TITLE: First Knight - Part One
BY: Arwyn Whitesun
SUMMARY: When Obi-Wan is asked to bless the marriage of a groom and his much younger bride, his and Anakin's fates are changed forever. Takes place a couple of years before the events of Attack of the Clones.
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The Great Flanneled One created Obi-Wan, Anakin and Yoda, et al. The rest belong to me. Definitely not making any money on this fic, but feedback can and will be accepted in lieu of payment. :)
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Obi-Wan Kenobi looked over as Dynast K'lia, his white-bearded face stretched in a wide smile, raised his palsied hands to silence the chatter of the wedding guests.
"Thank you all for coming," the Dynast began once the hall had quieted, "to the wedding feast of my daughter Onara to our new ally, Dynast Edress from Kindah Province."
K'lia turned and gestured to where the bride and groom sat at the head of the bridal table. Edress' eyes, which were as sharp as a predatory bird, darted about the room as the guests slapped their tables in applause. His wrinkled lips stretched in a thin smile which, Obi-Wan noted, did not reach his eyes. The skin which peeked out from under his balding scalp glowed under the hall lights. During the long, stress-filled days and nights of negotiations, it had been Edress who had proven the most difficult, refusing to budge an inch on any of the compromises Obi-Wan had offered.
Obi-Wan looked over at Onara. She was still draped in the voluminous scarlet, emerald and gold robes that served as a wedding gown on Ahjane. He had yet to see her face for it was heavily veiled and had been since the wedding ceremony. Obi-Wan wasn't even sure if she had eaten anything of the wedding feast. He glanced at her plate. It looked as if she had eaten something, but not much judging by what remained.
Obi-Wan then looked over at Anakin. From what he had heard, Onara wasn't much older than his seventeen year-old padawan who sat next to him, gleefully stuffing his face with the rich pastries the Ahjane seemed to favor.
"We are also honored," Dynast K'lia went on in a quavering voice, "in having as our guests the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. As all of you know, the Jedi have been most instrumental in bringing about the peace accord between our warring provinces. If not for their tireless efforts, we would not be sitting here today, celebrating in peace the union of our two provinces through the marriage of my only child to Dynast Edress."
Again the hall rang with the sound of hands slapping the table in appreciation. Obi-Wan inclined his head. It had been a long and exhausting round of negotiations but, with this marriage, there was now hope the decades long war between the two major provinces of the planet Ahjane was finally over and the rebuilding of its war-devastated cities and countrysides could begin. Obi-Wan allowed himself a brief moment of self- satisfaction, an indulgence he tried not to partake of too often. Dynast K'lia raised his hands again to silence the room.
"Now, I would ask one last favor of our esteemed guests. As you know, tradition requires that the union of a groom and his virgin bride be blessed on their wedding night. Usually such an honor would fall upon a Dynast or some other high-ranking adult male, but I would like to ask the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to take upon himself the honor of blessing the marriage of my daughter."
K'lia looked over at Obi-Wan, his white, bushy brows raised questioningly, his kindly, wrinkled face tilted. Obi-Wan was startled for a moment, for he had not expected this, but he could sense by the hush in the hall that what was being asked of him was of great importance. He nodded and smiled at K'lia.
"It would be an honor to bless the marriage of your daughter and Dynast Edress," Obi-Wan replied.
K'lia's face broke into a wide smile. The hall again rang with applause. Edress, however, was not smiling. He gave Obi-Wan a quick dark look, then turned away, leaning towards a yellow-eyed, axe-faced man who sat next to him. Edress whispered something in the man's ear. The man glared at Obi- Wan. Then a sudden hard slap on Obi-Wan's shoulder turned his attention away from the two men.
"I hope you've brushed up on your wedding blessings, Master," Anakin said, his blue eyes flashing with humor.
"Actually, I have never blessed nor officiated in any capacity at a wedding, Padawan," Obi-Wan said in a low voice, "but I'm sure Dynast K'lia, aware as he is of our ignorance of Ahjane wedding customs, will brief me on what it is I'm required to say."
"You better hope so, Master, because if you say the wrong thing, you might just start the war over."
Obi-Wan frowned at Anakin who laughed softly. He turned away from his apprentice as K'lia approached. Obi-Wan rose from his chair to greet the Dynast.
"Thank you, Master Kenobi," K'lia said as he took Obi-Wan's hands, "for agreeing to the blessing of my daughter's wedding. I can not express to you the great honor you have bestowed upon my family."
