Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its associated characters; they all belong to their respective owners. I only own any characters or plotlines that you do not recognize.
10. Your Truest Guide
Four Standard Years Later
The Force was what connected everything in the universe. Be the energy flow light or dark or somewhere in between, everything was connected to each other. Discovering how they were connected, and how the Force flowed between them was truly a wonder; it was something that Elara found beautiful. The way the Force met and combined and flowed together was so unique and interesting. Because everything existed differently, that meant the Force existed differently around said object or person. Something that glowed with lighter energy flowed easily with something of an equal energy; but when something was darker, the energy would buzz dangerously but continue to flow with surprising ease nonetheless. It was something that she always marveled at in her meditations, which she no longer avoided doing. In fact, she had taken to meditating with increasing frequency, and often would lament when the opportunity was snatched away from her.
The state of the galaxy was riled and tense, and the Jedi were beginning to feel the strain of such tensions. Their presence was needed more than ever in order to keep the peace and the balance of the universe. There was talk of certain solar systems wishing to secede from the Republic. And once a certain system declared their intent, a new one would as well. Jedi Knights and padawans alike were consistently traveling across the galaxy to meet with politicians and the like in attempts to placate them; to, at the very least, insist that they hold off voicing their judgement till they were absolutely sure. Absolutely convinced.
With such stresses abound, meditation was a wonderful solace. Elara, herself, had been on several peacekeeping missions with Master Yoda, and had also sat in on a handful of meetings with senators just the same. It was astounding how easily the senators became heated and how often mediation was needed. The more diplomatic side of the Jedi was something that Elara had only had an inkling about at the start of her journey––and now she was becoming quite well-versed in it. Obi-Wan had made a fleeting comment that Qui-Gon had said that she was excellent at placating sticky situations; and that the deceased Jedi Master would be proud to see her putting such skills to work. The compliment had brought a smile to Elara's face whilst simultaneously pulling on her heart strings.
There was a gentle hum across from Elara, a familiar gruffness to its intonation.
"Quiet during meditation your mind has become. Impressed I am at your progress," hummed Yoda.
Elara gently took in a breath, and upon the exhale allowed her eyes to open and end her meditation. She was greeted by the sunlight that bathed the Temple courtyard they were sat in. A graceful smile had appeared on her lips. Yoda only complimented her when he felt she had accomplished something; he was a rigorous and particular Master, but he was thorough and decided and good at what he did. She had been meditating with him for six years, now, and it was the first time he had truly commented on her progress in said area. He, too, had come out of his meditation, and there was a trace of a smile on his aged lips. Elara inclined her head to him respectively.
"Thank you, Master Yoda," she replied.
Yoda shut his eyes gently and bobbed his head, acknowledging her gratitude. When those wise, wide eyes opened again, he met his padawan's gaze. They had come to know one another quite well over the years, even if most of her off-planet missions were conducted with other Jedi Masters or Jedi Knights––Master Plo Koon always seemed happy to have her along. Whenever she was on-planet they would train rigorously. Sometimes Elara would spar with a fellow padawan under his supervision whilst he would offer advice. Other times they would meditate or have in-depth discussions regarding the Force and questions she had regarding various related topics. He rarely went easy on her and she never asked him to lighten the load. Yoda was determined to make sure she was guided along the right path and didn't make a single misstep. Elara was dead set on becoming the best Jedi she could be, despite her late start in the process. Both of them were determined and decided, and that made their match as Master and Padawan perfect.
"My apprehensions, I had, when I agreed to train you. Dangerous I believed you to be, more prone to the darker side of the Force I worried you were; but determined you are to stay strong and loyal to the light. Admired your strength is, by all of the council. By myself. You are making good on the promise you made to me on Naboo. Very hard you are working. Proud at how far you have come, I am," Yoda told her. She had long since become accustomed to his odd way of talking, and now smiled at the younglings who seemed thrown off by his speech patterns.
