Thank you, again, to all readers! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Fourteen
"Who's Feemor?" Anakin asked, brows furrowing as he looked up at Qui-Gon. He could sense his master's distress through their bond, even with Qui-Gon's shields tightened.
Qui-Gon shut his eyes for a brief moment, alarming Anakin a bit further. Anakin glanced at Xanatos, who did not look any bit more reassuring. "And why do you both look like you're dreading his arrival?" Anakin asked.
Xanatos stood up and nodded at Qui-Gon. "I'm going for a walk. I'll leave you two to it."
"Feemor will be arriving at any moment, Xanatos. I can sense him nearing."
"Best that you talk quickly, then." Xanatos swept out of the hovel without another word.
Qui-Gon muttered something that Anakin was quite sure that if he repeated, he'd be on kitchen duty for a week. "Master? Are you all right?" Anakin asked and tapped on his master's shields.
Qui-Gon shook his head and lowered them slightly. "I apologize, Padawan. It seems as if my past is catching up to me and I am not wholly prepared for it." Qui-Gon sighed. "Well, in the simplest terms, Feemor was also my padawan. In fact, he technically was my first apprentice."
Anakin's brows shot up. He swallowed and nodded. He could sense his master's discomfort through the bond, but honestly, he had no idea why Qui-Gon would keep such a secret from him. "Oh," was all Anakin could think of to say. Would his relationship with his master become estranged after his knighthood?
"I-I am not without my flaws, Ani," Qui-Gon murmured. "Especially before you, I was an extremely flawed man."
"Oh, I know," Anakin grinned, trying to lighten his master's mood, but Qui-Gon remained somber.
"Truly, I hope that I've done well by you, Anakin, and that by the end of this apprenticeship we will continue to be friends."
"Of course, we will, Master," Anakin said. He couldn't imagine life without his master. "What happened with Feemor, though?"
"I suppose I'll start at the beginning. Feemor became my apprentice when he was 18. His master had been killed on a mission and he still needed a bit more training before knighthood. I was thirty at the time, had been on my own for a bit, and so I had been asked to complete his training, which I did. Even after he was knighted, he and I continued to go on missions together every now and then, and we were good friends. After I took Xanatos as my padawan, we still continued to be friends, but Xanatos wasn't the kindest to him and the two of them did not get along."
Qui-Gon sighed again, and regret and shame trickled down their bond. "I repudiated him as my padawan after Xanatos fell to the dark side. I felt as if I did not deserve the title of master if my padawan had fallen. I stopped speaking to him. I stopped talking to most people, to be honest. I'm afraid that in my anger, I hurt Feemor the most. And, of course, he was undeserving of any of it. So, as you can see, seeing both Xanatos and me again will most likely be distressing for him."
"Oh..." Anakin frowned. "But why didn't you tell me about him?"
"Anakin, when I took you as my padawan, I had put my past behind me. You know this. My focus has been solely on your training and it never felt like the right time to bring up Feemor...or even to reach out to him. I'm afraid it might be too late to mend our relationship."
"But Master, the force works in mysterious ways. Perhaps you will be able to," Anakin smiled. "Besides, having an older padawan brother has been pretty fun. Having two? I bet it'll be extra wizard."
"Oh yes, all the more padawans to gang up on me." Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. "He's outside, by the way. But Ani, I understand if you're upset with me. I wasn't open with you about my past and I truly should have been."
"I'm just surprised, that's all. You're telling me now. That's what matters. And you and Xanatos seem to have fixed everything, so I imagine the same will go with you and Feemor," Anakin said.
Qui-Gon stood and Anakin followed suit. Qui-Gon was not typically an overly affectionate man, so Anakin was surprised when he was briefly crushed into a tight hug. "Thank you, Padawan," Qui-Gon murmured before releasing him.
Anakin smiled at the affection and gratitude drifting along their bond. Qui-Gon's shields were no longer as high as they had been. "What are padawans for?" Anakin said before making his way to the kitchen and back to Padme.
"Where are you going?"
"Giving you and Feemor some space, Master. Work through your issues, and then you can introduce me. I'm understanding, not stupid," Anakin smirked.
"Cheeky brat," Qui-Gon chuckled.
Qui-Gon opened the hovel door to reveal a man with blond hair tied back into a ponytail. It had been years since he'd heard from or seen his former padawan, but the years had been kind to the man. There were new lines on his face, but for the most part, he looked the same as Qui-Gon had remembered.
"Feemor," Qui-Gon said, stepping outside and shutting the door behind him.
"Qui-Gon," Feemor nodded, and Qui-Gon didn't miss the flash of pain and discomfort behind those blue eyes.
