A/N So... another chapter done and ready with great help from bluetoads. She's rather a co-author than a beta and comes up with all the little details I miss - and the differences to the German dub concerning the characters and language. Amazing, how much a different voice can change a character... I hope it is the right version of the chapter this time and I did not overlook any parts not corrected yet, but it's not half past five this time and I've had enough coffee to be at least half awake. Hope you enjoy!

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"I can feel them all the time, vaguely. Like during the siege." Teyla sat down next to Sheppard, one of the coarse wool blankets around her shoulders. The cold seeped into their little sleeping cave, complete with 'facilities' that were nothing more than a hole in the ground, and they had all wrapped themselves in several layers of wool and fur to keep the icy draft out.

"So McKay's right. They're in orbit." John fiddled with the bracelet. The small green crystal had stayed cold and dead since his sudden healing. He had positioned himself next to the entrance and every now and then the curtain moved far enough to show the trees outside. They were slowly appearing out of darkness while dawn crept into the sky. He had decided to take the last watch. None of the team really trusted the Damay. Teyla had woken early and left Ronon and Rodney snoring in the back of the cave.

"There are many, I think." The Athosian frowned, her head cocking slightly to the side, as she seemed to listen to some inner voice only she could hear. John thought it was kind of creepy every time she did that thing where she used her telepathic abilities to reach out for those of the Wraith. "Some close, some very far away."

John nodded. "Figures. Hives' in orbit, patrols in the atmosphere and of course…" He paused for a moment and tied the bracelet around his wrist and then sounding thoroughly disgusted added "…darts send to cull this world."

Teyla shook her head. "It is not like a normal culling, it… it feels different. I could…"

"Don't" Sheppard interrupted her. "Don't risk it." He glanced at Teyla and thought she looked hurt for a moment, but then she nodded.

"I understand."

They both sat in silence for a moment. After they had withdrawn to their own cave, they had discussed McKay's theories and their situation. Without weapons, chances of fighting their way through Damay and canyon people and reaching the 'gate were slim, so they had decided to wait and see. But they would be ready for anything.

A rustling drew Sheppard's attention to the outside and he raised a hand to lift the curtain aside just enough to take a peek into the natural atrium amidst the dark grey stone of the labyrinth. Faintly outlined by the first light of day, a lone silhouette kneeled underneath the trees next to the small stream. Whispered words were almost lost in the never-ceasing wind, but the strangeness of the sounds and the bright vowels, rather sung than spoken, reminded Sheppard of the greeting the Damay and canyon people had exchanged after they had fled to the Labyrinth. It sounded like Ancient to him – or what McKay had identified as being Ancient.

Sheppard stood, but gestured for Teyla to remain in the cave. He drew the curtain aside and stepped out into the clearing. The muttering stopped and the kneeling silhouette rose. Faint light caught in Ani Dhias blonde hair as she faced Sheppard, her Asian features unreadable. In the twilight she looked like a strange kind of feline creature, half-wild with a golden mane framing her face.

"We've got to talk" Sheppard said. She nodded and suddenly looked very tired, the wildness gone from her hazel eyes.

"Will you come with me?" she simply asked, looking up to meet his gaze. He hesitated for a moment, surprised by her sudden directness.

"Uh, it's not like we don't want to help, but…"

"I do not want to force you" she interrupted him. "I'm not even sure I could. But the Princess – her orders are clear. If someone of the Blood of Kings enters our world, they have to come to the Holy City. It is said… it is said it is the only hope to bring back the days of old. And now that the Hunters have come to our world..." She stopped, averting her eyes.

"Listen…" Sheppard lifted his hands and she turned her head again, frowning slightly. "We would love to help you. Really. But right now we have to contact our people and warn them about the situation. And report in that we're alive and fine."

She nodded slowly, then rubbed her forehead as if trying to get rid of her frown. "I understand" she said in a small voice. "The point is" she looked up and there was a cold intensity in her eyes that reminded him of McKays opinion of her. Creepy. "We have no time. I have not been in the Circle since half a year ago, but the Shualay tell me that their trading partners have not come since the Hunters arrived. The steppe protects the Scattered of the Damay, the Labyrinth protects the Shualay digging for its secrets, but the people inside the Circle…" She dew a deep breath.

"The people inside the Circle and outside the City have no protection whatsoever. Like the people of the coast. And I have seen the smoke rising from the fisher's settlements and the darts circling and sending down their nets of light. If we do not hurry right now there will be very little left to save. I need you. Do I have to beg? Do I have to beat you unconscious and drag you to the City with a rope around your neck? I'd be willing to do both or…" a wry smile passed her face "at least try." She nodded at someone behind John's back and when he turned around he saw Teyla standing in the entranceway, her face dark.

