Chandrilan Nights // A Reylo AU

Chapter 3

Ben followed the girl who had helped him escape the guards down silent and less-populated alleyways.

Soon after they had escaped to safety, Ben had undone the scarf that had been covering his face to catch his breath and when he had wanted to wrap it around his face again Ben had caught a glimpse at his new companion as she stared momentarily at his lips and then at his eyes before turning her gaze to the path ahead of them. Ben had thought he had seen her cheeks turn into a rosy shade as she glanced at him, but he had told himself that it was probably because of the heat and the excitement of the chase that had caused her to blush.

He still decided to leave his scarf undone though and he couldn't help but smirk to himself as he did. 

"So," the prince began as he cleared his throat, "where are you leading me to now?"

The beautiful stranger didn't answer, though Ben had the feeling that she was smiling while her eyes were still glued to the path in front of them.

Ben shook his head and felt his smile widen as he tried to suppress it and he took a couple of strides to walk beside her. He wasn't used to people not answering him immediately, and as he thought he should despise this type of behavior towards him, he didn't mind. It made him feel like any other guy who walked these streets.

Ben decided to try again. "You know, for someone I don't know, I sure seem to trust you enough for you to lead me to an unknown place."

This time she stopped and turned to face him, her bright hazel eyes lingering on his face as she spoke softly yet with a hint of amusement in her bell-like voice, "Well, I guess that I must be trustworthy." She had a small smile paint her lips before she grabbed a nearby rope and tugged on it revealing a hidden wooden staircase in front of them where just moments before was a dead end.

Ben then exhaled and wondered how long he had been holding his breath and if it had been because of the sudden element of surprise or because of something else.

Or someone else.

But before he could further entertain his thoughts, the woman smiled at him, a smile that suddenly tugged on his chest and illuminated her whole features, as she said, "Follow me," before she began to climb up the old and seemingly fragile wooden stairs as if it were the easiest thing to do, as if she didn't have to fear that she would step on the wrong spot and come crashing down, injuring herself.

The prince lingered behind, eyeing the stranger curiously as he had witnessed for the second time that day that this woman climbed up to high places as if jumping on unstable crates and old wooden steps were nothing to her. It was almost as if something were guiding her.

Ben brushed whatever he thought he had been thinking away as he followed her up the steps soon after her, using the Force to show him which step to take and where he would most likely fall and break his neck just like he had when he had followed her on the crates.

And as soon as the prince arrived at the top and by her side, he glanced at their surroundings and felt his jaw drop. They were standing in a room with small colorful cushions on the floor and rugs and other small necessities to make it more homey, like a couple of curtains in front of the broken windows to shield the inhabitants from the sun or possibly even from the rain.

Ben had never seen anything like this before. And he was at awe.

"Is this where you live?" he asked her curiously as he noticed some pieces of furniture that had been built together by scavenged pieces.

She's a scavenger, he thought to himself amused by how she managed to build a wooden box and old chair legs into what he would call a coffee table.