Midsummer's Knight Festival

by Tally (tally_s_sin@hotmail.com)

Summary: True love never runs smoothly.
Category: Romance, humour
Archive: MA, Padder's and my site (angelfire.com/scfi/tallyfiction)
Warnings: Very silly and completely pointless.
Disclaimer: Not mine. George Lucus owns them (lucky him) I make no money from them
Feedback: Yes please.
Thanks to: Dane Dream Wyeth and Mady

Obi-Wan looked forlornly at his Master. Qui-Gon sat on the other side of the dinning hall with his lover, Mace Windu. Bant looked sadly at her friend. All the other Padawans and knights were chatting excitedly about the coming midsummer's Knight Festival while Obi-Wan remained aloof and distracted from the happy gathering of people. She knew the reason for his distance, his feelings for his Master and his belief that they were not returned, trampling over his chance to have fun. However Bant was not convinced; in fact she believed the Jedi Master loved Obi-Wan very much indeed.

The young Jedi frowned in frustration. From the corner of her eye she saw a small, green being enter the large hall. She smiled to herself. She didn't know what to do, but she was sure the diminutive master would. He wasn't considered the most infamous meddler in the order for nothing, especially when it came to his Padawans and their apprentices.

At the Master's table, Qui-Gon tried to concentrate on what his lover was saying, but his attention kept drifting over to his apprentice, who sat across the room with his friends. The young boy he had taken as his Padawan ten years ago on Bandomeer had grown into a fine young man. Half the temple pined after him, including himself, but Qui-Gon couldn't help asking what the beautiful young man would want or see in his old Master.

Adi Gallia tried to keep the frown off her face. Qui-Gon Jinn didn't deserve Mace, he barely paid attention to what his lover said. Oh, if she was with Mace Windu she would happily listen to every word the man said without interruption.

Later, in a darkened room in the Master's wing of the temple,

"Yes, see the problem I do."

"Do you have any ideas, Master Yoda?" Bant looked hopefully at the other Jedi.

"Tricky this is, make sure no one gets hurt we must, but perfect the situation is."

"How?"

"Adi and Mace love each other too, but like Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, unable to admit it to each other. Get them all with the right partner we will." A wicked grin spread across Yoda's wrinkled face, "Fun this should be."

Master Yoda shuffled over to the large wooden chest that sat beneath the window. Heaving it open he pulled out a container that seemed to shimmer with a Force presence.

"What is that?" Bant asked, her eyes large and round, were larger and rounder than normal.

"Force dust."

"What does it do?"

"Pure light Force it is, love it represents. Sprinkle some on a person and fall in love with the first person they see they will and act upon it. Only temporary it is. Once it wears off real feelings return but in this case real feeling love is."

"Oh please, couldn't you have come up with a more plausible idea?"

"Hush."

"Sorry."

"Sprinkle them on Qui-Gon and Mace you will. When they will see their partners next."

"Why me?"

"Young you are, get into places I can not. Sneaky you must be."

"Huh, you just don't want to get caught meddling... again."

"Mundi my fault it was not, know there were Razor Lynxes I did not. I was not to blame."

"Not according to Mundi." Yoda chose to ignore the Padawan; after all she was only young. When she got to 800 years old she would understand.

"Go now you will. For Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Mace and Adi. For love to conquer all and a happy ending." Master Yoda jabbed his cane in the air for effect.

"A little melodramatic don't you think?"

"Argue you shouldn't. Go. Proceed with your mission. Return when you are successful. If you are caught I will disavow any knowledge of your actions."

"That's comforting." Bant muttered as she took the dust and left Yoda's quarters. She wanted to help but this was ridiculous. Who came up with these ideas and why was she put in the middle of them?

Bant looked over the rail, down onto the training room. From the viewing area she could sprinkle some off the dust onto Qui-Gon while he waited for Obi-Wan to turn up. Carefully she held the container over the side, and tilting it slightly, she allowed a fine shower of gold to fall on to the Jedi Master below. All that had to happen now was for Obi-Wan to show up for his lesson. Qui-Gon would see him, confess his love and they would fall into each other's arms. A simple plan. The door began to open but Bant's gleeful expression fell into one of dismay and horror as Adi Gallia walked into the room.

/Simple plans are the best plans... Huh./

"Master Jinn, may I have a word with you?"

