Archive: M&A, my site (www.ravenswing.com/YoGurt), anyone
else please ask and you'll be given!
Spoilers: for TPM - That scene happened!
Warning: none
Category: h/c, angst
Rating: PG
Summary: Mace Windu and Obi-Wan share their grief for their
fallen friend and lover in a special way.
Pairing: Mace/Obi-Wan (Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon, sorta)
Disclaimer: As if! Doesn't GL own EVERYTHING?
Notes: In a way a companion to "And I'll be waiting" but
definitely a stand alone piece. Caring-Good!Mace is hard to
find, so I though I help my favourite Jedi out a bit. [g] I am
grateful to my Betas Jacynthe, Emila-Wan, Caffre and Res. Any
remaining mistakes are entirely my fault. Various of you gave
input via chat on different aspects of this story and my thanks
goes out to all of you.
Feedback: Please, definitely! On list or off to
quigon_jinn21@hotmail.com
One (Three Dog Night)
one is the loneliest number
that you'll ever do
two can be as bad as one
it's the loneliest number since the number one
no is the saddest experience you'll ever know
yes it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
cause one is the loneliest that you'll ever know
one is the loneliest number even worse than two
it's just no good anymore
since you went away
now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday
one is the loneliest number
one is the loneliest number
one is the loneliest number
since you went away
since you went away
one is the loneliest number
one is the loneliest number
one is the loneliest number
since you went away
it's just no good anymore
since you went away
now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday
one is the loneliest number
one is the loneliest number
one is the loneliest number since you went away...
It was the day before the Rite of Release. As was a Padawan's
duty, it had fallen to Obi-Wan Kenobi to prepare his Master's
body for the Burning -- the ritualistic farewell for those Jedi
whose bodies didn't immediately join the Force and simply
vanish. Only once before had the young man witnessed the
elaborate steps in anointing a body with precious oils and
scented herbs, dressing it in the owner's most precious garb so
he or she looked presentable to those who had gone before them.
When the Jedi Order was still young, beliefs that the dead
somehow lived on in the hereafter and would be helped in their
transition to that new life by providing them with food and
clothes for their journey to the Force were common. And
although a better understanding of the nature of the Force with
time had led to the abandonment of these practices, remnants
still persisted in some of the rituals the Jedi practiced even
to the present. As all living beings did, Jedi became one with
the Force on their death. However, the individual was still
viewed as a distinct presence that could be felt by those
attuned to the various aspects of the Force. Thus appearance of
the dead was important, even now.
There had hardly been time to do the preparations for Qui-Gon,
so sudden, indeed unexpected, his death had been. It had been
Mace Windu, lover to Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, who had hastily
gathered a set of fresh tunics to dress his fallen companion
in, as he came to Naboo with the other Council members to
preside over the Burning of his friend. Just some of Qui-Gon's
simple attire and a stone pendant Mace had given him for their
fifth anniversary -- a token of his love for him. Nothing
fancy.
"You were never a fancy man, Master!" Obi-Wan said into the
silence that filled the small room as he straightened Qui-Gon's
dark leggings for the last time. There had been no time to
clean the hair of the sweat of the fight with the Sith, the
grime of the reactor chamber, or the tears Obi-Wan had shed
onto it, more than once since that fateful day. He had combed
his Master's hair and put it together in a loose braid behind
his back, making sure the pendant Mace Windu had brought with
him was placed over the fallen Master's heart. Having finished,
Obi-Wan looked at his work. The hole in Qui-Gon's chest was
covered by a clean tunic now, so he might be presented to his
fellow Jedi without any blemish for a last time.
He was alone in the small room adjoining the balcony on which
the wood for the funeral pyre was already assembled. Wood from
the Temple, as was customary. It had been brought to Naboo for
this special purpose, in honour of one of the Jedi.
Obi-Wan took the hand of his teacher and gently let his
fingers run over the weathered skin, as if too abrupt a touch
would wake him.
