To all Things, a Season. A Beginning, and an End.

[Meira]

((I am quite aware of the obvious rejection of the time/space continuum that this thread boasts. But it simply serves the purpose of RPing Meira's knighthood. It by no means affects any RP she is currently in))


It had been a few weeks since the successful end of the Devaron mission. Successful in that peace had been reestablished on the planet. To Meira, there had been many failures. Most of all, a failure to protect against needless deaths. Unfortunately, that was the way of war, even if Jedi were present. Their code could not be enforced on the unwilling. Many Devaron people, rebels and loyalists alike, died for one cause or the other, often out of foolish pride.

Meira had spent much of her time after returning to the temple in meditation. Like the mission in which her former master had lost his life, Meira had been struck hard, both physically, and mentally. She felt great sorrow at the loss of life, sure that she might have been able to save more, had she been faster, stronger, or smarter. She felt pain in her body as she healed from burns, bruises, and even a broken rib.

She had both Niv-taro and Master Took to thank for her survival. While Master Took helped to keep her mind strong, Niv-taro help to keep her body strong. And in turn, Meira had done her best to support them as well. But had she done enough? It could be argued that her survival and the overall success of the mission was an affirmative answer to her question, but she was not sure.

As it was, she might soon find out. Meira had been summoned by the Council, to give her own report on the mission, she was sure. She arrived outside the doors to where she had been summoned. Taking a breath to steady her thoughts, she slowly opened the door.

[Vreem Took]

How long had it been now? Two weeks? Three? Since his return Vreem had been wrapped up in so much work that time had seemed to have lost all sense of itself, leaving him utterly confused.

However, the impressions made upon him during the mission to Devaron wouldn’t fade no matter how much work the Council threw at him. It had proven to be a difficult mission, even for the combined effort of three Jedi, but it had certainly shown how the three of them were able to work effectively together, as well as apart. Yet the mission had not been all that great, the faces of those homeless, poor and starving still flashed to the forefront of his mind occasionally. That little solo expedition of his had not been pleasant in the slightest, those were the memories he hoped would fade in time.

Nevertheless, they had all come out of the mission alive and, in Master Took’s eyes, that accounted for a great deal. He hadn’t seen either Meria or Niv-Taro since their mission, no doubt they had both been training since they got back, the mission had helped to point out areas in which they all needed to improve, and the time they were given at the temple to recover from the mission would provide them with the perfect opportunity to eliminate those weaknesses.

It had been a few days prior that the subject Vreem was waiting for was finally brought up in the Council chamber. What to do in the case of Meria Valli. Discussions had taken a while, although not as long as many other topics did. Vreem argued this case rather, for use of a better term, passionately. Before the mission the majority of the Council had been against her promotion to the status of Knight. However, after the mission, Vreem fought in her corner rather religiously and eventually managed to persuade the Council to promote her. Having not been on the mission like Vreem had, the other eleven members were not able to see the Padawan’s application of her training and thus they were more for assigning her to a new master for another year or two. This, in Master Took’s eyes, was just a waste of a Jedi who was ready for promotion. He had no doubt that Meira would quickly take to training an apprentice as well; she just seemed that way inclined.

It was decided that Vreem would be the one to officially promote her, usually the Grand Master would take on such a task but she was currently busy with an assignment. It was not abnormal for another member of the council to promote Padawans and the Council thought it almost poetic if Vreem were to be the one to do so. And so the date and time was set, Meira was told to come to the council chamber under the guise of a mission report. And Vreem even sent word to Niv-Taro, assuming the Knight would want to see Meira as she ascended to their ranks. The Knight arrived moments before Meira and was told to watch from just outside the circle of assembled Masters.

As the door slid open, the Padawan walked into the darkened chamber, no doubt slightly nervous. When she reached the centre, twelve lightsabers burst to life, the blades sprayed the room with vibrant colours. Eleven of the blades were quickly pointed towards the ground, but one green blade was not. Directly ahead of where Meira had entered both the chamber and the circle stood Vreem, his face was stern and serious, as it was required to be for such an ancient and important ceremony.

