Author's Note: Ursa Wren is fun to write. I highly recommend it.

Enjoy.

Chapter 5

The Crucible of Ursa Wren

When morning came, Ezra was confident he had imagined Sabine kissing him last night. He was half asleep and could have been dreaming already. Also, there was no way Ezra was going to ask Sabine if she had kissed him or not. That was not a level of embarrassment he was willing to endure. Sadly this was a mystery that would remain unsolved until the end of time.

Ezra stretched and checked his chrono. He had slept half the morning away already. He looked over at Sabine's tent. Still closed. Ezra didn't know how much later she had stayed up plotting whatever it was she was planning, but it wouldn't hurt to let her sleep a little longer.

Opening up the Phantom, he pulled out one of the self-heating meals they had purchased yesterday and sat down to breakfast. Sabine still hadn't woken up by the time he finished. No matter, it was nice and quiet. He would try meditating for a bit.

Two hours later and shortly before midday he'd had enough. It was time for them to get moving. He walked over to her tent and tapped the flap. "Sabine? Probably time to get up now." No answer. "I better not get in trouble for this," he muttered and pulled the flap back. Sabine slept peacefully in her sleeping bag. Her purple tipped hair was matted and messy. "Yup," Ezra said. "I'm a dead man walking."

"Sorry, Sabine, but it's time to get up. It's almost midday" She finally groaned. Mumbled something about how bright it was and rubbed her face. Content she was awake now he shut the flap, glad he hadn't had to enter the tent. Ezra went and prepped another meal, guessing as to which one Sabine would want. She always wanted to eat first thing after waking up; otherwise, she was less than pleasant company. Ezra had learned that the hard way almost immediately after joining the Spectres.

Less than ten minutes later Sabine emerged in full armor, hair still disheveled. She pointed at him. "Not a word."

He handed her the meal. "Not a word," he repeated obediently.

She took the food gratefully then laughed softly. "I don't think I've ever slept this late. How long have you been up?"

"Only a couple hours. It's alright. I imagine our sleep cycles are pretty off balance with everything that's happened in the past few weeks."

She ate in silence for a few minutes then asked, "Are you ready to leave for Krownest?"

"I guess. I'm kind of in the dark here. Apparently, you've got some genius plan that I'm going to trust you with."

"Yep. That's what's going to happen." Sabine said. "About that." A strange, mischievous grin spread across her face. "At some point, it's going to become clear what I've got in mind, and you and everyone else are probably going to think I'm crazy. Like completely nuts."

"Ummm..." Ezra just stared at her. "Look I'm used to pulling off half-baked schemes with you, but this is starting to worry me a little. Are you sure this is a good idea...?"

Sabine just laughed. "Nope, not sure at all. I want to hurry up and get to Krownest before I get cold feet and change my mind." Ezra must have looked uncomfortable. "Look," Sabine said, trying to sound reassuring. "if this works, you're going to find the outcome... acceptable."

"Acceptable?" Ezra raised an eyebrow. "That seems kind of lackluster after all the secrecy, don't you think?"

"Okay fine, it will be a bit better than that."

"How much better are we talking?" Ezra asked now puzzled.

Sabine hesitated, then shrugged. "The best possible outcome for both of us."

"Wait, what? You went from an acceptable outcome to the best possible outcome? I'm getting some mixed signals here, Sabine.."

"Yeah, well you're not going to get any more than that."

"That's it? Really?"

"Really. I need you ignorant going into this."

Ezra eyed her. "Can you tell me why I can't know anything?"

"So that my mother is mad at me and not you."

Ezra sat down hard beside Sabine and just shook his head. "I have never been more confused in my life. I'm used to you being a mystery to me, Sabine. In a good way," he corrected quickly. "But today you're just maddening."

Sabine put her food tray aside and put a hand on his arm. She caught his eye, and Ezra found himself pulled into her brown-yellow eyes. "Trust. Me," she said one last time. She stood up. "And now I have to dig through my stuff to find a mirror. I look like a Wookiee having a bad hair day." And with that, she left Ezra outside as she entered the Phantom II.

