Sphinxes and Astrea Portas

Disclaimer: STARGATE belongs to Gekko and GARGOYLES to Disney and Greg Weisman. In addition, many characters from the online Gargoyles Saga (TGS) are going to be mentioned here. I just want to say thanks to the TGS staff for creating these magnificent characters and allowing me and other writers to use them in our own fics! THANK YOU!!!!!

Summary: Searching for the Sangraal, SG-1 travels to a world from the Ancient database. Surprises abound and once more Daniel's perspective on world history is tipped on its head.

Timing: This chapter is set after the ark of Truth before Carter goes to Pegasus to take command of Atlantis.

Author's notes: Hope u Enjoy this

Chapter 9

"Well that could have gone better!" Landry lamented unhappily, after Daniel had left with the representatives from Stone Haven.

"Yes sir, and Demona?! Not the most reassuring of names is it?" Cameron commented to the others.

"It is a warrior's name, to match her fiery manner," proclaimed Teal'c simply.

"What muscles said," added Vala, "Though fiery seems to understate it a bit, don't you think? Homicidal? Insane? Wacko? I would think those would better describe her."

Landry glared at her, "Thank you for stating the obvious. Any other thoughts on what happened?"

"Well..." began Vala.

Landry glared again, "Not you! Carter, Mitchell, Teal'c?" he asked again.

Carter and Mitchell shared a glance before shrugging.

"A misunderstanding," Teal'c calmly stated.

Landry frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Lord Thoth has stated that Demona has encountered others of his kind before, and she herself called him a Unseelie, I believe she thought him a threat to her and attacked with all he might," Teal'c explained. "It was a warrior's reaction to being imprisoned, she sees enemies wherever she looks." he finished simply.

Landry sat back in his chair with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"That does sound possible...of course she could be just be insane..." Vala remarked.

Landry just glared at her again in response.

"Hey enough with the glares, not everything I say is wrong!" Vala retorted in a huff.

"Just most of the stuff," added Cam sarcastically.

Vala huffed but didn't say anything.

Carter chose that moment to speak up, "I doubt we'll find any answers till we somehow get her to talk to us or Xanatos decides to speak openly with us."

Landry stared glumly at them, "Unfortunately we won't find out anything just sitting around here and I doubt David Xanatos will be any more forthcoming with us till he meets with Thoth." Landry paused for a second and grimaced, "And he may just have the same reaction as Demona."

"Sir, I don't think we can jump to any conclusions yet," Carter started but Landry cut her off.

"My head is starting to hurt and we're just talking in circles here people. Go get some rest, we're not going to be able to do anything until Lord Thoth and Hypatia have rested," he ordered gruffly as he stood up, "So go rest!"

xoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxxoxoxox

Xanatos sat there in the new room they had moved them outwardly giving no sign of his true feeling, he sat back in the chair hands clasped behind his head and feet up on the table as if he hadn't a care in the world. When in truth his stomach was churning acid and he had a burning sensation in his mouth.

So I guess my interrogation is about to begin...it took them long enough, he thought idly.

Slowly he mentally went over the current situation he was in, I'm locked in a classified USAF base after being let in to what is currently undoubtedly the single greatest secret held by the US government and this is because I ran off at the mouth after Demona came out in a very very spectacular fashion. Which just happened to be followed by a just as spectacular shoot out with the Air Force that ended with a very dead Demona-then very angry revived Demona that had thankfully been behind bars by the time she revived.

Unfortunately that had left Xanatos in the very undesirable position of having known that Dominique Destine was (from their point of view) a bat winged blue red haired demon by night.

Good going there Davey!He thought derisively, It's been a long time since someone's caught you in a secret!

The large metal door sliding open cut into his musing and he put his best bored face on.

Which was just as quickly wiped off his face and replaced with one of supreme surprise, as a white gargoyle he had never seen in his life walked in quickly followed by an Ibis headed man that was undoubtedly a member of the Third Race.

The Ibis headed man eyed him warily and said simply, "Hello, I am Thoth and this my apprentice, Hypatia, of the Stone Haven Clan."

