N/AI want to thank all of you guys that have been reviewing my story. It reconfirms the reasons that I'm awriter. I also I want to give my special thanks toIvy Tearn whohas gracelessly stuck by thisstory from chapter one. I appreciate her input more than she will ever know. Also want the people out there who has signed up on the authoralert list, and listed me as one of their favorite authors.It really does show that someone's out there listening to my lil stories. So thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Enough with smush. On with ChapterFour!
Chapter Four
The isle of Logan -Castle Le Marque
A small man, no bigger than a large child ran hysterically through the castle corridors. He ran passed women and children. Across the kitchen doors, up the stairs. To the his master's solar. He finally made across to the cat walk when he collided with the large shoulders of his master's Captain of the guard. Eric of the house Caenus. The Caenus House has always protected the Le Marque Family since the Beginning of the Great House of Le Marque was established two thousand years ago after the great Exodus. Eric was a large man, about Six foot Three and as large as he was tall. Eric had short clubbed brown hair of the Norman times on Earth. Green piercing eyes that reminded the smaller man of demon fire. And muscles that were larger than the poor man's head! All of the people under him feared and hated him. He was the right hand of Bain. And everyone knew it. "What do you want Marcus?" The tiny man quaked at each word. " I...I have news for Lord Bain." The much bigger man narrowed his eyes into manacle slits. Making the smaller man want to run for cover. " Hold, so I may announce your presence to Lord Bain." The younger man nodded in compression as Eric disappeared in the solar. Unlike most times when Eric talks on the behalf of his subornates, he didn't dautle. The surly man returned looked even more perturbed than when Marcus had originally collided with him.
"You may go in. " Marcus inwardly sighed in relief. One hurdle down, another to go.
He pushed the double doors open and looked around the room. At first there was only shadow in the large room. The curtains were a deep seeded red. The color of blood. The furniture was large and masculine. And in one of the chairs were a black hooded figure sat in the chair across from the burring fire in the hearth. At a fire he looked almost brooding, yet looks could be deceiving. And Bain Le Marque was the model figure of that old saying. Marcus slowly and carefully walked towards his master. He kneeled in the customary respect for the people above his station. "My Lord, I have news of Caredanal." Bain stood silent and unmoving. " Go on, Marcus." The man bowed as a signal of obenyance. "The Queen has return as you expected, my spies in the castle have confirmed that three other foreigners arrived with her." The mighty Lord rose from his chair, literally towered over the small man. Bain Le Marque had a lean body, unlike Captain of the Guard. Everything about the older man was smooth. No body hair at all on his body. His hair shaved off, only the pale skin that shone like marble was left standing. Yet of all of these attributes, Bain's eyes were the worse. His eyes were a deep brown, almost black. Which gave him a dangerous, and terrifying look.
" What of the news of a chosen consort?" he asked in his usual deadly calm voice.
" She has still yet to chose one, My Lord. " squeaked Marcus.
"Well, Her chances of Living has just improved."
" M...M..My Lord?"
"For my succession to be complete she must choose me as her husband, and king. And only then when will my succession to the throne of Carandal and the power that comes with that will be mine."
"Why not seize Carandal now, My Lord?"
"You idiot! I will have legal procession over the throne. After that my that non outside our realm can legally oppose me. I will be unstoppable! "
"What is your command, My Lord?"
"Do nothing, for now. I don't want to strike too soon. I want Samantha to be trembling in her pretty little boots, before I take her. I also want more information about her elusive little companions ... that will be her caving point. Get to the people she loves, and I get the throne of Carandal. "
Bain turned to face the little man. Narrowing his dark eyes at him in disgust. I should have dispatched him years ago, but good help is so hard to fine.
"Do not Fail me, Marcus." Marcus literally felt his skin crawl. Bain Le Marque was a master at torture. Another inheritance from his manic great grandfather for which he was named.
"On my life, I will not fail." The man's normal placid face begin to make the movements into an evil smirk.
"Yes, and you will forfeit that life if you do. I promise to Dehak you will."
OOOOOOOOO
The air of Carandal was cool this evening. The stairs seemed to brighten with leading the way for each lost soul. Huntress needed guidance this night. Her life on Earth and her life here in Carandal were merging. Changing like the sands of time. There were so many choices to be made, plans to be devised ahead. She was once again thrown into the role of Queen. The leader of her people. Even after years she walked away from all this, and decided to lead a normal, mortal life on Earth, this she spent away from this place...the land still called to her soul. She longed for it in the darkness of her lonely bed. One of the many pleasures, and comfort she must deny herself. For the common good. By Goddess do I hate that phrase. It brings me only pain. The clouds over the night sky began to lift showing the red hunter's moon. Samantha loved this view in the royal garden. Reminded of the good times, before the storm of hate destroyed the ones she loved and cared for. Suddenly she felt the air sift, and without using her heighten senses (another gift from her ancestors) She knew who it was. He still had the footing of a hunter in a night. One of the many things that attracted him to her in the first place. The recognition of another weary Hunter. During all her internal dialogue, she stood still, and placid from the outside. Showing no apprehension.
