Obi Wan’s padawan

By Charlotte

And she came. The one who walks with the force...and people everywhere 

rejoiced for a time, and then she went, and the dark one came once more ... 

Ancient Jedi Legend

It was midday on Naboo. The sun was beating down on the planet, filling the 

streets with dust as three figures walked through them.

They were Jedi, anyone even casually glancing could have seen it. They all 

wore the white robes with the brown cloak, and they all had belts with 

lightsabres. They sensed no disturbance as they went, but they walked with 

purpose, people on a mission.

The first was a female human. She walked several paces in front of the other 

two. She was young, about nineteen, and was a padawan. She had long brown 

copper coloured hair, which was all tied back except for the long plait that 

showed she was a padawan. There was a fire in her eyes that could not be 

hidden.

The other Jedi were men. One was another padawan, with blonde hair and an 

independent look. The other was tall, with brown short hair, obviously the 

master of the two young padawan, although he almost looked young enough to 

still be in training himself. He was taller and stronger looking than the 

padawan at his side, and occasionally glanced at the other padawan to see 

that she was alright.

The hot sun beat down on Naboo. Everything was peaceful, it was all as it 

should be.

Iyah walked along the dusty streets, enjoying the occasional shade patches, 

shying out of the too hot sun. Despite the heat, she was aware of a sense of 

contentment, peace at heart, almost as though she had been here before. But 

she knew she hadn’t. She had been at the Jedi temple since she was a year 

old, and she had stayed there until the age of twelve, when Obi Wan Kenobi 

had chosen her as his second padawan. Since then she had been to many 

different places to train, mostly Tatooine or the tiny uninhabited jungle 

planets in the Degaba system, but never here, although she had heard about 

it. Maybe she had been here a long time ago, before she was taken to the 

Jedi temple. Iyah dismissed this thought, it was not worth it. All would 

become clear, as Obi Wan would say.

  Obi wan glanced around, the peace and tranquillity felt real, there were 

no underlying currents of evil. Naboo was how it should be, but he couldn’t 

relax. He had not been back to Naboo since the fateful day when his master, 

Qui Gonn Jinn had died at the hands of Darth Maul. Obi Wan ,still a padawan, 

had been forced to watch his master die whilst he was trapped behind an 

energy shield, unable to help. If only he had run faster, Qui Gonn wouldn’t 

have died, everything would have been different.... Obi Wan forced himself 

to forget it. He couldn’t change the past, how often had he told Anakin and 

Iyah that? As he thought he glanced at his two padawan learners, one by his 

side, one far ahead, and smiled. Iyah had always been like that, 

independent, Anakin was too, but in a different way. He must not fail his 

padawan like he had failed his master, he would always be there for them, 

always.

Anakin’s mind was full of happiness, he had been to Naboo many times over 

the past few months, but now was the first time that Obi Wan and Iyah had 

come with him.  Amidala had invited them, so they could hardly refuse. 

Amidala, his beautiful queen had finally accepted! They would marry in three 

months time, and his master and Iyah would be there to help them prepare. 

Anakin felt happier than he ever had before, almost too happy. He had a 

feeling that things couldn’t be going this smoothly, they never had before. 

Wadu had even given his mother permission to come to Naboo for the wedding, 

it was all so perfect. He glanced ahead at Iyah, her beauty had been 

affecting him more than usual lately, but he had conquered his passion long 

ago, Iyah was more like his sister than anything else.

Suddenly all three Jedi felt a disturbance in the force. Iyah’s hand flew to 

her lightsabre, and she stopped walking, stood still, listening to the 

force. Obi Wan closed his eyes and reached out for the knowledge of what was 

happening. Anakin also stood, his eyes bright and alert. But it was gone, 

whatever it was. The Jedi continued walking, but the feeling of peace was no 

longer there, a cloud had gone over the sun.

Without any warning a hooded stranger jumped out from the side of the street 

. He was carrying a single bladed red lightsabre, and he was facing Iyah. 

Obi Wan felt the fear in her mind, and then felt her calm it, a good sign. 

She stepped forward and ignited her lightsabre. The blade flared up red. It 

had always been a problem with Iyah, her anger before a fight making her 

lightsabre red.

