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jiminthestreets-bonesinthesheets · 2 years ago

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The Will of the Force - CH 21

Fandom: Star Wars Rating: Mature Pairing: Obi-Wan Kenobi/Anakin Skywalker, Obikin AO3 Masterlist

Summary: What if Obi-wan hadn’t been granted permission to train Anakin in the ways of the Force? What if Qui-Gon hadn’t perished during the battle with Darth Maul? How differently would things have turned out?

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Chapter 21

The soberness that had been felt in the Pyer Room the day before carried over to the next morning. Qui-Gon had been at Padmé's door as promised to escort her down to the hanger, where they met with Anakin and Obi-Wan, along with the entirety of the Council. They lined either side of the entry ramp to the ship, with Padmé and Qui-Gon at the front on one side, and Anakin and Obi-Wan across from them. Not long after they had lined up, another group of Jedi appeared at the end of the line, and slowly they walked Gregar’s body, enclosed in a simple wooden casket, down the centre and toward the ramp. As he passed each Jedi Council member, they held their lightsabers high and ignited them over his casket in honour, and as he reached the front of the line, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan did the same.

Padmé's eyes followed Gregar all the way inside the ship until he could be seen no longer, then flicked back over to Anakin. He was crying, as she had suspected he would be, and curled tightly into Obi-Wan’s side while he comforted him. Through all of this, she was glad that he had Obi-Wan and would have him for the rest of his life now.

Once they were all on board the ship, the travel back was long but quiet for the most part. There were a few random but quick conversations about wedding arrangements when the mood was light enough to entertain such talks, but for the most part conversation revolved around the funeral that was to take place the day after they landed. Though most every time it was brought up, Anakin had to excuse himself soon after, usually too overwhelmed by the loss weighing on his chest and not able to participate in the arrangements for long. And so he spent most of the trip escaping to his room with Obi-Wan following close behind.

By the time they landed it was already late evening on Naboo. Anakin was so exhausted from having spent so much of the trip mourning the loss of his close friend, his family, that all he wanted to do was sleep. The funeral was to be held the next day, and even just the thought of that was adding immensely to his already weary limbs. But of course, the second they had stepped off the entry ramp they were surrounded by the Royal Advisory Council, all wanting to discuss the final arrangements for the funeral.

Qui-Gon could tell Anakin was on the edge, was sure Obi-Wan could feel his distress across their bond, and the last thing he was sure the young prince wanted was to break down in front of the Council members. “Obi-Wan,” he leant over to whisper in his ear, “why don't you take Anakin to his room, I'm sure Padmé can handle this on her own. Make sure he gets some sleep, tomorrow will be a difficult enough day as it is.”

Obi-Wan nodded and tucked Anakin into his side, quickly and quietly escaping the crowd and heading into the palace. Once inside, Anakin silently pointed him the way and finally he was in the sanctuary of his room, away from prodding Council members and talk of death. And as soon as Obi-Wan closed the door behind him he let out a heaving sigh of relief.

“Are you alright, dear one?”

He nodded, slowly shuffling over to sit on the edge of the bed, patting beside him for Obi-Wan to sit. “I just want this to be over. I want Gregar to be at peace, and I know once he is I… I’ll feel better knowing his body isn't lingering in some temple on Coruscant or Naboo. But I do feel…”

“Speak it, Anakin.”

“I feel a bit guilty that once his funeral is over we'll just be… moving forward,” he answered, “we will put him to rest tomorrow and then soon after we will be making wedding arrangements and planning the coronations, and I just… I feel this pit in my stomach at the thought of him not being there, that he's missing these monumental moments that he should be a part of. But this is what he would want right, he would want us to move on… I think, I-” Anakin trailed off with a frustrated grunt and leaned forward to cover his face with both hands.

