Chapter 02:
It was devastating to be sure, Obi Wan thought. To lose what you loved most... BOTH of the women you loved most in life in the span of a week... Most men would crumble into pieces. Most would even die along with them but Anakin didn't and Obi Wan was at least proud of his former Padawan of that success.
Immediately after Khariya's death, Anakin had confessed of their EXTREMELY brief love affair on Naboo. He had explained that the love he had for Khariya would never die, for as so long as he lived in this universe. It seemed ironic that the man who committed these, by Jedi Law, 'sins' was the one who gave his mentor an ultimatum.
"... I won't forget her, master," Anakin admitted. "I don't even want to try to erase her from my memory. Obviously, nothing can come from it now so I don't see the point."
Both men were standing at the foot of the freshly dug grave of Danè Khariya Naberrie. The grave was empty of a body though and buried under the earth was a casket filled with some objects of sentimental value that died along with the beloved woman. The rest of the visitors were leaving. Padmè was at her carriage, wanting some time alone as she headed back to the docks to take a short trip to the lake house. Just Obi Wan and Anakin remained in the contradicting weather of blue skies and sunlight to their dark moods.
"And you expect me to say what exactly?"
"I don't expect you to say anything, Master," Anakin replied, coolly. "Not to offend, but once I realized my love for Khariya, my apprenticeship took a passenger seat in my priorities. She's gone now and I don't have any other choices. I'd like to stay with you as your apprentice, Obi Wan but only if you promise not to make me forget Khariya..."
"I can't make you forget someone either way, Anakin..."
"But you'll try..." Obi Wan looked almost offended at this. "Don't look so insulted when you know I speak the truth. All I ask is that you leave this part of my past behind. Don't revive it for the sake of arguments and don't ever use it against me."
"Would you have given up your apprenticeship had she not been taken from you, Padawan?" Obi Wan asked, seriously after a moment of thought.
"I really don't know, master." Anakin's face was blank as he stared at the dirt, a dark brown against the lush grass surrounding it... It was a stark contrast to the the grave he had to dig himself only days before. "What Khariya taught me was that all humans are subject to basest of emotions... I experienced that with her even for the briefest moment in time and I'll never know to what extent those emotions... that passion could have led me to."
"I can see it in your eyes... You would have given everything up for this woman..." Obi Wan announced.
"We'll never know now, now will we, Master?" Anakin snapped bitterly. "Just leave it be, Master. It's all I ask. Promise that you'll keep this secret as it is. There is no point in punishing me further when Fate is punishing me enough as it is!"
"Alright... Alright... By the Force, you have my oath, Anakin Skywalker," Obi Wan solemnly swore. Anakin nodded in satisfaction.
"Thank you, Master," Anakin said gratefully.
Now as Obi Wan thought about it with hindsight... He wished with all his heart that he hasn't made that promise. He wanted counsel from the elders yet his oath held him silent. He wanted to know from Yoda himself what that love affair might have amounted to.
Would it have changed the course of the future?
Is the Chosen One the same person as he was before?
Did an innocent young woman have to die, must she really have been denied the children she would have born, the achievements she might have accomplished and the love she could have given and received for destiny to be properly fulfilled?
There were so many questions in his mind. So many things could possibly be answered if he had the power to ask... but his oath kept him silent.