Beating Heart ♔ Rey

prologue

Prologue

"Snoke has told me to turn across Luke Skywalker."

When Ben Solo, her best friend, had broken the news to her, Hester Mirren was fifteen.

Her spoken it so quietly, Hester wasn't even sure she'd heard him right. But when she spotted the gleam and small smirk on his face, she knew that unfortunately, she hadn't misheard him.

She'd faltered in her exercise, allowing Ben to disarm her. Hester poked her tongue out at him and reached out with her hand, drawing her lightsaber back to her with the Force as though everything was normal, though her heart rate had picked up considerably. She glanced around, trying to catch Luke's attention, but his focus was on another pair of young trainees.

Hester licked her lips. She couldn't let herself sound too horrified - who knew what would happen if he suspected she didn't want to turn against Luke?

Well, this would definitely explain why her best friend had been acting so strangely for so long. How long had he been in contact with Snoke? Had he truly turned against Luke?

"Why are you telling me this?' she asked casually, swinging her lightsaber in her hand.

Ben grinned. "Why wouldn't I? You're my closest friend, Hester, since we first met. Of course you'd want to follow me."

Hester pressed her lips together so she wouldn't gasp.

"That's very presumptuous of you," she said lightly, mock scowling at him. She hoped it didn't look too much like a real scowl.

Ben faltered. "You're not against me, are you?" His voice suddenly turned cold and his eyes hardened.

"No!" Hester gasped, raising her hands. "I'd never turn on you, Ben." She felt sick to the stomach as she spoke.

"So you'll join me? Two Jedi would be much more effective then just one."

"Ben, I'm nowhere near as strong as you. What use could I possibly be to anyone? Unless I'm a weakness for the opposition to exploit. Darth Clumsy, I can hear them now."

"You're no weak link; you'll be helping us no matter what you do. Hester, see sense. This is our path, I know it."

No, that's what Snoke has brainwashed you with. She couldn't say it aloud though, not if she valued her life.

She couldn't oppose Ben. There was no way she could - he was so much stronger with the Force than she was, and just more agile and skilled. Even if she was to stand against him then and there, he'd cut her down in seconds, she knew that from all the times they'd sparred together. Ben had won every time so far.

She didn't want to join him. She couldn't! The mere thought of the Dark side made her feel sick, like she had some horrible disease. There was no way she could follow him down that path. She'd have to stop him.

But how could she stop him from the opposing side? He wouldn't be alone when he tried to take Luke down, surely. There was no way she'd be able to stop him. It would be a waste of time, and then there'd be no one left to oppose him.

Hester wasn't very much of use to anyone dead.

So she swallowed and lifted her chin, and did her best to send a convincing smile his way.

"I'd be delighted," she said. "If you don't mind a clumsy person such as myself tagging along."

Ben chuckled, but looked pleased. Hester was shaking slightly, knowing the slightest falter from here on would result in her death, but she wasn't going to the Dark side. She wouldn't turn even if her life depended on it.

Of she couldn't directly oppose Ben. But she'd work from the shadows. She could influence him, warn his opponents before he arrived. She could put constant obstacles in his path and hinder his progress, assisting the Light.

Working like that would be much more effective than being dead and unable to do anything. She'd die anyway if she was discovered, but she was well versed in lies. She knew she could pull this off for a long time, if not indefinitely.

And from that moment on, Hester only played at being Ben's best friend.