Sorry about the long delay, but (finally) here's part 3 – enjoy!!
Gone From Danger – Part 3/?
In the late hours of the morning, Obi-Wan knelt by one of the larger, tiered pools in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, his chin supported on folded arms that rested against the cool marble rim of the fountain, gentle mist dampening his face. After no more than an hour or two of restless sleep, he had fled the almost foreboding, oppressive atmosphere in the quarters that the nightmares had created, and wandered the hallways, eventually alighting in one of his favourite meditation spots. Here, at last, he had managed to achieve a modicum of calm from the quiet, soothing burble of water agitated into perpetual motion by the fall of spray and denser droplets.
"They're only dreams," he muttered softly, tracing the patterns created by dark veins through the marble with his fingertips, then lifting his gaze to watch a tall, slender plant nearby as its fanned leaves trembled, reacting to the vibrations in the air caused by the force of falling water. The single flower that crested the plant bobbed downward, almost nodding in agreement with his words. "Why can't I stop them?"
Movement across the expansive room drew his attention and he glanced up to see a young woman strolling amongst the fountains and numerous plants, oblivious to his presence. Her dark hair was knotted in a functional bun, disguising its length, but the lone braid draping over her right shoulder, hanging to her midsection, betrayed her status at once: a Padawan Learner, several years older than Obi-Wan and quite likely approaching Knighthood. Sighing softly, he watched her without moving, noting the content expression on her face and the confidence in her bearing, and felt an unexpected twinge of regret; he too had been so self-assured, possessed by an enthusiasm that stemmed from the knowledge that all was well within his immediate world. When had that escaped him?
The other Padawan passed out of his view, disappearing behind an elevated
aqueduct that supported a number of smaller, overlapping fountains, their mists wafting through the air or condensing into a film over the aqueduct's sloping surfaces. Obi-Wan's gaze returned to the pool before him, staring listlessly at his own disturbed reflection as he focused on his mental turmoil once more. The affair on Dareela had certainly contributed to his current disillusionment with life in general, but those events could not be exclusively responsible. There had been other instances where Qui-Gon had been placed in mortal danger and recovered, yet none of these had reduced him to such a state of encompassing disquiet, and he doubted that he was experiencing a cumulative effect of past events.
So what was the cause then? Perhaps it was a side-affect of his prolonged connection with the meditation stone, the imprints of some other poor creature's, or creatures', suffering that he had absorbed during his exposure on Dareela to the Living Force which were only now starting to surface in the shape of vivid dreams, leaving him with an even greater impression of how much misery still remained in the galaxy.
Obi-Wan moved one arm slightly and dipped his hand into the pool, trailing his fingers aimlessly through the water, his eyes half-closing as exhaustion caught up with him, but the thought of impending nightmares kept him from sleep. I can't keep this up much longer, he noted tiredly, lifting his hand out of the water and staring at it idly, watching his fingers tremble.
Even contemplating movement was beyond him, and he slowly tucked his arm back under his chin, allowing his eyes to close completely while he nestled his face into the crook of his elbow, the demands made by his body for rest easing his mind into idleness. In that state of drowsiness, not quite asleep, his unconscious conjured happier, comforting memories, many including Qui-Gon; however, he kept returning to one memory in particular, from his time spent with High Priestess Sashri on Lamari:
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Obi-Wan nodded, settling onto the grass beside the Priestess and gazing out over the lake, watching the clusters of nescra-blossom trees quiver in a warm breeze, dropping petals of numerous, pale shades to float on the still water. "It's lovely," he responded wistfully, leaning back on braced arms.
