28The Heart of Destiny
Author: Laura Kenobi
Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me, I don't own Star Wars. I do, however, own any original characters, planets, etcetera that I created for this story.
Archive: Please contact me first!
Comments/Reviews: You can email me through my profile, and you can always leave a review!
Author's Notes: ((italics)) represents thoughts and / italics / represents communication through the Force.
This story was first published in its original version beginning on June 21, 2001. In July 2005, I decided that since four years had passed and my skills as a writer had undoubtedly improved since this story was first written and posted, it might be refreshing to return to this story and give it a fresh look and an update. For the most part the overall story remains the same - my goal has been to improve on and expand on the original, so I hope the result will prove enjoyable to all of you who are wonderful enough to read and review. The version of this story below is the updated version. Call it the "Special Edition" version of this story.
Summary: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn start out on a mission, and a lifetime of memories follow.
Chapter Three
- Six Years Later -
"Obi-Wan! Over here!"
Twenty-three-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi recognized the voice at once. Bant, his oldest and best friend, was waving at him across the cafeteria. He waved back, and started her way.
He smiled at Bant as he walked up to her table, and sat down beside her.
"It's been forever since I saw you last!" She was very happy to see him, "Has Master Jinn been working you all the time or something? It's great to see you!"
"I suppose you could say that," Obi-Wan imagined the look on Qui-Gon's face, "We just returned from a mission to Malastare. Just a routine peace treaty for once... no complications. It's nice to be back. What about you?"
"I haven't been doing as much as I'd like. The Council hasn't sent us on a mission in months. I don't know why."
"They'll send you on a mission soon enough. I would love a week off. Maybe we should switch places!" He laughed. He could just imagine what Master Qui-Gon Jinn would say if Bant walked in saying she was Obi-Wan Kenobi.
His laughter died away, however, as an odd feeling flooded into his mind. He turned to look at Bant, who was again calling out to someone across the room. She turned back to him.
"Here comes Gwen. I think you'll like her, she's a good friend."
Obi-Wan's head snapped up. He had seen Gwen A'mour a few times since the night they had met. Over the years, though, they had lost contact, only seeing each other briefly passing in the hall.
In truth, they had been avoiding each other, and had never spoken of the bond that Obi-Wan was now sure they shared. The bond had been frightening to them both, and they hadn't wanted to talk about it.
Obi-Wan still didn't. He contemplated making an excuse to leave, but immediately scolded himself. ((Act like a Jedi... this is not a big deal.))
As Gwen came over and sat down across from him, he did not look at her. He knew it was her. He could feel it.
"Gwen, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi. He's my best friend. Obi-Wan, meet Gwen A'mour. I met her a few years ago on a mission." Bant smiled, unaware that they were already acquainted.
Obi-Wan lifted his head to look at her, and Gwen's head snapped up to look Obi-Wan in the eyes. As their eyes met, a chill of excitement ran down Obi-Wan's spine. She was breathtaking, more so now than ever. Her hair had grown longer, and now cascaded in loose waves down her back, framing her small face.
With complete embarrassment, he noted that she had grown into her small frame very well indeed. This person sitting in front of him was no girl. She was a woman, and he was bonded to her. He wanted to pull his eyes away, but he couldn't. Her eyes were the same - the one feature of her body that had not changed since they had met - green and beautiful. Lively, so full of energy. He forced his mouth to form words as he broke the eye contact.
"We've met. Master Jinn and Master L'arel are close friends."
Gwen nodded in agreement, unable to speak.
"Well that's odd." Bant chuckled. As she laughed and her friends felt awkward, her comlink beeped at her waist. She thumbed it on.
"Padawan? I apologize for interrupting, but the Council has summoned us. I need you to meet me at the Council chamber."
Bant sighed. "Yes, Master. I'll be right there." She thumbed off her comlink. "I guess you were right," she rolled her eyes at Obi-Wan. "I'll talk to you both later."
And then she was gone – leaving Obi-Wan and Gwen alone at the table. It was uncomfortably quiet for a moment.
"It's been a while since we've spoken." Gwen's voice broke the silence, but the awkwardness was fully intact.
"Yes."
There was a pause.
