The Coruscant sun was beginning to set when Ja'lisa Brey started to get nervous. She turned to her new friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi. "Obi-Wan, I have to go, or I am going to break curfew. My Master wants me back at our quarters for evening meal."
The other padawan was surprised. He too had a curfew, but it was not for hours. As long as Qui-Gon knew where he was, he did not have to 'check in.' Most evenings, Obi-Wan liked to eat the evening meal with his Master. But if he wanted to eat with friends, Qui-Gon didn't mind. "Oh, OK Ja'lisa. I thought maybe we could eat the evening meal together."
Ja'lisa started to fidget. "Um, maybe some other time, Obi-Wan. Bye!" The girl ran into the temple and Obi-Wan was left alone to wonder what was bothering her. They were having so much fun and then out of the blue she became nervous. Obi-Wan shrugged the feeling away and decided to find his Master.
Qui-Gon was on his way to the dining hall. Although their quarters did have a kitchen, both Master and apprentice enjoyed the noisy dining hall at times. Qui-Gon expected to see his apprentice there. But he figured that the boy would be sitting with his new friend. Qui-Gon himself had grown rather fond of the slightly built girl. She was well mannered and a quick study. Her master on the other hand was not what Qui-Gon expected. Qui-Gon had met Dern Galen on a few occasions. He was a large man, and like Qui-Gon had blue eyes. But his eyes were not warm and inviting. They were like ice. He was also an impatient man. Qui-Gon wondered what the council was thinking when they placed Ja'lisa with him.
Turning a corner, the Jedi Master was almost to the dining hall. He was surprised to see his thirteen year old padawan looking dejected. Placing a gentle hand on the young Jedi's head, Qui-Gon questioned him. "Padawan, what is it? Don't you feel well?"
His apprentice looked up at him with trusting eyes and the big Jedi almost melted on the spot. How he loved this boy. Obi-Wan shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, I feel okay, but Ja'lisa had to go home and something was bothering her. I guess I am just worried."
Giving his apprentice a warm smile, Qui-Gon placed his arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders and led him into the dining hall. His apprentice had a big heart. "I'm sure she's fine Obi-Wan. You may even see her here."
Obi-Wan leaned into his master side. "Maybe, but I never see her here. I never see her anywhere but class it seems."
Qui-Gon frowned as he too reflected that the young girl never seemed to socialize. In fact, it seemed that Obi-Wan was her only friend.
After the evening meal, Qui-Gon tried to cajole his apprentice into conversation. But to no avail. He was unable to even encourage the boy to answer in anything but one word replies. So, the Jedi Master decided they should return to their apartment and spend a quiet evening reading.
They sat in quiet companionship until Obi-Wan broke the silence. "Master, are all padawans happy?''
The older man was surprised at the question. One look at his padawan's face, though, and Qui-Gon knew it could not be taken lightly. "I would like to think so, Obi-Wan. Why do you ask?" Qui-Gon put out an inviting arm and Obi-Wan snuggled into his Master's side.
The boy thought for a moment and answered, "Well, I know that I talk about you all the time. I mean I don't shut up about you. I think my friends get sick of hearing it." Qui-Gon hid a smile, and allowed the boy to continue. "But, then I realize that all of my friends talk about their masters. All except one."
Hearing the sadness in his apprentice's voice caused Qui-Gon to tighten his arms around him. He knew exactly which friend he was talking about. "You mean Ja'lisa?"
Obi-Wan did not answer, only nodded his head. Qui-Gon did not answer, he did not know what to say. So he just offered what comfort he could. It was not long until Obi-Wan fell asleep. The older Jedi lifted the boy into his arms and carried him to his room. Even in sleep, he looked troubled. Pulling the blankets to the the young Jedi's chin, he leaned over and kissed his forehead.
He then retreated to his own room for the evening.
The other padawan was surprised. He too had a curfew, but it was not for hours. As long as Qui-Gon knew where he was, he did not have to 'check in.' Most evenings, Obi-Wan liked to eat the evening meal with his Master. But if he wanted to eat with friends, Qui-Gon didn't mind. "Oh, OK Ja'lisa. I thought maybe we could eat the evening meal together."
Ja'lisa started to fidget. "Um, maybe some other time, Obi-Wan. Bye!" The girl ran into the temple and Obi-Wan was left alone to wonder what was bothering her. They were having so much fun and then out of the blue she became nervous. Obi-Wan shrugged the feeling away and decided to find his Master.
Qui-Gon was on his way to the dining hall. Although their quarters did have a kitchen, both Master and apprentice enjoyed the noisy dining hall at times. Qui-Gon expected to see his apprentice there. But he figured that the boy would be sitting with his new friend. Qui-Gon himself had grown rather fond of the slightly built girl. She was well mannered and a quick study. Her master on the other hand was not what Qui-Gon expected. Qui-Gon had met Dern Galen on a few occasions. He was a large man, and like Qui-Gon had blue eyes. But his eyes were not warm and inviting. They were like ice. He was also an impatient man. Qui-Gon wondered what the council was thinking when they placed Ja'lisa with him.
Turning a corner, the Jedi Master was almost to the dining hall. He was surprised to see his thirteen year old padawan looking dejected. Placing a gentle hand on the young Jedi's head, Qui-Gon questioned him. "Padawan, what is it? Don't you feel well?"
His apprentice looked up at him with trusting eyes and the big Jedi almost melted on the spot. How he loved this boy. Obi-Wan shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, I feel okay, but Ja'lisa had to go home and something was bothering her. I guess I am just worried."
Giving his apprentice a warm smile, Qui-Gon placed his arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders and led him into the dining hall. His apprentice had a big heart. "I'm sure she's fine Obi-Wan. You may even see her here."
Obi-Wan leaned into his master side. "Maybe, but I never see her here. I never see her anywhere but class it seems."
Qui-Gon frowned as he too reflected that the young girl never seemed to socialize. In fact, it seemed that Obi-Wan was her only friend.
After the evening meal, Qui-Gon tried to cajole his apprentice into conversation. But to no avail. He was unable to even encourage the boy to answer in anything but one word replies. So, the Jedi Master decided they should return to their apartment and spend a quiet evening reading.
They sat in quiet companionship until Obi-Wan broke the silence. "Master, are all padawans happy?''
The older man was surprised at the question. One look at his padawan's face, though, and Qui-Gon knew it could not be taken lightly. "I would like to think so, Obi-Wan. Why do you ask?" Qui-Gon put out an inviting arm and Obi-Wan snuggled into his Master's side.
The boy thought for a moment and answered, "Well, I know that I talk about you all the time. I mean I don't shut up about you. I think my friends get sick of hearing it." Qui-Gon hid a smile, and allowed the boy to continue. "But, then I realize that all of my friends talk about their masters. All except one."
Hearing the sadness in his apprentice's voice caused Qui-Gon to tighten his arms around him. He knew exactly which friend he was talking about. "You mean Ja'lisa?"
Obi-Wan did not answer, only nodded his head. Qui-Gon did not answer, he did not know what to say. So he just offered what comfort he could. It was not long until Obi-Wan fell asleep. The older Jedi lifted the boy into his arms and carried him to his room. Even in sleep, he looked troubled. Pulling the blankets to the the young Jedi's chin, he leaned over and kissed his forehead.
He then retreated to his own room for the evening.