Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate: Atlantis I wish I did because I would have some fun with the characters

A/N: This story was actually my sister's idea, when she told me it I laughed, but what happens alot is that she is right and she was. We joke saying this story is what would happen if Johanna Lindsey or Kathleen Woodiwiss wrote Stargate: Atlantis. If you don't know who those woman are, they are romance novelists and very good ones too. This story is intended to be dramatic, angsty and romantic with a capital R. I sincerly hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy thinking about this story.

Chained At The Heart

Teyla Emmagen stood up wiping the sweat from her brow and sighing with relief, "There that's the last of it." She turned to see Jraken who had a similar relieved look on his face. Taking in crops was not light work, and working in to hot sun was just as tiring, Teyla was glad that this was over and now she and her people could focus on preparing for the coming winter.

"I suppose it is a blessing that it took this long to bring them all in," Jraken said, "We will have more than enough this winter."

"Yes," She smiled, "We will be able to trade more for supplies and other things."

"But only a fool would leave at this time," Boron another man spoke, "It is in this season that theives and slavers travel."

Teyla frowned, how well she knew about this time of year due to the stories her father and others would tell. She remembered clearly how anxious her father would become at this time of year, afraid that bandits from Secue or the slave raids from Teylon or Sateda might come and lay claim to the Athosians. She also remembered her own anxiousness those first two times this season came around after her father was taken and the mantle of leadership had been passed on to her.

As if their world and others didn't have enough problems with the Wraith, they also had to worry about their people being carted off to serve masters who acted like swine. The thought of this happening to her own people left a bitter taste in her mouth, and Teyla silently swore to fight to the death before seeing her people in chains.

"Teyla," Boron asked pulling Teyla away from her thoughts, "Do you not have a sparring lesson with Athol?"

She smiled, "Yes I do." She told him while brushing herself off.

"By the Ancestors," Jraken excaimed, "I mourn the day your father taught you to fight like a man."

Teyla shook her head grinning, "You only say that because I can beat you."

Jraken agreed, "That and because it made you the stubborn thing you are."

"My father taught me the ways of a son because he knew it would be useful, who else do you think would have defened our people when I became leader."

"Your husband," Jraken stated flatly.

Teyla gave him a dissaproving look, "I have no husband."

"Yes," Boron joined in, "And your stubborn pride and the fact you can beat any man here ensures you never will."

Teyla sighed, this cheerful conversation had turned into chastisment, "I cannot help the way I am, perhaps someday I will meet someone who can beat me," A teasing smile graced her face, "If there is one out there."

Jraken and Boron both gave mock glares in her direction, "Get out of here you silly girl and go teach Athol how to fight, he sorely needs it." Jraken said before turning his back to her to check for weakness in the crops.

Teyla laughed all the way out of the tent. She made her way back to her own tent and began to dress into her sparring clothes. Something Boron had said nagged at her mind, was it true that because her father had raised as the son he never had that she would never find a man to love? Truth be told she did long to be with someone, from what people had told her she was beautiful by mens standards and still young. Was it really possible that a man's pride in dominating a woman would keep her from marrying?

Sometimes she almost wished she had not been taught how to fight and think for herself...almost. She only got this feeling when she watched other girls her age fall in love, but no man had ever come to her and tried to charm her to be a wife. Perhaps there was more to it than the fact she had been trained like a boy. She knew that if any of the Athosian men had tried to marry her she would have refused, most of the men her age she thought of as brothers. More than likely because she had played with them as children.

Another reason perhaps for why she hadn't married was the fact that none of them men here were desireable to her. Teyla wanted a man who was strong and couragous. Though that could be said about many of the men here, none were nearly as strong or adept as her. Perhaps she was more like women then she thought, she did want a man to dominate her, and sadly that would not be found here.

Ronon Dex stood tensely, his eyes fixed on his opponent, his sword held tightly in his hand. He waited for the man to strike, staring the opponent down, letting him see no other emotion save determination, Ronon was determined to win.

His patience payed off, the rival rushed at him sword raised. Ronon parried the blows with a matter of ease. His competitor began to show signs of fear, Ronon was like a stone wall in the aspect that not a single blow got passed him and he didn't seem to tire.

When Ronon saw that he took charge, overpowering the enemy with quick lunges and powerful blows. With a swing aimed just above this hilt, the sword flew from the man's hand. Enraged the man flew at Ronon, hoping to knock him down. But Ronon merely smiled and stepped to the side, giving him a thin cut along his back.

The man tried again and Ronon made a sweep of his sword at the man's legs. Due to the pain he fell and Ronon held the tip of the blade to the man's throat.

"That was foolish," Ronon stated the truth.

