Chapter 7 – Swords and Surprises.

Teyla wandered back into her cell, wiping the paste from her cheek.

'I believe that the paste is not to be removed for hours in order to take effect on the wound.'

Teyla looked up and froze. The room had been cleared of all inmates who were locked in the cells down the corridors. The training arena had been surrounded by heavily armed guards, and in the centre, looking smug, stood Titus.

It took everything she had not to fly at him.

'Your fight was excellent – truly – you are blessed by Aresedys.' He said brightly, raising his hands to the heavens.

'And that is a good thing?' She said waspishly.

'Better to fight and live than fight and die Teyla.' He said wisely. Teyla smiled and shook her head.

'Have you ever fought a battle before, Titus? Do you know what death means, what it is to fight for your life, or the lives of your people?' She asked.

Titus stepped forward. 'I have fought before Teyla, of course. Wars have been declared in my name, and we have always won because Aresedys is pleased with my work.' He looked to the Arena above. Teyla raised an eyebrow.

'Your work? To slaughter innocent and defenceless people…for entertainment?' She seethed.

Titus stared at her darkly. 'It's a good pass time.'

Teyla narrowed her eyes. 'As is, I suppose, slaughtering family members?' She said tightly. 'Graccus, I have heard, was a good Emperor.' Teyla saw his handsome jaw twitch.

'And he was.' Titus smiled thinly. 'But the gods deemed his rein to be over, and mine began.'

'And the young boy set to take your place?' Teyla asked firmly.

'Alexis ran to a far off city, afraid of the responsibility his Father had left to him. The gods saw it fit for this to happen, and I became Emperor.' Titus explained.

'The gods…or you?' Teyla said nastily.

Titus smiled, clasping his hands together. 'Is there a difference?'

Teyla scowled at him.

'But enough of a history long past, I am here to talk of your future.' He paced the room, looking at the inmates. 'You will fight tomorrow, in a great battle. The likes of which you and many of these…men…have never seen.' He paused and turned to her, his red robes sweeping along the sand. 'A real fight to the death.' He grinned. 'But I am allowing you aid in this fight, for you are not a god and cannot survive tomorrow's challenge alone.' He turned to the guard at the door. 'Enter!'

The man obeyed and immediately marched into the room. Titus walked forward.

'With whom has the newcomer been speaking with?'

The guard answered immediately, desperate to please. 'With Tycho, my lord, and Boran's group.'

Titus paused with an amused expression. 'You know their names?' He whispered. 'I cannot tell them apart. Bring these men forward.'

There was a commotion for the soldiers to drag out the men whose names had been said. Six soldiers waded into the prisoners and retrieved Boran and his three minions, as well as Tycho. They were made to kneel before the Emperor.

Boran looked ready to kill while his minions merely kneeled looking mildly rebellious. Tycho kept his head down.

'Only five. No…those three there, they look strong.' He pointed at three others looking out from their cells and the soldiers brought them forward. 'That's better. You will still be outnumbered, but it will be more blood for the mob.'

Titus smiled and turned to a small face poking out from the bars. 'Perhaps I should send in the boy too?' He queried. Teyla stepped forward and the guards raised their weapons. 'Perhaps not. There's no need to be cruel, is there?' He said playfully. 'Very well, until tomorrow evening, Teyla Emmagan.'

Titus swept past her and the guards retreated, leaving the prisoners to their domain once more. Boran stood with a fierce glare.

'You have brought this on us, you and your ridiculous ideologies of defiance!' He roared.

'Be quiet, Boran!' Tycho shouted. 'She did nothing. Perhaps if you had not decided to try and bully her, the guards would not have seen you speaking with her.'

Boran seethed and led his minions back to their cell, Tycho walked forward.

'I am sorry.' She said. Tycho shook his head.

'Titus is evil, and you were right, Graccus was a far better Emperor.' He said stiffly. Teyla nodded and headed for the haystack, exhaustion passing over her in waves.

