Master Apprentice
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The Stable Hand
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Archive: M_A
Category: Alternative Reality, Romance, Angst, Qui/Obi
Rating: NC-17
Feedback: Would be very nice, more then nice, very much welcome in fact.
Disclaimer: George owns Starwars, George owns Qui-Gon, George owns Obi-wan, George owns the Jedi. He also owns the Sith. I just would like to borrow the two knights awhile.
Warning: This story contains reference the past child sex abuse. So if that squirks you at all don't read it and don't flame me about it. It is a sensitive issue and one I felt compelled to do. Other then that there is just the usual male/male relationship but if you didn't want that, then you wouldn't be here. :)
Summary: While traveling abroad with a few friends, a broken axle wheel forces a stop over at a small country town and Lord Jinn's life changes forever. Unashamedly romantic, but still with plenty of heart pulling angst.
Thanks to: The wonderful Master Jenn who is beta of this and the rest of the story. Any remaining mistakes are probably mine.
//Qui-Gon's thoughts//
**Obi-Wan's thoughts**
Nighttime quickly descended upon the small township of Siliam. It was a small little town, consisting of little more then maybe a hundred something people. Of course this didn't count the many farmers and their families that lived in the district. Even if they were counted it was still a small population.
Not far from the township, a line of rich carriages moved slowly down the rough country roads. The inhabitants of the carriages were a mix of noble blood and those who found a way to gain their fortune by one method or another. Impatient to arrive at their destination, few paid much, if any, attention to the beautiful scenery, uncaring of the wildflowers or the newborn animals just starting their lives.
The company of rich people housed within the carriages hoped to bypass this little township, aiming for the larger town still an hour's ride away. Fate, or destiny, or chance, or whatever you choose to call it, had other ideas though. As one of the carriages rode over a rough ditch in the road, it's hind left wheel snapped and broke off from the axle. The carriage immediately lurched and the carriage dragged through the dirt a moment before the coachman on duty quickly halted the horses to a stop. After much arguing, the company reluctantly agreed that it might be best to spend the night within such a small little town and let the local Forge Master fix their carriage.
Obi-Wan had almost finished sweeping the large wooden floor that made up the bar. The establishment also had a few rooms around to back to accommodate anyone who wanted to stay for any reason. He was about the close the door and turn off the lights when twenty richly dressed and obviously very well to do people came in, in rather an ill temper. Obi-wan raised an eyebrow, but more at the fresh tracts of dirt that swirled onto his newly swept floor than anything else. For a while he wrestled with the idea of leaving the floor till morning, but knowing his boss would make sure he would regret it if he did, he quickly discounted the idea.
A forty or so year old man with balding black hair and clear green eyes came forward with a polite bow. 'I'm Lord Chidlow, we would like rooms for tonight.'
Obi-wan looked over the group doubtfully, eyes pausing a moment on a tall gentleman. He was about the same age as Lord Chidlow but with a thick fall of chestnut hair, with only a touch of silver starting to creep in the short beard and moustache. Dark blue eyes were calm and steady.
Siliam was only a small town and did not receive very many guests or visitors. Because of this, this was the only place with accommodation and there were only a few rooms at that and they already had a few guests staying.
'Are some of you sharing?' he asked hopefully. 'I'm afraid we don't have many rooms available.'
A few in the company looked rather angry at this suggestion and for a moment it looked like they would all launch into a heated argument when the tall gentleman Obi-Wan had noticed stepped forward calmly. Dark, sapphire colored eyes silenced the muttering before the obviously quite distinguished man turned to him. Obi-Wan couldn't help but feel self-conscious about the stubble at his chin as he looked at the very well trimmed beard and moustache.
'I realize our sudden appearance at this hour must have caught you by surprise,' the cultured voice said smoothly. 'We were going to Alium, but we had an incident with one of our carriages and must stay here tonight. We would be most grateful for whatever rooms you can spare, and will pay well for your trouble.' The taller gentleman glanced at Lord Chidlow who gave a nod of agreement.
Obi-wan nodded, though still somewhat doubtful that he could find rooms for them all. Still, they were rich and they would pay well and one never turned business aside.'I shall do what I can sir.' Obi- Wan bowed to the tall, distinguished gentleman. 'Lord Chidlow.' Obi- Wan bowed to the podgy Lord. 'If you shall follow me.' The company grumbled but picked up their bags and followed. Obi-Wan managed to successfully pair twelve of the party into six of the spare double rooms. Not without some considerable help from the tall gentleman with the neatly trimmed facial hair though. The distinguished man was most helpful in soothing the less than happy people into the small rooms.