Ezra began to pack the tents up. "And today of all days, Sabine has officially lost it," he said to himself as set to work.

"I heard that," Sabine called from inside the Phantom II.

Ezra groaned aloud as he heard laughter coming from the open shuttle.

They had packed up their camp and left Daxfor within half an hour. Unfortunately, Krownest was far too close for Sabine's taste. While she was putting on a brave act for Ezra, beneath the surface, she was less than confident. Worse, she knew that Ezra could probably feel that in the Force. Sabine knew enough about his abilities to know that her emotions and mood were nearly transparent to him. He might not know what exactly they meant, but he knew their general color.

She took a deep breath as she pulled into orbit around her homeworld. Home. She loved Krownest. Its serene frozen vistas and radiant sunsets were a part of her childhood. Hopefully, she was still welcome here by the end of the day. "Here goes," she said to Ezra with a faint smile. Hitting the comm she hailed her family's stronghold.

A short conversation in Mando'a and she was given landing instructions. Bringing the Phantom II into a broad sweep, she made a pass over her clan's ancestral lands before spotting the stronghold. "Home sweet home."

She must not have sounded very sure of herself because Ezra patted her hand and smiled. "I trust you."

"Now we have to hope you haven't misplaced that trust. There's the pad." She carefully landed the shuttle at the appointed location. It was set a little ways off from the main stronghold. "They'll have scanned us and know that I have a passenger with me. Hopefully, they'll want to talk to me first before reporting to my parents. Stay on the Phantom till I know more."

Ezra sat back down. "I won't move till I get the word."

The back hatch hissed with escaping gasses as Sabine popped it open. She wasn't surprised that several fully armed Clan Wren warriors were at hand including... "Tristan!"

"Hello to you to Sabine. Who's with you in there? Mother's not going to be happy."

"Is she ever? Did you report the second person yet?"

Tristan took his helmet off. "No, I thought I should talk to you first."

Sabine breathed a big sigh of relief and smiled. "Oh, thank the Force. Get in here. I need to talk to you!"

Tristan hesitated a moment and then approached the Phantom II. "Hang back. I'll let you know if you're needed," he told the other warriors. They nodded and retreated to the edge of the pad. Tristan walked up the ramp of the Phantom II. Then his eyes focused on Ezra. "What the... You're supposed to be dead!"

"The Empire failed to kill me enough times that I figured what's one more failure for them. Good to see you, Tristan."

"You too, Ezra, but how.. Wait. Oh no, mother's going to kill you. I was there when she talked to Mon Mothma and Captain Hera."

Ezra chuckled. "Well, that confirms my worst fear."

"Tristan I need to talk to mother right away. Mon Mothma got some details wrong. Ezra and I aren't a... aren't a couple," Sabine stumbling over the words. This was only going to get more awkward from here.

"Really?" Tristan asked, a puzzled look on his face. "The way you two worked together and fought together back on Mandalore I just thought you were being secretive about it. You know, to hide it from mother."

"Seriously does everyone think that?" Sabine groaned.

"Well, mother believed you after you promised you were just friends. Dad and I didn't though."

Ezra started to laugh and then stopped when Sabine and Tristan stared. "Look, I'm the one that's about to be hunted down by homicidal members of your family, and I can still appreciate how funny this is." Sabine and Tristan just shook their heads. "Sometimes I think I'm the only one in the galaxy with a sense of humor," Ezra grumbled to himself.

Sabine turned back to Tristan. Secretly she agreed with Ezra, but she'd only laugh about it later if this all worked out. "I need you to keep Ezra hidden. He's going to stay aboard the Phantom. Just keep him a secret until I've talked to mother and father."

"And you've roped me into another of your schemes. Fine, but I'm not taking the fall for you if this goes belly up."

"I wouldn't ask you to. Let's go." She turned back to Ezra. "Stay put."

