A/N In between the emails awaiting me (both friends and fanfic updates – so many!) and all my blog related updates, I have managed to find time to write a chapter 13 and 14, which is more than promised! 13's a bit random mind, but you'll love the next chapter, I hope! Also it's not beta'd – in my haste to meet my self-imposed deadline I had to boycott Kelly and her waiting list. I hope you can't tell though.

Chapter 13

Wilkes glanced warily around him. The trees seemed to be leaning inwards, making the clearing seem small and tight. He shivered and turned to look at his men. The Sheriff had sent the six of them to guard the stone circle from "robbers and outlaws". Personally, Wilkes couldn't really see what an outlaw would want with an 8ft stone circle, and a robber would have to be downright stupid to try and steal something of that size, but the sheriff would have had his head had he mentioned any of this.

His men had grumbled too. Everyone knew that Lerwood forest was haunted, and they had ridden quietly into the clearing, jumping at any movement in the trees.

The clearing had been empty when they arrived, and they had found no trace of the men they were supposed to be relieving.

He looked at his men again. A bird crowed nearby and one of his men leapt up from where he sat on the stone steps leading to the stone circle, before cautiously sitting down again.

"I hate this place. I say let the outlaws have the stone circle if they want it."

"Aye," replied Wilkes' second in command. "If the outlaws can live in here, then they must be demons – or devil worshippers. We won't be able to stand against them."
A third man nodded. "Where did Jefferson and his men go? That's what I want to know."

"Killed!" Cried the new lad in Wilkes' command.

"Or worse, kidnapped!"

"Made to do the outlaws' bidding!"

"Or the ghosts of the forest!"

"Lost, to forever roam the darkness of Lerwood!"

"Nonsense." Wilkes interrupted with a confidence he didn't feel. "The sheriff probably called them back and forgot to tell me."

The conversation ended and the group fell silent again, idly scratching their swords in the dirt.

"Well, I didn't see Jefferson's horse in the stables."

Wilkes was about to reply when he heard movement to his right. He gestured for his men to be silent and the scared look appeared on their faces again. Somewhere in the undergrowth a twig snapped.

"Smith, bring the horses near the circle."

The man named Smith carefully walked to where the horses were grazing and led them back to the stone circle. The men settled down again, conversation forgotten as they watched the environment around them.

X x x x x

Sam had easily slipped out of the market place and found herself yet again jogging in the countryside. She stayed off the dirt track for fear of meeting someone, but dare not stray too far in case she got lost when she came to the forest. She hadn't been in it properly, but the clearing had been enough to know that very little sunlight got between the oak trees.

Entering the forest, she carefully followed the dirt track from the verge side, knowing it led to the stargate. She hoped no one had discovered the MALP. She had been camouflaging it when they were surrounded by guards yesterday.

Creeping up to the clearing her spirit sank as she saw six burly men sitting on the steps of the stargate. She was tired, her dress was uncomfortable, her hand ached and she was hungry. Never one to give up though, Sam pushed those thoughts aside and wondered how to get the men away from the gate. She noticed the horses grazing a little further off, towards the edge of the clearing. Perhaps there was a way. She stepped forward to get a better look at the clearing and cursed herself mentally as a twig snapped. 'A wise warrior always looks where he puts his feet' she thought to herself bitterly. She watched as one of the men went to fetch the horses, but the group did not relax again - they remained alert to their surroundings.

X x x x x

Sam didn't know how long she crouched watching the men – maybe ten minutes, but she suddenly became aware that she wasn't the only one watching them. Across the clearing on her far left she was sure she could see a face in the tree. She squinted. Yes, she could, she wasn't going mad. A slightly grubby man's face.

A hand gently tapped her on the shoulder and she turned round slowly – careful not to step on any sticks this time. A pleasant-looking woman smiled at her and beckoned her to follow. Sam shook her head but the woman seemed quite insistent, and glancing back at the guards at the gate, Sam gave in and followed her.

After about five minutes walking through the undergrowth, the woman obviously decided it was safe to talk, and she started up a monologue to Sam, who listened curiously.

"Why were you there Miss? Why didn't you come to the camp? No matter. Maybe you couldn't find it. Lost your way perhaps. It happens to the best of us. Little John was found near where you were, yesterday." The lady held back a large branch and Sam passed by her. "O' course, all the men are up in Nott'am now. Freeing Robin and -" The lady paused in her speech and climbed over a fallen tree. "And you actually Milady. How did you get free?"

Sam started a response but the lady continued talking. "Ne'er mind. The men folk'll be back soon and the Sheriff will add more to the prices on their heads. Honestly. Whatever he offers, it won't be enough for anyone at camp to betray us, don't worry about that ma'am. Here we are."

The lady led Sam into a clearing and Sam wondered how a camp like this could stay secret with a woman like her guide.

