Falynn felt emotionally drained as she was taken to the capital Theed. The power that she exuded so much in those fields of trees had emptied her completely of any energy she had. It was an effort to keep up with the Stormtroopers that were stationed on either side of her. Her feet felt like lead, and her thoughts had turned to mush. She needed to sit or lie down and allow her body to settle again. She had not used that much power in a very long time. The memories of the last time they had been unleashed in such volumes tried surfacing themselves to the edge of her mind. She silently and violently pushed them back down.
Falynn had been informed that afternoon...after the awful speech, Kylo had given that she would be staying at the palace. Queen Winama the leader that Falynn had heard about while growing up had welcomed them with a tight smile. Falynn had only slightly bowed her head in return unsure of what to say to Theed's leader. She was a regal-looking woman with hard gray eyes, ruby red lips, and jet black hair that was pulled back into several round buns on the top of her head. Her robes had been a deep violet that swept the floor. Gold was worn underneath swirling up her neck. A large golden headdress was on top of her head, as she kept her chin lifted up. It was obvious she was not pleased with their presence.
Falynn couldn't blame her, this was her home they had barged into. Apparently the Queen had been demanded by one of Kylo's Stormtrooper captains that Falynn be given one of the suites. Before Falynn wasn't even able to refuse. As they navigate their way down the grand stoned halls people who worked or lived in the palace turned away from them. No one wanted them there. Their stay was by force, not a warm welcome by its people. Falynn kept her head lowered, feeling trapped between the two Stormtroopers.
She didn't care to be there either.
Falynn stood speechless in the doorway to her room after. The two stormtroopers that had escorted her stationed themselves outside the door with their blasters. After a moment of open mouth, awestruck Falynn had shut the door behind her. Loudly enough so they would know she no longer wanted to be bothered.
When she was a girl her mother used to take her into Theed to wander around the sheets. Falynn remembered her mother picking her up in her arms and pointing to the palace. She explained to Falynn that the palace was a beautiful place to live in, and to be in one you needed to be a Queen. When they had returned home, Falynn had wrapped a blanket around her shoulders pretending to be royalty, imagining what it would be like.
Now that she was here in the palace she had no words for it. She certainly wasn't the royalty she used to daydream about. Not even close.
The room itself could be easily mistaken for a large apartment. The bed was covered in lavender velvet and cotton sheets, with a golden canopy. A large vanity, sat in the corner, next to the large curved windowed doors that led to a balcony. A dining area was pressed against the corner of the wall with small crystals hanging over it, giving it light. An arched door, that was parallel to the balcony, led to the bathing suit. Despite how large and luxurious the room was, Falynn felt suffocated in it. This was not the room that she felt she deserved. That any of them deserved.
Throughout that evening no one came in to intrude on her. Not even Henne. She had given specific orders that she wanted to be left alone. No one had spoken a word against her. Perhaps the only highlight of being married to Kylo Ren. Very few questioned her, in fear of what her husband would possibly do to them.
Falynn took advantage of the bathing suit and allowed the warmth inside the enclosed area to relax her muscles. As she found the warm waters of the large round, bronze tub and settled her body down, Falynn sighed and tilted her head back. The water bubbled and foamed around her easing some of the fuzziness that was still enclosed in her mind. She allowed her eyes to slowly study the intricate swirls of turquoise and gold on the bronze ceiling above her. Her eyes lazily trailed the designs letting the swirls lure her mind away from the horrors she faced that day.
She was tired.
She was already so tired of this facade. This was only the second day that she had been married to Kylo Ren. She was already so tired of it and what she had to pretend to be. She closed her eyes, her mind floating to the memory of their introduction.
Her mother had dressed her in a pretty dark violet and lined her eyes with black, and lips with a lighter shade of purple. As they walked into the hall her father had followed closely behind. He had been dressed in his First Order officer uniform as he walked with his chin held high and hands clasped behind his back. Kylo stood at the front of the room with his usual attire of black and that damn helmet. Falynn was surprised to see there were a few other women close to her age, that were shaking against the wall. Other options, she realized as her stomach churned. As they approached him, Kylo walked down the black marble steps and approached them. He had gotten so close to her as if he couldn't see well enough through that mask.
Her father, Darred did a low bow, "Supreme Leader, allow me to introduce my daughter." He stepped beside Falynn, his lips curling up into the smile she had learned to hate. "Falynn."
Her father had been in the First Order and serving the Imperials as long as she could remember. As a child she was blind to that. Her mother Amgena treating her father as some type of hero taking her away from Tatooine. He was already favored in the eyes of the First Order. He was willing to do anything to keep his ranks in their empire. Including giving her up to Kylo as an option to wife. That being so Kylo took one slow round look at Falynn. She had stood still as he had looked her up and down slowly like some vulture. Assessing her no doubt, she had felt the skin underneath that dark violet crawling. He had stood in front of Falynn for a good long while before turning to her father.
"We shall hold the ceremony next week," was all Kylo had to say.