"Yeah well I hate it when you cut me like that." Was his reply. Ronon laughed as he helped his friend to his feet.

"Truly Solen did you expect to beat me when we spar?" Ronon asked still grinning over the victory.

"No, but I at least hope one day to provide you a real challenge."

Ronon nodded his head understanding, "And when will that be?"

Solen smiled, "As of right now, probably never." The two friends laughed again over the fight. Ronon had met Solen when they had been placed in the same regiment, they became fast friends and more like brothers. Solen had watched his friends rise in the ranks of the military, already a Specialist and he was still impressing the leaders. Solen also knew it wouldn't be long before Ronon led his own regiment.

Truthfully, Solen was slightly envious of Ronon. Not only was he an excellent fighter, but he came from a well respected family on Sateda. But more than that Ronon was loved by women and that was one thing every man envied Ronon for. It didn't seem to matter if he was covered in mud or blood, women's head's turned when ever Ronon entered a room, and Ronon wasn't displeased by this. With as many women lusting after him, it was a wonder why he hadn't been caught in marrige with any. Yes, Ronon had any man's dream, all he had to do was crook a finger and he had a woman to warm his bed that night, and there wasn't anything attatched.

"So tell me Ronon, how is Lida doing?" Solen asked, trying to bring Ronon's pride down.

But all Ronon did was shrug, "You'll have to ask Maren Reso's son that question."

"So I've heard, I'm just wondering why you let such a gorgeous women slip away from you."

Ronon rolled his eyes, "True her looks cannot be compared with any woman on Sateda, but she is the most selfish person on this world. She seeked me for my name and was willing to give her favors for it."

Solen smiled wider, "And I'm betting she jumped out of your bed the minute she found out you weren't seeking a wife."

"More like leapt from it, " He agreed. He was putting up his sword when he caught site of the paper by his things, he started to scowl and Solen noticed.

"Is that what has put you in the fine mood, that Lida left?" Solen asked.

"Hardly," Ronon answered handing him the paper.

"What is this?" Solen asked, "An assignment? Oh yes I know how much you hate fighting," Solen said sarcastically, when he caught sight of what the assignment really was he started laughing, "No wonder why you're so upset."

Ronon's reply was just to frown even more.

"Oh come on Ronon, you know it had to happen sometime. It's regulation that every person in the military must go on a slave run. It helps weed out the ones who aren't fighters."

Ronon sighed, "You know how I feel about slaves."

"Yes I do," Solen agreed, "I know your family doesn't normally keep slaves, the only ones you have are those given to you and you set them free. But you are the highest ranking Specialist to not have been on a slave run."

"Well I'm going and that's that, but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it." Ronon said gruffly.

Solen wasn't paying attention, "It says here your going to Athos. My father met their leader, Tugan Emmagen, on Manaria. Nice people, he said some are good fighters."

"You're really making me feel good about this." Ronon said in a tone that was clear he was anything but happy.

"I also hear that Tugan was taken by the Wraith and now his daughter leads the Athosians."

Ronon raised his eyebrows, "A woman? That's interesting."

Solen grinned, "She'll hate us for sure," But then he reconsidered, "I take that back, with your charm you may just come back with a wife after all."

Ronon rolled his eyes again, "The day that happens, the Ancestors will laugh from above."

Teyla was in her tent when Ralen came running in, "The circle has opened!" He exclaimed panting from the long run.

It took a mere second for the boy's words to sink in. Wraith was the first thing she thought of but dismissed that, she sensed nothing so that left only friends from another world or...

Teyla wasn't going to take the chance knowing that it could very well be bandits from some terrible place like Russon.

"Quickly," She told the boy, "Go warn the women and children to run to the caves, you know the ones with all the drawings, and tell the men to be prepared to fight."

Ralen rushed to do as he was told, and Teyla quickly threw on clothing that would not hinder her fighting. She placed her knife in its scabbard at her waist. It was when she turned to rush out of the tent that she heard the screams. Her heart nearly stopped beating when she heard them and she knew for certain, these were no friends of theirs.

When she got outside her tent she saw panic and chaos. Her people were running some heading in the direction of the caves, others being chased by the men Teyla now knew as enemies. Where they were from Teyla had no idea all she knew was that they would pay for what they were doing to her people.

She saw a sturdy wooden pole used to set up tents and she broke it in half across her knee and turned to the nearest stranger. The man caught site of her and laughed at her stance. Teyla knew that his inability to see a woman as a threat would be his downfall.

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Ronon was walking through the ruins of the camp, thoroughly disgusted with many of the men here. Some of them seemed to take distinct pleasure in binding the people especially the women. He shook his head longing for this trek to be over.

It was then that he heard shouting from another side of the camp. He rushed over to see what was amiss. When he got there he found several of the men holding noses and other parts of their bodies swearing in their tongue.

