Arawn continued to pull Daniel down the hallway. He continued to try and look for some way of escape, but with her strength and the hand device, he knew he didn't have much chance. All he could hope for was that he could warn Jack, Teal'c and Tabard before the Goa'uld had a chance to attack.

Just then he saw Tabard turn the corner and come toward them. He opened his mouth to shout, but before he had a chance the prince and general spoke.

"My Goddess," he called. "I was just coming to get you."

"You took a long time Tabard," she answered, sounding angry.

"I am sorry, my lady," he said. As he got close he went down on his knee and bowed his head. "I am happy to see you."

"How did it go?" she asked.

"Gauwyn is dead," he said. "The Tauri killed him. They then helped me to destroy the Jaffa."

"Good," she smiled. "Now no one dares to oppose me!"

"There is one thing my lady," Tabard said hesitatingly. He glanced at Daniel, who looked at him with contempt. They had been right. Tabard wasn't to be trusted.

"What is it?" she asked with her echoing voice.

"The sarcophagus -"

"Well, what of it? You have it secured?"

"No my lady. The – Tauri – destroyed it."

"WHAT!" she shrieked, throwing Daniel away from her. He bounced against the wall, but hopefully only bruised an arm.

"What are you saying?" she shouted at Tabard. "You fool! I should kill you for this!"

"It was not my fault, my lady," he cried. "The Tauri did it. They destroyed it. My father had his Jaffa guarding it, but they ran when the Tauri appeared. There was nothing I could do!" Suddenly Tabard shrieked in pain as Arawn hit him with the hand device. He fell to the ground, the device burning into his forehead.

It couldn't happen to a nicer guy, thought Daniel. While the Goa'uld was distracted with her henchman, Daniel slowly moved away. He slid across the floor and then carefully got to his feet. If he could get away before she noticed …

"I would not suggest you move any more Tauri!" Arawn said softly. The hand device went off and Tabard slid all the way onto the floor, unconscious after the attack. The Goa'uld turned towards Daniel.

"Was it you," she hissed softly.

"Was what me?" he asked nervously. She looked ready to kill someone. He wasn't sure if Tabard was alive or not – and figured he could be next.

"Did you destroy my sarcophagus?"

"Who me? No way," he said brazenly. "In fact we wanted to find it and steal it," he improvised. "Who would want to destroy one of those things?"

Her eyes narrowed and she regarded him closely. "I do not think I believe you," she said, "but for now I will keep you alive. I wish to find the O'Neo," she said. "And you will help me."

"Uh – why?" asked Daniel. "He's really rather irritating. I don't think he'll be much help to you."

She smiled slowly. "He will be of more help than he knows," she said. "He has been chosen as ruler of Lothyrwen, and soon of Glardomar. Together we will rule all of this planet."

"I see," Daniel said, a sinking feeling in his gut. "I don't suppose you want to take him as your consort, do you?"

"No," she smiled, "as my host."

"Damn – that's what I was worried about." Daniel really hoped that Jack knew what was going on and was about to affect a dramatic save. He just wished he would hurry.

Jack closed his eyes and thought about Sam. "Come on," he murmured. "Heal." Of course nothing happened – he had no idea how to heal her. He kept his eyes closed for a few more minutes, but still nothing was happening. What he did know, was that she was growing weaker. He could feel it in his own body. He just hoped that if she died, he would die too.

"Relax O'Neill," Teal'c's voice barely touched him, but he did try and listen. Relax. How could he relax when the woman he loved was dying.

He took another breath and thought back to their time together on Earth – before everything had gone bad. He thought of her smile – how she would laugh at his jokes, no matter how bad they were. He thought of how she would stick her tongue out when she was concentrating, and her look of joy when she discovered some new piece of knowledge or technology. And he thought of her eyes – her beautiful eyes that could look fierce or tender all in the wink of an – he laughed – eye.

She was the most beautiful person he had ever known. She was loving and compassionate – funny and smart – and she understood him as no one else ever had. He had been so hopeful, so happy, so sure that life was finally turning out for him – and then everything had gotten screwed up.

He needed her to know that he loved her, that he was sorry for all that he had done – for not trusting her. She had to know that he would give his life for her if he could – that right now he wanted to die in her place so that she could go on. She was someone the Earth, hell, the universe couldn't lose.

