How about some medieval Reylo?
And yes, seeing a certain someone in the trailer for the Last Duel… well you know.
I'm so excited for you to read this story! Please let me know what you think… and I need to thank Sohypothetically for beta-ing. She's amazing as always. I have up to chapter six written, and as soon as I finish the last chapter for Lightening Bugs, I'll work on this besides the other Reylo WIPs I have going. Anyways… I hope you enjoy it!
"You will marry him in three days," her uncle says. Somewhere in her shock, she registers the gasp from friends and what little family is left echoes in the make-shift throne room.
"To whom are you marrying me off?" She tries to stay calm but a sob escapes even before she finishes saying the sentence.
"Cassian," her aunt, the queen murmurs loud enough solely for she and her uncle to hear. "Perhaps we should continue this in our receiving room?"
Uncle Cassian holds the heavy door for her and Aunt Jyn. He then waits for the maid who was cleaning to exit, leaving the royal family alone.
Or what's left of it. The last half of the war against the south, against those who called themselves The First Order, was fought at their front door and all of their treasures were hidden away. Even now that the battle is over, Aunt Jyn is weary, and doesn't want to bring their treasures and heirlooms home just yet.
Princess Rey grew up watching her men train. When she's old enough to hold her own sword, she traded her gowns for squire's pants and tunics to train with her kingdom's knights. Everyone who lived in the castle knew her secret and not a word was mentioned outside the walls of the castle. When the battle got closer to home, she brandished her sword and fought alongside her men.
Rey still hasn't admitted to her aunt and uncle just how many men she was able to cut down before Snoke's troops retreated.
But she also knows how many the Black Knight sliced his blade through also.
That's when Rey, no longer able to hold back her tears, lets them trail down her cheeks.
Jyn wraps her in a hug. "Come sit, let's talk about this?"
Rey nods and realizes how lucky she is. She's heard the stories of other nobles who don't get a choice in what happens in their lives. Marriages are plots and plans that often occur without the bride and groom present, all for the sake of future heirs who will have the same choices taken away before they are born.
Now, it seems that she's not able to escape the same fate.
Her father, King Joreth and her mother, Mary sat on the throne only to die when she was but five. Uncle Cassian and now, Queen Jyn who never thought they would rule, now sit on the throne her parents left.
They tried for years and years, but never had another heir.
Now, it seems its time for Rey to marry and have some heirs of her own.
"Who is he?" She whispers once she sits between them on the low couch.
"Did I tell you about the Black Knight?"
"I noticed that he was there—fighting for us against his old master," Rey answers. "When did that happen?"
"I received a missive the night before the battle. Simply put, he's tired of being betrayed. One last battle he said in the letter. So, I met him and we made a deal—"
"Was I part of that deal?" Rey asks. She tries not to let her anger bleed over into her voice.
"No dear," he answers, "I love you too much for that. Did you know that the Black Knight is actually the lost Prince of Alderaan? He just wants his family lands back.'' Uncle Cassian tells her.
"Did you or did you not offer me to him?"
"Rey—you know the duties—"
She jumps to her feet. "Of course, I know what's required of me. You offered him my hand as a way to secure both Naboo and Alderaan."
"I did," he whispers, unable to look his niece in the eyes. "I know I swore that I would never do such a thing, but you were there! You know that if we didn't have The Black Knight fighting for us, we never would have won. He is a good man despite receiving his training under Snoke. I never would have promised you to someone who wasn't a good man."
"And maybe one day," Jyn adds, "maybe you will love him."
Rey doesn't miss the way they look at one another. It's a well-known secret through the kingdom how much King Cassian and Queen Jyn adore each other.
But she gave up on that long ago.
She was nineteen when the war started with the promise of an engagement that never happened. She's now twenty-four and she hears how they call her the Spinster Princess even if she did help fight in several of the battles.
"May I be excused?" She asks. The walls are closing in and she needs to be anywhere but here.
"Will you marry who I chose for you?" Uncle Cassian asks.
Her heart falls.
"Will you at least meet him?" Jyn answers for her. "Can she do that, Cassian?"
She realizes how exhausted her uncle is as the afternoon sun highlights the circles underneath his eyes.
"Please?" She mutters.
"I cannot tell both of you no. Lord Ren and his men who followed him when he left Snoke will be arriving here this evening to stay until the wedding. Rey, I know what you want to do, but please—" his voice trails off and he looks at Jyn.
