Ariana stumbled into the gateroom the next morning with ten minutes to spare. She hated early morning missions - she was never at her best. She saw that SG3 and Colonel O'Neill were already there, along with Teal'c and Major Carter. Sam was jabbering at the colonel at top speed, while Jack was looking as vague as Ariana felt herself.

Jack held his hand up. "Carter... Carter!"

"Sir?"

"I'll never remember all of that. Write it down and I'll have Daniel make sure that all of your questions get asked."

"I've already given Daniel a list, sir."

"Well, then, why are you bothering me about it?" He asked in exasperation.

Before Sam could reply, Teal'c noticed Ariana. "Good morning, Dr. Farrell."

"Mornin', Teal'c" she grunted.

Jack shook his head at her. "You're as bad as Daniel. Here, drink this before it gets cold." Turning around, he picked up a large styrofoam cup from the F.R.E.D. standing behind him.

Ariana raised an eyebrow in perfect imitation of Teal'c. "Coffee? For little ole me? Why thank you kindly, Colonel Jack," she drawled, letting her Texas accent thicken just a little.

"Can it, Scarlett, or I'll take it back."

She stepped away from him and sipped her coffee gratefully as the others in the gate room looked on in amusement. "Umm. Thanks Jack - seriously. I didn't have time to make any at home this morning."

He gestured to the other cup sitting behind him. "I've got one for Daniel, too, but he's going to miss out if he doesn't show up soon."

"Speak of the Devil." said Sam, looking towards the door of the gateroom.

Daniel came hurrying into the room, trying to stuff a sheaf of papers into an already bulging pack. Sam deftly removed the pack from his hands and closed it, moving around behind him to clip it to his vest. O'Neill silently presented his steaming offering and Daniel took it with a sleepy smile of appreciation.

After his first sip he sighed. "Umm. Thanks Jack - seriously. I didn't have time to make any at home this morning."

He frowned when everyone burst out laughing. "What?"

Ariana waved her own cup in his direction. "I just said exactly the same thing."

"You two are scary - I've told you that, right?" Jack asked, shaking his head. He looked up into the control room and yelled, "We're ready to go, sir. Dial her up."

Turning to the two scientists, he said, "You've got until the gate opens to finish those, so make it snappy."

They nodded and diligently applied themselves to the steaming beverages. Seconds later, the event horizon whooshed into existence. Daniel and Ariana handed their now empty cups to Sam as Jack started up the ramp.

"Good luck, people," said General Hammond from the control room.

Jack waved in response and then turned. "Okay Campers, let's go."

They hadn't been on the other side of the gate for long when a group of armed men on horses rode into view. Though the newcomers' shields and weapons marked them as warriors, they did not appear hostile. A tall young man at the front of the group dismounted and approached them on foot.

Jack watched as SG3 fanned out behind them. Daniel turned to Ariana and muttered, "You're on, Nana."

The two men fell in beside her as the young man stopped before them. He smiled and bowed, fist clenched over his heart. "Greetings, people of the Taur'i. I am Myrddin mab Ianna le Padraig. Your presence on our world is welcome."

Ariana pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and gave him her most charming smile. "Thank you, Myrddin, we're glad to be here. I am Dr. Ariana Farrell and these men are Dr. Daniel Jackson and Colonel Jack O'Neill."

Myrddin nodded his head to each men as they were introduced. He gestured behind her to the men of SG3 standing silently behind them. "And are these your fearìn also, Lady?"

Fearìn? Could that be a permutation of the Irish word for man - fear? Her men? she thought wildly. Her Gaelic was fairly good, if a little rusty, but she'd have to rely on Daniel for anything that approximated Welsh. "Uh...yes. Myrddin, this is Colonel Reynolds, Lieutenant Singleton, Sergeant Penhallow and Captain Harris." As she gestured to the men in question, she darted a glance at the two beside her. Jack only raised his eyebrows, but Daniel mouthed, "Your men?"at her. She shrugged and returned her attention to the Avaloran.

Myrddin was looking at her with chagrin. He bowed to her once again and said. "The Taur'i have indeed honored us by sending a lady of such status."

"We only send the best!" Jack quipped.

