While allowing the heat from the water to beat down on her weary shoulders,
Menaria's smile faded. 'I'm at the top, but how is that gonna help me if
I'm not chosen? I only have a few months left until I'm 13.' She lowered
her head as the water streamed across her back and onto her hair. Her
tears mixed with the water. Sighing heavily she reached and turned the
water off.
Drying off quickly, she forced the negative thoughts from her mind, as she hurriedly got dressed. 'I must not think on that. Live the moment and enjoy what time I have left.' She nearly sobbed as the idea of never seeing her friends ever again passed through her jumbled thoughts. 'Stop! Get a grip on yourself! You're a Jedi for Force sake!' Clenching her jaw she rushed back to the training room.
As she walked back into the room, she saw Master Lenart conversing with a tall knight. It appeared to be one of the Jedi that had been observing the tests. She came to a halt a few feet away and waited patiently for the two to get done. But to her surprise the two immediately stopped talking at her approach and turned to her.
"Initiate Darce, this is Knight Lindoro D'Lockens. He wishes to talk with you for a few. I'll get the paperwork in order and once you two are done then you can sign the form." Lenart's warmth and pride radiated through Menaria and shattered the gloominess that had fallen upon her heart. She nodded and smiled back at the instructor. Lenart walked away to a desk that was at the end of the stands.
Menaria turned her attention to the tall knight and bowed respectively. 'Tall isn't the right word.' She thought as she looked up and up to meet the man's eyes. Deep blue they were, darker than cobalt. His serene expression was laced with...uncertainty? Menaria furrowed her eyebrows slightly before she could stop herself. 'What's he uneasy about? Is something wrong? I don't remember ever meeting this knight before today...'
"Would you sit with me?" The man's baritone voice seemed to reverberate through her thoughts jarring her back to him. "Yes if you wish, Knight D'Lockens." She lowered her head slightly in submission. The man smiled and motioned toward the stands. Menaria followed and sat next to him. He seemed to fidget with the edge of his dark robe. Glancing at his long, thick fingers, she noticed how calloused and worn they were. Several scars lined both hands in numerous places and a few that looked like they might continue up the arms that were hidden by the robe's sleeves. 'He's seen many battles I bet.' She thought to herself as she looked back up to the man's face.
The black mustache quivered slightly as he prepared to say something then stopped. His right hand left the robe and caressed his goatee nervously. "This is not an easy thing for me, Initiate Darce. I..." He sighed as he gave up on maintaining his calm outlook. He gathered her small hands into his larger ones.
Menaria's heart stopped and her breath caught in her throat the moment he grasped her hands. 'What the..?' Had one of her friends been seriously hurt...or died? Fear sped through her being as her thoughts went out for her dear friend, Malen. He had just become a Padawan a few months ago and left for his first mission last week. They had yet to return. Malen had been so excited.
"What I'm trying to say is...I've been watching you for several months now. Monitoring your progress. Master Lenart is correct on stating your improvements. You have improved your skills in not just with the blade, but also with the Force. That is the most important thing to learn is controlling your emotions and allowing the Force to guide you in all things. I am totally impressed and astounded by your progress, young one." He smiled warmly down at her. Even though he was sitting next to her, his height towered over her.
She nearly gapped in shock but stopped herself. This was not what she had expected to hear. Relief flooded her senses. 'Impressed with me?' She sighed, glad to know that none of her friends had been hurt. The large Jedi took the sigh in stride as he gently squeezed her hands.
"I've never trained an initiate before...I must admit that my past duties have not allowed me the chance too." He took a deep breath as he looked into the green eyes of the girl. Swallowing nearly audibly he braced himself for the next words. "I would be honored if you, Initiate Menaria Darce, would become my Padawan Learner. We could learn together what it is like to be Master and Apprentice." 'There! I said it!' Lindoro let out the breath that he had been holding as he watched the mixed emotions flitter across the girl's face. The green eyes darken with shock and turned lighter with excitement. Her already pale complexion seem to redden slightly as the excitement flowed through her. He could sense her happiness in the Force.
'Padawan?! He wants to be my Master?' Eyes widen with shock. Dumbfounded, her mouth opened to a 'o' shape as she tried to find her voice. This time it was her turn to swallow audibly. Looking into the man's eyes that seem to darken to a shade of midnight and began to twinkle as he observed her response to his words. 'Speak fool! He's waiting!' She berated herself as she attempted to speak once more. Her voice croaked slightly at first as she slowly reclaimed control of herself.
"I...I would be honored to become your Padawan Learner, Knight...I mean Master D'Lockens." She stammered as her eyes took on the glimmer of her bubbling joy. Her smile spread across her face nearly reaching from ear to ear. 'I'm going to be a Padawan! I don't have to leave the temple now!' Her excitement could hardly be controlled. She wanted to leap up and shout it out through the temple. 'Now I wonder how many rules I would be breaking if I go and do that?' She giggled at that thought. Blushing bright red at allowing the giggle to escape her mouth, she glanced back at her new Master. His deep chuckles seem to vibrate through her.