"So cold ... I never thought you could feel that way. ... This
shouldn't be..." he added, those last words whispered to
himself, as if he were afraid his dead Master would be able to
feel his almost overwhelming sorrow. Obi-Wan wouldn't
disappoint the man he so loved again. Not again as he had in
the reactor chamber when he had so miserably failed his Master,
allowing the Sith to separate him from Qui-Gon. For that
failure Obi-Wan had watched the man die -- the least he could
do now was to bear his sorrow like the Jedi Qui-Gon had
made him. Not like the little boy he had been before Master
Jinn accepted him as his Padawan.
Immediately he felt it was good he had been quiet. Someone had
entered the room, almost without Obi-Wan noticing. Another
moment and he relaxed a bit, recognising the Force signature.
As much as he would have preferred to be alone with his Master
during these last few hours, he surely couldn't object to the
new presence he felt.
"Good afternoon, Padawan." The voice was quiet and reverent,
warm and in a strange way, very soothing to the young man.
"Master Windu!" Obi-Wan said as he turned to acknowledge his
elder's presence, bowing respectfully. "I am almost done here,
so I will leave you to--"
Immediately Mace's hand went up in a gesture of protest.
"I am sorry, Obi-Wan. It is I who should ask forgiveness for
having interrupted your duties so rudely. But, if you will
permit me to stay I, too, would like to ... say my farewell."
These last words were spoken hesitantly and Obi-Wan wondered
why. //The power of circumstance!// Obi-Wan thought. How
often had his Master talked about the importance of
circumstance to a person's position within a social group, and
suddenly Obi-Wan was keenly aware what Qui-Gon had meant by
that: under normal circumstances Master Windu was his superior,
no matter where Obi-Wan was. But in here, right
now, Mace Windu was nothing but a fellow Jedi, a man
shaken by his grief for his friend ... no, the even more
painful grief for a lost lover! How many times had Obi-Wan
witnessed Qui-Gon petition to Master Windu -- now the
structures of power were reversed and Mace Windu was asking
permission of him, Obi-Wan! And yet -- the man had been
the closest person to Qui-Gon, so why did he need to ask a
Padawan's consent? Obi-Wan felt a wave of barely suppressed
anxiety take hold of the other man -- the kind that came with
being left alone by the person one loved. The same feeling he
himself had battled with these last few days. How ironic,
Obi-Wan noted with a tiny bit of guilty satisfaction as he
nodded his assent before he turned to his Master's body again.
Looking down at Qui-Gon, he again took one of his hands, as if
the touch would be able to assure him his Master was somehow
still there with him.
"I haven't forgotten, Master Windu. My Master, Qui-Gon ... he
must have meant very much to you. If you wish ..." he trailed
off once more and looked at the man next to him. "I shall leave
if you want to be alone with him."
Obi-Wan felt Mace tense a bit. By the astonished look on the
other's face he could tell Master Windu hadn't counted on the
fact that the Padawan would know about his relationship with
Qui-Gon. His words came quietly, yet left no doubt about their
sincerity.
"No, please stay. Your company would be ..." Mace hesitated as
he tried to find the right words, "... much appreciated,
Obi-Wan." He took the few steps necessary to close the distance
to the elevated platform bearing Qui-Gon's body and let his
eyes wander over the body first, smiling when he saw the
pendant he had brought with him rested in its customary place.
A few moments passed before Mace looked up to meet the
Padawan's eyes again.
"How long did you know?" he asked quietly so as not to disturb
the strange, tenuous calm that had spread between the two men.
"I was not aware Qui-Gon had told you about ... us."
Obi-Wan's face lightened a little as he kept caressing the
hand he held.
"It wasn't too much of a secret, Master Windu. Although he
never talked about it with me, I felt something, or
someone, made him very happy and content these last few years.
When he came back from a meeting with you, he was ...
different, as if glowing from the inside. And ... after
a while, it didn't take a genius to come to the correct
conclusion."
