This chapter is for AphroditeGoddess808, who left me a personal message asking if I was ever going to finish this, and generally making me feel guilty about my lack of regular updating. Yes, I will finish this – I have ideas for an ending and everything.
Anyway, this chapter is for you, and yeah, the Teal'c bit may be shamelessly lifted from the Season 3 opener, but who's gonna complain. My words are different anyway.
Chapter 20
Teal'c stepped forward and looked around at the villagers.
"I look around you and what do I see? I see villagers – men - strong men; willing to let a brave few fight for the freedom of all. Willing to let a brave few stand up and say 'this is not right'! Willing to let a brave few risk death to bring justice to the poor." Teal'c let his voice drop. "And I think, 'perhaps the Sheriff is right'. Perhaps Robin Hood and his men should disappear back into the Forest. Clearly the people of Nott'am do not want fair taxes today. They do not want justice to prevail; to know they will get fair treatment regardless of their income; to know they will be able to provide for their families in seasons to come. Obviously we are mistaken, and the Sheriff deserves the money he steals off you all."
Will made eye contact with Teal'c and nodded. The villagers looked at one another, before looking at the stage – from Daniel to the Sheriff to Teal'c and back again. Then someone cheered. Granted, it was not a loud cheer, but it was enough. Other voices joined in and Daniel nodded his head and turned to the Sheriff.
"Think your time here is up."
"Shame." Jack added.
Daniel gestured for Will to come over. Sam joined them from her position at the back of the stage. She was impressed, and secretly glad that everything had turned out alright.
"Will. Care to finish up here?" Jack patted him on the shoulder.
"What? Do you not want to stay and help, my liege?"
Jack glanced at Daniel.
"Will, we can't stay. We have other… crusades to go on. Our work here is done. You are more than capable of organising Nott'am. I leave both the villagers and the Merry Men in your capable hands."
Will looked around at each of them in turn.
"None of you will stay? Is Miss Marian to leave with you as well?"
Daniel glanced at Sam and smiled.
"Forgive me Robin. Of course she will go with you. Very well. May I offer you an entourage to wherever you are going? Perhaps you will stay for a feast?"
Jack looked at Daniel and Sam. "No I think we're going now, and we don't need an entourage. Some horses would be nice though."
"Of course. Thank you for everything my liege. I hope to see you again."
Will turned and led them off the stage, past a crowd of excited people to a group of horses.
"Take whichever ones you want." He glanced between SG1 and the happy villagers.
"Go. We'll be fine. You'll find the horses in the forest later." Daniel climbed onto a horse and smiled down at Will.
"We shall come back and visit."
"We would be honoured, Robin."
Jack, Sam and Teal'c climbed on to their own horses and the group rode out of the market place, back onto the dirt track leading to Lerwood Forest.
"Well that was nice. A mission that didn't end in gunfire." Sam said cheerily.
Daniel smiled at her and turned to Jack. "Just make a note Jack that sometimes weapons aren't required."
Jack snorted. "May I remind you of how many weapons were pointed at the Sheriff?"
"Well, they weren't needed. Teal'c's speech was enough."
"Hey, are you saying mine wasn't good enough?"
Daniel glanced sideways at Jack and spurred on his horse a bit. Teal'c and Sam did the same and soon Jack was left behind.
"Hey, may I remind you who is King here? Oi!"
SG1 galloped down to the Forest and were soon at the Stargate standing forlorn in the clearing, any guards having long since disappeared, either with witchcraft or fear.
"Dial us home Carter."
X x x x x
General Hammond signed the latest report on his desk and looked up at the clock. SG1 should be checking in soon. They drove him crackers with their cryptic messages and Plans x, y and z.
Actually that wasn't fair – Colonel O'Neill drove him crazy with that, Teal'c could hardly be said to drive anyone crazy, and well, Daniel and Samantha just needed some getting used to. And a profound liking of science.
The familiar noise started and Hammond looked up as Sergeant Harriman entered his office.
"SG1's IDC sir."
The General got up and entered the control room.
"Colonel O'Neill?"
"Hello General, permission to come home sir?"
"Permission granted Colonel."
There was a long mumble over the radio and the General looked at Harriman.
"It sounded like 'he ought to be asking me to come home really. No one respects blue blood these days'."
"What?"
Harriman shrugged as SG1 appeared on the ramp below and the wormhole disengaged.
"SG1, report to the infirmary. Debriefing at 1500hrs."
Jack rubbed his hands in glee and turned to Daniel. "Haha, this should be good."
"Yes. Jack? Before we go in there, can there be no mention of Marian and Robin?"
Sam looked up from trying to unlatch her rifle one handed and watched Daniel fiddle with his own.
"I'm not avoiding it Sam, I'm just saying, it might be a good idea to not mention it."
Teal'c glanced between the two of them, and started to steer Jack down the ramp, away from them.
"There shall be no mention of it Daniel Jackson, rest assured."
Daniel smiled at Teal'c's retreating back and turned to Sam.
"Here, let me."
He smoothly undid the clash on the rifle and handed the weapon to the technician waiting, before walking with Sam out of the gate room.
"Sam, can we meet up tonight? I mean, after we have finished up here and stuff? Perhaps we could go out for dinner? Or stay in for dinner."
Sam smiled. "I'd like that. Your place or mine? Actually it should probably be yours if you intend on cooking – I need to do a large food shop some time."
"Fair enough. Shall we say 8? You bring the wine."
Sam nodded and the conversation finished as they reached the infirmary.
A/N2: And you thought (or hoped) it would finish when they got back home. Sorry, there's a wee bit more yet. But you know the sort – the nice, fluff variety. And I shall update the next chapter soon!