Title: In Darkness Bind Them
Author: Sheleigh
Disclaimer: Not mine! I don't own them, simply borrow my favorite characters to write about and torture… or not. The title was taken from the last line of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings poem.
Summary: Master and Apprentice search for answers, before darkness blankets all.
The light from the blood red saber being ignited filled the darkness of the room. It cast an eerie light on its owners face. The wielder of the lightsaber walked forward, approaching a young man, chained to the wall, unconscious. The shadowed form reached one clawed hand out touching the cheek of the young man, tracing a light path across his cheek. Hand met cheek, causing an echo to resonate in the silent room. A low groan of pain was elicited from the young man. His eyes opened, made foggy by pain. As soon as the eyes opened the young man found himself staring death in the face, and he was afraid.
****
Obi-Wan Kenobi's eyes snapped open, a cry of pain threatening to break through carefully constructed shields. He sat up quickly, and after checking his chrono, decided it useless to try and fall into another restless sleep. He instead stood, dressed, and walked into small living room in the quarters he shared with his Master- Qui-Gon Jinn. Still unsure of what the dream he had symbolized, he decided meditation would be the best course of action, and settled on his knees, almost immediately falling into a deep meditation.
The Force flowed around him, through him. The pain was excruciating. Never before had Obi-Wan felt pain from the Force. He tried to pull himself out of the meditation he had fallen into, but the Force grasped him again, pulling him back. A groan escaped the young man's physical body, as his soul was pulled forcefully from the body. Obi-Wan fought the Force, but finally gave into the pull and let him self go.
****
A loud thump woke Qui-Gon from his deep sleep. He sighed, wondering what Obi-Wan had dropped, broken or otherwise maimed by accident. The Jedi Master stood up and walked out of his bedroom, pausing in the doorway, shocked. On the carpet lay Obi-Wan, unconscious, and from the looks of it- barely breathing. Qui-Gon rushed towards his apprentice, fell to his knees beside him, and searched frantically for a pulse. Finally finding one, he slid his hands and arms under Obi-Wan's body, and made a frantic dash towards the healers' wing.
Qui-Gon barreled into the healers, surprising all in the waiting room. A healer saw the boy grasped in Jinn's arms, and immediately motioned for Qui- Gon to follow. He did, setting Obi-Wan on a gurney, and then tried to follow a healer into the emergency room. The healer turned towards Qui-Gon motioning for him to leave. Qui-Gon was left staring at the doors.
A short time later, Qui-Gon was allowed to see his apprentice. The Jedi Master walked into the small room which his apprentice occupied. He hesitated, then reached out for his Padawan's hand, grasping it tightly in his own.
"Padawan, Obi-Wan… wake up…"
****
Obi-Wan watched in curious detachment as he floated above his body, and his Master. His Master was leaned over him, whispering. Obi-Wan strained to hear what the Master was saying, and finally was unable to determine what it was. He felt the Force pulling him away. Again Obi-Wan fought, but the pull was insistent, and the apprentice felt himself being pulled away from the temple. The apprentice's spirit was taken down a long tunnel then dumped into a large chamber.
Obi-Wan glanced around and floated towards the darkest corner. The young man yelped in surprise at seeing a figure chained the wall. Obi-Wan floated closer, until feet lay between the two. Upon closer inspection, he realized the boy to be a Jedi Padawan, a boy by the name of… Obi-Wan gasped, realization setting in. The boy chained to the wall was Garen.
****
Obi-Wan once again felt him self being sucked through a tunnel of Force. All the boy could see was the image of his friend, chained to the wall. Abruptly, the journey ended, Obi-Wan's eyes snapping open.
His Master jerked his own head up, realizing for the first time in days, his apprentice had opened his eyes. The Master's hand rested tenderly on the student's cheek.
"Padawan, stay still."
"Master… Garen…" Qui-Gon cocked his head, confused.
"Hush, young one. Sleep." The Master sent a Force suggestion to his Padawan.
"No... Garen… in-"Obi-Wan was forced into an influenced sleep, the vision of what he saw torturing him.
****
Qui-Gon tried in vain to calm his apprentice. The Force induced sleep was indeed working, but wasn't calming the boy's mind as it should. He reached for the bond, long silent, and found the shields erected around the young man to be impenetrable. Qui-Gon tried once again, trying to wake the young man with the Force.
****
Obi-Wan felt him self floating again. The sensation, so familiar with it was he, felt normal. He once again felt himself being pulled down the tunnel of the Force, spilling into the same dark chamber from earlier. He immediately went towards Garen, blinking at the shocking change in the boy.
