When Destinies Meet, part 1: In the wake of discovery

Author's Note:
This chapter is slightly shorter than the previous one, but it is basically a bridge between 15 and 17. The next one will be longer. At this point I am at loss how many chapters are there to the end, but no more than 4, that is certain. Slowly, book 1 is coming to a close.

Chapter Sixteen: Aftermath

The palace in Theed was silent, for the majority of the Naboo forces had yet to reach it. Upon the green fields outside of the capital, the Gungans cheered their victory over the droid army and were now disassembling the mechanical vehicles of their enemies, and the enemies themselves. Boss Nass was in high spirits, and his booming voice echoed over the land loud and clear. Jar-Jar laughed and hoped about, sticking his tounge out at the still forms of the droids, kicking them here and there. There was no doubt in his mind that the Jedi-bosses had done their job well, and theirs was the victory. Amidala embraced Sabé in the palace, and the two girls laughed with all their hearts, for the battle was over, it was done, and now the only thing left for them was to free the people from the camps and restore life to Theed once more. The handmaidens and royal guard cheered and laughed. But one of them was not there to share victory with them.

A silent and swift shadow raced through the corridors of the palace. She ran fast, as if the very hounds of Melkor were behind her, tracing her steps and barring their teeth to take her within their foul mouths. She rounded a corner and sprinted down a flight of stairs to the lower levels, her maroon cloak billowing behind her, the speed at which she ran producing a wind that tugged at her sleeves. Her black hair had become partly undone from its braid, and flapped against her with ardency. The heels of her boots made a hollow sound in the empty corridors as she raced against time and hope.

Arwen did not stop to catch her breath. She literally flew into the hangar underneath the palace, then turned swiftly and her long legs carried her down another corridor. In front of her, red fields disappeared. The battle had been fought beside the power generator that stood behind all power sources in Theed. Her heart lurched. She did not even realise that tears flew freely down her cheeks as she urged te last amount of her energy to speed up and run directly into the narrow path that lead to the reactor. She could hear the buzzing sound of lightsabers, which had grown all-too familiar to her ears.

Before she could enter the main reactor chamber, a swishing sound came from behind her, and she knew that the red energy field had closed. The next moment she stood right before the reactor, but inbetween herself and the people within stood the energy field. Her breath came in short pants, as she tried to regain her strength. What she saw tore at her heart and made her cry out loud.

Qui-Gon lay sprawled across the floor, the saber-wound visible even from a distance. There was no hope that he would survive. Perhaps, if she had come sooner, or even if she could have taken him to her father Elrond, then he would have stood a chance. But not now. And Maul, to her horror, sent Obi-Wan over the edge of the reactor in that very moment.

"Aldaro!" she cried, her plea reaching the ears of both the Jedi and the Sith.

Maul, upon hearing the fair voice filled with dismay, turned around to see the stunning creature which he had planned on making his own after the fight. The feline grin once more crossed his face, and he swooped his staff-saber low, just barely missing Obi-Wan's fingers, which desperately clung to the wall. And Obi-Wan heard her as well, and sensed the swirl of emotions radiating from both her and the creature above him. His mind turned to his master's lightsaber, which he knew lay right beside the fallen Jedi. Never before had he called anything to him.

Arwen's tear-stained face turned from Maul to where she knew Obi-Wan hung.
'Elbereth if ever I was in your favour,' she prayed feverishly, hoping that the energy field would disappear soon and she would be able to storm into the reactor chamber, 'spare him. Never did I wish for anything….yet now I do. Spare him!'

"Spare him!" she called aloud to the monster of Darkness, who only laughed, a horrifying, maniacal laugh.

But then the unimaginable happened. The lightsaber that by then rested peacefully beside Qui-Gon, moved, and suddenly Obi-Wan appeared upon the rampway, and the weapon flew to his hand. Too stunned to even move, Maul met his fate, as the Jedi Padawan cut clean through his mid-section. Without another word the Sith Apprentice fell into the abyss where the reactor lay.

Relief flooded through the Elf and she lowered her gaze so that Obi-Wan could not see her cheeks. She could hear him race to his Master's side, and her heart went to him, but the red field did not wish to disappear! And then she heard the sound which she had hoped never to hear: the animal-like howl of pain that came from Obi-Wan, as the soul of Qui-Gon passed away from this world and into the next. The elleth looked up once more, and finally, the red energy field pulled back, allowing her to step into the reactor chamber. As if in a dream she neared the weeping Jedi, remembering then her own pain at the knowledge of her mother's attack, and at Celebrían's passing.

"Hiro ho hîdh ab’wanath," she whispered into the silence that was cut only by Obi-Wan's grieved sounds. A silent prayer was all she could offer to the fallen, though she wished she could do much more. In very little time she had come to cherish the presence that Obi-Wan meant in her life, and thus she cherished those who were dear to him as well.

