For Those Who Have Gone Before

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

Title: Light A Single Candle and Remember Me
Author:  ladyholder 
Rating: G
Genre: Gen
Spoilers: Season 1 & 2 in a round about way. But only if you have seen the episodes.
Summary: Every year the list got longer, but they still remembered.

  

                It happened every year in Atlantis. The date changed slightly from year to year, but on the shortest day of the year, as day changed to night, her population gathered in the Gateroom and the PuddleJumper Bay. In every hand there was a candle and all of them were lit. No one spoke as each person watched the light fade outside her stained glass windows and the room dim until only the light of the candles pierced the gloom.

                Over four hundred people stood together in silence. And then the first voice spoke:

                “Colonel Marshall Sumner, USMC.” Lt. Colonel John Sheppard said. His voice was quiet with years of regret and acceptance colored the words. This gathering was the only time anyone ever heard him acknowledge how much he still felt about his actions.

                “Corporal Michael Henderson, USMC. Private Andrew Wheeler, USMC.” The names were quietly said by Dr. Elizabeth Weir. They had been the first of her personnel to fall to the Genii, but not unfortunately, the last.

                “Dr. Paul Abrams, PhD. Dr. Brandon Gaul, PhD. Atlantis science team.” Bitter anger and unshed grief filled the voice of Dr. Rodney McKay and the memory of their deaths always seemed to sit heavily upon him. But then, the death of any of his minions bothered the scientist.

                Voices are lifted one by one as each member of the gathering each lists Atlantis’s dead. Johnson, Wagner, Hays, Ford, Charin, Griffin. The list marched on. There was no rhyme or reason as to who spoke up or even when, but over the course of the night, all of the dead were named. And each, mourned.

                As the last name was spoken, the members of the Expedition fell silent. No one left the room, and all of them turned their eyes back to the stained glass windows at the top of the Gateroom stairs. The night had passed, the dead were honored once more. And with the rising sun, each person, each member of the extended family that Atlantis had become, blew out their candle and moved to meet the new day. For while there were people living in their Ancient city, they would remember, because no one was forgotten here, no one was forever lost to time.

        

The song I was 'hearing' as I wrote this was Winterborn by the Cruxshadows. They are indeed, very weird. But damn, when they get it right, they are damn good.  

Comments

[dajaje.livejournal.com]

Excellent!

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

~L

[accidentalfan.livejournal.com]

Oh lovely. I've always imagined they would do something like this, they've lost too many to do nothing. Wonderfully evocative.

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

~L

[mrshamill.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Like that.

sigh

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I wanted something were everyone could get together, but there was no one overriding type of ceremony. Well, nothing other than remembering all who have gone before.

~L

[scarlet-gryphon.livejournal.com]

Beautiful.

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Light A Singe Candle and Remember Me

[jx-walker.livejournal.com]

This is a beautiful memorial. Wonderful tradition remembering who has gone before and comforting those that are there, knowing that if their name is called, they will not be forgotten. By their extended family.

Loved that you included the Athosians as well as the Earth people.

Re: Light A Singe Candle and Remember Me

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

Well it was only fair, they lost people too! And thank you!

~L

[sulien.livejournal.com]

Truly lovely. Thank you.

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[ninja007.livejournal.com]

Wow!

Intense and satisfying.

Thank you.

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

~L