Okay I'm on holiday now till January 10th! So that should mean lots more updates, I'll get them up as fast as my muse lets me.
It was almost dark by the time they reached the village. There had been no further encounters with…well anyone in fact. Sam was glad to finally reach some signs of civilisation. Strangely enough, there were still people around. They seemed to be gathering in the 'town square' the UAV had shown earlier. Their clothing, from what she could make out in the fading light, was handmade, but well for the most part. The crowd were huddled in small groups around the large fire which was still lit, muttering in low voices.
"So Daniel, think we'd be interrupting anything if we went over and introduced ourselves to these folks?" The colonel's question broke her out of her reverie. She looked enquiringly towards their friend,
"I'm not sure…it might be best to establish what's going on first. This is obviously a meeting of some kind. Though judging by the atmosphere I doubt it's a celebration." He frowned in that undeniably cute way he had when he was deliberating. "Possibly religious, but I don't see any icons or symbols of worship around, and as yet no sign of a pries…" He trailed off.
Oh God no.
A procession was slowly making its way towards the crowd. From their vantage point behind one of the buildings, Sam could see what looked like a stretcher, covered with a cloth.
And a lump beneath the cloth.
They'd arrived at a funeral.
Teal'c had seen many funerals in his time, had been the cause of many, but they were still one of the few events which could strike him with there grief. The congregation was silent now. Their expressions solemn in the flickering firelight, tears marked the faces of some, others averted their eyes. Teal'c forced himself to continue watching.
The stretcher was placed reverently before the fire, and what looked like a small stone block placed in front of it. A low murmur passed through the crowd and Teal'c noticed the approach of a tall figure, clad in robes of deep red.
He neither bore the mark of a Jaffa, nor could Teal'c sense any Goa'uld present. He concluded the man must be some kind of religious leader. The man nodded to people as he passed, and several bowed their heads in acknowledgement. Two of the crowd stepped forward to help him alight upon the block, but he seemed to need no assistance. This was a task performed many times over.
"My children" the man's tones rang out across the square, his voice strong but soothing. "Tonight we must again bid farewell to one of our brethren. Our sister, Marizia Benik." Here a muffled cry was heard, sympathetic glances were directed in the way of the grief-stricken before their attention was again drawn by the Orator.
"Though our own souls are rendered by her passing, we must remember hers' is free from pain. We may receive consolation from the Fio'Kek that has been granted to her."
Major Carter and O'Neill directed glances towards Daniel Jackson at this, Teal'c too looked, to confirm his own thoughts.
"It's in an ancient Goa'uld dialect" Daniel Jackson murmured softly, "merciful death".
The speaker continued
"So we will grieve, and the river of our tears will deliver her spirit to the divine gates, which we will entreat to open for her. Our pain at this parting serves a purpose, to weigh the Gods hearts' down with pity, so they will grant her safe passage to the eternal beyond." At this point, a catch of grief seemed to still the man's throat, as he turned to the fire, and seemed to call to the heavens.
"Mariza Benik, your soul is free. May no mortal business bind you here, nor heart-cry wound you. We send you with blessings and hope to the next world."
He nodded to the two men still standing next to him, they picked up the stretcher holding the body, and gently pushed it into the fire.
"With your worldly remains, we burn away the last of your ties to this life so you may walk with no burden into the next where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for your old life has passed away."
"It's an extract from the bible-Revelations," Daniel Jackson exclaimed in a whisper, "the whole ceremony is like….a jumble of religions."
"Not now Daniel" This from O'Neill, whose face was most tense, Major Carter also looked serious. The crowd was breaking up, drifting away from the blaze, some talking with the apparent leader in hushed tones.
"I think we picked the wrong time to introduce ourselves, let's clear out folks" O'Neill continued, with a significant nod towards the darkened forest.
And SG1 stole away into the night.
They set up camp about half a mile from the village, well hidden within the tree-line. As he helped Sam set one of their tents up, Daniel poured over what they had seen in his head. Traces of Goa'uld language, mingled with references to the Christian religion, and to Ancient Greece, yet there were no signs of current Goa'uld occupation. What had happened here? Had the Goa'uld just got bored and left or had something driven them out? And how had-
"Daniel?" Sam's questioning tone made him realise he'd been holding the same metal pole for ages.
"Sorry, just thinking," The two worked in companionable silence, till Sam, pushing the last peg into the ground, asked hesitantly, "Daniel, what do you think happened to that woman they cremated?"
Frowning, he stood up, stretching, "I'm not really sure. I mean they certainly don't seem a warlike culture, if she was a criminal her funeral probably wouldn't have been so…respectful. And any human sacrifice would have been made whilst she was alive. Probably natural causes, age, illness, that kind of thing."
His friend nodded soberly, "So you think it'll be alright to return tomorrow?"
"Sure, I mean I doubt people will be particularly cheerful, but I don't think the ceremony symbolised anything sinister." Seeing Sam looked a little doubtful, "If there were Goa'uld still about I think we'd have seen signs by now. They don't seem to hide a lot."
She smiled tightly at him, "Yeah you're right, I guess walking in on a funeral just didn't give me a good feeling about this place."
Daniel was about to reply when one Jack O'Neill came strolling over, looking just a little more subdued than usual. "All done?"
Daniel nodded and yawned, Sam automatically straightened up, "Yes sir."
"Then hit the sack, Carter you're on midwatch, Daniel morning."
As he crawled into his sleeping, Daniel wondered tiredly, what had killed that poor woman.
Flatkatsi-I promise I'll try and update faster!
Everyone else-Thanks very much!
Reviews really do make me type faster .