Line of Destiny
©2006 by Rosemary Klein-Robbins

The tall figure in white wandered the through the battlefield. The remnants of the fierce battle that took place here were visible. Everywhere one looked, there were signs of the death and destruction that only a power mad individual would leave or could leave. Bodies of the innocent and of the guilty lay side by side. Warriors lay along side those of children. The smoke…the stench…both bespoke the ferocity of the fight and the desperate measures the hunted one took to ensure that none would follow.

The figure’s head shook and the hood of the white cloak threatened, if only for a moment, to come off the wearer. Had it done so, the white blonde hair under it would have surprised no one. The figure walking the fields of past battles was a familiar one. It was a seeking figure, seeking not only to find the one that was being hunted, but also trying to find a survivor; someone - anyone - who could tell them something, anything.

The figure turned to leave the field of battle and return to the meeting tent. As expected, her trek to the tent caused heads to turn and eyes to follow her progress. Those that did not know this person made the ancient sign of protection against evil. They whispered the ancient spells to protect them against what this person represented to them.

Witch! They called out.

Aye, a witch. For sure that is what they saw the figure to be. A figure that could cause the impossible to happen and could read a battle from a fair distance. A figure that, with just a look from those impossibly purple eyes, could freeze a man in his tracks.

Witch!

The figure allowed the hood to drop, revealing white-blond hair in a single braid hanging down her back and walked to the meeting tent. The figure wore the symbol of the Priestesses of Cymrie on her forehead - a single purple stone resting in the middle of a gold-filigreed band. She wore pure white except for a belt with an ancient Celtic Symbol on it. The belt was also adorned with a purple stone; the stone called an Amethyst. A stone to which the eyes of this hunter were often compared. The eyes of the one they called ‘The Witch’; the eyes of the one called ‘Rhiannon’.

Rhiannon walked briskly into the meeting tent and met the eyes of her warriors from Cymrie. She noted they were still and silent. Their faces were grim with their own reactions to what they had seen.

“Damn,” she thought furiously. “Damn him.” Going further into the tent, she saw the Tok’ra representative sitting at the desk of the makeshift office.

The dark haired man looked up at her and his brown eyes reflected her fury. “No survivors I take it, Rhiannon.”

Rhiannon sat down across from her companion, a Tok’ra named Ray’noc, and shook her head. Her eyes were now almost a black purple in her anger. She spat out an ancient Gaelic curse word and confirmed what Ray’noc already knew from their past encounters with Dagda.

“Dagda killed everyone in the village, Ray’noc. There were infants among the dead.”

“Are our people still searching?” he questioned.

Rhiannon nodded. “We have to hope that he missed someone. That he left someone, yet, still alive.”

Looking down at her hands which where clasped on her lap, she continued. “The arrogant always make a mistake. I have this feeling that he did that here. He left someone alive, Ray’noc. ‘Tis sure I am of it.”

“I hope so, Rhiannon. If what you say is true“ Ray’noc couldn’t even finish the sentence.

Rhiannon shook her head and leaned forward, her eyes earnest. “I canna say for sure, Ray’noc. He hates the Tau’ri, ye ken? Especially O’Neill.”

Ray’noc understood all to well. Although Rhiannon with her abilities aided them in previously stopping Dagda, he was aware that Dagda had developed quite a hatred for the Tau’ri called Jack O’Neill.

“We have to tell them,” Ray’noc told her.

Rhiannon gave him a sharp look and the dark purple hue of her eyes seemed to deepen even further when she answered him.

“Tell them what, Ray’noc? We have no proof to take to the Tau’ri, and what is more, they do not scare easily.”

Her smile was rueful. “Tis sorry I am, Ray’noc, that we did not finish this last time.”

Ray’noc nodded.

The two were quiet for a while. Rhiannon had, with Brownwyn’s blessings, given up her position in the lab to take her hunters to search for Dagda. Brownwyn knew that Rhiannon felt guilty. Although Brownwyn’s love was research, she understood her host’s need to finish the job. And Brownwyn had thought at the time she might be able to control Rhiannon’s fierce temper.

That had proven to be a job. With every planet, with every scene of carnage, Brownwyn would feel her host’s temper rise. In their deepest state of meditation, Brownwyn would reach out for Rhiannon’s mentor, Llewellyn. He would then counsel, caution and meditate with her. Rhiannon was, he would remind her, one of the High Priestesses of Cymrie. Whatever else she may have to do, she must remember that. To remember there were standards to her position and she had to lead by example.

So Ray’noc and Rhiannon each sat quietly in their thoughts. Suddenly, from outside the tent, they heard a man yelling in Cymrie’s ancient tongue for Rhiannon. Dugald burst into the tent yelling and Rhiannon had to almost place her hands on his mouth to get him to stop and to talk.

“Breathe, Dugald. Then tell me what ye know,” she ordered him in Gaelic.

Dugald nodded, took a breath, swallowed and then switched to English.

“My Lady.” He was still gasping. “We found a survivor.”

”One lives?” she breathed. Yelling for her men she indicated for Dugald to lead the way.

It was at the temple of Demeter that they found a man being cared for by one of the Tok’ra. As they approached, the Tok’ra ministering to the survivor shook her head. Rhiannon understood that whatever information they were going to get, they had best get it quickly. They did not think this man would live much longer.

Rhiannon kneeled down next to the dying man. They all saw him struggle for breath as his eyes turned to look into hers.

“Tell me,” she ordered softly.

“He killed us all, Lady.” The labored statement saddened those around.

Rhiannon could see that his life was getting ready to flee through his eyes. They were dark with the pain of his injury and the remembrance of what Dagda had done.

Rhiannon murmured some soft words in Gaelic and they seemed to give the man strength.

“He was going to the Tau’ri, Lady. He said he had score to settle and that while you were busy chasing him through the galaxy, he was going to take the woman.”

Rhiannon worried for them all, but especially for Selmac’s host- Jacob Carter’s daughter, Major Samantha Carter. Dagda had rightly realized that Jack felt more than what is appropriate for one officer to feel for another for Sam. If Dagda was going to hurt Jack, he was going to do it through Sam

The man took a shuddering breath and the light in his eyes seemed to fade a little. Rhiannon muttered a few words in Gaelic and brushed her right hand over the man’s forehead.

“Peace.” She spoke to him softly. “T’will be all right, lad.”

The follower of Demeter then told them what he knew. Rhiannon learned that Dagda intended to use her as bait to disturb the Tau’ri timeline.

“If he does that, Lady,” the dying man told her, “he will ruin it for all of us.”

With those words, the light in the man’s eyes faded and Rhiannon felt the soft rush of air as his soul raced towards his Goddess. Rhiannon noticed the stricken look on Ray’noc’s face and the concern in the eyes of her Lieutenant.

“What did he mean by disturbing the time line?” Ray’noc asked her.

Rhiannon gently handed the body to Demeter’s attendants. She appeared to not have heard him. Rhiannon was looking at a spot behind Ray’noc and her eyes were so dark a purple they were almost black.

Ray’noc looked to Dugald. “What is she doing?” he asked. He was aware of Rhiannon’s special talents and wondered if she using one them to see what was going on.

Dugald only shrugged. “My guess is that she is seeking Llewellyn’s guidance.”

Rhiannon suddenly seemed to come back to life, throwing out an order in Gaelic to Dugald she stalked out of Demeter’s temple. Dugald answered her and then left in the opposite direction. It was all Ray’noc could do to keep up with her.

“Rhiannon?” He called out to her when he entered the main tent.

Ray’noc saw her standing next to her desk holding a small leather pouch. He noticed that she was standing quite still. Then she opened the pouch and fished out three stones.

He knew they were rune stones. She had cast them several times when they were chasing Dagda. ‘Was she going to read them now?’ he wondered. His unspoken questions were answered when she took the stones to the altar; pounded holes in the tops of each of them and then threaded a leather lace through them.

What he did not know at the time was that these were not ordinary Rune Stones. Rhiannon had carried them with her since she came of age to be a Priestess to Badb, as had her mother and her grandmother. These stones had been passed on from generation to generation. Legend had it, Rhiannon remembered; these were from the original Cymrie ancestors - from their Tau’ri ancestors. They were blessed with a special power to protect the holder of the stones. No one in Rhiannon’s memory had ever used the stones for that purpose, but each generation understood that they would be used that way someday and would, when their job was done, return home.

Rhiannon realized that if the follower of Demeter was right and Dagda attempted to disturb the Line of Destiny, then these stones and her powers would be the part of what was needed to protect the line.


**********

Major Samantha Carter lay quietly on the bed, or at least as quietly as a bound and blindfolded Air Force officer could stay. The last thing she remembered was walking to her car after another long day in the lab.

Colonel O’Neill had offered to walk her, but she had declined indicating that she needed to get where she was going without distractions and they both knew what that meant. The last thing she had needed was a 10-minute monologue of the bad jokes he got off his Monty Python DVDs. She was really beginning to lose her appreciation for British comedy.

Now, she was trying to use the three senses she had available, hearing, smell and taste. She felt she could almost taste the peat in the air. Her nose was in agreement with her taste buds and she heard farm animals.

It just didn’t feel like she was in Colorado anymore. She doubted that she was even in Kansas anymore. “Lord,” she thought, “I have definitely been hanging around Colonel O’Neill for too long.” All she really knew was that she was not where she had been or where she was supposed to be. And that thought scared her.

*****

Jack O’Neill sat with Daniel, Jonas and Teal’c in the commissary. He was attempting to tell them what had happened during his brush with Rhiannon and Dagda. Though several months had gone by, the experiences were very fresh in his mind. He felt a little guilty for not telling Sam, but the dreams were still just a little to close to his emotions even after a month. And after the little scene when he woke in the cafeteria,he just didn’t really trust his emotions right now. The problem with trying to explain, that which is not really explainable, is that it tends to make the teller impatient. Jack was not known for his patience anyway and his ordeal with Rhiannon…was not very explainable.

Daniel was trying to get Jack to explain how he lived 6 months in just a few minutes and Jack had no answer for him.

“I can’t tell you how she did it, Daniel, she just did.” Jack sighed, “I can tell you that if I never see that witch again, it’ll be too soon.”

