Legolas enjoyed watching moonlight as it glinted off leaves, the almost liquid silver flashing against emerald green. The moon had just risen, a thin sliver that was still waxing, surrounded by is diamond like stars. Over a fortnight had passed since their journey began, over twenty days of walking steadily east, of hiding in the shadows like thieves and fighting for their lives. All to destroy something the size of a bauble.

A bauble that was currently hiding beneath Frodo's clothes. At times he found himself shrinking from the hobbit, fighting something that was a cruel mix of sickness and fear, unable to understand how Frodo could stand having it against his skin. The One Ring. A power that could destroy everything if it fell into the hands of Sauron. A ring that was currently posessed by one small halfling who had barely set foot outside the Shire before the whole mess began. One member of a race most didnt even know existed held the fate of their world in his hands.

Fate was not without a sense of irony.

"Do you not require sleep, Legolas?"

The elf looked up at the soft words, coming face to face with Teal'c. "Elves require less sleep than humans, my friend. And what of you? I have yet to see you lie down and dream."

"I require time to meditate to repair my health. My symbiote heals those things that need it."

Legolas nodded, looking at the humans stomach. He'd seen the marks only twice, when they had time to stop and bathe. The large X had appeared painful, but after several inqiries by the hobbits Teal'c had confessed that he felt no pain, that the opening was the home of a creature that lived off of him while giving him life. "Your symbiote is a most useful tool. Why do your friends not carry one?"

Teal'c's face darkened. "I would not desire for anyone I know to carry a symbiote. It is at first most painful, and is above all else a reminder of my dependence on a false god."

"Then why not remove it?"

"Without it, I would soon sicken and die. My body cannot heal itself. The doctors of earth would call it an immune deficiency," Teal'c turned, looking to where the companions were huddled against the chill night air. " I think I will try to rest normally and allow the symbiote to heal me without further exertion. Perhaps you should try to as well."

Legolas nodded before turning back to the night. The platform they were on was empty of any Lorien elves, but he could sense them nearby in the neighboring trees. Silent sentinels so they could sleep feeling secure.

Legolas looked up at the sharp sound of metal hitting metal. Something was coming, about twenty somethings, all with the heavy feet of orcs. A quick glance at Haldir was all he got before the other elf dissapeared with some of his companions, sliding silently into the night.

"What is happening, Legolas?"

The elf turned at Aragorn's voice, staring into the dark distance where he could almost make out moving shapes. " A patrol of orcs less than a quater mile to the west. They carry no torches in the hope of suprising anyone they come across."

Legolas looked to Frodo, who was still sleeping from the drug O'Neill had given him. The bulky proof of a bandage seperated his shape from that of his fellow hobbits. "They follow a blood trail, Aragorn. We traveled up river for a mile before finding land again."

The human turned swiftly. "They cannot find us here. Death comes on swift wings for those the forest doesnt wish to enter."

" Still, it is hard to sit here and do nothing," Legolas answered, one slender finger tapping his thigh. "Haldir and his men are on their way to ambush the orcs, while we sit here passing the time with nothing."

As if to reassure the elf that there was nothing to fear, something moved past them, floating like gossamer wings for the barest of instants before moving on. His sharp eyes could pick out the slight distortion in the air before it left.

"One of the guardians," Aragorn breathed. "Their touch can be deadly as well as comforting. Now are your worries assauged."

The elf nodded. "We have lived too long on a knifes edge to simply relax, my friend, and not fear falling into the abyss."

Aragorn chuckled. "You always were hotheaded."

The elf sighed. "Something that had taken me centuries to curb, though not completely."

"Legolas, Aragorn, you should be resting," the two started as another elf walked to them. "You have need of it."

Both of them nodded, but remained standing. "We will in a moment, Gilain."

Aragorn watched the elf walk away. "What do you think will happen now, Legolas?" his gaze shifted to the trees surrounding them. " Never have I had to lead, and now I find myself in command of the fate of our world."

Legolas stared at his friend. He'd known the man for most of the humans life, when he was little more than one of Elrond's foundlings. A sober, human child who was entrusted to the elf lord by his mother. He'd watched him grow for a small boy into a man of uncompromising loyalty and strength of character, but never had those qualities been tested as they were now. "I believe that we have the one person in this world who can lead us Aragorn. I believe that you will do your duty until the time comes when you are no longer needed. I have never seen you fail in any task you were given, Ellesar, and I doubt you're willing to begin now."

