The Mandalorian gave me a dark blue cloak with a large hood to wear in the castle. I'd lived on Takodana my whole life and never once step foot on castle grounds. Kuiil explained to me along the way that it was now a main hall for travellers, smugglers, and the like. It was right on the edge of a large body of water called Nymeve Lake. The castle was big and imposing, but I'll admit I was a smidge curious to see what the inside would look like. Not curious enough however, to disobey my masters. "Please don't be mad, Master," I whispered to myself once we reached the gate.
The Mandalorian led the way into the edifice with Kuiil following right behind and me lagging at the rear. I couldn't stop looking all around at all the banners and stands. This was the most people- as well as other creatures- I'd ever been around before. My escorts seemed to know where they were going, so I tagged along with them. Though the vendors and stalls admittedly caught more of my attention than it should have.
Now, I'm so ignorant to the ways of civilization that I had no clue what was going on. I knew about money- though I never had any myself- and I knew about bartering. There were lots of pretty things at many stalls I wanted to see closer and admire, but I knew I couldn't take anything from here. I simply wandered and observed in an admiring though detached sense.
I don't know how famous or well-known Mandalorians are, but for some reason we were grabbing a lot of attention as we walked through the great hall. If I had been paying closer attention, I would have realized that all eyes drifted towards me after initially spotting the Mandalorian. I, however, was distracted with the stalls and their different wears. There were also the odd child or baby hanging around that I couldn't help but coo at. I had a soft spot for young things.
"Awe, a baby!" My hands clasped together excitedly at the sight of a creature-like infant. Both Kuiil and the Mandalorian paused to turn back to me, only for the Mandalorian to sigh and Kuiil to grin ever so slightly. We continued on until I got distracted at one particular vendor selling exotic flowers. I absolutely loved flowers; I would go out to gather a bouquet of them just to have at home all the time. My escorts stopped once again right as I was sniffing one of the prettier, pink varieties; an organic smile blooming across my face.
Kuiil watched me for a moment. I was surprised when he then came over to my side. He took out these weird metal block rectangles, which I assumed to be currency, and handed it to the vendor. "For the girl," Kuiil said to him. Without my comprehending what was happening, he plucked one of the flowers I'd been smelling and held it out for me. "T-thank you," I faltered, taking it from him. This confused the Mandalorian more than me, as shown by his mild tilt of the head as he turned to Kuiil. Kuill glanced back at him and waved his hand up and down dismissively. "Ah, let her have a little happiness while she still can." Wait, what does he mean by that? Confused and somewhat alarmed, I trailed behind them clutching the stem of the pink blossom in my hand.
A shadier tented stall rested at the end of the great hall; the section where the ahem, scarier characters resided. I got more and more nervous the further in we went. Kuiil brought us to the tent; he and the Mandalorian didn't hesitate to go inside. Me, on the other hand… I wavered at the front of the text flap hoping to stay out of sight and attention of whoever was the vendor. The trader inside was a hooded fellow who looked rather….. threatening; there's no other way to put it. He also had a smaller employee there with him who glanced at my escorts, then at me.
They spoke in a language I didn't understand. Kuiil approached the main vendor with his arms up in the air; the Mandalorian right behind him. The vendor said something to Kuiil. "He is willing to trade all the parts you need," he translated to the Mandalorian. "I'm not going to trade anything. My parts were stolen, likely by him," the Mandalorian pointed at the vendor angrily. They then both spoke in that unknown language again; the vendor must have said something offence to the Mandalorian because he was laughing about it seconds later. "You understand this?!" My heart leapt into my throat as the Mandalorian yanked out his blaster. Thankfully Kuiil stopped him before he could anything he would regret. "Easy, easy," he tried to calm the helmet-wearing man.
It was around this time that the vendor's helper took a keen interest in me. He waddled over to me and proceeded to grab a few strands of my hair. Meanwhile the others kept discussing in their strange language before the vendor finally noticed me. He stopped, flinched upwards, said something and pointed right at me. Both men peered over their shoulders to see the two of us; me trying to get him to let go of my hair. "Get away from her!" The Mandalorian commanded to his helper in a tone I'd never heard from him before. A protective tone.
The helper immediately flinched and scuttled away from where I was standing. Hey, wait; I bet that creep just asked if I was up for trade. The nerve! Kuiil kept speaking with his hands now out at his sides imploringly. The vendor considered for a moment, rubbing his thumb underneath his chin. He then said something which seemed to upset Kuiil and confuse the Mandalorian. "The egg? What egg?" The latter asked the former. Then, quite surprisingly, they both glanced back at me with concerned expressions- well, at least I could tell Kuiil's was mildly worried. "What are you going to do about her?" He inquired all while looking my way.