"We will make it public in the morning. Master Windu is setting up a time for us to meet with the Council and perform the ceremony. Will you meet me there? I will relay the time to your clan leader. Will that work for you?" He stood as he finished and released the girl's hands, nearly forgetting that he had still had a hold on them.
Standing up as well she nodded, she then caught herself. "Yes sir, Master." She smiled at calling him Master. He smiled in return and gently squeezed her shoulder in assurance.
"This is a new situation for the both of us. And definitely a first for us as well. Something in common to start our new bond with." He bid her good evening as she bowed respectively in turn.
Master Lenart was the first person to congratulate her on becoming a Padawan. He wished her luck and success as she signed the form stating her achievement at the lightsaber testing.
The night could not pass quick enough for Menaria. The time after Knight D'Lockens had asked her to be his Padawan was a blur. She barely remembers getting the paperwork from Master Lenart and heading toward the initiate quarters level. Barely remembering her 3 other clan members congratulating her on making the saber's top list. It wasn't until Seriu had gently taken her by the arm, did she realize that her friends were trying to talk to her.
"What's up with you? I know that you are excited about going from the bottom of the list to the top. Who wouldn't be? But something else is wrong..." The 12-year-old boy asked as he looked down at her. Concern flitting across his olive colored face.
Menaria couldn't hold back her smile as she looked up into his black eyes. She then glanced at her other 2 friends. Nania was another human while Kork was a Squib. Kork's blue fur rippled slightly as his worry reflected through the twitching of his long ears.
"I've been asked by Knight D'Lockens to become his Padawan!" She exclaimed as the giddiness threaten to take over once more. The three others let out a 'woo-hoo' and patted her on the back and exchanged hugs.
"That is great!" Kork's deep growl was filled with excitement. "It's about time! Perhaps we'll be next for sure!" Nania agreed. Her pale blue eyes sparkled as she ran her hand through her short-cropped blond hair. Seriu's grin was wide as he nodded. "Yep, I'm sure we'll be next once word gets around. Let's all go to evening meal together and celebrate over muja juice!" He chuckled. The other 3 had waited for Menaria to return so they could all celebrate the end of the testing for this year. Menaria's laughter joined her crèche mates as the 4 headed down for evening meal.
Lateness of the hour crept up on the 4 as they talked about possible adventures. Menaria covering a yawn bid her 3 friends good night when she was reminded by Master Piers, their clan leader, of the important meeting in the morning. It was to be at 0800.
As she made it into bed, her mind began to fill with excitement of what lay ahead in store for her after the ceremony. 'Everything will be different after tonight...' Those where her last thoughts as she slipped into a deep sleep from the exhaustion resulting from the mental and physical testings of the day finally took their toll at last.
Drying off quickly, she forced the negative thoughts from her mind, as she hurriedly got dressed. 'I must not think on that. Live the moment and enjoy what time I have left.' She nearly sobbed as the idea of never seeing her friends ever again passed through her jumbled thoughts. 'Stop! Get a grip on yourself! You're a Jedi for Force sake!' Clenching her jaw she rushed back to the training room.
As she walked back into the room, she saw Master Lenart conversing with a tall knight. It appeared to be one of the Jedi that had been observing the tests. She came to a halt a few feet away and waited patiently for the two to get done. But to her surprise the two immediately stopped talking at her approach and turned to her.
"Initiate Darce, this is Knight Lindoro D'Lockens. He wishes to talk with you for a few. I'll get the paperwork in order and once you two are done then you can sign the form." Lenart's warmth and pride radiated through Menaria and shattered the gloominess that had fallen upon her heart. She nodded and smiled back at the instructor. Lenart walked away to a desk that was at the end of the stands.
Menaria turned her attention to the tall knight and bowed respectively. 'Tall isn't the right word.' She thought as she looked up and up to meet the man's eyes. Deep blue they were, darker than cobalt. His serene expression was laced with...uncertainty? Menaria furrowed her eyebrows slightly before she could stop herself. 'What's he uneasy about? Is something wrong? I don't remember ever meeting this knight before today...'
"Would you sit with me?" The man's baritone voice seemed to reverberate through her thoughts jarring her back to him. "Yes if you wish, Knight D'Lockens." She lowered her head slightly in submission. The man smiled and motioned toward the stands. Menaria followed and sat next to him. He seemed to fidget with the edge of his dark robe. Glancing at his long, thick fingers, she noticed how calloused and worn they were. Several scars lined both hands in numerous places and a few that looked like they might continue up the arms that were hidden by the robe's sleeves. 'He's seen many battles I bet.' She thought to herself as she looked back up to the man's face.
The black mustache quivered slightly as he prepared to say something then stopped. His right hand left the robe and caressed his goatee nervously. "This is not an easy thing for me, Initiate Darce. I..." He sighed as he gave up on maintaining his calm outlook. He gathered her small hands into his larger ones.
Menaria's heart stopped and her breath caught in her throat the moment he grasped her hands. 'What the..?' Had one of her friends been seriously hurt...or died? Fear sped through her being as her thoughts went out for her dear friend, Malen. He had just become a Padawan a few months ago and left for his first mission last week. They had yet to return. Malen had been so excited.
