Bound

Of Things Unheard

Some spoilers from Jedi Apprentice.
No betas, therefore the mistakes are all mine.
See chapter one for disclaimers.

Obi-Wan poked at the well-done nerf steak sitting on his plate. He had been shown to his temporary quarters in the guest wing of the Temple by Councilor Koth and then left to his own devices with the strict instruction not to leave those rooms until he was called for. Any familiarity with the Temple that might have brought him comfort at his return to Coruscant was vastly diminished with his separation from his peers. He wasn't taken to the initiate dorms or his master's rooms. He was given only a temporary place to stay; a place usually reserved for strangers and visitors to the Jedi home. The certainty he had shown his master aboard their transport was slowly eroding with each passing hour he spent alone in the stark and quiet space of his rooms. Even the arrival of his latemeal, brought by a droid, did not peek his interest. Thus he spent most of his time poking at his dinner rather than trying to eat it.

Obi-Wan dropped his fork on his plate and fell back in his chair in an undignified slouch. He contemplated just going to bed and calling an end to the day when the door chime sounded. Probably the droid returning to collect his plate. With a sigh, Obi-Wan walked to the main door and palmed it open.

"Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan's eyes drifted up to meet his visitor's, growing wide as recognition set in.

"Master Vresh!" he shouted through a smile. Vresh's face split into a broad grin as he opened his arms to the boy who immediately rushed into his embrace.

"Obi-Wan, it's so good to see you," the master said as he held the boy close. After several long moments, Obi-Wan pulled back at bit embarrassed by the scene he had created. He gestured for the master to come inside. Vresh stepped in and the door slid closed behind him. The master took a moment to take in the room and its occupant. Standard guest accommodations, not ornate, but comfortable. He glanced over to the small table where a plate of unfinished food sat. His gaze then fell on the youth in front of him, tired and underweight, but smiling brilliantly.

"It seems I interrupted your meal," Vresh said. "And it looks like you've missed a few too many already."

Obi-Wan darted a glance at the still full plate then looked back at the tall master.

"Things got a little weird for a while..." he muttered. Vresh placed a hand on his shoulder and led him to the small couch in the center of the living space.

"Why don't you tell me about it?" he asked as the two sat down.

"I don't even know where to start," Obi-Wan replied with a shake of his head. Some of the longer strands of his coppery hair fell in his eyes with the sudden motion. Vresh gently brushed the locks aside.

"Why not start at the beginning, hmm? When last we spoke you mentioned that your vision had come true?" Vresh prompted. He watched carefully as Obi-Wan nodded slowly and organized his thoughts.

"It was all true... the cave, the danger..."

"But not the death," Vresh finished. Obi-Wan looked up at him with small smile.

"No, not the death. Master Qui-Gon came to rescue me from the mines after Xanatos kidnapped me, but there was a cave-in and he saved me, but was hurt himself. I used the Force to get him out, but he was hurt really, really badly, but he got better and then there were these strange crystals that Xanatos wanted from the mines. We had one, but it got lost so I went back for it and then Master Qui-Gon went back for me and then I found one of the bombs and Xanatos took us prisoner and he took the crystals and he locked us in a storage unit and,"