She fell onto the straw and felt Tycho at her side. She opened her eyes and saw his strong torso at the height of her head. She looked up at him and saw his green eyes studying her. Teyla shuffled over and Tycho repositioned himself as she lay her head on his chest, his arm draped over her shoulder.

Sleep came easily but she felt a sudden weight on the other side. She opened her eyes and saw Dio grasping at her arm. Teyla smiled reassuringly and put her arm around him, allowing him to sleep on her.

Apparently, they would all need the rest.

Morning came swiftly and Teyla awoke to grunts of force. Her eyes focused on the arena in the centre of the room where Tycho was fighting Boran. Boran rushed him hoping to use his weight to send him to the floor, but Tycho's experience obviously outstripped Boran's by a long way. He sidestepped quickly and grabbed Boran by the neck, pulling him back and spinning him to the ground.

'Brute strength isn't everything Boran.' Tycho commented, offering his hand. Boran stood without it.

'It has worked well for me for the last few months.' He said sharply.

Tycho watched him with cold eyes. 'If the Emperor has set a true battle in the Arena, then we must fight as a unit, and barging into the enemy isn't going to win us a victory.'

Boran stepped forward and dropped his voice to a whisper. 'Nine people and the Emperor says we are still outnumbered? We are dead for sure, and she is to blame.' He pointed at Teyla, and seeing that she was awake, turned to her with malice. 'You should go alone and face this.'

'No.' Tycho said firmly. 'I will not allow it.'

'And who are you to be saying such things, man? You are a corpse in waiting!' Boran bellowed. Teyla felt Dio stir at her side.

'Perhaps, we should continue this later, when young ears are not present.' Tycho said icily. Boran snarled at the child and stormed away. Tycho watched him go and kneeled by Teyla's side.

'You may have to be careful of more than the enemy in the Arena.' He said quietly.

Teyla nodded. 'It would appear so.' She paused. 'I should fight this alone. It is my doing.'

Tycho gave her a stern look and inspected her cheek. 'You will not go out alone. I forbid it.' He stated. Teyla raised an eyebrow.

'Forbid?'

Tycho smiled. 'You go alone and you will not survive. The more people you have around you, the better are your chances.'

Teyla did not respond, but stroked Dio's hair gently. The boy looked up with a worried expression. 'You're going back out there, both of you.' His face turned to the floor. 'You will not return.'

'She returned with you didn't she?' Tycho lifted his chin. Teyla smiled. Tycho saw her smile and shifted his weight. 'The Emperor has moved the fight to midday. Something makes him impatient.'

Teyla nodded. 'Very well. I will most likely still be here at midday.'

Tycho grinned. 'Your escape plan is not coming along as you had hoped?'

'I will get there.' She promised.

Tycho nodded. 'Would you like to spar?'

Teyla smiled and stood, allowing Dio to fall back onto the haystack with a sigh. Tycho grinned at him before fetching a bowl on the box next to the haystack and passing it to him. Dio sat up immediately, the contents were grey and gooey and Dio scrunched his nose up. Tycho nodded.

'It does not look appetising, but it fills your hunger.' He handed it over and Dio took it without hesitation.

Teyla smiled at him as he approached her in the small training ring. 'You are very kind to him.'

'He could use with a little kindness, I think.' He said sympathetically. Teyla nodded.

Tycho faced her and stood tall, planting his feet into the sand with a slight grin. Teyla nodded respectfully, reflecting the grin. A few of the inmates, Boran included crowded round to watch.

Tycho moved forward quickly and took a swipe at her head, Teyla ducked and elbowed his stomach before coming up through his arms and planting her fist under his chin. Tycho stumbled back slightly before returning with a back hand, it hit Teyla squarely in the face but did not phase her as she spun into a round house kick that sent Tycho to the floor. His hands met the ground and he brought his leg round to sweep her off her feet. Teyla jumped and aimed a kick at his chest. Tycho caught her foot with both hands and pulled it round, sending Teyla to the floor on her front. She stuck her hands into the ground and pushed off with her free foot, kicking Tycho in the face whilst flipping backwards to her feet.

