Hazard of Reylo Hearts

Chapter Twelve

Rey sat in the secondary piloting chair watching her descent back home. Thinking of her current dwelling as home was a rather startling thought since for the most part it is a luxurious prison. Perhaps it was the people she had met there that were home. Rey sighed rather loudly troubled with her thoughts.

"Are you ok miss?" Qui-gon asked.

"I am alright, I cannot thank you enough for rescuing me. I cannot repay you enough"

Even just thanking her rescuer made her shiver about what had previously transpired. Her arms are now an atlas of bruises from Lord Snoke's hold, whilst she is sore, bruised and beyond tired the fact he laid his filthy hands on her is what is troubling her the most. Rey took a more thorough search out of the glass searching for any sign of her attacker.

"You are safe with me, at least from that evil. Please enlighten me, are you not afraid of me? Those in my line of work surely don't have a good reputation"

"I have nothing for you to steal. Besides if you were unsavoury you would have joined Lord Snoke not taken me with you"

They continued their path back to Naboo, the ship wasn't overly cold but with nothing to protect her modesty but a flimsy scarf made more for show than actual warmth she shivered.

"We are not far from Naboo, you will be home soon miss"

Even if she were to return what would happen then? Her ladyship lured her out and plotted with him to remove her. It was a good plan she admits if they would have succeeded had it not been for the rogues she is currently in the presence of.

"Are you cold miss?"

"A little. I think it's more from fright than the temperature"

Qui-gon lands the ship at the bottom of a hill with the ocean on the right of her.

"Your home is that way" he points to the left where she can see a thick hedge and side gate.

"Wow, it's so close. I cannot thank you enough. I will always remember your kindness" she said excitedly.

"Don't mention it. You take care of yourself now, another such journey may not end well"

"I will most definitely be more careful" Rey turned and made her way back to mansion.

As she made it to the gravel drive her pace significantly slowed. The toll of the evening finally catching up with her. She was not only cold, stiff and bruised. Her arms hurt and another glance down the markings are getting worse, her chest still has dried blood from the scratch his button made.

She managed to sneak right through the front door. She was so tired and didn't know how she could find the energy to drag herself to her room. Thankfully the hall was empty as she entered and she was slowly yet steadily making her way up the staircase to her chambers; when the doors to the drawing room opened. Serena bolted up the never-ending stairs. Running on pure fear of being caught looking like she does keep her moving. She reached the top of the landing turning towards her tiny staircase which would take her to her to room. Completely unaware of her surroundings she didn't notice someone walking down her staircase until she ran straight into them. She stumbled a few steps back when the one person who she most wanted to see and yet not at the same time had grabbed her back to keep her steady. She quickly glanced up to gage his reaction and it wasn't pleasant. He looked so angry, or that's how it seemed to her.

Ben towered over her making her feel so small. Had he known of her abduction? Did he too wish her gone? Did he think it was easier to have someone else wash his hand of her? Even though all these questions ran through her mind she they were false. What ever else she felt about him, she knew he was honourable and would never stoop to such low actions especially as he knows how she feels about Lord Snoke. Yet here she is face to face. He was staring down at her taking in every detail of her unkept appearance. Instinctually she tried to wrap the shoal higher around herself with shaking hands.

"Where have you been?" he asked harshly. Rey shook in shock of hearing such a tone. She tried to reply but nothing was coming out.

"I looked for you, my mother told me you retired for the night. Why are you here so dishevelled?" again she could not answer.

"So you will not answer me" he was now shaking with anger, he grabbed her shoulders with both hands. Rey flinched in pain.

"Who have you been with?" he shook her, "who has had the privilege of disarranging your hair? Is it the lure of the moonlight, I suppose, you could not keep inside? You are like all the other, lustful for excitement and yet I would have staked my life that you were different. Still you remain silent, enlighten me who touched you?" his kept getting harder and Rey looked up at him so terrified of his fury. "Answer me" he continued. "Or are you so ashamed you cannot speak? Was it Poe who crept out and met you or was it Lord Hux? Perhaps such escapades must be kept secret" he harshly released her shoulders. "Goodnight Miss Rey" he said with such scorn that Rey she felt he had whipped her all over.

His release of her had her staggering. She almost lost her balance and fell against the wall if she hadn't reached out to save herself. In doing so her shoal slipped from her shoulders, the torn laces of her dress also falling exposing her chest, bruises, the scratch and the blood. Just before Ben left, he had caught sight of her injuries. He stood there staring her down assessing her.

"You are injured? Who did this to you?" his voice completely changing. All anger has given way to alarm and concern. Rey was fighting a sudden faintness which threatened to overpower her; she raised her head again fighting the sweat release of blackness of fainting.

"I would like to retire my lord" she whispered. He barred her from moving.

"Not until you tell me what happened? I don't wish to further vex you but I need to know" he spoke urgently yet gently.

"It is of no significant" she tried to downplay.

"It is to me, you are hurt and... please tell me the truth" he cried. "Someone dared to harm you. I wish to punish the one responsible"

"I truly have nothing to stay, not at the moment, maybe tomorrow, perhaps never. What happened to me I wish to forget, please I need to go to bed" Ben's mouth tightened.

"You prefer to have me believed you enjoyed your struggle, for struggle it was going by your appearance and emotional distress"

"Enjoy it" she yelled. It was like being shocked, he could see her distressed, even acknowledged it. How dare he believe she enjoyed it. If he could angry than so could she.

"As I said earlier the moonlight was obviously a sufficient excuse to entice you into the garden"

"Entice me! That is indeed correct. How was I enticed you may ask? By a trick! A trick played on me in your mother's name and by her servants. I was told my BB-8 had an accident and I rushed from the house, I found..." her voice faltered and her anger was all gone and tear were taking its place.

"Why should I explain any of this? It is bad enough I had to suffer with being abducted, touched and kissed by a man I loathe more utterly than anyone else in the world. Is it not enough I reach home bruised and exhausted only to be bullied by you and insulted by disgusting suggestions that I enjoyed myself? I hate you! Go away and leave me alone! Leave me, I tell you!" she stomped her foot and covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking in sobs. Next thing Rey knew she was swept into Ben's arms. He lifted her as if she weighed nothing, too exhausted to fight further she relaxes into his embrace and rests her face against his shoulder and continued to cry.

He carried her from whence he came to her room. As miserable and out of it she was, Rey could not help but acknowledge his strength and security that came from being held so closely. She tried to stop the tears but for too long she has held her self back and repressed her emotions. All the misery and loneliness she felt since having come to Naboo was now released.

In some weird way she is thankful to be able to cry, to hide her face against Ben's shoulder. The door to her bedroom stood open and he continued his path into her room and laying her gently in bed. As she felt the comfort of her bed and Ben released her, she cried out in regret of losing that body contact.

"Lord Snoke did this, didn't he?" she covered her face again and turned to face away from him. "Answer me, please" he begged voice quiet and grim.

"Yes... it was but I escaped from him. A thief invaded the ship and he brought me back" her tears flowed again but didn't care to hide them. Ben paused and abruptly stood up.

"Take care of your mistress" he said and stormed out of the room letting Maz give her comfort.