Chap 15
Qui-Gon felt the twinge of nervousness worm its way through his body, the uncomfortable feeling only intensifying underneath the boy's sea green eyes, so open, so raw, so unbearably confused and hurt. The elder master looked away, trying to gather his wayward thoughts, trying to come up with something substantial, something to justify why he had been acting the way he did.
He still couldn't come up with anything.
That was bad. The whole situation had been bad. And he hadn't even seen. Hadn't even recognized, had been blind. What kind of master was he if he had been blind to the most precious thing in his life?
"Master?"
Obi-Wan grasped his arm gently, the small fingers splayed against his biceps.
Qui-Gon let out a hoarse laugh, tears stinging his cobalt eyes. His large hand slid over his apprentice's, his callused pads gripping the boy's with intensity.
"I was blinded, my son."
The child swallowed hard, eyes burning with unshed tears. Such contradiction – to be forgotten, to be a son…
Qui-Gon shook his head, his mane of hair swishing from side to side.
"I took you for granted, padawan mine. I… I just assumed. I assumed you were alright, and that I could use my attentions else ware. I assumed that you needed time after your plight, after Tahl nearly died, and I assumed that her padawan needed some attention-
Obi-Wan's hard gaze froze the words on Qui-Gon's lips. The boy's sea green eyes had turned cold, brows drawn tight. The boy sat up, arms crossed and gripping his shoulders.
"…Obi-Wan?"
He turned, eyes icy.
"I learned something during my time away, master."
"And what did you learn, Obi-Wan?" the master asked softly, subdued.
"Never take anything for granted. Especially those close to you."
Obi-Wan turned away, rolling off his master's bed and standing, the pale morning light coloring his silken hair. He stood close to the window, gazing outside.
"How did you learn this lesson, padawan?"
"I learned by example."
Qui-Gon stood abruptly, throwing back the covers and moving with haste to his padawan's side. Large and worn fingers gripped the boy's shoulders, pivoting Obi-Wan.
"Always take me for granted, Obi-Wan," the man breathed, kneeling, "I will always be here for you… if I am not, then… kick me in the shins, get my attention, I beg of you. I will never," he swore vehemently, "leave you again."
Qui-Gon held his breath until that blessed, soft smile grazed the boy's features. Shaking his head, the master clung to his apprentice, holding tightly. Obi-Wan frowned, feeling his master tremble. Relaxing, the boy encircled the big Jedi's neck, soothing the man with gentle touches on the large back. But the boy remained in control, gazing coolly out into the sunrise as his master held them close.
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The next few days were rather hectic for Obi-Wan. Bant attacked him like some starving animal, clawing at him and crying her joy for his wellbeing. Garen and the other padawans gathered close at the lunch table, as Obi-Wan animated his story and gestured wildly at what he'd seen, who he'd met. The table whispered in awe at his stories of ships that flew faster than anything and the rouge Jedi who's golden saber killed a Sith.
A pack of younglings followed him practically everywhere he went (including the fresher…) and the temple was a buzz with gossip of his return. During saber practice a few days after his return, Obi-Wan was doing katas with his classmates when he sensed his master in the area. The bond, the fragile, nearly shattered padawan training bond was born anew, and it was always a surprise to Obi-Wan when he could feel the simple presence of his master in an area.
Qui-Gon was aware of the attention his padawan had been receiving, and choose to simply accept it. Several of the masters had given Qui-Gon the cold shoulder, but that was alleviating with time. But he did notice that his thoughts were constantly with Obi-Wan, no longer with Tahl.
It was Tahl, last night at dinner, who had told Obi-Wan about Kinah and Bruck's fate and Obi-Wan who placed a steady hand on her shoulder, giving his condolences.
Oh, what a child of light he had. Such strength, such compassion.
His padawan was cooling down, stretching and slowly spinning his blue saber before him. They made eye contact, and Obi-Wan jogged over to him.
"Master," he greeted, sweat rolling down his neck.
"Padawan," Jinn nodded, motioning for the boy to follow.
"The council has requested an audience with you, Obi-Wan," his master informed him, the two walking at a leisurely pace back to their residence.
"What for?"
"I'm not sure, but hurry up to the fresher and then head on up to the chambers. I will be along shortly, I am waiting on the arrival of some guests."
"Yes, master."
