Chapter 10
Obi-wan Kenobi had aged decades in the three days he was absent from the nursery. His face was a sick gray pallor; his eyes were bruised and blurry. No vestige of childhood remained in the one so young. The boy's mind was plagued with agony and fear many adults never undergo.
Mace Windu stood in the doorway of the nursery, Obi-wan in front of him. All the healers and other initiates had gathered to welcome Obi-wan home, but Mace had to gently lay his hand on Kenobi's back to get him to move from his side. The child moved so slowly and carefully, his tiny frame so sore, and put his arms around the head healer's waist. She embraced him back, rustling his hair soothingly. But Obi-wan pulled a way, and limped to the bedroom, disappearing around the corner. No one spoke for a long while.
"He has barely slept since Master Yoda took him," Mace finally forced out. "We tried to help him control it, but...but he's just exhausted. He won't eat. The boy's just too sick." The healer nodded.
"Get some rest, Master Windu. We'll take care of him as best we can now." Mace thanked her, and turned away, shoulders slumped.
The children said very little the rest of the day. The healers were overcome with sadness, and Obi-wan just lay on his bed, staring at space, in far too much pain to think of sleep. He wouldn't talk to anyone, no matter how they tried. For hours they tried to get him to eat, or at least to move. It was useless; Obi-wan Kenobi, five years of age, had given up on existence.
Obi-wan Kenobi had aged decades in the three days he was absent from the nursery. His face was a sick gray pallor; his eyes were bruised and blurry. No vestige of childhood remained in the one so young. The boy's mind was plagued with agony and fear many adults never undergo.
Mace Windu stood in the doorway of the nursery, Obi-wan in front of him. All the healers and other initiates had gathered to welcome Obi-wan home, but Mace had to gently lay his hand on Kenobi's back to get him to move from his side. The child moved so slowly and carefully, his tiny frame so sore, and put his arms around the head healer's waist. She embraced him back, rustling his hair soothingly. But Obi-wan pulled a way, and limped to the bedroom, disappearing around the corner. No one spoke for a long while.
"He has barely slept since Master Yoda took him," Mace finally forced out. "We tried to help him control it, but...but he's just exhausted. He won't eat. The boy's just too sick." The healer nodded.
"Get some rest, Master Windu. We'll take care of him as best we can now." Mace thanked her, and turned away, shoulders slumped.
The children said very little the rest of the day. The healers were overcome with sadness, and Obi-wan just lay on his bed, staring at space, in far too much pain to think of sleep. He wouldn't talk to anyone, no matter how they tried. For hours they tried to get him to eat, or at least to move. It was useless; Obi-wan Kenobi, five years of age, had given up on existence.