Chapter Eight

One by one, they all walked past his cell, each with a quiet word, reaffirming their commitment to getting him back home as soon as possible. All of them except Elizabeth. She would not speak the words of goodbye in front of the others, she wouldn't tell him of her worries if she failed, but for someone who knew her so well it was easy to see. It was in the way she folded her arms around herself as if trying to keep out a chill, the way the her brow furrowed just a little in the middle of her forehead and how she hesitated for a moment as if she didn't want to leave, that gave her away. John saw all these things and knew how she felt, but he trusted her with his life. He knew that if there was a way to get him out, without the needless endangerment of innocent people, she could find it. Such was his faith in her.

By the time the rest of them had resurfaced on the ground floor, the two other members of Lorne's team had returned with the medical supplies as promised. They had off loaded them on a couple of the grim, baton wielding guards in the entrance hall and left them to deal with putting the shipment away. Elizabeth had told them to escort the rest of John's team back to Atlantis, while she, Lorne and Mathews stayed behind to talk to Phelo and Maten.

The old man was where they had left him, sitting in his chair at the desk in his office. Maten showed them in and seated himself as well while offering them a place too.

"No that's quite all right, thank you," Elizabeth declined. "We won't be taking up much more of your time today. I just wanted to stop by and tell you that we appreciate what you've done."

Phelo gave her a sad smile, this had all been blown well out of proportion. "I would ask that you convey, on behalf of all our people, my sincere apologies to your team. Their detention was quite unfair. I hope they will understand our predicament and will not hold a grudge with all the people of this world. It would be a shame if Athen's actions jeopardised any future relations."

"I will express your regret in this matter. I'm sure that one day when your government has resolved some of it's more pressing issues, we will be able to find some common ground."

Phelo knew what her unspoken message meant. They were willing to accommodate them now because of the man they still held in the cells below, but after this was over, the people of Atlantis would wash their hands of them. They were not inclined to get any more involved in their domestic dispute.

"However, our business here is far from over." Elizabeth stepped forward, her hands gripping the back of the chair she was offered before. Her mouth contorted into not so much a smile as it was a baring of teeth. "And nor will it be until Colonel Sheppard is released. I intend to return here in the morning to continue the process and hopefully bring an end to it once and for all."

"In that case I suggest we go our separate ways so that we may..."

Phelo's words trailed to a stop. They could all hear the shrill sound of a woman's voice, shouting from out in the entrance hall getting closer and closer until the owner of the voice burst into the chambers.

The tiny figure stood in the doorway, her presence compensating for the lack of physical height. She was a pleasant looking woman, with flame red hair that was escaping the confines of the grips and clips holding it up in some elaborate design. The delicate features of her face were shaped into a respectable pose, so that you would never think the frenzied shouting had come from her, however her chest was still heaving from her outburst. She smoothed down the silky material of the vibrant dress she was wearing and rubbed a hand over her protruding belly that spoke of her advanced pregnant condition.

Out in the hall two devastated, red faced guards pulled the doors closed as they gave an apologetic shrug for letting her in. Apparently they weren't sorry enough to ask her to leave. This was the Councillors' problem now and if they wanted to risk their skin telling her to get out, so be it.

Elizabeth realised that Lorne and Mathews had moved nearer to her without her noticing. The screaming had made them a bit nervous it seemed.

Upon seeing who had joined them, Phelo had pulled himself up out of his chair and was holding it out to the woman. "Liadan, would you care to have a rest?"

"I am no invalid old man," she replied scornfully, but moved around the desk to sit down anyway.

Phelo was used to this kind of affrontment. It was a term she used any time they spoke and was something he would never get her to stop doing.

Maten had also risen from his chair, finding his place much too close to the volatile little woman as he would like. "To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit Liadan? Does Athen know you have come to see us?"

She eyed the younger man with a murderous glare then as if disregarding his attendance here, directed her reply to Phelo. "My brother tells me you plan to release all but one of the men who killed my husband. This is not acceptable to me, I have come here to belay his order."

A deadly silence descended on the room as nobody said a word.

Lorne had taken a second to glance at Elizabeth and then Mathews, both showed the same concern he did. His hand sought out it's place on his weapon by it's own accord. He wouldn't fire, but wanted to feel the reassurance of the familiar weight just in case. There was going to be trouble when this woman learned the truth.

"Please understand Liadan," Phelo started. "Your brother gave his permission for the exchange early this morning." He indicated to the other woman, "Dr. Weir has already provided us with the medical supplies as agreed. The three have been taken back to their home world. We no longer have them in custody."

Liadan slowly placed her hands on the desk and pushed herself to her feet. "Do you mean to tell me, you incompetent old fool, that for the sake of a few salves, some tincture and some useless herbal remedies, that you have let Athos' murderers go?"

Phelo hesitated before he answered quietly. "We still have the man who flew the ship..."

He didn't get to finish what he was saying. Liadan had a rage the rivalled her brother's and had charged for the older man. Phelo had started to back off, but his leg caught on the side of the desk, throwing his balance and he fell against the wall. With nowhere to go, he was pinned, helpless as the angry woman landed hit after hit on arm and chest. Maten dashed forward, pulling Liadan away from Phelo, all the while she screamed and thrashed about.

"Remove your hands from me this instant!" She screeched. "Don't you ever touch me!"

He deposited her unceremoniously back in Phelo's chair, then helped the stunned man retreat to the relative safety of the other side of the desk.

Elizabeth had thought the guards were due to come storming in the room any second now and moved out of the way of the impending onslaught, but it never came. It seem this kind of display was a somewhat regular occurrence and the guards had learned the hard way to stay out of it. Either that or the tongue lashing Liadan had given them before was enough for them to feign ignorance now.

