Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its characters. All the characters are the property of George Lucas and LucasFilm Ltd.
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Author's Notes: Hey everybody! A very belated Star Wars Day to everyone. So, in this chapter everybody is lost in their thoughts and it is a bit on the smaller side. One would expect the school being over would provide you with some free time but no… I guess it is how it is! Enjoy the chapter :)
Chapter XI
A Force bond…
But how can there be a Force bond between them, Obi-Wan does not understand.
It is not as strong as it used to be during the Clone Wars when they had grown close enough as brothers. Well, he had he does not know about Anakin.
But it is still there and inspecting it a little deeper, he realizes that it is exactly at the location it was the previous time.
He is presently in meditation calming his bewildered thoughts and seeking answers to the questions plaguing his mind.
Apart from the whole fiasco regarding the Force bond thing, he guesses their first meeting went well enough.
You wish…
He mentally sighs. Anakin did not seem all that excited to see him—the second Jedi he has ever met. He knows for sure that he had been excited the previous time.
So, what changed?
Obi-Wan did try his best to not appear cold and disinterested in the boy. He does not believe he succeeded. Had some of his thoughts really leaked through the Force? No, he had checked his shields.
Perhaps some of his feelings in general? Anakin may not yet be trained but Obi-Wan knows from experience that he is adept at picking up emotions of people.
Force, I hope not.
That will complicate the friendship he wishes to cement between them.
But am I doing justice with Anakin if I try to be his friends for the sole purpose for keeping Palpatine out? But Force knows I may never slip into the easy camaraderie I once shared with the man. Besides, apart from Anakin, will I not be doing justice to the entire galaxy including myself if I do so? Yes, that should be enough.
But it was not. Force knows it wasn't. It never had been. He values Anakin more than the entire galaxy as well. He is after all, his brother.
Attachment, he thinks through gritted teeth. That is his problem. Always had been. How hypocritical of him to lecture Anakin to let go when he himself had trouble to. His attachment had cost the galaxy two decades of hardship and darkness when his attachment restrained him from delivering the killing blow to a Sith Lord on Mustafar.
His mind dwells on those thoughts for a moment more before he comes back to the main point of his meditation- the Force bond.
He wonders briefly what effect it might be having on Anakin who as of yet is still ignorant of the ways of the Force. If Qui-Gon does not explain it to him, he thinks to tell the boy himself. It will serve to clear any hostilities between them. That will be good.
He tests the Force bond tentatively. He can feel the bright and curious presence of Anakin on the other side. Obi-Wan notices that it almost looks subdued. He leaves the Force bond alone after that briefly not wanting to disturb Anakin's privacy and not really in the mood anymore.
As he proceeds to come out of his meditation sensing his Master's approach, he learns just one more observation which really makes him wonder whether the Force possesses a cruel sense of humor.
The Force bond does not seem like how the new and unused ones do. No, it seems as if it had been used countless times over long distances sometimes to relay important battle news and other times for banter when it would have been inappropriate to speak in middle of the negotiations. This bond felt as if it had been used for comforting and training. This bond had seen happy days and sad ones, days filled with light hearted joy and days with darkness shrouding them. This bond had once been the brightest and the strongest in the Order until it met its untimely death on the fiery planet of Mustafar.
Now, here was the bond, perhaps less in brightness and strength than it once was but still existing with the same feeling it gave all those years ago.
Yes, this bond is not newly formed; it is the previous one that has miraculously reformed.
Obi-Wan does not know whether that is a good thing or not.
-x—x-
The sudden formation of a Force bond between his apprentice and the young boy whom he rescued was the last thing in his mind when he had introduced both of them.
Perhaps the Force is connecting them because of the personality changes they both have been showing.
Qui-Gon purposely takes the longer path to his shared quarters with his apprentice. He feels they both can use the alone time to sort out their thoughts. He feels guilty of having left Ani alone to cope with this event but he somehow feels that even Anakin needs some privacy right now.
So here he is roaming about the ship trying to get his thoughts straight.
