*Call To Witness*

Krychick
Part 1

*Call to Witness*
by Krychick
kirstenp@direct.ca

"Master," Obi-Wan asked as he and his Master stepped out of their transport, "why were we assigned to this mission? Surely there are less experienced Jedi more appropriate to simply witnessing a wedding."

"I don't doubt you are right, my Padawan," Qui-Gon said, a slight smile touching his lips, "but the wedding is that of an old friend of mine. I have not seen her...oh, since before you became my Padawan. I requested this mission." Obi-Wan looked a little surprised, but nodded his understanding.

At that moment a woman that Obi-Wan judged to be slightly older than his Master hurried forward to greet them, beaming happily. "Qui-Gon!" she exclaimed, "I'm so glad it's you that came. When I asked that a Jedi witness for Nomis and I, I *hoped* that it would be you."

"Refina, I did my best to make sure that I received the assignment," Qui-Gon smiled, grasping her arms by the elbows and kissing both her cheeks in her people's custom. "This is my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Refina looked a little surprised, but greeted Obi-Wan the same way, saying, "Padawan Kenobi...do you mind if I call you Obi-Wan? I'm afraid, with my wedding in just a few days and all my old friends arriving, I'm incapable of too much formality." Obi-Wan found himself grinning in response to her good humor and gave his assent.

"Now, Qui-Gon," she said, taking his arm and guiding him off the landing platform, Obi-Wan one step behind. "We have much to catch up on. But where are my manners? Are you tired? Would you prefer to settle in first?"

"Our transport was very comfortable, Refina," Qui-Gon assured her, "and it is morning yet. I would love to talk for awhile. Obi-Wan?"

"I would stay with you, Master, if you don't mind." Obi-Wan replied, enjoying seeing Qui-Gon so relaxed.

"Certainly, Obi-Wan!" Refina answered before Qui-Gon, who simply smiled. Their hostess led them into the palace, which adjoined the landing platform they had arrived on. A short walk took them to the suite that, as the queen's cousin, Refina was entitled to. "I'm not even the Queen, and these rooms are far too large for me!" she smiled brightly. "I'm glad I will soon have someone to share them with. Here, let us relax in the sitting room. Your things are being taken to your rooms as we speak. I'll have a servant show you there afterwards." Qui-Gon nodded his assent.

Refina summoned a servant and the three of them requested drinks. Then their hostess asked the question which she must have been saving for a more private setting. "My friend, the last time I saw you, you had sworn never to take another Padawan. What happened?"

Qui-Gon couldn't help but smile, glancing over at his Padawan. "Obi-Wan happened." He went on to explain, "I came to the academy to see the potential apprentices two weeks before Obi-Wan's thirteenth birthday, when he would no longer have been eligible to be a Padawan. Yet I did not choose him then... Obi-Wan was sent to Bandomeer to become a farmer. Master Yoda sent me to Bandomeer also, to negotiate a trade dispute." Qui-Gon paused, and Obi-Wan wondered if his Master was going to tell the whole, painful story over again. He did not. "By the time the situation had been resolved, Obi-Wan had found his way past my defenses, and I was happy to take him as my Padawan."

Obi-Wan smiled, remembering the moment when Qui-Gon had accepted him. "You make it sound as if it was easy," he said, ruefully, touching his neck in remembrance of the sacrifice he'd been prepared to make.

Refina watched her friend and his Padawan keenly, a slight smile playing about her lips. "Well, being soon to be married myself, I must ask, have you had similar fortune?"

Qui-Gon shook his head no. "I'm waiting for the one who has claimed my heart to realize that they hold it." Obi-Wan looked over at his Master, as startled by his response as Refina.

"Master?" Obi-Wan asked. "Do I know her...or him?"

"More or less," Qui-Gon murmured.

From there the conversation moved on to other things, for Qui-Gon would not reveal any more on the subject. Obi-Wan relaxed more in Refina's company that he had expected to, and found himself throwing dry comments into Qui-Gon's narratives of their adventures, drawing more than a few laughs.

