Saving the Monster

Chapter 58

When Ben didn't return after a half hour Rey paused to help Lando clear the plates, thanked him again for supper, washed and then climbed into bed.

Despite Rey's tiredness, she couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about Ben, about the tragedy of his situation, about the way he had cried against her shoulder, about his gentle touch with the wild Carsung that he had helped tame.

A noise from the living room and Rey sat up, blinking in the vast darkness of the cave, her eyes on the solid wooden door of her room. Another noise and she called her staff to her hand, sitting up slowly, her heart pounding.

A creak and then the groan of hinges as her door opened.

"Rey?", it was Bens deep voice, but at a whisper and Rey felt her shoulders sag with relief, her staff sliding from her hand to the floor.

"Ben, are you ok?" Rey whispered back into the darkness.

Ben moved forwards until he was sat on the end of her bed and Rey pulled her knees up under her chin, suddenly aware of her near nakedness under the thin sheets.

"I have to tell you something and you need to listen carefully".  His voice was stern and yet soft and Rey nodded quickly, a trickle of concern going through her whole body.  "Before we left my base my knights attacked me..."

Rey's eyes widened, "Attacked you, are you hurt?"

"You need to let me finish" Ben hissed, "They had overheard our conversation, they knew we were coming here, to Lando..."

Rey's hand covered her mouth and for a moment she felt as though she couldn't breathe, "Why didn't you tell me!  If they know we're here then they'll kill us all.  We've endangered Lando by coming.  I don't want anymore blood on my hands Ben"

Ben leant in towards Rey, impatience showing in his voice, "There was no time.  Listen, they made a deal with me, they said I could leave as long as I brought you and Lando back with me within two days"

"Ben!" Rey cried, "I trusted you"

Ben stood and then moved up the bed towards her until he was so close that she could smell his warm, clean smell.  He sat down, his hands grabbing at her wrists that rested on her knees.  "I agreed so we could go, so I could be here with you."

Rey's eyes filled with tears and Bens hands began to massage her forearms gently, "Ben why would you do that?  You've put us all in harms way?"

Ben swallowed hard and Rey waited for him to answer.  "Because, because no ones ever looked at me the way you did.  Rey I thought if we could get here, away from everything then we could run.  I didn't know where to, I still don't know where but it doesn't matter...so long as we're together"

Rey let out a little gasp, tasting tears in her mouth as she kissed him.  Ben drew back though, his face serious, "There's more.  They said if I didn't bring you and Lando back in two days then..."

Rey's brow furrowed, "Then what?"

Bens hand came up, rubbing furiously at his eyes and then dragging back through his hair, "Then they would go to Ajan Kloss and take my mother instead".

Rey's eyes widened "Leia.." Rey whispered, her stomach flipping. She imagined Leia then, strong and defiant to the last, the galaxys symbol of hope destroyed. "So let me get this straight. If you don't bring myself and Lando back within two days then they will take your mother instead?"

Ben nodded, his eyes shining in the darkness of the cave, "Whichever ones of us they get, they'll torture for information and then kill. Before tonight I thought I was ready to let the past die, to cast my mother over to them and just keep running with you. But after the pictures and what my mother wrote, I can't do it Rey"