NOTES: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! I've been working on Union for a long time, so I hope you'll continue to enjoy it. This chapter--Weir gets to go offworld, and we learn about Valoosa. It's a long one, but it'll get us where we're going. Thank you, PurpleYin, for betaing this!
DISCLAIMER: Stargate: Atlantis and all things associated with it belong to other people; Valoosa all things associated with it belong to me.
SPOILERS: through Poisoning the Well
RATING: T
UNION
PART 2
COUNTING BEANS
They stepped through the Gate into a cool spring morning. Elizabeth found herself atop a small hill, surrounded by arching trees covered in the first pale blush of leaves. Here and there, clumps of flowers were in full bloom while other plants were just waking from winter. Ominous clouds threatened the horizon, yet the sky was bright and filled with birdsong. There was no scent of salt in the air. It reminded her of the Mid-Atlantic region and caused an unexpected pang of homesickness.
Has it really been less than a year since I left DC?
Such musings were quickly set aside as a half dozen Valoosans climbed the hill to greet them. There were three men and three women, none of whom carried weapons or gave the impression of being militarily inclined. Although their clothing was better tailored than that of the Athosians, the colors were plainer, with both men and women wearing browns and greens that blended with their environment. The layering of superfluous clothing, common among the rich and powerful throughout much of Earth's history, was absent in these leaders of Keff. Their garb was practical, and all of them wore knee-high boots. Uvry and Bess headed the group, only their slender silver circlets distinguishing them from the rest.
Smiling, Elizabeth spread her hands wide and bowed--the customary greeting, according to Dr. Corrigan's report. Uvry and Bess responded in kind.
"Welcome to Valoosa, Dr. Weir," said Uvry.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," smiled Bess.
"The pleasure is mine." Elizabeth brought her hands together over her stomach and bowed again. "Thank you for this opportunity of friendship and trade. I have brought a gift of gratitude."
At this, Corrigan handed her the gallon-sized golden jar of pickles he'd been carrying, and she held it out to her hosts.
"Look at that!" Bess smiled, happily accepting the heavy jar and cradling it on one arm as though it weighed nothing. "We're already familiar with Stackhouse and his fellows, and I'm guessing you already know who we are. Let us introduce you to the rest." She swept her free hand to indicate the people behind her, a brunette and a redhead. "This is Nals and Keffenan, master and mistress of the nursery."
"And this is Tiv and Tolly, the keepers of accounts," concluded Uvry, gesturing to the couple behind him. Although Elizabeth had heard there were some among the Hoffans, Tiv was the first true blond she had met in Pegasus. Tolly's hair was jet black with eyes nearly as dark. They made a striking couple.
Elizabeth bowed to each in turn, exchanging salutations, then they set off down the hill, following an indistinct path to the right. The trail was narrow enough that they were forced to walk two at a time. With Uvry in the lead by himself, Bess walked with Elizabeth, taking her guest's arm as though they were old school chums. "Dr. Corrigan says your culture is not agrarian."
Uvry looked back with an understanding smile. "So we know it's possible you've never participated in a planting."
"Besides," said Bess. "Based on our trading-"
"We know not everyone is capable of raising this particular crop," concluded Uvry.
"It's the last unplanted field of it's kind."
"One of our essential grains. We save it for this celebration." The way her host talked without looking back all the time made it seem he was having a conversation with the bushes and saplings along the path. Elizabeth had to stifle her amusement as she recalled her first time meeting Dr. Daniel Jackson, how she'd seemed to be crazily talking into the air as she'd conversed on a nearly invisible headset.
"Since the planting of this field is largely ceremonial-"
"For those of us in positions of authority to symbolically demonstrate our conviction to our people," interjected Uvry.
"And some of those participating are our eldest," continued Bess, "it's not as strenuous a task as you might think."
Uvry looked back with a wink. "So don't worry about how well you do."
"It's your doing it that matters to us," agreed Bess.