Surprise pumping through his body. David Xanatos prided himself on being always prepared and unshakable. After everything he'd survived through the years, gargoyles, Demona, Sevarious, Thailog, immortal Fey, Titania as a mother-in-law, his own surprising transition from almost classic villain to family man and not to mention the Unseelie War, he didn't expect many things to be able to surprise him any more.

And yet a couple of days ago the USAF had revealed to him that they had been exploring the galaxy for the past ten years and then this!

A Fey and Gargoyle in a highly classified USAF base.

Quickly, he schooled his features to reveal none of the inner turmoil that was going through, he slowly rose from his chair and eyed the Fey suspiciously, "Well Thoth, I am David Xanatos." he said evenly his tone revealing nothing.

Thoth returned the look, "Hello David."

"So what can I do you for you?" Xanatos asked when Thoth didn't add anything else after the greeting.

"I am glad you asked that," Thoth turned and gestured to a bespectacled man that had come up behind him during their impromptu staring contest, "My friend here, Dr Jackson came to me with many questions after your friend turned into a sphinx. He came to me searching for answers for what he and others had witnessed. An immortal shape shifting sphinx." Thoth paused his face clouding darkly, "Such a thing is very rare...but not unheard of."

Not unheard of? Xanatos thought in surprise. Mentally he filed that away for later, something that definitely bore investigation-later.

Thoth continued speaking, "He and the others came to me in Stone Haven seeking my aid and in the spirit of friendship, I came here. I met with the one calling herself Demona and she attacked me without a seconds hesitation, all the while calling me an Unseelie." Thoth straightened his back rising to his not insignificant full height, "I am many things but an Unseelie-never!" he proclaimed vehemently.

Xanatos inwardly groaned at Demona's actions as he eyed Thoth warily, choosing his next words carefully, "As interesting as this all is, I fail to see what this has to do with me." he said bluffing.

Thoth's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, "You are an intelligent man and knew that she would rise again after the guards put her down, you know her." he accused, "There are too many mysteries here, too many unsettling and dangerous unknowns."

Xanatos smiled realising that he held all the cards, this Thoth had over played his hand. Slowly he sat back down in his chair.

"What would I gain in return?" he asked slowly.

The man, Dr Jackson spoke up at this point, "All of our previous agreements with Xanatos Enterprises are still in accordance-"

"And yet you felt the need to keep me locked up here without a phone call for the past couple of days, now surely I should receive some recompensation for that time? Not to mention the secrets I shall be revealing here," Xanatos calmly and smoothly suggested.

Dr Jackson gave him a long look before saying, "I'm sure something could be arranged."

Xanatos smiled his trademark smile, "Excellent! Why don't you summon Colonel Davis and have him contact my lawyers, I'm sure we can quickly come to some type of iron clad legal arrangement."

Dr Jackson frowned and opened his mouth to retort but Lord Thoth cut him off, "Perhaps a show of trust will help speed up matters, tell me what you know of the Unseelies?" he suggested quickly.

Xanatos mulled it over for second before smiling, "I'm a reasonable man, I believe that would be acceptable. Why don't you have a seat?"

Dr Jackson glanced between the two powerful beings he watched as Thoth slowly slid the chair from under the table and made to sit.

"Madoc's dead," Xanatos simply said.

Thoth missed the seat and landed heavily on the concrete floor. He gaped up at Xanatos as Hypatia rushed to his side to help him up.

"My lord!" Hypatia exclaimed in concern.

Thoth ignored her, his full attention on Xanatos, still sitting on the floor he exclaimed, "What did you say?!"

Xanatos just continued smiling and said, "Madoc Morfryn is dead-has been for years now."

Thoth stared uncomprehending at the human who dared utter such an incomprehensible statement, "I missed the Rising?!"

Xanatos raised an eyebrow and said, "I'd think you'd be happy that you did," his face darkened for second, "It wasn't pretty I can assure you of that...but he's gone and the Unseelie court's back was broken-for good I think!"

Thoth sat there unceremoniously on the floor unable to process the news for several silent minutes as Hypatia stared at him in concern.

