The greeting that meets me when I enter my home is one of a tense
atmosphere. Preparations are underway for the eve but everything seems a
little strained. O'Neill and Daniel have arrived back from their journey
and are chatting quietly to themselves at the table. Tealc and Samantha
join them, I take my belongings into the small room set at the back of the
house. Hanging my cloak on the wall, I set out the things and I'm about to
return to the main room when a knock resounds at the door and I turn to be
met by Daniel advancing into the enclosed space. Before I had a chance to
gather my thoughts, he was standing close to me, a slight feeling of
urgency coming from him.
"Rani I just wanted to apologise about this morning at breakfast. I did not mean to insult you or your people. I was just curious about your social structure. That's what I do, I study, learn about civilisations and cultures, how they lived, how they worked. It is rare we come across alien cultures such as yours. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."
I can tell his apology is from the heart and accept it as such.
"I accept your apology and wish to offer one of my own. Last eve, the ceremony. I should have tried to explain what we were about to do. Until then, I had not truly looked at the point that it can be violating to outsiders. In a moment I realised what power we have and how easily we can use it over others."
"But you could have so easily performed the ceremony over me instead of backing down"
"Yes, but you didn't want it"
"Exactly, which proves you can control the gift you have power over and not abuse it"
"It is instilled in all of us from an early age to use these gifts and not use them as a weapon to control people around us."
I feel relieved and feel a certain satisfaction from Daniel, and the tension is not between us anymore. The scent of the Kentalyah blossoms start to fill the air and I turn place them in a small glass box at the window.
"Kentalyah blossoms for tonight, this will keep their scent until tonight's ceremony"
I lift one of the blossoms to Daniel, as I speak.
"The blossoms are falling now but when the fresh new blossoms appear the air is filled with the scent for many days"
Daniel takes my hand and lifts it to his face to smell the sweetness of the purple flower and smiles to me.
"We have a flower on earth very much like the smell. We call it honeysuckle"
I lower my hand but he does not loosen his grip on my arm. Looking out of the window, at the village and its busy preparations. The midday sun is rising to join the morning sun. I smile, I find him easy to read when he has more to ask. His curiosity is not easily pleased it seems. He catches me smiling at him as he turns to look at me once more. I lower my gaze and glance about the room feeling suddenly self-aware.
"There is much to be done..."
"Tell me about the ceremony."
"This eve's ceremony?"
"And last eve's. I want to understand them, what it entails, how you perform them. How they make you feel"
I feel like I could stay and talk for a lifetime and telling him of my people and our ways but a tap on the door interrupts my simple wishful hopes before Lanka enters.
"Nina relt su, telk forna, lome tayah re elkma"
I nod to Lanka and he departs. I slip my hand into Daniel's placing in it the blossom.
"I must go to Nina, she wishes to speak to me. We will talk, before the ceremony tonight, you will be staying?"
"Yes we will definitely be staying"
I feel warmth emanating from him but I push the feelings arising in myself away for at least the time being. There was a more important matter to deal with. Although I had talked with Parn and his reassurance had somewhat calmed me, I still wished to get the matter with Nina over with.
"I must go"
"Is there anything we can do to help for the preparations. Everyone seems to be so busy doing something. We would like to help"
"Yes of course."
Taking a handful of blossom petals, we leave my small crafts room to the main area, Daniel joins Lanka who is showing O'Neill and Tealc how to construct one of the instruments we use to gather food from the lake. Water creatures that we only eat when on such occasions as this when a ceremony is being performed. Dala, the youngest and newest of the household is showing Samantha how to weave holg and flowers together to create tiny ornamental table decorations which will eventually hold sweetstuffs that are being cooked. The air is filled with the growing anticipation and excitement of the eve ahead and still I feel the small empty space left empty by Nina. I make my way upstairs to the meditation room, slipping a scarf from my waistband and tying my hair back from my face with it. Entering the meditation room, I observe Nina sitting cross legged patiently waiting, an oil bowl already lit on the ornamental prayer altar. The atmosphere is strangely empty, void of emotion, and alien to me. Before speaking any words I cross to the altar myself, sprinkle the petals from my hand over the tiny ornamental figurine of the temple surrounded by its Kentalyah trees and light a oil bowl myself, whispering a chant under my breath. Turning I join Nina, sitting cross legged facing her.
