Chapter 3
Invisible
Sam looked ahead. All she could see were trees. But wait, there was a figure standing a few meters ahead of them. She wondered why she didn't see her... them! Before. A tall woman stood, clad in the medieval dress of a noble woman. The way she carried herself spoke the same. Upon closer inspection she noticed a small blue crescent moon painted onto her forehead. A man was next to her in the medieval dress of a nobleman.
"Greetings travelers. Welcome to Shalott." The woman said, gracefully.
"Shalott, why does that sound familiar?" Jack asked.
"It was part of the Arthurian legend. The Lady of Shalott, Elaine of Astalot died from a broken heart after Lancelot refused her."
"Oh. Right. Were they here before?"
"We were here the whole time. You simply did not see us when you stepped through the mirror."
"I think they mean the Stargate sir."
"Come, we will show you around."
She swept down into the trees with Carter and Jack following behind. Sam was still stumped at what was going on.
"Excuse me, but, who are you? How did you get here? What if we had attacked?"
"One question at a time. My name is Niniane. I am the High Priestess of Shalott. This is my chosen, Al'durilla."
"I'm Colonel Jack O'Neil, this is Major Samantha Carter."
"How did you all come here?"
"The first of us, the Fairy Morgan, was sent through as punishment. The second was Lady Elaine. She came into this land and broke the mirror, to stop others following. However the Goddess did not approve and made it so others could get in, but none could escape."
"How did you know we wouldn't be armed?"
"So far, none who are sent through the mirror have contained weapons. If you wished to attack my guards would have protected me."
It was the first time both of them noticed the four men walking behind them. They were dressed as peasants and all carried large swords.
"How do they keep doing that?" Jack was getting frustrated.
"I think I know sir." He looked at her sceptically. "When I was in school I used to be able to make it so no one saw me. I was there, but unless you knew exactly what you were looking for your eyes would pass over me as if I didn't exist."
"So you just turned invisible?"
"I was there, it's just that no one noticed me. It's easy when you get the hang of it, hold your body a certain way. It's normally more effective in crowds though. How they hid completely is beyond me."
"The Goddess gives us the power. Come, we have reached the village." Niniane said, pulling back the branch of a tree.
The village was larger than Sam expected, however she couldn't see any people. Houses made from mud lined the streets and a river ran though one side. A small bell tower stood towards the end of the village. As she watched, Niniane raised her arms to the sky. The bell began to toll in a rhythm. Ding dong, - , ding dong, - , ding dong. Two beats then a rest, constantly. People began to file out of houses and gather at the centre of the village. Niniane walked to the front of the crowd - about 200 in all - which instantly hushed.
"Followers of the Goddess! Please welcome our new Sister, Samantha Carter, and our new Brother Jack O'Neil."
The crowd bowed slightly to them. Jack lifted a hand and Sam bowed back, awkwardly. She noticed that many of the women wore the same crescent moon as Niniane. She pulled Sam to the centre.
"Who will tutor Lady Samantha?" A tall woman with long red hair stepped forward. She was one of those with the moon.
"I will be glad to tutor her." She said, bowing to Niniane.
"Very well, Lady Caitlyn." The woman pulled Sam away from in front of the crowd. Niniane instantly
replaced her with Jack. "And who will tutor Brother Jack?"
A man with wavy dark hair and the mark of Lord Baal on his forehead moved forward. "Let me tutor him."
"So be it, Brother Baedos."
Sam watched as the rest of the population moved to various parts of the village. It became alive, busy. Noise and laughter echoed everywhere. Children and mothers with infants began emerging from huts. She found it almost hard to believe that it was so silent when they first arrived.
She watched Jack being dragged off by Baedos to one of the larger huts. Caitlyn moved her towards a section of the village which contained a garden of vegetables and herbs with a complicated irrigation system flowing from the river.
"This is my place. I tend to the food for Shalott and provide herbs for the high priestess and healers."
"How did you come to be here?"
"I was a member of a small village on another planet. I did not believe that Anubis was a god, which they considered treason. I was sent here as punishment."
"I was a server of Lord Baal. He was displeased with my performance, I failed to kill one of the Tauri of Earth and was punished by being sent here." Baedos said, grinning.
"Ok then." Jack inched away a little. Baedos laughed.
"Fear not. I recognized you from your uniform. I have lived here for 3 years. It is hard to hold onto ties after that."
"I have lived on this planet for 4 years. I have no regrets." Caitlyn smiled.
"Don't you ever get lonely?"
Caitlyn laughed. "There are many friends here. I received my initiation as a priestess only 4 moons ago." She touched the moon on her forehead. "I could never wish for anything more. Baedos, the one who tutors Brother Jack, he is my chosen."
"Chosen?"
"Yes. My... betrothed. I chose him after Beltane 2 years ago."
"You chose him? Most planets we visit have males as the dominant species."
