HarceusMjalga: Well, since you said please... XD (but only this once time!)
IF YOU DID NOT READ THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER TITLED 'WAYS OF THE FORCE' GO BACK A CHAPTER.
Let us continue with Destined!
It may have been hours. It could have been days. Maybe even years.
Qui-Gon breathed in and out, trying to calm down. His cheeks were now stained with tears, but no more drips fell… until he made the mistake of opening his eyes and looking over at where Obi-Wan used to sit. Then the tears returned and Qui-Gon held in sobs, instead letting out quiet moans.
Something behind him snapped in half.
Qui-Gon froze, his eyes squeezed shut. He had no desire to speak to anyone right now, nor was he in the position to do so. Of all the places he had to run, why did he come here? His quarters with Xanatos memories would have been more welcome than Obi-Wan's memories.
Maybe it was just an animal… in the temple gardens… No, it was a Jedi. Maybe Tahl had seen him dash up here or perhaps Yoda was coming to give him a lecture and a few whacks with his walking stick. Qui-Gon flinched at the thought of that, already feeling the pain.
It could be Bant, Obi-Wan's friend. She was aware of the spot and perhaps she had come here to think about Obi-Wan's departure and remember her friend.
Or perhaps it was a new youngling, stumbling upon this spot for the first time. Qui-Gon wasn't sure if he was ready to share it again, but if the Force had led them here, then who was he to argue?
"Master Jinn?"
Qui-Gon's eyes flew open. No… he had to hallucinating. That must be it. The Jedi had finally lost his mind.
"Master Jinn?"
Perhaps it was a vision in the Force, sent to torture his failure and send the message deep in his heart and mind.
"Qui-Gon?"
But he sounded so real! As slowly and painfully as possible, Qui-Gon turned around and stared.
Obi-Wan shifted awkwardly, "I'm sorry, did I-"
Qui-Gon didn't wait for him to finish. In one swift motion he stood up, crossed the small clearing in a few steps and threw his arms around the boy.
Obi-Wan froze. "Uh… Master Jinn?"
Qui-Gon was so terrified to let go. What if it wasn't real? The Force wouldn't be that cruel would it? But the youngling sounded frightened so he pulled back, "Y-yes, Obi-Wan?"
"I… I'm sorry to interrupt you but…" He frowned and looked a little closer at the Jedi Master. He looked worse off than when Obi-Wan had left him. His face was slightly red from crying and the tears that had fell on his robes were still visible. "Um…"
"Go on, Obi-Wan." Why was he back? Qui-Gon tried to shove down the hope that had risen in his heart.
"Well… I got on the transport and was all the way to the spaceport when I had the sudden impression I had forgotten something. I looked in my bag and checked and double checked but couldn't find anything. But the feeling was so strong I had to come back. I looked everywhere but I couldn't find what I had forgotten." He frowned slightly and Qui-Gon was a little confused on where this was going.
"Then after looking everywhere I could think of, I felt the Force prod me. It told me what I was forgetting would not fit in my bag. It wasn't even a something." He paused, "It was a person."
Qui-Gon felt his heart pick-up, pounding. He didn't move or blink. He could barely breath.
"I… I didn't quite believe it at first… but then I heard your voice come back to me clear as daylight."
"Trust in the Force," Qui-Gon mumbled.
Obi-Wan nodded slowly, his hesitation growing more and more noticeable. "So I asked who I was forgetting. And… it told me… my…" he trailed off, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Master Jinn. I'll leave-"
"What did you leave?"
"It's impossible. I don't have one-"
"Who did you leave?"
Obi-Wan paused looking down sheepishly. His voice was barely a whisper. "My Master."
Qui-Gon felt his heart soar and without thinking he hugged the boy again, closing his eyes and enjoying Obi-Wan's presence in the Force.
Obi-Wan stiffened up, completely confused. "Qui-Gon?"
"Yes, Padawan?" Qui-Gon smiled at the word. Somehow, it sounded natural directed at the young boy. It was a title earned by best of the younglings, and if anyone deserved it, Obi-Wan did.
