Stowaway | A Mandalorian Love Story | Din Djarin x OC

Chapter Thirty-Three: The Princess in Question

The princess in question was far less enthused to see us than I'd hoped she'd be.

"Bo-Katan," called Din as we strode down a long, high-reaching stone hallway, at the end of which was a brooding figure draped moodily over a wide throne. Grogu floated beside us in his bassinet. "It is Din Djarin and Kyrani Moss."

She turned her head and locked her icy green eyes on us. I ran a hand over my hair, damp from the rain, and took a shaky breath. Bo-Katan was fascinating, powerful, impressive — and she intimidated the hell out of me.

She was silent as we came to a stop in front of her throne. My fingers clenched around the helmet balanced against my hip. I swallowed as her eyes ran over me, her expression stony. Finally, after a long, unblinking look, she spoke.

"You took the creed?"

I glanced at Din nervously, then returned my gaze to meet hers.

"No," I replied. "I've taken no creed."

"Then what empowers you to wear Mandalorian armor?"

"It was made for her," interjected Din. "By the Armorer. We came here from their covert."

A flash of anger flickered across her face, but I couldn't tell if it was about me or something more complicated.

"Shame on me," she muttered bitterly. "I should've given up being surprised by the actions of your cult long ago."

The word "cult" was dripping in venom. I felt Din bristle beside me. Grogu looked up at him curiously.

I cleared my throat, determined to make peace.

"Where are the others?" I chuckled feebly. "I'm sure Koska's come around on me by now."

Bo-Katan's twitch of the upper lip told me that I'd failed spectacularly in my attempt at levity.

"They're all gone." She looked over at Din, bitterly. "When I returned without the Darksaber, my forces melted away."

"Where is the stolen fleet?" Din sounded confused.

"Making their way through the galaxy as mercenaries," replied Bo-Katan. Then, with a piercing look of interest... "Do you still have the saber?"

My hand landed involuntarily on my weapon.

If she's still thinking of battling to the death for that thing, she's gonna have to go through me first.

"I do," answered Din.

"Then you lead them," she spat, narrowing her eyes. My grip on my blaster relaxed. "Wave that thing around and they'll do whatever you say."

"So you gave up your designs to retake Mandalore?"

"Your cult gave up on Mandalore long before the Purge," she muttered. "Where were you then?"

I snuck a glance at Din, who didn't move.

"The Children of the Watch and all the factions that came before fractured and shattered our people," she continued. "Go home. There's nothing left."

I held my breath. Finally, Din spoke.

"We are going to Mandalore so that I may bathe in the Living Waters and be forgiven for my transgressions."

Bo-Katan's eyes flicked briefly to my face on the word "transgressions". As before, I felt a twist of imposed shame in my stomach.

"And you?" She leaned forward, fixing her eyes on me. "Are you to bathe in the waters and join the Death Watch yourself?"

My eyes widened. I turned to Din.