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sga_flashficTitle: Feeling The Forest
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tielan
Summary: The Lanteans would says she is 'blue' - that her weariness is a state of mind rather than a state of body.
Spoilers: 3.10 - The Return I
Rating: PG-13
Length: 842
Feeling The Forest
She wakes every morning and feels the endlessness of night and day pressing down upon her.
The Lanteans would say she was 'blue' - that her weariness is a state of mind rather than a state of body.
The Lanteans are no longer in the Pegasus galaxy.
Down by the river where the water is gathered, Elvarin is boasting of Ronon's prowess in bed last night. She falls silent when Teyla arrives, and the other women look furtively at her, as though waiting for a display of jealousy.
Teyla greets them serenely, washes her face, damps her skin, and does not sigh.
The persisting view among her people that she and Ronon are lovers is a difficult one to disperse, for all that they do not behave as such. Yet the perception of her relationship with Ronon has not stopped Athosian women from inviting him into their beds; and the fact that he accepts such invitations does not appear to affect the perception of his relationship with Teyla.
She does not ask him for details, and he does not offer them.
They understand who and what they are to each other. Sex is not a part of that, by mutual consent and agreement.
Still, as the murmurs continue as the women crowd in towards Elvarin, Teyla envies her team-mate for being able to find such easy release in the bed. She has no such outlet here.
"Teyla?" Shimael wades over to her, her belly big with child - perhaps the first that will be born on New Athos. "Is it true that Ladon of the Genii wishes to speak with us?"
"It is true," Teyla tells her, taking note of the heads that turn and the tongues that still. This is news more momentous than even Ronon's bedskills; as a culture the Genii have taken little note of the Athosians since the day Teyla discovered the truth of their society.
Once, the two peoples were allies - and more than allies: friends.
Teyla was not the only Athosian to feel the sting of betrayal in the Genii revelation.
"Do they come to trade? Or to subdue?" Shimael's question is casual, with none of the dramatic delivery that might have taken place in Atlantis. Either is a possibility, now that the Lanteans have deserted them. Since moving to New Athos, trade agreements have sprung up like shoots in the spring, but the Athosians have few physical defences against invasion by the Wraith or any other Pegasus culture.
What they do have is the interest and sympathy of many civilisations through Pegasus - as well as the sneers and criticism of those cultures who harboured bitterness at the Athosian association with the city of the Ancestors and those who lived in it.
"Neither," Teyla replies, scrubbing the soap-sand into her skin with fierce determination. "Ladon requested speech with myself and Ronon. He did not mention others, but it is likely some Genii will accompany him."
Shimael's eyes are clear and steady on Teyla's face. "And you are not concerned?"
She is not.
Teyla trusts Ladon of the Genii, in spite of the lies of his people. She knows what the Genii are, what they hope to be. She of all people knows what they are not, what they will not be. And she knows that of all the cultures within Pegasus, the Genii have the closest technological advantage in the fight against the Wraith now that the Lanteans are gone.
And she suspects more, but does not yet know it.
After Ladon Radim's visit, she will know.
As she dries herself off and dresses, ignoring the resumed giggles from Elvarin's corner of the river, Teyla reflects that her life was simpler before John Sheppard entered it, bringing the Wraith with him as well as the hope of their eventual destruction.
Hope is a beautiful thing - and terrible also.
Overhead, the sky is brilliant - a deeper blue than the sky over Atlantis, where the Ancestors now live in solitude. There have been no reports of interaction from the many people who have awaited the Ancestors' returning for so long, and Teyla does not believe there will be any for a long time.
With a deep breath, she picks up her bathing things and sets off to return to the encampment.
Her people would say she is 'feeling the forest' - that the slowness of her return to the soul of their community is because so much has changed from the last time she lived among them, day and night, and she must adjust to the changed circumstances.
Some just say that she no longer belongs among them.
Either way, life does not stand still in the Pegasus galaxy, and there are quarrels to be mended and trade considerations to be made today. Still, the endlessness of this life she once lived presses down upon her.
