2nd day, 4th month, standard year 24935
Tahl got to choose a name for the little girl. Savus had just died, we were standing there...just standing there...and Vione turned to Tahl and said quietly, "Tahl, you may chose a new name for the child." Tahl had tears running down her face...and she said, glancing from me to Thea to Savus "I name her Sav-Mu Moonshadow." Vione nodded and took the little girl from Tahl, and two others took Savus...Savus's body...and Thea suddenly just flung her arms around Tahl. Just like that. It was the strangest thing.
Master did not hug me. But when we got back to our quarters (they looked different. No, felt different. The whole Temple did.) he sort of nodded his head...or maybe shook his head...at me, and said
"Should you want me, Padawan....want to talk, want to meditate...you know where to find me."
I nodded. He gave a brief smile and walked off.
I wished he hadn't smiled. Even if the smile was for me.
******
3rd day, 4th month, standard year 24935
I found myself going to the crehe. Tahl wasn't
there. It was just me. I knocked on the door, and when there was no answer
I opened it anyway. Kezi was sitting in a corner, looking like she'd just
been crying. But when she saw me she looked up.
"Oh!" she said. "Qui-Gon! I didn't see you or
hear you...I...I mean..." She looked embarassed, and I felt incredibly
guilty for just coming in.
"I'm sorry," I said, in a voice that sounded
more miserable then I'd guessed it would sound. "I...just came in here
to say..."
I trailed off. I had no idea how she'd react.
"To say...I know Savus loved you. Loves you."
She didn't say a word and I was terrifed. When
she finally moved it was to hug me.
"Thank you," she said. "Thank you."
So I'd said it. I did something right. When I left the crehe, I noticed something carved on the door. It was written in a different language, but I still recognized it.
There are many great things in this world
We know them from the first days of our lives
But the greatest one is life and love.
I wondered why I hadn't noticed it before.
*****
4th day, 4th month, standard year 24935
Today was the funeral. It was awful. Just...awful. Tahl sat next to me, and would keep grasping my hand, letting go, and grasping it again. And opposite us were Dilan and Vulna, with my Master sitting behind them...keeping an eye on Dilan maybe. I could see them through the fire. See Dilan's angry eyes.
I wish I'd been Savus's friend, not his enemy! Understood him better and not labelled him a bully. And Tahl feels the same way...she told me, but even if she hadn't I'd have known.
Tahl was very quiet after the funeral.
*****