“Italics” – Symbiote –
Host and/or Telepathic communications
Igisadonis animowyn –
Beloved of My Soul
Aima coeurawyn - Blood of
My Heart
Sevesh lok Twin - rite of
release of an entwining
Adorato coeurawyn - adored
of my heart
Amat wyn - my love
Coeurawyn - my heart
Sevesh’en twine
Coeuramator –
Entwining of the Heartmates
Blood of My Heart, Beloved of My Soul
Chapter 32
Kataya walked quickly down the hall towards her room. This was not a good sign. She would have to go to Avilion today, unless Merdwin could manage to slow it down again. The entire situation was proving to be harder on her than she had anticipated, and consequently, she was unprepared for the swiftness with which the bleeding had increased. The tension growing between Daniel and Lantash was putting more stress on her already overburdened system.
Using her tunic, she opened the door after first making sure she used a piece of it that had no blood on it. She had been using it to contain the bleeding. She would have to go into the bathroom and release some of the blood through her fingertips in order to be able to wait for Merdwin without leaving blood everywhere. Therefore, that was the first order of business.
As she stood over the basin, she looked up and into the mirror. The face looking back at her was very pale with almost no color. Looking down into the sink, she realized there was a great deal of blood, but it had slowed. Probably enough to stop the seeping, at least for a short while. She took off the blood-smeared tunic and rinsed it in the sink until the water was clear. She would have to dispose of it, or take it to Avilion, for she would not be able to remove the bloodstains here.
She hung it up to dry and then turned to clean the sink and make sure there was no blood anywhere. Back in the other room, she put on a clean tunic and was just about to attempt to contact Merdwin when Daniel came in.
“Hi, why’d you take off in such a hurry? Are you all right?” He asked her, as he walked farther into the room. A small lamp was casting the only light, and she stood in its shadow.
“I am going to have to go to Avilion soon, Daniel. Perhaps later today,” she said softly.
“Kataya, if you need to go now, I’ll go with you. They can do without me here,” he said quickly.
“That will not be necessary, Daniel. I am going to contact Merdwin shortly and have a session with him, before I get ready.”
“You need a session with him before you go to a healer? Kataya, if you’re having that much trouble, you need to go now, not later,” Daniel said firmly.
Equally firm, Kataya answered, “Daniel, I need to rest, and I need to have a session with Merdwin. Then, I will decide if I need to go to Avilion or not. I suspect I will, but I am hoping that Lantash will agree to go with me. Once we have completed the Sevesh lok Twin, the bleeding will stop, and I will very quickly regain the strength I have lost.”
“I truly believe he will agree by tomorrow, at the latest.” She went to him and kissed him. “You know I love you, Igisadonis animawyn, but please, let me handle this myself. You know I will not do it without his full consent, and you know why. So please, do not put me under anymore stress, my love,” She pleaded with him softly.
“All right, I’ll leave it for now, but I’ll be back after while to check on you. Okay?” He asked gently, as his hands made slow soothing circles on her back.
Leaning her head against him and enjoying the feel and scent of him, she agreed, “All right, my Dayillon. I will see you after while.”
He gave her a sweet smile; “It always sends a shock of awareness through me when you call me that. It’s as if I recognize it on a very deep level.”
She nodded, “It was the name your soul was given at its first living. I believe that you will always respond to it in this way.” Looking up at him, she said, “Now, go and work on your manuscripts or something, Daniel, while I work on myself.”
Kissing her swiftly, he agreed, but when he reached the door he looked back at her, “You’ll call me if you need anything? Promise?”
“I will do my best to do so, yes.”
She stood quietly for several minutes after Daniel had left, while she mentally appraised her situation. She needed to contact Merdwin right away and have him do a healing rite for her, she thought. Looking down, she realized that blood had begun to seep once more from her fingertips. Not yet, she thought, not yet, he is not ready. As a tear crept down her cheek, she brushed it away angrily with the back of her hand. It was blood. Time had run out.
Trying to think of what she should do, she decided to go to Avilion right away. She needed to gather a few things and head to the control room. She would contact Merdwin before she left, to let him know where she was going and why. He could help to calm Daniel, who would, she surmised, come apart at Lantash. Perhaps she should take him with her? No, probably not a good idea. He could be needed here and, hopefully, she would be back very soon. Spinning around to put thoughts into action, she crumpled onto the floor as the room went black.
