WARNING: This chapter contains some nudity and sexual connotations. It may be considered by some to be R material. However, there is NO SMUT. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate and am not making a profit with this fic. This is the disclaimer for all chapters, past, present and future.
Chapter 8:
Just A Little Party
Janet found herself being dragged by Sam into a large hut, one of the largest in Shalott for that matter. Many other women, all chatting and having a good time accompanied her. She couldn't help but feel a little left out, especially when they passed through and laughed with Sam. Half the time it was those little inside comments, people and places she had no idea about. However it wasn't this that made her really irritated. It seemed the women could tell this was her first time at Beltane. They gave her knowing smiles and laughed behind their hands.
"Sam, do I have to do this?"
"It's just a little party. Besides, I need someone to talk about it with."
"Look, I'm not an Archaeologist but…"
"Don't worry. How many people can say they participated in an actual Beltane ritual?"
"You and Jack for one."
"Trust me, you'll love it. Just get caught up in the motion."
When they reached the hall, it was all Janet could do to stop her jaw dropping open. All these women wearing… she couldn't decide if it was actually clothing. Loin clothes and wraps were about all she could see. They were helping each other dress and painting them with various reds, greens and browns. One of the women with long red hair ran forward when she saw Sam.
"Lady Samantha! Is this the one you were talking about?"
"Janet, meet Lady Caitlyn. Caitlyn, this is Janet. Is everything ready?"
"Of course, I'm always willing to help one of the sisters."
"Good. Where's Caity?"
"I left her in the nursing house with the women not attending the festival."
"Good. I guess it's time to get dressed and painted. Come on Janet."
"You want me to wear that?"
"And get painted. It's not a proper festival without it."
Teal'c and Daniel followed Jack to a hall similar to the one the women went to. They didn't exactly know what was going to happen, but they didn't expect to see a man dressed in nothing but a loin cloth and stag antlers. He was the only one wearing the antlers though, the rest only wore a loin cloth. Everyone was painted in intricate patterns, no two being the same.
"Jack, is that man wearing antlers?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, he's being the king stag this year. I don't know who the virgin huntress is, but I'm not supposed to."
"Will we have to wear such clothing?" Teal'c asked.
"Or lack there of." Daniel muttered.
"Of course, you can't participate without it."
"What is the purpose of this ceremony?"
"It's to celebrate spring and bring fertile crops." Jack answered automatically. "No enough talk, you need to get dressed…"
"…more like undressed…"
"…and painted before the ceremony starts." Jack said, glaring at Daniel.
Nightfall seemed to come swiftly. The men and women had spent most of the day preparing in their separate halls, finishing with the preparation ceremony before the two groups joined up. Aside from the three newcomers and a few first timers, the whole town was rejoicing. This was one of the most celebrated ceremonies they participated in each year. Once the fires were lit and the pounding of the drums commenced, everyone streamed out of the halls to start dancing.
At first it was only moving around fires in a rhythm, sometimes drinking from flasks being handed out. Sam noticed Janet wasn't joining in, and neither was Daniel or Teal'c. She was going to have to pull out the big guns. Grabbing a flask, she whipped a few herbs out of a pouch around her waist and dropped them into it. After swirling it around to dissolve the herbs, she walked over to where Janet was trying to hide.
"Alright Janet, you can't hide forever. Have a little fun!"
"I don't think this is such a good idea."
"Here, have a drink. At least dance, you don't have to pair off if you don't want to." she said, holding out the flask.
"Should I really be drinking?"
"One swig isn't going to get you drunk. Besides, you'll have all tomorrow to sleep it off."
"I guess. But only one, I don't want to go overboard." With that, she took a swig and handed the flask back.
"I'm going to go dance. Have fun!" Sam said, walking to the other side of the fire, in Daniel's general direction.
"Daniel, you're not joining in!" Sam said, pretending to be shocked.
"Yeah, uh Sam, I think I should just go."
