I waved open the doors and led the way into a dark chamber. The sun would soon rise and flood the chamber with its warm glow, even now there were hints of color through the wide windows of the chamber, but the only light was my upright lightsaber, its emerald blade cleaving the darkness.

"Who comes before us?" a deep voice intoned. Even knowing it was Mace Windu, I almost shivered in anticipation at the ancient words signifying the ceremonial start.

"Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi," I said firmly, gliding to a stop in the center of the room with Obi-Wan a step behind and off to one side in the traditional padawan position.

"The Jedi Order does not recognize Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi." On cue, Obi-Wan dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

"I petition the Council to recognize him," I said formally. "As his master, I request that you grant him this rank. He has earned the right to be called knight. He has passed his trials and proven his wisdom, judgment and skills before you. The caves of Ilum have allowed him entry. He has constructed a lightsaber and wielded it with honor in the service of the Force. He is worthy."

"His deeds are not disputed. The beads he wears in his symbol of rank speak to his passage of the Trial of Flesh, the Trial of Spirit and the Trial of Courage. He wears no bead signifying passage of the Trial of Self-Knowledge."

"He wears no such bead, but the High Council of the Jedi Order has recognized his passage of the trial. It took not place within the Temple, but within his heart and mind during a battle on the planet Naboo. The Council has granted him passage of this trial. I humbly beg and request that the Council so acknowledge this within the candidate's hearing."

I felt the merest hint of amusement, from more than one person present, when the words "humbly beg" left my lips. Obi-Wan's head dropped even lower and I just knew he was trying hard to hide a grin. Even my own lips twitched.

"We grant this request. Obi-Wan Kenobi – you have passed all four trials required before your petition is tendered."

Mace's voice was unusually stern and in the dimness I saw his eyes flicker to meet mine. Mace knew of Obi-Wan's inner struggle, better than I realized, for he was the only living Jedi master to master a certain – knowledge of the dark side – and use it in combat without letting it escape his control or harming him. He knew the dark side's lure well.

His eyes gleamed at me, as if he recognized my thoughts, before he resumed speaking.

"Who amongst us speaks to his devotion and dedication to the Force?"

I waited, wondering who would speak on Obi-Wan's behalf. It had to be another, not his master. I could almost feel twelve pair of eyes assessing my padawan. My young padawan only bowed his head lower, patiently waiting.

A dark shape detached itself from the silent group and glided before us, before moving to stand behind Obi-Wan and place strong hands on his shoulders.

"I speak on the candidate's behalf. He has proved his devotion to the Force. He is worthy." It was Mace Windu himself, and I think I was almost as surprised as Obi-Wan to see who spoke for him.

Of all the Council members, Mace himself had been the hardest on Obi-Wan. I saw his hands tighten reassuringly on Obi-Wan's shoulders as Mace looked at me and nodded, a slight smile on his face. He stepped back and faded back amongst the circled masters.

"Does any other wish to speak for this candidate – who amongst us deems him worthy?"

"Deem him worthy I do." It was Yoda's voice, firm and even, I thought, proud.

"As do I." That precise voice was Ki-Adi-Mundi's. The rest of the Council chimed in, one by one. As each spoke, a lightsaber flared into light, until twelve lightsabers nearly surrounded us, held at a forty five degree inward. It was a dazzling display, multi-colored beams of light nearly surrounding us – shades of blue and green and one solitary purple one.

"The Council is in unanimous agreement on the candidate's worthiness. Do the knights and masters of the Jedi order herein also commend his worthiness and back Master Qui-Gon Jinn's petition to recognize he who kneels before us as Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

In response, scores of lightsabers burst into light, held vertically in an outer ring behind the Council.

"He is deemed worthy by those whose equals he will be. Kneel, padawan Kenobi." I heard Obi-Wan silently slip to both knees and bow his head.

"When you rise, you will be acknowledged as a Knight of the Jedi Order. Do you affirm your wish to this rank – do you agree to serve the Force no matter the sacrifice it demands of you – do you pledge your life to protect those who call on us for assistance? Swear you this on your lightsaber, knowing should you be forsworn, your lightsaber itself shall cease to function as the crystal within shatters with your oath?"

I handed Obi-Wan his lightsaber. Obi-Wan ignited it and held it upright in front of him. In its blue light, I could see the intensity in his eyes, before he bowed his head to the hilt.

"I hereby pledge my life, my honor and my aid to the Force and all those it calls on me to help," Obi-Wan said softly, with barely a tremor in his voice. I had not coached him on his response, for a padawan was free to pledge himself as he saw fit. "I dedicate my life until its ending and even beyond; this I pledge for all eternity."