"I don't think you'll have to do either" he slowly answered, turning back around to face her. "But you have to understand…"

"I do understand" she snapped. "But you have to understand me. People are dying, people I am responsible for and I'll do anything to stop the Hunters from taking them all in their search for the City." She tilted her head, studying him. "Something tells me you understand that very well" she whispered.

"I do." His thoughts raced… He did not know this woman or any one else on this world and she probably could tell him anything to convince him. She changed from friendly and open to cold and calculating in the blink of an eye, but still…

"I only need you, though" she interrupted his thoughts. "You have the Blood of Kings, or the Healer would not have worked for you." She pointed at his wrist where the stone of the bracelet caught the first true light of the dawning day. When he lifted his hand to untie the little Ancient gadget, she shook her head.

"Keep it", she said. "I am not of the Blood. Sua Nhin was, but she… she is with the Hunters now. Maybe you will have to use it again. If you come with me" she changed the topic once again "that does not mean your people have to accompany you. They can return and report, I will send to the Scattered for protection."

"We will not leave the Colonel behind." Teyla stepped up to them. Her voice was calm, but her eyes were fierce. She and Ani Dhia measured each other and for a split second John thought they would be at each other's throats. Then the steppe woman shrugged.

"It is your decision. I can also ask some of the Scattered to send a message to your world."

A gust of wind tugged at the women's hair and the red ribbons sewn to Ani Dhia's tunic, filling the silence with a low, moaning sound. Leaves rustled, the trees whispering among each other.

"How can I trust you'd actually do that?" Sheppard finally asked. Smoothly, Ani Dhia knelt down and raised her hands, palms outward.

"I swear on the Princess and the King and the steppe that I, Ani Dhia of the Damay, will send a message to your people telling about your situation, your whereabouts and your reasons for not returning - without any falseness" she said in a strange sing-song voice. When she rose again, she looked at both him and Teyla expectantly.

"I guess you're serious" Sheppard remarked, stunned. "One more thing, though – (,) we need our weapons back."

She nodded, a slight frown on her face. "Of course. How else would you fight against the Hunters if we came across them? You are free people and no dardray. Your weapons will be returned to you, just as our weapons will be returned to us." She drew a deep breath, taking in the crisp morning air. Exhaling, the warmth of her breath painted a faint cloud framing her Asian features before the wind took it away.

"You better wake your friends" she said. "Dawn has come and we will leave soon." With a nod, she turned to enter another cave. As she lifted the curtain, John spotted a smiling Ahn Doa sitting inside next to the entrance.

"Seems like we're going to see a Holy City." Although trying to sound cheerful, John felt a feeling of foreboding. They were about to travel across a world going through a culling. Teyla watched him for a moment, her expression unreadable, before she turned to enter their cave, rousing Ronon and Rodney from their sleep.

Maybe half an hour later men and women with short hair had brought breakfast. A tasteless light bread with more fresh vegetables and a strong tea to drink while they sat down with the Damay. The steppe people spoke little while eating, only Ea Lhin chatted happily with Rodney. She actually seemed to like both him and his conversation and started drawing lines into the soft fur they were sitting on while they talked, their words too low for Sheppard to overhear.

His hunger had receded back to his normal level and he was first to finish breakfast, leaning back to watch the Damay. Ani Dhia was concentrated and silent, just like San Sia and Ghia Dan, preparing for what lay ahead. Even Ahn Doa seemed less cheerful, a strange kind of melancholy in his eyes while he sipped a cup of steaming tea.

Finally the short-haired people – dardray – returned, taking the bowls and cups with them. A woman knelt down and, while keeping her eyes lowered, informed them the Mediator would see them to the border.

They rose, packed what little they had and were handed bags full of bread and dried meat and leather flasks filled with water. When they were ready, Ani Dhia stepped up to John. "It is a great honor to be sent to the Circle by a Mediator of the Shualay. They may not be of the Blood and most of them never were to the temples of the Holy City, but they have their own kind of wisdom." Her shoulders straightened. "I have to thank you, once again, for coming with me. But…" she smiled "for me to keep my promise you'll have to give me the address of your homeworld."

"Already done" McKay quipped from behind. "Ea Lhin knows."

Both Sheppard and Ani Dhia turned around, surprised. "Fine" the steppe woman finally said and headed for the green-eyed girl. Rodney came up to Sheppard, data pad in hand.