They mounted a slight rise. Below them stretched a vast field that seemed less of a patchwork, as Stackhouse had described it, than a tapestry. Not a single straight line was visible anywhere. Narrow tracks wove in and out of strips of bushes and seedlings in various stages of growth. No single section was more than about ten feet across nor three times that in length. Just thinking of the effort it must take to plant in such a way on such a scale boggled her mind. The logistics alone must have been astounding. The largest feature of the field was what appeared to be a pond. About twice the size of the Gateroom and roughly egg shaped, it was surrounded by hundreds of people and green pennants, which hung limply in the still air.
A child's voice was heard clearly above the murmur of the throng, calling, "There they are!"
The murmur became a dull roar as people shouted greetings to the various members of the party.
"Glad you borrowed the boots?"
Elizabeth barely heard the quiet question from Corrigan above the noise of the crowd, but she detected in it thinly veiled mirth. It was then she realized the pond was the ceremonial field.
Essential grain, huh? Why'd it have to be rice?
She did her best not to think about how some of the ancient rice paddies of Earth were fertilized and plastered a big smile on her face as they reached the edge of the gathering. Half a dozen people, all male and ranging in age from about ten to thirty, broke off from the others to greet Uvry and Bess. From their features, Elizabeth guessed they were the children of her host and hostess.
"Mardin," Bess addressed the eldest of them, "would you take this for me?" She handed him the jar of pickles.
"Just drop it by our place after the ceremony," added Uvry.
Knowing that complimenting someone's children was a common courtesy on Valoosa, Elizabeth commented. "They seem like fine young men."
"Thank you," the couple said in unison.
"Jess will finish his smithing apprenticeship this season." Uvry slapped the beefiest of his children on the shoulder with pride. The young man smiled shyly under his father's attention.
He could take on Lumano in arm wrestling.
"Mardin is a master of the orchards." Bess nodded to her sons in turn. "Toron will be heading out to fish the seas once the celebrations are complete."
Her husband continued. "Uvriss tends the flocks. Nals is a planter and weaver."
"Named for his uncle?" Elizabeth guessed.
"Exactly!" Bess beamed. "And Valin's following the physician's track." She soothed her youngest son's sandy locks under one hand. The blue-eyed child stared at their guest with unabashed interest.
"Perhaps you'll get to teach Dr. Beckett a thing or two when he visits," smiled Elizabeth.
"It would be an honor to speak with him."
"Is it not an honor to speak with Dr. Weir?" admonished the boy's father.
"Of course!" He dipped his head in apology then boldly declared. "You are very beautiful, Dr. Weir. Would you consider becoming my wife when I am of age?"
What would Simon have to say about that?
Over Bess' gasp, Elizabeth distinctly heard a stifled snigger from one of the men behind her but resisted the urge to look back to find out which one it was. Kneeling so she was closer to the boy's height, she kept her smile sincere and said, "You are a very handsome young man with a noble track ahead of you. I'm sure any woman would be privileged to have you as a husband, but my people do not approve of such a disparity in age."
"Nor do ours," chided Bess. "Now off with you lot. We haven't even given our guests refreshments, yet." She waved away her children and took Elizabeth's arm, again, guiding her to a small pair of tents where large pots bubbled thickly with some savory-scented brew. They were greeted by servers with trays of steaming earthenware mugs. First a young woman gave Bess and Elizabeth drinks then left, ignoring the men. A few moments later, a male server provided the men with mugs of their own.
"Our people drink these beverages to invigorate them for the coming planting and the season ahead." Uvry raised his mug. "Prosperity to all."
For some reason, Elizabeth was reminded of the Star Trek saying, "live long and prosper." It had never ceased to surprise her in how many far-flung places she'd stumbled across that phrase on Earth, a testament to the show's global appeal. In a world preyed upon by Wraith, perhaps no one even thought to wish for long life, or maybe it was considered tempting fate. Was it any wonder, with such an extreme climate and relentless foe, that Valoosan culture had evolved so many socialist tendencies? The fate of each person was tied closely to those around them, so it was plainly obvious how prosperity for all meant prosperity for one's self as well.
"Prosperity to all," they intoned together then drained their mugs.