He suddenly concentrated as hard as he could. His head throbbed with hot spikes of agony, but that didn't matter. She had to get better. She had to live and to be happy, even if he was no longer in her life.

The pain grew even more unbearable. His eyes were watering and his breath was coming in gasps. He didn't feel Teal'c's hand trying to bring him back. He couldn't see the color coming back into Sam's face. All he knew was that his head felt as if it would explode.

With a final gasp he felt a bolt of electricity pass through his body and into Sam. The pain in his head spiked and then everything faded into a single pin prick of light. A moment later that was extinguished and he knew no more.

"Aaagh," she sighed and moved her head. She was confused and unsure what was going on. Her head hurt, although the pain seemed to be growing less second by second.

"Samantha." A voice – faint and barely heard – impinged on her consciousness.

"Samantha!" Again she heard it and this time she forced her eyes open. She needed to figure out what was going on.

"Aaagh," she said again. Her eyes squinted to try and keep the light from burning into her. Everything was fuzzy, but soon her eyes focused and she was looking up at –

"Teal'c!"

"Samantha! Are you awake?"

"Uh – yes, I think so." She blinked a couple of times and took a deep breath. Everything began to come back to her. "Where – wait -" She realized that someone was holding her and she moved slightly, to see that it was Jack. He appeared to be sleeping or – God no – he wasn't dead, was he?

"Jack?" She moved until she could look down on him. She lifted her hand and felt his face and then his neck. Her eyes closed in relief when she felt his pulse. It was beating a bit hard and fast, but it was there. It was only then that she realized how pale he was. "What happened to him?" she asked Teal'c.

"You were injured," he explained. "And O'Neill healed you."

"He healed me? But why is he like this?"

"I believe it exhausted him," Teal'c told her. "Let me check him." Teal'c did a quick check of Jack's vital signs. "I believe he is unconscious. I can not find anything else wrong with him."

"God – Jack – you'd better be okay!" This time Sam moved so that she was holding O'Neill. She carefully ran her fingers through his hair and waited – hopefully – for him to wake up. Suddenly her head snapped up.

"Teal'c! The woman – she's a Goa'uld!"

"What woman?" he asked with a frown.

"The woman Gauwyn was going to take as his bride. Daniel and I found her locked in a room."

"And you are sure she is a Goa'uld?"

"Yes – Gauwyn implanted a symbiote in her. She attacked me with the hand device. She had Daniel so I hope he's okay."

Just then Jack groaned and moved his head. Sam again threaded her hand through his hair. "Jack – you're okay. Come on, wake up."

Slowly his eyes opened but he didn't move. Instead he simply stared up into Sam's eyes.

After a few seconds she could feel herself start to flush, but at the same moment her lips turned up into a smile. "Jack? How are you feeling?"

"Bit of a headache," he replied, with a smile of his own. "How about you?"

"Mmm – my headache is almost gone." She stared at him for a few more seconds. "Teal'c said you healed me."

Jack's eyebrow went up and he turned his head to look at his Jaffa friend.

"Indeed O'Neill, you did heal her."

"Wow – didn't know I had it in me," he said. He then closed his eyes, intent on enjoying the feeling of lying in Sam's lap, her hand in his hair. It was almost worth –

"O'Neill!" Teal'c called for at least the third time. Jack opened his eyes, irritated.

"What?"

"You must get up. A Goa'uld has captured Daniel Jackson."

"A Goa'uld? We killed the damn Goa'uld – and all the Jaffa," he complained.

"Gauwyn implanted one of the symbiotes," Sam explained. "In the woman he was going to marry. She attacked me with her hand device. I think she took Daniel, but I didn't see what happened after I was hurt."

"Damn," O'Neill moved his head and sat up slowly. "I should have known it was too much to hope that we were finished with this damn planet. Damn Goa'ulds!" he cursed. "We need to just get rid of the damned things!"

"I agree," Teal'c nodded. "Are you alright O'Neill?"

"Yeah," the general said, grabbing his head. This time it was dizziness more than pain that prompted him to hold on. The pain was lessening quickly. "Okay – let's get going and rescue Daniel and get rid of the Goa'uld. I assume Tabard is in on it?"

