Myrddin's Shield

by Lapfordlass

When SG1 are sent to explore a new planet, it soon becomes clear that it is the same one that Vala has been dreaming about. Will the dream help the team avoid the dangers ahead or, as Vala fears, cost one member of the team his life? Set straight after "The Ark of Truth", this adventure contains all my favourite things: a quest, Merlin, the Ancients, Daniel & Vala relationship.

3. Chapter 3

Myrddin's Shield

Chapter Three

Cameron was up before everyone else, which was just the way he liked it: it gave him time to think through the day's plans and figure out his best course of action before other people interrupted his thoughts and demanded attention from him. As he stood, using his electric razor, there was a knock at the door and Brin came in carrying a large china jug of hot water which he carefully placed on the table in front of Cameron before openly staring.

"What's that?"

"It's called an electric razor," Cameron replied. "See, it's got blades here for shaving my face and if I open this part you can see the batteries."

Brin looked blankly at him so Cameron tried to explain, "These are a power source. They give the razor the energy to work."

Brin watched him for a couple more minutes, as Cameron finished shaving, and then said, "I'd better go. My mother will be wondering why I haven't come back to collect your breakfast." He darted out of the room before Cameron could say anything.

By the time Cameron was dressed, Brin was back, accompanied by a young girl with very similar hair colouring. A sister perhaps? They were carrying plates of meat, bread and fruit. They delivered their gifts then disappeared quickly, leaving Cameron to call his thanks after them as the rest of SG-1 began to stir.

After they'd all eaten breakfast, Cameron suggested he and Sam went to take a look at the pillar in the village square. Sam nodded. "I'll see if I can figure out what kind of power source it has and how it works. Maybe we could ask Cansalla if we can look at one which is working in one of the other villages. Get some comparative readings."

Cameron said, "Good idea. Daniel, I guess you'll be talking to Madrianna again and asking if you can speak to Merlin?"

Daniel nodded as Cameron turned to the tall Jaffa standing next to him and said, "Teal'c, I want you to get as much Intel as you can about the caverns and the glacier, anything else the villagers know about Maltus that might be useful and report in to Landry at the set time." Teal'c inclined his head in response.

Cameron turned to speak to Vala but was interrupted by Daniel: "I thought Vala could come with me…Madrianna or this Merlin figure might be able to shed some light on Vala's dreams and what 'conquering the elements' means.

"Also Vala can help me translate any inscriptions we find at Merlin's Hall…if Madrianna allows us access…and I was thinking: if the Ancient will admit he's not Merlin to us, maybe we could persuade him to show us how the Shield works and how to get it functioning again."

Vala muttered, "Like the Ancients have always been so-oo helpful in the past…"

Daniel shrugged and reminded her: "You're the one who says it doesn't hurt to ask!"

"Oh so now you're going to listen to me…"

"All right, you two," Cameron said quickly forestalling a squabble. "That sounds worth a try. We'll meet back here around midday." He and Sam gathered up their equipment and headed out.

Daniel grabbed his bag of books and waited by the door for Vala to put on her thick jacket. When she was ready, he asked, "How are you feeling today? Did you sleep better last night?"

She nodded, feeling pleased that he seemed to care. "Fine, thanks. I don't remember having any dreams…I think I actually slept through for the first time in over a week," she said with relief.

Daniel smiled at her. "That's good. Let's go and find Madrianna then." As they went outside, Daniel asked, "Was it all right to suggest you helped me this morning? I thought you might like some company, if you were still feeling worried…" he trailed off uncertainly.

Vala answered slowly, "If I can help you, Daniel, I'm glad to tag along…and, if we get to talk to this Ancient friend of Madrianna, I promise I'll try not to say anything to upset him too much!"

Daniel smiled ruefully, remembering his own dealings with Morgan Le Fey. "I'll try and do the same!"

They walked companionably across the village square, passing Cameron and Sam, who was hard at work trying to get some sort of reading from the pillar and locate its power source. Further on, they spotted Faylan talking to Cansalla. The two villagers both turned and said, "Good morning."

Daniel smiled at them. "Hello! We were wondering if you could point us in the direction of Madrianna's house."

"Of course." Cansalla waved to a young man who was hurrying across the square, laden down with books and objects which he was in danger of dropping at any moment. He carefully changed direction and made his way over to them, trying not to lose his grip on any of his burdens.

"Saurun can take you to Madrianna. I believe he's on his way to her now?" Cansalla looked at Saurun for confirmation and the young man nodded.

As the three of them turned to leave, Faylan drew close to Vala and smiled at her: "I wondered if you would like to visit my home today and see Hana? She would love to spend some time with you."

