Part 6

--Always, he had promised to remain by his Master's side always.

But now, somehow, he wasn't, and in one fateful second his heart was ripped from his chest.

Qui-Gon staggered, a lethal spear of bloody fire thrusting through his body, agonisingly slow in a moment that stretched forever.

Then he was gone...--

"Nooooo!" Obi-Wan jumped from his fitful sleep, his damp, twisted sheets tangling round his body as he fought to be free of them. "No! Master!" he cried, barely knowing what he was doing.

His distress carried across their quarters to hit Qui-Gon like a fist in the gut. In no time he had crossed the living space and burst into his Padawan's room.

He stopped short at the door. Obi-Wan was sitting on the edge of his bed, bowed down and rocking slightly. Slender arms wrapped around the trembling body as if to ward off some unseen spectre that still danced before the haunted eyes.

Those same eyes flickered his way, devouring him with a desperation that rocked Qui-Gon to the core. "Master," Obi-Wan reached out with a hand that shook on the empty air between them. "Oh, Master."

Qui-Gon swept across the room, engulfing his Padawan's hand with his own before sitting down beside him on the bed.

With a strangled gasp, Obi-Wan collapsed against his side, clinging to Qui-Gon's sleep shirt with a desperate strength, as if fearing the Master would disappear if he let him go.

"Obi-Wan, what is it?" Qui-Gon asked, unable to comprehend what could have caused such a terrible reaction in the normally unflappable twenty-three year old.

Obi-Wan just shook his head wordlessly and tightened his grip on Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon didn't press him. He sensed that Obi-Wan craved only his presence right now, not his words.

Laying a gentle arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders he waited. The answers would come in their own time.

Minutes passed in which the dark room was filled solely with the sound of Obi-Wan's ragged breathing and for a while it seemed that he would never find the words to speak. But then, with a brief flash of pride, Qui-Gon felt the young man reach for the Force, drawing on its infinite strength whilst breathing out his torment. Indeed the boy had grown. All to fast.

The uncontrollable shuddering ceased and Obi-Wan drew back a short way. "I'm sorry, Master," he murmured, turning his face as he dried his eyes self-consciously on his sleeve.

"Don't apologise. You had a nightmare." It was hardly a question.

Obi-Wan shook his head weakly, face deathly pale in the darkened room. "It was more than that, Master," he whispered. "…so much more…"

"A vision?"

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and made no answer but his stricken silence spoke louder than any word he could have uttered.

Qui-Gon sighed, he had never set much in store by visions. His was the Here and Now, but he had to know what could have disturbed Obi-Wan in this way before he could help him let go this fear.

Tightening his grip on the tense shoulder, he said, "Tell me."

There was a pause as Obi-Wan battled with his straining emotions. He did not wish to speak of the horrors that were still so fresh in his mind but his Master's tone, while gentle, brooked no argument.

"You were in battle, Master," he said finally, "fighting against an unnamed darkness. Darkness like I've never felt or imagined. Never wanted to imagine…" Obi-Wan shuddered, swallowing thickly.

Despite himself Qui-Gon felt a sudden prickle start at the back of his neck. While he had not been partial to the dream he had felt something of it along their bond and it had not been pleasant.

Obi-Wan's grip tightened until it was almost painful. "Such utter blackness and you were alone against it. I could-- I could not reach you, Qui-Gon, no matter how hard I tried. No matter what I did. And then it took you. It killed you right before my eyes and I powerless to stop it."

The quiet voice dropped away to a barely coherent whisper, but each word continued to lace Qui-Gon's heart with ice. An inexplicable foreboding crept into his soul, almost as if the horror of Obi-Wan's dream was escaping its confines, released on his voice to seep into the air, striking at hitherto unknown chords deep within Qui-Gon.

"Then there was nothing, nothing but a terrible sense of responsibility. Darkness. Betrayal. Infinite loss. Grief. Alone. Waiting. So alone…"

Obi-Wan's throat finally closed, strangling his voice into silence.

Suppressing a shudder, Qui-Gon drew Obi-Wan tighter against his side. The vague words had shaken him in a way he could not explain and he struggled to maintain his disregard for such things.

"I cannot let this come to pass, Master," Obi-Wan murmured softly. "I don't think I could survive if this is what truly lies ahead."

Qui-Gon squeezed his shoulder. "Always in motion is the future," he said as much to steady himself as his apprentice.

Obi-Wan nodded against his shoulder but his grip remained tight on Qui-Gon's tunic. "Promise you'll never leave me, Master," he said in a broken whisper so uncharacteristic of his strong Padawan. "Promise you won't ever leave me behind."

Qui-Gon stiffened. Grasping Obi-Wan by the shoulders he pushed his Padawan to arm's length so he could meet those despairing eyes.

"I can never promise that, Obi-Wan," he said firmly.

Obi-Wan looked shocked then hurt and began to turn his face away but Qui-Gon caught his chin and held his gaze firm. "Eventually I will die, Padawan, whether by the darkness in your vision or by some other unforeseen destiny, it will happen someday. It is the way of things. The way of the Force. We each of us have a path to follow and a purpose to fulfil in our lives. Our paths will part someday and when that day comes you have to let me go. It is the hardest lesson I will ever have to teach, but you must. No matter how rocky your way becomes."

Obi-Wan dropped his eyes, struggling to accept his Master's words. He was shaking on the inside and felt like he would break at any second. All he wanted to do was cling to his Master's presence and let it hold him together as it had done so many times. He could never imagine losing that strength in his life. He could never survive what he had just seen without it. "I don't think I can, Master," he said

He expected disapproval but Qui-Gon only smiled gently and his tone softened. "You will understand in time. You are young yet, Obi-Wan, but you will understand some day. I have faith in that." He brushed his cheek. "The Force will be with you, Obi-Wan, always."

Still smiling gently Qui-Gon released his grip and replaced Obi-Wan against his side. "But for now, my young Padawan, all of that is in the future and the present is what is important. We cannot waste the time we have by worrying over what lies ahead."

"No, Master," came the solemn reply.

Qui-Gon sent his approval through their bond, wrapping it in his love and pride. "Sleep, my Obi-Wan," he said. "I have a feeling that our paths will run together for a good time yet."

His Padawan sighed shakily and rested his head against his Master's shoulder but despite Qui-Gon's assuring words it was a long while before his breathing deepened and fell into the steady rhythm of sleep.

Qui-Gon remained with him, eyes watching the distant stars with all their infinite possibilities. It was a beautiful night, peace prevailed and, true to his word, Qui-Gon was determined to enjoy every minute of it.

But despite what he had told his Padawan, deep down he found he couldn't quite shake the foreboding that had crept into his heart this night. What Obi-Wan had foretold was somehow more than just an ordinary, fickle phantom cast upon the winding path that they followed. There was a grain of truth there that even Qui-Gon couldn't deny.

Sighing, he looked down into his Padawan's sleeping face.

The road ahead was barred by darkness. Obi-Wan would have to find his strength.

Silently Qui-Gon brushed the braid back and murmured. "The Force will be with you, Obi-Wan. Always. If nothing else remember that. Then nothing will overcome you."

Impossibly Obi-Wan stirred and in the deepest recesses of his sleeping mind came the reply:

/Yes, Master./

Qui-Gon smiled wanly as he rested his chin in the red-gold hair. Watchful eyes stared at the stars. Yes he had faith.

When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
You'll see in time
I know

I know.