Elizabeth was a bit startled to find a small, hard-boiled egg in her drink, about the size of a quail's. It had absorbed the flavors of the hearty broth and was one of the tastiest things she'd eaten since she'd left Earth. It surprised her how much she relished something so simple, but eggs were a precious commodity on Atlantis. Powdered were the norm, yet on the occasion fresh were procured, they never lasted long enough to be hard boiled.
"That was delicious."
Uvry smiled. "Thank you, Dr. Weir."
"We're so glad you liked it," said Bess.
Belatedly, Corrigan and the others expressed their appreciation, which made Elizabeth wonder, How different were our drinks?
After returning their empty mugs to a server, Bess declared, "It's time we parted."
"Meet you in the middle." Uvry gave his wife a quick kiss and headed off to the left side of the paddy.
Bess led Elizabeth to be rejoined by Tolly and Keffenan and a number of other women on the right side of the field. A few of them gave Stackhouse and his team odd looks, ranging from offended to amused, but none commented on her bodyguards' presence on the ladies side. They offered her a long pair of gloves and a short leather tunic, which she gratefully accepted, along with Bess' help in putting them on. Then she was handed a box of seedlings and declared ready to plant. Wading into the paddy, she felt as graceful as a wallowing water buffalo. Stackhouse and his men remained dutifully impassive, but even professional detachment couldn't prevent amusement from sparkling in Corrigan's eyes. Worse, he was recording it all--from behind no less.
I'll get that tape from him by the end of the day, or I'm no Weir!
With the men at one end and the women at the other, they worked their way toward the center. Elizabeth recalled documentaries about various Asian countries that included segments on planting rice. The water and seedlings and back-aching labor were the same, but the method was completely different. Instead of planting in straight rows, the Valoosans used a seemingly random pattern, with the distance between the rows varying and from two to four seedlings planted in each step. She was reminded of Confucius' advice to his pupils who intended to travel to foreign lands, to observe and adapt to local customs, but she couldn't figure out how they knew when to plant how many or what distance came when. Each Valoosan seemed to have a different pattern, so she created her own. No one offered advice or corrected her, so she had to assume they were either disinclined to embarrass her--as though the outfit weren't enough--or they were satisfied with her efforts.
It really wasn't that bad, once she got the hang of it, though the cold of the water seeped through her boots and into her bones to make her toes numb and her footing precarious toward the end of it. Fortunately, they'd given her a narrower end of the field, so she was one of the first to finish. When the last of the planters met in the middle, a cheer rose from the onlookers and the planters embraced. Based on the torc he wore, her partner was a widower. With his curly white hair and merry blue eyes, she was reminded of her late Grandma Weir, so giving him a hug was no chore. Considering some of the dull functions she'd had to attend and odious characters she'd had to embrace in her years as a diplomat on Earth, this was a cakewalk.
With Stackhouse's help, she managed to climb from the paddy without falling unceremoniously on her backside. Then he helped her planting partner do the same--another little deed to add to her mental "best sergeant" tally.
After removing their tunics and gloves, the planters gathered to rinse off their boots in a stream that ran between the tapestry field and the woods that bordered it. While the water of the paddy had been cold, that of the stream was warm. When she asked about it, they informed her it was due to there being hot springs upstream. Long ago, they explained, their ancestors had centered their villages around them. Eventually, those who spent the lesser winters away from the hot springs learned how to survive the greater winters away from them, too. It was then they discovered living near hot springs somehow made their people easier targets for the Wraith, so they stopped using them except for health purposes.
Once the rinsing of boots was finished, there was a round of a different hot beverage. This time, everyone had the same drink, one that was sweet with a slightly chewy grain in it that seemed to be halfway between rice and barely. The sweetness tasted a lot like sugar. If they could get a source for sugar, she knew Chef would be thrilled.
As they strolled back to the village for the midday feast, Bess asked if Elizabeth might enjoy a more scenic, less crowded route. It was plain she and the others were hoping for some time alone with their only female Atlantian guest. Discussing it with the others, Corrigan and Lumano went with the main group while Elizabeth accompanied Bess, Tolly and Keffenan through another field of crops. Stackhouse and Yamato shadowed her but kept distant enough to allow for private conversation.
