Disgusted. Terrified. Determined. Those three emotions ran through Falynn's veins as she stood by the most powerful man known throughout the galaxy. She swallowed down the sickness that threatened to rise in her throat listening to the vows being recited by one of the officials of the First Order. She tried to forget the citizen that sat in the thousands behind them. Her own family included.
The braids wound on top of her head felt tight. The black veil attached to red and gold combs itched the sides of her head. Her makeup felt thick with the crimson red lips, and heavily kohled eyes. Her dress, her wedding dress was tight around her curved waist, the long red train behind her felt like any moment it could pull her back, and drag her down.
Kylo Ren...the man...the murder...the monster was now her husband. She turned to him, trying not to narrow her sea-colored eyes, or to spit at his feet. It was their wedding, and still, he remained behind that black helmet. Hidden from them, and herself. He would never see her at his level. Not with his power and arrogance. She was a trophy. Maybe not even that. She bit back the bit of the force that edged its way to the walls of her mind. She thought of her saber left and hidden away.
The official began their vows and Falynn swallowed hard. She knew that once they were finished, then that was it. She then would officially be his. She hadn't even been betrothed him for more than a week. Her mother's eyes had shone so proudly when they announced the offer they had made to their "great conqueror". They sacrificed their daughter for honor amongst the First Order. She wasn't sure that she could ever forgive them. Her mother had told her it was a chance for her to live a good life. At the time Falynn had to bite back a harsh laugh. A good life, to a man who had murdered hundreds, had destroyed planets.
As the vows were done being said, Kylo turned to Falynn and ordered her. His wife. "Kneel."
Falynn bit back the power, the drive to unleash it and did as she was told. Fine. Let him order her around like a tool. She wouldn't be the only tool being used. She knew how to play too. This charade, this dance the two of them would begin. It wouldn't last forever. She could bear with it, for now, to get what she needed. To use that against him when the time came.
He did not kneel down beside her, as she expected that he wouldn't. As she stayed on her knees, still, silent and waiting Kylo turned to the crowd before them. Her heart jumped within her chest as his voice boomed over the crowd.
"Today is a day to be remembered. An alliance has been born!" Alliance. Falynn had to resist rolling her eyes in fear they would see. Spot the lie. He continued his arm extending down towards Falynn. "My empress!" His voice dropped as he turned his head turned toward her. "My wife." Silent enough that only she could hear. A warning. His voice continued powerful. Majestic even. Even through the mask. "A day where my line has grown. With my empress, we will have more order. Peace. I will see you treat this alliance with what I expect," Falynn's eyes widened as he turned his head toward her again. "Anyone who sees to unravel this alliance or press harm to my empress I will see you are taken care of…" the crowd was silent as if a ghost passed through all of them. Kylo extended his hand toward Falynn. "Rise. And face your new purpose as my empress!"
Swallowing what probed at the edge of her mind Falynn took Kylo Ren's hand and stood. Submissive, sophisticated, and always in line. That was the role she had to play. She would play the part, then use whatever power and information she learned and report back. To the Resistance. To the woman she knew haunted a part of Kylo Ren.
She owed the resistance that much, for what they did for her. For what Leia had done for her. When she almost drowned in that dark place.
Kylo didn't speak another word as they walked away from the crowd. They were temporarily going to stay in the city. Just for the night, she was told...where they expected them to seal what vows they had just made. Falynn swallowed a lump in her throat wondering if Kylo was actually expecting that from her.
As if he read her mind he said, "your room has been prepared for you."
She arched an eyebrow and tilted her head. "You didn't have a room for the two of us?"
He turned his head towards her with that black helmet of his. A shadow of what ran through his veins. His mother's veins. She had stayed with Leia and the rebels for months after she ran away from home confused. Hurt. Lost. She had explained to her, what it felt like to be torn within your family. She knew what that helmet was trying to impersonate. Who Kylo Ren strived to be. Leia didn't speak much else of Kylo, telling her a few stories in between of his boyhood, but no more than that. Falynn knew that he was about her age, she would be turning thirty within half a year. She half wondered if that is one reason her parents offered her up. Falynn had no intention of ever getting married. That wasn't the life, she thought she would want, not with knowing what stirred her in her. What she had to learn to control, without her parents' knowledge or anyone else. Marriage would only reveal that. It was too dangerous. Despite knowing his age, Leia had never revealed Kylo's appearance. The color of his eyes, his hair. For all Falynn knew, he could be as plain as day underneath that mask. Or it would be a terrible face, that matched his powers.
