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

[girlandherstaff]

"Ben."

Her tone is just hurt. She couldn't go along with his suggestion, not when there were people who were in immediate danger from the very people he was talking about taking command over. Who he had command over.

"We need to work this out together. I," she falters, looking down, almost embarrassed, "I couldn't see anything about divorce or separation..."

[niteofren]

"Scavenger."

He can't bring himself to use her name now. It's too personal. He can't do personal anymore.

"As I see it, you're the one who has to make a choice. You left, not me."

[girlandherstaff]

"Someone had to help the fleet."

There's no accusation in the tone, just a sadness. She had hoped - perhaps more than she should admit to - that he would have joined her. That he would have rejected all the First Order stood for after killing Snoke.

She wasn't sure why he did it in the first place.

"I don't even know what choice there is. It's not like this," meaning the Force Bond, "is going to fade. None of the texts ever speak of that happening."

[niteofren]

"The damned Resistance fleet. Why the kriff do you think I would help them?"

He really couldn't understand what she'd been thinking. After everything she'd seen, why would she expect him to care about the Resistance?

"Wonderful." Oh, he was so bitter. They'd been manipulated into a marriage and now they most likely had to kill each other. Unless she joined him. "So I guess either you join me or one of us dies."

[girlandherstaff]

"Not them, but Leia."

After all, his Mother was the General of the Resistance. Surely she still meant something to him. Right?

"Or you could join me."

[niteofren]

"General Organa is dead."

His eyes flashed. How could she try to use his dead mother against him?

[girlandherstaff]

"... I spoke with her a few minutes ago."

Her eyes were narrowed in confusion, her tone filled with honesty. Leia was not dead, at least, not that she had heard.

[niteofren]

"I saw her die."

No one could survive that blast. She had either died in the explosion or been spaced.

[girlandherstaff]

"She's here, on the Falcon. Ben... she's alive."

Was that why he had refused to come back? Did he honestly think that his mother was dead? Rey would do all she could to make sure he knew that wasn't true, and did the best she could to send a wave of 'I'm telling the truth' towards him. Master Skywalker had said to reach out with her feelings...

[niteofren]

Kylo's mind raced. How? He'd felt his mother on the bridge. He'd seen the bridge explode. And he could feel that Rey was telling the truth.

"How? How did she survive?"

He'd ordered his mother's death? He would never have done that. Not knowingly.

[girlandherstaff]

"The fleet got to the planet in time."

She assumed that's what he was talking about because she doesn't know of any other time Leia's life was in such danger. Again, that she knows of.

[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..."