Teyla returns to the life of her people, a 'blue' soul beneath a blue sky.
- fin -
Author:
tielanSummary: The Lanteans would says she is 'blue' - that her weariness is a state of mind rather than a state of body.
Spoilers: 3.10 - The Return I
Rating: PG-13
Length: 842
Feeling The Forest
She wakes every morning and feels the endlessness of night and day pressing down upon her.
The Lanteans would say she was 'blue' - that her weariness is a state of mind rather than a state of body.
The Lanteans are no longer in the Pegasus galaxy.
Down by the river where the water is gathered, Elvarin is boasting of Ronon's prowess in bed last night. She falls silent when Teyla arrives, and the other women look furtively at her, as though waiting for a display of jealousy.
Teyla greets them serenely, washes her face, damps her skin, and does not sigh.
The persisting view among her people that she and Ronon are lovers is a difficult one to disperse, for all that they do not behave as such. Yet the perception of her relationship with Ronon has not stopped Athosian women from inviting him into their beds; and the fact that he accepts such invitations does not appear to affect the perception of his relationship with Teyla.
She does not ask him for details, and he does not offer them.
They understand who and what they are to each other. Sex is not a part of that, by mutual consent and agreement.
Still, as the murmurs continue as the women crowd in towards Elvarin, Teyla envies her team-mate for being able to find such easy release in the bed. She has no such outlet here.
"Teyla?" Shimael wades over to her, her belly big with child - perhaps the first that will be born on New Athos. "Is it true that Ladon of the Genii wishes to speak with us?"
"It is true," Teyla tells her, taking note of the heads that turn and the tongues that still. This is news more momentous than even Ronon's bedskills; as a culture the Genii have taken little note of the Athosians since the day Teyla discovered the truth of their society.
Once, the two peoples were allies - and more than allies: friends.
Teyla was not the only Athosian to feel the sting of betrayal in the Genii revelation.
"Do they come to trade? Or to subdue?" Shimael's question is casual, with none of the dramatic delivery that might have taken place in Atlantis. Either is a possibility, now that the Lanteans have deserted them. Since moving to New Athos, trade agreements have sprung up like shoots in the spring, but the Athosians have few physical defences against invasion by the Wraith or any other Pegasus culture.
What they do have is the interest and sympathy of many civilisations through Pegasus - as well as the sneers and criticism of those cultures who harboured bitterness at the Athosian association with the city of the Ancestors and those who lived in it.
"Neither," Teyla replies, scrubbing the soap-sand into her skin with fierce determination. "Ladon requested speech with myself and Ronon. He did not mention others, but it is likely some Genii will accompany him."
Shimael's eyes are clear and steady on Teyla's face. "And you are not concerned?"
She is not.
Teyla trusts Ladon of the Genii, in spite of the lies of his people. She knows what the Genii are, what they hope to be. She of all people knows what they are not, what they will not be. And she knows that of all the cultures within Pegasus, the Genii have the closest technological advantage in the fight against the Wraith now that the Lanteans are gone.
And she suspects more, but does not yet know it.
After Ladon Radim's visit, she will know.
As she dries herself off and dresses, ignoring the resumed giggles from Elvarin's corner of the river, Teyla reflects that her life was simpler before John Sheppard entered it, bringing the Wraith with him as well as the hope of their eventual destruction.
Hope is a beautiful thing - and terrible also.
Overhead, the sky is brilliant - a deeper blue than the sky over Atlantis, where the Ancestors now live in solitude. There have been no reports of interaction from the many people who have awaited the Ancestors' returning for so long, and Teyla does not believe there will be any for a long time.
With a deep breath, she picks up her bathing things and sets off to return to the encampment.
Her people would say she is 'feeling the forest' - that the slowness of her return to the soul of their community is because so much has changed from the last time she lived among them, day and night, and she must adjust to the changed circumstances.
Some just say that she no longer belongs among them.
