Sorry it took me so long to update :-)
I hope you enjoy it ...
CHAPTER TEN: COURTING RITUALS
Two weeks later:
Evan and Ryan had been back from Xizor since this afternoon but they didn't really have a chance to talk apart from the report. So they decided to have dinner together. Ronon would be with them and Kaylena was glad about that.
After the first report where she had mentioned Xizor there had been an unspoken argument between them. Ronon knew exactly that she would demand to be part of the team which would try to lay hands on the ZPM. She knew he didn't like the thought of her getting in trouble like this and while she was angry about his voiceless try to domineer her, on the other hand she was touched that he obviously carded for her. There was no need for him to tell her. One look and she knew he was anxious about her well-being and that made it hard to be angry with him.
She still had no idea how it was possible to feel this close to a person she barely knew for three months now. But she couldn't remember another person she had ever been linked to like it was with him. The feeling was overwhelming and frightening at the same time and a part, deep inside her, was aware that the only reason she felt frightened was because she feared to lose this closeness. And he felt the same, she was sure about it.
That was the reason he was worried. He was afraid of loosing it and unfortunately for his for the people in his immediate vicinity fear caused him to the same reaction as her: anger.
They both had the day off and were spending it in the gym which wasn't a surprise to most people. She trained with Ally while he was busy with beating some marines. The shy little doctor was a natural even though she kept denying that fact. But Kaylena was even more proud of her that she wasn't blushing anymore, anytime one of the marines gave a comment on her performance. Most of them were even compliments. Rough ones of course, the petite woman had to get used to the first times but the more they trained the more confident she became. And in the end she ignored them.
Everyone except Lorne of course. It wasn't hard to figure out that Ally had a crush on him and Kaylena was positive that they would make a nice couple. Not that she ever mentioned something like that. But she liked Ally and it saddened her that she had not enough self-confidence to see herself as a worthy match for him.
Lorne of course didn't notice anything but she wouldn't blame him. The time they spend together she figured out that he was too much focused on his work to notice anything beside that. Even if it was so obvious.
In the end she and Ronon where sparring together much to the enthusiasm of the marines and even Ally liked to watch those fights. For Ronon and her it was the best way to make everything okay again.
And now two weeks later it was as if nothing happened at all, even though he got a little grumpy when two of the marines asked her if she would teach them too. She ignored his overprotective manner and told Mitchell and O'Malley that she would ask Weir if it would be okay. Even though she wasn't so sure if Dijiri was the right thing for those two. But she could think about that later. The feeling of just sitting together and talking about nothing special was too nice as to worry about anything else at the moment.
"So it's still there!"
"Yeah, from what we can tell from the detector it must still be there. Of course it was not possible to have a look at it." Lorne nodded.
"Of course!" She grinned half amused. She was sure none of the two would have complained to have a look at the inner of the bath temple. It was part of the palace and the only place on the whole planet only women were allowed to enter.
It was one of the most amazing things she ever had lay eyes on unfortunately it was no good sign for a woman to be in there. When the slavers decided a woman was worth to be sold for the higher class she was brought there, cleaned, prepared and sold on an auction later.
A woman of her people had been unlucky to be pretty enough to be brought there, so her company had walked in there and hauled her out. Much to the enjoyment of her male companions.
"You know that it will not be easy to get it. The plan is more than a little thin." Ryan told her again and she rolled her eyes. Since they returned from Xizor Evan and Ryan totally agreed with Ronon and Kaylena felt like quarrelling with her brothers.
Of course they were right. The plan was thin and the chance to get the ZPM without getting injured or worse was low but on the other side they hadn't much of a choice if they wanted it. And in her opinion a fully functional Super –warship was worth a lot of trouble.
"The greatest problem will be to get in there. But I think for Teyla and Laura it will be possible without any problems."
She noticed the quick glance the three man exchanged and raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Remember our little talk on Laijuna?" Lorne asked her obviously amused. Her face must show that she remembered exactly what he meant, which forced Ryan to chuckle and Ronon to raise an eyebrow in a questioning manner.