"What I'm trying to say is...I've been watching you for several months now. Monitoring your progress. Master Lenart is correct on stating your improvements. You have improved your skills in not just with the blade, but also with the Force. That is the most important thing to learn is controlling your emotions and allowing the Force to guide you in all things. I am totally impressed and astounded by your progress, young one." He smiled warmly down at her. Even though he was sitting next to her, his height towered over her.
She nearly gapped in shock but stopped herself. This was not what she had expected to hear. Relief flooded her senses. 'Impressed with me?' She sighed, glad to know that none of her friends had been hurt. The large Jedi took the sigh in stride as he gently squeezed her hands.
"I've never trained an initiate before...I must admit that my past duties have not allowed me the chance too." He took a deep breath as he looked into the green eyes of the girl. Swallowing nearly audibly he braced himself for the next words. "I would be honored if you, Initiate Menaria Darce, would become my Padawan Learner. We could learn together what it is like to be Master and Apprentice." 'There! I said it!' Lindoro let out the breath that he had been holding as he watched the mixed emotions flitter across the girl's face. The green eyes darken with shock and turned lighter with excitement. Her already pale complexion seem to redden slightly as the excitement flowed through her. He could sense her happiness in the Force.
'Padawan?! He wants to be my Master?' Eyes widen with shock. Dumbfounded, her mouth opened to a 'o' shape as she tried to find her voice. This time it was her turn to swallow audibly. Looking into the man's eyes that seem to darken to a shade of midnight and began to twinkle as he observed her response to his words. 'Speak fool! He's waiting!' She berated herself as she attempted to speak once more. Her voice croaked slightly at first as she slowly reclaimed control of herself.
"I...I would be honored to become your Padawan Learner, Knight...I mean Master D'Lockens." She stammered as her eyes took on the glimmer of her bubbling joy. Her smile spread across her face nearly reaching from ear to ear. 'I'm going to be a Padawan! I don't have to leave the temple now!' Her excitement could hardly be controlled. She wanted to leap up and shout it out through the temple. 'Now I wonder how many rules I would be breaking if I go and do that?' She giggled at that thought. Blushing bright red at allowing the giggle to escape her mouth, she glanced back at her new Master. His deep chuckles seem to vibrate through her.
"We will make it public in the morning. Master Windu is setting up a time for us to meet with the Council and perform the ceremony. Will you meet me there? I will relay the time to your clan leader. Will that work for you?" He stood as he finished and released the girl's hands, nearly forgetting that he had still had a hold on them.
Standing up as well she nodded, she then caught herself. "Yes sir, Master." She smiled at calling him Master. He smiled in return and gently squeezed her shoulder in assurance.
"This is a new situation for the both of us. And definitely a first for us as well. Something in common to start our new bond with." He bid her good evening as she bowed respectively in turn.
Master Lenart was the first person to congratulate her on becoming a Padawan. He wished her luck and success as she signed the form stating her achievement at the lightsaber testing.
The night could not pass quick enough for Menaria. The time after Knight D'Lockens had asked her to be his Padawan was a blur. She barely remembers getting the paperwork from Master Lenart and heading toward the initiate quarters level. Barely remembering her 3 other clan members congratulating her on making the saber's top list. It wasn't until Seriu had gently taken her by the arm, did she realize that her friends were trying to talk to her.
"What's up with you? I know that you are excited about going from the bottom of the list to the top. Who wouldn't be? But something else is wrong..." The 12-year-old boy asked as he looked down at her. Concern flitting across his olive colored face.
Menaria couldn't hold back her smile as she looked up into his black eyes. She then glanced at her other 2 friends. Nania was another human while Kork was a Squib. Kork's blue fur rippled slightly as his worry reflected through the twitching of his long ears.
"I've been asked by Knight D'Lockens to become his Padawan!" She exclaimed as the giddiness threaten to take over once more. The three others let out a 'woo-hoo' and patted her on the back and exchanged hugs.
"That is great!" Kork's deep growl was filled with excitement. "It's about time! Perhaps we'll be next for sure!" Nania agreed. Her pale blue eyes sparkled as she ran her hand through her short-cropped blond hair. Seriu's grin was wide as he nodded. "Yep, I'm sure we'll be next once word gets around. Let's all go to evening meal together and celebrate over muja juice!" He chuckled. The other 3 had waited for Menaria to return so they could all celebrate the end of the testing for this year. Menaria's laughter joined her crèche mates as the 4 headed down for evening meal.
Lateness of the hour crept up on the 4 as they talked about possible adventures. Menaria covering a yawn bid her 3 friends good night when she was reminded by Master Piers, their clan leader, of the important meeting in the morning. It was to be at 0800.
As she made it into bed, her mind began to fill with excitement of what lay ahead in store for her after the ceremony. 'Everything will be different after tonight...' Those where her last thoughts as she slipped into a deep sleep from the exhaustion resulting from the mental and physical testings of the day finally took their toll at last.