TITLE: First Knight - Part Two
BY: Arwyn Whitesun
Disclaimer and Other Info in Part One
------------
"Agreed to this you did?"
"Yes, Master Yoda, but that was before I knew---"
"Then go through with it you must."
Obi-Wan stared at the flickering blue hologram of Master Yoda which was being transmitted from Coruscant on Obi-Wan's portable transceiver. He could not believe Yoda was countenancing this barbaric ritual.
"Master, perhaps you did not hear what I said," Obi-Wan said slowly, a muscle in his jaw working. "I am being asked to---"
"Heard you I did," Yoda snapped. "Not that old am I."
"Forgive me, Master," Obi-Wan said. He took a deep breath. "But, surely you can see that I can't possibly go through----"
"Unable to physically? Is that what you are saying?"
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "No, of course not."
"Then problem I see not. This blessing ceremony agreed to you did. To back out would be dishonorable. Not worthy of a Jedi."
"Is it worthy of a Jedi to take the virginity of a bride on her wedding night?" Obi-Wan asked, his voice sharper than he had intended.
Yoda's eyes narrowed and Obi-Wan watched as he banged his walking stick on the floor of wherever he was in the Temple.
"In this context? Yes! To the Ahjane a great honor this is. Especially since Jedi are you. Because of your connection to the Force, believe they do that your coupling with the bride on her wedding night will the fertility of the marriage ensure. But, if thorough enough research you had done before the mission, this you would have known."
Obi-Wan lowered his eyes, but inwardly he bristled at Yoda's rebuke. He prided himself on painstakingly researching the cultures and worlds he was going to visit before embarking on a mission, and he had done so with the Ahjane. However, he had concentrated the bulk of his research on their political, economic and military systems. But Yoda was right. Obi-Wan had not researched enough and, as a result, he was now in this predicament.
"Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan raised his eyes.
"Not fair was it to you such a thing to say," Yoda went on in a gentle voice. "That this would happen foresee you could not. But, happen it has and back out you can not."
"Yes, Master."
"Forbidden by the Code you are not you from taking part in this ceremony, since a Knight you now are," Yoda said and Obi-Wan could see the Jedi Master was trying to ease his anxiety.
"I know, Master. But, I still do not wish to go through with it."
"Why?"
Obi-Wan stared at Yoda. The answer should have been obvious. Although attachment and possession were forbidden to the Jedi, they were not a celibate order. However, the years of training and dedication required to become a Jedi usually lessened such desires. Yes, when Obi-wan was younger he had sometimes been distracted by the sight of a slender neck, or the sweet swelling of a bosom under the tunic of a fellow padawan, but he had always stuck to the Code.
Then, his face flooding with heat, he recalled that was not true. And a name, long buried, burst free in his heart. Silia. And a memory of her in his arms blazed forth. The hidden memory exploded inside him like a supernova, unbidden, unwanted, and Obi-Wan felt himself caught in a whirlwind of memory as the sighs and the scents and the touch (oh, yes, the touch!) of that forbidden night swept over him.
Dismayed at how quickly the long-suppressed, decades-old memory was overpowering him, Obi-Wan struggled to ease the hot rush of blood that surged through him. He swallowed heavily, his chest constricting. It was because of what had happened all those years ago that he was afraid to go through with this blessing ceremony. He glanced at Yoda and saw he was peering closely at him.
"Master, I'm sorry, but I can not take such a thing lightly," Obi-Wan said, his voice tight. "Relations between a man and a woman should be more meaningful."
"To the Ahjane very meaningful this blessing ceremony is."
Obi-Wan sighed. "Master---"
"No use is there in going over this anymore, Obi-Wan. Clear your path is. Only following it now remains."
Obi-Wan frowned. Easy enough for Yoda to say. He wasn't the one who had to go down that particular path. Then a thought occurred to Obi-Wan.
"Master, I don't even know what she looks like."
"Important is that?"
"What?"
"If attractive or unattractive you find her, a difference to you that would make?"
"No, of course not," Obi-Wan said quickly, troubled that Yoda would think him so shallow. "Beauty is only a facade, Master. It is no more what a person is then the moon's reflection on the water is the moon itself."
"Humph. Very pretty sentiment," Yoda grunted.
He stared at Obi-Wan for a long moment, then released a long breath.
"Very sacred to the Ahjane this ceremony is. Stress that enough, I can not. Great honor it is that asked you they did though see it their way you do not. But, go through with it you must. However, remember, Obi-Wan, what you see through your eyes is colored by your mind. See it only as dishonor, and dishonor it will be."
"Yes, Master."
Both Yoda and Obi-Wan remained silent for a moment, the little Jedi Master's image flickering before Obi-Wan's gaze. Obi-Wan was greatly disappointed for he had expected Yoda to side with him and help him find a way out of this mess. But, much to his surprise, the opposite had occurred.