Elara's lips curled into a small smile, and a warm flush of happiness washed through her body. "Thank you, Master. I will forever be grateful that you agreed to train me; I would not have been able to embark and continue on this journey without you," she thanked, once again inclining her head.
The two had been meditating beneath the Great Tree, an ancient Force Sensitive tree that grew at the heart of the Coruscant Jedi Temple. The tree's gnarled trunk was rough and knotted in places, and its branches extended towards the sky, leaves rustling and shifting gently overhead. It was the single most peaceful place to meditate at the Temple, in Elara's opinion at least. The courtyard was always quiet, save for the moments when other Jedi, padawans, or council members would meet in order to talk. It wasn't an odd occurrence to see people meditating before the tree, and everyone always respected those who did; planned conversations would be moved elsewhere and everyone would remain quiet, or sometimes join whoever was meditating. Yoda insisted, as of late, he and Elara meditate before the Great Tree, as he believed the tree's great influence in the Force would help influence and guide her. Whether that influence took, Elara did not know, but it had helped calm her frazzled nerves upon returning from stressful peace talks.
"Ah, Master Yoda," intoned a new voice. Both Elara and Yoda looked towards the source of the voice and found both Chancellor Palpatine and Senator Bail Organa strolling through the courtyard. It wasn't strange to see members of the Senate at the Temple––not recently, anyways. Bail was smiling kindly whilst his companion's face remained in its typical diplomatic mask. "I was hoping I might find you here; though I do hope we are not interrupting anything."
Yoda picked up his staff and utilized it to stand, grunting with the effort it took. He clasped both hands atop the gnarled length of wood and leaned his weight upon it, gazing at his padawan. "Interrupting, you are not. Finished with our meditation we are."
Elara uncrossed her legs and rose to her feet, adjusting the traditional brown robe that hung about her person. She inclined her head to the new arrivals, a gentle smile apparent on her face. In the last year or so Elara had become familiar with a handful of senators; including Padmé, who had taken the position after a new queen was appointed on Naboo. She know most of the senators by name, now, and she made a point of addressing them with such familiarity.
"Senator Organa. Chancellor Palpatine," she greeted politely.
Bail inclined his head and smiled, his kind eyes crinkling at the corners. Exempting Padmé, he was the kindest of the senators she'd met. He always went out of his way to greet her whenever they passed each other by, be it in the Temple, the Senate Building, of the Senatorial Apartments. If there was time and they found themselves in the other's company for an extended period of time, they would converse on topics varying from political matters to things as basic as the weather. Through these talks Elara had discovered that Bail hailed from the royal family on Alderaan, though he was trained to take the family seat in the Senate––not necessarily the crown––and that he had a wife named Breha, who was Queen of Alderaan. Likewise, Bail was told of Elara's life on Tatooine and the journey of how she came to be a padawan.
"Elara Skywalker, it is a pleasure to see you as always," Bail intoned kindly.
Elara's experience with the Chancellor was distinctly different. When she had first encountered Palpatine, he was a senator; during the invasion of Naboo, the Supreme Chancellor at the time had been removed from his seat and Palpatine had been elected to take it. Now he governed the Galactic Republic from his comfortable seat in the Senate District of Coruscant. Elara was fairly familiar with the Chancellor, as he often called up on Yoda for meetings, which Elara was allowed to stay for. She did not know him so familiarly as Bail, but they were known to share conversations here and now, though they were mostly hampered by professionalism. He was a man whom was very assured in himself in the most stoic of ways, and sometimes that put Elara off.
In greeting, Palpatine merely bowed his head without any words to accompany it.
"I was hoping we might speak, Master Yoda. We have just come from a meeting of the Senate, and there is much we must discuss," the Chancellor said.
Yoda nodded his head and gestured to the exit of the courtyard with the bottom of his staff. "To my quarters we will go, and discuss what you wish. Come."
