Disclaimer: Once again, neither Sun nor I claim to own the Force, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, the Star Wars universe or any other characters therein. We readily concede that that honor goes to George Lucas. Aran and Sun, however, belong to us.

A/N: Nobody reviewed!! So I thought maybe y'all needed a little more incentive, and I posted chapters three and four anyway.

Aranrhod Myrishi left the Temple kitchen and headed for the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Washing all those dishes had not been physically tiring, but the kitchen was a busy place – crowded and noisy. She loved all that life, but it certainly gave her a headache at times, and the Room of a Thousand Fountains was the most peaceful place in the Temple.

Tonight especially she had much that needed thinking about. It was, after all, just five days until her thirteenth birthday and if she had not been chosen as a Padawan by that time… well, she wasn't looking forward to the alternative.

FORCE, was she getting worried! Just five days… five days! And the only two people she knew of who could take on a Padawan at the moment were the very same two people who had witnessed her being apprehended for eavesdropping. Not exactly a great first impression.

She normally wouldn't have minded getting in trouble like that, if only it hadn't been Master Qui-Gon Jinn. He was rumored to be one of the best swordsmen in the Order, and she had probably just blown her chance to learn from him.

Aranrhod had been sitting in the branches of her favorite tree for some time, these thoughts circling around each other in her head, when she sensed someone approaching. Quickly, she dropped to the ground at the base of the tree and looked around; the presence in the Force was slightly familiar. Suddenly she stiffened in recognition – it was Master Jinn!

At that moment he came into view, striding purposefully along the path, cloak billowing out behind him. He checked when he saw her, but not out of surprise, rather out of a sense of respect… 'For my privacy,' Aranrhod realized. 'That man is probably never surprised,' she thought.

"Master Jinn," she acknowledged, bowing. "I was just leaving."

"There is no need to leave on my account," he assured her, "Although it is rather late. Meditating?"

Aranrhod felt a blush creep up. "That's what I cam here to do, but I can't seem to concentrate tonight."

Qui-Gon nodded. "Padawan Myrishi, I would offer my help, but it seems to me that right now you are more in need of a good night's rest. Perhaps some other time…"

"Thank you, Master Jinn. I would greatly appreciate that." Aranrhod appeared calm and composed, but she could barely contain her excitement. Perhaps she hadn't blown her chance after all.

After she left, Qui-Gon went to the tree she had been standing under and placed his hand gently – almost reverently – on the bark. He stood there for a moment; eyes closed, and then began to climb.

// \

When Padawan Myrishi awoke the next morning, she discovered that her friend had already left the room they shared.

'How does she get up so early?' Aranrhod asked herself. Then she realized that she had been sleeping in. 'Too bad. I'm still tired.' With that thought, she groaned and rolled over on her sleeping pallet.

She had just been drifting off to sleep again when her alarm went off. 'Blast!' she thought. Aran stared up at the ceiling until the beeping really began to get on her nerves. Quickly throwing off the warm blankets, she levered herself up, walked across the room, and sleepily pushed the 'OFF' button.

Glancing at the chrono, she saw that it was almost 8:30 already. 'FORCE! How late was I up last night?' Usually she had no need for her alarm and was up at least an hour earlier.

Aranrhod entered the 'fresher and splashed cold water on her face in an effort to wake up. It wasn't much, though, so she promised herself that she would do a kata to two after breakfast. 'Is it still breakfast or an early lunch?' she wondered.

After a long, hot shower, Aranrhod dressed. She dew on long, off-white pants and an undertunic of the same color. Next came a dark brown, floor-length skirt. This had long slits in it almost up to mid-thigh to allow her great freedom of movement. After came an outer tunic, tabards and obi of the same color as her leggings and undertunic. Finally she fastened her belt, drew on her knee-high boots and clipped her lightsaber to her waist.

As Aranrhod pulled back her hair, she wondered when – and if – she would earn her Padawan braid. Aran's hair was dark and curly and hung slightly past her shoulders. This was only a little longer than average but it served a practical purpose. If she didn't pull her hair back, it would hang in her face and get in the way in a fight. If it were any shorter than it currently was, then it would be too short to pull back.

However, Aranrhod had secretly promised herself that as soon as she could, she would allow her hair to grow long. She figured she could wear it in a braid most of the time, attach a weight to the bottom of it and use it as an extra weapon.

'But that's in the future,' she reminded herself. 'Now is the present, and at present I happen to be hungry.' With that, she left the quarters she shared with Sun and went to find some breakfast – or was it lunch?

// -\

Aran started out with one of the basic katas she knew; she had eaten recently and was only beginning to wake up.

Gradually, though, as her food settled and her body woke up she moved on to increasingly hard and more complex katas. It required all her concentration, but she was satisfied as she finished the last one perfectly.

Wiping sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, Aranrhod was surprised to sense Sun nearby. 'Well, I shouldn't be all that surprised; she likes this as much as I do. Maybe we can spar together.' As she neared the practice room where she sensed her friend, she realized that she also senses another presence, and thought she recognized it as Knight Kenobi.

'Maybe I shouldn't interrupt. I don't want to mess up her chances,' Aran hesitated. But as she stood deliberating, focused on the two people in the room beyond, someone else walked up behind her.

"Greetings, Padawan Myrishi. We meet again," said the deep voice of Master Qui-Gon Jinn

Aranrhod turned and bowed, "greetings, Master Jinn. Were you going to the practice rooms? I believe a friend of mine is in there with Knight Kenobi."

"Why don't we join then," Qui-Gon asked her pleasantly and entered, leaving her to follow.

A/N: Please, please, please, please, please review!! We're desperate to know what you think!