Post by Granny-Wan on Jul 31, 2007 23:28:30 GMT -5
32 YEARS BBY
Traelyn was deeply asleep in her room at the Jedi Temple. As Padawan to the Master Healer, her days were busy with studying, working in the Infirmary, lightsaber training, and more studying. She’d had no problems falling asleep that night, exhausted as she usually was.
Suddenly, a jolt in the Force startled her awake. "Master Qui-Gon?" She said out loud. Something was not right. She reached out into the Force, searching for his presence, but there was nothing. She searched for her dearest friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon’s apprentice, but the currents of the Force that swirled around him were cloudy and dark.
She needed to find her Master.
She grabbed her lightsaber and went looking for Master Jeran. He was not in his apartment, so she headed for the Infirmary, and found him packing some medical equipment. She waited for him to finish, but he could sense her distress and looked up.
"Traelyn?" He asked.
"I felt a disturbance in the Force, Master, like a death. I think it was Master Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan is in great pain."
He sighed and put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Traelyn, but you are right. Master Jinn is dead. We must go to Naboo and see about his... his mortal remains."
Traelyn looked away, blinking back her tears.
"I told the council I would go personally, I knew you would want to be there. And Obi-Wan could use a friend, I'm sure. Go get dressed, we must leave for Naboo right away."
"Yes, Master," she replied automatically.
On board the ship with Master Jeran and many of the Council members, Traelyn spent her time sleeping, or meditating. In the Force, she could still feel Qui-Gon's physical pain and Obi-Wan's mental anguish. Hang on, Obi-Wan, I'm coming.
Master Yoda raised an ear and looked in her direction, but said nothing.
Upon their arrival at Theed, Master Jeran asked to be taken to Qui-Gon immediately. They were led through long hallways until they reached the room where his body lay, with Obi-Wan keeping watch.
The Council members started to enter the room, but Master Jeran turned to them and put his hand up.
"We will take care of this," he said, motioning for Traelyn.
"But we must investigate," said Master Windu.
"I will give you my findings after I have examined the body," he said firmly.
"We must question Padawan Kenobi," Windu tried again.
"We must see to his condition as well," Jeran replied. "We will let you know when you may speak with him. Now go, please, and let us do our work. Come, Padawan," he steered Traelyn into the room ahead of him.
Traelyn was impressed at how he handled them, but he was the Master Healer and this was his area of authority.
The other masters gathered at the window while Master Jeran closed the door behind him. Obi-Wan looked up. "Traelyn," he said softly.
Traelyn looked at him with love and sympathy in her eyes, but she couldn't bear to look at Qui-Gon's body. Not yet.
"Traelyn, take Obi-Wan into the next room and see if he's injured in any way, please," Master Jeran said.
Obi-Wan rose from his chair, "I'm not injured, Master, I..." Traelyn put her finger to her lips and led him into the next room, away from the window.
As she closed the inner door behind them, she held out her arms to Obi-Wan, and he nearly fell into them, burying his face on her shoulder and letting his tears flow. She wrapped her arms around him, stroking his head, and emanating soothing Force energy in his direction.
"Obi-Wan," she said gently, her own tears falling into his hair.
"I couldn't save him," he sobbed. "I couldn't get to him in time."
She rocked him back and forth and let him cry. When his shaking lessened, she guided him over to a comfortable looking chair and made him sit. Kneeling in front of him, she looked him in the eye.
"Are you injured, Obi-Wan?" She asked, while visually checking him over. She placed her hand on his chest and sought the Force, checking for damage.
"No, I'm not," he replied, drying his tears on his sleeve. "Just bumps and bruises."
She placed her fingers on his temples and began to send healing tendrils into his mind.
"Stop that," he said angrily. "You can't just wave away my pain."
"Nothing's going to take your pain away, Obi-Wan, now let me do my job. Trust me." She soothed away his anger and centered him in the Force. He began to breathe normally, and his heart rate slowed.
"I'm sorry," he said. "And thank you."
"The council is going to question you. I have to be sure you are emotionally able for that. Do you want to tell me what happened?" She sat down next to him and held his hands.