No, his Master had not hidden his love for Mace well. The
bantering that went on between the men, even sometimes in the
Council chamber; the stolen little pecks onto a cheek or the
back of a hand when Mace and Qui-Gon felt they were unobserved;
the pendant from his lover Qui- Gon often carried with him and
loathed to part with. It was all there for Obi-Wan, if not the
whole Temple, to see, and after a first irrational bout of
jealousy Obi-Wan had become content to relish in his Master's
happiness. And that happiness even seemed to have welled over
lately, with Qui-Gon more often stealing a glance of sheer
merriment at Obi-Wan, as if to say Come, let me share with
you this happiness I feel.
A long moment passed before Obi-Wan continued.
Very quietly he said, "He must have loved you a great deal,
Master Windu." The young man felt Mace's eyes on his face for a
long time, who then again looked down at his dead lover, and
Obi-Wan could feel how the older man struggled to retain his
serenity, looking, reaching for somewhere in the back of his
mind. Obi-Wan was only too familiar with this particular escape
-- finding refuge in that little tranquil shelter of one's mind
where no storm of life could do any harm, where one was safe.
It had been his safe heaven since Qui-Gon's death as well.
Mace took a deep breath before he answered, and Obi-Wan knew
how hard it was for the man to concede this particular
knowledge to Obi-Wan.
"Yes. He and I, we shared a long time together. He was the
only one who ..." Mace's voice hitched a bit before he was able
to continue. "He was the only one I would allow ... close. It
was not easy, but we worked it out, until..." The Padawan heard
Mace let out a deep sigh but was more concerned with his own
inner struggle for calm, an uphill battle for him right now.
Obi-Wan still held his dead Master's hand, his pain, his anger
almost palatable for the other Jedi. Mace waited until Obi-Wan
drew his eyes away from Qui-Gon's still face, an apologetic
look in his young eyes.
"Sometimes, in my dreams, I cursed you, for that closeness
with my Master you had ... that I so wished to be mine. I'm
sorry, Master Windu, it's just..." Obi-Wan tried to look away
from Mace, tried to hide the anguish he felt and which made him
clench his jaw as his fingers tightened around Qui-Gon's hand.
"It shouldn't have happened ... I was too slow, I should have
helped him battle that Sith, if only..." Obi-Wan's eyes closed,
his lips pressed together tightly -- he was Jedi, he shouldn't
let this desperation have reign over him. But it had, and
nothing, he feared, would be able to chase away that demon of
self-pity and regret for words never spoken aloud. With both
hands he held on to Qui-Gon now as he voicelessly said the one
word seemingly encompassing all his misery: Why?
It was a question Mace Windu had asked himself more than once
these past few days after he had to send Qui-Gon and his
Padawan to help the Naboo. He felt anything he might say now
would be inadequate, so he decided to hold his peace a little
longer. Taking a few steps closer to Obi-Wan the older man put
his hand onto one of the Padawan's arms in a gesture of
comfort, but didn't say anything for the moment.
After they had stood in silence for a short while, Mace broke
the quiet, a heavy sigh forcing its way out of him.
"I don't know why the Force saw this as the right time to call
him, Padawan. And ... if I could bring him back ... " No, not
satisfactory, that answer, but all Mace could think of saying
right now -- anything to ease the misery on the young man's
face as well as within his own heart He let go of Obi-Wan's arm
as he began to once again study the pale face of his lover,
lovingly allowing his hand to brush over Qui-Gon's hair now,
his fingers memorizing its softness for a last time.
"He was the only one ... no other. Never another!" Mace
stated, more to Qui-Gon than to the man standing next to him, a
little nervous chuckle accompanying his words spoken barely
beyond a whisper. He didn't believe many people understood his
commitment to a single person, unfaltering as his commitment to
the Jedi Code -- a point of much debate between him and
Qui-Gon. But unlike so many others, Qui- Gon had
understood! It felt odd to Mace Windu when, during a
reception or other social event, men and women, Jedi and
non-Jedi alike, bragged about the number of their conquests, as
if the more partners they'd had, the more accomplished and
accepted they would become. Maybe the first, but the latter?