"But I still don't like the plan! It's too risky. You will not be able to hide any weapons. There is no backup possible and you can't calculate the troubles you may get in after you get a hold of the ZPM." Evan tried it again.
"You sound like my brother!" She told him and he grinned.
"And I guess you never listened to what he told you!" That was a statement not a question.
"Of course I listened but that doesn't mean that I did what he wanted!"
"Yeah, I can imagine it! Just like my little sister!" Lorne agreed and rolled his eyes.
"You've got a sister?" He nodded. "Then why do you even try?" She teased him. "You should know better than that!"
"You should never abandon hope! Even if it's about woman." He teased back.
"Right!" Ryan nodded. "But I guess there's nothing that could keep you from doing what you want. So..." He stopped and looked her straight in the eye. "Look after yourself! Don't be careless Kaylena, okay?"
Again she felt a little bit overwhelmed. So much worry only because of her. Suddenly her chest felt very tight and her throat unpleasantly dry while she tried to force herself to nod.
"Promise!" She choked and hoped that her voice wasn't so hoarse as it sounded in her ears.
Three months. Three little months and she was vulnerable again. More than ever before in her life because now she knew what would happen if she would loose her bond to the civil world. Loose the care, the warmth and the belonging. She wasn't sure if she could survive it again. If she even wanted it.
She asked herself if Ronon would could stand to lose it again. Her eyes sought his and the warm green instantly was filled with worry.
Worry. Worry. Worry. Everywhere she looked.
She dropped her gaze to the ground but found her answer. He would be able even if it was only for revenge. He was too strong to give up easily and weakness was nothing he would ever allow himself.
She really hoped she could say the same about herself. But a light rhythmic sequence of strikes against her chest reminded her of her primal part. As long as Mr. Furious was with her she would survive. Death would be the only thing to stop her –and that was nothing that would come easily to her. Not without a fight.
"Don't worry. I've got no intention to spend my life as a slave for some stupid little man!" She told her team members which forced Ryan to laugh.
"Why is it that I have difficulties to imagine you as a nice obedient, well-behaved slave? Guess after a while they would give you money in order that you leave them."
"Aww!" She slapped him over the table which forced the other two to chuckle.
"To be serious again!" Lorne started. "It's beyond comprehension for me how men could treat women like that."
"Guess that has something to do with the values you were taught when you are young. I'm sure the way you treat women on earth is different to the way that was normal on Sateda or on my planet!" She shrugged her shoulder but from the light stiffness in Ronons jaw she could tell that she was right. At least that there was a difference between Satedan and Earth treatments regarding women.
"Guess we already found out some of them!" Ryan smirked and she chuckled in agreement.
"And speaking about that..." Lorne grinned. " I've heard you have many invitations for the party the Colonel arranged to celebrate the discovery of the ancient ships."
Ronon let out a growl that only raised her confusion. "Yes, some of the marines asked me." She hesitated. "Is that one of these different things, too? I mean the Colonel already informed me that I'm also invited, so why are they asking me over and over again?"
Something about her question seemed to be very funny since Ryan and Evan burst out into laughter. Her eyes flicked round to Ronon who apparently had difficulties to suppress a satisfied grin.
She frowned. "Explanation?"
"They didn't want to invite you to the party. They were asking if you would go with them!" Lorne explained all the while biting his lip. "You know the Laijuna –thing. Civil woman and warrior woman have the same position. Remember?"
"You mean they were courting?" She asked puzzled.
"Yes!" Her team members answered in a choir.
"Oh!" She brought out. "How the hell should I have known that?" She snapped after the two didn't stop laughing. Again she shot Ronon a glance but he leaned back relaxed against his chair and watched the little talk, apparently with interest.
"After number fifty –three or so, you should have sensed something like that!" Ryan teased her.
"Yes, or the fact that they definitely only asked you when no one else was around!" Lorne agreed grinning and risked a quick glance to Ronons side.
"Very funny." Kaylena crossed her arms in annoyance and felt the urge to sulk but suddenly she remembered something.
"And what's with you?" She asked and raised her brows.
