WALK AWAY || a.s.

09

marwen thought she knew what coruscant was like-- a bustling scene with a state of traffic on all levels of the planet. despite it also being home to the jedi temple, she hadn't been aware of the oasis and serenity it was home to.

training as a jedi wasn't something one could suddenly become accustomed to. even after two years at the temple, marwen still struggled heavily. in part because she hadn't been raised there, but also because there were things about the order that were difficult to take in and absorb into her own moral code.

she was much older than the younglings she had been placed with, most of them being half her age or younger. it was a humbling experience to say the least. marwen didn't know humility until she had been beaten in staff combat by a nine year old twilek girl.

patience was not one of her strong suits in learning combat. while she was able to process what it was the jedi masters instructed in teaching proper saber form, her younger classmates were not, which often times resulted in the girl posing for up to twenty minutes at a time while waiting for the rest of the children to get their form correct.

the only thing that marwen seemed to excell at were her studies. playing catch-up on jedi history and the science of the force was an extenuous task, and one that took up many of the girl's nights. the archives had become like her dormatory. luckily, master jocasta had been fond of her presence, and often assisted marwen in her research and schooling.

marwen took full advantage of this, trying to get jocasta's personal account of all things force-related. she was wise, and patient, and everything the girl had expected a jedi to be. not only that, but jocasta had also been more sympathetic towards marwen. unlike the rest of the council, she had been eager to offer knowledge to the girl.

marwen's recruitment into the jedi order had been a rocky one, one that took days of negotiation. it was an uncomfortable encounter, one that left her feeling vulnerable. she had quite literally been put on display for the judgement of all.

"master kenobi," yoda had stated after obiwan made his claim on marwen's behalf. "a habit, this is becoming." he said simply. the surrounding jedi masters were quiet in thought.

"i do not wish to make it seem as though the order should accept just anyone, especially under the circumstances of age, but miss qun is not some vagrant from the lower city. she was raised with senator amidala among a culture strung high with patience and wisdom. she knows peace, you must see that." obiwan explained. anakin, ahsoka, and marwen stood behind him, anxiously waiting for a response.

"the responsibility is not something another master has the ability to take on at this time, obiwan." master windu added.

"she wouldn't be able to be taken as a padawan, not yet anyway. the girl has yet to learn even the basic history of the force, nor it's power. she would be within the walls of the youngling wing, at least until the next planetary alignment." obiwan told them. "she must learn first. and when that has come to fruition, i volunteer to train her as a padawan."

"sure you are, that the responsibility may be even on your shoulders?" yoda questioned him.

"i am." he nodded. while he was unsure deep within himself, he knew he had owed padme that much.

"i fear for the sake of the girl, if that is to be the case." shaak ti spoke this time. "an inexperienced child being trained on the battlefield? that is a death wish on its own."

"if i may, masters," ahsoka interjected. all eyes fell on the young girl as she stepped forward. "i myself have been trained as a padawan amidst the war. i understand that i had years of experience from my time learning as a youngling, but in action is the best way to truly learn." she explained. "and she won't be alone. i, for one, will make it a point to be along side marwen throughout the entire process." ahsoka turned back towards marwen and offered a knowing look and sympathetic smile. she nodded in response.

"young qun," master yoda began, "ready are you, for the responsibility of jedi training? of the knowledge?" he prodded. marwen bowed her head and stepped forward.

"i wish to learn what it is that has come to make itself known in my active life and work. whatever i can do to control that power, i will." she said firmly.

"a power, it is not. an energy, it is. flows through one's being, the force does." yoda told her. "patience, you will learn. to balance ambition. rare it is, to train at your age." he explained. and it was, marwen knew that.

during her time at the temple, learned exactly what yoda had meant. younglings were taken at such a young age, developmental behaviors were taught as told through the jedi. the order could enforce the code and way as a means of teaching what it is to experience emotion and reaction. marwen had learned those pivotal functions on her own, developing them in ways that reflected the culture on naboo. she had had to relearn much of what was considered noble in order to think from the viewpoint of a true jedi.

the council had been hesitant, yoda holding some caution in regards to what could occur had the temple failed to reteach emotional processing. the heightened reactions could lead to higher stakes, higher turmoil--- a higher chance of allowing knowledge to fall into the hands of someone who decided they no longer were interested in what the order had to offer. but in the end, obiwan had convinced them, much as he had all those years ago on anakin's behalf. marwen was to be trained as a youngling for two years and fast-tracked to follow obiwan into the field as a padawan learner.