"Why I am not surprised that slipped from the protection of my guards?" She said not turning around.
"You know me...Question is do I know you?" he replied in an almost a whisper.
"Ouch, Jack."
"What's going on, Sam?" She turned her head and took in the sight of his tall muscular frame, Gray hair, and chocolate brown eyes.
"A debt I have to pay."
"That's what I mean. You're behavior, the clothes, the hair, this morning...everything! Has everything you told us...me...been a lie?"
" No, not everything."
"Why couldn't you trust me enough to tell me." Sam could feel the hurt dripping in each word. It made her heart ache to hear it coming from him. All the trust that she had to earn was slipping away from her, and there was nothing she could do about it. " It wasn't about not trusting you, it was about protecting you...all of you from my past."
" I don't need protection, Sam. I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself. "
"NO! You don't understand! " she accused vehemently.
"What do I not understand?"
"Bain will kill everything that can to get to his goal."
"Caredanal?"
"Yes, and the only way he can get through Caredanal is through me."
"Oh, I understand." Samantha's blue eyes looked into his brown eyes. He still didn't understand everything. That was her fault, but by goddess is her witness she will never lie to him or her team again. They were apart of her family, and apart of her heart and soul. " No, you don't. He has only to marry me, and produce an heir out my line to gain the power of my people. And he would kill all that stands in his way."
"Oy."
"Yeah, my sentiments exactly."
"So what are you going to do now...Kill him before he gets to you."
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"Well, you can't do this alone, and you won't Major."
"Colonel, let me remind you that in this realm that out rank you." she replied in that same calm, steel tone from this afternoon's council session.
"I don't give a damn, Carter. You're not going to fight this alone." She began to advance on him intill they were only a couple inches from being in each other's arms. " I know you want to watch my six, but this Huntress hunts alone. " "Carter..." before his low growl could be spoken further Sam's lips touched his making any thought in his brain before that point fade away into sweet oblivion. At first it was sweet, and then it turned passionate. Tongues exploring one another mouths, taking each touch into memory. Sam in all her time of being has never felt the delightful sensation of this man's passionate embrace. It was all consuming, the desire. And for the first time in her life, she wanted to leave her worries behind and just stay here in his arms. The kissed seemed to last into eternity. And the only reason for the kiss to break was the fact that air was becoming a vast problem. It took a while to catch their breathes. Each looking into the expanse of desired filled eyes. " I'm sorry Carter..." She quickly put index finger to his mouth to silence him. "I want you tonight. I want to feel everything. All of it. No more excuses, no more rules just you and me tonight. For no one knows what tomorrow brings."
His normal brown eyes, turned into a smoldering black. And Sam felt her body turn to fire in his glaze. She pulled out of the circle of his arms and took his hand and led him to her bed room. Where more of the mysteries of this woman who is and was Samantha Carter waited to be discovered tonight.
OOOOOOOOO
Cheyenne Mountain Military Complex, Colorado
Alpha Realm
Gen. Hammond was worried, and that feeling was not new. It was a constant companion to this job. He had seventeen SG teams to worry over, but the most worrisome of the bunch was his premier, and first SG team. SG1. They were in trouble again. He could smell it, like it was something palpable in the air. He looked over the last twelve hours in his mind. The odd behavior from his brightest scientist and God child. And then the disappearance Sam and her teammates. They had search every inch of her house and found nothing. They dusted for finger prints and found nothing, only a slight finger print, but no trace of Jack or his teammates. And it all began with appearance of a certain ambassador. SG-2 just now return to the planet to get some answers from Nicholi Jarsem. They haven't checked in yet, but they had an hour left to do so. Maybe then he could solve this mystery of yet another weird happenings that seem to be a perquisite for being Commander here.
The Klaxons sounded breaking Hammond's silent thoughts. " Unauthorized Off World activation." The older man shot out his chair in flash and made his way to the control room. "Any IDC yet, Davis?" The gate technician shook his head. " No sir, nothing yet, " Then there was a familiar beeping. Gen. Hammond knew without asking that this was the sound of an IDC coming through stargate. "It's the Tokra sir." "Open the Iris." With a flick of the hand the Iris opened sounding like loud knives shaping.
A lone man step through the watery surface of the event horizon.
Jacob Carter and his symbote Selmak.
