Hey, look what's back! I know, I know. I've done the start-and-stop thing on this story soooo many times, but this time I am resolute. I will complete it, even if it takes me another 4 years (Oh, gods no!).
A/N: This faery tale chapter is just as sappy as it was before, but it sets up the rest of the story, so...
Special Thanks: I want to thank iloveorchids for reminding me of this story. It really kicked my arse into gear and made me want to finish this.
And my favourite Brat for telling me I need a Stargate/Vala re-watch. I'm re-watching it. :)
Disclaimer: I still don't own the Stargate franchise.
Spoiler Warnings: This story follows most of seasons 9 & 10 plus the movies so I would say there are spoilers. In fact, this story is just one big spoiler.
Prologue: The Locket
Long ago in a faraway land there lived a young maiden named Iridina. She was beautiful and kind. She was loved by all of the villagers, but she could not find happiness. She wanted to find true love.
One day she travelled outside the village to visit the sorceress. This sorceress was said to be thousands of years old and possess great magic. Iridina decided that she was her last hope for finding true love. When she arrived she found a beautiful woman who looked not much older than herself. She had long brown hair and a kind smile.
"You are Iridina." she said. Iridina stared at her and the woman smiled. "It is all right, child. I have been expecting you. You have come in search of your true love."
"How do you know that?" Iridina asked.
"I know a great many things, child. Your arrival was foreseen long ago and I have been preparing for it. Come." She motioned for Iridina to follow her into a small tent.
Iridina took a seat and watched as the woman pulled a small pouch from a wooden chest. Opening it, she pulled out a lovely necklace.
"Take it, child." The woman held out the jewellery and Iridina noticed the small locket on the end.
Unsure what to do, Iridina could only stare at the woman. "I can't just take it."
"Of course you can. It is yours."
"Mine?" she asked, still not quite sure what to make of all this. At the woman's nod, Iridina gently took the necklace and looked at it with wonder. The piece was intricately shaped with a weaved design. She rubbed her thumb over it for a moment before looking up at the curious woman again. "Who are you?"
"That matters not. What matters is that you have gotten what you came for."
"But how will a locket help me find love?"
"This locket is fused with knowledge. When you open it, you will see the face of your true love."
Cautiously, Iridina opened the locket. In it she saw the face of a handsome young man with dark hair and eyes as green as the grass.
"I do not know this man." she told the woman, confused.
"Ah, but you will, in time. You need only wait for your paths to cross."
"When will that be?"
"When the time is right." she replied cryptically.
Iridina frowned but asked no more questions. She slipped the chain around her neck and stood to leave.
"One more thing, child." Iridina turned to look at the woman one last time. "When you have found your true love, return to me with the locket and the young man." Iridina nodded then turned to leave again.
Many years later, Iridina had yet to meet the man in the locket. She despaired of ever seeing him. She wanted to go to the sorceress and give back the necklace, but something held her back. Some tiny hope.
One day she was walking through the village square when she saw a band of travellers come through. It was not unusual for merchants to arrive at this time of the year so she didn't pay much attention. She was about to enter a market stall when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw her best friend, Trin, smiling up at her.
"Did you hear the news of the travellers?" she asked.
"The merchants? No, what is so interesting?" Iridina asked indulgently.
"They are not merchants. They are the personal guards of Prince Madriq. He is on a quest to find a wife. The king has demanded he marry or give up his right to the throne."
"What consequence is it of ours? You are married and I am to old to think of such things."
"You are not so old, only twenty-five years. Have you truly given up on finding love?" Trin asked sadly.
"I have." she stated, matter-of-fact. "I have lived in a world of naïve hope for far too long. It is time for me to accept my fate and move on."
"I don't believe you. If that were true, you would have returned that locket to the sorceress."
"In fact, I was just thinking on that today. While I don't believe her powers to be false, I do think they have failed me. I am going to return this to her tomorrow." With that she turned and left, but not before seeing the crestfallen look on her friend's face. She was too old to believe in true love. A few more years and she would be deemed too old for marriage. Better that she marry one of her many suitors than wait for a man who may never come.
So engrossed in her thoughts, she did not notice the green-eyed prince gazing at her with much interest. Prince Madriq watched the flaxen-haired beauty as she walked past. She was the most entrancing creature he had ever seen. He had almost given up finding his love when the gentle sorceress had arrived at the castle. She'd told him that the one he sought could be found in this simple village. He was hesitant to believe her but he felt he had little choice. If he did not have a wife by the next harvest, he would lose his right to the throne.
Without a word to his guards, Prince Madriq followed the young maiden. Now that he'd found her, he refused to allow her out of his sight for even a second.
Iridina had decided to take a short-cut home through the forest. Just as she was coming to the clearing near her house, she heard a twig snap. She turned to see someone hiding behind a tree.
"Come out, I know you're there." She waited a moment and was about to leave when a tall, dark stranger stepped out. Her hand went unconsciously to the necklace as she stared wide-eyed at the man from the locket.
"It's you," she whispered.
"Pardon?" he asked, stepping slowly toward her.
"I mean, who are you?" she covered quickly. She couldn't believe what she was seeing and was too afraid to hope.
"I am Prince Madriq." He walked nearer to her. "I saw you in the marketplace and I could not let you our of my sight."
"You followed me?" She could barely breath as he closed the distance between them.
"I confess, I did. I have come a long way in search of you. I was afraid that if I let you disappear, I would never see you again. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Iridina," she whispered.
"Iridina," He took her hand in his. "I have searched many years for my true love. I'd almost given up hope when a sorceress came to me and told me I could find her here. Today when I saw you I knew my search was over. My quest complete."
"A sorceress?" Iridina asked, incredulous. It couldn't be. But... "Did this sorceress have long brown hair and a kind smile?"
"Yes," he answered, confused. "She was very insistent that I come here as quickly as possible. She told me that my time was running out."
"Come with me. I wish you to see something." She led him to the edge of the village where the sorceress lived. He followed her without a word, never letting go of her hand.
When they arrived, the sorceress was sitting in her tent. She smiled and motioned them toward the chairs.
"Ah, I see you two have finally found each other. It took you long enough." This was directed at Madriq and he blushed a light pink. Looking toward Iridina, she asked, "Have you brought the locket, child?" Iridina took off the necklace. "Good. Now boy, look inside and tell me what you see."
Madriq opened the locket and glanced inside. His head shot up to look at Iridina then the sorceress.
"Well?" the sorceress asked. "Who is it?"
"It is Iridina. I don't understand." He looked toward Iridina but she was just as confused as he.
"The knowledge of the locket allows the beholder to view their one true love. My work here is done."
"What of the locket?" Iridina asked as the woman stood.
"Keep it and pass it down to your children. I will collect it when I next have need of it."
Madriq and Iridina nodded in understanding and the sorceress disappeared with a bright light. The couple could only stare in disbelief as she vanished. After a few moments, they looked to one another and smiled. They'd both come close to giving up but they'd pushed on, never allowing the hope of true love to completely disappear.