Using the Force, Obi-Wan checked swiftly for a pulse. After a great length of time, he found one, beating erratically. The boy continued his Force examination, wincing each time he felt a serious wound.
A very loud thundering noise stopped Obi-Wan. He paused, then realizing he was more or less a spirit, continued to examine Garen.
This explained why Obi-Wan was appropriately surprised at the white hot pain he felt explode through his body.
"Who are you?" a cold voice asked. Obi-Wan shook him self, attempting to figure out what exactly had happened. "WHO ARE YOU?" Obi-Wan screamed again, the pain being inflicted upon his mind quite real.
"W-who are you?"
"My name is irrelevant. I want to know who you are, and I want to know NOW."
Obi-Wan silently begged to be released from this dream. "My name is Obi- Wan Kenobi, Jedi Padawan to Master Qui-Gon Jinn." Obi-Wan shuddered, suppressing a scream as his mind was invaded.
"Oh, this is too great! Jinn's wonderful apprentice comes waltzing in here… in spirit… but that can easily be corrected. Well, boy, you don't know me. But, I most definitely know you. Tell you what, you come to me… by free will, and this boy won't die…"
Obi-Wan paused, considering his options. The thought of leaving his Master was terrifying, but knowing he could save his best friend by sacrificing himself...
"I… agree…" The man laughed again.
"Good, good, now maybe you will let me continue with my original thought. The boy won't die… too painfully."
"NO!" Obi-Wan felt him self being drawn back through the Force.
"Don't forget your promise, boy!"
****
"Padawan! Wake up!" A deep breath was drawn in, and Obi-Wan opened his eyes, glancing around warily. "Do you know where you are?"
"Yes, Master. I'm in the healers ward."
"Good. Do you mind telling me what that dream was about? You seemed terrified. Before you fell asleep you mentioned Garen… did your dream have anything to do with this?" Obi-Wan shook his head.
"No, Master. It was a nightmare; I would rather not talk about it…"
"Very well. Are you hungry?"
"No, Master… um… actually yes."
Qui-Gon laughed heartily. "I would be afraid of the day Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn't hungry. Come; let us get you something to eat. The healers said you could leave their grasp as soon as you woke." He assisted Obi-Wan in getting out of bed, then left the healers' ward.
****
He sat, grinning. The thought of what he would be able to accomplish as soon as Kenobi arrived gave him chills. Oh yes, this really was too great. Qui-Gon Jinn's apprentice falling into his grasp? And on the account of the boy chained to the wall. If he had known something like this would work, he would have tried ages ago.
The man's grin faltered, then left. Damn Jinn and his apprentice. Damn them both for being so… perfect. In a moment of blind rage, the man grabbed the knife that rested next to his foot, went over to the young Jedi chained to the wall. He stabbed Garen once in the shoulder. Not fatal, he decided, another grin splitting his face, just painful, very painful.
****
"Padawan?" Qui-Gon knocked softly on his apprentice's door. Finding no answer, he opened it to find Obi-Wan meditating. The Master knelt silently next to him, willing to wait.
Two hours later, Obi-Wan opened his eyes almost yelping at the sight of his Master kneeling silently next to him.
"Master?"
"Yes, Padawan?" the serenity that Qui-Gon projected soothed Obi-Wan.
"Why are you in here, Master? Have I done something wrong?" Qui-Gon opened his eyes looking at him.
"We need to speak, Padawan."
"About what, Master?" Obi-Wan winced, realizing how rude he must have sounded. "I mean…" A gentle hand fell on Obi-Wan's shoulder.
"I know what you meant, Padawan. You needn't correct yourself. No, I sense something wrong. You seem distressed." Obi-Wan shook his head. "Padawan. I know you well enough, don't try and lie now."
"No, Master."
"What's wrong?"
"My…dream has disturbed me. It is nothing; I can deal with it." Obi-Wan looked pleadingly at his Master.
Softly, Qui-Gon sighed. "Very well, Padawan."
Obi-Wan cast his gaze downward. "Thank you, Master."
"I suggest you get some sleep, Obi-Wan. Rest well." His Master stood, leaving the room.
"I will, Master. Good night, Master."
Obi-Wan lay silently on his bed, until he heard his Master enter his own room and close the door. Again, Obi-Wan waited monitoring Jinn through the bond. Once the Master was deeply asleep, Obi-Wan slung his travel pack over his shoulder, attached his lightsaber to his belt, and left. The door closed on the room.
On the bed lay a data pad, open to a letter… to his Master.
