Fic: What It Was, What It Came To Be, What It Is
Title:What It Was, What It Came To Be, What It Is.
Author: Stexgirl2000
Disclaimer: Not mine at all and I don't make any money from this.
Author's Note: Not beta'd, so please forgive any mistakes. Wasn't sure I could do this after my Grandmother's death and this is late, but the muse struck and here it. Happy Sparktober y'all.
This was how it ends.
It ends with a growl, a yell of pain and longing and regret packed into her name. With the sight of the one person she had ever come to love with all of her heart being dragged away by a friend she had never thought she'd ever make.
It ends with unimaginable pain, her nerves on fire, her blood boiling, the cutting, cruel words of a being who had no idea of mercy, telling her over and over again that there is no hope, no end to the terror, unless she gives everything she is up to him. She felt herself shatter into millions of pieces before everything started going white, then grey, then...nothing.
This was how it ends.
It ends with him feeling the pulse of Ancient technology. The faint hum of machinery that sat for hundreds of thousands of years waiting for its masters to come and tell it what to do, to fulfill its function. Waiting for the right DNA and the right words.
It ends with Rodney's frantic shouting, of “don't move, don't move, don't touch that panel!” of Teyla's “John!” of Ronan's “No!”
The hum becomes louder in his ears, a feeling like fire spreading across his body, starting at the top of his head and working downward. The pain is like nothing he'd ever felt, even when his life force was being sucked out of him. He wonders for a second if this was like the way Elizabeth had felt when she died that he deserves this because he had left her behind, before everything started going white, then grey, then...nothing.
This is how it begins.
She wakes up, naked and shivering in a circle of grass surrounded by tall carved stones. There is a sun and low moons in the sky, all three low enough that she's not sure if it's supposed to be dawn or dusk. “Welcome,” says a low voice from behind her.
She scrambles up and onto her feet, moving backwards, frantically looking around for anything she can use to defend herself. There is nothing but grass and the large stones. In front of her is a forest, behind her, sky. She can hear the sounds of waves crashing.
I am on cliff, she thinks. I am trapped.
Terror grips her.
“There is nothing to fear,” says the voice, more feminine sounding. Slowly an old woman steps from behind one of the stones, dressed in a simple grey dress and dark green cloak, holding a another in her hands. “This is the place where ascended ones come to when they are no longer with the ancestors. I am Mala, Keeper of this sacred ground. Do you know your name?”
She stops, her back against stone. The question makes her gap. “I don't remember my name. I don't remember...”
“Ah, well, as it ever is such. I ask though no one seems to ever know when they first come here. No matter. You are safe here. Put this on my child.” says Mala, holding out the cloak. “Not far in the wood is the Temple grove and my home. I have fed and given council to many such as yourself who have found themselves here. You need to time to rest, to be, to center yourself.”
Taking the cloak, she puts it one, relishing the soft warmth. Facing the old woman, she nods. “Thank you.” She doesn't know what else to do but follow and hope for the best. Mala bows to her, hands folded at her chest and it seems familiar somehow. Shaking herself, she follows, and stepping out of the circle, sees a well worn path ahead of them.
The trees were very tall, reminding her of some sort of tree that taken her breath away. But she couldn't remember where...
However the leaves weren't right. They were a flat blueish green, while her memory gave her flashes of long, thin green needles and brown cones. There were colorful flowers and longer grasses growing between them and she could smell the salt air of the sea as the wind began to pick up. Mala smiled at her and patted her shoulder as they walked.
“I am sure that there will be things that will seem familiar and things that will not. Do not worry, over the years many of those I have found in the circle have had the same reactions. It will all come to you in time, or it will not. Going forward, I will tell you about our world and its peoples. Then, when the third moon comes in view, I will take you to Callawi Village and introduce you to the Elders. They will help you learn our ways, see where you can help, teach you a skill to earn your way. Do not worry, all will be well.”
Pulling the cloak tighter around her, she shivers. She will remember or she will not. She is not sure which scares her more.
This is how it begins.
John wakes up, naked and shivering in a circle of grass surrounded by tall carved stones. There is a sun and low moons in the sky, all three low enough that he's not sure if it's supposed to be dawn or dusk. “Welcome,” says a low voice from behind him.
