A/N: Thanks to Music-Gurl71 for the review, she's a very talented author so if you haven't read her work, check it out! Please keep reading and reviewing, seeing what you guys think of the story always inspires me to write, and no that's not a poorly disguised attempt at blackmail (well, maybe it was, but just a little, teeny bit). Also, whenever you see the word 'friend' capitalized it indicated it's one of Saro's animal Friends, not a human friend. See the difference? Oh, and again I'm not making money off this and I don't own anything Stargate related, I'm just having some fun writing about characters that people other than me own. Anyhoo, back to the story!

Chapter Seven

RONON

Saro crept forward and settled in front of the fire, sinking a bit into the furs, just within touching distance of Ronon. Her hands were slightly shaking and she looked up at him tentatively. "Who did this to you? Who made you like this?" He asked softly.

"Do you mean who broke me?" The Witchwoman asked in a cracking voice.

Ronon flinched at the word broken, but before he could say that she wasn't broken, that because she was alive and sane, proved they hadn't broken her, Saro spoke again.

"I talk to animals. And they talk back to me. When I was young I was considered an odd child because as soon as I could walk I'd find the nearest animal and cling to them, babbling at them. My grandmother told me stories of how when I was teething my father would strap me to his chest and take me riding on our horse Jak because only that soothed me. Grandmother said after my parents were culled I refused to leave the barn for a week, that I hid in stalls, behind fur and underneath hooves, not speaking though by then I was learning how. For years afterward whenever I was scared or woke from nightmares she'd always find me in the barn, talking to them, listening to them." Saro sighed a little, and Ronon realized this was the most he had ever heard her speak and kept silent just as she had when he told her his darker stories that night before.

"I was the strange child in the village, choosing to spend time with animals rather than other children. Both parents culled but me left behind as if even the Wraith did not want me. Raised by the crazy old healer who taught me poisons and potions and cures. I didn't fit in, I didn't belong. But as I grew I became useful. I could find the shepherds their lost sheep or wandering goats and nurse the farmer's sick livestock. The ferrier always asked me to steady the nervous horses as he changed their shoes. I delivered calves and kids and foals and kittens and puppies, even children. Grandmother taught me her skills in herbs and I healed them too, the villagers, not just their creatures...I helped."

Her vibrant green eyes widening as she looked desperately to Ronon, she seemed to want him to understand something very badly. That she tried to fit in? She tried to belong? To make herself useful? That she has worth? Ronon wondered. I already know she has worth, from the start I could tell.

Saro rushed out her next words, "And they never knew what I could do, I never told them, I just let them keep saying I was good with animals. I didn't lie, I just didn't talk about it to anyone. Ever. They didn't know that I had made Friends with the wild creatures, that I would sneak into the forest to be with them, speak with them. I kept it secret, I knew it was...something to be kept hidden. I knew there was something different about me, something wrong with me. Something bad. Shameful." She paused and looked away from him.

He noticed her wringing her hands and it occurred to Ronon that Saro didn't want him to think less of her, that she was scared of what his reaction to her words would be. That he might reject her or laugh at her or even physically hurt her. He reached out and grasped one of her fussing hands, running his thumb over her skin in gentle circles.

His Witchwoman jerked her eyes back to his and looked as if she were going to cry with relief and hope. Ronon's heart surged and he took her other hand, gently entwining their fingers together and squeezing once lightly, encouraging her to continue. Looking more relaxed at his seeming acceptance she went on.

"When I became less of a girl and more of a woman a new priest came to the village. He came after our old Holyman died, it was during a long drought. The new priest did like me at first. A lot. He always wanted to speak with me, walk with me and wanted to give me things. But I didn't like him and didn't want to speak with him or walk with him or take his gifts. So I didn't. I wouldn't speak with him or walk with him or take his gifts...but he followed me sometimes. I wouldn't always know when and he caught me, a couple months after he arrived, in the woods with my Friend, a bear who used to bring me honey combs. He saw Ursus, who had a terribly fierce reputation in the village, and Priest ran away without a word."

"Priest stopped trying to talk with me, walk with me and stopped trying to give me things after that. And he began to preach things our old Holyman hadn't ever spoken of. How the unusual drought we were in was caused by sin and evil. How females should be seen and not heard unless they became worthy by marrying and baring sons. That women should not work outside the house or garden, let alone doctor people. That outsiders and those who were different, abnormal, strange were dangerous and caused problems. He spoke about signs of evil and how a Witch could suck the life from babies lips and kill crops with a flick of her wrist. Even cause droughts. He would watch me all the time with his black eyes and it made me afraid. More afraid than before. He'd lick his lips and clench his fists when he looked at me. Priest also began to ask about me and I saw how afterward he spoke with someone, a neighbor, a friend, they would look at me differently, like they were trying to figure something out about me. It hurt, Ronon, it hurt so much. People began to whisper about me, the familiar stories they told became twisted gossip instead of gentle reminiscing.

