Chapter 14

Reaching the entrance to the Town's Wall, it was very quiet. There was no guards here and it was easy enough for Clara to gain entrance. Vala followed behind carefully, looking around her anxiously, she didn't trust it when it was all too quiet.

"Everyone will be attending the burial." Clara said quietly, a hint of sadness in her voice. "It starts once everyone arrives just as the sun rises. The High Priestess would be the last one to arrive." Vala reached linked an arm around Clara.

"I'm sorry for your loss Priestess." Vala smiled softly and gave the other woman a quick squeeze. "Once this mess is all cleared up, you could redo the ceremony as a remembrance. Once your people understand what has happened here, I'm sure they would be more than happy to allow this for you." Vala saw that Clara was going to interrupt, "Ah, ah, ah. No. I won't have it. You've explained your customs as much as you could last night, and only having one ceremonial burial for such a well respected man is a bit wonko if you ask me. Plus, every daughter should be allowed their time with their father, no matter what the situation."

"Thank you." Clara returned the hug and Vala actually saw a real smile. Small though it may be.

"Come on ladies," Mitchell whispered, urging them forward.

Vala nodded, released Clara and returned to having her weapon at the ready.

They made there way to the Castle at the centre of the Town carefully. The Town appeared to be deserted but Vala was getting a bad feeling about it. A Town that had once looked so beautiful, instantly had an eery feeling to it when it didn't have the bustle of life. She scanned the area, taking head as they made there way to their destination.

Just outside the entrance Vala stopped and turned back to the group. "As planned, SG-4 you supply cover out here, SG-3 still has the gate and they're on stand by. Teal'c and Mitchell, go get yourselves covered up. Just don't get caught." She turned to Clara and Sam, "hoods up girls." And with that the group split up. Vala knew she was taking point on this, but she was sure Mitchell wasn't too fussed. It was her plan after all.

Once they were inside the Castle, Vala hung back and allowed Clara to lead the way. They remained low and out of sight, just in-case a stay guard saw them. Clara led them straight to the main hall, in the centre of the Castle, but they had to stay back. They stood back against the wall, looking around the corner at two double doors which were closed and guarded by four Jaffa.

"There goes plan A," Vala whispered and looked to her group. She unclipped her P90 and placed it on the floor and took her Zat from the base of her back. "So, plan B it is. I'll distract, you two get the boys ready."

Without waiting for a response, Vala stepped out from around the corner, quickly disabling the guards, narrowly avoiding the staff blasts herself. It was important that whoever this Goa'uld was, thought that she was alone. With that in mind, she moved her free hand and turned off her radio. Taking a deep breath, Zat at the ready, she burst through the double doors.

She saw Daniel and his capture at some form of alter. Daniel was on his knees while the so called High Priestess was stood. They had their hands joined, with a purple ribbon draped over them, untied. "I object!" she screeched, raising her Zat and aiming towards the High Priestess.

"Oh thank the Ancestor Spirits!" Cried the one doing the bonding announcement. Reverend, Clara had supplied earlier. The High Priestess turned on him then and waved a hand. A guard down the front fired and the Reverend was killed by the staff blast. The rest of the people gasped, some screamed, other's moved to scramble the hell out of there. 'Good, less chance for people to get hurt.'

Vala was watching Daniel, hating the look of fear in his eyes as he stared at her. He mouthed her name and shifted on his knees. Her heart ached for him, he looked so broken. She raised the Zat gun towards the High Priestess. "Everyone leave. Now!" She yelled, not taking her eyes off the couple at the front. She heard chairs scrape and people scramble towards the exit.

Once the room was emptied, only Daniel, the High Priestess and her guards remained. Vala knew that every single blast weapon was aimed on her now, even a couple more had returned through the doors. It happened too fast she couldn't react. The Jaffa that had came up behind her brought his staff weapon down against her wrists, causing her to drop the Zat. The other swiped at her knees, bringing her down and they all now had their weapons pointed at her chest. 'That went well' she thought as the weapons were armed.

"No!" Daniel's voice echoed around the room. "You got what you wanted, leave her alone!"

Then there was laughter, "bring her to me." Came a sultry voice. No wonder Daniel fell for that. Most men would. It had a certain pull to it, something that plagued her subconscious as two of the Jaffa pulled her up and dragged her to the front. Then it clicked. 'Well, now we're in trouble.'

Daniel was now standing, watching Vala with wide eyes. She caught the look and smiled wide. "Hello darling. Don't worry, we'll be home shortly. It's just a little snag." She smiled and he shook his head slightly. He raised the sleeve on his arm slowly to reveal the bracelet and then raised the hand to his neck as if scratching an itch and looked pointedly at the Goa'uld. Vala raised her eye brows and looked at the said woman that was now leaning over her, a pendant swinging from her neck, something so familiar that she smirked.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Nut." Vala smiled then and tilted her head to the side. As if thinking. Well she was. She had to figure out a way to get that damn necklace off of her and free her Daniel.

"Qetesh. Or rather the delightful host." Nut smirked, moving a hand beneath her robe to bring out the hand device. Daniel moved to stop her but was held back by more Jaffa. Vala saw him struggle out of the corner of her eye.

"I could've sworn you were killed." Vala shifted, her knees ached and the touch against her arm felt familiar. As Nut was attaching the hand device and Daniel struggled against his hold, calling her name over and over, she felt something at the base of her back. She relaxed, and knew in an instant who her capturers really were and what she needed to do. So she did it.

Vala pretended to struggle and suddenly she was free. In the instant she was free she stood and reached for the Zat that was placed there and shot the Goa-uld before she had a chance to activate that bloody torture device. The Jaffa beside her removed their head gear and shot at the two holding Daniel and the others around the room, covered by Sam and Clara.

Vala didn't take much into account, she was too busy snapping the necklace off the neck of the High Priestess, used the pendent to release the bracelet from her wrist and rushed to Daniel. He looked terrible and she gulped down the sob that threatened to escape. She released him from the bracelet and wrapped her arms around him. She felt him cling to her and breathed her in. She stroked a hand through his hair and rocked slowly. "It's alright. I got you now."

Then it went to crap all-over again. Nut came around from the Zat blast a little quicker than first thought and Vala heard her screech. "If I can't have him, neither can you!" Then there was a light from the hand device aimed directly at Daniel and he instantly went limp in Vala's arms. Mitchell's shot from the staff blast came too little too late.