Vala blushed slightly under his warm gaze as she said, "Thank you for the invitation, Faylan, but Daniel needs my help this morning…perhaps later in the day?"

"I shall look forward to it," he replied and bowed to Vala as she and Daniel turned to follow Saurun. The silence that had been companionable between them just a moment ago was now awkward. After a minute or two, during which he fought and lost to a wave of jealousy, Daniel said, "You don't have to come with me if you want to…?" He waved a hand back towards Faylan.

Vala thought about saying something she'd usually say like, "I always say: play hard to get and they'll come running!" but something told her that this was not the time to try and make Daniel jealous. It might just backfire on her, making him think she was interested in Faylan when she wasn't so instead she said, "No, that's okay."

She avoided Daniel's gaze, wishing she could stop hiding her feelings and just tell him that he was the only person she wanted to have interested in her. The intensity of the silence became even more uncomfortable and her brain shouted at her, "Say something, you idiot…anything! Don't let him get the wrong idea!"

Almost involuntarily, she blurted out, "I'd rather be with you, Daniel…I mean helping you…I'd rather be helping you, Daniel." Vala flushed with embarrassment then quickened her pace to catch up with Saurun. If she had had the courage to look at Daniel, she would have seen him looking greatly relieved and ever so slightly pleased.

"Want some help with those things?" Vala asked, making an effort to stop thinking about Daniel and how much she was making a fool of herself.

Saurun looked surprised then grateful. "Thanks." He handed her several books and a bag of objects, which looked like a jumbled mixture of cooking and writing utensils. "Madrianna's house is not far, just at the edge of the village."

As they walked past an area of poorer housing, mainly single-storey dwellings and a lot more livestock snuffling through snow and mud looking for food, Vala asked, "So are you Madrianna's apprentice? Do you have the same gifts as she does?"

Saurun shook his head as he answered, "I have an aptitude for ancient runes and the writings that Madrianna and the seers before her have used…and I'm getting better at making herbal remedies but I'm no seer! Madrianna says I will develop her gifts as I grow older but she's…inspired! I don't think I'll ever be like that."

Vala sighed: "I know how you feel. I'm learning ancient languages from Daniel but I know I'll never have even a small part of the insight or flashes of brilliance he comes up with." They both smiled, accepting each other as kindred spirits.

"This is Madrianna's home." Saurun indicated a single-storey stone dwelling with green shutters, which were thrown back from the windows. He pushed open the green wooden door and led Vala into a room containing a long oak table, several chairs, shelves covered with books and a range of strange objects that could be meant for cooking, making medicines or telling the future for all Vala knew. There was a warm fire burning in the grate and the room was cosy despite the open windows that allowed enough daylight in by which to see.

Vala helped Saurun unload his burdens on to the long wooden table on one side of the living space. Daniel had followed close behind them and, as he entered the house, Madrianna appeared from behind a ruby coloured velvet curtain.

"Welcome to my home, Daniel, Vala. Come and make yourselves comfortable." She indicated three high-backed wooden chairs covered with soft pale green cushions before sitting herself down in the one nearest to the fire. "Saurun, have you brought the books I asked you to find in the archive?"

"Yes, Madrianna," he replied as he hurried to her side, placing the antiquated leather bound books on her lap. She ran her hands over the raised titles on the front and smiled as if meeting again with old friends.

Daniel and Vala settled themselves on the other chairs and waited for Madrianna to speak. She held out the two books, saying, "I think you might find these of interest, Daniel. They tell the history of my people's dealings with Myrddin and are full of his wisdom."

He accepted her gift carefully. "Thank you, I'll take great care of them and bring them back to you when I've finished reading them."

"I sense you have many questions to ask me. Ask and I will see if I can tell you what you want to know," Madrianna offered.

Daniel said, "You said Myrddin had told you we were coming here. Did he tell you or did you have a vision?"

"Is a vision not the same as a telling?" Madrianna's blank eyes looked into the middle distance then she continued: "Sometimes he appears to me to me in my mind. Sometimes I go to his Hall and he comes to talk to me there."

"Where we come from, what you're describing is fairly unusual," Daniel informed her. "Not many of us have what we would call prophetic visions but before we came here Vala had dreams about your village. Do you know if Myrddin was responsible for these in some way?"

Madrianna frowned slightly as she said, "Where do you and your companions come from? Myrddin told me you would make a long journey to travel here and he showed me the Stone Circle that stands some way from our village but I did not understand its significance."

