Part 5
The biting wind tore past the mouth of the cave, searching for and stripping the warm life from any creature foolish enough to be caught in its swirling path.
"Why can we never be sent anywhere nice, Master?" Obi-Wan murmured from somewhere within the folds of their shared blankets.
Qui-Gon sighed. "I have no idea, Padawan."
It did indeed seem like he and Obi-Wan were getting to see less and less of the good side of life in this galaxy, but sending them to Rantive 4 to negotiate peace between the warring native tribes in the middle of winter was an all time low.
"I have a theory," Obi-Wan stated. "This is punishment. My cold feet are pay back for all those times you've upset the Council." The Padawan freed his covered head so that he could look at the older man. "Maybe if you'd stop annoying them so much, Master, and actually did as they asked for a change, we might be sent somewhere with at least a fully functioning sanitary system."
Qui-Gon chuckled. "And here I thought you enjoyed traipsing around in the wilderness with me. Besides, the Council should now be well used to my more er… rebellious tendencies. If I did suddenly start doing as they asked Master Windu is liable to become one with the Force and I couldn't have that on my conscience."
That drew a laugh and Obi-Wan allowed him to win the point. After all, frozen toes and hungriness aside, today was a special day.
The wind selfishly continued to howl outside their makeshift home, uncaring of the occasion. But Obi-Wan barely heard it now, feeling that despite the miserable conditions and lack of celebration he should at least make some sort of an acknowledgement. He only wished they could have been at home.
"Ten years now, Master," he said.
"I know" Qui-Gon murmured, not needing an explanation. Ten years to the day since he had taken Obi-Wan as his Padawan. The tenth anniversary of that fateful day on Bandomeer when his life had started anew. Gazing down at Obi-Wan the Master did not know where the time had fled to but suddenly here he sat beside a young man no longer a boy.
Qui-Gon felt a strange sadness fill his heart. "Such a long time," he said, "and yet seemingly no time at all."
Obi-Wan was quick to pick up on the sudden change in his mood and frowned. "What is it?"
"Nothing, my Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon replied distantly. "Just an old fool's regret."
"Don't say that, Master," Obi-Wan tightened the arm that rested around Qui-Gon's waist. "You're not old."
Qui-Gon laughed, not so distracted as to miss the teasing behind the serious tone. "So I'm a fool, then?"
Obi-Wan smiled mischievously at him, blue-green eyes dancing in the dim light. "Maybe sometimes, but I still hold out the hope that one day you will behave in the manner expected of a Master in your position. And then maybe one day we will be given a more civilized assignment."
Qui-Gon snorted. "I'll let you be dignified enough for the both of us, Obi-Wan. Force knows you worry enough for two."
"Is that a bad thing? If I didn't at lest attempt to curb your more 'rebellious tendencies' I fully believe we'd have been sent to parley with a sarlacc years ago."
Qui-Gon laughed again, delighting in his apprentice's humour, so rare in its easy appearance.
"More than likely, Padawan," he responded, tightening his arm round Obi-Wan's shoulders. "More than likely."
The day drew on with no sign of the storm outside abating. The wind howled to new levels of ferocity and the temperature plummeted along with the darkness of the oncoming night.
The two Jedi kept warm only through the heat generated between their tightly pressed bodies. Desperately they tried to find sleep lying on the hard floor buried beneath their combined cloaks and survival blankets. And still Obi-Wan's teeth were chattering.
"It's so c-cold, Master," he whispered.
Qui-Gon looked down his chin at the pale face resting against his shoulder. Obi-Wan's lips had turned a faint blue and the hands tucked against his chest were like blocks of ice. His Padawan was faring far worse than he was in this damned climate. Silently Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan's smaller, frigid hands and tucked them beneath his arms in a attempt to keep them warm. It would be bad news if frost bite was allowed to take hold.
Some tenth anniversary this was turning out to be.
Deciding that sleep would be far from attainable tonight, Qui-Gon searched his mind for a possible distraction from the miserable situation. In the end there was only one thing he could think of.
"Shall I tell you a story, Obi-Wan?" he asked.
"A story? Obi-Wan laughed softly. "I don't think anyone's told me a story outside of my crèche days."
