Chapter 10
Rey had never eaten meat. That is not to say she hadn't tried it before, in rations and the occasional egg. But meat, slaughtered from an animal, coated in seasoning and marinade, roasted over a spit of flame, carved, and plated before her, Rey had never tried it. That was until that supper with the Knights of Ren.
A wild boar, one that had been raised within the commune for the purpose of food, had been roasted and laid before them on a platter almost the size of the table itself, served with rice and vegetables from several planetary systems, also grown on the Nest. Ben, sitting at the ceremonial head, was the first to dig his fork into the boar and cut off a piece of meat, placing it gently onto Rey's plate. After that, it became a free for all with all the knights including Serotti digging in and serving themselves.
The food was certainly delicious! Seasoned with garlic, salt, basil, and sweet syrup, Rey found herself digging into the boar several times, and hoarding a small cluster of figs and whisper berries from Serotti as discreetly as possible. She was given a green wine that smelled like it would have been paired well with the meat, but Rey did not touch her glass. She could not bring herself to ignore Ben's words, "Your parents sold you off for drinking money," and so could not lift the golden goblet to her lips.
"There enough meat for you, Brunfar?" Ben asked at one instance, prompting Rey to look up from her plate to see the toothy knight twirling a leg of boar in his hands, meat wedged into every one of his pointed teeth.
The Knights let out a muffled chortle and looked to him. Brunfar grinned and held up his leg, "I'm eating before Koita's children barge in."
Rey turned to Koita Mathe, interested. "You have children, Koita Mathe?"
"How many does that make, now?" Ben asked, lifting his wine glass to his lips.
Koita Mathe looked away to the table, his face screwed in concentration. Finally, he turned to the teenage girl behind him who stepped forward immediately. "How many siblings do you have?"
"Fifteen, Master." She answered, then stepped back into place.
"Fifteen!" Rey exclaimed. "Goodness, how does your wife do it?"
"Oh, I'm not married, empress." Koita Mathe grinned.
Serotti set her fork down and turned to Rey. "The Knights of Ren are strict in the rules of marriage and fraternizing. One cannot fraternize unless one is married because any child born to the Knights of Ren is destined to become a knight himself. Koita Mathe is the exception to the rule because he adopts the orphaned children the First Order makes."
"It's his weird little device," Ben muttered loud enough for the table to hear.
"I respectfully disagree, sir." Koita Mathe replied, leaning back in his chair and lifting a hand back for his apprentice to take. Rey glanced at her face as she moved. She was emotionless, and meticulously obedient, letting her adopted father rub her hand with his thumb without skipping a breath. "I like children," Koita Mathe explained. "There is something about their innocence that fuels my feelings. Something about training them in the ways of the Knights of Ren and pledging their loyalty to the First Order. Hearing their small, insignificant protests to something so simple as baths and uniform dress against the greater grandeur of space and all the chaos that comes with it is so… appealing to me." He reclaimed his hand and shifted. "I don't think it weird but a perfect irony that among the heartbreak that we create, life and love can exist to guide further generations."
"No, you're just weird." Ben retorted. The diners laughed.
SWSWSW
Dinner concluded with much more lighthearted conversation, though Rey knew that they were deliberately keeping something from her. Perhaps they did not wish to confuse her with more of their order's ways, or because they simply didn't trust her, Rey could not say and after such a big meal, didn't exactly care. All she wanted to do, was spend more quality time with Ben, even if it was only just sitting on the same couch. Or fall asleep in his arms as her eyelids were starting to suggest.
But, what she wanted the most was for that one knight to keep his (or her) fingers off her brain and let her think for herself for a collected ten minutes! She felt them seep into her skull from across the table, gently rustling the folds of her thoughts for any information they could possibly take, before delicately retreating the way they came the second they realized that she was on to them. She tried at one instance to latch onto the bridge the Force created to try and determine who was trying to connect with her, but they had moved so fast and the knights themselves all took up an object of the table, a fork or a goblet, at the same time so she wasn't able to tell for certain.
When Ben took her arm to lead her from the dining patio back to the reception parlor, Rey wanted more than anything to complain to him what they were doing. But, as soon as he pressed her hand against his arm and side, she could tell that he, too, was being silently interrogated. He didn't gesture to her, he hardly even looked at her, but she could feel the inner conflict of him pushing and blocking fingers rudely pressing into his thoughts.