He told her the story of the duel in the power station. His pain was agonizing when he told her how he couldn't get to the fight in time, and how he watched his master go down while he was trapped, helpless, behind an energy shield.
"I overheard the masters on board the ship," she told him. "They think the Zabrak was a Sith!"
"He stank of the Dark Side," Obi-Wan said. "I've never felt a presence like his before. It was frightening, but I killed him, and I'm glad, too. I'm glad he's dead," he said.
"You might not want to tell the Council that, my friend. Just relate the facts. If he was a Sith, he would have killed you, too. You know you did the right thing. You saved yourself and brought Qui-Gon justice. He would be proud of you," she said.
They waited while Master Jeran finished his examination of Qui-Gon's body. He looked tired. Sad and tired.
"There wasn't anything you could have done, Obi-Wan," he said. "That sort of a wound is always fatal."
Obi-Wan nodded silently.
"Traelyn, take my report to the council while I finish up here, please."
"I'll go with you," Obi-Wan said. "They're going to want to talk to me, I know."
"Is he up for that, Traelyn? I can keep him here under medical supervision if he's not ready," Jeran said.
"He can do it, Master," she replied.
"Master Jinn died from a single lightsaber wound through his body," Traelyn said. "There was major internal organ and nervous system damage. His death was slow and painful." She laid a datacard on the table and stepped back. Obi-Wan stepped forward.
"Padawan Kenobi, a report for us you have?" Asked Yoda.
Obi-Wan retold his story again, in more detail this time, but without his emotional reactions. Traelyn watched him carefully, ready to send out soothing, healing thoughts if necessary. By the end of the tale he had tears in his eyes.
"No honor to your master, do you do with your tears, young Obi-Wan," said Yoda.
Traelyn felt a flash of anger, but a Padawan Healer did not argue with the Grand Master.
"Your anger, you cannot conceal from me, Padawan," he said, looking in her direction.
"I beg your pardon, Master Yoda, but humans often find the release of tears to be calming. It rids the body of stress toxins and centers the spirit," she said.
Master Yoda looked annoyed.
"You are finished here, you may go," Windu said to her dismissively.
"I'm sorry, but my Master's instructions were to wait for Padawan Kenobi and bring him back to the Medical Center."
Windu sighed. "Very well, you both may go."
"I can't believe you stood up to them like that," Obi-Wan said.
Traelyn was shaking. "I can't either, but he shouldn't have said that to you."
"Bury your feelings deeper, Traelyn, or the whole Council will know our secret," he said with a shake of his head.
She nodded. "We have to go back to the Medical Center, or else I'll be a liar, too."
They'd been given rooms in the guest wing of the palace, next to each other and away from the Council members, at the request of Master Jeran.
"Stay with him," he ordered Traelyn, although she had every intention of doing so anyway. "Let him talk, cry, whatever he needs. If he gets too bad, put him into a healing trance. In spite of what the Jedi say, a human needs to let his grief out, you know that."
"Yes, Master, I will watch over him."
"I'm thinking of your grief, too, Traelyn. I know Qui-Gon was special to you," he said.
"He brought me to the Temple when I was a baby," she said tearfully. "He was always checking up on me, he taught me how to duel. And Obi-Wan is my best friend. I know I would be heartbroken if I lost you, Master."
Master Jeran hugged her. "I know. Now go be with your friend, he needs you."
They spent the entire night together, sitting on the veranda of his room, listening to the waterfalls. They talked about Qui-Gon, they told stories, they held each other. Traelyn soothed his distress, and he comforted her.
"Just a few weeks ago we talked about love, and the Jedi Code," Obi-Wan said. "He told me how he'd loved Master Tahl."
"He must have been devastated when she died," Traelyn said.
"Oh, he was, and at the time I didn't understand, I was only sixteen. I thought he shouldn't have been violating the Code. I wanted him to know that I understood now, and that I was sorry for judging him."
"So you told him about us?" She asked.
"Yes, and he told me to protect my heart. And yours, too," he replied with a sad smile.
"We can't change what we feel for each other, Obi-Wan, we will just have to be sure our love does not influence our actions in other matters."
"I know, and I promised him that we would do that."
"And so we shall," Traelyn assured him.
