fic: "The Sundered" - Week 14, 'driftwood'

[tielan]

Title: The Sundered
Author: tielan
Summary: Driftwood was once a part of a greater whole, with a purpose and a meaning.
Prompt: Week 14 - driftwood picture
Word Count: 406
Notes: I went more with the prompt of 'driftwood' than the picture, mostly because if I went with the picture it would go epic and I didn't have time. With many thanks to ileliberte for providing elaboration on the prompt and ideas for writing. I couldn't have thought this up without her musings in our conversation!

The Sundered

Once before, Teyla stood in a city full of people she did not know, most of whom cared little for her history or her skills.

The Athosians had left for the mainland, and she had remained behind in Atlantis. And although it had been her choice to remain, still she felt adrift, cut off from the root and branch of the people to whom she had belonged, staying on strange shores to make of herself what she would.

But that was years ago.

Now, Teyla stands in a city full of people who hurry past knowing nothing of her origins or her skills.

A constant flow of noise assails her - not the sound of the wind or the trees, nor the dust skittering across the tent, nor the lap of the sea's tides, but the chatter and burble and clatter and buzz of Earth's cities, Earth's people, Earth's technology.

She stands in the middle of a street fair a solitary soul in a planet whose population is so numerous that it beggars the entire population of her home galaxy.

And in spite of the noise and the bustle and the people, she feels very much alone.

"Teyla?" John comes up to her, a worn-out Torren in his arms. A silvery balloon sails high and gleaming, attached to a string that is tied around her son's wrist. "You okay?"

In her throat lodges a sharp and sudden longing for the emptiness of Pegasus - for a city sailing on an endless sea.

Now Teyla is washed up on the shores of Earth, empty of the purpose that so drove her for all those years. Atlantis is but one more piece of technological flotsam, broken off from her purpose - to stand against the Wraith who drove the Ancestors from her halls - and although one can reason with logic, one cannot argue with a people too fearful to hope.

She swallows the bitterness that rises up within her and answers John's anxious question. "Just distracted," she says, and reaches to take her son from John's arms.

John's fingers rest on hers for a moment as they transfer a tired boy from one to another, and in the lingering warmth of his touch Teyla can sense his own isolation - the sundering of who he must be from who he had once hoped to be.

They are both of them adrift on Earth.

fin

Comments

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Very poignant - so sad for Teyla and it seems very in character for her and the reflections of the differences between Earth and Pegasus are very well done.

[tielan]

Thank you!

[stella-pegasi.livejournal.com]

Lovely and sad at the same time...an interesting discourse on how the events these two have experienced have taught them what is really important.

Very nice...

[tielan]

Thanks! I think that neither John nor Teyla would be particularly happy to be stuck on Earth. Safe, yes, but there's still the fight out there...

[goddess47]

Poor Teyla... and also poor John... our crowded Earth is 'home' to neither....

Nice!

[tielan]

I had an interesting discussion with someone who pointed out that Atlantis is the only place that both John and Teyla (and Ronon, and Carson) can call 'home' anymore.

Not because they don't have relatives or people elsewhere, but because that's the only place they're accepted for who and what they are.

Glad you liked it!

[sherry57.livejournal.com]

John and Teyla, lost on Earth, like two pieces of driftwood. Tugs at my heart strings fro them and makes me wish I could just transport them to a happier time and place.
Short and powerful little story hon...thanks for sharing!

[tielan]

You're welcome!

[tridget.livejournal.com]

Beautiful and heart-wrenching.

[tielan]

It's not a good situation for either of them. :(

[esteefee]

so bleakly true. you've captured exactly what I've felt for Teyla during EatG. thank you. I'm glad she has John, at least.

[tielan]

Yeah, she and John would feel it fiercest I think, with the greatest need to belong. Not that Ronon wouldn't feel it, or Rodney - but it'd be more difficult for Teyla and John to reconcile in their lives.

Glad you liked it!

[hoktauri]

Yay. Although a bit sad, I always love those moments between Teyla and John, where they recognize themselves in each other. I think that's what makes their friendship and their trust in each other so strong.

I absolutely love Teyla, and I love this glimpse into her thoughts. Thanks!

[tielan]

You're welcome! And thank you - I love John&Teyla moments and Teyla is definitely one of my favourite characters!

[2bluaeryn.livejournal.com]

Beautiful

[tielan]

Thank you!

[jeyla4ever.livejournal.com]

Ugh, who is the stupidest here..I can't quite figure it out! Poor Teyla. I would think that after all this time, she'd adjust. After all, it was her choice on both occasions and I'm not to sure that the second time around she did it for her people.

Still, very nicely done.

[tielan]

Thanks, Camy.

[gaffsie.livejournal.com]

That's so sad. I hate how likely it is that this is exactly what happened once Atlantis landed on earth.

[tielan]

It's definitely not the best situation - and, unfortunately, human nature being what it is, it's the most likely scenario.

They're neither of them made to live 'safe'.

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

**sighs**
very reflective and beautiful.....amid many but lonely

[tielan]

Both Teyla and John would know how it's possible to be in a crowd, yet feel all alone.

Thanks for commenting!

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

**nods**
I know that feeling. It was made it even more poignant.

[foxyinthecity.livejournal.com]

Beautifully done.

[tielan]

Thanks!

[juniperphoenix]

Lovely and painful.