The Queen of the Dark | Kylo Ren

Something Only He Can Teach Her

            The door of the war room is not the most magnificent thing that Xiia has ever stared at. It was made out of fine oak with carved leaves and branches and painted with gold to match the handles screwed conveniently on either side of the double doors.

           Nevertheless, it was a door. And Xiia was staring at it.

           With the tapping of her nails against the wood of her chair, she goes through the list of bullet-points in her head. She's careful to calculate all of the officials' concerns before she gets to her own.

           That's the ultimate sacrifice of being a monarch, placing everyone else's concerns before you own.

            They still mutter amongst one another, cautious not to let the queen hear them. They ask about the sudden outburst in the throne room earlier that night and when this meeting will possibly be over so that they could enjoy their night in the comfort of the palace while the infantry writhe on their cots in the field.

             It disgusts Xia, as well as Cas.

             He hadn't left her side since she plopped herself into that seat after ordering the guard out. His own anxiety settling in the pit of his stomach at the thought of her going through with this.

              He knows that he shouldn't, but he asks anyway, "Are you going to say yes?"

             When she looks up, Xiia doesn't see her general. She sees the boy she befriended all of those years ago. Eyes searching for something, anything to calm the storm behind them.

              The queen leans in, praying that none of the other generals hear, "I have to, Cas. If I want to save my people, I must."

               "I understand, but a Sith?" He does his best not to let his voice break under the desperation. He doesn't want her to hear what the question was really asking. "He's dangerous."

               "You need not worry," she whispers with a faint smile, frustrated that she cannot reach out and grasp his hand in hers.

               "You always find a way to make me worry."

               The words appear poisonous, but in actuality, they hurt him more than her.

               Cas' soft pleadings come from a place that wishes to be acknowledged. A boyish desire long pushed down under the sense of duty every time he looks at her. With each second his gaze lingers, the more the desire becomes unreasonable.

                However, for some reason, Xiia participates in the gaze.

                The doors of the war room fly open.

                There was no warning. No protruding feelings in the Force. Nothing.

                He wanted to sneak up on me, Xiia realizes as the phantom enters.

                Kylo Ren doesn't take long to find her in the crowd of generals and Xiia does her best not to explode with rage the second she feels his stare on his face.

                She sits up straighter as General Hux enters the room behind his Supreme Leader.

                His red hair has calmed to a vibrant rouge under the candlelight as he finds his place beside Kylo Ren. His green eyes scan the table, rifling through the various maps of the Dioyan system. Despite the modern technology of the Star Destroyer, something seemed to call to the general about paper maps.