for their wedding, he would have taken the blasted thing off. She was curious, though. What did he think about her attire?

But soon her thoughts came to a halt as she heard the voice of Natasi Daala, the general who was officiating the wedding, calling out.

"May I proceed?" asked Natasi Daala, annoyed.

"You may proceed," was Kylo's cold reply.

"We are witnesses to a momentous event," Natasi began to recite from the Dark Book of Imperial Justice.
"The marriage of both the Knights of Ren's ruler, Kylo Ren, to the granddaughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Lady Rey, as well as the marriage of General Armitage Hux to Landa Solo.

"Now, I will ask for the pairs to come closer and exchange their vows, if they so wish, and then sign the papers. "

Kylo took a step forward towards the table where Natasi Daala was standing, only to notice that Rey was frozen in place with a lost look in her eyes.
Kylo used his Force abilities to gauge Rey's feelings, and what he felt left him in pure shock. She was afraid after all. Afraid to go through with the wedding. Afraid of marrying him.

Then, within a matter of seconds, Kylo made a decision. One that he knew would make him feel Snoke's wrath.

As soon as the officiant asked them to come forward in order to exchange vows, Rey's body froze. She couldn't do this. She should have ran when she had the chance. She didn't survive the hardships of Jakku only for her story to have such an ending. Her soon-to-be-husband didn't have any feelings for her whatsoever, or she for him, so could she go through it? He represented everything she stood against, so how could she reconcile her values with his?

As if he heard her thoughts, Kylo went to the officiant, whispering something in her ear, and when the look on Natasi's face went from annoyance, to irritation, and then to anger, Rey could tell it was something she was against.

The moment the Supreme Leader ordered Natasi to be the officiant for the double wedding ceremony between Kylo Ren and Rey Kenobi and General Hux and a fucking traitor, she knew it wouldn't end well. After all, both Kylo Ren and the traitor were Force users, a blight upon the galaxy in Natasi's eyes.

Immediately after asking the couples to come forward to exchange the vows and sign the papers, she witnessed a most strange occurrence.

Kylo's soon-to-be-wife froze up to her spot, unwilling to move forward, and instead of Kylo Ren dragging Rey forcefully like Natasi expected him to do - she knew his temper only all too well when things didn't go his way - he only looked at his bride for a brief moment, as if trying to figure something out that others couldn't see, before opting to come to Natasi and whisper in her ear.

And what he asked shook her to the core with fear. Or was it perhaps anger?

She couldn't say for certain what she was feeling in that moment anymore, only that - if she abided by his request - she would get in trouble with the Supreme Leader later on. Her face must have betrayed her, or maybe Kylo heard her thoughts, because after making his request, he said to her:

"You can tell the Supreme Leader that I forced you into obeying my request, and I will take the full wrath of his punishment."

And then he returned to Lady Kenobi's side.

Kylo knew that what he asked could be considered as close to treason as he could come, but despite the sting of betrayal, even though Rey chose his sister over him, he couldn't allow her a life of sorrow and misery. If this gave Rey somewhat of a way out, then he would do the same thing all over again.

"So, ahem, I was made aware that there was a last-minute change of plans, due the wishes of the Supreme Leader. Instead of having two weddings today, we will only have one wedding and a handfasting ceremony," Natasi added with gritted teeth.

"Now, I will ask the pairs, once again, to come forward."

Even without looking, Kylo could feel the daggers in Hux's eyes. Not that he needed to, anyway. He had the Force after all.
And as Hux half dragged Kylo's half sister along in order to sign the marriage papers, Kylo could imagine how livid the ginger general was because of being unable to expose his lie. After all, the whole thing was transmitted across the galaxy for everyone to see.

He knew Snoke would punish him later for this small act of rebellion, but he didn't care as long as Rey still had a small sliver of freedom. And a furious Hux was a well-received bonus any time of the day.

As soon as Hux and Landa signed the papers and went to the side, Kylo grabbed Rey's right hand with his and gently led her forward.

