When an unexpected betrayal sends a wingless fairy into a lonely world of darkness and self-loathing, Rey must learn how to love herself again - with the help of a Raven
Events loosely inspired by the movie Maleficent
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Save for the resonance of water trickling down the riverfront, the forest went uncomfortably silent the minute Rey learned there was a small chance she could recover her wings. In response to Ben's revelation, every creature within hearing range of the conversation seemed to have held its breath in anticipation to listen to what she had to say.
But to Ben's dismay, Rey never responded; at least, not the way in which he had wanted her to react.
Her expression was, quite frankly, unreadable. He winced as it suddenly dawned on him the moment Rey took three steps back from him that he had gone against the elder fairy Maz's wishes. In return, he was also left feeling ashamed.
Shoulders squared rather tensely, Rey folded her arms over her chest, lashes rapidly batting as she just stood there across from him in utter confusion. The longer he was forced to endure that tortuously awkward silence, Ben felt more and more like a tortoise wanting to retreat inside its shell for comfort.
No, you can't hide from this one, Solo...
But - damn it! Upsetting her even more was the last thing he had wanted to happen. Come to think of it, they'd never even fought before - until now, that is. He had his own lack of judgment to thank for that.
Thankfully, in the midst of wagering war with himself, Ben was relieved when Rey took it upon herself to resume conversation; whether that was good or bad was yet to be determined.
"I- what?" Rey stammered, her voice rose a smidge higher at the final word. In the background, birds carried on singing carols, tempering the mood only by a little.
Swallowing with difficulty, Ben cleared his throat. "I - It's possible that -."
Rey raised her palm in demand for silence, and he immediately clammed up like an animal obeying its master. "I know what you said," she hissed, as her extended hand retreated to the crook of the opposite arm. "What I want to know is how ?"
Nervously running both hands through his raven locks, Ben sighed. "I don't know. Honestly, I don't." Shrugging, his arms proceeded to cross over his chest. "I was just repeating what Maz told me that day I visited her. I didn't know what she meant by it at first, but it makes sense based on what you saw in the vision."
Rey scoffed. "She said that?"
He nodded. "In a weird, sort of cryptic way - yes."
"So, you've known all this time and you now felt the need to tell me about it?"
Again, Ben swallowed thickly. Ensuring Rey that Maz had specifically requested not to inform her was an option if he were to place blame on the kooky elder, but he knew better than to stoop to that level of childish behavior. Chewing the inside of his left cheek, he glanced down at his feet as Ben shifted weight.
"I wasn't deliberately trying to hurt you, Rey," he murmured to the earthy terrain that his eyes were trained on. His heart ached at the prospect of betraying her in any sort of way. Then he gave her judgmental glare a tentative look, and her hazels were no longer rigid and icy as they were before. "I just didn't want to get your hopes up."
