Chapter 8 Jayecina Queen of dragons

The early morning sun shone into the cave entrance and Kate opened her eyes to the silhouette of Jack standing in the archway. Jack flexed his neck and his shoulders, his arms stretched out to each side he took a deep breath and filled his lungs and coughed.

"Don't you just love that fresh air!" he said sarcastically.

Suddenly there was a loud screech and that eerie whoosh, whoosh sound. Kate scrambled to join Jack who had quickly armed himself and was crouching in the cave entrance looking skyward.

"It's so beautiful!" Kate exclaimed in awe, as the dragon hovered above them its wings outstretched.

Jack threw her a discerning look. Suddenly they were distracted by someone approaching the cave mouth. Seconds later Sam's head appeared and she scrambled into the cave.

"Don't sneak about like that Carter!" Jack cried out, quite annoyed.

"I'm sorry sir, I didn't want to attract too much attention," Sam replied.

"I suppose that's understandable," said Jack raising his eyebrows and gazing up at the dragon. "Hibernation my ass," he said as he recalled Daniels words and watched the dragon hover above them.

"Sir…" Sam interrupted now that she had caught her breath. "Marrik and his tribe must have moved out early this morning, they've taken all their weapons, I think they're going after the dragon."

"Jack we have to stop them," Kate cried out, panic written on her face but a look of confusion in her eyes when she wondered why she'd said it.

Jack realised that somehow Kate was definitely part of Daniels elaborate plan. "Carter! Grab your rifle. Kate you…

Jack threw an alarming glance at Kate in the nightdress then shook his head and sighed as he held out his jacket. "Next time, remind me to buy you pyjamas."

Carter raised an eyebrow and cocked her head then watched inquisitively as Kate struggled to put it on. There was an unexpected crackling from Jack's breast pocket and Jack took the radio adjusting the jacket as he did so.

"O'Neill, are you there?" a familiar deep voice resounded.

"Teal'c!" cried Jack.

"O'Neill, it is good to hear your voice" replied Teal'c.

"Likewise, where are you, over?" asked Jack.

"We are on to the ledge from which we saw the Tel'tak fall. We have been observing a small tribe heading upwards towards where we believe the dragon's cave is located." replied Teal'c.

"That would be Marrik with his band of merry men," said Jack sarcastically. "We're on our way up there now, if they get there first try and hold them off, preferably without any bloodshed."

"Very well, O'Neill" added Teal'c.

As Jack put the radio back in his jacket pocket he paused and stared at Kate who was totally swamped in the massively oversized jacket. "Queen of dragons!" he exclaimed out of the blue and shook his head again.

The trio followed the dragon's path and managed to reach the peak's summit without much difficulty and before Marrik and his men arrived. They stood before the entrance to a large cave where supposedly the dragon had entered.

"Ok now what?" said Jack catching his breath and looking around.

Kate was too busy trying to breathe to notice the small band of men as they approached, Jack had noticed them and stepped forward.

"Hold it right there!" he commanded Marrik and his tribe. "There'll be no slaying of dragons this day or any other day." Said Jack in his authoritarian tone and much to Marrik's wonderment as he didn't understand a word he was saying.

Marrik cried out causing the other men to raise their spears and chant angrily.

To Kate's amazement she remembered what Daniel had said to her and instinctively knew what she had to do.

"No more killing!" Kate cried as she stepped forward and letting Jack's jacket slip from her as she went.

Jack backed away and went to stand by Carter and they glared open-mouthed as Kate stepped forwards towards the cave entrance and stood between the men and the creature within. Suddenly from inside the cave came a fearsome roar which sent the men reeling backwards and the hairs on Kate's neck stand up like needles on a pincushion, but she didn't move, partly through fear and partly because she knew this was what she had to do.

They all watched with intent as a warm glowing mist surrounded her and wisped backwards into the cave and towards the dragon.

