All characters as well as setting is (C) George Lucas and Disney

All original characters (including Larulai Hynn, Darvic and Lord Hynn) and story is (C) BlackLaceLamb

Chapter V: The Stony Shore

The Star Destroyer Finalizer pulled into orbit, and Larulai gazed longingly at a dark blue planet from the window of her temporary chambers. It had been a short journey, but Ren had managed to find time to meditate with her when General Hux no longer required his attention. He seemed to be searching for something, and Larulai could feel the long tendrils of his mind stretching out into the world below. In a few minutes, he would leave to investigate, and she wanted to catch him before he departed.

Larulai quickly neatened her hair, so it fell over her shoulders and framed her pale face. She had spent the past few weeks trying to alter her clothing so it was a little more flattering to her new silhouette, but still practical to the cold conditions of Starkiller base and interstellar travel. Her fitted pants and knee-high boots were the same, but she'd taken some strips of damaged black leather, sewn them together, and had wrapped them tightly around her abdomen to emphasize her figure. The sleeves of her tight top were tucked into her elbow-length leather gloves, and she'd added more fabric to the neckline so it could be used to snugly cover the lower half of her face for more warmth.

There was a knock at the door, and she waved her hand to open it. A stormtrooper stepped forward, carrying something in their hands.

"Pardon the interruption, Lady Hynn. Kylo Ren requested that this be given to you upon our arrival," he said. She smiled and took the pile of dark cloth in his hands, giving him a nod in silent thanks. The stormtrooper nodded back, and left her alone. The door slid shut as Larulai unfolded what was in her hands, and a smile began to grow across her face.

It was a beautiful black cloak, the fabric was thick to protect her against the elements, but still flowed through the air like silk. Not wanting to waste any more time, she threw it around her shoulders and raced out the door, pulling the hood over her head as she briskly strode towards the shuttle bay. Her escorting stormtroopers followed close behind. The cloak wasn't long enough to touch the floor, it would be far too impractical, but it lightly touched the back of her calves as stepped inside an elevator. Catching a glance of her appearance in the polished wall, she admired how the hood nicely framed her face and gave an almost holy reverence to her appearance. The silver clasp was delicately carved with the crest of the First Order, and glinted at her collarbone. She stroked it tenderly. It was clear that this wasn't just a piece of cloth, it was a valuable gift from a mentor to a pupil. The first gesture of kindness from Kylo Ren she'd ever seen.

Larulai's fingertips fell from the clasp as the doors opened, and in the distance, Ren was entering his shuttle. Sensing her presence, Ren turned and paused. The stormtroopers following Larulai saluted him and stopped just behind her. The slight movement of his head told her he enjoyed the sight of her in the new cloak, and she gave him a grateful smile.

'Sir, I wish to speak to you…'

"What is it?" She stopped at the base of the ramp and looked up at him.

'I request your permission to go down to the planet…'

"Why?"

'I haven't been outside since I was purchased, and I wish to feel sunlight on my face once more...'

"So shortly after receiving my generous gift, you still ask for more…" his voice held a mocking tone, and Larulai's embarrassment flushed her cheeks. Ren contemplated her request, Larulai's blue eyes silently pleaded with him to agree.

"My business will be brief, and you are not to leave the radius of the shuttle... but you have my permission to accompany me." She smiled widely and bowed her head.

'Thank you, sir…'

"You two," Ren looked at the stormtroopers, "if you lose sight of Lady Hynn, you will have to answer to me personally." They saluted again and boarded the shuttle. Larulai followed closely behind Ren until they reached the bridge of the ship, and he oversaw the engines warming up. She looked up at him as she stood at his side, unable to settle the fluttering excitement in her heart.

'Thank you for the cloak, sir…' she thought, and gave him a grateful smile. '…I love it, truly…' Kylo Ren turned to look down at her.

"I am pleased to hear that." She could feel his eyes linger on her face for a moment. "It suits you." Ren said stiffly, and quickly returned his gaze to the windows of the front of the ship. Larulai lifted her head proudly as they began their descent.

Once they broke through the atmosphere, the shuttle glided through the heavily clouded sky for a few seconds before quickly landing in a clearing beside a long, grey pebbled beach. Ren walked to the exit to the shuttle, and Larulai followed at his heels. The doors opened and Larulai closed her eyes as the salty air filled her senses; she lingered on the ramp for a moment, before descending to the uneven surface. She opened her eyes to see Ren watching her, and she bowed her head respectfully.

