A/N: There it is, the last chapter of this first instalment. :) Hope you enjoyed it although it was a slow start. The epilogue will be up shortly, and I'm already three chapters in the second book. ;)
8. New beginnings
Irri slept soundly that night, thanks to the vial Master Yoda procured her later that night.
But the first thought she had when she awoke on the following morning was that she would never again see Master Jinn. Never again she would talk with him about the Living Force, about the visions she had.
Never again she would joke with him.
Tears didn't fall though this time. The pain was still there, but as Master Yoda had said...it had turned into grief.
!-!-!-!-!
"Good, Irri, very good!"
The padawan disconnected her light-sabre and wiped the sweat off her brow. "Really, Master?"
Aayla nodded gravely. Her face still bore the marks of her own grief. "Yes, really. If I am not mistaken, it will only take you a semester to master Schii-cho. We will be able to start with Ataru later this year."
Irri grinned, then thought quickly. "Then I will have to work out. Practise the martial arts."
Aayla smiled a little. "Yes. I am surprised you even put so much heart into this, young one."
Her padawan smirked at that. "You have no idea how long I've waited to grip the hilt of one of these light-sabres."
Master Secura rolled her eyes at that. "I just hope one day you stop being this impatient with everything."
Irri hid her next smirk. "I'm sure it won't be long now." While internally, she wished all the contrary.
!-!-!-!-!
"Padawan Nabié?"
Irri was heading towards her quarters, two reading-tablets in her arms, when she heard her name called.
She whirled around, her blonde plait bouncing on her shoulder.
It was one of the youngest Knights. "Yes, Knight Edun?"
"You are awaited for in the main hangar."
She nodded. "I will go at once. Thank you."
The young man whirled on his heels and hurried away, while Irri's heart was beating frantically against her ribs.
What was she called for at this hour?
It was almost dusk!
!-!-!-!-!
The hangar seemed empty when she entered it.
Seemed, she had said.
"Irri!"
The young girl's heart panged in her chest as she recognized the voice. "Ani?"
The boy escaped the shadows he had been hiding in.
He was changed.
He now wore the traditional beige tunic of the Apprentice, and his hair had been cut, a small plait bouncing just under his right ear.
"You have been accepted?"
He hurried to her and smiled widely. "And Obi-Wan is my master!"
To that Irri's attention focussed on the man now pacing calmly towards the two children.
Obi-Wan too was changed.
He had been tested in one of the hardest trials a padawan could ever experience: the Trial of the Flesh. His master had died. Probably under his own gaze.
Irri left Anakin's side and ran to Obi-Wan, wrapping her arms around his torso.
The now Knight Kenobi frowned for a short moment before hugging her back.
Irri's mind reached for his, although it was the first time she ever did that with someone else than Aayla.
"I am so sorry, Obie."
He sighed for real, but answered in mind. "I'll be fine, Irri, do not worry." Then he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, switching back to normal speech. "I wanted to see you upon our arrival."
She untangled herself from him, her brow furrowed. "What for?"
A small smile played at his lips. "Anakin needs teaching."
Irri's heart jumped in her chest. "And?"
To that, Obi-Wan seriously smiled. "Will you teach him how to meditate?"
A huge and genuine smile appeared on her lips, and she giggled as she hugged him again. "With pleasure!"
!-!-!-!-!
The following evening, two padawans stood on top of one of the Temple's towers, gazing into the sunset.
Anakin was playing with a knife in his hands, carving something, while Irri was just marvelling in the warmth of the sun on her skin.
After a long moment, a hand touched her, placing something in between her fingers.
Irri's eyes opened, and looked down only to widen at the sight she was given.
A brown leather bound, in the middle of which was carved a beautiful piece of wood. On it were carved intricate runes.
Her eyes met Ani's. "What does it mean?"
He smiled shyly. "Friend, in the language of the slaves."
Irri reached in and took his hand. "Thank you, Ani. Does that mean we are friends for life?"
He nodded. "For life. We can't betray one another."
"Or hurt one another."
"We'll always be honest with each other."
"And help each other when we can."
Anakin smiled widely. "Deal."
Irri then smirked and reached for the knife he still clutched in his right hand. "Then let's make it official." She didn't even wince when the blade entered the soft flesh of her palm.
Anakin reached for the handle and inflicted himself the same wound.
Then both closed their palms on one another's.
Whispering words that would change their lives and many other's.
"Deal."