"Is that what you wanted?" his voice dropped low, amused even. "For us to share a room?" When Falynn didn't answer Kylo let go of her hand and spoke a bit more harshly. "Follow me."
If Kylo wasn't expecting them to seal the marriage in an intimate way...everyone else did. Matter of fact even the lady who had been assigned to her Henne assumed this was her and Kylo's room. With the massive bed covered in black and gold silks and dimmed lighting no wonder. Henne giggled a bit, blushing like some youngling as she asked if Falynn was excited. Falynn could only give her a sweet smile. Willed her own blush to rise on her cheeks. Playing the part of the blushing bride, as Henne unpinned her black veil and braids. Falynn almost breathed in a sigh of relief as her copper hair fell around shoulders. The itching and slight headache immediately going away. Falynn ran her fingers through her hair massaging her temples as she did so. Henne was sweet and a bit younger than Falyn. Chosen because of her resemblance to Falynn with her soft oval face, similar teal colored eyes, and full pouted lips. A replica. Another tool to use for whenever Falynn couldn't perform her duties. Falynn pushed back the idea if that meant more ways than one.
She wasn't a fool of not knowing that she wasn't just a show pony. She was also going to be the one responsible for Kylo's heir. After brushing out her hair, another giggle
Henne took her leave as soon as she was finished helping her mistress settle in.
Falynn was grateful for the moment of solitude. She took some breaths, creating blocks around her thoughts and powers. He couldn't know. He could never know what was beneath her skin. The gift she had been born with and discovered years ago. It had been exhausting having to hide it away from her family. Knowing if they had found out, they might have sold her out the same way they did today. She would have been forced to possibly die, or join the Knights of Ren. She had trained herself for years to hide that power, even before she was trained on how to use it.
Before Henne left, she had informed Falynn that her nightgown was on her bed. Falynn had wondered why she would need one so early it still being daylight outside. Her question was silently answered as she snorted at the obscene nightgown she found on the bed. They did indeed think she and the great ruler were going to share a bed tonight. It was nothing but lace, black lace with some cloth covering secrets they were hoping he'd want to reveal.
Falynn shed herself out of her wedding dress then resentfully stared at the nightgown. She wasn't opposed to black. The darkness of it fared well against her fair skin and her copper hair. Nor did she mind occasionally wearing pretty things.
She hated what it symbolized, and what everyone was expecting. Maybe even Kylo himself. She hated that even though she could be the most beautiful bride in the galaxy, it wouldn't matter. Not in this marriage. Not to him.
She looked toward the door realizing that Kylo or Henne could be walking through the door at any moment.
With one more resentful huff, she slithered herself into the nightgown. It was snug and clung to her curves, but it wasn't uncomfortable. The lace was soft and didn't itch her like the veil. She sat on the bed and peered out the window to Coruscant. The city was a buzz as usual but nothing celebratory. If your ship landed here you would have no idea there was the wedding of the grand emperor. It was the same as it always. She took note again that it was only the beginning of the late afternoon.
How long were they expecting the two of them to be together? Such things didn't last all day. Least that she knew of. She was about to fall back on the bed until the door opened. No knock. She immediately knew who it was. Kylo stood in the doorway then with a slight lift of his hand slammed it shut. Her own power tried humming in her, and she immediately silenced it. She willed her face into neutrality, maybe even a bit nervous.
That wasn't a complete lie.
His head didn't even move, she wondered if she was bare before him if that would cause a stir in that damn suit of his.
Falynn softened her face and smiled. "Hello, husband."
She did well performing her smile, but Falynn could not hide the steel that held in those eyes. Those eyes were colored of the waters of her home. The pools of where her blood ran and some of his own blood did too.
