Official Disclaimer: The characters and places mentioned in this fic are used without permission and belong to George Lucas and Lucasfilm. No copyright infringement is intended and no money is being made off of this fic.

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long to post, but the last few weeks have definitely been the most trying of my life, thanks to my project-loving teachers. Thanks to everyone for all the great reviews, they really kept me going. Don't worry about it Lazlo, you have a point and I'm glad you like the fic. I hope this long chapter can make up for the wait. Another special thanks to Spazoid for critiquing my ideas and Sheila for sticking with reading this. If you have any particular ideas/opinions on where this fic should go drop me a line and don't forget to review and tell me what you think!


Exile

Part 4

By Ender


Payton leaned against the thick castle wall, laying his head back on the cool stone. His ran a hand through his short black hair and sighed, realizing how bad the situation was going to get. This Jedi had come at the worst time possible; Obi-Wan was not going to take it well. The younger man was on the verge of his knighthood into the order and the ceremony was scheduled to take place the next week. The Bevan should be enjoying his rite of passage and moving forward, not remembering his checkered past. Qui-Gon's arrival had thrown everything out of place.

Twisting his head to the right, the Caedmon looked down the hall, his senses becoming alert. Payton could hear his charge stalking down the hall, his boot steps echoing loudly across the castle walls. The swordsman knew Obi-Wan enough to realize that the impromptu meeting hadn't gone well at all.

Obi-Wan came into view, his face a motionless mask as he stalked down the hall stiffly, his hands closed in tight fists. Payton was appalled to see the usually easy-going man's eyes glowing like molten lava, giving his boyish face a dangerous look. The former Jedi's tumultuous gaze fixed on the Caedmon, who could now see the pain reflected in the sapphire depths. Payton's anger flared at the thought of what Qui-Gon could have said to cause Obi-Wan this much distress.

He hurt him so much, the Tora thought to himself. Why couldn't he just leave him alone?

Payton's thoughts were interrupted as Obi-Wan brushed past him, barely waiting for the other man to catch up. The former Jedi's steely gaze was focused on a far wall as he barreled past.

"Obi-Wan, wait," Payton called, pushing off the wall and lengthening his stride to catch up. The young man spun around, his heavy-soled boots skidding to a halt.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Obi-Wan hissed, fury rising in his voice. The older man was amazed that his Bevan was insinuating that the Caedmon was to blame. Opening his mouth for a few seconds, Payton searched his uncooperative mind for a response, then answered.

"I was trying to break it to you at the right time."

"You had great timing," Obi-Wan snapped, sarcasm laced through his words. Though he knew Obi-Wan was going though a lot, Payton had had enough.

"Bevan, you will hold your tongue," the deep-voiced man growled. The effect was instantaneous.

Obi-Wan dropped his gaze, his features reflecting his deep embarrassment and shame. His posture seemed to deflate as his shoulders drooped and Payton could see pools of moisture forming at the corners of his eyes, tears threatening to fall at any second. The Tora regretted his outburst, but knew he couldn't take it back. Instead he placed a large, comforting hand on the boy's shoulder.

"He wants me to come back," Obi-Wan informed him quietly, a nervous laugh escaping his lips as his eyes closed. "After all that, they want me to come back. Can you believe it?"

Payton remained silent, squeezing Obi-Wan's shoulder as the Bevan composed himself. No, he couldn't believe it. Did they realize just how much they had hurt this innocent boy on that fateful day a year ago? Payton had never seen the former Jedi so vulnerable than at this moment, his pain seeping out like blood from a horrendous wound.

Unexpectedly, Obi-Wan straightened, eyelids shooting open.

"I'm sorry, Payton. I won't act like that again." He stepped away, towards the direction of his room. "I just need some time to think. Alone."

His blue eyes searched Payton's green ones for permission. The older man nodded.

"I understand. Go ahead."

