Chapter 14

"That's all right, I can wait right here," Valia said settling herself down on the stone bench. "It's even long enough for me to stretch out on, if I want to sleep a while."

The Temple docent regarded Valia calmly. "I see that you're aware that this corridor is reserved for Temple residents only. Non-Jedi aren't permitted beyond this point."

"Yes, that's right. I've been here before," Valia said, regarding the Jedi woman levelly.

The docent sighed. The deep blue of the pre-dawn sky filled the tall window behind the bench where the nursery caregiver was making every attempt to get comfortable. "Miss Traxis," she said gently.

"Don't worry, I'll be comfortable," Valia said breezily. "Oh, and I'll cover my eyes if someone happens along on their way from a refresher station without a towel around his waist." The woman's eyes widened. "If that's what the big worry is." Valia covered a yawn, and made herself comfortable on the cold hard stone, sitting cross-legged. She gave every indication she was prepared to wait there all morning and well into the day if necessary.

There was a whisper of robes, and a tall, striking-looking woman clad in Jedi robes appeared. "Is there some trouble here?" her soft alto voice inquired.

"Master Tahl, Miss Traxis here insists on waiting for Master Jinn right here." Tahl turned, her green and gold striped eyes sightless, yet eerily seeing the docent. "She refuses to wait elsewhere in the public areas."

Tahl smiled. She turned toward where she knew there was a large window and a stone bench before it. She read the signature of the woman sitting there. She sensed determination, hope, and a touch of nervousness. And longing.

"Quite sensible. If she waits elsewhere, she won't see him, will she?"

"I did tell her I would gladly take a message to Master Jinn, that she wishes to see him, but she would rather not send one."

"Yes, I can sense that. It seems this is a personal matter between herself and Master Jinn, and she would rather not involve others, if she can help it." The docent could think of nothing to say to this. She was glad Master Tahl had come along. She would have a wise solution to this.

"I think I know exactly where Master Jinn is," Tahl said. "I can take her to him." The docent's confusion was clear on her face. Normally Master Tahl strictly observed Temple protocol, and was most insistent on maintaining the house rules.

"It's all right," the beautiful dark golden-skinned woman assured the docent. "I will take responsibility," she said with a wry smile on a face marked with a long white scar. The docent bowed and retreated down the hall.

"Now then," said Tahl briskly, addressing Valia. "This way." Valia could hardly believe this as she stood and followed her down the off-limits corridor. She stopped before a doorway when they had nearly reached the far end.

"There's supposed to be another hallway here," she said.

"There is," said Valia. Tahl clearly read the confusion in her voice.

"I'm blind," she explained.

"Oh. I'm sorry," Valia said.

"Please don't be," laughed Tahl lightly, sensing the hesitant lifting of Valia's hand toward her. She heard the slight sound of fabric brushing as she drew it back. "Because I'm not. Not any more. It becomes less and less of a perceived handicap all the time." Part of that handicap had been the unwillingness to accept her condition.

"Well, it looks like some workers were doing some repairs or something to the frame," supplied Valia. There was a light screen set in position to contain the tools, droid power supply units and stone dust, mostly blocking the opening.

"And no doubt on their first of many caff breaks today," remarked Tahl. Both women considered the inconvenient blockade.

"You can guide me through," said Tahl. Pride and determination would have prevented such a thing from coming out of her mouth years ago. The combination of awe and helpfulness Tahl sensed in this woman toward herself warmed her, and she allowed herself to be led around the clutter. Besides, the sooner they got through this, the sooner they would reach Qui-Gon.

So this was the one. Valia, the surrogate, the caregiver who volunteered in the nursery. The woman who was being talked about as part of the latest minor controversy surrounding Qui-Gon. Tahl smiled to herself. She had heard the quiet steel in her voice beneath the casual banter before she had approached her and the docent. She might well have waited half the day for Qui-Gon to come along, or for someone to find him for her. The Council had done well to consider the folly of trying to keep the two of them apart.

Tahl knew Qui-Gon was here, in the exercise room not far from his apartment. Most likely working through another early morning exercise drill. When he was troubled by something, his usual outlet was exercise or sparring. Evidently he had a lot on his mind, because the few times he had returned to Coruscant the last couple months, that was what he'd been mostly seen doing.

And he retreated into silence. Everyone here had naturally respected it, sensing he was dealing with some deeply private and personal issue, or even grieving over something. But soon there was no need for him to talk about anything. Gossip, it seemed, was universal. Even Jedi were not immune to it. Tahl had heard enough rumor and gossip to know that his close relationship with this woman had caused some concern among the Council members, and that his recent mission to Nyme' had brought it to a head.

Well, Tahl also knew what Qui-Gon thought of some of the things the Council deemed important or worth debating over. She also knew Qui-Gon was a good friend, even though she hadn't seen much of him lately, and he had not confided in her. It was something which had irked her, until Obi-Wan had come to her for advice. If Qui-Gon hadn't sought out a woman's perspective on the problem, at least his apprentice had had the good sense to do so. Maybe today, she thought as she led Valia down another hallway, she could be a friend to Qui-Gon and help him out. There had to be some way to knock on the solid doors of that silence, and bringing Valia to him would be one way of doing it. This life-strong woman he had loved for two years, this woman who obviously loved him, was the one who would be able to yank off the protective cloak he'd wrapped himself in, pull him down out of his tower of self-imposed isolation. Tahl smiled to herself in satisfaction. It came from only wanting what was best for her stubborn friend.

She stopped with Valia in front of a door. "You'll find him in here," said Tahl, sensing his presence behind it, and indicating it to Valia with a graceful gesture of her arm. She felt the sudden wave of hesitation from Valia, as though she had second thoughts and wanted to wait again.

"If he's in the middle of meditating...I don't want to disturb him. We had planned to meet outside the Temple in two days anyway. In that park west of here."

"Oh, if you do disturb him, consider it something he'll greatly welcome deep down," Tahl said. She turned her graceful head toward Valia and cocked it thoughtfully. "You don't really want to wait that long, now that you're here, do you? That would be nonsense, and you and I both know it. Go in. Everything will be all right."

Valia turned toward the door, wondering at this sudden ally she had found in this Jedi Master. It was refreshing and unexpected, being encouraged by another Jedi to go to him. Tahl went so far as to open the door for her and give her an encouraging smile.

He was the only thing for her eyes to rest on in the bare, high-ceilinged, airy chamber. He stood with his back to the door, bare to the waist, still and straight as an obelisk, framed by the window that took up one whole wall of the room. He turned, the surprise on his face obvious, as he expected to see perhaps Obi-Wan, and instead seeing Valia standing there, and a craftily smiling Tahl stepping out and closing the door.