Dawn saw the replacement of the gags. Camp, such as it was, was cleared within a quarter of an hour after the first sun had risen. Within two hours, Hokkaido came into sight. Daniel estimated that they had been marched thirty to thirty-five miles from the Stargate, having traveled in excess of twelve hours the previous day.
Inside their high walls, the people lived in well-constructed homes, consisting of a wooden floor, walls and roof. The main space of each home was divided into rooms by curtain cloths that hung from the ceiling. The largest, grandest home stood on the incline of the great hill in the center of the town.
"We must bring you to our Shogun, Lord Yasuo," Senichi informed him. "He will, in deference to your crime, give you to the priest and priestess of Amaterasu for judgement."
Daniel nodded, understanding.
The four members of SG-1 were herded together up the steps, completely surrounded by armed samurai.
More warriors were posted at intervals on the large porch, which extended along the front of the house. The decorations were ornate, boldly colorful and exotic, reverberating with splendor.
Senichi led the group up the stairs, past the guards. A set of samurai opened the doors, and SG-1 was escorted through several lavishly decorated rooms to the Shogun.
Lord Yasuo was younger than Daniel, and looked to be about twenty-five years old. He was wearing the same rough-spun cloth as the men who were pledged to him, but the stitching was finer, and the robe decorated with flowing designs. Everything about him radiated competent control, and power.
Senichi stood tall. "Lord, these were found wandering the eastern portion of your lands. They come from Izanagi's Eye, yet are neither god nor tungri. They trespassed in the Cave of Amaterasu." Daniel narrowed his eyes slightly. The samurai's posture and confidence in addressing Yasuo were unusual. He had expected the man to show some sort of deference to the Lord who commanded him, and yet there was no sign of submission from the warrior.
The young Lord said nothing, and gazed upon each of the members of SG-1 in turn. He pointed to Daniel, singled out as the only one of the four unbound. Senichi said, "This one calls himself Daniel. He has claimed the rights of Bushido. His companions forfeited his protection by breaking faith, and attempting to escape."
The Lord's eyes rose, but he was still silent. Daniel remained calm, met the Lord's gaze, and bowed his head slightly, never breaking eye contact.
The two locked gazes, and the Lord said, "Though they walked upon my lands, they must answer for a higher crime."
Senichi raised a fist to his heart, and the Lord nodded. This seemed to be a signal, for SG-1 was hustled immediately from the room. The samurai brought them to an outer hut, its construction blatantly solid, unlike the misleading delicacy of the main house's structure. Bars blocked the one window, and there was a secure bar across the door.
They were unceremoniously led inside, the door barred again. Daniel quickly moved to each of his teammates, untying their hands and pulling the gags free. Jack threw the strips of cloth into a far corner, and Sam looked on, rubbing her raw wrists.
"That was fun," said Jack. "Let's do it again sometime. Not!" Daniel moved to the barred window, looking out. "What's the deal with this judgement? Daniel?"
"We'll be brought before the priest and priestess of Amaterasu," the archaeologist answered. "They'll be told our story, probably by Senichi, and the priest and priestess will pass judgement. We'll have a chance to speak."
"Ah. Well then."
Before they had a chance to speak further, the door was opened. Daniel turned, and saw Lord Yasuo and two samurai enter. He looked at the three member of SG-1 who had been tied, and said shortly, "Bring them."
Daniel was unable to stop himself from moving forward as Yasuo turned and left. One of the samurai stepped in front of him, hand on the hilt of his sword. The threat was clear. Nonetheless, Daniel still moved when more samurai entered the hut, surrounded Jack, Sam and Teal'c, and took them away. He found an edge of honed steel at his throat, and immediately stopped. He glared at the warrior in front of him, and the samurai lowered his weapon slowly.
By the time noise outside the door attracted his attention, Daniel was nearly frantic with worry. It had been several hours since his teammates had been forced out of the hut at the end of samurai blades. He backed to the wall opposite the door, hoping that whoever was coming would quickly open the door.
Lord Yasuo was the first to appear, taking one step inside the hut and looking squarely at Daniel. The archaeologist remained standing tall, keeping eye contact with the young Shogun. "Your friends have been brought to justice for their breach of faith with my warriors," Yasuo said.
Dread slammed into Daniel, a physical force that knocked him backwards a step. Yasuo moved sideways, clearing the doorway. Several samurai brought the remainder of SG-1 back to the hut. Teal'c was the only one still on his feet. Jack and Sam, the former unconscious, were carried in and laid facedown on the floor.
