Chapter Title: Mountains and Valleys
Series Title: Turn the Page
Chapter Summary: After his apprentice's failure during a mission meeting, Qui-Gon invites Obi-Wan to share in the planet's powerful connection to the Living Force.
"I'm sorry for my behavior, Master. I was wrong for speaking to you as I did in front of the political clan leaders. Needlessly, I've set the negotiations back. I acted impulsively and impatiently. Weaknesses of mine, I am well aware. For the difficulties I have caused, I am sorry."
Obi-Wan Kenobi came to his teacher, a slight bow with head low. The long brown cloak and tunics under were still soaked to the bone from the severe monsoon that had strangled them on the return from the meetings.
Knowing full well that Qui-Gon was irritated, the young man's blue eyes were colored deep with regret and more so, embarrassment. Past, similar situations and the elder Jedi would dismiss him before venturing into his own private meditation. Kenobi had experienced it more than a few times this year. He was becoming more familiar with Jinn's ways as they grew together.
Of course, just as he knew how Qui-Gon dealt with irritation caused by his apprentice, Obi-Wan was also well aware of where to track the man down in order to apologize. Yes, this was becoming an all too familiar process.
—-
Qui-Gon's tunics and robe were of similar dampness to Kenobi's, as he stood in stoic quiet atop the palace tower. The imposing white pillar overlooked the grand majesty of the high purple mountains and deep green valleys that decorated the ends of the city limits.
With it's spectacular natural beauty, variety of wildlife, and undisturbed nature of both, the planet personified the Living Force at it's most powerful. As an advanced apprentice under Dooku, Jinn had wandered this magical place before. It was a planet to which he'd always vowed to return. He'd told the story to Obi-Wan prior to their mission here. Now, it seemed that the boy had disrupted that return.
Obi-Wan obediently placed himself two steps back from his teacher. Silent until spoken to.
"The leaders were... bothersome," the master Jedi confirmed without breaking his eyes from nature's impossible beauty barely a stone's throw from his grasp. His voice was calm and controlled despite the aggravation. "But it does not excuse your behavior."
"Yes, Master. I understand. It will not happen again. I promise."
"Obi-Wan. Such promise you have and yet such..." Qui-Gon stopped himself and reached for the Force. "You can reach the highest of mountains and then descend into the deepest of valleys with your impulsiveness and impatience. And always with the promises you cannot achieve."
"But, I..."
"It will happen again." Qui-Gon said, a hand to his side invited the young man to stand equal to him. "Not on this mission. But it will. You are young and foolish and impulsive and yes, you are so very very impatient. That will certainly not do you well as you grow."
They stood now, together. Qui-Gon having successfully now pushed his annoyance into the Force, accepting the boy's faults as he did his strengths. Allowing for their differences, but certain to address the problems going forward.
"Master. I watch you deal with these people. Every mission. Leaders and criminals and all that fall between. You handle them all with such ease and you know exactly what to do and what to say, to counter them when they disagree with you. Even when the mission fails, you... I don't believe that I will ever have such patience, such ability. You make the impossible seem so... possible. I fear I'll never be able to do such things."
"Never say never, my young apprentice. There may come a time when you surprise even yourself. You do have it in you. I know you well enough to see that. Until then, you must learn to lean on the Force the instant you feel yourself sliding in the wrong direction. That lean can be as simple as a series of deep breaths, but the Force is always your ally. Use it."
The response from the boy was confident and obedient and he stood square with shoulders back. "I will do better, Master."
"I know you will. However," Qui-Gon glanced at the drenched form next to him. "Not like this. Clean up and meditate for the remainder of the evening."
Blinking away the water that dripped from his hair, Obi-Wan was on the verge of protesting - his stomach growling loudly to prove the point - but he thought better of it. As hungry as he was with breakfast so long ago and the day extended into night, he had no desire to annoy Qui-Gon further.
With a short bow, Obi-Wan replied, "Yes, Master. I will see you in quarters then."
"In a bit."
Dismissed, Obi-Wan did as instructed and returned to their room. There he showered, dressed in comfort clothing and sat crosslegged on cooled glassed tile of the apartment balcony. Breaths, long and slow, he lost himself into the Force. The mind emptied, stress washed away, he found what he'd needed. He didn't return from the Force until a hand on his shoulder startled him out of it.
"Padawan." The boy jumped several inches off the floor, eyes wide and mouth open.
"Master! You startled me."