"The blood line is carried on through women here. It is more reliable. How can you determine who the father of a child is, especially during Beltane. What about Brother Jack?"
"Is she your chosen?" Baedos asked.
"NO!" Jack said suddenly. He actually turned red. "There are certain..."
"...regulations. On our planet we work in direct chain of command. For us that means that..."
"...we can't be more than... really good friends."
"Yet you care for her?"
"What do you mean?"
"You have no way to return to your planet." She smiled slyly. Beltane is in a few nights. Perhaps you will forget Earth and regulations then."
"I, I can't. I have to get back."
"I am sorry. There is no way."
Four Years Later
Daniel lit a match and brought it over two candles. The rose sent, as it always did, burned from one of them. He looked at the pictures of the shrine before him. There she was, closer to him than a sister. He was here too. Leader, someone who bought him out of his shell. He wiped back a tear from his eye and walked to the 'gate room. Inside he took a few steps and stared at the 'gate ramp. There it was, the plaque, just under the ramp.
We Remember Colonel Jonathon O'Neil and Major Samantha Carter .
M.I.A. April 23rd 1999
They will live in our hearts forever.
It wasn't long before he was joined by Teal'c, solemn as ever yet not able to hide his tears. He placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder.
"I can't believe it's been four years. I keep thinking the pain will disappear."
"I know, Daniel Jackson. I miss them also."
General Hammond watched them from above. He knew they were hurting, had been for four years. They never liked leaving them there. He couldn't help but feel guilty. Daniel was ready to jump right back through that Stargate. Teal'c too. He decided to wait until the next day, for backup. Even though it was standard procedure, he never quite forgave himself for what had happened to them.
Flashback:
The remainder of SG:1, SG:3 and SG:5 stepped through the Stargate, weapons drawn. They were greeted with faces of the population, weapons equipping some of them also. The Chief Councilor grinned, sending chills down Daniel's spine.
"You will do yourselves no good looking for them here." He taunted. "I have just sent them to a place from which none return." He chuckled slightly.
Daniel jumped up and grabbed the man by the throat. Instantly Zats turned in his direction, but he didn't seem to notice. He shook the Chief Councilor hard. "You what! Where are they? Did you kill them?"
"I did not say that, you fool! I sent them through the Chappa'ai early this morn. They were sent to the place we send all traitors."
Teal'c's face grew red with anger. He picked up the councilor from Daniel's grasp and hurled him across the field. He walked to the D.H.D. And began dialing the Home address.
"What are you doing?" Daniel nearly yelled.
"It is useless remaining here. They have been sent away, and will not return."
"What do you mean?"
"There is a planet they send traitors. Only the highest in the village ever knew the address. I do not know it. All I know is that this planet does not have a D.H.D."
"It... It what?"
"I am sorry Daniel Jackson, even if we find the planet, we will not be able to get them home."
Daniel snapped out of his daze. He only just realized that he was late to briefing. He followed Teal'c into the briefing room where Reynolds and Siler were already with General Hammond.
"Sorry we're late we..."
"No need to explain Dr. Jackson. This is about your upcoming mission to P5G 979."
"The M.A.L.P. Readings show that it's hospitable, no signs of life. It'll be a simple mission with trees." Siler said.
"There is the small matter of the broken D.H.D." General Hammond reminded him.
"Gotcha covered. The portable D.H.D. SG:3 just finished testing is ready to go."
"Very well, leave in one hour."
The portable D.H.D. Had only finished production last week. SG:3 had taken it for testing. It was for use on planets without a D.H.D. so that the SG Teams were able to visit and explore without fear of being trapped. Daniel and Teal'c suited up and were ready to leave within the hour. They waited at the 'Gate ramp for General Hammond.
"Do well, SG:1. God Speed." Daniel smiled as the team stepped through.
At first glance the area seemed to be deserted. Trees, nothing but trees, just as the M.A.L.P. had shown. He walked down into the area and was shocked when a man and a woman appeared. He went over to where the man was standing.
"Hi, I'm Daniel, this is Teal'c, Siler and Reynolds. We come from a planet called Earth, and mean you no harm."
"Greetings travelers, welcome to Shalott." They were a little surprise that it was the woman who spoke. "I am Niniane, this is my chosen Al'durilla."
Ok, so you ALL saw that coming... well, it's not so bad. Plan of the fic from the start and such. You may have noticed the rather large jump from when they first arrived until now. Don't worry, when I finish this fic I plan to write one about the four years they were on the planet.
GalaxyTraveler: Sorry its not that soon, but was under maitenence
kitty1216cat ): Glad you enjoyed. Hope this chapter is good, even if it's a little cliff-hangery
O'Neill: Thanks for the correction, I just realized. I've change the rest of my chaps to suit.
Sci Fi Fan Gillian: Praise is always welcome..... :)
froggy0139: It's been fun to write. I start a fic because I can't find what I want to read. I finish because I want to see what happens next...
