The Oath
Clone Wars AU, Obi-Wan/Anakin. Feral-verse, follows chapters 4 and 9. Allusions to slash, but nothing explicit.
Obi-Wan donned his tunics and tabard like an armor and fastened the vambraces with practiced ease. Ignoring the slight twinge in his back, he clipped his lightsaber back to its customary place, where it rested assertively against his hip. While Obi-Wan dressed, Anakin did not stir; his face was squashed against the thin pillow, his long limbs monopolizing the narrow cot. The bare expanse of his back rose and fell slowly with even breaths. He had succumbed to exhaustion not long after laying down to rest against his former Master. Obi-Wan didn't begrudge him his sleep, but rather wished he could have stayed there right beside him. However, there were things that had to be taken care of first.
The humid, oppressive evening enveloped him the instant he exited their tent. The dark sky yawned above him, the open maw devoid of any stars. The camp was illuminated with electric lanterns that cast long shadows over tents and equipment. The clones on duty saluted him and Obi-Wan acknowledged them with a nod, letting his appreciation and pride filter through his gaze. His men had fought ferociously that day; their losses had been minimal, the enemy had been all but decimated and soon they could leave this rotten planet behind.
He found the right tent easily enough; her out-of-place presence was at odds with the rest of the beings in the camp. Obi-Wan rapped his knuckles against the support beam, but rather than wait for summons, he entered the small tent the Council's envoy had been given. Seated in a cross-legged position on the ground, Knight Terr startled, her eyes flying open. Cheeks flushing crimson, she jumped to her feet. If Obi-Wan had been a true enemy, she would already have been dead.
"Knight Terr." He did not apologize for interrupting her meditation, nor did he offer any explanations as to why he had made her wait several hours after the end of the battle before meeting her.
"General Kenobi." General, not Master. Obi-Wan smiled thinly at the young woman, knowing the title had been meant as an insult, although to him it was just a fact. A truer depiction of him than most. "Where is General Skywalker?" Knight Terr looked behind him expectantly, as if at any moment Anakin would appear through the doorway.
"He had other matters to tend to," Obi-Wan answered, letting the implication of more important matters than this be clear in his voice.
The young Knight's mouth pursed up with displeasure. "The message I have been tasked to give is for you both."
"He will hear it from me," Obi-Wan said with finality, his thoughts flashing back to Anakin, who was hopefully still slumbering peacefully on their cot. There was no need for him to be there to receive the order they both knew was coming; no need for him to fall into needless agitation and anger. Not when Obi-Wan was perfectly capable of facing the envoy of the High Jedi Council – of which he was still technically a member – by himself.
"Very well," Knight Terr agreed grudgingly. Her eyes, however, betrayed her. There was a small sliver of relief in them; she was relieved by Anakin's absence. No doubt their earlier display of unseemly affection had left the poor girl rather rattled. Obi-Wan gave her a sharp grin, studying the envoy of the depleted Jedi Order from head to toe. Immaculate robes of unassuming brown covered a slender form, but there was a rigidness on the lithe body, inability to bend. Her bright eyes spoke of an intelligent mind, but also laid bare her ignorance. No doubt she was a good and proper Jedi, at least from the Council's point of view, but good simply wasn't good enough anymore. Not if they wanted to finally win the war.
"General Kenobi, I have been sent by the High Jedi Council to –"
"I know why they have sent you," Obi-Wan interrupted her, not letting his hard stare stray from her face. "Do you?"
She refused to contemplate his question, reciting faithfully, "The Council requests your presence on Coruscant. You and General Skywalker are to travel there immediately." The expectant pause filled with silence. Knight Terr glanced away from Obi-Wan, seeking respite from his effortlessly commanding gaze. When she finally realized that he would not break the silence, she continued, "Admiral Yularen will break the Separatist blockade around this planet soon, and from what I saw today at the battlefield –" Her words halted for a moment, a slight blush coloring her face. "– I am certain you have beaten the enemy's ground troops. You have no reason to linger here."
"True enough," Obi-Wan acknowledged, "but once we leave, we will join the forces near Bespin, by the order of the Republic High Command – as the Council very well knows."
Knight Terr could not mask her discomfort; her rigid shoulders and thinning lips spoke louder than any words of her uncertainty. She hadn't known about the High Command's order then. "Your troops will go, but you are both expected to arrive in Coruscant as soon as possible."
"Expected?" Obi-Wan snorted, his patience starting to wear thin. The farce had gone on long enough. "I assure you, the Council isn't yet so deluded as to expect that two generals of the Republic will abandon their troops and ignore the orders of the High Command to travel to the other side of the galaxy just to be chastised by the Jedi Council."
"But you are Jedi!" The young woman exclaimed, aghast.
"Knight Terr, you have done your duty and delivered the Council's message. Now, I have heard the Council's reminder of my duty and this is my answer to them: Both I and General Skywalker will continue to fight for the Republic, together, against all threats and injustices that threaten it. We will command and support our troops with the best of our ability. We will serve the Republic, its citizens, our comrades and brothers with loyalty, strength and honor."
Knight Terr was looking at him with round eyes, quite dumbfounded. Obi-Wan couldn't feel any sympathy for her, although she was obviously just a pawn in a much bigger game. "I trust you will deliver my message to the Council in its entirety and without delay. The LAAT is already waiting for you. Have a speedy and safe journey back to the Temple." He turned to go, not waiting for her to agree. She would do as she was told.
"You have forgotten yourself." The young Jedi's voice shook with all the emotions she couldn't quite repress.
Obi-Wan didn't bother to answer. He strode out of the tent and back towards the one, who waited for him; his comrade and brother, whom he was fully planning on serving that night, and every night and day to come, with his unfailing loyalty, strength, honor – and love.