Title: Broken Promises and New Beginnings
Rating: PG-13(To be on the safe side) Genre: Drama/Mild Angst
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. They are, were and will always belong to Mr. George Lucas creator of an amazing universe. Not only does this story contain elements of the universe that Mr. Lucas created but also the Alternate Universe (AU) found in a wonderful story called An Untimely Frost by CYNICAL21.
Other Stuff:
/-/ Bond thought //-// Private thought "-" Speaking aloud
********************************
Obi-Wan stood stunned unable to move. Frozen in shock, his mouth dropped open and his eyes were lost searching and staring emptily at the spot where his master had just stood. It was as if he were willing the man to appear again where he had just been standing. His heart cried out. He couldn't breathe. How could this be happening? One moment he was a Padawan learner on the brink of being recommended for his knight trials and the next his Master, HIS Master, was resigning from the order, casting him aside for a snot nosed untrained pathetic life form. Turning to the exit he immediately threw open the bond and desperately searched for the reason his Master had chosen to abandon him like this. It was too late. Qui-Gon and Anakin were gone. He would have felt humiliated but devastated seemed to more fully encompass his state. Not only had he been thrown over again for yet another child prodigy as he had five years earlier, but he had just watched his chance at knighthood storm out the door without a thought of him.
"Obi-Wan?" Yoda's voice pulled the young man's gaze from the doors. "Say anything to you through the bond did he?"
"No Master Yoda. I didn't know- I. I ." He bowed his head stunned and sorrowful. He didn't want to admit his weakness. He didn't want to confess that he had closed down his end of the bond to hurt his Master. It was the only weapon he had had. He would cut him off just as his Master had cut him out of his life. It seemed fair enough but now he felt himself wondering if Qui-Gon had been trying to reach for him. What if his Master had a plan and he had it all worked out and eventually everything would be alright and back to normal. Obi-Wan knew that not only were his hopes childish but they were also merely wishful thinking. His Master would have no such plan. Once a knight resigns it is very hard to come back to the order. Obi-Wan cleared his throat drawing the attention of the Council Members.
"Master Yoda," he began lowering his eyes to the floor," I am ashamed to confess that if my mast- " he paused his voice catching on the realization, "if Master Jinn had tried to contact me through the bond I would not have heard him. I had closed my end."
Yoda nodded sadly. He wanted to admonish the boy that his actions were not those of a Jedi but the boy had suffered through so much at the hands of his old Padawan he lacked the ability to bring more condemnation down upon him. Obi-Wan had learned long ago how to feel failure thanks to the baggage of Qui-Gon Jinn.
"Thank you for your admission Obi-Wan." It was Mace Windu's voice that responded. It was a voice filled with disappointment and despair. Obi-Wan sensed that these emotions were linked to Qui-Gon and not to him. He breathed a bit of a sigh of relief but found very little real comfort.
The sunlight streamed in through the Council Chamber windows. The members remained silent for several minutes. Each aware of the terrible position Qui-Gon Jinn had left his Padawan in. Without a Master he would never be allowed to face the trials. He would not be allowed to remain in the temple. He would be removed from the order. Each member knew the potential of the man before them. His force signature was of the brightest and purest in the temple. Each searched their understanding of the code trying to find a way to keep this light in their midst. Finally it was Yoda who came forward. Taking his stick he rapped Obi-Wan in the shin. The young man knelt down as was his custom when speaking to the wise master. Once he was on his knees before him, Yoda moved to stand to the young man's side turning to face Mace Windu as he did so. He placed his hand upon Obi-Wan's shoulder. Breaking his gaze from Mace to take in the entire council for a moment he cleared his throat and seemed to struggle for composure for a long moment. The members were patient as they waited to hear the solution at which he had arrived. Slowly he began his voice growing stronger as he felt the young man next to him reaching out lending strength and seeking comfort.
"In the event of the death of a Master the responsibility for an existing Padawan falls to the one who trained the knight who is lost. Qui-Gon my Padawan was." Yoda paused taking a deep breath meeting Obi-Wan's eyes as he continued. "Qui-Gon is no more. Dead to the order he is now. Take Obi-Wan Kenobi for my Padawan learner I do."