He's on his feet in flash, taking in the terrain around him, noting that while there is nothing in the circle he can use to defend himself, there is a forrest in front of him and taking in the smell of the air and the sound of waves, he might also be near a beach. Unless this place is on cliff. Then that would be bad.
“There is nothing to fear,” says the voice, more feminine sounding. Slowly an old woman steps from behind one of the stones, dressed in a simple grey dress and dark green cloak, holding another in her hands. “This is the place where ascended ones come to when they are no longer with the ancestors. I am Mala, Keeper of this sacred ground. Do you know your name?”
John does not come forward, but braces himself to fight, to run if need be. “My name is Colonel John Sheppard. Where am I?”
“You remember your name?” says Mala with a wide smile. “How extraordinary! You are the third in the sixty-five cycles I have been Keeper here. Colonel John Sheppard, welcome to Tecelwi, as we call our world. Do you wish to be called Colonel John Sheppard or just Colonel?”
John blinks and for a second wonders if he's dreaming this surreal conversation. Then a strong wind blows across the circle from behind him and the cold and his naked state of being hits him. This could be some sort of trap or this could be what it seems, an old woman whose job it is greet those who somehow wake up here. Taking a deep breath, John does what he has always done and lets his gut tell him if he can trust her or not.
Looking at Mala's open, smiling face, makes his choice. Smiling back, he takes a few steps forward, trying to be as nonchalant as he can be stark naked. Rubbing his hand through his hair he says, “Just John will do for now. Colonel is my title. Um, could I have that cloak please?”
With little cry Mala comes forward to hand it to him. “Oh, forgive me my child, it's just so rare that I find someone who remembers who they are in the circle that forgot to offer this to you! Now John, you will come with me. Not far in the wood is the Temple grove and my home. I have fed and given council to many such as yourself who have found themselves here. I will tell you about my world and it's history and perhaps you will tell me about yourself. Do you remember how you came to here?”
Putting on the green cloak, John shakes his head. “That's the one thing I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you. I just think...”
“You just think what my child?” She puts hand on his shoulder and peers up at him with small frown.
“I just think I may have died,” he says, shivering despite the warmth of the cloak.
Patting him, Mala gives a little sigh before turning toward the path that leads into the forrest. “That is what the other two said to me when I found them too, my child. That is what they said too. Come, I am sure you are hungry and I have some clothes I hope will fit you. As we walk, I will tell you what usually happens to those like yourself who find themselves here.”
John follows her, wondering if he'll be able to find a way back to Atlantis or if he'll be marooned here the rest of his life.
This is how it comes to be.
About a month after being found by Mala in the circle, John follows her to Callawi Village to meet the Elders. She's taught him the history of the village, the main greeting and bargaining customs of Tecelwi, the rules for settling differences, the customs for courtship and marriage, which are very strict and could get him into trouble if he wasn't careful. More importantly, she explained the ways one could be with someone of the opposite sex if one didn't want to get married. Mala also explained the ways the Elders decided to train people if they didn't have an obvious skill the community could count on. “No one is ever turned away. We do not exile someone except in extreme cases. And even when they are exiled on one of the Far Islands, we still give them a quarter cycle's rations and the tools to keep themselves alive.”
“No executions?” he'd asked. Mala had given him a stern glare.
“Only when someone has taken a life without proper cause, or has abused a child. And even then, we debate at the trial. We are taught from the moment we can understand that everyone has a purpose, a place, a home. We stronger together rather than apart.”
He'd left it that and didn't ask anymore questions.
It turned out that Callawi Village was about a half a day's walk from the Temple grove. Mala rode a slow footed animal called a mewi, which looked to John like a cross between a llama and a donkey. So he walked along side her mount, which also carried their packs carrying their clothes, and reviewed with her the greeting he needed to give the Elders and the telling of his life before appearing in the circle.
Mala was convinced that with his military experience the Elders would ask him to join the hunting parties that went out in the summer and autumn. John had asked about threats to the community, but Mala had just smiled at him, patted his hand and assured him that “the ancestors left ways to protect us.”
He stopped asking after the tenth time he'd asked and gotten the same answer.