It is not like a Force bond has never been formed between strangers before. It has and it usually means that both the people are somehow connected. It also develops because of friendship or any other emotions which the Force deems fit to connect the concerned two with a bond.
So, no it is not really the existence of the bond that has him pondering, it is rather the nature of that bond.
The bond is stronger than the one formed between strangers. He can practically feel it in his nerves. It is as if it belongs there.
The intense flaring of the Force is something he admits he has seen for the first time. And with the way recent events have been it will not be wise to file it away as a stray event and forget about it.
But the question that has been nagging him for quite a while now is what brought these two together? The Force, yes. But it seems that they have been brought together for a greater reason. He does not know why he gets that inkling but it is just a feeling he cannot shake off.
He shakes his head to clear his mind. His objective is to complete this mission and get the Queen safely to Coruscant. As he has often preached, 'Keep your concentration in the here and now,' he decides to emulate it himself.
He successfully reaches his shared room with his Padawan. He casts out his senses through the Force and is met with a quiet hum. His padawan's thoughts appear calm and focused.
He must be meditating.
With that thought in mind, Qui-Gon enters the room. He is met with the blue eyes of his Padawan looking at him. He is, however, still sitting in a meditative posture. He must have just come out of his meditation, Qui-Gon muses.
He proceeds to go and sit on the bed. Obi-Wan maintains his position.
"A credit for your thoughts, Master?"
"Nothing different than yours, Obi-Wan."
"Well, I was thinking about my warm bed back at the Jedi Temple."
Qui-Gon chuckles. "Attachment is unfitting for a Jedi, Padawan."
"…you did say you were thinking what I was so…"
"Very well. But what I meant was of the recent events that happened on this mission."
"Which part of it— the attempted murder aboard the Trade Federation's ship, breaking of the hyperdrive, detour to Tatoonie, gambling, freeing slaves, fighting a supposed Sith, or the Force bond?"
"You are right, we did exceed our usual quota of trouble by a large margin, didn't we?"
Obi-Wan just grins in response. Oh, Master this is nothing.
Qui-Gon smiles too. It is nice to see Obi-Wan back to his usual sarcastic self. He will even dare to say that he has been missing it.
He shakes his head. He really does not know which topic to start talking about first. And then he remembers one of Master Yoda's teachings: When in doubt, at the beginning start.
The beginning, huh? That would perhaps be the "attempted murder" on the Trade Federation's ship. He gathers his theories on why they would attack them and what could be their motives before the talk when he suddenly remembers something.
Something which he had forgotten due to the stress of having battled a supposed Sith and then the Force Bond...
"So where should we begin to put our minds to, Master."
Qui-Gon fixes his apprentice with a look and replies, "How about we begin on your troubled thoughts and strange behaviour for the past few days? And I also need to hear your excuse other than the 'will of the Force' and it having 'slipped from your mind' as to why did you bring truguts before consulting me or informing me afterwards."
He sees his Padawan gulp, close his eyes, take a deep breath, release his anxieties to the Force, and open his eyes to meet his.
He settles more comfortably on the bed. He has a feeling it is going to be a long talk.
-x—x—
"Are you alright, Mom? You are shivering."
His mother gives him a reassuring smile although Anakin notices that it does not reach her eyes. Then realization dawns on him. Kriff, I am so stupid!
Tatoonie is warm. Space is cold. Mom's body is used to the hot weather and she must be freezing out here. Well, he should be too but countless space travel has made him ignore the ever-present coldness associated with space travel.
"Don't worry, Mom. I will go and see if we can get extra blankets."
"Ani, there is no need…"
"There is, Mom. Don't deny it. Wait for me."
With that he leaves his assigned quarters which are more of really a storage room but enough for both of them as there is no other spare room.
He walks towards the main room with his hands in his pockets. He lets his thoughts drift towards the meeting with Obi-Wan in general and the Force bond in particular.
He entertains the thought of prodding the bond and getting its feel but refrains in fear that Obi-Wan might sense something. He hovers around it though and realizes something with shock:
The Force bond is exactly at the place where it was in the previous time-line!
It is indeed strange what happened between them—a Force bond! Was it some indirect way of telling them that their lives will be always entwined?
