Chapter 24: Informing The Queen

Daniel finally tracked down High Priestess Alana at the temple where she was helping the next group of refugees destined to travel to the new world. Daniel gladly helped her with the frightened group before addressing his concerns. He and worked closely with the priestess caste and had found it illuminating.

While the acolytes were human, the priests and priestess were goa'uld. But the acolytes were training to be a host, not a priest or priestess. They were willing to blend with Aphrodite's goa'uld children for a variety of reasons. A few felt it was their duty. A few wanted the longevity and good health as a host. But most saw it as a way to preserve their skills and provide better for their families.

The symbiotes took their host when the acolytes had completed their training. But not all of them continued in the temple as priests or priestess. Most returned to the homes of their host and adopted their host's craft and family as their own. The blending providing them with the skills they needed and a family to love and care for them. In turn, the host's family would welcome the goa'uld with open arms. Every family with a goa'uld was considered honored and would receive the respect of their neighbors. And every goa'uld lived, loved, and died with a single host.

Daniel had initially questioned the High Priestess about the possibility of a harcesis child, but she had dismissed his concerns. Aphrodite didn't gift more knowledge than language and law to her children. They could only pass on this genetic knowledge to any child conceived of their body. So, while such children were blessed from birth, they were not burdened by the evil that Shifu had struggled with.

All in all, Daniel was impressed with the society that Aphrodite had established while isolated from the other goa'uld. It integrated human, Jaffa, and goa'uld in a truly harmonious society. Each group had its role to play and understood why they were important to the society as a whole. Each supported the others in times of crisis and all of them followed Aphrodite out of love. She was a good leader and her fair rule showed in the way she assisted her people through this transition period.

No job was beneath her. Aphrodite had assisted the shepherds with herding their frightened livestock through the wormhole and the merchants with hauling the heavy boxes of supplies destined for their new home. Her people indulged her assistance when offered and reassured her when they could. Without her persistent presence, the move would not have gone as smoothly as it had. Her people were frightened, but her presence reassured them that this was necessary. And they rewarded her for her efforts by doing their best to control their fear of the unknown.

"Mistress Alana, if I could have a moment of your time?" Daniel asked as the last of the group trooped out of the temple after receiving Aphrodite's blessing on a safe journey.

"Of course, Dr. Jackson," the High Priestess said with a warm smile. "I hope your trip home was successful."

Daniel smiled sadly at her, "Yeah, it seems, I was right… They are bonded."

The High Priestess looked ecstatic, "This is excellent news. The people will rejoice. It is a sign that we are doing the right thing by allying ourselves with the Tok'ra and the Tau'ri." The tall woman pulled Daniel into a quick hug. "I must tell the queen," she stated as she headed out of the temple.

Daniel quickly followed, "Wait… Please, I still have questions…" Daniel had to jog to keep up with the High Priestess.

Alana glanced over her shoulder at Daniel with an enthusiastic smile, "I will gladly answer your questions after I have informed the queen of this joyous news." She let Daniel catch up before setting off for the palace once again.

"Alright," Daniel replied as he tried to keep up.

Arriving outside Aphrodite's throne room, High Priestess Alana took a moment to compose herself before addressing the Jaffa guarding the doorway. "Loyal Jaffa, I bring joyous news for the queen and humbly request and audience for myself and Dr Jackson."

One of the Jaffa bowed, "Mistress Alana, I will so inform the queen." He backed away and entered the throne room, firmly closing the door behind him.

A moment later he opened the door wide, "Queen Aphrodite bids you welcome and grants your audience," the Jaffa guard said formally.

Aphrodite was just settling down on her throne as they entered. Her First Prime, H'rak was standing to one side with the Tok'ra Malek nearby. Daniel obediently followed the High Priestess into the throne room.

"My queen," Alana started excitedly, "I bring news of a bonding. The Tau'ri have truly bonded."

Daniel watched Aphrodite exchange glances with H'rak before turning back to the High Priestess. "We suspected the bonding. But it is good news to hear it confirmed." Aphrodite turned to Daniel, "I take it that Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter have been reunited?"

"They have," Daniel replied cautiously.

"Good. I was worried that I would have to send Major Carter back to Earth before she did harm." She threw a smile at H'rak, "though H'rak never doubted her strength of will."

"Yes," Daniel said. But it was a near miss, he added silently.

"Alana, spread the word far and wide, Gaia's blessing is with us once more," Aphrodite said with a huge smile.

"As you wish, my queen," Alana stated and turned to leave.

Daniel turned to follow her, but was stopped by Aphrodite, "Dr Jackson, you have questions?"

"Uh… yes. But I'm sure that High Priestess Alana can answer them. I don't need to take up your valuable time," Daniel said diplomatically.

"Nonsense," Aphrodite replied cheerfully. "Malek and I were finished for the day. I am at your disposal."

