**^V^**

'

It seemed like just a moment later when Rey felt herself moving, she blinked her eyes and moved her head, but a large hand pressed her back and a voice murmured, "Shh, sleep sweet kærleiki."

A few moments later cold air hit her skin and she curled tighter around herself, before someone covered her in a towel.

It would have been sensible to uncurl and stand up, but she stayed as she was and Kylo didn't even attempt to set her down, so she remained in his arms until they arrived in his room.

It still smelled like them - of their night together. It wasn't as strong as it had been, but it gave her a strange feeling deep in her stomach, one she could not identify.

It was a relief to finally get the ikhsêg off her and she discarded it in a sodden pile in the corner. Kylo did not permit her to wrap herself in a towel, instead he dried her himself, chiding her when she tried to cover herself up.

"Mín yvirstaddur konufólk," he said as he carefully dried each foot, "You should not hide from me," he looked up from his position on the floor, eyes dark and solemn and captivating, "You are beautiful," he pressed his lips to one hip bone, then the other, before hesitantly asking, "Did they… did they touch you?" his gaze was fixed on the bite on her inner thigh.

Rey shivered as her stomach roiled, of course they had touched her, but she knew that he meant in an intimate way. The thing was, she was aware she had been insensible for a large part of her time in the cave, so she could not know for certain, but, she thought she would have felt differently, if something other than biting and the empty pleasure it forced on her, had occurred. She wondered sadly if he would believe her, if he thought her tainted.

"Just biting, I think." her voice sounded small and vulnerable, even to her own ears.

He nodded and leaned down to kiss the bite, his warm lips against the cold that lingered after Marwolaeth bite felt strange, like it should be forbidden. She wondered what the Ancient would think of such sacrilege and smiled slightly.

Kylo kissed up her thigh and then, without any warning, dragged his tongue up her slit.

Rey yelped in shock, her body going hot then cold then hot again, "What are you-" but her question ended in another yelp as she was pushed backwards onto the bed with her legs hanging off the edge. Before she could catch her breath, Kylo pushed her thighs apart and buried his face there.

Her mouth opened but no words came out, just a high gasp as he used his tongue and lips on places she hadn't even really ever looked at, let alone touched. It should disgust her. It should feel wrong... It did feel wrong, but not in a bad sense. Different wrong? Her thoughts spiralled away as his hands gripped her, holding her steady, one on her hip and one splayed on her stomach as she writhed; she didn't know if she wanted him to stop or to keep going. It was such a confusing slew of sensations, but she could feel her body tightening, building towards a fall.

He was making small sounds, little groans in the back of his throat, as if he were supping on the choicest meat. Unbidden, her hips began to rock against his face, and then, there was suction. She clawed at the bedding, her thighs tensed and tried to lift up, but they were held in place, and she didn't know what to do with herself.

Just when she thought she could take no more, there was gentle pressure, inside, and her climax came over her like a huge, rolling wave of light and heat.

But his mouth and the pressure didn't stop, she shook her head, grabbed at his hair, tried to haul herself up the bed, her teeth ached and her mouth tingled and she forgot how to breathe properly. Her muscles tensed and shook and still he did not stop. The pressure moved, pressing in and out of her, rubbing inside her body and it wasn't long before she was arching her back, eyes wide but sightless as a gush of moisture left her and she floated away.

'

Little aftershocks rocked her as she blinked her eyes, looking down to see Kylo gently using his tongue to gather her slick. His cheeks were flushed and shiny, his pupils huge, hair dishevelled, and he smirked when he noticed her looking, the expression smug.

"Told you you would like it if I ate you."

She shuddered as his breath caressed her sensitive skin, he noticed and leaned in closer to do it again.

Rey made a noise she didn't know how to describe and shook her head, "Too much!"

She grabbed for his hair when he didn't pull away and tugged towards her, when he still didn't move she tugged again, firmly and he hissed and crawled up her body.