Daniel hesitated, wondering how much to say. It would be difficult to explain a wormhole to someone living in a society at this level of technological understanding: it would probably sound like magic. He decided to keep it as simple as possible. "We used the Stone Circle to travel here. We call it the Stargate and it allows us to travel from our… land…to this one."

Madrianna put her head on one side as if listening to something. "I sense by 'land', you mean somewhere far, far away." She leaned forward as if about to confide something: "Sometimes in my visions I have gone from this place, travelling so high it is as if I can see my village below me. Still I rise and the world stretches out far below me. I have looked down and seen my land as if it were but an apple floating in a black sea."

Daniel exchanged startled looks with Vala, before saying, "That is what our world is like too. Both your world and ours are but one of many 'apples' floating around in the space between stars."

Saurun looked at them with wide eyes but Madrianna nodded. "Do not talk of this to anyone else in the village. I do not think they would understand it and they would fear what they do not know. Saurun and I will keep this knowledge to ourselves."

Madrianna turned slightly towards the chair where Vala sat. "As for these dreams you have been given, Vala, I believe Myrddin chose to give them to you. What was it you were shown?"

Vala glanced at Daniel, who nodded his approval of her answering the question. Vala spoke softly, "It was the same dream over and over. I saw your world and your village. I saw Faylan's face and he asked me to help his daughter who was very ill. Everything was as it appeared in my dream when we first arrived."

"Myrddin also showed me your arrival in our village and that you would be the one to heal the child Hana. He has shown me other events too." Madrianna leaned forward. "What do you see in your dream after the healing?"

Vala swallowed and looked at her hands. "I see an archway made of ice…it's difficult to get across, I nearly slip towards the edge but someone I can't see grabs me, saves me. Then the dream changes and we're in a huge cavern with writing on stones covering the floor. Daniel is leading the way across…He makes a mistake and falls…"

Madrianna leaned closer and patted Vala's knee. "Myrddin has shown me many of these images…they are intended to warn you of what lies ahead…the future is a moving and changing path…If you heed the warnings, you may change what you have seen…Is there more in your dream?"

Vala shook her head. "I always wake up at that point because…because what I see upsets me."

Madrianna nodded in understanding. "The first image you have seen is the frozen archway that forms the entrance to Quietus Mons. As I explained to Daniel last night, the young of our village traverse this as part of the Path to Adulthood to prove they are ready for the responsibilities of being an adult of our village. The second image you have seen shows that you are trying to conquer one of the elements in Myrddin's challenges."

Madrianna sat back in her chair and said, "I have seen flashes of these same elements but nothing is as clear as the vision you have described."

"Would any of your people know more about the challenges we may face on the way to Myrddin's Shield?" Daniel asked. "Has anyone in your village ever tried the challenges?"

"No-one in my lifetime has attempted the challenges but Myrddin's knowledge will help you understand the elements better," the seer said, pointing towards the books on his lap.

Daniel made his request: "May we speak to Myrddin while we are here? Would he grant us an audience?"

Madrianna smiled at him. "You may come to Myrddin's Hall tonight, my young friend, but I do not know if Myrddin will speak to you until your task is finished."

She pressed her fingertips together and looked thoughtful. Speaking slowly, she said, "I had wondered what some of the images in my mind meant but now I understand. We shall celebrate the 'Blessing of the Path to Adulthood' tonight. It is time for the rite to take place. Yes, Myrddin's instruction to wait becomes clear now."

Daniel exchanged confused looks with Vala. "Is this Blessing you speak of to do with the rite of passage for your young? Are you going to bless us like you would your young?"

Madrianna smiled but shook her head, saying, "Myrddin has said it is time for Brin and Saurun to take their turn at the rite. He has chosen this time so that both can become men and then go onward with you to conquer the elements."

Daniel looked as surprised as Saurun, who had been standing to one side of Vala listening. He knew Cameron wouldn't want to babysit two youngsters but he knew that they were here as guests and reliant on the locals' goodwill. "We were expecting to undertake the challenge on behalf of your people. It might be dangerous."

"You must take them with you or you will not succeed. The power of the seven will be stronger than the power of the five elements. I have seen it," Madrianna stated then continued in softer tones. "I saw a band of seven crossing the frozen arch in my vision…Brin and Saurun were with you. They each had a vital role to play and were needed by you.

"Between the seven of you, you have within you what is needed to complete the challenges. Brin will play his part but Saurun is the key to my people's future…My time here grows short and Saurun must learn what is needed to protect us in the years to come."

Daniel digested this piece of information then rose from his seat. "Thank you for your help, Madrianna. We will go and tell the others what you have said…Thank you for the books as well."