"Oi, Koita!" Romtao called, looking over the balcony as the apprentices set to work cleaning the table. "Are those your brats down there?"
A heaviness descended over the parlor as Koita Mathe turned slowly towards Romtao. "Don't call my children 'brats.'" He growled, voice dropping.
Regardless, he moved to return to the balcony, and grinned. "Not mine, but younglings."
Rey seized her moment and turned to Ben, meeting his eyes the same time he moved to look at her. Suddenly, it was as if the galaxy made sense, like a hand sliding gently into another hand. Her legs pulled her forward until her nearly bare navel could feel the knotted frog fastenings of his shirt pressing against her. His eyes glittered as he peered down at her, his face lightening for the first time since they arrived on the ship, his adam's apple bobbing. He felt it, too.
Then, he swallowed, and their sun began to set. "As soon as the Millennium Falcon is ready, I'm taking you from here." He whispered, his lips barely opening.
She had no problem with that, but those words were not what came out. "You don't want to stay?"
His eyes did a minute inspection of the room behind her and he shook his head so discreetly, no one noticed if they weren't paying close attention. "Not here," He answered, "Not with them."
His face came forward and he kissed her, the taste of boar and wine nothing compared to what the Force hit her with.
SWSWSW
Ben sits alone in the Royal Suite, his face wet. A knock resounds on the door and he wipes his face with the back of his hand. He leans against the headrest, almost crawling away from the door. The Knights of Ren enter, each carrying his clothes, mask, and lightsaber. Ben swallows, knowing. If he does not stand, if he does not return to Snoke, they will kill him. They gave him shelter, they gave him food, now he must fulfill his vows and return to his master.
Fraja holds out Ben's lightsaber, the first blood. His eyes sweep the knights, pleading with them. They stare back, their faces solid. Ben has no choice. He inhales, and stands. Then takes his lightsaber. Koita Mathe steps forward, Ben's mask in his hands. Ben stares at it, seeing his future. His only escape.
SWSWSW
Rey pulled away, her body freezing. Had he truly not known happiness in his entire adult life? Or had he only known betrayal and manipulation? She looked around at the elegant room they stood in, and longed for her lightsaber so that she could rip it to shreds. One place, just one place where he could feel safe! One place where he could be free to choose for himself!
Someone shouted and metal clattered, and Rey and Ben whirled toward the balcony only to find Romtao and Koita Mathe laughing and taunting someone over the edge.
"What's going on?" Ben asked, the corners of his mouth turning up.
"Brunfar didn't know the difference between a 'brat' and my children," Koita Mathe guffawed, "I threw him over to learn the difference."
Ben released Rey's hand and moved to their side, curiosity gravitating Rey towards them as well. Ben lifted his leg and rested it against the balcony barrier, leaning over the side. "Have you learned," He called, resting his arms on his knee, "Or shall I go down there and teach you myself?"
Brunfar issued a series of swear words in his native tongue that made Rey's mind soar with images of appropriate hand gestures. Ben shook his head and straightened, quickly shrugging off his jacket and hanging it over the side of the balcony.
"B- uh, Kylo?" Rey asked when he began unbuttoning his shirt.
He looked back at her and smirked. "The children look up to us," He told her, "They like to see what they could become someday."
With that, he opened his shirt and tossed it aside, revealing to the world his most recent injury, not yet healed, and jumped onto the balcony rail. Immediately Rey heard shouts of praise and excitement, propelling her from her post behind the action to the corner overlooking the fighting area. Dozens of children had gathered on the floor, lightsabers attached to their sides, and peered up at their Supreme Leader, watching him as he smirked and waited for Brunfar to join him in the same form of undress, lightsabers set aside.
"Children," Serotti sighed behind Rey, peering at the scene. "No matter how big they get, they still act the same."
