No, Athena, that's definitely not all there is. On contrary, there's much more.

Farore, the reason for the title will come up later on. Pretty soon, actually.

Thank you, Louiewolfie. Well, yes, Obi-Wan and Anakin do seem to be close but that was… You better read for yourself.

A/N Since this story is an AU Jedi are allowed to love, marry and so on.

~ denote thoughts

// denote speaking through the Force

************ ***********

Slowly, cautiously Obi-Wan opened his eyes. Cold darkness surrounded him. Something was pressing on him from everywhere. ~Am I still alive?~ he wondered in a strangely detached manner. He was still vividly affected by his fall into the immeasurable depths of the dark abyss, was almost sure he was dead. Now he was not so sure, though. He tried to draw a breath and immediately coughed when water flowed into his nostrils. ~What the… ?!~ He was suddenly aware of murky water all around him and a pale quivering spot of light somewhere above. Alarmed, he pushed himself upwards, his muscles straining.

Gasping, he broke the surface of water to hear children giggling somewhere nearby. Wiping the water out of his eyes, trying to get rid of the annoying blurriness, he looked at the shore – or rather the edge of the pond in the Temple's Garden.

Seeing confusion on his face, initiates, gathered there, giggled even louder. In the din of their young voices he heard a chuckle that could belong to only one person – Master Yoda. ~What the hell is going on?~ Obi-Wan wondered, unable to tie together his fall from the bottomless drop and waking at the bottom of the pond.

"Sleeping in the pond Master Obi-Wan likes," Yoda commented in his usual gruff voice to the further delight of little initiates. Some of them were now laughing out loud, almost collapsing to the ground in fits of laughter. Apparently Obi-Wan's somewhat panicked and wet countenance was something really funny to observe. "Sleep in his quarters he does not," Yoda continued. But this comment was said in a more steady voice to show Obi-Wan that it was directed solely to him. Obi-Wan thought that he heard sadness in that voice, but perhaps, it was just his imagination. What he was sure he had heard, though, was a reproach.

He sighed. So what if he didn't get to sleep too often. After all, he had to think of how to better train his padawan. Not that the Council was of any help there. Sometimes Obi-Wan wondered if he was living in a desert. Data-pads seemed to be his only allies in the hard task he had put upon himself. Though with Anakin's rapid progress even they would soon prove to be useless. He knew he needed experience – experience he didn't have – and sometimes he wondered if he was up to the task at all. A ghost of failure haunted him, poisoning what little sleep he did manage to get.

And, of course, he continued to teach some classes – at any rate he couldn't refuse teaching them only because he had been knighted! And that, too, demanded time.

Obi-Wan got out of the water onto the white polished marble plates that adorned the round pond. He sat there, shaking his head, trying to get the irritating water out of his ears and at the same time trying to recollect how had he managed to get into the pond. Surely he wasn't sleeping there like Yoda suggested. Obi-Wan snorted at the stupidity of the idea. But what was he doing at the bottom of the pond then?

Getting up, he felt something weight down on him hard. ~Ah, the cloak!~ Shredding the soaked cloak Obi-Wan scrutinized it skeptically. ~Just great! Now half the Temple would know I took a bath fully dressed. Considering the speed of rumors here I guess it won't be limited by only half of the Temple…~ Grumbling quietly something unintelligible, the knight squeezed his cloak, trying to get rid of as much water as he could then draped the still wet material over his shoulders.

Passing Yoda, who looked up at him reproachfully, Obi-Wan bowed to him, and his bow held just a slightest bit of mocking. Not looking back the young knight proceeded out into the corridor.

Still trying to figure out the mysterious occurrence Obi-Wan made his way to his – his and Anakin's – quarters, nodding automatically to those who greeted him, lost in thought. ~Lets see what I have been doing before that. Morning classes, then training with Anakin. He's improving with that kata, by the way. Then what?~ He frowned, trying to recall the afternoon events. ~Ah, yes, I had a talk with Bant. Some meaningless conversation about… about Qui-Gon – and Anakin. I was upset with her and went to meditate in the Gardens…~

Rounding a corner he almost knocked down another knight. Apologizing mechanically, Obi-Wan continued on his way, never noticing a critical headshake he got from the knight.