Tristan and Sabine turned to leave the Phantom II. Tristan paused briefly and turned back to Ezra. "Ezra, I'm sorry about Kanan." Ezra returned a grateful smile and nodded, and then shut the Phantom II sealing himself in."

"I'll stay here and keep everyone away," Tristan said. "Good Luck. Oh and just because you two have never officially been any sort of couple, that doesn't mean you don't want to be. I'm not blind, and mother won't be either."

Sabine almost chose not to respond, then decided to answer with a simple "Maybe."

"Better try and get dad on your side real quick."

"Already planning on it." She jogged off through the snow as Tristan called the other two warriors over to give them new instructions. If she was that transparent to Tristan, her parents were going to see right through her. This wasn't going to be easy. She sighed and thought about Ezra. It was also hardly fair to put him through this, though she was looking forward to seeing the look on his face when he figured out what she had in mind.

It was only a short distance through the trees to get to the Wren Stronghold, just far enough to get Sabine's blood moving in the cold. As she reached the main doors, another set of guards greeted and opened the doors to admit her. She walked up the stairs. "Time to be fearless Sabine. First one thing. Then the next. And then it will all turn out all right." Under her breath, she cursed Mon Mothma. This was all her fault.

She walked into the Great Hall. It's enormous windows let in the full afternoon sunlight. At the far end of the room hung a large painting of the Countess Ursa Wren. Her father had made the portrait years ago shortly after marrying the Countess. Sabine had always loved the painting and thought it to be her Father's best work.

Beneath the portrait, the countess herself sat on her throne. Sabine was relieved to see her Father was also present, standing behind her mother and a little to the side. He was smiling. She was not. Sabine also noticed that the room had been cleared of all other clansmen. At least she was going to have a little privacy when the explosives hit.

"Sabine!" her parents both said practically at once and rushed across the hall to embrace her. She stiffened for a moment and then relaxed into their arms.

Okay, this was off to a better start than she had hoped for. "I'm home," she said quietly.

"For good?" Ursa asked her hopefully.

"Maybe. Probably? I don't know, to be honest. A lot has happened, and I just need some time."

Her father took her hands in his. "We... heard about Kanan and Ezra on the holo-net and feared the worst. We were so happy to hear from Captain Hera that you made it out alright. But Sabine, I'm so sorry for your losses. I know the Ghost was like a second home for you. Maybe a first home after we abandoned you. I know you're grieving your friends, but..." He paused. "I knew you an Ezra were especially close. The senator, Mon Mothma, said something that I don't think she was supposed to say. I saw the look on Captain Syndullah's face."

Sabine pulled out of their embrace and stepped away turning her back to her parents. She'd have to start talking at some point. This wasn't the right point to interrupt.

"We're here for you Sabine," Ursa said. "I may not have looked too kindly upon Ezra Bridger while he lived, but I know that he was a good young man, honest, and fearless in battle,"

This was good, Sabine thought. Keep thinking these positive thoughts about Ezra. We're going to need those. She turned around and smiled faintly. "We... have a lot to talk about. Maybe over a cup of caf?" she asked hopefully."

Ursa nodded and hit her wrist comm. "Vaylin. Table, chairs, and caf for three if you would, please." She looked back up at Sabine. "We have all the time in the world."

Sabine shuffled her feet. Thinking she should soften her parent's expectations, she spoke up "You're not going to like everything I have to say. But I'll tell you the whole story."

Ursa smiled nervously and then turned as Vaylin, and a few stewards began bringing in the requested furniture and drinks. They quickly set them up in the center of the Great Hall, pulled out the chairs for Sabine and her parents as they sat, and then left the room, leaving the three alone again.

Sabine took a sip from the caf savoring both the warm drink and the calm before the storm. Her parents seemed content to wait for her to speak now. After taking another sip, she finally spoke. "I'm assuming you two read the whole news bulletin about Kanan and Ezra's death?"

"We did," Ursa said. "It's disgusting that the Empire would celebrate the deaths of two noble warriors by dragging them through the mud. One should honor a valiant enemy that has been defeated."