The groups working on target practice were taking a break. General conversation could be heard throughout the area, but he and Lantash were near the end of the room and could not catch much of it. As he stopped to reload his sidearm, Malek turned to Lantash.
Speaking softly, so they, also, would not to be overheard, he said, “Lantash, we have been friends and comrades for a long time. I realize that does not give me the right to be asking you this, but I must admit that curiosity is a failing of mine, and you seem to be,” he paused, looking down at the weapon in his hand, as he slammed the clip home, “somewhat distressed about something. I must assume it has to do with Kataya and I have to admit that it was a great shock for us to see your mate with Dr. Jackson.”
“And I also readily admit that none of us understand the situation between the four of you. But, if it is going to have a detrimental affect on our mission, I believe you owe it to us to either explain it and resolve it, or remove yourself. I realize that the complication of Kataya and Major Carter being the Dragons means that they must come along, but you and Dr. Jackson do not.”
Lantash picked up his side arm and proceeded to examine it closely, as if it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. “You were present when Kataya and I were joined by the Sevesh’en twine Coeuramator,” he said quietly. “You are aware that it is the Entwining of the Heartmates, a very profound and binding joining. You also know that the Furling have both Heartmates and Soulmates, and that I am Kataya’s Heartmate.”
His voice brittle, he continued, “What you probably do not know is that Daniel is her Soulmate, and she has asked me to free her from our joining. I am having difficulty reconciling the breaking of my vows with the feelings in my heart. I know that I must give her that which she seeks from me,” he said tensely. “Both for her, and for Samantha,” he stated, as he looked directly at Malek, “for Samantha, is my Soulmate.”
Momentarily shocked, by Lantash’s last statement, Malek nonetheless managed to ask, “What is it you fear will happen if you break your vows, Lantash? Why do you wish to hold to them so tightly, when you are aware that you have found your own Soulmate?” Malek asked.
“I do not know. Merdwin thinks that perhaps the threads of Dominic’s soul are causing me to refuse. That is another thing that has come to light. I have Dominic’s soul within me. He chose to join with me rather than be reborn of the All. I have no way of knowing if that is truly affecting me, but it would not surprise me and Kataya, also, believes it to be so. Whatever the reason, it seems to be growing less important, and I have begun to believe I can soon go through the rite. I have told Kataya that I will do so, just as soon as I can do it without guilt,” Lantash told him, still speaking softly.
“Perhaps Dominic’s soul is an influence, Lantash, but could it not also be that Kataya is the only woman you have ever known, who would choose you over the human host?” He asked, as he looked at the targets, before shaking his head and putting down the sidearm. The others were taking a break and would be back soon. He would finish his practice then. This conversation could be important to all of them, and he meant to finish it. He watched, as Lantash’s hand gripped the weapon tightly.
“But, she did not choose me, Malek, because Dominic was too badly injured to survive. She killed him, removed me from him, and sustained his soul and me, until we reached Avilion. All of those years, she was telling the truth. She did everything she could,” Lantash said, his voice clipped and hard.
“Perhaps she had no choice, but I do not believe that she would have chosen Dominic over you, otherwise, you would not have believed for so many years that she had chosen you. Furthermore, I believe that you are as aware of that as I am, and that is the reason you are having so much trouble giving her up. She would have chosen you, a symbiote, over Dominic, the human host.”
“That is a very deep and abiding love, one that you do not wish to surrender. I do not blame you,” Malek admitted. “I do not know one of us that would not give much to have that kind of love. I know I would be willing to give a great deal for it. The Tau’ri believe us arrogant. If they only knew how human emotion can bring us to our knees,” he said, his voice tinged with sadness.
“I was upset when I thought she had chosen me over him, for I loved him well, and I would have chosen to have him live rather than myself. It is a choice that no one should have to make, and I am glad that, in truth, she did not have to do so.” Once more Lantash paused, as if discussing something so personal was difficult for him. Gathering his thoughts, and perhaps his courage, he said, “She says she will love me even after the Sevesh lok Twin; nothing will ever change her love for me.”
Malek frowned, as he thought that through, and then asked, “Then what is the point of going through the Sevesh lok Twin, if her love for you will remain?”
“It is to break the tie of passion that binds us, so that we will not be drawn to each other physically. She says we will retain the love for all time.”
“Do you believe her?” Malek asked him bluntly.
