A Gift for Ishta
Spacegypsy1
Teal'c brings home a Tau'ri gift for Ishta
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Ishta studied the metallic red box with the bizarre, large green metallic conglomeration atop it. "What is this, Teal'c?"
"It is a Tau'ri tradition to give a gift on the eve of the birth of one of their most beloved gods."
She frowned and looked from the bright package into the lovely eyes of her Jaffa husband. "A benevolent god?"
"Much." His smile was soft and just for her.
"What do I do with it?" Her eyes fluttered back down to the beautiful gift.
"You must rip the bow off and tear the paper from the box. Then you must open the box, pull out all the filmy papers from inside and discover the gift."
"Bow?"
He fingered the green ribbon of the bow.
"Ah. I must rip it off? But it is so beautiful."
"You may choose to carefully remove it, as ColonelCarter does, and place it into a special container for remembrance."
Sinking to the fur rug, Ishta folded her legs and began to study the ribbon. "Yes. I shall do so. I would keep it, as I thought it in itself the gift." Methodically, Ishta removed the ribbon, taking care to preserve the bow.
Teal'c waited patently as the Hak'tyl leader turned the box over and over, examining every inch. "Ish?" He finally whispered.
"Yes, my love?" Eyes lifted slowly to meet his.
"Open it."
"Must I destroy the beauty of it to receive the gift? And if I choose the box as the gift, may I keep it as it appears now?"
He remained quiet from some time and watched her eyes as they moved from box to bow repeatedly. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I have seen ColonelCarter very easily open the paper from each end. Then with skill, release the adhesive from the center and cautiously lay the paper out, remove the object in the box, re-close the box, reconstruct the wrapping and return the ribbon to its initial place. Thereby recreating the original packaging. Then she would set it back under her Christmas Tree."
Intrigued, Ishta eyed each end of the box and then the back. "What type of tree?" She asked still turning the box to and fro.
"An evergreen tree one brings into the house and covers with lights or even candles, and glittering orbs and other decorative objects."
"I have no such tree."
"Then perhaps tomorrow we can find one. And we can collect items from around the village and the forest to decorate it."
Her smile was broad and full of wonder. "Yes. I would like that. And I will be careful and redo the 'packaging'. Painfully slow, she undid the tape at each end and the middle of the gift and laid it out as instructed.
Ishta removed the box, careful to set aside the paper near the ribbon. She opened the box delighted by the tissue paper inside. With utmost reverence she removed the objects hidden in the paper.
She placed the silver goblets aside, taking a quick glance at the decorative engraving. One with I one with T. Sighing happily, she smiled at him, then without another thought she reversed her recent movements and reconstructed the package.
When finished she set the gaily wrapped box aside and lifted the goblets for closer inspection. "I have no gift for you."
"You are my gift Ishta." He leaned and placed his lips softly to hers. "Your life, your love is my gift."
Merry Jaffa Christmas!