She walked with her entourage for a few minutes, her hostesses taking turns in conversation about various crops, occasionally bending down to absently pull a budding weed or toss a stone from the path into the nearby brook. Then a fourth woman jogged up to meet them, a young, willowy blond. Elizabeth couldn't help but think of Rodney. Although there was hardly an expedition member who hadn't complained about the CoS at some point, he seemed to have a special knack for causing blond females aggravation. The bright-eyed young lady was introduced as Dina, Keff's mistress of records. Without preamble, she said, "Even with trading partners like the Athosians, who have a flexible leadership structure, it's rare that we meet a single ruler who is female. I have many questions, if I may."
"I'd be happy to answer any questions I can."
"How did you come to be the leader of your people?"
Atlantis is difficult enough. Could I handle being the leader of Earth? Elizabeth wondered with a smile. "First, I want to be sure you understand our expedition represents only a fraction of the people of our home."
"Yes. Dr. Corrigan mentioned this. It is difficult to imagine a world so unravaged by strife that the population is great enough to sustain over a hundred countries."
"Our world is hardly free of strife," she corrected, "just free of Wraith. But my point in mentioning this is to help you keep in mind the complexities of our world." Dina nodded her understanding. "In any multinational effort, there will always be challenges in appeasing each nation involved. The Stargate was traditionally controlled by a single country's military, but we needed the cooperation of many countries for our expedition to succeed. As such, having one nation's military in charge was out of the question. A civilian leader was needed. I was the most qualified, so the responsibility fell to me."
"But how is it possible that your world's Stargate is controlled by a single nation? How do the others trade?"
"With each other, mostly. Where we come from, the Stargate is seldom used for trade. It has been exploited by a powerful race set on enslaving every world. Our planet was spared because our Gate was buried for millennia, which is why our cultures have been capable of the advances we've achieved."
"So you, too, have an evil that plagues your galaxy."
"Yes. It's the primary reason we came here, to look for technology we could use to defend our home."
"And yet you have found yourselves stranded with a new evil." Dina's academic interest was tinged with sadness.
"Even without the Wraith, we would need to seek the aid of others to feed ourselves. Our main objectives were scientific. It has never been our intent to colonize, but we still need to eat."
"So this is why the women in your expedition are barren," concluded Keffenan.
"Excuse me?" Elizabeth was too surprised to keep all the incredulity out of her voice.
"What Keffenan means to suggest," soothed Bess with a smile, "is that, because you did not come to colonize, you have no need to bear children."
"As you know," elaborated Dina, "children are very important to us. We have never met a people who choose not to have them. We find it a curiosity."
As though only they cherish children. For some reason, it reminded her of the Japanese tendency to talk about having four seasons in a way that intimated the phenomenon was exclusively theirs.
Out of the corner of her eye, Elizabeth noticed her shadows had grown particularly attentive in response to her stiffened posture, and she raised a hand to reassure them. "Children are important to my people, as well. Our experiences with the Stargate assured us we would encounter unknown dangers. All of us risked our lives and sacrificed a great deal coming here in the hope of protecting our home; we would not have risked the lives of our children by bringing them with us."
Dina added, "As Dr. Corrigan explained, this is why their people are all unmarried, so that if their expedition should meet their fate here, it would be a less tragic loss."
Not how I would put it, but...
"So you are not all barren?" asked Keffenan.
"There are numerous expedition members who are parents, though their children are adults. We didn't want to separate parents from children, so none of my people have youngsters they would have had to leave behind." She was pleased to see the expression in Keffenan's eyes change so she no longer needed to wonder if she had sprouted horns or become a talking dog. "Actually, we even have a few grandparents."
"So are you barren?" The mistress of the nursery was proving herself as tenacious as a terrier.
"Keffenan!" admonished Bess. "Your question is obtrusive."
"It's all right, Bess. I am not barren, as far as I know."
"At your age, how can you not know?" insisted the redhead.
