Okay, here is the final chapter. Thank you so much for sticking with me through this! Here's a huge thank you to my wonderful reviewers: Laura of Maychoria, ally127, Rachel 791, Satra, crazyAZN kid, A. NuEvil, Trinity Day, gotmilk, Esmerald tears, Qianora, RuByMoOn17, slayer faith2. You're all awesome! Please forgive me if I've left someone out! To crazyAZNkid: Depa Billaba is a she and was on the Council in Ep. 1. So I figure that she's probably still on the Council 3 years later. :)
ooooo
Obi-Wan now stood alone before the Council. He remembered how he used to feel intimidated and uncomfortable standing before the Coucil when he was Anakin's age. It didn't really bother him anymore. He had nothing to hide from anyone here, so he just waited patiently to be addressed. As was the custom, he was facing Mace and Yoda.
Ki Adi Mundi was the first to speak this time. "We were impressed with your handling of this test, Obi-Wan – especially in the area of your apprentice."
Adi Gallia spoke up gently. "The way you addressed your padawan's concerns showed a lot of wisdom and compassion."
"Thank you, Masters." Obi-Wan was deeply humbled and grateful.
"Though, he does seem to be able to exasperate you at times." Plo Kloon spoke with a hint of amusement. With what he'd seen from the test, he couldn't entirely blame Obi-Wan.
"Yes, Masters."
Ki Adi Mundi's look grew serious. "The way Anakin feels about you is akin to hero worship. That can be dangerous. That kind of adoration can easily turn to resentment and anger when you don't live up to expectations."
"I know, Masters. But so far, I haven't been able to get through to him that I'm just as fallible – if not more so – than any other person."
Plo Kloon spoke up again. "Anakin takes it personally when you correct him. You must be very careful, Obi-Wan. You walk a fine line. If you correct him too much, he will start to resent you. But if you don't correct him enough, his already large ego will only get bigger."
Everyone looked over at Plo Kloon, including Obi-Wan. "Thank you, Master Kloon. That makes me feel much better." The infamous Obi-Wan Kenobi sarcasm was creeping into his words.
Mace shot Plo a look that spoke volumes. The rest of the Council members shared mildly amused looks. Sarcasm was usually frowned upon as a method of communicating with the Council. But they let it slide, considering the source.
Yoda was quite amused with Obi-Wan's response, but he could sense that Obi-Wan's doubts had inched up a notch. "Add pressure on you, we do not wish, Obi-Wan. Sure we are that understand the importance of your role, you do."
Shaak Ti spoke up for the first time. "I was one of those opposed to Anakin's training. But once the decision was made to let him be trained, I did not believe the task should be appointed to a brand new knight. I now believe that it was the will of the Force for Anakin to be trained. I also believe it was the will of the Force that YOU be the one to train him. But more than that, any concerns I may have had about your ability to train him properly have been allayed."
"Thank you, Master."
"As for your handling of the mission side of the test…We thought that was handled masterfully. You were very effective with minimal use of force." Mirth entered Mace's eyes as he again thought of the test participants with sore chins. "We forgot to warn the knights on El Abrell about your penchant for using your kick boxing skills."
Obi-Wan flushed slightly as Mace continued. "We do have one recommendation for you, though."
"Yes, Master?"
"We suggest that you pack ear plugs on your next mission." Mace couldn't keep the smile off his face.
Obi-Wan smiled in return. "That has already been added to my list of things to pack."
"Keep up the good work, Obi-Wan." Mace's nodded his head. "You are dismissed."
Obi-Wan bowed. "Thank you, Masters." He walked out of the chamber only to stop again. He could feel through the Force that Yoda wanted to speak with him. He turned around and waited patiently for the diminutive master to exit. Just a moment later, Yoda came through the door on his hoverpad. Obi-Wan bowed again. "You wished to speak with me, Master?"
"Yes, Obi-Wan. Come. Have tea and cookies we will." Yoda set off down the hallway towards his apartment. He studied the young knight as they walked. He could tell that Obi-Wan was grateful for the response of the Council, but also that Obi-Wan's reservations about Anakin had been brought to the fore yet again.
They walked into the apartment and Yoda immediately headed for the kitchen. Obi-Wan put his hand on the Jedi master's shoulder. "I'll get it, Master." He knew his way around Yoda's kitchen almost as well as his own. He got the tea going and pulled out a package of Yoda's favorite cookies.
Now sitting on the couch with a steaming cup of tea, Yoda, as usual, got right to the point. "Somewhat conflicted you are."
"Yes, Master. I'm relieved with the response of the Council, but…I guess I'm really feeling the weight of my responsibility in training Anakin." Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "I sometimes feel wholly unequal to the task."
"Let you train Anakin we would not if any doubts we had of your abilities."
Obi-Wan looked at Yoda pointedly. "Shaak Ti had doubts."
"At the beginning, have doubts in placing him with a brand new knight, some did. But as Shaak Ti said, allayed those doubts have been."
Obi-Wan looked down into his still-steaming cup. "You were one of those who had doubts."
"Rested my doubts did, Obi-Wan, in the danger I sensed in Anakin's training. Disliked I did the idea of ANYONE training him." Yoda poked Obi-Wan in the shoulder to get him to look him in the eye. "Deal with your own doubts you must, Obi-Wan – especially the doubts about yourself."
"I know, Master. I will." Obi-Wan knew better than to say 'I'll try.'
Yoda pushed the tray full of cookies toward Obi-Wan. "Eat! Plenty I have."
Obi-Wan picked up a cookie. "By the way, Knight Mendon told me that little come-on of hers was your idea." He looked at Yoda with mock-indignation. "That was a dirty trick, Master!"
"Relevant it was! Wanted I did, to see how you would react in that situation away from the Temple."
Now there was nothing 'mock' about Obi-Wan's indignation. "Master Yoda! You know darn well that my reactions do not change with the environment! Did you really think that I would go for that kind of offer?"
Amusement danced in Yoda's eyes. "No, but curious I was nonetheless, as to your reaction. So was Mace."
"Well, I certainly hope you enjoyed the show."
Yoda's face broke out into a full-fledged smile. "The most amusing test the Council has ever seen, yours was. Archived the footage will be, for the enjoyment of future generations."
"Oh, joy." Obi-Wan sunk back into the cushions of the sofa. This was obviously going to be a trip that NO ONE would ever forget!
