Chapter 9: The Revelation

We left Sorgan at the break of dawn. Though our stopover on the peaceful planet was brief, the generosity and hospitality of the villagers would not be easily forgotten. The Razor Crest's cargo hold was so bountifully stocked - a testament to their kindness - that it left very little room to even manoeuvre within. My appreciation for what they had done for us was genuine; however, given the events that had occurred yesterday, I remained conflicted in that a part of me wished that we had never touched down on this planet in the first place.

I was grateful for Cara's aid and company, deeply moved that she pledged to fight by our side and place her own life at risk for my cause. Despite my tumultuous feelings about her relationship with Din, a part of me was even thankful that Omera had been so kind, that she was willing to offer what she could to help us. Yet, what surprisingly bothered me the most was what had happened with the child. I carried no ill emotions towards him at all - quite the contrary. Finding out something about him that made him unique made me feel even closer to the child. What didn't sit too well with me was Din. I could not fault Din for his past, for living his life as he pleased prior to meeting me; yet, not willingly sharing information with me regarding the child was his choice. It was his conscious effort to keep it from me, despite knowing that I would never even think about harming the child. Perhaps he did not feel as close to me as I feel with him; perhaps he still saw me as a stranger - an outsider to his clan.

"Could I speak with you?"

I had been so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't even hear Din come down the ladder and enter the cargo hold. His steps, coupled with his movements, seemed cautious. Measured. With a nod, I ceased organizing our supplies and faced him, instantly meeting his burning stare. "Yes?"

"You have barely spoken to me since yesterday," he stated tersely.

"I have a lot on my mind." I crossed my arms, though plastered a small smile on my countenance to placate him. I reasoned, "This isn't exactly an easy time for me."

He considered this for a few heartbeats then grasped my upper arm to coax me to face him even more. Though my body turned in his direction, my stare remained fixated on the steel beneath our feet. "I know that is not all."

I shook my head, finally looking upwards at the thin slits of his visor. "What do you want me to say?"

Din became rigid at my reply, though remained silent. He didn't seem to know the answer either. The uneasiness and discomfort in his posture became even more apparent as he shifted in his stance. "I did not mean to hurt you."

He said nothing further. We remained engulfed in silence then, merely assessing one another. It was difficult to remain in this state with Din, especially knowing that, after all was said and done, I was the one who had the problem. It was foolish to believe that the galaxy would provide everything that I wanted, when I wanted. What was even more foolish was thinking that I was Din's only consideration. As reason finally prevailed, I acknowledged his admission with a nod. "I know you are only trying to protect me. Protect all of us." Ever so gingerly, I placed a hand on the side of his helmet. The coolness of the beskar greeted my fingers. "Your past and your secrets are your own. I respect that. But if we are to fight alongside one another, Din, I need you to be able to trust me. Trust that I would never do anything to harm you or the child. Trust that I can take care of myself."

"I wanted to tell you about the child, Luna," he said in almost a whisper, allowing my hand to rest upon his helmet, "but when the time was right."

As Din spoke, a slight movement by the ladder started to catch my eye. It was so discreet that it could have been mistaken for a trick of the light. Ever so slowly, the child's head poked through the hatch leading to the cockpit. Upside down, he managed to somehow inch farther and farther down until the entire breadth of his large, green ears were visible. Blinking once, then twice, he observed us curiously, his large, twinkling orbs surveying us alternately.

I smiled, wholly amused, and gestured towards the child. "I think he knows that we're talking about him."

The child was now mere inches from Din's head as the Mandalorian tilted his chin upwards to peer at him. As he did so, the child, in a glacial pace, began to retreat in the same manner that he had come.

And just like that, he disappeared.

Din shook his head and released a long sigh. "Cara, I told you to watch the kid!"

"No, you didn't!" she called out in a sing-song like manner from the cockpit. "You said to make sure that he didn't touch the control stick. He isn't touching the control stick, is he?"