"You will go and fetch the prisoners back! They must pay for what they did to my husband!"

"No, that's not going to happen. You are not the only one to loose a loved one Liadan. Do you forget or is it that their lives are not worth seeking retribution too?"

Elizabeth wasn't all that thrilled Maten had decided to remind her about the other men. This woman was mad enough, she didn't need any more reason to be angry right now.

"You will be silent boy, or do you forget the gutter from whence you came? You speak to me of worth? Phelo has taken you in and taught you well, you do a fair impression of a man of any worth, but you can learn there will always be a place for you back on the streets!"

Maten was flushed by her remark, but bit back any retort he would wish to make. Evidently, Liadan had hit a raw nerve.

Liadan had come to her feet again, her fists were tort and white, bunched at her sides, she studied the other parties in the room as they looked back at her. These strangers had the weapons her brother had spoken of. Her father had forbidden her to see the man who fell victim to it's power, but Athen had described to her in great detail what had happened. It was only for that reason she curbed her desire to lash out at them too. After all there was her child to think of. That was the only thing she had left of her husband now.

The sudden reminder of her husband's death made the pain in her heart flare, bringing tears to her eyes. Her head hung low as she fought them back, determined not to cry in front of these people. It took a couple of minutes, but she regained control over her emotions, concentrating on regulating her breathing, slowly in, slowly out. Her hands loosened their tight hold on her fingers and placed one of them protectively over her swollen belly feeling the warmth within. It was a maternal gesture many women in her condition made. She softly rubbed the area as if to comfort the child as well as herself, then became still once she had composed herself.

The sun streaming in through the window behind her, lit up her hair making it look as if it were on fire. With the one hand remaining on her child she looked back up into the room ready to face them again. Her eyes locked with the other woman and she noticed how she stood in a mirror image to herself and a moment of recognition passed between them.

Elizabeth saw Liadan's eyes flicker down to the hand she had on her own stomach then back up again to look at her, there was an understanding where defiance had been before. None of the men had noticed how similar their stance was as they watched the two of them as they faced each other across the desk.With a conscious effort Elizabeth took her hand away and forced it to remain at her side.

If she wanted to get this woman to listen to what she had to say, this was the best time to do it. "Liadan, please believe me when I say that we never intended to come here to hurt anyone. When we made contact with your world, we never thought it would have such a devastating effect, but what happened was an accident."

Well so far so good, Liadan was still listening, so Elizabeth went on. "I know there's nothing we can do for you or give you that will make up for the loss you've suffered, but what we offer can be of value to your people. All we want is to have Colonel Sheppard back."

"You would deny me the right to see justice served?"

"Do you honestly believe the senseless killing of another man will make you feel any better?"

"Well, when my child is old enough, what would you have me tell him? That his father's life wasn't worth a payment in kind? That his life was stolen from him, from us, and his mother was too weak to seek atonement?" Liadan could feel the tears coming again.

"I would never ask you to do that. Instead I would ask that you find the strength to overcome you grief and to let just one small good thing come from this. Please, accept our offer. Over time our two peoples could enjoy a lasting relationship and all the benefits that come with it. You could make that happen."

Everyone in the room held their breath as Liadan turned the proposal over in her mind. She hadn't outright objected to it and looked as though she could come around to the idea. However before she could say anything they all heard the angry tones of a gruff male voice outside, in the hall.

Seconds later, Athen barged into Phelo's office. This family seemed to specialise in dramatic entrances, but he had been bested by his sister. When she did it, she could leave a trail of confounded guards in her wake.

Athen went straight for his sister who had lost her battle keeping her tears at bay any longer, leading her gently out the office, while he spoke to her softly. "Liadan, I told you I would deal with these people and now look, they've upset you."

Stopping in the door way Athen looked back at the Councillors. "I will discuss this with you later." Then turned his attention on Elizabeth. "As for you, you are no longer welcome on this world. You will leave now and not return, your business here is finished. There will be no more talks. The man still in custody will be charged in the morning, his case will be concluded and his punishment will take place the next day. That day will be his last. If you wish to come back and continue to pursue this matter, you will find your fate will be the same as his. Now go!"

With that Athen left with a now sobbing Liadan, tucked under his protective arm.

Cold horror twisted at Elizabeth's insides as she watched her best chance at getting Athen to agree, being led out the entrance hall. She had failed.

Maten and Phelo looked a bit shell shocked too, Phelo was still leaning his pummelled body against the wall for support. Both of them at a loss for words, knowing that they would have face Athen's wrath before the end of the day.

Major Lorne was still on form though and had not taken kindly to having the Colonel's life dismissed so quickly. Athen might think he had ended things here, but he was sorely mistaken. He came closer to the Councillors making sure he had their undivided attention when he spoke. "Colonel Sheppard is our leading military officer, he is respected by all the men who serve under him and there isn't one of them that would accept leaving him in Athen's hands. We don't leave people behind. Colonel Sheppard taught us that."

"Yes, I can see that. Athen has forced us all into a corner," Phelo replied. "There is very little Maten and myself can do now, but we will assist you where we can."

"You know we will come for him?" Elizabeth asked.

"I do. But if we help you, you must not hurt any of our people. That is all we ask."

Elizabeth hated that it had come to this, but whatever they needed to do to get John back would be done, so she told them, "Councillors, you have my word that none of your people will come to any harm as long as they don't get in our way, but we will have our man back."

"Very well. Let us part then, there is much to do. In better times, may we meet again."