Payton watched Obi-Wan turn the corner, then slowly shook his head. How could anyone harm this intelligent, noble man and let him go was beyond the Caedmon. He knew he needed to talk with this Jedi Master before he did it all over again.

~~~

Obi-Wan looked up sharply as a pounding filled his sparsely decorated room. He was sitting cross-legged on his small sleepcouch, trying to meditate and calm his racing heart. It was difficult, confusion and long-buried pain that had been released at Qui-Gon's plea clouding his thoughts.

He could sense his former Master's sincerity; Qui-Gon did want him to return, desperately. Obi-Wan had waited for months after he had left, praying for a sign that he could come back to Coruscant and the Jedi Order. The young man had never wanted anything more in his life, his dreams plagued by images of his triumphant return to the Jedi. But now that it had finally happened---finally---a part of him resisted with all its strength.

'Force, I'm confused,' he thought to himself with a dry laugh, though he didn't find anything remotely funny. He tried to convince himself to return with Qui-Gon amid his torrid thoughts. 'Besides,' the Bevan argued against the annoying resistance, 'it was for the good of the Temple. It probably hurt Qui-Gon as much as it did me.'

The pounding grew louder and Payton's voice sliced through Obi-Wan's roaming thoughts.

"Bevan, open the door before I break it down." The young man complied, lightly pushing the button that retracted the door. He reenforced his mental shields as he realized that Qui-Gon stood behind Payton, then focused on his Caedmon.

"We had that last minute training scheduled. I thought you'd want to give that new sword a try."

Obi-Wan's mood, though still shady, brightened a bit at the mention of sparring. He had always enjoyed weapons training, especially practice duels, even when he was a Jedi. Along with that, Payton had given him a proper blade in celebration of Obi-Wan's knighting, sleek steel replacing the dull training sword of an apprentice.

"That sounds good to me. Hold on," Obi-Wan answered with an excited grin. He glanced at the tall Jedi, who was standing a step behind Payton. For a fleeting moment the former Padawan could've sworn that the bearded man's eyes held a sadness at Obi-Wan's familiar reaction, but it was gone before Qui-Gon broke his gaze. Obi-Wan admired the Jedi's control of his shielding as he turned and headed back into his apartment.

Obi-Wan stopped in front of a cabinet holding his few precious possessions and opened it, delicately pulling the sword out and buckling the sheath to his belt. The weapon swaying on his left hip, Obi-Wan left the room, shut the door, and followed Payton down the hall. Qui-Gon walked next to Payton and for an instant Obi-Wan let himself believe things were like they used to be, that he was simply a Padawan following his Master like usual.

'Stop,' he chastised. 'Stop kidding yourself. Things are different now. Look what he did to you.' The only trouble was listening to his own advice. Though the argument that Qui-Gon betrayed him had satisfied Obi-Wan in the past, now he wasn't so sure.

Still trying futilely to convince himself that being a Jedi wasn't everything, Obi-Wan walked through a steel archway and found himself in the familiar surroundings of the training center.

The gigantic room, which could realistically hold thousands upon thousands of rooms Obi-Wan's size, was separated into sections, colored markers labeling each part. Obi-Wan watched some of the younger trainees working on a metal gymnastics set in the far corner, then the Bevans practicing sword technique on the other side of the room. Payton led them to the very center of the hall, a large blue mat marked with intricate black designs. they circled the mat, points all drawn in towards the center.

Qui-Gon, at Payton's urging, took a seat on the edge of the mat as the Tora prepared for the mock duel. The Caedmon unbuckled his belt and drew his sword, a dragon adorning the hilt in polished gold, as Obi-Wan did the same. The young man's blade was a work of art, twisting lines of pale blue carved into the blade matching the crystal blue stone held in a silver claw at the bottom of the hilt. Two deadly pointed ends curved down from the top of the hilt, obviously useful in battle as well as being a eye-catching decoration. Obi-Wan gazed at his blade for a moment, then sent an appreciative look towards Payton, who had crafted the weapon for Obi-Wan over many painstaking weeks.

Walking to the center of the training mat, Obi-Wan set his feet in a defensive fighting stance and raised his blade in readiness for Payton's attack. The Caedmon crossed the distance between them in a few large strides and hefted his weapon, the cool steel blazing in the bright lighting. Both combatants paused in anticipation, staring into each other's eyes with an unspoken challenge. Without warning, Payton lunged and swung his blade at Obi-Wan's head, starting the battle with a mighty blow.

