Here's today's chapter. Hope you like it. After tomorrow's chapter I probably won't be updating until next week since Thanksgiving Break starts on Wednesday (as does Rent!) and since I have a test today and two tests tomorrow. But we'll just have to see how things go.

Anything recognizable does not belong to me, so quit bugging me about it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Jack stared at his TV screen, absently flipping through the channels without paying attention to what was being shown. It had been two years since Sam had gone missing and almost a year since Daniel's death/Ascension.

He took a drink from his beer before watching a Simpson's rerun. He set the beer down on the table and picked up a file folder. He opened it up and looked down at the list of planets that were possibilities that Sam had been sent to. Most of them had been marked off. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and went down the list of planets again.

"Hey Jack," a familiar voice said.

Jack looked up and saw Daniel standing in front of the TV, his hands in his pockets. Jack tilted his head and looked at his friend. "I'm not hallucinating, am I?"

"No it's…it's really me," Daniel said.

"Then to what do I owe the pleasure? Before when Ba'al had me all trussed up you said you couldn't interfere," Jack said.

"True," Daniel said. "But you might wanna check out the last planet on that list. Just a suggestion."

"Why?" Jack asked.

"I think you might find something there," Daniel said. "I have to go."

Before Jack could protest, Daniel had vanished. Muttering a few curses Jack marked the planet for their next mission. "Better be right about finding something," he grumbled at the ceiling.

WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS

Sam warily watched Sulin, the spear held somewhat loosely in her hands. Since the discovery of Sam being the daughter of Jessai, the Wise Ones had insisted that Sam train as either a Wise One or as a Maiden. Sam had asked if she could do both. Sorilea and the others had to discuss it since Sam was technically an Aes Sedai. In the end, they had agreed that she could receive both types of training, but only if she trained with the Wise Ones first. Sam had agreed.

Sam saw Sulin tense and in a flash, the other woman had rushed in. Sam flipped over her aunt and landed lightly on her feet, spinning around and leg sweeping the older woman in one fluid motion. Without giving a chance for the older woman to recover, Sam landed on her and pressed her spear to Sulin's throat.

Sulin grinned. "Well done," she said. She suddenly threw Sam off of her and leapt to her feet. "But always be on your guard."

Sam rolled to her feet and faced Sulin. "I'll remember that," she said.

"That's enough for today," Sulin said. "Your mother would be proud of you."

Sam smiled faintly. "I have a good teacher. Meet you for dinner?" she asked.

Sulin nodded. "There is something that I wish to show you tomorrow too."

"All right," Sam said and left for her room.

She walked up the steps and into her room, tossing her sweat cloth to the side. She quickly changed into a clean cadin'sor and ran a hand through her short hair. She left her room and head down to the main square to meet Sulin. She nodded to a few of the Aiel she had come to know over the months and greeted a few of the Maidens who had helped in her training. Sulin walked up a moment later and the two joined the other Maidens in their meal.

WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS WoS

Jack walked into the Briefing Room, the file folder in his hand. He sat down in his spot and looked at the other members of SG-1. Teal'c was as stoic as ever while Jennifer Hailey sat calmly in her seat, waiting for Hammond. Jonas Quinn, the man who replaced Daniel after the archaeologist saved his people, sat engrossed in the mission report. It had taken a while, but Jonas had finally grown on Jack.

Hammond walked in and Jack and Hailey rose to their feet. "Be seated," Hammond said. He looked at Jack. "So what have you got Colonel? The M.A.L.P. showed no advanced technology or anything out of the ordinary on P5X-932."

"Well sir, I was thinking that maybe Sam could be on this planet," Jack began.

"Colonel, we've been over this time and again. Major Carter is missing in action. I can't send you solelyout to find her," Hammond said.

"Would you consider sending us if I told you I had a good lead that she might be on this planet?" Jack persuaded.

"What are you talking about O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.

"Daniel…he uh…stopped in while I was on leave and hinted that something of interest to us might be there," Jack said.

"Daniel is dead Jack," Hammond said.

"He's Ascended," Jonas corrected. "And from what I've heard about these people, they can go anywhere they want as long as they don't interfere with the lives of the people there. Maybe he went to this planet and found Major Carter there," he said. "It would be worth a shot at least."

Hammond looked at SG-1 and noticed the determined look in their eyes. He knew that if he didn't send them, they'd go anyway. He sighed and looked at Jack. "You have forty-eight hours to find her Jack. That's all I can give you."

"Thank you sir," Jack said.

"Gear up," Hammond ordered.

SG-1 left immediately and were geared up in fifteen minutes. They walked into the Gate Room and watched the Stargate activate. After the wormhole had established they walked up the ramp and through the Gate.

Jack pulled on his sunglasses and looked around. "See anything?" he asked.

"Lots and lots of sand sir," Hailey replied.

"Leave the sarcasm to me Captain," Jack said with a grin.

Hailey smiled. "Yes sir."

"There are no tracks here O'Neill," Teal'c said, looking at the ground.

"Well, let's start poking around," Jack ordered and began leading them away from the Gate. After going a half a mile, the ground suddenly erupted around them. Jack dropped to his knees, gun pointed at the nearest person. Their ambushers had arrows pointed at the team, the strings taunt. Jack noted that they were all veiled and fairly tall.

"Don't move," one said in a feminine voice. "Or we will kill you."

"I was about to say the same thing," Jack said.

"You are out numbered Darkfriend," another veiled attacker said in a male voice.

"This is true," Jack acquiesced. "But we have superior firepower."