The council members extended grave as well as relieved smiles and nodded. Each one silently rejoicing that only one Jedi had been lost instead of two.
"So be it." Mace announced. He turned his gaze to the stunned young man who was still staring into the face of the little green Master. He seemed to be looking at the master with disbelieving eyes. He wouldn't be expelled. The wise old master had saved him once again just as he had when he had been thirteen; just as he had sent him his saber when he had been forced to leave the temple five years ago. Never had he ever realized what a champion of lost causes the master was.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi do you accept Master Yoda to be your new Master?" Obi-Wan turned his gaze to Mace. Mace was taken aback by the awe, gratitude and overriding weariness he found in those sea storm eyes.
"I do and I am most grateful for the indulgence of the Council and the kindness of Master Yoda."
"Kindness it is not.' Yoda said too softly for the other members to hear, "never a lost cause are you my Obi-Wan." They were already bound in their love for Qui-Gon and their devastation at his act of selfish rebellion. Now they would also share a training bond as well. The thought that it was the death of Qui-Gon that cemented them now seemed perverse to the young man. He couldn't believe that his wise, talented, intelligent, dutiful Master was now disavowed. The thought of it shook him to the depths of his soul.
"So be it." Mace softly said. "May the force be with you both."
The Council meeting was then adjourned. Once the members had filed out of the chamber, Obi-Wan finally found his voice to address his new Master. "Master Yoda," He began, "thank you for helping me. I don't know what to say."
Yoda cupped the young man's face with his hands. "Wrong was it of me to use you to heal my Padawan. Thought I did that you would be worthy of him and bring him back to life." Obi-Wan flinched away when he realized even Yoda saw him as unworthy. Yoda took his face once more and waited until their eyes met before continuing. "My mistake it was thinking worthy of him you must be, now see it clearly I do. Worthy of you he is not. A Jedi you will be I promise.' He smiled and nodded. "Much we have to do, but first complete your current mission we must. Accompany the Queen back to Naboo we will. Then once returned our living arrangements we will work out.
Obi-Wan rose and followed the older Master from the council room. He felt lost and sad. Dead that is what Yoda had said of Qui-Gon. He had announced that he was dead to all the members of the order. Obi-Wan knew that that included him, but it was beyond his imagining. How could he ever think of Qui-Gon as being dead. He had been the center of his life for 12 years. So much had happened in such a brief moment. He could feel his mind trying to wrap itself around the new facts, but also felt it failing miserably. He had a new Master but just as his resentment welcomed the loss of Qui-Gon his heart longed to be with him again. He had been like a Father to him in so many ways. Yet sadly he had always known that he would betray him again. He had sensed it somehow. He had seen it in his dreams. He had experienced terrible nightmares over the last few months that Obi- Wan had tried to rationalize with claims of too much stress and the fact that his knight trials were drawing closer. It would have been normal to experience dreams of losing his Master, but in the dreams it had always been in a battle and the death had been literal. He had always awoken with a strangled scream caught in his throat drenched in perspiration and filled with questions. Now he knew it had been the force warning him. The force trying to help him prepare for the pain that lay ahead of him. It had been five years since his Master had rejected him in front of the council. Five years of working to rebuild what that time apart had destroyed only to have it destroyed again. Five years work of building back trust wiped out in a single moment. How could Qui-Gon care so little for him after all this time? He caught himself wanting to make excuses to Yoda so that he could go to the quarters he and Qui-Gon had shared. Would Yoda allow him to try and reach his now dead master? He wondered if he should ask, but really didn't feel up to explaining why he needed to see him. If he left now perhaps he could catch him before he and Anakin left the temple. He had no idea what he would say to the man but felt he had to see him one last time. //I might never see him again// he thought sadness sweeping through him. He needed answers to the questions which were racing through his head, but if Qui-Gon left the temple he might never have the chance to know the answers. The rap of a stick to his shin got his attention.
