I slowly walked up to the tented area. The droids and doctors giving me wary glances before scurrying off to feign doing some other duty. But a few remained close by. Close enough to be able to reach out and stop me if I moved to touch him in any way, which I did not. I didn't deserve their trust, so I said nothing about their lurking. Instead I spoke softly to Obi-Wan, although for the Force in me I knew not what to say. But I found once I opened my mouth, both words and tears flowed easilly from me pouring out in a tidal wave of pure raw emotion.
"Master..." I choked out, still addressing him with the respect due him, respect I had given grudgingly before and now bestowed willingly. I watched as his eyes searched for me for a moment until they rested on my face. They took on an expression of peace, although I knew he must have been in terrible agony. One scorched hand reached out to me, grasping my own shaking one. "Master, I..,I'm so-...I..." I faltered, knowing an apology meant nothing now, the damage had been done. His expression did not change but seemed to deepen as I watched so much love bring light into them that my knees suddenly found difficulty in holding up the weight of my body.
Suddenly I heard a voice, that I recognized to be his voice, but his mouth wasn't moving, it couldn't move. Indeed, his lips were so blistered I wondered why he wasn't screaming incoherantly from the pain. "I always knew you had it in you, Anakin." The voice said, in a satisfied manner that I almost thought sounded like pride. But how could that be? Why would he feel anything but loathing for me now? " Ani, I always loved you, you were the only son I ever had. You may not have been borne of my flesh, but the Force has decided that our paths were destined to cross, you were destined to be my padawan. And you have been trained well. Your light sabor skills are magnificent." My stomach lurched when I thought of how well he now knew my light sabor skills.
"Master," I began, "What is your wish of me? I will do anything you ask of me. I will go to the council and tell them what has happened, and where you are. I will confess everything and take my punishments like a man, I-" He held up his hand again, cutting off my words. "You will go to the council, and tell them theirs been a terrible accident. I have fallen into the lava pit and been rescued by the medi squad, and am in the center recovering. You do not know how it happened. You were here on business for the Chancellor, and got a call on your comm, that I had been in some sort of trouble. And you came to me here. That is all you will tell them, my friend. Do you understand?"