Rey was cold. Cold and exhausted, because although she was in the women's only carriage of the train, she didn't feel safe enough to fall asleep. This was probably just foolishness on her part, but thinking so did little to help her.

So she sat, occasionally wiggling her fingers and toes when they went numb and trying (unsuccessfully), not to worry as she stared out of the window.

At first she had very much enjoyed the view- she had never been outside of London before and the sight of so much green, such lush tall trees and gently rolling hills, the way rivers curved and ran thick and fast and alive, was absolutely enchanting.

But then the night had come, total night, such deep darkness that she couldn't help but be anxious. In London, even with the regular occurrence of smog so thick it was known as a pea-souper, you never really felt so alone, there was always some form of light near you, some illumination.

Here though, the darkness was almost complete, save for the odd town or village to speed through, which made the contrast so much more obvious when they were quickly left behind.

Rey was travelling 280 miles, she still couldn't quite get her mind around such a figure, it felt alien inside her head, but then so did the speeds the train travelled at.

The current situation altogether was mind-boggling, her life had been turned completely about in the space of one week, a week that had seemed both to last a lifetime and to have slipped through her grasping fingers, much the same as water does…

'

As a child, she was abandoned by her parents and ended up in a workhouse. It was a bleak situation at the best of times, but Rey had managed to survive. From the women there she learned to sew, weave and spin, how to wash clothes, how to cook and clean. There was help, but no affection, no one to hug her when she was sad or exhausted, no one to wipe her tears after she hurt herself or pat her on the head when she did well. Over the years, she grew to accept this lack, and be glad of it, that meant it hurt less when someone left or died and both those things happened regularly.

There was a priest who came in once a week to teach simple reading and writing to anyone who wanted to learn. Rey got scoffed at by the women for attending, they told her no one wanted a clever girl, but Rey decided if she were ever to get out of there, education would help.

And as It turned out, it did help. To the priests surprise and her pleasure, she soaked up her lessons like a sponge, anything he could teach her she voraciously absorbed, reading, writing, figuring, how to speak properly, how to behave politely… and then one day, the Priest came to tell her he had found a position for her, a man who needed someone just like her.

At age twelve, she left the workhouse for the employ of a man named Unkar Plutt. She was to cook and to clean and to help him manage his home.

Mr Plutt was not a particularly kind man, but that never bothered Rey, she hadn't been expecting a friend. What she had was better than friendship, she told herself, she had work to do, clothes that didn't carry the fetid stench of the workhouse, more food in her belly and a tiny room to call her own, a small bed that was just for her.

As she grew older, she became aware that Mr Plutt's business was less than savoury in nature, but she turned a blind eye to it because there was no guarantee that she could get another place without a reference and she had absolutely no desire to return to the misery of the workhouse.

Unfortunately, Mr Plutt's chickens came home to roost, as Rey had secretly feared they would. Mr Plutt was arrested and as his maid, so was Rey.

After some questioning she was released, deemed to know nothing and have no part in his crimes. She was permitted to go home and collect her things before she was out on the street, with nowhere to go but back, back to the workhouse.

'

But she couldn't do it, couldn't bring herself to return there and so she went and sat despairingly on a bench and allowed herself to cry for the first time in many, many years. Rey knew she had options, but none of them were palatable. As she gazed at her gloved hands, trying to think of a solution, a gentleman stopped by her to ask if she was alright.

Utter mortification overwhelmed her as she looked up to see an older man with a scraggly beard and kind blue eyes staring at her with genuine concern.

After excusing herself and wiping her eyes, rather than walking on, the man had sat next to her, and Rey, to her astonishment, found herself telling him everything.

The long and the short of it was that the gentleman, Lord Skywalker, introduced Rey to his sister who was looking for a maid for her son.

It was like some sort of fairytale, some miracle that offered her a second chance at a normal life. Lady Solo, who was so regal Rey was a little afraid of her, engaged her straight after meeting her… and now, here she was, sitting on a train with her past far behind her and heading towards a future she didn't know the shape of.

