Carson was the first to recover from the shock of her appearance. He scrambled to his feet, and turned to look at her.
"Are you okay, lass? " he said, concern his voice. "You shouldn't be up yet. You take a seat." He pushed her gently towards the seat he had vacated. John immediately felt guilty. Looking at Ria, it was clear she was still exhausted. But looking at Carson, he didn't look much better than she did. Before John could take any action, Ronon got to his feet and brought over another chair for the doctor.
"Thank you, Ronon," the doctor said quietly taking his seat.
Elizabeth looked round the others, and took a deep breath. "We would certainly be interested to hear whatever you might have to say to us, Ria," she said.
Ria looked round the room. The look on the faces in front of her varied, from concern on Carson's to suspicion on John's.
"Yes," she said a confident note in her voice. "I am a Kelta. But I have to say, some of the legends have certainly grown through the years." She smiled gently in the direction of Ronon and Teyla.
"You heard what we said?" John asked.
Ria nodded. "When I realised you were discussing me, I thought it would be as well to do so."
"But how?" Rodney asked, looking around as if to see if the room was bugged.
"I used to Carson," Ria said, with an apologetic smile to the doctor. "I linked to his mind, and so heard everything he did."
"You can manipulate minds?" Ronon asked.
"Only if I have to," Ria said. "In this case, it was just the 'public mind' that I linked to. I would not go deeper unless I was invited to, or it was necessary for my survival, or that of others."
"Don't worry, lass," the doctor said gently. "I don't mind in the least."
"But we might not all be so understanding," John said pointedly. Ria just looked at him.
"Can you perhaps tell us what has happened to your people over the years?" Elizabeth asked, trying to relieve some of the tension.
"Of course," Ria answered with a smile. "My people did indeed predate the Ancients. And we helped them in their battles with the Wraith. But there was a heavy price to be paid for this. You've seen the effect that using my gifts has on me." She looked round the others are she said this, and they nodded their agreement.
"It didn't take the Wraith long to realise this too," she continued. "They would attack my people until they collapsed from exhaustion. Then, when we were defenceless, they would feed off us."
Carson leaned over and placed his hand on her, offering her what comfort he could. She turned her hand in his, and laced her fingers through his. Then, she was ready to continue.
"At the start of our battle against the Wraith, there were a thousand of my people with the strength to defeat them. As Ronon said, not all my people are mentally as strong. By the end, out of that thousand there were just ten left." Teyla gasped in shock. Ria turned and gave her a smile of shared sorrow.
"The rest of my people, those who did not have the mental strength, were also decimated," she continued. "We had no choice but to flee, and we did, leaving behind only the legends."
"Why have you come back now?" John asked.
"We haven't come back, not as such," she replied. "Through the centuries, we've always had some of my people who like to explore, much like you do. I'm one of them."
"So does that mean you can't help us against the Wraith?" John asked, challengingly.
"I think I've answered that question already," she replied, a touch of irony in her voice. "Remember those two Wraith darts that disappeared?"
John ruefully nodded in response. "What about the rest of your people?" he asked.
"That, I don't know," she admitted. "I've being away from home for a long time now. But as far as I know, my people don't yet realise the Wraith are awake."
"Will they be prepared to help us?" Elizabeth asked.
"I can ask," Ria said. "But I can't promise anything."
"How will you ask them?" Rodney asked. "Will you . . . ." He motioned with his hand pointing at his head and motioned away from it. Ria smiled.
"I could ask them telepathically," she said still smiling. "But it might have more impact if I went in person."
"And how do we know you won't just disappear?" John asked.
"I can disappear at any time I want to, Colonel," Ria pointed out. "But you just need to trust me."
"Would it be possible for some of us go with you?" Elizabeth asked. "That might help add to the impact."
"How were you planning to get there?" John asked.
"The method of transportation," Ria said, "would depend on how many were going. If I was on my own, I could just teleport there in stages. But if there is more than that, then we would need to take a ship."
"How long would it take by ship?" John asked.
"A couple of days," Ria confirmed.
"Ria, if it is all right with you, I'd like Colonel Sheppard and his team to accompany you," Elizabeth said.
"I do accept that," Ria replied. "But I'd like Dr Beckett to join us too."
Elizabeth looked at Carson, her eyebrows raised in a questioning manner. He nodded his agreement.
"Very good then," Elizabeth said. "Let's put the plan into action."
The group around the table stood, and started to make their way out of the room. Carson turned to Ria, a look of concern on his face. He could see how much it had taken out of her, to join the meeting.
"It is time we got you back to bed, young lady," he said gently.
"Why, Doctor," Ria said, a smile on her face. "You do say the nicest things."
Carson's face turned bright red, and he almost stuttered, trying to correct the impression he had given. John, who was watching from the door, laughed. He came forward, and put a gentle arm round the doctor, being careful to avoid his injured shoulder.
"Don't worry, Doctor," he said. "She's just teasing you." He glanced up at Ria, who was now grinning widely.
"Are you sure about that, Colonel?" she asked, coyly.
"Och, awa' wi' ye," Carson said, still trying to get his blushing face under control.
Rodney came back into the room, looking for John. He noticed Carson and Ria.
"Should you two be back in bed?" He asked, innocently. He couldn't understand why John and Ria was burst out laughing, and Carson's face turned beetroot.