A/N: The challenge is to write a fic that begins AND ends with "It was a dark and stormy night." It must be between 500 and 1000 words.
Word count: 710
Enjoy,
~Sandy
Dark and Stormy Night Challenge
Teyla
"It was a dark and stormy night on Athos several years before you and your people first arrived. My father was not well enough to travel." Teyla paused to organize her thoughts and decide if she really wanted to tell this story. With an internal nod, she shifted in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. "He sent Kanaan and me to the next village with a message. I did not and do not know what the contents of that message were as it was lost in the forest that night."
Pausing to take a drink, she glanced at the expectant faces around her. "It had been clear when we left our homes, a few clouds in the sky and a light breeze blowing. We'd been gone about two hours when the storm came up unexpectedly. The sky darkened with black clouds and the wind was so strong that I was nearly blown off the side of a cliff. Kanaan caught me but the package containing the message for the next village fell over the side. As it was a sheer cliff and we hadn't brought rope, we were unable to retrieve it. With the storm coming, it would not have been wise to attempt such a foolhardy feat."
"So you've known Kanaan a long time?" Rodney asked.
Teyla nodded, smiling in reminiscence. "I do not remember a time when I have not known him. We were born within days of each other, trained to be warriors together and grew into adulthood as the best of friends."
John looked at his foot resting on his knee and without meaning to, asked, "When did it change?"
With a slight huff, Teyla rolled her eyes at him. "May I please finish my story?"
"Yeah. Sorry."
"It hadn't yet begun to rain so we gathered enough wood for a fire and to keep us warm through the night and took shelter in a cave that we used to play in as children. Moving as far from the opening as we could, we started the fire. Using our provisions, Kanaan made a hearty soup for our meal while I guarded the entrance from predators that would also attempt to seek protection."
"So how big was this cave because I get claustrophobic and…"
John reached out and smacked Rodney on the back of the head. "Quiet. I wanna hear this."
"The cave was quite large enough for two for the purpose of a shelter, Rodney, so it does not matter." Her tone was even but held a warning for the physicist. "After we'd eaten, we talked for a time then lay down to sleep with the fire between us and the raging thunderstorm. When we awoke in the morning, Kanaan was pressed against by back with his arms around me." Her voice became wistful. "It was the first time I felt something other than simple friendship for him and though he didn't say anything, I knew he felt it as well. The storm had passed while we slept so we returned home. It was not long after that my father took to his bed, no longer able to care for himself in even the simplest of way. Within weeks he was gone and I became the leader of our people."
The men didn't say anything, allowing her the time she needed to return to the present and file the sad memory away once more.
She got to her feet, a smile of welcome on her beautiful face when Kanaan and Torren entered the Mess Hall and came to her side. "I am sorry to disturb this time with your friends, but Torren has been calling for you." Kanaan handed the boy to his mother, the couple said goodnight and left the men at the table.
Out in the hall, Kanaan drew Teyla to a stop in front of the large window that looked out onto the ocean where Atlantis floated. His arm wrapped around her shoulder pulling her close to his side. Together they watched the waves crash onto the East pier as rain and hail pelted every exposed surface of Atlantis counting themselves very lucky not to be huddled in that tiny cave because, once again, it was a dark and stormy night.
End