Not in Mace's eyes. It made him feel slightly out of place, an
odd man out -- so strange the concept of commitment had become
in a Republic that looked for new and better thrills and
novelties all the time. Change, for its own sake, was
cherished; steadfastness loathed.
He and Qui-Gon had been brought up together in the Temple,
played in the Crche together, were chosen as Padawans at about
the same age, went on missions together with their Masters. It
wasn't as if either of them had been adverse to other partners
when the opportunity arose within or outside of the Temple's
confines, but for Mace, Qui-Gon Jinn had been the only one he
had truly felt connected and drawn to.
Their relationship had been loving but not without its
hitches. It never had been an easy undertaking with a man who
so seemed to love to go against convention. It never had been
easy for Mace, as the senior member of the Jedi Council, to
reconcile his duty to his colleagues and the Order with
pleasure. But somehow they had managed, had loved what they
had, had built and maintained the trust between them, the love
they shared until ... until Qui-Gon had told him about his
blossoming feelings for Obi-Wan.
Mace's train of thought was interrupted as he heard Obi-Wan
cry, trying to control his tears, but failing miserably.
"I never said anything to him, about my feelings for him, he
never asked. Never the right time I guess," Obi-Wan added with
regret tingeing his voice. "I knew he had you, was happy, had
something I only could dream of. I would have never interfered,
Master. But if he had known ..." Obi-Wan wiped a sleeve
over too-wet eyes, a motion Mace had gone through himself once
or twice these last few days. It hurt -- how much more must it
hurt for him, Mace wondered and cautiously put a hand onto the
Padawan's shoulder.
"He loved you, very much so, Obi-Wan. You must believe that. I
... know!" Mace's eyes rested on Obi-Wan, and he felt the
Padawan's questioning, incredulity and suddenly painful
understanding of what his words had merely implied.
"He never said a word to me, but he would talk to
you? About me?" Obi-Wan looked up to Mace and swallowed
before continuing. "When he was together with you."
Matter-of-fact statement, and Mace nodded.
"Not often, no, don't think so. Yet he ... We talked, and I
would have to have been a fool not to see the shine in his eyes
when he talked about you. As private a man as your Master was,
Obi-Wan, he delighted in telling me about your latest
accomplishments, how much he looked forward to seeing you being
knighted." Mace rubbed his hand over the bridge of his nose as
he unsuccessfully tried to hide a sneak attack of merriment
creeping up on him. "So don't think all of our scarce time
together was taken up with romping through one bed or another!"
A small smile danced around the Master's face, and it proved
contagious. Obi-Wan had to put his hand up over his mouth,
feigning a cough to try and cover up the little amused snort he
could not hold back. He had turned away from Mace as his face
flushed bright red -- what would the Master think of his
outbreak of hilarity at such a solemn moment? However, he very
quickly found his composure again and apologetically smiled
back at Mace.
"I am sorry if you thought me that frivolous, Master Windu. I
would never assume such from you or ... my Master." Silence
between them again until Mace continued, once more taken
captive by his memories.
"Yes, those talks with Qui-Gon, I'll miss them. He could put
forth an argument for the usefulness of the Sith if it suited
him, and always he tried to get that 'stuffiness' out of me, as
he put it. I remember when we were on Rala. It had snowed and
we had taken to camping outside under the stars. In the
morning, he had barricaded the tent's entrance with two solid
feet of that white stuff, and was quite beside himself as he
watched me digging myself out of it.... I do miss him, Obi-Wan.
You should know, he talked a lot about you, in the end." Mace
hugged himself close against the chill which seemed to have
settled about the two of them. Slowly he continued, his sadness
now also mirrored in his voice.
"Obi-Wan, the last time he and I shared a night together, he
told me I would likely lose him ... to you! That he'd known for
a some time you and he belonged together. I was ... It wasn't
easy to hear that." This confession, coming from Qui-Gon's
lover, came from out of nowhere for Obi-Wan, and Mace could see
it startled the young man.