Teyla gave him a moment to stand, but no longer, she charged him and thrust him onto his back, leaping onto him with her hands on his bare chest. He stared up with a mischievous grin. Teyla smiled.

'Do you yield?' She asked.

Tycho grinned, looking down at her sitting on him. 'Do I have a choice?'

Teyla removed herself swiftly with slightly reddened cheeks which she hid by bowing her head to clean her hands of the sand.

Tycho stood, inspecting a bleeding lip and laughed slightly. 'Very good.'

Teyla smiled. 'So glad I could impress.'

'You've impressed the inmates and myself already. Your performance in the arena was exemplary.' He commented. Teyla shifted her stance and looked to the floor.

'My performance…was not something to be proud of.' She said coldly.

Boran growled and folded his arms. 'You cannot be in that mind set or we will all die.' He stepped forward. 'If you do not be merciless, than it will cost you. It cost your…team mates that fight with you.'

Tycho gritted his teeth. 'Boran may be a blunt instrument, but his words are true.' He watched her with pleading in his eyes. 'Your mercy could cause our death, and I would prefer not to die after all my years of being here.'

Teyla nodded but said nothing.

'You cannot force her to do anything.' A loud voice stated. The crowd turned to see Dio standing with an angry expression on his young face. 'She is a mighty warrior, and your belief that she would kill you by showing those horrible people mercy is an insult, especially after what happened to me.'

The crowd felt an unease contrasted by a soft ripple of laughter. Boran smiled widely.

'The innocence of children is such an amusing thing in a place like this.' He chuckled and walked away. Tycho smiled and nodded.

'I meant no harm, little Dio.' He nodded his head and turned to Teyla who smiled at the child warmly. 'Now you have two followers in the Underworld - Dio, and me.'

Teyla bowed her head respectfully and sat on the haystack once more, Dio sitting at her side.

'I am sorry if I interrupted.' He said bravely.

Teyla shook her head. 'You did not. Infact, I am thankful for what you said.' She smiled.

Dio smiled in return and stood suddenly. 'I could have fought yesterday! If I had not been chained to the ground. When they come for you, I shall come also!' He exclaimed. Teyla shook her head.

'You are a brave boy, and someday you will be a great man – but you cannot come with me into danger, I will worry about you and be distracted from the fight.' She explained, Dio was crestfallen but nodded.

'I am not safe in the arena…but am I safe in here?' He asked nervously, looking at the large men walking around the room.

Teyla paused as Tycho approached. 'He has a point. We cannot trust them to keep him safe if something goes wrong.'

Tycho nodded. 'I have friends.' Teyla raised a sceptic eyebrow. 'Allies.' He corrected. 'I can trust them to take care of him if the battle should go ill.'

Teyla nodded and Dio raised his eyebrows.

Rodney felt anxious. He always felt anxious about stuff like this; stuff that he knew would not end well. They were back at the house and back in the kitchen, back to square one in Rodney's opinion. A square he was sure would become smaller and cell-like once the plan went south and they were thrown into jail.

'This is the "just encase" he needed me for.' Rodney muttered to Ronan. 'I mean, it's nothing to do with science, but it's still important for me to be here. To see this plan go horribly wrong and everybody die in new and inventive ways.'

Ronan gripped the table. 'It won't go wrong.' He paused and looked up menacingly. 'And if it does, I'll blame you because you complained about it so much.'

'Oh, how is that fair? Just because I know that this is going to fail means that I am the one that gets punished for it? Isn't it punishment enough by going through with this plan?' Rodney said shrilly.

'It won't fail.' Ronan stated. 'It can't.'

'At least you're right about that.' Rodney said miserably. 'Sheppard's nuts – you shoulda gone. That way if he does and then if it happens, at least you…' He noted Ronan's impatience and knew he was thinking the same thing, but John hadn't budged on this. 'Right, when Athera gets here with the supposed amazing help – not likely – what do we do then?'