The group began to move towards the Yoda's quarters, with the small but mighty Master leading the way whilst he spoke with Bail in quiet tones. Elara walked in step with Palpatine, the two remaining silent for the first portion of their walk. It was as they entered the temple that a conversation was struck up.
"I have been told by members of the Jedi Council that you and your brother have excelled in your training," Palpatine informed, his voice lofty. He turned his head a fraction to regard the padawan, and he offered a slow nod of approval. "I am pleased to hear of such news."
"Thank you, Chancellor," Elara replied, voice evenly composed as it usually was when she spoke with him.
"The Jedi Order should consider themselves lucky that they will have two such powerful members, when the time comes that your are properly inducted. They will need all the help they can get with the shifting political climate."
"As tensions grow we do find ourselves spread thinly, yes. The success rate for our missions, though, remain high so at least we're managing to uphold our duties. Though every padawan that gains the title of Knight aids in giving a growing relief; Jedi Knights can do more without requiring the company of another. It allows us to go farther, do more," Elara stated.
"And the stronger the Galactic Republic will be thanks to Jedi like you," Palpatine intoned. The corners of his mouth had raised, though the smile did not quite reach his eyes, Elara realized. He turned his head just-so and offered another slow, but slight, nod. The smile might not have reached his eyes, but there was something eyes there; a faint gleam of emotion that Elara could not properly put a name to.
A slight laugh pulled from the Tatooine native's mouth and she shook her head at the use of the word 'Jedi.' "I am not a Jedi. Not yet anyways. As you mentioned before, I'm still in training; and there is much I still must learn under Master Yoda's guidance."
Palpatine and Elara paused to allow a group of Jedi––headed by Plo Koon––to pass them by. Elara and Plo exchanged a nod in greeting. The brief pause put a couple feet of distance between Bail and Yoda, and Elara and Palpatine. When they resumed walking, she heard Palpatine give a contemplative hum, and he raised his chin a little, making him look a little more aloof than he naturally did.
"I know that, in your heart, you are a Jedi. The given title of Padawan Learner is merely a… courtesy," Palpatine suggesting, his voice rising slightly in pitch on the last word. Elara's brows furrowed and her lips pulled down at the corners. "The Jedi are strict regarding their titles, however, so you must conform to such ways. Just know that your heart is your truest guide; it always know what you want most, what is best for you. But who am I to give advice?" He laughed and smiled broadly, turning so he could look at Elara straight-on. "I am merely an old man with no experience in the ways of the Jedi. All I wish is to see you reach your fullest potential, Elara."
Palpatine placed a hand on her shoulder, where his fingers gave a squeeze. It remained there for a couple steps before it dropped and joined his other hand at the small of his back. Elara turned her head to face forward and blinked as his words invaded her ears. They chattered loudly there, annoyingly loud. She could still feel his hand on her shoulder, heavy and strangely controlling. There was something in the way Palpatine had kept steering comments towards herself and Anakin's supposed prowess that made a twinge of discomfort work its way down her spine. Elara wanted to shrug it off as it being her aversion to compliments acting up once more. But something in her chest remained tight and wouldn't let Elara shake the feeling.
When Elara gave small shake of her head to clear it, she just caught ear of what Bail and Yoda were discussing up ahead.
"…The tally of systems that wish to separate themselves from the Galactic Republic is concerning––nearing the thousand mark. We fear that, as more declare their wish to secede, the numbers will climb," Bail was saying, gesticulating with a serious hand. Yoda hummed in acknowledgement of his fear, nodding his small green head.
"And talks, you wish to hold, with conflicted systems?" Yoda guessed.
"Yes. And I know it is asking much, as your Jedi are already working so hard, but if I were to give you a list of the systems that need to be monitored or talked to the soonest…"
"Discuss this, we will, and then to the council will I take the proposal." Yoda came to a stop and turned to gaze back at his padawan and the Chancellor. "Not needed are you for this meeting, Elara. Clouded your mind has become and meditation you should return to."