"We're bonded." Obi-Wan wondered how she would react. They had never spoken about it.
"Yes." Gwen echoed his previous answer. "Do you believe it?" She looked at him, her eyes questioning.
"I...I didn't at first, but now... now I..." He thought about it. Did he truly believe it?
The answer came to him more quickly than he had expected. "I do."
There, he had said it. He believed they were soul-bonded. He looked into her eyes to see her reaction. They sparkled with surprise for a moment, and then they turned serious.
"I think I always have." She looked slightly embarrassed.
They both believed it. Did that make it true? When Obi-Wan looked up at Gwen again, she was smiling at him. Force, she was gorgeous.
"You're confused," she gave a small laugh, "So am I. What are we going to do?"
"I don't know," he answered honestly, "Do you think we could go somewhere a little less... public?"
"Sure. That's a good idea. We need to figure everything out."
Obi-Wan smiled.
As they walked, he let her take the lead. She led them to the gardens, where they had first gotten to know each other. The Force was strong in the gardens.
Gwen turned around to face him. She looked unsure of what to say. Obi-Wan dared to ask the question that burned most often in his mind.
"I think maybe, if you think it would be a good idea, maybe we could... uh, test this bond." She didn't understand, and he tried to explain. "See what it is, open it up. Both of us have always shielded against it."
"I..." she took a deep breath, and he could see her conflicting thoughts in her eyes. After a moment she reached a decision. "Okay."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes. Reaching out, he took her hands in his. Then, very cautiously, he lowered his shields. He could tell she was more reluctant than he was, so he waited patiently until her shields were also lowered.
The effect was completely different than Obi-Wan had expected. He felt like he could see into her very soul. It was terrifying and exhilarating; he had never felt such a connection with anyone or anything. He wasn't sure what to do. He could feel her mystification and fear as clearly as he could feel his own. Both of their hands were shaking.
/ This is... right. / He suddenly heard her voice in his head.
/ There are no words for what I am feeling right now. / He knew she understood.
/ I can feel it. I can feel your emotions. /
/ Yes. It's frightening. / He admitted it, trusting her/ I've never opened up like this before. /
/ Nor have I. Not even to my Master. /
Obi-Wan agreed. All doubt about their bond had vanished.
/ What should we do now? / She could read his mind.
He wasn't sure. / Should we tell our Masters? /
/ Now? /
/ What are we going to tell them? /
/ Good point. Let's wait. / She was smiling, he could tell. / We'll keep it a secret. /
As they released each other, Obi-Wan felt happier than he had in a long time. This was all so new, so invigorating. He opened his eyes to see Gwen still smiling broadly at him.
He grinned back. "We'll tell them later."
"Sure. When we know how this works," she paused, "and where we want to go with it."
Obi-Wan nodded, wondering why the Force had chosen this path for him. What was in store for them?
SPLASH
"Obi-Wan Kenobi! I'm going to kill you!"
"Not very Jedi-like of you." Obi-Wan grinned impishly. Why was he always so charming? Gwen felt her anger die away into happiness.
"And that was Jedi-like? You threw me into the fountain!" She mockingly refused the helping hand he offered, and climbed out of the fountain, completely wet.
"I suppose. But you have to admit, it was rather funny..." He began to laugh, and Gwen couldn't help but laugh with him.
"How do you do it? One second I'm angry with you and the next I'm laughing with you!"
"It's natural talent. I'm simply amazing." Something in Obi-Wan was more free, more lighthearted when she was nearby.
"Don't flatter yourself." Gwen rolled her eyes in amusement. Grabbing him by the shoulders, she flung him headfirst into the fountain she had just climbed out of. He came up gasping and coughing, and Gwen could barely keep herself from falling over at his facial expression.
"I guess I deserved that. You're absolutely wicked, you know?"
"I know." Gwen agreed as Obi-Wan climbed out of the fountain, and grinned at their wet clothing.
"What have you been doing?" Master L'arel's voice rang out suddenly, startling both Padawan's into silence. Both Gwen and Obi-Wan whirled around to face her. She had one eyebrow raised, obviously confused but smiling. "Go dry off, and meet Master Jinn and I back here in... fifteen minutes."