'

Her train arrived at Penrith mid morning. The air, once she had left the station and the smoke from the train, was overwhelming fresh and sweet, but also cold.

With a shiver, she went in search of transport and eventually found a man with a horse and trap and asked him to take her out to Varykino, the home of Lord Solo.

The man raised a grizzled eyebrow at her, then spat on the floor, "Ain't no Solo out at Varykino, lass. That be the home of Kylo Ren," he paused and eyed her up and down, "Tain't nowhere you want ta go."

Rey frowned, Varykino was definitely the house name Lady Solo had given her, and it was so peculiar that she couldn't imagine there being another in the vicinity.

Gripping her worn carpet bag tightly, she looked him dead in the eyes, "Nevertheless, I would like to go. Are you able to take me?"

The man looked her up and down again, then shrugged, "Aye, I can take ye, but let's get on, daylight be wasting an I want ta be away from there afore twilight falls."

'

When they left Penrith, at first, despite being hungry and tired and nervous, Rey gazed in awe at the beauty surrounding her. She felt like she had fallen into a dream, for in the spring sunshine, the hills and fields that surrounded her looked like the very meadows of heaven.

When she was beginning to feel the clatter of the cart in her bones and her bottom was becoming numb, she was distracted by yet another awe-inspiring sight- Ullswater lake.

The trap stopped for a second, "It's a sight ta behold, ain't it?" the driver asked in a satisfied tone, "Most beautiful lake in all the world."

Rey had never seen a lake this size, but despite her lack of comparison, she thought the man was probably right. The mirror bright water stretched away into the distance, the land started out flat but rose steadily until the water disappeared between green hills, waiting to be discovered. An abundance of trees and bushes led right down to the water's edge, hiding birds that sang so prettily Rey thought she may weep.

It was a far cry from London, and she felt that it would be impossible to be unhappy here.

She smiled at the driver, "It really is, thank you for pausing."

"Tis a view that requires a minute," he answered with a gap-toothed smile, before clucking to his stocky piebald to start moving again.

The road hugged the shore, occasionally the view would be interrupted by trees or occasionally turned inland a ways, but it always came back to the water.

As the journey wore on, the sun dimmed and hid behind the clouds and the temperature dropped. It wasn't long before a fog descended, unlike London's smog, it didn't reek or make her cough, but it made the already cold air utterly frigid and there was nothing to be seen but the horse and a few paces in front of them.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly with nothing to see and no way to mark it, Rey huddled in her seat, tucking her new cape closer to her body.

Lady Solo had insisted on having new uniforms made up for her, included was a thick warm cape, which Rey was very glad to have. She had worn her own clothes for the journey of course, not wishing to get the new ones crumbled and dirty, but the cape had been easier to throw on than fit in her bag and it had been a comfort on the train too.

The road twisted and turned, sometimes abruptly and with the poor visibility they were forced to move slowly. Now the limbs of the trees and hunched shadows of bushes seemed a little frightening, like hands or claws that were reaching out as if to pull her from the trap.

There was a scream in the distance, a shrieking cry that chilled her bones and made her gasp, her gloved yet cold fingers tightening reflexively on the handles of her bag, "What was that?!"

The driver chuckled slightly, but it had an edge to it, "Twas just a vixen, lass, nowt to worry about, for now at least."

Rey turned her wide eyes, which had been attempting to see through the fog, to the driver, "For now?" she queried, not in the least reassured.

The man nodded grimly, intoning cryptically, "Strange things happen near Varykino."

The sentence had the feel of a well worn saying, rather than anything else and it did little to dispel Rey's building disquiet.

