Author's Note: Sorry this has taken so long to appear up here, but life
happened. (Hopefully the next one won't take so long!) ~Cheeky.
Instead of leading them straight to the ring like they expected, Tyr ked Jack and Lara towards the altar. They noticed that the closer they got to the altar, the quieter the spectators became. "What's going on?" Jack asked softly.
"It seems we're to be brought before the altar." Lara replied.
"Should I be worried?"
Lara looked at him and smiled wryly. "Not especially."
Before Jack could retort, they reached the altar. Tyr turned and spoke. Lara raised an eyebrow, and opened her mouth to speak. But at that moment something hard slammed into the backs of her knees, forcing her to kneel in the dirt before the altar. She winced and shot a glare at Tyr that contained enough hatred and promise of vengeance that he swallowed visibly.
Beside her, Jack was getting the same treatment. He landed heavily on his knees and felt the pain shoot up his thighs. "Maybe I'm getting too old for this." He said as he winced.
"You? Too old?" Lara looked at him. "Just think what you've been through over the past few days. I don't know many men who could have done what you did and only two others who would have been willing."
"Who?" Jack asked.
"Daniel and Teal'c."
"What about Carter?"
Lara grinned cheekily. "She's a woman Jack."
He chuckled softly, but his expression turned dangerous when Tyr hit Lara across the mouth and snapped something in a harsh voice. Then Jack's head was snapped back but someone's hand in his hair. Because he couldn't look anywhere else, Jack glared at the glowing nimbus above the altar. Then his eyebrows rose when he saw the familiar features. "Asgard." He breathed.
"What?" Lara asked.
"The spirit." Jack whispered very softly. "It's an Asgard hologram."
"What does that mean?" Lara asked as they were roughly pulled to their feet and shoved towards the dirt ring.
"I don't know." Then he glanced behind him at Tyr and Alvis. "But something tells me that now might not be the best time to discuss it."
"No," Lara agreed grimly.
* * *
Lara stared at the two broad shouldered and muscular, bronze skinned men in front of her. She was alert and ready, analysing every movement for weakness. She was conscious of Jack standing to her right, just as alert as she was.
Both Alvis and Tyr watched them with the same intensity, and Tyr twirled a spear almost negligibly in his hands. Alvis also held a spear, but he kept it still and held in a loose grip. He would be the more dangerous fighter, Lara decided.
She could feel Jack as a constant and reassuring presence beside her. She also knew he could fight - due to his military training and background in special ops. Lara grinned slightly as a image of Jack popped into her head. There was no denying he looked sexy like he was - naked to the waist, his dog tags glinting around his neck, with all his muscles showing. And the two days worth of stubble. He looked so different from the polished soldier she had first met - and it definitely wasn't a bad thing . . .
Then Lara gave herself a mental shake. Now was not the time to let her thoughts run away with her! Even if they were such interesting thoughts . . .
Lara focused on the fight, mentally cataloguing her injuries while she continued to watch her opponents. Her mouth and jaw still hurt from Tyr's knock. And he was going to pay for that . . . with interest. She shifted her attention more to Tyr. She already knew he was the more volatile of the pair. She knew that he would attack her first, believing her to be weak. Lara would just have to show him she wasn't. She smiled almost evilly at the thought,
Alvis was more cautious than Tyr, and would wait to see her fight before he judged her. But he was also proud and arrogant - and because of that, he would underestimate her and Jack - and overestimate himself. But he would still be hard to beat.
Thoughts swirled around Jack's head, making it difficult to concentrate. The Asgard! This must be one of the planets they protected, and it did make sense, now that he thought about it. He knew from Danny that the Vikings used to call their Gods the Asgard. (It had been during one of those "Let's teach Jack about History" classes Danny was so fond of giving him every now and then. Jack usually managed to drive him crazy at least once every time, and they were beginning to get less frequent.) But it was still a surprise.
Then, with an inward growl, Jack dragged his thoughts ruthlessly back to the present - and the two warriors standing in front of him. Lara stood to his left, tense and alert, and he ginned wickedly. With Lara Croft on his side, he couldn't loose!