The next seven he found enough spare single rooms for. Which only left the tall gentleman himself. Obi-Wan looked up at the noble, calm face with dark sapphire eyes. The neat long nose was bent from an old break never properly healed, which only seemed to add to his features rather then detract from his appearance. The gentleman had been nothing but gentle and understanding. There was only one possibility Obi-Wan could use, could offer to this man, and that would be to offer up his own little bed. Something he had being forced to do before and his boss had being quite emphatic about guests coming before himself, and out of the company that had come in, this man was the one who deserved a bed most.
'Is there a problem?' the cultured voice asked in a low tone.
Obi-Wan mentally steeled himself for a long night. 'No problem sir, I do have one other bed, it is a little out of the way but it will service.'
'I'm sure it will be fine.' The gentleman smiled warmly, nodding in a friendly manner.
Obi-Wan bit back his exhaustion, having being up since before dawn and working extra hard as punishment for an earlier mistake. He smoothly made his way to his own tiny little room and with some trepidation opened the door. He glanced inside to check everything was packed up out of sight, the bed was neatly made and floor was spotless. He smiled slightly seeing that he had remembered to put all his little bits away this morning so nothing showed that the room was used. It was a rather poky little room with a thin mattress, fraying blankets, and a small pillow, but there was nothing else to give. He looked up a little uncertainly at the gentleman who stepped up behind him.
Unreadable dark blue eyes looked over the room neutrally. 'It will do for tonight,' the voice told him softly.
A large hand moved to rest on Obi-Wan's shoulder. A familiar old panic gripped him, overruling his usual good sense. He remembered being harmed, of being touched, of being forced into something his mind recalled all too well. All these memories flooded his mind and, with a hiccupping gasp, he jumped out from under the descending hand.
Clamping down on his unreasonable want to scream, heart thudding heavily in panic, Obi-Wan stumbled away backward from the man. His eyes were wide a moment before he snapped down his years of control onto his instinctive panic to any persons touch. Calmer now, Obi-Wan never-the-less wanted to get away from this man, get out of this room. Too many memories of being trapped in a room unable to escape from her touch made escaping his priority.
He began to edge to the door. The gentleman had a puzzled frown on his head but stepped aside to let him pass. Obi-wan breathed out a sigh of relief, finally starting to calm down fully now that he wasn't trapped in his own room. 'Is there anything else sir?' Obi- wan asked.
The tall man looked at him, head cocked curiously, but the elegant head shook a no. 'I've kept you up long enough, I'll let you seek your own bed now,' the tall man said.
Obi-Wan smiled, though it was a slightly ironic smile since this was his bed. 'I shall leave you to let you have some rest then.' Obi- wan bowed and politely stepped back and left, ignoring the tall gentleman who watched him a moment before closing the door.
With a weary sigh, Obi-wan made his way back to the bar to re-sweep the floor.
Qui-Gon Jinn woke up with a slight yawn. Despite the cramped, narrow bed, the thin mattress and lumpy pillow, he actually slept very well. Though he was at a bit of a loss to explain why, something about this room was calming and at some level agreed with him. Seeing the sun rising through the tiny, grimy window, Qui-Gon got quickly dressed and packed up all the things he'd taken out of his packs last night. Leaving his things there for a moment, he wondered if this room had at least a small hand held mirror so he could fix his long curly hair. Opening the top drawer he discovered small items, not any ordinary items, but personal effects. These things belonged to someone. He fingered a silver chain and opened a small, intricately carved box and saw a small old picture of a woman. He returned the lid then pulled free a small, obviously well loved hand held mirror. He looked at himself.
'Hey!' Qui-Gon felt the mirror wrenched free from his hand. 'That was my mother's!' a voice cried in seething anger.
Qui-Gon looked to see the young, very captivatingly beautiful man from last night. Clear, light blue eyes glared at him, clutching the mirror close. Qui-Gon blinked in surprise. 'So this is your room?' he asked, seeing the dark heavy circles under the man's eyes, the shadows that did little to detract from the man's natural beauty. He wondered if the man had gotten any sleep the night before. If this was his actual room, then where would he have slept? If the man had gotten any sleep at all. The man could be hardly more then twenty years of age and the slightly shaggy mane of fiery colored hair only seemed to make him twice as enchanting. Qui-Gon had always prided himself for being able to tell a straight man from one who shared his interest in other men.