"What's happened?" He asked one of them.

"It's that damn woman, she must have been raised by all that's evil." The man complained as he tried to stop the bleeding from his mouth. Ronon was confused, a woman had caused this?

He looked on the other side of the tent and finally saw who they were talking about. She was fighting with mere sticks and here she was beating another one of the Satedan men. She hit his arm with the stick in her left hand while using the other whip at his face. Now in pain in both his arm and his nose he stopped thinking about the dangerous woman, which gave her to opportunity to drive a hard kick into his stomach. He fell over having completley lost his will to fight anymore.

Teyla whipped back her weapon but was blocked by something. She whirled around to see a giant of a man with his sword raised. She barely reached his shoulder's in height and his uniform did not hide how large his arms were. Indeed this one was going to be a challenge.

Ronon was likewise studying her, she must have been tired from fighting so many men but she didn't show it. Her hair was unkempt and sweat that beaded down her face was the only thing that showed how long she had been fighting. But one thing he saw that could help him was the anger in her eyes, yes he could use that against her.

He stepped back, seeing if she was angry enough to charge at him even though he had the advantage. Evidently she was.

Under normal circumstances Teyla wasn't foolish enough to charge a man with a sword with a pole broken in half, but rage blinded her from everything but her need to beat this man.

He blocked on of her sticks with the sword, thankfully her weapon held, with the other she hit him in his sword arm, hoping to hurt him. But the man was like stone, it was almost like he didn't feel the hit. And now she was played the fool, with his free hand he grabbed both of her sticks and twisted so hard that she was forced to let go, and with that he shoved her back wards onto her back.

He sheathed the sword and thn deftly broke the sticks across his knee and tossed them aside. But she had another weapon, she unsheathed her knife from her waist and rushed at him with it.

He was surprised at this move and very amused. So the little cat has several tricks up her sleeve, He thought as he jumped back from her swipe with the knife.

It enraged her even more that he was smiling, she was going to find a way for him to stop, by the Ancestors she would.

But he had surprises of his own, he darted left snagging her free arm and pinning if behind her back. She tried to turn around again but he snatched her other arm with the knife and twisted it back forcing her to drop it.

She tried to twist away but his hands held firm, by the Ancestors, he was strong.

"Stop struggling," He told her, "You wouldn't like our method of stopping you."

She turned her head as far as she could, rage all over her face, "What are you going to do with my people?" She asked icily.

"They are to be made slaves on Sateda, as are you." Was his reply.

"Who are you?" She asked

Ronon was a bit surprised by that question, "My name is Ronon Dex, why do you ask?"

"So that when I become free I will know whom I will first go after." She hissed.

He looked amused, "May I ask the name of the person I must watch for."

"My name is Teyla Emmagen," She told him, she saw the surprised look on his face.

"You're Tugan's daughter." He said surprised, he nearly started laughing. Were the Ancestors playing a game with him, Solen was most definatley going to be amused when he heard this.

He found a length of rope and quickly bound her hands making sure the knots held strong, he had a feeling this woman was adept at getting out of ropes.

Now that he had her at his mercy he began to notice what a woman she was. Her light brown hair was sprinkled with a tinge of red, and flowed past her shoulders in ripples. Against his will, his eyes trailed the length of her, absorbing every curve. A desire to see the rest of this woman took over him, and he turned her around. Indeed she was as beautiful as he had assumed. Lovely brown eyes were set around an oval face. Ronon grpped her chin between his thumb and forfinger, as if to check for wounds, but the reality was to see if her skin was as smooth as it appeared. His eyes trailed to her lips, a rosy pink and tantalizingly inviting.

"What are you doing?" She asked a twinge of anger in her voice.

What would he say? That he was admiring her beauty? "I was looking over my people's property." Was his reply not matter how much he hated it.

He watched her soft eyes harden into rage, "I am no one's property!" She said between gritted teeth.

He understood her anger in her words and led her to where many of her people were tied up too. He reluctantly left her there, thinkin that would be the last he saw of her and hoping it wasn't.

Teyla watched Ronon leave hating him with every step her took. Morna was next to her bound as well and whimpering, "Teyla, what is going to happen to us."

A feeling of defeat came over her and with it the strong urge to cry, "I don't know." She had failed her people and with that her father was what she thought when she was yanked to her feet and taked to a different world far from home.

A/N: If you think Ronon was out off character due to the fact he was kind of playful, check out Trinity, when he meets Solen he definatly acts different. I believe 7 years of running from the Wraith has made him wary of people he doesn't know well. But he was definatly more comfortable around Solen. I hope you liked this chapter and I'm begging you to review this story. Next chapter coming soon.