‘Control it’ Obi Wan thought. ‘Calm down, my padawan.’ Iyah had heard. She 

closed her eyes and focused on the lightsabre. The blade turned into purple, 

its usual colour, and she stood in a defensive position in front of the 

stranger. Suddenly the streets were deserted. Only Iyah, Obi wan, Anikin and 

the sith were left. A dark figure appeared in the backround. Anakin tried to 

rush forward to help her, but Obi Wan put out his hand to stop him.

‘It’s her battle, think about it. You should be able to sense whether to get 

involved or not.’ Anakin glared at his master for a few seconds, but then he 

closed his eyes and thought.

‘You’re right, master.’  He said. ‘It’s her battle, but surely that’s a 

sith?’

‘Yes’ replied Obi Wan, ‘If it gets dangerous we can help her’

The sith swung his lightsabre at Iyah’s head. She blocked it. For a few 

seconds they pushed their lightsabres against each other, the intense heat 

making sweat run into their eyes. Iyah had never seen anything as 

frightening as the sith, but somehow she stayed amazingly calm, even as the 

fighting got more and more intense. Iyah had never fought with such speed, 

it was constant block, slash, thrust, parry, block with no time to think in 

between. She was amazed at the power that flowed through her from the force. 

Both the sith and the padawan were tiring quickly, the pressure was immense. 

Half blinded, Iyah swung her lightsabre one last time before collapsing to 

the ground, crying as she fell ‘Master, help me!’.

In the few seconds before he reached her Obi Wan was reminded of when Qui 

Gonn had died, he hadn’t been fast enough then, but he would be now.

Closely followed by Anakin he ignited his lightsabre and struck at the sith. 

But before the lightsabre even reached its head it had disappeared, grinning 

evily at Anakin before going. Obi Wan hadn’t noticed. He was bending over 

Iyah as Anakin walked over

‘How could you do this to her, master? Why did you let it happen like this?’ 

Anakin’s voice choked as he talked.

Obi wan felt awful. He had let his padawan face a sith, how could she ever 

be expected to fight against something like that? As he watched she moved a 

little and moaned.

‘What was that?’ she asked

‘It was a sith. You’ve had an amazing battle.’ He said fondly. He sensed 

that maybe this padawan would be a great Jedi.

She shook her head.

‘No, it was more than just a fight. I could hear his voice in my head, 

telling me to join him, to go to the dark side. I was so tempted master...’  

she began sobbing. Obi Wan lifted her up and held her tight. He could feel 

the pain and the fear inside her.

‘Don’t feel fear, little one, fear is the path to the dark side’ he said. 

She smiled.

‘I know, you told me before’

‘Yes, I suppose I have. We have to get you back to the palace. Can you 

walk?’ She tried to stand up, but collapsed again, her legs trembling.

‘I’ll carry you then’ he said, and then picked her up and began to walk down 

the street. She lay back and closed her eyes , a faint dull pain spread 

through her body, it made her whimper a little. She opened her eyes, and 

found herself staring into her masters. They were intense green, but so 

gentle. She saw her master as a man for the first time. He seemed so strong 

suddenly. She let the thought drift from her head as sleep claimed her body.

Obi Wan laid his padawan down on the bed in her chamber. He covered her in 

his brown cloak and sat down beside her. He felt so stupid, because of him 

she had been forced to fight, and resist the dark side until she collapsed. 

Now she was exhausted, maybe even ill.

A memory flashed into his head. He had gone to the Jedi temple with Anakin 

to find an apprentice. He had seen so many young girls and boys who were 

strong in the force. But she had stood out. While some of the other children 

had been noisy and excitable, she had stood quietly. It had been the force 

that guided him to her, he was sure. And he had watched her grow in both 

skill and beauty, and had slowly realised that they had a unique bond, they 

could feel each other’s emotions, and even talk to each other just by 

thinking what they wanted to say. She was strong, and so, so beautiful, 

lying on her bed asleep, her loose hair flowing freely across the pillow, 

her young body moving up and down with her breathing, her lips so full...

Her eyes flickered open as he kissed her, his hands stroking her hair and 

neck. She put her arms around him just as Anakin walked in. They sensed it 

and he stopped kissing her.

‘Try to get some rest’ Obi Wan said to Iyah as he walked out. Anakin walked 

over to her. He couldn’t control the intense jealousy he felt.

‘ How could you do that? He’s your master!’

‘Why would you care? And what’s wrong with it anyway?’

‘It’s against the code. What if you got found out, you would be cast out 

from the Jedi, and so would he.’