He does not mind that. He feels safe around Obi-Wan and Padme, his true well-wishers in the whole wide world.
And of course, his mom!
It is funny really how that small tidbit keeps on slipping from his mind and a little sad.
Speaking of mom, he reaches the main room hoping that he will meet someone to give him a few blankets.
The main room is silent and there is no one there. Just his luck. He sighs and moves forward, wondering if there were one or two blankets lying around.
That is when he feels it. The rub of something rough against his fingers. He frowns and glances at his pocket where his fingers have found something.
He clutches it and takes it out his breath catching as he glances at the beautifully carved piece of japor snippet.
He rubs his thumb across it. He had given it to Padme around this time in the original timeline. So she would remember him. She had worn it throughout her life. He had seen it hanging from her hand during her funeral's recording which he was watching years after being turned into Darth Vader.
It was a symbol of the true love between them. One that had died on Mustafar. But had it really?
Yes, it had.
He had never realized until years later when he learnt about Luke's parentage that his love for Padme had turned into a craving of power and more about him rather than his need of saving her when he had embraced the Dark Side.
Both the people, who exist as of yet, whom he loves the most, cares about the most are on this ship. Both of them are extremely talented. They will go far in life.
Their only fault was that they had got involved with him. And he had ruined everything.
He briefly wonders going on some distant, isolated planet and spending the rest of his life there. He will leave Mom with Padme who will go on to become the most honest and strong politician ever whom even Obi-Wan admires which is a great compliment because Obi-Wan just hates politicians. Obi-Wan will become the best Jedi in the universe with an awesome reputation as he won't be there to taint it with his more reckless personality.
In short, things will be all well and good and the universe will be a notch brighter.
Well, it will be much brighter if he eliminates the foul presence of one Senator- not Chancellor or Emperor- Palpatine.
Even thinking about that Sith brings a filthy taste in his mouth.
"What are you doing standing around here, Ani?"
Anakin turns around startled and genuinely smiles at the welcome guest. "Padme…" He says.
"Who else? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, yeah…um…I needed a few blankets for Mom. It's very cold out here."
"Of course. You are from a warm planet, Ani. Too warm for my taste. Space is cold. Here, take this while I arrange for some blankets for you and your mom." With that Padme wraps her over jacket over Anakin and giving him a smile leaves.
Anakin cannot help but notice that her eyes hold warmth and genuine affection but her smile seems sad.
Obviously, she is sad. Her planet is being attacked.
He once again rubs his thumb over the japor snippet and wonders whether he should give it to her or not. Do I dare endanger her again?
But he cannot live without her.
No!
Anakin will not put his selfish needs above his selfless love ever again. He has already seen what the outcome will be if he does.
He thinks it is better he gives it to her. What was that ancient tale about the wood of japor? Yeah, it brings good fortune.
Lot of good fortune it brought the last time…
He admits that perhaps it wasn't all that bad. His life had its ups and downs until a final spiraling down came only to be pulled back upwards by the light of his son.
If nothing else, it will serve as a remembrance of their time together. He looks at the japor snippet and also of the memorabilia of their love.
He decides that if not for anything else, he will give it to her because she looks plainly beautiful while wearing it.
He breaks a small part of it carefully so as to not destroy its beauty and keeps it in his pocket as a token of their love and what could have been.
Soon enough, Padme returns with two thick blankets cradled in her arms. "Come, Ani, I will leave you till your room." "There is no need for that." Anakin says proceeding to take the blankets from her but she pulls her hand back. Anakin frowns.
As of right now, Padme is taller than him. Now, that's new…
It has been so long since he has been smaller than anyone. Normally, he used to tower over almost everyone. Another humbling experience, he guesses.
Is my entire life a mixture of jumbled proverbs and symbolism?
"Well?" Padme asks.
"Alright," He huffs, "but at least let me carry one of them."
"Okay, I guess." Padme puts down the two blankets on a nearby seat and was proceeding to give one of them to Anakin when he suddenly speaks up, "I made this for you."
"Huh?" Padme turns around confused to look at Anakin who is holding a piece of some beautifully carved wood.