"I gave her the chevrons for the Alpha Site" he explained. "No harm done. And she told me some very interesting things about this world." He lifted his data pad and touched the screen which lit up and showed a rough diagram.

"The Circle is called the Circle cause it's obviously… a circle." Sheppard nodded. The picture showed – a circle. Plus a dot right in the middle and a twisting line to the left. "Exactly in the middle lies their so-called Holy City. She's never been there, but she was pretty sure about that. Lots of temples, obviously. And this" he pointed at the wavy line "is where the coastline is supposed to be. The point is – a perfect circle with a city right in the middle? Seems a little strange."

"Everything about this world seems strange" Sheppard whispered under his breath, eyeing the Damay getting ready for their travel.

"I know. But this… you want to hear my theory?" He waited for Sheppard to nod before he continued. "Impact. Something impacted on this continent and whatever this city is, it's placed right at the heart of a huge impact crater."

"And what does that mean?"

The scientist shrugged. "I'm not sure. But it's a very strange kind of coincidence." He switched off the data pad and stuffed it back into his backpack. "Just keep it in mind."

Right then another couple of dardray arrived and handed them their weapons. The Damay slung belts holding quivers and knives around their hips. While the team checked their P90s and 9 mils and, in Ronon's case, his sword, knives and blaster, Sheppard realized they might have been disarmed, but to disarm Rodney, one would have to take his brain away. He nodded reassuringly at the rather nervous looking scientist, and then the dardray led them through the maze of tunnels, caves and clearings. A tense kind of silence had settled onto the small group and Sheppard caught himself fiddling with the healing bracelet several times before they suddenly stepped out of the last tunnel into a canyon.

The old woman was already there, sitting cross-legged on some kind of open sedan chair, armed men and women as well as dardray at her side. The pale light of the world's sun took away some of the magical aura that had surrounded her the first day they had met, but it also showed the intensity in her clear, bright eyes.

The Damay knelt down before her and she lifted her right hand in a gesture of blessing, speaking words in the language that was obviously a kind of Ancient. Sheppard decided to keep standing and the team followed his example. Some of the Shualay frowned at this affront, but the old woman just smiled an almost toothless smile and repeated the same gestures and words for them.

"The wind tells me your journey won't be easy" she said in her strange, old songbird voice. "Which is obvious. It also tells me this world will change once you reach the Holy City of the King. Do not despair, do not give up, you will get to the city. Though I cannot promise you will get there unharmed." She laughed and again she seemed to be decades younger for a second. "Go with my best wishes. May the wind be a guardian and brother to you."

When the Damay stood and bowed one last time, John simply said "Thanks" and the Mediator smiled. She made a dismissive gesture with her hand and the Damay set off, walking down the canyon. The team followed.

"No – what do you call it? Ansay?" Teyla asked. Ani Dhia shook her head, glanced over her shoulder for a second.

"We only brought six of them along and they cannot carry two riders for long" she explained. "And outside the steppe, hiding is easier on foot."

"What's the terrain inside this Circle?" Ronon, silent until now, closed the distance to Ani Dhia with long strides.

"Very different from the steppe", the Damay woman said and flicked her long ponytail of honey-blonde hair back. "Water, small lakes, woods. Lots of fields and small villages and farms. The soil is rich and the people of the Circle produce enough food to supply themselves, the Holy City and huge parts of the Labyrinth. They also are traders, transporting ore and precious crystals from the Labyrinth people like the Shualay to the City and amulets back to Labyrinth and steppe. And being so close to the Princess and the Holy City, they are peaceful people. Not many weapons among them." With the last words, her voice became grim.

Ahn Doa and Ea Lhin both stopped for several heartbeats to string their bows, their movements quick and routine. When she was done, Ea Lhin walked next to Sheppard and he saw her slipping a broad ring of metal onto the thumb of her right hand, then fingering the taught bowstring, holding it securely behind the ring. He had only seen modern archery before, fiberglass bows, pulley, and aluminium shafts. These weapons were totally different, both primitive and elegant at the same time. And the Damay surely knew how to work them.

The canyon opened into a broader one and that one finally ended just like the one that had led them into the Labyrinth a day ago. The land fell away from where they stood and they had a good view over woodland and the silvery surface of a lake. The wind was stronger here, free of the twisted pathways of the Labyrinth. It seemed a little warmer than on the steppe, less fierce, almost tame as it played with hair and the colourful adornments of the Damay's clothes. And it carried the faint, but fresh smell of burning wood.

"Into the Circle" Ani Dhia said and she and Sheppard took the first step together, heading for the woods beneath them.