A/N: Well, this is the end folks. My beta might pick on me to fix a few typos sometime in the near future, but this fic is now complete and I hope you all found my story moving and encompassing. On to my next project, I shall go! I think it will be another creepy one.
Ahh... Carson... Gotta love him. He's the man. --dreamy sigh--
Several days later, Carson reluctantly certified me ready to leave the infirmary, but was insistent that I remain off my feet for at least another week to allow the stitches to heal. I was well enough to walk around on my own now, at least. I wasn't sure how many more assisted trips to the lavatory I would have been able to tolerate from Carson's orderlies. They were kind to me, but watched over me like hawks ready to swoop down over their prey if they felt I was about to over-extend myself. And it was because Carson was protective of me, and they feared his wrath more than seeming to be not so attentive to their patients.
Carson had come to me and spoken of our scheduled trip back to Lae'yere, but I had not been positive that I was ready to go. For all I knew, the queen could have retaken the palace and might have been just waiting to ambush us the moment we came through the Stargate. But he was supportive and kind, and although he didn't want to force anything on me that I didn't want, he did remind me that Sheppard and the rest of his team had volunteered to accompany us, for safety reasons of course.
So as I stood before the Well of the Ancients, or rather the Stargate as the Atlanteans called it, the portal opened back to my world, and I stood trembling before its shimmering vortex. Carson's hand slipped comfortingly around my waist, and I embraced him one last time before stepping forward, half expecting a party of soldiers to be standing about ready to kill us all. But as I found myself back on my own world, the sun was shining, birds were singing, and the chill breeze kicked up around us without a sign of anyone in sight.
As we made our way to the front gate, I gaped with amazement at the ruin that lied before us. The front outpost had been burned completely to the ground, probably the day after we'd left. But as I looked on, there were women shopping in the districts ahead, seemingly unfazed by the grotesque spectacle. I swallowed back the discomfort and worry, trying to fathom what had happened as we pushed forward.
The hospital was just ahead, and was quite busy with activity. It was so packed full of patients, that there were even a few able-bodied patients waiting on the steps for their turn to go inside. They were all soldiers or guards of the city. I stopped in my tracks when I saw them, and was eventually prodded forward by Carson's supportive gaze. At my approach, I let out a hesitant breath that I had not realized I was holding as the wounded soldiers raised their hands with a respectful salute.
"Lady Ky'Lae," one of them spoke assuredly. "We were growing concerned for your safety. The lieutenant has been waiting for you in the palace."
"What happened here?" I asked with concern, my confidence slowly returning.
"Soldiers and mercenaries loyal to the queen, My Lady," another explained through pained gasps. "They tried to come to the aid of Merae'Lae, but Chuli'Ana defended the palace in your stead."
The first one spoke again, her pride showing through in her voice. "The battle was fierce and many died, but we won."
"I should have been here," I said to Carson solemnly, allowing the soldiers to go and find treatment for their wounds. Guilt stabbed at me for allowing all of this to happen.
He laid a supportive hand on my shoulder. "You know as well as I that there's nothin' more you could've done."
"Ky'Lae!" a voice shouted behind me. It was Chuli'Ana. Apparently she had heard of my return already, and was quickly approaching from the palace gate, but with a distinct limp in her gait. "I am glad you have returned. I have something for you."
With a questioning look as she stood at attention at my side, she handed me the red crystalline device that Carson had removed from the Ancient weapon system. I looked down at it with apprehension.
"I repelled the queen's loyalists, My Lady," she explained stoically as soldiers filed in around her. "But she is not dead, I'm sorry to say. I dragged that hag from the hole that she'd hidden in and threw her in the prisons myself."
"Good work, my friend," I said to her, smiling with astonishment, and then turned to Sheppard. "If you wish to prosecute her by your own laws for the crimes she is responsible for, I will sign the order for her extradition into your custody myself. Otherwise, I intend to make sure that she lives a long and miserable life in the palace prisons."
"We don't really have a prison facility," he said, glancing over at Carson for his opinion.
Carson shrugged casually, but seemed to feel that justice had been done. "Aye, we would'nae have anywhere to keep her long-term, really. But I'd say that I'm satisfied that she got what was comin' to her."
