Saga He Will Know (Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, TPM one-shot)

Title: He Will Know
Author: Master_Noi
Characters: Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan

Summary: Qui-Gon's thoughts as he faces his death, his POV.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and write this for my enjoyment.

I wrote this for another site and thought I would share it over here.

***

I am dying.

I know it before I sink to the ground, before the blade that tore through my body is so painfully ripped away. I had felt my apprentice in my mind, begging me to wait for him, to not push ahead, and now I have failed him. Instead of safeguarding his life, he must now finish what I could not.

I can sense his anger, the bubbling fury of emotion welling up in his soul as he cries out. Oh, Obi-Wan, Force, do not let him fall to darkness. Not now. Not today. Not ever. I don?t know that I could bear to leave this existence knowing that I have lost another one to its depths.

I keep my mind close to his, with him as I have always been, but he is stubborn as expected. He is tired and reckless, driven by adrenaline and emotion. If he would just focus, he would realize he has lost his greatest ally, the Light.

Now something has happened. I sense his anxiety, and the Force faithfully warns me, as it always has, that Obi-Wan is in danger. I can do nothing but wait to see if he lives. Each second is eternal yet fleeting, and then I sense him welcome the Force and I am as proud of him as I have ever been.

The darkness lets out its own howl of rage as one of its own is destroyed and then there is peace.

?Master! Master!?

His voice is gentle and full of concern, his touch already harnessing healing energy as he cradles me in his arms. It chases away the pain and fills me with warmth, but I know it is futile. Even if he poured his own life force into me, which he would, it would not be enough.

?It is too late ? It?s ??

?No!?

The grief in the words torn from his throat makes my heart ache. He is a Jedi and will accept it. It will not be easy, but he will continue without me.

There is so much to say, so much to express, and not enough time. I will not be there to cut his braid, see him off on his first mission as a knight, see him take his own padawan ? padawan. I push such indulgences from my mind as there is still work to be done.

?Obi-Wan promise ... promise me you'll train the boy...?

I cringe at the flicker of hurt that slips through our fleeting bond and it grieves me that our last words must concern the boy that has driven such a wedge between us in past days.

?Yes, Master ?? he says without hesitation.

I know that he would do anything for me, and I ache that I must ask this of him, but deep down I know the Force wills that this boy be trained. It is a mystery that after serving so faithfully, the Force has denied me its Chosen One, but I am too tired to ponder it any longer. Such thoughts are a waste of this moment.

?He is the Chosen One...he will...bring balance...train him!?

The words barely slip from my mouth, any further I want to say to him dying on silent lips. I reach up to touch his face, hoping the simple gesture will communicate more than I have strength to say.

In the brief instant I pass from life, I see him not through my own eyes, but through those of the Force. He is strong and wise, the Jedi master I knew he would be. Along the road, he has found the Living Force that I have tried so long to show him, and shines more brilliantly than ever before. But the weight of a thousand lifetimes rests on his shoulders, and those sparkling jeweled eyes, now framed with graying hair, have seen too much and carry with them infinite sorrow. Somehow I know it is from the burden I have placed on his shoulders and I wish that I could take back my last request and spare him. The image returns to that of a padawan, weeping silently over his fallen master and I realize that that life is gone.

The Force that I have served my whole life is more beautiful than I could ever have imagined, and the chorus of all that have gone before beckons me to find my rest. Yet, I cast one last glance back at the boy

 

This is even more moving to read the second time around.

In the brief instant I pass from life, I see him not through my own eyes, but through those of the Force. He is strong and wise, the Jedi master I knew he would be. Along the road, he has found the Living Force that I have tried so long to show him, and shines more brilliantly than ever before. But the weight of a thousand lifetimes rests on his shoulders, and those sparkling jeweled eyes, now framed with graying hair, have seen too much and carry with them infinite sorrow. Somehow I know it is from the burden I have placed on his shoulders and I wish that I could take back my last request and spare him. The image returns to that of a padawan, weeping silently over his fallen master and I realize that that life is gone

Absolutely gorgeous!

 

I know my padawan well enough to know he will not listen, he will not believe that I am still at his side. But a time will come when perhaps Obi-Wan will suspend what he believes is possible, and then he will know he is not alone.

How beautiful.
Wow.

 

Beautiful

 

VaderLVR - So glad you enjoyed it a second time around.

oquidan - Uh oh, I'm making everyone cry.

obsessedwithSW - Thanks

 

Still love it.

 

But you killed him again. Qui-Gon can't die!!! Great job yet again.

 

you did a masterful job of capturing Qui-Gons thoughts and emotions as he lay dying.

Great job on this

 

Aw, gee, sniffs, rubs eyes. That was...beautiful.

 

I know my padawan well enough to know he will not listen, he will not believe that I am still at his side. But a time will come when perhaps Obi-Wan will suspend what he believes is possible, and then he will know he is not alone.

Such a fitting end to a wonderful piece. I really like how the last few passages show Qui-Gon's death not as an end, but as a beginning step to much bigger things in the future.

 

*sniffle*

Absolutely lovely. The closing lines were just perfect - practically gave me goosebumps!

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this!

 

Beautiful work, Noi. It's fascinating that even after seeing that scene so often and reading about it from so many different perspectives, you still managed to make this interesting and new.

 

Aaaaawwww, that was so sad. But a tiny bit hopeful, since Obi-Wan will know he's still there.

 

That was beautiful, Noi!

 

I knew I'd cry if I read this one, so I was putting it off.

Nicely done, but sad.