Myrddin seemed to take his statement at face value. "I apologize that there is no woman here to greet you, Lady, but we were not expecting your people to return so quickly."

Ariana hastened to reassure him. "That's alright, Myrddin. I can speak with you."

He shook his head in horror at the thought. "Oh no, Lady. That would be unseemly." Ariana looked at Daniel in desperation.

Daniel nodded at her and cleared his throat. "Would it be acceptable if you spoke with me, Myrddin?"

"You are a bard then, Dr. Jackson? You have the look of a warrior about you."

Daniel ignored Jack's small snort of laughter. "Sure" he said, not sure which statement he was replying to.

At this point, Jack interrupted. "Look, Myrddin, this is nice and everything, but could we get a move on?"

Myrddin flushed with embarrassment and they realized how young he actually was. He can't be more than eighteen, Ariana thought.

"Of course, Colonel O'Neill, my apologies. Will all of you be accompanying your lady to the caislean?"

Jack looked at Daniel blankly. "Caislean means 'castle,' Jack. It's Gaelic," the linguist told him in an undertone.

"Okay. No, Daniel and I will be the only ones, Myrddin. The rest of the men will be staying here, if that's all right. They need to stay near the stargate so that we can communicate with our leaders back home."

Myrddin nodded. "Good. Three of my men will stay behind so that we may use their horses and to show yours the best campsite. There is good supply of fresh water nearby."

As Myrddin turned away to give directions to his own men, Jack motioned to leader of SG3. "Okay, Reynolds, you guys stay here. Myrddin's leaving a couple of folks behind with you so that they can show you where to camp. We'll make sure to check in with you every day by radio so you can report back to Hammond. Everything looks kosher, but keep your eyes open."

The Marine colonel nodded. "Sure thing, Jack. Watch your six."

"I always do, Stu," Jack laughed.

Jack was pondering the condition of his 'six' an hour later as the group made their way through the countryside to the Avaloran capitol. It had been years since he'd been on a horse, and he knew that he was going to regret it later. He saw that Daniel, chatting away happily with Myrrdin at the front of the group, looked only a little less uncomfortable in the saddle than he did. Ariana, on the other hand, looked as relaxed and happy as he'd ever seen her. The beautiful grey stallion she was riding seemed to be acting up, but Jack heard her laugh as she brought the animal under control. Ariana looked in Jack's direction.

"He wants to run and I won't let him, the poor thing." she smiled.

"Tintreach is very spirited, Lady. You may let him run, if you wish. We will be nearing the city soon," called Myrddin.

Ariana looked down and patted her horse's neck. "Lightning, eh? I think that's a good name. Coming, Jack?" She looked at him inquiringly.

"Nah, you go on without me."

She shrugged. "Okay. I'll just go to the top of that hill and back." With a touch of her heels to the horse's flanks, she was off like a shot.

The entire party stopped to watch Ariana's progress. Jack knew he wasn't the only one who held his breath when the anthropologist's horse soared over a high fence separating her destination from the road. Ariana pulled up when she reached the crest of the hill, turning to wave at them.

"By the Hunter, she's magnificent."

Jack and Daniel both turned to see Myrddin turning scarlet at his outburst. The two friends grinned at each other and Jack clapped the young Avaloran on the shoulder. "That she is, Myrddin."

Myrddin looked at them both in awe. "You must be honored to serve one such as herself. I hope that the lady who chooses me will as great." With that, he rode ahead to greet the returning Ariana.

Jack and Daniel exchanged glances. "Uh, oh. I think someone's got a crush on our anthropologist," drawled Jack.

"Looks that way," Daniel replied as he shifted in the saddle. "Oomph. I hope we're almost there. I don't have any feeling left in my..."

"Ass?" Jack supplied.

"I was going to say 'legs,' Jack," Daniel laughed wryly. "But 'ass' will work."

They paused to admire the view before them. Below lay a fertile valley leading to what looked like an ocean or large lake. Perched on the cliffs above the water laid an enormous castle, sparkling in the late afternoon sun. It reminded Jack of a picture from one of Charlie's books of fairy tales.

"Sweet," he breathed.

"You said it," agreed Daniel, just as awestruck.

Myrddin turned to them. "Come, my friends. I know that you are weary, but our journey is nearly over."