SGA Fic: Chevaliers (3: Courage)
Apr. 28th, 2006 12:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chasingkerouacTitle: Chevaliers
Section: 3, Man of Courage
Rating/Genre: G, Gen
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Characters: Teyla, Ronon
Length: 1,084
Exerpt: It takes far more courage to face each day with resolutions of ‘I will survive and I will fight no matter how small the battle I may win will be’ and ‘I will run so that they will not cull those who dare show me kindness’ than to stand still and succumb to death.
A/N: Chevaliers is a group of seven ficlets surrounding what are known as 'knightly virtues'. All contain a female expedition member speaking of one of the men.
Courage: (n) Firmness of mind or will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.
There is a story told by my people of a young boy named Borin. He was a good boy; kind and helpful to his mother, courteous to his father, loyal to his friends, and reverent of the Ancestors. At this time, long ago, Athos was at peace, as were all the worlds connected by the Ring. All was as the Ancestors made it. Until, one day, a great scream came from within the Ring of the Ancestors. What was usually the light and friendly tones of welcome visitors now was cold, sharp and piercing. This great scream echoed over Borin’s village as the dark intruders flew over the land. The houses shook and the people scattered only to disappear where they stood. Borin, being the smart and quick boy that he was, knew that something must be done or else the entire village would disappear.
He made a choice as he stood at the edge of the village. He met the great screaming with a cry of his own, raising his voice in challenge to these dark intruders. They accepted his challenge and as Borin ran through the Ring, the intruders followed him, every one, and the people of Athos were saved.
The story says that Borin ran for many cycles, visiting each of the lands connected by the great Ring, but never stopping, never resting, never pausing for fear that the intruders would catch him and destroy those he stayed with or find their way back to the people of Athos. He pulled them further and further from Athos until they became lost, forgetting the way back to Athos, and sparing Borin’s people such a terrible death. But his victory was short lived, for he had forgotten the way home as well. He cried for his home, for his family, and for his people. The Ancestors heard his desperate cries and he was visited by Mana, the mother of the builders of the Great City. She reached out and pulled Borin into her embrace, asking, “Why are you crying, dear Borin?”
“I cry because I cannot go home,” he replied. “I do not remember the way.”
“What if I showed you the way?” Mana asked, her voice calm and soothing to the boy child.
“Even then I cannot. If I know the way, they will follow me, and I must protect my people.”
“You would sacrifice yourself for your people, dear boy?”
Borin nodded. “Yes, oh Mother. I cannot let them return.”
Mana smiled as a warm light poured from her hands and enveloped Borin. “You have done a great thing. To sacrifice yourself for other, to run when you have no hope of rest or return so that others may live shows true courage and is worthy to be honored.”
Tears streamed down Borin’s face. “But what is to become of me?” he cried.
Mana wrapped her arms around him. “Come. We have found you brave, my noble Borin. Lay your head upon my breast and finally be at peace.”
Borin did as Mana told him, and he was taken by the light of the Ancestors to finally rest.
As we grow older, the stories of the Runners changed from the story of Borin to new stories of lonely men, trying to survive a cruel game, bringing the Wraith with them to whatever village they dare stop in. We heard these stories, both old and new, but until I came to the City of the Ancestors, I had never met one of these men. In truth, I almost believed them fantasy; nothing more than a relic from a childhood story made more fearful and sad by the reality of the Wraith.
That is, until I met Ronon.
I feel a kinship with him, away from our peoples here in the great City of the Ancestors. We are both alone, even here among Colonel Sheppard’s people. However, should I wish to return to my people, to lay down my weapons and return to my people in search of home and hearth, all I must do is travel to the mainland. I speak often with my people, for even though I am here, I am still their leader. Ronon has no such comfort. Should he choose retreat from this life, he has no home to return to, no people. Those that are left are scattered throughout the worlds so that there is no more than a pocket here or a grouping there should he be lucky enough to find them.
And yet, even through this solitude, so many years of solitude, he continues to find it within himself to fight.
I heard words from those in the City when Ronon first returned with us. Words of disbelief and pity. Words disparaging a man who chose to run away for years upon years instead of fighting where they stood. The boys who said such things are young still. They have never fought an enemy such as the Wraith before, but they are learning. I thought of correcting them, of telling them that it took far more courage to face each day with resolutions of ‘I will survive and I will fight no matter how small the battle I may win will be’ and ‘I will run so that they will not cull those who dare show me kindness’ than to stand still and succumb to death. It takes far more courage to decide to live than to accept death. Ronon cannot accept death, and I find that admirable.
Many of my people, and truly many of the peoples of this galaxy, expressed feelings of hopelessness concerning the Wraith before those from Earth came to the City. They asked what could they do, for the enemy will come and there is nothing we can do to stop it. They said that it was a fact of life and that we would be much more content should we accept that we may die by their hand. They had far too few stories to tell of brave works against the enemy before us.
For the people of Athos, the story of Borin now has a companion that is told around the firelight, enthralling the children and giving them the courage once more that it is possible to stand against the Wraith and survive.