He knew that he wasn't seeing it as she was, or as Qui-Gon would – for him, the beauty of nature lay simply in aesthetics, while Sashri's view was enriched by her sense of the Living Force. It wasn't that she was any more adept than he; Sashri's control of the Force was rudimentary, the extent of her knowledge limited to the meditation stones and their use, nothing more. Neither was it that he was impervious to the Living Force – he was constantly aware of other life forms, and maintained the ability to draw support from the Living Force when required. Rather, he tended to automatically screen out the Force-borne perceptions that weren't instantly relevant, such as the plant life around him now, a natural instinct that had been ingrained in him from childhood as his sensitivity to the Unifying Force grew. Out of necessity, though, he chose to remain receptive to sentient life, if only as a precaution to avoid possible danger.
Hearing the regret in his voice, Sashri turned her head and smiled. "Obi-Wan, you have been wonderful company, and an exceptional student. I feel I must give you something in return."
"Please, Priestess, that's not necessary," Obi-Wan protested, meeting her gaze, and once again found a wisdom there that he had only ever seen in Master Yoda's eyes.
"I insist." Sashri reached down and removed a pouch that hung securely from her waist, placing it on the grass between them and plucking deftly at the cord that kept it closed. The folds of material fell open to reveal a crystal – one of the meditation stones he had spent the past week learning about.
Obi-Wan stared at it in awe. "I-I can't accept this!" he stammered, looking up at Sashri, who pushed the pouch toward him.
"Of course you can, child," she reassured, chuckling lightly. "Consider it a diplomatic gift from the people of Lamari to the Jedi ambassadors, if you must, but it is yours." She leaned forward, golden eyes shining in delight. "Now, would you like me to help you practise using it?"
Obi-Wan nodded enthusiastically and they knelt together, the Padawan picking the crystal up when Sashri instructed him to and cupping his hands around it, unable to suppress an excited smile as she closed her own hands around his. He had done this once before, a few days ago, and with Sashri's help had managed to hold a connection with the stone for several minutes, enough to discover the relationship between the meditation stones and the Living Force.
There was a slight gathering of the Force now, focused upon the crystal, and despite his previous experience Obi-Wan flinched in surprise as he felt the tendril of Force magnified and directed into his body. His immediate response was to pull away, but Sashri's grip tightened and kept him in place, her voice low and soothing as she warned him to remain calm, and he quickly adjusted to the sensation.
Then, quite unexpectedly, she released his hands and her control of the stone ceased; the energy pulsing through the crystal wavered in response, growing unstable, and Obi-Wan was so startled by Sashri's actions that he was unable to retain the Force levels building inside him and promptly expelled them in a reflexive Force push that shook the trees around them, causing a blizzard of blossom petals to shower down around them.
Sashri sat back and lifted her face into the billowing cloud of petals, laughing as they caught in her greying hair. "A snowstorm in summer!" she remarked, shaking her head. "Do you feel them, Obi-Wan? Every petal has its own place within the universe, just as much as every person."
Obi-Wan gazed up in astonishment, the stone still clutched in his hands, his connection to it tenuous but intact, and through it he could feel the petals in the Living Force, shifting, luminous reflections and echoes of each other, every signature unique yet part of a greater whole, filling his mind with light and joy…
There was no darkness then, Obi-Wan thought sadly, rousing from his reverie but keeping his eyes shut, restraining the tears that the memory had caused. Now, Sashri's wisdom and inner grace had been lost forever, and shadows were consuming him, a darkness made that much more terrible because it wasn't the Dark Side – at least, not as he'd come to know it in the past. How had things gone so wrong?
Abruptly, the sound of footsteps and hushed voices close by disturbed his thoughts and he tensed, listening intently, although he couldn't find the energy to look and see who it was.
"Is he all right? " a soft female voice asked.
A male voice answered her. "I hope so." His words were at once relieved and worried. "Thank you for helping me, Padawan."
"I was glad to be of service, Knight Leksalis. Good morning."
The footfalls, which had slowed, paused momentarily before resuming, although the lighter step of the female now moved away, while the male appeared to be approaching Obi-Wan; there was the rustle of a robe beside him, and he felt the touch of fingers against his cheek, accompanied by the same male voice calling his name, and he stirred reluctantly, looking up into a pair of disconcertingly black eyes that gazed back at him anxiously.