Daniel was checking them over before the door had fully closed. "Teal'c?" he asked, quickly checking Jack for a head injury. "How are you doing?"
Glancing up at the Jaffa warrior, Daniel could see that his face was drained of color, expression pained. "I must begin kel'no'reem as soon as possible. My symbiote will heal me. I will soon be able to aid you, Daniel Jackson. My injuries are not severe."
Looking carefully at Teal'c, Daniel felt he was slightly overestimating his own healing ability. Like Sam and Jack, the Jaffa's back had been severely beaten with a thin wooden rod. The cuts were oozing blood.
Sam groaned faintly, and Daniel said, "I'll take care of Sam and Jack. I need you as healed as possible. Let Junior do his stuff."
Teal'c nodded, moving out of the way, yet within reaching distance if he was needed. He sat straight, clasping his hands together, and closed his eyes. Within moments his breathing was deep and relaxed.
Daniel could find no sign of any injuries, besides the beatings, on either Jack or Sam. He carefully examined each of their backs, checking for broken ribs. As he pressed carefully, there was a knock on the door. Turning from where he was crouched between his semi-conscious teammates, Daniel watched in silence as a young girl, escorted by two samurai, entered the room. She carried a steaming bowl, and two bags. Placing the bowl on the floor, she removed three cloths from inside her robes. Without a word, she dipped a cloth in the warm water, squeezed it out, and gently bathed Jack's shoulder.
He jerked, and she stopped moving. Daniel held both hands out toward her, palms open. Carefully, he took the cloth from her fingers and began himself to wash the cuts on Jack's back. The girl nodded, and opened the smaller bag. A fresh, clean smell filled the room.
Taking several dried leaves, the girl crumbled them in her hands and sprinkled them over the wounds. Then she opened the second bag and pulled out several rolls of bandaging. Daniel bowed his head in comprehension, and the girl nodded. She stood and departed, Daniel watching as the samurai followed her out.
Daniel rubbed the cloth soothingly over Jack's back, thoroughly cleaning the cuts. He checked quickly on Sam, and found her blearily trying to make sense of her surroundings. "Sam?" he asked, scattering crushed fragments of the herb over Jack's abused skin.
"Dan - Daniel?" Blue eyes blinked under shaggy blond bangs.
"Hey," he soothed, pulling at a roll of bandages. "How are you feeling?"
"Urg."
Daniel contemplated the bandages, wondering how he was ever going to get them on Jack without his help. "That good?" he asked, smiling softly in her direction.
"Even better." The groan accompanied a small shift.
"Don't move. I'll be right there to help you," Daniel promised. He carefully turned and lifted Jack, removing his tattered shirt. Cautiously bracing his friend, he wrapped the bandages securely around the colonel's torso. Then, he managed to get Jack's jacket on him and return him to the ground.
One down. Two to go. "This will probably sting a little," Daniel warned her. The slightly indrawn breath when the wet cloth touched her back confirmed his suspicions. "Tell me what happened when they took you out of here?" he asked, trying to distract her.
"Well, first they took us through the training grounds. Many young men and women were practicing fighting. I was surprised by that, given the attitude towards women we saw in a similar Asian culture - the Mongolian descendants, I think . . . "
The mission had been one of their earliest. Daniel smiled. "In feudal Japan, there was less discrimination among the sexes than you might think. Noble women had to know how to defend their lives and honor in case of ambush or attack. Commoners were more proficient in using tools and staffs for defense, while the upper class made sure females knew the use of both sword and bow."
There was a small moment of silence before Sam continued. "We were brought before Lord Yasuo, in an outdoor area. There was a tall post in the ground. We were each sentenced to one hundred lashes. They tied us up in turn. Me first, in deference to my gender." Which explained why she was semi-conscious when Jack was completely out. "Then Teal'c, and the colonel last." It must have almost killed Jack to have to watch his teammates beaten in front of him, without him being able to do a thing about it. "What are you doing?" Sam asked, and Daniel stopped sprinkling the crushed leaves on her back.
"Does it hurt?" he asked cautiously.
"No - I can't feel a thing. What did you do?" Sam craned her neck around to try to see what he was doing, and Daniel hastily plunked the bag of leaves in front of her to stop the twisting motion.
