A World Made of Two

by Nightsister

Archive: M/A, all others please ask first

Category: AU, Non Q/O, Preslash

Rating: G

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the property of Lucasfilm or Scholastic Paperbacks. The author makes no money from this.

Summary: A prequel to The Returning Chamber - Prince Xanatos joins the Order of the Jedi

Feedback: sop2nd@yahoo.com

Notes: Fluff! The title is based on a line taken from Kurt Vonnegut's "Mother Night"

Thanks to: Burgess and majilique for the wonderful support and beta

Crion Kenobi strode purposefully into the royal nursery, where his wife and her weepy ladies-in-waiting were waiting. "Are you positive you want to do this?" he asked.

"For the final time, of course I do," Jocassa snapped, before turning to her son's primary nanny, who was rocking the child tenderly. "Are the Prince's belongings packed? I do not want the Jedi to arrive and find him not ready to travel. It would not do. What would they think?" She turned back to address her husband. "We have been through this," she said impatiently, starting to pace across the room. "Head Councilor Yoda told us himself that Xanatos is strong in the Force. Imagine what he could do if he learned to use it properly. Imagine what he could do for Telos, for us." The child in question started to wail.

"I know, I know. We would have the most powerful planet in the system, with a Jedi as its ruler." Crion looked down at his son, as if seeing him for the first time. "Can you not do something about the crying? What if Head Councilor Yoda finds him unacceptable? You know how these Jedi are-so damn serene. His crying could upset the entire deal for us."

"Do something about the crying!" Jocassa ordered, as the nanny tried vainly to soothe the wailing infant. "I thought I told you to try the-"

"Lord Kenobi, Lady Kenobi." A protocol droid entered the room. "The Jedi are here."

Qui-Gon Jinn tried hard not to gape as he took in the rich surroundings. He had been to Senate functions and had even met the Supreme Galactic Chancellor-life as Master Yoda's padawan gave him access to a world he never thought he would see-but the royal palace of Telos surpassed everything the boy had experienced before. The palace was simply enormous and was surrounded by a natural, wild beauty, quite different from the stifling cityscape of Coruscant.

"Why would anyone want to leave this place?" Qui-Gon whispered. The cavernous hallway echoed his every word.

"Compared to the power of the Force, what is wealth? Hmmm?" his small master replied lightly. Strangely, Yoda's voice didn't echo at all.

"And you think the Crown Prince is strong in the Force?" The young padawan sounded dubious.

Yoda answered him with a knowing smile. "Know this, I do," he said. "Lie, midichlorians do not. A Jedi, Prince Xanatos will be."

They followed the protocol droid through the halls until they stopped in front of an enormous door carved out of some dark, rich wood. "I shall announce you," the droid said, bowing. He pulled open the door and quietly slipped inside.

In the brief instant while the door was open, the two Jedi could hear the wailing of a child. Qui-Gon turned to his master, panic-stricken. "He's crying," he said. "Will he do that the entire trip home?"

Master Yoda chuckled. "Babies cry, padawan," he replied. "Your task, it is. Make him stop."

Qui-Gon groaned inwardly.

Qui-Gon followed his master at a respectful distance. He vainly tried to ignore the crying infant, and carefully mimicked the other Jedi as he bowed to the rulers of this marvelous planet.

"Head Councilor Yoda," the man said. From his carriage and dress, he was obviously Lord Kenobi. "My wife, Lady Kenobi. And this," he waved a hand toward his son, "is Xanatos, Crown Prince of Telos."

Yoda smiled at the royal family, not bothered at all by the wails of the Prince. "My padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn," he acknowledged. "Ready, the child is? Long trip back to Coruscant, we have."

Lady Kenobi made no effort to cover up her assessment of the tall, awkward boy and the stunted, alien Jedi Master. She obviously found both of them lacking, but gave the pair a thin, polite smile. "You will see to it that my son has everything he needs?" she asked regally. "Money is no object-"

Qui-Gon quickly covered his amusement, and gave only the smallest of glances to his master.

Master Yoda merely smiled again. "Fine knight, Prince Xanatos will make. Needs, he will never have." He turned to the nanny and held out his tiny arms. "The child, please?"

The nanny frowned but did as she was told. As the Jedi slowly walked out of the room, Qui-Gon heard a woman crying soflty. It wasn't Lady Kenobi.

Back at the spaceport, Yoda finally slowed enough to hand the baby to his padawan. Prince Xanatos had stopped the constant wailing when they left the palace but was still crying fitfully. "Please, my padawan," Yoda said. "Too short, my arms are. Better arms you have, for holding humans."

Little Xanatos immediately stopped crying when Qui-Gon took him from Master Yoda. As the infant trained his beautiful, midnight blue eyes on the older boy's face, the startled padawan broke into a bright smile. The Force-it was singing to him! Qui-Gon knew then that Xanatos, Crown Prince of Telos, would have a hold on his heart. Even his beloved master slipped from focus in the light of this extraordinary child's gaze.

They would have a wonderful life together.

"Hello, little padrin," he whispered. "Welcome to my world."

END