No questions. The other women had been dismissed, and Kylo just gave her a curt nod before following some other officials and a few generals out of the hall leaving Falynn alone with her parents. She had always wondered why he had chosen her so suddenly. Had he even looked over the other woman who had been standing in the room? When she ran her eyes over them, they had all looked extremely relieved. The sight made Falynn grit her teeth. Why? Why had she been chosen? Perhaps he was too busy at that moment, to really think properly on the decision. It didn't make a difference. She was here now as his wife. It could not be undone. Falynn reached out her hand, and watched the water ripple underneath her fingertips, then stopped when she felt something trickling from within her room.
Stepping out of the tub, Falynn reached for the white silk robe, that hung on the golden hook, by the door. She securely wrapped it around herself and tied the white sash around her hip before slowly entering the arch that led to the bedroom.
She paused in the arched opening from the sight of Kylo sitting on her bed. He was leaning forward with his forearms resting on his legs and hands clasped together.
Falynn narrowed her eyes as she hugged the silk robe tighter around her. Kylo didn't move from where he sat as she slowly approached him. She stopped a couple of feet away.
"Are we going to be sharing a room tonight?" she asked arching an eyebrow. Surprisingly enough she was less dressed then she was the night before. Perhaps he sensed that and was coming in for the opportunity. If that was the case she would tell him what he told her the night before. At the moment I am not really in the mood.
For she wasn't. Not after what he had pulled today.
"I am not planning on staying here tonight no," he dryly replied.
"Of course not," her words were cool as she folded her arms. "If we slept together, that would mean you would have to take off that helmet of yours...unless you sleep in it?"
A low hiss, which she ignored. She was in no mood to play the gracious and blushing wife. Today he took an innocent life from her people. He invaded her home. He turned her own people and planet against her. Allow him to be insulted.
He didn't give another response to her snide remark, to which Falynn held back a smirk.
Falynn strutted past Kylo without a glance and moved her way toward the vanity. Sitting down she grabbed the brush and began to comb through the damp tangles. The bed creaked, and was followed by his footsteps before he made his way to stand behind her.
"I was trying to make you happy," he finally said.
Falynn's head shot up staring at him in disbelief.
"Make me happy?" she let out a harsh laugh. "By coming to my homeland and harming my people?"
"I am trying to bring peace to your homeland," his voice was strained through the helmet. "The world needs order, Falynn. It needs to be constructive."
"Is that so?" she continued to brush her hair moving her head back down, where she could face her reflection. "Explain to me then, how sending Stormtroopers towards the people...the people that I love is a way of being constructive. You are not sending a message of peace, Kylo Ren. You are sending threats."
Hands slammed on either side of her, knocking over perfumes and combs, as she was in mid brush through a section of her hair. Kylo leaned forward to where his masked face, was reflecting in the mirror next to her own. Falynn was frozen on her cushioned chair, her fingers clenching around the handle of her brush as she listened to him breathing into her ear. He leaned down further to where she could easily take off his helmet if she wanted to. Kylo's body heat radiated off of his black and onto the bare of her neck and through the skin fabric of the robe. He was close, so dangerously close, that if she let anything slip in front of him he could easily crush her body or mind. She did not remove her eyes from their reflection and willed her breath to steady where he could not smell that fear or power.
"I will bring order," his voice was a hiss cutting into her skin. "While we are married Falynn, it would be in your best interest to remember where you stand."
His hands lingered on either side of her, letting the words sink into her. Falynn kept her gaze on their reflection taking in breaths through her nose, using every muscle in her body to keep the force down, and her back straight. By the time Kylo straightened up, her body was shaking. He left, and she didn't bother getting dressed. She did not sleep that night, and when she walked through the streets that morning, Kylo's command shuttle was gone, along with Kylo.
It was right where she left it, through the trees, and under the waterfall that overlooked one of the green fields. Falynn moved her way down the mountain watching her footing, as she edged herself behind the waterfall, and made her way into the small damp cave. She smiled seeing the box was right where she had left it.
She had told Henne, that morning after waking not even bothering to inquire where Kylo had flown off to, that she wanted to take a walk that morning. When Henne offered to follow her, Falynn quickly shut it down. No one else bothered to question her, the Stormtroopers were too busy, monitoring the streets, while the officials were conducting business in the political offices in Theed.
Another box laid beside the one that her saber was in and Falynn opened it revealing her old training clothes. She decided it would be best to hide those away too. If Kylo or the others found them then that would raise too many questions. She quickly undressed out of the loose red dress she walked out of the inn with that morning and slid into the leather training wear. There were stiff, weathered, and torn but they felt good against her skin. After pulling on her brown boots, and tying back her hair, Falynn's fingers began to shake as she knelt down in front of the box, where she knew her greatest treasure lay. Unclicking the rustic box, Falynn slowly opened it and smiled to see that the hilt of her lightsaber was just the way she left it.
As she picked it up, it hummed as it weighed heavily but perfectly in her hands. Holding it out, the two violet beams extending out on either side of the hilt with a hum. The violet light illuminated off of the cave walls, Falynn spun the lightsaber in her hand, listening as it sang through the air that it cut. A piece of her felt whole again, as she moved her way to a large entrance of the cave and began to twirl it faster in her hand, her own body twisting with it. As if she was dancing with the weapon that had chosen her. She admired and loved the violet lights that bounced off the wall. A unique color indeed.