"I think what the king is trying to say is please go change. Get ready for supper. There will be time for you to ride B.B. later—" Jyn pleads because she knows her niece and how she likes to feel the wind in her hair as she rides.
"After the wedding you mean. He probably won't like it if his wife can ride astride like a man," she snorts.
"We will make time for you to ride tomorrow," Jyn answers.
Not sure what else to do, Rey huffs out of the room. Cassian waits a long moment then says,
"She's as stubborn as Joreth."
"She is his daughter." Jyn reaches for his hand, "I do see a lot of you in her though."
"You do?"
"I do. She wants to be just and fair. She also wants to save her people. That's why she was on the battlefield."
He smiles. "She's already a queen—"
"No dear, she's a princess who loves her country." Jyn answers. "How well do you know this Black Knight? Is he worthy of our Rey of Sunshine?"
"When we talked, it was in the early hours before dawn. He willingly swore his liege even after all those years of serving Snoke. I asked him what made you change your mind? Do you know what he said?"
"What did he say?"
"That he just wanted to go home to see if his parents are even alive."
"He doesn't know—"
"He doesn't," Cassian answers.
She's quiet for only a moment. "So, love. He's doing it all for love."
"It would seem so, my lady queen," Cassian coos as he pulls her close for a kiss.
"Oh no, don't," she giggles as she stands. "Come my liege, let us prepare ourselves for the next meal."
Before they reach the doorway, one of the boys whose mother works in the kitchens comes running and stops before them, breathless. "King! The Black Knight is here!"
"Come, wife, queen, let us greet our future nephew!"
"Oh Lord, Cassian," Jyn breathes. He offers her his arms and she tucks her hand in his elbow. "Don't let Rey hear you say that."
"Ah, yes, her stubbornness is coming out too," Cassian comments as he leads her through the throne room.
"She's always been stubborn. Remember when you tried to get Chewy to teach her how to ride side saddle like a proper princess?" Jyn smiles.
"And it took her a week to learn to ride astride?" They pause in the throne room. "Shall we greet them out in the courtyard?"
"Yes, I think I would like to see that beast of a horse I've heard so much about." Jyn says.
"Too bad Rey's gone to change. You know how she loves horses." The walk is short to the courtyard. When Cassian moved in, he had a door directly from the throne room to the courtyard put in so he could go check on his knights. It turned out to be a great asset when the war began; Spies could move in and out of the castle without worrying about being seen.
Through the years of visiting other castles and based on what visitors have told them, their courtyard is bigger than most. Probably because the castle is a new one. King Joreth started it after the old one burnt down, when their parents were still on the throne. Cassian finished it after he was crowned.
They hear the hoofbeats before they see the men as they come down the cobblestone road outside the castle.
"How many knights ride with Lord Ren?" Jyn whispers.
"Only a handful. Our men came home with me. He had said that he wanted to give his men time to go to their own homes then they would come."
The echo of the hooves, reach them before they see their visitors. Even though they aren't dressed for battle, the sight of Lord Ren and his knights takes Jyn's breath away. Not for the first time, she thanks God above for whatever reason compelled these brave men to forsake their master and help them.
She doesn't realize that there are tears in her eyes until Cassian introduces her to them.
The tallest of the men steps forward first. "Lady wife, this is Lord Kylo Ren. Lord Ren, this my queen, Jyn." The King introduces them. He's tall, she notices right away. Amber colored eyes look down submissively and she sees that he is indeed handsome.
She wonders if Rey will see him that way.
"Your highness," he murmurs as he takes her hand in his. He presses a quick kiss to her knuckles. Then meets her eyes like a peer.
If what Cassian said is true, then he is a Prince of Alderaan, and future king of Alderaan and Naboo. Amber eyes peer into hers framed by inky black waves almost to his shoulders. His beard and mustache are trimmed and proper.
"Welcome to our home. Will you introduce me to your men?"
"Yes, your grace." He steps aside. "This is Sir Dameron, Sir Hux and Sir Rook."
Jyn takes in the men. Sir Dameron looks familiar and with his coloring she would guess that he's been here before, maybe before the war. "My lady queen," he replies as he bows. Sir Hux steps forward. "Her highness," he murmurs as he bows. Then Sir Rook steps forward, copying the other two knights.
