The Padawan's Tale

by Master Jenn Kenobi (quigonjdi1@aol.com)

Archive: Yes. M_A. Others, please ask.

Category: Q/O, AU, Romance

Rating: PG

Warnings: None.

Spoilers: None.

Summary: Sequel to "The Master's Tale". Can Anakin help Master Jinn and Knight Kenobi find their way? Anakin's perspective.

Reading "The Knight's Tale" and "The Master's Tale" first is highly recommended, or it might not make sense. ("The Master's Tale" is a permitted sequel to Mercutio's "The Knight's Tale" listed in M_A archive, but does not necessarily follow her intended universe.)

Feedback: Yes, on or off list at quigonjdi1@aol.com.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to King George. I'm just playing with them. All Hail the King!

Anakin woke and, since he hadn't been called to tend his master, decided to explore the ship more, firmly keeping his hands to himself. For now. He thought he'd better be on his best behaviour if he wanted to keep Obi-Wan's help with Master Qui-Gon.

And Master Qui-Gon really seemed to want Obi-Wan's help.

Anakin liked Obi-Wan, and the knight seemed to like him. At least until recently. He had helped him during the weeks Master Qui-Gon was at the healers; had shown him things he was supposed to be learning. However, he had noticed the sad looks Obi-Wan had given him, and now that the master was out of the infirmary, he seemed to pull away all together.

Master Qui-Gon seemed very upset by that.

When his master had sent him after Obi-Wan the first time, Anakin had been surprised to find the knight crying. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he had decided to remain and deliver the message he had been given. Master had been quite thorough in his instructions and he wasn't about to disobey the only one who agreed to teach him.

Then Obi-Wan had left as soon as Ani had shown up with his bag. Master Qui-Gon had him pack bags for both of them as quickly as he could and help the older man to a ship.

The same one Obi-Wan was leaving on.

Master Qui-Gon explained that he and Obi-Wan had had a misunderstanding and it was very important that it be resolved before any more time passed.

That was fine with Anakin. He didn't like whatever was going on. It was giving him things to do, but everyone was tense and angry.

The young boy stopped in the galley. It was empty except for one of the pilots was getting some caf. He smiled and ruffled Anakin's hair. "Good morning. I haven't seen the others yet."

"My master's probably still sleeping. He's sick."

"And they're sending him on a mission? Makes me glad I'm just a pilot. Help yourself to some breakfast. Come on up front if you get bored and I'll show you around the cockpit," he offered as he headed out the door.

"Sure! Thanks!" Anakin called back. That was something he'd love to do! He hoped he'd be allowed time to visit the cockpit. But right now he was hungry. He turned to find some food in the galley. After eating some fruit and cereal, AND cleaning up his mess, he made tea to take to his master and Obi-Wan.

He stood at their door carefully balancing the tray, unsure now, since he heard nothing from within. He didn't want to wake Master Qui-Gon up from much needed rest, but wouldn't Obi-Wan be up?

He was about to knock softly when he heard his master's voice, "come in, Anakin." The door slid open for him and he stepped inside. Obi-Wan was helping the injured man sit up. "Ah, tea. Anakin, you're a mind reader. Thank you. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, Master. Thank you for the extra blankets, Obi-Wan, sir."

"No problem. I get cold in space too, so I always make sure there are extra blankets." He moved to take the tray from Anakin and set it on the little table in the room.

Anakin smiled. It was neat that the grown man had the same problem as he did. That made it feel not so childish. He turned to Qui-Gon. "How are you feeling, Master?"

Qui-Gon watched the knight as he poured the tea. Anakin didn't understand the look in his eyes, but he liked that his master was smiling. "Better. Much better."

"Good! Does this mean you and Obi-Wan have made up?"

Qui-Gon still stared at Obi-Wan. "I think we've started." He now turned his gaze to his Padawan. "Anakin, what would you say to having two masters?"

"You two? Yipee!" He liked these two. They weren't afraid of him like the others were. And TWO masters?! First they told him he couldn't be trained and now he'd have two masters! He'd be a Jedi for sure!

"Master?" Now Obi-Wan was staring at Qui-Gon, a cross between shock and inquiry plastered on his face.

"How about it, Obi-Wan? Will you join me in training Anakin a joint Master?"

"I -- But -- You're -- Two -- How -- "

Anakin giggled. Obi-Wan looked funny and wasn't making any sense.

"How? There are many ways we could do it. It would be up to us. There are no rules on the number of masters a Padawan can have, just the number of padawans a Master can have. Only no one has ever done it. I would want you as an equal Master, though. Not as an assistant. We would both have a training bond with him."

"Joint Masters? We did discuss my assisting you with his training, but I don't think that's a good idea. I'm not qualified to take a Padawan."

"Yes you are. You are a Knight now and can take a Padawan. You've been teaching him already. Besides, if we are to work together, he would be with us on missions so you might as well be teaching him, too."

"But the Council--"

Qui-Gon had slowly risen out of bed and now approached the stunned knight. "We could seek their permission to be partnered as joint masters for Anakin and they will undoubtedly argue with us." He reached out to touch the younger man's cheek. "Unless we were bonded. I would very much like to bond with you, Obi-Wan. If you would have this foolish old master."