Elara gave a nod and bent forward at the waist slightly in a minor bow. Her padawan braid swung by her cheek, caressing it with a teasing gentleness. Where once his very public criticism might have embarrassed her, it no longer did––because he was right. "Yes, Master. I wish you a good afternoon, Senator." Bail inclined his head. Elara turned to the Chancellor, who was again watching her with that gleam in his eye. She quickly directed her eyes at the floor and offered a respectful incline of the head. "Chancellor."
The three men disappeared around the corner, voices fading as the distance between them and Elara grew. She listed sideways to brace her shoulder against the wall. It was disconcerting how quickly that man had been able to cloud her head. It had seemed to her that he was indirecting telling her to contradict what her training had taught her; a Jedi was not supposed to allow emotions to rule their decisions, yet Palpatine insisted she should. But he was not her Master. He was not a Jedi, as he had said. It was meant as friendly advice, she supposed. Elara shut her eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to lull herself into a shallow state of meditation. Just enough to clear her head. It was in that state, as she started to gently release herself from the confines of her thoughts, that she felt something shift. The Force shifted in a dramatically familiar way, buzzing with a certain energy. It was an energy that Elara could identify from miles away. One that she hadn't felt in far too long. Her eyes snapped open and she spun on her heel, breaking into an excited jog.
After mapping her way through the Temple, she found herself atop the staircase in the entryway just beside the landing pads. Just cresting the stairs from the pad was Obi-Wan, conversing with a second party, which was the source of the Force shift––Anakin. From the tops of their respective staircases, their eyes met. Matching grins broke out across their faces, and Elara jogged down the steps hand trailing along the marble bannister. Her toes had just brushed the bottom step when two arms curled around her waist and swept her up.
"Anakin!" she squealed in surprise, hands clutching his shoulders for support.
Anakin had hoisted her up and spun her around whilst laughing. His face was pressed into the crook of her neck and his arms were wound securely around her waist, holding her as tightly as possible. After completing two whole spins, Elara was set back on her feet and the two siblings grinned at each other. It had been four years since they had seen one another. Missions always took them to opposite ends of the galaxy, and left them always missing each other by mere minutes. Much had changed since their last meeting, which was pointed out as Elara launched herself into a hug.
"You're tall!" she laughed, arms winding around his neck. She knew a day would come where he would likely be taller than her; but it was so strange, as they last time they'd seen one another the top of his head cleared her elbow by a few inches. Now he loomed over her by a handful of inches, and Elara was sure that there was still room for him to grow. Anakin laughed and held her tightly, giving a good squeeze.
"And you're old," he chuckled. The brotherly insult caused her to laugh again, hiding her face into the crook of his neck. Her eyes stung with tears of happiness, which were absorbed by the layers of fabric that made up Anakin's robes. "It's been too long…"
Elara drew out of the embrace and lifted her hands to clasp his cheeks. She beamed up at him, marveling at how much he had grown. The childish softness of his jawbone had sharpened and become more defined, and his cheeks appeared to be following suit; though there still appeared to be some child-like roundness to them. His eyes were still the same lively, mischievous blue, and they twinkled as he smiled down at her. The braid behind his ear dangled just at jaw level. Both Elara and Anakin's hair had darkened significantly from the sun-bleached blonde that Tatooine had forced upon them thanks to the binary suns. Now their hair was a darker, subdued blonde––tending more towards brown, even.
"Look at how big you've gotten…" Elara murmured, almost to herself. It was such a punch in the gut to see how much he had grown. She hadn't been there to see him grow, and she knew at the start of everything that that would be the most difficult part of this path. But Anakin looked happy and healthy and that was all that mattered.
Anakin chuckled and shrugged his broadening shoulders.
"I'm not that much bigger."
"To me you are––you forget that I once cradled you in my arms!"