“This alternate time line,” Jonas began, “were people that you knew there with you?”

Jack looked at him for a minute, considering how he would answer. “I guess. I didn’t see you or Teal’c, but Teal’c was mentioned. Daniel and Major Carter and General Hammond were in it. Daniel and Carter were themselves, but then again, they weren’t. Even Kawalsky was in it. Sara…” He stopped and rubbed the bridge of his nose, “and Charlie.”

The other 3 said nothing, knowing how much pain the memory of what had happened to Charlie could evoke. This time, however, he was able to say his son’s name without the angst and pain. He was able to focus on a long and comfortable memory, instead. Daniel and Teal’c looked at each other. Rhiannon must have done something else either to or for Jack to make his reaction to Charlie change so drastically, but how and when was the question.

Jack was still understandably angry with Rhiannon and he had been able to put that anger into some perspective, but the burning hatred that he had felt for Dagda was, inexplicably to his mind, still hanging around. It was almost as if the man wasn’t dead and part of him knew it.

He shook his head and looked at his friends and teammates. How could he explain to them how far back his connection with them, with Major Carter, seemed to run? Or should he?

His team knew he would talk when he was ready. Though he talked more to Major Carter these days, he was uncharacteristically silent with her about this. He had no intention of telling her everything that happened when Rhiannon took him on the little journey inside his head.

How does one explain a past life connection with someone? How can one tell the certainty or the rightness of that bond? Those were questions he had no answers for himself and even if he did, he just didn’t feel it was right or even appropriate to tell her. He would probably scare the hell out of her in any case.

So, the four of them sat in silence.

**********

Tok’ra Homeworld

“Rhiannon.” Jacob tried to get the pacing Tok’ra to stop long enough to find out what had happened.

“Jacob.” Rhiannon looked at him and her eyes were a very light purple at this time. Jacob knew usually they were just the shade of an amethyst when things were calm but grew blacker when she was angry. He noticed how very light her eyes were and felt a chill creep up his spine. The Cymrie Tok’ra had a very unusual stress reaction. When they were scared, their eyes lightened.

“Rhiannon,” Jacob continued, “out with it.”

“There is no easy way to say this,” Rhiannon began, “but Dagda is after your daughter. He may even have her now.”

Jacob paled and Selmac immediately took over.

“Rhiannon?” Selmac questioned, “What leads you to this conclusion?”

“You know for the past month we have been chasing Dagda through the known planets and have always been a step behind him.” Rhiannon whirled around to look at the Tok’ra gate and continued, “We have always been a step behind him. Damn him. But we were lucky on our last planet. He made a mistake.”

Selmac noted the faint tone of hope in Rhiannon’s voice, and asked her to continue.

Rhiannon faced the Tau’ri hosting Selmac and said; “One of his victims was still alive when he left…an accident I am sure. With so many left dead in his wake, he, somehow, missed one. This individual told us that he was going after “the woman”. That he was going to destroy the Warrior and his Seeker by using his woman.”

Rhiannon sighed, “There really is only one woman, Selmac - Samantha Carter. She is the key to Colonel O’Neill’s and Dr. Jackson’s downfall and death.”

“Do you know what he intends to do?”

Rhiannon nodded, “Oh, aye! I do! Which is why we must get to the Tau’ri and once again, get them to help us.”

“The way you did last time?”

“Aye!” Rhiannon’s voice was almost inaudible. “I dinna know if I have the strength to reign him in and to save them. He was in a fine rage the last time, but can he harness it to do what we have to do to save Major Carter and the Tau’ri? That, my friend, is the question.”

“Well, I don’t know what we are waiting for. We need to go.”

Selmac then returned control to Jacob.

Jacob nodded, but he and Selmac had their own conversation while they were preparing for the trip to the SGC

“Jacob, you need to be calm.”
“I need to be calm?”
“Yes you do. Rhiannon will not remain calm for long and Brownwyn is already at her wits end.”
“I have noticed that Rhiannon has been quite high strung this last month.”
“Well, that is surprising?”
“What is?”
“That you’ve noticed how upset Rhiannon has been. Usually you tend to be quite callous when Rhiannon is upset.”
“Meaning what, Selmac?”
“Jacob-I don’t think I even wish to discuss this with you right now.”
“Fine with me.

Rhiannon threatened to turn several Tok’ra operatives into frogs if they didn’t shut up and do what she told them. Jacob hadn’t realized what a colorful language Gaelic was until he met Rhiannon.

Brownwyn had had her “hands” full with Rhiannon this past month. Rhiannon had been in such a rage over Dagda the last month. On several occasions, Brownwyn had had to obtain and maintain control, or they might not have had to worry about the Goa’uld wiping them out.

Jacob knew that Rhiannon was worried about Dagda and what he would be capable of doing. She also promised to keep Sam safe and Rhiannon always kept her word. The possibility of Sam in Dagda’s hands had turned Rhiannon into a demon and very few Tok’ra on the High Council were willing to stand up to her or even reproach her. The only Tok’ra she tolerated were Anise/Freya, himself/Selmac and Dugald.

As if summoned, Anise came down the hall towards Jacob, with another Tok’ra in tow. “Jacob, what will we do now?”

“Go to Earth. Dugald, will you accompany us?” Jacob turned his attention to the man behind Anise.

Dugald nodded. A new arrival to the Tok’ra, he had not yet taken a symbiote. Although he was from the same planet as Rhiannon, he did not have the same acute psychic abilities that Rhiannon had.

*****
Thirty minutes later the SGC’s alarms went off indicating off world activation of the ‘gate. Sgt. Siler notified General Hammond that it was the Tok’ra’s IDC and the order was given to open the Iris. Jack, Daniel, Jonas and Teal’c hit the gateroom as the Iris opened and watched with surprise as the Tok’ra representatives practically ran down the ramp.

“George, “ Jacob asked without any formalities, “Where is Sam?”

The men of SG-1 looked from Jacob to George and then as one noticed Rhiannon staring intently at them.

“Oh, no,” Jack said, “Please don’t tell me we didn’t kill the bastard.”

“All right,” Rhiannon said, “I won’t.”

Jack stepped back a bit, confused that Rhiannon responded to his sarcastic remark with the same, and then gestured that she should continue. Rhiannon smiled, but it did not reach her eyes.

“As Colonel O’Neill so colorfully put it, we did not kill the bastard. Not even close,”
Rhiannon responded. “And I need to know where Major Carter is. We have to get her out of here.”

“Why?” General Hammond had reached the gateroom and looked from Rhiannon to Jacob. “Why do we have to find Major Carter and remove her from here.”

“Because,” Jacob responded, “Dagda is not dead and we have learned through Rhiannon’s efforts that Dagda is after her.”

Daniel paled and Jack thought that he was going to pass out. “Steady Daniel,” Jack whispered, “Sam just left for home. Maybe we can catch her before she leaves the complex.”

Daniel recovered and then headed for the phone and called the security station to have them send Major Carter back. However, whatever it was Daniel heard from the guard, his facial expression revealed it was not what he wanted to hear. His face paled as he hung up the phone and looked at Jacob Carter before turning to the others.

“Sam never made it out of the complex.”

Hammond immediately grabbed the phone from Daniel, barking orders to have the security camera feedback from all the elevators and corridors sent to the SGC facility. He turned to face Jacob. “We’ll find her. This is a secure facility. The cameras will have recorded any unusual activity.”

Rhiannon’s eyes turned a light pink as she stared straight ahead. “’Tis too late. He has her and it has begun.”

Jack turned to Rhiannon. He could feel all the venom he harbored for Dagda; he was filled with it for Rhiannon now.

“You witch! Couldn’t leave well enough alone and now Major Carter is being dragged into this! What have you been doing while he was out running free?”

“Colonel O’Neill!” General Hammond started. But Rhiannon held up a hand.

“Sio’chan (Peace!) Jack O’Neill, we have been chasing him for the last month throughout the galaxy to all the known planets and then some. We had a fine time following him,always a step behind.”

“So, where’s all your “hocus-pocus” now? You were so confident and in control of the situation last time. Playing with time and destiny, interfering with people’s lives…” Jack said, then narrowed his eyes into a glare that should have bored a whole right through her. “What’s the matter? Things not turning out the way you predicted?”

“Fancy having another go at me, do ya Jack?” Rhiannon said with almost as much heat as Jack had used. “Listen to me ‘human’ and understand what I am telling you. We don’t have much time to play around and set us straight. Time and trust is all that we have between us. But your Major Carter doesn’t have that luxury. You ken?”

Rhiannon turned to General Hammond as if to plead her case.

“The line of destiny goes from point A to point B. If the line gets crossed, everything and nothing changes. It is not set like the lines on the palm of your hands, but it is a straight line nonetheless. However, when the line gets a, ach I dinna know the Tau’ri words, but an obstacle, you understand, it goes around and picks up the original path. Destiny still plays out as it was, but just a bit different - right turn instead of left, up instead of down - it goes its way, but the ripples have small effects on the future. Sometimes it is no more than a stumble, but sometimes it is a great fall. What I need to do is make the ripple a stumble - small minor change, but so the overall doesn’t appear different.”

“What are you asking us to do Rhiannon?” Hammond asked.

“I need to communicate with Dr. Jackson and Colonel O’Neill the same way I did with O’Neill last month.”

“You caused the blackout?” Hammond said with some sign of shock in his voice.
Rhiannon nodded. “And I need to do it again. This time it won’t be so abrupt. And this time, I will be in the room guiding them and teaching them, instead of hiding in the dreams of a dreamer.”

“What is it you want us to do?” Hammond asked further.

“I need a room - guards on the outside and I need for Teal’c and Jonas to journey to a small village in Ireland. There will quite a bit of research for the two of you to do.”

Jack and Daniel looked at each other. Jack said nothing more. He knew that Rhiannon was perfectly capable of doing this without his consent, but felt he could have more control if he cooperated. Daniel went along, saying nothing, but feeling like he could have helped more if he had still been ascended,if not directly, then indirectly through communing with Rhiannon. As if she caught his thoughts, Rhiannon looked at Daniel, her light eyes seeming to see through him and shook her head. He caught the thought, “Nay Daniel, even Oma wouldn’t have allowed that much.”