“Yes, of course. She was very emphatic about it, and I do not believe she was lying to me.” After some thought, he added, “No, she was not lying.”
“Then in reality, you would be losing nothing, for you will have both the passion and the love of Samantha, your Soulmate, and that love of Kataya’s that sustained you and put you before all others, ” Malek said firmly.
Slowly, Lantash’s hand eased its grip on the weapon he still held. He looked at Malek, and smiled slightly, “It is really very simple, is it not? For one space in time, I had a love that put me before all others, and I will never forget that as long as I live. Because I will never forget it, and because she will love me forever, I can give her up to the mate of her Soul. And, Malek, the love we share goes both ways, for I would have chosen her over Siesha; I relieved when she was the one that survived. Kataya never questioned me about my feelings when that happened, and I realize now, that it is because she knew. She has always known.”
“Perhaps that is why she can also give you up to the mate of your soul, Lantash. Deep as the love you share is, she knows, as do you, that the love you share with your Soulmate is deeper yet,” Malek pointed out.
Lantash nodded, as he said, “Thank you, old friend, your counsel has helped much.” He then handed his weapon to this man who had just proven, once again, that they were indeed friends, as well as comrades in arms. “I believe I will leave this with you. I need to tell Kataya to arrange to have the Sevesh lok Twin performed as soon as possible,” he said, as he turned to leave the practice range. Jacob and Selmak could do what needed done here.
Wondering where he should look for her, he was startled when Martouf said, “I would suggest you go to Daniel’s office. He will know where she is; therefore, talking to him first would seem the sensible plan to follow.”
“You are correct,
Martouf. Thank you.” Lantash agreed with his advice. “I
believe you should take over, at least at first, until he finds out why we are
there. He will, perhaps, be more
forthcoming with you.”
“Perhaps. I
will try, but do not be surprised if he questions me.”
“If he does and you are uncomfortable, I will take over. Do not be concerned about that.” Lantash assured him, as they walked toward Daniel’s office.
“Hey, Daniel,” Sam smiled at her friend, as she entered his office.
“Hey, Sam. Didn’t we just have this conversation yesterday?”
Sam laughed at him, as she said, “Nope, not this exact same conversation, but one very similar.” She sat down in the chair that was still clean from the day before.
“How are the Tok’Ra getting along? Get them all set up with their respective guides and instructors?”
“Yeah, some of them seem really fascinated by the primitive weapons. Those that had never seen them used, were surprised to see what they could do, and I think they’ve decided that such primitive weaponry might have its place.”
Daniel grinned at her, and commented, “So you already have them in training. That’s good, Sam.”
“Yeah and it helps that Dad and Martouf are helping them with the instructions and stuff. Having another Tok’Ra telling them they’re doing it all wrong sure helps. All our people are really doing is demonstrating and letting their own people tell them they’re crappy at it,” she replied. “Of course, not all of them are bad at it. Some of them are catching on fast, and I expect to see them on the practice range a lot. They won’t want to be shown as being inferior to the Tau’ri.”
“Yeah, they do still have an arrogance problem that they just can’t seem to get rid of, although I was pleasantly surprised at their attitude today,” Daniel commented.
“Actually, I think some of their arrogance is just a cover. I know that Lantash isn’t the least bit arrogant with me,” Sam said quietly.
“That’s because you can think rings around him, Sam,” Daniel teased her.
“You can say that if you like, but I don’t think so. I think they come off that way because they don’t want to be seen as weak. That, of course, means that instead, they are seen as jerks. Either way, they lose, until you get to know them better, and realize that they aren’t that way at all.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I like Malek, Lantash, and Jocasta anyway, and, of course, your dad,” He said solemnly.
Sam threw a wad of paper at him and stood. I came to find out if you knew where Kataya was. I wanted to talk to her. Have you seen her since the briefing?” Sam asked.
“She went to our quarters right after the briefing. It’s getting worse. She was going to contact Merdwin and have him do another healing rite, but Lantash has to agree to go through the Sevesh lok Twin soon, Sam,” Daniel said urgently.
“I know, and I really believe he will, Daniel,” She paused, and sent him a puzzled look. “Did you say she was going to contact Merdwin? When was that?”
“Right after the briefing. She seemed to think he could help, but if not, she was going to go to Avilion today.”
“Daniel, I just talked to Merdwin, and he didn’t mention doing anything with her.”
