Part Eight: Please Forgive Me

"Obi? Yousa okey?" Jar Jar, cautiously, approached me.

I shook my head slowly. I never felt so lost. So confused. I was scared. Scared of failure. Of change. Of moving on. Not with what I've failed to do, and what I couldn't do. I got to my feet, and ran into the comfort of the waterfall. It drenched me from head to toe washing away the darkness inside.

"Master, please forgive me," I called out. "I cannot do this alone. I cannot fail again. I've given into my hate again. I'm so sorry."

Tears ran down my eyes like rivers. I couldn't stand to feel pain like this again. I needed my Master's guidance.

"I'm so sorry, Master."

"Obi-Wan," the wind spoke. "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." I recited along with the wind. The Jedi Code. "I know, Master. But I need your forgiveness."

This time, there was no answer. The wind only blew.

Then I felt something through the Force. Movement. I raced over to the motionless body, still drenched from head to toe.

"Sabé? Sabé?" I held her in my arms.

Her eyes opened slowly and looked around dazed. Then met me, eye to eye. I gave her a weak smile.

"Ben? Ben, is that you?" her voice was so quiet.

"Shh. I'm here, Sabé. I'm here and I won't leave you, again. No one will hurt you. You're safe with me." My eyes began to welt with tears.

"I thought I would never see you again." She touched my cheek, wiping away the water from it.

I kissed her on the forehead and moved the hair blocking her face. "I missed you, Sabé."

She grabbed my hand and held it to her heart. "I missed you more."

I held her hand tightly and looked into her eyes. I could see life drifting away from them slowly. There wasn't much time. Tears ran down my face and dropped onto hers. Our eyes met again. I could feel the warmth in them as we held each other closer. She wiped away my tears.

"I'm so sorry, Sabé." I whispered.

"Don't be. It was not your fault."

"Please forgive me."

A long silence fell over us. Sabé managed to meet lips with lips behind all that pain she had. Her touch was calming, but it wasn't enough. "I forgive you, Ben." Her head moved about drowsily. Her time was ticking shorter and shorter. Nothing could stop the tears from falling. "I don't want to see those tears, Ben. You're a Jedi Knight now. Be strong." she managed to force out. Her breathing grew short.

I managed to let a weak smile pass my face. "And you're a handmaiden. You must also be strong."

Her eyes grew heavy and began to shut. I held her up to avoid seeing her life drain away. She opened them thinly and looked at me.

"I love you, Ben."

"I love you, too, Sabé."

I gave her one last passionate kiss, before her eyes closed for the final time. Her breath stopped short to accept the full passion in the kiss, and she went limp. I gently broke the embrace and laid my head on her shoulder. The tears wet her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Sabé. Please forgive me. I wasn't strong enough to save you." I ran my hand down the side of her face. "I don't know if I'll ever be. If I'll ever be able to move on from this. But please know that you'll always be in my heart. I will never forget what you've taught me. What you showed me. And thank you. I love you and always will."

"I'll never forget you, Ben." the wind whispered.

Jar Jar walked up behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. I grabbed it and turned to look at him. There was hurt in both of our eyes. For a moment, I sat there and held her protectively in my arms. Then, I wrapped Sabé in my cloak and stood tall, with her in my arms.

"Let's go, Jar Jar." I could feel my dignity returning.

"Yousa okey, Obi?" he walked up beside me.

I took a deep breath and nodded. I began the hike back down the cliff. Jar Jar took a deep breath and followed.

to be continued....