One year later...
As they stepped through the stargate the first thing they saw were the trees. They were abnormally large willow-like trees that swayed in the breeze and almost seemed to sing as they moved closer to them.
"Goodie, more lovely trees." Jack's sarcasm seemed to lighten the mood for the rest of the team as they trudged along the pathway leading away from the gate.
"Sir, is it me or do these trees seemed to be getting louder?"
The Colonel paused and listened for a moment and then slowly nodded. "I think you might be right. It's almost as though the trees are-"
He was cut off by Teal'c as the jaffa stopped in his tracks. "There are people approaching."
Jack motioned for Daniel to take the lead as a small group of natives moved towards them. "It's your show Dannyboy, just don't get us into any trouble."
"As I recall Jack, the last planet we gated to, you were the one the touched the damned alter and got us put in a jail cell for three days."
Rolling his eyes the leader of SG-1just turned his focus to the impending crowd and readied his P-90 for whatever was to come next.
"Greetings. Are you travelers from the great circle?" A rather round, balding man stepped forward and bowed his head at the four team members and as he brought it back up his gaze settled on Daniel.
"Yes, we are peaceful explorers. I'm Daniel Jackson, this is Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter and Teal'c."
Before he could say anymore the other natives stepped forward and took hold of each member of SG-1 and led them down the pathway to their village.
"This is Kessia. Our village is one of many in this region. We welcome you as our guests." The balding man that had introduced himself as Oltorf led the team to what Daniel could only guess was a temple of some sort.
Once inside Oltorf had several of the villagers fetch food and drink for the travelers and offered them a place to rest on the small benches that were in the building.
"What is this place?" Daniel asked as he took a seat next to Oltorf.
"This is the hall of light. It is here that the village and its people get their power and strength."
O'Neill and his team began to ask questions as they surveyed the room and its contents. After a few minutes they began to remove their packs and jackets so they could partake of the food that was being offered to them. As they did this O'Neill became acutely aware of someone watching him and he turned to see Oltorf glaring at him from a few feet away. The balding man seemed fixed on Jack's left forearm, and the Colonel instinctively jerked his arm behind his back, wondering what it was the man was fixated with.
When all the food had been brought out, Daniel nodded curiously and began to ask more questions while Jack and the rest of the team began to eat and have a look around. As Jack nibbled at a piece of bread he neared the far wall and his eyes caught sight of a symbol that looked like an owl etched on the wall, and he reached a hand out to touch it. With his fingers barely an inch away the symbol began to glow and he quickly pulled his hand back. A gasp behind him made him turn and he was surprised to see a small child pointing furiously at the wall.
"Father! He is a gifted one! Come quick!" The little girl shouted as she waved her finger at the wall and a moment later Oltorf came running towards her.
He stopped beside her and looked in the direction that she was pointing. The owl-like symbol was still glowing and almost seemed to be getting brighter and Jack stared blankly at the man and his daughter not knowing what was going on.
"You are truly are a gifted one. We are honored to be in your presence." Oltorf dropped to his knees before Jack and the Colonel turned to his teammates for some sort of explanation.
"I don't understand. I didn't do anything. That little owl thing just lit up when my hand got close to it. I didn't do anything, honest." Jack shrugged his shoulders at Daniel hoping the young archeologist could figure out what was going on.
"Are you not a gifted one?" Oltorf stood up and looked into the Colonel's eyes for a moment and then turned to Daniel. "I can see that he is a gifted one."
"Um...What the Colonel is trying to say is that we aren't quite sure what you mean by gifted one? Could you please explain that?"
Readily Oltorf nodded and motioned for SG-1 to take a seat on the nearby bench. "There have been those born in our village that have the ability to work magic. They are called the gifted ones. They protect us in times of great need, but they are very rare. One has not been seen in our village for over a hundred years."
"How do you know that Colonel O'Neill is a gifted one?" Daniel's voice seemed to echo through the hall as silence enveloped the room.
"It is in his eyes, and he was able to light the symbol. Only a gifted one could make the symbol glow. No one in the village has that power."
With a nod Daniel stood and motioned for Jack to follow him. They moved away to the opposite corner of the room and Daniel pulled the other man close so he could whisper to him.
"Are you sure you didn't do anything to that wall?"
Jack glared at the archeologist and shook his head. "I told you, Daniel. All I did was bring my hand towards the owl thing and it started to glow. I never touched it."
"Are you positive?"
"Yes, damn it! I don't know what Olaf here thinks I am, but he's wrong. I ain't gifted or whatever he thinks I am."
Daniel nodded and sighed heavily. "It's Oltorf, and he seems very convinced."
"Well, unconvince him."
"I'll try. I mean it's not like you can really do magic or anything anyway, right?"
Daniel laughed softly and Jack rolled his eyes. "Whatever Daniel. Just get this cleared up."
The two men returned to the group and Daniel tried his best to explain that there was no such thing as magic in their world, but Oltorf was set that Jack was indeed a gifted one and in the end Daniel agreed to have Jack tested so that they could prove whether or not he was truly a gifted one.
"What the hell kinda test is it, Daniel?" Jack's voice was louder than he intended as he placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder.
"It simple. If I understand correctly, they have what would essentially be called a spell book. Anyone that is what they consider gifted can say the words in the book and they'll be able to do the magic."
Carter and Teal'c stared blankly at their companion as Jack shook his head in frustration. "It is highly unlikely that O'Neill will be able to read the language in this book."
"Thanks T, that makes me feel a lot better."
"Well, sir. This seems easy enough. It's not like you can really do magic, so just say whatever is in the book, if you can even read it, and this will be settled."
O'Neill groaned at his 2IC and buried his head in his hands. He took a few deep breaths and waited for Oltorf and his people to bring the spell book. It was several minutes before they arrived and he had managed to convince himself that there was no way the Kessian people's magic was anything like the magic he knew on Earth, and with a confident smile he waited to be told what to do.
Oltorf placed a large, tattered looking book on a pedestal at the end of the room and motioned for O'Neill and his team to join him. As he neared the pedestal he could see the open book and small piece of rope just beside it.
"You must read from the book. These words here, point to the rope and speak them." He pointed to a familiar looking writing and Jack's heart sank lower into his chest. He easily recognized the spell as a simple levitation spell and he bit back a curse.
"Take this." Oltorf's little girl reached up to give Jack what the others could plainly see was some sort of wand and Jack took a deep breath.
For a moment he read the words and then began to speak and gently swished the want in the palm of his right hand "Wigardium Leviosa."
As the words left his mouth he sighed inwardly, knowing he had said them with the wrong pronunciation and that it wouldn't work.
Much to Oltorf's displeasure the rope did not move and he took the wand from Jack's hand. "I know you are a gifted one. I have seen it in your eyes, but perhaps you have not been trained. There is one in a village a few days walk from here who could train you? She is not a gifted one, but she knows the old ways."
"Sorry, Ollie but I have to get back home. Training just isn't a possibility." Jack shook his head and turn to walk back toward the bench where his trusty P-90 was waiting.
"But you have come to us through the great circle. It is written that you will help us."
With a raised eyebrow Jack turned around and took in the equally confused looks of his teammates and then slowly strapped his gun back across his chest.
"What do you mean by 'it is written?" Daniel finally asked the question they were all wondering.
"A prophecy given to us by the elders over a century ago. It says that travelers will come from a distant land, and that one of them will possess the power to save us from a great evil. The prophecy tells of his great power, and how he will vanquish our enemy. He is the one. I am sure of it, Daniel."