Chapter Five: Nitpicking
As soon as the Prince had left the room Teyla ran. John followed closely behind, followed by Rodney and Carson who were walking not wanting to draw any more attention to themselves. An impossible task.
Sheppard reached her chamber door only to have it smash into his face.
"Shit!" He grabbed his nose, "Ow!" He gently knocked on the door. "Teyla? Teyla it's me John. Please can I come in?" John gently pushed open the door to see the usually composed Athosian leader flat out on the bed crying into a pillow. He slowly approached her and sat on the bed. "Teyla please look at me." He lightly touched her shoulder causing her to look up at him. "You didn't have to do that you know."
"He would have killed you." John pulled her up into a sitting position and looked at her tear stained face.
"He said that he wouldn't." John cupped her face with his hands, he stroked where Troy had hit her.
"It was not worth taking a risk." John gathered her into his arms; she wrapped her arms round his neck and cried.
"Everything will be ok. We'll think of something. I promise." He muttered into her ear. Beckett and McKay entered; John made a sign for them to be quiet as he gently rocked Teyla. Soon Teyla was sleeping peacefully in John's arms. John lay Teyla down on the bed and tucked the blanket round her. "We need to work something out, she can't marry him." Sheppard whispered.
"What do you suggest then?"
"I don't know you're the scientist." Rodney and Carson looked at each other. They all broke off in thought. "The Jumper." John told them after a few minutes. "We can park it just outside the city and just before the wedding we grab her and go. As soon as we got back we'd just have to lock this planet out of the DHD."
"Sometimes the simplest plans are the best." Rodney agreed.
"It's a good plan lad, but you've forgotten one small detail."
"Carson now's not the time to nitpick!" McKay told him sternly.
"All I'm saying is the Jumper part might be a problem."
"Why? Its an easily achieved plan."
"You know when we came through the gate?"
"Yes…"
"We bloody well walked! We didn't come by Jumper."
"I see the problem now." Rodney added. Carson and John just glared at him.
"Are you trying to help my lady escape?" SGA-1 sharply turned their heads to see a young woman standing there.
"Us? No…"
"Forgive me I believed that you were helping her. She shouldn't be forced to marry the Prince."
"You don't want her to marry the Prince?" Carson asked the girl.
"Don't misunderstand me my Lord. She doesn't deserve a punishment as this. The Prince is ruthless." Hope started to build again for the team.
"Do you know anyway we could escape with her?" John decided to be blunt.
"I'm afraid not Sire." John's face fell.
"Damn."
"Is it true that you are descended from the Ancestors?"
"Yes." McKay answered for them.
"Then you can save her."
"How?" John asked.
"With the Ancestors help you can fulfil a sacred tradition."
"What tradition?" John asked.
"A challenge. One man can challenge the marriage of a Prince before the ceremony is performed. It's called 'in dubium vocāre' the challenger calls this out as the ceremony is about to begin." John sighed. "This is the only way you can help her. Only the man who loves her can challenge the marriage. You love her."
"Yes." He agreed. "I do love her." The other two-team members weren't shocked at all by that confession.
"Its bloody well not fair! I've just lost the stash of chocolate bars to Caldwell now! Couldn't you have waited one more day to admit that?" Carson muttered.
"Is it a fight to the death?" McKay asked going on a hunch.
"Yes it is tradition."
"He is Kirk!" Carson and Rodney yelled at the same time. Their yells caused Teyla to stir.
"Why is John Kirk this time?" Teyla asked muffled. John walked over to her and sat on the edge of the bed.
"It doesn't matter." He gently kissed her on the forehead. "Go back to sleep, you'll need your energy." As Teyla drifted back to sleep everyone left the room not letting on they had a plan to save Teyla.
TBC