She barely raises her eyes to acknowledge me, and does not speak but I hold my own tongue. She had asked to see me. I hoped she would explain her actions and am able to sort the problem out. I sit and stare at her, even reaching out with my feelings, but they seem to bounce against the invisible force I have placed around her and shower back over myself. Even so I do not take my eyes from her and eventually she starts to speak, and instant, simple explanation, but still not raising her eyes.
"She was one of them Rani"
The 'she' I assumed she spoke of was Samantha.
"Samantha was one of whom Nina?"
Strangely enough, given the situation, I did not realise the both of us were speaking the newfound tongue of our new friends. Nina Continued,
"A false god, she was once one of them"
I thought about her words and wondered where she had come across the information. Surely not through the ceremony we had performed. If it were so, Parn and I would have known also.
"Nina, you make no sense, I can find no reason why you say such a thing"
"I saw it Rani. When I dreamed. I dreamt of Tealc, his being a Jaffa and the things he did as a warrior for his false god. However, I also saw his change of heart and felt his noble cause to rid himself and his people of their reliance of the false gods. However, she was one of them, it resided inside her, possessed her. Have you not seen it yourself Rani?"
As she explains her, reasoning I realise there is still much for her to learn. We obtain much information through such ceremonies; some unnecessary to know which our minds quickly disregard, retaining only that which is necessary in our consciousness. However, unlike Parn, and myself Nina's subconscious mind has retained certain information of Samantha and Tealc and brought it to her attention whilst she slept. Without answering I close my eyes, and let my mind open to the information we had gathered. An easy task but not one which I am happy to do. I feel as if I am intruding on their personal lives. They will have retained personal information of us but will be unable to access it and eventually it will be lost to them as will the information I have retained but do not access of them. Time passes, and images of the people below pass my mind, as I search for what I am looking for, concentrating on Samantha. Eventually I open my eyes, to find myself finally looking into those of Nina.
"Yes she was possessed by one of the beings who say they are false gods. But it left her and when it did left her troubled by what she had been subjected to. Samantha does not herald what the false gods do. You should not have judged on what little your mind opened to you concerning the matter"
"But she was once one of them Rani"
"Not willingly, and she is no more. In addition, she was left with feelings and emotions, which she herself could not understand or tolerate. It has been a long journey for her and she has dealt well with it. It is as hard for her to accept that such a being was inside her body as it is for us to accept it. But it was a very long time ago Nina. Your mind has only shown you a little of her journey. You had no right to speak the way you did to her. You must realise your words could have caused much damaged had your been any stronger in your abilities"
Nina once more drops her eyes and thinks on my words. Eventually she speaks again; her voice lined with shame.
"I am sorry Rani, I have much to learn. I should not have let the feelings the dream brought get the better of me. And I should have never spoken those words to her"
I reach out and raise her face to meet mine. There are tears in her eyes as well as an emptiness, which matches the void I feel between us.
"And I am sorry I had to perform Suntra on you Nina"
With that, I press my hand to her chest once more. The cold empty barrier enveloping as I speak the words to lift the punishment.
"Ker nell tarleh, kenow lateyah pol tern su munya"
A rush of heat surrounds us and her feelings instantly reach out to me once more. The empty void I had felt is instantly filled once more. Her relief is evident through them as well as in her eyes.
"You will apologise to Samantha"
Nodding to me, we sit for a few more moments in silence, revelling in the familiarity of each other.
"Come we must join everyone in readiness for this eve." I say, standing. Nina stands with me, blowing on the flames of the oil bowls. Making our way downstairs we once more free our hair of the prayer scarves, slipping them into our waistbands. Only Samantha and Darla are present, admiring their handiwork.
