Chapter 25: Knighthood

After Yoda left, Kuno headed towards the sparing room Mace and Kalé had claimed as their own. He knew that sometimes she still struggled with the mere fact of living, but seeing the two now, happily sparing and thrusting at one another, then there was no doubt that she would once become a great Knight in her own rights. With friends like her own, there could be no doubt about it. With a sigh he stepped out of the shadows and waited for them to see him. With a startled gasp Kalé half finished a twist and turn, nearly stopping dead in mid air as she caught sight of him, taking a hit full back. Mace followed suit as he noticed that she was standing still, and sheepishly they both bowed to him.

"You're expected in the Council Chamber at 1600 Kalé. You should join her for moral support, Mace." Kuno nodded, turned on his heal and left, not wanting to ruin the surprise with the grin spreading from face to face.

At point 1600 both Kalé and Mace stood before the large door to the Council Chamber and waited for the Jedi on duty to admit them. A slight frown of worry had worked its way onto Kalé's face. Mace just stood besides her and grinned, knowing full well just what was about to happen. Not as official a ceremony as the padawans received who finished and were knighted in the traditional way, but traditional would not do for Kalé.

Finally the door opened and both were admitted. Most of the Council was assembled, as well as Ismene Taliba and Akantha Chloris, and Kuno. The Councilors stood before their chairs, staring somberly towards the door, standing almost as if en guard. Akantha stood next to Ismene to the left of the group, and Kuno waited in the center of the room. His back was to the main door and he seemed not to have noticed the entrance of the two friends.

Uncertain at what to do, Kalé just walked up to her Master and stood to his right, a step behind, as was acceptable for a padawan. She glanced around, still unsure at just what was happening. She knew that Mace had followed her, and now waited one or two paces behind her. Finally her master pivoted on his feet and turned to face her side, not directly glancing at her. Then Yoda walked forward, still leaning rather heavily on his gimmer stick, attempting to hide the limp that wouldn't quite go away. When he reached her, he glared up at her, before sending her to her knees with a single whack of his stick.

Behind her, Mace took to steps closer and drew his light saber, waiting for a sign for Yoda. The little troll was still busy glaring at Kalé, as if waiting to find the words to chide her with. Suddenly he broke out with a grin.

"Told you I did, that Knighted you would be. Not in a ceremony as the others, but in the quite circle of your friends." Startled she looked around only to see every single person in the room with a grin from ear to ear. "Agreed we have with Master Kuno, that not he, but one much closer to you should fulfill the ceremony." she glanced up at her Master, only to find that he had knelt down to be level with her, a tender smile in his eyes. He had not seen himself as her Master she knew, only as one meant to help her find trust again, in herself, in her friends, and in the Force. Impulsively she reached out and hugged him, attempting to hide the tears running down her eyes.

With a nod from Yoda, Mace ignited the saber, and reached down for the braid she always wore apart from the mass of her hair, hanging down over her right shoulder as if a badge of honor. Carefully he cut it, letting it fall into her waiting hands. For a long time she starred at the little piece of hair which had accompanied her since she was twelve. Something she would now no longer see in the mirror each day. Very slowly, she looked up at the faces of all those surrounding her. They had believed in her when she had not. They had staid by her side when she would have abandoned herself. She would not fail them.

Kuno had left her side for a moment, and now returned with something hanging over his arm. As he unfolded it, she saw that it was a new Jedi cloak, much finer than the one she had now. She imagined he had it specially made for her, just like the hand carved wooden box he had gifted her with when first they'd been thrown together by the Force. Gratefully she allowed him to slip of her old outer robe, and place the new one over her shoulders. Again she hugged him, this time not bothering to attempt to hide her tears.

"Thank you." She could say no more, her voice chocked. Taking a deep breath, she stepped away from her Master, a radiant smile blooming over her face. Only then did she notice that Yoda had also brought something. In his hand he held a small package wrapped in brightly colored paper. Kneeling down again, she stared at the package. As he handed her the package he finally spoke again:

"Forget not the lessons learned. A good Jedi, you will be!" Very carefully she undid the wrapping, to find herself staring at the family portrait she had memorized in her brother's mind. A portrait that would haunt and support her. She was clan mother without a clan, but a Jedi with a very large family to cherish and protect, and to be protected by. What she had lost so many years ago, she now found herself surrounded with again.

"May the future hold many more such gifts for me."