Author: Sheleigh
Disclaimer: Not mine! I don't own them, simply borrow my favorite characters to write about and torture… or not. The title was taken from the last line of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings poem.
Summary: Master and Apprentice search for answers, before darkness blankets all.
The light from the blood red saber being ignited filled the darkness of the room. It cast an eerie light on its owners face. The wielder of the lightsaber walked forward, approaching a young man, chained to the wall, unconscious. The shadowed form reached one clawed hand out touching the cheek of the young man, tracing a light path across his cheek. Hand met cheek, causing an echo to resonate in the silent room. A low groan of pain was elicited from the young man. His eyes opened, made foggy by pain. As soon as the eyes opened the young man found himself staring death in the face, and he was afraid.
****
Obi-Wan Kenobi's eyes snapped open, a cry of pain threatening to break through carefully constructed shields. He sat up quickly, and after checking his chrono, decided it useless to try and fall into another restless sleep. He instead stood, dressed, and walked into small living room in the quarters he shared with his Master- Qui-Gon Jinn. Still unsure of what the dream he had symbolized, he decided meditation would be the best course of action, and settled on his knees, almost immediately falling into a deep meditation.
The Force flowed around him, through him. The pain was excruciating. Never before had Obi-Wan felt pain from the Force. He tried to pull himself out of the meditation he had fallen into, but the Force grasped him again, pulling him back. A groan escaped the young man's physical body, as his soul was pulled forcefully from the body. Obi-Wan fought the Force, but finally gave into the pull and let him self go.
****
A loud thump woke Qui-Gon from his deep sleep. He sighed, wondering what Obi-Wan had dropped, broken or otherwise maimed by accident. The Jedi Master stood up and walked out of his bedroom, pausing in the doorway, shocked. On the carpet lay Obi-Wan, unconscious, and from the looks of it- barely breathing. Qui-Gon rushed towards his apprentice, fell to his knees beside him, and searched frantically for a pulse. Finally finding one, he slid his hands and arms under Obi-Wan's body, and made a frantic dash towards the healers' wing.
Qui-Gon barreled into the healers, surprising all in the waiting room. A healer saw the boy grasped in Jinn's arms, and immediately motioned for Qui- Gon to follow. He did, setting Obi-Wan on a gurney, and then tried to follow a healer into the emergency room. The healer turned towards Qui-Gon motioning for him to leave. Qui-Gon was left staring at the doors.
A short time later, Qui-Gon was allowed to see his apprentice. The Jedi Master walked into the small room which his apprentice occupied. He hesitated, then reached out for his Padawan's hand, grasping it tightly in his own.
"Padawan, Obi-Wan… wake up…"
****
Obi-Wan watched in curious detachment as he floated above his body, and his Master. His Master was leaned over him, whispering. Obi-Wan strained to hear what the Master was saying, and finally was unable to determine what it was. He felt the Force pulling him away. Again Obi-Wan fought, but the pull was insistent, and the apprentice felt himself being pulled away from the temple. The apprentice's spirit was taken down a long tunnel then dumped into a large chamber.
Obi-Wan glanced around and floated towards the darkest corner. The young man yelped in surprise at seeing a figure chained the wall. Obi-Wan floated closer, until feet lay between the two. Upon closer inspection, he realized the boy to be a Jedi Padawan, a boy by the name of… Obi-Wan gasped, realization setting in. The boy chained to the wall was Garen.
****
Obi-Wan once again felt him self being sucked through a tunnel of Force. All the boy could see was the image of his friend, chained to the wall. Abruptly, the journey ended, Obi-Wan's eyes snapping open.
His Master jerked his own head up, realizing for the first time in days, his apprentice had opened his eyes. The Master's hand rested tenderly on the student's cheek.
"Padawan, stay still."
"Master… Garen…" Qui-Gon cocked his head, confused.
"Hush, young one. Sleep." The Master sent a Force suggestion to his Padawan.
"No... Garen… in-"Obi-Wan was forced into an influenced sleep, the vision of what he saw torturing him.
****
Qui-Gon tried in vain to calm his apprentice. The Force induced sleep was indeed working, but wasn't calming the boy's mind as it should. He reached for the bond, long silent, and found the shields erected around the young man to be impenetrable. Qui-Gon tried once again, trying to wake the young man with the Force.
****
Obi-Wan felt him self floating again. The sensation, so familiar with it was he, felt normal. He once again felt himself being pulled down the tunnel of the Force, spilling into the same dark chamber from earlier. He immediately went towards Garen, blinking at the shocking change in the boy.