"Are you ready for me?" he asked, voice a low, dark rumble, "Or would you like to sleep?"

While Rey knew she was exhausted, she needed him, craved his body inside hers… and she knew this would be the last time they joined.

She canted her hips, pressing against his and he gasped and moved a hand down between them before she felt a blunt pressure, much larger than his finger, press against her. She bit her lip as he pushed inside her, hissing at the stretch, at the heady pain of it. Kylo groaned as she lifted her hips, cursing through gritted teeth, then his lips descended on hers, the taste musky and sweet and she realised that taste was her. Then his hips thrust and he was fully sheathed.

"I can feel you, pulsing already," he gasped, "So greedy, so ready for me," he shuddered and she felt his sex as it throbbed deep inside her. "Perfect little Trollskïr, so good, so-"

He began to move. It knocked the breath out of her again. He pulled back and pushed in, a delicious slide, pressing his hips flush against hers before retreating again. It was so intimate, so precious, her heart ached and moisture began gathering in her eyes so she closed them and pressed her lips to his.

As their tongues danced and they gasped into each other's mouths, she could feel the bloodbond singing.

"Bite me," he commanded, voice rasping over her lips, "Bite me kærur Rey."

She shook her head, "Your injuries-" she managed to gasp out, but he pressed his throat against her mouth and despite her best efforts, instinct took over.

Never had blood tasted so sweet than that of her bondmate, her muscles quivered against him and he gasped, hips stuttering and then he was filling her up and she cried out as that triggered her own climax.

'

Once through, her body slackened, became almost liquid, her mind blissfully drifting; she had just enough wherewithal to lick his wound before her eyes slipped shut.

Warm hands pulled her against his body, covering them with the bedding, brushing wisps of hair out of her face, whispering "Tú eru hjartað av hjarta mín kærur Rey," and "Mín yvirstaddur konufólk."

While she did not know the words she could feel their meaning and she wanted to reply, but sleep took her before she could.

'

She slept for a few hours, but instinct woke her and she knew deep in her heart that it was now that she must leave. Kylo was next to her, his arm curled around her back where she pressed against his body, her head on his chest rising and falling with his even breathing.

She took one long, last look, then forced herself to slither away from him and stand on unsteady legs. He stirred, but did not wake and she swallowed a sharp lump in her throat.

She wished she could say goodbye, to explain why she must do this, but she suspected he would argue with her, and for him, she was weak; this human had ruined her… but she did not regret that ruination.

Using the still damp ikhsêg to clean herself and shuddering at the horrible cold sensation, she donned one of his tunics and left, slipping into Finn's room to steal some leggings, luckily finding her boots and fur there too, likely brought in by Rose.

As she was closing the door behind her, she heard Rose wake and get up.

With a sigh, she accepted she ought to tell her new friend, who as yet could understand no one else here.

Rose opened the door, a question on her lips but Rey pressed her finger against them and beckoned her away, pulling her into an alcove.

"I must leave here," she told her, keeping her voice low, "The risk of more of them coming here is too great, too many have died already, I cannot let more suffer."

Rose frowned, "But why do you steal away in the night? What about your mate?"

"He will argue", Rey said simply, "He will try and stop me."

"But, blessed one, are you sure you need to go? What if you went farther away from the Mountains?"

Rey shook her head, "I cannot be sure how far will be safe, and if I leave the Slør unprotected, they may have no warning. You know they would all die."

Rose was quiet for a long moment, then she nodded her head in grim understanding, "What can I do to help you?"

"Tell no one, go back to sleep. I ask forgiveness, for leaving you here alone, but I give my oath that they are good people, you will have a good life here."

Rose bowed her head, "Blessed one, it was an honour to meet you."

Rey's cheeks coloured but she nodded back, and left.

'

Pushing out her senses, she followed them until she was in the library, and there on the table was the Sugnwyrenaid. It was in its scabbard, but its presence still hummed, black and hungry. She had taken one of Kylo's belts and she awkwardly rigged it so the scabbard would sit on her back, as she was not tall enough for it to sit comfortably on her hip.

