Sorry for long wait, here's the next chapter :)
Koelmi: Yeah, I've never really like Qui-gon's character in either, so yeah i've just made him a bit of a ***
Beautiful Arbitur: Hahah yeah they finally met (again). Took a while to get to this point.
Baronnis: yeah the paternal Mace figure is really fun to write, and it should develop as Obi-wan gets older and becomes the paternal figure himself.
Kitty: As always thanx for the review. Yeah I've been realising lately that my stories really dont have many strong female characters which is really bad. Sedra was a little one, but I'm really gonna work on Padme's role as well as some others. Padme is so badass during 1 & 2 and then she is just there in 3, which is annoying. Hopefully, she stays awesome throughout in this.
Mace led the way through the Temple halls, Obi-wan and Rawdon following behind. You could have said the two boys were joined at the hip, if their statures were more similar. Rawdon walked beside the youth, tucked up as close as possible while Obi-wan kept his hand on the boy's shoulder in comfort. Both Mace and him could sense the boy's mind was racing a mile a minute. No doubt he was trying to process the fight with Anakin, the visions of Naboo and what was about to happen all at once.
"Just here," Mace said, waving to the door before them. The council-member almost chuckled as both boys suddenly came to a halt and looked nervous. Neither of them had ever had reason to enter the rooms of the Master of the Order before. They had both been in Master Yoda's rooms, but they were more garden than home. Mace's were the top of the top.
Walking in first, Mace turned just in time to see the reaction on both boy's faces. Obi-wan huffed in amusement and Rawdon's eyes flashed in amazement. To Obi-wan, the rooms were the same as any Masters, but to Rawdon, the room was huge and new.
"I'll make tea, you two can get settled," Mace said to Obi-wan, who led the boy through to the main living area and motioned to the couch. The boy climbed up and Obi-wan sat beside him. Obi-wan smiled as the boy's bright green eyes roamed every part of the room.
"I remember the first time I saw a Master's quarters. It's a lot bigger than the creche isn't it?" Obi-wan said and the boy nodded. "Just wait till you go on missions. Then you'll see how those who aren't Jedi live."
"They're bigger?"
"Yes, Jedi rooms are very small in comparison to many in the galaxy. There are offices at the Senate bigger than this whole apartment."
"But why? What would they put in it?"
"Possessions, keep-sakes and things from their planets and systems."
"I don't have any possessions. Do you?"
"A couple," Obi-wan said, mind thinking back to the River Stone Qui-gon had given him.
"From your homeworld?"
"No, just from when I was a young Padawan," Obi-wan said in painful nostalgia, though he sensed a similar pain coming from the child regarding that word: homeworld. Was the boy homesick? Did he even remember his life before the Jedi? Obi-wan only ever had glimpses. For some reason the boy was so in tune with him, but why? What was the link, and why had he felt the shock when they touched? "Rawdon, in the training salle, did you feel…"
"Here we are," Mace said, cutting Obi-wan off as he set the tray down in front of them, before taking a seat in the chair opposite. Obi-wan smiled at the man as his thought was interrupted. Surely, he just imagined the feeling. It couldn't mean anything. "Now, how are you feeling Rawdon?"
"Better Master, thank-you."
"I am glad. When Master Yoda and I returned, you were very sick. Do you remember much of what happened?"
"Not really Master…there were dreams, but I woke up a few times. Master Peli and Master Mundi woke me up, before it happened again…that one was longer," Rawdon said, body shaking a little in fear as he remembered what he believed to be a nightmare. Mace frowned, he had to tell Rawdon the truth.
"Obi-wan, why don't you tell Rawdon what happened on Naboo."
"Master?" Obi-wan objected, not willing to say such things in front of a child.
"He needs to know." Still Obi-wan hesitated and therefore Mace took over. "Rawdon what you saw wasn't a dream, it was real."
"Wh…what?" Rawdon rasped, voice quivering.
"The fight took place, but it didn't end how you saw it. Obi-wan was able to defeat his opponent and afterwards he used his own reserves to heal his Master, at great cost to himself. He almost took his own life," Mace said, staring at Obi-wan at the last sentence to let him know how reckless he believed that act to be.
"But…but you said it was a dream," Rawdon said, fear creeping up within him.