Obi-Wan recognised the man crouched next to him as Noreif Leksalis, a Knight perhaps ten years older than himself and the former Padawan of Ruya Sansaro. Despite the soft glow of light in the room, his skin was almost translucent in its paleness, and a shock of silver hair, each lock twisted tightly and poking out at jagged angles, lent a demented look to the hair's owner, contradicting his serene if concerned expression.
Moaning slightly, Obi-Wan pushed himself away from the fountain's edge, rocking back onto his heels and bowing his head to Noreif. To his surprise, he felt the Knight's fingertips brush his forehead, his palm settling there for a few moments before falling away, and Obi-Wan lifted his head again, frowning uncertainly.
"You're exhausted, poor soul," Noreif remarked sympathetically, smiling gently at him. "Let's get you to the transport and settled in, hmm?"
"Transport?" Obi-Wan stared at the older Jedi in bewilderment, his thoughts slightly clouded with still-fresh memories.
Noreif nodded, his smile faltering. "It seems that your Master's mission has fallen into…difficulties."
His heart pounding, the memory of Lamari instantly fading and his mind clearing, Obi-Wan clutched at Noreif's sleeve in panic, startling the Knight. "What's happened? Is he all right?" he blurted.
"Oh, I'm quite certain he is," Noreif reassured. "However, Ruya contacted the Council a few hours ago and requested that Qui-Gon be replaced, apparently due to 'irresolvable mental conflict' - even Mace Windu himself was sufficiently concerned by this report to accept his request."
Despite his anguish at the news, Obi-Wan couldn't help a flicker of relief. "Does that mean Master Qui-Gon is returning to the Temple, Knight Leksalis?" he asked, shielding his eagerness from his voice; at Noreif's nod, though, he couldn't suppress his confusion. "Then why am I being called away? Wouldn't I be of more use if I remained here?"
"Due to the rather, ah, untimely nature of your Master's departure, Ruya was the one to arrange a temporary guardian and appointed me. However, the Council believes that I am the most suitable replacement for Qui-Gon, since I have experience with Ruya, which means I have to depart now, and I'm taking you with me."
Obi-Wan began to ask for further explanation, but found himself suddenly overcome by the thought of having to leave; while the Temple had become increasingly constrictive over the past two months, its tranquillity tainted by the darkness of his nightmares, it also offered safety and the reassurance of familiar surroundings. Taken aback by the fierceness of his own reaction, it took him several moments to realise that Noreif was peering at him in concern.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, silently berating himself. "I was distracted."
"Like Master, like Apprentice," Noreif observed with a chuckle. "Master Yoda spoke to me privately after I was briefed by the Council," he continued. "It was his decision that you come with me – he believes that Qui-Gon is also distracted, and that you are the distraction. In other words, your Master is too worried about you to carry out his mission."
The dreams…he knows? Obi-Wan felt a pang of guilt at the knowledge that he was the cause of Qui-Gon's consternation. "Does Master Qui-Gon know I'm coming?"
Noreif hesitated. "Yoda thought it best that he not be told, since it would only be the source of further agitation. The last thing Qui-Gon would want is for you to be heading into a potentially dangerous situation, but Yoda is adamant that you accompany me." The Knight smiled, clasping Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Well, we'd better get going. The sooner we get there, the better for all parties concerned."
Both Jedi stood, Obi-Wan a little less easily than Noreif due to weariness, and made their way out of the room, heading for the Temple hangar and the awaiting transport. As they passed out into the hallway, Obi-Wan paused and looked back at the Room of a Thousand Fountains, savouring the calm there and railing against the shadows that were already rising inside him, trying to prevent himself from being cast further into the darkness that had already taken root in his mind. Gathering himself, he hurried after Noreif, wondering if there was any hope left for him in the universe.
tbc…