Halfway to the village, the forrest gave way to farm land and John noted the neat layout of the crops and canals that brought water to the fields. Men and women worked side by side, the men favoring short brimmed hats, the women wider ones. Buildings dotted the landscape as well, along with looked like small storage silos of some sort.
People stopped to tip their hats or bow to the old woman, who dipped her head respectfully back toward them. John tipped his own hat back to them as well, for Mala had warned him that to not do so would be considered rude.
Finally the main walls of the village could be seen from the distance and as they got closer and Mala gave a happy laugh. “Oh John Sheppard, do you see that flag flying at the top of the gate? It means that it is festival day tomorrow. The harvest must be going very well if the Elders decided to have a festival!”
“I take it you like festivals?” said John, enjoying the sight of his new friend so happy.
“They are so uplifting, my child. The food, the dancing, the wine! I live alone except for when I find someone in the circle or when acolytes come to study the mysteries with me in the winter. This is different, more open, if you will. Come, we will go faster!” With that she flipped the reins of her mount and started the animal trotting. With a muttered “Fuck!” John started jogging after her.
Twenty or so minutes later, as they reached the gate, Mala gave the traditional greeting to the Gate keepers and once again slowed her pace, letting John catch his breath as he took in the main square. Streets branched off in five directions, leading into the side streets that Mala had told him were otherwise laid out in a grid. The tallest building was no more than three stories high, John noticed, and trees in small plots land separated the colorful buildings.
In the square itself, people were busy setting up long tables and benches, stalls and half-tents in bright colors. In the center of all the activity was a tall, salt-and-pepper bearded man in dark clothes with a large sliver medallion around his neck. “That is Elder Marr, who is acting as head of the Elders this season. I will introduce you John Sheppard,” said Mala, stopping her mount and gesturing for John to help her down.
With a grin, he did as she bade and taking the reins, led the animal as Mala smoothed her cloak and started walking into the crowd. People stopped as they saw her and either tipped their hats or gave a small bow as she passed. As they got closer, Elder Marr looked away from the papers he was holding and turned toward them. “Keeper Mala!” he said as he bowed, a smile on his face. “Good tiding to you! We are honored with your presence!”
“Elder Marr, good tiding to you as well! I am honored to be here with you. I bring with me my newest charge from the Circle of the Temple. This is John Sheppard, newly reborn to our world.”
Putting his hands to chest, Elder Marr gave a more shallow bow to John. “John Sheppard, good tiding to you. We welcome you to your new life among us.”
Mirroring what the older man had down, but with a lower bow as Mala had taught him, John bowed, replying “Elder Marr, good tiding to you. I am honored by your welcome and kind words. I look to be worthy of the care of the village.”
“Good, good,” replied Marr, clasping John on the shoulder. “It is good that Keeper Mala has brought you on this festival day. I will introduce you to the other Elders later in the evening and then tomorrow we will sit down with you to discuss your place in the village and where you will be living. For tonight I will have you stay with the Keeper in the village temple house. Yes?”
“Yes and thank you Elder Marr.” said John. Then with Mala's watchful eye on him, John knew that the next thing he needed to do was to offer his services to the village for the rest of the day. However before he could speak, a woman's voice, a familiar one, said from behind him, “Elder Marr, please excuse me for the interruption, but I need to ask you for clarification about...”
Whirling around John came to face to face with Elizabeth Weir, who paled in shock at the sight of him and dropped the sheaf of papers she was holding.
“Oh God, John!”
“Elizabeth!”
They moved two steps closer to each other, then stopped. He drank in the sight of her, her hair longer than he'd last seen it on her, but it was her. It was her. He could feel his heart racing and a shiver run over his body as joy, fear, shame, need flooded his entire being.
With a slightly trembling hand Elizabeth reached out and touched his face. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, and opening them again saw that she was staring at him in wonder.
“You're here.” she said, raw hope in her voice.
“I thought you had died,” he said, reaching up to clasp her hand. He felt his throat closing up with shame as choked out, “I thought they had splinted you into replicated pieces... but you, the essence of you, the real you had died.”
“I did, but apparently I ascended and then was sent back to be here,” said Elizabeth, her voice thick with emotions he couldn't, wouldn't, identify.
“You're here,” he said, repeating her words back to her, feeling stupid and at a loss for words.