"I know," Mace admitted guiltily.
"The fire…the Temple…I died…he killed me…" Rawdon stuttered, breathing escalating as he struggled to understand.
"Rawdon shh, look at me, its alright," Obi-wan cut in, pulling the boy towards him into an embrace. Rawdon clung to the youth, head resting beneath Obi-wan's chin as he burrowed his face against Obi-wan's shoulder. "What is he talking about? What else did he see? You only mentioned Naboo," Obi-wan said directly to Mace as he sent waves of calm through the Force to the boy just as Yoda had done with him. He couldn't help but feel protective of him, which was making him speak to Mace in a way he would never have done before. Yet, Mace did not seem surprised, or concerned by Obi-wan's reaction, only the problem itself.
"Yoda and I believe Rawdon saw a future. A future that might have happened had you not saved Qui-gon."
"And?"
"The Sith came for the Temple. They killed…," At that word the boy sobbed, chest hiccupping as the young man held him tighter.
"Master…," Obi-wan pleaded as Mace was about to continue.
"It is a future that will never happen. I will never let it happen," Mace said, standing as he moved to their side, kneeling beside the boy. "Rawdon, look at me." The boy hesitated, before slowly turning his head from Obi-wan's shoulder. "I know I lied to you about your dreams and I'm sorry, but I did not know how to tell you. It was because of you that we knew Obi-wan was hurt and Master Yoda and I left immediately. When we returned, our focus was bringing you back from the darkness, it was not the right time to tell you."
"I...I helped?" Rawdon whispered after a moments pause. Mace couldn't help but smile at the boy.
"Yes Rawdon, you helped Obi-wan immensely, and I need you to know that I'm here to help you, as I always have been." Rawdon nodded, but Obi-wan couldn't help but be confused. Mace had said he had watched over the boy for many years now, but why? Mace didn't usually get involved with the creche, it was Yoda's domain. "My priority now is making sure you don't get sick again. I think I may have a solution."
"To stop the visions?" Obi-wan asked.
"To prevent them from taking control," Mace replied sadly. He did not know how to stop them properly. "Rawdon your mind has been trying to stop them as they are too powerful for you to bear. Your attempts only weaken your defences and the vision takes over, despite your continued struggles. I believe that to overcome the visions you must allow them to take place, from start to finish."
"Let them happen?" Obi-wan said. "But if he sees what he has, he cannot be expected to do nothing. Master, there must be another way."
"I'm afraid I can think of none. Yet, even if you allow the vision to take place, they may still overwhelm you Rawdon. That is why I want us to have more sessions, to strengthen your mind. I will teach you how to strengthen your shields Rawdon."
"More sessions?" Obi-wan asked. Mace frowned, knowing that this would come up.
"Rawdon and I meet monthly to review how his training is going." Obi-wan noticed that the boy's eyes flickered down at that statement, he was obviously embarrassed by it.
"I struggle with balance…," the boy whispered. Obi-wan immediately glared at Mace for an explanation, knowing that Rawdon was no where near unbalanced and even if he was he was a youngling, an initiate, he had no reason to be fully balanced, even senior Padawans like himself struggled. Mace merely shook his head to say this was not the time for the discussion.
"What are your thoughts Rawdon?" Mace asked.
"I don't want to be trapped in my head again," the boy said, still tucked up against Obi-wan.
"Then we'll begin right away," Mace replied, standing and walking over to a shelf where he pulled out three meditation mats and laid them out. Rawdon instinctively climbed off the sofa and went to kneel. It was obvious to Obi-wan that mediation was a regular theme of Mace's extra sessions with the boy. "Obi-wan," Mace nudged, and the young man got up and knelt beside the boy and Master. "We'll start simply. Rawdon I want you to reach out and tell me what you feel."
"Yes Master," Rawdon replied as Obi-wan and Mace both felt him strain to reach out even the tiniest amount. It was clear the boy was mentally drained. "There's something there Master. Its powerful…what?"
"Rawdon, I've been shielding your mind since my return to the Temple," Mace explained. "What you sense are my mental walls, protecting your mind as your own natural shields have collapsed."
"Shields?"