After what seemed like an age, as if they were stuck going round in circles or not really moving at all and left to forever be travelling surrounded by white and nothing else, they came to a small bridge and the road split in two. The driver stopped and looked at her, his expression shuttered, "This be where we part ways, lass." He pointed at the left hand road, "That leads to Varykino, and whatever awaits you there. I can take ye no farther."

Rey stuttered in shock, "How far is it?" she bit her lip, Lady Solo had given her a travel allowance, "What if I can pay you more?"

The driver shook his head, "Tain't a matter of price, lass. This is the closest I'll come ta Varykino in the fog. Tis ill-omened."

Rey stared at the road ahead of her, or the little of it she could see, then gave herself a little shake, she had no choice, this was her miracle and likely the best thing to happen to her. She refused to let herself be scared by a little fog and what were so far seemingly baseless superstitions.

Taking a deep breath, and wincing slightly as the bitter air invaded her lungs, she scrambled inelegantly off the trap and onto solid ground.

"Is the path easy to follow?" she asked in what she told herself was a calm and even tone of voice.

"Just follow your feet lass, there's nowt else down that road, save Varykino."

Despite the man leaving her rather in the lurch, she thanked him politely, gripped her carpet bag determinedly, and started down the road that was shrouded not only by fog but also by trees, stretching towards each other creating a sort of archway.

The clatter of the trap sounded loud in the still air as it turned, "Good luck ta ye," the driver called, as if it somehow made leaving her alone in the fog acceptable, then he added, "You'll need it."

Rey's opinion of him sunk below what was salvageable. It was possible she wasn't meant to hear it, but the fog made sound carry strangely, and she absolutely did. At least the affront it provided her with fueled her feet, lending energy to her cold, stiff limbs.

The bag was heavy and awkward, her skirts long and she was so very tired, but her only option was to continue on her way, to whatever awaited her at the end of the road.

Every sound made her jump, every moving shadow made her eyes dart, sure there would be something there. There was a sense of watchfulness, of eyes in the dark, patiently waiting for her to let her guard down.

Her heart beat was loud in her ears, even though she tried to calm her breathing and told herself how silly she was being, the thump of her pulse didn't slow.

The sudden caw of a crow, invisible but close, almost made her heart jump right out of her chest, then it was answered by another; no wonder she felt like she was being watched.

Rey let out a shaky laugh, in the hopes that the sound may trick her mind into feeling less afraid. It didn't work particularly, but she carried on, one step in front of another. She could do this.

'

The road opened up suddenly, widening into a courtyard and Rey got her first look at the purportedly infamous Varykino.

The house was built of large sandstone blocks, with tall windows which were ominously dark. From what she could see, it was a large, stately residence, and in the sunshine it would be beautiful but now, in the fog and unnatural stillness, it looked empty, a haunting vacancy that made her spine prickle with misgivings.

The feeling of being watched if anything increased, as she herself stared, all the while trying to summon up the courage to find the servants door, while a small voice at the back of her head implored her to run back up the road and hope that the driver had returned for her… Then, a dim light bloomed, small and brave in a shadowed window.

A relieved breath left her, one she hadn't known she had been holding onto, she was being foolish, a little fog and tall tales never got to her before! Deciding it was just tiredness and worry, she straightened her clothes, tucked any wisps of hair inside her bonnet, then quickly walked around the side of the house to find the side door.

Even though her fingers were numb inside her gloves, she knocked on the door long enough for them to hurt.

When the solid wood was finally opened, by a thoroughly startled looking young man, she almost told him off for not answering sooner. Biting her tongue and remembering that Lady Solo had mentioned there were only a few other staff there, as well as wanting to make a good impression, Rey smiled as politely as her chilled cheeks allowed her.

"Good, ah," she absolutely refused to call it evening yet, "Afternoon. My name is Rey Johnson, Lady Solo engaged me as a maid." As the man's expression continued to be bewilderment, Rey became increasingly nervous. "This is Lord Solo's residence? Varykino? You should be expecting me?"

