Oooohhhh...Another chapter! Yay! Sorry if the chapters seem short and it seems like the story is slowing down a bit. Don't blame me though, blame the voices. They've been arguing on how the story is suppose to go and have left me all alone to write in the filler stuff. But if they don't decide soon, I'm going to fire them and find new voices...does anyone know where I can get a good deal on voices-in-the-head-that-help-write-stories? I think they're also called muses or something like that...

Anything recognizable belongs to their respective owners. I am not receiving any money for doing this.

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The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass...

What will be, and what is, may still yet fall under Shadow...

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time...

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Sam pulled on her sunglasses, grateful that they had been in her vest pocket those many months ago. The Aiel Waste was barren and dry. Sam smiled and let the sun warm her face. Though she would never admit it to Jack or anyone else from the SGC, desert planets had always been her favorite, whether advanced technology was there or not. A desert to Sam always seemed warm and inviting.

"Too hot for you?" Sulin asked as they walked further into the barren land.

"No. I've actually been somewhere hotter," she replied, thinking back to the time Jack had the Ancient knowledge downloaded into his brain. She had led a team through the Gate in search of someone who could help Jack but had ended up being stuck on a very hot and very barren planet.

"We should meet up with the Wise Ones by nightfall," Sulin said.

"I don't suppose they told you why they wanted me," Sam said.

The Aiel woman shook her head. "They merely told me that you were important to the Aiel. Nothing more. I do not poke around in the affairs of Wise Ones. If it is important for me to know, they will tell me."

Sam nodded, understanding why. If she were a leader she wouldn't want her subordinates to know too much in case they were captured and tortured for information, let alone meddling in her affairs.

"So you're Far Dareis Mai?" Sam asked a few minutes later.

Sulin nodded, adjusting her shoufa that covered her head. "Since I was old enough," she confirmed. "It's not an easy life, but I wouldn't wish for another."

"Least people know not to mess with you," Sam said.

Sulin smiled a little, the scar on her cheek stretching. "If they did I would dance with them," she smirked.

"I have a feeling you'd be leading."

Sulin chuckled. "You are a strange one Samantha Carter."

"Call me Sam."

"Very well. Sam." Sulin glanced over at Sam and studied her. "You have the walk and look of a warrior Sam."

"Because I am a warrior. At least in my homeland I am."

"I'm sure you are quite formidable," Sulin said. "Perhaps once you are done speaking with the Wise Ones we could dance the spears."

"That'd be fun," Sam said. "But you'd have to teach me first."

The pair continued to walk as the sun rose higher and higher into the sky. As noon approached they halted under some twisted and deformed trees. Sam gave Fiyero some water and took a few sips herself. She glanced over at Sulin and noticed that she had not taken a drink of water.

"You are welcome to take a drink Sulin," Sam said, holding out the water-skin.

Sulin slowly took it. "I have toh to you," she said, taking a few sips.

Sam frowned. "Toh? You mean obligation? Sulin, you have no obligation to me. I offered my water freely."

"I have toh to you," she insisted, folding her arms.

Sam sighed. "Fine. You have toh."

Sulin nodded. "How do you know what toh is?" she asked.

"I read what books I could on the Aiel before I set out for the Three-Fold Land. I didn't want to accidentally insult anyone when I came here," Sam answered.

Sulin grinned. "A wise idea."

Sam shrugged. "I had a friend who would do the same thing. He'd go out to find ancient cultures and their artifacts and sometimes to do so he had to learn their culture."

"You miss him, don't you?"

"He was like a brother," Sam said. She suddenly laughed softly to herself and shook her head in disbelief.

"Is something wrong?" Sulin asked.

"I don't know why, but for some strange, bizarre reason I…I feel like I can trust you," Sam said, looking at Sulin in the eyes. "I just…don't know…why…" she trailed off. Her eyes look like mine and…and my mother's… Sam thought to herself. But that can't be possible…

"Are you all right?" Sulin asked.

"Yeah. Just thinking," Sam said. "So…you have any brothers or sisters?"

"I had a first-sister many years ago, but she was taken by the Sightblinder's minions," Sulin said.

"I'm sorry," Sam said softly. "Were you two close?"

Sulin nodded. "We were. She was older than I and trained me."

Sam frowned. "From the few things on the Aiel I could find, I thought that Maidens of the Spear didn't know who their siblings or parents were."

"Our mother was not a Maiden. She gave up the spear to marry our father," Sulin answered. "I could never do that. Neither would my sister."

"I didn't mean to pry into your personal life," Sam said.

"It is all right Sam. I trust you and you trust me. What's more, you saved my life. That is more toh I owe you."

"You don't owe me anything," Sam said. She gave Fiyero some more water and adjusted the saddlebags. She took her glasses off and rubbed her eyes. She was still not getting a restful night's sleep.

"Those are interesting," Sulin said, pointing at the sunglasses.

Sam smiled. "Try them on," she said. Sulin took them and awkwardly placed them over her eyes. She quickly took them off, puzzlement on her face. Sam suppressed a laugh as the Aiel put them back on.

"These darken your surroundings…" she slowly said.

"They're called sunglasses," Sam said. "If the sun is too bright out, you put them on so you don't damage your eyes. These types come in handy with dust storms and snowstorms since they completely cover your eyes," she added.

Sulin took them off and handed them back to Sam. "What if it is dark out?"

"Then it's not too bright of an idea to wear these," Sam answered, putting them back on. She pulled two long pieces of cloth and placed one on her head. She tied the other one around her head to keep the first piece of cloth in place.

Once her head was protected she reached into a small bag and pulled out a large handful of ash. She began spreading the ashes over Fiyero while Sulin looked on in interest. Sam glanced over as she reached for more ash.

"It helps to keep them cool," she explained. "So they don't overheat."

"And this works?" Sulin asked in disbelief.

"It helps," Sam replied. "I just don't want to take any chances. Fiyero is one of the first true friends I've had."

Sulin nodded, her eyes watching Sam. She looks so much like my first-sister, Sulin thought. But she cannot be Jessai…

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Hmmm...a plot twist...also probably a bit obvious, but who cares? I have also decided to go looking for new muses...or maybe just one new one...having a group of them in your head is not a good idea...

So, you will now review. I need to have enough reviews so I can go out and get a new muse...unless a new one pops magically into my head...but even if it does, I still want reviews please! Just press the little button.