Obi-Wan gently pulled his hands away and turned him to face him, holding his hands between them. “Anakin, I know it's hard, losing someone always is, especially someone as close to you and Padmé as Gregar was. But yes, he would want you to move forward, to be happy and to continue to grow. He died so that you could do exactly that. I am certain that he would have loved to see you get married and take the throne, and to watch Padmé rise in her new position as Chancellor. And though he won't be there, no matter what, we will never forget him or what he did for both of us, and tomorrow will be about honouring him for that.”

Anakin nodded, not able to really say anything more, so Obi-Wan pulled him in to kiss his head gently then reached behind him to pull back the blankets. “Why don't you get some sleep, Anakin, you're exhausted and tomorrow will be strenuous.”

“Not yet,” he shook his head, getting up and walking over to the closet to open both doors, “we have to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow. Come here, try this on.”

Obi-Wan stood and walked over, taking the clothes Anakin handed him and quickly put them on with his help. Everything fit just fine, and he was sure it was a relief to Anakin that he wouldn't have to call for alterations so late in the night. The clothes were simple, nothing like the extravagant and brightly coloured clothes they had worn out in the lake country. Merely a simple, loose black long sleeve shirt with a high collar and pants, with a tighter vest to go over top. Anakin then walked back into the closet and walked out with a long, heavy looking black feathered cloak with a long train behind it, which he placed around Obi-Wan’s shoulders and clasped at the front. Then he walked inside again, this time walking out with a large box which he placed on the bed, gesturing for Obi-Wan to come and stand beside him.

“This is what you'll be wearing for the funeral tomorrow. I know it's a lot and the cloak is heavy, but it's traditional royal attire.”

“I am not yet Naboolian royalty, Anakin, there was no need to go through all this trouble for me at such a trying time,” he said, attempting to catch Anakin's eyes, “I could have worn my Jedi robes for now. There has already been so much you've had to deal with over such a short time, this should have been the last thing on your mind, dear one.”

“You may not be official royalty right now but you will be very soon. Padmé and I wanted to make sure you were donned properly, as you should be as future king, which is also why I had her call on the transport back for this to be made for you as well.” He opened the box and lifted out a very extravagant looking headpiece, then turned to hold it between them for Obi-Wan to observe. It was a golden circlet twisted and turned in an intricate design, and weaved around it were deep red and blue flowers along with black feathers that matched the cloak. And wrapped and twisted around the entire crown and flowers, were perfectly arranged clusters of beads that hung all around the sides, some even swooping low across the forehead and down the back of the neck. “This is traditional funeral attire for royalty, my outfit will match yours exactly and Padmé will be wearing one much the same but in her own style. Do you know anything about Naboolian funerals, or what will be expected of you tomorrow?”

“No,” he shook his head, “I am afraid I know very little of the planet I am supposed to be ruling in the near future. It would seem I am already off to a bad start as future king, the people would be pleased, I'm sure.”

That actually managed to get a light chuckle out of Anakin for the first time in days. “It's a good thing your future husband knows everything there is to know, so he can teach you,” he said, then pointed to the flowers to start, “every part of the headdress has some importance. These flowers are the most popular flower among the people of Naboo, they are called Millaflower, and they were Gregar’s favourite. I chose them not only because they were his favourite but because they are highly regarded. To be gifted a Millaflower is considered a great honour on Naboo, and Gregar will be gifted with many tomorrow, because not only will they be lain in his casket with him, but as we walk with his procession the people of Naboo will throw them beneath his casket as we pass.”

“That's lovely, dear one,” Obi-Wan said, placing a hand on his cheek, “you made a wonderful choice.”

Anakin nodded with a small smile, then moved to point to the beads. “And these are mourning beads. We wear them as royalty to represent the tears of the people of Naboo, and the people will now look to you to hold their tears as well as me,” Anakin said as he lifted the headdress up to sit perfectly on Obi-Wan’s head, “there, now you are ready to honour Gregar as future king of Naboo. He would be proud of you, I'm sure.”