"Me?" Lorne asked puzzled.
"Yes? Who is the girl you invited to the party?"
"I haven't invited anybody."
"Why not?" She asked and from Ronon´s slight movements she could tell that he sensed that there was more behind her question.
The Major shrugged obviously searching for a way to sneak out of the subject.
"Is there nobody who could fulfil your requirements or are you waiting for a special invitation?" She teased him and ignored Ronons questioning glance.
This time Evan raised his brows and looked at her with a half-smile.
"Who do you have in mind?" He asked and Ryan looked amused from one to the other.
This time she shrugged her shoulders. "I thought that maybe you were interested in Ally. You watch her training ever you find time." She told him innocently.
Evan suddenly choked his drink. "What?"
"Ally. Dr. Biggelow!! She explained and tried to hide her smile.
" I know who you are talking about, it's only..."
She didn't let him finish. "I think you would fit perfectly and you should invite her to the party if that's the way earth men court a woman."
Evan looked at her as if she developed a second head, while the other two were chuckling.
"What?" The Major repeated.
"You should court her!" She remained stubborn which only forced Ryan and Ronon to went on with laughing.
"I don't think that she...I mean I don't think that that would be a good idea!" It was obvious that she hit him unexpected.
"Why not? She's nice, clever, pretty, in the foreseeable future she will be an excellent fighter, too and I think she likes you. What else do you expect?"
"Uhm..." Lorne opened and shut his mouth a few times but nothing sane came out.
"So?"
Evan let out a protesting moan while she gave him one of her brightest smiles.
"I will think about it!" He agreed.
"Good! Don't think too long about it. Two of the marines asked her today."
Of course that kept his attention exactly the way she planned but before she had a chance to dig deeper, Ryan asked her.
"So how does courting on Lotharia work?"
"It was a long progress. Mating shouldn't be a simple thing. In the end it is something that should exist you whole live!"
"You mean courting is automatically linked to life-bonding?" Ryan asked with a shade of horror in his voice.
She frowned. "Of course. Why should a man court a woman if not for a shared future?" She asked puzzled.
"On earth they have a different view." Ronon, who seemed to be the only one to truly understand her puzzlement, told her.
"To be together with someone doesn't intent to marry him or her in the end." Lorne explained to her.
"So you have warrior relationships instead of real ones, without being forced to it?" Her puzzlement grew. Ronons frown reminded her that he hadn't been present when they had this talk on the planet, and so she explained to him the Lotharian custom.
"Much the same on Sateda. You weren't forced to choose when you were sixteen but once a woman decided to join the army she usually decided against family." Ronon nodded.
"So men court a civil woman and behave exactly like around warrior women if they are interested?" Ryan asked and did his best to avoid Ronons glance.
"Courting is a ritual thing. If a man's interested in a woman he presented her a bracelet."
"A bracelet?" Evan and Lorne both seemed stunned.
"Yes. A self-made bracelet or one he got from his mother. It had to be something special." She explained. "If the woman accepted the present she would wear it around her left wrist. That would give the man the permission to court her and the knowledge that she is interested in his efforts."
On this point she could already sense that this custom seemed strange for them. That meant for Lorne and Campell. Ronon looked quiet comfortable with it and she was sure, courting on Sateda hadn't been much different.
"What does that permission include?" Ryan asked further.
She frowned and looked over at Ronon.
"He meant, what's the man allowed to do at this point of the relationship?" He translated for her and forced her to smile. It was just to nice to have someone around who understood without words.
"Everything the woman is comfortable with." She shrugged her shoulder but somehow the answer seemed to please the two.
"On the left wrist a woman can wear as many bracelets as men offered her. It only depends on her will to accept them."
"Wow. Wow. Wow. What do you mean as many bracelets as men offer her? You mean she can be with several men at the same time?" Ryan snapped apparently shocked.
"I mean she can allow as many men to count her as she likes, when they are interested in her. At this point there is no real relationship. Nothing steady."
Her answer didn't seem to ease them and she couldn't sense their problem unlike Ronon.
