CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER EIGHT.
Elly couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned for hours after departing the mess hall after dinner was served. But she just couldn't sleep. Her cluttered thoughts dug at her temples and they were not even relieved by meditation which she had attempted to fall into. She wasn't sure what made her so restless but she was.
Maybe it was the thoughts of Obi-Wan that swirled around her head constantly or the knowledge that if she became useless, she could be discarded easily by the Council. But something made it hard for her mind to stay quiet. It was exhausting and she only knew one way to truly help on nights like these.
She spent much of her youth sleepless and training was all that had fixed it.
She had suffered after she had come off active duty. The sleepless nights became frequent and she had no outlet for it any longer. Her lightsaber had been hung up and she never intended to pick it up again but now, she was here. And the familiar call of training to tire her out was strong.
So, with some reluctance, she got up. She changed into her training robes and slipped her cloak on. She picked up her lightsaber and let herself feel the weight of it in her hand. It was so light, lighter than she remembered but there was still so much familiarity with it.
It clipped to her belt and she headed towards the training rooms on the other side of the Temple. The more she walked, the more she felt the adrenaline rush through her body. It was preparing and she could feel herself grinning. It felt odd but good to be training without the obligation. It was her choice and she wasn't concerned over how it would go.
The room was quiet as she discarded her cloak. Then she lit the lightsaber up. The familiar thrum filled her ears and she felt herself smiling. The warm orange glow covered her face and she swung it effortlessly. Her lightsaber moved through the air with each swift movement, her body flowing with the movements and the Force. It was so familiar. It was calming and she felt comforted for the first time in three years.
But, as she practiced the lightsaber forms, she felt a presence. The familiar green Force presence of Anakin. She let her lightsaber fall in front of her and turned around. Her head tilted. The lowlight of the training room left him mostly in shadow as she flicked the lightsaber off.
She was red in the face, her back sweating as she panted softly. She asked, "What are you doing here?" It was not accusatory, simply curious. He let his hands hang loosely by his side and there was something on his face. Something she couldn't quite recognise.
"I could ask the same about you" He retorted. She looked at him suspiciously for a moment before she shrugged. She clipped the lightsaber to her belt and walked over to grab a cantina of water. She offered some out but he shook his head.
"I couldn't sleep. Training helps." There was a little shrug at the end of her words before she took another sip of water. She then sat down on the bench and took a few deep breaths, calming her breathing down.
"I couldn't sleep either," He admitted. Elly frowned and met his gaze. That's what it was in his eyes, conflict and exhaustion. He looked so tired. More so than she had ever really noticed before. She gestured for him to come over and he sat down beside her.
"I know you are no longer a Padawan, Anakin, but Obi-Wan is still there to guide you." Her words were cautious. She didn't want Anakin to think she still saw him as a child because she didn't. He had become a wonderful Jedi Knight but he was sometimes a little too stubborn.
Anakin nodded and twisted his hands together. There was so much anxiety in those little actions but it was covered up with bravado in the blink of an eye.
"Since you're already here, what about a duel?" Anakin asked as he glanced over at the box of training sabers. Elly stared at him for a moment, unsure whether to give in to him. Part of her wondered if she'd lose her temper again but also, she wanted to duel. She wanted to see if she was as good as she used to be. So, with pursed lips, she nodded.
"We can't use the Force. Just our lightsabers." He nodded and she stood up from the bench. She placed her lightsaber on top of her cloak before Anakin grabbed them two training lightsabers. Elly could have used her own on the lower setting but Anakin didn't have his own so it put them on an even playing field.
She grabbed the lightsaber from him and they moved into the center of the room. The mats covering the floor from when she was just practicing. He adjusted his position and activated the lightsaber. The hum and white glow surrounding them both. She rolled her shoulders. He was barely 20. She knew that she could at least try and beat him.
Their lightsabers clashed, the sound making her wince but she quickly adjusted to the noises. She continued to send blow after blow towards him, taking the offensive. But each one he defended valiantly. Their lightsabers clashed over and over and she tried to push him back but he was able to keep his position.
Then, suddenly, he was on the offensive. He angled his lightsaber down, attempting to disarm her but she moved, avoiding the hit. It was a smart play but not enough. She could sense his attacks before they came and managed to block every single one.
Until she had him backed up and her lightsaber sliced at his arm. It didn't do any damage but stunned him enough for her to take a few steps back. A smirk on her lips as she looked at him. She blew some hair out of her face, already panting as he moved back towards her again. His hits became aggressive as he tried to push her backwards but she defended her ground well.
That was until, he managed to slice her cheek. She hissed in pain - not expecting any real injury - and quickly moved backwards. She was not going to be beaten by him. He should already have been beaten. She shouldn't have been cut. She was not letting this happen. He smirked at her injury before he moved back towards her. Each blow she sent was an attempt to disarm him, it would be an easier fight if he was without a weapon.