“As he would be of you too, Anakin,” he said, then asked, “can you tell me what I am to do tomorrow? I do not want to dishonour Gregar, you, Padmé, or the people by doing anything wrong.”

“Tomorrow,” Anakin started, reaching out to fiddle with the clasp of Obi-Wan’s cloak while he spoke, “we will rise with the sun and make our way through the palace grounds to the very edge of the property. Gregars body will be laid in a casket there in a preparation chamber waiting for our arrival. Then royalty, the Council, and other members of nobility will take turns placing the Millaflowers around his body in the casket. We will each be given a basket filled with them, and you have to place each flower in one at a time, very gently, circling his casket completely. The nobles will go first, then the Council members will take their turn. Padmé has informed me that she has requested Qui-Gon be involved in the preparation ceremony as well, so he will go after the last member of the Council, then you will go after Qui-Gon, then myself, and Padmé will place the flowers into his casket last.

By the time that is finished it will probably be around noon, and by then the citizens who wish to pay their respects will have lined the streets to watch the procession. Padmé will lead the procession with Qui-Gon at her side, then Gregars casket will follow pulled by four of our Gualaar, and you and I will walk behind him. The Council, noble’s, and the Jedi Council will walk the procession behind us, and we will walk through the streets of Theed until we reach the Temple. Only those walking the procession are allowed inside the Temple while Gregar is cremated. Once we are inside the Temple everyone will be given one last chance to step forward and say their last words of respect to Gregar, then we will stand there until it is complete. And the last thing you need to know is that while he is being cremated, we are to bow our heads, and when we do the Handmaiden’s will step in to raise the hoods of our cloaks to cover the mourning beads. It symbolises us hiding our tears, and those of our people, from the passing spirit of the dead so that they may pass without grief or worry over the ones they are leaving behind.”

Obi-Wan stared at him for a moment, a bit awestruck. “Anakin, these Naboolian traditions truly are beautiful, Gregar will be honoured well tomorrow.”

“Naboolian’s are very strong in their traditions, and yes, I am glad he will be,” he nodded, looking up to smile slightly at Obi-Wan as he finished, “and for the last part of the funeral tomorrow, as the moon begins to rise and just starts to touch the horizon over the waters edge, Padmé will place Gregars ashes into Solleu River. We will stand behind her as she does, and the citizens will all gather over the bridge to watch, all holding candles to light his way down the river. Once his ashes travel down the river and fall over the cliff, his spirit will have finally returned to the planet and he will be at peace. After that we will return to the palace, the next day we will hold a feast in Gregars memory, and the people will celebrate him in the cities for a week. It's the full royal funeral treatment, he deserves it.”

“It is truly beautiful, he would be pleased,” Obi-Wan said, lifting his hands to cradle Anakin's face, wiping the stray tear that had escaped his defences, “I only hope I can remember all of my duties tomorrow.”

“If you forget anything, I will tell you, but I am confident you will be fine,” he smiled back at him, then leaned in for a quick kiss before reaching up to take the headdress off, “and now that we know everything fits, lets get it all off and get some sleep. We have to be up very early tomorrow.”

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Anakin was awake before Obi-Wan the next morning, as Obi-Wan had expected he would be. The sun was just starting to rise, the orange hue surrounding Anakin in an ethereal like glow from where he stood by the window watching. Obi-Wan sighed, slowly climbing out of the bed to walk over and stand with him, wrapping his arms around him and resting his chin on his shoulder. He wished they could just stay like this, that he could spend the day comforting Anakin and making his pain go away, but they couldn't. There were duties to be upheld as the future kings of Naboo, and Gregar had already waited long enough to find his peace.

“Come, dear one,” Obi-Wan eventually said, turning his head to place a lingering kiss in the crook of his neck, “let's get dressed, we'll need to leave soon.” Anakin just nodded and allowed Obi-Wan to lead him to the closet where they dressed together in silence.