Malek gave Aphrodite a polite bow, "As always, Queen Aphrodite, if you have need of me, please call. I bid you good evening."

Aphrodite returned his bow and turned her full attention to Daniel as Malek walked out of the throne room at a sedate pace.

"Well… uh…" Daniel replied, overwhelmed with questions he was dying to ask. Easy, start with what will help Jack and Sam. "I guess I need to know more about how 'bonding' affects the people involved. What is it exactly? Why just them? Can it be undone? How are they expected to behave? What symptoms should they be aware of to signify that they have been apart too long? What are the long-term side-effects of the bond?..."

Aphrodite began to laugh. It was perhaps the only thing that could have stopped Daniel from rambling on incoherently. "I am sorry, Dr. Jackson. I underestimated the volume of your questions."

Daniel blushed and replied, "I'm sorry. I actually meant to let you answer before asking the next question… I guess, I got a little carried away."

Aphrodite continued to smile, "Perhaps, I should apologize to you, Dr. Jackson. I have left you with so many questions instead of dutifully answering them. Your main questions surround the bonding, so I will begin there…"

"The Tears of Aphrodite are created from a plant that has been carefully cultivated from the Homeworld. It was used by my people long before we took our first hosts. We remember it as the Time of Ouranos," Aphrodite began with a faraway look.

"We started out as aquatic creatures and the nuat was a plant in our watery world. A queen would use the nuat to select a mate. I can still be used thus, but its blessings have changed over time. As we evolved, so did the nuat."

"Over time, my people learned to leave the water and found that they could blend with the first ones, the Unas. But until Gaia, no queen cared to venture from the water. And as I understand it, Gaia is the only queen to seek a host herself. Years passed and Gaia found that the nuat affected the host in the same way as herself. Shortly after, the first of the goa'uld were born. We learned and we grew until we finally ventured out into the stars with our hosts, taking the nuat with us.

"Eventually, Gaia mothered more queens to carry on her line. And her children continued to learn and expand through the galaxy. But the new queens were different. Gaia was not a loving mother as you know one. Her hosts were Unas and they didn't care for their young as humans do. The Unas children live or die by the strength of their own hands. The strong live and the weak die and none mourn their passing. My people share a similar outlook. Gaia gave us all her memories to help us survive, but she did not love us. Not as humans love their offspring.

"Anu was one of the last queens born to Gaia. She disliked having a host and spent most of her life breeding in the aquatic waters of our Homeworld. I was born to Anu after Ra had discovered humans. My first host was a human with several children. She offered herself as a willing host in place of her children. I still don't understand why Ra accepted her offer, but I will be forever grateful for his acceptance. Because one of the first things I learned was the strength of a human mother's love.

"I had several broods with different mates before I realized why the nuat was so important. The nuat purifies the heart of the two to be joined. It removes the anger and hatred, leaving only peace and joy. My first children were angry and full of hate. They had all the knowledge of my kind back to Gaia and it made them bitter and hurtful. I fear that anger and the exhaustive genetic knowledge is what has changed my siblings into the strange evil creatures that they are now.

"But once I learned of the importance of the nuat, my children were more even tempered. And when I realized that I could limit the knowledge I bestowed on my children, they ceased to follow the path to insanity that my siblings seem bent on following.

"Which brings us to your many questions, Dr. Jackson. The nuat is purified and mixed into the elixir that you know as the Tears of Aphrodite. I consider it a mother's gift from Gaia to all her children, as the knowledge was originally hers. When two of my people form a deep bond because of the Tears of Aphrodite, we call it the Blessing of Gaia. Such a bond is very rare and allows the two to experience the peace and joy of the nuat whenever they are in the company of their bonded.

"There are no set rules for the effects of a bonded couple. Some walk around in a blissful haze the rest of their lives and cannot bear to be separated from their bonded. Others seem less effected and are able to continue their lives normally, only returning to their bonded at the end of the day. Likewise, there are no set symptoms to say if their separation has gone on too long. They will have to learn their limits on their own.

"I can only say with certainty that they will likely live longer and happier than before they were bonded and that if you lose one to death, the other is likely to follow soon after. Death does not severe the bond. Does this help to answer your questions?" Aphrodite asked as she finished her long speech.

"I…" Daniel started. "I have a million more questions. You have given me more history about the origins of the goa'uld than I had ever dreamed of having… But I will settle for one more answer today. Can it be removed?... or undone?…or something?" he asked.

"I do not know," Aphrodite replied honestly in a sad tone. "No one has ever desired the bonding reversed before." She turned to H'rak and once again shared a look, "I can give you some of the nuat, if you think it will assist your friends."

"Yes, that could only help. Thank you," Daniel said in gratitude. "I will leave you now. You have been very generous with your time. Thank you again for all your help."

"You are welcome, Dr. Jackson. Good evening," Aphrodite said solemnly.

Daniel gave her one final bow and left the throne room with his mind still trying to absorb all the new information.

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