Ronan stood and paced. 'Wait.'

Rodney slumped on the table. 'Fabulous. More waiting.'

There was no more time to delay. They were dressed and ready to go, and the guards were ready to take them. Nine people were lead out of the Underworld with Teyla in the lead, dressed in her breast plate and boots once more – but this time she carried two swords, and she had Tycho at her side.

He wore a breastplate that covered his whole chest and made his muscly arms look magnificent. The cotton skirt he wore was covered by numerous leather straps that dangled to his knees and his helmet covered half his face. She could still see his green eyes and handsome mouth and chin. He carried two swords also.

They said their goodbyes to Dio and left him in the care of Silas, a kindly stranger Tycho said they could trust.

As the group walked up the corridor with their massive guard force leading them, Teyla heard the chant of the crowd and the rumble of movement above. She glanced up at Tycho and he flexed his jaw.

The guards forced them to stop outside the massive doors and Teyla paused with a curious expression. She had been here twice now and never before noticed the twenty men on either side of each massive door with their hands pushing against a lever which stuck out of a wheel. A massive rope was wound round the wheel and attached to the door as it was pulled open. She realised that she was not as nervous as she had been the last two times she approached this door. If anything, she was pleased not to be sitting and waiting. She wanted to get into that arena and that thought scared her more than anything.

The doors opened slowly and the light of the roaring fires burst through with the deafening cheers of welcome by the crowd. The group spread out in a line to walk into the Arena. Boran grinned at the cheering crowds and puffed out his chest, playing with the spiked mallet he carried. Teyla gave Tycho an eyebrow of disbelief which he shared.

The Emperor rose from his seat dressed in black robes and the crowd quietened. Teyla saw the Altus Domino at his right with a small party of men behind him in the darkness of the arch. The group moved forward into the Arena. Teyla immediately spotted the small mound of shields in the centre of the room meant for them and felt an anger rise.

'Welcome Warriors!' He exclaimed. 'I have prepared an interesting challenge for you, one which you will enjoy I have no doubt.' He said amusedly. 'To the centre if you please, before me.' He commanded them.

Teyla reluctantly walked forward and heard Tycho mumble 'If we get any closer to him, I may have to throw one of my blades at him.' Teyla smiled in approval.

'Good. Now, your battle awaits. May Aresedys have mercy on you all!' He yelled and the raised his hands to the ceiling, the crowd cheering.

Teyla immediately planted her feet into a fighting stance. Something was wrong. The ground moved, she could feel it. Tycho frowned, looking round the Arena for their challenge.

'What is it?' He asked.

Boran growled at the coming danger, his minions looking fearfully to the empty ground around them. The other three that had been chosen seemed more prepared, but cautious.

'I am not sure. Can you not feel the ground vibrate?' She whispered.

The group looked to the ground with frowns and suddenly the crowd fell silent at the sound of thunder filling the room. Teyla looked up at Titus and saw him smile. This was not good.

Without warning, four chariots roared into the Arena with two armed warriors each, four horses to each chariot. The warriors were all men, and they all carried swords with bows and arrows. She felt Tycho shift uncomfortably at her side. Teyla's eyes widened.

'Move!' She roared, and they surged forward to the shields. 'We must stay together, watch each other!' She ordered.

'Shields!' Tycho roared, and the group hit the ground with their shields raised in a tight circle as various arrows flew through the air.

Teyla scrambled next to Tycho. 'We must disarm them!' She yelled.

'How?!' Boran roared. 'We have nothing to compete with their arrows!'

'He is right. The moment these shields fall, we die.' Tycho confirmed.

Teyla nodded. Then we must even the odds.' She said dangerously. 'Listen, all of you.'

The Emperor watched the prisoners as they cowered behind their shields and grinned, the Chariots circling them with their bows at the ready. He chuckled, turning to the Domino.

'Poor little lambs, Kyros. What will they do?' He seemed more than happy at the prospect of their deaths.