"Agreed, but they got a few of the details wrong."

"Oh?" Alrich intoned, curious.

Sabine nodded. "Kanan died a hero, allowing us to escape certain death. They got Ezra's death wrong though."

"Sabine, we don't have to relive these details right now if you don't want," Alrich said gently.

She held up her hand to stop him. "I'm fine. They didn't just get the details wrong. They got all of it wrong... he didn't die."

It took nearly two full seconds before there was any reaction. Alrich immediately jumped out of his chair, knocking it over with a look of pure joy on his face clasping both hands in front of his face. Ursa merely looked shocked as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "This is great!" Alrich practically shouted. "Sabine how did this...? What happened?!"

"Pretty simple. Ezra didn't die. He tried to sacrifice himself for us as Kanan did. Except through some miracle he lived. Unhurt too." She took a sip from her caf. "So we faked his death. His choice. He and Kanan had become too well known and had become a liability to the Rebellion. Ezra took this as his cue to depart from the Alliance to pull some of the heat off of them. There's a bit more to it, Jedi stuff mostly, but we'll have more than enough time to explain the details later."

"We?" Ursa said raising an eyebrow.

Sabine nodded calmly "He's out in our shuttle right now waiting for my signal to come in."

"Bring him in! Bring him in!" Alrich urged. "Let's see the boy!"

Sabine shook her head. "Not yet."

"Why ever not?" Alrich asked. "This is a call for celebration, is it not? Your love has escaped the clutches of the empire."

Suddenly Ursa tensed and frowned.

Sabine smiled and pointed at her mother. "That's why."

"Oh no, here it comes," Alrich said sitting down again with enthusiasm dampened. "Ursa, please be reasonable."

"I need you to answer a few questions for me, Sabine. Truthfully and succinctly," Ursa said sharply.

"Yes, mother."

"Why did Captain Syndullah and Senator Mon Mothma lie to me about Ezra's death?"

"Because only the crew of the Ghost know that he lived. Alliance High Command was informed that he died to keep news of his survival from reaching the Empire. Hera didn't know it was you when she took that call, and with Mon Mothma present she was trapped in the lie. Also, Hera's a general now." Sabine looked at her empty cup of caf and sighed. She briefly considered asking for more but knew she was about to pass through the worst of the Countess' wrath.

Ursa pondered this and nodded. "I hadn't heard she was promoted. Very well. I understand the General's reasons. She was caught between family, and duty and I do not envy such a position." Her eyes narrowed to slits. "But what I can't understand is why you've lied to me about the nature of your friendship with this Jedi. You promised me Sabine that your relationship was purely platonic when you left Mandalore. I cannot believe that you would dare to..."

"Mother I need to explain some..." Sabine tried to interrupt.

"Quiet Sabine. I will have my say. You know as my daughter that you have certain responsibilities. I may have been lenient and allowed this relationship had you just told me the truth. But clearly, you knew better than to trust me with something so simple. Worse still, he's probably complicit in this deception isn't he?" Ursa was practically in a rage now, and Sabine knew there would be little that could stop her till she exhausted her anger.

Alrich cleared his throat. "Ursa, dear please, maybe there's more than..."

"Alrich." She turned her fiery eyes to her husband. "This is not the time."

"No my lady. I think it is. You owe Sabine a chance to explain herself. And until you know more you slander Ezra, a young man that has put his life on the line countless times for our daughter, and went to Mandalore to fight in a war that wasn't his own to free me from captivity. Our family owes a debt to him. Let Sabine talk."

There was a moment in which Ursa and Alrich held their stares. Sabine knew how it would end. Her father rarely gainsaid her mother, but when he did, he was immovable as a mountain. Ursa broke away from his gaze and looked out the window. "Fine. Speak Sabine. But first," she pulled up her wrist comm, "Tristan, Ezra Bridger is in the shuttle Sabine arrived on. Take him to one of the guest rooms. Quietly. Put him under house arrest and consider him a flight risk until I say otherwise."