‘ Life’s worth a few risks Anakin, surely you can see that?’

‘I don’t want to lose you, sister’ he said. She smiled as she remembered how 

they used to call each other brother and sister, and then frowned and 

continued.

‘Do you remember when I first met you? I was twelve years old, and I loved 

you like a brother because you used to treat me like an adult, not a child. 

What’s changed? Why should you suddenly want to treat me like I’m five years 

old?’

‘Because sometimes it seems like you are still a child, Iyah, like you still 

need protecting.’

‘I don’t need protecting by anyone, Anakin, I am no longer a child, and I 

can protect myself easily.’

‘Maybe you can use a lightsabre, Iyah, but it seems you need protecting from 

your own feelings, you can’t control them.’ He replied. Tears filled her 

eyes.

‘Maybe I just don’t want to, brother’

‘If you are an adult, as you say, then you will judge what’s best. Now, 

sleep. You look tierd.’ Anakin left the room, leaving Iyah alone with her 

feelings.

The next day Obi Wan took his two padawan to the main courtyard to train. 

Iyah was still weak, but she insisted on coming.

‘There’s no point in me lying in my chamber doing nothing’ she had said. Obi 

Wan smiled.

‘Alright then.’ he replied, and then left her to get dressed in her Jedi 

clothes. She pulled on clean white top and trousers, brown belt and cloak. 

Finally she stuck her lightsabre in it’s place. She braided her hair, one 

plait on each side, and then pulled them back and tied them together, 

leaving the rest of her hair loose. She ran out of her chambers, her hair 

flying, and then ran all the way to the courtyard, arriving at the same time 

as Anakin and Obi Wan. Anakin put out his arm to stop her flying into the 

wall, laughing.

‘You’re certainly keen this morning, sister’ he said. Iyah smiled at him 

gratefully, he seemed to have forgiven her after yesterday. She pulled her 

heavy brown cloak off and glanced at her master.

‘So, what are we doing today?’ she asked

He held up two blindfolds. ‘Fighting without sight’ he said, grinning. She 

groaned

‘Do we have to, master?’

‘Yes, it’s very important. Besides, I had to suffer it, and so should you’

‘Sorry, master, but I just don’t see the point. It’s not as if we’re ever 

actually going to have to fight anyone blindfold.’

‘What about fighting in the dark?’ said Obi Wan. ‘And that’s not the point, 

you have to reach out with all your mind, feel your opponent’s thoughts, 

remember that your enemy is as close to you as your friend.’

Iyah smiled. ‘Yes, master’ she said. Obi Wan tied the blindfold around her 

head, then threw the other one to Anakin.  ‘And no cheating’ he added.

Iyah felt the familiar surge of anger that she could never control. It had 

always been like that, even when she was only training. It was difficult to 

make herself calm, he anger seemed to get stronger every time. It was worse 

today, because of the frustration of not being able to see. She wrestled 

with it for a few seconds, and then defeated it. The soothing calm filled 

her mind. She was ready to fight. She ignited her lightsabre and hoped that 

it was it’s usual colour. She heard Anakin do the same, and then she reached 

out to see through the force what was happening. She knew where Anakin was, 

could sense his blue lightsabre, could feel his presence, which was so 

strong that it almost overwhelmed her. She made the first move, a simple 

strike at Anakin’s middle, which he blocked neatly. It was going well, she 

could almost see everything that was happening. He swung his lightsabre to 

get it away from hers, then thrust it back at her, stopping a millimetre 

away from her skin.

‘Good, Anakin’ said Obi Wan. ‘You must concentrate Iyah, if that was a real 

battle he’d have killed you. Start again.’

Iyah moved towards Anakin again, this time faster. She knew that Anakin 

fought heavily, and wasn’t extremely agile. If she could use speed she could 

beat him easily. She jumped through the air, right over Anakin’s head, 

landed, turned round and struck. Anakin had managed to turn round and had 

parried it neatly, but he had been taken by suprise at the speed, and now 

she was winning. She fought faster and faster, twisting to avoid the blue 

lightsabre, blocking and striking, round and round in circles, easily 

avoiding Anakin’s efforts with her agility and speed. She felt amazing 

exhilaration, almost joy, like nothing else existed in the world except this 

battle, the force flowed through her as it had the day before, and she heard 

Anakin panting. He was tiring quickly, but she felt nothing but the joy of 

battle. Eventually she heard Anakin fall to the ground, his lightsabre 

spinning away from him. She stood over him and switched off her lightsabre. 