"Well, to me, I just feel older," Anakin informed. He nodded his head at her, as though to gesture to her face. "You look older." Elara arched both brows and a panicked look that she remembered very well crossed his face. He stepped back and held up both hands placatingly. She watched as his eyes darted towards his Master for help; and Elara heard Obi-Wan chuckle. "B-but in a good way! More… mature, I think. More adult-like."
"That would be because she is an adult," drawled Obi-Wan. He had strolled forward, a smile playing on his lips from the sight of the reunion. Anakin offered a petulant roll of his eyes, which Elara snorted at. She turned away from her brother to give Obi-Wan a hug, curling her arms about his neck. "Good to see you as always, Elara."
Elara smiled over his shoulder and turned her head so her lips were lined up with his ear. "Thank you for keeping him safe," she murmured. Obi-Wan's arms tightened around her momentarily, holding her a little closer than he ever had before. Elara stretched up on her toes to accommodate the closeness a little better. When they broke out of the embrace, their eyes met. Obi-Wan nodded sincerely, lips curling into a smile. The smile was easily returned while the two remained close, with Elara's hands on Obi-Wan's shoulders, and one of his hands at her waist.
"I see you two have gotten close," Anakin deadpanned, nose scrunched up in what almost looked like distaste.
Elara laughed quietly upon noticing the protective gleam that had risen in her brother's eyes. Some things never changed. Anakin had always been protective of her, and she recalled many instances of him throwing his tiny body in front of hers as Sebulba spat at her and threatened her with vicious words. Sometimes whoever was bothering her would laugh and step back, and sometimes Elara had to push him behind her in case the situation escalated. It appeared that protectiveness had grown with him, now aware of all other things he could potentially protect his older sister from.
"I am allowed to have friends, Anakin," she laughed.
Anakin sighed and his shoulders slumped a little, eyes flicking upwards as he grasped for words. He gestured lamely with his hands when his gaze returned to the two in front of him.
"Yeah, but…" he petulantly trailed off. His eyes danced between Obi-Wan and Elara, and the unspoken words 'this is weird to me' became clear. Anakin's gaze became honed in on the hand Obi-Wan had left on Elara's waist and his nose scrunched up a little more, eyebrows following suit.
His Master chuckled in amusement and finally removed his hand from her person, fingers gingerly brushing against her hip as it dropped. "Come!" Obi-Wan enthused, gesturing down the entrance hall. "We can all exchange stories over lunch; I, for one, am absolutely starving."
OOOO
Lunch eventually progressed into talk of a sparring match between Elara and Anakin. It was Obi-Wan who posed the suggestion, as he was curious how the siblings would fare in a match against each other; they were so used to working with one another, he wondered how they would act and react when they were pitted against the other. He, of course, would be the mediator, and curious audience member. They laid claim to a training room, which were often empty at that time of day, and they let the match commence.
Obi-Wan watched with a hand hovering at his lips, attentively letting his eyes follow each attack and defensive move. It was like the two were meant to battle together. He suspected that was likely due to the Force bond he had detected so long ago, which connected them so strongly. Their energies existed together in near perfect harmony. They complimented one another; while there was always an underlying push of aggression behind Anakin's movements, but there was a collectiveness to Elara's fighting style that perfectly counteracted that. They simply… balanced each other out. It was like watching a choreographed dance, their blue sabers clashing and humming dissonantly as they moved about, completely fleet of foot. They passed each other in streaks of black and white, their robes contrasting just as much as their fighting styles did. And none of that was lost as their movements became quicker; Obi-Wan foresaw them being quite the asset to the other fighting side-by-side in battle one day.
Obi-Wan's focus eventually became wholly fixated on Elara as he watched her twist and spin and swing; every move advanced effortlessly into the next. There was something inherently graceful about the way Elara wielded her lightsaber; her movements were so smooth and precise and every step she took and shift she made was dance-like. It was wonderfully clear that years of practice––and practical experience––had aided in honing her skills. It was nearly mesmerizing to watch her. One would think she had been trained in lightsaber combat since she was very, very young, but Obi-Wan knew that to be false. Yet it was as though she had been born to do it. None of the effort it took to spar showed on her face, her expression remaining focused but dignified. Even that was something that the most hardened, experienced Jedi had difficulty with. The way the colored light from the sabers flickered across her face was beautiful––she was beautiful.