Jacob looked at George and asked if the surveillance tapes were now available. They then went to the briefing room to view what the videotapes could show them. Quietly, they reviewed what was available and then Jack yelled out for them to stop the tape. They saw a shadowy figure near Major Carter just before the elevator reached the surface.

“Back it up,” General Hammond ordered.

They all watched with quiet horror, as a figure appeared to come out of nowhere, grabbed Major Carter and disappear without so much as a sign that someone had been there.

“Damn!” Jack cursed, “I…we never should have let her go to the car by herself.”

Rhiannon stared at Jack with her now dark amethyst gaze, “That would have been a bloody marvelous idea, Colonel. You’d be dead and she’d still be gone. Do you think that would have been a better scenario?”

Jack started to say something, but Jonas put his hand on Jack’s shoulder and Teal’c stepped up next to him. Both were hoping to inhibit the violence of Jack’s response.

“There was nothing you could do to keep her safe,” Rhiannon stated.

Jacob filled them in on how Rhiannon and the other Tok’ra trackers found planet after planet with slaughtered innocents. Rhiannon was not the only tracker to go into a high rage over the senseless slaughter and helplessness. They were truly lucky they had found a survivor on the last planet, or they would’ve had no advantage at all.

“It was because Dugald found someone still alive, and more than anything else, we learned he was after Sam and what he planned to do. Rhiannon has much to do, as do we. So we can spend the advantage we have on bickering, or we can go about finding my daughter,” Jacob said, fixing Jack with his gaze.

Jacob then suggested that Rhiannon tell them what she had been able to find out. Rhiannon very quickly told those gathered that she did indeed know where Major Carter was being held and then told them why they couldn’t retrieve her right away.

“Dagda is planning to disrupt the time line. If we don’t fix, repair or stop what he has planned, the Samantha Carter we rescue may not be the Samantha Carter we know. In fact, all of you here may not be quite the same as you are now. We have to not only find out what has changed, with the benefit of future knowledge, but translate it back so we can correct the change or stop it.”

“It won’t be a clean halt Rhiannon,” Daniel noted. “There will be some residual changes.”

“Oh Aye!” Rhiannon agreed, “As I told ye…the line of destiny. But ripples don’t disrupt as much as major waves.”

Rhiannon looked hard at Jonas and Teal’c, “What I am asking you to do is at once easy and difficult. You will be watching the farm where she is and checking old Kirk-Church records. You will have to go back centuries.” Considering Jonas Quinn with her gaze, Rhiannon continued, “You have the ability to search and read the ancient writings Mr. Quinn?” At his nod, she continued, “then you will need to search every one and find out the life story of one Ian O’Neill (the look to Jack was very pointed) and Aislynn Mackenzie. I need to know birth, marriage, children and death information. Do you understand what I am asking?’

Jonas nodded.

Looking at Teal’c, she continued, “Ye will need to stand guard, Jaffa. I know that you would protect that woman with your life and you just may need to. No one gets near her - not even Mr. Quinn, yourself, her father – no one. Do you ken?”

Teal’c raised an eyebrow in his typical stoic appraisal. Then his eyes shifted momentarily to Jack before giving Rhiannon a curt nod.

“Dugald?” Rhiannon looked at her fellow Tok’ra, “be vigilant. Your thoughts and mine will need to communicate. I need you to use whatever you have inside to be my bridge.”

Dugald nodded.
Rhiannon nodded, satisfied that Dugald, Teal’c and Jonas understood their part.

“Bail o’ Dhia ort. (The blessing of God on you.) Rhiannon said to them. “Na’r laga Dia do La’mh.” (May God not weaken your hand.)

Turning to Jack and Daniel, Rhiannon took a good look at both men. She considered the two and thought, “The cynic and the dreamer…how do I merge both so that they can support each other?”

Rhiannon asked that Jonas, Dugald and Teal’c all stand together. She then asked Jacob to give the men the documents they had prepared.

Jacob explained that these were identity papers: passports, driver’s licensees and credit cards. Although they were going to Ireland in an unconventional manner, they needed to be able to blend in, as tourists, and needed the appropriate documents.

“Rhiannon,” Jonas looked at her and asked, “What is the name of this village and the name of the Church that we need to look for?”

“The village is called Church Hill and it is in Donegal County. I am afraid that you will have to haunt the cemeteries and churches on your own. I am not familiar with the Ireland of Earth.”

Rhiannon lifted her arm and saying a prayer in Gaelic pressed a few buttons on her bracelet and the three men disappeared. Turning to the others Rhiannon indicated that she needed to talk to “Himself” without an audience. There was not a person in that room that pretended to not know that she was referring to O’Neill when she said that.

Alone, Rhiannon looked at Jack. He had the temerity to look amused at her comment about “Himself.” He had heard his grandmother refer to his grandfather in that way many times.

“Did I say something funny O’Neill?” Rhiannon asked. She looked at him, with some amusement in her eyes.

“My late grandmother used to call my grandfather that. I guess I’m in good company.”

“Really?” Rhiannon asked him. “Do you remember the lesson I tried to teach you the last time we did this?”

Jack nodded.

“Good, because it is very important that you hold onto it. You may very well have your final showdown with Dagda and you need to pay heed to my words. Your future and the future of others depend on how closely you listen to me and do as I tell you.”

Jack only looked at her.

“Think me a bully, do you? Well, let me tell you something…I am,” Rhiannon said without any hesitation or fanfare in her tone. “’Tis the only way that what needs to be done, is done. I will brook no interference from you or anyone in this. You can be sure that Major Carter’s life depends on this. So again, I will ask ye, do I have your attention Jackie boy? Or do I have to teach ye another lesson?”

“No Rhiannon, you have my attention,” Jack answered. He knew there was no other answer, and he bloody well knew that she knew it as well.

“Whatever you do,” she began slowly, “do not kill Dagda in the past. Stop him however you need to, but do him no harm. Do not cut him, break any bones, disfigure him, kill him or cut off his head. He needs to return to this time as he was. Scare him if you must, but don’t harm him.”

Rhiannon sighed and continued, “Stop whatever the change is - I don’t know if Ian dies, or Aislynn or something happens to break them up - but it is their destiny to be together and not as enemies or memories. Do you understand?”

Jack nodded.

“Well, alright then. Bring Daniel and the others in now.”

Daniel was told that he was Aislynn’s cousin Denis MacKenzie. “You have a wife. Her name is Bridget, cousin to Ian.” Rhiannon smiled, “they tended to strengthen family ties and clan ties by doing this. Bridget is a healer Daniel, I imagine you know what that means?”

Daniel nodded his understanding.

“This is tricky business treading through time lines and I won’t even begin to tell you that I completely understand what we are attempting. You will become those two men. I cannot allow you to keep all of your present memories, it would confuse things and I am not even sure this will work. I can transport you, but I can’t control it all.” Rhiannon raised a hand. “This is a difficult battle of wills. I intend to win it. You two, however, have to do exactly as I direct. I will be in contact with you, even though you won’t see or hear me. When the time comes to correct the time line, you will become who you are with the memories and knowledge to correct things.”

Rhiannon sighed heavily and her thoughts were in turmoil. For as much as she knew about what to do, she had sense enough to wonder if she had completely lost her mind and had begun to believe she was the Rhiannon of legend. There was no help for it now, she was committed to this path and follow it, they all would.

“Our time there will be limited. Almost like minutes in real time, but possibly months in the alternate line. But whatever it is that must be done, do it quickly.”

George Hammond raised his hand to catch Rhiannon’s attention. Her impatience was making him nervous and he really wanted to question her further. Fortunately, Brownwyn was aware of the distress in the room and after a slight nod of Rhiannon’s head, she came forth.

Looking into Brownwyn’s calm blue eyes made the anxiety lessen, but not by much.

“Feeling a little bit like a piece of crystal in a shop with a rampaging bull, General?”

Hammond nodded.

Brownwyn laughed, “Well, Rhiannon can be a mite intense. You do need to understand what she and the other Tok’ra hunters found. Wholesale slaughter. Dagda wanted his tracks covered. I cannot even begin to tell you what exactly it is that she is planning.”

Brownwyn looked pointedly at Jack and Daniel. “The two of you make up two parts of a whole and she needs both of you.”

Pointing at Daniel, “’Tis a leap of faith that you have to take Daniel or your time with Oma has taught you nothing.”

Daniel started to say something but Brownwyn interrupted him. “Daniel Jackson, I would recommend that you not question what Rhiannon is capable of doing. She teaches a harsh lesson, one that Colonel O’Neill was fortunate enough to learn. Can you say the same?”

“I am not sure I understand what Rhiannon is planning. Won’t this require us to make more than a leap of faith?” Daniel persisted. “And what about the Grandfather Paradox? Surely that is going to cause some changes in our time line.”

“Yes it is. But you obviously have forgotten what it is to deal with people who do not see time as you do. If I were you I would try and keep my tendency to be sanctimonious to myself. I would hate to see her come back and teach you a lesson. Rhiannon knows tricks that Oma has yet to allow her kind to perform.”

Allowing Rhiannon to return, Brownwyn left them with that cryptic comment.

Rhiannon looked at the room of people and said, “I need all of you to think about what is really at stake here. Think about losing that which makes you who you are…what makes you special to the moment.” She paused and then pointed at Colonel O’Neill first. “Consider…you, Jack, might have committed suicide.” She continued around the room. “You, Daniel, could be living in some homeless shelter still waiting to be heard. You, Jacob, would have died from your cancer and Selmac would have been lost to us. The price of our failure is too dear. We cannot afford to lose this game and I will do whatever is necessary to ensure our success.”

Rhainnon looked around and searched the souls of the remaining Tau’ri and Tok’ra representatives.

“Alright, take Colonel O’Neill and Dr. Jackson to the room and get them ready. I have one more thing I need to do before we start on this night’s work.” Rhiannon lifted her left arm and pressed some buttons and disappeared.

*****

Church Hill, County Donegal, Northern Ireland

Rhiannon materialized in a dark room and noted the figure huddled on the cot.

