aftermaths_4

*this is a very short chapter, with not much action, but bear with me, there will be some cool stuff later, I promise. Sorry if there are spelling mistakes and whatnot - Im tired of my spell check trying to turn Yoda' inot Yoga'!
Thanks to my three reviewers - you are all fantabulous and gorgeous people!! I'd just like to warn you all, before we go any further, that this is turning out to be an Obi-wan i-miss-my-master-and-I'm-not-getting-on-too-well-withAnakin' kinda story, so be prepared for lots of angst and emotionally tortured Obi!
*sees her only three readers running away towards the horizon*
No! come back! It's just that I'd really would like to see how our favourite Jedi copes with the loss of the man that was the closest thing to a father for him. So anyway....*

Aftermaths -3.

Dane lay on her bed and thought.
She thought about how devastated the whole of Naboo seemed to be when the older Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn had died, and she tried *not* to think about how awful it must have been for Obi-wan and the young boy, Anakin. How must it feel to lose someone that close to you?

But then her thoughts strayed to her own life. Being a handmaiden was a great privilege. But she was only a Standard Handmaiden in training. To be one of the Elite, one of Queen Amidala's personal companions - it was what every young girl on Naboo dreamed of. Of course, it was very selective, being that there were only five positions.
Still, it was a wonderful thing to be chosen as a Standard, there were only twenty of them after all.

Dane sighed. Why could she never seem to be happy with what she had been given? First she had yearned to be a Jedi, as every child in the galaxy probably did, but that was impossible because she wasn't (to her knowledge) force-strong. And now, all she could think about was being one of the Elite.

Mind you, in between studies at Theeds Royal House of Learning, practice patrol around the palace grounds, and training with the security force, and sometimes, if they were un-lucky enough, Captain Panaka, there didn't seem to be much time for anything, not even yearning for the life of an Elite.

Dane changed out of the maroon robes of the Standards and into her night-dress. Settling into bed, her room mate already snoring gently in the bed beside hers, Dane drifted into a deep and exhausted sleep.

.......

Toba and Anakin explored the gardens until the sun dipped low over the domes and spires of the Theed sky-line. The last dying rays glittered off the beautiful statues and numerous waterfalls, making the city like some many-coloured opal.

In Toba's opinion, Galak and Dane thought themselves too mature and important to play and have fun. And unlike them, Toba was not at all uncomfortable with the young Jedi. Maybe it came from being part of a race that did not like to mix with outsiders at all
coupled with his slightly rebellious nature, but Toba eagerly sought to make new friends and meet new people.

But, just as Anakin had been showing the older Gungan a wizard' place, that no one else knew about, and was cross-your-heart-and-hope-to-die secret, a strange look had come across the boys face. He shuddered slightly, and, although he turned away in an attempt to hide it, Toba could see what looked like tears in Anakin's eyes.

You okay? asked Toba, his voice full of concern.
Anakin was silent for a moment. he replied after a while. But I think I should go back now. My master......

Toba knew when to leave something be.
he said brightly, You show me this place some other day, kay? I should be gettin back too, long way to the nearest Gungan village.
You don't go to the school like Galak and Dane? Anakin asked.
No. They no lettin Gungans in their school. Yet. he added darkly.

They parted, saying good night, and promising to meet again soon.
Anakin ran all the way back to the rooms he and Obi-wan were staying in. He didn't even need to think about the way, although the palace was vast and easy to get lost in.
His master's mind was like a beacon.

When Anakin came crashing thought the door, very un-dignified for a Jedi, he saw Obi-wan sitting on the bed, looking quite composed and serene. He gave Anakin a bright but rather wan smile, and Anakin felt slightly embarrassed for some reason.

Anakin knew what Obi-wan had been thinking about, only minutes before, and Obi-wan *knew* that Anakin knew. This only made Anakin all the more embarrassed.

In the gardens with Toba, Anakin had felt the grief rip through his Master, and so, through some invisible bond between Master and Padawan, that although seemed weak sometimes, was there all the same, he felt it too.

When Qui-Gon had died, Anakin had been up in a Naboo Starfighter, in a great space battle.
Anakin fancied the very moment that Qui-Gon died, the very moment he had become, one with the force, he had felt it, like a tide breaking over him, even though they were miles apart.

He suddenly felt like a small boy again, emotions broiling inside him, so confusing....
Obi-wan had as good as called out for him. Anakin felt as though, as terrible as the death was, it might bring him and his master together. But it didn't seem to be

Anakin felt very alone. Padme was busy with her duties.
He missed his mother. He missed Tatooine, missed the heat that he had cursed often enough back home, but most of all, missed his mother. All of a sudden he was a Jedi, and was expected to act like one.

But how can I ? he thought, Im only eleven. Yoda and Obi-wan want me to act like and adult, like a Jedi, they want me to be un-afraid, but how can I be? I'm only a child!

Anakin realised that Obi-wan was watching him, and at the same time, realised that hot tears were spilling down his cheeks. Obi-wan walked over to him, and embraced him as warmly as he could.

........

In the deepest part of the Gungan swamps, in a forest of thick mangroves that even the Gungans dared not enter, something was happening.........