Hey guys! Here's chapter 13, enjoy! Remember I love your feedback, so if you have a few minutes please leave a review! Xx

Rey wondered how the hell Ben managed to stay this calm. His face and posture betrayed absolutely nothing. And it wasn't only his appearance: he really was serene, she could feel the quiet and the peace that reigned in his mind. There was just one little source of unease, something small and dark like a stain that wouldn't leave; Rey hadn't tried to figure it out yet, too absorbed in her own fear and tension. She was on edge, looking nervously at all the hostile faces in the small hangar-turned-courthouse.

I can feel you, Rey. It's distracting. Calm down.

How can I? Looks like all the members of the Resistance are here to watch, it's crazy!

I only have to speak to a small group of people. The rest is just background noise. Shut it out.

It's not that easy.

Rey, I need you to focus.

Ben turned his face slightly to look at her. As member of his defence, Rey was allowed to sit with the others on a bench placed beside the chair Ben was cuffed to. They were at the centre of a small arena, surrounded by metal stands where a huge crowd was sitting, waiting for the Council members to appear. For now though, the seven seats on the wooden dais in front of Ben's chair remained unoccupied.

Rey gulped, looking down at the floor.

Of course. I'm sorry, I'll get a grip.

Good.

Ben are you ok? You seem a little off...

I'm fine.

Even in her head, Rey could perceive the finality of his tone. She frowned, taking a deep breath and attuning her mind to Ben's, trying to absorb his inner calm. She could feel Luke's eyes on her, but she knew her Master was aware of her turmoil and would allow her a few minutes to compose herself.

An insistent, loud murmuring reached her ears after a while, and when she looked around she saw the six Councillors walking towards the dais and stopping in front of their seats in orderly fashion. General Organa appeared then, and all the people in the hangar stood up. She reached the central high chair and sat down, promptly followed by the Council and everybody else.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen and honourable members of the Council. We are gathered here to discuss, evaluate and judge the actions perpetrated by Kylo Ren of the First Order, member of the Knights of Ren and apprentice of leader Snoke, formerly known as prince Ben Organa Solo, member of the Jedi Academy and apprentice of Master Jedi Luke Skywalker. Councillor Damaris, please read the charges against the defendant."

The man seated to Leia's right stood up, produced a holobook and looked around with sharp eyes. When he focused on Ben the corners of his lips turned down in disgust. Then he moved his attention to the holobook, and began.

"The defendant is accused of injustifiable acts of war against the harmless populations of Ruusan, Phaeda, New Holstice, Jakku and Takodana; of the destruction of the Jedi Order and the murders of the Jedi apprentices; of the murders of Venussia Anjek, Jaxon-Dax Kovani, Ric-Xana Beelen and Lor San Tekka; of the abduction and torture of Poe Dameron and Rey; of the destruction of the Hosnian System; of the murder of Han Solo."

Every accusation was a stab in Rey's heart. She knew Ben regretted every one of them. She knew he had changed and had begun to atone for his sins. And yet, she had never stopped to consider just how many unspeakable crimes Ben had committed in his life.

She suddenly felt a wave of shame, pain and regret; she turned towards Ben and noticed his pale face, the tension of his body, his white knuckles.

Ben, I…

You're right to feel ashamed. You should stay away from me.

What? Ben, no, I–

Something hard as steel slammed against Rey's conscience, making her double over gasping.

"Rey? What's happening, are you all right?" Finn whispered frantically. Rey looked blindly for his hand and he took it, squeezing gently.

He shut me out. Oh my god, he shut me out!

"I'm fine, just… just felt dizzy for a moment."

"You sure?" Finn regarded her critically. She was pale and still gasping a little.

"Yeah… yeah, don't worry," she answered, turning and trying to catch Ben's eyes. Why had he closed his mind off? Did he really think she was ashamed of him? He had been tortured, he had proved his deep regret, he had proved he could redeem himself, she had helped him… surely he couldn't think that she would start despising him and cast him aside now?!

In the meantime Councillor Damaris had set down, and an angry chatter had erupted in the hangar.

Leia rose again and the noise subsided.

"How pleads the defendant?"

Ben couldn't move from his seat, but he lifted his chin and looked at his mother straight in the eye. Rey could feel everyone holding their breath.

"Guilty."

Chaos erupted in the hangar. Someone from the crowd in the stands shouted 'Kill him!' and 'Put him to death!'. Rey felt like throwing up.

Leia lifted her arms, and the crowd quieted once again.

"Kylo Ren is entitled to a defence. The Council will listen to what his advocates have to say before deliberating. We won't tolerate unnecessary noise, comments or demands again. Whoever wishes to stay may do so, in silence."

Nobody moved, nobody spoke, but the message had gotten through. When Luke rose and walked beside Ben's chair, it was so quiet it was eerie.

"Members of the Council, I am here to tell you about what happened to the defendant after the destruction of Starkiller Base, as it is relevant– no, essential, to his defence." He paused, looking at them carefully. He wanted to make sure that every single one of them was focused on him.

"Right after Kylo Ren was left injured on Starkiller after a duel with my padawan Rey, he was rescued by General Hux and brought on Snoke's base on the planet Moraband. However, as soon as he landed he was thrown in jail and tortured daily. He endured physical torture as well as mind torture at the hands of Leader Snoke. The reason? Snoke had sensed in him a powerful call to the Light, and wanted to punish him for it."

A low buzzing filled the room. As soon as Leia glanced around though, the crowd quietened. The councillors shifted uncomfortably in their seats. A dark-skinned, white-haired woman, barely older than Rey, spoke to Luke.

