Chapter 11

Hey guys, I'm back. Yes. You heard it, I'm back after almost one year O_O
I could now go on with a very lengthy apology, and reasons why I didn't write a chapter for DD for over a year, but I won't. At least not here. If you are interested, then I'll explain at the bottom of my story.

Special thanks to all of the anonymous reviewers I can't write back, and the people who still had faith in me, and waited for a chapter. You don't know how horrible I felt to disappoint you guys.
I know one chap isn't nearly enough to make it up, but I hope you'll enjoy it.

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In the Temple's Library, everyone's POV.

With one last glance at the stone, Qui-Gon began to read…

~Evil creatures of the Dark Side~

Mara'Haya, or the Banshee of Souls

"About this particular subject is little known, since Mara' Haya only shows herself to her victims. Only one of those she preyed on is known to have survived her wrath, and his knowledge about this horrible creature of the Dark Side of the Force was written on paper. These scrolls have been found and translated, though much has been lost.

According to the surviving young man, Lux Zosimo, Mara' Haya appears to be a beautiful lady ~see the picture painted by Zosimo in the left corner~
But, in truth, she is a vile and horrible creature of the dark. She might be one of the most dangerous beings in this book, and an encounter with her you'll most likely not survive.

The following paragraph is the first one from Lux Zosimo's scrolls.
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A cruel, deceiving creature, the dark spirit Mara'Haya, {Mara'haya, or Mara'Haja} is known by several names. It is said sche calls herself to hir victims ' the Angel of Death and Life', before sche lures them in hir trap. Though, sche is no Angel, but an evil, dark creature, as later becomes clear to hir victims. The information about hire in these scrolls, is never to be found anywhere else. Thou must beware; once thou have read this, the secrets of the ancient banshee are no longer safe. These scrolls will reveal how I was saved, and hire was defeated.

This paragraph thus describes what 'she' actually is. Since Lux Zosimo is the only one to ever survive an encounter with her, only his words make that this chapter exists. Now, his scrolls were badly damaged, though the following paragraph about how the creature lures her prey has been saved.

Mara'Haya is a predator who preys on the weak. And not just weak people, but in particular young men, boys they could be called. Thou must understand the definition of weak not as physical, oh no. They, like I did, lacked 'self-spirit'. This, hire literally told me. What that meant I only found out at the near end. It was what partially saved me. It meant that I and all those other poor souls had no s

"It stops there?" Mace said while a frown appeared on his face.
Jocasta crossed her arms at the sight of the damaged book.

"Yes. It does. Here, this chapter about 'her' ends."

Qui-Gon saw that the rest of the page missed, and muttered something ineligible. But for once, Yoda did not whack him. The ancient green master, maybe as ancient as the book itself, was sunken deep into thoughts.

Then, his glassy eyes became clear.

"This paragraph, stops here it does. But go on we must. Found much information we did."

Qui-Gon closed the book with much force, which resulted in a gasp from Jocasta and a raised eyebrow from Mace.

"It is not enough! Just when I-we- are so close…" he trailed of and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. Before he could drop the book, it was snatched away by Jocasta.

Mace saw the aggravation on his friend's face and laid a hand on Qui-Gon's shoulder.

"We already know more than we did when we started. You can't give up now Qui-Gon. Know that we won't."

Yoda nodded slowly.

"Sometimes, the end of the tunnel, you don't see, but find light you will if you keep walking."

Qui-Gon let his hand drop and nodded solemnly.
Just when he was about to say something, Jocasta interrupted him.

"Come here, Masters, I found something in the corner…"

Qui-Gon quickly turned and followed her finger. There, in the corner, just beneath the picture of a group of young men stood one sentence;

~Only they with a noble and selfless cause can stand up against hire~

Mace's frown deepened.

"Alright. So Kenobi must be selfless and noble, if he wants to safe himself. At least, that is what this sentence should mean. And following that paragraph," he pointed with his finger, " he must be lacking in self spirit, whatever it means, if he wants to be caught by that creature, like he did. I think that is the most important, the kern we must base our help on."

Master Yoda murmured something.

"Right you are, Master Windu. Master Nu, say something, you want?"

Jocasta nodded at the green master before speaking.

"I agree with you, master Windu. However, before we start, we must define the word ' self spirit'. If lacking that is what made him a prey, then gaining it could perhaps safe him."

Master Yoda nodded in approval, and then looked at Qui-Gon.

"Qui-Gon, silent you are. Glad you should be, with finding these answers. But you are not." The wise old Master stopped there, waiting for the answer he was expecting.