“Well, it was just a little while ago,” Daniel said. “I told her I’d be back to make sure she was okay.”
“I’ll go and see her, Daniel, if you think she’s still there. The briefing was over almost three hours ago, you know.”
“What?” Daniel yelped, as he looked at his watch. “Crap. I wanted to check on her in an hour. I became wrapped up in this manuscript and didn’t realize the time.”
Sam looked at him indulgently, “So, what else is new, Daniel? Listen, just stay here, and I’ll go, because like I said, I wanted to talk to her anyway.”
“Okay, Sam, you’ll let me know if she’s okay?” He asked, a little anxiously.
“Sure, I’ll let you know,” Sam answered, as she waved on her way out the door. She was worried, but she didn’t want Daniel to know. Kat wasn’t answering her link. Sam broke into a run.
Reaching Daniel’s room, she knocked. When there was no answer, she opened the door and went in. At first, she didn’t see anything; only a small lamp lighted the room. Flipping on the light switch, she gasped and ran forward. Kataya lay on the floor surrounded by a pool of blood.
“Merdwin,” Sam searched frantically. “Merdwin, damn it, answer me,” Sam said desperately, as she knelt down beside Kat and drew her into her arms. It was exactly what happened in the mirror, and Kat had promised her that Merdwin was there in her vision of it.
“Merdwin,” She yelled.
“Samantha, what is wrong? I have never heard you sound so desperate.” Suddenly, Merdwin was there, on the link.
“You have to come, and
you have to come now. Merdwin, it’s Kat,
and I think she’s dying,” Sam’s voice was
urgent. “I don’t know what to do. Should
I call Janet?”
“No, it would do no good. I am on my way. Samantha, does she have her circlet on?” Merdwin asked quietly.
“Yes. The yellow stones are barely glowing. The diamonds, too. What does it mean?” Sam asked, but she was afraid she already knew.
“It means she has not yet died. Samantha, until I get there, you must sustain her as well as you can. Put your hand on her heart, and concentrate on pulling in energy and transferring it to her.” Merdwin instructed, his voice soothing.
“I don’t have my
circlet,” Sam gasped. “Oh, but I have my armband on.”
“Your armband will do. I am on my way, Samantha, do the best you can. Concentrate,” Merdwin told her, calmly and gently.
Merdwin realized that Janet was right beside him as he strode swiftly down the corridor. “There is nothing you can do, coeurawyn,” he said to her.
“I don’t know that, since I don’t know why you took off like that,” Janet responded.
“Samantha just activated the link. Kataya is bleeding to death,” Merdwin said bluntly. Janet gasped in surprise.
“Sergeant Davis, this
is Merdwin.”
“Yes, sir,” the
Sergeant replied. “What can I do for you?”
“On my mark, you will initiate a wormhole to the coordinates I will send you.” Merdwin explained what he was going to need him to do.
“Yes, sir. Awaiting your mark, sir.” Sergeant Davis answered, calmly.
Seeing the Sergeant’s hand hovering over the dialing computer, Lieutenant Simmons asked, “What’s up Sergeant?”
“I don’t know, sir. Merdwin just contacted me to start an active wormhole on his mark. He said he’ll send the coordinates and I’m waiting for them,” the Sergeant replied.
“That’s unusual. Problems?” The Lieutenant wanted to know.
“If Merdwin sounding really grim and serious on a link means anything, then I’d say there is, but I don’t know what,” he answered.
A knock sounded on Daniel’s door, and Martouf entered the room, “Good afternoon, Daniel. Do you know where I could find Kataya?”
“The last I knew she was in our quarters. Why?” Daniel asked bluntly.
Martouf’s eyes glowed, and Lantash came forward to say, his
voice firm, “I wish to speak to her about performing the Sevesh lok Twin.”
Daniel looked at him for a long moment, and then nodded, “All right. I’ll come with you. Let’s go.”
As the two men headed down the hall towards Daniel’s quarters, the tension between them was palpable. As they rounded the corner, they saw Merdwin and Janet enter his quarters at a run. Daniel and Lantash sprinted after them.
Skidding to a halt just inside the door, both men were in time to hear Merdwin say, “Do not bother to call your medical team, Janet, it will do no good.”
