Fic: Natural Wonders
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Characters: Teyla, with brief appearances by Halling and Sheppard
Rating: PG
Spoilers: mild for Critical Mass
Disclaimer: Stargate Atlantis and its characters belong to people far more creative and wealthier than I.
A/N: Three Teyla ficlets, because tielan nudged me, and I opened a bottle of red wine tonight.
Natural Wonders
Glimmer
The sun glinted off of Jinto's auburn hair as he ran across the field to join the game. Some of the scientists and marines were teaching the children how to play a sport from their world, though they seemed to disagree over whether it was called "soccer" or "football." From watching them play, Teyla thought the latter name made more sense.
The day was warm. A smile crept onto Teyla's face as she watched the unlikely group laughing and playing on the golden grass of the field.
"Amazing how life takes turns we would have never forseen," Halling's quiet, steady voice said beside her.
Teyla glanced up at her friend. She took in his relaxed shoulders, the slight crinkle of amusement around his eyes. As such accomplished negotiators, she and Halling were sometimes accused of being unreadable, but after all these years, so few words were needed between the two of them.
Teyla looked back to the field. "Yes, it is," was her only reply.
Halling bent his head towards her. "Thanks be to the Ancestors," he offered.
She turned back to him. The light in his eyes matched her own. “Thanks be,” she answered. Then, with a smile and a slight nod of his head, he walked away.
Teyla tilted her head up and gazed at the sky. There was not a cloud to be seen. She squinted her eyes at the Atlantean sun, bright in the sky. Perhaps, Teyla dared to hope, their future would be just as bright.
Chill
It rained the night her father was taken.
There had been a drought that season. Teyla remembers overhearing the council discussing it. The crops were in danger of failing, and their trade debts were climbing. Unless rain came soon, there would not be enough food to feed their people through the winter.
Everyone she knew was praying to the Ancestors and gods from any planet they had heard of for the rains to come. However, it was to no avail, and her people had nearly given up hope and were beginning to plan for the worst.
But, that night, shortly after the Wraith attack, the rains came, quelling the fires, mingling with the tears of a stricken people and a young girl who would never feel truly safe again.
Teyla stayed awake through that night and most of the following day, huddled under the bedcovers, shivering in time with the raindrops that pelted their tent.
And the crops were saved. Her people ate well through the winter and into the next season. Now, years later, in certain moments, Teyla can appreciate the symmetry, that the same night that brought death also brought life.
The rains come often on this planet, giving it lush vegetation and a perpetual mist that hangs in the air. Teyla stood outside, under the overhang of the small cabin where the villagers had invited them to spend the night. John was beside her, saying something about an old girlfriend who liked walking in the rain, but Teyla was focused on the falling drops of water.
"Do you like the rain?" she heard him ask.
Heavy rain drops played a constant rhythm on the roof of the cabin.
"No," she answered.
Whisper
The breeze carried the scent to her.
They, along with another team, were evaluating this planet as a potential Alpha Site. As soon as she reasonably could, Teyla slipped away from her teammates and walked in the face of the gentle wind, following the distinctive aroma. Sure enough, a short time later she stumbled upon a field of masios. The delicate, yellow flowers were rare in the Pegasus galaxy and prized for their unique color and pleasant perfume. She leaned over, her fingers brushing the petals as she inhaled the exotic, sweet fragrance.
Teyla’s hand froze in mid-air as she stopped herself from picking some for Charin. Even after all these months, there were still times when she was startled to remind herself that Charin was dead.
Still, despite the pang in Teyla’s heart, it brought a smile to her face, remembering how Charin, who so often boasted that she was a practical woman with no patience for nonsense, could be reduced to silly, happy tears at the sight of a bouquet of masios.
And so Teyla simply paused where she was and allowed the scent and the memories to surround her. As she listened to the wind rustle through the trees, Teyla thought she could hear the faint, throaty laughter of a woman whose quiet strength and unshakable honor would forever guide her.
