It was quite scary to see all members of the Council stare at her. And this time, she was alone, without her Master by her side. Soon, she would no longer be her Master. She looked eyes with Mace Windu, the one that would perform the ritual.
"Good evening, Master Windu", she said, bowing in his direction. "Good evening, Council. I am honoured to have been chosen for this ceremony."
"I know", Mace said. "During the last days, you've proven yourself worthy."
She bowed towards him as he rose and walked towards her.
"On your knees, Farah Iraham", he commanded. She did as he said. He was standing in front of her, the back of his cloak making it impossible for her to see the others.
"This is a day we'll all remember", Mace said, looking at the others. "This is the day when one Padawan will turn into a Jedi Knight. Today…"
He held up an old, shimmering knife. She looked at it with wonder.
"Is a day we'll all remember", Mace continued and turned towards her. His free hand grabbed a part of her hair.
"Are you ready to leave the childhood", he said in a low voice.
"Yes."
He lifted the knife once again and cut of the hair he held in his other hand. If she'd been a boy, he would've cut off her braid, but as a girl she hadn't got such a braid. When he stepped back, she slowly rose.
"Thank you", she said, bowing to each of the members. "You will not regret this."
"Hope we won't, I do", Yoda said. She bowed one last time and then left the chamber.
Anakin came rushing out from the room when he felt her presence.
"How did it go?" he asked. She smiled and threw her arms around him.
"I'm a Knight", she whispered. He laughed and spun around with her. None of them noticed when she came, but suddenly Sandra stood in the door. She gave them a faint smile.
"I hope I'm not interrupting", she said. Anakin smiled at her.
"No, of course not", he said. "Was it something you wanted, Master?"
"Actually, I have two news…" she said after a low sigh. Farah felt a lump in her throat.
"Master, it doesn't sound like they are good news…"
"No, they aren't", Sandra answered. "Actually, I do not know which one of them that you will find as the worst one."
"Then begin with the one that you think is the worst one", Farah said and gave Anakin a worried look. Sandra nodded.
"I understood that you wouldn't accept my plan of separation", she began, "so I decided to let you wait. After a while, I reckoned you would understand it all and make your own choice."
She looked at Farah.
"But as a Jedi Knight, you're often not allowed to make your own choices."
Farah grabbed her old Master's arm.
"What is it?"
"The Council asked me to tell you your first mission", Sandra answered. "There's a human colony outside the Republic that has asked for help. The Senate wanted to send a Jedi, and the Council chose you."
"Well, that's not too bad, is it?" Farah asked. "I mean, I am going back her after that, right?"
"It's not that simple", Sandra said, running her fingers through her hair. "Honestly, I do not understand the Council this time. To help a colony, outside the Republic, Farah… it will mean that you'll be almost isolated for years."
"Isolated?" Farah gasped. "For years? But… my friends… Anakin… you… my home?"
"As I said, I do not understand them", Sandra said, lowering her gaze to the floor.
"Master, they must've found out", Farah said. "They're trying to split us up. Oh, please, don't let them…"
"No", Sandra interrupted. "Mace was completely honest with me. He told me that the colony needed someone that could use healing and obviously you're the only one available. All others seem to be busy."
Anakin looked at Sandra in horror.
"But… does she have to go alone?" he asked.
"No", Sandra answered. "She has to choose a Padawan among the younglings before tomorrow night… I'm sorry, Ani."
Farah walked over to one of the windows.
"When do I leave?" she asked.
"In the morning in two days", Sandra answered. Farah nodded.
"I need to be alone for a while", she said and walked out of the room. Sandra looked at Anakin, shook her head and then walked away.