Back to Epona

Daniel, Teal'c and Aelix stand at the edge of the StarGate pool near Blick Mead. All around the thin willows whisper in a light breeze, an expectant, waiting sound. Daniel retrieves the token from his jacket pocket and holds it between his thumb and forefinger. He glances at Teal'c and Aelix to see if they are ready and then gently flips the coin in an arc out across the pool. It glints in the soft sunshine, spinning towards the centre of the pool but before it can land Teal'c leaps across and grabs it, reaching out with his Ma'Tok staff to the other two as the pool swirls up to form a gate to Epona. Daniel and Aelix grab the staff and step into the pool as the vortex forms around them, transporting them through space to Kyna's home.

Kyna lets her gaze sweep up and around the Great Hall until her eyes alight on the very rafter she fell from a year ago. Was it really only a year since then? She sighs, remembering the very great adventure and her time with the Celestians. She moves her hand to feel the reassuring weight of Raizor, her Xiphos pattern-welded short blade at her side, trying not to fidget too much as she stands on guard next to the Queen.

She turns her gaze back across the Horse Chiefs of Epona, sitting or standing in groups around the Great Hall, feeling the weight of boredom across her eyelids that only accompanies a very long and very dull speech. In the centre of the hall, one of the Chiefs, a wiry, wind burnt husk of a woman is expounding her great admiration for the Queen, starting with the formal list of horse pedigrees stretching back through her herd to the Great Gathering of the First King, Teffen the Giant Killer. Kyna glances at Queen Tara and can see her eyelids drooping too, the Crown of Kin with its eternally entwined silver hands slipping low over her brow. Kyna coughs, sharply and the Queens starts slightly and, realising where she is, sighs and makes out as though she is adjusting the white horse amulet on her flowing red gown, then, running a hand through her hair, pushes the crown back in place. The Gathering of the Kin, the yearly meeting of the Horse Chiefs, is sometimes a long-winded and dull affair.

Something at the far end of the Great Hall catches Kyna's eyes, some unexpected movement and she automatically tenses, ready to jump forward to protect Tara, her hand hovering near her blade. On the other side of the Queen, Myrna, one of the Queen's Valkyr guard, also notices the movement and nods to Kyna, indicating she should go and check out what it is.

From the shadows behind the dais the Queen is sitting on, the Valkyr called Cailin moves forward to take Kyna's place next to the Queen. Kyna slips quietly into the long shadows at the side of the great Hall, moving between the large wooden pillars with barely a sound, her dagger drawn. It is highly unlikely a Naxen has found a way into the Hall but something is definitely not quite right.

At the far end of the Hall by the heavy doors, two guards are arguing with someone outside trying to get in, whispering through the thin cracks in the ancient wooden panels.

'The doorway is now sealed, unless you are a Horse Chief you must wait till after the Gathering...'

'And how long will that be?' the voice beyond sounds exasperated and familiar to Kyna.

'Well, maybe another day and night. Or longer.'

'Our matter is most pressing, we just need to speak with the Valkyr Kyna, will you pass on a message?'

'The Valkyrs guard the Queen, they don't talk to no strangers. Now be on your way before you get us into trouble. Message indeed.' The guard sniffs and turns his back to find Kyna, blade levelled at his neck, right behind him. He yelps and jumps nervously.

'The Valkyr guards would appreciate it if you pass on all messages to us, especially if the matter is pressing.' Kyna touches the point of Raizor's blade to the guard's neck to emphasise her point and calls through the door. 'Who's there?'

'Kyna? Is that you, it's Aelix...' Before he can finish his sentence, Kyna lets out of a whoop of delight. 'It's the Magus! My Queen, we have a visitor, it is the Magus Aelixor!'

Tara sighs in relief, seeing a way to stop the Horse Chief's never-ending speech. She gets to her feet and raises her hand.

'Silence! Open the Great Doors at once and let the Magus approach. What news do you bring to us, Aelixor of Avalon!'

Aelix steps into the Great Hall and approaches the Queen's dias, followed by Teal'c and Daniel. In front of them, the gathered Horse Chiefs step aside and let them pass until the three of them are in front of the Queen.

'I bring news of a threat to the Celestian homeworld, Great Queen. A threat that could spill out across the galaxies and must be contained before it threatens all our worlds. It would aid us greatly to have a Valkyr blade at our side.'

'You wish to borrow some of our armoury?' Queen Tara asks, glad of such a welcome distraction as the Magus and his friends.

'Not so much the armour, more one of your guards.' Aelix smiles and nods at Kyna. 'In fact, just one.'

Tara smiles and beckons Kyna towards her. 'Let me guess, that one being young Kyna here. Another adventure.' Tara sighs, almost wishing she herself could go with them. 'Will there be great peril and fierce fighting again?'

'Almost certainly Your Majesty.' Daniel almost chokes at Aelix's answer but the Queen seems visibly delighted at the thought. 'And, Magus, will you tell us what this threat is?'

'No.' Aelix folds his arms and does not elaborate further. The Queen thinks for a while then, stands and addresses the gathering.

'We have a kinship with the Celestians, forged in battle and bonded in peace. I am sending my Valkyr, Kyna to help our friends as a symbol of that bond. Fight well, Kyna!'

Kyna bows to her Queen and then joins Daniel, T'ealc and Aelix, barely able to stop a huge grin from spreading across her face as they process slowly back through the Great Hall and out through the unsealed doors into the bright sunshine.