"But he ... ? Never did he give me any indication that what I
felt for him..."
"Could be returned? No, he wanted to wait. In fact..." Mace
buried his hands deeper into the folds of his robe and moved
away from the young Jedi to watch over the city of Theed from
one of the nearby windows, "I had asked him to ... wait. Until
you were a Knight and his equal, so it would have been easier."
//For me, more than anybody,// Mace added in his thoughts.
The thought of losing the only man he had loved in all his
life had been worse than anything ever put before him. But he
would have accepted Qui-Gon's choice, would have been thankful
for the time they had together, would have let the Force guide
and do its will on them as it always did. He wasn't selfish
enough to think he could hold a man like Qui-Gon if he had made
up his mind that his destiny was to build a life together with
Obi-Wan, and not with him. The Force was a cruel Master
sometimes, not fair. But didn't even he, Mace Windu, senior
member of the powerful Jedi Council, deserve fair from time to
time? It didn't matter any longer.
Silence enveloped the two men until Obi-Wan at last put
Qui-Gon's hand back onto his Master's chest and moved next to
Mace, joining him in his silent contemplation of the darkening
sky.
"It'll soon be nightfall," Mace started. "They will light the
fire and send him home at last ... You know, Obi-Wan, I had
lost Qui-Gon as mine before our last night. I ..." He stopped,
as if again to find the right words to convey his feelings.
"For the first time, I had to say no to him. No, Qui-Gon --
you will not train that child, and when I saw his eyes that
moment ... we left each other in anger. It is something I will
never forgive myself for." Mace wrapped his cloak around
himself and sat down onto a bench lining the small window.
He looked up at Obi-Wan who had kept his eyes on the setting
Naboo sun, not quite sure what to say in response. At last
Obi-Wan glanced back at the man sitting on the bench and Mace
patted the seat next to him, indicating Obi-Wan should sit down
as well. The young man hesitated but eventually accepted the
Councillor's offer, taking his seat on the bench.
How much they were alike, in this room -- two men trying to
cope with their grief for their friend. And even though Mace
had known life with Qui-Gon in a different way than Obi-Wan, in
their grief and their regrets for missed opportunities they
were not so dissimilar after all. A sudden thought crossed the
Jedi Master's mind.
"He is still inside me, you know, Obi-Wan ... In my
mind I can still feel him, how he held me that last
time, how he touched me. I know how Qui-Gon felt for you, and I
am ... I am offering my 'impressions' of him, to you, Obi-Wan.
I know it cannot, will not, be the same as if he himself would
touch you, but I can show you how much you meant to him ... he
gave this to me and I am sure he would have wished for you to
know. Please, Obi-Wan, let me show you Qui-Gon the way I knew
him!"
Redemption -- for his last 'No' to his lover, for all the
harsh words by him to the renegade Qui-Gon had been? Mace
wasn't sure why this sudden wish to share something so intimate
with someone he never was particularly close to had come over
him, but somehow he felt at peace with this. Qui-Gon would have
wanted this, and it was important for the Padawan to understand
before he could become a Knight.
"Please, Obi-Wan ... let me show you!" Slowly his hand reached
out to touch Obi-Wan's chin.
"Qui-Gon loved you ... oh so much." Mace's fingers gently
brushed over Obi-Wan's cheeks and he nodded for the younger
Jedi to follow suit.
"Master, what you want to give me does not belong to anyone
but you. I cannot do this. Qui-Gon would..."
As the young man tried to protest further, Mace put a finger
gently over Obi-Wan's lips and held the Padawan's eyes with
his. "Qui-Gon gave this to me, but he would have given the same
to you, with all his heart, I know that. I have accepted that.
I cannot change his death, or undo my past decisions about him,
but I know he would have wanted you to know this!" Obi-Wan
considered for a short moment and then took Mace's hands, his
thumbs gently brushing over the Councillor's palms.
