Archive: Master & Apprentice, The Nesting Place, QJEB,
SWA-L
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Disclaimer: Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon belong to the Force that is
George Lucas - I'm just borrowing them to play for a bit.
Chocolate Obi-Wans and Qui-Gons covered in whipped cream to
Chris & Heather - my goddesses of beta.
This is dedicated to Holly - a great writer and an even greater
friend! (don't cry this time ;p)
Qui-Gon Jinn, Master of the ancient brotherhood of the Knights
of the Light Order looked down on the land that was his to
protect. Somewhere underneath the cloud cover amidst the
massive trees was a village waiting for him - and in that
village were a handful of children nervously waiting to be torn
away from all they had known in order to be trained by a man
they almost revered as a god. He knew his duty was to train
those chosen by the Light, but after that disaster with
Xanatos... Force above - even saying that name after all this
time was like a knife through his heart.
No - he could not do this again. Qui-Gon would don his robes of
Heaven, go down to the village and assure them of his continued
protection. But he would choose no other youth. He would recall
Ariadne from where she was and make her his successor. She
could train the next generation of the Chosen, for Qui-Gon
could no longer trust himself enough to make such a choice. The
Light had led him to make the wrong choice last time and he
could not afford to let another of the Star Children to be
corrupted. No - he would continue to serve and protect the
heirs of the ancestors but he was no longer worthy to teach
them of their destiny. He was too fallible.
Leaving the solitary splendor of his meditations room Qui-Gon
entered his chambers and began to prepare for the journey to
Correllias. He bathed quickly then stood on the open air
balcony to let the whipping winds dry his body and long
silver-brown hair while he prepared his body with his katas and
his mind with the meditations of the elements. Returning inside
he quickly tamed the wild mane his hair had become, tying it
back in its usual style with a cord of blue leather, to match
his clothing for the day.
One of his faithful servants had already laid out his robes of
heaven. The inner tunic and leggings were the color of blue
steel, while the outer tunic was a pale gray, both soft to the
touch, made of the finest septsilk. Finally he donned the outer
robe, it's color the deepest blue of the heavens. He loathed
these ceremonial robes, they were too flamboyant by far.
Qui-Gon preferred the muted colors of sand and stone which he
normally wore. But he was the Lord of Heaven and must look the
part. Donning at last his black long boots and matching sword
belt, Qui-Gon made sure his lightsword was attached firmly to
the belt. He wasn't going to take any chances - Xanatos was
still out there somewhere.
Obi-Wan looked nervously about the village, something didn't
feel right. His father, mother and older brother stood nearby
in a place of honor as was their right as the chieftain and his
family. Other parents hovered in the background. Some of the
girls cried silently, afraid of their fate, some waited
placidly. Of the boys some had their chests puffed out as if to
prove their worth, while others looked as if they were
desperately wishing to be elsewhere. Obi-Wan just... was.
The sound of an approaching equina alerted the village to the
arrival of the Lord of Heaven. As one the villagers and the
chosen bowed in obeisance to their Master, but for some reason
Obi-Wan did not, could not. He needed to see this man.
He was tall and imposing and almost blocked the sun as he rode
in on a pure white steed. Obi-Wan's first impression was of
great power contained, and great compassion. His second was
more basic. This man was the most splendid he'd ever seen,
handsome beyond belief.
But so sad, Obi-Wan thought. His mother had once told him that
the eyes were the mirrors of the soul. If this were true then
the Lord of Heaven's soul must surely be breaking, so sorrowful
were his deep blue eyes. Obi-Wan wanted nothing more that to
hold this man, this Lord of Heaven, and take the hurt away.
Qui-Gon Jinn had come to Correllias fully intending to deny his
choice of a youth while pledging his continued protection, but
once again the Fates stepped in. As he looked upon the
villagers, a beautiful young man caught his attention, a man
with red-gold hair who gazing up at him through storm-tossed
eyes.
Vaulting off the equina, Qui-Gon moved unerringly towards the
youth, never taking his eyes off the young man. A slight sound
made him look briefly towards the village Chieftain, and in the
elder man's eyes was a pained resignation, as if he already
knew what was to happen. Turning once more to the youth,
Qui-Gon continued to walk until he stood directly before him.
Tilting his head back, Obi-Wan met the stare of the Lord of
Heaven, and felt his soul expand while thoughts not his own
raced through his mind.
How lovely this child is, and how innocent. Power sings
through him. But I cannot. I dare not
Qui-Gon gasped in sudden realization as he felt his soul touch
and merge with the one belonging to the young man before him.
Thoughts sweet and pure poured into his embittered mind, wiping
away the dark taint.
If I were blessed enough to serve this man, I would do
whatever I could to take his pain away. So noble a man should
not have the weight of the universe to bear alone. Would that I
could ease his burdens, if only for a day...
You already have my precious one, Qui-Gon thought as his
soul was cleansed in the purity and innocence of this
remarkable young man. You already have.
Lord? A movement from out the corner of his eye caught
Obi-Wan's attention and before anyone could stop him, he pushed
the Lord of Heaven aside, taking what would have been a killing
blow into his own body and falling silently to the ground.
"Noooooo!" The Lord's scream rent the stunned silence of the
village.
In a blur of motion Qui-Gon had his lightsword in hand, his
blade cleaving through the air to defend. Stunned by the power
of Qui-Gon's attack, Xanatos retreated. Qui-Gon kept coming at
him, beating him back, and putting him on the defensive. Never
before had Xanatos been so hard pressed to defend himself from
his former Lord. Never before had he realized the full extent
of elder man's skill and power. The flashfire pain in his side
let Xanatos know that Qui-Gon's sword had found it's mark.
"When next we meet child of the dark, it will be as enemies.
Nothing more!" Qui-Gon promised in an ominous voice. "You have
no place within me anymore. You have ceased to exist!"
Turning his back on the creature he had once considered most
important in his life, Lord of Heaven Qui-Gon Jinn gently
lifted his Chosen and equally gently mounted his equina. He
never saw Xanatos' eyes narrow and focus on his cousin, never
saw the rage and hatred that burned in those once beloved eyes
now encompass the two of them.
Racing as quickly as he dared without causing his soul mate
more damage, Qui-Gon rushed to get back to his home among the
clouds. He rode through the falling dusk as if all the demons
of the Sith chased him. He was not about to loose the other
half of his soul so soon after finding him.
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