"The men have gone fishing," says Samantha on seeing us, smiling.
I pause for a moment, musing on the word realising she meant they had went to catch the water creatures. I look to Nina then excuse myself to fetch some refreshments, asking Darla to join me, leaving Samantha and Nina alone.
"Rani I just wanted to apologise about this morning at breakfast. I did not mean to insult you or your people. I was just curious about your social structure. That's what I do, I study, learn about civilisations and cultures, how they lived, how they worked. It is rare we come across alien cultures such as yours. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."
I can tell his apology is from the heart and accept it as such.
"I accept your apology and wish to offer one of my own. Last eve, the ceremony. I should have tried to explain what we were about to do. Until then, I had not truly looked at the point that it can be violating to outsiders. In a moment I realised what power we have and how easily we can use it over others."
"But you could have so easily performed the ceremony over me instead of backing down"
"Yes, but you didn't want it"
"Exactly, which proves you can control the gift you have power over and not abuse it"
"It is instilled in all of us from an early age to use these gifts and not use them as a weapon to control people around us."
I feel relieved and feel a certain satisfaction from Daniel, and the tension is not between us anymore. The scent of the Kentalyah blossoms start to fill the air and I turn place them in a small glass box at the window.
"Kentalyah blossoms for tonight, this will keep their scent until tonight's ceremony"
I lift one of the blossoms to Daniel, as I speak.
"The blossoms are falling now but when the fresh new blossoms appear the air is filled with the scent for many days"
Daniel takes my hand and lifts it to his face to smell the sweetness of the purple flower and smiles to me.
"We have a flower on earth very much like the smell. We call it honeysuckle"
I lower my hand but he does not loosen his grip on my arm. Looking out of the window, at the village and its busy preparations. The midday sun is rising to join the morning sun. I smile, I find him easy to read when he has more to ask. His curiosity is not easily pleased it seems. He catches me smiling at him as he turns to look at me once more. I lower my gaze and glance about the room feeling suddenly self-aware.
"There is much to be done..."
"Tell me about the ceremony."
"This eve's ceremony?"
"And last eve's. I want to understand them, what it entails, how you perform them. How they make you feel"
I feel like I could stay and talk for a lifetime and telling him of my people and our ways but a tap on the door interrupts my simple wishful hopes before Lanka enters.
"Nina relt su, telk forna, lome tayah re elkma"
I nod to Lanka and he departs. I slip my hand into Daniel's placing in it the blossom.
"I must go to Nina, she wishes to speak to me. We will talk, before the ceremony tonight, you will be staying?"
"Yes we will definitely be staying"
I feel warmth emanating from him but I push the feelings arising in myself away for at least the time being. There was a more important matter to deal with. Although I had talked with Parn and his reassurance had somewhat calmed me, I still wished to get the matter with Nina over with.
"I must go"
"Is there anything we can do to help for the preparations. Everyone seems to be so busy doing something. We would like to help"
"Yes of course."
Taking a handful of blossom petals, we leave my small crafts room to the main area, Daniel joins Lanka who is showing O'Neill and Tealc how to construct one of the instruments we use to gather food from the lake. Water creatures that we only eat when on such occasions as this when a ceremony is being performed. Dala, the youngest and newest of the household is showing Samantha how to weave holg and flowers together to create tiny ornamental table decorations which will eventually hold sweetstuffs that are being cooked. The air is filled with the growing anticipation and excitement of the eve ahead and still I feel the small empty space left empty by Nina. I make my way upstairs to the meditation room, slipping a scarf from my waistband and tying my hair back from my face with it. Entering the meditation room, I observe Nina sitting cross legged patiently waiting, an oil bowl already lit on the ornamental prayer altar. The atmosphere is strangely empty, void of emotion, and alien to me. Before speaking any words I cross to the altar myself, sprinkle the petals from my hand over the tiny ornamental figurine of the temple surrounded by its Kentalyah trees and light a oil bowl myself, whispering a chant under my breath. Turning I join Nina, sitting cross legged facing her.