The tableau unfolding in front of Daniel was his worst nightmare come to life. Sam held Kat in her arms. Her hand was on Kataya’s heart, and her eyes were closed. Both of them were covered in blood, and it was all Kataya’s. Merdwin was on his knees across from Sam, and he was looking at Kataya’s hands and eyes. There was blood on Kataya’s face, her hands, and her body. It was pooled underneath her, and her tunic was soaked through.
Turning on Lantash, Daniel drew back his fist and hit him as hard as he could. Following him as he fell backwards toward the wall, he grabbed him and pulled his arm back to hit him again. Lantash’s eyes flared, but he only used a defensive maneuver that sent both of them crashing to the floor.
Rolling off Daniel, Lantash attempted to get up, only to be caught and hit again by Daniel. Grabbing him again, they rolled on the floor for a moment, before Lantash managed to throw Daniel off him. As he attempted to regain his footing, he heard Daniel saying, “Get up, so I can hit you again. If you had listened to us, this wouldn’t be happening. If she’s dead, or if she dies, I swear, I’ll kill you.”
As Lantash gained his feet, and Daniel came at him again, Lantash grabbed him, shoved him into the wall, and held him pinned there. “~If~ she is dead, or ~if~ she dies,” he hissed, “Then you may kill me, but not until I have left my host. He is not to blame, and I will not allow you, or anyone else, to use him for a vent for your feelings of helplessness and anger.”
Suddenly, Sam’s eyes flew open, and she shouted at them, “Stop it. Just stop it, both of you.” Catching her breath on a sob, she continued, “How can you two still be arguing when that’s probably the final thing that caused this? If the two of you hadn’t been so uncivil and tense with one another, she probably wouldn’t have felt the stress so much.”
“She’s right,” Daniel said. Then, looking straight at Lantash, he continued, “And so are you. Martouf had nothing to do with this. He’s an innocent bystander and is in no way to blame. You can release me, I won’t hit you again,” much as I would like to, his tone of voice said.
As Lantash slowly let him go, he said, “I was on my way to tell her I was ready to go through with the Sevesh lok Twin. I wanted her to make the arrangements today,” he said bitterly. “Please believe me, Dr. Jackson,” he said formally, “I did not realize she was truly this badly hurt. I knew it was hurting her, as it was me, but I did not know about the bleeding. I did not see it when I looked into her heart. I only felt the pain.”
Looking up, from where he knelt, Merdwin asked, “Did you finish the link, or did you pull away before it was over?”
Lantash looked stricken, “I pulled away.”
Merdwin nodded, “Then you had no way of knowing, and Kataya would not have told you.”
“She did tell me that her time was growing short. I thought she meant the pain would continue to worsen. Had I known, I…”
Merdwin cut in, “Lantash, you are ready to go through the Sevesh lok Twin? You are sure? Kataya would never forgive us, if I let you go through it before you are ready,” He said, firmly taking charge.
“You are correct—amat wyn,” Kataya whispered, startling them all.
Merdwin smiled down at her, “So you have decided to stay among the living for the time being, coeurawyn.” Then he said to her, even more gently and softly, “You worried us, amat wyn. How do you feel?”
“I must go—Merdwin. I was getting ready to—contact you to—tell you. I am sorry, I…”
Suddenly kneeling down beside Sam, Daniel said, “Hush. Don’t try to talk to us. Conserve your strength, please.” Taking her hand in his, he looked at it and felt the anger mount again, but he smiled at her. Then he looked to Merdwin, “What do we do? Surely, she needs to go right away? Surely, she can’t go through the Sevesh lok Twin in this condition.”
“I will be able to do it as soon as—I have had a session—with the priestesses at - Avilion. Do not worry so, - my Dayillon,” Kataya said, in a soft whisper.
“Merdwin, I feel—very tired. Have I lost a—great deal of blood?” She asked him.
“Yes, I am afraid so. I have given you a little and done some minor healing, but it will not hold for long. Samantha has been helping to sustain you,” Merdwin said.
“I told you she had power in her—own right.” Kataya gasped, as the pain intensified.
“Yes. You did and you were correct. Lantash has agreed Kataya. Do you wish to speak to him?”
“Yes, please.”
Merdwin motioned Lantash to approach her, and he knelt by her side to be close enough to hear her whispers.
“Lantash, adorato coeurawyn, are you now willing?” She asked.
“I am, adorata coeurawyn.”
“Then I, too, am willing,” She said softly, as her eyes closed once more.
“Merdwin!” Sam again caught her breath, refusing to cry now, not when Kat needed her.