The ranger nodded. " I do not like holding the lives of others, my friend. Even if those lives are given willingly," he looked to where their group was huddled. " Have you noticed nothing strange about our companions?"

The elf fingered his bow, keeping the weapon balanced on its end. "You speak of Boromir? I felt I was being overprotective of our young charge."

Aragorn shook his head. "No. He watches Frodo like a wolf hunting down its prey. I fear the Ring will take him, if it hasnt already. A man can only resist its call for so long."

"Is that what you fear then, my friend, that you will follow the path of Isildur?"

"His blood is in my veins, Legolas."

The elf took a deep breath, moving until he stood in front of his friend. "One thing that you learn when you have lived as long as I is that everyone follows a different path. No matter the blood in your veins, you're fate is unique. No one can say what the morrow will bring."

Aragorn smiled. " Arwen told me the same thing at Rivendell."

"Of course she would. All elves are wise, didnt you know?"

Aragorn gave a bark of laughter at the flippant remark. "I suppose I should know this by now, shouldnt I?"

"Yes, you should."

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Jack smiled as Charlie came out of the house, graduation robe already on but unbuttoned, his suit visible in the gap. Thank God he'd talked the boy out of streaking at the graduation. He'd wanted to kill Sarah when she blurted that little fact out over dinner weeks ago. Charlie had been obsessing over doing the same ever since.

"See, Dad, fully clothed and ready to pass inspection," his son gave a sharp salute, knocking his heels together even as he laughed at his old man with his eyes.

Jack put on an expression of mock severity, examining his boy head to toe. It still surprised him that little Charlie was as tall as he was. An inch or two taller, if he was perfectly honest. "All right, soldier. ATTEN HUT!"

"Jack, come on now. His friends'll be here any minute."

Jack sighed. "Alright, Sarah. At ease, soldier."

The command was too much for Charlie, and he doubled over, laughing. Jack joined him before walking over. "You still gonna join us for dinner tonight? I hear Mom got a great caterer, and I might have talked her into getting several bottles of champagne. Just for the adults, you know."

Some of the laughter left his son. "But James's having a graduation party at his house-"

"Dont worry. That party doest start until eight, right? Well, dinner starts at five. Stay for three or four hours, drink champagne with your folks, let the old geezers give you money, then you can go out. Three o'clock curfew. No questions, no argument. Got it?"

Charlie smiled again. "Thanks Dad. I promise I wont do anything you wouldnt do."

"Dont do anything I would either."

"Course not. You still plannin' on wearing your dress blues? Let everyone know whose dad is pushing general in the Air Force."

"Yeah right, the dress blues are the nicest clothing I have."

The sound of a car honking got their attention. "That's James. See ya in a half hour."

Jack grabbed his son and pulled him into a hug. "I'm proud of you, you know that, right?"

"Cant help it," Charlie broke away when the horn honked again, running down the lawn. He stopped halfway. "Oh yeah, here's your lucky ring back."

Jack caught the circlet in midair, turning it over in his hand. It was heavy gold, almost like a wedding ring. He looked closer, and could just see the strange engravings on the outside, twisting around like snakes...

Jack sat up, breathing hard. Next to him Frodo grumbled at the sudden movement before falling back asleep.

The colonel looked around. He wasnt at home. He wasnt about to see his son graduate from highschool. He was in Middle Earth, helping to escort the worlds only hope into what could be considered hell. He and Sarah were still divorced.

And Charlie was still gone.

A glint caught Jack's attention, and he found it. The ring was outside Frodo's shirt, glinting each time the small hobbit breathed. Gandalf had explained the power of the ring to them. It held the power of a god, or at least a good part of it. It could let one man take over an entire world if he knew how to use it. It could change the past, the present, let someone catch small glimpses of the future.

It could change the past.

He could go back, keep Charlie from getting his gun. He could make the last four years dissapear, all he had to do was get it. Frodo was small, and with his training, no one could hear a sound until it was too late-

Jack wrenched his hand away from where it was hovering over Frodo's mouth. What the hell was he thinking? He stood clumsily, shivering as the icy air hit his overheated skin. he had to get away from Frodo, had to clear his head. He walked to the other end of the platform, taking slow, deep breaths, and looked back. The ring was nowhere in sight.

"Damn damn damn," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. They had been warned against the ring, against its tempting them. He'd laughed at first. It was a piece of gold, that's all. How could it tempt anyone? Now he knew. It showed you what you wanted, gave you a glimpse of it, then tore you away, until you were willing to do anything to get it back. "You're not getting me, you son of a bitch." In his head he went over everything Carter had been telling him about the ring. As far as she could tell there was no naquadah in the ring, nothing that would link it to any technology they knew the Goa'uld had. And she was pretty sure the mithril Gimli kept going on about was trinium...

