Title: Golden Hours
Prompt:
writerverse challenge #04 table of doom, prompt #5: word: ‘golden’
Word Count: 542
Rating: G
Original/Fandom: Stargate SG-1 (
SG-22, original characters)
Pairings: none
Summary: Sometimes, SG-22 doesn’t end up in a naquadah mine.
Note(s): originally posted to the
writerverse wv_library Golden Hours
Sometimes, when they stepped through the stargate, they didn’t end up in a naquadah mine. Sometimes, SG-22 took a long walk through meadows full of wildflowers and sun-dappled woods to reach a village where they were greeted by a swarm of giggling children.
“Welcome, welcome!” called Arietta, one of the village elders, as they approached. She had flour on her skirt, and leaned in the doorway of her house with a mixing bowl in her hands. “You’re early!”
Gryff smiled at her. “We made good time,” she said. “Levi only made us stop twice.”
“Hey,” the sociologist protested, but with a smile.
“But early is better than late,” said Toby.
“And we brought presents!” added Jason, holding up a soccer ball.
Arietta shook her head, fondly. “You should not spoil them so,” she said, smiling.
Jason and the children dragged a protesting Levi out to an open field for a game that was almost similar to soccer. Two of the other village leaders, Jorbath and Emer, came to ask Toby’s opinion on the plans for a new building, leaving Gryff to stay and talk with Arietta. In the warmer months, it was customary to conduct all business sitting outside in the soft blue-ish-green grass that surrounded the village, and the two women made themselves comfortable. Arietta was the town record-keeper, and Gryff enjoyed swapping stories with her.
The sun set over the distant hills as they talked, painting everything with warm golden light. She leaned back on her elbows, to let one of Arietta’s little granddaughters tuck brightly-colored flowers into her hair.
Sometimes, Gryff forgot that missions could be like this, too. SG-22 was a tertiary contact team, as they half-jokingly called themselves, and while they were often sent to keep up dialogues with off-world communities, the SGC didn’t actually have that many allies who hadn’t been devastated by the Goa’uld. It was a nice change to bring just-in-case medical supplies, instead of desperately-needed ones, and even nicer to visit a place where they could bring toys and laughter.
“I’m out of flowers, Grandmama,” said a little voice, from somewhere behind Gryff.
“That’s all right, kiddo,” Gryff told her. “I’m sure it looks great.”
“Yes, it does,” Arietta agreed.
“Really?” the girl asked.
“Of course,” said Gryff. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome!” she replied, and raced off.
“Is it bad?” Gryff asked Arietta, when her granddaughter had gone.
The older woman laughed. “It is not… exactly even. But I think you look charming.”
“Hey, nice hair, Gryff.” She looked up to see Toby standing over her. He patted down the pockets of his tac vest, then held out his small shaving mirror. “Take a look.”
Gryff usually wore her hair braided around her head, and Arietta’s granddaughter had tucked the slim-stemmed flowers into nearly every twist. There were a few more on the left side, and the girl had put groups of the same color together, but it really did look sort of charming.
“Nice,” she said.
Toby grinned and offered her a hand up, then did the same for Arietta. “Ladies, we’ve been invited to come inside for dinner. And the children are getting impatient.”
“I hope you’re including Jason and Levi in that group,” said Gryff.
He smiled. “Don’t I always?”
THE END
Current Mood:
productive