Chapter 38
As she kneeled on the floor by the prone form of her Master, Meri glanced up and down the dark corridor, wondering if anyone would be about and able to help them. Unfortunately, no one was in sight and Meri glumly concluded that there likely wouldn't be anyone around to be of help at this time of night. Most of the Temple's occupants would be asleep by now, and Meri longed to be one of them.
With some effort, she managed to turn Alex's shoulders so that his head rested in her lap. Studying his face, she saw that he looked as if he had just fallen asleep; his pale face suggested otherwise, though. It worried her that he had suddenly collapsed. A bit of guilt pricked her conscience at the thought. Alex hadn't been in any condition to make decisions, but because of her recent offence, Meri had been reluctant to act without his consent. She should have insisted he go to the infirmary.
He would definitely end up there now, she thought to herself, though she wasn't sure how she was going to get him there. She certainly couldn't carry him. She probably couldn't even drag him. Her ankle was starting to ache more and more as she sat with his weight on her, and the skin across her back was burning. Her mind was becoming unfocused and fuzzy. Meri was exhausted and wanted only to sleep, but she knew that sleep would be the last thing she'd be getting for awhile.
Her exhaustion overpowering her need to stay vigilant, Meri forgot about the need to contact someone, and gave into the urge she'd had all night. Alex's hair had been sticking on end in some places, despite his earlier attempts to straighten it. With light strokes, Meri ran her slender fingers through his thick, inky black hair, pushing it back into some semblance of order.
Through their bond, she felt him fall into a deeper sleep, if that's what it was. She pulled her hand away.
That wouldn't help matters. If anything, she should be trying to rouse the Jedi Master, not sending him into a deeper level of unconsciousness.
With a sigh, Meri began to search for the small com link she knew he was carrying.
Preoccupied with her task, she didn't hear the soft steps as someone approached her from behind. Eventually, the sense that someone was there began to seep into her mind.
With an unjedi-like yelp, she startled violently when she finally realized there was someone standing directly behind her.
"Pardon me," a well-modulated voice said.
"Ohh," she breathed, looking up at a figure shrouded in a Jedi robe that hid his face.
Before she found her voice to say anything else, the Jedi was kneeling beside her fallen Master, one hand resting on Alex's pale forehead.
Finally the other Jedi looked up, pushing back his hood with one hand as he did so. "Are you alright, Padawan?"
The face that met her was kind. It was that of a middle-aged Jedi male who looked ten years younger than he was. Warm brown eyes searched her face in concern as he waited for a reply.
"Yes, Master," she answered, sensing his rank. "But …" she began.
"Your Master isn't," the Jedi finished for her, lifting with one hand the com link from his belt and speaking into it quietly.
Meri allowed herself to relax now that help had arrived; as she did, her fatigue overwhelmed her once again as her focus began to slip even farther. Only faintly did she hear the words, "down Jedi," and "send healer."
She wasn't aware of the fact that the older Jedi had closed down the link and was gazing at her in concern.
"Padawan," the gentle call jerked her back into the moment and she glanced up.
A warm surge in the Force, pulsating around her, revealed to Meri that she was now being scanned for injury, much as her Master had been.
A startled light filled the face of the kindly Jedi as he continued to gaze at her.
"Half-truths do not become a Jedi," he reproved her quietly.
"I'm sorry, Master," she murmured softly as frustration mounted within. Her injuries were much less a concern to her than Alex's at this point.
"Can you make it into the infirmary," he inquired of her as he glanced at her injured ankle.
A fleeting look of exasperation darted across her features, but she quickly masked it. "Yes, Master."
"We will see," he remarked quietly, and then stood as the team of healers arrived.
**
//I'm too old for this\\, Meri mused, her cheek resting against the rough, brown fabric of the Jedi Master's robe. //He didn't need to carry me. I would have made it to the infirmary on my own. I mean, I've walking on my ankle since leaving Dubh nán, and though it's painful, I've managed.\\
With a start, Meri realized that she was more worried about being embarrassed than anything else. She would rather be in pain than be seen with her arms around the Jedi's neck, but he had insisted she let the Master healer see it before she did any more walking.
Despite her best efforts, Meri found her eyes drifting closed as the Jedi continued on his way to the infirmary and the waiting team of healers. His steps were soft and light and it seemed to Meri that he was floating rather than walking, or so she thought. Though the trip was a short one, by the time they arrived at the infirmary, exhaustion won out; Alex's padawan was fast asleep.
Meri woke up with a jolt as she was placed on an infirmary bed. Looking around quickly, she realized she was in an isolated examination room. The only other occupant was the Jedi Master who had carried her here.
She glanced up at him shyly and smiled faintly. "I guess I was a bit more tired than I thought."
"You are exhausted, Padawan," he said, and then added. "You are not well."
Instead of answering, Meri's gaze drifted towards the open door.