She was clearly dressed for him, whether it was by her choice or not. The lace clung to her all the way to the floor where it flared out. The front was cut deep into a V. It was low enough where most men's eyes would wander. Her copper kissed hair was now down and falling around her shoulders and laying softly on some of her bare back.
She did indeed look like his empress.
She kept her back straight, and her steady eyes on him. Focused. She was entirely focused on him.
Kylo placed his hands behind his back as he approached her. She did not take a step back, her eyes following his movement. He paused for a moment when he felt a shift in the air between them. Just as quickly it was gone. No change in her face, in her movements. Perhaps he imagined it.
"You did well today in your performance," he coolly noted.
Falynn only slightly bowed her head before she slowly and carefully replied. "Thank you. I am glad you are pleased."
"Is your room to your satisfaction?" He asked. Her eyes began to dart around the room. She sucked in her bottom lip as she did so.
So she was expecting something.
He would be a fool to admit that outfit on her wasn't stunning. Her fair skin almost glowed against it in the dim light. However, he had no such time for those matters. Not when he saw that coldness in her eyes. He doubted most would be happy to marry him. Whether it was out of fear. Disgust. "I am not planning on laying with you."
Falynn's eyes widened, "why not?"
He was quiet for a moment, taken a bit aback for a moment by her blunt response. She had not argued when he said she would have her own room. Yet here she was dressed as if she had been waiting for him. He hissed at his own pause. Who was she to question?
He coldly responded, "at the moment I am not really in the mood."
Eyes slightly narrowing Falynn responded with her own bit of ice, "they are expecting us to. If you leave now that may raise questions."
"I am the emperor," was his only response. "They know the consequences of their questioning." Raising his hand the door opened again. "We leave first thing in the morning. Make sure you are presentable. I will send for some Stormtroopers to escort you to the ship." Kylo left without another word. As the door shut behind him he thought he felt a whisper of shifting in the air again.
The rest of the afternoon and evening Falynn stayed in her room, sitting on the floor savoring the coolness of it against her bare legs as she closed her eyes and meditated. She allowed her mind to wander in the depths of herself, hidden away still but still where she could take her thoughts someplace else. Some place that wasn't her alone in this room. She found herself in Naboo where she had grown up, splashing her feet in those waters, wandering throughout the city and trees. The crashing sound of the waterfalls as she practiced her gift. She had been born with it, the force. What the galaxy wanted to believe was a myth now. Had believed it was a myth, until recent events. She had never told her parents. She was afraid of what they would say when she was younger and more afraid of what they would do when she was older. She had a hard time controlling it, until about six years ago, when she came across Haymond. He saw her blast back several small trees in Naboo, while she was trying to practice, the force. That was when he took her in, and began to instruct her. He was there with her, acting in her favor more than her own father would...until he disappeared. She never knew what happened. Whether he was killed off from Kylo Ren's orders or if he became one of the Knights of Ren.
She never tried to seek him out.
Instead, she took off lost, feeling forgotten. Feeling something unknown rippling underneath her skin, that made her skin itch. She was afraid to find out what it was. She lost herself in fighting, gambling, wanting to forget who she was. Almost did, until Leia found her. Falynn had been beaten up badly, scars were still visible on her stomach where she had been stabbed. Leia had brought her, somewhere hidden underneath the sight of the Order. She was the one who was with Falynn when she received her lightsaber. She did not question the double-sided lightsaber that Falynn decided to build, or why it illuminated violet. A toss between worlds.
Falynn missed the weight of it in her hands, the extension that it was to herself. She missed the power that she felt from it, another added piece of who she was. Without it, she felt a piece of her was missing, as it resided in Naboo. She knew it would be safe there. Leaving that piece of herself at home. She had flown there to pack it away before she flew to Coruscant to meet Kylo for the first time.
Her body suddenly feeling heavy Falynn slowly stood and did a quick stretch, before she crawled underneath the silken sheets. Cold. They were so cold as she hugged them tight around herself. Her first night as a married woman, and she would be spending it alone.
Good. That was how she wanted it.
Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed the first serious fan fiction I have ever written! :) I was super excited to begin as I am a huge fan of Kylo Ren and his tragic history. The poor Emo boy. Anyway! I will be posting as much as I can and if there is any long delays I will be sure to let you know.