~So, I was meditating and then it started. Did I fall asleep, then? Not exactly like me.~ He smiled despite himself. ~I haven't done that since… since that time on Atolon when we trekked the mountains all day, and in the evening Qui-Gon insisted we meditate. He said later that I had fallen asleep two minutes into meditation.~ A wistful smile appeared on Obi-Wan's face, smoothing little wrinkles he had acquired in the past months but never bothered to acknowledge. Anakin – had he been there – would have recognized this smile immediately as the constant companion of Obi-Wan's thoughts about good times with his late Master.

But the smile soon faded to give place to a half-frown that had taken residence on his youthful face ever since that fateful day. Frowning even more he recalled the details of his visi… No, it wasn't – couldn't be – a vision. It was just a dream, a… whatever. ~If I don't believe in it, it won't come real,~ he thought and cringed at how childishly it sounded. But as someone said 'if you pretend good enough you can convince anyone, even yourself', and he would pretend, pretend that he didn't see it. And he would deny the tremor of apprehension that settled deep in his heart.

********* **********

Two Jedi Masters were perched cozily in a secluded corner in one of the halls of the Jedi Temple. This vantage point not only allowed them to convene without being heard but also to observe the boiling life around them staying unnoticed.

"He doesn't look very happy," Master Adi Gallia commented, following knight Kenobi's retreating back with a piercing gaze of her azure eyes. "I wonder what has happened," she added, noting the trail of water Obi-Wan's cloths left on the honey-stone polished floor of the hall.

"Why would he be happy?" Master Mace Windu asked almost peevishly, folding his arms over his chest. He, too, followed the young knight with his gaze, though his onyx eyes held neither sympathy, nor friendliness the eyes of the beautiful Master next to him possessed.

"Do you still blame him for Qui-Gon's death?"

Mace shrugged and looked away. The admission on his face was more evident than any words could make it.

"I can't believe it: the two senior members of the Jedi Council act like little children! Like you like Yoda."

"I can't help it. But what about Yoda?"

"Haven't you noticed how he treats Obi-Wan as of late?"

"Well, he does seem to be a bit too hard on him," Mace admitted. "Perhaps, he's offended that Obi-Wan didn't listen to him. If you remember, Yoda was against Skywalker's training from the very beginning…"

"We don't know that he was against his training, we know he didn't want Obi-Wan to be the one to train him," Adi interjected, ignoring the glare Mace threw her way.

"But Kenobi have always been one of his favourites," Windu continued. "It'll pass."

Adi huffed in irritation. "And you think yourself to be Yoda's close friend? Are you men all so blind? He tries to make Kenobi understand that taking Skywalker was a mistake. But Obi-Wan is just as stubborn as Yoda is. Trust me, they'll make us all a joyous life."

"I think you're going too far with this. What has happened with Qui-Gon…" for a second an expression of deep hearty pain, expression of a man who had lost his best friend, glanced through the stone façade of the Jedi Master, but the next moment it was gone like grains of sand, blown away by angry wind. "It has affected us all, of course, but it doesn't mean the Council has turned into a bunch of marasmic old beings."

"No, it didn't turn us into anything but it showed that we are blind to what is going on behind these walls," she made a sweeping gesture with her elegant hand.

For a moment Mace studied his companion's face as though seeking answers for the questions he hadn't asked. "Your fear is totally baseless," he finally said, not bothering to conceal his criticism. "Jedi are attuned to the Force and…"

"And the darkness is rising," she interrupted, more irritably than was necessary. "And we have missed Sith's reappearance. What if another Sith comes up?"

~She doesn't know about Yoda's misgivings," Mace thought, looking at her blazing eyes. ~She thinks – as everyone else – that the Sith on Naboo was one and only. What would she say if she knew?~

"What shall we do if another Sith comes?" Adi's shrill soprano cut through his thoughts like a knife. "Shall we pay the price losing our best like it happened to Qui-Gon? Or would the knights lose their belief in the Order and leave as it happened with Dooku? How are we going to fight the darkness, Master Windu?"

"That is what the Chosen One is for. If the prophecy is true, he is the one who will bring balance to the Force," Mace stated and was endowed with a scornful glare from Adi.

"The Chosen One is just a boy. He might take any path…"

"And we will wait and see what path he chooses," Mace finished. For a split second Adi looked like an enraged feline about to scratch Mace's eyes out, but with an effort she calmed herself down, at least on the outside. Mace had no doubt she was still furious just under that façade. She closed her eyes as if to quell the fire in them. When she opened them again they were two pools of serenity that was just slightly tinted with pity and disdain.