"Now you go and see Friar Tuck over there and get some food. I bet the stingy git didn't even give you a good meal in that grand castle of his." The lady walked off to a small boy - muttering to herself, and Sam looked uncertainly at the short, fat, bald man that had been pointed out to her. She really ought to go back to the stargate; Jack had made rules about accepting food and drink off strange planets. She was hungry and thirsty though – and the lady had seemed nice enough. She stood there thinking as the Friar glanced up at her.

"Marian! I mean, Maid Marian!" Mustn't forget you're a Lady. No. No Robin yet? I was drinking for luck for the men. Weak ankle – couldn't fight meself see. Love to join me?" The friar gestured to an empty wine casket beside him.

"No thanks. I was just, err…" Sam looked helplessly over to where the old lady had gone. The friar followed her train of thought.

"Robin will bring the men back here miss. You know that. Perhaps you want food and drink? Bet the castle didn't feed you." The friar chortled to himself and started arranging what Sam took to be a plate.

X x x x x

Carefully eating her meal one handed, Sam finished the bread, cold meat and water the friar had given her and stood up from her seat next to him as she saw men entering the clearing, leading horses behind them.
Leading his own horse through the bramble and trees, Daniel wondered if even Teal'c was perhaps a little disorientated. Jack had been quite insistent that they go back to the 'stone circle' as the locals called it, but the men seemed unwilling to take the horses there. Jack had started to argue but Teal'c had interrupted and said there was something that he, Daniel Jackson, would wish to see. He wondered what it was. He also wondered where Sam was. He had not yet got a straight answer regarding her whereabouts, but Jack didn't look like he was mourning for a friend's death. Or was he just hiding it behind military bravado? Maybe Jack and the others were trying to protect him from the news while they were on this planet – lest he did something stupid.

His thoughts were interrupted as he followed the horse in front into a clearing and sun shone down once more, unhampered by the trees.

"Wow." Stepping from the mottled light of the forest into a bright clearing, his eyes took a second to refocus. He found himself in a camp, with charred ground suggesting a fire place, very basic tree huts and a large wagon laden with belongings. One or two women walked across the camp, and Daniel could see telltale signs of busy community – arrow heads, feathers, etc.

As his horse was taken off him and led away, Daniel's eyes fell on a blue figure standing next to a short man in monk's garb.

"Sam!"

She was now quite scruffy, and still in a dress, but she smiled when she saw him, Jack and Teal'c. (Daniel privately thought she smiled a little more when her eyes fell on him).

"Jack!" He rounded on the man stood next to Teal'c, annoyed. "Why didn't you tell me Sam was alive? I mean, you let me think she was…" Daniel broke off, not really angry with Jack, who looked confused.

"What?"

"The sheriff said that Sam was… Oh never mind."

Jack studied the archaeologist in front of him and his face cleared in understanding. "Ohhh. You mean when the sheriff came down he told you…?" Daniel nodded and Jack didn't feel the need to finish the sentence. "Well she's alive, aren't you Carter?" Jack asked as Sam joined the men at the edge of the clearing.

"I am sir."

"And I have a present for you Major." Sam raised her eyebrows and Jack produced the standard issue black vest with flourish.

She smiled. "No BDUs there as well? This dress just seems to attract dust!" Daniel and Jack laughed at her dishevelled appearance, and Teal'c smiled.

"'Fraid not Carter. Did you see the stargate? I'd like to get off this planet now. Enough tempting of death for one mission I think." Jack switched back into 'offworld mode' and the others followed, leaving their own thoughts at the back of their minds for a while.

"It's guarded by six of the Sheriff's men. They seem rather jumpy though."

Teal'c nodded. "Indeed. I observed this behaviour yesterday as well, Major Carter. They seem to be deeply afraid of something. Perhaps something in the forest."

"So we could take them?" Jack looked for a nod of agreement, and sighed as the inevitable throat clearing sound was made by Daniel.

"No Daniel. Whatever it is, no."

"I was just going to say; these people risked their lives to free us-"

"Because they think we're someone else!"

"Yes Jack, but with an organised attack they could over power the sheriff. They almost did today. Shouldn't we help them?"

"What happened to the Daniel that gets offended when the SGC tries to interfere in offworld politics?" Jack asked sarcastically.

"It's not like a struggle for power here. These people just want justice."

Jack sighed and Daniel allowed himself a small smile; he knew he was winning. Just then a small party of four men and women entered the clearing – the lead woman carrying a small boy on her hip. Daniel saw Jack's eyes follow them across the clearing and grinned at Sam, who smiled back.

"Fine. One day Daniel. If we can't do it then, we leave. And we radio the General."

The friar came bounding up to them, and Teal'c observed that this man seemed to be permanently drunk.

"Robin, my liege… Little John! Come and eat with the rest of the men. Perhaps a little tipple too! A celebratory drink!" He led them to the main group of men and sat them down with food. Jack glanced at Carter, who shrugged.

"It tastes good sir."

A/N 2 Had to play 'guess the height of the stargate' after gateworld failed me again. Yes I really was that sad and I did research this, amongst other things. Every fact is true unless stated otherwise in my A/N.