As Vala and Daniel started to leave, Madrianna called her back, "One moment, Vala, I have something to say to you."

"I'll catch up with you," Vala said to Daniel and he nodded before heading out of the house. She turned to the elderly seer and waited for her to speak.

"You seem uncertain of your place in your world, Vala. Believe in yourself, believe in your right to a place amongst these people you have chosen as your own."

"I'll try," Vala said and turned to go.

Madrianna continued: "You fear sharing your heart. If you do not have the courage to do so, you will never be truly home. Separate: you and Daniel are weak. Together, you will be strong."

Vala's face registered her surprise that Madrianna could somehow know she had feelings for Daniel when she'd only just met them. She glanced at Saurun who just shrugged as if to say, "That's Madrianna. She just knows things."

Madrianna paused then said, "Like young Saurun here, you have much to learn but you will find your path." She smiled at both of them: one a stranger from another world; one as dear to her as the son she had never had. "You are both capable of far more than you realise.

"Now go and find your Daniel and help him make Mitchell understand that Saurun and Brin's place on this quest is vital."

As Vala reached the door, Madrianna called, "Your Daniel will not come to any harm…do not fear for him, trust Myrddin."

Vala stepped out of the house and spotted Daniel waiting for her a little way down the street. He had his arms enfolded in his thick coat and was stamping his feet to keep warm while he waited. "What did Madrianna want to tell you?"

Vala hesitated. "Just what you said: that the future's not set in stone…and to make sure we take Saurun and Brin with us." She wanted to say more but somehow she couldn't.

"I'm frozen!" Daniel said, "Let's go in the warm and see if there's anything helpful in these books while we wait for the others to get back."

As they walked back down through rows of houses and smaller dwellings to the communal hall, Vala said, "Can I ask you something?"

"Uh, okay."

"Last night you mentioned Shifu. I've heard the name mentioned before but I wondered if you could explain exactly who he was?" And why you looked so sad when you mentioned his name? Vala wondered.

"Shifu is Harsesis," Daniel said knowing that Vala would understand that meant the offspring of two Goa'uld hosts.

"How is he still alive?" Vala asked in surprise. "I can't think of any Goa'uld who wouldn't want him dead in case he usurped their power. Who were the parents?" She saw a shadow pass over Daniel's face and immediately wished that she had never asked the question. It had to be something to do with Sha're.

Daniel pulled his collar up higher and studiously avoided looking at the woman walking by his side. "He's the son of Apophis, his host, I mean…and Sha're."

"I didn't know, Daniel. I'm so sorry," Vala's voice was genuinely sympathetic. Sha're had a son and he wasn't yours. No wonder you looked so sad.

"I'm so sorry," she said again. "I would never have asked you to talk about it if I'd known."

"It's all right, Vala. I don't mind telling you about him." Daniel glanced at her before returning his gaze to some point in the distance as he explained, "While she was pregnant, I got to see Sha're just for a brief time. She was able to talk to me: to explain to me about the boy. Then later…before she…died…she asked me to find the boy and protect him."

"What happened?"

"We found him on Kheb and that was also when we met Oma. She showed me that he would be better off with her: that she could protect him in a way that I could never hope to."

They had reached the hall and slipped back inside, glad to be out of the cold. As they took off their jackets, Vala said, "That must have been so difficult for you, Daniel. I mean having to give up that connection with Sha're."

Daniel took off his glasses and wiped them clean: as usual they had steamed up coming in from the cold to a warm room. He used this simple action to give himself time to get his feelings under control: surprised by how much it mattered that Vala understood how he'd felt handing over the baby to Oma.

"It was hard," he admitted, "but it was what was best for him…" He pinched his nose, before he put his glasses back on: a little sign that Vala recognised meant he was feeling overwhelmed.

As he unpacked the books Madrianna had lent him, Daniel carried on talking: "About six years ago, Shifu made contact with me because he wanted to know about his mother. He must have been genetically altered in some way because he looked older than he should have done. Oma had taught him how to supress his knowledge. She'd also trained him in Buddhist philosophy. He was a very wise kid." Daniel smiled as he remembered. "A lot wiser than me."

"Why'd you say that? What happened?"

"A lot of people, including the Tok'ra, wanted to retrieve the Goa'uld knowledge locked within him but he gave me a taste of what could happen if anyone was allowed to access his knowledge."

"How did he do that?" Vala asked as she sat down beside Daniel at one of the benches near the fire.

"He gave me a dream." Daniel looked at Vala with an expression that she struggled to understand.

"What did you dream about?" Vala was intrigued.

