Across the dust of the field, Ronon could see the enemy troops. There were at least three of them to each of the people on his own side.
It had started out as a fairly quiet mission - the SGC had called in several of the Atlantis teams in order to keep them active while repairs were underway on the Ancient city-ship. This one had started out as a trading mission involving some Ancient technology they hadn't seen before; Dr. Katrina St. Claire had been sent along to study the devices this culture possessed. Partway through, they had found themselves on the losing side of a power struggle in the royal court, with the dominant side holding the Stargate.
He glanced at the petite redhead at his side; Kit, as she preferred to be called, hadn't had her handgun training yet, and he was well aware that as a hobbyist reenactor, she was more comfortable with a sword in her hand than a gun. She'd actually asked to borrow his sword, testing its balance and reach before joining him at the front. Might help when things got tight, but for now, her lack of experience with guns was a liability. Maybe . . . . .
"Kit, can you sing one of those battle songs you've been singing around Atlantis? Maybe that one about Roland, where he was outnumbered - we've got a lot of young warriors here who haven't seen combat."
The redhead glanced up at him, shock in her face. It was probably the most speech she'd had of him since she'd gone to Atlantis. The lanky warrior studied her a moment with his changling green eyes, then returned his gaze to the horizon.
"No. I've got a better one for this occasion." Her clear alto voice rang strongly across the field:
Yes we may die but we die with our teeth in their throats
Yes we may die but we die with their blood on our swords
Yes we may die but we die with our name on their lips
Yes we may die and the reaper is near and he cuts a great swath and he claims a great tithe but he's ours so we stand by his side with no fear and
Yes we may die but we know it and we can die well
His eyebrows drew together as he carefully followed the song . . . .
Yes we may die but we die with the wind in our eyes
Yes we may die but we die with the drums in our veins
Yes we may die but the war horns still howl and we rise
Yes we may die but we die in our prime and old age can not wither our arms or our blades or our pride and our legends last long past old men, so
Yes we may die but we know it and we can die well
A slow, almost feral grin began to spread across Ronan's face . . . .
Yes we may die but mere death is not always defeat
Yes we may die but mere life is not all we can win
Yes we may die but the blood of our line never pales
Yes we may die and leave sweethearts behind, but leave sons and leave daughters to take up the sword and revenge, and our memories will push them like fire, so
Yes we may die but we know it and we can die well
The troops across the field began pulling together into formations . . . .
Yes we may die but we die on our feet, not our knees
Yes we may die but we die in our lines, not our beds
Yes we may die and the doors of Valhalla swing wide
Yes we may die but the short road to glory is paved with our blood and the foes' broken swords and it's ours and the stars will blaze bright with our deeds, so
Yes we may die but we know it and we can die well
Yes we may die but we know it and we can die well.
He glanced down at her as the men in their lines began to straighten, to pick up arms and set themselves for the battle. "That was a good one," he said, gazing back over the lines, "A war song worthy of a shieldmaiden of Sateda."
They gazed back over the field, ready for action.
Undefeated Lyrics © 2003 Kathi Coutinho
Permission to perform in non-paying venues with this copyright attached, granted.
Permission to duplicate for non-profit purposes with this copyright attached, granted.
My gratitude unto THL Lucia Elena Braganza for writing such a great song that I just had to write a story for it!