Ever since the death of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan had grown closer to Yoda and, he supposed, thinking he had come to know the Jedi Master as well as he knew anyone, had assumed that Yoda felt the same way about sexual relations as he did; as something to be avoided at all costs. Obi-Wan grimaced as he thought again of Silia. Yes, avoided at all costs, for he was painfully aware of the terrible price that was sometimes paid when one succumbed to that most ancient and bedeviling of desires.
"The bride, how old is she?" Yoda asked, breaking into Obi-Wan's thoughts.
"I'm not sure, Master. Young."
"If young this bride is, gentle with her you must be." Yoda tilted his head. "Lose yourself you might, if control you do not maintain. Human mating is so..." and Yoda's nose wrinkled. "...engulfing of the spirit. Separate your mind from your body, Obi-Wan, and get through this you will. No doubt of that I have."
Obi-Wan gritted his teeth. He did not even want to go through with this blasted ritual, yet Yoda was comfortable enough with it to lecture Obi-Wan on how best to take a young woman's virginity. And what did Yoda know about human mating? And, worst of all, was it possible that despite everything he had done to conceal it, Yoda knew what had happened all those years ago between him and Silia?
"I can assure you, Master Yoda, that I will," and Obi-Wan cleared his throat as he struggled to maintain an even tone to his voice, "control myself when the time comes."
That is, he thought, if it ever got to that point and Obi-Wan certainly did not intend for it to get to that point.
"Good," Yoda said. "Expect you and Padawan Skywalker back on Coruscant once you are done."
Obi-Wan was then startled to see a twinkle in Yoda's frog-like eyes as a corner of his wide green mouth curled up.
"May the Force be with you, Master Obi-Wan," he said and Obi-Wan was certain he heard laughter in the Jedi's Master's voice. Yoda's image shimmered briefly, then disappeared.
Obi-Wan stared for a moment at the emptiness where Yoda's hologram had been. The muscles in his shoulders tightened, a sure sign he was distressed but struggling to control it. The entire situation was insane, but Yoda was right. Unless Obi-Wan could find a way out of this predicament that would not dishonor Dynast K'lia, he would have to go through with the ceremony.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. And what if it did come to that and he was left with no choice but go through with the ceremony? Would the same thing that had happened with Silia happen again?
Obi-Wan shook his head. He would not take that risk. He would not go through with the ceremony, but he would find some way of retaining K'lia's honor. He turned and headed back to the common room where Anakin and K'lia's manservant waited for him.
To be continued...
Disclaimer and Other Info in Part One
------------
"Agreed to this you did?"
"Yes, Master Yoda, but that was before I knew---"
"Then go through with it you must."
Obi-Wan stared at the flickering blue hologram of Master Yoda which was being transmitted from Coruscant on Obi-Wan's portable transceiver. He could not believe Yoda was countenancing this barbaric ritual.
"Master, perhaps you did not hear what I said," Obi-Wan said slowly, a muscle in his jaw working. "I am being asked to---"
"Heard you I did," Yoda snapped. "Not that old am I."
"Forgive me, Master," Obi-Wan said. He took a deep breath. "But, surely you can see that I can't possibly go through----"
"Unable to physically? Is that what you are saying?"
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "No, of course not."
"Then problem I see not. This blessing ceremony agreed to you did. To back out would be dishonorable. Not worthy of a Jedi."
"Is it worthy of a Jedi to take the virginity of a bride on her wedding night?" Obi-Wan asked, his voice sharper than he had intended.
Yoda's eyes narrowed and Obi-Wan watched as he banged his walking stick on the floor of wherever he was in the Temple.
"In this context? Yes! To the Ahjane a great honor this is. Especially since Jedi are you. Because of your connection to the Force, believe they do that your coupling with the bride on her wedding night will the fertility of the marriage ensure. But, if thorough enough research you had done before the mission, this you would have known."
Obi-Wan lowered his eyes, but inwardly he bristled at Yoda's rebuke. He prided himself on painstakingly researching the cultures and worlds he was going to visit before embarking on a mission, and he had done so with the Ahjane. However, he had concentrated the bulk of his research on their political, economic and military systems. But Yoda was right. Obi-Wan had not researched enough and, as a result, he was now in this predicament.
"Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan raised his eyes.
"Not fair was it to you such a thing to say," Yoda went on in a gentle voice. "That this would happen foresee you could not. But, happen it has and back out you can not."
"Yes, Master."
"Forbidden by the Code you are not you from taking part in this ceremony, since a Knight you now are," Yoda said and Obi-Wan could see the Jedi Master was trying to ease his anxiety.
"I know, Master. But, I still do not wish to go through with it."
"Why?"
Obi-Wan stared at Yoda. The answer should have been obvious. Although attachment and possession were forbidden to the Jedi, they were not a celibate order. However, the years of training and dedication required to become a Jedi usually lessened such desires. Yes, when Obi-wan was younger he had sometimes been distracted by the sight of a slender neck, or the sweet swelling of a bosom under the tunic of a fellow padawan, but he had always stuck to the Code.