A grunt of frustration escaped Din's mouth. "Oh, for the love of…"

(V)(V)(V)

The Razor Crest's side hatch whirred open, the groaning mechanisms vibrating the platform beneath our feet. A sharp hiss came from either side of the ramp as its edge touched solid ground. Given our long trip, my knees slightly buckled as I stepped out of the vessel, followed closely by Din, Cara, and the child. What greeted us appeared to be an operational base, with troops from various races and planets busily establishing their respective camps. My heart noticeably thudded then at the thought that my father had brought them together, that they all answered the call when my people - my planet - needed it the most. Through blurred vision, I stepped onto the grass-covered ground and continued to scan my surroundings in awe. There was no hiding anymore.

No cowardice.

Not while my people continued to suffer.

The farther we walked through the encampment, the more murmurs sounded through the crowd. I looked around confusedly at the curious stares that we were receiving. Though there did not appear to be any imminent danger, Din and Cara shared a steely look, their hands hovering closely above their weapons.

As we turned a bend, an older woman with long, blonde hair stood in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.

At lightning speed, Din instinctively placed himself between me and the stranger, hand placed steadily upon his blaster.

The woman eyed Din briefly with her hazel eyes, though remained unphased. "Are you Luna Láidir, daughter of General Luka Láidir?"

I studied her, mouth agape, "Um...yes?"

With a smooth nod, she knelt on one knee, then placed a fist upon her heart. "I owe you my sincerest gratitude." Her eyes flitted upwards at me, her brows knitting together at the memory. "You saved my son's life."

The rumblings from those surrounding us grew louder, my name floating from their lips as some began to move forward. A group began to encircle us, flanked by curious onlookers. Some adorned faces of disbelief while others that of joy. I stood at the centre, speechless, surveying the various life-forms surrounding us. Din and Cara did the same, though ensured to keep the child behind them, protected.

Then, almost resembling a ripple, the crowd grew silent.

One by one, several humans in the crowd took a knee, following the example of the woman in front of me. They all placed their closed fists upon their hearts, head slightly bowed in my direction.

My breaths became heavy as I was overcome by emotion. I was relieved that we had made it here safely, but more than that, I was so proud of my people and of those who stood by our sides. I bowed my head in turn, placing a fist above my heart. "Courage above all!" I proclaimed.

"Courage above all!" they chorused, their simultaneous voices reverberating through the encampment.

As I began to shake the hands of our allies, a section of the crowd began to part. A retinue of Grádian soldiers marched in strict formation towards us. The distinct chrome of their armour, their fur-lined capes, and their pointed shields were easily recognizable. I nodded to Din and Cara, then marched forward to greet the soldiers, my steps full of vitality. The lead soldier stopped a few paces from me and bowed. "Luna."

"Captain Brion Stridende." I smiled and bowed in return. "It is fortunate that we are able to meet again."

Throughout all of the years that I had known him, my father's First Captain normally exhibited very little emotion, no matter what the circumstance; however, his steely jaw betrayed a hint of a smile, his light-blue eyes glowing with fervour. "Fortunate it is." He took a step back and gestured for me to accompany him. "Your father awaits."

We followed Brion and the soldiers through the encampment towards a large, temporary shelter. The solid facade was a few times larger than all of the other shelters, and I immediately recognized it was the headquarters for the operation. Only a handful of high-ranking officials of various races and their supporting soldiers busied about inside, studying various galactic maps, manning the control centres, and speaking in low tones about the impending plan of attack.

My eyes instantly rested on the man who stood at the centre of the shelter, leaning forward in deep thought upon a holographic map board.

"Father!" Tears began to stream down my face in haphazard rivulets. My heart felt as though it were ready to burst from my chest. It was the moment I had dreamed about for so long - the moment that I never thought would ever happen. Unconcerned about the curious eyes around us, I ran to him as quickly as I could and wrapped him in a tight embrace. "I have missed you so much," I choked out.

"My child." His deep voice trembled as he embraced me in return. "I thought I would never see you again."

"I am here now, father," I pulled back from him, my expression hardening, "and we are here to join the fight."

