1594 A.D.

It was pure happenstance that the Jaffa had not blown them all to oblivion. Some would call it luck, though Elizabeth definitely wouldn't. Her father was dead, along with all the other good men who had been working in the mine that day.

Elizabeth fought her tears as she stumbled back to their home. Abe was sitting on the porch, looking terrified. No doubt the explosion he had heard from the mine had him worried sick. The minute he saw his sister staggering towards him, he ran to her side.

Seeing her little brother was all it took for her tears to overflow. Sinking to her knees, she allowed her grief to flow over her. He was gone. And he was never coming back. She buried her face in her hands and cried.

Finally, she was able to get some control over her churned up emotions. She wiped away the stream of fallen tears and looked over at her brother. Abe stared into her face, his eyes asking the question he didn't have the heart to say aloud.

Elizabeth merely shook her head and enveloped her brother in a hug. They were all the family they had left.

"Jaffa! Report!" Morrigan commanded her First Prime, Bar'tok.

"A small explosion has just occurred in the naquadah mines of the planet, my Queen."

"And the Jaffa patrol that I sent?"

"They are not responding to our attempts to contact them over the long-range visual communicators."

"Take a Tel'tak to the surface and search the settlement, if the explosion proves to be an attempt at rebellion, they will suffer dearly. Report your findings at once."

"Yes, my Queen."

Elizabeth had been preparing supper when she heard them coming. After all, the Jaffa were not exactly known for their discretion. Tromping through the streets in heavy armor announced their arrival at every house along the way. And Elizabeth knew that it was only a matter of time before they arrived at their front door.

'The journals!' The thought hit her as the sound of hefty footfalls got louder, closer. It had been quite some time since Morrigan's Jaffa had last conducted a thorough search of the village, and Elizabeth had become a little lax in hiding the forbidden writing as well as she should.

Casting a worried look at Abe, Elizabeth dashed to her room and grabbed the two journals from beneath her bed. Experience told her that that was the one of the first places the Jaffa would search.

Quickly crossing the room, Elizabeth knelt down in front of the brick fireplace that heated her room. She counted 5 rows up and 5 bricks over, and began prying a brick loose from it place. Once that one was out, she pried out another loose brick that was next to it. Behind the bricks was a small cubbyhole, just big enough to hold one of her journals…but only one.

She could hear the Jaffa pound on the front door as she hastily shoved a journal into the small pocket she created. Next, she returned the missing bricks to their place in the wall. Now to hide the second journal.

Panic had started to set in as she heard Abe open the door for the Jaffa. She was running out of time. The book she held in her hand was tantamount to treason, and Morrigan would not deal kindly with them if it was found.

Looking desperately around the room, her eyes landed on a shawl that she had draped over the chair in her room. Suddenly an idea came to mind. She quickly grabbed the shawl, tied the ends together, and put the wrap around her neck. Using the shawl as a sling, she cradled her right arm to her body. Then she grabbed the journal and tucked it between her arm and her side. Hopefully she could convince the Jaffa that the blast from the mine had left her injured.

She could hear that the Jaffa were making their way through the small house. Gathering her courage, she waited for them to come. It wasn't long before her door flew open, revealing the two Jaffa standing just outside.

Elizabeth looked to the ground, hoping to give off an air of submission. "Yes, my lords?" she asked, tentatively.

The jaffa glared at her with contempt before addressing her. "Is it so that you were present during the explosion at the mine site?"

"It is."

"We have found the remains of two Jaffa. Jaffa killed through your treachery!"

"No, the explosion was not our doing."

"Do not lie, slave. For Morrigan is your Goddess, and she knows of your deceit."

"Then she will know that I deceive no one." Elizabeth stated firmly. "My own father was killed that day. He and many others of our people were trapped inside the mine when it exploded. I swear to you that we did nothing to cause this."

"Then how else could this have come about?"

Elizabeth took a deep breath. "The Jaffa fired a weapon at the entrance of the mine. I tried to stop them, but they would not listen, so we ran. I assume that caused the mine to explode."

The Jaffa sneered at her. "You think I would take a slaves word over that of a Goddess? She sent us here to seek out those responsible for this transgression." He quickly turned to the jaffa standing quietly behind him. "Jaffa, kree! We will let our Queen decide her fate."