For whatever reason, the revelation of her beauty struck him hard. It was like a strange kick to the chest and it took his breath away. For a moment, at least. It caused a slip in the walls he had carefully constructed to hold back the waves of emotion he often felt. It was a brief slip, a slight crack that he scrambled to patch up; luckily, the slip went unnoticed by the sparring siblings. While watching the two continue to fight, his thoughts were elsewhere, questioning why openly recognizing Elara as beautiful had struck him so strangely. It was a statement of fact––she had always been beautiful, as far as he was concerned. Not only did she hold physical beauty, she held intellectual beauty. Her personality was beautiful. And why all of that had hit Obi-Wan like a blaster bolt mildly confused him. Those confused thoughts, however, were put on hold as the sparring match came to an end.
That end came when the siblings each had their sabers leveled at the side of the other's throat––Elara's hovered over Anakin's left shoulder, and his hovered over her left shoulder. The energy blades hummed and buzzed just inches from their throats. The match had ended in a draw. The composed expressions on the faces of the Skywalker siblings broke; Anakin smiled and deactivated his lightsaber whilst Elara did the same.
"I'd never kill you," Anakin teased.
"The sentiment is shared," Elara laughed, a little out of breath. Her hand rose to swipe across her forehead, smearing away the sweat that had beaded there. Anakin's smile became a cheeky grin and he held his shoulders up by his ear in mock sheepishness.
"But I think I might have won that round," he suggested.
Elara scoffed and placed a hand on her hip, the hand gripping her lightsaber hilt hanging at her side. "Oh, really? Because I think it ended in a draw," she decided diplomatically.
"My lightsaber stopped just before yours, which means you would have been dead before you got the chance to retaliate."
A loud scoff forced its way from Elara's mouth, and she shook her head; she reached up and mussed Anakin's short hair, an action that he clucked his tongue at and frowned. Anakin moved his head away from Elara's gentle fingers, and she chuckled at the childish response to her affection. Retaliating, Anakin tugged on her padawan braid, and she rolled her eyes while his hand was smacked aside. It was clear to Obi-Wan that despite the years apart, the love they had for each other had not diminished. Anakin had matured, but there was a child-like vulnerability that appeared when he interacted so closely with his sister. Their interactions were always so loving, and the Jedi Knight was sure that they would always be that way––and that was wonderfully reassuring. She leaned forward, as though telling a secret, and whispered,
"It was a draw." Anakin rolled his eyes good naturedly, and drew his sister in for another hug, nuzzling his face into the crook of her neck. Elara smiled and placed a hand on the back of his head, smoothing her fingers through his hair. Obi-Wan distantly recalled a time where she had done the same thing to him, her fingers delicately carding through his hair; his spine tingled at the memory. "We'll keep at it and then maybe one day you'll be able to beat me. After that, perhaps one day you'll be able to beat Obi-Wan." Elara smiled over at the mentioned man and Anakin drew out of his sister's embrace. She narrowed her eyes playfully and Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow. "He's quite the artist with a saber."
Obi-Wan's lips quirked to the side and he allowed himself to playfully saunter a few steps forward. He gestured to her with the hand that had been hovering at his mouth, pointedly looking to the hilt clutched in her hand.
"You are quite skilled with a lightsaber as well; I always consider myself quite lucky whenever I am graced with the chance to spar with you, Elara," Obi-Wan complimented, his lips quirked to the side in that troublesome smirk. He felt mildly satisfied when a tinge of pink rose to the tops of her cheeks; it reminded him of the sunburn she had left Tatooine with, the shade of pink rather becoming.
