All the Stars in the Galaxy

5

It was dusk. Rey shivered in the cold. One wall was gone, so the cold wind could get in easily. Rey huddled in the corner.
    He was gone. Her father was gone. She had seen a black ship leaving the atmosphere. When Rey realised that she had her staff with her, she wanted to take it. But it was gone.
    When the sun made her way down the ship came back, landing on a platform that she couldn't see. Rey had cried. A lot. She was afraid that her tears would freeze in the bitter cold.
    Suddenly the door swung open. Rey got up and pressed herself against the wall. The stone was cold and bit in her skin.
    "Forgive me intrusion, mademoiselle, but I have been sent to escort you to your room," a voice said. Rey looked at the shadows, but didn't see anyone. It wasn't Kylo Ren, so that was a relief. She did not want to know what she would've done to him.
    She wiped away her tears. Protection. She needed to protect herself. He had taken her staff. She looked around, looking for something to proxy herself.
    Fast, she grabbed a little wooden stool, ready to strike. "My room? But I thought..."
     "What? That once this door closes it will not open again, RARRR? I know, he gets so dramatic," the same voice said. Rey raised an eyebrow. What was going on?
    Rey bounded out of the cell, raising the stool to hit a grown man. She would do it. No doubt. She breathed fast and looked around with an alert gaze. No one.
    But instead of seeing a grown up man she saw... a candelabra waving at her. "'Allo."
    "AHH!" Rey screamed. It was like seeing a mouse, Rey bashed the candelabra. It grunted as it clattered on the stone floor.
    This was not happening. This was a dream. A sick, sick dream she made up. Candelabras didn't speak. Not at all. And they didn't move.
    When the candelabra dropped on the floor, the candles extinguished.
    WHOOSH - the first candle relighted. WHOOSH - the second. Illuminated by the two arms of the candle, Rey made out eyes and a rudimentary face in design.
    The candelabra recovered. "Oh, you are very strong. That's a great quality!"
    "What are you?" Rey asked, trying not to run away. It got stranger and stranger with every second she spoke with that candelabra.
    The arms lighted up the main candle to reveal a rakish smile. "I am Poe. Poe Dameron."
    "And you can talk," she said, realising how ridiculous that sounded. She was talking with candelabra named Poe Dameron. If the villagers wouldn't say she was mad, she knew she was now.
    Around the corner a clock appeared, out of breath. Oh my god, she thought. I'm seeing a walking clock. And he's out of breath.
    "Of course he can talk, it's all he ever does! Now Poe, as head of the household, I demand that you put her back in the cell at once!" the clock spoke a bit angry and maybe even annoyed.
    Officially freaked out now, Rey retreated to her cell, searching for a better weapon. If she only had her staff...
    "What do you want to be for the rest of your life, Finn, a man or a mantle clock?" Poe asked. They ran back to Rey, re-emerging from the cell. "Ready, miss?" To Finn he said: "Trust me."

