fic: Learning [Teyla, genfic]

[tielan]

TITLE: Learning
SUMMARY: She asked to learn this, and she will master it.
CATEGORY: genfic
RATING: G
NOTES: Requested by ladyjax - Teyla, the first time she ever takes up her sticks to learn how to fight. It's not as smooth as I would like (or as fluid as Teyla would like!), but I think it works.

Learning

She felt clumsy, trying to go through the familiar motions with the unfamiliar weight in her hands. She was tired, having been at these exercises since dawn. Twice she overbalanced, the heavy wooden staves throwing off her sense of centre. What was easy enough alone became much more difficult with the weight of the staves.

"I said to go slowly," Mahael said when she tried to increase the pace of the exercises. When she continued on at the swifter pace, his voice grew dark with warning. "Teyla."

Her arms dropped to her sides, the carved patterns brushing against her calves. The wooden staves were made for an adult, not a child. "If I go faster, they do not overbalance me so much," she argued.

"But neither will your body stretch and grow from the movement," came the reply. "You will learn."

Teyla did not complain. She would receive succour from neither parent if she threw a tantrum. Besides, she was thirteen winters grown, too mature for such childish fits of anger. And she had requested to learn this skill after watching Mahael perform his exercises. She had asked to be allowed this training - to be allowed some way to fight back against the Wraith.

None of the other Athosian children had wished to learn such things. Only Teyla.

And it would be shameful to walk away without learning.

She winced as her shoulders ached in the outwards stretch, but managed not to lose her balance in the pass and continued through the exercise, her teeth gritted in concentration.

Someday I will do this without pain, she said to herself. I will practise until the pain no longer bothers me. I will be good at this.

But when the pattern finished, she dropped her hands to her sides, panting, and waited for the verdict.

He will say I must do it again, she thought, resentful as the dark eyes studied her. He will say it is not enough.

As the seconds passed and no response came, she tensed a little more. Finally, Mahael smiled.

"Good," he said, and she stared at him.

"Good?"

A glimmer of amusement passed across his face. "Good."

The approval warmed her through her body, briefly negating the aches of her muscles. Teyla smiled, anticipating her release from training for the day.

Mahael's mouth twitched slightly. "Now, do it again."

Teyla's smile fell.

- fin -

I know I still owe irony_rocks, sparklingjadex, million_moments, missyvortexdv and an Anonymouse fic - I'm sorry it's going so slowly. Other projects are taking their toll. I will try to have them done by the end of the month. *winces*

Comments

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

OMG, perfect!!! Thanks. I love the teacher's response-it reminds me so much of martial arts training. lol sigh

[snoggingpicard.livejournal.com]

This was cute -- Teyla definitely has a stubborn streak, and it was very easy to picture this kind of scene. Thanks!

[jeyla4ever.livejournal.com]

Wonderful Tie....now just to let you know that in my wee hours in the morning while browsing through GW, James Bamford, the stunt coordinator for Atlantis and then some..posted in the Teyla thread a question when the convo was about a Teyla centric episode....

this is what he wrote....

What do you think of a complete episode devoted to a long flashback of Teyla's childhood.......training with her father, avoiding the wraith..........etc......?


don't know about you, but this sounds very promising to me...and I can't wait to see this episode...and I'm sure your version of this will be portrayed....

[cherryblosomjen.livejournal.com]

Love it.

I did a double take at Mahael, who I misread as Michael, at first glance. Even after I realized my mistake, my mind's image of the instructor was of a darker skinned, older Michael look-alike. 0_o

[r-becca.livejournal.com]

I love this, especially Teyla's determination to grow up so fast -- Besides, she was thirteen winters grown, too mature for such childish fits of anger. It's a perfect vision of her at a young age. :)

[madjm.livejournal.com]

I think you've captured Teyla perfectly here. Even though she is young, she's determined to do what she can to fight the Wraith. None of the other Athosian children had wished to learn such things. Only Teyla. Perfect.

It's funny. I was just thinking last night about Teyla, and how probably most people she knows her whole life would think it was insane to actually fight the Wraith. Running away, hiding is the only way to survive, as far as they're concerned. So how shocked must she have been to see John and Ford showing up at a hive ship to rescue them? Talk about a total world shift. Anyway, this fic made me think about that some more. :)

[irony-rocks.livejournal.com]

You don't have to worry about mine. If things are too hectic, feel free to drop my request.

As always, love your Teyla voice so much. It's unparalleled.

[tielan]

Yours is one of the ones I actually have an idea for! I just have to work out how to phrase it and where the main focus lies.

[foophile.livejournal.com]

*grin* this story is so good. I love the image of a little Teyla wanting to learn something that none of the children want in order to help. That seems just like her. It would be really cool to read more stuff about little Teyla since we still don't know much about her life.

Excellent work. :)

[tielan]

Thanks!

Apparently, there may be an episode in the 2nd half of S3 devoted to Teyla's history and people.

Here's hoping!

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

I love this. Teyla is such a kid but at the same time, her basic determination shines through. And I loved how her teacher had her number.

Coolness.

Thank you.

[tielan]

Welcome! I'm just sorry it took so long!

[sheepfairy.livejournal.com]

I really loved this look at Teyla's childhood, and seeing how she struggles with her shortcomings.

[neffitti.livejournal.com]

This is really good and very insightful, I really wish the writers had your ability to write good Teyla, and please stop using her as if she is a prop or an acessory. Sorry I really didn't mean to rant, but after reading good Teyla fiction, it's hard not to be frustrated with what they are doing to her character on the show.