Qui-Gon withdrew quickly. "You're right, I'm sorry." Twenty-two year old Padawan's would hardly want to be told stories by their old Masters.
"No," Obi-Wan's head shook slightly against his chest. "I think I'd enjoy that, Master. I like stories."
I like stories.
Qui-Gon went very still.
Those words… Simple, innocent but suddenly he found himself being thrown back through time, down through many years, back before Xanatos' betrayal to an afternoon spent with a little boy curled under a pile of crushing rubble. I like stories. Today my fav'ite day.
Sudden clarity struck Qui-Gon like lightning to the brain and before he could discredit it the name was out of his mouth. "Ben?"
Obi-Wan opened his eyes and a smile spread across his face. "Mast'a?"
A wondering laugh bubbled from Qui-Gon's throat. "That was you all those years ago?" And quite suddenly it didn't seem so surprising. In fact it answered a lot of questions: the reason behind the strength of their bond, the answer to why there had already been a tentative connection between them when they had first met. "Have you known all this time?"
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I suspected, but never knew for sure until just now. All I really remember is a comforting presence and a steady voice telling me stories until we were rescued."
Qui-Gon smiled, still reeling from the revelation. Who'd have thought that the little boy to whom he owed his life would turn out to be his very own Padawan.
And finding out today of all days…
"I always knew that you were meant to be my Master," Obi-Wan whispered.
"That you did, my Obi-Wan. Even as a three year old, you were wiser than I."
Obi-Wan smiled and curled in closer to Qui-Gon's form as if he were still that little boy. "Yes. Now how about this story, Master?"
Qui-Gon's heart swelled with simple joy as he tightened his arms, "Very well, Obi-Wan if that is what you wish…" And so Qui-Gon began.
The tale was carefully woven, the plot twisting in unexpected and complicated directions, mindful that his Padawan was now grown with a quick and intellectual mind. Unfortunately that also meant he couldn't get away with as much embellishment like he had the last time.
The bitter night deepened until finally, voice hoarse from the unaccustomed use, Qui-Gon finished his latest masterpiece. He really ought to write some of this down, the amused thought came distantly.
Obi-Wan looked up, a smile playing over his face. "That was even better than I remember, Master," he said. The smile nudged into a grin. "I never did tell Master Allen that you made a better storyteller than him."
"For which I'm eternally grateful, my Padawan. I wouldn't want him thinking I was after his job when I was finally done teaching you and annoying the Council. Which might be quite soon. After all you're soon to be a Knight."
The Padawan shot his Master a startled look, but Qui-Gon's eyes were already closed.
Soon to be a Knight
The words resounded in Obi-Wan's head. A frown creased between his brows. Because instead of feeling joy at those longed for words he felt only a sharp stab of regret. He felt that he finally understood the strange sadness lurking within his Master. Soon to be a Knight… Soon to leave Qui-Gon's side as his Padawan. It hadn't struck him before. How would he live his life without the comfort and happiness of being at Qui-Gon's side? Even their most inane conversations and the silences in between were a pleasure. Qui-Gon had been more friend to him than Master over these last years of his apprenticeship, but now there was something deeper. Now they were like old friends. Family.
And very soon he would have to leave.
Such a long time and yet seemingly no time at all…
"What is it, Ben?" His own words echoed back to him braking through his reverie.
Obi-Wan smiled slightly at the use of the name. "Nothing, Master, just a young fool's regret."
"Ah."
Callused fingers carded through his hair then. Warmth flowed from them. The ache in his bruising hip eased and his frozen toes tingled comfortingly. Obi-Wan sighed. The warmth spread to his heart, almost aching in the knowledge of how much Qui-Gon cared for him. And with that gift came a simple promise. A promise that this would always be so. Even when he was a grown Knight with a Padawan of his own. This would always be so. They would never lose each other.
The thought served to banish the sadness from both their hearts. Suddenly snow and ice didn't matter anymore, this moment couldn't have been more perfect to either of them had they been warm at home celebrating quietly with a glass of wine and a fine meal.
Wholly content Obi-Wan let the pull of sleep steal him away at last, knowing without doubt that he was safe and loved in Qui-Gon's arms.
"Happy anniversary, Master."
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Always