Spoilers: no but this takes place years before TPM.
Summary: Takes place years before Star Wars: TPM, during
Obi-Wan's training with the Master himself. Basically, its a
stand alone story.
Feedback: yes, yes, yes! =)
The candlelight flickered in the dark grotto, casting shadows
on the walls and on the shelves of ancient books.
Obi-Wan bent diligently to his task, scanning the old yellowed
parchment before him. The manuscript was decorated with
colorful swirls, suggesting the tendrils of leaves and petals.
Figures flowed along the patterned whorls, beings with colored
wings and haloed heads. Framed within these fantastic artwork
was cursive handwriting, reminder of a historical past.
Next to the manuscript was a clean parchment and Obi-Wan was
copying the verses onto it with an ink-quill. Master Qui-Gon
had asked him to.
It was part of a meditation, to clear the mind. To still the
heart while you examined the words, memorized them and put them
to paper.
The verses were really archaic but Obi-Wan could easily
translate them:
"The heart pulses with the inner light,
Filling the body
Cleansing the soul ..."
He found himself unable to copy the verse anymore. His back was
aching and his eyes felt heavy. His right hand throbbed with
prolonged use.
He had enough of T'Chng'xu's philosophy for a day. Enough of
winged beings and artwork. He personally found them too
fanciful, too ...confusing.
With an audible sigh, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and meditated,
feeling the Force around him like an aura of light. It seeped
into his bones, filtered through his veins. It was Light, it
was healing. It stilled the turmoil in his heart.
Qui-Gon.
Obi-Wan snapped out of the trance and sighed once more. The
feelings in him rushed like an uncontrollable river. The more
he tried to meditate, the more overwhelming the feelings were.
They told him about desire. Thirsting desire that rippled
across his body like the kiss of wildfire. He watched his
Master every day. Observed him. Loved him. He wanted to
hold his Master in his arms and lay his head on his chest.
He wondered if these emotions were wrong. He wondered if he
himself was wrong. It wasn't right, feeling ....desire
for your Master. Desire that whispered in your eyes and
encouraged to kiss the skin, caress the strong fingers ...
Obi-Wan shook his head. He took up the quill once more,
deciding to empty his mind through monotonous copying.
"The light heals your soul,
Stills your mind
Quieten your heart ..."
"Obi-Wan?"
The quill snapped.
Obi-Wan watched the ink drip all over the parchment, ruining
the beautiful patterned borders. He felt a cold hand of horror
run down his back.
"Master ..." He said obediently.
Qui-Gon stood in front of him, in his brown Jedi robes. He had
obviously returned from a Council meeting. Now he looked
contrite at the spoilt calligraphy, at the cobwebby lines of
ink marring the beauty of Obi-Wan's handwriting.
"I have to apologise, " Qui-Gon smiled gently. "To startle you
like this ..."
Obi-Wan felt himself turn red and controlled his emotions with
an iron clamp. The candle light softened his Master's features.
The long silverish beard seemed to glow and the luxuriant hair
glimmered.
He wanted to ...
Touch it.
"Obi-Wan?"
"Yes, Master?" He schooled his tone to that of the obedient
Padawan, bowing low.
"Do you have something to say?" The voice was gentle, soothing.
He heard it many times when he was bruised from the grueling
training and his Master was there to apply the ointment.
"Master ..." Obi-Wan stared resolutely at the floor, looking at
his booted feet. " I ...recently felt strong ...emotions
towards someone ..." He swallowed quickly. "And I wondered if
these ...emotions are bad ...for me and my training."
There was silence. Then a soft rustle as Qui-Gon moved forward
and reached out a hand. He placed it firmly on Obi-Wan's chin.
"Master, I want to meditate more ...To cleanse these
...thoughts from me..."
"Padawan, look at me."
Obi-Wan did, looking straight into his Master's eyes.
He realized with horror ...that his Master ...
He knew.
"Master, I ..."
"Don't feel ashamed, Padawan." Qui-Gon smiled again and placed
his hand on his apprentice's chest, feeling the heart thumping
like a trapped bird.
For a moment, Obi-Wan didn't dare to speak. Then he cleared his
throat and summoned the last dregs of his courage. "Master, you
read me like an open manuscript ...I am sorry ...I ..."
"Padawan."
Obi-Wan blinked uncomprehending as his Master leaned over and
kissed him tenderly on the lips. Then his confusion became joy.
"Master!"
"You see, " Qui-Gon chuckled. "I understand what the manuscript
is saying to me. Now, Padawan, you have some explaining to do
to the Master Librarian ..."
"Master ..." Obi-Wan turned red to the tips of his ears this
time.
Qui-Gon laughed softly.
Suddenly the philosophy of T'Chng'xu didn't seem boring
anymore.
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