Daniel cleared his throat uncomfortably. "He showed me what could happen if anyone had access to all that knowledge…even someone with only the best intentions at heart."

Vala locked gazes with Daniel and thought she understood. She knew what it was like to be host to a Goa'uld. She also knew how hard it was to remain separate from the symbiote's thoughts: to hold onto your own values; and to refuse not to delight in the feelings that came from great power and knowledge. "Anyone would find it hard not to be corrupted even in some small way," Vala said quietly. She found herself wanting to tell Daniel everything she had experienced as a host but held back. Once she started she might not be able to stop and maybe now was not the time or the place. She looked away. "What happened after your dream?"

"I realised it would be too dangerous to try to access the knowledge…and then he told me Sha're would be proud of me." Suddenly he half-laughed. "Sorry, I don't know why I told you that. I'm talking way too much."

"Have you seen him again since?" As Daniel shook his head, Vala put her hand on his arm and looked at him again, hoping that he could read sympathy and understanding in her eyes. "Thanks for telling me about Shifu. It means a lot that you're willing to tell me about your past."

Daniel felt several emotions at once. The conversation had given him hope: that Vala was capable of understanding him; and of sharing confidences on a deeper level. He also realised that once again he had been the one doing the sharing: although he was pretty sure that she had been about to tell him something important but had stopped herself. He wished he knew how get her to open up about her previous life.

At least, he had read sympathy in her eyes and she hadn't run away from the serious moment that had arisen between them. Time: perhaps that's part of our problem. We rarely get time alone together without interruption…and when we have, I've kept my distance. He cleared his throat and indicated the ancient books on the table in front of him. "Well, I guess I'd better get on with some research."

Vala nodded. "Mind if I keep you company?"

Daniel voice was warm as he replied, "No. I'd like that."

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After half an hour of fruitless labour, Sam sighed and packed up her laptop. She wasn't used to not being able to come up with the answers to a problem and she didn't like the feeling. "I'm not getting any readings from the crystal, Cam, and I can't see any way to open this pillar thing up."

Cameron heard the frustration in her voice and patted her shoulder. "Never mind, Sam." He turned to Cansalla, who had been waiting patiently for them to finish their examination. "Any chance Sam could get a look at one of the working pillars?"

"Yes, of course. I can take you to the next village if you think it will help. Come with me." Instead of leading them onto the pathway out of the village, she turned towards some wooden buildings which, it soon became apparent from the noise, housed various animals. She disappeared inside and came back leading a huge beast that looked like a cross between a horse and a shaggy carpet. As she walked past Cameron, she smiled and said, "We can borrow Jared's wain and horse to travel there."

With obvious years of practice, she hitched up the huge cart-horse to the small wagon standing outside the stables and climbed onto the wooden seat at the front. Sam and Cameron squeezed in beside her and she pulled a mottled grey fur covering over their legs before clicking to the horse and flicking the reins.

As the cart rolled into motion, Cameron said conversationally, "So how old is Brin?"

"Fourteen this summer," Cansalla replied. "It will be time for him to undertake the rite soon and then he will be an adult among our people."

"He's a nice kid. You and Gann must be proud of him. Got any other children?"

Cansalla steered the horse round a large hole in the dirt track and the cart wobbled slightly as the wheels moved over the rougher terrain at the side of the path. "We have a daughter, Preona, who's ten. She was visiting her grandmother when you arrived yesterday so you did not see her."

"I think I saw her this morning," Cameron said, "if she was the youngster helping Brin deliver our breakfast. Thanks for that by the way."

Cansalla nodded then continued speaking, "Saurun has also lived in our home since he lost his own people…in a fire several years ago." She glanced over at Cameron and Sam and asked, "Do you have children?"

"No, not got round to that yet," Cameron replied.

Sam blushed a little at the woman's apparent assumption that she and Cam were a couple as she said, "Not had the time yet but I would like to one day."

Cansalla nodded then said, "They are a joy not to be missed. Do not leave it too long."

Cameron decided to move the conversation onto safer ground. He asked Cansalla to tell them as much as she could about Maltus and about Myrddin. While she talked, they left the tilled fields of her village and passed through an area far wilder. Here and there the forest edge was closer to the track and the trees were obviously vying with man's encroaching path for right of way. The rest of the journey passed quickly and soon they were approaching the stone wall surrounding another village which looked very similar to Cansalla's own.

The only major difference was that there was no archway spanning the entrance but instead a gatehouse and huge wooden doors barred the way. In addition the air in front of the walls looked strangely bright as if there was something not quite invisible standing in between the stonework and the visitors on top of their cart. A horn rang out from gatekeeper's home, catching them by surprise, and Cansalla stopped the wagon in front of the small oak window in the gatehouse. It flew open and an old man's wizened face looked out.