Rating: PG-13(To be on the safe side) Genre: Drama/Mild Angst
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. They are, were and will always belong to Mr. George Lucas creator of an amazing universe. Not only does this story contain elements of the universe that Mr. Lucas created but also the Alternate Universe (AU) found in a wonderful story called An Untimely Frost by CYNICAL21.
Other Stuff:
/-/ Bond thought //-// Private thought "-" Speaking aloud
********************************
Obi-Wan stood stunned unable to move. Frozen in shock, his mouth dropped open and his eyes were lost searching and staring emptily at the spot where his master had just stood. It was as if he were willing the man to appear again where he had just been standing. His heart cried out. He couldn't breathe. How could this be happening? One moment he was a Padawan learner on the brink of being recommended for his knight trials and the next his Master, HIS Master, was resigning from the order, casting him aside for a snot nosed untrained pathetic life form. Turning to the exit he immediately threw open the bond and desperately searched for the reason his Master had chosen to abandon him like this. It was too late. Qui-Gon and Anakin were gone. He would have felt humiliated but devastated seemed to more fully encompass his state. Not only had he been thrown over again for yet another child prodigy as he had five years earlier, but he had just watched his chance at knighthood storm out the door without a thought of him.
"Obi-Wan?" Yoda's voice pulled the young man's gaze from the doors. "Say anything to you through the bond did he?"
"No Master Yoda. I didn't know- I. I ." He bowed his head stunned and sorrowful. He didn't want to admit his weakness. He didn't want to confess that he had closed down his end of the bond to hurt his Master. It was the only weapon he had had. He would cut him off just as his Master had cut him out of his life. It seemed fair enough but now he felt himself wondering if Qui-Gon had been trying to reach for him. What if his Master had a plan and he had it all worked out and eventually everything would be alright and back to normal. Obi-Wan knew that not only were his hopes childish but they were also merely wishful thinking. His Master would have no such plan. Once a knight resigns it is very hard to come back to the order. Obi-Wan cleared his throat drawing the attention of the Council Members.
"Master Yoda," he began lowering his eyes to the floor," I am ashamed to confess that if my mast- " he paused his voice catching on the realization, "if Master Jinn had tried to contact me through the bond I would not have heard him. I had closed my end."
Yoda nodded sadly. He wanted to admonish the boy that his actions were not those of a Jedi but the boy had suffered through so much at the hands of his old Padawan he lacked the ability to bring more condemnation down upon him. Obi-Wan had learned long ago how to feel failure thanks to the baggage of Qui-Gon Jinn.
"Thank you for your admission Obi-Wan." It was Mace Windu's voice that responded. It was a voice filled with disappointment and despair. Obi-Wan sensed that these emotions were linked to Qui-Gon and not to him. He breathed a bit of a sigh of relief but found very little real comfort.
The sunlight streamed in through the Council Chamber windows. The members remained silent for several minutes. Each aware of the terrible position Qui-Gon Jinn had left his Padawan in. Without a Master he would never be allowed to face the trials. He would not be allowed to remain in the temple. He would be removed from the order. Each member knew the potential of the man before them. His force signature was of the brightest and purest in the temple. Each searched their understanding of the code trying to find a way to keep this light in their midst. Finally it was Yoda who came forward. Taking his stick he rapped Obi-Wan in the shin. The young man knelt down as was his custom when speaking to the wise master. Once he was on his knees before him, Yoda moved to stand to the young man's side turning to face Mace Windu as he did so. He placed his hand upon Obi-Wan's shoulder. Breaking his gaze from Mace to take in the entire council for a moment he cleared his throat and seemed to struggle for composure for a long moment. The members were patient as they waited to hear the solution at which he had arrived. Slowly he began his voice growing stronger as he felt the young man next to him reaching out lending strength and seeking comfort.
"In the event of the death of a Master the responsibility for an existing Padawan falls to the one who trained the knight who is lost. Qui-Gon my Padawan was." Yoda paused taking a deep breath meeting Obi-Wan's eyes as he continued. "Qui-Gon is no more. Dead to the order he is now. Take Obi-Wan Kenobi for my Padawan learner I do."
