Ɓen and Rey joined the king and queen in the council room, in a few moments the council members began to file into their seats.

Queen Leia stood and addressed the council members. "I called this meeting because there is an urgent matter that we must attend to. Last night, at the celebration two of Snoke's spies snuck into the castle and attacked Prince Ben and Rey, and gave them a note." She gestured for her son to speak.

Ben stood, taking out the note that Hux and Phasma had given him. He looked at Rey, feeling nervous and afraid, but she nodded encouragingly. He took a deep breath and unfolded the piece of parchment. Then he began reading aloud:

"Kylo Master of the knights of Ren, this is an urgent message from your Master: Snoke.

You must come to Mustafar immediately to prepare for war, it is coming soon... the desolation of Alderaan, and I shall rise from it's ashes like a Phoenix and rule all that remains of the kingdom.

My army is gathering here in my palace, we will rally here for a while to make plans and prepare before we attack. We will be ready soon and I expect you to join us.

Do not tell your parents what I am planning..."

Ben trailed off and Rey looked up at him from her seat, concerned. He seemed upset and worried, she knew him well enough to know what he was feeling. She reached over and took his hand, trying to offer him some comfort and encouragement.

Ben took a deep breath, squeezing her hand slightly, then he continued.

"...you know the penalty if you disobey or displease me.

I expect you to come alone, and don't tell anyone where you went.

Signed, Snoke"

He looked down at Rey and she gave him a concerned look. She wanted to ask him what the penalty would be, her heart fell as she realized that Snoke had been using something to control him, that all of the things she'd hated him for before she forgave him, weren't really his choice. Was he being abused? she wondered, heartbroken. What is he risking by sharing this information?

As soon as he had finished, the council members broke out in a loud discussion.

"I don't believe this monster," he could hear Hoth's councilor say.

"This is a rouse, a trick, a lie!" King Edgar agreed.

"Why should we believe you?" the councilor asked Ben.

"Because I have proof," Ben said throwing the note on the table for all of them to see. "Is that not his signature?"

They all leaned over the table to examine the signature.

"That may be, but what proof do you have that you are not conspiring with the enemy?" a senator asked.

"I agree, if you are truly on our side then where are these spies you speak of?" King Edgar pressed.

"They escaped," he replied honestly.

"Escaped? Why didn't you kill or capture them?" the anger was obvious in the king's voice.

"I couldn't, they..."

"Couldn't or chose not to?" the councilor pressed.

Rey stood suddenly. "It wasn't Ben's fault that they escaped. It was mine, one of the spies held a knife to my throat, Ben had no choice but to let them go."

"So you risk the safety of Alderaan and her allies for the life of a servant girl?" The councilor's tone disturbed Ben just as much as his words.

Ben placed his hand on the table and leaned forward. "She is my wife, councilor, " he answered sternly. "Would you let your wife die for the safety of Hoth or any of the other kingdoms represented here?" Ben asked, his tone sharp but calm.

The senator looked down at his hands, his eyes subconsciously wondered to the wedding band on his finger. "No," he whispered. "But that's different my wife is of noble birth...she is of great importance to Hoth and to Alderaan, she is a great politician...not a former servant. She is needed to help run the kingdom."

"She is the future queen," Ben reminded the obnoxious man, as he gestured to Rey. "But it is no different. I love my wife, just as you love your's."

Rey had heard Ben voice his love for her many times, but it had never made her feel this way before. Her heart skipped a beat and she found it hard to breath. She could barely hear him as he continued, yet her ears seemed to be glued to his every word.

"In the end that will be all that will matter. When we die the only thing that will matter is love...riches and titles will fade, but love will endure. In heaven all of God's children will be equal and there he will be only one whom we shall all bow to," he finished.

Rey felt a small amount of pride well up in her chest, she had never thought that he would see things that way, she had thought that deep down he was like the other nobles. They didn't realize that the things they invested in were only temporary and one day, it would all be gone. In the end love, kindness and compassion were the only things on earth that were worth fighting for.

