Here's today's chapter. A warning though: Sam does get very badly beaten in this chapter. I didn't to into explicit detail about it, but I just wanted you all to be warned.

On a lighter note, I now have an idea on how to end this story (though it is many chapters away) and will possibly be writing a sequel. I'm still not sure yet.

Anything recognizable does not belong to me; it belongs to their respective owners.

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

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

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

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Sam winced as she was shoved roughly to her knees. She glared at Elaida, her eyes defiant in spite of all the bruises and cuts she had. Elaida looked down at Sam, a smirk on her face.

"You have been charged with being a Darkfriend. Are these accusations true?" she asked.

"It won't matter what I say," Sam began. "You'll still find me guilty of being a Darkfriend, even though I'm not."

"Very well. Samantha Carter of the Green Ajah, you have been found guilty of being in league with the Dark One. You shall be purified through pain and sentenced to a fate worse than death for any woman who can channel," Elaida decreed. "Take her back to her cell."

Sam rose to her feet and stood rooted to the spot. "You can beat me and still me Elaida. It won't change what you are."

"And what, child, am I?"

"An egotistical, narcissistic, self-absorbed, pitiful excuse for a person, mikta," Sam answered. "You see, I knew of people like you back on my world. And they were always killed. Some day Elaida, you'll get what's coming to you. And I'll be there to see it." The two women glared at each other before Sam was hauled away. She was hurled into a cell and the door slammed shut.

Sam crawled to a corner and rested her head against the stones. She cleared her mind and closed her eyes, letting herself drift into Tel'aran'rhiod. She opened her eyes and found herself in the cell. With barely a thought she was suddenly in Rhuidean, dressed in her cadin'sor.

"We thought you'd be here," Sorilea said from behind Sam.

Sam turned and saw several Wise Ones. She smiled. "It's good to see you again," Sam said.

"What is wrong?" Aviendha asked.

"The White Tower has become divided. And they believe me to be a Darkfriend. Elaida convinced them of that," Sam said.

"This Elaida is now in charge?" Colinda asked.

Sam nodded. "She's the one who sentenced me."

"We will assist you," Sorilea said.

"I can't let you risk your lives for me," Sam began.

"You are one of us Samantha Carter of the Shiande clan. We will not abandon you," Aviendha interjected. "And you are not the only one who can make Gateways."

Sam smiled, her eyes shining in gratitude. "Thank you."

"We will join your friends then dance with these Aes Sedai," Sorilea said. "May you find water and shade."

"And you as well," Sam said before she pulled herself out of Tel'aran'rhiod. She opened her eyes and found herself back in her cell. The door suddenly swung open and two guards walked in, hauling her to her feet.

"Time to go," one said.

Sam straightened her back and walked out of the cell. The guards led her to a fairly large room, all of the Aes Sedai, novices, and Accepted sitting around the circular chamber. Sam stood in the center of the room and watched as Elaida came closer.

"You still have time to admit your guilt and receive mercy," Elaida said as the others walked away.

A peculiar sensation shot through Sam and she looked at the Red. "So that's it then, isn't it?" she asked softly.

"Is what it?" Elaida asked.

"I was never near you enough to pick up on it, but now I know," Sam whispered, a small grin on her face. "You're a Goa'uld."

Elaida's grin slipped for a moment but was soon back in place. "It does not matter if you figured me out or not," she hissed. "You'll never be able to tell anyone." She pulled out a silver collar and fastened it around Sam's neck. "I forbid you to say anything about it."

Sam glared at Elaida. "So what's to happen to me now?"

"I want to see you beaten," Elaida replied. "Let all know that this is the punishment for an Aes Sedai being a Darkfriend! They will not be stilled, but be bound to a sister for the rest of their lives. Let the purification begin." She turned and walked back to her seat, a small, sadistic grin on her face.

The guards chained her to two posts and another guard walked into the room with a leather whip with glass and metal spike imbedded into the ten separate braids. Several of the Aes Sedai began muttering softly against the cruelty of the whip.

As the guard walked behind Sam, she lifted her head in defiance and stared at Elaida, her eyes burning with rage. Elaida merely smiled. "Begin," she ordered.

The whip suddenly came crashing down on Sam's back and the blonde arched her back and shut her eyes in pain, keeping the cry of pain in her throat. The whip came whistling down again and Sam could feel the glass and metal digging into parts of her skin. Blood began to pool around her feet as she sagged in the chains.

Most of the Aes Sedai were murmuring to themselves, unsure of what was happening to Sam was in fact the right thing to do. Even the guards were shifting uncomfortably. Some were biting their lips to keep from protesting. Elaida merely looked on, a cold grin on her face.

Tears of pain squeezed past Sam's shut eyes as the whip continued to strike her back. Her shirt was nearly in ribbons by the time the guard had to stop. He looked at Elaida, surprised that Sam had not cried out in pain.

"Continue," Elaida growled.

He reluctantly nodded and picked up a stick, three prongs at one of the ends. He walked in front of Sam and she looked up at him. "I'm sorry," he whispered quietly. "Just confess and it will be over."

"I…can't…lie…" Sam whispered.

He looked down and let out a slow breath. "Forgive me Samantha Sedai," he murmured softly and pressed the Goa'uld torture rod into her side.

Sam finally cried out in pain, her muscles convulsing uncontrollably. He removed it and she sagged heavily in the chains, her breathing rapid and uneven. She blinked, trying to bring her eyes into focus.

"Confess and the pain will stop," Elaida said.

Sam gripped the chains and pulled herself up, her blue eyes colder than ice. "I… will never…confess for something…I did…not do!" she spat. "So kill me."

"I think not," Elaida said. "I will be merciful and stop your pain though you have not confessed. You are henceforth my servant and will only use saidar when I say and will obey every command I give you."

"No," Sam growled.

"You have no choice," Elaida said, holding up her wrist. A silver bracelet glinted in the light. "Heal some of her wounds, but make sure the whip marks scar so she remembers obedience," she ordered several Yellows before sweeping out of the room.

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 stared to the north, his arms folded over his chest. His back felt like it was on fire and he felt like he had been hit with a Goa'uld pain stick. He could feel the pain Sam was in, but was frustrated that he could nothing to ease it.

"Are you all right O'Neill?" Teal'c asked, standing next to Jack.

"No," Jack answered. "Sam's being tortured and I can't do anything about it because these damn Aes Sedai are sitting on their asses."

"Samantha Carter is a formidable opponent O'Neill. She will cling on until we arrive," Teal'c said.

"It's hang on Teal'c," Jack corrected absently.

"O'Neill," Teal'c said softly, motioning to the east.

Jack followed his gaze and arched a brow when a figure clad in brown stepped into view. "Who're you?" Jack demanded.

The figure stepped into the fading light and lowered the veil. "We have come to help," Sulin said.

"We?" Jack repeated. The bushes around them rustled and the Aiel began appearing, some standing up in the grassy field where there was little to no cover. "How many of there are you?"

"Several thousand," Sulin replied. "And those that hurt Samantha will pay their toh in blood," she said coldly, sending a shiver down Jack's spine.

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I guess the saying is true: never anger an Aiel. Keep tuning in to find out what will happen to same. In the meantime, review!