𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 - DIN DJARIN

Chapter 70: The Apprentice

chapter 70: the apprentice •••

You smile as Din kneels down to the height of the children's pod, his light attachment engaged on his helmet as he tends to Grogu. You cross your arms over your cuirass and watch Din's gloved hands tug on Grogu's robes to make them sit just right.

"All right, buddy," Din says to Grogu with a gentle sigh. "Are you ready?"

Grogu coos and nods at his father. Your smile only grows. After all of Grogu's efforts at the Battle of Mandalore, you and Din didn't even have to discuss the possibility of Grogu becoming an apprentice. The only thing you did was plan out when, and no later did the Armorer share that she would be taking Ragnar and the covert to the Living Waters to give him a proper ceremony. All the stars had aligned for you, and you couldn't be more grateful for it.

"Sorry, Grogu," Din's apology draws you from your reverie. "I'm probably blinding you with this light."

Grogu giggles as Din removes the light attachment and stands. Din takes Grogu from the pod and holds him in the corner of his arm, letting Zora and the pod float closer to your side. Din's visor meets your gaze for a long moment, the barrier of his beskar not hiding a single thing from you. Your question is hushed, meant to be kept just between you. "Do you think she'll say yes?"

Din lifts his free gloved hand to your lower back. "We'll find out." He's gentle in easing you forward with himself, a gesture that makes you bite back a smile even with the uncertainty that awaits you. "Here we go."

The Djarins enter the illuminated mine as soon as Ragnar begins to repeat after the Armorer in the Mandalorian promise that always makes you tear up, especially because of how much it means to Din.

I swear on my name and the names 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.

You take Din's hand from your back and instead lace your gloved fingers with his. Din's helmet glances at you, and you reassure him with a smile and a squeeze of your hand. You, too, had repeated the words softly under your breath, wanting to memorize them for Din's sake.

Once the Armorer pours some of the Living Waters over Ragnar's helmet, she begins the call-and-response. "This is the Way."

"This is the Way," Regnar echoes.

"This is the Way," the Mandalorians chorus, you and Din included.

Din starts to lead your family forward once Ragnar begins to climb up the stairs of the waters. All eyes are on the four of you as you make your way to the Armorer, but it's something you're used to from your old life. You wouldn't trade a single thing about what you have right now or who you have right here for the entire galaxy, much less the life you once had.

Din's hand only leaves yours when you reach the stairs that descend into the Living Waters. You wait on the top stair with Zora while Din and Grogu go down further, until Din's boots are immersed in the water. He bends down to set Grogu on the last dry step, standing back to his full height to face the Armorer.

"Grogu is my apprentice," Din declares. You smile with pride, a twinge of amusement catching the corner of your lip at Din's blunt delivery. "He is no longer a foundling." Din's visor has since found Grogu as he looks upon the little one with hardly concealed pride. Your chest swells underneath your armor. "Add him to the Song."

The Armorer turns from the stretching Living Waters to face Din. Her response is immediate. "He is too young to speak, so he is too young to take the Creed."

Grogu's ears fall in disappointment as he starts to babble to himself. You grimace, the warmth in your chest exchanged for a prickling cold chill. Grogu has already started taking on a burden of guilt for not being able to speak yet, and this harsh reality just makes it worse.