Cansalla shouted up at the man, who it seemed was very deaf from the way he leaned down to catch what she was saying, "It's Cansalla. I bring travellers with me who have come to help mend Myrddin's Shield."

The man looked startled and regarded the visitors with an appraising eye before disappearing inside again. As Sam and Cameron watched, the air in front of the walls and the huge wooden doors suddenly turned opaque. Then what appeared to be a force field slowly rolled downwards and then disappeared. The wooden doors were opened and the track into the village was revealed. With a flick of reins and a click of her tongue, Cansalla started up the horse again and, with only a small bump, the wain moved off into the settlement.

Once inside, Cansalla made for the stables. She left a young lad unhitching the horse for a drink and led Cameron and Sam towards the village centre. Here they were greeted by two men who were the village elders and, after Cansalla explained the situation and Madrianna's belief that the strangers were here to help, they gave permission for them to look at the pillar housing the Shield Stone. Madrianna's word seemed to carry weight in this village too.

The Shield Stone pillar turned out to be almost identical to the one they had looked at earlier this morning at Cansalla's village except that the crystal here was glowing: a healthy bright blue colour.

Sam quickly set up her laptop and other equipment and soon said, "I'm getting some interesting energy readings from this crystal, Cam." She turned and called to blonde woman who was talking quietly to one side with this village's elders. "Cansalla? May we turn on the Shield so that I can see what happens?"

Cansalla consulted with her fellow elders and then came over and passed her hand in front of the stone. The energy readings on Sam's laptop spiked and then settled down to the same low level as before. A faint hum in the air was the only thing indicating that the force field was active.

"Can anyone turn this thing on and off?" Cameron asked. "I mean is there a motion sensor somewhere?" He tried waving his hand in front of the stone but nothing happened.

Cansalla said, "Only the Elders of each village can turn the Shield on or off. I believe it is some property of the ring each elder is given to wear. They are said to have been blessed by Myrddin before he gave them to the first ever Elders."

"May I take a look?" Sam asked as she passed her recording equipment over Cansalla's hand. "Ah! I'm picking up faint traces of naqahdah."

Cameron blinked. "That's interesting."

Sam nodded. "My guess is the naqahdah combined with these other elements in each ring must be recognised by some hidden sensor that then sends a message to the control core. That in turn activates the Shield. It makes sense that the crystal wouldn't just respond to motion otherwise you could have the Shield turned on by accident…by a child for instance."

She ran a few more tests then said, "Still can't find any way in to get a closer look at how it works." The frustration was clear in her voice.

For the second time that morning, Cameron said. "Never mind, Sam. I'm sure you'll learn a lot more when we locate the core in Quietus Mons."

The words "and you'll figure out how to fix it," were unspoken but implied. Sam just hoped that her reputation as one of the brightest brains on planet Earth was going to stay intact. As she packed away her laptop, she said, "Let's head back and see how the others are faring."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Daniel was poring over Madrianna's books and Vala was staring into the flames in the fire pit when the front doors of the communal hall burst open and Brin came running into the room.

"Daniel! Vala! Lord Maltus's guards have arrived. They're in the village square." He stopped to catch his breath.

"Brin. Have you got any cloaks we can wear?" Daniel said as he jumped up and threw on his jacket. "I don't think it would be a good idea for them to see us but it might be helpful for us to get a look at them."

"Yes, come with me. We've got a couple at my house you can borrow." The young man led Daniel and Vala out of the back of the hall and down some side streets. He avoided crossing anywhere that would be visible from the centre of the settlement and eventually they arrived at his home: a two storey house, befitting his mother's rank of Elder.

Brin pushed open the brightly decorated wooden door and the others followed him quickly inside. The room was warmly furnished with woven cloths on the floors and a polished oak table was in pride of place in the centre of the room. Brin hurried over to a long wooden box at the back of living area and found the brown linen cloaks, which were folded up underneath other linen and furs.

Daniel and Vala took off their parkas and put the cloaks on, making sure that not a hint of their green BDUs showed. Then they followed Brin back down to the village square to join the anxious throng that had gathered there. At the front of the crowd, they could see Faylan and three elders listening to two heavily muscled figures. Both appeared to be holding Jaffa staff weapons.