“I am. You did what I asked, what I ordered you to do, John. You didn't leave me behind because you wanted to, you did it because I demanded it of you,” said Elizabeth, stepping closer and clasping his hand as well.
“I didn't try hard enough,” he began, but she cut him off.
“No. Don't. You kept our people and Atlantis safe. You knew there was nothing for you to go back for without compromising everything we'd struggled and suffered and bled to keep safe.”
“I should have gone back for you,” he choked out, falling to his knees, their hands still clasped. “I loved, hell I love you Elizabeth and I failed you.” Looking down at the ground, all he could feel was the heat of their hands joined together, his heart racing, the cool feel of damp grass on his knees, the bitter shame of his guilt.
Sinking down on her knees as well, Elizabeth freed one hand and tipped his head up to meet her eyes. “I loved, and still love you John. I think that the fact that we're both here means that someone wanted us to live and love. I love you. I forgive you. I need you to forgive yourself.”
With that Elizabeth leaned forward and kissed him and John felt for the first time in a long, long time that he was whole again.
This is how it is.
The fact that they knew each other from their previous lives was taken as great sign in Callawi Village. The Festival ended up being extended for what passed as a week and by the end the Elders had insisted that John and Elizabeth be formally married. The normal groom's price was waved due to the fact that Elizabeth had only been living there for two cycles. Elder Cala, who was Elizabeth's mentor, gave up her home for their bedding night, much to both of their embarrassment.
Yet when the crowd of singing villagers left the door step of the modest house just off a quiet street far from the main square, Elizabeth was glad that they'd been given such a thoughtful accommodations.
“Tell me this isn't a dream,” murmured John, kissing his way down the side of her neck.
“I could ask you the same,” said Elizabeth, turning in his arms to kiss him. With a hunger that she remembered oh so well, he backed her onto the large bed of the sleeping room, his hands pulling on her skirt.
There were no more words as they began to love each other and as John slid inside her, Elizabeth sighed, the feel of his body on her, in her, bringing her to her peak, making her feel as real and alive as she had before her rebirth as an un-ascended being.
Afterward, sweaty and laughing, John tenderly brushed her hair away from face and kissed her. “This is no dream. I am damn glad.”
She falls asleep in his arms, content.
Author: Stexgirl2000
Disclaimer: Not mine at all and I don't make any money from this.
Author's Note: Not beta'd, so please forgive any mistakes. Wasn't sure I could do this after my Grandmother's death and this is late, but the muse struck and here it. Happy Sparktober y'all.
This was how it ends.
It ends with a growl, a yell of pain and longing and regret packed into her name. With the sight of the one person she had ever come to love with all of her heart being dragged away by a friend she had never thought she'd ever make.
It ends with unimaginable pain, her nerves on fire, her blood boiling, the cutting, cruel words of a being who had no idea of mercy, telling her over and over again that there is no hope, no end to the terror, unless she gives everything she is up to him. She felt herself shatter into millions of pieces before everything started going white, then grey, then...nothing.
This was how it ends.
It ends with him feeling the pulse of Ancient technology. The faint hum of machinery that sat for hundreds of thousands of years waiting for its masters to come and tell it what to do, to fulfill its function. Waiting for the right DNA and the right words.
It ends with Rodney's frantic shouting, of “don't move, don't move, don't touch that panel!” of Teyla's “John!” of Ronan's “No!”
The hum becomes louder in his ears, a feeling like fire spreading across his body, starting at the top of his head and working downward. The pain is like nothing he'd ever felt, even when his life force was being sucked out of him. He wonders for a second if this was like the way Elizabeth had felt when she died that he deserves this because he had left her behind, before everything started going white, then grey, then...nothing.
This is how it begins.
She wakes up, naked and shivering in a circle of grass surrounded by tall carved stones. There is a sun and low moons in the sky, all three low enough that she's not sure if it's supposed to be dawn or dusk. “Welcome,” says a low voice from behind her.
She scrambles up and onto her feet, moving backwards, frantically looking around for anything she can use to defend herself. There is nothing but grass and the large stones. In front of her is a forest, behind her, sky. She can hear the sounds of waves crashing.
I am on cliff, she thinks. I am trapped.
Terror grips her.
