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[Qui-Gon]
I am alive.
Amazing as it seems to me, it is true. I'm not quite certain
exactly what you did, but somehow, my beloved Obi-Wan, you have
saved me.
Even as the tremendous power fades, even as the soul-to-soul
connection becomes less prominent, I can feel a new bond with
you, a new connection that cannot and will not be severed. I
wonder at the impossibility of it all, even as the very reality
of it finally sets in. We are joined, love, never to be
separate again. A new path has been chosen, and this one...
this one is right.
Your smile seems to light the room, and I can't help but grin
foolishly back at you.
Because of you...
...I am alive.
And we are together.
[Obi-Wan]
It has been hours, now, since our fateful battle with the Sith.
You were weakened by your ordeal, and I can see you visibly
wilting now, exhausted beyond your ability to hide it. In the
fading light of Naboo's sun, your face is alarmingly pale. I
can sense the effort you are expending simply to remain
upright, and I know I must find an excuse to get you out of
here, before you collapse.
"Your Highness, it has been a taxing day. With your permission,
my Master and I will retire for the evening."
Amidala seems to notice your slumped posture for the first
time, and nods immediately. "Of course, Jedi Kenobi. We will
watch over Anakin. If you have need of anything, alert the
palace guards."
I bow my head to her, glance around to make sure Anakin is safe
(as safe as he can be with Jar Jar as his playmate), then turn
to you. The gratitude on your face only serves to emphasize
your exhaustion; under normal circumstances, you would never
allow such emotion to show... in public.
You push off the wall, and I am able to steady you without
drawing attention to the fact that it takes you a brief moment
to find your balance.
"Master?"
"I am all right, my friend," you answer, then one corner of
your mouth quirks upwards. "As all right as can be expected,
given the circumstances. Though I believe I will be better once
I am able to lay down."
I can't help but smile as I slip one arm around your waist, a
gentle nudge with the Force deflecting anyone's notice. "Then
let us return to our quarters, Master. The Queen has excused us
for the evening."
By the time we reach the door to the rooms we've been given,
you are on your feet by sheer willpower alone. I send a gentle
burst of strength your way, as I have been doing while we've
walked, and you acknowledge it with a quick mental caress of
thanks, all the concentration you can spare.
The door opens to my quickly voiced command, and I lead you
inside, directly to one of the low sleeping pallets in the
second room. You nearly collapse onto the surface, no thought
given to the removal of clothing or the arrangement of covers.
Finally able to stop fighting for composure, you drop your
mental shields and I have to fight back a sudden headache at
the intensity of the feelings I sense in you.
I'm sorry, you whisper in my mind, and I shake my head,
even though your eyes are closed.
Don't apologise. I'm surprised you managed things this
long.
Kneeling beside you, I begin the task of removing your
clothing, starting with your ruined shirt, which you've kept
hidden behind your cloak all evening. The twin holes burned
into the fabric, front and back, send a violent shudder down my
spine, and I feel a quick tendril of comfort from you brush
away my remembered fear.
Do not dwell on what might have been, beloved. Thanks to
you, that path was not taken.
With a conscious effort, I push the memory of what nearly
happened from my mind. Yes, Master. Now turn towards me, so
I can get this cloak out of the way.
I sense your amusement as you manage to push yourself up on one
elbow, with my help. I feel as helpless as a child.
I don't mind, Master. You are here, that is what
matters.
Your cloak shortly joins your tunic in a pile on the floor,
then your boots, and finally your leggings. Having shifted a
few times to allow me to pull cloth free, you slump back
against the mattress and sigh.
Through our link, this new, wondrous connection, I can feel the
dull ache across your shoulders, down your spine to the small
of your back. The day's exertions have caught up with you
physically as well and mentally. I send you a quick warning, so
as not to startle you, then flip you gently over to lie on your
stomach, letting the Force shift most of your weight.
"What...?" you begin to protest, until you catch my intentions.
Then you let your head drop to rest on your crossed arms, and
sigh again, this time with a smile.
I've left enough room on either side of you to allow me to
straddle your hips, careful to keep my weight from resting on
you. You're sore enough as it is. Leaning forward, I brush your
hair aside and rest my hands on your shoulders. Your muscles
are a mess of knots, and I am surprised that you've been able
to hide this from me.
I didn't want you to worry. You've been through enough
today, beloved.
Had I known, I would have found a way to excuse us earlier.
You needn't suffer this, after what -you- have been through
today.
Surprisingly enough, you acknowledge my rebuke with grace,
admitting that perhaps you should have alerted me earlier. It
takes me a moment to digest that, then I can't help but laugh
softly.
So. This is what it takes to get you to agree with me.
You chuckle out loud, the sound muffled by your arms. I must
truly be exhausted, yes.
Well, then, we must work on getting you back up to your
normal level of stoic control. The teasing that accompanies
my thoughts takes the sting from my words, and I know you will
not take offense. Returning to the task at hand, I summon
warmth to my fingers and begin to work the knots out of your
shoulders.
If I could recall the effects of what I did - whatever it was -
earlier today, I would channel the healing into your body
again, but even a controlled try does not yield the desired
results. Perhaps it was a one- time thing. Perhaps it was only
possible because your life hung in the balance, I don't know.
Regardless, for now, warmth and massage are all I can provide,
and a gentle nudge to your pain perception.
I can feel you starting to relax, the deep sigh that rumbles
through you sounding distinctly like a feline's purr. One by
one, the knots are loosening, and I move from your shoulders
downward, letting the Force guide my hands, finding each tense
muscle and easing it before moving on to the next.
I have to scoot back a bit to work on your lower back, but you
don't even stir. You're not asleep, but getting there. A small
part of me is disappointed, though the emotion is quickly
acknowledged and funneled away. My need to reaffirm our
physical union can wait.
I've got nearly all of the kinks worked out, now. Your
conscious mind manages one last quick Thank you before
you surrender to sleep, your thoughts now quiet, your body
completely relaxed. I set my hands against your shoulders once
more, letting your skin absorb the remnants of warmth from both
friction and the Force. Then I ease myself off your bed and
pull a light blanket up to your waist.
Settling on my knees beside you, I watch, and guard, against
any interlopers, either physical or non. Nothing will harm you
this night, my beloved Master, I promise you. And I, well, I
can wait until you are rested before satisfying -my- need to
reconnect, physically.
Because, after all, you are here.
And now, I somehow can sense it. We have shifted the balance,
altered the path the future would have followed... and we have
all the time in the world.
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