Slowly he rose and sat down properly on the chair as he locked eyes with Xanatos still trying to come to terms with the surprise this human had thrown at him.

"The Lord of the Unseelie Court is dead? How?" Thoth asked.

"By a union of the union of the younger races-specifically the union our hosts have locked up in the cell next to mine," Xanatos added simply with a saccharine smile while referencing the Sisters' ancient prophecy.

Thoth's nostrils flared, "Demona slew him?"

Xanatos promptly lost the smile, "How do you know that name?"

"Your friend let it slip when she first spoke to Hypatia," Daniel answered quickly.

Xanatos mused, well at least I'm not the only losing control over my mouth, he thought idly.

"What of the rest of Unseelies?" Thoth then demanded.

Xanatos sat back totally in control of the conversation, "Well, Maeve is now Titania's personal prisoner, quite a few of the major lords are dead as well, including Herne the Huntsman," Xanatos gave them an extra wide cryptic smile, "Loki is again in his own personal prison and others like the Morrigan and Garlon escaped-though the Morrigan was caught a few months later."

"Loki? As in the ancient Norse god of mischief and evil?" Daniel asked in surprise, he already knew of one Loki and that one was dead now.

"Yes," was Xanatos's succinct reply.

Thoth's faculties had started to work through the shock and he had been eyeing Xanatos speculatively, "How do you know such things?" he asked pointedly.

Xanatos merely sat back in his chair and gave Thoth his characteristic smile, "I believe I have satisfied my end of the bargain. I think we can continue this delightful conversation once my lawyers have finished drawing up the new arrangements with Colonel Davis."

Thoth eyed him icily, "You have spoken much and raised even more questions-and given my such surprises that I never in my long life expected to receive. Perhaps I should return the favour?"

Xanatos frowned for a second before regaining his arrogant fascade, "In what manner?" he asked cautiously, knowing that Fey favours should be dealt with in the utmost care. They always came with a price.

"I have been satisfying my curiosity, should I not also satisfy yours as well? It would only be polite," Thoth explained helpfully.

Xanatos's eyes narrowed, "Now that you mention it, I did have a few questions that you can answer," he said, playing along.

"Then ask away," Thoth said.

Xanatos turned to Hypatia, "My dear girl, you mentioned a Stone Haven clan, perhaps you could tell me more about it?" Specifically why Goliath has never mentioned or heard about it, he thought silently.

Hypatia turned uncertain eyes to Thoth, who merely nodded in encouragement.

"Stone Haven in the largest clan on our world-" Hypatia began.

"Your world?!" Xanatos exclaimed, "The largest clan? You mean there are other clans?" he demanded, gargoyles on another world was not what he had expected, despite the fact that interstellar travel was possible. "You came through the Stargate?" Xanatos mentally chided himself for being so haphazard in his questions.

"Through the Stargate, yes, we come form a world we call Sanctuary," Hypatia explained, "Daniel and his team met us a year ago and when they encountered Demona, they came to us for assistance."

Xanatos turned an eye towards Daniel, examining him, "A very wise decision."

Hypatia paused but again Thoth gestured for her to continue.

"As I was saying yes Stone Haven is the largest clan, at last count we have over five thousand sphinxes living in the city with more in the mountains surrounding the cit-"

Xanatos jumped out of his chair exclaiming, "What?! Five thousand gargoyles?!"

Hypatia too a step back in surprise, "At last count, yes," she replied timidly.

Xanatos sat back down heavily into his chair, he sat there in disbelief staring at nothing before gathering his wits again. He turned blazing eyes at Thoth, "This is the truth? This isn't a lie? Cause if it is I can assure you Demona will personally eviscerate everyone here if you're lying."

"We came seeking to help our friends and strengthen our ties with them, we did not come here to spread falsehoods," Thoth proclaimed nobly.

Xanatos thought for a moment, "Forget the lawyers, let me speak to Demona...I think I can persuade her to be reasonable."

Smiling Thoth turned to Daniel, "I'm sure we can arrange something..."

Author's notes: Hope you enjoyed this! Do not forget to Review!