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Astrid was tugged awake by the feeling of being gently jostled. When her eyes fluttered open, she found herself staring up at a pale blue sky with two suns-- one orange, the other yellow. Scorching heat beat down on Astrid's sweat-sheened face. Her head was nestled against someone's chest, and Astrid realized Anakin was carrying her yet again.
"Good, you're awake," Anakin said with relief, the sound of his voice surprising her.
Even though Astrid was fairly certain of where they were, she couldn't help but ask anyway, "Where are we?" as she lifted her head to get a better view of their surroundings. They were just entering a deep canyon with towering red rock walls on either side of them.
This time when Anakin spoke, his voice was laced with displeasure and ire. "Tatooine."
"Oh, stop it, Anakin," Ahsoka spoke from somewhere in front of them, and Astrid turned her head to see Ahsoka walking to the side just in front of them with Artoo beside her. A long wooden staff was gripped in one of Ahsoka's hands.
Astrid had the sense that while she had been knocked out, Anakin and Ahsoka had been given the time to talk in relative privacy, and that after their initial discussion, they'd settled into their old Clone Wars routine, which was to bicker about everything.
Ahsoka added without turning back to look at them, "We have nowhere else to go. Besides, he could help us."
Again, Astrid was fairly certain who 'he' was, but she couldn't help but ask for clarification, "He?"
"Obi-Wan," Anakin answered, and Astrid thought she heard a hint of anxiety in his voice. Anakin added cynically, "Apparently, he lives here on this wretched planet. I don't know why he chose here of all places."
"To hide from the Empire," Astrid murmured in explanation.
She regarded the canyon walls framing them on either side once more. Well, if they were walking through a canyon, then they had to be near Obi-Wan's house. Astrid wondered if the older Jedi Master would sense them through the Force.
Astrid shivered as she remembered being attacked by Tusken Raiders that one time when she'd come here to hand off Luke and Leia to Obi-Wan's care. She'd had far too many encounters with the creatures. They were in Tusken territory, after all.
Anakin noticed her shudder, and he asked quietly, "What is it? Are you cold?" He sounded confused when he said this last sentence because they were on an incredibly hot desert planet.
"No," Astrid replied. "I was just thinking about when I was attacked by a few Tusken Raiders when I visited Obi-Wan to--"
She trailed off when she realized Anakin would be meeting Luke and Leia for the first time, and a worm of nervousness squirmed in her stomach. Did Anakin know yet-- or realize yet-- that he was about to meet his son and daughter?
Anakin's brow furrowed when she didn't continue, and he prompted, "You visited Obi-Wan to what?"
Before Astrid could answer, Ahsoka turned around and began walking backwards as she asked, "Astrid, where is Obi-Wan's house exactly? I've been using the Force to get a general sense of his location, but that can probably only do so much, and you're the only one who's been to see him since, uh--" a quick glance at Anakin "--since the fall of the Republic."
Astrid felt a wave of relief at Ahsoka's interruption, and she replied easily, "Well, he lives in a canyon like this one just outside Mos Eisley. Are we near Mos Eisley?"
"Yeah, the town is about five miles from here," Anakin told her.
"Well, perfect," Ahsoka remarked with a grin.
They continued walking for ten more minutes in silence, and Astrid was relieved when Anakin didn't broach their earlier conversation again. She needed a little longer to prepare herself for that conversation, in which she would be introducing Luke and Leia to Anakin.
Astrid began to recognize certain markings and rock structures as they continued onwards, and she knew they were drawing close. Excitement blossomed within her at the prospect of seeing Obi-Wan and Luke and Leia again, yet she felt a touch of unease that she couldn't quite explain. How would Anakin react to seeing the twins and Obi-Wan again, and how would Obi-Wan react to seeing Anakin again?
Her neck began to prickle as if they were being watched, and she craned her neck behind her and Anakin to look at the canyon top for signs of attackers. Yet, she was so focused on the surroundings behind them that when several shots rang out, causing Anakin to suddenly dive behind an outcrop of rock to the side of the canyon, she let out a startled scream. Anakin hurriedly, but gently set her down on the hard-packed ground before he reached for his lightsaber and peered around the rock.
A moment later, Ahsoka skidded behind the rock, too, her ignited lightsaber in hand. Astrid's eyes widened at the sight of Ahsoka's lightsaber. She realized then that she hadn't seen Ahsoka wield her lightsaber recently until now, and the weapon had undergone some modifications.
It was a pure white color, just like the lightsaber of that one Grey Jedi who Astrid had met after the three of them had crashed their ship on that unknown planet during the Clone Wars. That meant Ahsoka had fought a Sith and won. She'd taken the Sith's lightsaber and cleansed the lightsaber of its crimson red color using the Force.
They were quite a strange trio, Astrid realized. Ahsoka with her white lightsaber, Astrid with her blue lightsaber, and Anakin with his crimson lightsaber.
Ahsoka didn't notice Astrid's riveted attention on her white lightsaber because her eyes were intent on the top of the canyon where the shots had come from. Anakin sidled up beside Ahsoka as he followed her gaze. He let out a curse under his breath a moment before the two of them suddenly ducked down as three more shots rang out.