Dina came to Elizabeth's defense again. "You are well aware not every world encourages parenthood as early as we do."
"She is easily in the middle of her natural years. How can she not know?"
"With enough people for more than a hundred countries, is it not sensible to wait?"
Elizabeth nodded her thanks to the young woman. "As Dina suggests, our home's population is great enough there is no reason to have children as early as possible. There are so many people, not everyone needs to have children, and there are many complex reasons why a person would choose not to."
"So why have you not had any children?"
"Keffenan, that's enough," chided Bess. "If she was a man, would you press her so?"
"I would. If their world has so many people, how, in all her years, could she not have found a man?" There was a flash of realization in Keffenan's gray eyes. "Is it you're one of those who prefers women?"
Elizabeth nearly tripped in surprise; it had been years since anyone had suggested such a thing to her. "No, I don't prefer women. My reasons for not having had children are personal." She couldn't help but think of Simon and wonder how he'd taken her absence. Had the President given him clearance? Was he waiting for her? How would he react if she returned? What would she do if she couldn't? Her heart lurched a bit at the thought.
There was a collective "Oh," from the women. Not even Dina could hide her puzzlement.
A bit defensively, she added, "If I had had a child, I would not have been given the honor of becoming leader of this expedition, with the hope of discovering technology to protect our homeworld and the opportunity to meet people like you."
"Yet is it not unnatural to live in a world completely without children?" Tolly pushed a lock of hair away from her face so she might watch Elizabeth's reaction more carefully.
"Our situation here is unnatural."
Bess and Dina nodded their understanding, but Tolly's dark eyes remained fixed on hers, unconvinced. "If you are stranded, is it not reasonable for you to consider establishing families, otherwise, in a generation, your people will die out. Then what point would there have been in your having come at all?"
"There are several reasons, aside from the perils, we have not considered settling here. The foremost is that we have faith our homeworld will find a way to reconnect with us, or we will find a way to reconnect with them. When that happens, those who wish to return to have families or merely escape the Wraith may do so. Also, as our negotiations for food should make it plain, our supplies are finite and were chosen with a specific number of people in mind. Allying ourselves with the Athosians has taught us adding to our population throws our resources dangerously out of balance, jeopardizing our objectives. Although we may have the medical needs to aid in childbirth, since we hadn't planned on settling, we have nothing to aid in childrearing. Lastly, every member of the expedition was chosen because he or she has a particular skill that is needed for our success. If the women of the expedition began getting pregnant, and they and their partners had to worry about taking care of children, vital roles would go unfilled."
A black eyebrow arched in response. "Could there not be a designated master and mistress of the nursery, as we have? Perhaps someone among the Athosians could do it."
Dina actually snorted in exasperation. "We have yet to find another world that uses our methods."
"That doesn't mean it has no merits beyond Valoosa," declared Keffenan with pride. "The way we do it is far more efficient."
"You're right," agreed Elizabeth, "There are aspects of our culture that reflect your philosophy, especially schooling, but the obligations of childrearing largely fall on individual families, both by cultural tradition and by choice."
"Yet how is it," wondered Tolly, her mathematician's mind plainly confounded by the facts, "with a city full of only unwed men and women, few of whom are barren or preferring their own sex, not one pregnancy has occurred in the many days since your arrival? Even if there is some rule against it, I don't see how it is possible."
Based on Corrigan's report, Elizabeth wasn't about to discuss contraceptives, let alone abortion.
"The possibility exists that one of our people might become pregnant at some point. While I would support any woman's choice to have a child, it would be highly irresponsible to both the child and the expedition if that were to happen. Through the application of science, we can all but eliminate the chance of unintended pregnancies."
Her hostesses digested that with varying expressions of distaste. Not wanting to keep the focus on herself, Elizabeth turned the topic to her hostesses' jobs and families. That kept the conversation going until they reached the Great Hall.