"Mother I don't think..." Tristan's voice crackled through the comm.

"I expect obedience, Tristan." She shut off the comm and gestured to Sabine.

Sabine took a deep breath and fought down the urge to shout at her mother for her treatment of Ezra. Instead, she graciously nodded her head. "Thank you, mother. I have not and will not lie to you. Ezra and I are not and have never been any sort of couple. Senator Mon Mothma was misinformed as to the nature of our relationship, and once again Hera was caught in a spot unable to correct the senator. Ezra is my closest friend, my partner, and my ally in battle. But we have never been romantic."

There was silence in the hall as both Ursa and Alrich considered what she said. Finally, Ursa spoke. "If this is true, then why do others so naturally assume that there is more between you. Tristan assumed as much. I thought it was obvious when you and Ezra showed up on our doorstep. Your father believed the same. Clearly, the esteemed senator thought likewise."

Sabine looked miserable. "I... I don't have an easy answer to this one. You're right. Ezra has harbored feelings for me since the moment he laid eyes on me. I let him know in no uncertain terms it was never happening. And then, well, we both grew up, and now everything is complicated." She covered her face with one hand to hide her embarrassment. Talking to Hera about this a few months ago had been unpleasant. Talking to her parents was going to be much worse.

"Dearest Sabine," Alrich said gently taking her free hand, "I think Ezra's patience has paid off. How long have you returned his feelings?"

"I don't even know. Apparently, everyone else knew but me."

"Does he know?"

"Probably. Ezra can be a little dense sometimes, but he's not stupid."

Ursa let out a breath, and her face softened. "I'm not quite sure what I think of you harboring feelings for a Jedi, but "I'm sorry Sabine. I should have heard your side first."

Sabine didn't answer and realized tears were running down her face that she didn't remember shedding. It was hard to be forgiving when she had known exactly how her mother was going to react.

Alrich continued his gentle probing. "You had no intention of returning to Krownest did you, Sabine. Mon Mothma merely repeated the cover story for you leaving the Rebellion. You were planning on going into exile with Ezra." Sabine didn't even bother answering. Her father always had a way of seeing through things.

Ursa frowned again. "Oh now that does make me unhappy, Sabine. The senator's mistakes may have just saved you from a very grave error." She silently assessed her daughter. Sabine was now wiping away the last of her tears. "We'll discuss this later. I..." Ursa took a breath and tried to smile. "I am glad you are home, and we will celebrate your safe return. I think the clan could handle an evening of feasting and drinking." She paused. "And we will also celebrate Ezra's survival," she said slowly.

Alrich laughed. "I think that last part caused you physical pain to say."

"Alrich there are unresolved issues on the table."

"Yes, and our daughter is home. I think we can put them aside."

"About Ezra," Sabine interrupted. "I need you to help me keep him a secret. If the Empire learns that he lived, this whole charade is for nothing."

"Very well." Ursa said "All clansmen here will be bound by oath to keep his secret. You may go to Ezra now. I will see you tonight at the feast." Ursa Wren was already back in her role as Countess and began calling on the comm, first to Tristan to inform him that Ezra's house arrest was ended effective immediately, then to the steward Valin to began preparing a feast for the evening.

Alrich and Sabine walked slowly to the door, arm in arm. Sabine let out a deep breath. Thankful her father had been present. Otherwise, this might have been a disaster.

"You know," Alrich said mirthfully, "one of these days your mother will just trust me to handle this sort of thing without interfering. Until that day though I've got my work cut out for me. Now run along and tell the young man the good news! Your mother has decided that she probably won't kill him."

"She may change her mind," Sabine said cautiously, as they stepped outside.

"I was afraid you had more drama planned," he chuckled. "I anxiously await the next round. Tread carefully. But lift up your spirits dearest Sabine! This will have a happy ending yet! I'll do everything in my power to see to that."

Sabine smiled. "Thank you, daddy," she said and kissed his cheek.