The council members extended grave as well as relieved smiles and nodded. Each one silently rejoicing that only one Jedi had been lost instead of two.
"So be it." Mace announced. He turned his gaze to the stunned young man who was still staring into the face of the little green Master. He seemed to be looking at the master with disbelieving eyes. He wouldn't be expelled. The wise old master had saved him once again just as he had when he had been thirteen; just as he had sent him his saber when he had been forced to leave the temple five years ago. Never had he ever realized what a champion of lost causes the master was.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi do you accept Master Yoda to be your new Master?" Obi-Wan turned his gaze to Mace. Mace was taken aback by the awe, gratitude and overriding weariness he found in those sea storm eyes.
"I do and I am most grateful for the indulgence of the Council and the kindness of Master Yoda."
"Kindness it is not.' Yoda said too softly for the other members to hear, "never a lost cause are you my Obi-Wan." They were already bound in their love for Qui-Gon and their devastation at his act of selfish rebellion. Now they would also share a training bond as well. The thought that it was the death of Qui-Gon that cemented them now seemed perverse to the young man. He couldn't believe that his wise, talented, intelligent, dutiful Master was now disavowed. The thought of it shook him to the depths of his soul.
"So be it." Mace softly said. "May the force be with you both."
The Council meeting was then adjourned. Once the members had filed out of the chamber, Obi-Wan finally found his voice to address his new Master. "Master Yoda," He began, "thank you for helping me. I don't know what to say."
Yoda cupped the young man's face with his hands. "Wrong was it of me to use you to heal my Padawan. Thought I did that you would be worthy of him and bring him back to life." Obi-Wan flinched away when he realized even Yoda saw him as unworthy. Yoda took his face once more and waited until their eyes met before continuing. "My mistake it was thinking worthy of him you must be, now see it clearly I do. Worthy of you he is not. A Jedi you will be I promise.' He smiled and nodded. "Much we have to do, but first complete your current mission we must. Accompany the Queen back to Naboo we will. Then once returned our living arrangements we will work out.
Obi-Wan rose and followed the older Master from the council room. He felt lost and sad. Dead that is what Yoda had said of Qui-Gon. He had announced that he was dead to all the members of the order. Obi-Wan knew that that included him, but it was beyond his imagining. How could he ever think of Qui-Gon as being dead. He had been the center of his life for 12 years. So much had happened in such a brief moment. He could feel his mind trying to wrap itself around the new facts, but also felt it failing miserably. He had a new Master but just as his resentment welcomed the loss of Qui-Gon his heart longed to be with him again. He had been like a Father to him in so many ways. Yet sadly he had always known that he would betray him again. He had sensed it somehow. He had seen it in his dreams. He had experienced terrible nightmares over the last few months that Obi- Wan had tried to rationalize with claims of too much stress and the fact that his knight trials were drawing closer. It would have been normal to experience dreams of losing his Master, but in the dreams it had always been in a battle and the death had been literal. He had always awoken with a strangled scream caught in his throat drenched in perspiration and filled with questions. Now he knew it had been the force warning him. The force trying to help him prepare for the pain that lay ahead of him. It had been five years since his Master had rejected him in front of the council. Five years of working to rebuild what that time apart had destroyed only to have it destroyed again. Five years work of building back trust wiped out in a single moment. How could Qui-Gon care so little for him after all this time? He caught himself wanting to make excuses to Yoda so that he could go to the quarters he and Qui-Gon had shared. Would Yoda allow him to try and reach his now dead master? He wondered if he should ask, but really didn't feel up to explaining why he needed to see him. If he left now perhaps he could catch him before he and Anakin left the temple. He had no idea what he would say to the man but felt he had to see him one last time. //I might never see him again// he thought sadness sweeping through him. He needed answers to the questions which were racing through his head, but if Qui-Gon left the temple he might never have the chance to know the answers. The rap of a stick to his shin got his attention.