companion to: I Heard a Man Speak to the Wind and Still, What a Beautiful Night
Beggars, When There Are None
in which aayla wants them to have a reason and barriss teaches about the will of the force
Aayla sends the child to bed without another word. Other, older, Jedi are sending the younger ones to bed, to the south of Beggar's Canyon. Jedi stand guard, senses cast out for any threat to the younglings—or anyone else, for that matter.
Just moments later, and the younglings and smaller padawans are all gone. The ones who are left crowd around what's left of the dinner and spread across the small dining area. Anakin and Obi-Wan are the last to get their fill, and sit away from everyone else. They always do. No one bothers them—it's something they've always done since Anakin first arrived at the Temple.
Aayla pushes her way to Barriss, sitting opposite. Without preamble, she says "aren't we ever going to do something?"
Barriss swallows her bite. "Master Kenobi and Anakin are waiting for the right moment." She sounds unsure, but Aayla needs to speak.
"Barriss, it has been almost two years. How much longer are they going to wait?"
"I don't know. You'd have to ask them. Maybe they'll divulge what goes on in their head."
"Heads."
"You know what I mean."
It's no use arguing: she does know. She glances at the boys muttering to each other. "We should be doing something—not rotting in a canyon on Tattoine. We are Jedi." pause Aayla flinches. "We used to be Jedi. We're beggars, now. We're just pretending to be Jedi. Pretending to do what we've always done."
Barriss takes her time taking another bite. "Maybe Obi-Wan and Anakin have always done this."
Aayla takes a sip of her water. "Pretend to be Jedi?"
"No. Follow the will of the Force." Aayla gives a questioning glance. "The only reason we're not really Jedi is because there's no council: there's nothing left to follow. None of us are used to following the Will Of The Force after being in that dreadful war."
"The Force better have a good reason for keeping them silent."
"It's never needed a reason before," Barriss sasses
"Nor has the Jedi Council," Aayla sasses right back.
Two quick grins. Then silence, broken by Aayla:
"Still wish they had a reason."
Barriss up and walks away. Anakin winks at her as she stalks out. It may be a thank you. Barriss winks back.