"Of course councillor, what..." Qui-Gon stopped talking as the dust began having its effect; he stared at the other Jedi. "You have amazing skin, may I feel it?"

"What?" Adi was taken completely by surprise by Qui-Gon's odd behaviour.

"It looks so soft."

"Master Jinn, are you alright?"

"Yes, I feel wonderful." Qui-Gon began to study her again. "Do you mind if I kiss you? Your lips are so inviting." Before she could answer he swept her into his arms and devoured her lips in a soul-searing kiss.

"MASTER!"

Qui-Gon, Adi and Bant looked to the door to see a pale Obi-Wan staring at the embracing couple. An almost silent curse could be heard above them.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, where's Master Windu?"

"Yes, Qui-Gon. Where is Mace?"

"Who cares, Adi it's you that I love. Bond with me, run away with me. Let me make love to you all night." The two Jedi Masters stared at each other with two very different expressions. One horrified, the other besotted. The two other Jedi in the room stared at Qui-Gon also but only one understood his odd behaviour.

/This is not going well./

"Excuse me Masters, I'll leave you alone."

"Okay, Onky-Wan."

"It's Obi-Wan. Master."

"Sure, whatever." Qui-Gon didn't look away from Adi as his Padawan ran from the room in tears.

Bant hoped she would have more luck with her next target. If she could get Mace and Adi together she could then sort out Obi-Wan and his Master.

/Force, I hope too much damage hasn't been done./

Mace would be in a council session now so she could pounce on him as he emerged from the council chamber, Master Yoda could distract him.

Bant waited by the chamber doors for over an hour before they opened allowing those considered wisest among the order a break from bureaucracy. Mace came out last, having to slow his pace to be able to walk with Yoda who was speaking to him. By this time all the other council members had disappeared along the tranquil corridors.

If Master Yoda had stuck to his side of the plan, Adi would be waiting around the corner, expecting to talk to the little green troll.. er, Master. From behind she sprinkled gold dust on to the unsuspecting Jedi. Mace and Yoda continued on their way. Bant smiled, all was going to plan.

"Master Yoda?"

/Oh no, what's he doing here?/ Obi-Wan rushed up to Yoda clearly distressed.

"May I speak with you?" Yoda's eyes had opened in horror and his ears and gone very pointy.

"Yes, come away quickly, Padawan. Now."

"Padawan Kenobi, you are looking very handsome today."

/Too late./

"Pardon?"

"You are in excellent shape. I never noticed before." Obi-Wan Kenobi could not have been more confused. First his Master's odd behaviour, then Master Yoda trying to hustle him away as if from the scene of a crime and now Master Windu was coming on to him.

"Mace?" Adi Gallia appeared from around the corner.

/Could this get worse?/

"Adi please, I love you." Followed by Qui-Gon.

/I had to ask./

"Excuse me. Yoda ducked out of the potentially explosive situation and made his way over to the concealed Bant.

"Something happened it did."

"Yes Master, what shall we do?" meanwhile four Jedis' relationships slipped into the seventh circle of Sith hell.

"Qui-Gon, may I borrow your Padawan tonight?" Mace leered at the young man, his intentions all too clear to the others. For a moment Qui-Gon forgot himself.

"Have you no decency?"

"What about you? Our relationship clearly means nothing to you if you are going after another."

"But I love Adi, it's different." He tried to take her hand but she slipped out of his grasp.

"And I love Obi-Wan."

"What?" Came from two startled Jedi. Obi-Wan and Adi looked at each other horrified, and then by some mutual consent, they walked off down the hall together.

"Look what you did."

"Me? You're the one acting like a teenager. Throwing yourself at another."

"What about you throwing yourself at a mere boy."

"That boy is 23 years old and you're the one who loves him."

"Huh... Well you love Adi."

For a moment the spell worked the way it was meant to, the fears disappeared and they admitted to themselves who they loved, but all to quickly they slipped back and began to argue again.

Adi listened as Obi-Wan bled his heart out about his love for his Master and in return she told him of her love for the other council member. Together they sat united in their grief of unrequited love and their soul mates' odd behaviour.

In another part of the temple sat a small green figure with a Calamarian Padawan pacing back and forth.

"What are we to do, Master Yoda?"

