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It had been nearly three years since the two Jedi had lost everything. Since Anakin had betrayed them. Since he had failed Anakin, and had been forced to murder him. Three years since he had stopped being Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, and had become Ben Kenobi instead. His padawan, well the one who still lived, hadn’t left his side through all of this. She had changed her name with him, becoming Rue Kenobi. Claiming the story that she was his daughter. And it wasn’t far from the truth.
For the three years she had been a Jedi, and his padawan, he had seen her as a daughter much the same way she had looked to him as a father. So their story built on so many lies held some semblance of truth.
Ben still felt like he had failed Anakin. As he did now. Another nightmare about Mustafar had woken him from his sleep. He had failed him that day. He walked to the main room of the cave, and found that Rue was up too. “Rue?” He inquired. “You should be sleeping.”
Eyes that he had not noticed were closed fluttered open as she turned her head to face him. “So should you, dad,” she replied. “Did you have another nightmare?”
It was then Ben realized his daughter had been meditating. The one thing they could still do to connect to who they had once been. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your meditation.”
She gave him a gentle smile and stood up. “No need to apologize, Ben,” she said. “But you didn’t answer my question, did you have another nightmare?” Her eyes shone of concern for him. She was still such a kind soul despite everything the two of them had suffered.
“I did,” Ben admitted at last. “It was about Anakin.”
“Would you like to talk about it?” she asked him.
“No, thank you for asking Rue, but I’d rather not.”
“I understand.”
“Would you mind if I joined you in your meditation?” Ben asked her.
“Not at all.”
Rue sat back down and Ben joined her. The two closed their eyes and reached out. Ben had closed himself away from the Force, but he still could not entirely block it out. And not around Rue, who shined so brightly in the Force. Like a star in the sky. Even despite the darkness.
He hadn’t failed Anakin then, because he had another padawan, and she had become a wonderful Jedi Knight even in the face of suffering. Even in the face of defeat.
And for just that moment, Ben and Rue Kenobi were Jedi again.