"You're welcome, Dynast K'lia." Obi-Wan said as the Dynast released his hands.
Obi-Wan then cleared his throat for he was not sure if he should bring the matter up but he was unable to get the look on Edress' face out of his mind.
"Excuse me, Dynast K'lia, but is Dynast Edress in agreement with my blessing of his marriage to Onara? Perhaps he would prefer to have someone else."
K'lia chuckled. "You are very observant, Master Jedi. Edress was hoping his friend, Jerule, would be the one to bless the marriage. Next to myself and Edress, he is the highest ranking adult male in attendance. However, as father of the bride, it is my right to choose who will bless the marriage. And I choose you."
"Then if it is your wish, Dynast, I humbly accept the honor," Obi-Wan replied.
"Excellent!" K'lia said heartily. "The blessing ceremony will take place at sundown. I will send my manservant over to your quarters. He will help you prepare."
Obi-Wan bowed. K'lia turned away and went over to where Onara and Edress were rising from the table. The three, along with the rest of the wedding guests, filed out of the hall. Obi-Wan and Anakin, except for a few servants who began to clean up, were soon left alone.
"I hope this blessing ceremony doesn't take long, Master," Anakin said, a slight frown creasing his forehead.
Obi-Wan looked up at his apprentice. Anakin had out-stripped him in height some years ago, but Obi-Wan still found it a bit unsettling to have to look up at him. He smiled, put his hand on Anakin's shoulder and guided him out of the hall to the building where their quarters were located. He was well aware his padawan was eager to return to Coruscant and Obi-Wan shared that eagerness. They had been away far too long.
"It shouldn't, Padawan." He squeezed Anakin's shoulder. "How long can it take just to say a few words?"
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"What?" Obi-Wan shouted.
Simtro backed away from where the Jedi was sitting on the sofa. He had come, as instructed by Dynast K'lia, to prepare him for the blessing ceremony. The Jedi had listened quietly and attentively; that is until Simtro had started to explain the details concerning the blessing ceremony. That was when the Jedi's blue-gray eyes had flared and he had shouted at Simtro.
"You're kidding, right?" he went on, his voice rising.
Simtro glanced over at the Jedi's apprentice who was sitting next to him. The boy was smiling and seemed to be taking great delight in his master's loss of composure. Simtro looked back at the Jedi.
"Kidding?" he said, his voice twisting with confusion. "I'm sorry, but I do not know what you mean by 'kidding'."
"You're joking," Obi-Wan pressed him. "It's a joke or a----"
"No, no, no, it is not a joke, Master Jedi," Simtro quickly said. "I am quite serious. The blessing ceremony goes back thousands of years. It is very sacred. I would not joke about such a thing."
The Jedi looked over at his apprentice. The boy was grinning broadly now. The Jedi glared at him, then turned back to Simtro, his eyes darkening.
"But, this can't be right. I can not believe Dynast K'lia would sanction my- ---"
"But, Master," the young Jedi interrupted, a huge grin on his face, "you've always said we must keep an open mind when dealing with other cultures. That we must not judge others by our standards and morals."
"Yes, Padawan," the Jedi said sharply, "I know I've said that, but this..." The Jedi shook his head as he looked over at Simtro. "Are you absolutely certain that is what the blessing ceremony entails? Perhaps you're thinking of some other ceremony?"
Simtro shook his head. "There is no other blessing ceremony, Master Jedi."
The Jedi sighed heavily as he stared down at his hands which were clasped before him. Then he looked up at Simtro.
"What would happen if I refused?"
"Refused? I do not understand?"
"If I didn't go through with the ceremony?"
Simtro's eyes widened. "Oh, no, no, no! You must not do that! It would be a great dishonor and would shame Dynast K'lia. You can not refuse. You have agreed. It is too late."
The Jedi sighed again. Then he looked over at his apprentice.
"I must talk to Master Yoda about this." He glanced at Simtro as he rose from the sofa. "Please excuse me."
The Jedi strode quickly towards one of the sleeping chambers. Simtro watched the door slide shut behind him, then turned to the Jedi's apprentice.
"I do not understand? What is wrong with him?"
The youth grinned at Simtro, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Well, when my Master agreed to bless the marriage of Onara and Dynast Edress, he didn't know it meant he would have to deflower a virgin bride."
Then the youth burst out laughing, slapping his knee. Simtro could only stare dumbfounded at the hysterical Jedi.