In the wee hours of the morning, Traelyn insisted that Obi-Wan sleep. "Do you need me to put you into a trance?" She asked.
"No, just stay with me, please," he replied.
They lay down together in the waning moonlight, while Traelyn secretly sent soothing tendrils of the Force into Obi-Wan's mind. They slept in each other's arms for a few hours, and awoke clear eyed and calm.
Obi-Wan was summoned by Master Yoda. Traelyn was concerned. "It's all right, I can handle myself today," he said.
"You may be over your shock, Obi-Wan, but don't think for a moment you are over your grief. That will be with you for a long time."
"I know. I will learn to live with it as a Jedi should," he said firmly. "I'll see you tonight, at the memorial."
Traelyn spent the day learning about post-mortem procedures from Master Jeran. After grieving with Obi-Wan, she was emotionally ready to face Qui-Gon's remains, but the absence of his presence in the Force still disturbed her.
"As healers, it's our responsibility to see that the dead are treated with respect. Often there are questions that we must answer, although in this case the cause of death was obvious," he told her. "But there will be times when we are the last to speak for the dead."
She examined the lightsaber wound with shock. "I've never seen anything like that, and I hope never to again," she said.
"There will be worse things, and many times it will be people you care about. You must learn to deal with it as a Jedi, and that means duty first. I have no doubt that you are capable."
"Does it get any easier?" She asked.
"No, but you will become better able to deal with it."
As the sun set over Theed the Jedi gathered for the memorial. There were many important people in the room; even Queen Amidala was there. Obi-Wan stood beside his Master's body. Traelyn managed to slip in next to him, the long sleeves of their cloaks concealing the fact that he held her hand tightly.
He turned and spoke to the small boy who stood next to him.
"Who's this?" Traelyn asked.
"This is Anakin Skywalker. He's coming back to the Temple with us to be a Jedi, isn't that right, Anakin?"
The little boy nodded, and Traelyn smiled at him in spite of her shock.
"It's a long story," Obi-Wan whispered to her. "He's to become my Padawan."
Traelyn squeezed his hand and turned back towards the burning pyre. "Life goes on, Qui-Gon," she said quietly.
Traelyn was deeply asleep in her room at the Jedi Temple. As Padawan to the Master Healer, her days were busy with studying, working in the Infirmary, lightsaber training, and more studying. She’d had no problems falling asleep that night, exhausted as she usually was.
Suddenly, a jolt in the Force startled her awake. "Master Qui-Gon?" She said out loud. Something was not right. She reached out into the Force, searching for his presence, but there was nothing. She searched for her dearest friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon’s apprentice, but the currents of the Force that swirled around him were cloudy and dark.
She needed to find her Master.
She grabbed her lightsaber and went looking for Master Jeran. He was not in his apartment, so she headed for the Infirmary, and found him packing some medical equipment. She waited for him to finish, but he could sense her distress and looked up.
"Traelyn?" He asked.
"I felt a disturbance in the Force, Master, like a death. I think it was Master Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan is in great pain."
He sighed and put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Traelyn, but you are right. Master Jinn is dead. We must go to Naboo and see about his... his mortal remains."
Traelyn looked away, blinking back her tears.
"I told the council I would go personally, I knew you would want to be there. And Obi-Wan could use a friend, I'm sure. Go get dressed, we must leave for Naboo right away."
"Yes, Master," she replied automatically.
* * *
On board the ship with Master Jeran and many of the Council members, Traelyn spent her time sleeping, or meditating. In the Force, she could still feel Qui-Gon's physical pain and Obi-Wan's mental anguish. Hang on, Obi-Wan, I'm coming.
Master Yoda raised an ear and looked in her direction, but said nothing.
* * *
Upon their arrival at Theed, Master Jeran asked to be taken to Qui-Gon immediately. They were led through long hallways until they reached the room where his body lay, with Obi-Wan keeping watch.
The Council members started to enter the room, but Master Jeran turned to them and put his hand up.
"We will take care of this," he said, motioning for Traelyn.
"But we must investigate," said Master Windu.
"I will give you my findings after I have examined the body," he said firmly.
"We must question Padawan Kenobi," Windu tried again.