"And it still hadn't rained. Crops were dying, but was it because of a Witch everyone was asking. One day the priest and Regus the lawman went searching for me while I was in the forest with one of my Friends, Alces' sister from an elder litter actually. We didn't hear them approach because we were by a waterfall swimming, playing. They killed Alcera and tried to take me back to the village." She stopped and the Runner felt her hands grow cold.

"How much do you want to know?" Saro asked him hesitantly.

"Everything," Ronon growled out. His anger on behalf of her had begun to boil at the first mention of this Priest, though he kept his grip on her hands gentle. I will find these men someday, especially Priest... Ronon noted darkly before returning his full attention to Saro's story*.

"They hit me when I tried to stop them from killing Alcera. They were so strong..I couldn't save her."

Here the first tears Ronon had ever seen from Saro slipped out and he removed one hand from hers briefly to tenderly wipe them away before they could fall. Figures she'd cry over her Friend rather than herself. But where was Alces to protect her? Ronon thought as he spared a disappointed glance at the dog who was standing sentinel at the cave's entrance.

As if reading his mind Saro spoke again, "I was able to get away when they were busy delivering the Death Blow to Alcera. I ran back to my cottage which was more in the forest than the town and hid Alces, he was so young then, not even three months old...Regus and Priest managed to gather some men while I ran and just after I put Alces in a basket they broke through my door. They attacked me and I couldn't keep them away, I couldn't defend myself against so many." Saro shivered once before beginning again, breaking away from Ronon's concerned hazel eyes momentarily. She returned her eyes to his before starting anew.

"They dragged me through the village and Priest yelled for everyone to come out and see the cause of the drought, the evil Witch who'd tricked them into thinking I was an innocent. He and Regus told them what they saw, me playing, laughing with a wild, vicious, dangerous beast, an Alcessian. Wasn't it bad enough that I was raising one of those things? I must be a Witch because if I were normal the creature would've killed and eaten me. If I were human I would have let Alces die, not save him. I couldn't walk by then, and no one said anything. No stopped them. They just...watched from their doorways and in front of shop windows."

The Witchwoman shuddered and Ronon moved closer to her, tightening his grip on her hands briefly, offering silent support. He still hadn't removed his hand from her cheek, or his other hand from hers. She then seemed to straighten and her next words were cold, detached, as if she was describing something that happened to someone else.

"Besides the bruises and cuts I think they broke some of my ribs and a few other bones, I'm not sure exactly how many. Dislocated my right shoulder. They gave me 25 lashes. I didn't cry out though. Not once." She looked intently, almost pleadingly into Ronon's eyes as if emphasizing they hadn't make her scream. "They left me there, tied to the hanging post for a time, I'm not really sure for how long, I think just overnight. Then they cut me down and started taking me to the fire they'd built..then I did scream. They were going to burn me alive." This last part was barely whispered and Ronon scooted closer to Saro until he was only inches away from her face, rubbing his fingers over her cheek, catching the spare tear that fell.

When she cries her eyes darken and look like emeralds. God she's breathtaking, Ronon internally sighed.

"Priest said it was the only way to stop my influence and make the rain come back. I was so close, so close to the flames before Alces' pack appeared and started attacking the villagers. I asked the Alpha pair not to let the pack kill anyone, it was dangerous enough for their kind. They didn't, but their rage was overwhelming. I could feel it like a living flame, because of me, for me. They found Alces in my cottage and got me away and brought me here to this cave to heal. Many of my Friends helped heal me, Ursus brought honey for my cuts to prevent infection, some elk brought healing herbs they'd seen me gather before, birds delivered spiderwebs for bandages. And Alces stayed with me and kept me company. I sent the pack away. They were feared and hated enough by the villagers before the attack, it was too dangerous for them to stay anywhere for long. Even to watch over me. That's why I asked the Alphas not to kill any human when they rescued me, it would only worsen things for them. They visit when they can, and I keep in touch with the Alpha male and female through the birds if I need to...Sometimes I get word that a Friend has seen a human, but they've never come closer than a full day's journey from here...And that's it. That's how I became broken."

For a long moment Ronon just stared at this woman. This Priest had been right about one thing, she was a witch, his Witchwoman and damn if she hadn't managed to Magick her way inside him, inside his heart. But before he could continue these thoughts he needed to reassure and comfort Saro. He looked deep into her eyes which were anxious, anticipating rejection and yet still so damn hopeful. He released the hand that had been holding hers and moved it up to mirror his other hand on her cheek.

Gently cupping her face Ronon spoke firmly but sweetly, "You are not broken. They did not break you. They may have broken your heart, but they did not break you. You are stronger and braver and more special and wonderful than you know. You are not broken and you do not need to be fixed as if there were something wrong with you. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You should be proud as I am proud of you, for you. You are a survivor." And then she leaned forward against his chest, his arms pulling her close, and sobbed as if her heart were breaking. But it wasn't, it was healing.

*And we have a title ladies and gentlemen! We have a title!

Wow, I'm exhausted from writing this chapter. Sorry if it's a little OOC, but hey, it's my story and I'll make it sappy if I want to! *Wink* I better get some reviews gorramit! Just kidding. No seriously. I better. ;-)