"I know what you're trying to do; you mean well. I ... I will
permit it ... and am honoured, Master Windu. And maybe if I
show you what I wanted to give ... Qui-Gon, perhaps ..."
Answering Master Windu's invitation, Obi-Wan finally relaxed
and put aside his lingering anxieties to concentrate on the man
before him.
As both men sat on the little bench, Obi-Wan grudgingly
acknowledged the little irrational voice that began to chime
into his mind; perhaps Qui-Gon would feel this, see this, be
here -- somehow. Their eyes were closed, hands each holding the
other's, when they both entered into a state of trance, opening
their minds to the other's presence. As if in a dream Obi-Wan
felt himself drawn into a world that was not his own: he saw
fields of bluish flowers and the Mountains of Gardas -- the
planet Mace Windu was born on and spend the first year of his
life.
He ran with young Mace through the Temple halls and there he
was -- his Qui-Gon, a boy maybe 15 years of age; long legs and
arms but strong for his age ... laughter, brawling ... he felt
the cold of snow on his hands as he, or rather Mace, dug
himself out of that snow prison on Rala. And then he felt the
gentle brush of fingers over his hair, his cheek, a mouth
parting his and offering sweet pleasure for a moment of
surrender. Obi-Wan felt his sides being caressed with
gentleness and love and an almost electric current ran through
his whole body as he himself reached out and drew a face near
to him -- the face of his Master as he kissed him. Held him,
and Obi-Wan felt the warm embrace of strong arms around
himself, rocking him gently back and forth, his robe beginning
to soak up the moisture of tears he felt pooling onto it, a
head leaning heavily against his shoulder. Instinctively
Obi-Wan's arms circled around the warmth leaning so close to
him.
//Qui-Gon, Master ... I love you, I do miss you.//
//My Obi-Wan ... Mace, my Lenapei ... love you ... // It was
as if his Master had answered and yet how could this be?
//Qui-Gon ... I miss you, Lenapei, oh my Lenapei! Forgive me,
please, my forever Lenapei //
Somehow Mace's voice came through to Obi-Wan loud and clear --
whom was he talking about? And then Obi-Wan knew -- Lenapei was
a term of endearment in Haral, the language spoken on Mace's
home planet. "One who gives" its literal translation -- love,
shelter, uncompromising trust ... everything.
//Lenapei ... my forever Lenapei!// Now from both and Obi-Wan
felt the sorrow Qui-Gon had felt when he told Mace about his
impending break with him. But also his Master's happiness about
the promise of joy at the hands of his Padawan.
//Master, why ... never a word? So much I wanted to show you
...// And once again he felt a tingle as sweet as morning dew
on his skin, fingers mapping his body in elaborate ways,
knowing the intimate touch necessary to render a lover helpless
in their caresses. The taste of salt, of musk was on Obi-Wan's
tongue as he somehow laved his Master's fingers in his mouth,
nibbling and savouring them as Mace had done when Qui-Gon had
driven him on in their play ... giving himself over to the
sensations he experienced together with Mace now. His lips were
still moist from a tender kiss as he was being held in the arms
of the man next to him, whose tears had spilled onto Obi- Wan's
robe -- and suddenly Obi-Wan managed to let go of any
hesitation left in him. He surrendered to the memories which
now were his as well, sharing and letting himself reciprocate,
searching Mace's mouth to return in kind the love he now felt.
Just as Mace had experienced the love given to him by Qui-Gon.
It was almost night and the candles in the courtyard that
would serve as stage for the Burning were already lit when Mace
and Obi-Wan finally found their way back to the moment. It was
Obi-Wan who spoke first, still shaking a bit by what he had
just experienced.
"Master, I understand ... I know what you meant." For what had
seemed like an eternity they both had been in Qui-Gon's
presence again and, after a while longer, a comforting peace
and feeling of rightness began to envelop them both.
Leaning back and loosening the embrace, Mace reached up with
his hand and dried the tears out of his eyes, looking a little
bit shaken himself. "Obi-Wan , I'm sorry if I did anything
inappro--" This time it was Obi-Wan preventing any further
words from Mace with one of his fingers to his companion's
lips.