“We must go. “Now,” Merdwin said tersely. “Samantha, get her sword and dagger.”
Sweeping Kataya into his arms, Merdwin headed towards the door. Mentally sending the coordinates to the waiting Sergeant Davis, he said over his shoulder, as he began to stride towards the gate room, “Lantash, you will come now, as will Samantha.” Daniel was keeping pace with him, and he looked as if he wanted to, and perhaps would, take Kataya from him.
Seeing the intention written on Daniel’s face, Merdwin said gently, “Do not, Daniel. I am sustaining her with my own life force. If you take her from me, she will die. I am sorry, I know you wish to hold her, but you cannot right now.”
Daniel nodded his understanding, and said, “I’m coming now.”
Seeing the stubbornness in the set of Daniel’s jaw, Merdwin agreed, “All right.”
“Merdwin, what can I do?” Janet had been so quiet that Merdwin had almost forgotten she was there. He was relieved to hear her voice, for he knew he could depend on her to carry out his instructions.
“Contact Jack and Teal’c right away if they are not already alerted by the gate being activated that something is wrong. They will need to come to Avilion, as soon as possible. Also, Garshaw, Selmak, and Malek. Lantash will need someone to stand witness and to help sustain him through this. Because of Kataya’s weakness, I will attempt to convince her to let him bear some of the pain. If he does, he will need support.”
“Who will be standing for Kataya?” Janet asked softly.
“That will be her daughter and probably several of the priestesses. There will be a great deal of pain involved, Janet. I know you would like to volunteer, but you have no idea what you are volunteering for, and I cannot let you do that. But, Kataya would thank you if she could, as do I,” he said firmly.
“I’d still like to be there,” she said, with a stubborn look.
“All right. Come through with the Tok’Ra, Jack and Teal’c. Thank you, aima coeurawyn. You should probably have someone clean up the blood, my heart. We are leaving a trail behind us, and Daniel and Kataya do not need to return to a room covered in it.”
As they entered the gate room, she stopped, and said, “All right. I’m going to contact those you want to come through.”
“What’s going on?” General Hammond walked quickly into the gate room accompanied by Jacob. “Good Lord,” he breathed, “What happened?”
“Janet will explain, George.
I am sorry, but I must go.”
Turning, the group walked swiftly up the ramp. Just before he entered the event horizon,
Merdwin paused, and looked up at Sergeant Davis. “Thank you. You still have the
coordinates?”
“You’re welcome, and
yes, sir, I do.”
“There will be another
small group to send to this location.
Dr. Fraiser will be with them, and she will tell you when it is time for
them to go. It should be soon.”
“Yes, sir.” The Sergeant responded.
Nodding, he turned and stepped into the event horizon, along with the others. Soon they would be at Avilion, where the priestesses should be waiting for them. He had contacted them as soon as he realized what Samantha was telling him. Gwennetha would be amongst them, waiting. They would not fail them. He, too, was aware of the vision in the Mirror of the Mysts. It had not been changed, therefore, the portends still stood.
George Hammond looked at the puddle of blood on the floor and the trail leading down the hall. “What in tarnation is going on?” He asked, of no one in particular.
“Well, George, I’d say that the bleeding Merdwin told us about has become worse, wouldn’t you? I just hope she’s all right, for all our sakes, as well as for Lantash’s. He’ll never get over the guilt if she doesn’t survive. Of course, if the Dragon of the Fire doesn’t survive, none of us may be around for it to matter, either,” he finished grimly.
“True, but since there isn’t anything constructive we can do about that, I think that in the meantime, I’d better get someone down here to start cleanup.”
Nodding to the airmen with the buckets and mops who had just entered the room, Jacob said, “I think someone’s ahead of you, George.”
“Good. I’m glad someone knows what’s going on and is doing something about it.” The General started out the door following the trail of blood, until he came to Dr. Jackson’s quarters. Looking inside, he gave a quiet whistle, “I don’t know about you Jake, but that looks like a lot of blood to me. I think this room needs some attention before they return. I doubt if Dr. Jackson is going to be in any condition to be able to handle seeing this.”
“I gotta agree with you there, George. Not only that, but it looks like there was a brawl in here. I’d guess that’s where the newly forming shiner Martouf’s sporting came from,” Jacob commented, as he looked at the overturned table and chairs. As the two men turned to leave, an airman walked up with cleaning supplies, and said, “General, sir, Dr. Fraiser sent me to clean this area up, sir. She also said that if I saw General Carter, I was to tell him that she needed to see him ASAP, in the infirmary.”