Daniel and Vala eased their way carefully through the frightened villagers to get a closer look at the envoys. When the men swung their faces towards the crowd, Daniel could see that one was indeed a Jaffa but the mark on his forehead, signifying which Goa'uld he had served, had obviously been burned away. This was a fairly common practice now amongst free Jaffa, who no longer wished to be associated with their former masters, but what was not common was the brand which he now sported on his cheek. Again the skin looked scarred as if the mark had been burned into him. Given that the other man also had the same brand, it was highly unlikely that it was a voluntarily act. Daniel caught Vala's eye and she nodded back, indicating that she had been thinking the same thing.

At last, the rogue Jaffa and his companion swung on their heels and marched off out of the village. Faylan and the elders conferred and word spread quickly round the crowd in anxious muttering: "Two days until Lord Maltus comes!"

Vala grabbed Daniel's arm and said urgently, "I'm going to follow them, Daniel."

"Uh no. You're not."

"Yes, I am."

"Uh no, you're-"

"-Look, Daniel. While your concern is very touching, darling, it's unnecessary. I'm not going to do anything dangerous. I'm just going to follow them. We've been assuming Maltus comes by ship but what if he doesn't? I think I should see whether his men use the rings or whether they use the Stargate. We might need to know if we're not successful in getting Myrddin's Shield working again."

"I guess you're right but why don't we both go?"

Vala started jogging backwards, anxious not to let the men get too much of a head start. "Look, someone should stay here and talk to the Elders. That's more your thing, Daniel. Whereas my thing is…acquiring information by stealth!" She grinned at him.

"Oh, all right but keep well out of sight…and Vala, please be careful."

"They won't know I'm there," Vala said then flashed him a smile before jogging off in the direction the men had taken. Daniel watched with anxious eyes as she wound her way through the village, keeping close to the fences of animal pens and ducking into doorways. Eventually he lost sight of her.

Teal'c appeared behind Daniel. He had been watching the scene from a shadowy doorway at the back of the square but had quickly made his way through the throng as soon as it was safe to do so. "Where has Vala Mal Doran gone, Daniel Jackson?"

Daniel's eyes were still peering down the street, hoping to catch another glimpse of Vala. "Oh, hi Teal'c. Vala's following Maltus's men to see how they travelled here."

"Ah, I see."

Daniel turned to his friend. "She can take care of herself, right?" he asked, seeking reassurance.

"Vala Mal Doran is more than capable of looking after herself," Teal'c affirmed.

Daniel visibly relaxed.

"Unless, of course, she decides to do something precipitous," Teal'c added.

"Thank you, Teal'c. That's really helpful." Daniel glared at him for a second and then sighed, before turning his attention back to what was going on to one side of the village square.

Most of the villagers had started to drift away one by one except for a few older men who crowded around a worried-looking Faylan. They gesticulated wildly and talked angrily about what could be done. Cansalla's husband, Gann, was trying to help keep everyone calm. Daniel recognised Saurun, hovering by Brin's side at the edge of the group of adults. No doubt listening to what was said so that he could report back to Madrianna. Daniel and Teal'c moved nearer to join the group, pushing back the hoods on their cloaks as they stepped up.

Faylan looked pleased to see them. He spoke to Daniel, worry quickly returning to his face: "Lord Maltus has given us a list of the tributes he demands from us. Everything our smiths have made and all that is left in our winter storehouses. Everything must be ready when he returns or he will wreak havoc on the village."

"We should stand and fight!" one older man said belligerently. "What happens if these visitors can't pass the testing and the Shield remains broken? Are we just going to give Maltus everything he demands? The growing season is not yet started and grain and vegetables take time to mature. If he takes everything from our stores, we'll starve."

A few heads nodded in agreement but one of the elders spoke out, "We're farmers, Jareel. Farmers, Teachers, Smiths, Carpenters…we're not warriors. Those men would cut us down like weeds and Lord Maltus will rain fire down from the sky. We have no choice but to give them what they want."

Faylan nodded. "Timmon's right. We can't possibly fight against the weapon that comes from the sky. We can hide what food we can in our own homes. The Elders will give out fair portions to every family tomorrow and hope that what we present as a tribute will be enough to please Lord Maltus."

There was more grumbling from the crowd but most of them looked resigned. They were loath to cower before such bullies and give up the stored produce which had come from hard work, especially food that could well mean the difference between life and death for the young and very old, but most of them accepted that there was little they could do about the situation.

Faylan looked at Daniel. "I pray you and your friends can restore our Shield in time just as Myrddin has promised."

"How long have we got?" Daniel asked.

"They will return an hour before sunset in two days' time," Faylan replied.

"Well, that gives us two days to try to 'conquer the elements' and get your Shield working again," Daniel said. "I'll tell the others what's happened and we'll set off as soon as we're ready."

