Chapter 6 –

Sentenced.

Elizabeth stared.

'Okay.' She paused, John looking at her expectantly.

'I know this is a lot to take in, but we need to move pretty quickly. These aren't the most trusting people.' John informed her, a look of certainty in this eye as he looked out over Atlantis.

'We cannot allow this girl to return to that place.' Teyla stated.

'It's a little more difficult than that, Teyla.' Elizabeth folded her arms and turned to look at the Colonel who was looking back at the girl he had brought with him. She was waiting in side with Zalenka at the controls. She looked back at them giving a nervous wave. John grinned and waved back. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. 'Are you sure that you're not doing this for different reasons, John?'

John stopped waving and gave her an eyebrow. 'I'll admit to being male, Elizabeth, and that she is a very nice girl – but that's not the reason I want to bring her here.' He straightened up.

'She is of course welcome to stay with the Athosians.' Teyla nodded. 'We will accept her with open arms, and she will live by making her own choices, she will not have to endure this…'

'Kredan.' John filled in. Teyla nodded. 'Yeah, I know that part sucks especially, but I'm not finished.'

Elizabeth shook her head. 'There's more?'

'She's in love with a guy called Coran, and they want to run away together. Here.' John smiled cheekily, giving Teyla a look of slight awkwardness which indicated that she may need to help in a moment.

Elizabeth gave him a steely eye. 'The only men on that planet are the Dryads, yes? With whom they are at an uneasy stand still with. And didn't you just say that it was their highest laws not to interact with them unless it is in the Kredan?' John nodded slowly, a sheepish look on his face. 'And that the penalty for such an interaction would not only be death for the people in question, but all out war between their people?' She asked incredulously.

John paused. 'Yup, that sounds about right.'

'John-' She began.

'Just hear me out.' John paused. 'We can't let them just kill people for falling in love with someone they don't like – and they can't force people to sleep with someone they don't know and allow that single night of sex determine their whole lives. It's not fair.'

'It is not living; they should be allowed to love freely.' Teyla agreed. 'Coran is also welcome, if Elizabeth allows the operation to go ahead?' She raised an eyebrow at the Earth woman who looked like she was on the fence.

'I don't feel comfortable meddling in the matters of other worlds, and this isn't just meddling! The consequences could be catastrophic for her people.' Elizabeth told him.

John pinned her with his brown eyes imploringly. 'I'll make sure there are no consequences.' He insisted.

'You have a plan?' She asked.

'Yes.' John said simply.

'A good plan?'

'It needs some tweaking.' He answered slowly. 'And I'll need Teyla to come with.'

Teyla nodded. Elizabeth raised her eyebrow and sighed. 'Alright. Talk to me.'

John smiled.

Rodney fell to the floor. Hard. He shot back up, nursing his jaw.

'You know, this is not the best way to get information. Usually when someone wants something, they ask. They even say please, it's called manners, I know they're foreign to you, but trust me, learn some and they'll stand you in good stead.' He snarled. Adina hit him again. McKay stumbled back.

'I grow impatient, Shaman.' She growled.

'You grow impatient?' He squeaked. 'Are you the one being punched hard in the face?' His brow furrowed as his tongue felt his teeth. 'Oh come on! I think you cracked my tooth. The dental's good with this job, but it's not great.'

'Enough!' She roared. McKay shut his numb mouth. 'You have betrayed me! You would tell me where Sheppard has taken my sister and I demand that she return to face the consequences of her actions!'

McKay gave a fake look of surprise. 'Actions?'

Adina scowled at him before kicking him hard in the chest. Rodney fell back onto the floor, complaining loudly. 'Ow, ow, ow, ow, OW! What is it with you! I already said that if you keep hurting me, I won't say anything!'

'I find that pain is very persuasive. Shall I retrieve my dagger and begin with shallow cuts, or shall we move onto the scorching power of the fire?' She seethed, advancing menacingly.

Rodney backed up, fear apparent in his eyes. 'I don't see a dagger.' He said, more with hope than confidence. Adina reached behind her back and took a long cruel dagger from her belt, twirling it in her fingers. McKay gulped. 'Handy.'

'Where is Boe?' She asked quietly.

'I don't know.' Rodney looked at her with defiance, his eyes flicking to the dagger with anxiety.

'Why as he taken her?'

'I have no idea.'

'What do you know of her lover?' She thrust the knife under his chin, banging his head against the wall.

McKay felt the blade cutting into his throat. 'Wait! Let's not do anything that can leave ugly scars, okay? I take good care of my skin, and on occasion, even use moisturiser, I mean, what's the point of having dry skin right?' He laughed nervously. She applied more pressure.