The Jedi followed her gaze and folded his hands in the ends of his robe. "Master Arieh is being seen to by the Master healer. Another healer should be in to see you shortly," answering her unspoken questions.
Meri glanced back towards the Jedi Master, tall and stately. Her dark eyes reflected his appearance with a questionable look. //He knew her Master's name?\\
She was opening her mouth to ask the identity of the Jedi when a familiar figure entered the room.
"Lina!" Meri exclaimed.
As the apprentice healer entered the room, Meri saw a quickly masked expression of surprise on Lina's face.
"Master Windu," Lina greeted the Jedi Master with respect in her voice, as she turned to attend to Meri.
Meri's eyes widened. //Master Windu???\\
She had never met the Jedi Master, one of the newer members on the Jedi Council, but she had definitely heard his name He was often spoken of in awe by other padawan's and initiates. He was rumored to be one of the best swordsmen in the entire Jedi Order.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the quiet exchange between the healer apprentice and the Jedi Master; the next thing she knew, he was striding out of the room, leaving her staring blankly after him.
"Meri?"
Lina's voice called her out of her reverie and she looked up into the concerned face of her friend.
"Are you okay?" the healer apprentice asked.
"That was Master Windu?" Meri asked faintly, knowing she knew the answer.
"Yes," Lina answered with a glance in the direction the Jedi had gone. "Intimidating isn't he?"
Meri thought back to some of more defiant words she had spoken when the healers had insisted she couldn't walk. //Any time now would be a good time to get a hold of your tongue,\\ Meri admonished herself.
In answer to Lina's question, Meri just nodded.
After examining Meri's ankle, Lina held out a backless gown to the injured padawan.
Meri stared at her. She hadn't told Lina her back was hurting and as far as she had knew, the healer apprentice hadn't sensed it through the Force either.
Lina grinned. "Master Windu made sure we knew," she explained.
Meri sighed and took the garment.
Lina smiled at the obviously weary padawan. "I'll leave you to change into that. Master An-Paj should be here in a bit. I'm just getting of duty, but maybe we can talk later. "
"I'd like that," Meri replied softly.
With that, the healer apprentice quickly left the room, closing the door behind her.
Meri slowly removed the tunic she was wearing and slid her arms into the backless gown. Setting her tunic aside, she remained standing while she waited for the Master healer.
As time passed her eyelids began to droop, and giving up, she moved to lie on her stomach, resting her head on the paper-covered pillow. She let out a troubled sigh as she thought of the last few hours and then drifted off into a light doze.
As she kneeled on the floor by the prone form of her Master, Meri glanced up and down the dark corridor, wondering if anyone would be about and able to help them. Unfortunately, no one was in sight and Meri glumly concluded that there likely wouldn't be anyone around to be of help at this time of night. Most of the Temple's occupants would be asleep by now, and Meri longed to be one of them.
With some effort, she managed to turn Alex's shoulders so that his head rested in her lap. Studying his face, she saw that he looked as if he had just fallen asleep; his pale face suggested otherwise, though. It worried her that he had suddenly collapsed. A bit of guilt pricked her conscience at the thought. Alex hadn't been in any condition to make decisions, but because of her recent offence, Meri had been reluctant to act without his consent. She should have insisted he go to the infirmary.
He would definitely end up there now, she thought to herself, though she wasn't sure how she was going to get him there. She certainly couldn't carry him. She probably couldn't even drag him. Her ankle was starting to ache more and more as she sat with his weight on her, and the skin across her back was burning. Her mind was becoming unfocused and fuzzy. Meri was exhausted and wanted only to sleep, but she knew that sleep would be the last thing she'd be getting for awhile.
Her exhaustion overpowering her need to stay vigilant, Meri forgot about the need to contact someone, and gave into the urge she'd had all night. Alex's hair had been sticking on end in some places, despite his earlier attempts to straighten it. With light strokes, Meri ran her slender fingers through his thick, inky black hair, pushing it back into some semblance of order.
Through their bond, she felt him fall into a deeper sleep, if that's what it was. She pulled her hand away.
That wouldn't help matters. If anything, she should be trying to rouse the Jedi Master, not sending him into a deeper level of unconsciousness.
With a sigh, Meri began to search for the small com link she knew he was carrying.
Preoccupied with her task, she didn't hear the soft steps as someone approached her from behind. Eventually, the sense that someone was there began to seep into her mind.
With an unjedi-like yelp, she startled violently when she finally realized there was someone standing directly behind her.
"Pardon me," a well-modulated voice said.
"Ohh," she breathed, looking up at a figure shrouded in a Jedi robe that hid his face.
Before she found her voice to say anything else, the Jedi was kneeling beside her fallen Master, one hand resting on Alex's pale forehead.
Finally the other Jedi looked up, pushing back his hood with one hand as he did so. "Are you alright, Padawan?"
The face that met her was kind. It was that of a middle-aged Jedi male who looked ten years younger than he was. Warm brown eyes searched her face in concern as he waited for a reply.