She noted that Major Carter was no longer bound and gagged. She also noted that food and water had been left for Sam.

“Major Carter?” Rhiannon called softly.

Carter sat up and looked around. She saw nothing, but noticed the scent of roses and jasmine.

“Who is here?”

“Tis I, Samantha…Rhiannon.” Rhiannon was now barely seen in the dimness of the light she produced. “Speak not a word Samantha. Just listen.” Rhiannon reached into the pocket of her cape and handed a stone to Sam.

“’Tis a Rune stone, Samantha. The ancient Vikings of your planet used them to tell the future. The stone I gave you is known as the Algiz.”

Sam looked at the small square stone. She noted that it had what looked like a stick figure of a “Y” with 3 prongs. “What is it for Rhiannon?”

“This stone represents Protection. It deals with control of the emotions. It is the mirror of the Spiritual Warrior. Its stone symbolizes an elk. This stone is to protect you and to remind you to keep your emotions in check. Keep it safe and it will keep you safe.”

“If you know I am here, why aren’t you taking me with you?”

“Because it isn’t safe now. There are some situations in your past life that must be corrected. It is your very existence as Major Samantha Carter that we are trying to save. Be patient lass. Your warrior is ready.” Rhiannon spoke a few words over Sam and disappeared.

Samantha grasped the stone and took comfort in its smoothness. She put it where she knew they would not look for it. For the first time since her kidnapping, she felt some measure of safety.

In the Inn where Jonas, Teal’c and Duglad were staying Jonas noticed Dugaldsmile suddenly.

“What? Did you find something?”

“Nay,” Duglad said, “Rhiannon visited your Major.”
Teal’c raised an eyebrow, “Without us noticing her?”

Duglad laughed, “Rhiannon and her hunters would only let you see her if she so chose to. You have never been with Rhiannon and her band have you? They are like ancient Welsh Warriors. The ancient Sasanach (English) never knew when they were around. They were silent warriors and very effective. Legend has it that they could hide behind a blade of grass, they were that good.”

“Why didn’t she just grab Sam?” Jonas asked.

“To keep her safe. Who knows what havoc would be reaped if she disappeared with Rhiannon. Her past self may be killed or injured. As long as Major Carter is where we can watch, she is safe.”

“Do you think that there will be much change in Major Carter?” Teal’c asked.

“There may be some subtle changes. Remember, Rhiannon told you that everything and nothing changes when the line has been crossed. Major Carter will still be who and what she is - that won’t change - but she may be more trusting or less. She may be softer or harder in her personality, but not enough that anyone would notice without really knowing her.”

Duglad stared off into the sky, “No one will know until this all ends. With any luck, your Colonel and Doctor will right things and whatever changes will be small and for the better. We can only watch and wait. Tomorrow, we go through the Church records.”

Rhiannon returned to the SGC and went into the room where Daniel and Jack waited.

In her hand she held two additional rune stones, one for Dr. Jackson and one for Colonel O’Neill. These and the protection prayer where all she could give them, one tangible and one not. She prayed that these would be enough.

She held the Eihwaz stone, representing defense. This stone is helpful for when perseverance and foresight are needed. This was for Daniel Jackson. The other stone was the Teiwaz, the stone for Warrior Energy. It was the mirror stone of the one she gave to Major Carter. This stone has to do with will through action.

Rhiannon took the Rune stones that she head already preparedand put it around the neck of their intended recipient. She briefly explained the stones and their meanings and then spoke to them in Gaelic. Daniel translated the prayer as Rhiannon said it.

“Grant O Divine Being, thy Protection
And in Protection, Strength
And in Strength, Understanding
And in Understanding, Knowledge
And in Knowledge, the Knowledge of Justice
And in the knowing of Justice, the love of Justice
And in that love, the love of all Beings
And in the love of all beings, the Love of Divine Being.”

With that Rhiannon bid the men to lie down. Holding her hands up and closing her eyes, she entered their sub-conscious minds and caused them to fall unconscious. They found themselves on a hill with Rhiannon dressed as the Rhiannon from the legends.

“Now what?” Jack asked.

“Now you become Ian and Denis. I am afraid that I will have to hold your future personas at bay until the time comes to finish this. You will become your past selves, only your instincts will be intact. I will watch you and guide you as much as I can from the shadows. Rhiannon’s name still holds some kind of spell on the people and I would prefer not to confuse things anymore than I have to.” She paused and turned to point in the direction of a nearby mountain. “Aislynn awaits you at the waterfall, Ian, and Bridgetis with her herbs Denis. Be mindful of your surroundings and let your instincts guide you both.”

With that Rhiannon disappeared and Ian and Denis looked to each other. Both were surprised to find themselves on the hill overlooking their village.

“Well, the view is pleasant,” Ian said, “But for the life of me I don’t know why we are up here.”

“Don’t look at me,” Denis answered, “you always manage to lead me places and then plead ignorance. Bridget is in the shed with her herbs, which is where I am heading. You are going to meet Aislynn?”

“Aye, she is waiting by the waterfall,” Ian answered with a wide grin. “These days before the wedding are getting tedious.”

Denis laughed, “You two. It is so hard to believe that two people as different as you manage to find your way together. How she puts up with you, I will never understand.”

“What?” Ian laughed, “Ye dinna like my pretty face?”

“If I was needing something to scare mice, I would definitely be using your sour face. But a lass as young and pretty as Aislynn? What would she be needin’ ye for?”

Ian took a playful swing at Denis and laughed, “I am sure I dinna know what she sees in me. But I can tell ye that she is the best thing that has happened to this sorry soul.”

They took their leave and Ian walked to the waterfall where Aislynn waited. Her beauty took his breath away. He was five years older than she was - he was twenty-five and she was barely twenty. He had no idea what she saw in him, but he knew that he was more alive with her than he had been with anyone else. He was grateful that the Clans O’Neill and MacKenzie where not only friends, but kin.

Aislynn looked at Ian’s face when he had that thought.

“Ian, what ails you?”

“Nothing mo chroi (my heart), what made you think something is wrong?”

“You had the most unusual expression on your face.”

Swinging her into his arms and giving her a kiss, Ian shook his head. “You just do not know how happy I am.”

Giving him in impish look, Aislynn put her arms around his head and pulled him down to give a kiss of her own.

“Ian,” she said, “sometimes I wonder what goes on in your head.”

“Well, good then” he laughed.

*****

Rhiannon observed this conversation and smiled briefly. She knew that this pleasant interlude was not going to last. Already trouble was riding swiftly to Aislynn’s home and Rhiannon knew that she had to be ready.

Dagda, in his persona as Brian was coming. Rhiannon was aware that with what limited control she had on these past events, they were just that, limited. Guiding, yes. Stopping, well, that would have to be left to Ian and Denis.

Rhiannon turned her attention to Denis and his wife Bridget, noting that Bridget was taking inventory of her herbs and simples. That was good. When the time came for Bridget to know what was missing, Rhiannon would be able to provide answers. Thankfully, at least in this time, beings presenting themselves as elves and fairies and fey ones were still accepted. It meant that Bridie would be more willing to listen than most.

*****

Church Hill

“Jonas,” Dugald called out, “have ye found anything yet?”

“I found the birth and baptismal record of Ian O’Neill, but nothing for anyone else yet.”

Dugald nodded and kept looking through the records.

“Dugald?” Jonas turned to face the Cymrie representative, “what types of powers does Rhiannon have?”

Dugald laughed, “Well, she would like people to believe that she can do things she can’t. Don’t worry, she can’t turn you into a frog.”

Jonas gave Dugald a look.

Duglad laughed some more, “Rhiannon and the other Priestesses can do a great many things, but that is a bit of magic they can’t do. I’m not saying that she hasn’t used that threat to bully people into doing what she wants. She can be powerfully frightening if it suits her. But no, she can’t turn people into animals or anything else for that matter. She is not above using their fear against them, if that will get her what she wants.”

“Oh, good,” Jonas answered, “I don’t think that I would be able to translate ‘Ribbit Ribbit’ if she really could have done that to O’Neill.”

Dugald laughed out loud at that one. “Oh, good one Jonas. That would be quite a feat, wouldn’t it?”

The two men continued to chuckle as they searched the records.

Teal’c kept an eye on the farm. He noticed the comings and goings of various people. He did not see the Goa’uld Dagda in all the time he was watching. He wondered if Dagda was there at all. Teal’c was right to wonder and while it was true he could not see Dagda, the Goa’uld visited Samantha regularly, in her dreams.

“Well mo chroi (my heart),” he sneered at her. “Did you really think that you Tau’ri could easily dispose of me?”

Samantha turned around and stared at him. “Do you really think that you can beat Rhiannon?”

“Oh, you don’t think your knight and his friend would be able to rescue you on their own?”

“My knight?” Sam questioned, “Oh, right. I think that you would be very surprised at what my ’knight’ is able to do, with or without Rhiannon.”

Walking to a chair Samantha continued, “But I think that your biggest fear is the combined strength of Rhiannon and Colonel O’Neill. They beat you once. They will beat you this time.”

Dagda wondered at her strength. He had never held much admiration for female warriors, Goa’uld, Tok’ra, or Tau’ri. As far as he was concerned, women had no place in the world of the warrior and he felt that they just weakened the will of the male soldiers. He also realized that the necessary changes in the past had not yet occurred. He knew that he needed to exert more power to effect the change.

“You may think so now, Major Carter,” he said, “but will you think so, when you are just Dr. Carter? Or maybe just Miss Carter?”

Sam raised an eyebrow and said nothing more. Dagda then left her dream.

Sam woke up and pulled out the rune stone that Rhiannon gave her. “Dr. Carter? Miss Carter? Would that be possible for him to do?” she wondered and closed her hand around the stone. She hoped that Rhiannon would be able to help the Colonel and Daniel do what they had to do. Too much relied on that, far too much.

*****

As Ian and Aislynn walked back to her family home, they noticed a number of horses and wagons that were not familiar to them. A chill ran up Ian’s spine when he saw them and he wondered why he was feeling so uneasy. His hand tightened on Aislynn’s shoulder, an unconscious movement that relayed his sense of concern to her.