My father's deep-set eyes surveyed Din, Cara, and the child, who stood in a horizontal line behind me. His expression grew curious as his gaze briefly landed on the child, who stared back up at him much in the same manner. He then moved on to Cara, giving her a nod as he appeared to recognize her arm and face tattoos. However, his fists clenched as his stone-cold stare landed upon Din. "The Mandalorian Bounty Hunter," he stated, almost to himself, through gritted teeth. My father brushed past me, his movements quick and steady as he closed the distance between him and Din.

Panic coursed through me at his exhibition of aggression. I sprinted to stand in between them and placed a hand on both of their chests to keep them separated. "Father, wait!"

My father drilled a stern finger towards Din's helmeted face. "You were the one who took my daughter!" The unbridled rage that seeped through his eyes stunned me. I could not remember the last time he had shown that flash of anger. Normally, he was so even-keeled, able to keep his emotions in check - particularly amongst prying eyes - despite the circumstances. Some say it was due to his military experience and training, given his rank and position - and yet, knowing my father, his military background only enhanced his inherent qualities. But now, he stood there in front of me, almost unrecognizable; a man possessed.

Din remained silent and showed no sign of aggression in return, though his breathing started to become more pronounced as his chest rose and fell under my palm.

"Father," I began more softly, attempting to meet his gaze, "he did take me from Talamh, but much has happened since then, and…" my eyes flitted momentarily to Din's form, "...he is here to help."

My father's angered expression turned into one of disbelief as he finally ripped his stare from Din and looked at me. "You consort with the Mandalorian who sought you as a bounty?" He placed a calloused palm on the side of my face. "Child, what do I make of all of this?"

"I mean your daughter no harm."

Din's firm statement echoed through the shelter and garnered everyone's attention.

My father's eyes were ablaze, his expression as though he was unbelieving that Din had the audacity to address him. "You stripped my daughter of her life of peace," he corrected, his hands visibly shaking, "and brought her to Diabhal in exchange for blood credits." He was shouting by this point, rendering every onlooker silent and still. "You have no right to be in her presence!" With no patience remaining, he nodded brusquely to the two soldiers who flanked him and flicked his wrist in Din's direction. "Get him out of my sight!"

I furrowed my brows and stood in front of Din, shielding him from the incoming soldiers. My warning glance caused the two Grádian soldiers to eye each other unsurely, though they composed themselves not long after and continued to do as they had been ordered.

I felt a slight pressure on my shoulder and looked down, seeing Din's gloved hand. "It's alright," he whispered.

He took the child in his arms in a swift movement and, before the soldiers could touch him, turned on his heel and marched outside. Cara threw me an apologetic look, and I nodded to her in return. Without a word, she followed in Din's footsteps and retreated from the shelter not long after him.

Though the steely expression on his countenance remained, my father began to retreat towards the opposite exit of the shelter. He firmly cocked his head to the side, signalling for me to follow him.

I rushed after him, cursing lightly under my breath. "You're making a mistake," I said breathlessly, walking at his side.

"He is a filthy bounty hunter, and he kills for credits," he said as we were out of earshot. His expression had somewhat softened, though the sternness in his voice did not abate. "His only loyalty is to the highest offer."

"No." I stated firmly, stopping in front of him. "You are wrong about him."

"You have known him for mere months." He gave his silver-haired head a shake, placing his thumb and forefinger upon his temples. "I have known men like him my entire life."

"You do not know him like I do," I persisted, gritting my teeth.

The expression on my father's face changed then, now devoid of the fury and hatred that he bore just a few moments ago. "I see," he said, gripping my upper arms as his countenance finally relaxed entirely. "I should have known sooner, Luna."

"What?" I froze then, shaking my head. "What I meant was…"

"All I ask, my child, is that you tread carefully." His wisdom shone through his expression. "When it comes to matters of the heart, rarely is anything under our control."

(V)(V)(V)

I remained with my father for the majority of the afternoon. We did our best to digress from our earlier discussions, particularly skirting around Din and the impending fight. The weight on my father's shoulders was heavy, and though he would never admit that to anyone or show it to his troops, it didn't take much for me to see it in his eyes. But, we both knew that the weight on his shoulders, invariably, would be my own. So, instead, we discussed our former lives in Grá, remembering when everything was so much simpler. When we were happier.

When we were at peace.

