HEAVY IN YOUR ARMS [A DIN DJARIN X READER STORY]

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE MEETING

Vinor Thriff stood up as you neared the table. You froze, your eyes, no doubt filled with fear, on him. He smiled knowingly at you and pulled out your chair. "Here, your highness," he said, moving his hands to your shoulders, where his fingers felt the swoop of your lace sleeves and traced the skin of your shoulder. "Allow me to help you."

Din's hand was on the small of your back, as soft as a feather, reminding you that he was there. You swallowed hard and nodded, sitting down quickly. All hands on you disappeared as you scooted in. You breathed out, "Thank you."

"You are welcome, Princess," Vinor Thriff said. "You look very beautiful today."

"Thank you." You focused on unfolding the napkin and spreading it across your lap. Your hand trembled beneath the table. Din's fingers found yours for a split second as he very carefully squeezed your palm and stroked the back of your hand, trying to offer you a bit of reassurance. You wished it worked, but Thriff's eyes were on you and you didn't want them there. You felt like an easy target. This dress showed too much opportunity for places you could be hit. Your bruises felt fresh now.

"Is that your mother's dress?" he asked. 

"No," you said, your voice weak.

"I swear I can remember your mother wearing that," he said, shaking his head. His eyebrows pulled together. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive." You swallowed hard again, but you felt like throwing up.

"What is that face for?" he asked, and you couldn't tell if he was amused or annoyed with you. "Can't a man compliment a beautiful woman---"

"You said you wanted to meet with me, your highness," Din interrupted, his gaze not breaking away from Vinor Thriff, but his voice directed at your father. "What is the purpose of this meeting?"

Vinor Thriff smirked, his eyes off of you now. You wanted to feel relieved, but if they weren't on you, they were on Din, and that was a brand new pain all in itself.

"Oh, not me," your father said. "Vinor wanted to ask him things about the Mandalorian ways. Go ahead, Vinor. What is there to know?"

Vinor's smile spread as he dug into the plate of food. He cut into his helping of purple yams, popping them into his mouth bite by bite. "Your armor is made of beskar, isn't it?"

"It is," Din replied.

"Incredible." His eyes swept greedily over the armor. "And how did you acquire that large of a prize?"

"It wasn't a prize. I took a job and completed it, so it was my payment," he said.

"Enough credits to make armor like that. That's quite the job." Vinor leaned back in his seat, folding his hands on top of his stomach. "I wonder what you're expecting of the king for your duties here."

"The king and I had a payment already set in mind before I started," he said. "I receive fractions of it weekly."

"Yes, so I heard," he said. "This must be a strange change of pace for you, Mandalorian. Are you not typically a bounty hunter?"

"I am, but this isn't much different from what I already do. I bring people to whoever pays me. The king has paid me to keep her here and keep her safe."

"And so far you're doing a splendid job of that," he said. "I've had my fair share of time spent protecting the princess. She's very beautiful, isn't she? Almost makes it all worth it just by looking at her."

Din said nothing and you closed your eyes, dropping your head. You wanted to run away again, run right into the sun.

"I have a question for you, Mandalorian," Vinor said suddenly. "If someone were to threaten the life of the princess, but offer you an ultimatum... like removing your helmet, for example, would you do it? If the life of the princess depended on it, would you remove it to save her life?"

Your head raised slowly. "What?"

"That's a strange thing to ask," Din said calmly.

"Pure curiosity," he said innocently.

"It seems threatening," Din retorted. "You wouldn't be threatening the princess, would you?"

"Not even in my wildest dreams would I threaten my beloved princess."

Din's head tilted. "She's not yours."

You looked over at Din, shocked at his brave words, but he kept his gaze on Vinor Thriff. 

"Oh, Mandalorian. You wouldn't be overstepping any boundaries, would you? Threatening a royal figure?"

"What boundaries? I took a job from the king. Not you. I don't think you see me threatening the king."

"It's just a situation I'm raising," Vinor said, lifting his hands up. "That's all. I am simply curious to know what would happen if you were in that dreadful situation."

"It's forbidden," he said simply, "to remove my helmet."

Vinor's eyebrows raised. "So you wouldn't do it to protect her? Interesting. I suppose your loyalty isn't completely to the princess, is it? Or to Katethen. If someone were to point a blaster at her head, threaten to blow off that pretty face of hers, you're telling me you wouldn't listen to the man with the upper hand and take the helmet off just so she could live?" He looked at you. "How does that make you feel, Princess? Knowing that even your Mandalorian has his limits when it comes to keeping you safe."

"I wasn't finished," Din said angrily. He stood up slowly from his seat. Vinor stiffened, your father watched quietly, intrigued by the conversation. "If the situation took place, then I wish you luck, Thriff. Would a mark be placed on her, even a bruise, there would be no place you could hide from me."

You looked up at Din, your eyes soft but your hands shaking. He didn't glance at you as he reached for your arm, cupping your elbow and bringing you up to your feet. Although this shocked you, it didn't frighten you. His touch was careful, protective. He brought you up to stand by his side and he shifted his shoulder so that it blocked you slightly.

"I believe you've asked enough questions," he said. "I think I should take the princess to her room for the night."

"Very well," your father said, a tone of disappointment in his voice. "Go on."

"Goodnight, Father," you said, your voice a whisper. Vinor scowled when you disregarded his presence and refused to acknowledge him.

"Goodnight, daughter," he said. "And thank you, Mandalorian, for the entertainment."

You didn't miss how Din's hands clenched into fists at that, and you didn't miss how he put his hand on your back to urge you to walk a little faster out of the dining room.

"I have many more questions, Mandalorian. I do hope you'll meet with me again soon."

Din said nothing, and the dining room doors closed behind him.