"Everyone, even non-Jedi have natural defences Rawdon, or mental shields. It is something you learn more about over the next year of studies with Master Yoda, and with your future Master. Due to the visions, your mind's defences were weakened, so I stepped in." Rawdon merely nodded, as he inwardly stared up at the protection around his mind. He had never felt anything like it. "Now, I doubt we can trigger a vision, but we will practice building your own shields, which will strengthen you mentally, and hopefully, when a vision comes you will be stronger and be able to accept it."
"Yes Master," Rawdon whispered, still terrified by the prospect of having another vision and somehow letting it happen.
"Now, I will remove the shield and Obi-wan will help you build your own." Obi-wan looked up at Mace at that, unsure where to begin. "Obi-wan has done this countless time in training." Mace said in reassurance to the young man. Obi-wan reluctantly nodded and closed his eyes, reaching out to the boy. As soon as he did and Mace let his shields down, the two boy's mind grasped each other and connected in an instant, locking together in unity.
"Coming!" a man called, his red tinted golden hair catching the light as he hurried across the living quarters and opened the front door. "Bant?" he said as he was met by a Mon Calamari with her arms full, walking past him before he could invite her in.
"Morning," she said, smiling at the look of confusion on his face. "I took the liberty of getting you some supplies."
"I can see that," the man replied, looking sceptically at the things she had dumped on the coffee table. "Not that its not lovely to see you, but you know I'm perfectly capable of…"
"Of keeping stock of things?" she finished, opening an empty kitchen cupboard. "No, you're not Obi," she continued, huffing as she walked over and collapsed onto his sofa.
"You're probably right," he replied, sitting next to her. "Thank-you."
"You're welcome. Someone has to make sure you and the little one don't starve. Where is the rascal anyway?" she asked, just as a loud bang was heard from one of the rooms.
"Its nothing!" a faint voice called immediately, making Obi-wan chuckle.
"He's trying…and failing to fix his light-sabre," Obi-wan said.
"And you're helping," Bant scolded.
"I'm teaching," Obi-wan said, leaning further back to get comfy. "He's learning to work independently." Obi-wan let out a breath as he was hit in the face with a cushion.
"You two are hopeless," Bant said, grinning at Obi-wan's mock hurt face.
"Mmm, oh…here he comes," Obi-wan advised just before one of the doors opened and a boy stepped out. He was perhaps thirteen, jet black silky hair sat waved on his head, leading to a scruffy braid which had hair sticking out at every turn. His green eyes scanned the room and instantly shined brighter as he spotted the woman.
"Bant!" he called happily in greeting. "I didn't know you were here. I'll make tea," he said as he hurried across the room.
"Padawan," Obi-wan said sternly, making the boy stop dead still, back to them. He slowly turned around, looking down at the floor.
"Master?" the boy replied, hesitantly.
"Come here."
"But Master I…"
"I'll make the tea," Bant said, trying not to laugh at the serious face Obi-wan had on for such a silly thing.
"But…"
"Padawan," Obi-wan repeated. This time the boy didn't protest and walked over to the sofa, sitting down beside his Master. Obi-wan straight away grabbed the boy's braid, sighing at the mess. "I tied this only an hour ago."
"I didn't…"
"Didn't touch it…of course not, you never do."
"It was an accident," the boy whispered as Obi-wan pulled out the tie and undid the braid, collecting the beads in one hand. He then passed them to the boy before starting the braid again, tightly.
"This time, let's not have any accidents," Obi-wan stated, tying it off, neat and perfect.
"Yes Master," the boy said, itching his chin making Obi-wan flick his hand away as it nearly touched the braid. "Sorry."
"All done?" Bant chuckled, walking back into the room with the tea and placing it down on the table.
"Yeah," the boy said, jumping up from the sofa to look in the window at his braid in the light reflection.
"For now," Obi-wan grunted, "thank-you," he continued to Bant as he took a sip of the tea whilst she returned to her seat beside him.
"You are ridiculous, you know that right," Bant said to her oldest friend.
"Shh, my easily influenced Padawan is listening," Obi-wan replied, smiling as he laid back and feigned sleep. The boy eventually joined them, chatting with Bant over tea as his Master relaxed. Once the tea was done, Bant got up to leave, Obi-wan escorting her to the door.