"We think so," Teal'c answered, "although we are not sure."

"Well, we know he's a bastard, so I wouldn't be surprised." Jack pushed himself to his feet and then reached down to help Sam. When she stood up he didn't release her hand, but pulled her close to him. "I'm glad you're okay," he whispered.

"Thank you," she replied, leaning forward and kissing him softly. "You saved my life."

Jack watched her for a few moments and then grinned. "Come on, we've got to find the space monkey. And then we're damned well going home! I am sick of this place."

It turned out that Tabard wasn't dead, although he looked almost like it when he finally became conscious. He got to his feet, and though pretty shaky, managed to stand upright. Arawn still looked angry and Daniel didn't think it would take much for her to lose it again – and this time he was pretty sure someone would die.

So, he remained on his best behavior. Tabard was also being extremely careful. The two of them acted as though walking on eggshells.

"Where will O'Neo go," she asked Daniel.

"Where will he go?" Daniel repeated. "I have no idea. I assume he'll try and find Sam," he said.

"Ah yes – Samantha – the woman to whom he is joined. We shall have to change that," the Goa'uld said menacingly. "I should have checked to make sure she was dead. Is it true that you came from a distant planet?" she asked suddenly – changing the subject and surprising Daniel.

"Uh – where did you hear that?"

"Answer my question," she hissed and her eyes flashed.

"No, we came from – aargh!" he screamed as he was hit by the hand device. "Stop!" he said. A moment later the beam stopped and he stumbled. "Why did you do that?"

"You lie!" she hissed. "Where are you from?"

"Well if you know already, why are you asking?" As her hand lifted again Daniel began to speak quickly. "Just hold on!" he told Arawn. "Okay – so we come from another planet. But we have no idea how we got here or how to get back – or even how far away we are. The Lothrywens brought us and won't tell us."

"What is the planet?"

"That we come from?" he asked.

"Of course."

"Oh – uh – it's called Melmak," he answered. "It's a small planet – very peaceful."

"Melmak?" her eyes narrowed. "I have not heard of this place."

"No? That's surprising," he said. "It's not huge, but it's pretty well known."

"Who is your god?"

"My god? I assume you mean Goa'uld?"

"Yes. Who is your god?"

"Well, I hate to break it to you, but our planet doesn't have a god – at least not a Goa'uld. Nope, we ran the Goa'uld out years ago. We don't worship snakes anymore."

Daniel actually saw Arawn's nostrils flare and grimaced. He was just asking to get hit again – or killed, if he wasn't careful. He decided to tone it down. Sorry Jack, he said to himself.

"Who ruled it before they were – run out?" she asked.

Damn but she was persistent, thought Daniel. "It was a Goa'uld by the name of Alf," he told her. "He was vicious and mean and our people ran him off the planet."

"Alf – I have not heard of this Goa'uld," she said, looking confused. "I fear you lie."

"Lie? Why would I lie? You can ask the others. We've been Goa'uld free for centuries and Alf is long gone."

"Enough!" she practically shouted. "We must find O'Neo."

"Well you're the one who asked," Daniel griped softly. A moment later he was being forced down the hallway, Tabard stumbling along next to him. For a moment Daniel considered offering him his arm, but then he remembered that Tabard had betrayed them. "So –how do you like how it's going now?" he asked the prince.

"Are you up to moving?" Jack asked Sam worriedly.

"Of course. I feel better every moment. My head isn't even hurting now. How about you?"

"Me? I'm fine. So, we have one weapon -"

"Two," Sam grinned and pulled out a zat. "She didn't check me for weapons."

"What kind of villains are we dealing with?" Jack asked incredulously. "Checking for weapons is villainy 101. Geesh!"

"I believe they did not go to villains college, O'Neill," Teal'c told him.

"No, I don't expect they did. Well, if we're all ready – let's go. And watch out for snakes, traitors and general bad guys. I'd really like to make it home."

Arawn forced her captives to the throne room. Although she'd never seen it directly before, during her time as a symbiote within the Jaffa she had been here many times. She briefly thought of the Jaffa. She had been with him for almost 100 years. "He was a fool," she hissed. She had been able to control him easily. And he had died very painfully, which had been enjoyable to watch.