With that, the second Jaffa grabbed Elizabeth by the left arm and jerked her roughly towards him. She resisted, trying to twist herself out of the soldier's grasp. But the Jaffa would have nothing of it. Her head swam as she tried to recover from the unexpected blow the Jaffa had delivered. She staggered slightly, and reached out to catch her balance. In that moment she lost the hold she had on her journal, and with a sickening thud, it fell to the ground.

Elizabeth nervously twisted her mother's ring around her finger as she waited. It had been quite some time since Elizabeth had last seen Morrigan in person, and it was never something she looked forward to.

Images flooded her mind as she thought of what had just happened. Abe looked so scared as the Jaffa escorted her out of the house. At least they had allowed her to give him a hug good-bye. Tears pricked her eyes as she remembered what she had whispered to him.

"No matter what happens to me, remember that I love you."

And now here she was, standing in the midst of a large room on board Morrigan's vessel, waiting for the so-called Goddess to appear. Elizabeth couldn't help but stare at the room in wonder. It was nothing like she had ever seen before. The room was large, yet it had few things in it. Before her stood a large throne, lined with deep blue cushions. Elizabeth noticed that it was ornately decorated in gold, as was much of the vessel itself.

The room was lit mostly with torches of fire that gave off a soft glow, and added a sense of mystery and dread to the space. She felt a pang of fear come over her as loud footsteps approached. Elizabeth took a deep breath; whatever was coming, it was not going to be good.

Morrigan's gaze was cold as she stared down at the slave before her. Golden evil flashed in her eyes as she addressed the kneeling girl.

"What is this that my Jaffa have discovered?" Morrigan asked, holding Elizabeth's journal in her hands. "Did I not forbid anyone from writing such accounts?"

Elizabeth knew better than to reply, she continued to stare at the floor as Morrigan paced calmly before her.

"Have you nothing to say for your betrayal?"

"The journal does not belong to me." Elizabeth lied, the words tumbling out before she even had time to second-guess them.

"Oh? But it was in your possession. If it is not yours, whose else could it be?"

Elizabeth paused, silently hoping Morrigan hadn't taken the time to read through the journal herself. "It belonged to my father."

"And where is he, then?"

"He was killed in the explosion at the mine. We just found the journal among his things." Elizabeth's heart was raced as she swallowed a small lump that had formed in the back of her throat. Would Morrigan believe her story?

Morrigan studied her closely, looking for any signs of deceit. It took all Elizabeth had in her to stare back into Morrigan's eyes without looking away. Eventually Morrigan seemed satisfied, and turned her back on Elizabeth. "Jaffa, kree," she commanded to the guards who were standing nearby. "Return her to the village."

"You're letting me go?" Elizabeth asked, a look of bewilderment crossing her face.

Morrigan merely smirked. "Rebellion is a serious matter. You and your people will suffer greatly as the result of your family's sin."

"No, please…"

But Morrigan gave her no opportunity to plead for her people. With a mere nod from their Goddess, the Jaffa had seized Elizabeth's arms and they began leading her back down the long passageway.

As they walked passed a triangular window, Elizabeth quickly glanced outside and saw that the pyramid vessel she was in was moving towards the surface of the planet. Apparently they would not be taking her back on the small vessel that she had come here on.

The Jaffa escorted Elizabeth to a room much smaller than the one she was just in. Like most of this vessel, it was completely empty. But there was something different; in the center there was some sort of circular design on the floor. After waiting a few moments, the Jaffa guided her to the midst of the circle. Suddenly she saw a bright light surround them, accompanied by a sound reminiscent of a rushing stiff breeze. In an instant she felt as if she was being pulled away from herself. And when she found herself again, she was back in the middle of her village.

Soon after stepping away from the light beam's path, Elizabeth was surprised to hear the beam activate once again. She and her escorts turned to find Morrigan standing in the wake of the light.

Elizabeth stood under the watchful eye of the jaffa as Morrigan called for an assembly of the colonist. Even as the others drew near, fear and anticipation threatened to overwhelm Elizabeth. She took a slow breath and forced herself to remain calm as Morrigan began to address the crowd that had gathered.

"I brought you to this world, so that you may more fully serve your one true Goddess. But you are a treacherous people. You claim to serve me wholly, and yet I find rebellion amongst you." Morrigan held up Elizabeth's journal. "I strictly forbade writing of this kind, but some have ignored my warnings." She paused as if to emphasize her coming words. "And now…you shall all pay for this deceit!"

With that, Morrigan held up her left palm, the golden band that wrapped around it glowing amber light.

