Chapter One: Decisions
The door to the Jedi council room had been closed for quite some time, the masters debating on the fate of Anakin Skywalker. With Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan killed in the battle against Darth Maul, there was no one to fight for Anakin's case. The temple had certainly taken a hit. Qui-Gon was a great master and Obi-Wan had moved from an exceptional padawan to recently being knighted. The loss would be one not forgotten for years to come. They were still shocked to know that a Sith lord had come out of the darkness. Darth Maul was dead, but was he the only one? It was doubtful.
"Too emotional, young Skywalker is. Destruction in his future, I forsee. Upon him, darkness will descend," Master Yoda mused, looking out at the other Jedi around him.
"Qui-Gon may have promised to have him trained, but he isn't here anymore. No other Master in this temple would take Anakin as a padawan," Master Windu pointed out, shaking his head slowly.
The door to the council opened suddenly, multiple pair of eyes landing on the figure rushing their way into the middle of the room.
"Masters," Valara Callat said calmly, bowing before the Jedi in the room. "I apologize for the interruption to your meeting. However this can not wait," trailing behind Valara was the subject of the meeting himself.
"What could be so important?" Mace Windu asked, eyeing the pair skeptically. The boy appeared nervous, fidgeting with his hands just behind Knight Callat's Jedi robes.
Valara tilted her head, glancing at the master before turning her attention to Yoda.
"Master Yoda, I know you have been debating for sometime on whether Anakin should be trained or not. I also know the odds are not in his favor at this moment. It was different when Master Qui-Gon wanted to train him. He had a chance then. That's why I'm here, to tell you that I will accept Anakin as my padawan. I believe that he deserves the chance to be trained just like anyone else," she had her hands clasped behind her back, blue eyes firmly set on the Jedi in front of her. Her tone did not waver. "My Master was very close to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan alike. This is what they would want."
"You are hardly knighted yourself Valara, taking on a padawan so out of character would not be suitable," Plo-Koon spoke up, offering the knight an appraising look.
"With all due respect master.. being recently knighted has nothing to do with my ability to train Anakin," she paused, looking down at the boy behind her. "Considering my own circumstances revolving around becoming a padawan, I think I would be an excellent master for him."
"Much fear he has within him," was the only thing Yoda said, eyes following Valara's as he watched Anakin.
"Of course he does. He has been a slave as long as he can remeber and has just become free for the first time. He has left his home planet, his mother, and everything he has ever known. He has a right to be scared, anyone would be in his position Master Yoda. But that does not mean he can not learn to turn that fear into acceptance," she was not going to budge on this. It did not feel right to tear Anakin from his planet only to reject him and send him back. If he truly was who they said he was, they needed him. Who was to say the Sith wouldn't go looking for him next? Yes he was older than the other padawan's but that did not mean they couldn't try.
The Grand Jedi Master merely nodded. He could see the determination behind the young knight's eyes. She was set in her decision. It reminded him much of Qui-Gon, something that was both good and bad. He could indulge Qui-Gon one last time.
"Then train young Skywalker, you will," Yoda said after a few moments, tipping his head in respect towards Valara.
The smile that spread across her face was carefully controlled, Yoda could tell. She was restraining the excitement he could sense in both the young knight and the Skywalker boy. Something he could pretend to overlook for the sake of knowing he brought joy to a time that was so filled with mourning.