Ordered

Chapter 34: In Which Ren Visits The Temple Alone

Rated: T

He would find it. It was here.

Once he had it, the tables would turn.

There were only two places he hadn't looked. The first, Skywalker's sealed door, was a place he couldn't look. The other place, the last place he would look, was the Temple.

Walking through the entrance, he swore every curse in every language he knew. She had invited him inside many times, and now she would force him in here one way or another. No matter. When he found it, reality would sink in her beautiful but stubborn skull.

The place was unremarkable as he expected. Old. Dusty. Dank. There was a slight spicy smell from either incense or candles. Yes, there were spots of candle wax dripped on the floor. Rey had lit candles in a hurry. Perhaps, the day he'd eavesdropped on her. That fateful moment he thought the Force wanted them to be together. Master and padawan. It was possible the light side had tricked him. That the light only wanted them to be Master and padawan. Cruelty. When they could be so much more.

He wanted to knock over the statue of the first Jedi Master. The fixed eyes of the wise being were bearing down on him. They mocked him with silent judgment. He wouldn't stand for it. He was Kylo Ren, and he didn't belong in this foul place. He only wanted the Skywalker lightsaber. His boyhood weapon and present to his wife.

"It is here," he sensed it. The Force, the Temple itself had answered him. Almost as though, the Temple wanted the lightsaber found. He considered, perhaps, he had been biased against the place for no reason.

He stared back at the statue in wonder. What else could the sacred ground reveal? Would it aid him further?

Compelled to speak, Ren offered, "You must know, I only want to be with her, leave here with her."

Surely honestly would work here, too.

Yet, a sense of resistance filled him. The Temple would give him the weapon, but not a blessing to leave with Rey and return to Snoke.

Doubt traced Ren's mind. Before he realized, he was arguing to the air, striving to prove the worthiness of his cause, "If you have such ancient wisdom, then tell me why the Force allowed my compassion? For the blood contract to take place? Coupling. Sentiment." He crossed his arms, feeling exposed. "I know I love her." He felt the sting of the words. Allowed them to fade. "What good is the light if I cannot love her? If Skywalker stands in the way?"

No answer. It was as pointless as talking to Vader without Snoke's guidance.

Foolishness. Without care, he'd be as delusional as his uncle.

But then something filtered into his mind's eye. His nightmarish dream. Rey and their four perfect sons. His doom and their destiny.

No, it hadn't been a dream, rather a Force vision of a life to come. Skywalker couldn't, wouldn't stand in the way of their fate. The galaxy needed, depended on, more Skywalker-Solos to lead the way. Anakin. Han. Ben. Their lives, although short, would be influential in shaping the future. Even, Luke, his bad seed, mattered and had a role to play.

As long as he held onto the truth of the dream, the rest would fall into place. There would be suffering, as life demanded. But there would also be moments of peace, gentleness, and love, with her at his side. It was worth it.

Hope seeped back into his being.

"Yes, I understand," Ren bowed in gratitude. "Uncle won't question your wisdom." A disturbance crept across his senses, and he realized, "She weeps for me, even now. Conflicted, worried, full of doubt. I will show her compassion."

Things were clearer now. Perhaps the Temple did have an effect on him.

"Thank you," he muttered. "Now, the lightsaber."