Suddenly Tyr darted forward, his spear slashing for Lara's stomach. She dodged nimbly, pivoting to the side, before lashing out with a roundhouse kick to Tyr's head. Tyr didn't dodge fast enough, and caught a glancing blow to the jaw. He snarled, spun and came around with a back fist aimed at Lara's jaw. She grinned and brought her forearms up to block it. Then she elbowed Tyr in the face, breaking his nose in a spurt of blood. She then whipped one of her legs out, sinking below the handle of the spear Tyr was swinging at her head and sent him sprawling.
It was then that Alvis chose to attack. He didn't charge in like Tyr, but cautiously approached, twirling the spear in his hands. Jack let him come, alert for any movement that would betray a strike. Alvis suddenly swung the spear in an arc, aiming for Jack's chest. It was a testing blow, not really designed to inflict serious damage. Jack dodged easily, but did not strike back. He remembered Lara's words: "If he dies, then so do we." He'd have to be careful.
Alvis swung again and again, his blows getting more and more aggressive. But Jack kept dodging - always careful of giving Lara room and not backing himself into a corner. Soon sweat began dripping down his skin - causing his cut to sting. His muscles, already tied muscles, began to burn.
The fight continued like this for another fifteen minutes, although it felt a lot longer to Jack and Lara. Lara continued to taunt an already angry Tyr - although she mostly fought defensively. It was at this point that the Chief stood up from his stone throne and spoke in a deep rumble. At his words, Tyr grinned evilly at Lara with his blood spattered face. Lara gasped softly and her focus slipped from Tyr for a second. Tyr took his opportunity and slashed at Lara, catching her on the thigh and causing her leg to fold under her. She threw herself to the side, just missing Tyr's stab at her chest.
"What did he say, Lara?" Jack called, dodging another of Alvis' slashes.
Lara rolled into a crouch, before pushing up and flipping backwards as Tyr swung at her again. "The Chief said that we were obviously not strong warriors, because we hadn't managed to defeat them yet. So we should die."
As Lara spoke, the Chief gestured sharply to his men. Ten broad shouldered, muscular men began to walk towards them. "You know what I said about playing nice?" Lara asked Jack, never taking her eyes off the approaching Tyr. "Forget it." She shot Jack a glance and her tone hardened. "Let's finish this!"
Jack grinned coldly. "Nothing would make me happier." He replied.
Together the pair began to stalk forward, their sweat and dirt streaked faces alight with almost identical looks of hard determination. Alvis looked alert when he saw the change. He saw how their movements became more fluid and controlled. His blood began to pump harder with anticipation. The two strangers were finally showing their true colours, and now they would fight!
With a nod to Jack, Lara stopped two meters away from Tyr, just out of ranger. She looked at Tyr. "Come and get me." She said.
Tyr sneered and swung, expecting Lara to dodge and move back. But instead, Lara steeped to the side and round-housed him in the stomach, his momentum carrying straight into her kick. She grabbed his spear with one hand and used the other to wrench the spear savagely out of Tyr's grasp. Before Tyr could react, she swung the spear like a staff, hitting him twice in the ribs, before striking him on the temple with enough force to knock him out. He fell to the ground, unconscious. The Chief looked on, completely silent, with a surprised look on his face because the whole attack had taken seconds.
At the same time as Tyr attacked Lara, Alvis had attacked Jack. He used the spear like a staff, and swung at Jack's knee. As he saw the blow, Jack finally let his training take over. Jack spun out of the way and immediately came around with a back fist. He caught a surprised Alvis on the cheekbone, before ducking under another swing and elbowing Alvis with enough force to drive the air from his lungs. Then Jack twisted around and punched Alvis in the nose, breaking it.
Alvis staggered back a few steps, and Jack immediately moved, kicking out his knee before lashing out with a spinning kick that knocked Alvis unconscious. Alvis hit the ground a second after Tyr, his spear still clasped in his hand.
"Impressive." Lara said.
Jack grinned. "Thank you."
Then they turned to the other warrior - all who had stopped dead with amazement. Lara twirled her spear threateningly and arched an eyebrow. "Who's next?" she asked pleasantly.