"That's the same as a date!" He growled and even though she had no plan what a date was Evan and Ryan seemed to be familiar with this term so she sensed it was something from earth.
"A date is when a man and a woman meet to become acquainted to each other. To find out if they would fit!" Lorne as ever good in sensing her problems with earth words, explained it to her.
"Yes. That's much the same." She nodded. "But when a woman decided to wear a bracelet on her right wrist she had made her decision. It would be the only bracelet she would wear and gave the man permission to plead the woman's family for the tryouts."
"What tryouts?" Ronon asked interested while the other two looked stunned again.
"That depends. The family decided what the tryouts will be about, but the meaning behind it, is that the man shows the family that he is able to protect and support her. Only if he passes it he will be allowed to propose a marriage."
"Wow!" Ryan gasped.
"Yes. Sounds complex." Evan agreed.
"Sounds sane!" Ronon growled and shrug his shoulders.
Both earth men looked at him with a deep frown but seemed to settle for the fact that they came from different galaxies.
"So okay. That's the traditional form of courting. What's with the warrior thing?" This time it was Lorne who asked and from the expression on his face she could tell that he had troubles to fathom an answer to that question.
"You asked!" She shrugged her shoulder. What else did he expect?
"You ask!" Ryan repeat apparently a little bit shocked about the simplicity.
"Yes, it is not intended to be something constant so there's no need for bonding rituals."
"Guess it's better to tell the others only about the long version." Ryan mumbled.
"Yeah!" Lorne agreed and the way he stretched the word she sensed that she missed again something important. A little helpless she was searching for the answer in Ronons eyes but for some reason he was grumpy again. She clearly could feel her jaw stiffen and her mood became a little bit pissed.
"What?" She snapped not even trying to hide that she hated not to be in the picture of everything.
Lorne's hands raised quickly in the air. "Nothing. Really. Guess that only sounds a little extreme for us, you know. Why's there no...uhm...middle way?"
The look in her eyes seemed answer enough. Again she had no plan what they were talking about.
"What would be so bad about a simple date? Just having a good time and see if it would work. You know find out if you would like to meet someone else more often?" Ryan asked. "I mean without any rituals, family or complex rules?"
"Like on earth?"
"Well, yes!" Lorne nodded.
"I never said it would be bad. But you asked me about the Lotharian way. And I told you. Guess it will take its time till I get used to all this earth things."
"Yes, probably."
She nodded and raised from her chair which brought her questioning glances and she signed.
"It's time for a little talk with Kaaron."
"So he will live with Teylas people?" Evan asked and she nodded in agreement.
"Yes. That will be the best for him."
"He will not be pleased!" Ryan chuckled and she stiffened against her will.
"That's not the point. It's too dangerous to be at my side. He deserves better than that. I hope that he will understand that. He can't stay close." Suddenly she felt the urge to explain herself which made her angry. She gripped her trey and got fully up, noticing the others did the same.
"I'm not ready for close!" She mumbled nearly voiceless before she got herself under control again.
She cleared her throat and tried to smile. "See you later!"
"Yes, sure!" Evan nodded while Ronon gave her one of his usual goodbye growls.
"Try not to break too many hearts on your way to your quarters!" She heard Ryan's voice behind and rolled her eyes.
1 day later:
"Easy buddy!" Apparently Sheppard felt forced to repeat this phrase what was the real reason for his strained patience.
The party was at its maximum and like every of Sheppards parties it looked like everyone who wasn't at duty was here. And at the moment everyone was watching Kaylena. Regardless if man or woman it seemed.
She was dancing and from the looks on the most faces it seemed they had never seen someone dancing before. At least not like this.
A few minutes ago they had started to play some kind of very rhythmical music and one of the Marines –Mitchell - asked Kaylena if she wanted to dance.
Ronon wasn't sure what surprised him more. The fact that she said yes or that she could dance like that. Maybe the most surprising thing was Mitchell.
"His mother is from Brazil!" Sheppard suddenly told him, as that would explain everything. He raised a brow and John seemed to remember that he had no idea what he was talking about.
"Brazil. That's a country on earth. The people there like to say that they have rhythm in their blood."