The second Brunfar's silk shirt hit the floor, Ben was in midair and the children were hurtling towards the outer ring of the fighting floor, the men in meditation jolting from their stupor to clamor away. Ben hit the ground with surprising grace, catching Brunfar's leg as the Knight attempted a quick roundhouse kick, and flipped him back, sending the man into a crouch, baring his teeth at Ben like a wicked frog. Rey had barely blinked when Hvarthan, and Romtao, both stripped to their trousers, jumped the railing and landed behind Ben, Hvarthan bouncing six feet in the air with his fist outstretched.
Rey's first instinct was to rip off her dress and join Ben's side, but a gentle hand touched the small of her back and Koita Mathe leaned lazily on one arm on the balcony. "Easy, empress," He cooed, looking back at her and grinning. "It's them whom you should worry for, not Ben."
A lightning bolt shot through Rey's middle, her eyes widening, but he was right. Ben attacked a rushing Romtao, sending him into Brunfar and allowing them to stand in Hvarthan's landing path so that they were the recipients of the falling man. However, they simply rolled out of their agony and looked up in time to see Ben bolt to a rack of wooden weapons and grab a heavy staff. The Knights fanned out, Hvarthan taking up a wooden crossblade from a teenager as he passed. Ben stepped forward and twirled his staff in expert circles around either shoulder.
Hvarthan rushed him first, followed by Romtao, both were beaten back in a barrage of staff hits and punches, Ben receiving his fair share of kicks and jabs himself. Brunfar was the last, taking his time to stalk his prey, to memorize his patterns, so that when he attacked, Ben was taken aback and fell to the painted floor, a red welt blooming on his side.
"Not getting old on me, eh Kylo?" Brunfar taunted.
Ben kicked out his legs from under him, rolling to jab him with his elbow in the face before clawing to his feet, watching Hvarthan take up a whip of four chains about two feet long.
"They're good," Rey breathed, flexing her hands for a second.
Suddenly, her eyes met Koita Mathe's. His were an almost electric blue, and seemed to glitter when he studied her. He smirked, and cast a casual glance down at the fighters. "Yes, but they're not trying to kill each other. There's no fun in that."
A cool wave of the Force draped over her, and she remembered the black Knight from Naboo, the one who crossed in front of the Millennium Falcon in his quest to ready himself to kill the rebels. The way Koita Mathe moved…
"Does Kylo have you and the other Knights as his personal guard?" She asked, looking over his lanky, tall frame.
Koita Mathe looked back at Rey and half smiled, "I was waiting to see when you would realize it."
She inhaled, her lip curling over her teeth as she spat, "You! You killed-"
"I did my job," He interrupted. He stood and turned his back to the fighting, leaning against the balcony, "We all," He looked over his shoulder in a meaningful glance to Ben, then looked back at Rey "Did our jobs."
Rey narrowed her eyes at him. He was trying to tell her something, she could feel him manipulating the Force around her, but it didn't penetrate her. Perhaps he was the intruder at dinner.
He looked her up and down, the feeling of admiration sweeping over her, followed by immense intrigue. "Will the Resistance do their jobs if Ben is apprehended?"
"Why do you call him 'Ben'?" Rey demanded, feeling the Force wrap around her like a friendly wind.
"I think the better question is why do you call him Ben, Empress Rey?" He said those last two words like they were chocolate upon his tongue. "Do you hope he would abandon us for your pretty green island surrounded by water? Hmm? Shirk his responsibility as Master of the Knights of Ren for what? You?" He reached up and slid off his jacket, undoing the buttons on his shirt quickly.
"He did it before," Rey hissed, the Force tightening around her. "You know he did."
He pulled his shirt from his body, revealing to her a clean, muscled chest delicately brushed here and there with scars that sent her heart fluttering as she looked him over. He was beautiful, but so was a lightsaber, and she longed for her lightsaber.
"He did indeed," Koita Mathe smiled. "And I'm hoping he'll do it again."
"Why?" Rey demanded, the Force relaxing in her confusion.
But, Koita Mathe turned his back on her and hopped onto the railing, crouching and squinting at his prey, watching Ben punch Romtao so perfectly, the man refused to get up again.
"Why?" Rey demanded again, taking a step forward.
Koita Mathe didn't seem to move, but the Force that flicked Rey's brain like an annoying insect was quick and precise like she did not seem to matter. She straightened, but he had already descended into the arena.
