Force connections

Where's Rey?

"Where's Rey?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper as I fought to remain conscious. Jerrid, the youngest of the knights approached me, bowing slightly, "We don't know master, we did not see her.  I'm sorry". He added the 'I'm sorry' part in a softer voice and something about his tone made me fear the worse.

The pain was unbearable now and I struggled to keep myself from crying out during the journey.  I was feeling lightheaded and woozy.  At some point I must have passed out, a vision of Rey drifting in front of my eyes.

I felt safe, warm and comfortable.  A soft voice was whispering in my ear and for a moment I thought it was my mother and my heart ached for her in that moment but then suddenly my eyes opened, a fuzzy shape in front of them and then as I blinked and they cleared, I saw her, Rey, more beautiful than ever before, a huge smile on her face and tears streaming down her soft cheeks.  "Rey?" I croaked, wanting to make sure she was real.  Her hand slid around mine and she leant in close, "Ben, I thought I'd lost you, I'm so happy to see your beautiful eyes open again" she said, more tears spilling down her face.  "Where are we?" I asked, biting my lip as a surge of pain rushed through my body, "We're on Chandrila.  Don't worry, you're safe here, all of your knights have joined us here too".  I tried to lift my head to kiss her cheek but I was too weak, "I didn't think l'd see you again Rey.  I love you." I whispered, my voice shaking with emotion.  Rey pressed her forehead to mine "I love you too Ben" she whispered back. The feeling of her wet tears on my face and then she drew back, glancing over her shoulder. "Someone else wants to speak to you".  My brows furrowed as she moved to one side and Rose approached me, a smile on her round face.  I felt Rose take my hand in hers and that very action surprised me enough for my eyes to fly to Rey's, subconsciously seeking reassurance.  Rey nodded at me and smiled and I moved my eyes back to Rose, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry Ben", I frowned, wincing slightly as I moved my head on the pillow, "Sorry for what?" I asked, Rose shrugged, "I judged you on everything you had done without first trying to understand why you'd done it.  I shouldn't have", I dropped my eyes, not used to people talking to me like this, but she went on, "I saw how much you love Rey and I know how much she loves you.  I figure anyone who Rey loves can't be all bad", she turned to smile at Rey as she finished and then she turned back to me, leant down and kissed my cheek, her hand squeezing mine.  I was stunned.  How had this happened?  Never before had I received this sort of affection from someone I barely knew and receiving it now made it seem as though I was watching it happen to someone else.  As Rose moved aside I sucked in my breath.  Stood in front of me now was Finn, the traitor.  Instinctively I moved my head backwards on the pillow, aware of my current vulnerability lying here badly injured, but he simply came to stand by my bed, his eyes on mine. He hesitated before he spoke, "Listen this is hard for me to say, and hell maybe you don't even want to hear it from me, given our history, but I want to tell you that I'm going to give you a chance.  Like Rose said, anyone Rey loves can't be all bad. The resistance gave me a chance, even when they realised that I was from the First Order, so I want to try to give you a chance too".  I looked at him with surprise, only able to nod my head in silent acknowledgment.  Rey moved to me again as Finn moved away, her hand smoothing stray hairs from my forehead "We didn't have any medical droids but we managed to patch you up whilst you were unconscious, you just need to rest, let your wounds heal and you'll be fine".  Just then a voice came from the doorway and Rey spun to look, my eyes looking past her and seeing the resistance pilot standing there in his flight suit, his hands on his hips.  I saw his face darken when he saw me lying there, Rey's hand still on my head. "Uh I'm just going to do a supplies run" he said, purposely keeping his eyes fixed on Rey.  Rose and Finn exchanged glances, clearly wondering if I was going to gain his acceptance too.  I saw Rey notice this and suppress a giggle, "What?" The pilot asked crossly looking between Rose and Finn and then to Rey who shook her head, "Nothing Poe, great, see you when you get back then".  Poe hesitated and then, with one last look of disgust in my direction, he left.  Finn began to laugh then and I was surprised to find him looking at me as he spoke, "You may have to work on Poe!".  The three of them burst out laughing and in spite of myself I felt a smile cross my lips.