From the moment he'd seen this man, he'd been enthralled by him. Yet Qui-Gon, for the first time in his entire life, couldn't put a sexuality to him. He wasn't straight, or gay, or anything as far as he could tell. The man seemed to respond to his charm slightly but his body language remained stubbornly and frustrating neutral. Yet once or twice he had a slight flash, a slight sign of interest. Not much to work with, that was for sure.
Then last night Qui-Gon had moved to touch him. Nothing more then a friendly touch and this man had fled, eyes begging that he not touch him. His body had become rigidly straight and all body signals shut down completely.
'It doesn't matter,' the man said determinedly, jerking Qui-Gon out of his thoughts and the man hurriedly put the mirror away, firmly closing the drawer.
Qui-Gon looked at the tiny, dark room with new eyes. How could a person sleep here night after night? 'I'm sorry,' Qui-Gon murmured, not sure is he was sorry for the man's low situation in life or for intruding on what privacy he had. He heard the man sigh slightly.
'What were you looking for?' The accented, street roughened voice drawled and for some reason Qui-Gon found it appealing.
Qui-Gon tugged at his long hair. 'I need to get this straightened out. It gets tussled easily.'
The man moved and pulled out a small mirror, an old, worn brush and a rough comb with missing teeth. 'It's the only things I have.' They were placed on top of the dresser.
Qui-Gon picked up the mirror. 'Thank you.' Then looked up at the man who was moving to leave. 'What happened to your mother?' he asked softly.
Something flashed in those brilliant blue eyes. 'That's none of your concern. Breakfast will be ready soon if you want it.' The man firmly closed the door behind him.
After a thought Qui-Gon opened the draw and fingered the small mirror. With a heavy sigh, he closed it again and started to tackle his hair.
With his hair looking passably neat, Qui-Gon moved down to the bar and sat down at what appeared to be a recently polished table. He fingered the smooth top. Well at least he knew some of what the young man had spent the night doing. He looked up as a short, stocky, oily man stumbled down into the room looking like someone who enjoyed quite a bit of drink, a bit to often.
'Obi-Wan!' the man bellowed.
Qui-Gon watched as the man from last night and this morning with the captivatingly clear, light blue eyes and shaggy, fiery colored hair rush out to the fat, short oily man of about fifty. 'Yes Master.' The young man, Obi-Wan bowed.
'Sit me down and fetch me an ale.'
'Of course Master.' Obi-Wan, if that was the name of this beautiful, enchanting young man, sat down the stocky man, who appeared to be the owner of this place, or at least Obi-Wan's employer. The light blue eyes turned to him. 'Breakfast will be ready soon. Will your companions be down soon, do you think?' A slight frown appeared on the smooth forehead.
'Not for awhile yet, feel free to take your time.' Qui-Gon smiled warmly.
Obi-wan just gave a nod of his head and disappeared.
'Came in last night did you?' the oily man asked him.
'Yes, twenty of us in total. Obi-Wan, that is his name yes?' Qui- Gon prompted.
'Aye, that's the young brat's name.' The oily man gave a nod.
Qui-Gon winced at the crude language. 'Obi-Wan found us all rooms to sleep in.'
'You'll be paying us of course.' The oily man barked out the question demandingly.
'Most certainly. Obi-Wan went through no small amount of trouble to make sure we all got a bed. He gave his own bed to me.'
'At least he did something right.' The oily man grunted. 'Didn't waste his time either by the looks of the tables.'
'Will he be rewarded?' Qui-Gon pressed, concerned for the young man's welfare, for working under a man like this would have to be very difficult.
'He did his job, like he's suppose to. He better keep it up if he expects to be paid.' The oily man snapped grumpily.
Obi-Wan suddenly appeared with a jug of ale and a glass. Setting the glass on the table, he poured out the ale and then put the jug on the table too. 'There you go Master.' Obi-Wan bowed, obviously waiting.
The man took a drink and nodded. 'And it's about damn time you bastard.'
Qui-Gon paled, feeling the closest thing to rage in his life hearing such repulsive language. He slowly began to rise up, knuckles white as they clenched the table. Obi-Wan turned to him and Qui-Gon paused as his hand beckoned him back down. 'He just called you a ..' Qui- Gon protested hotly, mouth unable to utter the word.