Her last stop was at the kitchens to steal food, and finally, she left the castle via a small side door.

As she had hoped, they had been some of the last to return from the mender's camp that night and for the moment, the courtyard was quiet.

To her relief she found Ljós-Vindur in his usual stall. He whickered loudly, thrusting his nose into her neck and blowing out his breath and she closed her eyes for a moment, stroking his soft coat and humming to him. She would not take him far, just to the edge of the mountains, then she would send him back - she worried if she started out on foot someone may catch up to her, it would be better to be long gone and far away before anyone realised she was missing.

'

**^V^**

'

At first, Kylo slept deeply, but towards morning he slipped into dreams, unpleasant ones. Not nightmares exactly but troubled, agitated and fraught.

By rights, he should have woken early, but it was a struggle to rise out of his mind and open his eyes.

When he did, he found himself alone. At first, he was only moderately disappointed - he knew Rey rose early, even though she ought to be getting extra rest (in his opinion). But as he got up and headed for the baths, something uneasy came over him.

Ingalan and Javiell were already sitting on the underwater benches when he got there and he joined them.

"Do you know where Rey is?" Ingalan asked as he sat down, "Phasma was looking for her but was unable to find her."

"And she was definitely in your room last night, I think the whole castle heard," Javiell said with a glare.

Kylo felt his cheeks heat a little but smiked, "If they do not make a sound you are doing it wrong," his smirk turned to a grin as Javiell made a disgusted sound and Ingalan nodded sagely. "But at the moment, I do not know where she is. She left before I woke up. Did Phasma check the stables, or look for the slave girl, Rose?"

"I suggested that when she asked," Ingalan said.

They sat in comfortable silence until Zainmar and Leonmar arrived.

"Kylo!" Zainmar called before he even entered the water, Kylo frowned when they both didn't disrobe, "The black Deyði-eta sword is gone from the library, Luke cannot find it and Phasma says that Ljós-Vindur is gone!"

Kylo was already heading for the steps, apprehension taking over him as something niggled at his memory… something Rey had said on their ride back to the castle… she had lied, she had said… 'I should take it with me,' when he asked her about the sword.

But take it where? Where would she go… unbidden, his eyes turned to the Svartideyði in the distance and despite the heat of the water his body went cold.

"Helviti!" he yelled to no one in particular, "She is heading for the mountains!"

"What? Why?" Ingalan asked as he and Javiell followed Kylo and grabbed their clothes.

That was a good question, and one Kylo had no idea how to answer, "No fucking idea."

"Phasma was on her way to ask the guards who had the night watch," Leonmar said as he handed Kylo his sabre, "Rose, the slave Rey brought back, was unhelpful."

They made their way swiftly towards the stables and were joined by a breathless Phasma, "She left very early this morning, they thought it was a bit strange, but before the Deyði-eta she came and went at odd times so they did not try to stop her."

"What was that thing you did to find her when she was taken?" Javiell asked, "Can you just do that again?"

"Yes!" He was a fool, why hadn't he thought of that? He stopped in the middle of the courtyard and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself enough to reach out and find that golden thread. Yes, there it was… and he was right, it led in the direction of the mountains. "But why?" he whispered, mostly to himself.

"The mountains?" Ingalan guessed and Kylo nodded.

"We have to stop her," Phasma said and they started moving towards their horses who Finn and Poe were helpfully already tacking up.

"We may be too late," Kylo admitted heavily, his heart sinking into his boots, "She has a good start on us and we are not prepared for a climb. I do not see how we can catch up."

"We have to try," Phasma said, swinging into her saddle as her horse, Scrye, was ready, "I do not care if we have to haul her back here tied up, she cannot go back to those monsters, whatever the reason, there must be a better solution than this!"

While he agreed with the sentiment, Kylo wasn't sure if hope was now vain - she had hours on them, by now she could be climbing already.