"Who is it?" Astrid demanded, hating how useless she felt just sitting on the ground, waiting.
"Tusken Raiders," Anakin gritted out. "The bane of my existence."
Ahsoka spoke up from where she was crouched down on the ground with her forearms resting on her knees, "I am going to run out there and hopefully reflect a few of their shots back at them with my lightsaber. We can't wait here forever."
"I'll go with you," Anakin offered quickly.
Ahsoka tossed her eyes playfully before inclining her head at Astrid and dashing out into the open. Anakin hurried after her, his boots kicking up plumes of fine sand. Astrid watched as Ahsoka gripped the hilt of her lightsaber in both of her hands before quite literally splitting the hilt in half to reveal two lightsabers, one in each hand.
Her white lightsabers were a blur in the air as she slashed and blocked the ensuring fire from the Tusken Raiders. Astrid was so riveted on the mesmerizing sight of Ahsoka's lightsaber that she didn't notice the three Tusken Raiders approaching her from behind until they grabbed her.
Before she could draw breath to shout, one of them kicked her in the stomach, knocking the air out of her. Astrid grunted as she doubled over.
She tried to reach for her lightsaber at her hip in an attempt to defend herself while sitting on the ground, but the three Tuskens quickly ambushed her and in the process, snatched her lightsaber. Why was it that someone was always taking her lightsaber from her recently? It was getting annoying.
Astrid heard a thrill from behind her, and she lifted her eyes to find Artoo zooming towards the Tusken Raider holding her lightsaber. Before the Tusken could react, Artoo shocked the creature with electricity, causing it to drop her lightsaber as it convulsed with electric sparks.
Astrid reached out to grab her lightsaber where it laid just feet away from her. But right when her fingers brushed the cool hilt, one of the other Tuskens kicked her legs, eliciting a muffled cry of pain from Astrid. Before she could recover from the mind-blurring pain throbbing in her legs, another one of the Tuskens hit her on her head with its club.
Astrid fell onto her side on the ground as her vision blurred from the blow, and she internally berated herself for allowing more Tusken Raiders to get the best of her, even if she was injured.
Suddenly, a hooded figure dropped down soundlessly from behind the Tusken Raiders, and landed in a crouch before rising to their full height. Instantly, Astrid knew it was Obi-Wan, if not from his familiar chestnut cloak, then from his pure, bright presence in the Force. A sky blue, plasmic bar emerged from the lightsaber in Obi-Wan's hand, and the Tusken Raiders turned towards the Jedi at the soft hiss of his lightsaber igniting in the air.
The three Tusken Raiders were able to release a few growls of both terror and bewilderment before Obi-Wan unleashed himself upon them. His lightsaber was a blur of blue as he slashed through the Tusken Raiders with expert ease. When all three Tusken Raiders fell to the ground, dead, Obi-Wan hurried to where Astrid lay slumped on the ground, unable to move.
Her entire body hurt now.
His brown hood dropped down from his head as he crouched beside her, and she was welcome with the sight of his kind, caramel colored eyes and growing cinnamon colored beard that now held a hint of grey. His face was lined with a few more wrinkles, both from the twin suns and from age.
He settled a hand on Astrid's shoulder as he scanned her asessingly. Astrid offered him a faint smile as she managed to rasp out, "Obi-Wan, how did I know you would come to save me?"
He gave her a soft smile as he replied gently, "Always, Astrid, always."
His gaze lifted to where a few shots still rang out-- to where Ahsoka and Anakin stood together, lightsabers blazing, in the center of the canyon-- and his eyes widened with shock. His shock was quickly replaced with a confusing mixture of wariness and elation.
As Obi-Wan turned to face her again, a question in his eyes, Astrid managed to rasp through her dizzying pain, "I brought him back, Obi-Wan. I brought Anakin back. I told you I would."
"It seems you did," he replied with a small smile. "You were never one for failure, Astrid."
Despite how much Astrid had matured to realize the futility of her fear of failure, her heart still warmed and jumped with glee at Obi-Wan's appraisal. She gave him a smile that could've blinded, it was filled with such happiness.
A wave of crushing dizziness suddenly hit Astrid, and she blinked rapidly as the world around her spun and crashed around her. This must be from the head blow that the Tusken had given her with its club.
Obi-Wan must've noticed her sudden distress because he moved to help her sit back up. Except, the movement made her dizziness worse and caused her legs to flare with greater pain, and a cry of anguish escaped her lips as tears pricked her eyes.
Black dots danced across her vision, and she managed to grasp Obi-Wan's hand as she whispered, "I think I'm going to pass out. I'll be just a moment--" Her voice trailed off as her eyes rolled back in her head, and she fainted.
Again.
She collapsed fully to the ground, and Obi-Wan let out a quiet shout of surprise before he caught her around the waist with growing alarm, having not realized the full, dire extent of her injuries. Obi-Wan gently shook Astrid's shoulders as he said in an urgent voice, "Astrid, wake up. You have to wake up now."