'Bastard?' A fine, elegant eyebrow rose up and the mouth twisted in an ironic smile. 'He's right, I am.' With that the young man quite calmly walked away.
Qui-Gon sputtered, but slowly sat down, mind goggling slightly at this new bit of information. But he found it didn't change the way he thought about Obi-Wan, and he thought Obi-Wan to be one of the most exquisite and enticing man he ever met and strangely endearing and charming in his own way. But he was still frustratingly neutral in his body language. It wasn't just an unawareness of his sexual appeal; it was just that he suppressed his body's natural response to people somehow. So Qui-Gon could get no hint of what sexuality Obi- wan might be and that was driving him frantic. He had to know, he wanted to find out if he had even the smallest chance with this achingly astounding beauty, and how well he would be received if he did so. Qui-Gon wasn't a fool, nor was he vain. He maybe near forty but he knew he was still an attractive man and that men, even ones as young as Obi-wan and even younger, still considered him to be desirable.
'Hey, Qui. What's up?'
Qui-Gon looked up to see his long time friend, Lord Cerwyn Chidlow as he sat down. Qui-Gon flicked his head to Obi-Wan. 'If I don't figure out if he is gay or not soon, I'm going to go mad with not knowing.' he told him.
Cerwyn knew him well enough and long enough to handle the blunt statement with good grace. 'I noticed you eyeing him last night.' Cerwyn smiled. 'Have you gotten his name yet?'
'Obi-Wan.' Qui-Gon told him.
'You can't tell if he's gay? Usually you pick them off from about a mile in three seconds.'
'Obi-wan is presenting somewhat of a challenge. He's closed to me. His body language is...stilted somehow. Contained or compressed. I just can't get a reading from him.'
'You've never had that before. You've had people change their preferred sexuality sure, but not read it? I don't think I've known you stumped.'
'Neither have I. There is usually something there, but with him, not a thing.'
'Hmmm, most puzzling and extremely curious.' Cerwyn looked up as Obi- Wan bustled over with two plates.
'Breakfast is ready. Lord Chidlow.' Obi-Wan bowed as he lowered a plate before Cerwyn. 'Sir.' Qui-Gon had a plate put before him.
'Smells nice.' Qui-Gon said as he gave a warm smile. Obi-Wan gave a slight nod.
'Excuse me.' Cerwyn reached for Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon watched fascinated as with a soft cry, the young man jerked back and stumbled backwards slightly, eyes wide as panic flew over his face before unearthly calm and absolute stillness overruled the panic. Qui-Gon sat back thoughtfully. He'd gotten pretty much the exact same reaction last night, so now he knew it wasn't just him, nor was it because Obi-Wan thought Qui-Gon was coming onto to him. Which admittedly Qui-Gon was. Or at least trying to without much success. Obi-Wan's body language shut down the same way it had last time too, going from neutral to non-existence almost.
'Did you want something Lord Chidlow?' Obi-wan asked now that he'd gained complete control of his body.
Cerwyn looked at Obi-wan with a slightly puzzled expression. 'Can I have an orange juice please?' he asked.
'Certainly Lord Chidlow.' Obi-wan bowed and left.
'What was that?' Cerwyn looked at Qui-Gon.
'I'm not sure. He did the same thing last night. All I did was try to pat his shoulder in way of thanks.' Qui-Gon frowned.
'Most strange. All right you have me interested. What are you going to do about it?' Cerwyn demanded.
Qui-Gon blinked. 'Do about it?'
'Oh come on Qui, you have to do something about it. You can't just leave here and never find out if something could have happened. You have that look in your eye when you see him and watch him. You see something there that attracts you like crazy. You're desiring a man you're not even sure is gay and you're not willing to take the risk and find out if he is?' Cerwyn raised his eyebrows.
Qui-Gon winced. His friend knew him to well; he could not let something like this go that easily. 'So what do you suggest I do Cerwyn? I can't stay here, Dylan is visiting me in three days and I have to be there.'
'So take him with you?'
'How do you propose I do that? Kidnap him?'
'Hmmm, now that might not be such a bad idea.' Cerwyn grinned cheekily.
'Cerwyn, be serious for once.' Qui-Gon demanded.
'Actually I was thinking more in the lines of offering him a job. Working in a place like this, I can only imagine he'd be happy to leave for someplace better.'