"We have rooms prepared for you and dinner will be served in the great hall." Jyn declares as Chewy comes out onto the courtyard behind them. "This is Chewy. He will be—" a loud roar from the man interrupts her.
Chewy moves past them, intent in his purpose.
Which is to grab the Black Knight, or Lord Ren in a tight hug. Jyn isn't sure what the knight is saying to their… well Chewy who happens to do a little bit of everything around the castle from looking after their guests to watching over Rey.
Lord Ren has a huge smile on his face, and Jyn assumes that he's as excited to see Chewy as Chewy is to see him. Then Chewy drags Sir Dameron into a hug, she has to smile.
"Come, Queen Jyn," Cassian says as he offers her his hand. "Shall we retire and ready ourselves—" a familiar whinny of a well-loved horse travels over to them as horse and rider gallop out of the courtyard through another gate. "I thought she was in her room," he groans.
"Who was that, your Grace, if you don't mind me asking," Lord Ren asks.
"Your bride."
When Rey reaches the top of the hill overlooking the back of the castle, she waits and watches. She doesn't hear anyone who might come after her, so with a smile, she continues on her way.
There are several places she could go but she can feel B.B.'s nervous energy under her and perhaps it matches her own. So, she lets the horse run.
B.B. follows the way he knows she supposes. Ever since she got him, some ten years ago, they learned their homeland of Naboo together. Their little country is small even with Alderaan boarding the north.
But as Maz, her tutor tells her over and over what makes these two little countries so important is not the wealth of gold mines, but the kyber crystals buried in the mines along with the gold. Since they were discovered years ago, rulers all over the world now demand them for one reason or another. Some wore them in their crowns to show their power, while some were rumored to use them for other purposes.
Maz refuses to tell her what those other purposes are.
B.B. takes her to their stream, the same one where they spend hot summer days. She attaches his long lead to a tree. Not too long ago, she was bathing and something spooked the horse. He took off, leaving her having to walk the miles back to the castle in wet underthings.
That was not a good day.
Even with the new visitors at the castle, she knows no one followed her. First her dress drops to the forest floor, leaving her in nothing but her shift. The midsommar celebration is next week and the summer heat is trying to set in. She feels wicked in admitting that taking off her dress feels amazing on her hot skin.
"We have guests tonight," she reminds B.B. who nickers back. "Yeah, I know. So, I guess I'd better wash my hair. You know, so I'll actually look like a princess." She pulls out the pins Rose just put in this morning then she tucks them into the pocket of the dress.
Her hair reaches her hips and she supposes that she should trim it, but she uses it as a shield when she's out here in the woods bathing.
Perhaps she's not that sinful after all.
She didn't bother with stockings today, not expecting her betrothed to arrive today. A heady mix of dread and excitement fills her stomach when she thinks that one of the men talking to her Aunt and Uncle might be her future husband.
She takes a deep breath to calm herself and she pulls her shift over her head. That same mischievous feeling is back as she enjoys how the breeze that always fills the forest touches those places that she always imagined her husband would.
The water greets her as an old friend, bubbling away at her when she dips her toes in, then to the tops of her feet. As is her habit, she walks in slowly only stopping when the water laps at her ankles, then her knees.
Years ago, she and Finn had dug out part of the stream. The middle was deep enough to almost swim, but she can stand in the sandy bottom and the water stops just above her breasts. She knows that Rose also comes to enjoy the cool waters.
As she wades all the way in, she hears something moving behind her. "Damn it," she swears. "Why didn't I bring my bow?" She moves her hair so it's covering more of her then she hears a crack that echoes across the forest. She's ready to flee when a doe and her spotted fawn comes wandering out.
She has to smile at her nervousness over the entire day or else she'd cry. "You're a nerf herder!" she says to herself with a smile before she goes under the water. When she resurfaces, she goes to retrieve the soaps and oil she uses from their place on the bank.
"I guess it won't be so bad to be married," she whispers to herself. "Maybe we will care for one another-" and I won't be so lonely anymore, she finishes in her head. Maybe I should have stayed for introductions, at least I'd know who Uncle picked out for me. Maybe this will be a good thing. Naboo and Alderaan will finally be combined. With the Black Knight as king of Alderaan and then me as queen of Naboo, we can conquer the world…
She's so lost in her thoughts that her usually observant eyes don't see the man dressed in black who watches her bathe. Nor does she hear his own murmur, "This might be easier than I thought it was going to be-"