“There is nothing to fear,” says the voice, more feminine sounding. Slowly an old woman steps from behind one of the stones, dressed in a simple grey dress and dark green cloak, holding a another in her hands. “This is the place where ascended ones come to when they are no longer with the ancestors. I am Mala, Keeper of this sacred ground. Do you know your name?”
She stops, her back against stone. The question makes her gap. “I don't remember my name. I don't remember...”
“Ah, well, as it ever is such. I ask though no one seems to ever know when they first come here. No matter. You are safe here. Put this on my child.” says Mala, holding out the cloak. “Not far in the wood is the Temple grove and my home. I have fed and given council to many such as yourself who have found themselves here. You need to time to rest, to be, to center yourself.”
Taking the cloak, she puts it one, relishing the soft warmth. Facing the old woman, she nods. “Thank you.” She doesn't know what else to do but follow and hope for the best. Mala bows to her, hands folded at her chest and it seems familiar somehow. Shaking herself, she follows, and stepping out of the circle, sees a well worn path ahead of them.
The trees were very tall, reminding her of some sort of tree that taken her breath away. But she couldn't remember where...
However the leaves weren't right. They were a flat blueish green, while her memory gave her flashes of long, thin green needles and brown cones. There were colorful flowers and longer grasses growing between them and she could smell the salt air of the sea as the wind began to pick up. Mala smiled at her and patted her shoulder as they walked.
“I am sure that there will be things that will seem familiar and things that will not. Do not worry, over the years many of those I have found in the circle have had the same reactions. It will all come to you in time, or it will not. Going forward, I will tell you about our world and its peoples. Then, when the third moon comes in view, I will take you to Callawi Village and introduce you to the Elders. They will help you learn our ways, see where you can help, teach you a skill to earn your way. Do not worry, all will be well.”
Pulling the cloak tighter around her, she shivers. She will remember or she will not. She is not sure which scares her more.
This is how it begins.
John wakes up, naked and shivering in a circle of grass surrounded by tall carved stones. There is a sun and low moons in the sky, all three low enough that he's not sure if it's supposed to be dawn or dusk. “Welcome,” says a low voice from behind him.
He's on his feet in flash, taking in the terrain around him, noting that while there is nothing in the circle he can use to defend himself, there is a forrest in front of him and taking in the smell of the air and the sound of waves, he might also be near a beach. Unless this place is on cliff. Then that would be bad.
“There is nothing to fear,” says the voice, more feminine sounding. Slowly an old woman steps from behind one of the stones, dressed in a simple grey dress and dark green cloak, holding another in her hands. “This is the place where ascended ones come to when they are no longer with the ancestors. I am Mala, Keeper of this sacred ground. Do you know your name?”
John does not come forward, but braces himself to fight, to run if need be. “My name is Colonel John Sheppard. Where am I?”
“You remember your name?” says Mala with a wide smile. “How extraordinary! You are the third in the sixty-five cycles I have been Keeper here. Colonel John Sheppard, welcome to Tecelwi, as we call our world. Do you wish to be called Colonel John Sheppard or just Colonel?”
John blinks and for a second wonders if he's dreaming this surreal conversation. Then a strong wind blows across the circle from behind him and the cold and his naked state of being hits him. This could be some sort of trap or this could be what it seems, an old woman whose job it is greet those who somehow wake up here. Taking a deep breath, John does what he has always done and lets his gut tell him if he can trust her or not.
Looking at Mala's open, smiling face, makes his choice. Smiling back, he takes a few steps forward, trying to be as nonchalant as he can be stark naked. Rubbing his hand through his hair he says, “Just John will do for now. Colonel is my title. Um, could I have that cloak please?”
With little cry Mala comes forward to hand it to him. “Oh, forgive me my child, it's just so rare that I find someone who remembers who they are in the circle that forgot to offer this to you! Now John, you will come with me. Not far in the wood is the Temple grove and my home. I have fed and given council to many such as yourself who have found themselves here. I will tell you about my world and it's history and perhaps you will tell me about yourself. Do you remember how you came to here?”
Putting on the green cloak, John shakes his head. “That's the one thing I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you. I just think...”
“You just think what my child?” She puts hand on his shoulder and peers up at him with small frown.
“I just think I may have died,” he says, shivering despite the warmth of the cloak.