Aislynn’s blue eyes widened as she turned to look at him. His eyes had become hard and his face showed signs of a leashed anger. She could not understand what was worrying him. They may just be wedding guests that they did not know. But then, Ian was not given to flights of fancy when it came to the safety of his clan and those close to him. The soldier in him would not allow this to happen.

“Ian?” Aislynn asked quietly, “What is it?”

Ian didn’t rightfully know. Something about one of the guests disturbed him, more than what would be deemed reasonable. The tall blonde man with the light eyes was the one that disturbed him the most. He had a memory of that one, a memory he couldn’t explain. It was a flash, really. Ian shook his head. “I don’t know Aislynn,” was all he said.

They walked slowly to the house. Ian had a firm grip on Aislynn’s hand. She felt that he was afraid to let her go and the simple truth was that she was right. Aislynn’s father was talking with the men who had just arrived and turned to see his daughter and her betrothed walking towards them.

“Aislynn, Ian,” he called out. Douglas MacKenzie was a very friendly man, always seen with a wide smile on his face and in his eyes. Today, the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Douglas also found himself disturbed. He could not, for his life, recognize the names of the men that said they were his kin. They knew quite a bit about his family, but he did not know who they were He did not even recognize the names they gave as his family.

Douglas drew Ian and Aislynn to his side and introduced them. The blonde man has a name, Brian MacKenzie.

Ian stiffened when he was introduced and a memory, (was it really a memory?) flashed quickly before him. Ian saw himself dressed in clothes he did not recognize and holding a weapon he never saw before. But the man in front of him, he knew. And then the memory was gone.

“Ian O’Neill is it?” Brian asked.

Ian nodded.

“Family then?”

Ian nodded again.

“Well then, we’ve added to the family’s ties with this marriage.”

“Who are you?” Ian asked.

“A cousin from near Belfast.” Brian added blithely.

Unlike Jack and Daniel, Brian had gone into the past fully cognizant of who and what he was. Although the symbiote was not physically within, it was in control.

Aislynn’s blue eyes regarded the man who claimed to be ‘cousin’. She didn’t recall any family being near Belfast. They didn’t travel much, her family, content to keep to their farms. The land is what called her family.

Brian noted her regard of him and could see that she was searching her memory for any family member that would have left McKenzie land.

Smiling ruefully Brian told them that his kinsman might have come from ‘the wrong side of the blanket’. Shaking his blond head, he laughed contritely.

Aislynn looked at her father and he nodded slowly. It was possible his eyes told her. Douglas then managed to smile at his ‘kin’ and invited them all into the house.

“Come, tis almost dark and time for our evening meal.” He tried to sound jovial. “Brian, please, you and your men are our most welcome kinsmen.”

The older man then turned and led them into the house.

Ian kept a firm grip on Aislynn’s hand and an eye on Brian. Something about the man struck him as unsavory. He felt something wasn’t right about the man and he didn’t like, especially, the way Brian was looking at his betrothed.

Denis was close behind Ian and the two men exchanged a look. Denis noted that Ian was appearing to be hiding behind his eyes when he regarded Brian. It was something that Ian had always done. He would appear as if he was looking at somewhere other than at a person he didn’t trust, but there was a shadow behind his eyes that would be watching, observing and taking the measure of the individual he didn’t trust. This action had saved his life and Ian’s many times. He didn’t wonder that Ian was possessive and protective, that was his nature concerning those he loved, but this time, there was a danger that Ian was sensing. Denis was sure of that. He wondered why.

The evening meal seemed to drag. The newest ‘Kin’ to the family kept trying to get Aislynn’s attention, almost as if he was daring Ian to speak out. To her credit, Aislynn maintained a polite distance to him. Brian disturbed her. Like her fiancé she had flashes of ‘something’ she could not name.

At the end of the meal, Aislynn escorted Denis and Ian to their horses.

“Tell your bride to not be such a stranger, Denis,” Aislynn said to him as he mounted his horse.

Denis smiled. His blue eyes seemed to light from within when his wife was mentioned. Bridget was the best thing that happened in his life. The fact that she was skilled in herbs and simples needed for treating and healing had given him a deep satisfaction. But some thought hit him now that she was going to be playing an important part, very soon, in their lives. He shook his head slightly, murmured something to Aislynn and rode a small distance to give the two a chance to say goodnight privately.

Aislynn saw the look in Ian’s eyes as he kept an eye on the door.

“What ails you my love?” Her voice was soft. Placing her left hand on his right arm, she felt the tension in his body.

Ian took that hand and kissed the knuckles. He knew it would be impossible to hide his concern from her. Already her eyes had looked directly and deeply into his and he knew that she sensed some deep concern.

In a quiet voice Ian told her that he didn’t know. “It’s just a feeling. I can’t explain what it is. There is just something…” he turned again to the door. “…about our kinsman that I don’t like.”

Taking her chin in his left hand, he stared intently into her eyes. “Be careful dearling. You mean everything to me.”

Time stretched between them and he softly kissed her lips, then mounted his horse.

She watched them leave and wondered if she wasn’t just reacting to the anxiety of waiting until the wedding.

Ian had taken great care with her. She heard tales of affianced couples taking advantage of the betrothal ceremony and acting as if they were already husband and wife. That ceremony was equally as binding, but Ian wanted them to wait until after they had been properly wed.

Was it just the wait, she wondered, or was her ‘cousin’ Brian a harbinger of danger?

She hugged herself and then walked back into the house. She caught Brian watching her as she mounted the stairs to her room. She saw the look of naked desire in his eyes and wondered if that is what Ian had seen and had worried him.

As she entered her room Aislynn did something that she had never before felt the need to do. She locked her door. Whatever the reason, Brian frightened her and she wondered if he was planning something. Many a betrothal had been broken because someone interfered. She had waited too long to be Ian’s wife and had no intention of having anyone endanger that.

Brian did indeed watch as Aislynn went upstairs and was startled by the desire he felt for her. It had been a long time since he had felt any desire other than the need to conquer. This new feeling was both puzzling and exhilarating. It had also been a long time since he had felt this alive. He wondered, also, if he wanted her because of the souls they were destined to become, or for herself. There was also the awareness that Dagda also desired this woman and Brian was aware, at least as much awareness as a host would have, that their shared desire was something new to his Goa’uld master. For the Goa’uld to desire a human woman for something other than enslavement was …well … something. Confusion, often compared to fear, was not a good thing now.


As Brian turned away from the stairs and went back to join the other men, it wasn’t just Aislynn that truly concerned him now. Brian noted the look of shock and recognition that flared ever so briefly in Ian’s eyes. Dagda had warned him that Rhiannon would find them and attempt to stop them. He knew that if anyone could, she would be the one. But even she wouldn’t dare trifle with the timeline. She understood time differently than the Tau’ri, but there was only so much one would be able to do before it truly manifested itself in the future.

He could not afford to change the past very much. Well, truth be told, he had hoped that once the changes in the past were made their future selves would prove not to be a force to be reckoned with. Dagda was also aware of the same ancient prophecies that Rhiannon knew. They were born in every generation, even if they were not called to serve. He wondered if the Tau’ri ever really thought of or remembered their ancient roots? He was certain that Rhiannon was doing her best to awaken those memories and to remind them of their calling to serve the children of Earth.


Ian sat on his bed and wearily dropped his boots onto the floor. His mind was whirling. He could not get that sense of danger out of his head. Staring at a spot on the wall in front of him, visions of things he had never seen before, much less imagined whirled before him.

An older man with silver hair, cut very short stood before a window. Somehow he knew that man was *him*. He didn’t know why he felt that way, but it was a feeling he could not shake. The man was dressed in clothing that he never could have imagined and he was looking at the fairy circle

Although Ian himself had never seen it, his grandfather had passed on the tale to him when he was young, as had his grandfather before him. It seemed to be a tale that oldest generations passed on. His father would tell his children, and he would tell his grandchildren. Very strange custom, but it was almost as if only the very old could pass them on.

They always told about the Warriors of Skye when the tale of the Fairy’s Circle was told. There was urgency in his feelings right now. Something telling him that something was not right. Something wicked was coming. Something wicked was here. He could not fathom what or why.

Sighing wearily, he lay down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. What is it, he thought, not for the first time, that disturbs him so much about Aislynn’s kin?


Rhiannon stood silently in Ian’s chamber and watched him sleep. O’Neill’s warrior instincts, along with Ian’s were starting to combine and to do the job. Rhiannon wondered what it was that caused Ian to be able to see his future self.

Rhiannon readied herself to leave Ian’s room and to return to the future to see what Dugald and the others had found when a soft male voice calling to her caused her to turn.

“Llewellyn?” Rhiannon questioned her mentor. “Why’re you here?”

Llewellyn smiled slightly and answered. “You are not the only one who fears, Rhiannon. He is strong.” He pointed to the sleeping man.

“Aye.” Rhiannon answered with a hint of fondness in her voice. “Very devil of a man you know. But a good one.”

“Aye, Rhiannon, he is.” Llewellyn considered his student for a minute and then asked her the question that they all were asking. “Do you truly think they are the ones?”

Rhiannon nodded. “They have to be, Llewellyn. They fit the ancient stories better than any I have ever seen. They have done so much to bring disorder and chaos to the enemy than all of us have these past 1,000 years. The Tau’ri are strong, you understand. Stronger than they even know.”


“Take special care, Rhiannon. He knows you are here and are watching.”

“As he is watching all that I do. I know, Llewellyn. I can only hope that I am the stronger of the two of us.”

With a slight nod Llewellyn vanished into the shadows and soon Rhiannon did as well.


Jonas nearly jumped out of his skin when Rhiannon appeared before him.

“Good even, Jonas,” she said softly. “I am sorry I scared you.”

Jonas waited a heartbeat before he answered. “Good evening to you, Rhiannon.” He shook his head and laughed slightly. “I don’t know if I will ever get used to you doing that.”

Rhiannon smiled a small smile and would have answered but Dugald entered the room. Immediately kneeling, he addressed her. “My Lady. You have news?” he asked.

“Get up, Dugald. That isn’t necessary,” she answered in a slightly exasperated voice. “Brian is there and the trouble is starting.”

“We have seen no evidence of any changes yet. And all is still quiet on the farm.”