What surprised Elizabeth the most was that the Great Hall was completely in the open. Every element of Valoosan culture she'd seen so far, from their clothes to the tapestry of their fields to the mixed thatching and siding of their half-submerged houses, everything was designed to blend into its surroundings, especially from anything that might fly overhead. As though sprung fully formed from the earth, the Great Hall was a bold and massive rectangle that made no attempt to hide. Constructed of timber planks with whole trunks at regular intervals for structural support, the entire building gleamed with a remarkably high polish. The roof was steep and made of slate, without so much as a speck of moss to be seen. Roughly half the height of the trees that surrounded its field, it stood at least eighty feet wide and three times that in length, easily the largest wooden structure she'd ever seen--perhaps the largest ever built.
Tents in various hues of green filled the field in scattered clusters, all busy with people cooking, filling the air with woodsmoke and tempting savory scents. There was a constant stream of people coming and going through the Hall, and the immense double doors at each end were thrown wide so the lights and smells and noise had a chance to escape. Sitting on one of the steps leading to the entry was Corrigan, deep in animated conversation with the white-haired gentleman who'd been Elizabeth's planting partner. Both had mugs of steaming beverage and some kind of food on a stick. Standing at-ease nearby, Lumano was looking slightly bored until he noticed their approach. After exchanging nods with Stackhouse, the Corporal gave Corrigan a nudge.
Glancing up at his teammate, the anthropologist seemed unoffended about being interrupted. Two words and a tilt of his head from Lumano caused Corrigan to finally notice her arrival. With a comment to his host, he stood, offering his hand to help the older man to his feet. "Dr. Weir," he smiled with enthusiasm, "did you know Tirin here is the oldest man on Valoosa?"
"No, I didn't." Elizabeth was struck once more by her planting partner's resemblance to her grandmother. "How nice to see you, again."
"The pleasure is mine." Tirin bowed to them, and all the ladies with Elizabeth bowed respectfully in return.
"Grandfather." Tolly moved past the others to embrace him and kiss his cheek. "Let us find Tiv and prepare for the Union."
"I should find Nals," added Keffenan, with a bow. "It was..." she seemed to have to consider her words, "interesting, Dr. Weir. I hope you will one day learn to appreciate the virtues of motherhood."
What makes you think I don't already? Elizabeth thought, undiplomatically. "We came to learn." She managed to say it with sincerity in her voice.
Stackhouse and Lumano exchanged brief, puzzled looks as the redhead sauntered up the steps.
"Please don't mind Keffenan." Bess's tone was mollifying. "Her job is her life more than it is for most."
"It's quite all right," she assured with a dismissive wave of her hand. "But what about you, Dina? Don't you have to join your family? Or are you seated close to Bess and Uvry?" While the beverages had been hearty, the planting, long walk and smells of cooking were making her eager to begin the promised feast.
There was a flash of pain in Dina's eyes before she smiled shyly and ducked her head. "I'm single, so I must join the other single women when the time comes. Until then, I'm free to accompany you, if you don't mind."
To be single at her age meant only one thing on Valoosa--she must have lost her husband. Covering her unexpected blunder, Elizabeth took the young woman's arm the same way Bess had been doing all day. "I wouldn't mind at all. We'd love to hear more about Valoosa, wouldn't we, Dr. Corrigan?"
"Of course." The anthropologist took his cue and walked on the other side of Dina. "I have many questions about the Union festival."
The pretty blond blushed at his words, but before she could say anything, Bess slid between them with a smile. "There will be time enough for that once we've settled ourselves. Come along. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm famished."
This intervention caused Elizabeth to raise an eyebrow at Corrigan, but he just shrugged as they made their way up the steps to enter the Great Hall.
Inside, there was a veritable throng. Although Elizabeth had read reported estimates of the, once sizable, Hoffan population, most of the planets they'd visited had consisted of modest collections of small villages, nothing on this scale. Several thousand people were either sitting at or milling around hundreds of rectangular tables. The place seemed to be arranged with families at either end and the middle divided into men's and women's sides, with an open area in-between. From the roofbeams hung vast brass lanterns with countless branches, giving the place a merry glow. They were greeted at the door by giggling preteen girls who placed green and tan circlets made of tightly twisted paper on the Atlantians, though Bess wore only tan and Dina green. After making quite a fuss garlanding Stackhouse and his team, they gave Dina and Elizabeth small suede bags that were died green and tied with red cords. The bright color surprised Elizabeth and made her think of Christmas, which made her think of Simon.