To be continued....
BY: Arwyn Whitesun
SUMMARY: When Obi-Wan is asked to bless the marriage of a groom and his much younger bride, his and Anakin's fates are changed forever. Takes place a couple of years before the events of Attack of the Clones.
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The Great Flanneled One created Obi-Wan, Anakin and Yoda, et al. The rest belong to me. Definitely not making any money on this fic, but feedback can and will be accepted in lieu of payment. :)
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Obi-Wan Kenobi looked over as Dynast K'lia, his white-bearded face stretched in a wide smile, raised his palsied hands to silence the chatter of the wedding guests.
"Thank you all for coming," the Dynast began once the hall had quieted, "to the wedding feast of my daughter Onara to our new ally, Dynast Edress from Kindah Province."
K'lia turned and gestured to where the bride and groom sat at the head of the bridal table. Edress' eyes, which were as sharp as a predatory bird, darted about the room as the guests slapped their tables in applause. His wrinkled lips stretched in a thin smile which, Obi-Wan noted, did not reach his eyes. The skin which peeked out from under his balding scalp glowed under the hall lights. During the long, stress-filled days and nights of negotiations, it had been Edress who had proven the most difficult, refusing to budge an inch on any of the compromises Obi-Wan had offered.
Obi-Wan looked over at Onara. She was still draped in the voluminous scarlet, emerald and gold robes that served as a wedding gown on Ahjane. He had yet to see her face for it was heavily veiled and had been since the wedding ceremony. Obi-Wan wasn't even sure if she had eaten anything of the wedding feast. He glanced at her plate. It looked as if she had eaten something, but not much judging by what remained.
Obi-Wan then looked over at Anakin. From what he had heard, Onara wasn't much older than his seventeen year-old padawan who sat next to him, gleefully stuffing his face with the rich pastries the Ahjane seemed to favor.
"We are also honored," Dynast K'lia went on in a quavering voice, "in having as our guests the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. As all of you know, the Jedi have been most instrumental in bringing about the peace accord between our warring provinces. If not for their tireless efforts, we would not be sitting here today, celebrating in peace the union of our two provinces through the marriage of my only child to Dynast Edress."
Again the hall rang with the sound of hands slapping the table in appreciation. Obi-Wan inclined his head. It had been a long and exhausting round of negotiations but, with this marriage, there was now hope the decades long war between the two major provinces of the planet Ahjane was finally over and the rebuilding of its war-devastated cities and countrysides could begin. Obi-Wan allowed himself a brief moment of self- satisfaction, an indulgence he tried not to partake of too often. Dynast K'lia raised his hands again to silence the room.
"Now, I would ask one last favor of our esteemed guests. As you know, tradition requires that the union of a groom and his virgin bride be blessed on their wedding night. Usually such an honor would fall upon a Dynast or some other high-ranking adult male, but I would like to ask the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to take upon himself the honor of blessing the marriage of my daughter."
K'lia looked over at Obi-Wan, his white, bushy brows raised questioningly, his kindly, wrinkled face tilted. Obi-Wan was startled for a moment, for he had not expected this, but he could sense by the hush in the hall that what was being asked of him was of great importance. He nodded and smiled at K'lia.
"It would be an honor to bless the marriage of your daughter and Dynast Edress," Obi-Wan replied.
K'lia's face broke into a wide smile. The hall again rang with applause. Edress, however, was not smiling. He gave Obi-Wan a quick dark look, then turned away, leaning towards a yellow-eyed, axe-faced man who sat next to him. Edress whispered something in the man's ear. The man glared at Obi- Wan. Then a sudden hard slap on Obi-Wan's shoulder turned his attention away from the two men.
"I hope you've brushed up on your wedding blessings, Master," Anakin said, his blue eyes flashing with humor.
"Actually, I have never blessed nor officiated in any capacity at a wedding, Padawan," Obi-Wan said in a low voice, "but I'm sure Dynast K'lia, aware as he is of our ignorance of Ahjane wedding customs, will brief me on what it is I'm required to say."
"You better hope so, Master, because if you say the wrong thing, you might just start the war over."
Obi-Wan frowned at Anakin who laughed softly. He turned away from his apprentice as K'lia approached. Obi-Wan rose from his chair to greet the Dynast.
"Thank you, Master Kenobi," K'lia said as he took Obi-Wan's hands, "for agreeing to the blessing of my daughter's wedding. I can not express to you the great honor you have bestowed upon my family."
