Eventually they decided to climb out of the water and John slowly trudged out of the lake behind Teyla. As Teyla reached the edge he pulled down on her shoulders and she fell back into the water. Teyla quickly surfaced spluttering water everywhere. She wasn't a happy person, what made it worse was John laughing at the edge.
"Is that anyway to treat a lady?" John whirled round to see a figure in ornately decorated clothing that had a Medieval touch to it. The figure was seated on a creature that bore some resemblance to a horse. At his side was a young man who was staring at Teyla also seated on a stallion. They young man had brown hair with pale skin. His piercing blue eyes seemed to bore into Teyla's soul, which made her relatively uncomfortable. Around them women and men stood. The men and women all wore medieval styles.
"And you are?"
"You don't recognise your King and crown Prince?"
"We would except we're not from around here, we came through the Stargate." Seeing the crowds blank expressions John continued. "Its like a ring that when its working looks like a puddle that you walk through."
"You mean the Standing Lake?"
"If that's what you call it. Yes. We come from the City of the Ancestors."
"You are their children?" Carson decided to answer this question.
"Yes." Carson wasn't telling a complete lie. He and John were descendants anyway.
"You lie."
"We would never lie." Teyla had squelched out of the pond and gave John a whack on the arm for what he did.
"Prove it." The young Prince ordered.
"How?"
"I know. John have you still got the life signs detector."
"Yes." John passed the detector to the King.
"It does not work."
"Only people descended can use it." John held it and it began to work.
"Very well. You've proved your point." Teyla nudged John and he helped her out of her heavy body jacket and held her P-90.
"You will explain to Bates how two weapons have been ruined."
"You make it sound as if it was my fault. I'm hurt." John held his chest in mock agony.
"It was your fault you pulled me in – twice." Teyla tried to keep a straight face but soon it broke into a grin at John's puppy dog eyes.
"Was that anyway to treat a lady?" John looked round.
"Lady what lady? Oh you mean Teyla?"
"Are you, sir, implying she isn't a lady?"
"No she's the leader of her people, much more than a Lady." Teyla blushed at John's comment while the other two team members were shocked at hearing a compliment from John's mouth.
"Allow me to introduce myself I am Prince Troy of this planet Hokalla and this is my father King Malinak." Troy waved his hands gesturing to his father.
"I am Teyla Emmagen: leader of the Athosians, Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard: leader of the military on Atlantis, Dr Rodney McKay: head of Science and Dr Carson Beckett: Chief Medical officer."
"You will attend our feast tonight?" The King suddenly butted in.
"I am not sure we do have to…" Teyla tried to make up an excuse.
"Certainly." John and Teyla turned round to Rodney and glared at him.
"I will provide living quarters and clothes for you."
"I'm sure we can have something suitable brought through the Stargate…Standing Lake for us to wear. Rodney would you do the honours?"
"Why me?"
"You do have to tell Elizabeth where we're going to be for a little while longer. After all she is your wife."
"Good point, good point."
"By my door, there's a hold all in there's some clothes. We should all have clothes in hold alls. We were going to the mainland for a week." Rodney nodded and dragged Carson with him to fetch the clothes.
When they had reached the King's town John refused to let Teyla out of his sight. They held hands all the way. Eventually they were shown their rooms John's was down the end of the corridor from Teyla's.
"Miss Emmagen would you permit me to show you around the town?"
"Maybe in a while I am a bit tired."
"Understandable." The Prince nodded his head.
"Colonel Sheppard will travel round the town with me when I desire it." Troy seemed angry with this but bowed his head anyway.
"I don't like him Teyla." John told her once the crown prince had left.
"You sound like a baby. I do not like him either." Teyla sat on the bed, which was soft and comfortable.
"I bet our beds are had as stone." John mumbled as he sat next to her. "I think he likes you." Teyla looked repulsed. "Be careful you might end up marrying the guy." John started to laugh at the pure mortification on Teyla's face; Teyla reached up, grabbing a pillow, and smacked John with it. "Oh two can play at that game you know." John grabbed a pillow of his own and they started a full-fledged pillow fight.
Eventually after several near stops they finished fighting.
"I see the Athosians have pillow fights. I guess some things are a constant in this universe." John just managed to duck the pillow that just skimmed his head. Carson poked his round the door suddenly.
"We're back. We have your clothes and Teyla has to wear this." Carson walked in with Rodney close behind and deposited a package into Teyla's hands.
"I suppose we'd better get ready then." Teyla nodded. "I'll see you later."
TBC