"My name is Jayecina and it was my father who brought the dragons to this world." By some strange magic the tribe seemed to understand her and she became more confident. "He brought them here not to harm you but to protect you from a much worse enemy that would enslave you all. You have heard the stories your ancestors tell of evil snake like creatures with glowing eyes that snatched your people up from their homeland and brought them here several centuries ago."

Kate glanced over at Jack who had carefully raised his rifle and was aiming it, holding his breath, his eyes narrowing as the dragon ventured forward.

Kate shook her head "NO!" Jack acknowledged and raised his head but kept the rifle on target.

Kate heard the dragon's soft growl behind her and its warm breath licked her skin "As long as there are dragons living on this land, the evil will not return."

Marrik and his men lowered their spears, falling to their knees and bowing before her. The dragon moved closer, it seemed to acknowledge their loyalty and humility towards this human female. The dragon was curious and took several more steps towards her.

Kate stood motionless hardly daring to breathe as drops of saliva fell onto her hair and trickled down her shoulder. Jack could feel the tiny beads of perspiration on his brow as he lowered his head to the rifle and narrowed his eyes to take aim.

"Damn it Daniel, where the hell are you? He whispered under her breath.

A bright light surrounded them and Daniel appeared from nowhere in the guise of an old man and spoke to the dragon in the ancient dialect. The dragon backed away into the entrance of her cave and lowered her head to the ground.

The last time Jack had seen Daniel glowing like that was when he was dying and he had asked Jack to tell the others to stop trying to heal him and to let him go.

Jack slowly lowered his rifle and stared at Daniel his eyes glazed.

Marrik had stood at the head of his tribe and was filled with awe. Kate suddenly felt something tug at her from behind and she turned to see several baby dragons that had appeared and were circling her curiously and tugging her nightdress. Kate realised they were hungry so she went over to Marrik and asked him and his men to bring food…lots of food. Marrik now recognised his new role was not to kill the dragon but to protect it.

Kate looked over at Daniel, the light had gone and he appeared as himself and walked towards her. "You did a good job" Daniel said smiling. Kate was overwhelmed as she tried to cope with the rollercoaster of emotions that she was feeling.

Jack turned to Sam who had remained at Jack's side throughout "That's my line" he said as Sam smiled at Daniel then went up to him and gently planted a kiss on his cheek and returned to Jack's side brushing away a tear.

Jack took his jacket and placed it back around Kate's shoulders and they watched intently as several of Marrik's tribe scrambled back down the mountain bringing the carcass of a freshly killed goat back to the entrance to the cave then scampered away again to join rest of his group.

"I think everything's going to work out fine!" said Daniel smiling before he disappeared almost too suddenly, leaving everyone speechless and emotional.

…..

Seeing them ready to leave Marrik decided to accompany the team back to their vessel.

The automatic doors opened and Jack stood in the doorway as the others said their goodbyes to Marrik and entered silently. Kate had remained by Jack's side.

Marrik smiled as he shook Jack's hand and babbled something in his native tongue which Jack could only presume meant goodbye and thank you, then he went over to Kate and got down on one knee and bowed his head low.

Kate was slightly taken aback and turned to Jack for guidance "What should I do?"

"I think he wants your blessing, either that or he's asking for your hand in marriage," said Jack.

Kate turned to Jack somewhat dismayed.

Jack took Marrik's sword and handed it to Kate. "You're a queen now, why not knight him."

"You're joking right!" exclaimed Kate to which Jack took her hand and lifted the sword and tapped it on Marriks shoulders and babbled something about pledging his life to serving the lady of the cave.

Kate looked at him even more dismayed and Jack shrugged his shoulders.

Marrik looked up, Kate handed the sword back to him and they both smiled.

"There you see, you've made him a happy man" Jack quipped.

As Marrik walked away he turned for one last glance and Kate couldn't help but feel a hint of sadness.

Jack looked over to her, "Our job here is finished! Let's go home."

THE END