'

'

Every muscle in Kylo's body seemed to be trembling with fear and panic. The idea that Rey had simply lost control of the horse, did not even cross his mind. No, she had been taken somehow, despite the impossibility of daylight, the Deyði-eta had her. He did not know how, but there was a deep certainty settling in his bones. He trusted that feeling implicitly.

Luke was still with Ljós, the animal calming under his familiar touch, he wickered uncertainly as Kylo approached, but Luke soothed him with a steady hand.

"Does anyone know if she rode out without him tacked up?" Kylo asked, words clipped as he looked the animal over for any signs of injury or blood that was not the beast's own.

"Finn?" Luke asked the stablehand who had moved closer as they talked.

The stablehand shook his head, "No, his tack is still hanging up."

Ordinarily Kylo would just assume that without a saddle and reins, it would be all too easy to lose your seat, but he had seen Rey riding without such necessities numerous times and could not believe that that was what had happened.

So, she either dismounted on purpose or was forced to, and once down, Ljós had either spooked and run away, or she had commanded him to leave her. Her bond with the animal was such that it made Kylo think it had been her command that sent Ljós home.

For what purpose was less clear.

Ingalan's hand on his shoulder made him realise he had been furiously pacing and he paused to look at the other Knights.

"If the Deyði-eta cannot endure sunlight, they must have others with them that can, I would guess either Uruk or humans, as I doubt they would risk travelling with Trollskïr if they are as precious as Rey and the Codex have led us to believe..."

The Knights had been inseparable since they were eleven years old, when they had sworn the oath of a Knight-in-training together. Therefore it was simple for them to follow his train of thought.

"So you think Rey was taken? Not had an accident?" Leonmar asked.

Phasma shook her head emphatically, "No, even if she were injured, I cannot believe she would not manage to get herself back on Ljós somehow."

Kylo nodded, "So either Uruk caught her, or humans did, though I cannot fathom how they would have done so."

"It doesn't matter how, what we need to know is where," Ingalan said with a frown, "What if they leave the Slør now they have her?"

It suddenly became cold despite the sunshine beating upon their backs, Kylo shivered with dread at the idea he may never see his kærur again... he swallowed thickly.

"Well, we know where they will go," Javiell said, "There is only one route that leads into the Svartideyði, it will still be light for a good few hours, if we ride hard we can be ready for them."

"But we cannot get the entire garrison there in time and we are too few on our own," Ingalan pointed out heavily.

It was the truth, however bitter the taste. All their carefully laid plans were in ashes at their feet. It was impossible not to blame himself, he should have kept Rey with him, never let her out of his sight until she was safely locked in a cell.

Despite their night together and their bond, a small part of him whispered that if he had just killed her the day they met, he wouldn't feel like this now, broken and afraid and aching with her loss… but that wasn't necessarily true, it was possible that the Deyði-eta may still have come regardless, it was impossible to know and it was of little consequence now, anyway.

"I'm going to look at the Codex again, it may help, maybe there is some instruction on how to use our bond to find her."

"Bond? What bond?" Zainmar and Leonmar chorused.

Kylo shut his eyes for a second, then shook his head, "Phas, can you acquaint them with the long and the short of it, please?" he didn't wait for her answer, just strode away, his gait quickening to a jog, horribly aware of what little time they had before sundown, and mortally afraid of what might be happening to his bondmate if she really was in thrall to her Deyði-eta masters once more.

'

Despite the size of the Codex, it had provided him with no answers by the time the other Knights joined him in the library. Of course it had only been a short while, but Kylo felt as if he were failing somehow, as if he should know instinctively where Rey was and how to find her.

Phasma sat beside him and pulled the book towards herself, muttering "I read faster than you."

It was the truth and he relinquished the book gratefully, then looked at the others somewhat guiltily.

They were silent for an agonising moment, then Zainmar rolled his eyes, "You have all the luck with women."

"So long as we get to feed her sometimes, I won't fight you," Leonmar added with a small smirk.

Javiell offered him a small smile and Ingalan gripped his shoulder for a moment. It was comforting, they grounded him, helped him feel a little less lost.

"While Phas does her thing, we should continue with preparations," Ingalan suggested, "I know we are not sure what will happen now, but being ready never hurts anything and it will keep our minds occupied."

'

Kylo was able to get a few things done before he found himself in the library again, ostensibly to bring Phasma some food and water, but it was a flimsy excuse.

"So far nothing that mentions this bond thing goes into any useful detail," Phasma said as he placed the water on the table, "But, it does seem to imply that you have the Force, or at the least have a Jedi ancestor."

Kylo snorted, "I do not remember anything mentioned in our family history, and I would have thought I would know if I had magic."

Phasma shrugged, "Well, either you do, or the Jedi were wrong, which considering some of their beliefs, I would say is more than likely."

"They were not wrong, child."

Phasma and Kylo's heads snapped up to look at the door.

A small, wizened woman with tiny eyes but a surprisingly spry energy to her entered the library, followed by Luke.

"This is your nephew, Luke?" she asked as she got closer, peering at Kylo with interest, "How have you not felt his power? It churns within him like a maelstrom."