The padawan washed quickly, with a frown on his face. He wondered if he was in some kind of trouble, and hurried up the Jedi Temple's main tower to the ominous Jedi Council chamber. His robes swished dutifully behind him as he entered the large round chamber and bowed low to the Jedi who sat before him.
"Masters," Obi-Wan said smoothly, his accent rolling off his tongue. The council chambers were awash with orange light, the sunset nearly blinding the young boy as he stood before the circle.
"Padawan Kenobi, good to see you here again, it is," Yoda spoke, and nodded. "Know why you are here, do you?"
"No, masters."
Yoda's luminous eyes flickered sideways for a moment, his ears drooping a fraction.
"Child of light, you are, Obi-Wan. Always was," Yoda nodded, "Allow us to fix a grievous error, you may."
Obi-Wan frowned in confusion. Mace Windu cleared his throat, almost looking uncomfortable.
"I feel the need to shed some light on your situation, Obi-Wan, after you give us some information we need," Windu explained.
"What do you want to know, masters?"
The green master Jedi's voice grew weary.
"Worry endlessly about Padawan Karin Enspire, I do."
The lightbulb turned on, and Obi-Wan took a moment to realize that no, he had not been questioned about the affair yet. He nodded, clasping his hands behind his back.
"You would be proud of her, Master Yoda. She saved my life and serves a good cause."
"Where is Enspire?" Windu asked.
The boy straightened defensively.
"Far away from here."
A raspy chuckle emerged from Yoda's throat as he shook his head back and forth, wisps of graying hair following a second behind. Obi-Wan's brow furrowed, throat constricting.
"She's happy where she is, masters. And I thought she made it clear she wanted to remain away from the Jedi."
"Did you not sense, it padawan?"
Obi-Wan turned to find his master and a few other Jedi he did not recognize entering the council chambers, the door swishing closed behind them. Qui-Gon came to stand beside him, placing a large hand on the boy's shoulder.
Qui-Gon's gaze pierced each member of the council.
"You know as well as I do, that Enspire was born to be Jedi. We all knew it-"
"But our actions may have made this impossible, Master Jinn," Windu argued, tone somewhat more hesitant than normal. "Too long, she's been away, and she's been trained by a sith!"
"You saw her in there, masters," Qui-Gon pleaded, "She is no sith! She /killed/ a sith, she's not one of them-"
Obi-Wan stifled a wince as the hand on his shoulder gripped more tightly, fingers pushing into his flesh.
"Wish to help her, do you, or wish to clear your conscious, master Qui-Gon?"
The chamber fell silent and Obi-Wan struggled to understand. He craned his neck slightly, watching a dark emotion color his master's face. Frustrated, Obi-Wan shook his head.
"Please, someone explain to me what this is all about," the boy pleaded, his accent pronouncing his words clearly to the elder Jedi.
Windu looked even more uncomfortable, Qui-Gon's head was bowed in something bordering guilt, Yoda's ears were drooping, the other Jedi's gazes averted-
"Masters!" Obi-Wan said again, feeling more like a parent than a padawan learner.
A man, one the Jedi Qui-Gon had brought to the chamber, stepped forward tentatively, dark chocolate eyes scanning the gathered Jedi as if asking approval. The man was tall, perhaps six or so feet, and moved to stand before Obi-Wan and his master. The jedi fixed not-so well hidden glare at Qui-Gon. Then, the man knelt before Obi-Wan, and his eyes softened. The padawan felt a tremor in the force, and looked down upon the man, confused as to why a Jedi Master, he had to be a master at his age, was kneeling before an apprentice.
Those brown eyes bore into Obi-Wan, and an aged hand grasped his own, holding it tenderly.
"How is she?"
A raspy voice, low, a deep baritone, but colored in concern asked a question that none of the other masters had asked. Obi-Wan felt frozen, no words forthcoming. Qui-Gon's hand squeezed gently, and Obi-Wan sputtered to life again.
"She's… she's… not who she used to be, master…?"
The Jedi grinned sadly, looking down briefly, before enrapturing Obi-Wan in those soulful deep eyes again.
"Arkken. I am master Arkken Palamin."
Obi-Wans hand went frigid, as did his body.
"You- You're-"
The man nodded, face twitching beneath a short but scruffy grey beard. Tears pooled in the man's eyes.
"I am Karin's Master."