A drink for a friend
He was standing behind the energy field, watching the ongoing duel, unable to do anything but follow as his master battled the tattooed sith lord. He was impatient, he jumped slightly as he sensed something weighting heavy on the near future. Maul was too agile, too fierce in combat for his master to take him alone.
It happened very fast, Qui-Gon was a split second too slow and Maul sneaked past his defense, bumping his guard aside and stabbing him squarely on the stomach.
"NOOOOOO!"
He jolted awake, sitting up on his small bed, panting heavily and covered in sweat. His instinct had made him summon his saber and he held the ignited blade before him, looking wildly around as the dream vanished and he realized he was awake.
He stood and ran a hand over his short hair. His padawan braid was gone, he was a knight now. He walked to the balcony, the queen had offered them to stay for a couple of weeks to recover and as the council had granted him two weeks leave to mourn his master… He hadn't been ready, he was a knight, but as the soft night breeze dried the sweat on his bare chest he felt more lost than ever. How was he supposed to train this boy? he was barely out of his teens himself, only a knight for his ability to keep his emotions at check as he battled the sith who'd taken the man who was like a father to him.
He pulled on his tunic and grabbed his robe, walking to Anakin's room and making sure the boy was asleep, just as he had done the four nights before. Time was passing slowly by, his nights had become a painful routine, He'd tuck Anakin in, go to bed, and wake from his nightmares only a couple of hours later, screaming his lungs out. Sometimes he wondered if anyone heard him, sometimes he asked himself if it would be easier with time, but every night he walked silently through town, down to a small pub he had found.
He'd sit down, order a local drink, strong as hellfire. And he'd drink his pain away.
"Just while we're here" he would say to the empty mug "just before I have to grow up and face reality" he would drink to the memory of his father, the man who's guidance had guided every step he's taken so far and would continue to do so.
He muttered to the empty chair beside him "I won't let him down".