"Panic not, evaluate situation we must. The dust I gave you permanent it is not. Qui-Gon and Mace return to them selves they will."

"But not before the damage is done."

"What is the situation?"

"Qui-Gon thinks he loves Adi, Adi is still in love with Mace but Mace believes he is in love with poor Obi-Wan who is also still in love with the right person."

"Hmm, complicated this is, use the dust again we will. Put it on Qui-Gon we will just before he trains with his Padawan."

Once again Bant found herself in the watching area over the training stalls, below her Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had already begun to spar. Taking out the container she closed her eyes and prayed to the Force for this to work. She watched for a few moments, timing the release just right so that Master Jinn would see his apprentice first. She released the dust into the air, it fell downwards in a pattern of shimmering gold. Obi-Wan leaped into the air, avoiding a blow from his opponent and flipped over his head.

"Force be damned."

Both Jedi stopped, looking up into the observatory box, wondering where the curse had come from, but saw no one. Mace Windu chose that moment to rush in looking for his one true love.

Mace looked at Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan looked at Mace. They met in a sizzling kiss.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Tasting you beautiful Padawan." It was a day for unfortunate meetings, Adi entered to find her beloved and her confidant in an intimate embrace.

"You little slut."

"Don't talk to him like that Adi, I love him." Mace defended his love.

"I know you love him Adi, but so do I." Obi-Wan looked desperately at her.

"You love me?" Mace asked Adi, confusion in his voice from hearing Obi-Wan's words. But Adi ignored him.

"You said you loved Qui-Gon." Now Qui-Gon joined in the conversation.

"Is this true, Padawan?" his voice stained by a small amount of hope.

"What do you care, you love Adi?" Mace accused his friend.

Hurt and confusion marked all their voices and their volume had gradually gotten louder until they began shouting at each other. The four Jedi created such a din it attracted the attention of others in the corridor.

"Stop this you will." The room fell silent, Yoda stood at the door, his face as unreadable as ever. "Separate now you will until resolved this is. To your quarters now you will go. All of you."

Bant waited for Yoda out in the corridor.

"Give them time to cool off we will, then fix this we will."

Mace paced around his common room, his thoughts, like his feet, in constant motion.

// Adi loves me, I never thought that she would but I love Obi-Wan. Don't I?// he couldn't understand his conflicting emotions, something was wrong. His console bleeping interrupted his suspicious thoughts. An emergency council meeting had been called. Forgetting his personal concerns, he hurried off to the council chamber.

In her chambers, Adi Gallia was sitting, trying to forget her anger and hurt.

//Mace loves me but Obi-Wan stole him when he knew of my feelings. He never said he cared for Mace, something is going on...// a summons arrived at her computer, telling her of an emergency council meeting, and like Mace, she hurried out of her rooms.

Adi arrived seconds after Mace.

"Where is everyone?" They stood alone in the large open chamber, no one else seemed to be coming. Unnoticed by them a fine sprinkling of golden dust fell on them from above. This time the change within them seemed more natural.

"Mace, there was something I wanted to speak to you about."

"Of course Adi, what is it?"

"It's about Obi-Wan..." Adi trailed off as Mace cringed but not for the reason she had been expecting.

"I don't understand why that happened, Adi. I guess all the pent up anxiety got to me. You see there is someone else." Mace stared at Adi who froze as he spoke.

"Someone else?" the words were an exhale of breath.

"I feel foolish saying this after everything that happened but would you like to go the Midsummer's Knight festival with me?"

"Why Master Windu, are you asking me out?" the tone of voice was teasing but the smile genuine. "I would like that very much." Mace reached out for her hand, taking it in his own he led her from the council chambers, and the unseen observers, to the great hall where the celebrations would begin. They were shy with each other as real lovers are when they first begin. Shy because the love is real, waiting to see if it is returned. They strolled away feeling content.

Getting Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon sprinkled with dust was going to be much harder. Although they were in the same place getting into their quarters unnoticed would be a problem. Bant was puzzling this out when an idea struck her. Smiling in a way that only a Calamarian could, she hurried off to the friends' quarters.

The flashing lights under the removed panel told Bant that only Obi-Wan and his Master were in their quarters. Taking the dust out of her pocket she carefully put some in their air conditioning unit. It was a pity she wouldn't get to see what happened.

