Chapter 5: Close a Blind Eye

As per usual, plez see Chapter One for the "details".

NOTES// Wow! Chapter Five already! I hope you guys enjoy this. I know it's been a bit long in coming (and right when there's a cliffhanger. Isn't that always the way? lol). As for the small amount of physics in the chapter, it's pretty basic, as much as my grade 11 Physics digs into… there's gonna be no "Average Sam Carter-ness" coming out of my mouth, no way!

Now enough with my babbling, onto the story.

-S

***

Kamilah stared into the glass goblet, which was filled to the rim with wine. She watched the light as it refracted through the glass, causing the images on the other side to be distorted.

'Snell's law: Light travels at different speeds in different optical mediums. The different mediums cause light to bend as it changes speed…'

"Beautiful?"

Kamilah shook her head slightly, trying to pull herself out of her daze. Trivia facts like that seemed to pop up daily; it sure did make life interesting. She looked up at Runihura and offered a weak grin. They were eating lunch together on a balcony over looking the gardens. Her husband had been telling her about… well, to be honest, she wasn't sure. She'd zoned out near the beginning.

Runihura seemed to realize that he'd lost his wife's attention so he tried a new tactic. "Kamilah, did I ever tell you how we met?"

Kamilah was tempted to remind him again of the condition regarding her memory, but bit back the sarcastic retort. "No, Runihura. Please tell me?"

He was happy to oblige, "It was at a huge feast and we both happened to be guests of honor. When I first saw you, I knew that you had to be mine. You were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen."

That actually sounds a little disturbing, thought Kamilah. She asked him to continue the story, though.

"We danced all night and I thought 'She is the one'. So I convinced you to come and stay with me and become my wife."

That's it? She thought. Kamilah got the distinct feeling that he was leaving something out, like a courtship? Or any sort of detail. I'm just a romantic, I guess. I expect star-crossed lovers and everything. Runihura seems to be in a good mood; it's probably because his oh-so-wonderful god is here. She mused, Maybe I should ask him about my dreams?

Kamilah opened her mouth to speak, only to find that Runihura wasn't sitting across from her anymore. A couple of meters away, Runihura was speaking quietly with one of the Jaffa. A couple of minutes later, he came back to the table.

"Beautiful, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to leave."

And he turned and walked away before Kamilah could even say goodbye.

***

It was a setting that could make Walt Disney proud. It was a gorgeous day. It never got cold on Abayomous, the sun always shone and flowers always were in bloom…

And there was an abundance of trees.

Lots of trees.

Kamilah was walking in the garden, again, thinking about trees. Trees, because they were a safe subject, a boring one, but still safe and familiar. She was trying, unsuccessfully, to sway her thoughts away from the confusion that her life seemed to be.

There were so many mysteries and Kamilah always hated an unsolved puzzle… at least, she thought she did.

The first mystery was Runihura, her husband. He was the stranger, who was supposed to love her. He would treat her like a goddess the first moment, then a servant the next. Runihura was suppose to be the man who knew her better than she knew herself, but he didn't. She was so sure of it that it scared her.

Another mystery was Nephthys, the monster with the glowing eyes and the terrible voice. When Kamilah remembered Mert's earlier words of praise, she could only shutter. Brought prosperity my ass, thought Kamilah.

Then there were the dreams, which were a conundrum unto themselves. They revealed vague familiar faces, gray bland rooms of a facility she knew nothing of, calculations, and voices without faces or context…

And then there were the odd words that would pop into her head: Major, CO, DHD, Zat, MALP, Colonel, SG-1, SGC, 2IC, General, Stargate.

It was utter nonsense that left her mind spinning.

Kamilah found herself standing next to the Stargate; she ran her hands over the smooth stone. The Stargate was the only constant between her dreams and the reality she found herself in. Could the Stargate really create a portal to a new world? Kamilah wondered, or was it just a glorified rock with a history?

She continued walking towards the forest that lay beyond the garden and Runihura's lands. She felt more at ease among the wildlife. If Kamilah was being honest with herself, she'd admit that she was trying to avoid everyone and everything and, in particular, her thoughts.

Soon Kamilah realized that mind was wandering once again. "I think too much," she muttered to herself and smiled at the words.

***

She didn't return until late that evening. She had hiked all over the forest and had misjudged the amount of sunlight she had left. No one would worry, though. It wasn't for the first time.

Kamilah crept down the hallway towards the bedroom she shared with Runihura. If I'm lucky, he'll be asleep, she thought.

The hallway was dark and the fortress seemed abandoned, wrapped in an eerie silence. Her footsteps echoed on the marble floors and the shadows wrapped around the walls like a blanket. Kamilah walked into more than one statue because of the darkness.

She opened her mouth to curse when she stubbed her foot, yet again, only to find that she couldn't. Cold hands were holding her arm tightly and covering her mouth. Kamilah froze with panic and before she realized what was happening, she was dragged into a small room. Kamilah didn't know what this man wanted, but there was no way she was going down without a fight. She struggled violently, but the man's hold was strong. Instinct was a blessing; she elbowed the man hard in the stomach and rushed out of his reach, right into a corner.

She scolded herself silently, Smart, Kamilah.

He turned on the light in the room; it was really a closet. He was dressed in the clothing of the men that followed Nephthys. A scribe, Kamilah guessed. She opened her mouth to call out to the guards.

"Major Carter, please do not yell. I am Lateef of the Tok'ra," her attacker said.

Kamilah's mind whirled, Major Carter. That name is from my dreams.

She was so shocked that for a moment, she lost her voice. Lateef kept his distance, waiting for her to say something. When she did, it wasn't what he was expecting.

"I am Kamilah, wife of Runihura and head of this household," she whispered harshly. What am I doing? I should yell, no, scream for the guards. But she was intrigued.

Lateef looked confused, but he was adamant in his belief, "You are Major Samantha Carter of the Tau'ri. I am sure of it. We met two years ago when you first contacted the Tok'ra. Perhaps you don't remember."

She smiled grimly; yet again there was another thing that she couldn't remember. But the word "Tok'ra", it was also from her dreams… maybe they really were memories and not delusions. Maybe she did know this man. It made no sense; not that much did these days.

"Why did you attack me?" she asked.

He seemed… embarrassed? "I had to make sure that you wouldn't scream. This room is one of the few places not monitored by the Jaffa. I am in grave danger just by talking with you, Major Carter."

"My name is not Major Carter!" she growled. The truth was, she wasn't so sure anymore.

Lateef lost his patience; he bent his head down in a half bow. Kamilah took this as a sign that he was giving up on this "Major" stuff. She was relieved.

But when Lateef looked up, his eyes were glowing. Just like his master, the monster.

"Give up this façade, Major Carter. What interest does the Tau'ri have in Nephthys?" His voice was the same as the monster's.

Lies, his words had to be all lies.

Kamilah couldn't stop herself, she screamed.

She heard the footsteps of the Jaffa guards soon afterwards.

"In here!" Kamilah cried out.

Lateef didn't have a chance. Kamilah watched as the guards grabbed the servant of Nephthys. His face was extremely expressive, speaking of the immense betrayal he felt.

Kamilah though, couldn't feel any compassion for the monster.

All lies, she told herself.

TBC

***

Review! Review! Review!

I love the word.

-S