A Difficult Road
The chamber was silent as a small group of Jedi stood around the fringes of the room. Qui-Gon stood in the middle of the group, wearing nothing but the traditional white padawan tunics and robes, covered by the dark brown outer robe. His belt was empty of its usual materials, only his lightsaber clipped to it. Three Council members stood before him, Riven, Re'naid, and Yoda. Behind him and to his left, Qui-Gon could see Aislinn out of the corner of his eye, smiling quietly. Her master stood a short distance away, looking proud.
"Padawan learner Qui-Gon Jinn, please step forward." Riven's deep voice rumbled through the room like distance thunder. Qui-Gon focused on him, doing as he bid. He had passed his trials the day before, earning a night's respite before the ceremony. The memories of that were locked within his mind and heart, things he wouldn't be able to speak of to any other because of their intimacy. That was his.
"Please kneel." Qui-Gon did so as Re'naid stepped forward. She smiled down at him for a moment before addressing the small crowd.
"This padawan has achieved all that is required of him. He has learned discipline and courage, as well as patience and intelligence. He is physically able to defend himself and many others. Qui-Gon is mentally capable of dealing fairly with other people and following the direction of the Council. He is spiritually capable of finding guidance and balance within the Force. Qui-Gon, do you choose to accept the path as a Knight of the Jedi Order, to complete the things asked of you by your fellow Jedi to the best of your abilities and cognition, to live a life worthy of the decision you are making?"
"I do," he replied solemnly. She nodded once, a smile glinting in her eyes. The female Council member stepped back.
"What is the code you will follow?" Riven rumbled.
"There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no death, there is the Force."
Yoda came to take Qui-Gon's place, taking the sword that Riven drew from a scabbard hanging from his waist. The diminutive Jedi looked respectfully at the padawan for a long moment, as if trying to impress his years of knowledge into the boy in that moment. The blade glinted in the artificial light of the room, its metal edge honed to a keen point. He laid the razor edge alongside Qui-Gon's neck. "A hard life this is," Yoda said quietly, only to Qui-Gon. "A long journey on a difficult road. But honor there is. May find always you the path you seek." His voice rose so that the entire chamber could hear him. "Knight thee, I do, in the name of the Jedi Order whose ranks have served for peace and justice throughout the galaxy." He tapped both of Qui-Gon's shoulders even as the padawan's head was still bent reverently to the floor.
Yoda tugged gently at his braid, drawing up his face to look at his own green visage. A rare smile creeped over his face. Yoda drew the sword up to the hair and sheered the braid off, leaving a clean cut lock little longer than the rest of his hair. He handed the blade back to Riven and gave Qui-Gon a hug.
"I welcome you as a Jedi Knight into the Order."
The chamber was silent as a small group of Jedi stood around the fringes of the room. Qui-Gon stood in the middle of the group, wearing nothing but the traditional white padawan tunics and robes, covered by the dark brown outer robe. His belt was empty of its usual materials, only his lightsaber clipped to it. Three Council members stood before him, Riven, Re'naid, and Yoda. Behind him and to his left, Qui-Gon could see Aislinn out of the corner of his eye, smiling quietly. Her master stood a short distance away, looking proud.
"Padawan learner Qui-Gon Jinn, please step forward." Riven's deep voice rumbled through the room like distance thunder. Qui-Gon focused on him, doing as he bid. He had passed his trials the day before, earning a night's respite before the ceremony. The memories of that were locked within his mind and heart, things he wouldn't be able to speak of to any other because of their intimacy. That was his.
"Please kneel." Qui-Gon did so as Re'naid stepped forward. She smiled down at him for a moment before addressing the small crowd.
"This padawan has achieved all that is required of him. He has learned discipline and courage, as well as patience and intelligence. He is physically able to defend himself and many others. Qui-Gon is mentally capable of dealing fairly with other people and following the direction of the Council. He is spiritually capable of finding guidance and balance within the Force. Qui-Gon, do you choose to accept the path as a Knight of the Jedi Order, to complete the things asked of you by your fellow Jedi to the best of your abilities and cognition, to live a life worthy of the decision you are making?"
"I do," he replied solemnly. She nodded once, a smile glinting in her eyes. The female Council member stepped back.
"What is the code you will follow?" Riven rumbled.
"There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no death, there is the Force."
Yoda came to take Qui-Gon's place, taking the sword that Riven drew from a scabbard hanging from his waist. The diminutive Jedi looked respectfully at the padawan for a long moment, as if trying to impress his years of knowledge into the boy in that moment. The blade glinted in the artificial light of the room, its metal edge honed to a keen point. He laid the razor edge alongside Qui-Gon's neck. "A hard life this is," Yoda said quietly, only to Qui-Gon. "A long journey on a difficult road. But honor there is. May find always you the path you seek." His voice rose so that the entire chamber could hear him. "Knight thee, I do, in the name of the Jedi Order whose ranks have served for peace and justice throughout the galaxy." He tapped both of Qui-Gon's shoulders even as the padawan's head was still bent reverently to the floor.
Yoda tugged gently at his braid, drawing up his face to look at his own green visage. A rare smile creeped over his face. Yoda drew the sword up to the hair and sheered the braid off, leaving a clean cut lock little longer than the rest of his hair. He handed the blade back to Riven and gave Qui-Gon a hug.
"I welcome you as a Jedi Knight into the Order."