Chapter Eighty-Two
"Why haven't you gone to see him, Aalea?"
Aalea laid down the sealant she was using to close up the boxes and stared over at Cian. They were in Cian's apartment where Aalea had been spending the last three weeks. Ever since Qui-Gon's death Aalea had been plagued by recurring nightmares. Cian had finally intervened and asked Yoda if Aalea could be allowed some leave time off from her duties. Yoda had granted it. Cian had then insisted Aalea stay with her.
Now Aalea was helping Cian pack her things. Valorum had decided to retire to his homeworld following his removal from the Chancellorship. Cian was going with him. She had resigned from her job at the Diplomatic Corps. She had told Aalea she wanted to have her baby as far away from Coruscant as she could. She didn't want anyone in the Order to know she was carrying Qui-Gon's child and she had made Aalea promise to keep it a secret.
"Even from Obi-Wan?" Aalea had asked.
Cian's dark gray eyes had bored into Aalea's.
"Especially from Obi-Wan. He has a great responsibility now. Not only is he a Jedi Knight, he is master to the Skywalker boy. If he knew Qui-Gon had a child, what do you think he would do?"
"He'd want to protect it."
"Yes, and I don't want him torn between his responsiblity to Anakin and his sense of obligation to Qui-Gon's child. Will you be able to keep it secret from him, in spite of your bond?"
"I think so," Aalea had said. Cian had nodded, then hugged her tightly.
Now, Aalea watched as Cian brushed back a strand of her hair and stood up from where she had been packing her holo-books. She walked over to Aalea and put her arm about her shoulder.
"You should go and see him."
Aalea shook her head. "He doesn't want to see me, Cian."
"You don't know that for sure, dove."
Aalea shrugged. "He's busy anyway, what with Anakin's training and all."
Aalea still couldn't believe Obi-Wan had taken on a padawan-learner so quickly. The day he and Anakin returned to the Temple, Aalea had already been staying with Cian for a week. She had hoped Obi-Wan would contact her once he returned to Coruscant, but he hadn't.
When she had tried to reach out to him through their bond, Aalea had discovered he was shielding against her. That had hurt her the most. Finally, she had convinced herself Obi-Wan was trying to tell her that whatever had been between them was now over. It was as Master Yoda had predicted. Everything had changed.
Aalea moved away from Cian and quickly finished sealing the box. She picked it up and placed it with the others which were stacking up in the common room. Cian would be leaving in another week. Aalea didn't know what she was going to do once she was gone. As far as Aalea was concerned, she would be all alone. Master Qui-Gon was gone and it looked like she had also lost Obi-Wan. Tears welled in her eyes.
Cian walked over and hugged her.
"It'll be all right, dove. Don't worry. It'll be all right."
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Obi-Wan knelt on one knee before Yoda. He recalled the last time he had been summoned to Yoda's quarters. At that time he had been told that Aalea was going to be assigned to him as his acting apprentice. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Now, as Obi-Wan thought of her, he recalled how hurt he'd been when he had returned to the Temple and discovered she was gone. He had soon learned she was staying with Cian, but he had been unable to bring himself to contact her for fear of having to face Cian.
He sighed. Although Qui-Gon had not told him, Obi-Wan knew he and Cian had become lovers and he also knew his master's love had healed her and made her whole again. How could Obi-Wan face her knowing it was because of him that Qui-Gon was dead. No, he thought, he could not see her. And therefore he could not see Aalea.
Realizing he had been frowning, Obi-Wan glanced over at Yoda. The Jedi Master was sitting on his green cushion silently watching him. His ears twitched as he leaned towards Obi-Wan.
"How feel you?" he asked.
Obi-Wan swallowed. He was tempted to give Yoda a smooth answer; he was fine, he was all right, everything was great. But he couldn't lie and, even if he did, Yoda would see right through him.
"I feel nothing, Master," he said instead.
Yoda nodded. He stared at Obi-Wan silently for a long moment.
"The boy, Skywalker," he finally said, "with me for a few days will stay."
"With you, Master?"
"Yes."
"But, I'm still in the process of completing his indoctrination."
"Complete it I will."
Obi-Wan was confused. Was the Council already regretting their decision to let him take Anakin on as his apprentice? They couldn't, he thought firmly. He had promised his master he would train the boy and Obi-Wan was determined to keep that promise, even if it killed him.
"I don't understand, Master. Is there something wrong? Have I---?"
Yoda raised his hand.
"Nothing is wrong. You the boy's master will be. But, time you need. Time to learn how to feel again."
Obi-Wan lowered his head. If that was what Yoda was hoping would happen it would be, as far as Obi-Wan was concerned, time wasted. He didn't think he could ever feel anything again. There was a wasteland in his heart and a bleak wind howled across it. The seeds of that wind had been sown with the last breath his master had exhaled onto his face as Obi-Wan had held him, dying, in his arms on Naboo.
"Master Yoda, I do not think---"
"Thinking is not required, young Obi-Wan. Only obedience."
Obi-Wan inclined his head.
"Yes, Master," he said softly.
"Bring the boy to my quarters this afternoon. To you he will be returned at the end of the week."
Obi-Wan stood and bowed. As he turned to leave, Yoda called out to him.
Obi-Wan looked back.
"Padawan Aalea to temple has returned. Thought you might like that to know."
Obi-Wan hesitated for a moment. The expression on his face did not change. It remained composed and stoic.
"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan said. He turned and left Yoda's quarters.
Yoda shook his head sadly as the door closed behind the young Jedi Knight.
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Aalea sat in the common room of her quarters. It was near midnight. She had not wanted to come back to the temple, but when she received the message from Yoda ordering her to do so, she could not disobey him. She had thought he had some duty he wanted her to fulfill, but when she inquired all she was told was that Yoda wanted her back in the temple.
Aalea stood and walked into her sleeproom. Sighing, she sat down on her bed and picked up a black lacquered box from her nightstand. She opened it and pulled out the violet ribbon Obi-Wan had given her on Sylvonna.
Aalea ran the ribbon through her fingers. She had not seen Obi-Wan since she had returned to the Temple a few days ago. She'd heard that Master Yoda had taken the Skywalker boy under his wing for a bit. But when she asked around as to where Obi-Wan was, she was told no one had seen him for the past few days. Aalea sighed, gently folded the ribbon and put it back into the box.
She was tempted to reach out to Obi-Wan through their bond, but she feared coming up against the hard blank walls of his mental shields.
Aalea glanced at the tablechrono. She stood up and quickly changed into her sleep gown. Reaching up, she loosened her hair from its bun and, as she brushed it, she wept. She put the brush down and laid in her bed.
Funny, Aalea thought, she'd never noticed before that when you cry at night, the tears run into your ears. She reached over and pressed off the light.
To be continued...