Obi-Wan felt the air seemed to be ripped out of his lungs. He gasped and dropped to his knees, inadvertently leaning into Qui-Gon's embrace. "Ma… Master Jinn?" His mind scrambled and came up with hundreds to questions. Did Master Jinn just call him…? "I… I don't- I didn't- I-"
"You never did let me finish." Qui-Gon smiled, holding Obi-Wan at arm length. "The question that I wanted answered… the answer I continued to deny… I felt a connection in the Force, Obi-Wan. A connection that I never thought I'd want again." He paused before continuing, his voice careful and soft, "The Force told me you were to be my Padawan… and I denied it, the worst mistake of my entire life."
Obi-Wan frowned. "But… why…?"
"I've accepted the answer now. And if you'll forgive my pride and fear, will you do me the honor of being my Padawan?"
Silence. Obi-Wan's eyes were wide with shock, his mouth hanging partially open. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, shaking his head and then blinked again.
Qui-Gon felt his hope begin to fade and his smile slowly vanished. He removed his hands and looked down at the ground, about to give another apology to Obi-Wan before leaving forever, his heart crushed and broken.
"Yes…" The word was barely a whisper.
Qui-Gon's eyes snapped up. "What?"
Obi-Wan smiled, his eyes a twinkling blue. "Yes… I would be honored, Master Jinn." He gave a small bow before hugging Qui-Gon, burying his face in the Master's ropes. He didn't want him to see to tears of joy that came spilling out uncontrollably, afraid that Qui-Gon would throw him back as fast as he grabbed him.
Experiencing a similar predicament, Qui-Gon hugged the boy back, terrified that he had imagined everything in his mind. That it was all a dream and Obi-Wan was actually on a transport to Bandomeer and he was just sleeping in the clearing and hugging a rock.
A small breeze brushed over the two, filling each with comfort and a feeling of confirmation. This was where their true paths lied.
The fact that stubborn and angry Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn had chosen Obi-Wan Kenobi as a Padawan was the talk of the temple for the next week. No one seemed to believe it and every time a member of the council passed by a Jedi would pull them aside and ask for confirmation. It got so bad that Yoda just started hobbling around repeating, "True, it is," over and over again.
Since Obi-Wan had already packed all of his belongings for the Agri Corps and Qui-Gon had insisted he moved immediately into his split-quarters. While Qui-Gon went to inform the council of the new Padawan, Obi-Wan entered Xanatos' old room, cleared all of the fallen Padawan's belongings, and threw them in the nearest garbage compactor.
He then knelt down in the middle of the bedroom and proceeded to remove any remaining Force signature of Xanatos, replacing it with his own. He didn't want any of that memory remaining to haunt him and Qui-Gon the rest of their lives. When he finished that, he cleaned the main quarters and his new room, noting the fact that neither appeared to had been tidied in some time.
Qui-Gon's explanation to the council took longer than he expected with over an hour of questions, explanations, and arrangements. Many of the council members had been shocked and a bit sceptical at the concept of Qui-Gon taking another apprentice, especially with the revelations that his previous one was still alive and revengeful. It had taken a few whacks from the Grand Master for them to finally accept the fact before Yoda whacked Qui-Gon a few times for being so stubborn.
By the time he got back, Obi-Wan had finished his cleaning of the living area and was almost done with his own quarters. He had been shocked at the amount of dust that had accumulated on his floor and was determined to get as much as he could out.
Qui-Gon was more than a little surprised at how clean the room was when he walked in. It was a pleasant surprise and proved to him that Obi-Wan had common sense. The Master had been a little occupied watching over the unconscious youngling and hadn't been in his quarters, leaving a small bit of dirt and dust unattended. He was just inspecting the cupboards when the door to Obi-Wan's room slid open and the boy came tumbling out in a slightly dirtied tunic, tripping over his own feet. He stood up and looked back at his room, his expression slightly annoyed.
"How much dust can cover a floor?" he demanded to no one in particular.
Qui-Gon peered over the counter, a smile appearing on his face, "Quite a bit, since I haven't cleaned in there for years."
Obi-Wan almost fell back on the floor, as he had not heard Qui-Gon enter. He hurriedly straightened up and gave a small bow, "Sorry. I didn't hear you come in."
"Obi-Wan, you don't have to bow every time I enter or leave the room."
Smiling a bit sheepishly Obi-Wan shrugged, "Sorry. I'm a bit new at this."