"It has been a long time. You look good," Qui-Gon said.
"Yes, it has been," Feemor nodded. "You look grayer."
Qui-Gon smiled, relieved that his former padawan was comfortable enough to poke fun at him. How had he let this relationship go for so long? "My current apprentice is responsible for much of it, I'm afraid." Qui-Gon replied.
Feemor nodded, his eyebrows raising slightly. "So, I wasn't exactly given much information on the situation, Qui-Gon, and who is involved. I was merely told that I needed to put my mission on hold and to provide you with aid."
"Ah," Qui-Gon folded his hands into his sleeves. Damn troll. He noticed Feemor mimicking his stance. Old habits died hard, he supposed.
"So, what is so important that you and your padawan need me for?"
"Right," Qui-Gon nodded. "Well, you should be aware that Anakin and I are not the only jedi involved. There's another jedi team here helping with protecting the Queen of Naboo and the Duchess of Mandalore."
Feemor whistled. "You four have your hands full. Everyone on the holonet is talking about those two and the very large bounties on their heads."
"Yes, well, we haven't had access to the holonet. That's good to know that we'll need to disguise them better," Qui-Gon sighed. "But anyways, to cut to the chase, we lost the Duchess and a jedi padawan."
Feemor raised his brow. "You happened to lose the Duchess of Mandalore and a jedi padawan."
"And the person who took them is believed to be a sith."
"Excitement still follows you everywhere, it seems."
Qui-Gon nodded. "Unfortunately."
Uncomfortable silence filled the space between them.
/Apologize to him, yet?/
/Working on it, Padawan/
Anakin sent him encouragement through their bond and Qui-Gon latched onto it to help him with swallowing his pride and fear of rejection. He reached forward and grasped Feemor's shoulder.
Feemor looked up at him, startled, but didn't pull away. "I'm sorry, Feemor," Qui-Gon murmured.
"For what?"
"For being an old fool, obviously," Qui-Gon sighed. "This is not the ideal time and place for this, but I've realized there's no ideal moment. So, before we officially begin this complicated mission, I just wanted to apologize for...well, everything that I did to you, to be honest."
Feemor relaxed and shook his head with a wry smile. "I understood that you were hurt by Xanatos turning."
"It didn't give me any right to do what I did to you."
"You're right," Feemor agreed. "It hurt and it sucked and I wished that you'd have turned to me for help or something, but I'm glad you've moved on."
"I'm very sorry."
"And you're forgiven."
Qui-Gon stared at Feemor in stunned silence. He'd known that Feemor was a kind man, but he had expected him to give him a harder time. It seemed that his padawans were much better men than himself.
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't?" Feemor smirked. "Not every jedi is as stubborn as you. Jedi learn to let go, remember?"
"Ah, a lesson that I imparted on my padawans but failed to learn myself." Qui-Gon murmured with a small smile.
"You should try it," Feemor said. "And who is this missing padawan, by the way?"
"Ah, yes, and this is where things with the mission get a bit more complicated." Qui-Gon sighed. "His name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. His master is Xanatos DuCrion."
It was Feemor's turn to stare at Qui-Gon in stunned silence. Qui-Gon took that as his opportunity to quickly summarize everything that had transpired between himself and Xanatos since the beginning of this mission to now. He also relayed all of the information that he had about the sith and its involvement during the Telos mission.
"Wow...that is a lot of information for me to process," Feemor murmured. "I can't say that I won't punch Xanatos when I see him, though."
"Go easy on him," Qui-Gon said. "I gave him a very hard time, but honestly, he's proven himself to be nothing like that boy I'd raised. He's...better than I could've ever hoped for."
Feemor nodded with a doubtful expression, "I'll believe it when I see it, Master."
/Can I come out now?/
Qui-Gon smiled, "In the meantime, would you like to meet Anakin? He's very excited about meeting you."
"Why, of course. I've missed out on our lineage for too long now."
The comment was not meant to be a barb, Qui-Gon knew, but the truth in Feemor's words shamed him nonetheless. Qui-Gon swallowed and nodded, "I'm sorry, Feemor. Truly."
"I know. No need to apologize anymore, old man. It's in the past." Feemor smiled and clapped Qui-Gon on the shoulder.
They turned and the door to the hovel opened. Anakin poked his head out and grinned. "Hi, I'm Anakin. You must be Feemor. Nice to finally meet you." He glanced at Qui-Gon. "I'm glad that I have someone I can complain to about Qui-Gon now."
Feemor laughed and looked at Qui-Gon. "I like this kid."