'Boe does not know what she has done. The Dryads are here seeking retribution. I must punish her and they must punish him, or this uneasy truce will end – our people will fight and both sides shall lose!' Adina growled. 'You could say our very lives are teetering on the edge of a knife.'

McKay smiled weakly. 'Funny.'

'I fail to see how this is amusing, she has betrayed us-!'

'What! For being in love? Please, there are way worse things than that!' Rodney yelled at her, then smiled sheepishly as she played the knife along his chin.

'It is evil to join with those who would enslave us, who have enslaved generations of our people merely because we have not broad shoulders or great muscle! It is also our religion that every woman lose her Ketah on the night of the Kredan and not before! Boe has done this!' Adina shouted.

'Ketah?' Rodney frowned.

'I believe that Sheppard referred to it as-'

'Something far cruder than what it actually is.' Rodney rushed.

'I will have her blood, or it will be yours and your friends who pay the price. Give me Boe, or I will start with Beckett.' She threatened.

McKay glared at her. 'I can't tell you what I don't know! I don't know where she is or why he took her! So stop being so idiotic with your demands!' He yelled nastily. Adina looked at him with a smile.

'You have a backbone after all, McKay.' She stopped smiling. 'A shame that I must tear it from you and wear it as a necklace.' She thrust him to the ground.

Rodney whined under his breath before turning to face her. 'That is just disgusting.' He stated.

Ronan felt pain everywhere. His head throbbed, his shoulders felt like they had been broken and his stomach – he could barely breathe.

'Ronan! I know you're not feeling particularly well, but we've got ourselves a bit of a problem!' A voice at his side said urgently.

The Satedan's eyes opened suddenly, looking around with anger and confusion as he remembered the earlier events. His arms were wound around a pole with his legs dangling a few feet from the ground. He glanced over and saw Carson in the same position. The Doctor smiled weakly, giving him a little wave with the fingers he could still move.

Ronan started struggling, pulling at the binds ferociously. Carson could see in his face that he was a tad upset – more like furious. These women would not be able to contain him if he got free, no matter what sort of shape he was in. He growled and shouted, trying his damndest to break free and ignore the pain, but with little effect. A few minutes later Carson started shaking his head.

'Alright! Stop it! You're just going to do yourself a mischief.' He told him. Ronan gave him an angry eyebrow. 'I've already tried it, these things aren't going to loosen, lad. I'm not suggesting that you give up, only that you give it a rest.'

Ronan hung limply for a moment, breathing hard. The pain was so much – god he needed to kill something.

'McKay?' He growled.

'I saw him being taken to Adina's quarters and I haven't seen him since.' Carson informed him, watching the village as the women went by, looking up at them. 'Don't suppose you can give us a hand, love?' He asked nicely. The woman hurried on. Carson watched her scuttle off and slumped. 'I feel like my arms have been pulled out of their bloody sockets.' He complained, trying to move them and get some feeling back.

Ronan agreed, but needed to know more. 'Sheppard?'

Carson shook his head. 'Not back yet. With any luck, he'll figure it out before he comes back and bring the cavalry.'

Ronan rolled his eyes. 'And how is he going to know that any of this has happened?'

Carson tried his best to shrug and stopped when he felt the pain. 'Magically develop telekinetic abilities?'

Ronan smiled slightly.

'You don't think Rodney'll tell that witch anything, do you?' He asked hopefully.

Ronan paused. Carson raised an eyebrow. Ronan gave him a look and then shook his head. 'No, he can be spineless, but he's most definitely not stupid. He knows what'll happen if he says anything. He won't allow it.'

Carson figured that, nodding. He paused. 'At least until they figure out his phobia of bugs. Then we're screwed.'

Ronan raised his eyebrows, and then frowned. He started to struggle again.

Carson frowned at his behaviour when he saw where Ronan was looking and stared down at a rather disturbing sight. Four men waltzed into the village with metal armour. All of them were tall, broad and hard-faced. Women scattered, hurrying to their homes, obviously afraid. The one in front walked with confidence, an arrogance that Carson could smell from a mile away. His dark hair and dark eyes finished the medieval look to perfection – but what worried him most was the man in between the two at the back who was practically being dragged along, struggling against their grip with his hands bound behind his back.

Carson hung his head. 'Coran.' He glared at Ronan before watching the men head for the meeting hall.

Ronan hated them already. His eyes said all that he wanted them to know. The man in front looked up at him and smiled.

Ronan struggled harder.

Boe bounded through the fields feeling as though she could soar. She smiled back at John who was grinning at her playfulness. Teyla smiled also, happy to see this girl so cheerful.