The man's eyes were now wide and slightly terrified, "Lady Solo?" he gasped out, appearing to be almost speechless. Then his head whipped behind him and he shivered, "You must not call him that name, he is Lord Ren now."

Surely Lady Solo would have mentioned this sort of detail? "Lord Ren then, but I have still been employed by Lady Solo."

She watched as the man's adam's apple bobbed frantically as he swallowed, "He won't like it, he hasn't mentioned such a thing."

Rey frowned, if this were Varykino and this Lord Ren was Lady Solo's son, then why was he not expecting her? Could Lady Solo's missive have gone astray?

"I have a letter of introduction," she answered as confidently as she could, "Perhaps I could speak with the butler or housekeeper?" and come inside where I won't freeze to death? But she kept that part to herself.

More stuttering was her reply before finally saying, "Mr Hux is out at the moment, miss."

That was hardly an informative reply, Rey was beginning to get a little cross, taking a deep breath in, she asked, "Well, perhaps you can find me the next best person to speak with?"

It was as if all the air inside him suddenly deserted him, he nodded despairingly and stood aside so she could enter the narrow hallway that led past the kitchens.

Once the door was securely locked behind them, he led her through the dark hallway and up the servants stairs into the main house before pausing to knock timidly on a door.

After a moment of no reply, the man knocked again, a little louder.

"If that is you, Mitaka, you will regret it!"

The voice was deep and angry and a shiver of apprehension crept up her spine as she watched the man who must be Mitaka, flinch.

"My Lord Ren, there is, ah, there is a girl here to see you!"

There was a pause then the voice asked, "What girl?"

A few seconds later the door was wrenched open and was filled with a man dressed all in black. He was so very tall, so large and menacing with an alarming countenance and deep penetrating eyes.

Rey quite understood Mitaka's demeanor now and if this was Lady Solo's son, he was nothing like his mother.

Lord Ren looked her up and down with a curl to his lip, "Who is she?" he asked Mitaka, not her.

Rey was used to the rudeness and abruptness of the ruling classes, but this really rankled her.

"My name is Rey Johnson, Lord Ren. Lady Solo has engaged me as a maid for Varykino, she had assured me that you would be expecting me?"

The man scoffed, "I got her letter, yes and my reply was sent the same day, I do not want or need a maid. Go home, go back to London or wherever you're from, this was a wasted journey."

It may have been the cold, the length of her journey, or the fright and uncertainty of her arrival, but something in Rey reared up and would not be pushed down.

Placing her bag to rest on the floor, Rey drew herself up and matched the man eye for eye, "I was engaged by your mother, Lady Solo - this is her house is it not?" she swept her gaze around the entrance hall and ran the finger of one glove along a small table against the wall that held a vase, she presented him the resulting rime of dust, "And it is in definite need of a maid."

There was the slightest horrified gasp behind her from Mitaka but she didn't take her eyes off Lord Ren's face.

For a moment there was a ripple across it, as if there were too many emotions hidden behind those dark eyes, then it went still and pale but there was a twitch under one eye and his gaze was furious.

"I do not need or want a maid," he said softly, but the tone was far more menacing than before.

Something in Rey refused to back down, it was almost as if something had been awoken, like it had always been there, but now, today, was when it chose to surface.

"This is Lady Solo's house, I am her maid. I will make every effort not to enter your presence but I will do the job I was employed to do."

For a moment, there was utter silence, you would be able to hear a pin drop in the next room, then, to her astonishment, Lord Ren growled, like an animal, before turning and slamming the door shut in her face. There was an angry roar from the room accompanied by the sound of smashing glass or pottery.

Rey took several steps back and clasped a hand to her chest, sure that her heart was trying to beat its way out.

A gentle tug on her sleeve reminded her that she was not alone.

"Miss Johnson? Would you, ah, like a cup of tea?" Although Mitaka's voice trembled he attempted a smile.

Rey sagged slightly, "Tea would be absolutely wonderful."