She knelt by his side, and reached out her arms to him. Gently, she distangled the Padawan from his Master, allowing Qui-Gon's body to slip onto he floor again, as she pulled Obi-Wan to her. In an urge of emotions, she wrapped her arms around him and brought him close, as a mother would do to a frightened child, and he clung to her, weeping his heart out, his face burring in her shoulder. And she began to softly sing in Sindarin, the song coming from her heart and tenderly embracing all three of those in the reactor chamber…

"Estel pêl, non ardhon dû
Trî núath dannol ed rîn a lû
Avo bedo ve tellin sí nan methen
Felias ‘lain, nallar agevedetham
Hodathach sí min rainc nín, losto

Man pellich cened, buin rain amar?
Amman en gwael ‘lain nallar?
Ithil ‘ael eria athan Aear
I chîr tellin a choled le na mar
Sui cheled geleb nadath thiathar
Calad buin nen, cîr thind gwannar
Nan annûn…"

The Elf's voice faded into nothing, and she also noted that the Jedi in her arms had ceased weeping, but now rested his head silently against her. She could feel his warm breath on her neck. Her own tears had long since ceased falling, her heartbeat returning to normal rate. Tenderly she turned her head slightly and her lips planted a butterfly kiss atop Obi-Wan's head. He did not stirr, and she did not mind. Gently she rested her cheek on his tousled hair, closing her eyes, willing some of the serenity that she had found within her soul during her long years in Middle Earth to go to him, to comfort him. She dared not probe his mind to see what lay within, for in this moment he needed peace and solitude above all. Thus she resolved to simply holding him and waiting for him to make the first move.

After what seemed as eternity, Obi-Wan moved. She felt his hands, which had lain limply around her waist since then, grip her firmly, the warmth of his skin travelling through the thin layer of clothing she wore. He lifted his head, but kept his face close to her, skin touching skin. When she opened her eyes, he was watching her, yet light had faded from those blue-green orbs, a light which she had grown accustomed too. They rested their foreheads together and held onto each other.

"He was like a father to me…" came then his voice, pained and low. Awen traced a line across his cheek tenderly.

"He would have wanted you to move on and take his place," she whispered softly. A broken sigh escaped the Jedi's lips and he looked at her with a weary and grieved expression.

"Have you ever lost someone close to you?" he asked bitterly, and was granted a sad smile in return.

"Oh Obi-Wan, I have seen more grief than you can ever imagine," she murmured, "my own mother has passed away, although that was long ago. I have seen death, and have felt the loss. I know what ails you…do not close away now, Padawan. Let me help heal your hurt." Her gray eyes pleaded him to hear her, to listen, to not allow grief eat away on his mind. She could sense there was great danger behind the grief, and the anger, although she did not know why.

To her relief, it seemed he did in fact hear her, or something similar. His lips saught hers in the most natural of ways, as he kissed her, clinging to her, the ray of hope amid his confused and darkened mind. And she allowed him to hold her, to crush her against him, allowed him to deepen the kiss, for he needed to express his pent-up emotions in some form of action, and this was the least harmless one of all. Even after the kiss had ended, they did not break their embrace, but rather they held onto one another, giving each other strength and faith for the days to come.

When Amidala entered the hangar in search for the Jedi and her Minister of War, Arwen and Obi-Wan were there, pale yet composed. Qui-Gon's body had been covered with his cloak and Obi-Wan carried him. The Queen placed ahand over her lips to prevent a gasp from escaping, and a tear fell down her porcelaine cheek.

"Obi-Wan, I am so sorry," she spoke, and the Padawan lowered his head.

"I would like to request he be burried in Jedi tradition," he spoke softly, and the Queen nodded.

"Yes, any way you wish. Captain, show Padawan Kenobi the way." Panaka stepped forward and motioned to the Jedi, who followed him without looking back. Arwen in the meantime embraced Padmé and tried to smile.

"You had me worried when you ran off like that," commented the Queen of Naboo, and the Elf shrugged slightly.

"I was needed elsewhere. But I think matters of state need your attention."

"Yes, quite some things have pilled up," replied Amidala and the pair made their way back to the throne room. "I need to contact Senator Palpatine and also the Jedi Council," continued the Queen as she took seat upon her throne, with Arwen standing in front of her. Her handmaidens were busying themselves with taking away droid remnants. "I suppose Master Yoda would like to know what exactly happened…Obi-Wan is not in a state to contact the Council."

"I believe it is so, yes," answered the Minister, while she typed in the co-ordinates for Coruscant into the holographic machine.

"At least we won the battle," floated the Queen's voice to her. Arwen had to smile.

TBC

Please read and review!

Sindarin phrases:
Aldaro! - No, stop!
Hiro ho hîdh ab’wanath, - May he find peace in death.

The song is the Sindarin equivalent of 'Into the West', which has been translated by Tara.
Hope fades into the world of night
Shadows falling out of memory and time
Don’t say we have come now to the end
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again
And you’ll be here, in my arms, just sleeping

What can you see on the horizon
Why do the white gulls call
Across the sea, a pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
And all will turn to silver glass
A light on the water, grey ships pass
Into the West...