The trip to the preparation chamber was also a quiet affair, but not long from the palace. Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padmé and Qui-Gon had all travelled to the chamber together, and both the Naboolian and Jedi Council’s were already there waiting for them. They waited outside the chamber for them all to enter first, and once inside Obi-Wan followed behind Anakin around the casket to stand in a circle with everyone who was participating, with Padmé standing nearest the top.

He looked in at the man he barely knew but owed so much. Gregar looked peaceful, his face had been cleaned, he had been dressed in a dark bluish grey suit, and surrounded by a pillow of flowing fabrics of the same colours. Then he chanced a quick glance over at Anakin, spying the welling of tears in his eyes. On reflex he almost reached out for him, his urge to comfort him then suddenly being replaced by the reminder of where they were as his eyes darted around the chamber. So he kept his arm planted firmly by his side and kept the distance currently between them, and instead reached out to touch and prod at the bond. Thankfully Anakin felt it and leant into Obi-Wan through the bond, a quick ‘I’m alright, Obi-Wan, I promise,’ filtering through. So he stood back, fully facing the casket while the Handmaiden’s appeared with the baskets of flowers, but kept contact with Anakin through the bond just in case he needed him.

He waited and watched as each member of the Naboolian Council took their turn, circling the casket and gently placing the Millaflowers, eventually coming down to Qui-Gon’s turn. He could feel his nerves rising slightly, the last thing he wanted was to do something wrong, in some way dishonour Gregar or Naboo, and look like an absolute fool before he had even become an official king. But Anakin kept him calm and whispered through the bond, ‘Once Qui-Gon is finished and has taken his place in the circle again, it'll be your turn. Remember to place each flower one at a time, very carefully. Start at his head, circle the casket, and finish where you started. Then come back to stand beside me again. Just take your time, Obi-Wan, you'll do fine.’

By the time Anakin had finished his silent reminder, Qui-Gon was back and it was his turn. He took a breath, clutching tighter to the basket of flowers as he slowly approached the casket, then one by one he slowly and carefully placed each flower, making sure he had enough to go all the way around, surrounding the man in honour, then took his place again. Then he watched as Anakin took his own turn, and lastly Padmé. Once she was finished, they all stood in place as the Handmaiden’s returned to take Gregars body to the preparation chambers exit, and then it was time for the procession.

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Padmé and Qui-Gon lead the casket, drawn by the four magnificent Gualaar, also decorated with the Millaflowers and donned in golden tack. Obi-Wan and Anakin were behind the casket, as Anakin had said, with the Naboolian and Jedi Council’s a few steps behind them. He was amazed at how many of Naboos citizens had crowded the streets to view the procession, and the streets were blanketed in the flowers they all gifted to Gregar as they passed, so many that the streets beneath could no longer be seen under the sea of red and blue.

As they walked he could feel Anakin's composure slipping within the bond, the exhaustion of the day already beginning to wear him down. So he took a chance and moved one step closer, just enough so that he could whisper just loud enough for only Anakin to hear, “Is it acceptable for me to hold your hand? Or are we expected to walk separately for the procession? I am not entirely sure of the protocol here-”

“Please hold my hand,” Anakin all but begged and jumped the remaining distance between them to grab his already waiting hand. That is how they walked for the remainder of the procession through the streets of Theed, and at some point when Obi-Wan looked up, he noticed that Qui-Gon had done much the same for Padmé. He was sure she was struggling just as much as Anakin was, though as Queen was expected to hold a higher level of composure, but thankfully she had Qui-Gon to offer an arm in support, to which she was currently clinging to.

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The procession ended at the Temple, as Anakin had said, and once they arrived everyone walked inside with Gregar, along with Master Yoda and Master Windu who had requested the opportunity to pay their last respects on behalf of the Jedi. They once again circled around the casket, just as they had in the preparation chamber, and just as before they each took their turns stepping forward to bow their heads over him and whisper their final goodbyes.