Patting him, Mala gives a little sigh before turning toward the path that leads into the forrest. “That is what the other two said to me when I found them too, my child. That is what they said too. Come, I am sure you are hungry and I have some clothes I hope will fit you. As we walk, I will tell you what usually happens to those like yourself who find themselves here.”
John follows her, wondering if he'll be able to find a way back to Atlantis or if he'll be marooned here the rest of his life.
This is how it comes to be.
About a month after being found by Mala in the circle, John follows her to Callawi Village to meet the Elders. She's taught him the history of the village, the main greeting and bargaining customs of Tecelwi, the rules for settling differences, the customs for courtship and marriage, which are very strict and could get him into trouble if he wasn't careful. More importantly, she explained the ways one could be with someone of the opposite sex if one didn't want to get married. Mala also explained the ways the Elders decided to train people if they didn't have an obvious skill the community could count on. “No one is ever turned away. We do not exile someone except in extreme cases. And even when they are exiled on one of the Far Islands, we still give them a quarter cycle's rations and the tools to keep themselves alive.”
“No executions?” he'd asked. Mala had given him a stern glare.
“Only when someone has taken a life without proper cause, or has abused a child. And even then, we debate at the trial. We are taught from the moment we can understand that everyone has a purpose, a place, a home. We stronger together rather than apart.”
He'd left it that and didn't ask anymore questions.
It turned out that Callawi Village was about a half a day's walk from the Temple grove. Mala rode a slow footed animal called a mewi, which looked to John like a cross between a llama and a donkey. So he walked along side her mount, which also carried their packs carrying their clothes, and reviewed with her the greeting he needed to give the Elders and the telling of his life before appearing in the circle.
Mala was convinced that with his military experience the Elders would ask him to join the hunting parties that went out in the summer and autumn. John had asked about threats to the community, but Mala had just smiled at him, patted his hand and assured him that “the ancestors left ways to protect us.”
He stopped asking after the tenth time he'd asked and gotten the same answer.
Halfway to the village, the forrest gave way to farm land and John noted the neat layout of the crops and canals that brought water to the fields. Men and women worked side by side, the men favoring short brimmed hats, the women wider ones. Buildings dotted the landscape as well, along with looked like small storage silos of some sort.
People stopped to tip their hats or bow to the old woman, who dipped her head respectfully back toward them. John tipped his own hat back to them as well, for Mala had warned him that to not do so would be considered rude.
Finally the main walls of the village could be seen from the distance and as they got closer and Mala gave a happy laugh. “Oh John Sheppard, do you see that flag flying at the top of the gate? It means that it is festival day tomorrow. The harvest must be going very well if the Elders decided to have a festival!”
“I take it you like festivals?” said John, enjoying the sight of his new friend so happy.
“They are so uplifting, my child. The food, the dancing, the wine! I live alone except for when I find someone in the circle or when acolytes come to study the mysteries with me in the winter. This is different, more open, if you will. Come, we will go faster!” With that she flipped the reins of her mount and started the animal trotting. With a muttered “Fuck!” John started jogging after her.
Twenty or so minutes later, as they reached the gate, Mala gave the traditional greeting to the Gate keepers and once again slowed her pace, letting John catch his breath as he took in the main square. Streets branched off in five directions, leading into the side streets that Mala had told him were otherwise laid out in a grid. The tallest building was no more than three stories high, John noticed, and trees in small plots land separated the colorful buildings.
In the square itself, people were busy setting up long tables and benches, stalls and half-tents in bright colors. In the center of all the activity was a tall, salt-and-pepper bearded man in dark clothes with a large sliver medallion around his neck. “That is Elder Marr, who is acting as head of the Elders this season. I will introduce you John Sheppard,” said Mala, stopping her mount and gesturing for John to help her down.
With a grin, he did as she bade and taking the reins, led the animal as Mala smoothed her cloak and started walking into the crowd. People stopped as they saw her and either tipped their hats or gave a small bow as she passed. As they got closer, Elder Marr looked away from the papers he was holding and turned toward them. “Keeper Mala!” he said as he bowed, a smile on his face. “Good tiding to you! We are honored with your presence!”
“Elder Marr, good tiding to you as well! I am honored to be here with you. I bring with me my newest charge from the Circle of the Temple. This is John Sheppard, newly reborn to our world.”