"Do not all feel you must come, especially you Leonmar, there will not be anyone to fight."

Leonmar scoffed, "I am fine, do not worry about me. Go, Silencer is ready, we will follow as we are able."

Kylo didn't have the capacity to argue with them, he just got on his horse and he and Phasma rode out, gritting their teeth as they rode dangerously fast down the hill Ljósur was built on, before setting a fast but sustainable pace once they hit level ground.

They did not speak, only raised hands in acknowledgement when they heard the others catching up.

Inside he was oscillating between fear and anger, hurt and despair - did Rey not love him as he loved her? Did last night mean nothing to her? He knew he had moved fast, that he was her first of everything, but if anything should that not make her more attached to him than less so? Or was this about their different species, was it possible she could not love as a human did? No, he could not believe that, not when he remembered her calling him her mate their first time, the way she had claimed his as hers, the way she had smiled at him, the way she had saved his life… but, she had saved Leonmar too… he wanted to scream out his frustration, but he pushed the rage away - Silencer had been through the battle too, the horse deserved a little respite from madness.

'

As they rode, something strange happened, the golden thread he was following grew thicker, weightier, and brighter. He could not explain how such a thing could happen, or what it could mean, but it did not feel as if Rey had left the Slør yet, and he took a little courage from that.

'

But later, that golden thread, that light, just winked out of existence. Gone, vanished. He choked on his own indrawn breath and unconsciously pulled on the reins, drawing Silencer to a halt with a snort of protest.

'

Rey was dead. She had to be, even when suppressed by the Deyði-eta she had been there, inside him. But now? Frantically he looked inward, tried to force his breathing to calm and his mind to focus but it was just… there was nothing.

Nothing at all.

'

"Kylo!"

He belatedly realised the others had been calling him for some time and he opened his eyes.

"What happened?" Phasma asked, expression pale and blue eyes wide with fear.

"I-" he started, but did not know how to continue, how to explain it properly, "The light, it just," he took another stuttering breath, "It is gone. She is gone… she is… dead."

Silence fell over them, heavy and shocked.

Javiell was the first to recover, "But how?" he looked around them, as if expecting to see an enemy lurking among the golden grasses, "Could a Deyði-eta have survived the battle? Did she somehow find out?"

"But why would she go alone?" Leonmar asked, "I know she killed one on her own down in the village, but still, going alone would be foolish."

Kylo's eyes were dry, should he not be weeping? He just felt empty, unmoored.

"Whatever happened," Ingalan said grimly, "We must find out, if she is dead, then whatever killed her may be alive and we cannot let it return to tell the rest of those monsters about our land, or to go and terrorise the people who live here."

At last some feeling began to filter into Kylo's mind, anger, rage, vengeance. Despite the betrayal of her leaving the way she did, in not trusting him as she should, his honour required retribution… and his heart was in desperate need of something to latch onto. Revenge would have to do.

"We must continue on, I can remember the direction we were heading and the trail was in a straight line from here, we should be able to find…" he swallowed, hard, "To find her remains, or where whatever transpired occurred. And follow whatever clues we find there."

The others nodded their agreement, and with that wretched purpose, they restarted their journey.

'

**^V^**

'

The sky was just starting to lighten slightly as Rey rode out, nonchalantly waving to the guards posted at the gates, they hesitated but returned her greeting after a moment.

Once she was down the hill, she let Ljós stretch his neck out and they flew across the grasslands as the red sun rose above them.

They were not far from where she planned to send him back to the castle, when someone appeared up ahead, standing beneath a stunted tree atop a small rise.

Rey's eyes narrowed, they smelled… peculiar. Ljós-Vindur whinnied unexpectedly in greeting and she relaxed slightly.

As she got nearer, the figure resolved itself into a woman, very short and… Rey stiffened, letting out a hiss at the weight of ages that sat upon this being's shoulders.