Hammond hurried from the control room to meet his old friend, and colleague. George literally gulped at the presence of the man he knew so long. Jacob was going to kill him when he found out about Sam. He could already feel the bulging headache turn into a migraine. Yep, this all I need right now. George and Jacob gave the friendly and yet old fashioned handshake while George plastered a smile that didn't reach his eyes at all.
"Hey Jacob, nice to see you again."
"Thanks..." he looked around the shoulders in search of his wayward daughter. "Where's Sam?" At that point George could feel the ulcer that was threatening him, since he took over command here at the mountain coming in full force. "George, what's wrong?" George shook his head. This was diffidently not going to be good for the old man. Thank God Selmak is with him. " I think we better talk about this in my office." The color in Jacob's face began to fade. Something was wrong he could feel it, and so could Selmak. "Don't jump to conclusions, Jacob. Let's find out what's going on, and then we figure out where to go from there." He inwardly nodded at Selmak's wisdom. He knew he had to keep a lid on his emotions intill had all the information in hand. This was no time to lose it.
OOOOOOOOO
Thirty minutes later, and a shot of bourbon later, Jacob's life was in a tale spin. She was gone. And he knew without a doubt where's she headed. If Jarsem was here he would have his head on stick! Only that stupid, son-a-bitch could break down that barrier she and he insisted on putting up years ago. And if she really had return it meant only one thing. Bain. At Selmak's insistence he told George everything he knew about Sam's hidden past. George had lost all color in his face, and took another shot of bourbon "You mean she has a device similar to the Quantum mirror, and she didn't tell any one?" Jacob didn't trust his voice so he only nodded. " Why didn't' she say anything...and she's a Queen."
"George, as much as I want to tell you, it's not my place. It's Sam's, but believe me when I tell you she wouldn't abandon her duty to the SGC, without a damn good reason. "
" And what reason would that be, Jacob."
" Bain has returned."
OOOOOOOOO
Caredanal
Junos Realm
Queen's Chambers.
The light began to filter through. Making even the slightest enchantment of the night's dance simmer into the harsh rays of reality. Jack O'Neil laid there sleeping peacefully. His hands draped across the beautiful body of his 2IC, and Queen of this realm. Samantha Valerius Carter. She slowly began to filter her brain into reality. Leaving her nightmares in the darkness of the moon's light. She turned her head slowly as not to wake him. His eyes lids hiding the beautiful brown irises. Jack's gorgeous features drawn into peace that still eluded her. His body still hard, evidence of last night's extracurricular actives. As long as she lived she would never forget the passion, and the love this man gave himself up to. He let her be all of herself. Aggressive, and nurturing all at the same time. He had a completed what no man before him was able to do. He let her show her duality. The duality that has always been there. The darkness and light. And now it was time to leave him. To prepare for the hunt that was to come this night. She would not be in his arms this night. She would be hunting him, tracking Bain's every move.
Sam was sure of at least two spies in her service. She could feel the heart of beat of there untrustworthy heart. Sam knew that Bain knew of her teammates arrival with her. She also knew that he was arrogant enough to let something slip up enough. Sam carefully moved from underneath his arms, picked up her clothes as silently as death. And moved to her solar. There she dressed quickly and headed off to do so much needed recon. Jack still laid there peacefully unaware.
An hour later, the sun began to reach high over the realm of Caredanal. Jack's body instinctually tried to move to where her body heat was the night before, and found it cold. He opened his eyes, looking at the familiar, yet unfamiliar bedroom. He looked over to the side of him. And saw nothing. Only the impression her body laid the night before. He moved out the bed quickly. He looked around trying to find his comfortable jeans, T-shirt, and found only a Roman tunic, long hose, and leather boots. He looked at the costume in disgust. God, I'm going to kill her...Queen or not! " He carefully put on the lavishly made tunic, hose and boots and headed down stairs to the main hall, but before he could he saw a slight scroll. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion and took the scroll from it's resting place. He read it once, and then twice. His eyes glowing embers in rage.
Dear Jack:
Sorry, but I told you this Huntress hunts alone. Give Daniel and Teal'c my love. And what ever happens remember last night, and remember that I love you.
SC.
Damn her! She was going to do this alone and get her self killed. he just knew it. He had to go after her, but from what he learned from the Morwen last night, was only vague. Yet he knew that Carter was smart, and well trained. And she knew how to cover her tracks. She was good. Real good. Jack ran out of the solar and headed towards Morwen's chambers that were in the second level of the palace. He had to find her before she did something stupid, because if anything happened to her he knew that nothing short of death will bring him back from the darkness, the pit of despair that will costume him if anything happened to her. He couldn't lose her. And he wasn't going to, even he had to move heaven and earth do it.