Royal Agreements [Kylo Ren x Reader]

chapter twenty-one

You gripped your staff tightly in your clammy hand. The flickering lights above your head matched your staggered, unsteady breaths. You could feel your heartbeat in your ears. If Kylo had noticed your uneasiness, surely he would have sent you waves of calm feelings.

But Kylo himself was a jittery mess. His gloved hands shook until he had to clench his fists. It was a state you had never seen your husband in; a reminder that he was, under all that armor and that heavy mask; a man.

It felt like days, not hours, until the ship landed. It landed with a few lurching rocks. Kylo reached out and gripped your upper arm before you could fall. You weren't used to travelling.

When the ship landed and the lights held their glow, you realized just what was happening. How was it that, just last month, you were a princess and worrying about your marriage? Now you were a soldier, and you were fighting by your husband's side.

Kylo Ren had to console with the other ships. As he barked orders to his soldiers, you looked out the viewport and saw, for the first time in weeks, your beloved planet.

The village was in ash. The trees destroyed. A thick coverage of grey thunderstorm clouds hovered above, blocking the light from the moons. Your castle was the same; however, it was impossibly darker.

"When do we go?" you whispered.

"After our pilots give the signal," he breathed.

You glanced at him with furrowed eyebrows. "Signal? What signal?"

Suddenly, there was a booming explosion. With wide eyes, you witnessed Kylo Ren's TIE fighters shoot several rays of light into the ground surrounding your castle. Dirt, mountain, trees, and foundation blew into the air. Guards were flown backwards. The floor shook with every wave of destruction.

"That signal," he said. He held his cufflink to his mouth. "Go, go! Now!"

You, as well as every other soldier, was were rushed onto the field. It had only been a few moments since the initial attack, and already Juban's soldiers were running towards the First Order.

You knew that Kylo had approached this carefully. He had placed several fleets on different parts of the ground. You just happened to be at the front.

You gripped your weapon in a defensive stance. Kylo ignited his lightsaber and marched alongside you. He was just far enough that, if you reached your hand out to him, your fingertips would brush his shoulder.

"Stay where I can see you," he ordered, "at all times."

"Yes, Commander," you replied, smiling.

This was the revenge you'd thirsted for for so long. This was what you had trained for, prepared for, begged for. This was for your people, your king and queen, and your Marlo.

You were consumed with an anger unlike any other. Your lust for revenge fueled your heart and soul, making no room for anything else. You sprinted faster, ahead of Kylo. He was already twisting necks of soldiers with the Force. It was your turn to impress him.

As you approached your first soldier, you threw your arm forward. The tip of your weapon struck the metal armor of his chest. He fell to the ground, angrily swiping his hands around for a knife.

With a roar of anger, you smacked the side of the steel against the man's face, knocking his helmet off and bruising his cheek. Another hit, and the bridge of his nose was shattered. Another, and he was unconscious.

You barely felt the touch of a hand on your short hair before you whipped around and jerked an arm out, swatting the soldier's hand away and jabbing your weapon into his side. It sank into the soft, exposed flesh and he collapsed on the ground with a grunt.

You brushed your hair away from your face. It was beginning to rain. Water dripped in your eyes, making it difficult to see. You almost missed the man barging towards you, until the sickening sound of breaking bones and the twist of his head made you jump.

Kylo was standing twenty feet away, palm out towards you and the man he just killed. His crimson blade was impaling the chests of two soldiers. He kicked them off his weapon with his boot and resumed his fighting.

You took down a few others. You didn't stop to make sure their heads were crushed with every blow because you were scared. If you took realization of the lives you were taking, you could freeze, and then you could be taken down.

You began to trudge forward. Your feet sunk in the softening dirt. Each step was harder. The rain was coming down in sheets. Still, through the flashes of blasters and the red light from Kylo's lightsaber, you carried forward.

You chased two men up a muddy bank and easily took them down. A third came along and provided a nice challenge for you. He left you with a slash on your left cheek. But, using your physical combat lessons, you managed to take his weapons away and kick him down the side of the bank.

You stood for a brief second, catching your breath. Kylo was getting further away, but you knew that it was fine so long as he could feel you in the Force. He was fine. You were fine.

"Aye, Princess!" a voice sneered. It wasn't one you recognized, but still, you turned.

A man with a bow and arrow stood several feet away from you. Chains hung from his neck like medallions. He placed an arrow on the bow and held his arms down.

"You are a soldier," he remarked.

"Yes," you said, holding your head high. "And you have lost."

"Have we?" he asked.

"You will," you said. "My people-"

"Your people," he interrupted, "are going to die! And you will be given to Chief Juban, and he will dispose of you whatever way he pleases."

"We shall see," you said.

"Indeed," he said, and you felt a sharp pain in your arm.

You called out in pain, feeling your knees meet the soft mud. You glanced down to see an arrow lodged in your flesh. Gasping, you realized that it didn't come from the man speaking to you.

"Juban," you rasped, and a boot connected with your chin and sent you tumbling down, down, down.