"You were sleeping?" Qui-Gon pursed his lips together in a flat grin.
"Meditating, but deeply. It's... strangely easy to do so here. I was surprised at how quickly it happened and the depth I achieved. The energy from the mountains and forests below is consuming."
"Indeed, it is. I will meditate with you, but first, come."
Standing, he followed his teacher into the main living area where a large plate of delicious food awaited. His mouth watered and the stomach that had not stopped growling in hours, perked up.
"For me?" Obi-Wan questioned.
Qui-Gon smiled. "For you. I can't expect you to be mistake free for the rest of the mission with an empty stomach now can I?"
"You cannot. Thank you. Even meditation couldn't stop those rumblings."
"So I heard. Though your mind was deeply set, your stomach was having a much different discussion." Obi-Wan ducked his head in embarrassment. "It happens, Padawan. Sit and enjoy."
It was the best meal of his life, or circumstances made it seem that way. He couldn't remember ever being so hungry. Careful though not to slurp it down, no more disappointments on this mission. There'd been enough of that.
After the meal he cleaned up and quick-stepped to follow Qui-Gon out the door and down the hall. "Master, I don't have my boots on, where are we going?"
"Not far."
No more questions then.
With their feet bare and clothed in their comfortable loungewear, the pair hurried through the tower, down corridors, levels, more halls and more levels. Down, over, across, through, down and down again.
You and I have very different definitions of what not far means. Obi-Wan inner voice snarked; smart enough to keep his mouth shut and not say the thought out loud as they came through a final door. It was an enormous frosted red-glass double door marking the grand entrance to an even grander room. A place with no solid walls, only crystal clear glass windows. Beyond the windows was the outdoors where a massive gray-stone patio lay waiting.
"We are at the base of the valley." Qui-Gon said as they stepped outside. "As you know, I was here years ago, vowing to return. Because of this. Never have I sensed the Living Force so strongly in any other place." Obi-Wan fell back a step suddenly and his teacher noticed. "There. You felt it."
The boy seemed confused, shaking his head. He found himself unable to find his voice for a moment.
"I don't think... is this normal? It's... disorienting."
Qui-Gon grinned letting the feelings flow into him with every pull of breath.
"Only for a moment if you allow it. Open your mind, Padawan. Trust me."
The boy stumbled again and reached out a hand. Qui-Gon caught his elbow.
"You are fighting it. Don't."
Again, Obi-Wan thought about saying something he knew he shouldn't. And again, he managed to keep his mouth shut, though he did stagger several more times. Certainly on his way to disappointing his master (yes, again), especially when the great power of the Living Force that Qui-Gon so reveled in, kept knocking the apprentice to his knees.
A hand reached down to pull him up, Qui-Gon guiding him to the edge of the patio. "Sit, please. Before you hurt yourself."
"Sorry. I wasn't prepared." Eyes blinking rapidly, Obi-Wan still struggled and couldn't figure out how to correct what was happening. "Master... I think I need your help." Pause, waiting for rebuke. It never came.
Qui-Gon had promised him long ago that he'd never criticize the boy for lacking the experience he'd hadn't yet gained. Obi-Wan was not such the dedicated believer with the Living Force as the elder Jedi was, especially on a level such as this, but he was young with much to learn.
The time to learn was never better than now.
"I will help you. Let's sit and relax. You're unsettled, but it won't take long to find your center. As you noticed before, meditation is easy to achieve here."
They sat. Cross legged. Together.
Obi-Wan's thoughts once again turning backwards.
"Master, I am truly sorry for my behavior."
Qui-Gon sighed. "I know you are, Padawan. You've so much to learn and I've so much to teach you. You and I, we'll be all right. But for the moment, no more words."
"Yes, Master."
The boy followed the lead Qui-Gon set. Their bond secured quickly within the staggering power that flourished in the mountains of purple and the valleys of green. Breathing slowed. Motion stilled. The only sounds were calls of the birds and chirps of the insects that thrived in the valley forests. The gentle winds that floated across the mountains. Obi-Wan felt his master's all consuming joy as the older Jedi gently carried them into a deep joining within the Living Force. Worries forgotten. Faults set aside.
There would be time later to discuss failings and focus on misgivings.
There would be time later to understand and to be better.
There would be time for all those things. Their own mountains and valleys.
For now... For these two Jedi still finding their way together... here in the Living Force, there was only peace and tranquility.
—-
...turn the page...