Instead of leading them straight to the ring like they expected, Tyr ked Jack and Lara towards the altar. They noticed that the closer they got to the altar, the quieter the spectators became. "What's going on?" Jack asked softly.
"It seems we're to be brought before the altar." Lara replied.
"Should I be worried?"
Lara looked at him and smiled wryly. "Not especially."
Before Jack could retort, they reached the altar. Tyr turned and spoke. Lara raised an eyebrow, and opened her mouth to speak. But at that moment something hard slammed into the backs of her knees, forcing her to kneel in the dirt before the altar. She winced and shot a glare at Tyr that contained enough hatred and promise of vengeance that he swallowed visibly.
Beside her, Jack was getting the same treatment. He landed heavily on his knees and felt the pain shoot up his thighs. "Maybe I'm getting too old for this." He said as he winced.
"You? Too old?" Lara looked at him. "Just think what you've been through over the past few days. I don't know many men who could have done what you did and only two others who would have been willing."
"Who?" Jack asked.
"Daniel and Teal'c."
"What about Carter?"
Lara grinned cheekily. "She's a woman Jack."
He chuckled softly, but his expression turned dangerous when Tyr hit Lara across the mouth and snapped something in a harsh voice. Then Jack's head was snapped back but someone's hand in his hair. Because he couldn't look anywhere else, Jack glared at the glowing nimbus above the altar. Then his eyebrows rose when he saw the familiar features. "Asgard." He breathed.
"What?" Lara asked.
"The spirit." Jack whispered very softly. "It's an Asgard hologram."
"What does that mean?" Lara asked as they were roughly pulled to their feet and shoved towards the dirt ring.
"I don't know." Then he glanced behind him at Tyr and Alvis. "But something tells me that now might not be the best time to discuss it."
"No," Lara agreed grimly.
* * *
Lara stared at the two broad shouldered and muscular, bronze skinned men in front of her. She was alert and ready, analysing every movement for weakness. She was conscious of Jack standing to her right, just as alert as she was.
Both Alvis and Tyr watched them with the same intensity, and Tyr twirled a spear almost negligibly in his hands. Alvis also held a spear, but he kept it still and held in a loose grip. He would be the more dangerous fighter, Lara decided.
She could feel Jack as a constant and reassuring presence beside her. She also knew he could fight - due to his military training and background in special ops. Lara grinned slightly as a image of Jack popped into her head. There was no denying he looked sexy like he was - naked to the waist, his dog tags glinting around his neck, with all his muscles showing. And the two days worth of stubble. He looked so different from the polished soldier she had first met - and it definitely wasn't a bad thing . . .
Then Lara gave herself a mental shake. Now was not the time to let her thoughts run away with her! Even if they were such interesting thoughts . . .
Lara focused on the fight, mentally cataloguing her injuries while she continued to watch her opponents. Her mouth and jaw still hurt from Tyr's knock. And he was going to pay for that . . . with interest. She shifted her attention more to Tyr. She already knew he was the more volatile of the pair. She knew that he would attack her first, believing her to be weak. Lara would just have to show him she wasn't. She smiled almost evilly at the thought,
Alvis was more cautious than Tyr, and would wait to see her fight before he judged her. But he was also proud and arrogant - and because of that, he would underestimate her and Jack - and overestimate himself. But he would still be hard to beat.
Thoughts swirled around Jack's head, making it difficult to concentrate. The Asgard! This must be one of the planets they protected, and it did make sense, now that he thought about it. He knew from Danny that the Vikings used to call their Gods the Asgard. (It had been during one of those "Let's teach Jack about History" classes Danny was so fond of giving him every now and then. Jack usually managed to drive him crazy at least once every time, and they were beginning to get less frequent.) But it was still a surprise.
Then, with an inward growl, Jack dragged his thoughts ruthlessly back to the present - and the two warriors standing in front of him. Lara stood to his left, tense and alert, and he ginned wickedly. With Lara Croft on his side, he couldn't loose!