"We must see to his condition as well," Jeran replied. "We will let you know when you may speak with him. Now go, please, and let us do our work. Come, Padawan," he steered Traelyn into the room ahead of him.
Traelyn was impressed at how he handled them, but he was the Master Healer and this was his area of authority.
The other masters gathered at the window while Master Jeran closed the door behind him. Obi-Wan looked up. "Traelyn," he said softly.
Traelyn looked at him with love and sympathy in her eyes, but she couldn't bear to look at Qui-Gon's body. Not yet.
"Traelyn, take Obi-Wan into the next room and see if he's injured in any way, please," Master Jeran said.
Obi-Wan rose from his chair, "I'm not injured, Master, I..." Traelyn put her finger to her lips and led him into the next room, away from the window.
As she closed the inner door behind them, she held out her arms to Obi-Wan, and he nearly fell into them, burying his face on her shoulder and letting his tears flow. She wrapped her arms around him, stroking his head, and emanating soothing Force energy in his direction.
"Obi-Wan," she said gently, her own tears falling into his hair.
"I couldn't save him," he sobbed. "I couldn't get to him in time."
She rocked him back and forth and let him cry. When his shaking lessened, she guided him over to a comfortable looking chair and made him sit. Kneeling in front of him, she looked him in the eye.
"Are you injured, Obi-Wan?" She asked, while visually checking him over. She placed her hand on his chest and sought the Force, checking for damage.
"No, I'm not," he replied, drying his tears on his sleeve. "Just bumps and bruises."
She placed her fingers on his temples and began to send healing tendrils into his mind.
"Stop that," he said angrily. "You can't just wave away my pain."
"Nothing's going to take your pain away, Obi-Wan, now let me do my job. Trust me." She soothed away his anger and centered him in the Force. He began to breathe normally, and his heart rate slowed.
"I'm sorry," he said. "And thank you."
"The council is going to question you. I have to be sure you are emotionally able for that. Do you want to tell me what happened?" She sat down next to him and held his hands.
He told her the story of the duel in the power station. His pain was agonizing when he told her how he couldn't get to the fight in time, and how he watched his master go down while he was trapped, helpless, behind an energy shield.
"I overheard the masters on board the ship," she told him. "They think the Zabrak was a Sith!"
"He stank of the Dark Side," Obi-Wan said. "I've never felt a presence like his before. It was frightening, but I killed him, and I'm glad, too. I'm glad he's dead," he said.
"You might not want to tell the Council that, my friend. Just relate the facts. If he was a Sith, he would have killed you, too. You know you did the right thing. You saved yourself and brought Qui-Gon justice. He would be proud of you," she said.
* * *
They waited while Master Jeran finished his examination of Qui-Gon's body. He looked tired. Sad and tired.
"There wasn't anything you could have done, Obi-Wan," he said. "That sort of a wound is always fatal."
Obi-Wan nodded silently.
"Traelyn, take my report to the council while I finish up here, please."
"I'll go with you," Obi-Wan said. "They're going to want to talk to me, I know."
"Is he up for that, Traelyn? I can keep him here under medical supervision if he's not ready," Jeran said.
"He can do it, Master," she replied.
* * *
"Master Jinn died from a single lightsaber wound through his body," Traelyn said. "There was major internal organ and nervous system damage. His death was slow and painful." She laid a datacard on the table and stepped back. Obi-Wan stepped forward.
"Padawan Kenobi, a report for us you have?" Asked Yoda.
Obi-Wan retold his story again, in more detail this time, but without his emotional reactions. Traelyn watched him carefully, ready to send out soothing, healing thoughts if necessary. By the end of the tale he had tears in his eyes.
"No honor to your master, do you do with your tears, young Obi-Wan," said Yoda.
Traelyn felt a flash of anger, but a Padawan Healer did not argue with the Grand Master.
"Your anger, you cannot conceal from me, Padawan," he said, looking in her direction.
"I beg your pardon, Master Yoda, but humans often find the release of tears to be calming. It rids the body of stress toxins and centers the spirit," she said.
Master Yoda looked annoyed.
"You are finished here, you may go," Windu said to her dismissively.
"I'm sorry, but my Master's instructions were to wait for Padawan Kenobi and bring him back to the Medical Center."