'She is full of joy.' Teyla stated. John nodded.

'Well that's because we did a good thing.' He told her.

Teyla shook her head grinning widely. John frowned slightly.

'What?'

'Nothing.' Teyla insisted.

'No, you had a something face. Come on, tell me.'

'John Sheppard insists on righting every wrong he meets in this galaxy, and nothing stands in his way.' Teyla gave him a half smile. John looked to the floor, his eyes blushing at the compliment.

'Well, I don't know if that's entirely, true, I just do what I can-'

'And you have done much!' Boe called back.

Teyla grinned and John remained at peace with the compliment. They continued on to the village, and when they drew close, John held Boe back. 'I wanna circle a little first, make sure everything's okay.'

Boe nodded. Anything this man said would be done. He had given her her life – and Coran's.

They crept closer, keeping low. Boe frowned.

'My sisters are scarce.' She observed. 'I do not understand.'

It was true, from what they could see, the city was devoid of people. Empty, unlike the lively village they had seen only yesterday. John frowned. He heard voices, feint voices. They moved around to see past another large building and stopped.

Ronan and Carson had been strapped high onto stakes pushed into the ground, both with their arms in uncomfortable positions. John hung his head. Their plan had gone slightly awry. Boe sobbed with angry eyes. Teyla put a hand on her shoulder.

'What do we do now?' Teyla asked.

'I must go.' Boe said sadly. 'The Dryads are here. They know about me and Coran.'

John frowned. 'How do you figure that?'

She nodded to the meeting hall. 'The guard is doubled.' She paused, her eyes searching the handsome man's face. 'I must go or there will be war.'

'If you go, they will kill you.' John said firmly.

'Not straight away. The execution of our own is done in a ritual under the light of the moon. If I return, it is possible that Adina will release your people.' Boe informed.

John glared at her. 'You don't know that.'

'It is all I can hope for.' She said quietly, looking to the village. 'I will tell Adina that I went with you for trade negotiations, and that you were not helping me. She will have no reason to keep them.'

She stood and John pulled her down. 'Just a minute.' He snapped, thinking hard.

'There is no other way.' Teyla told him. She looked to Boe. 'We will not allow them to kill you, we will return with a Jumper to free you.'

'No, that will mean war for my people-' Boe urged.

'Wait, the plan might still work. It's just a matter of access.' He looked at Boe with a hard expression. 'We'll come for you – and Coran.'

Boe nodded, kissing his cheek and then leaping into the village. John watched her go.

She ran to the stake where Ronan and Carson hung. Carson's eyes went wide.

'Boe? No! Love, you've got to get away from here. The Dryads have come and they've got Coran with them!' Carson told her. Ronan watched her approach.

'McKay's inside with them.' He added.

Boe looked to the doors of the meeting hall, a grim expression on her face. She looked up at them. 'I will make everything right.'

'No-' Carson couldn't finish, she sprinted to the doors and the guards grabbed her, thrusting her inside. 'Bloody hell.'

John glanced at Teyla. 'Here we go.'

Boe fell to the floor and scowled at the guards with such ferocity they brought their spears forward. She stumbled to her feet snarling at them before turning. She stopped, seeing that her behaviour had not gone unnoticed. Adina stood before her throne with a tall and dark man standing in front of her. To her right was McKay on his knees, a single guard holding a spear to his back. To her left were two other men holding a third to his knees. Her heart broke when she realised it was Coran. They had beaten him.

Boe looked to Adina with defiance. How did they know? They had been so careful for so long…her gaze fell on McKay who had also been severely beaten. She scowled at him, her rage on the verge of tearing him apart.

'The Shaman did not reveal the affair Sussearan.' The man said harshly.

Rodney looked up with attitude in his face, his brown eyes ablaze. 'No, I didn't. I kept my mouth firmly shut, thank you.' Adina's mouth twitched.

The man lifted his chin and smiled. 'I have known for some time that Coran was leaving our fair city to – meet, with one of your people Adina. It is treason and this you know, but since they are both here, their blood can be taken and there can be no war between us.'

Coran struggled, his blue eyes imploring Adina to be merciful for Boe's sake. 'She is innocent!' He yelled. 'I visited the camp and she refused to see me-' One of the men by his side kicked him hard in the face.

'No!' Boe leapt forward, only to be held fast by her own people.

'Does a person which refuses to see another care so for that person when they are beaten? No. And why did she not report his comings to her leader? She is as guilty as you, Coran, do not deny it.' He crossed the room, watching Boe. She glared back.

'Boe, this is Gredak, leader of the Dry-' Adina stepped forward.

