Title: Consecrated

Author: EsotericCrimson

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: If they were mine, would I be sitting here, writing fanfiction about them? Wait… you're right – I probably would be.

Summary: When Obi-Wan is wounded on a diplomatic assignment gone awry, Anakin is left to reflect upon his relationship with his former Master, and realizes that, when death could come for them at any moment, there are some things that cannot be left unsaid. Slash.

A/N: I would like to apologize, first and foremost, for the delay. It won't happen again… hopefully. The real world got me down for a bit, and therefore I didn't have the time to post anything new. More importantly, I didn't like where I was going with this chapter as it was, so I revamped it. Hopefully it came out better the second time around. And consequently, some of what comes after got a revision as well. I decided that, while the story is about the present, I started it as an excuse to be able to take a look at only snippets of the past. It was a way to tell two stories at once – that was the initial premise, and I'm going to try and stick closer to that from this point forward. This chapter, thus, takes place as a quick glimpse at the past… development for the future of Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship, which is much different from the one they share in the films. Hopefully, the next chapter will be up very soon, and take place mostly in the present.

A big thank you to my reviewers, of course:

Lincoln Six Echo: Thank you, and I do plan to finish it. As soon as possible. Thanks for the push to do so with your review.

Lea Nikkaya: Sorry to leave you there… this chapter has no such cliffhanger – it's pretty much just a quick glimpse at the past.

OritPetra: Thank you so much for your compliments :D

rlturner79: I love angst too. What is it about angst that makes it so appealing?

Seylin: Thanks, and I just knew that you're name had to be from The Hollow Kingdom trilogy! They're some of my favorite books… and Seylin's so awesome… I tried to convince my little sister to name her cat Seylin recently, but I think she's too young to really go with that…

i luv ewansmile: Oh yes, Anakin should be the one trying to connect with Obi-Wan. Indeed. You're so perceptive… hint hint

Anakin's Girl 4eva: I am cruel, aren't I? Sorry… I don't mean to be. Well, maybe I do ;) But thanks for the review!

ednyadove: Thank you so much! Your review made me smile :D

Obiwanfan: Thank you, and hopefully you'll enjoy this chapter as well.

Enjoy, and if you get a moment, please review. They make my day :D

- EsotericCrimson


Chapter Five: Embers

He was younger than he wished to be when he first realized it, but older than he should have been, in his own personal opinion. He should have been more observant, he should have seen. Should have noticed.

His eyes were never the same, and Anakin had never noticed – not once. Had he been asked what shade they were before that night, he would have said gray, perhaps a murky light blue. They were eyes, most humanoids had them, and they were nothing special.

But Force, had he been wrong.

It had been a particularly frustrating day. They had been assigned to a diplomatic mission on Lowick, a backwoods planet that was, in Anakin's humble opinion, halfway across the galaxy and in no real need of Republic interference. Most planets that didn't appeal to him fell conveniently into that category. Yet, when he had attempted to bring this up to his Master, he was met with a sigh, a shrug, and something that could very possibly been a very small smile, accompanied by a shake of the head and nothing more. The issue had been laid to rest shortly after they had arrived.

Unfortunately for Anakin's tendency towards an extreme lack of patience, the amphibian natives seemed to be exceedingly slow in their debates. In fact, they had spent the majority of an entire day of negotiations greeting each other, and another three sessions inquiring as to the health and wellbeing of each delegation's nearest relations. While endearing to some, such small talk, and the obvious inability of the ambassadors to remain on topic, made Anakin simply want to return to Coruscant and his predictable, and in comparison, very exciting lifestyle at the Temple.

Each evening they enjoyed a fabulously resplendent meal of what were considered native delicacies, which, upon the insistence of his Master, Anakin had sampled and discovered an intense liking for. Thankfully, their dinners were taken in their guest quarters, as neither Jedi had enough composure to attend the nightly banquets with the dignitaries, as these affairs were often as lengthy as the daily debates, and were riddled with enough mindless drivel to spoil anyone's appetite. Even a diplomat such as Obi-Wan did not require pleading with to indicate most politely that he and his apprentice would prefer not to be involved in undue socialization with either party partaking in the negotiations – something about "neutrality" or the like. Anakin in particular had appreciated the genius of the excuse – it made perfect sense, and got him out of enduring long hours of pointless discussion on the diameters of the third and fourth suns of planets in outlying star systems ever he had never heard of.

"When are we going home, Master?" It had to have been the eightieth time he'd asked, and that was no exaggeration.

"Is it so horribly dreadful here, Anakin? Honestly?"

"Yes," Anakin grumbled stubbornly.

"At least it's a beautiful planet. Be thankful for that. The mountains are simply magnificent, and the water is clearer than even Naboo's. After all, it could be boring and ugly – how would you like that? Wouldn't that be worse?"