"Yes, Master," she answered, sensing his rank. "But …" she began.
"Your Master isn't," the Jedi finished for her, lifting with one hand the com link from his belt and speaking into it quietly.
Meri allowed herself to relax now that help had arrived; as she did, her fatigue overwhelmed her once again as her focus began to slip even farther. Only faintly did she hear the words, "down Jedi," and "send healer."
She wasn't aware of the fact that the older Jedi had closed down the link and was gazing at her in concern.
"Padawan," the gentle call jerked her back into the moment and she glanced up.
A warm surge in the Force, pulsating around her, revealed to Meri that she was now being scanned for injury, much as her Master had been.
A startled light filled the face of the kindly Jedi as he continued to gaze at her.
"Half-truths do not become a Jedi," he reproved her quietly.
"I'm sorry, Master," she murmured softly as frustration mounted within. Her injuries were much less a concern to her than Alex's at this point.
"Can you make it into the infirmary," he inquired of her as he glanced at her injured ankle.
A fleeting look of exasperation darted across her features, but she quickly masked it. "Yes, Master."
"We will see," he remarked quietly, and then stood as the team of healers arrived.
**
//I'm too old for this\\, Meri mused, her cheek resting against the rough, brown fabric of the Jedi Master's robe. //He didn't need to carry me. I would have made it to the infirmary on my own. I mean, I've walking on my ankle since leaving Dubh nán, and though it's painful, I've managed.\\
With a start, Meri realized that she was more worried about being embarrassed than anything else. She would rather be in pain than be seen with her arms around the Jedi's neck, but he had insisted she let the Master healer see it before she did any more walking.
Despite her best efforts, Meri found her eyes drifting closed as the Jedi continued on his way to the infirmary and the waiting team of healers. His steps were soft and light and it seemed to Meri that he was floating rather than walking, or so she thought. Though the trip was a short one, by the time they arrived at the infirmary, exhaustion won out; Alex's padawan was fast asleep.
Meri woke up with a jolt as she was placed on an infirmary bed. Looking around quickly, she realized she was in an isolated examination room. The only other occupant was the Jedi Master who had carried her here.
She glanced up at him shyly and smiled faintly. "I guess I was a bit more tired than I thought."
"You are exhausted, Padawan," he said, and then added. "You are not well."
Instead of answering, Meri's gaze drifted towards the open door.
The Jedi followed her gaze and folded his hands in the ends of his robe. "Master Arieh is being seen to by the Master healer. Another healer should be in to see you shortly," answering her unspoken questions.
Meri glanced back towards the Jedi Master, tall and stately. Her dark eyes reflected his appearance with a questionable look. //He knew her Master's name?\\
She was opening her mouth to ask the identity of the Jedi when a familiar figure entered the room.
"Lina!" Meri exclaimed.
As the apprentice healer entered the room, Meri saw a quickly masked expression of surprise on Lina's face.
"Master Windu," Lina greeted the Jedi Master with respect in her voice, as she turned to attend to Meri.
Meri's eyes widened. //Master Windu???\\
She had never met the Jedi Master, one of the newer members on the Jedi Council, but she had definitely heard his name He was often spoken of in awe by other padawan's and initiates. He was rumored to be one of the best swordsmen in the entire Jedi Order.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the quiet exchange between the healer apprentice and the Jedi Master; the next thing she knew, he was striding out of the room, leaving her staring blankly after him.
"Meri?"
Lina's voice called her out of her reverie and she looked up into the concerned face of her friend.
"Are you okay?" the healer apprentice asked.
"That was Master Windu?" Meri asked faintly, knowing she knew the answer.
"Yes," Lina answered with a glance in the direction the Jedi had gone. "Intimidating isn't he?"
Meri thought back to some of more defiant words she had spoken when the healers had insisted she couldn't walk. //Any time now would be a good time to get a hold of your tongue,\\ Meri admonished herself.
In answer to Lina's question, Meri just nodded.
After examining Meri's ankle, Lina held out a backless gown to the injured padawan.
Meri stared at her. She hadn't told Lina her back was hurting and as far as she had knew, the healer apprentice hadn't sensed it through the Force either.
Lina grinned. "Master Windu made sure we knew," she explained.
Meri sighed and took the garment.
Lina smiled at the obviously weary padawan. "I'll leave you to change into that. Master An-Paj should be here in a bit. I'm just getting of duty, but maybe we can talk later. "
"I'd like that," Meri replied softly.
With that, the healer apprentice quickly left the room, closing the door behind her.
Meri slowly removed the tunic she was wearing and slid her arms into the backless gown. Setting her tunic aside, she remained standing while she waited for the Master healer.
As time passed her eyelids began to droop, and giving up, she moved to lie on her stomach, resting her head on the paper-covered pillow. She let out a troubled sigh as she thought of the last few hours and then drifted off into a light doze.