Christmas had been the last holiday they'd spent together. She'd been too busy with the SGC and Antarctica to visit for Valentine's or his birthday. They'd had long talks and exchanged gifts--and she'd spent a weekend with him in the months before leaving for Atlantis--but Christmas had been the last quality time they'd had together. They'd bought a real tree; she'd roasted duck; he'd made that plum pudding she hated; Sedge had gotten into a box of chocolates under the tree. It had been just the two of them, and together, they'd watched the snow fall in silent candlelight.
"Dr. Weir?" Dina's quiet query drew her out of her reverie. "Are you all right?"
"Just...thinking about home," she confessed with a smile.
"You've lost someone, too." It wasn't a question; it was a statement, one that sent a chill of doubt through her.
"I don't think I have." She reached for the familiar weight of the pendant he'd given her. "It's complicated."
Dina's searching blue eyes drew their own conclusions. "If all of your expedition are unattached, then you must have had to leave him behind. It's a difficult choice, to leave those you love for the sake of duty." She fished out an ivory pendant from beneath her collar. It had an elaborate design burned into it. "My Ballinik was a sailor. Fish and oil are vital to our survival through the greater winters." It came out as more of a mantra, a means of reassuring herself, rather than an explanation to her guest. "It was always difficult watching him go, but it's worse not knowing what became of him. I like to think he's found himself a pretty fishmaiden someplace warm." Tucking the necklace away, her tone changed from wistful to hopeful. "Perhaps this is the year I'll find love, again, myself."
Dodging a white-garlanded server carrying a basket full of bread, Elizabeth considered changing the subject but found herself drawn in, unable to deny the parallel to her own situation. "But if you still love Ballinik, how can you...?"
"I can't change what has happened. Whether alive or dead, he's gone from me. It has been more than one passing of winters; it's my obligation to Keff to search for another." Dina's small smile grew wider. "Besides, he wouldn't want me to mourn him forever; he'd want me to be loved."
More than once, Elizabeth had come close to death on Atlantis, but whether or not Simon should find someone if she died had never entered into her mind. If they were stranded in Pegasus forever, would she be able to bring herself to let him go? She hadn't had the heart or time to say goodbye to him in person. If the President didn't give him permission to view her farewell message, would he wonder where she'd gone? Would he search for her? Or would he move on with his life, as Dina was trying to? Regardless, she couldn't give up hope, not yet, not so soon. She had to believe they would see each other again.
Clenching the bag in her resolve, she realized there was something small and hard inside--several somethings, actually. "So what's in the bag?" she asked as they arrived at their table.
"Beans," said Dr. Corrigan, who'd joined her on her left. "The number is supposed to represent how many children you'll have."
"As Dr. Corrigan says," agreed Dina with a smile. "It's a tradition that still amuses most newlyweds."
The conversation was interrupted by the necessary greetings and niceties as Uvry and Bess settled their guests and family. Situated along one edge, close to the middle, Stackhouse seemed satisfied that the Atlantians were given the side of the table that put their backs to the wall. Yamato stood at-ease behind them, and Elizabeth assured their hosts that the men would take turns standing guard so everyone would have a chance to enjoy the food.
Their table was rather male-heavy, with Elizabeth, Bess and Dina the only women. This made it popular with the female servers. Yamato remained remarkably impassive, but Stackhouse used his gift of gab to entertain himself and tease Jess, the eldest of their hosts' children at the table and the only one to have a green garland. They learned what each of the foods represented--they all had meanings--and that white circlets were for widows and widowers. The colors helped the servers know what to give which people. Since the Atlantians qualified as both single and unavailable, that meant half again as many dishes for them to sample. There were so many, it was too much for one person to keep track of, so to give Dr. Corrigan a break, Elizabeth persuaded his teammates to be responsible for cataloging the information for certain types of food. She choose fruits and vegetables for herself, happily imagining all the dishes Dr. Tamura and Chef might make from them. Meat, fish, dairy in countless variety, spring crops, pickles and preserves galore, the feast was long, with a seemingly endless selection. Thank goodness she'd worn her slacks with the elastic waist!