The Jedi Master watched in amazement as Obi-Wan dodged gracefully out of the way as he brought his blade up to parry. His lithe movements were breathtaking, clearly better than they had been when he was a Padawan. Qui-Gon marveled at both men's skill as they seemed to dance around the mat, the loud clang of the meeting blades giving off a steady, ear-shattering beat.

Obi-Wan pushed back a blow that was meant for his thigh and cut in quickly at Payton's shoulder. The man was forced to twist away, the Bevan's blade neatly shearing off a part of Payton's tunic. In retaliation, the Caedmon let go a flurry of attacks that forced Obi-Wan onto the defensive again, the pale blue markings of his blade blurring in the air as they spun to deflect the powerful blows.

The battle continued for minutes, neither man gaining the advantage for more than a few seconds. Qui-Gon observed their focused gazes, their eyes firmly locked on each other's movements. The Jedi could tell that both Payton and Obi-Wan were predicting what the other would do before they moved. Obviously their time spent training together had given them insight on each other's fighting style. Their equilibrium was so balanced that neither seemed able to gain the upper hand.

With a sudden change in direction, Obi-Wan spun and flicked out his sword, which was narrowly avoided by Payton. As the older man dodged, Obi-Wan switched direction again and caught his Caedmon off balance, swiftly bringing up his blade next to Payton's exposed throat. They both froze, knowing any sudden movement would cause the blade to pierce the skin beneath it.

"I submit," Payton stated with a hint of pride in his voice, trying not to move any closer to the sharply honed sword at his throat. He threw his own sword to the floor as Obi-Wan slowly lowered the blade, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I can finally beat you," the former Padawan stated, grinning fully at the sour look on Payton's face.

"Don't be so sure. Twice doesn't mean forever. You're being arrogant."

"At least I'm not fat, old, and stupid." Obi-Wan's retort surprised Qui-Gon with it's outright mockery, but the Tora took no offense, stooping to retrieve his blade as he defended himself.

"I am not old, thank you very much." Obi-Wan patted the large man's shoulder in mock pity as he answered, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"You just keep saying that to yourself and maybe one day it will come true." Payton straightened to his full impressive height with a shocked look.

"Excuse me?" he questioned loudly. Obi-Wan, for now forgetting his situation with Qui-Gon, leaned close to the Jedi and whispered to him behind his hand, though he was clearly audible to Payton as well.

"Oh," the young man groaned softly, "looks like his hearing is going, too. How sad."

Payton gave a growl and cuffed the now laughing Obi-Wan with a large fist.

"That's enough out of you. Somebody needs to put you in your place." Obi-Wan merely smiled and continued his joke.

"And that's not going to be you, is it?" The Caedmon shook his head, actually somewhat serious now.

"Nope. But I'm sure Qui-Gon could beat you and your arrogant self into the next galaxy." Payton handed his sword to the frozen Jedi next to him before the other two men could object. "Have fun."

Both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon seemed reluctant to be standing next to each other, let alone fight in a duel. After a moment of thought, Obi-Wan came to the conclusion that he had nothing to lose, shrugged, and headed to the center of the mat once more. Qui-Gon followed his lead and shed his outer cloak and lightsaber, letting Payton take them as the Tora sat on the outer edges of the fighting circle. With a practiced flourish, Obi-Wan brought the tip of his sword up and pointed it at Qui-Gon, who did the same.

Their inner conflicts blissfully forgotten, or at least ignored, for the time being, the two men began to move in tandem, faster and faster. The Force pulsing between them, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon became only a mixed blur, their attacks and parries almost to fast for the naked eye to detect. Payton watched in admiration as they fought, Jedi techniques clearly seen in their fluid movements. The Tora knew that Obi-Wan was a Jedi at heart and that he would most likely decide to leave for Coruscant with his former Master. Of course, Obi-Wan would have to agree first.

Cutting in on Payton's assessment, a comlink buzz sounded noisily through the room. Grabbing it roughly from his belt, the Tora held it up to his ear for a minute, listening to the frantic message as Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon continued to spar. Slamming it back down, Payton called out to the two opponents, promptly ending the fight with his booming voice.

"Stop, now." He beckoned with a hand, already turning away. "There's been an explosion at the Ruidian Embassy and ambassadors need protection. We've been called in."

Obi-Wan started a brisk pace behind him, all humor gone from his features. Qui-Gon simply stared at the retreating figures, handing Payton's sword back as he passed. The Tora whipped his head around with a frown and locked eyes with the Jedi.

"You've been called for, too. By your people. Let's go."