She reached over and intertwined her fingers with his.

Ben gasped softly at her touch... it was different from when she'd taken his hand moments earlier in a friendly, comforting way. It was soft and filled with affection, she gently brushed her fingers against his before weaving them together. She wasn't just causally holding his hand, she was offering him affection...something he never thought that she would give him.

He looked down at her, she smiled up at him seeming a little shy.

"Ben is right," Leia smiled at her son proudly.

"Yes, my lady, I apologize. I shouldn't have said those things," the councilor spoke in a formal tone, obviously concerned that he would cause a rift between their two kingdoms.

"She wasn't hurt was she?" Queen Natalia asked her cousin.

Ben nodded.

"It wasn't too serious, " Rey spoke up, not wanting to worry anyone.

"I think we should attack Snoke's forces before he attacks us," King Han said.

The General nodded. "That was my thinking your majesty."

"Ready the troops," Han commanded.

"Yes your majesty."

The council members began to leave as Han, the General and the other military leaders began to discuss their plan of attack.

Ben wanted to offer to join the attacking forces, it was the least he could do after all of the pain he had caused his parents, Alderaan, and Rey... he sighed at the thought of her. He would have to leave her, he didn't like the thought of being parted from her. What if more of Snoke's followers came to the castle? He couldn't bare the thought of her being hurt. He decided that he would leave her with Finn and Rose, he knew that Finn would protect her while he was gone.

Rey would probably enjoy some time alone...without him. She probably wouldn't miss him if he left.

Just then he realized that she had never let go of his hand, she still held it tightly. Perhaps she would miss him more than he knew. He gently massaged her hand with his thumb. He hoped that she would understand why he had to do this, and that he would miss her terribly.

He leaned closer to her. "I have go with them Rey," he breathed in her ear.

She turned to look at him. The look in her eyes told him that he was wrong to assume that she wouldn't miss him. "But..." she began in a whisper.

"I have to face Snoke," he interrupted.

Her grip on his hand tighten. "Take me with you then."

"Rey...no...it's too dangerous."

"No it isn't, you grew up in a castle where you were fed, and protected. I grew up on the streets where I had to fight for everyday that I lived. I was raised in a fight for survival, I'm not afraid to die... I'm afraid..." she trailed off.

"Of what?" he asked her gently.

"...of losing you," she whispered.

"Why?"

"I... I ..." she wanted to tell him the truth, to say 'I love you,' but she couldn't get the words out. Already she could feel tears forming behind her eyes and she didn't want to start crying here, in front of everyone. "...you're all I have."

He felt slightly disappointed, he had hoped that she would finally tell him that she loved him. He wanted nothing more than to know that she loved him. Not because she was forced to, but because she truly loved him. If they weren't married, he wondered if she would say yes if he asked her to be his bride. He wanted to settle things with her before he left. He wanted to kiss her goodbye, in case something happened and it was the last time they were together. But it seemed that he would not have the chance.

He looked into her eyes, trying to mask his disappointment, but there was no mask that he could put on that she wouldn't be able to see through.

Rey felt her heart sink as she realized how much he needed to hear those three words. Three words that seemed so simple until she tried to say them out loud. She realized that deep down she needed to say them as much as he needed to hear them. Rose was right, if she didn't say them and this was their last day together, she would regret it forever.

Why can't I be brave enough to tell him how I feel? she wondered. Why was so it easy to say "I hate you" words that would leave him scarred. Words that now brought a deep pain in her heart, yet "I love you" words that would heal them both, was so hard to say?

She wanted to give him her love, to feel his love in return. But she was afraid to tell him how she felt, she had never felt this way about anyone before and she didn't know how to express it.

"That's why I can't let you come," he whispered, pulling her from her thoughts. "You are everything to me." He stood up and placed his hands on either side of her head. He leaned down, planting a soft kiss on top of her head. Then he walked over to his father and the General.

Rey watched him as he walked away. "You can't stop me," she whispered. "I was too young to save my father, but I won't let you die."