Windu sighed. "Very well, you both may go."
* * *
"I can't believe you stood up to them like that," Obi-Wan said.
Traelyn was shaking. "I can't either, but he shouldn't have said that to you."
"Bury your feelings deeper, Traelyn, or the whole Council will know our secret," he said with a shake of his head.
She nodded. "We have to go back to the Medical Center, or else I'll be a liar, too."
* * *
They'd been given rooms in the guest wing of the palace, next to each other and away from the Council members, at the request of Master Jeran.
"Stay with him," he ordered Traelyn, although she had every intention of doing so anyway. "Let him talk, cry, whatever he needs. If he gets too bad, put him into a healing trance. In spite of what the Jedi say, a human needs to let his grief out, you know that."
"Yes, Master, I will watch over him."
"I'm thinking of your grief, too, Traelyn. I know Qui-Gon was special to you," he said.
"He brought me to the Temple when I was a baby," she said tearfully. "He was always checking up on me, he taught me how to duel. And Obi-Wan is my best friend. I know I would be heartbroken if I lost you, Master."
Master Jeran hugged her. "I know. Now go be with your friend, he needs you."
* * *
They spent the entire night together, sitting on the veranda of his room, listening to the waterfalls. They talked about Qui-Gon, they told stories, they held each other. Traelyn soothed his distress, and he comforted her.
"Just a few weeks ago we talked about love, and the Jedi Code," Obi-Wan said. "He told me how he'd loved Master Tahl."
"He must have been devastated when she died," Traelyn said.
"Oh, he was, and at the time I didn't understand, I was only sixteen. I thought he shouldn't have been violating the Code. I wanted him to know that I understood now, and that I was sorry for judging him."
"So you told him about us?" She asked.
"Yes, and he told me to protect my heart. And yours, too," he replied with a sad smile.
"We can't change what we feel for each other, Obi-Wan, we will just have to be sure our love does not influence our actions in other matters."
"I know, and I promised him that we would do that."
"And so we shall," Traelyn assured him.
In the wee hours of the morning, Traelyn insisted that Obi-Wan sleep. "Do you need me to put you into a trance?" She asked.
"No, just stay with me, please," he replied.
They lay down together in the waning moonlight, while Traelyn secretly sent soothing tendrils of the Force into Obi-Wan's mind. They slept in each other's arms for a few hours, and awoke clear eyed and calm.
Obi-Wan was summoned by Master Yoda. Traelyn was concerned. "It's all right, I can handle myself today," he said.
"You may be over your shock, Obi-Wan, but don't think for a moment you are over your grief. That will be with you for a long time."
"I know. I will learn to live with it as a Jedi should," he said firmly. "I'll see you tonight, at the memorial."
* * *
Traelyn spent the day learning about post-mortem procedures from Master Jeran. After grieving with Obi-Wan, she was emotionally ready to face Qui-Gon's remains, but the absence of his presence in the Force still disturbed her.
"As healers, it's our responsibility to see that the dead are treated with respect. Often there are questions that we must answer, although in this case the cause of death was obvious," he told her. "But there will be times when we are the last to speak for the dead."
She examined the lightsaber wound with shock. "I've never seen anything like that, and I hope never to again," she said.
"There will be worse things, and many times it will be people you care about. You must learn to deal with it as a Jedi, and that means duty first. I have no doubt that you are capable."
"Does it get any easier?" She asked.
"No, but you will become better able to deal with it."
* * *
As the sun set over Theed the Jedi gathered for the memorial. There were many important people in the room; even Queen Amidala was there. Obi-Wan stood beside his Master's body. Traelyn managed to slip in next to him, the long sleeves of their cloaks concealing the fact that he held her hand tightly.
He turned and spoke to the small boy who stood next to him.
"Who's this?" Traelyn asked.
"This is Anakin Skywalker. He's coming back to the Temple with us to be a Jedi, isn't that right, Anakin?"
The little boy nodded, and Traelyn smiled at him in spite of her shock.
"It's a long story," Obi-Wan whispered to her. "He's to become my Padawan."
Traelyn squeezed his hand and turned back towards the burning pyre. "Life goes on, Qui-Gon," she said quietly.