"Jack?"

O'Neill jumped. When did Gimli learn to walk so quietly? "Yeah shorty?" He could almost feel Gimli's temperature rising. Truth be told, he had a nickname for all of their companions, though he doubted the dwarf or hobbits would appreciate the humor behind calling them Happy, Dopey, Grumpy, and Bashful. "Sorry, I couldnt resist."

"One day I wont be able to resist hitting you with the broad side of my axe."

Jack laughed, rubbing his head. "Bring it on, Gimli. I'll be ready." While he was still contemplating whether to move or not Gimli swung and caught Jack in the shins. The colonel blinked, wondering why he never noticed how nice the stars were this time of night. " You weren't supposed to try it yet."

The dwarf chortled. "Now, later, the result would have been the same."

"Yeah, yeah," Jack sat up, feeling the back of his head. " Why are you up?"

"Why are you?" the dwarf gave the man a once over. "No wounds, no shouts of warning. What does it take to wake a military man of your people when he can finally rest easy?"

Bad dreams. " Just couldnt sleep, Gimli, thats all."

"Like Boromir?"

Jack perked up, darting a glance at the human. In the dim light he could see the frown on the mans face before he rolled over. "Guess so. And you?"

Gimli looked around the platform. "I've been waiting for that silly elf to set himself down for the night. Someone has to look out for him, he certainly doesnt look out for himself."

Jack could imagine the sparks that would fly if Legolas heard that remark. "He's probably off doing elf stuff with the other elves. He'll be all right." A movement among the trees caught his attention. "See, thats probably him now."

As the two watched an elf came into view. He looked back and nodded at someone unseen, then ran across one of the ropes that attached the platforms, dissappearing into another tree.

The dwarf nodded, then turned, heading back to his small pallet. "Its a few hours to sunrise. You should try spending them in sleep."

Jack shook his head. "Yeah, wouldnt that be nice," he said to himself.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Daniel was tired. Really, really tired. The kind of tired that makes you want to drop where you fall and pull a Rumplestilskin. Last night hadnt been nearly long enough. He kept dreaming about Gandalf, about being close enough to feel the heat of his hand. But before he could reach out and save him, the old wizard fell, and kept falling. A small part of him wondered if the man was still falling.

To his relief, he wasnt the only one lagging behind. Frodo was too, but then again, he needed medical attention. Merry was busy trying to catch Pips attention while the hobbit moved along listlessly. Even Gimli and Boromir had lost their second wind. To accomadate, the elves leading them walked, albeit fast, but anything was better than yesterdays grueling pace. His lungs still burned if he breathed in too deep.

It was another days walk into the forest before they came upon the city, and Daniel couldnt believe his eyes. Fairy tales told of elves who lived in trees, but no amount of description could prepare someone for the actual sight. Stairs wound up all the trees in sight, looking like crystal shavings clinging to the bark. The city overhead glowed blue and silver, and he could make out shapes walking above them, but little else. The attention to detail that made Rivendell so captivating was here also, but it seemed more natural, and far more delicate.

"The lady wishes to see you all as soon as possible, so your wounds will be dressed after your audience," Haldir informed them as they walked up one of the staircases. " It will not be long, and you will have all the time you need to recover." As if to punctuate the fact that they needed a serious break Jack coughed. Hacked, actually. "There are places to rest along the way. Once we are high enough, a lift will carry us to the audience chamber."

On the way Daniel discovered why he was sure there were no fat elves. No one could get overweight climbing flights of stairs daily. As they traveled elves passed them, sprinting upward like marathon runners, not even breathing hard. By the time they reached the first resting place all the muscles in his legs were protesting, some of them he didnt even know he had.

"At the next station we will take the lift," Daniel could have kissed the grave elf for that piece of news. The only thing he didnt tell them was that the distance between rest stops was equal. On the way they passed houses, full houses balanced among the branches. He laughed to himself. Reality beat fiction any day.

"I think we're about twenty stories up," Daniel weezed when they finally stopped. The platform shook, then began steadily moving further upwards.

Haldir was amused. "We have only climbed half the height of the Great Tree. The Chamber is at the crown."

"You know, you might wanna extend the elevator to the bottom, for us poor, out of shape humans," Jack muttered, rubbing his knee. " Guess you dont know what a ACL problem is."

