Padme awoke, sat up in bed and looked over to the other side of the room. She saw Nyckol already dressed and meditating on her bed.
“Morning, sleepy head. You need to get dressed, so that way, we can go and get something to eat.” Nyckol opened her eyes and turned towards Padme.
“Oh, ok. Why did you let me sleep in? I promised Anakin that I would meet him in the Archives, so we can go over some of the things that we need to know for our Trails, that we will be taking in a couple of days.” Padme began to yawn and stretch her arms over her head. “Yes, I know that you two are going to the Archives, and I know that you have not been sleeping well, for the past few days. I also know that Obi-Wan is letting Anakin sleep in too, so do not worry. You have not missed him.” Nyckol smiled at Padme, before she uncrossed her legs and stretched them out in front of her.
“Oh, ok. I will be ready in a few minutes, then.” Padme got up and went over to her closet, grabbed her clothes and began getting dressed.
Once Padme was dressed, her and Nyckol left their quarters and made their way to the turbo-lift. They saw both Obi-Wan and Anakin standing in front of the turbo-lift. “Morning, Padme, Nyckol. I do hope that you two slept well.” Obi-Wan bowed his head, as Padme and Nyckol came up to them.
“Morning, Obi-Wan and Anakin. I did sleep very well, thank you.” Padme bowed her head in return.
“ That is so great to hear. Are you ready for Trails, in a couple of days?” Obi-Wan asked, as the door of the turbo-lifts opened up.
The two masters and their Padawans got onto the lift and headed down to the dining hall. Once they entered the dining hall, Padme saw her ex-clan mates. Then. she followed Nyckol to the small line, so she could get her food. “Would it be ok, if I sit with Luna and Gwyn?” Padme grabbed her juice. “Sure. When you are done here, then you head straight to the Archives.” Nyckol reminded Padme where she had to be after breakfast.
“Yes, master. I will take a lunch break and afterwards, go back to studying.” Padme gave Nyckol a nod, before she went to join her friends.
Padme walked over to the table and sat down with Luna and Gwyn.
“Hey, guys. How are you doing, this morning?” Padme picked up her fork and knife and began cutting up her eggs.
“Hey, Padme. Hey, Anakin. What are you two doing after breakfast?” Luna looked up at Anakin, who stood behind Padme’s chair, before sitting down beside Padme.
“I have to go to the Archives and study a few things that I may need to know for the upcoming Trails, in a few days.” Padme took a bite of her eggs.
“Oh, yeah. I did forget that you two are doing your Trails in a few days. Well, then, I wish you both luck. So, what about you? What are you doing after breakfast?” Gwyn watched Anakin cut up his meat and eggs.
“I too have to go to the Archives and get ready for the Trails.” Anakin picked up his cup and took a sip of his Caf.
“Oh, ok. Well, I am done here. I guess I will go and head for the Gym, to exercise and work on my combat tactics.” Luna put down her fork on her now empty plate.
“Ok and I will join you there. I too have to go, and if we don’t see you before your Trails, then I wish you both luck.” Gwyn nodded to Luna, as the other girl got up from the table and left the room.
“Ok. Thanks. We will see you both later.” Padme watched her other friend get up from the table and also leave the dining hall.
Twenty minutes later, both Anakin and Padme finished up their breakfast and sat back from the table.
“Well, I need to go and get something from my quarters. I will meet you at the Archives.” Padme stood up from the table, as Anakin also stood up.
“Ok. I will see you soon.” Anakin moved away from the table, so Padme could move away from the table too.
They both left the dining hall and Anakin went one way, while Padme went the other way. Once at her quarters, Padme walked into the room and thankfully, she found it empty. She did not want to walk in on Nyckol and Obi-Wan screwing each other in her bed, like she did the other night, when she and Anakin caught them together. Going to her nightstand. Padme picked up the two small discs and headed back out of the room. Then, made her way up to the Archives.
Padme walked into the Archives and found Anakin, in the very far corner of the room, away from everybody else.
“Hey, Ani. Am here. Thanks for saving me a view screen.” Padme came up to Anakin and put her hand on his shoulder.
“Hey. No problem. So, do you have the discs with you?” Anakin looked up at Padme and gave her a smile.
“I do have them. I had to go and get them from the quarters. So, are you ready?” Padme handed one of the discs to Anakin, who put it into the computer that was in front of him.
“Thanks, and yes, I am ready.” Anakin watched Padme sit down and also put her disc into the computer that she was using.
“There are five challenges that you will facing, in your Trails.” the vision of the Chief Librarian, coming onto the Holo-screen.
Padme scooted her chair, just a little bit closer to the screen, so that way, she could see the images on the screen, just a little bit of clearer.
“The first challenge is called the Trail of Skill. It demonstrates a Jedi’s Competence with a lightsaber and the Force principles of Control. This Trail hinges on the Jedi’s ability to maintain self-discipline, in the face of distractions.” the Chief Librarian continued telling Padme one of the Challenges that she will be facing during her Trails.
Padme looked up, when she felt a person standing right next to her.
"Here is earphones for you, Miss Padme.” the head Librarian handed Padme her headphones.
" Thank you. Sorry, if it was too loud.” Padme took the headphones from the elderly lady, before she went over to Anakin.
Padme watched Anakin take his pair of headphones from the elderly lady, then he went back to his Holo-screen. Padme turned back to her Holo-screen, and un-paused the figure that stood frozen in front of her.
“The second challenge is, Trail of Courage. It establishes a Jedi’s skill and fortitude, in the face of danger and over whelming odds. Its purpose is for a Padawan to persist in the face of fear. Lastly, Courage must be aligned, with the fourth precept of the Jedi Code: There is no chaos, there is harmony.” the Chief Librarian continued to explain the second step, in the Trails that he will be facing in a few days.
The elderly lady continued telling what the last three of the challenges of each Trails are going to be. The third Trail is called the Trail of Flesh. It determines a Jedi’s capacity to overcome great pain. In this trail, we think of the first precept of the Jedi Code: There is no emotion, there is peace. The fourth Trail that will come up, is the Trail of the Spirit. It will test a Jedi’s ability to vanquish their inner battle and to emerge unscathed. Also, you must remember the third precept of the Jedi Code: There is no passion, there is serenity. The fifth and last challenge of the Trails, is the Trail of Insight. This will reveal a Jedi’s aptitude for distinguishing reality from illusion, through deceptive challenges.
“Hey, Padme. It is lunch time, so let us go and get something to eat.” Anakin took off his headphone, stood up and stretched, before touching Padme’s shoulder.
“Oh, ok. That sounds good to me. I am almost done here.” Padme stopped the disc and stood up too.
After lunch, both young Padawans came back to the Archives and finished their studying on what they could be facing on their Trails. They learned what will be happening and what they need to do, during the Knighting Ceremony. If they do fail their Trails, they do not have to leave the Order, but they can be in the Jedi Service Corps, if they wanted too.
After a very long day of studying what they need to know, Padme said good night to Anakin. She went to her quarters, climbed into her bed and fell sound asleep.
(*pages 96-109 from the book The Jedi Path by Daniel Wallace)