'I know who he is.' She spat. 'And I have nothing to say to him, or to you.'

Adina seemed surprised by her behaviour, but recovered quickly with an icy stare. 'Not even an apology for betraying your sisters, and planning to leave your home to war and death for this boy? And with our new allies whose minds you have poisoned against our ways, you left with Sheppard to arrange your escape-'

'No! The newcomers knew of our relationship, but they did not understand our laws! They have done nothing to help, they did not want to jeopardise the relationship they had built with our people. I went to their world to begin trade negotiations and nothing more! These allies are not involved in this situation.' Boe told her. Coran admired her courage and loved her all the more for it.

'Soon to be ex-allies.' Rodney piped up.

Adina narrowed her eyes. 'Where is Sheppard now, Boe?'

'He is still on his home world. No doubt he will return.' Boe said coldly, folding her arms. McKay knew what would happen at that moment.

Adina nodded. 'I see.' She turned and sat in her throne. Gredak stepped forward.

'Adina. We must sentence them here and now with witnesses so that we may be on our way and this whole matter forgotten.' The man demanded.

'This is my chamber, Gredak.' She snapped. 'I will decide what happens with my people.' She glanced at Coran. 'And you must deal with your own.'

Boe hated her.

'Our laws state that these who do us wrong must be punished-' He growled.

'And they will.' She rose. 'Follow me. I have a proposal.'

Adina nodded for Gredak to follow her to her private chambers. He did so, his black shawl sweeping past McKay, leaving him, Boe and Coran. And apparently the guards.

Boe turned to Coran. 'How does he know? How does Adina? It does not make sense that we were so careful for so long and now when the newcomers arrive and we entrust with them our secret, they find out!' She said bitterly.

Coran smiled weakly. 'It does not matter how - they know.'

'Um, excuse me? We didn't say anything! I certainly didn't! Can you not see this face? The pain I'm in from trying to protect you people?' Rodney complained, raising a hand to stop his nose from bleeding.

Boe looked to the floor. Coran stared at the man. 'Thank you, for your part.' He said kindly.

Rodney shook his head. 'I wish I could have done more.'

Boe smiled weakly. 'You gave us hope, made us see a new life where we thought it could not be possible.'

'What's the point in dreaming of it when you can't live it?' Rodney stated.

Boe eyed him with a knowledge of pain. 'What is the point in living in this world if you cannot dream of a better place?'

Rodney understood – sort of. He knew what she meant, he just wouldn't understand it on the level that she did. He was a practical man. They sat in silence for a few minutes, the guards leering over them. He looked up at his own and smiled slightly. She raised an eyebrow. Boe smiled at his attempt.

'I fail to see what pleases you.' Said a voice over Boe's shoulder. Boe did not turn.

'How are you Lissanda?' She asked lightly.

'I have been better.' The woman replied. A red head, tall, with strong arms. Her blue eyes stared down at Boe with loathing and pity – and almost regret.

'As have I.' Boe agreed.

'You could have stayed well if you abided our laws.' Lissanda scolded.

'And stay a farmer? Or anangry little girl with a stick? I have tasted love and I would not trade it for anything in this world or any other.' She snapped. Lissanda shoved the spear into her back and pushed Boe to the floor. Coran struggled hard.

'Would you stop with the violence?' Rodney complained.

'Do you wish for a spear in your back, shaman?' Lissanda growled.

'Apparently, I already have one thank you.' He indicated to the warrior behind him, and on queue, she shoved the point into the small of his back.

'Ow. Thank you, I know you're there, no needed to prick me with that thing. You know with your level of advancement, I would have thought you'd have swords by now.' He said condescendingly.

'What are swords?' The woman asked. McKay blinked.

'Oh nothing, I certainly wouldn't want to give you any ideas.' He muttered, just as Adina and Gredak came back into the room. He did not look happy and neither did she, apparently what had been settled meant that there were sacrifices on both sides. Boe narrowed her eyes.

'Bring them. All of my sisters must hear their punishments.' Adina said speedily, walking to the large doors and strolling outside.

The guards grabbed their prisoners and pushed them out for all to see.

'Gather! Gather and hear this, their sentences are decided!' Adina yelled. Women of all ages poured out of the doors, some curious and others timid. They surrounded Adina and the group once they had reached the two stakes with Carson and Ronan hanging from them.

Carson nodded at Rodney.

Ronan narrowed his eyes. 'McKay.'

Rodney looked up, clearly in pain form one injury or another. 'Ronan. Carson.'

'What's going on?' Carson asked.

'They're being sentenced for being in love.' Rodney replied simply. Adina glared.