"It's these. They were given to us, by a servant."
"This is incredible," Sam murmured.
"They might let us keep the remainder," said Daniel. "The leaves seem to be in abundance, and I think Janet would love to get her hands on them." The major nodded. "Uh, Sam?"
"Yes?" she turned to look at him.
"I need to cover these," Daniel said, gesturing to her back with the bandages. "D'you think you can help me?"
Sam nodded, and Daniel assisted her so that she was sitting facing the wall. Passing the roll of bandages back and forth between them, they managed to get her entire back covered without embarrassing anyone. Daniel helped her get into her jacket and then lie down.
She sighed. "When do you think they'll hand us over to the priest and priestess?"
Daniel frowned. "Not for a day or more, with any luck. I hope they might at least wait until Jack's -"
"Wha?" The startled grunt cut Daniel off.
"Sir?" asked Carter, gingerly moving over to him.
"Ow. Geez. What?" he asked bad-temperedly.
Daniel moved over to Teal'c, placing a hand on his shoulder. The Jaffa's eyes opened, and he blinked. "Teal'c, I'm going to wash your back and bandage it, give Junior a little help. That okay?"
"Indeed, Daniel Jackson. I shall return to kel'no'reem."
Daniel nodded, and Teal'c closed his eyes. Daniel cleaned out the cuts with gentle efficiency, having gained the necessary practice. As he dusted the crumbled leaves over the wounds, he listened to Sam and Jack's quiet interchange behind him. The conversation drifted into silence as he deftly tied off the bandaging and placed Teal'c's jacket on the ground beside him.
Contemplating his sleeping friends, Daniel gathered the materials given to him by the servant, and moved to the door. He placed the items on the ground and knocked on the inside of the entrance.
The door opened and a samurai appeared. "My thanks," said Daniel, extending the bowl. The man looked at him carefully, then took the bowl of bloody water, white cloths floating within it. Daniel also handed him the bags of bandages and medicine, before bowing slightly. The samurai cast his eyes over the three sleepers, and then turned away.
As he heard the bar drop into place on the opposite side of the door, Daniel moved to sit against the wall opposite the door. Rubbing his hand over his face, he lay down and closed his eyes. He breathed slowly and deeply, consciously relaxing his muscles and entering a light meditative state. Clearing his mind of all thought, he concentrated only on his breathing.
He had no idea how much time passed before the door to the cell was opened again. He opened his eyes to see the same servant girl, bearing a tray. He sat up slowly, noting through the barred window the sun's position at the apex of the sky. The girl placed the tray on the ground and left.
Teal'c was also awake, and Daniel asked him, "Do you feel any better, Teal'c?" as he scooted over to the tray.
"I am much strengthened."
"Good." Daniel contemplated the four bowls of rice, four pieces of bread, and four cups of water. He glanced to Sam and Jack and sighed, hating to wake them.
"Major Carter," said Teal'c, moving to her. "O'Neill."
The two stirred, and Daniel brought the tray over to where SG-1 was grouped.
"More rice," Jack muttered as Daniel handed him the bowl.
"At least it still tastes like chicken," Carter offered after her first bite.
A smile got away from Daniel as he leant against the wall and ate his own food. Within minutes, the tray held only empty dishes. Daniel took the tray and once again knocked at the door, handing it off to the guard with his thanks and a bow.
"Why are these people so big on the bowing?" asked Jack, obviously fortified by his meal and refusing to go back to sleep.
"Common courtesy," Daniel replied. "I might be overdoing it, but that's better than insulting them by not showing the proper respect."
Any further conversation was abruptly cut off as the door opened once again. Lord Yasuo appeared, as did several guards. "Come," he said brusquely. "It is time for you to be judged."
Helping one another to their feet, SG-1 left the hut as they had arrived - surrounded by samurai and sharp-edged steel.
- - - - - -
The verdict is thus - overwhelming response for the long version of the fic. I am . . . about a third of the way through it at this point, and have developed a handy contingency plan. There is a chapter which is a convenient stopping point, should I fail to complete by my self-appointed deadline. I will post up until that chapter, if I can't finish, and then continue at a later date. But as of today, we are go for the launch of epic proportions!
I also want to thank everyone for their overwhelming response. This is truly the most vocally supportive fandom I have ever entered. Also, I truly appreciate the kind wishes I received from so many of you for luck in the fall. Once again, gratias!