" A handfasting ceremony? " was the only thought in Rey's mind as the red-headed general - that Kylo seemed to loathe, and vice versa - half dragged Landa forward to sign the marriage papers. Rey knew what that was, at least. After Ken rescued her from Jakku all those years ago, Rey was taught all kinds of ceremonies and traditions during her studies. Even the old ones, like the ones from the planet Urthha, the planet from where the first humans originated.

Handfasting was an commitment ceremony where the couple made their intention to marry public, signaling to potential suitors that the woman was intended for her betrothed and not to be harassed. This was then followed by the couple spending an entire year with each other before they returned to the officiant and either declared their intent to be married or declared that they weren't a good match. Both would then be free to choose another suitor and bride.

What she didn't understand was why would Kylo do this? Why further mess up with her mind and heart? Why prolong the inevitable?
By forcing her to make that promise in order to save Landa's life, Kylo had Rey in a corner. Even if he didn't officially marry her, if she were to uphold her promise to him, she would be his forever, and no handfasting ceremony could stop it from happening.

But this was what it was in the end, wasn't it?
In order to further humiliate her and make her believe she could determine her own destiny, still, he would resort to such cruelty.

At that moment, Rey wished to return to when Kylo took her to the opera. Or when he protected her from the space wolves. But she realized that man was only a facade.

Still, no matter. She wouldn't give Kylo the satisfaction of falling apart. She would hold her head up high and face everything that came her way like she always did. Even if that meant exchanging vows with Kylo. A vow that didn't have her heart in it.

And so, with unshakeable resolve, she began reciting her vows from memory.

"Most of my life, all I did was fight to survive with no one to care for me. Then, when, I first laid my eyes upon you, I was scared. Because something inside me awoke. And I tried to fight it with all my might. But stubbornly you showed me that I wasn't alone, and with you by my side, there is nothing to fear. For all is as the Force wills it. Hereby, in the forces of darkness and the forces of light, wherever you may go and whatever you may face, I will pledge my fidelity to you and only you, my knight, my protector, my companion, and let nothing keep us apart. Not even the split of the earth. May the Force be with us."

"When I first met you, between thunder and lightning, all that I could see in your eyes was contempt and fear. But you kept your fear in check and stood up to me. You did the unthinkable. Hereby, I take your hand and accept your pledge. In times of despair, may my body be your shield. And may my spirit be your source of strength when you are in ail. I would follow you to the edge of any galaxy, because anywhere with you feels like a haven. May the Force be with us. "

After the vows were exchanged, some were clapping. Among those that were clapping were soldiers from the First Order that hoped that maybe they wouldn't witness, or be at the receiving end of Kylo Ren's temper tantrums anymore.

At the Resistance base, Leia was locked in her room alone with express orders for no one to bother her in her solitude. Not even her children or other members of her family. Tears were falling down her cheeks. Tears of happiness. Despite every deed her eldest son made against everything she stood for - ending with the death of the love of her life at his hands - at least for now, she still found in her heart to forgive him and to hope that he would find his happiness. And she knew Rey was the key. Even if the girl, herself, didn't know it yet. Since first seeing her, Leia's gut told her that Rey was something special. Even more so after she discovered her Force sensitivity. Maybe, just maybe, her boy would come home after all. She only hoped she'd live it to see it.

Across the stars, the opinions were split. The people that knew who Kylo Ren was before, few as they were, were either hopeful for the turn of events or fuming because Kylo was about to get a chance at happiness, even though he took theirs away.

But none of them knew how far from the truth they were. They only made their assumptions on what was shown to them. And you know what they say... if the charade is well played, then everyone will believe it's the truth.

Author notes:

First of all I want to apologize for taking me so long to update. It passed more than a year since my last update. Shame on me. Unfortunately a lot happened in my real life so I got stuck and was unable to get from writer block mode. Hopefully it won't take me another year to update the story.

If you want to read more about the references used in this chapter search my story on AO3.

As for the vows, I was the one to came up with them. I hope they were emotional enough.

So what do you think about this chapter?

Feel free to leave a review.

Until next time!