"So you are content to step aside and watch passively so that you could put all the blame on Kenobi should the boy choose the wrong path." Her voice was suddenly tired, but the conviction behind her words was stinging.

Not knowing what to put up against her accusations Mace resorted to diversion. "The Council session is about to start. Let's go."

********* **********

The familiar sight of the doors to his quarters made Obi-Wan dive out of his fight with his own misgivings and into the real world. Punching in the code he stepped inside to find the quarters empty. Not surprising, considering that Anakin should be in his class.

Stepping over the threshold he felt it again – the usual feeling of bittersweet groundless hope that gripped his heart with warmth – hope to find [i]him[/i] sitting there or standing in the doorframe – and piercing pain of loss as the hope shattered, taking a piece of his heart each time. And it happened each time he crossed this threshold to be carried away into the past, if only for a fleeting moment. With time the sharpness of the feeling faded, but it still hurt way too much. He had even thought about changing quarters but eventually decided against it. There was no escaping memories, and he might as well leave himself something to anchor his memories onto – a souvenir.

~Some souvenir!~ he thought ironically, making his way to his Master's – no, his own room now.

Changing quickly, Obi-Wan heard the door swish open, and a moment later a bright Force-signature of no one other than Anakin Skywalker bounced into the main room. Obi-Wan shook his head in amusement. Had he, too, been this energetic at ten? Probably not…

Banishing all the unpleasant memories, as well as pleasant, that tried to creep into his mind, Obi-Wan made his way out of his room to find Anakin chewing something enthusiastically in the kitchen.

"Hello, Anakin," he said, picking a glass to pour himself some juice.

"Hmmm msst," was the muffled reply he got from the boy.

"Huh?" Obi-Wan pictured a surprised expression on his face.

"I mean, hello, Master," the Padawan replied, having finally conquered the piece of birada cake Master Pillana had brought them yesterday evening.

"So, how were your classes today?" Obi-Wan asked, sitting down at the table.

"Boring, as usual." Was it a whine he heard in Anakin's voice?

"You don't look all that bored," Obi-Wan quipped, sipping at his juice.

Sometimes Anakin's moods were changing like clouds in summer sky, he observed.

Anakin's face brightened, and he reached into his pocket. A second later something small, blue and goggle-eyed stared at Obi-Wan from Anakin's open palm. The boy held his possession like a rare insect, pride colouring his every feature. Upon closer inspection the little almost round thing turned out to be a droid.

"What does it do?" Obi-Wan asked, studying the droid with interest.

"It runs," Anakin stated with pride. "And it sings."

"Really?" Obi-Wan was skeptical of the last statement. About a month into Anakin's training he had discovered that the boy had very little idea of music and singing. Or rather of what people regarded as such.

"Yes!" With that the Padawan pushed a small button, hidden somewhere on the blue case of the droid. The shrill cacophony that followed made Obi-Wan's hair stand on end. Hastily Anakin pushed the button again, and the blissful silence ensued.

"That was…" Obi-Wan stooped in mid-sentence, seeing the fear – that bone-deep fear Anakin had brought from his slavery – show on the boy's face.

"Um, sorry," Anakin mumbled, trying to avoid looking at his Master.

A sudden smile broke on Obi-Wan's face. "I hope you weren't going to put it under anyone's bed to turn it on at night?" he asked playfully.

Surprised, Anakin looked up and had grace to blush.

Obi-Wan got up from his chair and made his way to the common room, where he stopped, deciding on what to do next. Anakin followed him.

"So, do I have to read complaints about your behaviour from Masters this time?" the Master asked, nodding towards a comm. unit that resided on a small table in the corner. Obi-Wan spoke jokingly, but Anakin discerned the ringing of real concern, underlying his voice. The Padawan had become really skillful in the last few months in discerning the slight changes in his Master's voice, hinting at the real feelings the older Jedi had. Though sometimes – in times of bitter disappointment and self-loathing, which quickly turned onto anyone around him, – Anakin doubted he hadn't imagined all those feelings to persuade himself his Master [i]could[/i] have feelings, because at times it seemed as though Obi-Wan Kenobi had no feelings at all.

As though to mock Obi-Wan's words a green light flashed on the comm. unit, signaling an unread message. With a barely audible sigh the Master read the message.

~I wonder what does the Council want this time?~ he wondered. Aloud he said only. "The Council wants to see us, Padawan."

**

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