Qui-Gon sighed.

"How can I be glad if I know that Obi-Wan lacks self confidence?"

Mace and Jocasta shared a look at the last word, while Yoda's expression didn't change at all.

Qui-Gon continued, completely missing the looks behind his back.

"How can I be glad it it is me who's guilty for that? After- he swallowed- After Melida-Daan, everything was strained.

"He broke your trust, Qui-Gon. You can't blame yourself for that."

Qui-Gon turned to face his fellow Masters, his face a mask.

"I know he did, but I also know that he's been trying to make up for everything he has done wrong. He's been nothing but perfect, Mace!

The mask then broke, and anger, pain and confusion took its place

"I know I should be happy, but he's no longer the Obi-Wan I knew. He thinks I don't notice, but he's so, so introvert towards me, even to his friends, actually to everyone. I know he betrayed me, and Force it hurt- it still does- but Force knows I know he's trying and I just…" he trailed of, closing his eyes.

Jocasta looked oddly shocked, Mace surprised, but Yoda showed a tiny smile. Qui-Gon however, didn't notice.

"I just wouldn't forgive him. Part of wanted so badly to, but I just couldn't because of… him*. And see what happened. Obi-Wan is gone."

Even though the name was unspoken, everyone knew what 'him' meant.

Then Yoda spoke up.

"No. Despair you must not, Qui-Gon. Hope isn't lost yet. Obi-Wan is not one with the Force, yes, he is part of the Force now, but not one with it."

"What?" Mace said surprised. "He is part of the Force but not one with it? Master Yoda, with all respect but isn't that impossible?"

The tiny Master snorted.

"Impossible, no, improbable, yes. Feel him in the Force, I do. But restless, he is. Not surprising. The Dark side, I can feel around him."

"What? That is impossible!" Qui-Gon blurted out.
"Obi-Wan would not give in to the Dark side!"

Yoda gave him an knowing look.

"If you know that for sure, why still doubt him you do?"

Qui-Gon opened his mouth, but clamped it shut again. He lost the hidden argument and he knew it.

"But right you are, Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan, surrounded by the dark side he is. Not because he turned, no, think I do that those dark shadows are Mara' Haya." Master Yoda entwined his claws and looked at the other Masters, calmly waiting for their reaction.

"So young Kenobi is surrounded by the Dark side of the Force? But how can we know that you're right and he's not given in to it?" Mace said, doubtful of what he had just heard.

Qui-Gon then looked squarely in Mace's eyes.

"He hasn't given in"

Mace didn't glare at Qui-Gon, but rather looked… unconvinced.

"And how would you** know that so sure, Qui-Gon?"

The veiled berating wasn't missed by the other Masters.

Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed.

"I know because he has asked me for help."

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AN:

* Xanatos. Does that explain enough? If not, Xanatos was Qui-Gon's evil ex-apprentice who went dark side. Qui-Gon has been afraid to trust (and to take a Padawan) ever since.

** Well, Mace does have a point. After all, Qui-Gon didn't see how evil Xanatos was until it was too late. Not nice of you, Mace. XD

Good, now, for everyone who does want to hear an explanation for my absence for almost one year, here it comes:

I lost interest in my story.

Why? Because I had no inspiration anymore from the official books, because I finished the last one with the last chapter. Also, I've read almost every good fanfiction about them, so I just had no 'fan source' to get inspirited from. I love reviews, and sometimes they give me the kick I need to write, but always together with a quick glance in an official book of SW.

This has happened before. If I had been member three years ago, I would probably only have written HP (Remus Lupin) fanfiction. But I finished the last book months before I became member, which is one of the reasons how I found out about SW by the way ( lacking reading material, ugh)
It is happening still with other stories of mine. Like, Ranger's Apprentice. I finished the last book, and now I have to wait for the next. Bye bye inspiration.

Also, I looked back on my earlier chaps, and I was shocked by it. How I ever could have made so many grammar mistakes… is no surprise. XD After all, many people do that, but I have it even more because I'm Dutch. Every chapter is an improvement of my grammar in ten fold. I think you understand now how bad my first story was… and the first chaps of DD. They seriously lacked things I thought necessary. I will rewrite them- at least fix them. But I will do that after this chapter is posted (obviously) I won't let you poor people wait any longer for it.

So. That was my very lengthy explanation. I hope you can forgive me, and know that I'm very grateful for every FF'er out here who reviewed or added my story to alert or even faved it.
Kudos to you!

PS: I decided to count how many words I have written (including all the AU's, mind you)
Word count: 24,856 (now more of course)
Pages in Word: 66