Kylo realised his mouth was hanging open and he shut it with a click of teeth as he looked askance at Luke.

"Maz, I present my nephew, Kylo Ren and his fellow knight, Phasma Ren. Phasma, Kylo, this is Maz Kanata," he paused for a moment before adding, quite seriously, "Maz is a Gívur."

Gívur was a polite term for a witch - women who claimed to practise magic. They were outlawed in Tokuni, charlatans who tricked the naïve out of their money and sowed discord among the peasants. They were nothing but liars and thieves.

Kylo felt his lip curl as he looked at the woman, but she simply smiled slightly and reached out to touch his arm before he could pull away.

"It seems I was right," she said softly as she gazed up at him, "So much potential in his blood," she cocked her head and Kylo found he could not move to shrug her away from him. "Ah, there is another there too, bound to your blood and bone and soul." she frowned and shut her eyes, fingers digging deeper into his flesh, "She is wounded."

A sharp hiss sounded as Kylo sucked in a shocked breath and he felt Phasma tense beside him.

"Oh," Maz's voice became pensive, "A Trollskïr. It has been an age and aeons since last I met one of her kind." She let go of Kylo's arm and turned to fix Luke with a grave expression, "This must mean the preparations you are making are because the Rekhzêl have finally journeyed across the Svartideyði."

The tiny woman ignored their astonishment and pulled up a seat at the table, helping herself to the grapes on Phasma's plate, popping them into her mouth as she carried on talking. "Be a dear and fetch me some te would you, Phasma Ren? I must speak with the Skywalker and his Heir."

Phasma blinked rapidly for a few seconds, then nodded uncertainly and left after murmuring "Listen to her," in Kylo's ear.

The way the old woman had said 'the' Skywalker had sounded more like a title than a family name. And it wasn't Kylo's, he was an Organa not a Skywalker.

Maz fixed Luke with a firm, stern stare, "It is time for you to acknowledge the power in your blood, Luke. You have little and less time to embrace it, but if you wish to prevail in what is to come, you will embrace your bloodline and the power it contains. Both of you."

Luke cleared his throat uncomfortably, frowning slightly, "Maz, you know that is something I will never do."

The tone of her reply was deeper, a solemnity weighing on her words, "Then you will die. Luke," she leaned forwards, "Do not doubt my words. You knew this day would one day come. Your fear will lead to your death, and to many others, it is time to accept who you are, what you are. You have been hiding from it for too long."

Kylo stared at his uncle now, whose face was pale, brows creased and blue eyes wary.

"I can not. Not after my father…" he trailed off, shaking his head vehemently.

Maz scoffed, "Pah! Anakin was greedy and pushed too far. His death was his own folly, none of which I see in you," her beady eyes fixed back on Kylo, like two dark awls pinning him to his seat. "Perhaps your nephew would be at risk, but his dyadic-bond will keep him balanced," she nodded to herself, "So, as I said before, daylight is dying," she got to her feet, "It will be easiest for you in the Temple, if I remember rightly it is a nexus point and should aid you finding your connection."

Phasma arrived then with a cup of te and as Maz thanked her, (and to Phas's horror told her what strong, healthy babes she would bear), Kylo turned to Luke.

"What, in the name of the Maker, is going on?"

Luke looked at him and winced at whatever expression was writ across his face, Kylo had no idea what it was, but it was clearly quite something.

"There are some things about our family that you do not know," Luke replied heavily as he stood, "The magic of the Jedi does run in our bloodline, it has lain dormant since the end of the Great Purge. I think now, with the proximity of the Deyði-eta it will manifest, even since Rey revealed herself I have felt the stirrings within my blood and bone. Perhaps you felt it more keenly, seeing as she fed from you…" he sighed heavily, suddenly looking old and worn. "You never met your grandfather, he died when your mother and I were young and I only remember him vaguely, but…" he paused to lick his lips almost nervously, "Our family were the ones who founded the Jedi, our bloodline was always strong, sometimes unpredictable, and often inherent with magic."

They started following Maz, who was leading the way out towards the temple, but Kylo was oblivious to her, everything in him fixated on Luke as he imparted knowledge that Kylo should have heard years before now.

He could not help but feel betrayed.

"As I said previously, the Jedi dwindled when there was nothing more for them to hunt, they turned inward and slowly the order consumed itself. After that, there was no need for them or their magic, and it slowly disappeared from the bloodlines, save for a few. The Skywalker bloodline was one such that remained, though often it was ignored or unperceived. That changed with Anakin. It was a different time, when Palpatine was in power, the mad king had power too, and urged your grandfather to delve ever deeper into his own. It did not end well, and I will not speak of that today, we do not have the time and I have not the heart to think of that dark story while beset with such darkness as we ourselves are now… suffice to say that you and I both have the potential, and I cannot impart how much that scares me." he flashed Kylo a brief, empty smile, "But it appears that I have no choice, I must bow to fate, and hope it does not consume me."

Kylo consciously pushed down the fury he felt over the secrets that had been kept from him, by his family, because at present, anything that could help him find Rey took precedence.