However, she was so concentrated on trying to disarm him that she wasn't prepared for the swift kick to the knee she received. It sent a shot of pain through her body as her body seemed unable to hold her weight anymore and she collapsed to the ground. Her head fell forward but she kept a tight hold of her lightsaber. Her knee throbbed, likely to bruise due to the weight of his boots.
Then his lightsaber was placed against her head and she heard the words 'submit' come out of his mouth. She frowned and deactivated her lightsaber. She made it look like she was submitting. She dropped it to the floor before she grabbed his torso.
It took all her strength as she threw him backwards over her shoulder. She panted and tried to get up but her legs were too weak. Then, a familiar presence made her pause for a split second before she let out a soft pant and attempted to push herself up. If Obi-Wan had come in then she couldn't disappoint him.
However, two hands gripped her waist. She hadn't expected him to recover so quickly and Anakin could sense her surprise in the Force but he held his tongue. Both of their lightsabers were on the other side of the room so this was all about hand-to-hand combat now.
Anakin dragged her back by her waist, trying to force her to the floor but the back of her head collided with Anakin's face in a powerful blow before he had a chance. She pushed him back off her and scrambled to her feet. It was now a matter of grabbing the lightsaber and she couldn't use the Force.
So she ran for it.
But, Anakin was on his feet and grabbed her, forcing her back. He dragged her back and she lost her footing. Her foot collided with his ankle in a harsh jerk and he was distracted enough that she was able to break his hold. She then ran for the lightsaber and picked it up, activating it and turning it against him.
Anakin stared at her for a moment before he glanced at the other lightsaber only a few feet away. She had the lightsaber against his throat before he had the chance to touch it.
"Not today." She muttered. She was panting heavily as he submitted. She let him go with a satisfied grin and called the other lightsaber to her hand. She then placed them both with the rest of the training sabers. Her fingers ran through her hair as she turned to look at Obi-Wan who had been lingering in the entrance way for most of the duel.
"You taught him well," She grinned. Obi-Wan nodded his head and Anakin seemed surprised by the presence of his Master.
"She taught you well," Anakin commented. Elly smirked and walked over to her cloak and lightsaber. She had certainly taught Obi-Wan well. Most of his techniques had come through mimicking her success in training. It was odd finding out Anakin fought almost exactly as she did.
"I assume we will still train in the morning?" Elly asked as she pulled her cloak on. Obi-Wan nodded and she smiled. She waved goodnight to the boys before she headed back to her room. She could hear the muffled voices of Obi-Wan and Anakin as she disappeared through the maze of corridors. When she reached her room, she collapsed into bed, falling asleep within minutes.
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Elly slept through breakfast the next day. It was only when Obi-Wan woke her up that she even realised. The duelling with Anakin had knocked her out and it was the most restful sleep she had had in years. Not a single bad dream or memory had cropped up and she felt well-rested despite the rude awakening. Her eyes blinked open as she felt Obi-Wan nudge her shoulder. He eclipsed the sun as she turned up to look into his eyes.
"Why are you waking me up?" She asked softly. Her voice was croaky and her throat felt dry but it was nothing a glass of water couldn't fix.
"You missed breakfast," He responded as he stepped away from the bedside. Elly's eyebrows furrowed and she grabbed her datapad, checking the time. She let out a soft sigh as she flopped forward onto the bed. The corners of Obi-Wan's lips raised in amusement and she forced herself to lie on her back.
"I didn't even realise how late it was," She mumbled. Obi-Wan shrugged as he walked over to her wardrobe. He opened it and searched through to grab her training robes.
"You haven't missed our training so I can let it pass." There was a teasing lilt to his tone and Elly turned her face to look at him. Her eyebrow raised as she pushed herself to sit up properly, "I brought you some breakfast to prepare you." She glanced over to her desk where there was a plate. It was basic but exactly what she liked.
"Thank you," She said as she slid out from under the covers. She ran her fingers across her face before she stood up. She picked up the plate and began to eat slowly, letting her body wake up. It was strange feeling so peaceful after waking up. It was unusual for her.
"You feel peaceful this morning," He commented as he placed her training robes over the top of the divider so she could change when she was ready. Elly nodded and took another bite of her breakfast before she placed the plate down.
"Duelling with Anakin helped me sleep better," She explained as she glanced at the training robes. She wondered if Obi-Wan expected her to duel him now. She knew she likely could without much issue but it still worried her. She cared for Obi-Wan and she didn't want to lash out at him, not again, not ever.
"Will we duel in training today?" He asked as he walked over to her bed, allowing Elly to move behind the divider. She was silent for a few beats as she removed her pyjama bottoms and top, creating a pile in the corner.
"No." It was a curt response and Obi-Wan was taken aback. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the divider. Elly could feel his Force presence nudging against hers, silently asking her to explain. A sigh escaped her lips as she pulled a new set of underwear on.
"I would like to do a little more meditation before I try to duel against you again." It was a small explanation and was really the whole truth but Obi-Wan seemed satisfied. So, they went silent as she finished changing.
Once she stepped out, she continued to eat her breakfast and they eventually headed out to the training room
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