"I made this for you," he repeats, "so that you would remember me." And my love, "I carved it out myself. It is told to bring good fortune."
Padme is touched by the care this boy has for her. The way he says it makes her feel as if there is something particularly reverent and beautiful about this moment. He said it with such affection, reverence and warmth while his eyes held a distant look of-was it remorse and guilt?
But why?
She shakes herself off her stupor and smiles warmly accepting the necklace with a pendant of the wood of japor. "It's beautiful, but I don't need this to remember you. Many things will change once we reach the capital, Ani. My caring for you will always remain."
It is in the midst of this emotional moment that Anakin feels a prod from the other side of his bond. Perhaps Obi-Wan is trying to decipher the mystery, Anakin thinks, but the touch is immediately withdrawn. It did not, however, quell the feeling of warmth the touch left behind.
Here he was, Anakin Skywalker, surrounded by his best friends who were perhaps the only ones to ever actually care about him for who he was and not because of some weird prophecy or for their own evil ends.
This, right here, was love in its purest form.
And Anakin was blessed to experience it. He swore he will let no harm come to both of them ever—not from himself or anyone else.
Hand-in-hand Anakin and Padme proceeded towards his room.
Tbc…
Cooljoanna18: I am pretty sure it was screaming at Anakin, "What the kriff, Skywalker?!"
yiggdrasill: Thank you : ) Yeah, Obi-Wan is one as he told his Master in this chapter. Up to their usual antics, both of them.
Rilme Caatl: Yay! Your excitement keeps me going :D
nightmarebat: You are my 100th reviewer! Oh my gosh! I can't believe it! Thank you so much! :D
IthilwenofIthilien: It went well indeed. Qui-Gon is so so confused right now xD. Getting stuck between Kenobi and Skywalker… I can see a lot of disbelieving and exasperated sighs in the future. I am sorry for the confusion. The first part tells Qui-Gon's thoughts on the aftermath of the force bond. The second one tells Obi-Wan's thoughts during their meeting and the third one of Anakin. The last part is the third POV on what exactly happens. Hope that clears it up! If you have any suggestions how I could have avoided the confusion, I would love to hear them :) I am happy that you were happy to read the chapter. I look forward to your reviews as well :)
RyuuShadow: Finally indeed xD! Hope it met your expectations. Yeah, I am too! Unfortunately, I don't have more time… It's so sad. Hopefully, by August I will have settled in my college.
Nightshade's sydneylover150: Thank you! They need to talk definitely! But first, a bit drowning in their own morbid thoughts.
Grammarosprey: :) Glad to know we agree on that. Thank you so much, I was so worried whether I pulled it off as I had imagined it in my head. I have been saving Qui-Gon's POV just for that chapter. Here's more :)
NinjaGirl1117: Thank you! My finals went well. Thanks for asking :) Here's another update.
ThatOneDino: They met! Oh there are gonna be some close calls. Where's the fun otherwise right? ;)
mentalkid: Probably not. I honestly have no idea when. There are gonna be some close calls though :)
MMM73181: xD. Thank you! I am glad you liked the force bond.
Guest: Yay! I am so glad you are so excited!
scottusa1: Thank you! I hope you liked this chapter.
brookeyy14: Here's the next chapter! Hope you enjoyed :)
Star Wars and Skillet: Thanks! Here's more :)
: Thank you! You have no idea how much your review brightened my day! Thank you so much for your compliment and I m glad you took the time to figure out and leave the review :D I sincerely hope I live upto your expectations.
Robbie2413: Thanks :) Wonder what else Anakin's father has in store for him ;)
clonetrooper8754: xD. Hope you had fun with this chapter as well.
ichigo urahara Shihoin: Oh, they both have a lot of healing to do!
*takes in deep breath* Oh my God! I crossed 100 reviews! Thank you all of you for your support and advice!
And I am sorry for the short chapter but it turns out choosing a college is Hard. Work.
Anyways, enjoy reading and spoiler alert! Next chapter Anakin and Obi wan talk with each other alone!
As always- please read and review.