Daniel stiffled a laugh, then turned his attention to the architecture. The buildings were exquisite, delicately etched into and out of the surrounding leaves and branches. He doubted a piece of foliage had been damaged making them.

"The city was designed to grow with the trees, Daniel Jackson," Aragorn whispered. "They have the time and the care to live with their surroundings, instead of trampling them down."

"Its beautiful. I've been trying to compare it to something on earth. The closest I've been able to come up with is some of the tribes in a place called South America. The natives there live in trees to avoid annual flooding from the rivers. But its nothing like this. This is exquisite."

"Elves strive to blend into their surroundings, whatever those may be," This came from Legolas. "My own people live underground, but you would be hardpressed to think so if you ever stood in the halls of Mirkwood. The elves of Rivendell prefer the grounds of their valley. But I must admit, this is the most beautiful place."

"I'm sure the lord and lady would thank you for your honesty, Legolas of Mirkwood," Haldir interrupted. "This place is as close to the Undying Lands as one can get in the East."

On those words the lift stopped, and Daniel found himself looking at a broad platform. More stairs led even higher, but unlike the ones of the night before, this one was covered with carvings. The branches overhead formed a natural ceilling, and everything shined with the same silver light, making him wonder if that was the actual color of the trees.

It wasnt until Haldir bowed that Danny noticed the pair walking down the stairs. Both were blond, impossibly tall and slender. It was the woman that caught his attention, though. She was the one in command, it shone through in her appearance, and the sense of power she exuded, a power that was almost tangible. She looked over the group, and he felt something like ice wash over him for a moment. He felt she knew all of his secrets, even the ones he didnt want to admit to himself.

"Twelve are here, yet thirteen set out from Rivendell. Where is Gandalf, that I may speak with him?"

No one spoke, and he fought the urge to look at his feet. Though the man spoke, it was the woman, 'queen' he corrected himself, that looked to each of them for an answer.

"He has fallen into shadow," the words were quiet, but he knew each and every one of them felt it. There was a sadness in her eyes, a sadness that he didnt think she could project.

"The fellowship stands on the edge of a knife," the change in her voice startled him. From sad to iron in 1.2 seconds flat. "Stray but a little, and it will fail. To the ruin of all." Her eyes raked all of them. "But hope remains, while the company is true."

The rest of her words started to fade, and Daniel wondered if he was about to pass out. Then the elf queen glanced at him, her eyes blue and cold.

Welcome to my home, traveler.

By the time Daniel recovered from the voice that rang in his head he was being led back to the platform.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Sam sighed in relief as she sunk into a hot spring, the steaming water coming up to her neck. It was almost too hot, but she could feel the tightness of her sore muscles receeding. Another hour and she might be able to walk on her own.

She was alone in the secluded glade, though she could hear the colonel groaning. She supposed Daniel was giving him one of his world famous neck rubs. Lord knew everyone took advantage of them, including the general, even though he'd never admit it.

"Sam, you over there?"

Carter looked around, to where the spring dissapeared under a streched cloth. "I'm over here, sir," she answered. Grining to herself, she swam over to the cloth, and lifted a corner. Well, the colonel was over there, all right, along with the rest of her friends. And just like her, none of them wore clothes.

Not a stitch.

"I didnt know you had a birthmark there, sir," Sam called. The result was instantaneous.

Everyone who was near the spring jumped in, but some of them werent so lucky. Boromir had to make a break for a stack of drying cloths, diving into them head first. The only person who remained standing was Teal'c, but then again, she'd never seen him back down from a challenge. All the scrambling and running was funny, but it didnt stop her from getting a good look at everything.

And she did mean everything.

RRRRRRRrrrrrrrr.

"Sorry guys, didnt mean to peek."

"Yeah right."

"Sam!"

"Is there something you require, Major Carter?"

"Yeah, for you to sit down, Teal'c! You dont have ta flaunt it!"

"My lady, if you would please-"

"Close the curtain woman!"

Sam laughed. She was definately sharing this story when they got home. "Its not like I havent seen it all before, sir. And what I didnt Janet filled in for me."

The choked gurgle had to be the colonel.

"What was that, Colonel?"

"The sound of you and Janet cleaning latrines in your spare time for the next month!"

"Dont worry, Jack. Janet wouldnt divulge anything about us-"

She was really having too much fun. "Get a few tequila's in her, and she wont shut up. Try this one on for size. Jazzercise accident. Someone's groin had a close and personal meeting with a womans-"

"SAM!"

