Between will and what will be [TPM homeplot, part V]
The Council transport was not a particularly large one, but given that they were returning to Coruscant several days earlier than the Senators, the limited space proved almost comfortable. Adi and Siri had remained on Naboo as well, protection for the remaining members of the Senate, while the rest of the Jedi returned to the Temple--likely enough to evacuate it subtly but quickly to the planet the Council deemed most suitable. In the meantime, they did their best to rest and prepare for whatever was to come, and to celebrate their small but temporary victories.
Qui-Gon stood silent by one observation window, all by the necessary emergency lights shut off, the stream of stars sliding by in the far, far distance. One of his hands rested against the slim braid looped twice around his opposite wrist, fingertips smoothing over the plaited strands, the feeling of them familiar even if this braid was new. In the moment he had stood before the Council with Obi-Wan, brother to brother instead of student to teacher, he had thought that finally, that at last he had achieved what he had wanted most in this life, and what he had longed for in the other life he had been so unexpectedly given. A sense of triumph, of pain, of a life worthwhile in the living...
It was bittersweet, but it was beautiful.
And just as extraordinary, he could sense her before ever he saw her, now. Claire. He spoke aloud as well after a moment, turning to face her with a quiet smile. "I hope the accommodations are not entirely unsuitable."
Qui-Gon stood silent by one observation window, all by the necessary emergency lights shut off, the stream of stars sliding by in the far, far distance. One of his hands rested against the slim braid looped twice around his opposite wrist, fingertips smoothing over the plaited strands, the feeling of them familiar even if this braid was new. In the moment he had stood before the Council with Obi-Wan, brother to brother instead of student to teacher, he had thought that finally, that at last he had achieved what he had wanted most in this life, and what he had longed for in the other life he had been so unexpectedly given. A sense of triumph, of pain, of a life worthwhile in the living...
It was bittersweet, but it was beautiful.
And just as extraordinary, he could sense her before ever he saw her, now. Claire. He spoke aloud as well after a moment, turning to face her with a quiet smile. "I hope the accommodations are not entirely unsuitable."