'They are not the only ones to be sentenced.' She growled. Rodney frowned.

'What?' He squeaked indignantly.

Adina turned her attention back to the crowd as Boe, Coran and McKay where made to kneel before her and Gredak. He smiled at them cruelly.

John and Teyla watched from the trees, anxiously awaiting their sentences, and what they would be able to do to free them.

'These traitors you see before you have been sentenced by myself and Gredak. Their crimes are of interaction, secrecy and selfish purpose – they would have war between our people.' She looked at Gredak. 'Our sister, Boe, will remain here and she will not be executed.' There was a murmur in the crowd. 'Boe has always hated tradition and her ties with this one-' She glared at Coran. '-are strong. Her punishment stands at torture and the forced involvement in the Kredan, after that night, she will be made to serve in the fields for the rest of her life.'

Teyla felt John tense at her side. She looked over and saw the anger in his face. Rodney glared up at Ronan and Carson.

'How merciful of you.' He seethed. Adina ignored him.

'Coran, the Dryad, is to be taken by his people to his home where he will be executed at Dawn.' Boe's eyes filled with tears which fell sharply, she clamped her eyes shut and then looked at him. He looked back with a strength that made her heart hurt. 'Gredak has demanded this. In return, for giving Boe a second chance, I have agreed to release one of the newcomers into his care to compensate for the loss of one of his own.'

Rodney's eyes went wide and his head snapped up to his friends, both looking at each other with weary and angry eyes.

'The two that remain will be made to hang to the stakes with no food or water, until death, for their parts in this atrocity.' She said firmly.

'That's hardly fair!' Carson yelled.

'Your whole legal system is backwards, your whole people are backwards and I cannot wait for my people to get back here and introduce you to something I like to call – an ass kicking!' McKay screeched.

'Believe me; I eagerly await Sheppard's return.' Adina snapped. 'For the moment we set eyes on him, he will be killed.'

'You'll be lucky.' Ronan said low, chuckling at the thought.

Adina turned to him. 'Speak your mind Dex.' She barked.

'He'll beat you.' Ronan stated. 'He'll free us, and prove that you are an inadequate race.' He grinned with malice. Adina growled at him.

'Be silent or I will have you killed.' She snarled.

'Then kill me now or suffer my degrading opinion of you.' He growled in return.

Adina raised her hand, the guards lifting their spears.

'Hold.' Gredak commanded.

'Why?' Adina rounded on him.

'I choose him to replace Coran.' Gredak walked forward. 'This one is far too soft.' He slapped the back of McKay's head.

'I am not soft!' He snapped, glaring up at the leader of the Dryads.

'And this one knows only of medicine, he will be useless in a fight.' He turned to Adina.

'Aye, unless some of your men get injured, and then all of a sudden I'm a peach.' Carson snapped.

'Dex has the spirit of a Dryad.' He looked up at the Satedan. 'He will serve us well.'

'The moment you cut me down, you're dead.' Ronan snarled, his wrists working against his bonds. Gredak laughed heartily.

'Perfect!' His eyes were fixed on Adina. She nodded.

'Take your traitor and take Dex. Tie McKay next to Beckett, and prepare Boe for her first punishment before she attends the Kredan – torture.' She did not look at Boe as she swept past back to the meeting hall.

Gredak nodded for them to leave. They dragged Coran away; he struggled violently, his eyes on Boe the entire time.

'No! Please! Give us a moment! That is all I ask! No!' Boe yelled, being held back by her own people.

'Boe!' Coran yelled, before getting a nasty blow to the head and falling limp.

'Coran!' She shrieked. 'Coran! No!' The guards took her to a nearby building, kicking and screaming for her lost love the entire way.

One of the Dryads set a ladder to the back of Ronan's stake so he couldn't reach him with his legs, although he tried. The man brought out a large mallet used for fencing by the Sussearans and Carson yelled. The man thwacked Ronan over the head – hard. He fell limp, bleeding heavily. Carson struggled and Rodney stumbled over, getting kicked and beaten by his guard. The man released Ronan's bonds and let him fall to the ground, a bloodied mess. They took him away, trailing after Coran. Gredak sneered at them and left swiftly. Rodney growled his frustration.

'Coward! You wouldn't want to face him when he was conscious!' He yelled after him. Gredak did not respond. Rodney was suddenly grabbed from behind and shoved toward the empty stake.

John and Teyla watched as the women hoisted McKay up the stake and tied him to it. They watched the pain play across his face as he was tied. John gritted his teeth.

'This is not good.' He muttered.

Rodney breathed hard, glancing at Carson. 'This is so not good.'

Carson raised an eyebrow. 'No kidding.'