Rhiannon nodded and walked to the window of the cottage looking out over the farm in question.

“No Dugald, but soon,” she replied. Her voice held the ring of certainty. “We must keep vigilant, aye.”

Dugald nodded and then turned to look at Jonas. The Kelownan could only shrug and they both turned their attention to the silent figure at the window, wondering at her thoughts now.


Samantha Carter held on to the rune stone that Rhiannon had given her. It seemed to give her strength. Every time she felt like she might scream or try and run, holding it seemed to give her a sense of peace. She felt, least she thought she did anyway, a surge of energy every time she held it. Sam was careful to keep it hidden when *he* came. He didn’t come as often as in the beginning, but she felt his presence.


Ian walked away from Aislynn’s home, his eyes so dark a brown they almost appeared black. He had just been able to walk away. Aislynn’s kinsman had managed to insinuate himself so completely in her family.

Ian’s black mood kept getting worse. So absorbed was he in his thoughts, he had almost knocked Denis over.

“Sorry Denis.” Ian’s voice was contrite, but the anger simmering underneath was evident.

Denis had never seen his cousin quite so distracted and commented on it.

Looking over his shoulder for a second, his gaze directly on Brian and Aislynn, he mumbled something about devils.

Hearing Denis’ gasp, he turned to face the shocked blue eyes in front him.


”Ach, Denis.” Ian started to apologize. “I can’t stomach that man. Everywhere I go, he seems to be there. It has almost become impossible for me to spend anytime alone with Aislynn.”


Kicking at an imaginary rock, Ian struggled to explain his distrust of the man.

He started to walk to the lake and didn’t bother to look if Denis had followed. He slowed when he heard Denis call out and ask him to explain what it was he had been feeling and if possible, seeing.

“If Aislynn goes into the village to shop, he offers to ride with her, even when I am there to accompany her. When she goes to visit the crofters with Bridie’s simples, he offers to ride with her. Again, when I am there with her. Should we decide to go into the woods, to share a quiet meal, he manages to find us.”

Letting out an exasperated sigh. “I tell you Denis, I expect to find him in bed with us after the wedding.”

Denis made a small jesting comment about maybe a little competition will make him appreciate Aislynn more, but stopped mid sentence when he saw Ian’s eyes darken and narrow.

“I tell you Denis, he acts as if he wants her for himself.”

The day was sunny and bright and as was their habit, Ian and Aislynn found themselves in the small cave hidden behind the waterfall. It was here where they found themselves to be able to indulge in the small amount of love play that both soothed and excited them. Ian had his arms around Aislynn as she lay contentedly on his chest. It was the quiet time that they had though, that they both seemed to enjoy most. It was like that for a while after they arrived, but then the intrusion occurred.

Aislynn felt Ian’s muscles tighten and moved away from him as he shifted her body. Her blue eyes darkened with concern, but Ian only shook his head and smiled. She knew he was trying to sooth her; his smile did not reach his eyes.

“Ian?” her question was quiet, but showed more than a hint of concern.

Ian reached up, smoothed her hair away from her face and then ran his finger down her nose.

“Tis nothing my heart. Probably an animal scurrying around.”

Ian didn’t voice that it was a 6’2” animal on two legs.

Then they both heard the voices. Hidden as they were from the world, they could hear Brian calling for them.

“Damn.” Ian’s eyes narrowed and wished that his sword was closer.

He noted that Aislynn’s eyes showed some dismay. Putting a finger to his lips in silent direction, they waited for Brian’s voice and presence to go away. It was a long wait; Ian guessed that Brian was trying really hard to find them. He was grateful that they told no one of the cave.

Then they were once again enveloped only by the rushing water of the waterfall.

As if she sensed his distress, Aislynn leaned over to give Ian a quick kiss. As Ian turned his lips to hers, he almost pulled back in alarm, blessing his warrior’s instincts to not give into surprise. The face that he looked at still had the blonde hair and those alluring blue eyes-but they were not in the face of a young girl just reaching womanhood, but that of a mature woman. A woman who had known love and loss and joy and pain. The kind of pain a woman who loves a man and has lost him can have. Her hair instead of the long braids that reached that delightful little cleft in her buttocks, was short and barely reached her collarbone. For a second, Ian was certain what he had seen was real and then his lips met hers and the uncertainty disappeared.

When he looked next at her, her clear blue eyes shining with her love him, were the eyes of his love and his heart turned over.

Pulling her once again into his embrace and his lips taking possession of hers, all other thoughts and fears disappeared.

********************************
Brian was angry. He knew that they were in that part of the woods, but he had not been able to find them. If he did not turn Aislynn’s heart from Ian’s then his plans for the future would soon be for nothing. He did not have time. The bann’s were to be read for the third time this coming Sunday. This was the last time they were to be read and then in three weeks time, Aislynn would become Ian’s bride and that just wouldn’t do.

Cursing, he headed to the hut that Denis wife, Bridget, kept her herbs and other items to treat the people of their village. It was handy having a healer in the family, Brian thought. She would have access to things that most ordinary villagers of this time, would not have nor know what to do with. He had work to do and had to do it quickly. Time was running out.


Dagda looked at the herbs in his hands. Bridget had these locked away from the others, and he knew why. They were very powerful hallucinogens. It was not so much that people who took these herbs would see and hear things: it was only in the right amounts that it was possible. They were important because they would also make those that ate them open to suggestions. Dagda knew what suggestions he wanted them to be open to. First he was going to get that old fool to break the contract between Ian and Aislynn and betrothe her to him. Then he was going to have Ian banished from all Clan holdings and those of their followers. Then she would be his. It had shocked both host and Goa’uld that they had wanted her. That they had both wanted her. What was more important though was the destruction of Ian. No Ian, no Jack O’Neill. No Jack O’Neill, no Stargate program. It didn’t matter that the one called Daniel Jackson figured out to run it, they needed the Warrior to make it so. He knew there were many that argued that without one, the other had no value. That it took both O’Neill and Jackson and he agreed that it was true. O’Neill, however, carried the one essential element. An element that the Tau’ri were not aware of; that is what made him so dangerous to them and O’Neill’s line would die here. Ian would be run to ground like the hounds would do to the fox and eventually he would die.

Once he was certain O’Neill was destroyed, he would then kill Aislynn. The Host and Symbiote already were aware of how powerful an effect she had on their emotions. That was something they could not allow to continue—they would dally with her and then kill her. Then her soul as well as O’Neill’s would be held in limbo and not recur again to be Samantha Carter.

Dagda then allowed Brian to gain control and walk back to the house. The drugs would be used immediately. He had already charmed the Cook in the kitchen. It would start tonight.

Denis had never seen Ian so angry. He watched as his friend paced the path in front of the stables. He noted that his friend kept clenching and unclenching his fists and the muttered gaelic curses that came from his same friend’s mouth had unnerved Denis.

“Ian.” Denis called out to his friend again. “What is it? What is going on?”

Denis didn’t think Ian was going to stop his furious pacing, but suddenly Ian halted in front of him.

“The old man.” Ian began. “The old man broke the betrothal last night.”

Denis’s blue eyes widened in surprise.

“He what?” Denis could barely get the question out. “When? How? Why?”

Ian could only shrug.

“We were there at dinner. One minute planning the last of the ceremony and then out of the blue, he tore up the contracts and said he would see me in hell before he let me marry his daughter. Sent Aislynn up to her room and had his men escort...” and here he let out a snort , “Ooh aye, that’s a laugh. ‘Escort’ me out of the house.”

“There was no warning?” Denis could not seem to accept what he had just heard. And realized if it was hard for him, how much harder would it be for Ian?

Ian shook his head. He then scrubbed his hands through his shoulder length brown hair. “I haven’t been able to get near her all day, ye ken.”

Ian held out his arms. “I have tried to get somebody, anybody in the house to get a message for her to come to me but no one will go against the old man.”

“I will do it for you Ian,” Denis offered.

“Nay, they know you and I are friends. And I don’t want ye jeopardizing your place.”


“Then Bridie will do it for ye,” Denis told him. “She can go to Aislynn with some herbs or material. No body will suspect her.”

Ian nodded and then Denis headed for his wife.

Denis found her looking at her herb inventory with a puzzled frown on her face.

“Bridget, you all right?”


His wife’s face lit up when she saw him and she shook her head.

“Must be getting old Denis. Old and addled.”

He raised an eyebrow and signaled for her to continue.

“I can’t find anything out of place, but some things appear to be missing.”

“Missing?” Denis was confused more than concerned.

He smiled and then took his wife into his arms and patted her stomach. “’Tis the bairn making you forgetful. Aye?”

She smiled at him and nodded. “Oh probably. Wouldn’t be the first time.”


“Damn!” Jonas sorted through the papers on the desk for the second? third? time and cursed again.

Dugald heard and came over to him.

“Jonas?”

Jonas looked over at the Tok’ra. “The betrothal contract…it’s gone.”

“What?” said Dugald. “Are you sure you didn’t misplace it? You just had it.”

Jonas looked down at the place the contract was to have been, his eyes darkened with the thoughts that were going through his mind.

He suddenly looked up at Dugald, those same eyes wide with more than a little concern. “What?” he posited to Dugald. “What if this is the signal of things starting to change? What if this is what Rhiannon was looking for?”

Dugald looked sharply at the Kelownan before him. “Aye,” Duglad nodded. “That would be something wouldn’t it. If Aislynn and Ian don’t marry then that would…” He didn’t even want to finish that thought.

“Rhiannon.” His thoughts seemed to race out from him. “It begins now, Rhiannon.”

Rhiannon’s quick arrival at his call startled them all. It was if she was just waiting for that clue.

“What did you find?” Her white blonde braid swung behind her as she quickly walked over to where the two men were.

Jonas wordlessly held out the ledger that now suddenly held the betrothal information.

The page had magically reappeared to show the marriage between Aislynn McDonald and Brian McDonald. The date was four days from the timeline that Jack and Daniel were in right now.

“This is not good, is it?” Jonas asked her.

Rhiannon looked up from the document at Jonas. Her eyes almost so dark a purple that they appeared black. Black and hard.
“Nay Jonas, it isn’t good at all.”