I parted with my father to explore the outskirts of the encampment, searching for a moment of respite. Though I enjoyed our conversations and felt renewed in his presence, what he said about Din - and myself - remained heavy in my heart.

The sound of rushing water reached my ears as I slipped into a wooded area not far from the main headquarters. Walking a few more meters forward, I followed the rivulets of a river, the sound growing louder as I pressed onward. Stretching my neck towards the distance, I then realized that I was approaching the bottom of a majestic waterfall. The sight above, along with the rolling mountains as its backdrop, was breathtaking.

Eager to cleanse myself of all of the dirt and grime of the past couple of days, I shed my clothing, placing them neatly on a large boulder upon the shore. I rushed into the plunge pool without hesitation, welcoming its coolness as it wholly invaded my body. I submerged myself entirely and revelled in the cleanliness of the water. The tension in my body instantaneously released, as though this planet's water had rejuvenating properties. I dove under once more, swimming closer to the overhang of the waterfall, slowly becoming enveloped by mist.

As I resurfaced, a faint glimmer caught my attention. Now cautious about my surroundings, I swam closer to the shore, my guard up. The mist began to recede. My eyes widened as I quickly recognized the sight.

Din's helmet.

At first, I thought the worst, my attention drawn to the surroundings of where the helmet sat. I noticed some of Din's unattended belongings neatly placed on a blanket on the shore, set beside a small, wooden fire.

"Please do not turn around, Luna."

Hearing Din's clear, unobstructed voice behind me caused my heart to jump. Remembering my current circumstances, I instinctively lowered myself even more into the water, using my hands to cover my body as though I were visible within the pool's depths. My body tensed even more when I heard the splashing of water becoming more prominent as Din waded closer to me. My instincts screamed at me to leave, yet my feet remained firmly rooted, frozen, where I stood.

Din stood right behind me now, his long breaths tickling my exposed skin.

My lips parted as I slowly breathed out. "I'm sorry for my father," I said sincerely, albeit distracted by his closeness.

"Don't be," he replied quietly. "I understand where he's coming from."

Every fibre of my being wanted me to turn around, to embrace him as hard as I could. To feel every inch of him, without any armour or fabric in between us. To see his true face. My eyes remained fixed on the familiar helmet upon the shore, however, as though the molded beskar was what I was conversing with.

"You care for Omera," I continued, steadying my voice, "don't you?"

"Why are you asking this?"

I bit my bottom lip as I lowered my head. "Is it not obvious?"

For a few moments, the only thing audible was the surging water plunging from the hillside, rhythmic and steady. Din remained so silent that it felt as though I were alone once more.

"I have made so many mistakes in my life, Luna. Done a lot of things that I regret," he stated, his disquietude palpable. "I've cheated death many times. I don't know how I'm still here." His pained voice caused my lip to tremble. "But if I keep making mistakes, keep making wrong decisions, I'm going to get someone killed."

"I don't understand." My heart constricted in my chest. "What are you saying?"

"I can't give you what you seek."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and gathered the courage to ask, "And what is it do you think I want?"

He took a step forward. His bare fingertips delicately traced my shoulder, then trailed down my spine. I released a sharp breath at the contact, my eyes automatically closing in pleasure as he continued his ministrations. "The same thing I do," he finally replied, his lips only inches from the side of my neck.

Din retreated, pulling his hand from my form.

I trembled with simultaneous expectancy and frustration. When the warmth of his body receded, I ran my palms over my face, pushing back tendrils of askew hair. "Why are you helping me, Din?" I wanted so badly to face him then, to look him in the eyes so he could no longer mask his emotions. "Is it guilt? Pity?" When he didn't answer, I persisted, "Why are you even here?"

As he continued to withdraw, he replied:

"Do you not know?"

(V)(V)(V)

A/N: I'm not gonna lie...I got feels writing this! Anyone else got feels? Because if you did, then I have done my job! :D This chapter was influenced by James Arthur's song "Naked". That song is so perfect for what I imagined for this chapter! Hope you all liked it. Thank you, thank you, thank you for supporting this story. You guys keep me going! Love you all! xx IFHD