"And you trust this… woman? Who is she? What is she?" she didn't look quite human, and while until a few days ago he would have dismissed such thoughts, now he could not.

"Maz Kanata's lineage is known only to herself, she was a friend of your grandmothers and I have known her since your mother and I were children. There are records of a woman by her name existing well into the past. She is a nomad, often arriving at the most opportune moments, as you see now."

"But, if what she said is true, and she has met Trollskïr, that would make her hundreds of years old?"

Luke shrugged slightly and Kylo's eyes narrowed, "Is she related to them? The Deyði-eta? You said they were deathless."

"In truth, I do not know," Luke answered as they approached the Temple, "But I swear to you, whatever manner of being she is, we can trust her with our lives."

Before today, Kylo would have taken Luke's declaration to heart, but considering his deceit, it was less easy to do so.

"Come, inside with you," Maz ordered impatiently from the Temple doorway.

The simple stone altar stood in the centre of the small space, beneath the only window, shafts of sunlight illuminating it unlike the rest of the shadowy room. The copper bowl which usually sat upon the altar was missing today, but the ceremonial knife was there, gleaming in the light. Maz gestured for him and Luke to approach the altar, rather than settle on the cushioned pads that were placed around the space for contemplation.

It was strangely quiet, as if the space were somehow removed from the world that existed outside the doorway. Kylo felt a little calmer despite the circumstances.

"Now," Maz said, barely seen because the altar was taller than her, "This will be an intensive experience. You need to focus, despite how overwhelmed you are about to feel. Place your hands flat on the altar, leave space between each other, and shut your eyes."
The stone was hot beneath his palms as Kylo reluctantly allowed his eyes to close. He was still aware of the light cascading from the window, warming the tops of his hands.

"Listen to my voice, and breathe."

He thought it was Maz who spoke, but she sounded… different, yet he could not explain how.

He and his fellow Knights had been taught how to centre themselves shortly after beginning training, so he slipped into it with ease.

"Just breathe."

"Breathe and feel."

"The Force moves through and surrounds every living thing, feel it, the light, it has always been within you. It will guide you."

It felt almost as if Kylo had floated away, the golden light behind his eyelids had expanded, until it was all he could see, he could feel it, vibrating over his skin and pulsing through his veins like his blood.

"Reach out," came the voice, "Feel your connection to the world around you, what do you see?"

It was as if he could see beyond, as if he could finally comprehend life itself. He could feel it all,

as if he knew Life. Understood Death, how even decay nourished new life. How the world was balanced, warmth... cold... peace... violence... day... night... light... dark... and as he embraced the knowledge, he perceived the energy that fueled that balance. A Force… and inside him was the same Force, strong and vibrant and brimming with potential.

Maz was right, it was overwhelming, but it also felt liberating, as if he were truly alive for the first time in his life… and there, deep within this connection, he found Rey.

She was like a golden twine of light, wrapped around his heart, that stretched away from him off into the distance. The elation he felt at the discovery was interrupted by a hand yanking at his arm.

"Kylo!"

His eyes snapped open, and then his jaw dropped because everything in the temple apart from his Uncle, was floating, suspended in the air, and that included Maz.

It was Luke that had shaken him, the tiny woman didn't appear unduly troubled by her situation, but his Uncle was less steady.

"If you would be kind enough to concentrate, you should be able to set me down," Maz told him patiently, "Gently, if you please, I am not as young as I once was and the practice will be good for you."

She offered him no other instruction, but it was as she had said at the beginning, the Force guided him, it felt as natural as breathing.

When Maz (and everything else) was back on firm ground, she nodded approvingly, "You have done well. But be warned, it is a gift, a privilege to be so blessed, do not abuse it, because madness and death will follow."

A shiver ran through him at those words and the giddy smile that had been stretching his lips fell away as he nodded in acknowledgement.

"Good. Now, Luke, you need to try again, I think your nephew distracted you."

The light inside the temple was considerably dimmer than it had been when they began, Kylo realised with disquiet.

It appeared Luke had noticed too, "I can practise another time, or while we ride if you really insist, but we do not have time for more here."

Maz cocked her head and pursed her lips, but gave a faint nod, "As you wish. I regret that I cannot accompany you, it is best if the Rekhzêl are unaware of my presence," she gave them a wry smile that neither he nor Luke understood, "That day has not yet come, nor will it for some time, I hope."

And with that, she walked away, out of the temple into the rapidly approaching evening.

As they followed her, Luke asked, "Did you find Rey? Do you think you can lead us to her?"

Kylo felt his shoulders relax slightly as he nodded, "Yes, I can feel her," he frowned, "Though I do not sense anything other than her presence."

"Nor shall you, Kylo Ren," came Maz's voice from not far off, though she was masked by the shrubbery, "It will come with time, the important thing is that you will be able to find her. The rest will follow."

'

'

A/N: Bet you never thought this would be updated… also, this chapter was written and this story was conceptualised way before TROS dropped, and I am going to completely ignore it.

Faroese (Gamal)

Gívur = witch (person who uses magic)

Neo-Khuzdul (Vampire)

Rekhzêl = demons of all demons