As the dishes were being cleared away, music began to play. Jess and Dina excused themselves to make their way to the center of the Hall. Around them, a similar pilgrimage was happening, as eligible people gravitated toward the center of the room. Baskets of sweet bread with a sticky coating were handed out, though the children were given a different kind of treat. Mugs of ale accompanied the bread. That Stackhouse, Lumano and Yamato passed on the tempting beverage drew their hosts' attentions.
"Surely, Dr. Weir..." began Bess.
"Everyone's entitled to enjoy the festivities," concluded Uvry.
Bess nodded her agreement. "You said none in your expedition were placed in a class separate from the others."
"That's true," assured Elizabeth, wondering why they'd thought the restraint of Dr. Corrigan's teammates might somehow be class-oriented. "But our customs generally prohibit those responsible for public safety from consuming alcohol while performing their duty."
"Even during a time of celebration?" they chorused in surprise.
"Even during a time of celebration." Elizabeth nodded with an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid you'll have to make do with myself and Dr. Corrigan."
Bess sighed. "Well, I suppose that will do."
"So long as their are two of you," added Uvry.
"We've been having a fine time without, haven't we?" said Stackhouse, who was taking his turn as guard.
"You throw a great party," agreed Lumano around a mouthful of bread.
"Your hospitality has been the finest we've experienced since our arrival in Atlantis."
This comment from Yamato drew surprised glances from his teammates. It was the longest sentence Elizabeth had ever heard from the man, so she suspected that had something to do with it.
Dr. Corrigan laughed. "It's a shame, though, guys; this is pretty good stuff." Without pity, he drained his mug and reached for Lumano's.
Leaning closer, Elizabeth murmured, "You planning on making up for them not being able to have any?"
He blinked at her innocently. "Shouldn't I?"
Were he one of any number of other brown-eyed men from Atlantis, she might have doubted his sincerity. "It depends. Will one or more of your team have to carry you back?"
"Oh, that was just that first mission," he blushingly insisted. "It won't happen again."
"Be sure it doesn't." She threw a bit of steel into her voice, just to be sure he knew she meant it.
"Yes, ma'am."
Setting down Lumano's mug, Dr. Corrigan turned to his hosts and proceeded to pull from them every detail of the ceremony that was taking place. The single men and women swirled their way through as many dances as their feet could handle, switching partners as they progressed their way along the sets. In this way, they could express their interest, or lack thereof, in their various partners. Naturally, like the food, each dance had a story behind it. In theory, the dancing would lead to romance and a group wedding by the end of the festival, several days hence. Here and there, married couples also danced, though their variations usually kept them with the same partner.
Dr. Corrigan was right, though; it was difficult to keep away from the ale. By the time it was polite to take their leave, the sky was just beginning to darken with the waning of the sun. The clouds she'd seen in the morning had apparently blown through, leaving the land glittering like magic in the fresh spring rain. Everything was wonderful in that way life was when you were in good company and had a slight buzz.
As they made their way back to the Stargate, the archeologist and their host walked arm in arm, singing various ballads they'd heard during the dancing. Dr. Corrigan's shockingly clear soprano blended perfectly with Uvry's rough bass while Stackhouse attempted to sing the female parts in an amusingly cracked tenor. Despite being burdened with the heaviest of the samples--nearly everything that came in jars--Lumano had plenty of energy to jeer heartily at his CO's performance. Even Yamato laughed.
At last, they arrived, the hill seeming steeper while going up with baskets of produce than it was coming down. They bid their hosts warm farewells, with Bess promising to tell her how Dina fared when next they spoke. Then it was time to go. When the vibrant glow of the event horizon burst into existence, she felt no anxiety. Beyond it were her people, and finally, she felt she had contributed directly to their well being.