Stargate Atlantis: Path of the Storm

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Chapter Two

Letting Teyla take the lead, Sheppard motioned for McKay and Ford to walk ahead of him. Something about this guy, Silveas, for some reason it raised alarm bells in the major and clearly Teyla had not expected such a hostile welcome. Hell, for all he knew these people were being cautious because of the threat the awakened Wraith now posed. Sheppard stopped and cast a careful glance at the surrounding landscape; to say this village was very isolated would be an exaggeration.

"Major," Teyla said appearing in the doorway. "You are not coming inside?" Her eyes narrowed with increasing concern. Their eyes locked and Sheppard held her gaze for a moment, no more than that and quickly looked away.

"Sorry, just…" he glanced once more to the trees then back to the Athosian with a wry smile. "Taking in the scenery." Sheppard straightened up and took in a deep breath. "Lead the way." Teyla gave him a small smile, certain that something was bothering him more than he let on. However, she had learned that Sheppard could be an extremely private person and tried not to let anything affect him. To date there was only one event in which she had never seen him, how had Doctor Elizabeth Weir described it? Rattled, she believed the word was.

Sheppard followed her into the main tent; the largest of all the other man made structures in the village from what he could judge. It was true about all those old Earth expressions; it looked bigger on the inside than what it did on the outside. In some many ways it was even considering impressive, definitely different from when he had encountered Teyla and her people. "I noticed Rodney went straight for the food," Sheppard muttered as soon as he laid eyes on the Canadian.

Sure enough, McKay and Ford were seated at the large table; there was more food on the table than there seemed to people. "Oh this is splendid," he said as a rather lovely Bre'tar woman filled his glass with a fine purple liquid. "Thank you very much." He gave her the old McKay charm and grinned before taking a sip of it then screwing up his face but he tried to control his gag reflex, attempted to carryon smiling. "It's delicious."

She went on to fill Ford's glass, he was amused by McKay's reaction. The woman carried on to the other end of the table, taking her mixture with her. McKay waited until she was out of earshot range and spat the wine back into the glass. "Oh my god, what is that? Acid? Rocket fuel?" He studied it with a scientist's air. "And I'm pretty sure it's got lemon in it."

"Rodney," Sheppard said as he sat down next to him, pulling up his seat. "Quit complaining." Teyla sat down the other side of Sheppard; gently she reached for her own glass, which had already been filled, to her wishes. Ever since she was relatively young she had enjoyed Drila, the name of the wine they were drinking. Sheppard had seen McKay's reaction to the stuff and thought best to steer well away from it, considering.

"You do not appreciate the Drila?" Teyla asked, raising her glass to McKay. He looked at it and quickly shook his head.

"Don't get me wrong Teyla," McKay began as sincerely as he could muster. "I'm sure it is wonderful for warriors such…as…" McKay immediately stopped talking as he watched her swallow and drink the whole glass of wine and they were talking big glasses here. Sheppard watched her aswell, wincing ever so slightly.

"Athosians obviously have strong stomachs," he commented with a lopsided grin as Teyla slammed her glass back down on the table. After her display, Ford had finally mustered up enough courage to give the concoction a whirl but instead ended up pulling a more ridiculous face than McKay had.

Silveas watched the interaction with complete fascination, he kept an especially close eye on the one Teyla had introduced as Sheppard. While their attention was otherwise elsewhere, he mustered the woman who had been filling the glasses with Drila. "Well," he asked quietly, mindful of people who might be listening.

The red haired woman glanced to her right then back to Silveas. "Three of them have drank the wine, a mouthful is more than enough to ensure this will work." A slight frown wrinkled his forehead, if only three of them had drank, that left one. "Which one?"

She lowered the jug and looked over to Teyla Emmagan and the people who had accompanied her through the stargate. "The tall one," she answered quietly. "The one sitting next to Teyla."

This didn't fail to surprise him, Silveas watched Sheppard then looked to her. "With three of them down, he will not be able to fight alone." One more look to Sheppard. "Send the message," he finished with a low tone. Jeana bowed slightly, picked up her jug and made her way out of the tent.

The group laughed loudly, seemingly at the darker coloured man's misfortune, what had Teyla called him again? Ahh yes, Lieutenant Ford. Silveas straightening in his seat, forcing himself to be calm and polite. "Teyla," he said with a smile, his voice soft. "It is good to hear your laughter, it has been many days since I have heard one such as that."

"I thank you Silveas," she replied brightly. "It is god to be in such wonderful company." Teyla quietened a little, looking at Sheppard out the corner of her eye. "We have not had a lot of things to smile about recently."

"How very unfortunate."

"Indeed it is," she answered with a gentle tone, her gaze resting on the soft cloth that lined the table for she could not bring herself to look anywhere else. Finally, she looked up at Silveas. "But me and my people are trying to remain optimistic and positive." Teyla allowed a small smile to form on her lips. "With many thanks to Major Sheppard and his people. If it were not for them, my people would be nothing more than a mere memory."

Silveas paid his attention to Sheppard. "Lucky you arrived when you did, or so it seems." McKay glanced to Sheppard as soon as the man made that comment he seemed extremely uncomfortable with all the focus suddenly on him.

"Yeah," Sheppard replied weakly, it was all he could seem to manage and he thought it would probably be best not to tell Silveas that he was actually responsible for the Wraith's premature awakening.

"Well," McKay said speaking up, deciding to take advantage of the situation and also to take some of the reflected glory. "This is why we came here to the Pegasus Galaxy, to make new friends."

"And you have surely made them, Doctor McKay." Silveas risked a look to Teyla then back to him. "Any friend of Teyla Emmagan is welcome at this table." He raised his glass to them all, then looked to the entrance as Jeana returned, walking past Teyla who seemed to have trouble keeping track of the conversation. For some reason she was unbelievably tired.

The Bre'tar woman caught Silveas' eye and gave a slight nod, an indicator that she had done as he had requested.

The plan was well underway.

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