Dark Desire, A Reylo Camelot

Homecoming

Forbidden Love.....
Love, a boundless feeling; free to give , free to receive
But not a love like mine.
Forbidden
Not a love like this.
Such a love must stay hidden
Inside dark corridors
Beneath my ribs.

You mustn't look at me tender
You mustn't talk to me sweet
You mustn't give this wild bird it's desired pair of wings. Clairel Estevez

          The cheers drifted up from far down the road and into the open window of Rey's apartments.
She stood at the open window and smiled down at the happily excited faces of the weary and worn travelers. Everyone was relieved to be home from their arduous journey.

      The knights rode in first, holding high the flag of the kingdom . It was their privilege to announce the arrival of the king.

   Trumpeters blew their instruments loud and proud.  Everyone from the castle came out to welcome the pilgrims home.

       When King Poe came into view, Rey enthusiastically waved her bright yellow kerchief for him to see. He looked splendid atop his fine charger. Every inch the King.

He did feel travel worn and weary. A thick layer of mud on his horses hoofs and withers told that they had traveled through mud and melting snow.
Poe wasn't fussed about getting his hands dirty. He wanted his people to know that he was one of them.

He was eager to get to his Queen and the bundle that was surly in her arms. After months of waiting and wondering if it's a boy or a girl, he quickly galloped into the stables and ran up the stairs. He had brought fine gifts and a new face for the court.

He had met the elegant and self important man while praying at the Temple of the Force. Hux had been conversing with another man and had caught Poe's eye. The two had exchanged greetings and talked of politics and which harem had the best concubines.
Hux, Poe had discovered had a brilliant mind for war tactics and combat. Poe hated all battles and bloodshed so if , he thought, could learn from this man all he knew then perhaps he would be able to avoid such entanglements in the future.
Hux was also very shrewd and observant. He would call out anyone who was slacking off on their duties or for disobedience. King Poe thought he would make an excellent advisor. And offered him a place at Court.

Rey stood looking down as the procession snaked its way into the castle grounds. She waved her right hand in greeting to her friends while her other hand covered her heart with the other . She willed it to slow down, then instinctively her hand went down to cover her womb.
Her husband was expecting to see a babe in her arms , nestled at her breast . But this was not his child.

She and Ben had arrived back at the castle only a few weeks before. Their time at the cabin had been magical, a surreal dream.
When the snow began to melt and little purple and white crocuses peered out from the ground they both knew their time in their blissful oasis was coming to a end.

Rey grew irritable and despondent. She would snap at Ben for the least little thing then brake down in tears when she saw the look of hurt in his eyes.

Then when she woke in the morning to the smell of cooking breakfast , which sent her to a basin to cough and heave from a sudden wave of nausea , she tried hard to remember when her cycle was due. It had not come.

Ben was sweet enough to wipe the beads of sweat off her brow, and kiss her tenderly on the cheek.

"Mon Amor, my love , you worry to much. Everything will be alright when we go back to the castle."
He had tried to soothe her , thinking she was just stressed and anxious. Or maybe it could be a spring cold.
He made her dry toast and strong hot tea and tucked the blankets up around her chin.

He was anxious as well. He noticed something strange and peculiar happening to his strength and power.

At night, when he would lay in her arms after making love, he would feel utterly spent . Completely washed out. He could hardly hold his head up. It didn't worry him much at first, their love making could last hours.

When Rey became sick every morning, Ben just thought they needed to slow down a bit and let their bodies recover before going at it again the next day.

He lost his strength to even lift the ax to cut wood. He tried not to panic, thinking he just needed to get back to training and fighting with a man equal in strength. He knew there was no man living that could match him in strength and power but he needed to find his way back to feeling like his old self again.

Being with Rey these past months in the cabin had been the best time in his life. He was reluctant to return to reality, but the king would be returning home soon and they couldn't risk being alone together.

Now Ben had hidden himself away. Not to far way, just far enough as to not draw attention to himself.

When Rey realized she was most definitely with child, her heart leapt with joy. Finally it had happened!
After years of disappointment and blaming herself for her barrenness, a miracle had occurred.

But then harsh reality crashed down on her. This was bad on so many levels.
If she was just an ordinary woman, having an affair and caring another man's child would see her out on the streets, alone and defenseless. The shame would be unbearable. She could be declared a witch and her lover would be killed by the wronged husband for vengeance.

But she was no ordinary woman. She was the queen of Naboo. If she was found out the consequences would be dire.
What was she going to do? There was only one thing to do and she loathed the thought with everything she had in her.
She had to sleep with the king and when the child was born , try to pass it off as his. And hope he doesn't question why it was born early.

Things like that did happen,right?

The deception was cruel and treasonous.
And Ben...... god Ben!
He didn't even know that she was carrying his child. He must never know. He must leave. He must run away and never look back. The very thought of him leaving her made her sick and retched. Without him near her.... he was her everything. How would she live without him?

Rey had gotten down on her knees and begged her Saint to help her out of this most difficult of situations. She must give up her lover, go back to her husband and pass off this illegitimate baby as the next king.

Gone was the frivolous, vain and silly girl. In her place was a desperate, love sick woman, willing to do what she had too . Even if it was deadly wrong.