Aeire

Ashling paced furiously back and forth in the confined space of her old bedchamber. Daniel lay back on the bed, hands clasped behind his head and feet dangling over the side, grinning quietly at her. She was magnificent when she was angry; her grey eyes deepened to smoke-black with emotion, her hair escaped from its confines as she tossed her head around, hands cut through the air as she emphasized her angry remarks.

"You! Don't laugh at me! You saw how he treated me! As though I was a small child!" She stomped over to Daniel and shook her fist under his nose. His eyebrows rose a fraction and he began to wonder if he was safe in the same room with her.

She turned away from Daniel and continued ranting. "May a mountain land on his head! May snails devour his corpse! May the thieving villain dangle, shaking and trembling from a rope! May the devil roast the péineas off of him!"

Daniel stopped smiling and involuntarily crossed his legs to protect himself in case he became her next target. He really liked all his body parts just where they were. He hoped she did too.

Ashling suddenly dropped into a chair, anger finally spent. She sagged, exhausted from her tirade. Daniel left the bed and crossed the room to kneel beside her. He took her hand and began unconsciously rubbing her knuckles with his thumb in a soothing motion.

"Feeling better now?" He knew better than to grin at her yet.

"Oh, Daniel. How could he do this to our father? He was always a bit selfish and had a temper…"

"Must run in the family," Daniel muttered softly under his breath.

"But I never suspected him to be evil." She leaned her head down on Daniel's shoulder as he pulled her off the chair and onto his lap.

They sat for a few moments, Ashling gradually gathering serenity from Daniel's presence.

Abruptly the door flung open, hitting the stone wall with a bang.

"Well, isn't this just the picture of domestic bliss?" Iollan spat the words out with unconcealed venom.

Husband and wife froze briefly under the sudden barrage of anger. Daniel set Ashling back in the chair and rose to face Iollan. Daniel's eyes narrowed as he faced his brother-in-law.

"Don't you ever knock?" Daniel wished Jack were here. He'd be able to verbally cut the jerk down to the size of a Chihuahua.

"Not in my castle."

Daniel rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Well, that just goes to show you how wrong I can be. I thought this was your father's home."

Iollan glared at Daniel as he entered the room. "Since my father is unable to rule at this time and my sister has been…busy," he stared pointedly at her swollen belly, "I took my rightful place as ruler."

He turned to Ashling, "You are just a momentary distraction."

Daniel moved to stand between Iollan and his wife. "I don't think you fully understand the situation. Ashling is back. Your father will be restored to power and you … Well, I'm not sure about you just yet, but you won't interfering." He stepped closer to the shorter man, using his larger body to emphasize his threat.

Iollan abruptly leaned back out of Daniel's space and looked to the side at his sister. "I just came to let you know that you'll be able to see our father after the noon meal. His nurse will be with him and you'll be able to see just how much he has deteriorated during the past year." He nodded and left the room.

Daniel looked down at Ashling. "Well, that was interesting."

Earth

Sam, Jack and Teal'c entered a small dinner just outside Colorado Springs. Sam wanted a place where no one would be likely to recognize or pay attention to the small group. Since the events with Orlin, the first time he descended, she wasn't about to take the chance that her home might be bugged.

Jack led them to a booth in the farthest corner from the entrance. They chatted about nothing while the waitress was hovering about. Jack waited until they'd gotten their food before he confronted Sam.

He took a huge bite of his burger and muttered around it, "Colonel, what's all this about?"

Sam dropped the fry from between her fingers and looked at both men facing her across the table. "I've thought of a way to find Daniel. But it will mean doing some things without letting Landry or Mitchell know ahead of time."

Jack just nodded as he shoveled some fries into his mouth. He'd known this was going to be interesting.

"Sir," Sam glanced at Teal'c and then faced Jack, "the Odyssey will be ready for flight in two weeks. It won't be completed, but it will be space worthy. You know we haven't been able to contact the Asgard to help in the search. I believe that if we commandeer the Odyssey we can get to the Asgard homeworld and contact Thor."

"I knew I wasn't going to like this when I talked to you on the phone earlier." Jack pushed his now empty plate away and took a drink of his soda.