Anakin wasn't sure he should be here, but they were discussing his fate as well and he wanted to know what would happen to him. He wondered about this bond thing. Master Qui-Gon had mentioned having a training bond with him. Is this what they were talking about? Did that mean they wouldn't have one with him? Or would he be included if they were both his masters?

"Bond? You want to pair-bond with me?" Obi-Wan took a step back from his former master and drew himself up into that serious pose Anakin had seen often. "I see. This is the Council's way of babysitting me since I'm not ready to be a Knight."

Uh oh. What now? Anakin shifted uncomfortably. Obi-Wan seems angry again.

"No! The Council has NOTHING to do with this. I want you. I. Want. You. I have done you such a grave disservice to make you so unsure of yourself, but this is NOT out of pity, nor am I required to. I do not know how to convince you that my feelings are true since you can not feel them anymore. I love you. I want to bond with you. A life-bond, not a pair-bond. Nothing would be hidden between us then. You would know how much I value you. If you don't wish that, then I will take whatever you will give me. Please, Obi-Wan. Tell me."

Anakin held his breath as he watched the pair. Master Qui-Gon shouldn't be up, but he didn't want to interrupt. He could tell this was very important and would determine all three of their futures. He hoped, though, that Obi-Wan would make up his mind soon. Master Qui-Gon was beginning to shake.

But then so was Obi-Wan. He looked like he was going to cry again, too. He didn't think Jedi Knights were supposed to cry. This must have been some big misunderstanding.

Anakin looked from man to man. Neither seemed like they were going to say anything. He couldn't stand it anymore. "Obi-Wan, sir? Don't you like Master Qui-Gon anymore?"

The young knight blinked and looked at Anakin. "What? Yes, of course I do. I--"

"Then what's the problem? I think it would be wizard to have you both as masters and Master Qui-Gon wants to do this bond thing with you. If you agree, maybe he'd get the rest he needs to get better."

Obi-Wan's eyes widened in realization and he turned back to the older man. "Master! You should be lying down!" He reached to take his arm.

Anakin rolled his eyes. Duh! Took him long enough to notice. And he's supposed to be the trained one.

"Not until you answer me." Qui-Gon grabbed Obi-Wan's wrist and stood his ground.

Obi-Wan looked to Ani for help. The boy shrugged. "You said yourself that Master Qui-Gon is stubborn."

Obi-Wan sighed and lowered his eyes to the floor. "You have been everything to me for so many years. You -- you still are. I -- I love you," he answered softly.

Qui-Gon gently lifted the young man's chin until those eyes looked at him. "Then will you let me spend the rest of my days at your side making this up to you? Will you bond with me?"

Anakin could swear no one was breathing. A few heartbeats later Obi-Wan's voice could barely be heard as he whispered, "yes."

"YIPEE!" Anakin yelled as he jumped up and down.

Qui-Gon pulled Obi-Wan into his arms, tears streaking both of their faces. It wasn't long, however, before the knight was holding up the master as he lost consciousness.

Epilogue:

"Confer on you the level of Knight, the Council does. Please kneel." Yoda tapped his gimmer stick on the floor.

Anakin lowered himself to one knee and looked up into the faces of his masters. He could see the pride in their smiles. It had been amazing having these two legendary Jedi as masters. He had learned so much. More than he could have with just one.

His trials had shown him that he would have turned to the Dark if he had been trained by only one of them. For either one would have been an empty shell without the other. He would not have seen the light of their love. And he had been fortunate enough to be there to see them come together.

Their bonding ceremony had been held as soon as they had returned from Bairu since Master Qui-Gon did not want to wait until he was fully healed. He had told Ani that he didn't want another misunderstanding to come between he and Master Obi-Wan and that the bond between the pair would be different than a training bond; deeper, with telepathy and a stronger sense of emotions. Misunderstandings would be a thing of the past. And through the years, as far as Anakin could tell, they were.

Once they had been pronounced bonded, they had Anakin come forward to be accepted as padawan to Obi-Wan as well and established the training bond between the trio.

The Council had a collective fit over the whole thing. They didn't like the idea of two of their best knights being permanently partnered together. Then they accused Master Qui-Gon of training Master Obi-Wan to be too much like him since he was going along with the idea of two masters for one padawan. Of course, the majority of them ended up happy for all three by the end of the ceremony with Yoda making some cryptic comment about how it was meant to be.

Now both of his masters were holding his braid, their hands joined on the hilt of the knife as it cut through his hair. "Rise and stand beside us as a full Knight of the Jedi Order, Knight Skywalker," Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stated together.

Anakin stood and grinned at the two men that had brought him to this milestone.

A cheer went up through the crowd attending the ceremony. The new knight managed to give a brief hug to his masters before his friends swept him away for the celebration.

Later he spotted them on the balcony beyond the Hall, heads bent close together, fingers entwined.

He knew then that he would follow in his masters' footsteps. He would serve the Light, the Order and the Council, but he would not do so alone. He would ask Padme to bond with him. The Council would have yet another fit, but he had been taught well.

His masters had shown him that they were stronger together than apart. Together as they were meant to be. Together as they will always be.