Distractions
By: Honolulu
Elizabeth slowly sipped on a cup of tea cradled between her hands that had a familiar taste of lemons to it. As she sat down on a wooden chair, she sighed in relief and watched in amusement the interactions of her top team in Atlantis with the people of Myrine. Since finding this group of people through one of Teyla's connections, they've been trying to obtain an alliance with them, which proved to be difficult since they, as McKay dubbed them, were Amazons. When Sheppard first made contact with them, the Myrines attacked from the trees, only striking Sheppard, McKay and Ronon. They were taken into the village, stripped of their weapons and bounded to posts in the public square while Teyla tried to reach an understanding with their leader Andromache.
Talking to Andromache was difficult because she refused to believe that the place that Teyla resided in, women were equal to men. Only when Teyla told her that a woman was the leader of this group of people did Andromache showed some leeway. Andromache allowed Teyla to leave the village of women with McKay only with the promise that Sheppard and Ronon would be released when she would come back with Dr. Weir in tow.
When Elizabeth first arrived to the village, she was shocked at the site of Ronon and Sheppard. Still bounded to the posts, Sheppard's jacket somehow disappeared and there were several tears in his shirt. Ronon on the other hand was in a worse state. His shirt was in complete tatters and parts of his pants had holes in it. Each time he saw any of the villagers, if they even dared to get close to him, he would practically growl and give them a deadly glare. Speaking to Andromache, Elizabeth learned from the time that Teyla stepped back through the gate to retrieve her to the time it took to reach the village, the women started to show interest in them, physical interest. Andromache told her that with Teyla in the village, all the women concealed their intrigue to the new men but once she left, they were declared, in Sheppard's words, fresh meat.
From Sheppard's point of view, once Teyla left the village, it seemed like he and Ronon were viewed as the lambs and the women were the lions that hadn't eaten in a month. Those who had the nerve would come up and stroke them as if they were some stuffed toys. But it all stopped when one tall brunette with long legs, as he described, Weir rolled her eyes at that, decided that she wanted a little peak. It turned into a war from there; the guards wouldn't allow it so they literally had to yank the women off of them. He just thanks God that Ronon got the worse of the treatment between the two of them. At this point Ronon growled at him.
Elizabeth conversed with Andromache for over two hours, speaking of each other's history and cultures to reach some understanding. After gaining the release of Ronon and Sheppard, Andromache proclaimed that she enjoyed Weir's intellect and abilities and would be interested in making pact with her people. After two long days of negotiations, they reached an agreement and after signing a treaty came the time of celebrations with their new friends.
Looking over the brim of her cup, Elizabeth tried to stifle back her laughs. Sheppard didn't seem to mind the amazons company now, Ronon stilled growled at them and preferred to say in the company of Teyla. Even McKay was receiving some attention which was making him blush. "How are you enjoying the festivities?" Looking away she saw Andromache taking a seat next to her.
"I am enjoying it very much especially the tea."
"Ah, yes. The tea is called Kiestra; it has a very relaxing affect." Was all they said for awhile, just watching the activities.
"I have the feeling that you have more to say Andromache." Elizabeth said breaking the silence.
"You are correct Dr. Weir—"
"Please call me Elizabeth."
"Very well. I wish to know more about the man Lt. Colonel John Sheppard."
" John!" Weir asked in surprise. She nodded. "Well…what would you like to know?"
"What kind of man is he?"
" Well…" Weir took a minute to contemplate her answer. "He is a good man, strong, intelligent, kind yet overzealous sometimes with football…" She muttered off.
"What is this football?"
"Oh! It is just a game of entertainment done with burly men tossing around a pigskin." That seemed to confuse her even more. "It is not important but he is compassionate." Andromache listened and watched Elizabeth's face, she noticed the way her eyes softened while talking about him.
"You seem fond of him."
"I am, just as I am fond of everyone else on his team." Andromache opened her mouth to say something else when McKay interrupted.
"Elizabeth! You have to come see this!"
"In a minute Rodney!" She turned to Andromache. "You were going to say something?"
"But Elizabeth!" McKay interrupted again.
"Rodney!"
"It is alright. I have nothing to say that is of most importance."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Then please excuse me." Andromache watched as Elizabeth rejoined her people, berating Rodney for being rude, John laughing along with Teyla at McKay's expense and Ronon just standing with a stoic posture. Elizabeth soon detached from the group with John, she watched how their body language was towards each other and how their eyes reacted. She smiled and summoned one of her guards.
"Bring two leaves of vantria and grind them very fine. Then mix it into the kiestra and bring the cup to me." She waved the guard off and approached the new allies. "Elizabeth, as it is now approaching twilight we will now do the departing ceremony and then you can return back to your home."
"Of course. What does this departing ceremony entail?"
"It is very simple. You and I will first bow to the setting sun then to each other, and then we will both drink a cup of kiestra." Andromache snapped her fingers and the guard returned with two cups, giving both of them one. Following her example, Elizabeth bowed to the sun then to her and at last drank the tea. Andromache watched her very carefully.
"Thank you for everything Andromache, I am sure that this pact will be very fortuitous for the both of us."
"I am positive that it will be." They both smiled.
To be continued….