A/N: Sorry! I meant to get this up on Monday, but the site wouldn't let me upload it.
Ch. 21: "Wake from a Dream" - Great White, Save Your Love
The bracelet lay on his dresser, where he'd kept it since his mother had given it to him some years ago. Obi-Wan couldn't remember a time without it. He didn't know what his new Master would say about it, so he tucked it into a corner of his drawer, not wanting to anger Master Sorin more. He must have done something wrong; his new Master had left him in his quarters on the Initiate's floor, and Obi-Wan didn't know why. He'd been so disappointed to find that he wouldn't leave the room after all. He'd looked forward to living on another residence level, to have access to all the things he wanted to know. He shrugged, letting it go, and grabbed his lightsaber. He had to leave now to reach the room on time to meet his new Master.
Master Sorin didn't show up for a long time. Half expecting that sort of test because of what some of his friends had said after they'd been chosen, Obi-wan waited patiently, kneeling in meditation near the center of the room. He focused his energies on doing his best for his Master when he did arrive.
Obi-Wan could feel Master Sorin's displeasure suddenly through the new bond, and he ended his meditation and got to to his feet as Master Sorin stepped into the practice room. Master Sorin scowled, and that didn't change even after he closed the door behind him and looked back at Obi-Wan. "What is this?" He held up the bracelet, letting it dangle from his fingers before Obi-Wan's eyes.
Obi-Wan swallowed. "My mother gave it to me. Master Yoda said I could keep it, to remember her."
Master Sorin's scowl deepened into a frown. "You are old enough not to need such things," he said evenly. "I will dispose of it."
"But…" Obi-Wan started, only to flush and step back as the frown deepened even more and his Master's displeasure increased. "Yes, Master," he said softly.
"Good." Master Sorin tucked the bracelet into the pouch on his belt. "Remove your tunic."
Obi-Wan only hesitated a moment before obeying. He didn't understand why he had to remove his tunic, but that shouldn't matter. Didn't matter. He carefully folded it and set it near the door, turning in time to catch his Master's nod of approval. It lightened his heart a little. As Master Sorin ignited his lightsaber, Obi-Wan ignited his and settled into the en guarde position. He couldn't hide his nerves; he wanted to perform well the first time he sparred with his Master. He'd looked forward to advancing since he'd first learned to use a lightsaber, had looked forward to learning from his Master.
Master Sorin started slowly with a familiar pattern. Obi-Wan kept up with only a little effort, feeling better. Slowly, the pace of Master Sorin's blows increased, and Obi-Wan began to struggle to block him. The first time he missed a parry, Master Sorin's lightsaber burned his chest because he turned too slowly; the second landed in the small of his back. Gasping for breath at the shock and pain, Obi-Wan looked at his Master in confusion.
"You will learn," Master Sorin said, sounding disinterested, "or you will die."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said, and brought his lightsaber up in the en guarde position, ready for his Master to teach. Instead, Master Sorin attacked again, at the same speed he'd left off. Obi-Wan struggled to parry his blows, too concerned with not getting burned again to worry about any kind of offense.
The rest of the session went exactly the same. Obi-Wan wanted so badly to learn, but Master Sorin wouldn't teach him anything, simply attacking over and over, with more and more disapproval in the bond between them. When he declared an end to the practice, disgust in his voice, Obi-Wan barely managed not to collapse. He watched his Master leave the room, not even checking to see if Obi-Wan followed. Obi-Wan no longer wanted to work with the lightsaber so much, if he had to learn on his own. He could do it, but he'd learn faster if Master Sorin would just teach him. None of his apprenticed friends had ever said they had to learn the lightsaber on their own. In fact, they'd talked about how much fun they had, learning from their Masters. On top of that, he wouldn't lose his mother's bracelet without a good reason. He didn't think his age qualified.
Obi-Wan caught up with Master Sorin just as he left the Temple through a side door and slipped out behind him. He knew he broke some of the most serious rules for the first time in his life; leaving the Temple without his Master's permission would have serious consequences. He knew that, and he accepted it. Master Sorin had no right to take his mother's bracelet. Obi-Wan followed his Master into the depths of Coruscant, trying to make sure he didn't lose his Master while not getting lost, or being obvious he followed. He had to hope that his Master wouldn't sense him, but when he checked the bond, he found it blocked from the other end.
Finally, Master Sorin reached a small bazaar, and Obi-Wan stopped before he entered it, watching from behind a booth on the edge to see where his Master went. He checked his pocket to make sure he still had his money. He'd earned a few credits as a messenger initiate and hadn't had the chance to spend it yet. He kept them with him out of habit, just in case. The movement rubbed his tunic against his burns on his back, and he hissed softly. He'd have to get some cream or something for that, otherwise he'd anger his Master more tomorrow. If the lightsaber lessen went the same, he'd hurt even more. He focused on the booth, watching Master Sorin bargain for money. Obi-Wan didn't know why he'd come down here; maybe he'd better see where his Master went afterward. Master Sorin didn't go far. At the next booth, he bought something small that glittered, and started back toward the Temple. Obi-Wan waited until he could barely feel his Master through the blocked bond to approach the booth.
