Dear Obi-Wan,

Where should I begin, my beloved, when so much has happened, and yet, so much more to come?

Perhaps here and now would be a good place to start.

I am writing this on board the Queen's ship. We are on our way back to Naboo, to protect the Queen in her fight against the Trade Federation.

We shall arrive in a few hours. You are meditating in the room next to mine, and the heavy silence is still stretched uncomfortably between us after our argument on Coruscant. You are upset because of my insistence on training Anakin at all costs, and I am disappointed by your behaviour -- as well as my own.

A vision has come to me during my earlier meditation. A blood red vision. I saw myself fighting the Sith, in a circular room with a pit in its centre.

I saw my own death.

It echoed bitterly with the foreboding I have felt since our first close encounter with the horned creature a few days ago.

I am getting old, ObiWan. Perhaps, it is my time. I can almost see the dismayed look on your face, the same one you have had so many times before. You would have this intense frown that draws your perfect brows together and narrows your emerald eyes. "But Master Yoda says that the future is always in motion, Master! And you are definitely not old!" I can almost hear you saying that, and I would be tempted to do anything you asked, just so I can smooth it away. It hasn't changed a bit since the first time we have met. Always so serious, so fierce.

How I will miss you when we part, my beautiful love.

Indeed, the future is indeed always in motion, and one cannot win a fight if he believes that he will lose before it even starts. Our focus in that moment shall determine our reality. If this is indeed my destiny, then I shall at least rise to meet it with grace.

Forgive me, ObiWan, for not letting you know of this, for bidding you farewell now with this mere letter, but there is nothing you can do. It would only serve to distract you, a distraction you cannot afford. I am a selfish old man, the thought of you dying ahead of me, ahead of your time is unbearable. If I die tomorrow in the battle, I die fighting alongside you, die fighting against darkness in the universe. I cannot think of a better way to be one with the Force again.

Beloved, on the other hand, you still have a long road to travel.

Your destiny lies far beyond being an ordinary knight; I have sensed that from the very beginning. The living Force has whispered to me of your potential even when we were on Bandomeer all those years ago. That was one of the reasons why I refused to train you: having lost confidence in myself, I believed that I was incapable of guiding you to your true destiny. But then, of course, you moved me, your brave determined spirit shone light into my bitter weary soul.

Through the years, you have been an ambitious, able student, headstrong and quick-tempered sometimes, but a pleasure to teach and work with nonetheless. Together, we fought, we healed, we laughed, we mourned. Your strength lies in the unifying Force, and often balances my affinity to the living force, even though it comes in the form of endless heated discussions between us more often than not. Nevertheless, I can honestly say that teaching you, watching you grow has been a wonderful experience.

I am very proud of you, ObiWan my Padawan. My legacy.

I know I have been more persistent than ever to ensure that Anakin will be trained, with our argument still painfully fresh in mind. As I said at that time, I did not mean to surprise you in the council chamber.

Please forgive me, for I was too caught up in the moment then. Suggesting to take Anakin as my Padawan was my last resort, a desperate attempt to let him train as much as possible before you can train him yourself.

Yes, ObiWan, you will be Anakin's master. It is the will of the Force.

He is the one that will bring balance to the Force, I have no doubt about it. When you met on the ship, I felt the balance of the Force shifted, as if the fates of the worlds had fallen into a certain predetermined course.

His destiny is entwined with yours, not mine.

You two together will bring the much needed changes to the Order, to the galaxy. Let the force guide you, my love. It will not be an easy path, but your courage and determination will serve you well. I believe in your strength, the strength you possess that has assisted me in so many ways through our years together.

I believe in you.

You stood by me when odds against us were great, comforted me when I was too tired to go on, cared for me when I was weak.

Thank you, ObiWan.

Peace, is when I am lying in your arms, watching you sleep, listening to your heartbeat. Joy, is feeling your kiss lingers on my lips, your soft caress leaves tingles on my skin. Love, is you. And how I love you.

I shall always remember the mornings we mediated side by side under the dawning sky, the nights we lay in each other's arms in ecstasy.

Should I die, my only regret will be leaving your side. Don't be too hard on yourself, love, for everything has its time. My time has come, as my duty in the Force is done. When you have finished your part, we shall meet again, for an eternity.

Remember, there is no death, there is the Force.

Remember, I shall always be with you. I shall always love you. Always.

Take care of yourself, and may the Force be with you.

Love,

QGJ

The faint beeping of an incoming message signal woke QuiGon from his meditative gaze at the letter.

"Qui-Gon Jinn here."

"Master Jinn, this is Ric Olie. We will be arriving on Naboo in about a quarter of an hour."

"I will be on the bridge in a few moments. Thank you, Ric."

Switching off the comm unit, QuiGon gave his letter one last glance. Then carefully, he folded the sheets of paper neatly, and put them into his cloak pocket. Breathing out a sigh of resolve, he walked out of the room with his usual long strides.