“We are all Jedi.” He started firmly “The Force speaks through us. Through our actions, the Force proclaims itself and what is real. Today we are here to acknowledge what the Force has proclaimed.” He spoke to all of those Jedi present, greeting them all before he turned his attention solely to Meira. “Step forward, Padawan.” He paused for a moment and waited for her to do so. In a few brief moments, she was kneeling before him, head bowed. “Meira Valli, by the right of the Council,” he brought his emerald blade down over one shoulder, “by the will of the Force,” he brought it down upon the other in quick succession, “I dub thee, Jedi Knight of the Republic.” With those final words and a quick flick of his lightsaber, the traditional Padawan braid which Meira would have bore for years now fell to the ground.

Leaving only a small pause, Vreem said his final words, “Take up your lightsaber, Meira Valli, Jedi Knight. And may the Force be with you.” All around, the assembled Masters raised their blades in a salute, bringing the ceremony to a brief close.

Another few moments passed until the lights came on and the blades of the Jedi retracted into their smooth metal cylinders. After bowing and some brief words of congratulations, they slowly filtered out, leaving those well associated alone to talk to one another. The look of seriousness faded from his face to be replaced with a warm and ever friendly smile. “Congratulations Meira,” came the now much softer voice of Vreem Took, friend and associate of Jedi Knight Meira Valli.

[Halmtier]

The sight of the Ceremony was what every padawan hoped to see when he was selected by a master. The council looking on as the young Jedi knight arises, escaping from the cocoon of instruction into the wings of knighthood. Standing off from the circle and watching on, Niv-Taro saw this metamorphosis take place with one he had just recently been on Devaron with: a one Meira Valli.

He was pleased that the council decided to promote her into knighthood instead of forcing her to take up a few more years as a padawan. As she demonstrated on their last mission, Meira was ready to accept the responsibilities, at least in Niv's eyes.

Once the pomp and circumstance of the situation passed, he walked towards the pair still standing at the center of the room, and placed a gentle hand on Meira's shoulder and smiled.

"You've earned it." He said simply.

[Meira]

She had seen this before, but where? Padawans weren't supposed to know, but Meira and her uncle Evos had shared a Kiffar gift. Their psychometry was something that Evos used to teach his padawan. She had learned to hone it under his guidance. One of the lessons involved reading the history of his lightsaber. They had done it together, he guiding her and showing her how to control the flow of memories. They had started at the blade's creation. Meira was amazed that her uncle had kept his same lightsaber for so long. They had watched its use through his padawan years, but he had suddenly stopped the lesson as she watched a memory of doors opening and entering a dark room.

She now understood. It had been her uncle's knighthood ceremony. Now she stood in the dark room, just as he had, and countless other Jedi before them. A circle of light surrounded her, and one of those lights came forward. It was hard to see who in the glare of the blade, but his voice was unmistakable. Meira was fairly sure that, after their mission to Devaron, she would not forget Master Took's voice. It was strong and calm and full of the force. He spoke the words that would move her very life forward on it's path. She had followed directions, and had watched her padawan braid fall to the floor. A smile came to her face, and she refused to try and hide it. The ceremony was over, and she was allowed to be proud, as much as she felt she should remain humble. Pride was like sweets, she told herself; fine in moderation.

She stood and her eyes returned to Master Took's as the lights in the room were brought on. She knew that she would always look up to the man. Who wouldn't? His voice changed as he congratulated her, but it still managed to retain its sense of power. Thank you Master Took. She replied, her grin extending wide on her face. Against the black band tattoo that ran across her eyes, her green orbs were bright with the excitement. Then, a hand touched her shoulder, and Meira turned to see another face and hear another voice she knew she would not soon forget. She had not seen him before, but Healer Niv-Taro had been there as well, and Meira's smile doubled in size, if that were even possible. Thank you. She repeated as the Healer also congratulated her.

She knew that this moment was bound to come. It was not vanity for her to believe she was to become a knight. But knowing that something is going to happen, often does not take away from the feeling of surprise that comes when it finally does. She looked back to Master Took. So I guess you won't be needing my report then? She asked, laughter in her voice.