                             * * *

Holding Poe, Rey followed Finn across a stone walkway, high above the grounds. Her eyes darted, looking for an escape route. Instead, she saw how vast the castle and the woods were.
    "You must forgive first impressions, I hope you are not too startled," Poe said with a smile. Rey shivered in the cold wind. They got higher and higher. Rey wasn't afraid of heights, but this was very high. And open.
    "Why would I be startled? I'm talking to a candle," Rey said dry.
    "Candelabra, please. Enormous difference. But consider me at your service. The castle is your home now, so feel free to anywhere you like -"
    "Except the West Wing!" Finn interrupted Poe. Poe threw him a 'could-you-please-shut-up' look. Rey raised a brow. "Which we do not have," he said with a nervous smile.
    "Why, what's in the West Wing?" she asked him as they walked inside the castle again.
    "Uh... nothing. Storage place. That's it," Poe said, smiling at her. She nodded, but didn't believe him. Rey looked back at the spooky tower of the West Wing. She wondered what was there. What they were hiding up there.
    "This way, please!" Poe pleaded.
    "To the East Wing," Finn added. The cold stones made her feet hurt. She was used to Jakku's sand... not cold stone walkways, twirling outside in the winter wind.
    "Or as I like to call it, the only Wing! Watch your steps s'il vous plait," the candelabra in her hand said. Rey nodded - her breath turned into a little cloud in front of her face. They walked inside - a beautiful corridor, filled with wealth and richness. It didn't take long for them to reach the double door.
    Rey stood outside the bedroom door, still feeling cold, anticipating worse squalor.
    "Welcome to your new home. It's the modest, but comfortable..."
    The door opens, but instead of seeing squalor, she saw...
    ... The most beautiful, magical room she'd ever seen. The entire ceiling was a painting of white clouds in a blue sky. There was a large dresser and a comfortable bed. Opulence.
    "It's... beautiful," Rey gasped while she looked at the golden tendrils above her head.
    "Of course!" Poe said. "Master wanted you to have the finest room in the castle."
    Rey nodded, not sure if she had to believe that. He had locked her father up, sick and cold. In a prison where he could've died.
    Poe leaped onto the bed and - POOF - dust filled the air.
    "Oh dear! We were not expecting guests," he said, ashamed. Suddenly, a feather duster, swooped into the room, giving the surface a quick dusting. She was beautiful - elegant.
    "Enchanté, Mademoiselle! Don't worry, I'll have this room spotless in no time!" the feather duster said. "I'm pleased to meet you. My name is Kaydel Ko Connix. But you can call me Connix."
A clock, a candelabra and now a feather duster. What's next? Rey thought as she watched the feather duster land in Poe's arms, whose candles burned a little hotter once she spoke in her sexy accent.
    "This plan of yours... is dangerous," she said to him.
    "I would risk anything to kiss you again, Connix," he said. Rey sensed a little bit of... sadness in his voice. But also lust. Rey looked around the round bedroom again. It was the most beautiful room ever.
    Poe moved to embrace her, but she stopped him. "No, my love. I've been burned by you before. We must be strong."
    He sniffed, still with that sadness that was now seeable in his face. "How can I be strong when you make me so weak?"
    Finn cleared his throat. Suddenly, Rey realised what was going on. And she didn't like it.
    This was too much. Too much. Rey backed off from the creatures.
    This couldn't be real. Could it? She shook her head. No. This may be the most beautiful room she'd ever seen, this situation was getting out of hand.
   "Is everything here alive?" she asked and looked around, searching for an object. She walked towards the broad, pretty make-up table, grabbed a hair brush. She looked at it, searching for a face. "Hello, what's your name?" she asked it.
    No respond. Didn't it like or... Or was it scared?
    Finn looked at her, puzzled.
    "Uh... That's a hair brush," Finn said, a little bit embarrassed. She heard that Poe covered up his laugh with a cough.
    Oh...
    Suddenly, Rey heard a loud snore behind her, and turned to see dresser bursting open with an operatic 'laaaaaa!'.
    Rey shrieked and stepped back. No way.
    "Do not be alarmed, mademoiselle. This is just your wardrobe. Meet Madame De Garderobe. A great singer," Poe said as he gestured at the wardrobe.
    "When she can stay awake," Finn added.
    "Finn! A diva needs her beauty rrr -" But before Poe could finish his sentence, Madame De Garderobe yawned loudly. "Ah, stay with us, Madame! We have someone for you to dress!"
    Garderobe's gilded arms stroke Rey's shoulders and face. She didn't dare to move. A dresser was touching her face, her shoulders.
    "Finally. A woman. Pretty eyes. Proud face. Perfect canvas. Yes! I will find you worthy of a princess," she swore.
    "But I'm not a princess," Rey immediately said.
    "Nonsense! Now, let's see what I've got in my drawers," Garderobe said and she opened her doors. A few moths flew out. "Oh, how embarrassing!"
    Garderobe suddenly placed a large hoop over Rey's head, and proceeded to create an outfit, using fabric and her pinking-shear hands. Suddenly, an orange with white dog ran inside, barking loudly.
    Poe's face lightened up.
    "Come here, BB. Come help mama!" Garderobe said.
    Rey just  stood still, giving this... eh... woman the change to dress her up. BB tugged at the fabric, helping Garderobe complete the outfit - which was garish and too much, all wrong for Rey.
    She absolutely didn't feel comfortable in it.
    "Perfetta!" Garderobe sang.
    Poe and Finn put on a game smile. Rey tried to smile at her, but that seemed to be impossible.
    "Mm. Subtle. Understated. I love it!" Poe said, clearly lying. But Garderobe didn't notice it. If Rey didn't grew up with people who always lied to her, she also wouldn't have noticed it. This Poe Dameron was a good liar.
    With a deep bow and a whistle for BB, Poe dragged Finn out. Connix and BB followed, leaving Rey behind in that ridiculous outfit. Garderobe called out after her beloved dog.
    "BB-8, send my love to the maestro!" she said.
Maestro?
    The door closed, Rey was all alone. Garderobe instantly fell asleep with a big snore. Rey looked around. Where the hell am I? She ducked down, then crawled from underneath the enormous dress, which remained standing.
    Rey looked around the room with one thing in mind: escape. She promised her father. So she needed to try. No matter what.
    She quickly moved to the window. Opened it. She looked down at the 100 foot drop leading to the grounds. No, she thought, no no no, this can't be true. I have to get out of here.
    Rey turned back at the room, and gazed at the dress. An idea took shape in her head.