Eventually, Refina had to leave. "I have a wedding rehearsal," she explained, and motioned a servant over on her way out, murmuring something in her ear. "Mira will show you to your rooms. I do look forward to introducing you to Nomis, Qui-Gon." With that, she hurried off.

Mira bowed to them silently and gestured for them to follow her. Not much later, they arrived at a set of double doors. "You would have been given larger rooms, respected Jedi," she said quietly, "but the palace is crowed with wedding guests. We hope these shall suffice."

"I am sure whatever you can provide will be quite adequate," Qui-Gon assured her. The servant bowed deeply and left them.

Pushing open the doors of their quarters, Obi-Wan strode inside and couldn't help raising an eyebrow. "They thought these rooms were too small?" he asked his Master. The hall doors opened onto a receiving room large enough to hold a dozen people comfortably. To either side of the receiving room were two archways. Stepping through the one on the right, Obi-Wan found himself in a substantial bathroom, complete with a chest-deep tub and fixtures for both sonic and water showers.

From across the suite, Qui-Gon called out, "I believe I have discovered the reason these rooms were not thought to be large enough, Padawan."

Obi-Wan joined him in the bedroom. The single bedroom...and it's single bed.

***

Mira made her way to the hall where the wedding rehearsal would be held and found Refina being helped into her dress in an alcove. "Mistress," Mira said, "I have done as you asked."

"Thank you, Mira," Refina replied.

"Mistress," Mira began, hesitant but unable to suppress a slight smile, "Will the Jedi not react badly when they find the rooms adjoining those given them are empty?"

"We will just have to avoid that particular trouble by assigning those rooms to a guest as soon as possible," Refina said, winking at her handmaiden.

***

Obi-Wan glanced out at the receiving room, which held only cushions to sit on. "I suppose I could sleep on the floor..." he trailed off.

"Nonsense, Obi-Wan. To do so would disrespect our hosts. Come, we have shared a bed before, smaller than this one."

[[Not for years,]] the Padawan thought in response to his Master's comment, [[and not since-]]. He cut off his own train of thought, unsure of how much Qui-Gon would pick up through their bond.

Qui-Gon placed the single small bag he carried in the spacious closet and Obi-Wan followed suit. They needed to do little more to settle themselves in their rooms, and so were soon off to the wedding rehearsal. There the Jedi would find the event's co-ordinator, who would tell them what their place, if any, in the ceremony would be.

As it turned out, they were required to do nothing more than sit among the guests and observe. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon each took a seat on one of the cushions scattered in a circle about the dais where Refina and Nomis would be married and watched the rehearsal. It would be a beautiful ceremony, Obi-Wan noted, and felt a brief stab of envy. He doubted he would ever have such a service.

That thought led inevitably to Qui-Gon's earlier comment. ((I'm waiting for the one who has claimed my heart to realize that they hold it.)) He wondered, sadly, who had captured his Master's soul. He couldn't remember anyone Qui-Gon had spent significant time with, nor even anyone his reserved Master had paid particular attention to...

Movement captured Obi-Wan's attention, and he saw that the rehearsal was over. Refina was hurrying over to them, her energy apparently undiminished by the practice. "Qui-Gon! Obi-Wan! You must come and meet Nomis," she seized them by the arms and pulled them over to a tall, dignified man with silvery hair. Qui-Gon traded an amused glance with his Padawan behind their hostess. "Nomis," she captured her fianc‚e's attention, "this is my old friend, Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Welcome," Nomis said smiling, and bowed, "I am Nomis al Sudra. We are honored to have you present to witness our marriage."

The Jedi returned the bow. "It is our honor to observe the joining of the Queen's cousin and her beloved," Qui-Gon said formally.

"Nomis, I must go," Refina said, still smiling brightly. "Qui-Gon will not be here long, and we have much to talk of. Excuse us?"

"Certainly, my love," he said, eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Obi-Wan, the day is your own," Qui-Gon said as Refina drew him away. "There is little more for us to do than wait."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan called after Qui-Gon.

"Come," Nomis said, a little less formally, "tell me what you thought of the ceremony..."

***

--End of Part 1--