'Great. Now all I need is a job to give him.' Qui-Gon rolled his eyes, helplessness surged through him.
'Hey come on, you've got plenty of money, surely you can think of something to give him. Personal dog walker or something. Look I'm going to go over to speak to Dalia, you see about giving him a job, all right?'
Qui-Gon sighed. 'I'll see what I can do,' he agreed.
'Good for you.' Cerwyn clapped him on the shoulder and rose to greet Dalia and her followers of various Lords and Ladies who were receiving breakfast from Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon paused and watched how Obi-Wan reacted to them. He frowned as he watched the young man keep flinching his hands or arms backwards to avoid accidental touch. He served the plate in such a way that a distance was kept at all times, seemingly going out of his way just to avoid personal contact.
Qui-Gon sat back in his chair. So it wasn't just men Obi-Wan flinched from, but women too. Actually when he thought about it, Obi- Wan seemed to be taking even greater care when serving the Ladies their plates then when he had been serving him or the other Lords. The way he did things suggested to Qui-Gon that Obi-Wan had being doing it for so long that it had being ingrained and had become second nature. He didn't consciously put the plate down in a way that prevented touch, he didn't consciously step around others. It was done like he'd done it time and again, until it was ingrained. What happened to him that made him avoid touch so much? Because what ever it was must have happened quite some time ago for him to be still so badly affected. It was puzzling indeed.
'Have you finished sir?'
Qui-Gon snapped out of his thoughts to smile at Obi-Wan. 'Obi-Wan, that is your name isn't it?' Qui-Gon asked just to be sure.
'Yes sir.' The young man nodded.
'Why do you work here, Obi-wan?' Qui-Gon inwardly cursed at his lack of subtlety.
Obi-wan looked at him a moment. 'I get food, a bed, shelter, money. Enough to get by. If I manage to save any, I send some to my half sister.'
Qui-Gon blinked, and for a moment wondered if she was a bastard too. Then he berated himself for thinking so unkindly.
'She likes that, she goes out to buy real food. The orphanage where she stays doesn't give much.' Obi-wan offered, sounding sad.
Qui-Gon sympathized. It sounded like Obi-wan really missed her and orphanages were not the nicest places to be in. It certainly added an extra piece to the puzzle and another unthought of dimension to Obi-Wan. 'Yes, but why this place? Why not get work some where else?'
'Jobs aren't exactly that easy to get, especially good jobs. My illegitimacy makes it even harder to get jobs, especially permanent ones. No one wants to keep me on once they learn I'm illegitimate. My boss is a good employer; treats me better then what some of them have. He tells me he knew my mother, but I don't really believe him.'
Qui-Gon paused thoughtfully, taking this in. "What is your job exactly, what do you do?'
Obi-Wan gave him an odd, almost suspicious, accessing look. 'Why? Why do you want to know? What do you care what my job is, unless your going to give me one?' Obi-Wan's voice was laced with twisted bitterness.
Qui-Gon ignored it. It was the tone of a man too often disappointed in life and disenchanted with the world and people in general. 'I might, but first I need to know what you can do. I can't employ you without knowing what you do.'
Obi-Wan cocked his head, looking unsure if he was being genuine. Though he was skeptical, there was a twinkle of hope in those light blue eyes. 'Well I clean, scrub, polish, mop, dust, wipe and wash. Laundry, cooking, ironing, and dishes. It's my job to clean out and ready rooms for the next customer. Gardening, handy work and, of course, I look after the horses, dogs, cats, and whatever people bring with them. I help out the local farmers for a few coins as well; round up sheep, milk the cows, feed the pigs, and care for the orphaned animals. I fix fences and will take a horse out to gather strayed animals. I help with the fields every harvest; the farmers pay good for good help. A few other little odd jobs like chop up the wood and that.'
Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan thoughtfully. The man seemed to have a background in nearly everything. A basic knowledge of many things but a Master in none. Unless, perhaps, he became a maid, which was not a respectable job for a man. Obi-Wan's employer probably thought it was a good enough for a bastard, but Obi-Wan really deserved better. Men did not become maids and Qui-Gon wasn't about to employ the young man as one. But his Stable Master had lost a few helping hands lately and his Stable Master often said that an extra hand would always be welcome, for there was always something for someone to do.
'You don't have a job for me, do you?'