She barely raises her eyes to acknowledge me, and does not speak but I hold my own tongue. She had asked to see me. I hoped she would explain her actions and am able to sort the problem out. I sit and stare at her, even reaching out with my feelings, but they seem to bounce against the invisible force I have placed around her and shower back over myself. Even so I do not take my eyes from her and eventually she starts to speak, and instant, simple explanation, but still not raising her eyes.
"She was one of them Rani"
The 'she' I assumed she spoke of was Samantha.
"Samantha was one of whom Nina?"
Strangely enough, given the situation, I did not realise the both of us were speaking the newfound tongue of our new friends. Nina Continued,
"A false god, she was once one of them"
I thought about her words and wondered where she had come across the information. Surely not through the ceremony we had performed. If it were so, Parn and I would have known also.
"Nina, you make no sense, I can find no reason why you say such a thing"
"I saw it Rani. When I dreamed. I dreamt of Tealc, his being a Jaffa and the things he did as a warrior for his false god. However, I also saw his change of heart and felt his noble cause to rid himself and his people of their reliance of the false gods. However, she was one of them, it resided inside her, possessed her. Have you not seen it yourself Rani?"
As she explains her, reasoning I realise there is still much for her to learn. We obtain much information through such ceremonies; some unnecessary to know which our minds quickly disregard, retaining only that which is necessary in our consciousness. However, unlike Parn, and myself Nina's subconscious mind has retained certain information of Samantha and Tealc and brought it to her attention whilst she slept. Without answering I close my eyes, and let my mind open to the information we had gathered. An easy task but not one which I am happy to do. I feel as if I am intruding on their personal lives. They will have retained personal information of us but will be unable to access it and eventually it will be lost to them as will the information I have retained but do not access of them. Time passes, and images of the people below pass my mind, as I search for what I am looking for, concentrating on Samantha. Eventually I open my eyes, to find myself finally looking into those of Nina.
"Yes she was possessed by one of the beings who say they are false gods. But it left her and when it did left her troubled by what she had been subjected to. Samantha does not herald what the false gods do. You should not have judged on what little your mind opened to you concerning the matter"
"But she was once one of them Rani"
"Not willingly, and she is no more. In addition, she was left with feelings and emotions, which she herself could not understand or tolerate. It has been a long journey for her and she has dealt well with it. It is as hard for her to accept that such a being was inside her body as it is for us to accept it. But it was a very long time ago Nina. Your mind has only shown you a little of her journey. You had no right to speak the way you did to her. You must realise your words could have caused much damaged had your been any stronger in your abilities"
Nina once more drops her eyes and thinks on my words. Eventually she speaks again; her voice lined with shame.
"I am sorry Rani, I have much to learn. I should not have let the feelings the dream brought get the better of me. And I should have never spoken those words to her"
I reach out and raise her face to meet mine. There are tears in her eyes as well as an emptiness, which matches the void I feel between us.
"And I am sorry I had to perform Suntra on you Nina"
With that, I press my hand to her chest once more. The cold empty barrier enveloping as I speak the words to lift the punishment.
"Ker nell tarleh, kenow lateyah pol tern su munya"
A rush of heat surrounds us and her feelings instantly reach out to me once more. The empty void I had felt is instantly filled once more. Her relief is evident through them as well as in her eyes.
"You will apologise to Samantha"
Nodding to me, we sit for a few more moments in silence, revelling in the familiarity of each other.
"Come we must join everyone in readiness for this eve." I say, standing. Nina stands with me, blowing on the flames of the oil bowls. Making our way downstairs we once more free our hair of the prayer scarves, slipping them into our waistbands. Only Samantha and Darla are present, admiring their handiwork.
"The men have gone fishing," says Samantha on seeing us, smiling.
I pause for a moment, musing on the word realising she meant they had went to catch the water creatures. I look to Nina then excuse myself to fetch some refreshments, asking Darla to join me, leaving Samantha and Nina alone.