The Marriage Rites of the Jedi [closed to niteofren]

[girlandherstaff]

There is a level of awareness that Rey has regarding her lack of guilt for stealing the sacred Jedi Texts from their generations old home on the island. That being said, it's often dulled by the knowledge of Master Skywalker's insistence that there was no more need for the Jedi when she knew that there was, or at least was incredibly sure that there was.

She had made an attempt or two to read through the old texts, but they were not exactly what could be called page turners, and the heavy going dry information was made only worse by the fact that age had dulled the appearance of the text, making it hard to make out what was actually written. That was the main reason she was so sure she had gotten it wrong. After all, everyone knew that the Jedi never married, so why would there be mention of marriage rites in theirs texts?

But they were there and that sinking feeling in her stomach made it clear to her that no, she wasn't misreading. If this was right...

Did he know? He had read these, hadn't he? Or, at least the Histories? Could that be why he made that offer?

Rey had thought that reading the texts would help clear her confusion, but now she felt more confused than ever

Comments

[niteofren]

"That wasn't when... it happened. It was before you came to the Supremacy."

He closed his eyes. He hadn't been able to stop the shots. Snoke would have punished him if he'd tried. It was bad enough he'd refused to make the shot himself.

[girlandherstaff]

"...Oh."

She didn't know anything about that, and her lack of knowledge was likely very apparently to him. She fidgeted with the book - now lying in her lap - and shook her head.

"I ... I don't know what happened before, but she's ... recovering from something." It was an honest answer, if not a full one. "Poe said that she managed to pull herself back towards the ship, and then fell into a coma but I really don't know what he's talking about."

[niteofren]

"She pulled herself back to the ship?"

His eyes widened. He had no words. He couldn't even have done that. He'd had no idea something like that was even possible.

"But she never trained. No one can survive getting spaced."

[girlandherstaff]

"She's your mother."

Rey's odd emphasis did have a point, even as she shrugged.

"You're really powerful in the Force. Is it so wrong to think that her instincts in it are that strong too?"

[niteofren]

"I know she's my mother, Rey!"

He shook his head, unable to hide his shock.

"I can't do that, Rey. It's not supposed to be possible."

He looked away.

"I didn't know. When I gave the order not to take prisoners. I didn't know she was still alive."

[girlandherstaff]

"I'm starting to realise that saying possible when talking about the Force is ... probably not the best of ideas."

It's almost bitter in tone, almost. She can't quite decide.

"...Would it have changed your order?" Would it have changed his decision?

[niteofren]

"I... You're right but... Still, how?!"

He cringes at her tone. It's earned too many times over now.

"It would have. A lot.

[girlandherstaff]

It would have. A lot.

Those words mean a lot more than she can actually explain. A smile appears at them, even if she ducks her head to hide said smile from him. Leia's life meant a lot to Ben, he would have saved the fleet if he knew.

"She's here," it's all she can say. "I thi... She does miss you. I can feel it."

[niteofren]

"I can't just leave now, Rey."

He would have done more than save the fleet if he'd known. He would have left with Rey.

"Hux would take over. He'd build another Starkiller."

[girlandherstaff]

"We'd be able to stop him."

She hadn't mentioned him leaving, he brought it up on his own. Was that... Did it mean that he wanted to leave, wanted to come back to them?

"Ben, with your help, he wouldn't get close."

[niteofren]

"You don't understand. The only thing stopping him is that I can kill him with a thought."

Hux had been trying to push to make another superweapon already. Kylo still didn't understand why since the Republic was gone and the Resistance was almost dead.

"You said my mother is recovering. She will be all right? Is there..."

Is there anything I can do? But what can he do with things how they are? He can't go to her without risking her life. Hux would likely find a way to organize an attack while Kylo was still there.

[girlandherstaff]

A part of her wants to say he's too paranoid but on the other hand, she thinks it's entirely possible she's not paranoid enough. She doesn't know Hux, beyond that he's a General for the First Order. She doesn't know what he's capable of. If he's the type pushing for a superweapon like Starkiller...

Maybe Ben has a point?

"We've been talking a lot," she said. Who the we was did not need to be stated, of course. "She's ... trying to rebuild a Rebellion, but I don't know if her heart's in it." Rey could feel Leia wanting to ask about Ben, but she never did.

"I haven't told her. About this. Any of it."

[niteofren]

His next words surprised even him. He shouldn't even be thinking this.

"Tell her to go ahead. Tell her I'll do my best to give her time."

[girlandherstaff]

She can't help but stare at him. He has to know, doesn't he, about what telling Leia will mean. About what she'll have to tell Leia

"...Ben..."

[niteofren]

He looks in her eyes. He hasn't really thought about whether anyone else knows about them before. Now that he is, he finds he wants his mother to know.

"Please..."

[girlandherstaff]

She stares back. If this is really what he wants...

She nods.

"Okay."

[niteofren]

He hangs his head and nods. It's what he wants.

"Thank you."

[girlandherstaff]

"She'll come looking for you."

They knew what Leia was like, after all. If she thought there was a chance for getting her son away from the First Order, she would take it.

[niteofren]

"Don't let her. Rey, I can only do so much to protect her."

He did know what his mother was like. It was a foolish risk but one he needed to take.

[girlandherstaff]

"It's not like there's a whole lot I can do to stop her."

But she would try, of course she would. This was just a situation that none of them needed to be in. Her hand still rested on the book and she curled her fingers into the pages.

"It's like the galaxy is set against us."

She wasn't entirely sure who she meant by us, but the sentiment felt right.

[niteofren]

"The Force is strong in my family," he mused. "But I don't think it particularly liked us. I don't think it ever has."

[girlandherstaff]

"...That's a depressing outlook." She can't help the comment. It just feels oddly... wrong? She's not sure why she can say that though. So, wisely, she doesn't

[niteofren]

"Maybe," he admitted, turning away. "Did Skywalker tell you anything about my family's history?"

[girlandherstaff]

Rey stared, wondering what this was supposed to be about. "No," she said, "nothing more than the time he helped to bring Vader back to the Light."

[niteofren]

He let out a bitter laugh. "Of course that's all the old fool said," he sneered. "Grandfather left to become a Jedi when he was nine. He started having visions of her ten years later. The Jedi wouldn't let him do a thing about it. He finally went with Grandmother to check her without telling anyone. He got there just in time for her to die in his arms. He could have stopped it if it weren't for the Jedi. Or if the Force had bothered sending the visions to someone who would have been allowed to save her. The same thing happened with Grandmother. He asked for help. The Jedi were useless. She died while he was trying to find a way to save her."