When Light Meets Dark - Kylo's Sister

The Storm Before the Storm

"The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater." 

~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Kylo

"We have to keep this contained."

"What? So the soldiers won't know that they're walking into a death trap?"

"It won't be a death trap. We have allies--"

"Who? Who will help us now against a force of this size? Unless we can somehow convince the Geonosians then...we're finished!"

"It's people like you who lose wars."

Alice and the Lieutenant's argument had been going on for some time. No one had interrupted them. Their voices were the background of our distress. I listened with half of my attention, and with the other half thought about what I could do. 

"I'll be back," I eventually mumbled, although no one was really paying attention. Ertra and Hakeem were sat close together, their eyes glued to the screen of one of those large, thin tablets which I sometimes saw around. The light pouring over their faces put their strained expressions in relief. Rey was sitting near them. She was also staring into the tablet screen but I could see that her mind was elsewhere.

 Hey  I said, without moving my lips. I watched her head jerk a little and her eyes find mine across the table.

I'm going. 

She blinked, seemingly confused, and then asked

Where?

To everyone else it might've looked like we were just staring at one another intensely.  Alice Underton was now talking about contacting some of our other bases but Groyne swiftly dismissed the idea, saying that there was no time and either way, we were not enough. His lack of optimism made the conversation depressing to listen to.

Anywhere but here. I said, or rather, thought.  I think...it's time I spoke to her.

For a moment she said nothing, then it seemed she understood. She looked around at the four others. They were all very absorbed int their own panic and desperation. 

I'm coming with you. I can't stand this room.

I smiled weakly and pushed my chair back a little to leave. I'm not sure what excuse Rey gave Ertra, or whether she gave her any at all, but a couple of minutes she emerged from the room. Relief and even a faint smile passed over her face. We started to walk, with the voices of the lieutenant and Alice fading down the corridor.

"Your room or mine?" she asked. 

"Mine is nearer." 

Lilo and I had gone through it, where we would be, how I would kneel and bring out the tiny velvet box. We hadn't quite got to what I would say but I had hoped that the words would come. And there were so many words, so many thoughts that came to my head when I looked at her. I wanted to do it today. Scratch that, I wanted to do it right there and then as we stood outside of the lifts. She was quiet. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye and saw that she was biting her lip. She seemed agitated, although she tried to hide it. I wanted to help soothe that nervousness, to tell her that everything was okay. Except, well, it wasn't.

Once inside the room Rey gave a little sigh and went over to my bed. She undid the laces of her boots and kicked them both off, revealing pale grey socks over her small feet. I sat down beside her as she crossed her legs. I could feel her looking at me.