Characters: Teyla, with brief appearances by Halling and Sheppard
Rating: PG
Spoilers: mild for Critical Mass
Disclaimer: Stargate Atlantis and its characters belong to people far more creative and wealthier than I.
A/N: Three Teyla ficlets, because tielan nudged me, and I opened a bottle of red wine tonight.
Natural Wonders
Glimmer
The sun glinted off of Jinto's auburn hair as he ran across the field to join the game. Some of the scientists and marines were teaching the children how to play a sport from their world, though they seemed to disagree over whether it was called "soccer" or "football." From watching them play, Teyla thought the latter name made more sense.
The day was warm. A smile crept onto Teyla's face as she watched the unlikely group laughing and playing on the golden grass of the field.
"Amazing how life takes turns we would have never forseen," Halling's quiet, steady voice said beside her.
Teyla glanced up at her friend. She took in his relaxed shoulders, the slight crinkle of amusement around his eyes. As such accomplished negotiators, she and Halling were sometimes accused of being unreadable, but after all these years, so few words were needed between the two of them.
Teyla looked back to the field. "Yes, it is," was her only reply.
Halling bent his head towards her. "Thanks be to the Ancestors," he offered.
She turned back to him. The light in his eyes matched her own. “Thanks be,” she answered. Then, with a smile and a slight nod of his head, he walked away.
Teyla tilted her head up and gazed at the sky. There was not a cloud to be seen. She squinted her eyes at the Atlantean sun, bright in the sky. Perhaps, Teyla dared to hope, their future would be just as bright.
Chill
It rained the night her father was taken.
There had been a drought that season. Teyla remembers overhearing the council discussing it. The crops were in danger of failing, and their trade debts were climbing. Unless rain came soon, there would not be enough food to feed their people through the winter.
Everyone she knew was praying to the Ancestors and gods from any planet they had heard of for the rains to come. However, it was to no avail, and her people had nearly given up hope and were beginning to plan for the worst.
But, that night, shortly after the Wraith attack, the rains came, quelling the fires, mingling with the tears of a stricken people and a young girl who would never feel truly safe again.
Teyla stayed awake through that night and most of the following day, huddled under the bedcovers, shivering in time with the raindrops that pelted their tent.
And the crops were saved. Her people ate well through the winter and into the next season. Now, years later, in certain moments, Teyla can appreciate the symmetry, that the same night that brought death also brought life.
The rains come often on this planet, giving it lush vegetation and a perpetual mist that hangs in the air. Teyla stood outside, under the overhang of the small cabin where the villagers had invited them to spend the night. John was beside her, saying something about an old girlfriend who liked walking in the rain, but Teyla was focused on the falling drops of water.
"Do you like the rain?" she heard him ask.
Heavy rain drops played a constant rhythm on the roof of the cabin.
"No," she answered.
Whisper
The breeze carried the scent to her.
They, along with another team, were evaluating this planet as a potential Alpha Site. As soon as she reasonably could, Teyla slipped away from her teammates and walked in the face of the gentle wind, following the distinctive aroma. Sure enough, a short time later she stumbled upon a field of masios. The delicate, yellow flowers were rare in the Pegasus galaxy and prized for their unique color and pleasant perfume. She leaned over, her fingers brushing the petals as she inhaled the exotic, sweet fragrance.
Teyla’s hand froze in mid-air as she stopped herself from picking some for Charin. Even after all these months, there were still times when she was startled to remind herself that Charin was dead.
Still, despite the pang in Teyla’s heart, it brought a smile to her face, remembering how Charin, who so often boasted that she was a practical woman with no patience for nonsense, could be reduced to silly, happy tears at the sight of a bouquet of masios.
And so Teyla simply paused where she was and allowed the scent and the memories to surround her. As she listened to the wind rustle through the trees, Teyla thought she could hear the faint, throaty laughter of a woman whose quiet strength and unshakable honor would forever guide her.