Rey's journey was further than she had ever travelled. Much further than the royal palace. The scenery change from the heat and dryness of Jakku, to lush valleys with lakes, to barren Rocky Mountains opening up onto barren planes.

They stopped once for fresh horses. Rey was stiff and used the break to stretch and try and ease her tired muscles. She was aching and sweating as if she had a fever, but she knew better to complain. Asajj and Talia were sobbing. Rey felt for them. They had lost their father. Rey mulled over whether she herself was to blame,

Finally, afternoon on the second day, they arrived at a palace very different to that in Alderaan. Whereas Alderaan's was full of light and beautiful, this was dark and foreboding.

She hadn't been told who her grandfather was directly, but given the title Snoke had given her, she had put two and two together.

She was ushered inside by the Alderaanian soldiers, who she assumed were now Alderaanian traitors. Male and female servants bowed and fussed over her. Asajj and Talia were taken away while Rey was taken to a set of rooms bigger than Niima House itself. She was told this was her suite and asked what she would like to eat.

What would she LIKE to eat? Rey felt stunned. After a moment of silence Rey asked for bacon, sausage and eggs, apple juice and tea.

She had ten minutes to explore a living room, a bedroom with a four poster with curtains, and a room with a fixed tub. There was a fireplace already lit in all three.

Then servants knocked and came in, bustling her to another room, the dressing room. They helped her out of her rags, pulling a face and holding them at arms length. They helped her into a floaty white nightdress and heavy dressing gown in red and gold.

"You must be tired, your Imperial Highness. It's such a long journey, and you're in no state to be travelling." A servant wiped the sweat from Rey's brow with a soft cloth. And she was so very tired. Rey felt a lifetime of tired.

In the living room her late breakfast was waiting and she ate with gusto. When her stomach was full her conscience returned.

"Asajj, Talia, they arrived with me. Where are they?"

"They are being shown the servants quarters and given appropriate clothing for their station. They will be instructed as to what is expected of them and they will start tomorrow. They will be perfectly fine, your Imperial Highness."

Rey felt a pang. There was a certain irony in the change of role but Rey hadn't asked for this. She decided that she was going to be much more patient and kind than they had ever been to her.

She was given a dark coloured ornate box 'to help with her condition'.

"There are Alphas here, your Imperial Highness, but you'll be quite safe. These rooms are designed for an Omega. Only a limited number of beta staff have keys and you can unlock from the inside." The woman showed her the large locking mechanism. "The Emperor is an Alpha, of course. He will see you once you feel more yourself. Not that your grandfather is a risk to you but his health is very precarious and he doesn't want to upset his...equilibrium."

The servants cleared her plates away and indicated that she should retire to her bed. After she had done so, they closed the curtains, and Rey heard the click of a heavy duty lock in the distance.

With the warm enclosed space, her full tummy, and bone weary tiredness, Rey drifted into sleep immediately.