Ljós came to a stop and Rey cautiously slipped from the saddle and walked towards the tree where a fire burned with a little kettle hanging over it.

She filtered the air as she drew close and her steps faltered, it could not be - "Irak'amad?" she asked uncertainly.

The woman smiled, nodding slightly, "Nâtha Trollskïr. It has been a very long time since I met one of your kind, come, sit and have a drink with me."

The Irak'amad was speaking Khuzdul but with a strange, unfamiliar accent and despite the need to put as much distance between her and the castle, Rey found herself tying back Ljós-Vindur's reins and sitting down beneath the tree.

She was surprised to accept a cup of 'arsmazarhul, a spicy tea of her home, one she had not tasted since leaving.

Perhaps it was a fitting drink for the occasion.

"You already know what I am, I have gone by the name Maz Kanata for some time, and you must be Rey, the one bonded to the Heir of Skywalker."

Rey frowned, confused and wary, how did she know of the bond without tasting her blood? But, what she asked was, "Skywalker? That is Harri Luke."

"Luke is the Skywalker," Maz told her calmly as she sipped her tea, "Kylo Ren, as he calls himself, is his heir. Now, tell me why you run, child."

Rey opened her mouth and closed it, glanced up at the mountains and then back at the Irak'amad.

Finally, she said, "They tracked me here, I fear more will come - these humans, they do not deserve to suffer for my presence here. If I go back, they have no reason to cross the mountains again."

"Oh child," Maz's eyes squinted, and Rey got the feeling she was looking inside her, "Even if you survived the return journey, whichever Rekhzêl that claimed you would taste your mates presence in your blood and force you to tell them where he was."

Rey felt suddenly sick and put her tea down as a cold creeping shiver worked its way up her spine, "Then I must die then," she said quietly, "I cannot risk these people's lives."

"You would sacrifice yourself for them?"

Rey nodded, in truth, it would be a relief not to go back to Ymerodraeth, she would travel over the mountains, find a nice spot with a good view and die there. How confused the Marwolaeth would be if they ever found her remains, dead but with a Sugnwyrenaid is her possession.

"I must, they are good people, kind, they should not have to live under the yoke of the Marwolaeth."

Maz smiled, "On that, we can agree, well, for those in the Slør anyway, the rest of the Tokuni is less pure… A gift, I will give you, child, one that will mean you may remain here, without fear that the Rekhzêl will find you."

Rey's heart fluttered in her chest, she swallowed, "I could stay?"

"If you wish to, that is," Maz paused and cocked her head, then said gently, "You love him - your mate, your connection would not be as powerful if you did not."

Rey had not said that word, or thought it really, she and Kylo had shared their bodies and blood, but other than calling him her mate, she had not really allowed herself to assess what it all meant, if it could be something more than physical needs and desires. He was a Harri, important, human, could there be a future? It seemed unlikely.

She looked away from Maz, out at the valley of the Slør, which was something she could admit to loving. Her first real home.

"Does love matter? We are different, he and I. He is above me."

Maz clucked her tongue, "Love always finds a way, child. If it be true, it is hard to deny. Besides, this bond of yours, it will only end with your deaths."

Rey felt her stomach churn guiltily, "I should have given him better warning."

She was surprised as the small woman chortled and slapped her bony knee, "He would not have listened, or have cared, not that one. He is all fire and passion, his Force was calling him to you. Trollskïr blood doesn't sing just for the Rekhzêl."

That did not make Rey feel better, "So he had no choice?"

Maz sobered, "He had a choice child, it was destiny, not fate. He chose to answer that song, he chose the Light in you."

Rey wasn't sure she was convinced, but she did wish to stay in the Slør, she could think about anything else later.

"What is the price of this gift?"

"Your blood," a small vial appeared in Maz's hand, "And a promise to use your Force to heal. Trollskïr were made to give life, whether that was bearing children or aiding those near death, caring for animals in distress or even increasing the fruitfulness of plants." She smiled at Rey, her pointed teeth gleaming in the sunlight, "The Rekhzêl kept you in the dark not merely because they can only exist in it. They are death and the Trollskïr are life - the 'Uhmad finds a way to balance all things. But in the dark, they could control you."