Rey gripped the flat railing and glanced at Ben. He had been sufficiently warmed up, and looked upon Koita Mathe with determination. The Force called out to Rey, telling her that this was more than a mere show of force among men. This was a blatant challenge, an answer to her question. Somehow, she knew that if Ben was to turn away from the Knights of Ren, then it would be Koita Mathe who would serve his punishment, and would do so gladly.
Both men took up wooden swords, the children they entertained glued to the scene so that not even a torpedo could tear them away. As one, the men leapt forward, using quick feet to bounce first forward, then to the side, each time in a dizzying array of randomness. They swung their swords, meeting with a sudden and satisfying clack! Then separated, Ben twirling his sword on either side of his body.
Koita Mathe struck when Ben wasn't watching, but Ben was prepared. They fought, swinging their swords like branches caught in a wild wind. Rey wanted to jump over the ledge of the balcony, dress be damned. Serotti shifted next to her, the Force speaking once again warning her against the Twi'lek woman. If she appeared to move to aid him, Serotti would prevent her. It had been her job since the moment Rey had stepped foot into the commune.
Ben punched Koita Mathe with his left hand, and pulled his stomach into his knee, making the knight sputter and gasp as Ben forced him onto his knees. As a last measure, Ben wrapped his lanky, muscular arm around Koita Mathe's neck and gripped his wrist with his free hand, leaving the knight squirming on his knees. Koita Mathe tapped his hand against Ben's bicep, but Ben did nothing, only move to where Rey could see his face, and he flashed his teeth at her, smiling.
Then he leaned in, and whispered into Koita Mathe's ear, wrenching him to peer up at Rey with a grunt heard around the commune. "Beg!"
The electric blue eyes of Koita Mathe rolled to Rey, and he extended his tapping hand to her, his lips forming a single word that couldn't be heard from this distance.
Rey felt her smile bloom from lips to her toes and scalded her innards like warm soup. She watched Koita Mathe struggle, almost feeling Ben's aching arms on her own. Then, she nodded to Ben.
He threw Koita Mathe down, a sputtering, sweating mess. He lifted two fingers to the air, a sign of finality, and the children immediately cheered, the apprentices rushing to their discarded masters.
Serotti shifted beside Rey. "And, just like that, they're adults."
Romtao walked beside Ben, massaging his aching limb from where Ben had whacked him with the wooden staff, grinning as Brunfar called out to him. Rey rushed through the parlor, determined to meet Ben at the royal suite's entrance. He moved at a decent pace, his body drenched in sweat and dotted with red splotches where bruises would certainly grow if not cared for immediately. As soon as he reached the ramp, he looked up and smirked at her, sending feelings down Rey's spine that that little smirk was made just for her.
Fraja let out a contented laugh, moving to stand beside Rey. "At least we're sure that the poor soul who gave you that pretty little number is resting in his grave, eh Kylo?" He gestured with a cocked eyebrow to Ben's scar across his eye.
Ben pointed to his face, "This one?"
"Yeah," Fraja grinned.
"I don't know Fraja," Ben halted before Rey, hands taking her waist and guiding her close, that familiar hungered look appearing on his features, "She looks pretty alive to me."
Silence ripped through the Knights of Ren, Fraja's confident smile fading to absolute shock as all eyes turned to Rey. She, however, ignored them and stroked his cheek, rubbing her thumb beneath his eye on the scar in question. Ben pulled her waist against his and slid his arms around her, her own arms gliding over his shoulders to wrap around his neck, that feeling of universal rightness sweeping over her once again.
Koita Mathe trudged up the ramp, massaging his neck with his hand, and looked up in time to see Ben holding Rey in such a warm embrace. From over Ben's shoulder, Rey could see him glare at her, the same hungered expression Ben had upon his features. On pure survival instinct, Rey could believe that he wanted her dead for disturbing the peace of their little world. But, the Force told her otherwise.
Koita Mathe shifted his gaze to someone behind Rey, and shook his head in discreet command, the feeling of danger so powerful in Rey's body she could almost reach out and take it. Ben tightened his grip on her waist, his nails almost clawing her. He had felt it, too. He faced her, his features extraordinarily calm in light of such rabid warriors surrounding them.
"Let's go to bed," He suggested softly, cupping her face.
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