But now she was a goddess! All she needed was to have all her subjects kneel before her. That and she wanted to enjoy some entertainment. She'd have a number of peasants brought before her and tortured. That would be fun.

What would be even more fun would be to have the humans tortured after she took O'Neo as host. He would be forced to watch his friends die in agony.

She then thought of the fact that the sarcophagus had been destroyed and wanted to scream. She could no longer torture and revive people repeatedly. She had to find out who it was who had destroyed it. She wanted to ensure they received a long and painful death.

"Here we are," she announced as they entered the room. She forced her two pathetic prisoners to sit against the wall. She made her way to the throne and smiled as she sat down. "Bow before me," she ordered the two males. A moment later both of them were bowing – knowing that was better than death at her hand.

Life could not be better, Arawn thought with a smile.

"Okay – where to?" Jack asked. "Any ideas, Carter, Teal'c?"

"What is the most defensible place?" Sam asked.

Jack thought a moment. "Where was the sarcophagus?"

"It was in a small chamber off the throne room," Teal'c told him. "It was well guarded, but the chamber was destroyed in the explosion."

"And the throne room?"

"It was slightly damaged, but is still standing."

"Defenses?"

"There is only one way in and it is heavily guarded," Teal'c told him.

"Well, that sounds like a good starting place. Let's go."

"You're sure there's only one way in Teal'c?" Sam asked with a frown. "That doesn't sound like the Goa'uld. They usually like to have an escape plan."

"Yeah – there's probably a secret passageway. I wonder if we can find it," Jack said. "We need Daniel – he's good at this sort of thing."

"Where would it go, if there was a secret passage?" Sam asked.

Teal'c stopped and thought for a moment. "You are correct. I should have thought of this. I am sorry."

"Hey – no worries Teal'c. We're all under a bit of pressure. So, any ideas?"

"The Goa'uld would want to have a quick escape route in case of trouble. He would also like to appear and disappear as if by magic. This would strengthen the view that he was a god. I have seen it be next to the throne."

"Sounds logical. But where would it lead?" Jack pushed Teal'c to think further.

"To his bedchamber, if it was close enough."

"Great – so now all we have to do is find Gauwyn's bedroom. Hey, has anyone noticed there's no one around? I haven't seen anyone since we got rid of the Jaffa."

"I expect everyone's hiding," Sam said. "They don't want to get caught in any of the crossfire."

"That and they're waiting to see who wins," Jack said cynically. "Once they know who's won they'll declare that they were on that person's side the whole time."

"I believe you are correct," Teal'c told him. "I have seen it many times."

"Okay – but back to the problem guys," Sam said. "How are we going to find Gauwyn's bedroom?"

"We ask," Jack said. He moved ahead and opened one of the doors quickly. There was no one inside. He went on to the next and the next, until finally he opened a door, behind which a young woman was cowering.

"Hi – I'm Jack," he said gently. "We're not going to hurt you, we just are looking for Gauwyn's bed chamber."

The woman whimpered and didn't speak. Before Jack had another chance Sam touched his arm. "Let me," she whispered. She carefully walked over to the girl.

"I won't hurt you," she said. "We're simply looking for our friends. Can you tell me where the king's bed chamber is?"

"He will kill me," she whispered. "Please."

"No, he won't," Sam told her. "He's dead. I promise he won't be able to do anything to hurt you. And we won't tell anyone who told us."

After a few more minutes of coaxing, the woman finally gave Sam directions. When she walked back towards Jack and Teal'c she rolled her eyes. "I didn't think I was going to get it," she told them softly.

A few seconds later they were on their way, watching carefully for any soldiers. They had no idea how many were loyal to Tabard or to the Goa'uld and weren't about to take chances.

"Here," Teal'c pointed to an elaborate doorway. There was no one in front, although they were still careful as they moved closer.

"Booby traps?" Jack asked softly.

"I do not believe so," Teal'c answered, "although we must remain cautious."

A minute later they were inside the Chamber. Now all they had to do was find a secret passage, go find a Goa'uld, get rid of her, and save Daniel. And then they were going home.

Or at least that's what Jack hoped.