Lightning Crashes
by Pumpkin (apumpkin@rogers.com)
Archive: master_apprentice, yes please
Category: First time, POV
Rating: R
Warnings: none
Spoilers: none
Feedback in any form is always appreciated.
Summary: A storm brings changes to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's
relationship
Disclaimers: not mine, not mine, not mine <sigh>
Notes: I have always loved the song "lightning crashes" by Live
and as I was listening to it this evening, it gave birth to
this story. While this isn't really a songfic, I have included
the words to the song at the end, as they are it's inspiration.
With love as always to sa.
The storm had come upon us suddenly, the thunder following
quickly on the heels of its quicksilver lover, bringing with
their joining wild torrents of water, making our passage almost
impossible.
Obi-Wan has suggested the split. He would stay with the group
while I escorted the Chieftain and his two companions to the
capital. We had spied a cave, near the top of a hill some 400
yards back and he determined it a good place to settle his
charges -not too far for them to walk and with the wind at
their backs. It made sense. It was the right thing to do. And
yet I couldn't shake the slight feeling of apprehension that
ruffled across my skin.
//The storm has you spooked, my Master// The thoughts in my
head held the gentle warmth of teasing and I could easily
picture the hint of a grin that no doubt graced my apprentice's
features. //We have only to wait out the storm -you are the
ones who must brave its fierceness to reach your goal.//
I was filled with the sudden thrilling of love and affection
that had begun to overtake me at odd moments. It rolled through
me like a wave and I allowed a small measure of it to escape
into my bond with my padawan. We had yet to speak of this thing
that grew between us, but we both knew it was there, we were
both nurturing it as we had the seedling that Obi-Wan had given
me on the day that I chose him as my apprentice. That tree now
stood, strong and straight, on the balcony of our quarters,
facing the elements with a strength and serenity I hoped to one
day match.
Another brilliant flash heralded the roar and crack of more
thunder and I checked the force shield I was maintaining around
our small party. It should have been a draining task, but the
very wildness of the storm was feeding me energy and though I
couldn't see more than a few feet in front of my own face, I
knew that we would reach our destination without mishap.
So when the bolt of panic coursed through my bond with Obi-Wan,
it drove me to my knees.
//Obi-Wan!// My apprentice did not answer me and though the
panic was receding, forced back through sheer will alone, I
could tell that my padawan was still agitated. //Obi-Wan!// I
called again, making it a demand this time. It worked and my
student was soon filling my mind with his response.
//Nadala is going into labor,// he fairly shouted through our
bond. I sent back soothing waves of calm. He had never assisted
in a birth but those travelling with the Chieftain's wife had
and I had no doubt that they would be keeping my apprentice
busy with small tasks that would keep him on the fringes the
imminent birth. //No! No! Something is wrong, it's too soon,
they need my help.//
//Then you will give it to them.// That simple directive seemed
to shore up his strength, remind him of his purpose, and with a
gentle brush of thanks, the link faded back to the quiet hum of
awareness that lived within my skull.
My companions helped me to my feet, sending me worried glances.
I assured them that all was well and that we were not far from
our destination. I informed the Chieftain that he would soon
have the heir he so craved and he bowed before me, thanking me.
It was with a much lighter step that we forged forward into the
storm once again, arriving, less than one half hour later, at
the capital, finding our way to the main hall. The Council of
Elders greeted the Chieftain with great enthusiasm, for they
had given him up for lost, and I took the opportunity to slip
from the hall, unnoticed, my duty complete.
I was settled in bed at the inn, after a long, hot shower,
feeling only slightly guilty at my own warmth and comfort when
my link with my padawan burst again to life, echoing the storm
which still raged outside. The Living Force was strong within
him, crashing around him and through our bond and I was drawn
into his mind, until it was as if I inhabited his body with
him, grounded to the very earth beneath his feet.
Lightning shattered around us, thunder rolling across the sky
in unrelenting waves. Obi-Wan was kneeling on the stone floor
near the back of the cave between Nadala's open legs. There was
blood flowing from between her thighs, staining them darkly,
and her screams fought the noise of the storm. My apprentice
was trying to use the force to guide the baby from its mother's
womb, and I added my strength to his. But the force fairly
crackled around us, refusing to be tamed, refusing to bend to
our will, demanding instead that we heed its wild call.
Nadala screamed again, a fierce sound of pain echoed by the
storm. And then the baby's head was there, pushing the woman's
opening wide, pressing its way out of her body and the Force
around us was alive with its urgency to be born. Another scream
from the new mother and suddenly the baby was out, falling from
her body. Obi-Wan's hands were there, catching the child before
it could fall to the floor and I could feel the wonder in his
heart. I could feel the living force wrap itself around us,
around Nadala, her baby and Obi-Wan, feel the lightning and
thunder pass through us with a deafening crash.
Obi-Wan drew his saber from his belt and severed the link
between mother and child. I watched as Nadala drew her last
breath even as her baby drew its first, the force surging
through its body. Nadala's sudden quiet was drowned out by the
screams of her child. A wail rose then, from one of Nadala's
handmaidens, the young woman lifting her mistress' body from
the earth's harsh embrace. Obi-Wan turned from the dead, his
burden of life strong and loud in his arms, demanding succor. A
second handmaiden held out her arms to take the child and
Obi-Wan handed her over, stumbling away from the living and the
dead and I knew suddenly that it was not enough to be with him
in mind.
Without thought I raced from the inn, fled the town at a run. I
had to reach my Obi-Wan. My body insisted on it. The storm
demanded it of me. The Force commanded it of me. As I ran,
tripping over roots and rocks, I knew that my love was flying
also to me, following the compulsion of the Force to join
together with me, to feed off of the raw power that surrounded
us, even as our minds were already joining once again.
We came together with a suddenness that sent us crashing to the
wet ground. The wind swirled around us, the earth pulled us to
it. We were both of us soaked to the skin, tearing at each
other's clothing and devouring the flesh that was revealed. I
was entirely consumed by my apprentice -swallowed whole by the
Force that coursed through him still. It bathed our union with
brilliant heat, fusing our two souls.
I do not know if I took Obi-Wan or he took me. I only know that
the Force took us both, demanded everything of us and together
we gave ourselves to it, surrendered to it with a passion that
knew no equal. The lightening flashed again, around and in us,
coming from me, from Obi-Wan, as our orgasm ripped out of us.
Thunder roared through us, loud and raucous from me and my
lover's throats.
The torrential downpour softened, becoming a gentle drizzle
that rained upon us like a caress. I found myself lying over
Obi-Wan, leaning into his warmth, hands tracing the features I
knew better than my own. Eyes the color of the parting storm
regarded me, still alive with the Force, the passion banked,
but not gone.
"Obi-Wan." I spoke his name softly, still in awe of the way the
Force had brought us together, here in this place thick with
birth and death.
"Yes, Master," replied my padawan, his voice filled with the
same wisdom that lived in his eyes. Another crash of lightning
and thunder sounded in the distance, but the only storm that
could touch us now was the one that lived within us.
The end.
Lightning Crashes
By Live
Lightning Crashes, a new mother cries
Her placenta falls to the floor
The angel opens her eyes
The confusion sets in
Before the doctor can even close the door
Lightning Crashes, an old mother dies
Her intentions fall to the floor
The angel closes her eyes
The confusion that was hers
Belongs now, to the baby down the hall
Oh now feel it comin' back again
Like a roll in thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from the center of the Earth again
I can feel it.
Lightning Crashes, a new mother cries
This moment she's been waiting for
The angel opens her eyes
Pale blue colored iris, presents the circle
And puts the glory out to hide, hide
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