"Daniel, I didnt know you had it in you," she could hear the colonel chortling.

"I'm sure this conversation would be best saved for another time. Please, major Carter, if you would lower the blind so that we may continue to bathe."

"Please?"

What was a woman to do? She had a hobbit and a ranger asking her nicely to be nice. And they were both cute too. Sometimes life just wasnt fun. "Sure." The sigh of relief was audible on the other side, and Sam buried her face in a rock so she could indulge in a good laughing fit. After she got control of herself she sighed, sinking further into the water. Her stomach muscles were jumping from the added workout, and her lungs were definitely voicing their opinion on the whole matter, but it had been worth it.

She just wished she'd had a camera.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

"I think we've found it George."

General Hammond released a sigh that had been building for the better part of a month."What've you got, Jacob."

It was Selmac who spoke. "We were able to contact the Asgard and consult with their available scientists on the matter. We came to the conclusion that the stargate malfunctioned while in transit. The malfunction was not caused by human error, but more likely by a celestial event occuring near the flight path of the worm whole. We studied the area and came up with this. The lights, if you please," Selmac placed a small triangle on the table, and suddenly the room burst into color. When the whirling settled, they were sitting in a three dimensional replica of space.

"Amazing," Sgt Yerns whispered.

" This is the flight path of the wormwhole connecting to PJH-980," A blue tube appeared, and as they watched it spread, twisting until it reached the planet. "The stargate path is not a direct one. Matter is shifted through subtunnels and several connections points before it reaches final destination. One of these connection points is here," he pointed close to a large star. "This is Rebba. at the time SG1 was sent to PJH-980 Rebba was entering the final stages of implosion."

As they watched the star tripled in size, then shrank into a pinpoint, dissapearing. The general noticed the matter in the area started to look like it was being pulled. "A black hole?"

"Yes," Selmac pressed a button on the device, and it zeroed in on the area in question. "The wormhole was knocked out of its flight path, the set back askew once the gravitation became strong enough to do so. Normally, a DHD would compensate for something of this magnitude, and redirect the travelers to another subroute. If one is unavailable a safety mechanism will trigger, and the stargate will feed the matter signatures back, reintergrating SG1 in the SGC. Since the SGC is without an operational DHD, this didnt happen."

"So they were dumped somewhere in space, at this broken connection," The general kept his voice steady, but he was dying inside. He'd sent his people to their graves on the other side of the galaxy.

"No, George, they werent," Jacob answered. "Something else happened, something that hasnt happened as far as the Tok'ra are concerned, and that the Asgard've only seen a handful of times but were unable to study. Now, the event horizon changed color, going from blue to purple. Purple means that the subspace field around the gate has shifted. It changed back, but your instruments showed that the travlers were still in route, and landed on PJH-980."

"Thats right."

"That's because they did and they didnt, George. The energy patterns we examined after they hit the connection at Rebba show them to be phantom signatures. The real ones doubled back on the flight path and came home. The only question is, which home."

When all he got was a blank stare, Jacob sighed. " I know, I was goin crosseyed when Selmac was runnin me through it, but it makes sense. You tracked them, but you tracking sensor ghosts, and you were tracking them through a different reality. Kind of like an accidental quantum mirror. When the wormhole shifted it changed color to indicate a malfunctionl, but it corrected itself. It skipped the track, so it latched on to another one." he looked at Patterson. "That's why the information was garbled on this end, you werent expecting something to come back through."

Lt Patterson spoke up. "That would explain why the energy readings topped off for about a 16th of a second, sir. Thats probably when the wormhole realigned itself. If the subspace field modulation is the same in this other reality, then the color would shift back. Since the shift occured when they were away from home, they would be sent back, just not to us."

George looked around the table. "So can we use the quantum mirror to find them?"

Jacob let Selmac explain further. " The quantum mirror can only contact those realities functioning on the same energy wavelength, allowing the subspace field around it to get a lock on a new location. The field the stargate creates is different. The Asgard are still analyzing the data in the hopes of creating a machine that can duplicate the exact conditions of the accident. If they can, you might be able to find them. But you must be prepared for the worst. They could have landed in a hostile reality."

The general nodded. "Do the Asgard have an estimate on how long it will take?"

Jacob shook his head. " This phenomena is extremly rare, General. They are literally looking at something no one has seen before."

George fought the urge to curse. If only he had a nickel for everytime he'd heard that particular expression. Sometimes he thought the universe at large was blind.

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