Quiet Strength, by Moonshayde (PG-13)

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Rec Category: Sha’re

Pairing: Daniel/Sha're
Categories: Sha’re, Daniel/Sha’re, episode related, drama, angst
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: moonshayde
Author's Website: Scribal Traditions
Link: Quiet Strength or on her LJ

Why This Must Be Read: In Quiet Strength, Moonshayde does a fantastic job of letting us take a peek inside Sha’re’s head during the events of COTG. A clever twist explains the Sha’uri/Sha’re contradiction in names, as Sha’re leaves the “quiet strength” of her marriage behind in order to once again become Sha’uri, the fiery heroine who defied Ra. We see her memories of Daniel, her efforts to rouse the other prisoners to rebel, and her interactions with the woman abducted from Earth. And in the end, when she realizes that she is about to be overcome, she chooses a memory that will give her quiet strength in the internal, eternal struggle she will face against Amaunet.

Quiet Strength won first place in the 2007 Isis Awards. When you read it, you’ll understand why.

When the strangers came and helped expose Ra the Deceiver, Sha're felt that she had been woken from a long slumber. On the first moon cycle anniversary of their victory, not long after the farewell of the warriors from the stars, the first public lesson of writing had been given by both Sha're and her husband. She had felt that on an occasion such as this, on a day of peace and happiness, she should honor the one that gave her the will to live through the hard cycles of her life. Sha're would give praise to the one that embodied serenity.

It was that day she had changed her name. Shau'ri took on the name of her mother. Shau'ri became "Quiet Strength." Shau'ri became Sha're.

Danyel had been so proud of her.

But Sha're knew that to honor her mother justly, she could no longer be Quiet Strength. The time of peace had ended. Summoning her courage, she laid down her mother's name and reclaimed her name of action. She stood before the women.

"I am Shau'ri of Nagada," she announced. "We have been taken from our homes, from our families. We have been taken by those that wish to deceive us and enslave us." She paused, calling upon any strength that she had left, fueled by the knowledge that if she succeeded, she would see her father, her brother, and her husband again. "We cannot remained seated and do nothing."

The women listened to her, but Shau'ri could see they did not hear. Shau'ri could not accept this. They had to be strong; they had to be brave.

"My people—we defeated the one known as Ra. He took us from our home, long ago, and made us his slaves. The warriors from the stars came and taught us to fight. We must fight! If we are to see those that we love, we must rise against those that wish us harm."