Xanatos knelt outside of the hovel, off to the side and out of sight from the front door. The conversation between Feemor and Qui-Gon seemed to be going well enough. He supposed that Feemor was a better man than both he and Qui-Gon. The man that Xanatos, in his arrogant youth, had purposely set out to humiliate in front of their master was a forgiving one. Xanatos just wasn't sure how his older jedi brother could forgive him. Xanatos had been, in the simplest of terms, an arrogant prick and a bully.
He sighed and reached out with his senses for his slumbering padawan. The boy was exhausted. He tried to send some healing energy and waves of comfort. Obi-Wan stirred. /Master?/ he mumbled sleepily through the bond.
Xanatos shut his eyes against the sudden onslaught of tears and emotion. It felt like it'd been ages since he'd heard his padawan's voice. /Yes, Padawan. It's me. I'm coming for you soon./
Obi-Wan's end of the bond sharpened as he grew more alert. /Master, he wants you, I think. He mentioned something about making you suffer./
/Oh, Padawan. I know./
/I'm okay, Master. You shouldn't come here alone./
Xanatos sighed at his ever loyal and self-sacrificing apprentice. /I don't plan to, Padawan. But I will get you back. Hang on, okay?/
/Okay./
/How's Satine?/
/She's okay, I think. She's tough. I think he's keeping her here to keep me obedient. He hasn't hurt her yet./
/Good. Is he there right now?/
/Doubt I'd be talking to you if he were, Master./
/Good point./ Xanatos smiled.
/And I'd make a run for it, but he has my lightsaber...not to mention that we are being guarded by sand people./
/Padawan, have I not told you that your lightsaber is your life?/
/C'mon Master, you know I don't plan on letting him keep it./ Humor trickled down the bond from Obi-Wan's end, making Xanatos smile and feel a bit of relief. Whatever Maul had done to Obi-Wan, it hadn't broken him yet. Then, Xanatos could feel the silent concern.
/What is it?/
/It's my bond with Master Qui-Gon. It's stronger than before, Master./
Concern and a bit of fear spiked through both Xanatos and Obi-Wan. Xanatos remained silent. /What does it mean, Master? I—he helped me earlier today. When I was in a lot of pain. I think I unconsciously reached out and he responded and now our bond...it feels almost as solid as yours and mine./
/I'm sorry. We had to block me from my bond with you for a little while. You almost made me unconscious./
/Oh.../
/As for your question of what it means, honestly, I don't know, Padawan. We must trust in the force. Perhaps he is here to help you when—when I am unable to. /
Xanatos could almost see Obi-Wan's expression, brows drawn in contemplation and worry for the elusive future. He was glad Obi-Wan couldn't see his pained expression. /I just have a bad feeling about all this, Master./
/And what have I told you about these bad feelings?/
/To not dwell on them. The future is always in motion./
/Yes...but Obi-Wan, I understand what you mean. I don't know what will happen in the future, but something is coming and we must have faith in the force. It will not lead us astray./
/Yes, Master./
Xanatos wanted to stay and converse with his padawan for longer, but could sense the boy's weariness and Qui-Gon searching for him. /You should rest, little one./
/Maaaaster, I'm not little./
/Sorry/ Xanatos chuckled. /I forgot. May the force be with you, Padawan. I will come as soon as I can./
/I know, Master. May the force be with you./
Xanatos sent one final pulse of reassurance and affection through their bond before hesitantly pulling away and examining the other bonds in Obi-Wan's mind. He could see the thread that connected him to Obi-Wan and burning almost just as brightly was the one connecting Obi-Wan to Qui-Gon. Xanatos swallowed his fear and released it into the force. He didn't like this. He reached for the force, hoping it would give him some clarity or insight as to what was coming, but it remained as muddled and foreboding as it had earlier. Nothing felt right.
The only thing he knew for certain was that darkness was coming, and it was coming for him, and he wasn't sure if he'd be strong enough to resist it this time around.
"Hey, Xan, are you meditating again?" Anakin called.
"Padawan, it's rude to disturb someone's mediation like that," Qui-Gon chided.
"Yeah, but he just meditated with us a few minutes ago."
"I don't understand how that has anything to do with you disturbing his meditation right now and how it's any less rude."
"Um...he doesn't need to be meditating now?" Anakin said.
Another voice chimed in and rang with laughter. "Leave the kid alone, Master."
Xanatos fought the urge to groan aloud. Feemor. Man, did he owe that man an apology for being a jerk to him and for basically ruining his relationship with Qui-Gon.