“Very well, airman, go ahead. We’ll head to the infirmary.”
“Yes, sir.”
As the two men walked toward the infirmary, Jacob said, “I wonder what Janet wants with me?”
“If I had to guess, I’d say it has to do with Lantash,” George answered.
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Jacob said.
They walked in silence until they reached the infirmary and walked inside. Waiting there, were Malek, Garshaw, Jocasta, Brialek, Jack, and Teal’c. Jacob and General Hammond stopped short at the sight of the group, all waiting on them.
“Dr. Fraiser, could you tell us what this is all about?” General Hammond asked.
“Yes, sir. Before Merdwin left, he asked that I inform you all that Lantash and Kataya would be going through the Sevesh lok Twin, if she survived. It seems that Lantash will need witnesses, and if he elects to endure the pain with Kataya, then they are to be there as support for him. Merdwin asked that I find you and find out if you were willing to do that for him; at least; he said I was to take you there. He didn’t say so, but my guess is that the witnesses must be willing. So, if any of you aren’t, then I’ll ask some of the others.”
“I’ll go,” Jacob said at once. “I don’t have a problem with it.”
“I, too, will go,” Malek spoke up immediately.
“Perhaps it would be easier to ask who is unwilling to go. I imagine that number will be smaller,” Garshaw stated calmly.
None of those requested, refused and the extra Tok’Ra that had come, now evinced a desire to be included.
“Merdwin didn’t say that anyone shouldn’t come, so I suppose it’s all right. They can always send those of us that aren’t supposed to be there, back. I’m going, too.” Turning to the General, she said, “Merdwin didn’t say that you were to come, sir. I imagine he felt you wouldn’t be able to leave the SGC.”
“Which is true, Dr., however, if I’m needed, I’ll make arrangements to go. I can always come through later; just let me know as soon as possible, so that I can make arrangements.”
“If you’re needed I will, General, but I think Merdwin would have said so at the time. He was very specific about what was needed, and it was mostly the Tok’Ra. If you want to know, I think he included Jack and Teal’c for Daniel, more than anything, because her daughter will stand witness for Kataya.”
Looking relieved that he wasn’t going to have to arrange to be off world, the General agreed, and then said, “Well, I guess you folks should get started.” He turned back to Janet, and said, “Did Merdwin say how long they would be needed?”
“No, sir, but I think he was planning on the Sevesh lok Twin to be done today or tomorrow.”
“We will gather a few things in case we must stay; then we shall all meet in the gate room,” Garshaw stated, decisively.
As they all turned to go and gather what they needed, O’Neill turned to Teal’c, “You suppose someone should get Carter and Daniel some stuff? Maybe a change of BDU’s or something? A toothbrush? Sounded like there was blood on everyone by the time they left.”
“An excellent idea, O’Neill. I will leave that to you and meet you in the control room in a few minutes.”
“Yeah, sure, great, thanks a lot, buddy,” O’Neill called, to Teal’c’s retreating back. However, he turned and saw Jacob heading toward Sam’s quarters. “Jacob, wait up,” he called, as he loped up to walk beside him. “Hey, listen, can you gather some of Sam’s stuff that she might need, as well as Lantash’s? I’m gonna go get Daniel a change of clothes and stuff. Maybe a couple of them.”
“Yeah, I’ll take care of it, Jack. Don’t worry about it,” Jacob said.
“Great, see you in a few,” Jack said, relieved of one chore. He headed off toward Daniel’s quarters.
“Sure thing, Jack. Don’t mention it,” Jacob shook his head, and continued to do what he had to do. He didn’t know how much time they had, but he’d just as soon get there and find out what was going on, so the sooner he gathered what he thought three people would need for a couple of days, the sooner he’d be ready to go.
Jacob met the rest of the group in the gate room. They all watched as the chevrons spun and locked into place. The blue of the event horizon cast its spell on him, as it always did. He walked up the ramp with the others and stepped forward into the shimmering blue pool.
The group that stepped through the event horizon stood and stared arrested by the beauty and peace surrounding them.