"We're not Darkfriends," Jonas said. "We're peaceful explorers from a planet called Earth. We don't mean you any harm."

"Liar," the female voice said. "The last group of people to come through the Forbidden Door killed or stole many of our warriors."

"We're not going to hurt any of you," Hailey said.

"Unless you hurt us first," Jack added.

"Sulin," a new speaker said. The first speaker looked over at another veiled figure and the two began conversing in hand signals.

"You're sure?" the one called Sulin asked. The other figure nodded. Sulin reached up and pulled off the veil. "My first-sister's daughter says you can be trusted. Betray our trust in you, and you will wish for a swift death that we will not give. Now come. We will take you to Rhuidean. It is a two day trek from here," she ordered.

"I guess we're off to see the Wizard," Jack muttered and they fell instep with Sulin and her warriors.

"What are your people called?" Jonas asked.

"We are the Aiel," the person replied.

"So you say this Ruddy-place is two days trek?" Jack asked. "How about speeding things up a bit?"

Sulin looked at Jack. "You believe you can keep up with us?" she asked with a skeptical grin.

"I bet we could," Jack said.

The Aiel began to laugh. "Very well Earth man. Try to keep up," Sulin said. The Aiel broke into a run, Jack and the others keeping up fairly well. "Not bad," Sulin said easily.

"Thanks…" Jack said. "But why do I get the feeling you're not even trying?"

"Because we aren't," a voice said. "If we wanted, we could out run a horse."

"Now…I know…you're…lying," Jonas wheezed.

"We are not," Sulin said. She glanced over and noticed a look on one of the Aiel's faces. "What's wrong?"

"We are not alone," a female voice said, one that Jack thought he recognized. They slowed to a stop. The Aiel who had spoken turned but her face was already veiled. She pulled out a staff and looked around. The rest of the Aiel had veiled themselves and had their spears out.

"It seems they can sense something we cannot," Teal'c said.

"Yeah, well get your weapons ready," Jack ordered.

As they took their safeties off and looked at the darkening landscape, a roar erupted from the north and Jack could hear the sounds of many feet hitting the ground. The Aiel surged forward without a sound and the sounds of fighting could soon be heard.

"What have we here?" a cold voice said from behind SG-1.

They turned and saw a man dressed all in black, his face hidden, sitting on a pure black horse. The remaining light from the setting sun seemed to be absorbed around the man. SG-1 shivered as traces of fear ran down their spines. Jack shook himself and lifted his gun.

"Foolish human," the man said. "You cannot kill me."

"I can try," Jack retorted and fired off several shots from his P-90. The man laughed and pulled a sword free, the blade as black as night. "Little help," Jack said.

Teal'c opened fire with his staff while Hailey and Jonas fired from their P-90s. "You're puny weapons cannot harm me," the man scoffed.

"Then why not try me Eyeless?" an Aiel said, stepping in front of SG-1. "I will dance with you."

"Dance?" Jack repeated.

"You cannot kill me mortal," the Eyeless said.

"Yes I can," the Aiel said and tossed aside her spears and quiver.

The Eyeless laughed. "Foolish Aiel. I will enjoy killing you."

A ball of flame appeared in the Aiel's left hand, the light illuminating the sky. "I think not," she said and hurled the fire at the man. He dove off his horse but not fast enough; his cloak caught fire and he was forced to toss it aside.

"You will die!" he snarled. The Aiel expertly twirled a staff and motioned for the man to attack. The two began fighting fiercely, leaving little room for a mistake.

"If bullets couldn't hurt it, how is a staff going to?" Jonas asked.

The Aiel suddenly screamed in pain as the black sword found its way through her guard and into her middle. She thrust out her hand and the Eyeless screamed as a line of fire severed its head. The fighting seemed to stop as the Eyeless' fighters ran.

Sulin was suddenly by the Aiel's side, holding her up. "We must get you to the Wise Ones," she said. "But we are too far from Rhuidean."

"Not…so much…" the Aiel gasped. A yellow line appeared in the middle of the air and opened into a doorway that showed the city.

"Quickly!" Sulin shouted and several Aiel ran through first. "Now you four," she ordered. Jack and the others did as they were told and went through, the rest of the Aiel behind them.

"What can we do to help?" Hailey asked.

"Haisen, fetch the Wise Ones now!" Sulin barked. An Aiel nodded and ran off through the streets. Several moments later a dozen older women came running up, their bracelets jangling together.

"What happened?" the white haired one demanded.

"She was stabbed with an Eyeless' sword," Sulin answered.

"Take her to her dwelling immediately," the Wise One ordered. They led the way to a stone building and up the steps. They walked into a room and set the injured Aiel on the floor. "Stand aside."

Several of the Wise Ones knelt down over the Aiel and bowed their heads. "That's not gonna do anything," Jack said. "We can help her. We have medical supplies," he said.

"Remain silent or leave!" a Wise One snapped, glaring at Jack. He fell silent and folded his arms in protest. After several long minutes the Wise Ones kneeling around the Aiel rose to their feet, looking considerably tired and drained. Sulin looked at them nervously.

"She will be fine," the white haired Wise One said. "Now who are you four?"

"We're…" Jonas began.

"My friends," the Aiel said weakly.

"You need to rest," Sulin said.

"Sulin is right," a Wise One said.

"I'll rest later." The Aiel pushed them aside and sat up, pulling the veil off. "Hey guys. Long time no see," Sam said.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The team's reunited! But the story ain't over yet. I don't know when it'll be over. So you'll just have to review and wait. Muahahahahahahaha!