Rey felt the truth of Maz's words bloom in her chest, something deep inside her mind, stirred, unfurling like a flower under the rising sun.

"Now!" Maz clapped her hands and Rey jumped, blinking as she refocused. "Let me show you how to cloak your essence, finish your tea, it will help."

Rey drank her now cold tea and put down the cup, took a breath, then nodded, "I am ready."

"Close your eyes, and breathe deeply - now, unfetter yourself and push your senses out, as you did when you saw me, but completely, do not hold back."

'

Everything rushed in. A cacophony of sounds, scents, vibrations; a vast awareness of everything. With her focus undirected, it was wholly overwhelming.

"What do you see?" Maz's voice asked her, both at once a long way away and right beside her ear.

"Everything," Rey whispered eventually, "Life, all of it. And death. The cycle is endless. Even the earth breathes in my mind, I can taste the snow on the tips of the Narag'ubdêlmurdêl, the thump of thousands of hearts beating through my seat on the ground… I can scent the funeral pyres and wildflowers with every breath I take…"

Maz hummed, "And how far do you go? Do you sense any Rekhzêl?"

Rey took a moment to breathe, to try and locate herself inside the mayhem of her overloaded senses, before she could hone her focus and send her senses over the Narag'ubdêlmurdêl.

The sun was warm on her back, a light breeze fluttered wisps of hair that had come loose from her braids, but she only felt that remotely - she was in the mountains.

"I cannot feel all the way to Ymerodraeth. But as far as I can reach, no heart beats that is not animal."

"That is good," Maz said, her voice far away, "Now, come back to yourself, but do not open your eyes or close your mind."

Rey withdrew, reeling herself back in by her heartbeat and the light that surrounded it.

"There you are child," Maz said, somehow knowing Rey was present again, "You see your Light? This is what you must mask, this is what guides them and what transmits your essence to any who can sense it."

"Oh," Rey answered softly, "I thought all life had the Light. I see it, in everything, each one is unique."

Maz chuckled, "That is not wrong, child, even the Rekhzêl have a little of it, for the Light is Life, and while they breathe, they live, even as Dark as they are… but, I digress; your Light is what must be masked, so, I want you to imagine the dark, visualise it, feel it, smell it, taste it. Use a memory to guide you."

That was a simple task for Rey - she had lived so much of her life in darkness, the Amddiffynfa had hidden depths even the Marwolaeth never even ventured. Places too small for the rakhâs, nooks and natural tunnels that a small, delinquent Trollskïr girl could explore and hide in.

Cold, wet, hard, gritty, with stale air that sometimes stank or was too thick to breathe, numbing and tight and up above, the incalculable weight of the earth pressing down on her…

'

"Now," Maz said gently, "Pull it, wrap it around yourself and tuck it in tightly, be sure it covers every single mote, mould it to you, build it thick, make it a secret only you can know…"

'

By the time Rey opened her eyes, she was sweating, mouth dry and muscles strangely trembling, as if she had exerted herself for hours. And when she saw the height of the sun, she realised that she had.

Maz placed a fresh cup of tea in her shaking hand and patted her knee. "It is done. Only you can undo it, and I would urge caution in doing so, the resulting… whiplash of your revealment will send your presence out in waves. There are very few in the world that would not feel it and seek to use you for their own ends, on both sides of the Narag'ubdêlmurdêl."

Rey felt a chill at her words, the Slør had always felt so safe… well it had until a week ago. The thought saddened her, she felt older, much older than she had before the Forerunners arrived.

"You will not stay here?" she asked Maz, curious and trying not to be too hopeful.