The soft voice jerked him out of his thoughts and Qui-Gon looked to see the humourless smile and the hard cold look that had crept into those light blue eyes. Qui-Gon smiled and unconsciously reached forward to touch Obi-Wan's hand. Obi-Wan jumped back, eyes wide with panic, a quick indrawn breath of frightened surprise until the emotionless stillness fell on his face again once he'd mastered his initial panic. Qui-Gon slowly placed his hand back where it'd came from calmly. 'I wouldn't say that. You shouldn't jump to conclusions Obi-wan.'
The face cleared slightly and that spark of hope returned. 'Then what would you say?' Obi-Wan asked, a little suspiciously.
'I think you should go and pack your things.' Qui-Gon said warmly.
Obi-Wan looked startled before the most delighted smile graced his face. 'Yes sir.'
Qui-Gon watched Obi-wan leave with a decided spring in his step. He looked across at Cerwyn. 'Eat up quickly, I believe we will be leaving soon.' Qui-Gon rose and followed after Obi-Wan with the mind to pick up his own gear. He found the young man looking at the picture he had found in the caved box earlier. He moved toward his luggage. 'Is that your mother?' Qui-Gon asked him.
Obi-Wan jumped, then hurriedly put the picture away, placing the box in a scruffy old bag. 'It doesn't matter.' Obi-wan told him sharply.
Qui-Gon kept quiet. If Obi-Wan didn't want to talk about it, then Qui-Gon wouldn't push him.
Obi-Wan hauled himself onto the coach, sitting up front with the three coachmen who took turns steering the horses. He looked behind him at his old place of work. His old boss was swearing blue murder at the calm tall gentleman who'd just hired him. Obi-Wan let a small smile cross his lips. He didn't know where he was going, who the gentleman actually was, or what his character was, but for once he didn't care. He was going away from here. This man had being nothing but generous and kind to him so far and something inside him told him that the gentleman was an honest, truthful and giving person. Obi-Wan wasn't entirely sure if such a good person could actually exist. All he had ever known was hardship, his past was scattered with trials, troubles and problems. He had a clean slate again and he wanted to do everything to keep it that way. Start again with a new boss he could not make himself believe was deceiving him in any way. So Obi-Wan allowed himself to hope again, and hope that he wasn't making one very large mistake by stepping out into the unknown like this; leaving himself vulnerable to hurt once more, to be disappointed again. He wasn't sure if he could stand it.
He clutched at his bag, looking at the scenery as the carriage quickly covered the distance; wondering, hoping he'd done the right thing. He sat still as the carriages went through Siliam and then Alium, then continued onward. When the carriages were told to stop for lunch, he was slightly surprised to see that they stopped at his home city Kimbol. He remained sitting for a couple hours when the gentleman and his friends went to lunch. The coachmen shared their lunch with him, but when the group returned from their lunch, the tall gentleman approached him. 'Come down, stretch your legs, relieve yourself if you have to.'
Obi-Wan slowly put his bag down and rose, mind thinking. 'I,' Obi- Wan looked toward the direction he wanted to go.
'Go on, what is it?'
'Can I visit my half-sister?' Obi-Wan asked hesitantly.
The gentleman looked surprised. 'Your half-sister is here?' The cultured voice asked.
'Yes, staying at the Deven orphanage.' Obi-Wan murmured, not looking at the sapphire eyes that threatened to pull him in to their endless depths and keep him there.
'You will be back?' the voice demanded.
'I'd be a fool not to. I have no job, no bed, and no money. You have all the things I treasure most.' Obi-Wan gently handed over his bag of things. 'Give me a time and I'll return.'
The gentleman looked at him a moment. 'I have nothing to loose either way. I give you half an hour. Will that be all right?'
'That'll be fine.' Obi-Wan hopped down from the carriage and took off.
Obi-Wan ran hard through the old familiar streets, taking the old routes he knew so well.
'Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan.'
Obi-wan turned to see his old friend Harris running up. 'Harris. Haven't got time to stop. Keep up.'
'What are you doing here?' Harris puffed out as he raced beside him.
'Just having a quick stop over to see Eilwen before moving on. I have a new job.'
'Really?'
'It looks sort of promising, though I don't know what I'm doing yet.'
'Good employer?'
'Very good employer.' Obi-Wan gave a short nod as he turned up a street.
'Hope it turns out.'
'Me too. I don't want to screw this one up.'
'I know the feeling.'
'Obi-Wan, Harris, wait up.'