"Don't wander off, this won't take long," he said, and departed with a small group of stormtroopers, his strides were long and purposeful. Larulai pushed back her hood and began to make her way towards the shore of the beach. The clouds were low and steely grey, the sea in front of her was dark and hungry. She had never seen a beach before, and couldn't take her eyes from the endless blue horizon. A rapturous smile crept over her face and tears of joy grew in the corners of her eyes.

Larulai walked along the shore, watching the small waves bubble over the smooth, grey stones. She lost track of time, and the rest of the world seemed to wash away. In the distance were some small rock pools at the base of a cliff, which was riddled with deep caves. She glanced over her shoulder to see her escorting stormtroopers conversing a short distance away, their backs turned to her.

Larulai bent down and looked at the circular hollows in the rock, they were far deeper than she expected. Schools of small, red fish moved in the darkness, and long strands of seaweed drifted with the ebb and flow of the tide. Taking the tips of her glove between her teeth, she pulled it off and dipped her fingers in the water. The wind tousled her hair gently and she listened to the flow of the Force around her, watching the ripples that spread from her intrusive hand.

A few of the fish broke from the school and swam up to meet her, their long tails flowing behind them and their large black eyes stared into hers. They swirled around her hand and nibbled her fingertips, light tingles crept up her arm and she couldn't hide a delighted smile. Their slippery scales felt so strange against her hands, this whole planet felt gloriously foreign to her. So different from the green fields of her youth, and the dark halls of her home. As she tickled the fish with her fingers, her lips moved in a silent prayer.

A prayer for more. For peaceful moments like this, for tranquillity, for silence. When all she could feel was the Force at peace… when she wasn't afraid of anything…

'Lady Hynn…' A familiar voice echoed in her head, and she snapped her hand away from the water, the scarlet fish fearfully returned to the darkness. Larulai stood quickly and turned to the source of the voice. Kylo Ren was standing on the hill, looking down at her. 'We're leaving…'

'Yes, sir…'

Larulai pulled her hood back over her head as she reached Kylo Ren, and saw the purpose of his visit. Around fifteen men and women were being filed into his private shuttle, their hands behind their heads and guns at their backs. They looked like commoners, but Larulai knew that the First Order seldom took prisoners unless it was important.

"Did you enjoy your taste of freedom?" Ren asked.

'Yes, very much so…' he said nothing, but gave a small grunt of approval. Larulai slipped her glove back on. The two of them began to slowly walk back to the shuttle, and Larulai noticed a large column of smoke in the distance. Undoubtedly, the First Order was the source of that destruction-

"You could have run…" Larulai's thoughts halted when she heard Ren speak.

'I-I'm sorry sir?'

"There are caves hidden among those cliffs, it was where these Resistance fools were planning on hiding a cache of weapons," Ren said, "you could have tried to escape, if you so desired. But you didn't… why?" Larulai bit her lip.

'You would have found me, even if I fled to the edges of the galaxy and hid in the darkest pit… I know you'd still manage to find me…' feeling Ren's eyes turn to her, she tilted her head away so he couldn't see her face, '…and you would kill me if I even so much as thought about escaping…' Ren said nothing.

When they reached the ramp of the shuttle, the last of the Resistance prisoners were filing on. A few of them turned their heads to Larulai, and their steps slowed as they seemed to be trying to get a better look at her. Her brows knotted in confusion as a few of them seemed to recognise her, but she'd never met any of them before. A stormtrooper guard knocked one in the back of the head, and they finished filing on board. Larulai turned to see Captain Phasma walking towards them, about twenty stormtroopers behind her. Some of them had smears of ash and blood across their white armour.

"Sir," Phasma addressed Kylo Ren, "we've completed our mission, there is nothing left of the Resistance on this planet."

"Return to the Finalizer, and see what your men can get out of the prisoners. There's other Resistance members hiding in this system, and we won't let them flee back to their base," Ren said.

"Understood." Phasma entered the shuttle and her troops saluted before they headed to their own, smaller shuttle. Larulai looked over at the sea, took a deep breath of its crisp air, and entered, giving the azure horizon a final, lingering glance.

Larulai stood beside Ren once more at the bridge of the ship, and they watched the dark clouds of the planet flash with lighting, rain began to fall outside. She smiled and listened to the sound of the drops falling on the ship, blocking out the shouted orders and beeping buttons. For a moment, she thought about touching his arm. He was so close, just that small gesture of appreciation wouldn't be too much. Would it? But Larulai closed her eyes and smiled contently, keeping her arms by her sides.

'Thank you for this… you have no idea how much I've missed the sun…' she thought.

"You're welcome," Ren said softly. And for a moment, Larulai could almost hear a smile behind that mask. But she must have imagined it.