Heir of Mandalore

Chapter 3: Initiation

2 Years Later...

Aeja -

"Are you excited?" Grogu asked, sitting on my bed.

I brushed my hair and focused on getting myself ready. First step, becoming a Mandalorian. Next step, marriage. "In a sense, yes." I smiled, turning around.

"Get those jitters out!" Eros grabbed my arms and shook me around, causing me to laugh.

"I can't wait for mine." Rue twirled in her dress.

Eros patted Rue's head. "You can."

I smiled, watching my siblings squabble. I became closer to my siblings than I did before. We would train, study, talk, and play games. My favorite was sabacc night although Grogu always seemed to win. I thought father told him not to use his Jedi mind tricks around us. Grogu became very attached to Eros the day he was born, always trying to protect him and now that he's twenty-one, Grogu sits on his shoulder and the two just walk around. "I heard Ragnar is supposed to be there." Eros teased.

I blushed lightly. "What of it?"

 "I heard rumors he's going to ask you to marry him officially after the ceremony." Grogu chimed in, smiling.

"That would be nice." I tried to hide a smile.

I did like Ragnar and I wasn't opposed to marrying him like I was before but, my heart still went out to Kipp who was either dead or missing. Ragnar had short-length midnight black hair and a few scars surrounding his face. He was trained under the same faction my father was and learned to walk both ways, accepting that he was in a new era of Mandalore. "What about you mister?" I turned my attention to Eros.

"What about me?"

"Where's your cyare?"

"Buir hasn't set me up with riduur yet." he shrugged. "And if they don't, I'll be fine being single and a warrior."

"Sure sure. What about all those women who swoon over you? Surely there's one you like." I mock.

"Eh."

"I've heard otherwise." Grogu chuckled.

"Shut up you agol!" Eros muttered, pointing to him.

I giggled. "Don't worry, I won't ask."

"Do I get a riduur?" Rue asked.

"Of course, you will." Eros smiled. "Someone who will love you like mother and father love each other."

"Really?!"

"Really." Eros booped her nose and she giggled.

I finished curling my red hair and Eros helped me put my armor on over my outfit which consisted of a puffy long-sleeved livid shirt with gauntlets that secured my wrists, an over vest, dark trousers, and boots. My armor was a combination of my father and mother; silver, blue, and white pauldrons, two vambraces, two gauntlets, and two greaves. My belt was attached to my pistol holster. Any sign of weapons showed your investment in this culture. The helmet is unwearable for the time being. I explained to our Armorer how I wanted it customized and during the ceremony, she would place it on my head once I took the creed. Axe Woves, one of my mother's trusted Nightowls, knocked on the door and accompanied the four of us to the Living Waters. "You got this." Eros grabbed my shoulders from behind. "You've studied and trained exactly for this day."

"Yeah." I smiled, turning my head slightly.

Grogu gave me a thumbs up and Rue smiled. Axe grabbed a banner and the four of them walked down the dark rocky tunnel before me. The banging of armor and beating of drums echoed, letting me know it was my turn to walk. I followed the tunnel down to the opening of light, presenting me at the center of it all. Rows of Mandalorians stood on both sides of the room, beating their armor to the beat of the drums. I took a deep breath and walked down the aisle. Clan banners were present with our two clans at the end of the rows. My mother, father, and Armorer stood in the Living Waters facing me. A small smirk grew on my face, seeing that I was finally the center of attention.

I looked through the crowd and of course, I saw Ragnar bow his head. I continued to walk until I was on the steps leading to the water. The Armorer held my helmet in front of her stomach and stared at me. "I swear on my name," I took a deep breath before continuing. "And the name of the ancestors that I shall walk the Way of the Mand'alor. And the words of the Creed shall be forever forged in my heart."

"This is the Way." The Armor bowed her head.

"This is the Way." I knelt down in the water, bowing my head as the helmet was placed upon it.

"This is the Way." The Mandalorians spoke in chorus.

"From this moment on, I shall never stray from the Way. I will protect and fight. For myself. For my clan. For Mandalore. For the future. This is the Way." A smile blossomed across my face.

"This is the Way."

I rose and turned around and the Mandalorians cheered, clasping their gauntlets together. I looked out at the crowd and that's when I saw a figure. A figure I never thought I would see again. His helmet was under his arm and his looks had changed. It couldn't be... I completely forgot what I was supposed to do next and I looked like a bantha in front of the warriors. I bowed my head and turned to my father, signaling him for help. "The newest member of our clan has become a true Mandalorian on this day." he stepped up. "A feast will be held in her honor and she will continue with her next step as a warrior of Clan Kryze and Clan Mubhorn."

They cheered once again and I walked down the aisle as my father walked by my side. My focus stuck to the Mandalorian in the corner, smiling. "Father, I'm so sorry," I said to him as we got out of the room. "I saw- I-"

"Don't be." he placed a hand on my shoulder. "You did what you could and got nervous. You spoke the Creed and that's what matters."

He pulled me into a hug. "Let the celebration begin."

---

The feast was loud, fanatical, and even extravagant. Ragnar, father, and I spent most of our time together while mother spoke with a few of her Nightowls. "The arrangement is coming along splendidly." Ragnar continued his talk with my father as I looked out at the Mandalorians celebrating.

"I'm glad to hear it." My father took a sip of Mandallian Narcolethe, "Once our clans join, there will be no more swaddling."

"There was never swaddling, to begin with. My people trust my judgment."

"It's not your judgment I'm worried about. It's my wife's."

"Oh?"

"Your father never spoke of the Vizsla's past, has he?"

"Not much, no."

"Nightowls are a faction separated from the Death Watch which the Vizsla's ruled over. Clan Mubhorn has never had a rough history with your faction but my wife's has."

"I see." he nodded his head.

I slowly toned out the conversation and there he was. Standing, laughing, and talking with others. It can't be.... Could it? I stared at the figure. The Mandalorian I grew up with. The Mandalorian I loved. Kipp Ossohl.