"Indeed. I, too, was hesitant when Colonel Carter proposed this clandestine meeting." Teal'c nodded in agreement with O'Neill.

"Sir, as you know," Sam continued, "our technology only allows us to use the locator devices when we're in orbit of a planet. The problem is, we don't know which planet Daniel is on. Or even if he's in our galaxy. The Asgard technology will allow us to locate Daniel's signal anywhere in the galaxy. If they can't find him…well…" Sam's voice trailed off as the ramifications of what she was implying sunk in.

"Okay, Carter. Let's suppose you're right. Just how do you propose we steal Earth's most closely guarded piece of technology? Just walk on and ask?"

"Well, sir, that's where I'd need your help." Sam quickly outlined her proposal to both men.

When she finished Jack turned to Teal'c. "You think the government will allow us to share a cell after this?" There was no question that the three former team members were going to attempt a rescue. The only question was how long the prison term would be.

Aeire

Iollan had two of his men accompany Ashling and Daniel to see her father. They climbed the wooden stairs to the second floor of the stone building and stopped at a large wooden door. One of the guards knocked several times and then opened the door, allowing the couple to enter.

The room was darkened with black cloth draped over the windows. There were a few candles placed about the room so that there was just enough light for Ashling to cross the room to her father's bed.

Daniel followed her closely, concerned that the strain might be too much for her in her condition. She nodded to the woman sitting next to the bed in a chair and perched on the edge of the bed.

The old man barely weighted enough to cause a dent in the feather mattress. His skin was pallid and hung in folds about his jaw and neck. Ashling leaned over and took the hand that was resting on the covers. He turned slightly toward her.

"Ashling? They told me you were back but I didn't believe them."

"Aye, Da, I'm home. I'm married and about to have a grandchild for you. You need to be here to dangle him on you knee." Ashling tried to keep her voice from quivering. He had lost so much weight and looked fragile.

Daniel picked up a candle and leaned over the sick man. "I'm Daniel. Your son-in-law." He brought the candle closer to his face and watched the old man's face closely.

King Ruari flinched slightly but held a steady gaze directed on Daniel. Daniel felt as though he were being measured for worthiness by the ill man.

"Well, muirnín, I see you've caught yourself a big one." Her father graced her with a wan smile. "He looks to be a fine specimen of a man." Turning to Daniel again he said, "You'd best be taking very good care of my daughter or you'll be answering to me."

Daniel grinned at him. "Yes, sir, I'll take very good care of her."

The healer motioned them away from the bed. "I think he's had enough for now. You can come back tomorrow."

Ashling leaned over and kissed her father on the forehead. She rose from the bed and walked slowly to the door with Daniel right behind her.

"Ashling, is there someplace we can talk without being overheard or interrupted?"

She nodded once. "Follow me."

She took Daniel outside and led him to the bank of a river behind the castle. She stopped and sat under the sheltering branches of a large oak. Daniel dropped down next to her and glared at the guard who had followed them. The man wandered off beyond earshot, but still watched them.

"Ashling, I think you father is being drugged or poisoned. I noticed that he displayed several symptoms common to a gradual poisoning. The pupils in his eyes are unequal and contracting in the dim light. He's sweating, even though he has no fever and it was cool in the room. He was slurring his words"

"But I have seen many people sick like with symptoms like that and they weren't poisoned." Ashling's face reflected her puzzlement over Daniel's concern.

"I agree, but the timing of his illness is suspect, don't you think?"

"We've got to get him away from Iollan!" She stood and turned to go back.

"Ashling, we need to do this carefully. Remember, your brother isn't going to the allow you to just carry him out. I'd like to go back and talk to the healer. Do you know her?"

"Yes, she is the best healer around. She's been treating my family for as long as I can remember. She'd never hurt my father."

"You know men like your brother can force someone to do things they would never want to do. If she's a good healer she should recognize the signs of poisoning and if she does, then she's part of the problem." Daniel paced back and forth a few times.

"Come on. I want to talk to her." He grasped her hand and led her back to the castle.

Muirnín - sweetheart

Péineas – (I think this should be clear enough!)