"It looks like the saying is right! Kaylena seems to have that blood too." Teyla nodded and watched the dance floor with interest. Apart from Kaylena and Mitchell there were few other pairs but although they were dancing nearly the same it looked rather different.
"The doc isn't that bad, too!" The surprised tone in Sheppards voice forced him to search for the little redheaded woman. As he found her he silently agreed with his friend. The shy doctor was full of surprises and was holding herself remarkable well. But pitifully her dance partner couldn't keep up with her.
"Who would have guessed she's hot blooded like that?" John asked obviously impressed.
"John!" Teyla bawled him out.
"What? That was a compliment!"
His eyes flicked to the side and he watched Lorne muttering some silent curses. Unlike most other men he wasn't watching Kaylena. His interest was fully taken by the petite doctor he missed to asked to go out with him at the right time and now she was with someone else.
Ronon felt it difficult to show sympathy for Lorne. If he hadn't waited for so long or at least listened to Kaylenas words the situation would have been different for him, tonight.
He turned his attention back to Kaylena and watched fascinated. He wasn't jealous even though it was obvious John and some others kept thinking that. He couldn't dance like that –well, he couldn't dance at all and felt no urge to learn it.
Besides that he was sure watching was much better. He was clear about the fact that the others were taken by the way she looked but that was not what kept his attention.
Her outfit looked much like her sparring clothes apart from the fact that the flowing material seemed thinner and smoother. She wore a great amount of necklaces and bracelets which matched the rest of her outfit and he suspected that Teyla had taken a hand in her dressing.
Her hair was open and seemed to have its own life, it never stopped moving.
All in all she looked rather stunning but he didn't miss the fact that she still was dressed to fight. The others seemed to oversee that just like the fact that she was armed. Likely with more weapons than most people here would bear on a mission.
She was still dangerous and that was what forced him to grin.
She was dancing like she was fighting –with an unleashed energy radiating through every pore of her body. There was only one difference. This time joy was the source of her energy not fury.
Again he felt something in him reaching out for what, a part of him recognised at one of his own kind.
"Uhm, you should try the chicken wings. They are really good!" McKay's voice reached his ear. As Ronon looked to the side he saw the scientist licking his fingers and making smacking sounds. Still munching he caught the next piece from his plate.
"Hey, these are for everyone. Not only for you!" Sheppard hissed.
"Oh, yeah. Sure!" He got up. "I'm the one who's working all the time, nearly starving, while you have a good time and now you want to deny me the little bit of food I get? It's not even enough to feel full!" He protested and dipped the next wing in some sort of sauce before he plugged it in his mouth.
"You never have enough, Rodney!" John snapped back grimly eying McKay's stacked up plate.
"I have a high need of energy!" He shot back.
Sheppard rolled his eyes while Teyla showed one of her slight smiles that let him know, that she was amused.
"Is that Mrs. Always-wild-and-fury?" Rodney nearly choked on his food as he stared wildly at Kaylena who was twirling around.
"Rodney!" Teyla bawled him but the scientist didn't seemed impressed by it. He cleared his throat and shook his head before he dipped his finger food in sauce and shoved it in his mouth.
"Who would have guessed that Mrs. Caveman could dance like Alibaba's sister!" He smacked full mouthed.
"McKay!" John groaned.
"Who's Alibaba?" Ronon wanted to know and fixed McKay with a glance.
"That's a character from a fairy-tale. That's not the point. What Rodney meant is..." Sheppard stumbled.
"He meant she can dance like some oriental woman back on earth."
That was Lorne's voice and he frowned. The Major had crossed his arms and looked at them. With a quick glance Ronon sensed the reason for his new attention. The little doctor wasn't dancing any longer. Now she was talking to some female marines and apparently Lorne felt save enough to look in another direction for a moment.
"Yeah, yeah! Whatever!" McKay muttered and went on. "I should visit the buffet before everything is gone!" With that the scientist left them alone.
"Didn't you say they dance like these people with rhythm in blood?" He asked Sheppard who was muttering at Rodney's back.