Elizabeth watch helplessly as the light beam shone upon her forehead, until it felt as though a fire had been set inside of her mind. Pain coursed through her; she tried to scream but was unable to move. As a new wave of pain encompassed her body, the world around her began to swim.

"Three days!" Morrigan was saying. "You have three days to offer me due sacrifice, or all your people shall share in her fate."

Distantly, Elizabeth felt her body relax as she willed the surrounding blackness to swallow her mind.

Elizabeth woke with a start. Looking around, she saw that she was back in her own bedroom. A confused look crept across her face. Had it all been just a dream?

She slowly reached up and gingerly touched her forehead. She gasped as a shooting pain raced through her head. Despite being unconscious for so long, she felt exhausted. And every move she made caused her muscles to scream in protest.

This was…all too familiar. It was Croa'tan; there was no other explanation for what had happened. Morrigan had infected her with the disease, and then sent her back to the village to spread it among the other women.

"Abe?" she called out, weakly. She took a breath and tried again. "Abe!"

But there was no answer.

She gritted her teeth against the aches in her body as she pushed her self into a sitting position. Then with considerable effort, she forced her body to stand. She stumbled across her room and gratefully leaned against the wall.

After resting for a moment, she walked the remaining distance to her door, and opened it. "Abe?" she tried calling for her brother again.

Again, silence was her only reply. Her heart began to pound as she felt a knot of fear twist in her stomach. Had the Jaffa taken him? Or worse?

Staggering into the main room of the house, she was taken in by the mess the Jaffa had made during their search. Chairs were overturned, and clothes and other possessions were lying all over the floor.

As her eyes swept over the mess, she caught sight of a figure lying motionless on the floor next to the window. Her breath caught in her throat as she made her way across the room. With great effort, she leaning over him and checked to see if he was breathing.

Elizabeth silently thanked God as she saw his chest rise and fall steadily. She checked him over for injuries. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, attesting to the multiple blows he had received. Lifting up his shirt, she saw his ribcage and stomach were covered with multi-colored bruises.

She buried her face in her hands and attempted to suppress the emotions that were churning inside her. This was not the time to deal with such things. Drawing her hands away, she caught sight of the shiny metallic band on her finger. Turning her hand over, she looked closely at the two silver hands holding on to the crowned heart.

She thought back to the last time she had been afflicted with the Croa'tan disease. Her father told her it was Morrigan who had healed her, but she never believed that to be true. She always suspected that the ring itself had somehow restored her to health. If it had been the ring, now was the time to find out. And hopefully it would heal Abe of his wounds as well.

Placing one hand on Abe's forehead, and the other on his stomach, she spoke aloud. "Let Love and Friendship Reign Forever."

"Daniel." Jack said, his patience obviously wearing thin. "We're kinda on the clock here. Will you be finishing the Agatha Christie novel any time soon?"

"Jack, this journal covers parts of nearly six years of their lives. And it's not exactly light reading, either."

"Let me see." Jack said, grabbing the book from Daniel's hands before he could protest. Jack's eyes darted across the page as he read the words that were written.

"'Why may wee not then looke for in good hope from the inner parts of more and greater plentie, as well of other things, as of those which wee have alreadie discovered?'" Jack read aloud. He quickly snapped the book closed and handed it back to Daniel. "I thought you said this thing was in English?"

"It is…relatively speaking. What you just read was part of a letter that was written by Thomas Hariot to Sir Walter Raleigh, reporting the viability of beginning a colony on the land they'd found."

"And why is that in there?"

"At the time, Elizabeth Viccar's family was considering joining the colony. She often wrote about the letters and reports they received about the colony. Eventually they were among the colonist who settled in Roanoke."

"As fascinating as the history lesson is, Daniel. I don't care."

"Yeah, I can tell." Daniel huffed, feeling his patience waning.

"It's not like you're doing a book report here, just get on with it, and finish the damn thing."

"Don't you think I'm trying?" Daniel's temper erupted. "My god, Jack! She is lying in there suffering…dying, and I can't do a damn thing to help her!"

Daniel's words caught in his throat. Gazing down at the floor, he took a deep breath, his head spinning with troubling thoughts. What if the journal was of no use at all? What if they were wasting valuable time, hoping to find something that just isn't there? What if he lost her? What if she died…never knowing how much he truly loved her?

His shoulders sagged as if the weight of the world had been laid upon them. He closed his eyes in a feeble attempt to escape the accusation his mind was making:

Janet was dying, and he was doing nothing to save her.