"You're welcome, Dynast K'lia." Obi-Wan said as the Dynast released his hands.
Obi-Wan then cleared his throat for he was not sure if he should bring the matter up but he was unable to get the look on Edress' face out of his mind.
"Excuse me, Dynast K'lia, but is Dynast Edress in agreement with my blessing of his marriage to Onara? Perhaps he would prefer to have someone else."
K'lia chuckled. "You are very observant, Master Jedi. Edress was hoping his friend, Jerule, would be the one to bless the marriage. Next to myself and Edress, he is the highest ranking adult male in attendance. However, as father of the bride, it is my right to choose who will bless the marriage. And I choose you."
"Then if it is your wish, Dynast, I humbly accept the honor," Obi-Wan replied.
"Excellent!" K'lia said heartily. "The blessing ceremony will take place at sundown. I will send my manservant over to your quarters. He will help you prepare."
Obi-Wan bowed. K'lia turned away and went over to where Onara and Edress were rising from the table. The three, along with the rest of the wedding guests, filed out of the hall. Obi-Wan and Anakin, except for a few servants who began to clean up, were soon left alone.
"I hope this blessing ceremony doesn't take long, Master," Anakin said, a slight frown creasing his forehead.
Obi-Wan looked up at his apprentice. Anakin had out-stripped him in height some years ago, but Obi-Wan still found it a bit unsettling to have to look up at him. He smiled, put his hand on Anakin's shoulder and guided him out of the hall to the building where their quarters were located. He was well aware his padawan was eager to return to Coruscant and Obi-Wan shared that eagerness. They had been away far too long.
"It shouldn't, Padawan." He squeezed Anakin's shoulder. "How long can it take just to say a few words?"
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"What?" Obi-Wan shouted.
Simtro backed away from where the Jedi was sitting on the sofa. He had come, as instructed by Dynast K'lia, to prepare him for the blessing ceremony. The Jedi had listened quietly and attentively; that is until Simtro had started to explain the details concerning the blessing ceremony. That was when the Jedi's blue-gray eyes had flared and he had shouted at Simtro.
"You're kidding, right?" he went on, his voice rising.
Simtro glanced over at the Jedi's apprentice who was sitting next to him. The boy was smiling and seemed to be taking great delight in his master's loss of composure. Simtro looked back at the Jedi.
"Kidding?" he said, his voice twisting with confusion. "I'm sorry, but I do not know what you mean by 'kidding'."
"You're joking," Obi-Wan pressed him. "It's a joke or a----"
"No, no, no, it is not a joke, Master Jedi," Simtro quickly said. "I am quite serious. The blessing ceremony goes back thousands of years. It is very sacred. I would not joke about such a thing."
The Jedi looked over at his apprentice. The boy was grinning broadly now. The Jedi glared at him, then turned back to Simtro, his eyes darkening.
"But, this can't be right. I can not believe Dynast K'lia would sanction my- ---"
"But, Master," the young Jedi interrupted, a huge grin on his face, "you've always said we must keep an open mind when dealing with other cultures. That we must not judge others by our standards and morals."
"Yes, Padawan," the Jedi said sharply, "I know I've said that, but this..." The Jedi shook his head as he looked over at Simtro. "Are you absolutely certain that is what the blessing ceremony entails? Perhaps you're thinking of some other ceremony?"
Simtro shook his head. "There is no other blessing ceremony, Master Jedi."
The Jedi sighed heavily as he stared down at his hands which were clasped before him. Then he looked up at Simtro.
"What would happen if I refused?"
"Refused? I do not understand?"
"If I didn't go through with the ceremony?"
Simtro's eyes widened. "Oh, no, no, no! You must not do that! It would be a great dishonor and would shame Dynast K'lia. You can not refuse. You have agreed. It is too late."
The Jedi sighed again. Then he looked over at his apprentice.
"I must talk to Master Yoda about this." He glanced at Simtro as he rose from the sofa. "Please excuse me."
The Jedi strode quickly towards one of the sleeping chambers. Simtro watched the door slide shut behind him, then turned to the Jedi's apprentice.
"I do not understand? What is wrong with him?"
The youth grinned at Simtro, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Well, when my Master agreed to bless the marriage of Onara and Dynast Edress, he didn't know it meant he would have to deflower a virgin bride."
Then the youth burst out laughing, slapping his knee. Simtro could only stare dumbfounded at the hysterical Jedi.
To be continued....