Ben woke up disoriented and cold.
He tried to get up but stumbled in his state of undress. He pulled up his trousers, fastening them as he got to his feet, scanning the area for Rey. He called her name, once, twice but there was no answer. The only sign she was here was her fluids marking his body and a discarded pair of trousers.
He lifted the garment to his face and inhaled the raw scent of his Omega. He had found her as Snoke had promised.
He grabbed his shirt and jerkin, and tried to catch her scent on the night as he redressed himself. Where had she disappeared to?
Her aroma was fading, but he found himself at the gate leading to the public stables. Of course, she was a servant to one of the woman paraded before him tonight.
He paused. She was a commoner.
But, she was an Omega. The rule was that a king was to marry a noble Omega. There hadn't been an Omega Queen for years, but kings had married so long as the bride was noble born. He had found an Omega. What did it matter who had fathered her?
He didn't care. No one else should. He would ensure it.
Ben set off to the guests' carriages, ignoring the shocked looks and bows. She wasn't here anymore.
He saw a soldier nearby. "Poe Dameron, where is he?"
"Inside, Your Highness."
Ben surged through the kitchen and up through the servant's corridors, asking along the way where Poe was. He entered the ballroom. The large ornate clock nearby chimed for half past the hour.
Half past midnight. Lower nobility were to leave at midnight. Rey worked for a Baronet. She had already gone.
Plutt. Niima. Jakku. He could set off now and on horseback he could probably catch her on the road...
Before he could muse further he was paused by an arm on his elbow.
"Where have you been? And what have you been doing? Look at the state of your hair, and what is that rag?" Leia Organa chided him, with an edge of hope in her eyes.
"Mother, I found her. My future wife."
Leia Organa-Skywalker could hardly contain her delight as she ushered Ben away from the remaining guests gossiping about the Prince's dishevelled state and into a private room. "Who is she?"
"Her name is Rey. She's from Jakku. If I set off now I can bring her back. I want to marry her as soon as possible. Tonight. Today."
"Of course, I won't waste a second. Rey who? I can get a messenger sent to the Archbishop tonight, but we can't have you charging off in the middle of the night. There's things to arrange. I'm sure Rey's parents won't want to delay either. Who is her family?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know?"
Ben shrugged. "I never asked. It didn't seem important."
"It didn't seem important?! This is the future queen!" His mother's voice raised before she caught herself. "That's okay. At least she's from Alderaan. There's no one so bad that we can't live with it. So long as we can get you married and producing heirs. What's her title? Where is she from?"
"She has no title. She's a servant."
"Ben. No, Ben. She's a commoner?" His mother covered her mouth with her hand and took a moment to pace around the room.
"I don't care that's she's a commoner. She's an Omega. She's more than highborn. She's rarest of the rare."
His mother came over and took his hands. "Ben...you know if there's the slightest chink, Palpatine will use it to undermine your claim. He wants Alderaan. If you marry a commoner then he'll use that to press his claim—"
"Then let him." Ben shrugged off his mother. "He's old and a cripple. All Luke needs to do is outlive him and the problem is solved. Palpatine has no heirs either. Once he's dead, there's no one to challenge our line."
His mother said nothing but looked sad. "I'll tell Luke to arrange a Council meeting first thing. Ben, just please, sleep on this. I know you feel this way now—"
"I won't change my mind." Ben was adamant. How could he? She was the one.
His mother cupped his face. "I know. But just be sure. I'll see you in the morning."
Her skirts swished as she turned to leave but Ben called out "Mother? If you see Snoke, send him in. I wish to speak with him about this."
Princess Leia nodded.