/I just hope it all goes well./ Her job done, she walked away in search of Yoda and after that a well deserved soak in her Jacuzzi.

Qui-Gon sat at his desk in the common room. Obi-Wan was still in his room and had yet to come out. They had both been looking forward to the festival and now that was ruined by their odd behaviour. Unnoticed to both of them, from the ceiling came a fine sprinkle of gold. Now all we need do is wait.

The wait was long.

Only Obi-Wan's desire for food brought him out of his room, carefully not looking at his Master. The other Jedi looked up when he heard his apprentice's bedroom door open and laid eyes on the most beautiful man in the temple. He had always loved him, he knew that, but now he somehow seemed to be able to tell him how he felt.

"Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan turned to the man he had been trying to avoid. He glanced up quickly, returning his attention to the floor. His whole body seemed to frown. This time when he looked up it was done slowly, he looked at his Master and the frown faded into a shining smile.

"Master, may I speak with you?" the voice was now very earnest instead of reluctant. Both seeing in the other's eyes what they had longed to see for years. They met in the middle of the common room and kissed deeply, hungrily, passionately.

"I love you, Qui-Gon."

"And I love you, my Obi-Wan."

Arms tightly wrapped around each other, they somehow managed to struggle into Qui-Gon's bedroom. And that's where they stayed for a long time, learning each other's bodies and souls. As morning approached, they lay together in each other's arms.

"Obi-Wan, will you accompany me to the Midsummer's Knight festival tomorrow?"

"I'd love to, Beloved." Obi-Wan smiled at his new lover, feeling safe and content. "Master, about earlier, with Mace..."

"Hush my Obi-Wan that is business for another day, go to sleep and we can talk about it later."

"Yes, Master. I love you."

"I know, Beloved."

The pulled the bed clothes up around them and fell asleep as the morning sun's light began to seep through their window.

Morning came and the temple woke from a peaceful sleep. Jedi of all species gathered in the great hall for first meal and the first full day of the Midsummer's Knight festival. On one of the centre tables sat Mace Windu and Adi Gallia, happily chatting, neither able to contain their joy. Through the far door, two figures stepped in with a similar state of mind. They wove through the crowd of people, and seeing the two Jedi councillors they sat down opposite them.

"Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, how are you both?"

"Wonderful. You?" Qui-Gon and Mace shared and innocent and all knowing look.

"The same." They settled down to their meal until Obi-Wan couldn't wait any more and said what all of them had been wondering.

"Aren't any of you going to talk about what happened yesterday?" three pairs of eyes turned to stare at him. "Don't any of you feel odd today?"

"Well..." Qui-Gon was cut off.

"Other than that, Master." Obi-Wan blushed. All three Jedi Masters took a moment to assess their body functions. While nothing was wrong something was odd. They looked at each other in puzzlement. Then in unison the answer came to them all.

"Yoda."

"Excuse me Masters, Obi-Wan. I have a confession." Bant announced, joining the four at the table.

After Bant had finished explaining, she was met by four calculating looks.

"All we need now is a plan." Qui-Gon said.

"Bant, you want in?"

"In what?"

Obi-Wan smiled deviously at her.

"Revenge."

"Oh no, I want nothing to do with it." She left them to their plotting.

"Worked out it did. Move on to other projects we can. Seen Bruck and Leela staring at each other I have. Help them we can."

Bant stared at the ancient Jedi Master. She couldn't believe what he was suggesting, especially after the near disaster earlier. She smiled at him and in a respectful tone she said,

"Not on your life, Master Yoda." She then bowed and walked away, leaving him to meddle alone.

Qui-Gon answered the door to see Bant standing on the other side.

"What did you have in mind?" she asked.

"What changed you mind?" By this time Obi-Wan had appeared, having heard the voice of his oldest friend.

"Anything to stop his meddling." Qui-Gon turned to his Padawan and grinned.

"Bant, do you have any of that dust left?"

"Yes, why?" Bant pulled out the container.

Obi-Wan smiled.

"Well, me and Master Qui-Gon were talking and we realised Master Yoda and Master Yaddle are perfect for each other." The three Jedi stood facing each other, their minds imagining the effect of such a caper. Simultaneously they began to grin.

Force help the little troll... er... master.

The End.