Qui-Gon acknowledged the fact with a small nod. "Excellent job cleaning up after me. Next time, I won't abandon you to the task alone."
"It was fine, Master. I wanted to surprise you."
It was funny how in one short day Qui-Gon could feel joy from a word that used to bring him dread. "Consider me surprised. Come. The Council is waiting."
Obi-Wan dusted himself off the best he could and donned his robe before following Qui-Gon out the door.
The Council room was quiet and still. Master Windu stood in front of a kneeling Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan was trying to keep a straight face and not look at his Master, knowing if he did, he'd lose all control and burst into a fit of giggles. He focused on Master Windu as the Jedi Master began.
"Qui-Gon Jinn has chosen you, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to become his Padawan Learner. Do you understand and accept the responsibilities that comes with becoming a Padawan?"
Obi-Wan forced himself to stay calm and answer as steady as he could, "Yes."
Qui-Gon inwardly grinned, knowing exactly what Obi-Wan was feeling right now.
"Do you agree to respect your Master, their instruction, and the will of the Force?"
"Yes."
Mace turned to Qui-Gon and gave a small nod of acknowledgement. But after being friends for many years, Qui-Gon knew that that nod was equal to a wink.
"Qui-Gon Jinn, do you understand and accept the responsibilities that come with taking on a Padawan Learner?"
No hesitation. There was barely a pause in the air before Qui-Gon affirmed with a strong "Yes."
Obi-Wan wished he could have sounded a little more like that.
"Do you agree to respect your Padawan, their questions, and the will of the Force?"
"Yes."
Mace looked at the rest of the council who each nodded their approval and he finished.
"Rise, Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. From this day forward your training will be guided by your Master and the Force. May the Force be with you both in the days to come."
Obi-Wan was unable to keep his smile hidden any longer as the two rose and Qui-Gon braided and tied off the new symbol of his apprenticeship.
There was a few small congratulations from the Council and then Yoda stepped forward. His face held a kind smile as he began to speak.
"Grateful, the Council is, accepting a Padawan, finally have, Master Jinn." Yoda pointed his walking stick at the Jedi, his eyes twinkling with humor, "Tie you down, we almost did."
Qui-Gon resisted the urge to roll his eyes and Obi-Wan frowned at the image of his Master strapped in a chair.
Yoda turned his attention to the youngling, addressing him next, "Obi-Wan, proud the Council is of you. Overcome much doubt and fear, you have. More you will have to overcome." Yoda's humor faded as quickly as it appeared, Obi-Wan noted in his mind.
The Grand Master then addressed both of them, "Much, I see in your future. Unclear, most of it is. Trials, great they will be. On each other, you must rely. Together, the Force brought you. Together, you must stay, mm?"
Both Jedi frowned a bit puzzled at the Grand Master, but neither spoke.
"Great danger, I foresee," Yoda placed his walking stick on the ground, leaning on it, "In the Force, Trust, you must. If not, you do, great peril."
The atmosphere in the room seemed to darken a tad and both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon shifted slightly on their feet, an invisible weight pressing on their shoulders.
Then as sudden as it had come, it passed. Yoda hobbled forward, placing a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. He grinned again, setting Obi-Wan at ease once more, "Great-Grand Padawan, you now are, of mine. Proud you will make your Master, yes?"
"Yes, Master Yoda." Obi-Wan smiled.
"This one, less trouble, than you, Qui-Gon." Yoda chuckled, walking back to his seat.
Qui-Gon really did roll his eyes this time. He bowed to the Council before motioning for Obi-Wan to follow.
The entire council smiled slightly as the young boy gave a quick bow, skipping after Qui-Gon, his signature aglow.
Obi-Wan caught up quickly to his Master, falling into step beside him. He looked up at Qui-Gon, his eyes shining with happiness and light. Qui-Gon smiled back at him.
The Force hummed it's pleasure at the arrangement, sending affirmation that both Master and Padawan were where they were meant to be. Neither doubted or denied the feelings. The Force seemed to smile at them, tussling Obi-Wan's hair again (much to his annoyance) and nodding at Qui-Gon. The message was clear and simple.
"You have finally learned to Trust in the Force."
In an unspoken agreement, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan headed to the meditation garden. It had been a long day and both were ready to find their balance.
You're welcome!