Either way, life does not stand still in the Pegasus galaxy, and there are quarrels to be mended and trade considerations to be made today. Still, the endlessness of this life she once lived presses down upon her.
Teyla returns to the life of her people, a 'blue' soul beneath a blue sky.
- fin -
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-04 11:16 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 07:24 am (UTC)It's kinda weird - Teyla's one of the easiest characters for me to 'grasp'. I understand most people have trouble with her mindset and voice.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-04 01:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 07:24 am (UTC)When you find it, let me know! :)
And thankyou!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-04 03:03 pm (UTC)A couple of interesting points from your piece. First, that, like the Wraith Michael, Teyla feels as if she lives between cultures. She is not of Earth and yet not completely of the Athosians, either. I wonder if this was subtextual in the episodes where Michael and Teyla are together, and it is a very big point that really comes out in what you wrote.
The other thing is the fact that the Ancients haven't contacted the Athosians, which seems like Jesus coming back to Earth and then not speaking to anyone or doing anything special at all! The more we learn about the Ancients, the less we tend to like them because of...everything! I'm glad you illuminated this point (which I presume held true in the series even if it was not expressed outright).
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 07:28 am (UTC)During the hiatus, I actually had this big, long genfic planned, about Teyla and Ronon coming up against the Wraith without the expedition, and totally kicking ass...
Time ran out on me and they started showing Return II in Canada.
I may still write it someday.
Oh, don't get me started on Michael and Teyla living between worlds. *g* I had a fic idea on that, too.
Thank you for the feedback! I'm glad you brought up the points you did. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-04 05:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 07:28 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-04 06:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 07:31 am (UTC)I like writing Teyla. I wish more people (TPTB included) did. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-04 07:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 07:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-04 08:31 pm (UTC)(Also, I firmly believe that Ronon's made his way through most of the Athosian women too)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 07:32 am (UTC)He so did!
I look forward to your contribution towards depicting 'the other side' of Return I. *g*
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 01:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 07:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 02:06 pm (UTC)that the slowness of her return to the soul of their community is because so much has changed from the last time she lived among them, day and night, and she must adjust to the changed circumstances.
Some just say that she no longer belongs among them.
Apt and haunting.
Thank you.
(And, shh -- you misspelled the Genii as "Gennii.")
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 07:52 pm (UTC)(That's the usual spelling for me. For some reason "genii" is the plural of "genie" to me, so I looked for an alternate spelling.)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 08:01 pm (UTC)Since you have mentioned your John/Teyla fic doesn't get that much of a response -- individuals on my flist have mentioned more than once that misspellings throw them out of a story: They stop reading and don't give feedback.
I don't, either, actually; the only reason why I did it was because I know you and your writing. "Genii" is the official, proper name used by Sci-Fi and MGM on all their websites:. It's not the fans' choice but the creators'. I remember some author stubbornly spelling "Ronon" as "Ronan" was...not treated kindly by readers. To put it mildly.
That said, I'm totally not here to pick a fight -- you're free to spell any way you like. It just irks me that someone whose characterisation and thoughts I cherish might not get the readership she deserves because of something like that.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-05 08:32 pm (UTC)I'll see if I can get myself to stop typing "Gennii" in future. Old habits, etc, etc.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-06 05:15 pm (UTC)As she dries herself off and dresses, ignoring the resumed giggles from Elvarin's corner of the river, Teyla reflects that her life was simpler before John Sheppard entered it, bringing the Wraith with him as well as the hope of their eventual destruction.
Hope is a beautiful thing - and terrible also.
Seriously, I read this entire thing holding my breath, goosebumps all over my arms. I really enjoy this little snippet of New Athos in those six weeks. We've seen a lot of the earthside stuff, but not enough of what happened in Pegasus.
Thank you so much for sharing!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-07 11:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-16 09:10 pm (UTC)(I love, love, love Teyla. I want more of her. Sheesh, the spaces between cultures are where all the interesting stuff happens!)
Feeling The Forest
Date: 2007-03-17 02:11 am (UTC)