Chapter 4.

(Edited 04/03/2021)

Later that evening, Rey sat on the bed in her small room, deciding that after lots of meditation and contemplation, it was finally time to get dressed for the event.

On the other side of her door, she heard bouts of laughter and greetings, groups of people already gathering in anticipation for the party. It was times like these, surrounded by so many others, that Rey was grateful to Leia for securing a private room for her, one that included her own fresher.

After a soothing shower, Rey wrapped herself in a towel and went to examine the dress that lay on her bed. Biting her lip, she timidly picked it up to take a closer look.

The dress itself was gorgeous, undoubtedly; A long sleeved, velvet wine dress that exposed her shoulders and neckline, dipping low between her breasts. Stumbling through shock and slight discomfort, Rey chose to try it on nonetheless, still in awe at the texture, taking care not to make any sudden movements with the garment as if it would disintegrate with a mere pull.

Pulling the dress up and over her head, Rey brushed over her abdomen with an open palm, smoothing any wrinkles that may have been created as she dressed.

To her surprise, the dress seemed shorter on her than when she had seen it on the bed, and it exposed more flesh along her legs than she was ever used to. Shuffling to the bathing room, Rey figured a glance in the large mirror wouldn't hurt.

Her reflection was shocking, and Rey noted that Leia, once again, knew exactly what she was doing.

Tanned skin peaked from the top and bottom of the wine-colored dress, the shade of it complimenting her tone quite lovingly she had to admit. The tie at her waist was longer than the dress itself, and Rey used her opposite foot to scratch at the tickle below her knee.

Still though, it was stunning, and the fabric was comfortable even though it appeared to hug her body in every way.

Rey watched her reflection, her cheeks turning a shade of pink from a creeping blush. Never had she worn such a thing, but she could not deny how beautiful the dress was.

With a sigh, Rey turned back to the small bedroom, caught off guard as something shined so brightly off of the bed that she nearly winced. Taking another step closer, Rey re-focused on it, finding that a silver necklace lay there beside a pair of black shoes.

For a moment, Rey was stumped in awe as she stared un-blinking at the necklace, studying the curves of silver, black and emerald gems perfectly placed along each point.

It was breath-taking, but what was so enticing, was the gem itself. It seemed as though from the second her eyes lay upon it, the force itself began to sing, to rise from its nestled resting spot and awake so ferociously that Rey nearly stumbled into the bed.

What is this? She wondered, hesitantly reaching towards it with a pointed finger. The moment she made contact with it, she was filled with promise, her blood heating and mind racing with possibilities, with determination.

Rey truly couldn't make any sense of it, and when she tried to scan it using her force senses, the trail went cold.

Whatever this gem was, whatever it was wanting to say, it succeeded in making Rey more than curious.

Inhaling deeply, Rey held the emerald between her thumb and index finger, giving it another rub as she tried once more to grasp it with her force, but still came up empty handed.

Despite the failed attempt, she carefully moved to put the necklace on, clasping the hook behind her neck and letting the cool metal lay along her neck, pausing briefly to let it settle, to see if anything else flowed from it as it had a moment ago.

Still, nothing, and so Rey moved on.

Sitting on the bed once more, Rey moved to grab the shoes, admiring and sending her silent thanks to Leia for choosing black laced sandals instead of those ridiculously high heeled things she had seen girl's wear. Without a single doubt, Rey knew she'd never be able to stand in those things.

A short time later, Rey decided there was nothing else she could do for her appearance, having already settled her hair around her bare shoulders, glad that it had finally grew some more these past months and was now able to offer her some shield from the exposure with her dress, which she kept pulling down to try to reach her knees.

Eventually, she gave up from the irritation with a roll of her eyes.

Rey tried her best to calm the nerves that began to settle into her gut, telling herself that compared to what everyone else was wearing, her dress was nothing. Every single member of the Resistance went all out for this event, and Finn and Rose deserved it. It was more of a ball than a wedding or event, she chuckled.

'Yes, for Finn and Rose.' Rey thought. For them, she would do anything.

Sighing, Rey rolled her shoulders to ease the tension, stretching her neck to the side to help.

It was right then, standing in the middle of her much too small room, in her much too short dress, that the piece of the force she had sworn died off, resurrected.

The silence stung the air, a vibrating buzz shook through her body and caused a wave of chills to cover her body.

Rey froze.

The bond.

Ben.

Rey turned around slowly, the tension returning so quickly that her temples pounded and her heartbeat stuttered over itself.

And just like that, the ghost was back. There he stood, in the corner of her room, dressed in his usual black outfit, his long cape resting too perfectly at his shoulders and flowing down his long body. His hair reminded her of whisps from a fire; Wild and untamed, but it matched him so well.

Her lips parted and her chest heaved slightly at the shock.

Kylo Ren stood tall as his eyes settled on Rey, long before she had the chance to turn to him. At first when the bond connected, he was sure it was a mistake, having never seen her in such an attire.

Once he did realize the truth though, that this was in fact the scavenger, his eyes greedily devoured the sight of her, raking upwards from her laced sandles, to her exposed, tanned legs... And furthermore, he noticed how the fabric clung to her hips, falling a few inches above her knee...

Had he ever looked upon a woman in such a way? Studied how a garment could grip a body so much that it looked like flesh on bone?

Kylo was reminded by the dark, sickly voice in his head that such things were a weakness... And though his mind spoke those words, his gaze still traveled up the front of her dress as she turned to him.

Right then, as Rey fully turned to face Kylo, his roaming gaze was quickly drawn to the necklace that lay along her skin, absolutely enamored by the green gem that lay in the middle of the chain.

Within a blink of an eye, he regained his composure and met her stare.

Funny, Rey thought to herself, he had no shame to look upon her outfit, to take in her exposed flesh, but the sight of the necklace made him... Unsteady.

Her brow quirked at the realization that the jewel was in fact something more than it appeared.

For a moment, the pair simply stood there in silence as they stared at one another, each too stubborn to say the first word, regardless of any questions Rey was eager to ask, and Kylo refusing to give her any satisfaction by speaking before she did.