He parted with all his credits to get the bracelet back from the man who'd bought it, and started back to the Temple. By the time he reached it, it had gotten dark and cold. He spent most of the evening at some distance from the door, waiting for someone to go in so he could sneak behind them. He carefully crafted his shields to look like a simple beggar to a Jedi's Force sense. He'd seen many outside the temple on one of the few outings he'd gone on. Finally, a Knight approached, and Obi-Wan slipped into the Temple behind her. To his surprise, she turned around and gave him a wink; he hadn't done as good a job as he'd thought. He smiled sheepishly, glad she hadn't asked any questions, and made his way back to his room. By the time he got into his sleep couch, his Mother's bracelet tucked under his mattress, he didn't know how long he'd get to sleep. He fell asleep immediately.
He woke late the next morning to find his Master standing over him, scowling. He'd forgotten that his Master had access to his room, even if he'd locked. "I hope this is not an indication of how you will conduct yourself in the future," Master Sorin said, but his voice sounded like a threat more than simple correction. Moving quickly, Obi-Wan got up, hiding how much he hurt from the lightsaber practice the afternoon before.
"No, Master, it's not. I'm sorry." Obi-Wan didn't try to explain anything. He didn't want to lie, but if his Master didn't ask for any information, he wouldn't volunteer it.
Master Sorin's stance eased a little, and he nearly smiled. "Very well. Get dressed quickly, and we will go down to early meal."
Obi-Wan changed quickly, checking in his mirror to make sure his braid hadn't unraveled in the events of the night before. Then he presented himself before his Master again. Master Sorin nodded approvingly and led the way to the dining hall.
After they'd eaten, they went to a practice room, and the approving Master Obi-Wan had seen that morning morphed into a monster as soon as the door shut behind them. "I should not have had to wake you this morning, Obi-Wan," Master Sorin growled down at him. Obi-Wan stepped back, and his Master reached out and grabbed his shoulder. Obi-Wan flinched as his tunic scraped one of his burns. "You should be up by the time I arrive."
"Yes, Master, I know, and I am sorry. I-it won't happen again."
"No, it will not." Master Sorin's eyes narrowed.
Pressure built up on Obi-Wan's shields. Confused, Obi-Wan tried to strengthen them only to have them buckle completely. He struggled to escape his Master's grip, but the events of the night played themselves out in his memory before he could stop it.
"So," Master Sorin said coldly, releasing him. Obi-Wan blinked at his sudden headache. "You saw fit to disobey me." Obi-Wan didn't answer. "Remove your tunic, Obi-Wan. We will spar again today."
With a gasp, Obi-Wan woke. That day had begun the nightmare his life had become, and he wished he'd stop dreaming of it. That part of his life had ended. He could see nothing but good ahead of him. Sitting up, he recorded the dream, and then lay back down to meditate. He needed a measure of peace before he could go back to sleep.
Obi-Wan had refreshed himself and left his bedroom for early meal the next morning when he realized his Master had company in the common room. Master Windu and Master Satoru sat on the couch, Master Jinn in one of the overstuffed chairs, and Master Yoda's float chair hovered facing them. Obi-Wan hesitated before entering the room; those three together made him nervous. Right on his heels came the thought: what a relief I didn't come out before I got dressed!
"Good morning," Qui-Gon said, smiling at him. "Come and join us."
Obi-Wan's nerves increased. He stood behind his Master's chair, hands clasp at his back so they couldn't see his knuckles whiten as he clenched them together.
"It could be dangerous for all of them," Master Satoru said, sounding less collected than Obi-Wan had ever heard him. "I don't know what could happen, and no one can guarantee that Master Jinn would be near at all times."
"Would it be prudent to leave him here?" Master Windu asked.
"Prudent, perhaps," Yoda said. "Unhappy he would be."
They discussed him, Obi-Wan realized with a start. Master Jinn had a mission, and they knew Obi-Wan couldn't go with him. Humiliation colored his face, but he didn't turn away. If Qui-Gon hadn't wanted him to hear this, he would have sent him back to his room. He focused on his frustration and released it into the Force before it grew too big and gave him away. It wouldn't go, but he kept trying. He heard his name and snapped his attention back to the group of Masters before him.
"My assistance has been requested on a mission. It shouldn't take long," Master Jinn explained. "Master Satoru doesn't think you should go with me, and I'd rather you not be stuck here, unable to leave our quarters for any length of time. Do you have a suggestion?"
Obi-Wan took a deep breath as his frustration finally eased. "Is Arioch on the way?"
Mace and Master Satoru looked thoughtful, but Yoda looked like he didn't like the suggestion. "Dangerous that could be," he remarked. "If to go you wish, stop you I will not."
Mace looked at Yoda. "You have concerns?"
Yoda looked at Obi-Wan, and Obi-Wan nearly stepped back at his expression. "To your room return," Yoda said. Obi-Wan bowed, still trying to interpret Yoda's expression, and retreated to his room. He couldn't hear what they discussed, and just the idea of freedom gnawed at him. When his door opened some time later, Obi-Wan had managed to calm down enough to read one of the prophesies he'd found the last time he'd visited the Archives.
"Yoda has given permission for you to leave the temple," Qui-Gon said from his doorway. Behind him, the room looked and felt empty, so they'd all left.
"When do we leave?" Obi-Wan asked, setting his data-pad down.
"As soon as you are ready."
It took Obi-Wan a personal record of five minutes to pack. He included the staff he'd gotten from Merrick, though he didn't know why. The Force nudged him to, so he did. When he got to the common room, ready to go, he experienced the novelty of waiting for his Master. He didn't think that had happened ever during his apprenticeship to Qui-Gon. He didn't have long to wait, and Master Jinn gave him a smile before leading the way from their quarters.