"Indeed," Chuli affirmed satisfactorily, but seemed troubled by something else. It wasn't like her not to speak up about something that bothered her.
"Is something bothering you?" I implored.
"Well," she began furtively, concern etched on her normally smooth face, "we no longer have a queen to govern us, and we can no longer count on Merae'Lae to protect us from the Wraith should they decide to return."
"I have the ability to use the Ancient technology," I said contemplatively, then turned to Carson with an eager smile. "Would you be willing to teach me how to use the Blessing of the Ancients? I give you my word that I shall only use it to defend the city."
He laughed haughtily. "I think that's a task best suited to Colonel Sheppard, Love."
Chuli stammered, gaping at us with astonishment. "You… You all have the gift of the Ancients?"
"They have it," Teyla said helpfully. "Ronon and I do not have the gene."
"Then it should be you who is appointed as the new queen," Chuli said to me reverently, then slowly and respectfully kneeled. "And I would be honored to serve the city as your first Lieutenant, my lady."
My breath caught in my throat as the city guards and soldiers that were surrounding Chuli protectively followed suit in waves until every single one of them was kneeling respectfully before me. The shoppers and surveyors of wares also joined, seemingly eager to see new leadership in the city. I was too shocked and overwhelmed to say anything that could not be considered humble. "I cannot accept the position of queen, not like this."
Chuli looked up at me, perplexed by my outright refusal, and was about to argue, but I continued before she had a chance.
"There will be an election, and if the people would choose me as their queen, I will then accept the position," I explained, my voice sounding a lot steadier than I felt. "Until that time, though, I will accept the position of Steward to the throne, and I will protect and serve the needs of the city to the best of my ability."
A deafening cheer welcomed me home. I smiled, still overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, and turned to Carson. He was the only concern I still had left.
I had to win him over. "And for my first act as Steward, I hereby ban the trade, sale, and keeping of men as slaves."
Gasps and whispers passed through the crowd, but no one dared speak against me. A hush fell over the people and the whispers died down. They filed away to return to their duties or their shopping, and I knew that the whispers would persist for some time, but those who knew me would know that I did not truly expect the change to happen overnight. There would be dissent, of course, but that could be dealt with. Throughout that moment, I had not taken my eyes off of Carson. He shifted uncomfortably under my gaze, knowing what I was about to ask of him.
"Stay with me, Carson," I pleaded longingly, taking his hands once again in mine. "I know it will take time for all of this to come to pass, but you would be treated as a king. I can promise you that."
"Ky," he began, looking down from my gaze and seeming unsure of what to say. "I'm a doctor, an' maybe an explorer, too, but not a king. I have a lot of responsibilities and research to do already, an' I cannae do it from here."
My expression hardened, but Carson was not too proud to let his tears flow freely. I smiled tenderly, using my fingertips to wipe the tears from his cheeks just as he had done for me what felt like so long ago, and pulled him close. Our kiss was passionate and intense, and felt all too brief for my liking.
We exchanged promises to visit each other, and he even gave me a radio, a transmitter, and a special code that I could use to gain admittance to Atlantis to see him if I got too lonely. But as I watched them leave, my heart felt heavy and weary in my chest, and I was consumed with the fear that I would never see him again.
And then I smiled with amusement as I heard McKay tease Carson, "I can't believe you actually cried in front of all those people."
I was contented as the corners of his mouth upturned into a wary smile as he disappeared beyond the ruins of the gate. After that, I tried to busy myself with my new duties, tried to keep my longing for him buried deep within me. Within a few weeks time, Sheppard and McKay had begun returning occasionally to fulfill their promise of teaching me the delicate workings of the Ancient weapon, and Carson returned with them each time, much to my delight.
They still return from time to time, though with each passing day in between, I miss Carson that much more. It was one of those days that I could not bear to keep the image of him from my mind that I prepared this story to be told. I thought that perhaps you people of Earth, you who were also borne of the same planet as he, might appreciate this tale. Perhaps some day, when both our galaxies are safe from peril, you might spare him to return on a more permanent basis. Hope springs eternal, my friends.
Carson, if you're listening, I hope you know that I love you. Please come home soon.