'Jol? Hurry up, no time to stop.' Obi-Wan called out to the short blond thief. He rounded another corner and broke out into a sprint as he neared the orphanage. He halted at the door and knocked as Harris filled Jol in. Obi-Wan saw the look of recognition on the woman who opened the door.
'We're not letting you come back in.' she said bluntly.
'Can I just talk to Eilwen, please?' Obi-Wan begged.
'She's busy.' The lady glared down at him.
'Tassie, please. I don't want food or anything, I just want to talk to Eilwen.'
The woman hesitated. Obi-Wan looked at her, knowing she was a little more soft hearted then the others. 'I'll get her. She stays in here though.'
'Fine.' Obi-Wan hopped from foot to foot. He was impatient as he waited for his half-sister, worrying as it seemed to take forever. Finally she appeared, her face breaking out in a huge smile and running over to the fence when she saw him. 'Eilwen, break out; I don't have any time to lose. Trust me please. I have to be somewhere real soon.'
Eilwen looked at him a moment, then nodded. She quickly hefted herself over the fence with an agility of someone who'd done it often.
'Hey, come back here!' the orphanage caretaker cried out.
Eilwen landed on the other side and Obi-Wan took her hand; his half sister the only person in the world he loved and trusted enough to allow such contact. 'Hurry.' He broke out into a run, Eilwen running smoothly next to him. He half noticed a couple of other old friends joining them as they raced the streets. As he neared his destination, he broke out into a sprint again. Spotting the carriages and the tall gentleman looking worried, impatient and concerned as he paced near his carriage, he headed directly for him.
'Obi-Wan you can't just run up to rich people.' his half sister puffed out.
Obi-Wan didn't bother explain, for at that moment the tall gentleman turned and saw him. Face clearing, he looked relieved as he waited for Obi-Wan to arrive. Obi-Wan halted in front of him. His half- sister held back, uncertain.
'You made it.' Dark sapphire eyes were unreadable as they looked at him, then turned to Eilwen next to him. 'Your half-sister?' the tall gentleman asked.
'Yes sir. Eilwen.'
'These others?' The gentleman indicated the others with him.
'Old friends of mine. They just want to see me off.' Obi-Wan put forward.
The gentleman gave a slight nod. 'I give you five minutes to say good-bye, then we leave, with or without you on the carriage.'
'Yes, sir.' Obi-Wan breathed a sigh of relief as he bowed his head. The gentleman turned and stepped into his carriage.
'Who is he?' Eilwen asked.
'My new employer.' Obi-wan told her.
Eilwen looked at the rich carriages. 'You got a job with him?' she asked in wonder.
'I can't believe it myself. I didn't even know we were coming here until a little while ago.'
'How did you get so lucky?' Harris asked wide-eyed.
'I don't know. He is so nice. Don't know why he'd give me a job.'
'No one deserves it more than you Obi-Wan.' Eilwen gripped his hands with a warm smile.
'What about me?' Harris demanded.
'You have a pretty good job at the bakery. Don't get greedy.' Eilwen said.
'Jol! Don't even think it!' Obi-Wan snapped out, seeing the blond thief near the carriage.
'But I...'
'No!'
'Not even...'
'No!'
'Obi-Wan?' The tall gentleman poked his head out of the carriage window with a frown. 'Is there a problem?'
'Can't I?' Jol reached out.
'Don't even think it, Jol.'
'You're no fun.' Jol sulked away.
'I better go.' Obi-Wan looked at his half-sister.
'Take care, Obi-Wan. Write to me.'
Obi-Wan kissed her forehead. Eilwen remained still under him, knowing even that small contact took him a lot of effort to manage. Obi-Wan smiled at the only family he ever really had for most of his life; the person he trusted and loved above and beyond all else. The only person he would allow to touch him anymore. But not even Eilwen knew what had happened to him, what had made him this way.
'Love you.' He gripped her hands, feeling tears well in his eyes.
'Love you more.' She smiled tearfully.
He smiled gently and let go of her hands. 'Jol, get out from under the carriage.' Obi-Wan didn't even have to look to know he was there.
A blond head poked out. 'Do I have to?'
'Out. Now.' Obi-Wan thumbed him out.
'Please!'
'Jol!'
'All right. I'm moving.' Jol pulled himself out of the carriage.
Obi-Wan stepped up onto the coach. 'Let's go.' he said to the coachman. He turned to his half sister and blew her a kiss.