"You flatter me, Obi-Wan," she replied, tone light and genuine. He inclined his head and bent at the waist in a slight, but present, bow; he looked up at Elara from under his lashes, smirk growing a little wider. Her blush grew a little darker.
Whilst Elara appeared flattered by the display, her brother clearly had other thoughts about it. He looked between the two with the same crumpled expression from earlier, only this time it was more severe. He turned away to retrieve his robe, muttering something that sounded like 'I don't know what's going on, but I don't like it.' That made the two adults grin at the other, something unspoken passing between them. Elara tore her gaze away from Obi-Wan's so she could hook the hilt of her lightsaber back onto her belt. Her eyes darted back to his, however, once the task was done, and she almost sheepishly looked away upon realizing that he was still watching her. It was moments like that when Obi-Wan secretly wished Elara still had difficulty in regards to telegraphing her emotions through the Force. Perhaps knowing what she'd felt in that moment would have helped ease the confused thoughts that continued to gnaw at the back of his head.
But, alas, Elara was becoming a very accomplished Jedi-to-be, and Obi-Wan would have to meditate upon his thoughts, like he always did.
OOOO
Having Anakin back at the Temple was a breath of fresh air to Elara. They spent late nights catching up with each other, sitting cross-legged on the floor of one of their rooms. Tales would be told of the missions they had been on, the planets they had seen, and the beings they had met. Some of the stories were harrowing, others were hilarious and had them bent at the waist laughing. Anakin had excitedly inquired about Padmé when his sister mentioned she had worked with her a handful of times; Elara had chuckled at his enthusiasm and playfully teased him about how infatuated he had been with her when he was younger. Anakin had shrugged off her comments, but his cheeks had pinkened with a blush.
The siblings reacquainted themselves with each other and how the other had changed. Elara had to consistently remind herself that he wasn't nine anymore. That he was a young man, now, and he didn't need to be babied so much. It felt wrong to verbally admonish him for things that he said or did, but fixing him with a look seemed to be a suitable replacement. Anakin started feeling out the more adult relationship he was forming with his sister, and found himself pleasantly surprised when not much seemed to change. They still joked around, recalled old memories of home, and picked on the other like they used to; there were just more types of conversation he could participate in, now.
As promised, the two would spar when they had the chance and were often times observed by Obi-Wan. He would offer suggestions and gentle criticisms, and sometimes would step in to spar against either sibling, with the promise of a trio spar lurking somewhere in the future. The trio would eat meals with each other when possible, though Obi-Wan was often called off to meetings for extended periods of time. They found entertainment in swapping embarrassing stories––most of the time about Anakin. He would groan and hide his face in his hands, pleading for them to stop. He would retaliate by alternating between embarrassing stories of Elara and Obi-Wan, who took it with more grace than the young man. They also discussed more serious topics, swapping ideas and debating topics as they walked about the Temple. The conversations would often carry on for hours till a convenient stopping point was found. The three were forming a working partnership and friendship that could be beneficial to them in the trying times. If there was one thing that they all knew for sure, it was that the other two had their back.
Three weeks into the restful period, Obi-Wan approached Elara with a request.
"A mission?" Elara inquired, leaning forward against the marble railing. Obi-Wan was partially seated on the same railing, his arms crossed over his ribcage. The late afternoon light painted the planes of his face gold and the blue of his eyes stood out dramatically. He nodded and met her gaze easily.
"Yes. I am to travel to the planet of Gleann, where the senator's council is divided between seceding from the Galactic Republic, and remaining within it. Both sides are attempting to persuade him in their direction, and we have been called upon to discuss such conflict. If we do our job correctly, Gleann will remain in the Republic," Obi-Wan explained, voice softly expressive. Elara nodded along, absorbing the given information. She then fixed him with a curious look that crinkled her brows together and caused her lips to gently part.