“Can you stop them?” Dugald asked her.

“Aye, now I can set the rest in motion.”

“Fior!” Beware! The word seemed to float upon the air around her. She could sense Llewellyn’s presence warning her. “Goisear achd!” Danger waits there! She knew that.


Bridget absently rubbed her stomach. The bairn was coming soon and moving in the August heat was becoming more and more uncomfortable. Even the cool of the evening air was not helping.

Not helping she knew because this was the third time this evening that she went through her herbs and simples.

“It’s not here.” That added to her distress. The herb she was missing was not one people who were not trained to use should be into. “What could I possibly have done with it?”

“’Tis nothing you have done Mistress.” The soft tones came out of the darkness.

Bridget whirled about looking for the sound of the voice and almost knocked over her work table when Rhiannon appeared to her.

“Are ye real?” Bridget’s brown eyes widened in surprise and fear.

“Aye Mistress, very real.”

“Ye are Rhiannon?”

The white blonde head nodded.

“Sioladh. Peace. I mean you know harm. I know what you are looking for and have something to give you.”

Rhainnon held out a pouch. “Ye know what has been happening?”

“Yes. I don’t understand…”

“Aye, I suppose you do not. But there is no time to explain. What ye must do must be done quickly. We have only 3 days to stop it.”

“You mean the wedding?”

“Aye, it must not go forward. Somehow you must get this into the food of Aislynn’s family. Have a care that you, your husband and Ian do not eat anything this herb is in.”

“Will it kill Mistress?”

“Nay. But it will only work to counter the other herb. You know what I am talking about.” It was not a question.

“Yes, I had thought that I had misplaced it.”

“No, it was not misplaced, stolen.” Rhiannon looked pointedly at Bridget. “Whatever you do, do not tell your men that I have been here. It is important that no one knows what is to happen three days hence. Ian and Denis must be strong. I will watch their backs Bridget, but you need to make sure these herbs are dispensed.”


The woman nodded her agreement and accepted the pouch. She didn’t even notice Rhiannon’s departure as she opened the pouch and smelled the herbs. They were quite pleasant in their scent and knew that they would be easily hidden in the food and drink. She immediately knew what to do with them. The pre-wedding celebrations were starting tonight and adding them to the food and drinks would be no problem. Everyone knew and trusted her and anything she added would be accepted without complaint or comment.


Rhiannon stood in the shadows and watched as Denis’ wife hurried to the McDonald manor.

She sensed Llewellyn at her back. “Dur brideag.” Stubborn woman.

“Yes I am.” Rhiannon answered with some humor. “But Dagda will win if this goes badly. Already the changes are in the air for the future selves of the Tau’ri. I canna risk anymore. I can only hope that the O’Neill doesn’t kill him in this timeline. Then we are really in trouble.”

“The legend won’t change that much Rhiannon.”

“Maybe not.” She answered him shortly. ‘But enough that those who would be called may not answer in time. The Goa’uld had one that is dangerous, not only to us and the Tau’ri, but to the ‘Others’.”

“Are the Tau’ri aware of them?”

A slight nod. “Daniel was once one of them and yet not.”


”Very well then Rhiannon. I leave you to finish this.”

“Moire! Indeed I shall. Indeed I shall.”

Ian angrily paced the field near Aislynn’s manor. Her seeming compliance of the breaking of her betrothal and the rapid pace of the wedding to her ‘cousin’, Brian, had him confused. He knew that she loved him; had loved him since they were children. Her sudden defection caught him by surprise. He knew in his soul that something was amiss, but he couldn’t figure out what happened. The day before she was arguing with her father about her broken betrothal to him and the sudden change to Brian, then this morning she told him to go and never come back.

Her laughter didn’t even sound like anything that he had heard before. Her tone of voice and even her stance was like someone he had never known.

His angry musings deafened him to the sounds around him. He only heard the rush of blood, his blood, in his ears as he paced. Denis said a slight prayer for thanks that was both for the fact that Ian was so preoccupied that sneaking up on him didn’t cost him his life and thanks that it was friend not a foe that came on him. Denis wouldn’t be sure if Ian would have been able to defend himself with the way he was feeling right now.

“Ian.” Denis hissed out his name. He watched the big man stop and turn slowly, his hand on his dirk as he turned to the sound of his name.

“Denis?”


”Aye.” Denis came into the clearing holding a sack. “Bridget said we were not to come to the manor this night or the next.”

Ian opened the bag and saw it only contained some bread and cheese and looked up confused.

“She wouldn’t tell me very much. Just kept whispering ‘The lady, the lady.’” Denis shrugged. “She takes such notions lately.”

Ian pulled apart a piece of the loaf and offered the rest to Denis, who also grabbed a hunk.

“Do ye suppose she suspects that they have been drugged?” Ian chewed thoughtfully.

Denis nodded thoughtfully. “She kept saying that something was missing. But ye know how it is with women who are carrying.”

Ian smiled and the deep dimples in his cheeks showed. “Nay, but I’ll take your word for it lad.”

“Well anyway, that is what she said and this is what we will do. Ian?”

Ian looked up.

“Will ye be bringing the rest of your clan into this?”

“And start a war with my kin? Nay.” He shook his head. “I intend to first find out what happened before we get that involved.”

“Good then. I would hate to see family against family.”

For the next two days Ian kept watch on the Manor and kept noticing how very strange things were. A few times he had seen Aislynn run from the house, only to have Brian drag her back and then they would be strolling the grounds hand in hand.

The uproar that caused Ian to charge the manor happened the evening before the wedding.

Some of Aislynn’s clansmen were sent to lock him up so that he wouldn’t interfere the next day, and he managed to elude them. He happened to notice Bridget calling to them as they searched and she held a pitcher in her hand.

“What on earth is that daft woman up to?” Ian snuck up closer to hear and heard her offer the men the wine in the jug. Telling them it was thirsty work rounding up a man and wouldn’t they like something cool to drink while they did it.

To a man they all appeared to be waking up from a dream and looked around and at each other.

Ian took the chance to come out of the woods and they all hailed him as they had before. All were confused and angry.

It didn’t take long for the change to come over everyone else in the hall as well.

Brian noticing that things were changing and decided to force the issue. He stood up and grabbed Aislynn and then went to find the Priest.

The hue and cry that went up was loud. It was only a family meal and any of the guards were not available.

“I will kill her, old man.” Brian threatened. “You will get the priest and get him here now.”

Aislynn started pulling away, but he tightened his grip on her.

“You will not win Rhiannon, do you hear me?” he called out.

There was some reaction to them invoking the name of the goddess Rhiannon. It seemed strange to them that he would be calling on an ancient deity like that.

There was chaos in the hall. Brian had his left arm around Aislynn’s neck and a dirk in his right hand perilously close to her jugular vein. The priest and her father were pleading with him to release her.

“No!” Brian ground out. “Either you marry us Priest or she dies.”

Douglas’ men were circling Brian, each wanting to attack him, but afraid to hurt the Lord’s daughter. Suddenly, the crowd parted to allow Ian and Denis entrance.

“Let go of her you bastard!” the voice that was both Ian’s and not rang out. For a minute the crowd didn’t recognize the man who spoke. One minute they were looking at an older man with silver hair and brown eyes wearing clothes they had never seen before and then just as quickly, he was the Ian they had always known.

Ian held his sword in his right hand and pointed it at Brian.

“Come to me coward,” Ian challenged. “Come.” Ian’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He was keeping a watchful eye on his enemy. Any wrong move would cost his love her life.

Brian tightened his hold on her and looked wildly around the room. He knew that no matter what happened, they would kill him.

“Let me by, Ian,” Brian ordered him. “Or I will kill her.”

”Not a chance in hell,” Ian answered, his voice soft, deadly and quite calm.

This was the warrior that the men in the room were familiar with. They had never heard those words before, but the tone itself was quite familiar.

Ian slowly circled Brian waiting for a mistake. And he made it, his hold loosened slightly on Aislynn and she kicked out at him and managed to get loose and run to the safety of her father’s arms.

Ian’s eyes took on an evil glow and he parried his sword.

“Ye dare not kill me,” Brian ground out. Falling back he managed to knock down one of the men in the room and grab his sword. “But I have no such qualms.”

The two men squared off. The clang of metal upon metal rang out into the now silent hall.

“Rhiannon,” Denis thought to himself. “Where are you?”

Ian easily held off Brian’s attack. That man tried brute force where finesse was needed. Both men started to perspire heavily and the swords started to take on an unwieldy look to their strikes.

But Brian started to make mistakes and Ian pressed his advantage. For every step that Brian took backwards, Ian made two forward.

Those gathered in the hall followed the fight with wide eyes. Those familiar with Ian’s fighting style wondered at why he didn’t just finish the job. Ian was not one to prolong a fight if he didn’t have to, but now, now he kept pushing and punishing his foe.

No one noticed the figure in white appear in the corner of the hall. Rhiannon raised her arms and suddenly the room appeared to still and no one appeared to move.

Ian and Brian stopped fighting to stare at her and suddenly Brian’s face broke into an evil grin.

“You will lose, Witch.” And he suddenly disappeared.

“That is what you think,” she responded and suddenly Jack and Daniel awoke standing in a field in Ireland.

The two men blinked and looked about confused.

“She is there, O’Neill. Hurry, ye haven’t much time.”

Jack noted the man running toward the barn and he took off, followed by Daniel. Jack noted that Teal’c, and Jonas were running with him.

Til the end of his days Jack would never how he caught the staff weapon Teal’c threw him, nor how he managed on a dead run to fire it killing Brian. As they raced past Brian’s smoldering body all Jack could think about was how Carter was.

Rhiannon watched them race to the barn. She slowed to a stop and held up her left hand. Dugald stopped just behind her and nodded.

Her purples eyes turned hard, hard enough to resemble the very stone they had been compared to. She knew what was coming. She could feel it starting to reach across time and begin to affect those in this time frame.

The ripple of changes on the line of destiny. She could feel it vibrate in the very air. Dropping the hood of her cloak she stood there and held out her arms. She had them wide and threw her head back. The very air seemed to vibrate around her and she seemed to shimmer, if only for a minute. Rhiannon knew that she could not stop what was coming. Once destiny's line had been crossed, there was no stopping it. Not permanently. But for a little while, only for a little while.