"How long till the next mission?" Bant asked at the door.
"Couple days," Obi-wan said, leaning against the wall.
"Perhaps you should ask for a longer break." Obi-wan tilted his head questionably. "You look tired my friend. I know its harder for you on missions, always being alert. At least when you're here Mace, Yoda and I can take shifts, give you a break."
"I'm fine Bant. We both are," Obi-wan assured.
"Alright," Bant replied, just as Obi-wan's gentle expression shifted to exasperation.
"Padawan!" Obi-wan almost shouted, racing back into the room.
"I didn't touch it!" Bant heard the boy cry out. A moment later the boy was giggling uncontrollably as his Master had him pinned to the sofa, tickling him to death.
"My boys," Bant sighed, letting the door shut behind her as she made her way back to the medical bay.
"Easy," a voice called as Obi-wan's world tilted and he landed into a strong grip. Realising he had collapsed sideways from his knelt position too late, Obi-wan jerked upright, only to fall backwards instead. "Take some breaths," Mace stated as the young man became more aware of his surroundings. He was in Mace's quarters, now sat on the floor staring at the Master who had one hand on his arm and the other wrapped around an unconscious boy who was tucked against his chest protectively.
"Rawdon," Obi-wan gasped, rushing forward to check on the boy.
"He's alright," Mace said, "just unconscious."
"What happened?" Obi-wan asked, shaking slightly as his eyes darted around the room ready to see the boy, the Mon Calarmari and the man, …but that was him…what?
"A vision…"
"No," Obi-wan cut off. "It was too real. I was…I was older, Bant…I had a Padawan…"
"I saw Obi-wan," Mace said. "I stepped in when you and Rawdon both were unresponsive. I shielded Rawdon's mind again, though I was unable to break your connection with him to bring you back. It was a vision."
"I felt it all, every movement, every emotion. The boy, it was Rawdon. Rawdon was my Padawan."
"So, it would seem."
"I…I…I don't understand," Obi-wan stuttered, standing.
"Obi-wan," Mace called, trying to get him to calm down, unable to move so quickly with Rawdon held in his arms.
"The vision…we're connected someway…and in the training salle…when we touched…there's something…," Obi-wan rambled, pacing back and forth before he suddenly stopped and harshly took in a breath. "The Temple steps…"
"Obi-wan."
"Rawdon was the baby. The day before Melida/Daan, a woman died…the baby, she gave me the baby…I was supposed to protect him…I promised her, I left him…I forgot about him…"
"Obi-wan," Mace said sternly, failing to snap the young man out of his as he tail-spinned into the memories.
"I need…I need to go," Obi-wan said, hurrying off out of the room before Mace could stop him. Mace cursed, standing himself with Rawdon held in his arms, head resting on his shoulder. Unable to do anything else, Mace left his quarters carrying the boy back down to the creche. He would have to find Obi-wan afterwards.
When Master Peli spotted the pair, she ran out into the corridor.
"Mace," she called.
"He's alright, just asleep," he assured before she reached them. Sighing in relief, Master Peli stroked the boy's hair off his brow.
"Reed should be asleep, you'll have to be quiet." Mace nodded, following the woman through the creche hall towards the boy's room. Taera opened the door and Mace walked in, gently setting Rawdon down onto the empty bed, pulling the blanket over his sleeping form and tucking it in. As he turned, he saw Reed sit up and look worriedly to his friend. Mace sighed, walking over to Reed's bed and sitting on the edge.
"Is he alright Master Windu?" Reed asked.
"He will be Reed."
"Is it the visions?"
"Visions?"
"Rawdon said he thought they couldn't be dreams. I told him they had to be, but I was lying to make him feel better. Rawdon's usually right. Was he?"
"Yes, he was. They're visions."
"Will they go away?"
"They'll get weaker, but it's going to take time," Mace said truthfully. "Reed, these visions, we need to keep them a secret. This isn't something to tell anyone."
"Yes Master. I won't tell a soul," Reed promised instantly, and Mace knew he wouldn't break it.
"Get some sleep youngling," Mace said, patting the boy's shoulder before walking out of the room with one last glance at Rawdon.
Two boys taken care of, it was time to see what state Obi-wan was in.
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