"And why have you asked me?" she inquired curiously. There were innumerable other people he could ask––experienced Knights and Masters that had more experience than her, a padawan of six years. She was flattered that he had asked her, of course, but her honest curiosity was piqued.
Obi-Wan started to run his fingers along his jaw, gently stroking his beard. "Master Yoda informed me that you have a certain talent with placating––how should I phrase this… rowdy politicians. Whilst I adore Anakin, he typically tends more towards…"
"The aggressive approach?" Elara offered with a laugh. Obi-Wan joined in the laughter, and nodded, eyes twinkling with mirth.
"I am still attempting to teach him the discipline of evaluating his words and thoughts before he speaks." Obi-Wan made a face, clearly recalling something from a previous mission. "Those slips of his tongue have landed us in trouble before. Has he always been so sharp of tongue?"
Elara nodded, her laughter swelling.
"Absolutely. He often picked fights with men three times his age."
The two let the laughter die out naturally. A beat of comfortable silence followed before Obi-Wan steered the conversation back on track. "And, besides, I hold much confidence in your combat skills, should things go horribly, terribly wrong. Sometimes peace talks end up being decidedly lacking in peace." He raised both eyebrows inquisitively, the tiniest version of that dangerous smirk rising to his lips. "So? Will you join me?"
Elara turned to look out over the cityscape stretched out before them. They were stood out on the balcony that they had stood on years ago, exchanging a robe and discussing prophecies. She never could have imagined that six years later Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight, would be asking her to accompany him on a mission on that very same balcony. But what had once a dream, had become reality. A blissful, strange, thrilling reality. A smile bloomed across her face, and she turned her attention back to Obi-Wan, eyes twinkling.
"I would be honored, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Afterword: Ages in this chapter: Elara is 26, Obi-Wan is 28, Anakin is 16.
The inspiration that has struck me for this story is insane. So, here's the next chapter! And the next one is gonna be fun, 'cause it's basically gonna be all Elara and Obi-Wan spending time together and all that good fun. I've been having a blast getting back into this story, and I can't stop thinking up new ideas; so I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter!
Review Replies!
ZabuzasGirl: There will probably be one or two more chapters before we hit movie territory; I just wanna flesh out some more of Obi-Wan and Elara's relationship before we head into Attack of the Clones. That's where shit is gonna get real. I hope you had a good holiday season, and good start to the new year! Thanks again!
LeggoMyEggo92: Thank you, very much––the luck will be need this semester. I hope that you enjoyed the update! Thanks again!
Robinbird79: I'm really working hard on keeping the flow of their relationship natural; and it's difficult because they aren't in the kind of situation (yet) where they are always around each other. Obi-Wan's off with Anakin, and Elara is with Yoda, and they only really see each other for a couple of days at a time––a week or more if they're lucky. So I'm hyped to get to the point where they're consistently in the other's presence. And I also look forward to writing more sassy/flirty Obi-Wan. It's gonna be great. I hope that you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!
fallondyson: Here you go! A new update, so soon after the other!
heroherondaletotherescue: When thinking about last chapter, I wanted to sort of close out the section on the beginning section of her training with something meaningful––and the kyber crystal/lightsaber training seemed to be the best situation. And I definitely think Obi-Wan beginning to realize there's something there is important, because I think it would take him longer to process it. I hope you had a happy start to the new year! Thanks again!
LoveFiction2017: Thank you!
LealovesMokuba: Thank you so much; I hope you enjoyed the chapter just as much as the last one!
Guest: Your review made me smile! I'm very glad that you're enjoying Elara and Obi-Wan's interactions and that you look forward to seeing how their story interweaves with the events of the movie and such. I have such plans… such plans! I hope that you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!
And thank you to those that added this to their follows/favorites––it means a lot to me!
I hope to get the next chapter up fairly soon; I've got a lot of the next chapter planned out, and I'm excited for you all to read about Elara and Obi-Wan's (mis)adventures on Gleann. Thanks again for being completely awesome!
~Mary