Using the Force, Obi-Wan checked swiftly for a pulse. After a great length of time, he found one, beating erratically. The boy continued his Force examination, wincing each time he felt a serious wound.
A very loud thundering noise stopped Obi-Wan. He paused, then realizing he was more or less a spirit, continued to examine Garen.
This explained why Obi-Wan was appropriately surprised at the white hot pain he felt explode through his body.
"Who are you?" a cold voice asked. Obi-Wan shook him self, attempting to figure out what exactly had happened. "WHO ARE YOU?" Obi-Wan screamed again, the pain being inflicted upon his mind quite real.
"W-who are you?"
"My name is irrelevant. I want to know who you are, and I want to know NOW."
Obi-Wan silently begged to be released from this dream. "My name is Obi- Wan Kenobi, Jedi Padawan to Master Qui-Gon Jinn." Obi-Wan shuddered, suppressing a scream as his mind was invaded.
"Oh, this is too great! Jinn's wonderful apprentice comes waltzing in here… in spirit… but that can easily be corrected. Well, boy, you don't know me. But, I most definitely know you. Tell you what, you come to me… by free will, and this boy won't die…"
Obi-Wan paused, considering his options. The thought of leaving his Master was terrifying, but knowing he could save his best friend by sacrificing himself...
"I… agree…" The man laughed again.
"Good, good, now maybe you will let me continue with my original thought. The boy won't die… too painfully."
"NO!" Obi-Wan felt him self being drawn back through the Force.
"Don't forget your promise, boy!"
****
"Padawan! Wake up!" A deep breath was drawn in, and Obi-Wan opened his eyes, glancing around warily. "Do you know where you are?"
"Yes, Master. I'm in the healers ward."
"Good. Do you mind telling me what that dream was about? You seemed terrified. Before you fell asleep you mentioned Garen… did your dream have anything to do with this?" Obi-Wan shook his head.
"No, Master. It was a nightmare; I would rather not talk about it…"
"Very well. Are you hungry?"
"No, Master… um… actually yes."
Qui-Gon laughed heartily. "I would be afraid of the day Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn't hungry. Come; let us get you something to eat. The healers said you could leave their grasp as soon as you woke." He assisted Obi-Wan in getting out of bed, then left the healers' ward.
****
He sat, grinning. The thought of what he would be able to accomplish as soon as Kenobi arrived gave him chills. Oh yes, this really was too great. Qui-Gon Jinn's apprentice falling into his grasp? And on the account of the boy chained to the wall. If he had known something like this would work, he would have tried ages ago.
The man's grin faltered, then left. Damn Jinn and his apprentice. Damn them both for being so… perfect. In a moment of blind rage, the man grabbed the knife that rested next to his foot, went over to the young Jedi chained to the wall. He stabbed Garen once in the shoulder. Not fatal, he decided, another grin splitting his face, just painful, very painful.
****
"Padawan?" Qui-Gon knocked softly on his apprentice's door. Finding no answer, he opened it to find Obi-Wan meditating. The Master knelt silently next to him, willing to wait.
Two hours later, Obi-Wan opened his eyes almost yelping at the sight of his Master kneeling silently next to him.
"Master?"
"Yes, Padawan?" the serenity that Qui-Gon projected soothed Obi-Wan.
"Why are you in here, Master? Have I done something wrong?" Qui-Gon opened his eyes looking at him.
"We need to speak, Padawan."
"About what, Master?" Obi-Wan winced, realizing how rude he must have sounded. "I mean…" A gentle hand fell on Obi-Wan's shoulder.
"I know what you meant, Padawan. You needn't correct yourself. No, I sense something wrong. You seem distressed." Obi-Wan shook his head. "Padawan. I know you well enough, don't try and lie now."
"No, Master."
"What's wrong?"
"My…dream has disturbed me. It is nothing; I can deal with it." Obi-Wan looked pleadingly at his Master.
Softly, Qui-Gon sighed. "Very well, Padawan."
Obi-Wan cast his gaze downward. "Thank you, Master."
"I suggest you get some sleep, Obi-Wan. Rest well." His Master stood, leaving the room.
"I will, Master. Good night, Master."
Obi-Wan lay silently on his bed, until he heard his Master enter his own room and close the door. Again, Obi-Wan waited monitoring Jinn through the bond. Once the Master was deeply asleep, Obi-Wan slung his travel pack over his shoulder, attached his lightsaber to his belt, and left. The door closed on the room.
On the bed lay a data pad, open to a letter… to his Master.