When Leia was with her, Falynn confessed that she wanted a lightsaber of her own, Leia explained the meaning of the crystals and the power they emanated to that individual. When violet had chosen Falynn Leia's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, but then a slow smile appeared on her lips. She had placed a hand on Falynn's shoulder and told her to be wise in her choices and how she wielded the weapon. A rare color indeed. One that not many Jedis wielded or Siths. She was neither.
She was just...Falynn.
Lost, sometimes confused, and filled with that violet fire as it twirled and cut in her hands. She had yet to use it in any real fighting. Most of the time, she just went off on her own, to practice the fighting style that Haymond had taught her. Fluent like the very water she was hiding beneath. Cutting the lightsaber through some rocks, Falynn stopped when she felt something above her head. She turned the power off of her lightsaber as she fell silent. She lifted her head up as if she could see what was above her on the surface. She silenced her powers, in fear it could be Kylo. He was powerful enough that he would be able to feel the force right underneath the rocks.
When she didn't feel anything she let it come back to the surface, her lightsabers powers coming back on. She continued her practice until her legs felt like they could give out, and she was covered in sweat. She knew she couldn't spend too much time behind the waterfall. Henne or some of the officials would become curious, and even possibly report back to Kylo.
Falynn quickly undressed out of her training leathers, packing them back into the box. With a head tap to her lightsaber, she reverently placed it back in its box, before closing it.
"I will be back when I can, old friend," she whispered before standing up.
She was about to get back dressed in her dress when she heard the rushing waters outside of the cave. A smile touched her lips, as she looked back above her head. Even if someone was possibly lingering there, they wouldn't be able to see her if she stayed mostly behind the waterfall.
Picking up the red dress, Falynn headed toward the waterfall, before setting the dress down on a small rock. With nothing but her undergarments, Falynn stepped into the waterfall and closed her eyes. A laugh escaped her lips as she reached her hands up, embracing the cool water that fell down on her. She let it fall down on her face, grateful she chose not to wear any makeup and allowed it to splash down over her while running her fingers through her wet hair. She spun and splashed releasing the emptiness she had felt the day before until she knew all the sweat had been washed off.
Leaving the sanctuary of the waters, Falynn propped her barefoot on a rock, and stretched out her leg, then moved to the next. She winced as she leaned back, and listened to her muscles popping. It definitely had been some time since he had been able to do full physical exercise like that. A wave of gratitude rippled through her, as she allowed herself to mostly dry before getting dressed into her red dress.
Falynn moved her way back under the waterfall to the cliff, where she made her way at the top of the hill. She was halfway back to the center of the city when she paused in her steps.
General Hux stood by a tree, his blue eyes like ice as they scanned her. Falynn looked around to see if any other officials were around him, but he was alone.
"How was your walk, empress?" he asked, his words dripping between them, with a known amusement.
Falynn shifted uneasily on her feet. Was he the one that she had sensed above the cave. The smile that played on his lips, told her that he knew. He knew that she wasn't going out just for a walk. Falynn's expressions remained aloof, relaxed as she smiled at him.
"Quite refreshing, thank you," she calmly replied continuing her steps towards the city.
"You had us most concerned," he spoke as he followed her. "Your handmaiden said, that you went on a walk, but we weren't able to find you anywhere. I was beginning to think you fell into the water...and drowned."
Falynn gave him a sidelong glance. "And why exactly were you looking for me, General?"
"You are our great lady," he answered, voice like silk almost in a coaxing manner. "We have matters to discuss."
"On what exactly?" her eyes narrowed.
"On your rule over these people," he explained now standing beside her and keeping up with her fast-paced walk. "Not sure, if Ren has told you much about me. I am the lead commander of the troops. My control and directions of the army is nothing but flawless."
"Are you suggesting," Falynn began her eyes turning to ice as her voice came out like stone. "For us to command troops to fall upon my people?"
"Not unless it is called for," Hax spoke slowly eyes scanning and calculating Falynn. "That would be the last result of course, if your people did not want to fall under the jurisdiction of The First Order. Or if the Queen does not want to comply."
"I have no intention of threatening the citizens," she snapped then added. "Or the Queen. Matter of fact, I believe it best you have these discussions with her and not me."
"Don't worry," Hux said a half a smile twitching upon his lips. "We have every intention of taking matters up with the Queen. As the Supreme Lady, you are required to be there."
Falynn froze in her steps. She hadn't thought ahead of being a part of such diplomats. At least not by herself. She thought Kylo would be with her, through any political matters. She was just there to stand by his side, and be his support. She didn't know the first thing, of being involved with such affairs on her own.
"I have conducted a meeting, for this afternoon," Hux stated his cold eyes turning to her, as he did a bow, "that will give you time to dry off, empress. We will meet at Theed in the throne room."
Falynn didn't even bother to respond as panic began to rise in her. When Hux was out of sight, Falynn fell to her knees as the earth shuddered from beneath her.