"You promised Jack you'd join in! Now he's over there dancing and I'd like to join him without keeping an eye on you."
"I might dance a little later, but I can't help but feel a little self conscious."
"Have a drink." she said, holding out the spiked flask.
"Wait, do you really think that's a good idea?"
"It's the rules. All newcomers must have at least one drink. I didn't want to enforce the rule this year, but if you don't drink I can't join Jack."
"All right, just one." he said, taking the flaws and drinking a few mouthfuls. He thought it tasted just like weak moonshine, only a little spicier. It was designed for long hours of drinking. Satisfied with a job well done, she began to walk over to the area her husband was in, only to get stopped by Teal'c.
"Samantha Carter, am I not a newcomer also?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"So should I not have a drink from that flask?"
"Oh, right. I, uh, I thought you wouldn't be able to, you know…" she trailed off.
"On the contrary, I do not wish to dampen your festival." he smiled at her.
"Sure, would you like one from a different flask though, maybe not as strong?"
"That one will be fine." He took the drink off her before she could question him and drank deeply. He smiled as he handed it back. "I believe you can go join Jack now." He said.
Sam walked off, looking incredibly worried, to Jack. He immediately swept her up in a dance. "Jack, we've got a problem."
"What? You gave them the drug right?"
"Yeah, thing is, Teal'c managed to get some too."
Instead of being worried, Jack grinned. "Hey, won't that be fun! All of them joining in! Now, got any of the drink left?"
"Just enough for us!"
"Excellent." He drank half and gave the rest to Sam.
It wasn't long before they were caught up in the rhythm of the drums and the influence of the drug Sam had put in the drink. They had a few other drinks, but they were swept into the world of colour without any alcohol. They barely noticed when people began disappearing, or the dance of the king stag. Sam and Jack kept to themselves, dancing and having fun. It wasn't long before they made their way to a small field, mostly hidden, and let their bodies take over their minds.
Janet rolled over and collided with something warm. Opening her eyes, she realised it wasn't a something, more of a someone. She jumped up with a start and stared at one, very naked, Daniel Jackson. Her movement caused the man to wake up, and when he did the look of absolute terror on his face rivaled her own. He averted his eyes as he came to the realization that he was lying, butt naked, in a corn field with a naked woman. Wose still, he couldn't remember a thing about the night before.
"Janet, what happened?" h asked warily.
"I dont know, the last thing I remember was watching the fire. I had a drink of omething but that's about it."
"Wait a minute, did Sam give you that drink?"
"Yes, why?"
His face turned from stark white to an ashen grey colour. "Oh my god she drugged us."
Janet grabbed some discarded items of clothing, although she couldn't tell who they belonged to, and tried frantically to cover herself with them. "You remember where Sam's house is?" she asked hastily.
"Yes of course."
"Good, let's go." She said, passing him a leather wrap of sorts. "I want to murder her!"
They stalked their way around the villiage, hiding behind bushes and scrubs. It seemed everywhere they went was dotted with bodies and various items of clothing. Daniel even saw Teal'c, surrounded by what looked to be five women. He found it kind of hard to tell with the way they were tangled. It didn't take them long to get to Sam and Jack's hut, considering the only other person awake appeared to have a hangover. They stole their way inside and began rummaging for clothes.
"Where do you think they are?" Janet asked, afer getting dressed. Daniel pulled on a red shirt.
"Probably still out in the field."
There was an awkward silence, the kind that you could sharpen a scythe on. Finally Daniel broke the silence.
"You know, no one has to know about this."
"Yes. Nothing happened!"
"We'll just go on the same..."
"... as if there was no festival and Sam din't drug us."
"Full permission to strangle her by the way."
"Don't worry, I intend to." Janet said, glaring.
Ok, so chapter is finished. I know this took a while, but I've been busy, being the last year of high school. Most of my fics are on hold, other than that, don't expect updates to occur too often. That being said, anyone have any ideas on how it could be improved?