I turned and faced Obi-Wan. "Are you willing to offer a sacrifice in service of the Force?" I asked, indicating he should hand me his lightsaber.

"I offer my life," Obi-Wan said quietly, with no hesitation and in a firm voice. A simple yes was all I expected, for the sacrifice was the padawan braid.

I faltered a second and looked at him, for a sudden shudder ran through me. I had the merest glimmer…

…an old - old from grief and weariness though less old in years - Obi-Wan, eyes patient, weary and yet hopeful, watching unafraid with his blade held upright before him, face uplifted as he gave himself to the Force even as a lightsaber pierced his body and took his life - I shook the vision away, blinking away tears. I looked to see if the rest of the Council had seen this too, but in the dark they were all but invisible.

Was this what a thirteen year old boy had seen all those years ago? If so, perhaps the Force had been merciful and the vision had only shown him the events preceding his sacrifice, and he knew nothing of his life's ending.

Was this my beloved padawan's future? It took me a moment before I could continue, through a throat tight with grief and tears. At that moment I made a solemn vow to prevent that future if I could.

I didn't know then that this future had already been set in motion by events now behind us. Only after I passed into the Force, retaining my identity within it, would I know the fateful steps we had taken, or could have avoided. My Obi-Wan, I would have spared you all the grief you suffered, had I known. You were alone, with grief, alone for so many endless years - but for the Force. At least, I was right about that.

You would die with hope in your heart and bathed in the light, when you joined me in the Force, years from now. Not until then would you realize your failure was nothing such – it was your shining success that would make it possible for the son of Vader to redeem the father, and the prophecy to be fulfilled.

My padawan, you will have rekindled the light that had all but gone out in the galaxy – you, through your love, compassion and abiding belief in the light. Your sacrifice and your grief were not in vain. Just as the Force had spoken to you in Ilum.

You never stopped believing…and you died in service of the Force. You were the candle that relit the flame and let the Jedi rise from the ashes of the past into the glory of the future. You had a destiny and no title; your name would never be celebrated and passed down the generations.

You learned and passed on the greatest lesson of all – it was not just how one faced one's death, but also how one lived one's life. Your lesson would live on, in the son of Vader, in the untold generations of Jedi that would follow him, all in your footsteps.

But I knew nothing of that future then except that merest glimpse, and it was all too soon forgotten. I would only know, and remember, long after my own physical death, when I lived in the Force awaiting my fellow Jedi and my beloved apprentice.

"In recognition of your pledge, I take in sacrifice your symbol of rank," I said, walking behind Obi-Wan. Igniting his lightsaber, I held it aloft. "Padawan Kenobi exists no longer. Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi takes his place."

I took his braid in my hand and drew his lightsaber across it. Obi-Wan jerked a little as he heard the hair sizzle, but the lightsaber was on low enough power to only singe, not burn. I stood and displayed his braid for all to see.

"It is done," I said, and I could not restrain my pride.

"His padawan braid I hereby display before you. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight is now a full-fledged member of the Jedi Order, no longer bound to whim or command of any amongst us, an equal among equals, subject only to the Force, guided by the Council most high. May he live in and serve the Force for the rest of his days. He has so pledged."

"So he has pledged," the twelve Council members repeated. "We accept his pledge and deem him a full member of the Jedi Order. He serves the Force in light."

Clipping his lightsaber next to mine, I took his tunic and slid it over his arms; took his new tabard and carefully draped it over the tunic, then wrapped his belt around his waist.

I then moved in front of Obi-Wan and knelt before him. I unclipped his lightsaber, laid it across my arm and extended it to him hilt first. Shaking just a little, Obi-Wan took it and clipped it to his belt. I leaned forward and kissed him on one check, than the other.

"Rise, Knight," I said, and helped him to his feet. Since I was injured, he more or less helped me, rather than I him. I again embraced him, and didn't regret for one minute the tears sliding down my face.

I let go of him and stepped back, to stand at his shoulder, side by side with my former padawan, shoulder to shoulder as fellow knights.

"By the Force, how I've waited for this moment," I said softly, throwing a sideways glance to my former padawan. "Together, side by side, now comrades. I've looked forward to this from the very moment we swore an oath to each other. Never again a step behind and off to the side. Our journey together has come to its end; your journey starts afresh."

Turning my gaze back to the Council, I bowed and Obi-Wan followed suit. "I present to you Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, knighted by my hand with your consent."