'Bye Eilwen, Harris,--' Obi-Wan frowned. 'Harris, tackle Jol down before he leaps up onto the carriage!'
'On it.' Harris disappeared behind the carriage and Obi-Wan heard the cry as Jol was tackled. He looked behind to see Harris holding Jol down. He waved to his half-sister. 'Love you, Eilwen!'
'Love you more!' Eilwen called after him. Obi-wan sighed and sat down on the coach seat.
'Your friend Jol seemed very persistent.'
Obi-Wan jumped and turned to see the tall gentleman poking his head out of the carriage window. 'Sorry about him. He isn't a particularly good thief. Too good natured, honest and loyal, for the most part.'
The gentleman looked at him a moment before a smile crossed those smooth lips. 'You are turning out to be a most interesting person, Obi-Wan.'
Obi-Wan frowned slightly, wondering if that was a bad thing of not. He looked down to see his bag of things placed on the floor. He lifted it up to his lap and cradled it close. Everything he loved, beside his own half-sister, was within this bag.
Qui-Gon viewed the appearance of his manor with relief. It was getting very late and, by the rumble in his stomach, it was well beyond dinner. His carriage had separated from the other carriages about an hour ago. His companions had stopped in the small city while he had continued on home. He smiled, even though he was annoyed by the delay caused by the broken carriage. The results of that delay, chiefly Obi-wan, more than made up for the delay.
He turned as the coachman opened the door and lowered the steps. He stepped down from the carriage and looked for Obi-Wan. He gave a slight smile to see that the young man was fast asleep on the coach seat; the small bag of treasures still clutched in one hand as the head was tipped back, revealing the strong neck. The lips were slightly open as Obi-Wan breathed deeply in sleep and the face was untroubled and relaxed. Obi-Wan was undeniably attractive and Qui- Gon wanted nothing more then to kiss those subtle looking lips. Qui- Gon looked at the young man a moment longer, resisting the urge to even touch him. One thing he'd already learned about this man was that he did not like being touched by anybody.
'Obi-wan?' he called out softly. Blazing blue eyes snapped open and Qui-Gon felt like he was being pinned in place by those brilliant eyes glazing through the dark night.
'Are we there?' the soft street accent murmured.
Qui-Gon resisted the urge to squirm. Why had he never thought of the rough accent of the common population as being erotically sexy? He gave a slight swallow, he wasn't sure what he'd do if Obi-Wan wasn't gay or something in which he'd be acceptable to the young man as a future lover. Qui-Gon was in deep and he knew it too well. His heart would either be broken or he would find in Obi-Wan something he never dared hope to find again since the first and only true love he'd had in his life.
'Master Jinn.'
Qui-Gon turned to smile at the Head Housekeeper, seeing his Stable Master Tony attend to the horses as he did so. 'Nancy, did you get my message?' Qui-Gon asked the elderly, prim housekeeper.
'Yes, Master Jinn, after lunch. The cook has set aside two meals and Simone has prepared one of the servant quarters for your new employee.'
'Good. Tomorrow is soon enough to worry about getting new uniforms measured up and fitted for Obi-Wan. Tony?'
'Yes, Master Jinn.' The elderly man was becoming stooped and stiff as he aged; the grey hair becoming thin and wispy.
'I have a new stable hand for you, if you don't mind.'
'Certainly not, Master Jinn. Good stable hands are hard to get. Young Garry took off while you were away.'
Qui-Gon paused with a slight frown. He knew when Tony hired him that the boy wouldn't stay on for long. The boy had an uncle willing to support him and educate him. 'So long as you think Obi-Wan will be a benefit to you.'
'Most certainly, Master Jinn. An extra hand is always welcome.'
'Well then, why don't you take Obi-Wan to his new room. He'll be outfitted for a uniform tomorrow morning. Afterwards you can take him out and show him around. That should give the seamstress plenty of time sew up the uniforms. Obi-Wan can start actual work the day after tomorrow.'
'Certainly, Master Jinn.'
'Obi-Wan, is that all right with you?'
'Yes, sir, ah Master Jinn.'
Qui-Gon frowned just slightly. It just occurred to him that Obi-Wan might not have actually been told his name before this. 'Sir is fine, Obi-Wan.' He smiled at the young man. For some reason the idea of Obi-wan calling him Master sounded all wrong. 'Let's go inside, I'm hungry.'