Eventually it came to Qui-Gon, who stepped up and took his turn while Anakin once again whispered through the bond, ‘Same as before, you'll be after Qui-Gon. Take as long as you need.’

He nodded to himself as Qui-Gon stepped back into place, then he stepped forward to stand beside Gregar, looking down at his face. He hadn't known the man for long, only having briefly met him a few times, but Obi-Wan knew he meant a lot to Anakin and to Padmé, not to mention the fact that he risked his life to save his dear one and helped take down the Sith Lords. Without his sacrifice, Obi-Wan was sure he and Anakin would not be moving toward such a happily ever after, he owed the man more than he could ever put into words. So he put it as best as he could and made sure he put as much sincerity and appreciation behind the words as he could, “Thank you for always being there for him, for keeping him safe for all the years that I was not able to, and thank you for saving him, for saving both of us. I promise you that I will continue to keep him safe in your stead. Rest peacefully, my friend.”

Then it was Anakin's turn. He had thought over the days leading up to the funeral of what he would say, but there was so much. How was one supposed to fit a lifetime of gratitude and love into just a few simple words?

“I'm going to miss you,” Anakin blurted out, whispered in the space between him and Gregar as he fought valiantly against the tears beginning their assault, “I'm going to miss you more than I think you ever knew I would, and I feel terrible that you won't be here with us for the rest. I wish I could have told you I was getting married, that I was happy, and I wish you could have gotten to know Obi-Wan and been here for the wedding. I know you both met a few times, but I know had you gotten the chance to know him more you would have loved him. I just… I hope you know how much I loved you, and no matter what I will never forget you. I’m going to miss you Gregar, so much, may you finally be at peace.”

Once Anakin stepped back and Padmé said her goodbyes, the cremation ceremony started. As the flames stoked high around him, everyone bowed their heads, and the Handmaiden’s stepped forward to lift the hoods of Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padmé. Obi-Wan remembered Anakin telling him the night before that it was symbolic of hiding the tears of themselves and the tears of the people, but no matter how hard Anakin tried he could not hide his own tears from Obi-Wan. He could not only feel his increased distress through the bond, but he could hear the soft sobs he was attempting to stifle, though not succeeding.

Obi-Wan hoped by doing so he wasn't breaking any protocols or traditions, but he was sure that Gregar would not mind, so he reached out an arm toward Anakin and pulled him against his side. They both kept their heads bowed and the mourning beads covered as they were supposed to, but Anakin melted into him, crying into the crook of his neck while they waited.

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By the time the funeral was coming to an end and they walked outside the Temple toward the river's edge, the moon was just beginning to crest the horizon. Anakin remained firmly tucked against Obi-Wan’s side while they walked, following behind Padmé and Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan looked up to the bridge beside them, and thought to himself that Gregar would be grateful to the amount of people who had gathered to see him off. It was overflowing with people, all holding candles and illuminating the night. His path would be well lit on his way to peace.

When they reached the spot where the bank dipped low into a sandy alcove, everyone stopped walking while Qui-Gon escorted Padmé to the water's edge. She then let go of Qui-Gon’s arm, silently stepping out of her shoes and wading a few steps into the river, then she placed Gregars ashes into the river and they all waited and watched until they crested over the cliff. Obi-Wan felt Anakin release a breath against his side, and he agreed that it was a relief knowing that Gregar had been returned to the planet and could now rest.

Obi-Wan squeezed Anakin closer against him, turning to kiss his forehead before leaning in and whispering, “Come, dear one, let's go home.”

Anakin only nodded, which Obi-Wan felt more than saw, and slowly they made their way back to the palace. The long day weighed on both of them heavily, and by the time they were back in Anakin's room and out of their funeral clothes, it took them both mere seconds to crawl into bed and fall asleep, both of their arms wrapped comfortingly around each other as they slept.

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A/N: Just a bit of sadness here guys but then it’ll be a happy ending for our boys I promise! <3

Tags: @peaches-n-pancakes

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