"No ... no, you haven't, you have not done anything to
feel ashamed for!" Obi-Wan repeated, squeezing the older man's
hand reassuringly. He searched Mace's dark eyes, tears still
giving them a brilliance he had only seen once before -- in
Qui-Gon. "And ... it's all right, I don't know how to thank
you! I am glad now my Master had a man like you to love and
care for. And I know I will be with him eventually, it will
only be a matter of time now." He smiled and was about to stand
up, but Mace held on to his hand.
"I will say my goodbye to Qui-Gon now -- I would welcome if
you would stay and ... share this last honour with me." As Mace
stood up he took Obi-Wan with him and both men approached the
platform where Qui- Gon's body lay. When Mace knelt down at the
head of the bier bearing his late lover, Obi-Wan followed suit.
Together they sang a song of guidance for the soul to find its
way to the Force. It was an old song, having been sung by many
generations of Jedi before them and which translated into
Republic Standard roughly like this:
Speak well of us --
As we speak well of Thee --
Traveller between our Worlds.
May Passage be granted to Thee
And with joy we watch Thou leavest
To a new Life with the Ones
Who went Before, and who come After.
Speak of us to Them
As we will speak of Thee with love.
We will not mourn
But gladly we shall await
The Day of our own Joining --
With friends and lovers,
Enemies and foes.
When all will be One and none Alone.
Go, find Peace and Love
With those who loved Thee and still do.
We have Spoken well of Thee,
That the Force may take Thee Home.
As they sang both men knew life without Qui-Gon would be
different, painful at first, but in the end what they had
shared with one another would remain and bind them together -
the love both of them had been shown by Qui-Gon Jinn. Yes -
sing and tell Qui-Gon's tale they would, each in his own way.
Obi-Wan had felt his Master's love and knew his affection had
been returned in kind. He would tell his own Padawan about his
Master: about Qui-Gon's lessons, his kindness and the
unquestioning love and compassion he had given to so many. Mace
Windu would tell the world about Qui-Gon as well, about the
love and devotion he had experienced at the hands of this man
he had loved so well. But more important - he had at last made
a final break with his lover and had let go, had given to the
next generation what had been, and always would be, his,
beyond death.
A wistful smile lightened Mace's face. They both would see
Qui-Gon again, on their day of Joining when he would greet them
with open arms and soul. All that and more!
Standing up slowly, Mace patted off the dust of the floor from
his knees and straightened his robe as he watched the young man
do the same. The Master smiled at him before he gently placed
his hand on Obi-Wan 's arm.
"So the Force wills it, you will have someone to sing this
song to you. When you will leave us and join the Force. May it
be one of your own Padawans who will do you this honour one
day."
"A Padawan? I'm not a Knight yet," Obi-Wan pointed out but was
only met by a knowing smile from Mace.
"You will be, by this time tomorrow. I do not think the
Council will object. And yes, Obi-Wan, I know. Qui's last
request. The Council isn't in favour of training Anakin, but
... I think it may be possible for me to convince them
otherwise. And I know how important Qui-Gon's last request is
for you ... for both of us. Anakin is a danger, to us all, but
even more so if he is NOT trained. As your Master liked to
point out, a person's purpose in this life is not always
apparent, so I think we should be patient."
The young man couldn't help but smile a bit -- it was
something Qui- Gon always had tried to impart on his young
Padawan on more than just one occasion. //So much like my
Master ...// Obi-Wan thought.
Aloud he said, "Yes, I suppose that will be the best. And
Master ... I thank you again for what you have given me
tonight. I know Qui-Gon would have approved!" Mace squeezed
Obi-Wan's shoulder as he turned towards the small door leading
outside, watching as the first of his colleagues from the
Council's delegation arrived for the Burning.
"It is time, Obi-Wan. Let us bring Qui-Gon for his last
journey."
"Yes, Master!"
And together they escorted Qui-Gon's on his final way home.
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