She sensed amazement, not just from Anakin, but also from Obi Wan .

‘Can I take my blindfold off now?’ she asked, her voice trembling. The 

exhaustion of battle had just hit her.

‘Yes, my padawan’ said Obi Wan. She put her hand up to her head. Her face, 

hair and the blindfold were all covered with sweat. She pulled it off and 

threw it onto the ground. For a few seconds she was blinded by the light of 

the sun, and then her eyes adjusted. She moved away from Anakin, letting him 

stand up and take off his blindfold too. He moved over and picked up his 

lightsabre.

‘That was amazing, Iyah’ he said softly. Obi Wan walked over to them.

‘I’ve never seen you fight like that, either of you.’ he said. ‘The force 

ran amazingly strong during the battle.’ He picked up the blindfolds and 

gave them back to his padawan learners. ‘I want you to do it again’ They put 

them back on. They had both caught their breath and were ready to fight 

again.

‘Remember’ said Obi Wan ‘Your focus is your reality, feel, don’t think. And 

be careful, remember you’re not trying to kill each other.’

Dust clouded the air as Obi Wan’s padawan learners fought in the courtyard. 

Queen Amidala watched them out of her window. Something in the air was 

disturbing her. She watched her future husband battling in the courtyard, 

and wondered if anything would ever be perfect.

Obi Wan watched the young Jedi as they fought. They had very different 

styles of fighting. Anakin was a heavy fighter, using his size and strength 

to an advantage, he fought with something almost like violence, but it 

couldn’t be, Obi Wan would have sensed it. Iyah was much more agile, she was 

fast and light, almost beautiful as she fought. Iyah. The name meant ‘one 

who walks with the force’ and Obi Wan could see that she was using the force 

to her advantage. They were both going to be strong Jedi. Anakin would take 

the trials after he married, Obi Wan decided. Iyah would stay with him for a 

few years, the anger needed to be controlled, and he couldn’t let her go 

yet.

‘Remember, reach out to your enemy with the force, he is as close to you as 

any of your friends.’ Obi Wan reminded them. Iyah smiled and concentrated on 

Anakin. She began to sense some of his emotions, she could feel admiration, 

joy and something else. She concentrated harder. Suddenly an image flashed 

into her head. She could see Anakin, much older, but still Anakin. Was she 

seeing the future? He had a greedy look on his face. She reached out to him, 

but saw him pull out his lightsabre, it was red. He was battling with 

someone. An old man who looked vaguely familiar, it was Obi Wan. She saw 

Anakin lift up his lightsabre, swing it at the older man’s head, and strike. 

She cried out, this could not happen, it must be a mistake. But then she 

heard the voice in her head.

‘Come with me, Iyah, the other padawan will soon.’

‘No!’ she shouted fiercely. It all went. She lost control of her lightsabre, 

fell to the ground, with Anakin holding his lightsabre at her neck.

‘Beat you, sister’ he said, laughing. She pulled the blindfold off for the 

second time, threw it across the ground, and got up, backing away slowly, 

staring at Anakin.

‘What’s wrong?’ he asked. She shook her head, and then turned round and ran 

into the palace. Obi Wan and Anakin stared after her.

‘What was that?’ asked Anakin

‘I don’t know’ said Obi Wan. ‘I’m going to find out though.’ He strode into 

the palace, leaving Anakin on his own.

Iyah lay on her bed curiously quiet, she had to think about it all, she 

wanted to forget what she had seen, but it was impossible. She had seen the 

future, she was sure. But how could she ever tell anyone? She was just a 

padawan, no one would listen to her.

Obi Wan walked in, went over to the bed and sat next to Iyah.

‘What is it, little one?’ he asked ‘It’s not like you to give up a fight 

like that.’

‘I saw something’ she replied.

‘What was it?’ asked Obi Wan.

‘Nothing really.’ Said Iyah, sitting up. ‘Just forget about it.’ Obi Wan 

took her hand. ‘If you saw something when you were fighting I really should 

know.’ He said. ‘It could be important.’ She shook her head.

‘Come on, padawan, tell me.’

‘I saw the future, master.’

‘What did you see?’

‘A battle. You and Anakin fighting.’

‘Training?’