From behind the gathered men, Madrianna's voice said with authority, "You will leave at dawn tomorrow. Tonight we shall all meet in Myrddin's Hall for the Blessing Ceremony. Spread the word, every one of you, to every family in the village. Myrddin wishes Brin and Saurun to become adults and undertake this challenge with his chosen ones. Together the seven of them will conquer the elements and Myrddin's Shield will be restored."

The grumbling talk was now mixed with sounds of hope as the villagers drifted away to pass on Madrianna's instruction. Faylan, Timmon and Gann spoke to each other briefly then Gann asked Teal'c and Daniel to come with them to a meeting of the Elders. If the Shield was not working before Maltus returned, they wanted advice as to what they could do if the man was not pleased with the tribute they were to give him.

Automatically Daniel looked for Vala. There was no sign of her coming back through the village entrance, and although he knew that she hadn't been gone that long, he began to worry. Please come back safe, Vala. Please.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Vala cautiously made her way through the forest on a parallel path to the one she assumed the Jaffa and his confederate were taking. Every so often she could hear twigs breaking as they crashed their way through the trees and back towards the Stargate. They had no idea that they might have company so had no regard for the noise they were making.

Something nagged away at the back of her mind: something to do with the brand that marked each man's cheek. Now where had she seen that before? Suddenly she was assaulted by a memory that she would rather have forgotten. Running an errand for the Lucian Alliance a couple of years ago, she had unfortunately made the acquaintance of a really disagreeable human being called Korlash.

He was rich and fat from high living and quite possibly the most unpleasant man she had ever met and she had met plenty. He ran a smuggling outfit between the planets in the Hai'dri'arca system and had managed to get hold of some fancy Goa'uld toys that the then current head of the Alliance had his eye on. Vala had been dispatched to broker the deal and return with the goods. Of course, she planned to skim a little off the top: a girl had to make a living, after all. I did quite nicely out of that deal At least it was enough to make a few modifications to my ship.

She remembered how Korlash had offered her a position in his outfit: a position she had very much feared would have included a lot of night-time activity not necessarily related to smuggling. She shuddered, remembering the way he had pawed at her and offered her trinkets to come back after his transaction with the Alliance had been completed.

She had pretended to be flattered of course: had made him believe that if it weren't for the unfortunate fact that she and Jagen, a bounty hunter well known for his cruelty, were an item, she would have jumped at the opportunity. Of course both statements were untrue. Korlash was disgusting (and she would rather have died than have him touch her) and Jagen was a psychopath and not someone she would ever have associated with. She'd only mentioned his name because she knew Korlash was scared of him. Thank the gods I don't have to live that life any more. No more playing it close to the edge. No more lying. No more constantly running.

The forest thinned out ahead and Vala eased her way slowly to the edge of the trees, looking this way and that to see where the two men would emerge from. She'd been so busy remembering Korlash, she hadn't noticed how quiet the forest had gotten or that she had not caught any glimpses of the two for some while. Had she somehow got ahead of them? She lifted her gun and released the safety catch. Ears straining, she listened for any sound of the two men. Was that voices she could hear behind her?

Desperately she surveyed the area for cover. A little way to her left, a fallen tree lay at an angle between the lower trunks of two other trees. Scrubby undergrowth had grown up under it and would provide a decent hiding place. But she would have to move now, before the men reached her position.

Vala took a deep breath and ran. She dove under the tree trunk, slithering into place just as she heard the two men approach and then saw them come into view.

"I'll be glad when we can get away from this godforsaken hole," the human said as he passed. "I'm not sure Korlash pays me enough."

The Jaffa said nothing but held up his hand for silence. The two of them stopped as the Jaffa cocked his head on one side and listened. Vala held her breath.

At last the human got fed up of waiting. "What is it?"

"I thought I heard something," the Jaffa rumbled. "It was nothing."

The two of them walked on by and Vala started to breathe again. They cleared the edge of the trees and headed towards the Stargate. Vala moved from her position and ducked and crawled her way to a spot behind a tree from where she could follow their progress. They walked past the Stargate and onwards towards the ruins. The last she saw of them was as they disappeared into the glowing rings that appeared to whisk them away to their ship, somewhere in orbit above the planet.

Vala stood up and brushed the mud and twigs from her cloak. Better not let Daniel see her looking like this. He might think she had been in danger and that his instinct not to let her follow the men had been right but she'd never been in any real danger. Besides she could take care of herself, always had done, always would…but it was nice to have someone worrying about her. Time to head back and let Daniel know she was okay.