John walks down the alley, leaving all the sound behind from the courtyard. He can still hear Teyla's singing. He tries not to listen to the words, but he can tell that it is some kind of love song. As he continues to walk he hears the sound of a door opening. He instinctively turns to look. An old woman barely peeks out of the doorway. She carefully looks around before she gestures John to come in.
"Come in. Quickly please. Quickly," she whispers. Once John is in she quietly closes the door. She motions John to sit at her table and offers some food and drink. "You must take your lady friend and take her back to where you came from. You can't let her stay here."
John can read the fear in her face. He puts his cup down, "We had her back home, but she hurt some people to get here. I don't what to do. We can't keep her locked away. Is it something that goes away in time?" John asks.
The woman slowly shakes her head, "No. I am afraid not. All the young woman here, are cursed. They are all under his enchantment."
John leans closer to the woman, "Isn't there away to break the curse? We know it has something to do with the pendant."
The woman's eyes sadden and she rests a weary hand on John's, "I only know of one way. Death." John didn't like that answer and he's about to get up. "Wait," she asks. "I'll tell you a story." She gets up to peeks out the curtain to make sure no one is listening.
She returns to her seat and pours herself a drink. "There once was a young girl that especially had the lord's eye and they were to wed. Her brother was tired of seeing the women around here being his willing slaves and he was planning to do something. The young girl and her brother use to be so close. It tore him up inside to see her slip into a mindless world. He waited until she was alone, or so he thought, and begged her to leave with him. She of course said no and he tried to kill the lord. The lord told her to kill him and she did." Tears begin to flow down her face. "She did. She saw him lying there and know what she did crushed her spirit so much that her curse was broken, but she was so devastated by what she had done that she killed herself. Lord Lukin uses that to keep the men around here in line. Most of the are to old to fight anyhow."
"Well that's not going to happen today. My team and I are all close friends, but I don't think that she cares for us that much. If I knew it would work, I'd risk my life and have my friend take me home. There has got to be another way," sighs John.
They both get up from the table, "I'm sorry then, you're friend is lost forever." She carefully looks outside and motions to John when to leave and without any further words she closes the door.
While John is away, Ronon and Rodney watch Teyla. Lukin makes sure that he stays close to Teyla and begins to lead Teyla towards his home. Rodney and Ronon notice and they both get up to meet Teyla.
Rodney sees the anger in Ronon's eyes and stops in front of him. "Ronon, you can't just storm over there and start getting all over him. Teyla would get upset and that will be the end of us getting close to her."
"What then? Should we just pretend we're fine with it?" Ronon booms.
"Yes, exactly," Rodney answers. "Well, for now. Hopefully we can get her alone and figure out what to do from there." Ronon is not happy, but decides to go along.
They pretend that everything is fine when they meet up with Teyla. She is happy to see them both, but looks around for John.
"Where is John? I know he is here," she asks.
"Um… he's… He's having trouble with dealing with all this and he went for a walk," Rodney says nervously.
She looks at the curiously, "I do not understand. Why would it bother him so much?" Lukin begins to be uncomfortable and Ronon can see it in his face.
Ronon gives Lukin a smirk before responding to Teyla, "Don't you know?" She shakes her head. "He cares for you a lot Teyla and more than just friends."
Lukin sees the crushed look on her face and before they can say more he tries to lead Teyla away. Ronon stands in the way, towering over Lukin.
"Teyla we just started talking. Are you going to leave us now?" Ronon asks. She looks at Lukin with begging eye. "What's the matter? Don't you trust her with us?"
Lukin glares at Ronon before turning to Teyla, "I trust her. I will be right back Teyla and when I do we really need to say goodnight to your friends." She nods in agreement. He gives her a kiss and walks away.
Ronon, Rodney and Teyla sit at one of the tables. Both them sit across from her. When Rodney sat down he felt something uncomfortable. It's the spare stunner. Ronon is talking with Teyla and Rodney looks around nervously. He reaches for the stunner and fires it at Teyla under the table. She limps over and Ronon jumps up to get her.
Ronon looks at Rodney and tries not to speak to loudly, "What did you do that for?"
"I panicked. I didn't know what else to do," Rodney responds fearfully.
An older man comes up to them and offers to put Teyla in one of his spare beds. He tells a young girl to tell Lukin that Teyla decided to retire early and she is staying in his spare bedroom. She will be with him tomorrow night after their nuptials. The girl hurries along.
Ronon and Rodney look at each other in shock. "Nuptials?" Rodney asks.
The old man motions them to follow. Ronon carries Teyla to the spare room. "Shortly after the young lady returned, Lord Lukin asked her to marry him and she said yes. We are to prepare for it tomorrow. You must leave and get your other friend. Come back and take her away from here." Rodney asks why he is being so nice. The man lowers his head, shaking it and hurries them out the door.