Rhiannon knew that they would all never again be what they were, who they were. Oh, not very much of them would change. They would still be the warriors of the legend. They still would be SG-1. But some small part of them had changed because of the past. Some small part of them that they would never know had disappeared had become something else, making them someone else. No one would, in truth know, or even care. But she knew and would always hold the question in her heart as to why it needed to play out the way it did. Sometimes Destiny's Line gets crossed for a reason, but she was not going to question her goddess. She knew this was her calling, her place in time's plan.

And so she waited. Waited until Jack, Daniel, Teal'c and Jonas ran into the stall that Sam was being held in. Waited while Jack pulled her into his arms and knew that she went eagerly into them. Waited until they pulled apart with regret and understanding. Waited for their eyes to talk for their hearts, while their words were guarded and correct. Waited to make sure that they were all in place. All together and safe.

Rhiannon closed her purple eyes and whispered a small prayer for her goddess’ protection of the warriors of legend and lowered her arms. She felt the whisper of the ripple as time dropped into place and prayed that the changes they had gone through would be worth the effort worth the fight, worth the loss.

Turning to look at Dugald, she nodded slightly and the two of them went down to the barn and into the stall. For some reason Rhiannon seemed to feel that Jack was aware of what happened. Something in his eyes…but then as suddenly it was gone.

"Tis done, O'Neill." Rhiannon told him. "Dagda is no more."

"But his Goa'uld leader still lives, does he not?" Teal'c asked, his dark brown eyes concerned.

"Aye, Teal'c, he does." Rhiannon could not offer them any more words of comfort. Jorgamir the Goa’uld Lord that Dagda served was indeed still in control of his armies and could obtain other 'creatures' to do his work. But not now."

"Well," Jack stated quietly. "I think it is time to return to the SGC."

Rhiannon agreed, pressed some buttons on her bracelet and transported them back to the briefing room at the SGC.

George and Jacob were waiting for them. Hammond was startled by their sudden appearance, but Jacob was not. He was used to Rhiannon's comings and goings in that manner and, truth be told, he only had eyes for his daughter.

Opening his arms, Sam went straight into them and she sighed as Jacob enfolded her into his embrace.

"I take it," Hammond began, "That we won this round."

Rhiannon took a look around and waited a minute before she answered him. “Aye, General, this round.”

Rhiannon looked at the battle hardened faces of the men of SG-1. She had already noted the changes in Major Carter. She couldn’t explain the changes in them. The men were already battle hardened, but more different now.

Daniel would prove to be not as naïve as before; Teal’c more fierce and determined to free his brothers and sisters from servitude to the Goa’uld. And the O’Neill, her Warrior? She wondered how his heart would change. It was her one fear, that if his heart became more hardened and more resistant to the gentler lessons of the world, to softness, to love, what would become of it? The strength in the heart of a warrior was its ability to give and receive love, as well as fight for justice and for peace. If his heart had changed and would no longer be able to encompass all of that, what then of the warrior and his place in destiny’s line? Badb, however, lead her to these four and she knew that she could not nay, would not, falter in her duties.

Sighing, she turned to the window overlooking the fairy’s circle. Closing her eyes she appeared to shimmer before the ones watching her.

Llewellyn was waiting for her.

“Have you changed your thoughts, Rhiannon?” he asked her quietly. He knew that she threw herself whole-heartedly into the quest Babd had directed her to.

”Nay Llewellyn, I have not.” Rhiannon’s voice had a firm tone to it. “I cannot.”

“’Twil be more difficult with your Warrior now, Rhiannon. His heart has changed.”

Rhiannon nodded and then turned away from Llwellyn. “I could not stop what was to happen. Not completely. The changes are done. We can only go from where we are. I can only hope that our Goddess knew what she was doing with this quest of ours.”

“Do ye intend to tell them about the legend, Rhiannon?”

She nodded. “It is time that they knew. They may not believe, but it is time now for the truth.”

Llewellyn raised his hands and murmured a prayer for her and then faded away.

Rhiannon then turned and faced them.

“Do none of ye never wonder about what brought ye all here in the first place?” she asked them without any preamble.

Jack looked up at her sharply. “What, are you talking about this being our destiny?”

“Aye, Jack, I am.”

He scoffed and turned away from her.

“Ye can turn your back, O’Neill. But it changes nothing.”

Sam moved away from her father and walked over to where Rhiannon was standing. Her blue eyes looked deeply into Rhiannon’s purple ones.

“Tell us,” Sam asked her softly. “From the beginning.”

This is the first change, Rhiannon thought, a belief in the legends from a woman of science.

“There is a tale that has been passed down from generation to generation from the first ones brought to Cymrie. ‘Tis an old tale that was told on Earth and carried deep in our souls.”

Rhiannon proceeded to tell them the old tale.

The Gaelic Rhainnon spoke took on a musical tone that grew in strength and volume as it went on. Daniel in a sotto voice translated the legend as she went along.

“There was King of the Isle of Skye that had fought many hard battles to unite his people and to keep them safe. But new enemies were on the horizon and he feared that he would not be able to keep his land peaceful and quiet after his death. And so he went on the quest to find the wood nymph Sorcha.

He heard that those of stout heart and determined soul would be able to find her and to ask her blessing. Knowing that he would need to make this journey alone and in secret, he changed into the clothes of one of his servants and set off. The journey took him many days and many nights he slept under a tree or on the soft moss of the ground.

Many days he ate only what ever he was able to pick or beg. By the time he found the forest where Sorcha lived, he was tired and very near death. Lying against an ancient tree, he closed his eyes and sent up a silent prayer. He prayed for his people. He prayed for their safety. But he didn’t pray for himself.

Soon he fell asleep and didn’t notice the small fairies and elves approach him and place beside him food and water. He didn’t notice the Wood Nymph approach him and touch his forehead. A light surrounded him and his eyes opened, even though he still slept.

“Tell me,” Sorcha asked him. “What is it you seek King Lachlan?”

At first the King was too stunned to answer, even his sleeping self was paralyzed.

“Fear not, your prayers were for others, not yourself. Tell me what your heart desires.”

“My lady, Sorcha, I beg for your indulgence. I am here pleading for the peace and security of my people. I am old. I am battle weary. I only want my people and their land to live in peace and harmony.”

The slim figure regarded the weary King and after a few minutes nodded, a decision made.

“Fear not Lachlan, I shall grant you your prayer. Rest now and in the morning ye shall find yourself at home and the Warriors of Skye will be made known to you.”

There Rhiannon paused in her recitation and walked over to Major Carter.

“Sorcha sent four warriors to eternally guard Lachlan’s people.” Rhiannon placed her right hand on Sam’s forehead.

“The first of these warriors was Brina, the defender.”

Walking over to Teal’c, she placed her hand on his forehead. “The second of these was Angus, strength.”

Walking over to Daniel she said the name “Conan, wisdom.”

Finally going over to Jack, she gave a slight smile and said “Kalen, warrior.”

In English she continued. “Did none of you never ever wonder what brought you together in this place and at this time?”

Jack raised an eyebrow and Daniel jumped in before he could make a remark.

“Are you telling us that ‘we’ are the warriors of this legend?”

Rhiannon only looked at him, her purple eyes fathomless.

“You’re kidding, right?” Daniel didn’t know what to say. He had, heard of this legend. It was very old and very obscure. There were no historical records referring to an ancient king named Lachlan . There were also no references to the legend that Rhiannon had just recounted to them.

“You can look as shocked as you like. But I’ve told ye once before that will you or nil you, what is to be done, will be done.”

Looking straight into Sam’s eyes she asked a question that startled her. “Einstein’s theory, aye? Forks in the road.”

Sam gave her a puzzled look and didn’t quite know how to respond.

“Not much in this life is by chance. Ye all know that. There are things that happen in this world that are written far beyond the memory of man. And this battle is one of them.”

Turning to Jack she held his gaze with her own. “You have more power in this time than you know, O’Neill. But there are those that know who and what you are, better than you realize.” She stopped for a minute and considered her next words. “Do ye think it odd then, O’Neill, that the Asgard hold ye in such high regard? ‘Tisn’t for your sense of humor ye know.”

Rhiannon sighed and turned again to the window. Jacob understood that it was time to go and gave his daughter a last hug and kiss. He told George it was time to dial the Tok’ra base.

“Ready Rhiannon?” he asked her quietly. She both mystified and scared him. He knew better than those in the SGC what Rhiannon was capable of and he had seen what she could do. He wished that he understood what attracted him to her as well. She was unlike any earth woman he had known, that was for sure.

Rhiannon nodded and signaled to Dugald to start up the ramp of the gate. The others spoke quietly amongst themselves, but Jack headed over to the window overlooking the gate room. He leaned on his left hand against the window and watched as the three Tok’ra readied themselves to go. As if she sensed his eyes on her, Rhiannon looked up at him.

He saw her lips move as she raised her hood over her head.

The words were softly spoken in Gaelic, but somehow he had heard them and understood.

She had said. “As it is written, so it shall be done.”

Part of Jack felt that this destiny stuff was overrated, but another part of him, the part of his soul that still believed in the old tales his Grandpa used to tell him, more than believed what she had said. That part of him knew what she said to be true.

Jack had often wondered about the direction his life had taken, about the things that he had been able to do in his life and with his life, about the times that his death had been certain. He wondered about the losses that had devastated his soul and yet he continued on. Was there a ‘line of destiny’ that each of them had followed? Followed to the SGC to do battle with the Goa’uld? He couldn’t say. He only knew that something deep inside of him had always known that there was something he had to do and he always wondered what exactly it was. Rhiannon’s coming and her words had stirred that belief to life.

Jack suddenly pulled away from the window. Rhiannon, Jacob and Dugald had already departed. He took a good look at the others and for a brief minute he thought that he had seen them as Rhiannon had told them and then they changed back.

Her words haunted him. And he wondered if it was the last of Rhiannon they had seen or if she would be back, one more time for them to face their destiny.


“As it is written, so it shall be done.”
 

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