He gave Astrid's cheek a gentle slap that didn't elicit a response from the young Jedi. From beside Obi-Wan, Artoo gave a beep of distress at Astrid's state. A surge of relief swept through Obi-Wan when Astrid's eyes began to flutter before opening, and Astrid blinked up at him with apparent confusion.
"Wait did I just pass out?" she murmured, and Obi-Wan couldn't help his smile of relief before he nodded.
"You're pretty injured, Astrid," he spoke. "I can help you at my home. Can you walk at all? I assume not." Astrid shook her head in confirmation.
As he rose back to his feet, Obi-Wan's gaze drifted back to where Anakin and Ahsoka stood fighting side-by-side in the center of the canyon, blocking the Tuskens' shots with a whirl of their lightsabers. He was struck again by the sight, momentarily brought back to the Clone Wars when the three of them were frequently thrust together on missions-- and nearly impossible missions at that.
But the sight of the crimson lightsaber gripped in Anakin's hand brought Obi-Wan back to reality, and the familiar rush of guilt coursed through him. He owed his former Padawan an apology, an apology for being the worse Master imaginable for the rebellious, troubled Jedi.
As Obi-Wan glanced towards the top of the canyon to gauge how many Tusken Raiders were left, he became aware of the sounds of shots ceasing. It appeared as if Anakin and Ahsoka had reflected back the Tusken Raiders' shots until all of the Tuskens had been hit. Sure enough, as he scanned the top of the canyon wall, he didn't see any signs of Tuskens.
Obi-Wan heard two pairs of hurried footsteps approaching him, and he lifted his head right as Anakin and Ahsoka appeared around the corner. Obi-Wan and Anakin's eyes instantly met, and a mutual feeling of surprise and guilt and shame and hesitation rushed through the both of them at the sight of the other, at the reminder of what they had done-- or tried to do-- to each other on Mustafar.
Anakin stared at him as if he was seeing a ghost.
"Obi-Wan," Anakin choked out, voice rough with emotion and eyes swimming with unshed tears.
In two long strides, Obi-Wan swept forward and wrapped Anakin into a tight embrace. Anakin stiffened in surprise at first before he relaxed, and a moment later, Anakin returned his hug.
"I'm sorry, Master," Anakin whispered in a voice only Obi-Wan could hear. "I failed you, and I will always be eternally sorry for all the pain and grief I have caused."
"No," Obi-Wan replied gently as he drew back to look at Anakin in the eye. "I am the one who failed you. I was too blind to see you struggling, and I should've-- I should've been there for you. I should've realized the troubles you were going through. In truth, I shouldn't have even been your Master. You needed someone like my own Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, someone who could have truly understood you and your history. And I'm sorry, Anakin, for failing to be that person."
Anakin swallowed thickly before he spoke roughly, "No, Obi-Wan, you were a fantastic teacher. I was simply too arrogant and defiant to follow your teachings, and I--" He swallowed as he was momentarily overcome with emotion "--and I realize that now."
Tears pricked at Obi-Wan's eyes as he replied softly with a small smile, "Yes, well, even if you were both outrageously arrogant and cocky--" His smile faded away "-- I wish you could've trusted me. I--"
He paused as he fought for the right words, and when he finally gathered his thoughts, he continued gently in a quieter voice for just Anakin to hear, "I knew about you and Astrid, and I didn't say anything because I saw the way she made you happy. You had always been so sad and melancholy after you were separated from your mother, and to finally see that you had found someone that brought you a happiness that I couldn't provide you--" He swallowed thickly. "I couldn't take that away from you. So, I looked the other way. But if I had been forthright with you, then this could've all be avoided."
"It appears we both have things to be sorry for, then," Anakin replied with a hint of his old smile.
Before Obi-Wan could respond, he felt a surge of anguish through the Force, and he realized belatedly that the feeling was coming from Astrid. His gaze turned downwards to the young woman sitting on the ground, eyes squeezed shut against the pain undoubtedly roiling through her legs, and Obi-Wan startled as he remembered her injuries.
Taking advantage of the momentary lull in conversation, Ahsoka spoke up with an edge of impatience and urgency, "We need to get Astrid back to your home. She's pretty badly injured."
Obi-Wan nodded, and Anakin moved to heft Astrid up into his arms. She let out a small sound as she was settled against Anakin's chest. As Anakin straightened, his gaze found Obi-Wan's once more, and he said, "We can talk more when we get to your home." His gaze swept their dusty surroundings, and he added in a murmur, "Poor taste in dwellings, I must admit."
Obi-Wan huffed a laugh with an amused shake of his head before he suddenly remembered that Anakin would be meeting Luke and Leia for the first time. Obi-Wan smiled before he replied, "I would like that, and I think you will be very happy to meet the two people waiting for you back at my home."
Anakin's eyes widened as he caught onto the hidden meaning behind Obi-Wan's words, and his mouth tugged up into a hesitant, if not a nervous smile before the four of them-- Artoo included-- set off further into the canyon for Obi-Wan's home.
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