There is a story told by my people of a young man named Ronon…
Chevaliers: Hope Faith Courage Generosity Justice Mercy Nobility
Section: 3, Man of Courage
Rating/Genre: G, Gen
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Characters: Teyla, Ronon
Length: 1,084
Exerpt: It takes far more courage to face each day with resolutions of ‘I will survive and I will fight no matter how small the battle I may win will be’ and ‘I will run so that they will not cull those who dare show me kindness’ than to stand still and succumb to death.
A/N: Chevaliers is a group of seven ficlets surrounding what are known as 'knightly virtues'. All contain a female expedition member speaking of one of the men.
Courage: (n) Firmness of mind or will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.
There is a story told by my people of a young boy named Borin. He was a good boy; kind and helpful to his mother, courteous to his father, loyal to his friends, and reverent of the Ancestors. At this time, long ago, Athos was at peace, as were all the worlds connected by the Ring. All was as the Ancestors made it. Until, one day, a great scream came from within the Ring of the Ancestors. What was usually the light and friendly tones of welcome visitors now was cold, sharp and piercing. This great scream echoed over Borin’s village as the dark intruders flew over the land. The houses shook and the people scattered only to disappear where they stood. Borin, being the smart and quick boy that he was, knew that something must be done or else the entire village would disappear.
He made a choice as he stood at the edge of the village. He met the great screaming with a cry of his own, raising his voice in challenge to these dark intruders. They accepted his challenge and as Borin ran through the Ring, the intruders followed him, every one, and the people of Athos were saved.
The story says that Borin ran for many cycles, visiting each of the lands connected by the great Ring, but never stopping, never resting, never pausing for fear that the intruders would catch him and destroy those he stayed with or find their way back to the people of Athos. He pulled them further and further from Athos until they became lost, forgetting the way back to Athos, and sparing Borin’s people such a terrible death. But his victory was short lived, for he had forgotten the way home as well. He cried for his home, for his family, and for his people. The Ancestors heard his desperate cries and he was visited by Mana, the mother of the builders of the Great City. She reached out and pulled Borin into her embrace, asking, “Why are you crying, dear Borin?”
“I cry because I cannot go home,” he replied. “I do not remember the way.”
“What if I showed you the way?” Mana asked, her voice calm and soothing to the boy child.
“Even then I cannot. If I know the way, they will follow me, and I must protect my people.”
“You would sacrifice yourself for your people, dear boy?”
Borin nodded. “Yes, oh Mother. I cannot let them return.”
Mana smiled as a warm light poured from her hands and enveloped Borin. “You have done a great thing. To sacrifice yourself for other, to run when you have no hope of rest or return so that others may live shows true courage and is worthy to be honored.”
Tears streamed down Borin’s face. “But what is to become of me?” he cried.
Mana wrapped her arms around him. “Come. We have found you brave, my noble Borin. Lay your head upon my breast and finally be at peace.”
Borin did as Mana told him, and he was taken by the light of the Ancestors to finally rest.
As we grow older, the stories of the Runners changed from the story of Borin to new stories of lonely men, trying to survive a cruel game, bringing the Wraith with them to whatever village they dare stop in. We heard these stories, both old and new, but until I came to the City of the Ancestors, I had never met one of these men. In truth, I almost believed them fantasy; nothing more than a relic from a childhood story made more fearful and sad by the reality of the Wraith.
That is, until I met Ronon.
I feel a kinship with him, away from our peoples here in the great City of the Ancestors. We are both alone, even here among Colonel Sheppard’s people. However, should I wish to return to my people, to lay down my weapons and return to my people in search of home and hearth, all I must do is travel to the mainland. I speak often with my people, for even though I am here, I am still their leader. Ronon has no such comfort. Should he choose retreat from this life, he has no home to return to, no people. Those that are left are scattered throughout the worlds so that there is no more than a pocket here or a grouping there should he be lucky enough to find them.
And yet, even through this solitude, so many years of solitude, he continues to find it within himself to fight.
I heard words from those in the City when Ronon first returned with us. Words of disbelief and pity. Words disparaging a man who chose to run away for years upon years instead of fighting where they stood. The boys who said such things are young still. They have never fought an enemy such as the Wraith before, but they are learning. I thought of correcting them, of telling them that it took far more courage to face each day with resolutions of ‘I will survive and I will fight no matter how small the battle I may win will be’ and ‘I will run so that they will not cull those who dare show me kindness’ than to stand still and succumb to death. It takes far more courage to decide to live than to accept death. Ronon cannot accept death, and I find that admirable.
Many of my people, and truly many of the peoples of this galaxy, expressed feelings of hopelessness concerning the Wraith before those from Earth came to the City. They asked what could they do, for the enemy will come and there is nothing we can do to stop it. They said that it was a fact of life and that we would be much more content should we accept that we may die by their hand. They had far too few stories to tell of brave works against the enemy before us.
For the people of Athos, the story of Borin now has a companion that is told around the firelight, enthralling the children and giving them the courage once more that it is possible to stand against the Wraith and survive.
There is a story told by my people of a young man named Ronon…
Chevaliers: Hope Faith Courage Generosity Justice Mercy Nobility
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Date: 2006-04-28 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2006-04-29 02:21 am (UTC)Thanks! My love for Ronon goes way back and my love for Teyla has been growing quickly to match, so this story was a great find.
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Date: 2006-04-29 11:56 pm (UTC)