Suddenly Tyr darted forward, his spear slashing for Lara's stomach. She dodged nimbly, pivoting to the side, before lashing out with a roundhouse kick to Tyr's head. Tyr didn't dodge fast enough, and caught a glancing blow to the jaw. He snarled, spun and came around with a back fist aimed at Lara's jaw. She grinned and brought her forearms up to block it. Then she elbowed Tyr in the face, breaking his nose in a spurt of blood. She then whipped one of her legs out, sinking below the handle of the spear Tyr was swinging at her head and sent him sprawling.
It was then that Alvis chose to attack. He didn't charge in like Tyr, but cautiously approached, twirling the spear in his hands. Jack let him come, alert for any movement that would betray a strike. Alvis suddenly swung the spear in an arc, aiming for Jack's chest. It was a testing blow, not really designed to inflict serious damage. Jack dodged easily, but did not strike back. He remembered Lara's words: "If he dies, then so do we." He'd have to be careful.
Alvis swung again and again, his blows getting more and more aggressive. But Jack kept dodging - always careful of giving Lara room and not backing himself into a corner. Soon sweat began dripping down his skin - causing his cut to sting. His muscles, already tied muscles, began to burn.
The fight continued like this for another fifteen minutes, although it felt a lot longer to Jack and Lara. Lara continued to taunt an already angry Tyr - although she mostly fought defensively. It was at this point that the Chief stood up from his stone throne and spoke in a deep rumble. At his words, Tyr grinned evilly at Lara with his blood spattered face. Lara gasped softly and her focus slipped from Tyr for a second. Tyr took his opportunity and slashed at Lara, catching her on the thigh and causing her leg to fold under her. She threw herself to the side, just missing Tyr's stab at her chest.
"What did he say, Lara?" Jack called, dodging another of Alvis' slashes.
Lara rolled into a crouch, before pushing up and flipping backwards as Tyr swung at her again. "The Chief said that we were obviously not strong warriors, because we hadn't managed to defeat them yet. So we should die."
As Lara spoke, the Chief gestured sharply to his men. Ten broad shouldered, muscular men began to walk towards them. "You know what I said about playing nice?" Lara asked Jack, never taking her eyes off the approaching Tyr. "Forget it." She shot Jack a glance and her tone hardened. "Let's finish this!"
Jack grinned coldly. "Nothing would make me happier." He replied.
Together the pair began to stalk forward, their sweat and dirt streaked faces alight with almost identical looks of hard determination. Alvis looked alert when he saw the change. He saw how their movements became more fluid and controlled. His blood began to pump harder with anticipation. The two strangers were finally showing their true colours, and now they would fight!
With a nod to Jack, Lara stopped two meters away from Tyr, just out of ranger. She looked at Tyr. "Come and get me." She said.
Tyr sneered and swung, expecting Lara to dodge and move back. But instead, Lara steeped to the side and round-housed him in the stomach, his momentum carrying straight into her kick. She grabbed his spear with one hand and used the other to wrench the spear savagely out of Tyr's grasp. Before Tyr could react, she swung the spear like a staff, hitting him twice in the ribs, before striking him on the temple with enough force to knock him out. He fell to the ground, unconscious. The Chief looked on, completely silent, with a surprised look on his face because the whole attack had taken seconds.
At the same time as Tyr attacked Lara, Alvis had attacked Jack. He used the spear like a staff, and swung at Jack's knee. As he saw the blow, Jack finally let his training take over. Jack spun out of the way and immediately came around with a back fist. He caught a surprised Alvis on the cheekbone, before ducking under another swing and elbowing Alvis with enough force to drive the air from his lungs. Then Jack twisted around and punched Alvis in the nose, breaking it.
Alvis staggered back a few steps, and Jack immediately moved, kicking out his knee before lashing out with a spinning kick that knocked Alvis unconscious. Alvis hit the ground a second after Tyr, his spear still clasped in his hand.
"Impressive." Lara said.
Jack grinned. "Thank you."
Then they turned to the other warrior - all who had stopped dead with amazement. Lara twirled her spear threateningly and arched an eyebrow. "Who's next?" she asked pleasantly.