‘No, fighting. He, he killed you. He was on the dark side’

Obi Wan didn’t know what to say. Anakin would not kill him, he was sure.

‘ But that’s impossible. Anakin would never go to the dark side.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because he’s the one who will bring balance to the force. The chosen one.’

‘Why did I see it then?’

‘Sometimes Jedi get visions that have deeper meanings than they seem to. 

What happens in the vision isn’t necessarily the truth, it’s symbolic. A lot 

of things could cause this, in your case it was probably that attack 

yesterday.’

‘Why did that sith attack me?’

‘He obviously thought you might join the dark side, Iyah. Your anger is hard 

to control, maybe he thought you’d be easy to tempt.’

‘I, I almost wanted to, master. But it was wrong. I fought it.’

‘I know. And that’s what sets you apart. The dark side is in every person. 

But not everyone is tempted by it, and you proved that you were stronger, my 

padawan.’

‘What about you, master, were you ever tempted?’ Obi Wan turned away.

‘When my master was killed I was very angry, I killed the sith who did it. I 

was tempted, yes. But I realised it and did not turn.’ He broke off and 

looked away. She touched his arm.

‘I can sense your sadness, master. What is it?’

‘I had to watch Qui Gonn die.’

‘Qui Gonn?’ she repeated softly.

‘My master. I was stuck behind an energy beam. I couldn’t move, couldn’t 

help him. It was awful.’ He looked away. Iyah sensed the grief.

‘Let it go’ she said. Obi Wan smiled.

‘And so the padawan teaches the master.’ He quoted.

‘and it goes on, master after master, padawan after padawan’ she continued.

‘until the Jedi are like stars in the sky.’ He finished.

‘Quoting from the Jedi texts, very impressive.’ Came a voice from the door. 

It was Amidala. Iyah ran over.

‘It’s so nice to meet you at last.’ She said, bowing to the Queen.

‘ I’ve heard so much about you from Anakin, and I’m glad to meet you in 

person’ she replied. Then they laughed.

‘I’m glad that’s over’ Amidala said. Obi wan walked over and bowed.

‘My Queen’ he said. She took his hand and bowed

‘Nice to see you again, master Jedi. Unfortunately I am not here to chat. I 

have just received word from the Jedi council. You are all to travel to 

Quoresant on important matters.’

‘What do these matters concern?’ asked Obi Wan

‘I do not know. But you are to go there immediately.’ She replied. She 

thought  for a minute and then added

‘Bring Anakin back to me, Obi Wan Kenobi’. He smiled.

‘Fate will decide, my queen’ he answered ‘We will leave at once.’ They bowed 

again and then Amidala left.

‘Can I meet Yoda, master?’ Iyah asked. Obi Wan had told her about the Jedi 

master, and she felt excitement at the prospect of seeing him.

‘If we have time.’ he replied. ‘We’ll leave in an hour. Find Anakin and meet 

me at the ship.

‘Yes, master.’

Three quarters of an hour later Iyah still couldn’t find Anakin. She had 

looked everywhere, from his bedchamber to the palace courtyards, round and 

round in circles, and now she was very frustrated. She flung herself onto a 

bench and tried to quiet her mind. She wanted to use the force to find 

Anakin, but her mind was buzzing with everything that had happened. The 

sith, the battle, the image of Anakin killing his master, and that kiss. She 

wondered if her master had forgotten it. Neither of them had mentioned it 

again. Maybe it would be best to just forget it. She banished all these 

thoughts from her mind. She searched for Anakin. Her brother. The other 

Padawan. Where was he? Time was short. The answer came. He was in the main 

entrance, the one place she hadn’t looked. She stood and ran, her heart 

beating in her neck. She had to get there in time, something urged her on, 

made her run faster and faster. There was a disturbance in the Force, 

something big. She could hear peoples voices screaming out in terror, in 

pain. Time was running past, they needed help. She could reach them. She 

reached the main entrance. Anakin was there, and so was Obi Wan. She stopped 

as quickly as she could, breathless, gasping, almost crying.

‘Master, something’s happening.’

‘I can feel it too, Iyah. A massive disturbance in the force.’

‘People are dying.’ He looked at her sadly

‘I know. We must get to Quoresant quickly. The Jedi council will tell us 

more.’ The three cloaked figures entered the ship. One master, two Padawan. 

A dark figure in the backround. Everybody has to face their destiny.