Summary: Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon share a sacred service.
Notes: This is really more of a scene than a fic. And the
moonrise services is inspired by a personal experience. Thanks
to betha for giving this a quick beta.
Feedback: I'd love some, but I understand if you can't think of
anything to say about this tidbit. *smile*
Disclaimer: Not mine. Not making money. You knew that. *g*
For Kerby, because she needed cheering up. I hope this does the
trick.
Obi-Wan sat cross-legged on the warm, smooth stone of the
temple and let his eyes fall closed. He basked in the gentle
rays of the sun, enjoying the peace of the moment. The wax in
his hands was soft and smooth. Others sat around him. Some
worked alone, as he did; others sculpted in quiet pairs or
cheerful groups.
Earlier in the day those present on the steps had made plain
white candles. A long row of people had wound through the
temple and down the steps, each person dipping the wick they
held into a tub of wax before moving on to dip again. Thus the
white candles were made by hand, but quickly. They would be
burnt in the public service this evening, at moonrise.
The candles that were made now, by hand winding warmed wax
about the wick, would be uneven and probably a little lumpy.
Most of them would not stand up. But they were made by hand and
with love in mind and heart. They would be burned at midnight,
and only those invited would share the flame with the maker.
Obi-Wan rolled a ball of wax against the temple stone with his
palm, watching with quiet satisfaction as it lengthened into a
long, thin cylinder. He repeated the motion with two more blobs
of wax, creating a silver cylinder and a red one in addition to
the first, which was blue.
Carefully, the young Jedi braided the three strips of wax about
the wick. His task complete, Obi-Wan carried the limp creation
over to the shadows, where it would harden into a proper
candle. Returning to his place within the pillars of the
temple, he stretched out on the stone and allowed himself to
drift slowly off to sleep. It was hours yet until moonrise, and
Qui-Gon was still in talks.
The chime of bells woke Obi-Wan, and he found that it was
nearly moonrise already. Night came fast on this world, though
the thickness of stars in the sky made it nearly as bright as
day and the climate kept it just as warm.
Looking around, Obi-Wan spotted his master speaking to one of
the delegates. The younger man caught Qui- Gon's eye, and the
other Jedi made his farewells to the diplomat and joined his
Padawan inside the temple. Few spoke, but it was hardly an
oppressive silence. Rather, Obi-Wan felt embraced by it.
Welcome.
The service began without fan fare. The high Priestess simply
raised her arms, opened her mouth and allowed a pure tone to
emerge. One by one the crowed joined her, adding their voices
at different pitches and octaves, holding the note only as long
as they wished to and repeating it as often as they liked.
After a few moments, Obi-Wan found himself joining the chorus,
and he was a little surprised to find how cleansing its
simplicity was.
Then, in the midst of all the dozens of different sounds, a
moment of perfect unity emerged. It was fleeting but beautiful,
and shortly after it faded back into the individual voices the
crowd fell slowly silent.
That was the extent of the service, and as the people began to
drift away from the temple, Obi-Wan turned to his beloved and
shared a smile with him. In that brief moment of unity the
temple had been stronger with the Force than any of the
elaborate celebrations of other worlds.
Eventually, the temple stood empty of all but the priests,
priestesses, and the two Jedi.
Obi-Wan retrieved the candle he had made and seated himself,
placing it carefully before him. With a gesture, he invited
Qui-Gon to join him. The Padawan struck a match and lit the
candle as his Master sat.
"Blue for the Force," Obi-Wan began, quietly explaining the
colors he had chosen. The flickering flame cast out a sphere of
light that just barely embraced them both. "Red for love.
Silver for eternity."
Qui-Gon smiled tenderly at his beloved and cupped Obi- Wan's
cheek with one hand. "I love you, my Obi-Wan."
"And I you, Master," Obi-Wan murmured, and settled into his
lover's arms to watch the candle burn.
Archive 