"Yes, it's fine. I was just finishing up," Xanatos stood and stretched his limbs. "I was actually just checking in on Obi-Wan."
"Oh," Anakin guiltily kicked at the ground. "I'm sorry for disturbing you."
"No, it's fine, we were done. He's fine, by the way, all things considered. The duchess remains unharmed for the moment as well. I have no doubt that my padawan will do everything in his power to keep her safe anyways," Xanatos sighed.
"That's good to hear," Qui-Gon said.
Xanatos nodded and then turned to a glowering Feemor, who was now standing with his arms folded over his chest. "Feemor," Xanatos bowed his head. "Thank you for coming to our aid on such a short notice."
"Council's orders," Feemor said.
"Yes, well, I—I thank you. Also, I'm sorry," Xanatos shrugged. "For being a dick to you during most of my apprenticeship and hurting our master, which then in turn, hurt you. So yeah, I'm sorry and I'm assuming Qui-Gon has brought you up to date on our situation."
Feemor stared at Xanatos as if he had two heads. Qui-Gon smirked at Feemor and murmured, "I told you he'd changed."
"Yeah," Feemor nodded. "Um, can't say I forgive you exactly, but I'm willing to give you a chance."
"That's all I can ask. Besides, now that you're here to help Anakin with Padme. Qui-Gon and I can go get my padawan. Qui-Gon?"
Pain lanced through Xanatos's skull. He staggered to his hands and knees with a strangled cry. His vision swam as another stab of pain split through his head.
Anakin stiffened and gasped. Qui-Gon lurched forward to grab Xanatos by the shoulders to prevent him from faceplanting into the ground. He grimaced. Even though his bond with Obi-Wan was closed off, he could still feel the excruciating pain, especially through his bond with Xanatos. He strengthened his shields to protect his and Anakin's minds.
"Feemor, help me carry him into the hovel," Qui-Gon ordered.
"What's happening?" Feemor asked, but stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Xanatos's waist.
"Obi-Wan is being tortured." Qui-Gon murmured as they lugged a barely conscious Xanatos into the hovel and set him down on the ground. "Xanatos left his shields too far down. This happened last time, too. Whatever is happening to Obi-Wan is also debilitating Xanatos."
"Their bond must be strong," Feemor mused.
"Indeed."
Padme rushed over to the living area when she saw them carry Xanatos, half-conscious, into the living room. Qui-Gon grimaced again, feeling the sharp pain threatening to breach through. He reinforced the shields in his mind and erected new ones around Xanatos. "Padawan, no," Xanatos whispered before lapsing into unconsciousness.
The sound was so soft and broken that Qui-Gon wouldn't have known that his former padawan had been the one to utter it had he not been looking at him.
"Well," Feemor sighed and looked at Qui-Gon. "Never thought the kid cared about anyone but himself. I suppose you're right about him being different. Even his force signature is lighter."
"He has grown, indeed. I'm just worried about what will happen if we don't get to Obi-Wan in time."
"What are we waiting for?" Feemor asked. "You have a bond with Obi-Wan that doesn't knock you unconscious. Can't you track him and the two of us can get him?"
Qui-Gon glanced at Xanatos, curled on the ground with his brows furrowed in distress. Xanatos would be livid if he knew they'd gone without him to retrieve Obi-Wan, but he also was not in any state to be useful to them.
"Master, I don't know if that's a good idea," Anakin said. "Obi-Wan is his padawan. He should be going with you. He's also the only one who's ever faced Maul. I don't think that it'd be a good idea for you two to go without him."
"He's emotionally compromised." Qui-Gon pointed out.
"Obviously, you would be too if you were in his position, but he's also a jedi master and he won't forgive you for just taking off and not even giving him a choice for coming along," Anakin countered.
Qui-Gon could feel Anakin's frustration and disbelief bleeding across their bond. Padme nodded in agreement with Anakin. "Xanatos can forgive people for many things, but this might not be one of them," Padme said.
Qui-Gon glanced at Feemor and could see that the younger man was torn.
Then the pain that he'd been blocking dissipated. Obi-Wan's end of the bond quieted and then slowly disappeared beyond his reach. Qui-Gon frowned and struggled to follow its threads, but could not locate the boy. Obi-Wan couldn't have been dead, right?
Xanatos jerked upwards with a strangled cry, cradling his head in his hands and frantically murmuring, "No, no, no. Obi-Wan..."
"Master?" Anakin looked at Qui-Gon with wide eyes. "Is Obi-Wan..."
Qui-Gon swallowed, "My bond with him disappeared...it appears that we may possibly be too late."
Note: I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Feel free to let me know your thoughts :)