"I suppose, Master Skywalker, that this information was provided to you by the defendant himself. How can you be sure he is telling the truth?"

Luke smiled, a cold, predatory smile that made goosebumps appear on Rey's skin. "Oh, I could delve into his mind and make him tell you all the gory details, Councillor Mackali. However, you could still doubt his words. Luckily for us, I have someone who can prove to you that what I said about Kylo Ren is the absolute truth."

He gestured to Rey, and she stood up in front of the Council. The silence in the hangar was deafening.

Ben, you have to let me in now.

She swallowed. He was still blocking her.

"Members of the Council," she started. "A while ago, when I was on Ahch-To for my training, I started having what I believed at the time to be very real, very vivid nightmares. I dreamt, almost every night, about the moments of Han Solo's death. After several days, it became clear that those nightmares were not my own: I discovered that during our duel on Starkiller, my mind and Kylo Ren's had somehow forged a bond, a connection that allowed me to delve into his mind and vice versa. I asked Master Luke to help me sever it, or at least block it, but in the meantime every time I slept I was projected to Kylo Ren's side. That's how we came to know about his tortures: I saw it with my own eyes."

The Councillors looked stunned. One of them, a young man with fire in his eyes, asked, "You said you wanted to learn how to block the connection. Why did you decide not to do that, eventually?"

Rey smiled. She was pretty sure that Councillor had already figured out where her argumentation was going.

"Because after some time, Kylo Ren projected himself on Ahch-To and asked Master Luke for help. He needed to learn how to shield the connection – a Force-bond – from Snoke's prying. He feared Snoke would kill me. He asked for help and in exchange he gave us the information that allowed you to prevent the attack on Eufornis Minor. After a while he accepted to spy on the First Order, enduring endless torture the whole time."

The young Councillor leaned back on his chair with a smirk. "And you believe he regrets the things he has done? Even killing–" He froze, side-eyeing Leia nervously. For a few seconds he seemed to lose his brazen confidence, but he recovered quickly. "Even killing his own father?"

Rey hesitated. "The guilt and remorse for killing Han Solo were the trigger that started his repentance. I saw– I saw his nightmares. They are all about his father."

"Well then," the Councillor said. "I believe you." He smiled.

Rey flushed. That had gone better than expected.

"Thank you, Councillor Seastriker," a voice said. Rey looked around; Admiral Ackbar had risen from his seat.

"However, I won't believe what Master Skywalker and Rey are claiming without proof. We need to be sure that their minds are connected."

Rey closed her eyes. They had prepared for this eventuality but…

Please Ben. Ben! You need to let me in!

"Of course, Councillor Ackbar. We'll demonstrate how Rey and Kylo Ren's minds are capable of merging and become one. That way you'll know for sure that Rey isn't lying." While he spoke, Luke walked towards Ben's chair and uncuffed him. "Rey, whenever you're ready."

Rey was starting to panic. Ben was still excluding her. She hugged herself to stop her body from trembling. She took a deep breath and turned to face him. He was looking at the floor, but he seemed to feel her gaze, because he lifted his head and glanced at her. She pleaded him mutely, and he nodded imperceptibly.

At once Rey felt Ben's mind engulf her, and her relief was so strong that she felt her knees weaken. She centered herself and asked him, "Ready?" He nodded.

Rey and Ben attuned their minds, and Ben surrendered to her will just like he had on Naboo.

"Councillor Ackbar, ask me to perform a movement."

The Councillor thought for a minute.

"Jump five times on your left foot, then get down on your knees, wave with your right hand, and stand up," he said.

Ben groaned in Rey's head. Really? This is ridiculous.

Repressing a chuckle Rey obeyed, instantly copied by Ben. The synchronization between them was perfect.

"Now ask me something only I can hear."

Admiral Ackbar walked down the dais towards Rey and whispered something to her. She turned, and without a word, Ben started heading towards Poe and Finn, shaking their hands, then he walked around their bench three times, then he went back to his chair and sat down.

Admiral Ackbar looked convinced. The others were either observing Ben, or talking animatedly to each other. Councillor Mackali rose, addressing Luke.

"Master Skywalker, I'd like to hear the testimony of Finn and Poe Dameron."

Luke nodded, making a sign to Finn and Poe. The two men rose and walked in front of the Council. With practiced ease, they both recounted the escape from Naboo, describing Ben's role during the fight and the escape, the moment he had pushed Poe out of harm's way taking a blast in his chest.

Rey thought the Councillors looked bewildered. Well, it's better than incredulous, she thought in relief.It's done. They'll free you Ben, you'll see.

He didn't answer. She looked at him: he wasn't shutting her out of his mind, but he was very clearly ignoring her thoughts and avoiding her gaze.

Ben? Why– Did I do something?

No answer. She felt her eyes prickle with tears, so she abruptly turned around, just in time to see Leia stand up and address the audience.

"The Council will retire to deliberate about how to handle this situation. You are all dismissed."

At these words the Councillors rose from their seats, ready to walk down the dais, when Luke spoke to them again.

"Members of the Council, there's one last thing I need to tell you before you decide what to do with the prisoner. You should know that Kylo and Rey's connection doesn't only involve their minds: it affects their lives too. So please, think carefully: if you harm one of them, you harm the other equally."

A heavy silence fell in the hangar. Councillor Seastriker looked amused, and Leia looked relieved, but the others… Rey felt their eyes linger on her, and an unpleasant sensation clenched her stomach painfully.