Chapter Six
After a surprisingly restful night's sleep, Sheppard woke to find it was already mid-morning on New Athos. The sounds of commotion outside the tent suggested life was slowly returning to normal here. Lifting himself carefully off his bed to avoiding exacerbating his injuries, he stepped outside to find what seems like the entire village was busy preparing for Kanaan's funeral. A small pyre had been constructed at the centre of the village, atop which sat his casket whilst long, wooden tables had been laid out, surrounding the pyre on all sides.
Sheppard noted how Rodney seemed to have taken an overseers role whilst Ronon was hard at work helping the villagers prepare for the ceremony. Some things never change Sheppard thought to himself silently as his eyes searched for another of his friends. Not finding Teyla amongst the throng of Athosians, Sheppard set out tentatively to try and find her, still finding himself somewhat unsteady on his feet, no doubt one of the least pleasant effects of the painkillers that had been pumped into his system.
He took a stroll towards the Stargate, hoping Teyla had done the same thing, looking for peace and quiet on what was no doubt the most trying day in the midst of a trying week for her. But instead of finding Teyla, he found Halling, standing there as if awaiting his arrival. The Athosian leader beckoned Sheppard towards him, a look of sadness evident on his face. Sheppard didn't know what to make of this, whether he should be concerned or reassured.
"Good morning Colonel. It is a beautiful morning is it not?" he offered.
"It sure is, reminds me of Earth in a lot of ways." Sheppard replied.
"But you are not here to talk about the scenery. You are looking for Teyla I assume?"
"Yeah, I was kinda hoping to speak to her before the ceremony, see if she needed anything."
"I fear that will only make this harder for her." replied Halling cryptically.
He had hoped to avoid this conversation, knowing how close Sheppard and Teyla had become over the past few years. But first and foremost his duty was the maintain Teyla's well-being and if that meant warning off her closest friend for a time, then it was a price worth paying. He could not allow her to fall into the dark place he once dwelled.
"What do you mean?" said Sheppard, not understanding Halling's meaning.
"This week has been most trying for her. And yet it runs deeper than Kanaan's death. Her soul is conflicted."
"Her soul is conflicted? How? Why?"
"I do not have those answers. But I do know that she will need time, alone, to deal with it. For I have been where she now wanders."
"So what should I do?" asked Sheppard, feeling somewhat powerless.
"Give her time to work it out for herself. She is a bright woman, it should not take her long." he offered before continuing "Now..we should return to the village, the ceremony will begin shortly."
Sheppard began the walk back to the village with more questions than answers and a confusion about what exactly was going on with Teyla. He knew how difficult these past few days had been for her, but he was hoping that the funeral ceremony would provide some of the closure she needed. It now looked as though it was only serving to make things more difficult and confusing. Not just for Teyla.
- - SGA - -
They had reached the village and returned to Halling's home as preparations were completed for the ceremony. They were soon joined by Carson, Rodney and Ronon who had been sent for by Halling, no doubt to receive directions about the observance of Athosians customs. Halling was in the corner of the room, busily rummaging through an array of objects that were hidden beneath a pile of clothing. With a small cheer of success, he produced four sticks and laid them out on the table before the team.
"These are for you. In the absence of family, it has been decreed by Teyla that each of you shall act as flame bearers for the ceremony. It is a most sacred duty and honour." Halling stated.
"What do we do?" asked Carson.
"After the recitation of the Hallowed Rites, you shall each approach the pyre and light a flame. This shall release his spirit into the heavens and hopefully, the waiting arms of the Ancestors."
"And then what?" enquired Ronon.
"Then we shall eat, drink and sing through the night to ensure that the spirit's journey to the next world is joyful and without sorrow. We shall seek to celebrate his life, not mourn his death."
Feeling suitably prepared for the sacred duty expected of them, the team stepped outside into the crisp mid-day air to find the eyes of the village upon them. They each strode out towards the pyre, Sheppard breathing deeply to mask the pain each jarring step was causing him as the medication wore off again. Each of them bore a lit torch as they silently made their way through the gathered mourners and took their place on each side of the pyre, awaiting the reciting of the Hallowed Rites.
"It is now my duty to perform the Hallowed Rites, so that Kanaan's spirit may take its rightful place amongst the Ancestors, as a true champion of our people..." Halling began.
Righteous Ancestors from the elder days of yore
Accept this spirit into the warmth of your halls
His soul deemed worthy for these sacred rites
A champion of all with his deeds in this life.
Though his death weighs heavy for all he knew
His path to the heavens is virtuous and true.
So open your arms and welcome his soul,
And let him be at peace, once and for all.
With the words now spoken, Halling nodded to the flame-bearers to begin their sombre task. With a final glance at the casket that held Kanaan's body, each of them lit a corner of the pyre and soon it was engulfed in flame. Having performed their duty, they stepped back to allow the gathered mourners to adorn the flaming pyre with flowers, to ease the soul's departure from the confines of its earthly shell. Sheppard watched as Teyla was the last to throw her flowers onto the fire, her eyes fixated upon the coffin and tears glistening in her eyes before she turned away and took her seat at the main table.
- - SGA - -
As the afternoon wore on, the celebrations became more and more lively as the Athosians took to celebrating Kanaan's life rather than mourning his death. Already a dozen barrels of Athosian ale had been consumed and though Sheppard was unable to partake due to the painkillers he was taking, Ronon and Rodney had decided upon drinking his share as well as their own. Sheppard had noticed Teyla slip away from the celebrations earlier and wanted to go after her. But Halling's warning was playing through his mind and he relented, turning his attention back to the wake, for want of a better word.
"Ahh look!" exclaimed Halling, drawing everyone's attention to him as he pointed in the direction of the setting sun.
"What is it?" asked Doctor Beckett curiously.
"The sky is red. This is a sign from the Ancestors that they have accepted Kanaan's spirit!" he shouted loudly, obviously feeling the liberating effects of the ale.
"You do know that's just caused by dus..." started Rodney before a swift kick to the shins from Ronon stopped him in his tracks.
"His spirit has found its way to the Ancestors. Let us rejoice. More ale!" proclaimed Halling, to the drunken cheers of many in attendance.
Teyla had heard the celebrations and had wished to join in but her heart and mind simply did not have the capacity to do so at this time. She needed time alone, to speak to Kanaan privately. To tell him that she never intended to hurt him. That he would always remain in her heart. And that through Torren, they would always be linked, both in this life and the next world. She hoped that he understood that, before the end. In the meantime, she had wandered off in the direction of the gate, hoping the peace and quiet would provide some comfort for her troubled mind.
But alas it did not. For there was something he did not know, could not have known, that now weighed heavily on Teyla's mind. For so long she had fought to deny feelings that were now threatening to break through to the surface. She had cared deeply for Kanaan and even loved him in a sense, but ultimately and despite her efforts to deny it, her heart had belonged to another for a long time now. The mere thought of being unable to be truthful to Kanaan now that he was gone was causing turmoil inside Teyla's mind and heart. She was so confused right now, questioning if she was even a good person for allowing herself to acknowledge those feelings when she was with Kanaan.
"What am I going to do?"
A/N : Thanks everyone for reading.
The Hallowed Rites were devised to give the Athosian culture a bit more substance as I felt it was somewhat under-utilised.
Hope everyone is okay with it, I based it partly on the romanticised Viking culture mixed with some other religious practices.