He turned his eyes back to his friend, waiting for an answer .
"Yeah, well..." Again Sheppard seemed to have difficulties to explain. In the end he shrugged his shoulders. "Looks like a mix of both. Who cares? Looks good!"
Suddenly the music changed. The new song was calm and slow which forced Lorne curiously to look grumpy. But with a look to the dance floor he sensed the problem.
Ally was dancing with her date again. This time much closer.
Ronon was sure that he would never understand earth people. He knew no other people who were so good in making easy things very difficult.
He wasn't sure if the Major was pissed cause he really wished he had been able to come along with her here or if he only had a hurt ego. In the end Ronon decided Lorne liked her. Lorne wasn't the type for the other stuff.
It seemed that he saw the doctor in another light since Kaylena confronted him with these things. But maybe Kaylenas words were the final inducement he had needed.
He was thinking about telling Lorne that he should go over there, kick the other man away and dance with that woman. If Teyla was right and he hadn't doubts about that, she wouldn't complain about that. But a mass of swinging hair, which disappeared through a door kept his attention. His eyes scanned the room and he found Mitchell standing between some other marines who were thumping his back. But instead of the satisfied expression, he had expected to see on his face, Mitchell looked...lugubrious?
"I'm not sure if she's good for my men!" He heard Sheppards voice beside him and looked at him with a questioning glance.
"Half of them are scared of her and the other half..."
"Likes her!" Teyla added quickly before John could say something wrong.
"Yeah! I'm not sure what's worse."
"May I have a dance?" The new voice kept the attention of everybody. The man who had asked Teyla forced the petite Athosean to stiffen immediately. Ronon suppressed a chuckle as he looked at the small scientist –a physicist if he was right. They all know that he had a crush on Teyla and that the Athosean wasn't thrilled about it.
Countless of marines had tried to come a little bit closer to Teyla but for some reason this one was the only one who managed to strain her patience, even though he was sure the courting of the others had been rougher.
Teyla fired a deadly glance in his direction but was rescued by John before she could say something on her own.
"Sorry buddy. The next dance is mine!" The Colonel told the scientist. "But..." The man started while Sheppard pushed Teyla slowly but steadily in the direction of the dance floor.
"But...!" The man repeated and looked at Ronon. He shrugged his shoulders and turned around to leave.
He didn't need to search. He knew exactly where she would be.
Kaylena was on one of the balconies. The one they both usually visited when they spent some time together. Normally they only sat beside each other, watching the ocean and enjoy each others presence. Like him Kaylena was always comfortable with being silent. She wasn't like the earth people who felt the obsessive need of incessant chatter all the time.
Kaylena was standing at the balustrade and the way she turned her head slightly to the side showed him, that she recognised his presence. She didn't tell him to go away so he took that as a invitation to stay. He stepped beside her and gazed over the ocean. Like always the sight was overwhelming and calming at the same time.
For a short moment he closed his eyes to sharpen his other senses. The calming sound of the waves and her familiar scent surrounded him immediately and he didn't feel the urge to open his eyes all too quick.
He felt himself relaxing and remained like this till he suddenly heard her quiet voice.
"It was a little too much!" She told him as if she felt the urge to justify herself for leaving the party. He opened his eyes and turned to her to tell her that there was no need for apologies. Maybe to admit that he felt quiet happy about the fact that they were sharing a moment on this balcony instead of being at that party. But the sudden lump in his throat made it impossible and she went on.
"The dancing inspired some long lost memories and..." She stopped herself and he heard her made a light sign. "You know all this people with their closeness and their endless chat. I'm not used to it anymore–it still makes me nervous and uncomfortable."
"Want me to go?" He asked with a deep growl and stiffened against his will.
"No!" She added quickly whilst turning around and giving him a slight smile. "You are always welcome."
Ronon felt himself relaxing again and returned her smile. He could feel it getting warmer and brighter than any other smile in quite a time, as she leaned slightly against him with her head on his shoulder.
"You too!" He told her, pulled her a little closer and closed his eyes again. This was definitely better than any of Sheppards parties.
TBC