AL: Ilum (Jan-09)
Feb. 3rd, 2009 10:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
master_obiwanTitle: Ilum
Prompt: 003. Picture Prompt: Hidden Gate
Character: Obi-Wan Kenobi
Fandom: Star Wars
Word Count: 650
Rating: PG
Warnings None
Disclaimer George Lucas owns Star Wars. Lucas is King. If he doesn't like me pilfering his characters, he can have his merchandise back.
Summary: Obi-Wan's first trip to Ilum.
Author's Notes: I had the idea to write about this and then four days later discovered The Life and Times of Obi-Wan Kenobi, in which this very thing is discussed. HOWEVER: They only had the last, like, 15 minutes of his trip depicted, so my idea still stands ^.^ Also, I've been trying to write this thing for the last week and a half. Apologies for the lateness!
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The snow swirled around him, reducing the visibility down to nothing, and the deep stillness of a sleepy land in the thrall of snowfall permeated the moment. Off in the far distance, the braying of a gorgodon pierced the serenity as a reminder that this sense of peace was, in fact, false. This planet was home to dangers and not completely free of trouble. The young Padawan had heard tales of Ilum and the crystal cave his entire life, and he had often daydreamed of setting foot on the perpetually frozen planet to make the pilgrimage for his own lightsabre crystals. When he had built his first sabre he had, deep down, felt that the stock of crystals contained in the Temple would not be a part of his weapon forever. They were just a temporary means to an end, and would serve him for the time being. However, as the years passed and his status as a Temple Initiate continued, he began to wonder if he had maybe felt wrongly. He wondered whether his desire to travel to Ilum - as great is was - had sparked the feeling and he had, in turn, mistaken it as a whisper from the Force.
His tenth, eleventh, and twelfth birthday seemed to follow in rapid succession, and before he knew it he was the oldest student in the Temple and his time was running out. The unfortunate incident with Bruck that sent Obi-Wan packing to the Agri-Corps early and the events that had followed had driven all thoughts of the sacred planet from the youth's mind. And then, wonder of wonders, he was finally chosen by a Master and spared the life of servitude to the reclamation of Bandomeer. It had been a rocky beginning, to say the least, and the regrettable incidents of Melida/Daan and the Temple siege would forever be engraved on his heart. Despite these obstacles, Obi-Wan had learned valuable lessons, and he was now being given a second chance.
That this second chance began with the trip to Ilum was more than a ritual for Obi-Wan. It was absolute confirmation that he would succeed and complete his training through to Knighthood, and for that Obi-Wan was grateful.
He knew that Qui-Gon was letting him lead the way, more as a matter of rite than of knowing the way, and the Padawan took a moment to consult the Force before he resumed walking. He could feel his Master's silent encouragement as a warm balm against the cold. Obi-Wan repaid that encouragement with the utmost certainty in his decisions. That certainty paid eventually paid off, as the swirling snow finally parted to reveal the entrance to the caves so revered by the Jedi. The mountain face was carved to resemble a temple or palace as a means of acknowledging the high regard in which the Jedi held the place and the nexus of the Force that it contained.
Inside Obi-Wan would face a series of trials, as his past was brought before him once more, as well as his future. He had spent the entire trip through hyperspace in deep meditation on these things, trying to assess his true feelings towards them so he wouldn't be caught completely off-guard. Qui-Gon would be unable to help in once they crossed the threshold, yet the smile that his Master gave him as the pair paused before the looming mountain assured Obi-Wan that he wouldn't have any trouble finding his way, just as he had finally found his way to this moment. And for the moments to come - five, ten, fifteen years from now - he would likewise find his path.
With a smile for Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan wrapped his thermal cloak around him and gazed into the darkness that lay beyond. It was time to face himself. With confidence, he broke the threshold and stepped into sanctuary of Ilum's hidden temple...
Prompt: 003. Picture Prompt: Hidden Gate
Character: Obi-Wan Kenobi
Fandom: Star Wars
Word Count: 650
Rating: PG
Warnings None
Disclaimer George Lucas owns Star Wars. Lucas is King. If he doesn't like me pilfering his characters, he can have his merchandise back.
Summary: Obi-Wan's first trip to Ilum.
Author's Notes: I had the idea to write about this and then four days later discovered The Life and Times of Obi-Wan Kenobi, in which this very thing is discussed. HOWEVER: They only had the last, like, 15 minutes of his trip depicted, so my idea still stands ^.^ Also, I've been trying to write this thing for the last week and a half. Apologies for the lateness!
----------
The snow swirled around him, reducing the visibility down to nothing, and the deep stillness of a sleepy land in the thrall of snowfall permeated the moment. Off in the far distance, the braying of a gorgodon pierced the serenity as a reminder that this sense of peace was, in fact, false. This planet was home to dangers and not completely free of trouble. The young Padawan had heard tales of Ilum and the crystal cave his entire life, and he had often daydreamed of setting foot on the perpetually frozen planet to make the pilgrimage for his own lightsabre crystals. When he had built his first sabre he had, deep down, felt that the stock of crystals contained in the Temple would not be a part of his weapon forever. They were just a temporary means to an end, and would serve him for the time being. However, as the years passed and his status as a Temple Initiate continued, he began to wonder if he had maybe felt wrongly. He wondered whether his desire to travel to Ilum - as great is was - had sparked the feeling and he had, in turn, mistaken it as a whisper from the Force.
His tenth, eleventh, and twelfth birthday seemed to follow in rapid succession, and before he knew it he was the oldest student in the Temple and his time was running out. The unfortunate incident with Bruck that sent Obi-Wan packing to the Agri-Corps early and the events that had followed had driven all thoughts of the sacred planet from the youth's mind. And then, wonder of wonders, he was finally chosen by a Master and spared the life of servitude to the reclamation of Bandomeer. It had been a rocky beginning, to say the least, and the regrettable incidents of Melida/Daan and the Temple siege would forever be engraved on his heart. Despite these obstacles, Obi-Wan had learned valuable lessons, and he was now being given a second chance.
That this second chance began with the trip to Ilum was more than a ritual for Obi-Wan. It was absolute confirmation that he would succeed and complete his training through to Knighthood, and for that Obi-Wan was grateful.
He knew that Qui-Gon was letting him lead the way, more as a matter of rite than of knowing the way, and the Padawan took a moment to consult the Force before he resumed walking. He could feel his Master's silent encouragement as a warm balm against the cold. Obi-Wan repaid that encouragement with the utmost certainty in his decisions. That certainty paid eventually paid off, as the swirling snow finally parted to reveal the entrance to the caves so revered by the Jedi. The mountain face was carved to resemble a temple or palace as a means of acknowledging the high regard in which the Jedi held the place and the nexus of the Force that it contained.
Inside Obi-Wan would face a series of trials, as his past was brought before him once more, as well as his future. He had spent the entire trip through hyperspace in deep meditation on these things, trying to assess his true feelings towards them so he wouldn't be caught completely off-guard. Qui-Gon would be unable to help in once they crossed the threshold, yet the smile that his Master gave him as the pair paused before the looming mountain assured Obi-Wan that he wouldn't have any trouble finding his way, just as he had finally found his way to this moment. And for the moments to come - five, ten, fifteen years from now - he would likewise find his path.
With a smile for Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan wrapped his thermal cloak around him and gazed into the darkness that lay beyond. It was time to face himself. With confidence, he broke the threshold and stepped into sanctuary of Ilum's hidden temple...