Gwen chuckled quietly, and grabbed Obi-Wan's arm. "We have to hurry!"
Master Ginger L'arel furrowed her brow thoughtfully as her Padawan pulled Obi-Wan Kenobi in the direction of their personal quarters. They had been spending a lot of time together lately.
Gwen was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. She was soul-bonded to the most amazing, kind, and handsome, man in the universe! She and Obi-Wan had just finished explaining the whole situation to their Masters.
Ginger and Qui-Gon were in the next room discussing the news. Obi-Wan was sitting beside her. He looked confused.
"What's so funny?"
"I... I just... I'm bonded..." she broke into a fit of laughter, "Bonded to... bonded!" She exploded with laughter. Obi-Wan smiled.
Gwen stared at him. Those eyes... there was so much expression there. They were like little gateways into his soul.
((I can do better than that... I can actually get into his soul.)) She felt lightheaded.
Behind all the excitement was nervousness. Her merriment slowly died away. What would her Master say? And Master Jinn?
Her head turned as the two Masters came walking into the room. She searched her Master through their bond, wondering what she was thinking. What was their conclusion? Apprehension settled into the pit of her stomach. She turned to look at Obi-Wan. He grinned at her.
/ Everything will be fine... don't worry. / He gave her confidence. She smiled at him in thanks, and turned back to their Masters. Master Jinn spoke first.
"The decision must be yours. We are not the ones who will have to deal with the consequences, pleasant or unpleasant, that will come from this." Gwen frowned. Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan. "I trust your judgment, Padawan."
Master L'arel nodded in agreement. "You must think this over seriously. You'll be dealing with the results for the rest of your lives. Make the right decision for yourself, Gwen, not for anyone else."
((The right decision! What is the right decision? The decision has to be for Obi-Wan too, doesn't it? What is he thinking?))
"You don't have to decide anything right now. We'll leave you alone." Master Jinn gave the pair an encouraging smile, and then the two Jedi Masters turned and left the room.
Obi-Wan was shocked. He had imagined his Master and Master L'arel coming into the room and ordering them to do something. But he was glad; now they could decide what was best. For them. He turned to Gwen.
"What are you thinking?"
"Actually, I was wondering what you were thinking."
"Honestly?"
"I want you to be one-hundred-percent honest with me. This is important. I need to know what you really think, and you need to know what I really think." She needed to know.
"Do you ever just know that something is right?" he began, "That it is the will of the Force?"
She didn't respond.
"I don't know how this will sound," he leaned over and looked at her, "I love you."
Her mind spun out of control. She could feel the truth behind his words, though, and it encouraged her.
"I love you too. I think I always have."
He took a deep breath. "This is crazy."
"Yes," she agreed completely, "So that's it, then? We've decided?"
"Whatever you think, my love." He didn't need to see her face to know she was smiling.
She blushed faintly, and Obi-Wan felt joy in the deepest depths of his soul. It made him feel complete, and completely out of control. It was the best feeling he'd ever had.
"I cannot say if you made the correct decision or not. Only the two of you know that. However, I can say that I am very pleased for you. You're a good man, my Padawan, a good man."
Obi-Wan smiled. "Thank you, Master. This is all very overwhelming, but I'm happy."
"I'm glad, Padawan."
"I still have a hard time realizing that this is real... it's brilliant!"
Qui-Gon laughed at his Padawan's delight. "Goodnight Obi-Wan."
"Goodnight Master."
"I'm so happy for you!" Gwen grinned at her master's enthusiasm. One might have thought her Master was the one who had just decided to stay with Obi-Wan; she was so excited. Gwen found it incredibly entertaining.
"Thank you... I'm quite happy myself!" She laughed.
"Obi-Wan is a wonderful young man. You're very lucky."
Gwen smirked
"Master? You know, Master Jinn is a lot like Obi-Wan..."
"Padawan!"
Gwen shrieked with laughter as a Force-thrown pillow soared past her head. She threw it back, and soon the pair was entangled in a mammoth pillow fight that lasted deep into the night...
End Chapter 3.
Thanks for reading – please review! I'll post the next chapter tomorrow. - Laura