“It struck us the same way when we were first brought here to the sanctuary,” Garshaw said, softly. “I have never seen anything, either before or since, that rivals this place for peace and beauty. Once here, one almost wishes never to leave.” The peace seemed to settle on all of them.
Jack broke the silence, “How’d they build those—buildings—like that? They look like they’re a part of the mountains.”
“They are. They used the mountain as the foundation and in many of the rooms on the bottom floors, the walls and floors are uneven and rocky.”
“They look like they’re sitting on clouds part of the time,” he said.
“Wait until you are inside one, Colonel. Standing on the battlements and looking down, you will swear you are on the clouds, until they part and you can again see the fields and meadows below. It is a glorious place.” It sounded as if Malek sighed, which seemed so out of character to O’Neill he stared at him.
“Yeah, well, a great place for a sanctuary, I guess,” he said.
“This is a sacred place,” Teal’c stated, suddenly. “It was built with love and dedication and christened with blood and tears. Those whose footsteps we follow were very probably great Mystics and Enchanters. Men and women have come here for millennia to study and grow strong and wise in the ways of the worlds and the universe that they might understand it, accept it, and go forth to conquer the evil that would destroy it. Many hearts have been healed here, as Kataya and Lantash’s will be. For Lantash’s heart is heavy with sorrow and pain, also, we should not forget that.”
“Now ya see, I don’t get how you know this stuff,” Jack said to Teal’c.
“One senses these things, O’Neill, it is not something one knows with the mind, but with the heart,” Teal’c replied.
“What the young one speaks is truth, thus his heart is truth and truth, his heart.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jack spoke to the one of the approaching group that had spoken. It was Gwennetha, and she assumed the Furling-greeting stance and stepped forward to greet Garshaw.
“I give greetings and welcome to thee, Garshaw of Belote and Yosef of the Tok’Ra.”
“We answer thee with greetings and gratitude, Gwennetha, Lady of Cadwaellon and Wiccadia.” The formal greeting over, the two groups exchanged names, and the people of Avilion soon understood who was here to support whom.
As Gwennetha turned, she said, “If you will all follow me, please.” Each of the Avilionians took up a position near one of their guests, speaking pleasantly to them, as they followed the path that wound through the lovely, lush garden.
As they walked along, Gwennetha said, “I am glad you have come. My mother is still in danger; her Beloved and her Heartmate are both in a great deal of emotional pain. Her sister, also, is in deep distress, as she is not only concerned for my mother, but she has to give support to each of my mother’s mates. It is draining Samantha badly. They will no doubt welcome your arrival.”
Teal’c had stopped and was gazing at an animal that was grazing along the stream. “I have never seen such an animal,” he said, “although I have heard tell of them in legends.” He spoke softly, so as not to startle it.
“It is the unicorn,” Gwennetha explained. “Only those who are pure of heart may feed them and only those whose hearts intentions are pure may see them.”
“Well, that can’t be right,” Jack exclaimed, “because I can see them, too, and no one ever said my heart was pure.”
“Perhaps, perhaps not, Colonel. The heart changes daily. Today your heart’s intentions are pure, and you can see the unicorn. Tomorrow, perhaps it will not be so pure, and you will not see them, though they stand beside you.
“Beauty cannot dwell in a place of darkness, nor can darkness dwell in a place of beauty. For now, we know that you have only the best of intentions in coming here, and that is what matters, is it not?”
“Well, if this is a test, shouldn’t you check to see if everyone can see them?”
“They can, Colonel, one can see the unicorn in their eyes.”
“To ride the Unicorn is to ride the wind, and to see it is to see pure truth. When the sun is high, the shadows fall away, and one sees clearly that which the wind might hide.”
Gwennetha began to walk again, toward one of the castle-like structures looming in front of them.
“Are you related to Oma? I mean, she’s downright cryptic, and that sounded a whole like her,” Jack said, as he glanced over at her.
“Actually, I studied with Oma during one of my livings. It was an enlightening experience,” Gwennetha said.
“I knew it,” Jack muttered, under his breath. Raising his voice, he said, “You and Daniel should get along great.”
Nodding her head in agreement, Gwennetha said, “Yes, I believe we will get along quite well, Colonel O’Neill.”
As the group continued walking, Jack studied the buildings
they were approaching. He couldn’t decide if they were like castles or churches. Maybe a cross between the two, he thought, as
he remembered a church in
He just hoped they wouldn’t have bad news waiting to greet them once they finally arrived there.
TBC