"It doesn't matter what the planet looks like, Master. If it's boring, it's boring."

Obi-Wan chuckled strangely, drawing Anakin's attention. "What's funny?" Anakin demanded, instantly indignant. He hated it when people laughed at him.

Yet Obi-Wan simply smiled and shook his head knowingly. "You still have so very much to learn."

Anakin could think of a number of appropriate retorts for the harmless slight, but for once thought better of them. Instead, he opted to sulk, which elicited another vaguely-concealed chortle from the Jedi Master.

This only served to increase the intensity of the boy's brooding.

"You know that I was the only one who could have taken this mission."

Anakin shrugged. "I know."

"None of the other available Knights have even a slight understanding of the original language of Lowickese. I've at least managed to figure out some of it, and even a vague familiarity was preferable."

Obi-Wan was met with an indignant huff. "They speak Basic here."

"That's not the point." Then silence

Anakin continued to stare off into oblivion when he felt a tug on his robes. Obi-Wan had crossed the room and was now looming above him.

"Come on, then."

Anakin looked up, confused, meeting his Master's expectant gaze as the man rose from his seat, robes flowing behind him as he crossed the room in just a few strides to stand beside his Padawan. Obi-Wan held a cloak out towards him, waiting for him to take it.

"The sun's set – it will be rather cold outside."

Wrapping himself in the familiar fabric, Anakin reluctantly rose and made to follow.

The walk wasn't long, and Anakin was intrigued as to their destination, though he would never have owned to it. He smelled the smoke before he saw the fire; felt the warmth before he eyed the flames. Reaching the elevated shrine, Obi-Wan stepped behind him as they approached the pyre.

"Fire is revered as a bringer of life on this planet, instead of a destructive force. It's a thing of beauty, and power. This particular fire has many names and legends associated with it, it seems, yet what I do know of it for certain is that it has never been allowed to die since the dawn of this culture's recorded history."

Obi-Wan stepped closer to the flames, edging to his Padawan's side. Anakin's breath caught as the firelight reflected in his Master's eyes. At that angle, they were colorless, but the way in which they reflected the flickering light was spectacular – watery and multi-faceted like glass, shining brilliantly in the darkness, as a pair of diamonds in the setting sun.

"I would venture to say that no one can know for certain – surely none alive would know – but it is said that the first Lowickan Firegems were discovered at the site from which this fire was harvested. The gems themselves are difficult to come by these days – they were outlawed some years ago as a potential terrorist device, and few people remember they ever existed. Yet I would venture to say that one resides at the heart of this particular inferno, an ever-burning testament to these people and their way of life – their ancestors and theirs, for centuries on end, perhaps longer. "

Anakin was impressed with the tale, but more interested in watching his Master as the elder Jedi continued to look into the fire. Aquamarine eyes shifted to azure, then blazed to an emerald shade, nearly glowing olive as the fire sparked before them. The emotion he managed to read within their depths spoke of a long-suppressed sadness, and Anakin was struck with the fact that Obi-Wan was probably thinking about Qui-Gon's funeral. "Where'd you learn all that?"

Obi-Wan sounded sadly nostalgic as he replied. "My Master brought me here when I was just a few years older than you are; it was one of our early missions. Yet," he continued, his voice becoming more lighthearted, "I could have probably told you a good deal of that from my formative education." Obi-Wan paused, a small smile crossing his features as he made eye contact with his Padawan. "You know, Anakin, you would learn something if you actually paid attention in your lessons."

Obi-Wan's grin lit up his whole countenance, and his eyes danced with mirth and betrayed yet another color hidden within. "Yes Master, I know."

The shimmering cerulean streaked with his Master's joy struck him as something undeniably beautiful – and somehow, he knew that he would never in his life see anything more divine.


Years later, he knew that he had been right.

He shuddered mentally as, in his now-interrupted solitude, he finally allowed himself to truly study the form of his unmoving Master. Reluctantly, he lifted his gaze to the still figure, taking in his waxen complexion, his delicate appearance, his unnerving quiescence. Obi-Wan was a reserved man; he was intense in a silent and complex way. His posture could reveal more than his words in many instances, and his body spoke of struggle and pain as he lay still before Anakin. His positioning spoke of defeat.

In light of this, at that instant, Anakin could see in his mind only two eyes, a pair so full of life, and hope – overflowing with compassion and determination. They reflected a world romanticized in such a way that one could believe that anything was possible, so long as Obi-Wan Kenobi was by their side to make it so. Such beauty was held captive within those eyes – so much love swirled in their glassy depths.

He squeezed his Master's hand desperately. He'd give anything to see those eyes one more time.