Putting his hands to chest, Elder Marr gave a more shallow bow to John. “John Sheppard, good tiding to you. We welcome you to your new life among us.”
Mirroring what the older man had down, but with a lower bow as Mala had taught him, John bowed, replying “Elder Marr, good tiding to you. I am honored by your welcome and kind words. I look to be worthy of the care of the village.”
“Good, good,” replied Marr, clasping John on the shoulder. “It is good that Keeper Mala has brought you on this festival day. I will introduce you to the other Elders later in the evening and then tomorrow we will sit down with you to discuss your place in the village and where you will be living. For tonight I will have you stay with the Keeper in the village temple house. Yes?”
“Yes and thank you Elder Marr.” said John. Then with Mala's watchful eye on him, John knew that the next thing he needed to do was to offer his services to the village for the rest of the day. However before he could speak, a woman's voice, a familiar one, said from behind him, “Elder Marr, please excuse me for the interruption, but I need to ask you for clarification about...”
Whirling around John came to face to face with Elizabeth Weir, who paled in shock at the sight of him and dropped the sheaf of papers she was holding.
“Oh God, John!”
“Elizabeth!”
They moved two steps closer to each other, then stopped. He drank in the sight of her, her hair longer than he'd last seen it on her, but it was her. It was her. He could feel his heart racing and a shiver run over his body as joy, fear, shame, need flooded his entire being.
With a slightly trembling hand Elizabeth reached out and touched his face. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, and opening them again saw that she was staring at him in wonder.
“You're here.” she said, raw hope in her voice.
“I thought you had died,” he said, reaching up to clasp her hand. He felt his throat closing up with shame as choked out, “I thought they had splinted you into replicated pieces... but you, the essence of you, the real you had died.”
“I did, but apparently I ascended and then was sent back to be here,” said Elizabeth, her voice thick with emotions he couldn't, wouldn't, identify.
“You're here,” he said, repeating her words back to her, feeling stupid and at a loss for words.
“I am. You did what I asked, what I ordered you to do, John. You didn't leave me behind because you wanted to, you did it because I demanded it of you,” said Elizabeth, stepping closer and clasping his hand as well.
“I didn't try hard enough,” he began, but she cut him off.
“No. Don't. You kept our people and Atlantis safe. You knew there was nothing for you to go back for without compromising everything we'd struggled and suffered and bled to keep safe.”
“I should have gone back for you,” he choked out, falling to his knees, their hands still clasped. “I loved, hell I love you Elizabeth and I failed you.” Looking down at the ground, all he could feel was the heat of their hands joined together, his heart racing, the cool feel of damp grass on his knees, the bitter shame of his guilt.
Sinking down on her knees as well, Elizabeth freed one hand and tipped his head up to meet her eyes. “I loved, and still love you John. I think that the fact that we're both here means that someone wanted us to live and love. I love you. I forgive you. I need you to forgive yourself.”
With that Elizabeth leaned forward and kissed him and John felt for the first time in a long, long time that he was whole again.
This is how it is.
The fact that they knew each other from their previous lives was taken as great sign in Callawi Village. The Festival ended up being extended for what passed as a week and by the end the Elders had insisted that John and Elizabeth be formally married. The normal groom's price was waved due to the fact that Elizabeth had only been living there for two cycles. Elder Cala, who was Elizabeth's mentor, gave up her home for their bedding night, much to both of their embarrassment.
Yet when the crowd of singing villagers left the door step of the modest house just off a quiet street far from the main square, Elizabeth was glad that they'd been given such a thoughtful accommodations.
“Tell me this isn't a dream,” murmured John, kissing his way down the side of her neck.
“I could ask you the same,” said Elizabeth, turning in his arms to kiss him. With a hunger that she remembered oh so well, he backed her onto the large bed of the sleeping room, his hands pulling on her skirt.
There were no more words as they began to love each other and as John slid inside her, Elizabeth sighed, the feel of his body on her, in her, bringing her to her peak, making her feel as real and alive as she had before her rebirth as an un-ascended being.
Afterward, sweaty and laughing, John tenderly brushed her hair away from face and kissed her. “This is no dream. I am damn glad.”
She falls asleep in his arms, content.