With a wave of his hand, Mace turned on the lights in the chamber, low so as not to blind us all and all the Council members rose to their feet and inclined their heads. Obi-Wan knelt on one knee and lowered his head to them, a gesture not part of the ceremony. I saw smiles and nods on faces; the Council appreciated his gesture. Even Yoda was moved to a smile, and Mace – I peered closely – yes, even Mace's lips were slightly upturned. Two smiles in one day? Obi-Wan should feel honored.

Obi-Wan reached out for my hand and clasped it. I dropped my other hand to his shoulder and tousled the hair where his braid used to be. "You're allowed to say something," I murmured. "It's too late for them to deny you knighthood now – the ceremony is over."

"My heart is too full," Obi-Wan said with a hint of a grin, but he was still a bit overcome with emotion, though recovering fast.

"Well, your stomach isn't, and you're still too thin, so let's hie down to the dining hall and have some food. But, first…" I pulled Obi-Wan to his feet. Force, I was happy and I knew my eyes were dancing with all the pride I felt.

The chamber doors opened to reveal young Anakin standing behind it, grinning like it was his own ceremony. Obi-Wan turned and saw Anakin; stood waiting quietly.

"He says I lecture too much, and am far too boring for one so young," he whispered to me.

"He told you?" I was startled.

"I guessed, and you just confirmed it," he said out of the corner of his mouth. There was no time for me to think of a response to that, for Anakin was within earshot now and he slowly walked up to us.

Obi-Wan dropped to one knee and half extended his arms. They were both a little hesitant. I held my breath for just a second, and then Anakin threw his arms around my former padawan and beamed brightly. The new master and new padawan hugged, and I felt a catch in my throat. Was this how all masters felt when their padawans grew up and took their place as knights, and took padawans of their own?

"You look funny without it," Anakin giggled, patting Obi-Wan's shoulder where his braid usually hung when Obi-Wan was leaning forward as he was now. "Can I see it?"

I held it up for Anakin's inspection and he twisted his head and stared at it. "Wow, will mine ever look like that?" he breathed.

With a mix of pride and sorrow, I felt the touch as their bond deepened, and the growing affection between the two, for as their connection grew, my connection to Obi-Wan was fading. I wanted to clutch at it and hold on, and chided myself.

Before the bond entirely closed, Obi-Wan reached out to it and wound a tendril of Force around it and anchored to him. Never closed entirely, my master, with your permission.

Are you sure, Obi-Wan? I was pleased, but I didn't want him to do this for me. He had to live his own life now, and concern himself with his padawan, not his former master.

There's room for you both…and I can keep you tucked away in a tiny little corner.

Brat!

Friends?

Forever.

Ever mercurial, Anakin pushed away from Obi-Wan and came to my side. I watched, smiling, as Obi-Wan's friends – Bant, Garen, Siri, Reeft – came up to offer their congratulations. I smiled at their hugs and smiling faces, their tears. Such joy…so much joy.

There had been so many tears lately, but they had turned from tears of sorrow, to tears of joy.

"You be good to your master, Ani," I said fiercely, hugging him to my side. "He's a good man and he'll try hard, maybe too hard, to be a perfect master. Just don't let him be perfect, okay, he deserves better than that. Don't you be perfect, either. Just – love each other."

"Okay," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'll laugh at his jokes, but I'll sleep through his lectures." He grinned and raced away.

I moved to one of the windows, staring out at the rising sun and not seeing it. I was deep in memories. I remembered my own knighting, so many years before. I had been so full of hope. I had not known what joy and heartbreak lay ahead of me.

Obi-Wan's future was so bright before him. As long as I drew breath, I vowed to keep watch over him and to ease his heart if he should ever need it. He was no longer my padawan and duty did not require this of me.

Love of him demanded this of me.

I will be watching the future unfold now. Obi-Wan and Anakin are the bright lights that will be my legacy. Their stories are theirs to tell; I am only an onlooker.

An arm came around my shoulder and a finger brushed a tear from my eyes.

"I thought you said no more tears, Master," Obi-Wan whispered. I wrapped my arm around his shoulders as we looked out the window. On Obi-Wan's other side, I saw, was young Anakin and Obi-Wan's other hand was resting on his shoulder.

"Ah, my padawan, not tears of sorrow or of grief, not this time." Those tears were in the past; perhaps, too, in the future. I focused on the here and now; the Living Force that bound us together.

Three Jedi, three generations: the past, the present, and the future.

These tears – these were a gift of the Force, reminding us that we were more than Jedi: we were sentient beings and that we lived and that we loved. These tears, joyful tears: these were tears of the Force.