Then, his face flooding with heat, he recalled that was not true. And a name, long buried, burst free in his heart. Silia. And a memory of her in his arms blazed forth. The hidden memory exploded inside him like a supernova, unbidden, unwanted, and Obi-Wan felt himself caught in a whirlwind of memory as the sighs and the scents and the touch (oh, yes, the touch!) of that forbidden night swept over him.
Dismayed at how quickly the long-suppressed, decades-old memory was overpowering him, Obi-Wan struggled to ease the hot rush of blood that surged through him. He swallowed heavily, his chest constricting. It was because of what had happened all those years ago that he was afraid to go through with this blessing ceremony. He glanced at Yoda and saw he was peering closely at him.
"Master, I'm sorry, but I can not take such a thing lightly," Obi-Wan said, his voice tight. "Relations between a man and a woman should be more meaningful."
"To the Ahjane very meaningful this blessing ceremony is."
Obi-Wan sighed. "Master---"
"No use is there in going over this anymore, Obi-Wan. Clear your path is. Only following it now remains."
Obi-Wan frowned. Easy enough for Yoda to say. He wasn't the one who had to go down that particular path. Then a thought occurred to Obi-Wan.
"Master, I don't even know what she looks like."
"Important is that?"
"What?"
"If attractive or unattractive you find her, a difference to you that would make?"
"No, of course not," Obi-Wan said quickly, troubled that Yoda would think him so shallow. "Beauty is only a facade, Master. It is no more what a person is then the moon's reflection on the water is the moon itself."
"Humph. Very pretty sentiment," Yoda grunted.
He stared at Obi-Wan for a long moment, then released a long breath.
"Very sacred to the Ahjane this ceremony is. Stress that enough, I can not. Great honor it is that asked you they did though see it their way you do not. But, go through with it you must. However, remember, Obi-Wan, what you see through your eyes is colored by your mind. See it only as dishonor, and dishonor it will be."
"Yes, Master."
Both Yoda and Obi-Wan remained silent for a moment, the little Jedi Master's image flickering before Obi-Wan's gaze. Obi-Wan was greatly disappointed for he had expected Yoda to side with him and help him find a way out of this mess. But, much to his surprise, the opposite had occurred.
Ever since the death of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan had grown closer to Yoda and, he supposed, thinking he had come to know the Jedi Master as well as he knew anyone, had assumed that Yoda felt the same way about sexual relations as he did; as something to be avoided at all costs. Obi-Wan grimaced as he thought again of Silia. Yes, avoided at all costs, for he was painfully aware of the terrible price that was sometimes paid when one succumbed to that most ancient and bedeviling of desires.
"The bride, how old is she?" Yoda asked, breaking into Obi-Wan's thoughts.
"I'm not sure, Master. Young."
"If young this bride is, gentle with her you must be." Yoda tilted his head. "Lose yourself you might, if control you do not maintain. Human mating is so..." and Yoda's nose wrinkled. "...engulfing of the spirit. Separate your mind from your body, Obi-Wan, and get through this you will. No doubt of that I have."
Obi-Wan gritted his teeth. He did not even want to go through with this blasted ritual, yet Yoda was comfortable enough with it to lecture Obi-Wan on how best to take a young woman's virginity. And what did Yoda know about human mating? And, worst of all, was it possible that despite everything he had done to conceal it, Yoda knew what had happened all those years ago between him and Silia?
"I can assure you, Master Yoda, that I will," and Obi-Wan cleared his throat as he struggled to maintain an even tone to his voice, "control myself when the time comes."
That is, he thought, if it ever got to that point and Obi-Wan certainly did not intend for it to get to that point.
"Good," Yoda said. "Expect you and Padawan Skywalker back on Coruscant once you are done."
Obi-Wan was then startled to see a twinkle in Yoda's frog-like eyes as a corner of his wide green mouth curled up.
"May the Force be with you, Master Obi-Wan," he said and Obi-Wan was certain he heard laughter in the Jedi's Master's voice. Yoda's image shimmered briefly, then disappeared.
Obi-Wan stared for a moment at the emptiness where Yoda's hologram had been. The muscles in his shoulders tightened, a sure sign he was distressed but struggling to control it. The entire situation was insane, but Yoda was right. Unless Obi-Wan could find a way out of this predicament that would not dishonor Dynast K'lia, he would have to go through with the ceremony.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. And what if it did come to that and he was left with no choice but go through with the ceremony? Would the same thing that had happened with Silia happen again?
Obi-Wan shook his head. He would not take that risk. He would not go through with the ceremony, but he would find some way of retaining K'lia's honor. He turned and headed back to the common room where Anakin and K'lia's manservant waited for him.
To be continued...