Maz shook her head, "No child, I may never stay still, I am Mashakkalâna, an Ukdam, a nomad, a Gívur, a Randír, even a Shatogtar, " she smiled, "But you will likely see me again, I like to keep an eye on this Valley and its people… and though you have cloaked yourself, because I was with you when you did it, I will be able to find you again, should I have need."

She clapped her hands and stood, hissing as she straightened her back and there was a crack. "Growing old is very tedious," she huffed as she flicked her fingers and the fire died, then she rolled her eyes and pinned Rey with her tiny but gimlet gaze, "You mate is a riot of emotions, by the way, but he is tending towards fury and is on his way here."

Rey swallowed, looking over her shoulder but as yet could see no one, cautiously she pushed out her senses and oh, yes, there he was, she winced and Maz chuckled wryly.

"Any male of any species, they are all the same really," she shook her head, "Lalkhûn, all of them."

A small bark of laughter escaped Rey as she stood, "I would agree, but not for Ljós-Vindur," she clucked and the horse in question ambled over to them, a clump of grass in his mouth. "Would you like a ride anywhere?" she had noticed that Maz had no mount.

"Are you hoping my presence will temper your mates reaction?"

Rey shrugged, "A little," she admitted.

Maz smiled a smile all teeth, "I do need to see the Skywalker, I understand he got himself injured," she shook her head and tutted, "Foolish boy, never listens," she nodded, "I will take your offer, though looking at the beast I may regret it, what is wrong with a good saddle, girl?"

"Without it, I connect to Ljós more fully, and it is less effort and much quicker to leave if I do not require one."

Maz just huffed in answer.

As they packed up her things, she gave a dark look to the Sugnwyrenaid, "Whatever possessed you to pick that abomination up, Nâtha?"

"It will kill them easier than anything else I know of," Rey patted the hilt, "If I killed even one more rakhâs or Marwolaeth, I would have at least made a small difference to the world."

"And what about now? Now you are cloaked from their eyes?"

Rey considered; but despite the wrongness of the blade and its magic, it had felt like it belonged in her hand, she had… liked it. "I will keep it. Just in case… I like to have a weapon I can trust."

Maz frowned, "Be warned, it has a song of its own, though the scabbard masks it until very close. You must be careful that it does not act like a beacon to those that can feel its essence."

That made sense, Naragrethel had special properties and when forged into weapons, was augmented with magic. Still, she would keep it, make it her own. It was the only thing of theirs she would claim.

'

Once Rey had helped Maz onto Ljós, they set off with the smaller women sitting behind her and holding onto her waist while Rey did her best not to think about her ride with Kylo last night.

She could hear Maz muttering behind her, clearly not sure about the choice to ride, so Rey kept Ljós to an easy walk.

She smiled to herself as they rode, she was… happy, to be able to stay in the Slør, more than happy, though it had not quite sunk in yet. But she and all the humans were now safe. It was a good feeling. Very good.

'

**^V^**

'


A/N: according to stats, people are reading this, please consider dropping a review, even if it's just one word. Not getting feedback starves a writer.

'

Translations/meanings

Neo-Khuzdul (Vampire)

Ikhsêg = covering/robe

Irak'amad = aunt, Maz's race, the female counterparts to the male Rekhzêl

Nâtha = daughter, used as a term of endearment

'Arsmazarhul = tea, similar to black chai

'Uhmad = greatest mother - creator - god

Narag'ubdêlmurdêl = black mountains of death

Mashakkalâna = They who continue to be outcast (f) - the Irak'amad who survived the Rekhzêl's purge of their species

Ukdam = traveller

Lalkhûn = fool/idiot/oaf man

Faroese (Gamal)

Kærleiki = love

Mín yvirstaddur konufólk = my superior mate/spouse/partner

Tú eru hjartað av hjarta = You are the heart of my heart

mín kærur = my beloved

Gívur = person who uses magic (the Force)

Welsh (Trollskïr)

Sugnwyrenaid = soul suker

Miscellaneous

Randír = wanderer (Sindarin)

Shatogtar = nomad (black speech)