The crowd cheered on, some began to complain at their cowardice, eager for them to stand and bleed.

Teyla nodded at Tycho and Boran who nodded in return. Boran grinned madly. 'Insane! But it might just succeed!'

'On my word!' Tycho yelled, his eyes locking with Teyla. 'Turn!'

Teyla, Tycho and Boran broke off from the group taking two others with them in separate directions, their groups of three immediately forming their own circle of shields as the arrows flew into them. The audience cheered. There was nothing better than a plan.

The Emperor clapped his hands joyously and leant forward in his throne.

The three groups moved out swiftly, crouched so as not to expose their legs too much, which is where the archers were now aiming. Teyla felt hot in the proximity of the other two men, one of which was from Boran's group and the other one of the ones chosen randomly. They grew closer to the edge where the chariots rode on.

Teyla readied herself. 'Now!'

She broke the circle and surged forward, the other two bringing their shields round to protect her like a fence from the other chariots as she moved forward. Teyla stood at the side and as the chariot drew near, the archer, snatching another arrow and firing it at her, she dodged, immediately leaping back with an outstretched arm and her sword slammed into the warriors head. It flew off of his shoulders and the body fell to the ground, knocking the Archer off his feet. The reins were free and two warriors were down. Teyla had no time to see how the others were doing but ran full speed behind the empty chariot and pounced on, dropping her sword to the space in front and grabbing the reins.

Teyla finally had the chance to look behind her and saw Tycho battling with the driver of the Chariot as it raced behind her having dealt with the archer. Behind him, Boran had failed to board his chariot and was waiting for them to come back around, his group's shields still raised. That meant there were two archer still functioning, and sure enough, the two that had protected her were in trouble. Boran's man took an arrow to the calf and dropped his shield in agony, the other man dropped to the floor to help protect him and another arrow thudded into his skull. Boran's man crept away in terror and didn't see the oncoming chariot. He screamed as he was trampled by the horses and the wheels, which frightened the horses enough to push against each other and bang into the side. The driver was crushed against the wall and the archer fell from the back and scrambled away. Their reins became entwined and two of the four stumbled and swerved the chariot off of the circling path and into the centre. One of the horses lay still on the ground while the three that had recovered tottered to a halt.

Teyla cocked her head. That was one way of getting rid of a chariot. She glanced behind and saw Tycho roar with anger as he threw his opponent off the back of the chariot and take the reins to follow her. He looked furious and gladiatorial in his helmet – Teyla approved.

Boran had meanwhile clubbed one of the leading horses in the head with little effect; the horse had shaken off the injury and continued to ride on. The archer meanwhile had taken to shooting at Teyla who was ducking with little grace as she hurried the horses to catch up with the final chariot.

Tycho immediately brought his chariot to the centre and jumped off the back. There were two archers still moving around on the ground, both had killed the two men that had been with him and were now aiming at Teyla and Boran's group. He snuck up behind the first and slit his throat without warning. The crowd cheered. The second had seen him and immediately shot an arrow at him. Tycho deflected it skilfully with his sword.

Suddenly a loud shout of pain distracted his attention as he saw Boran fall to the ground with an arrow in his chest; the archer from the still moving chariot had found his mark. Tycho glanced at Teyla as the archer turned on her. He surged forwards with no way of reaching her.

'Teyla!' He yelled.

He gasped with a guttural grunt and felt a sharp pain in his side. Tycho looked down and saw a long arrow sticking out from his side, without hesitation he growled and snapped the shaft, baring his teeth at the archer and sprinting forward before he could reach for another arrow. The man dropped his bow and unsheathed his sword. Tycho grinned.

He bounded forward with animal like grace and quickly slammed his sword into the side of the enemy who was barely able to deflect its force and stumbled badly. Unrelenting, Tycho moved in and raised his sword and was blocked twice before he was able to unleash his fury with a speedy slash to the mans midsection and quickly bringing the blade up to split the mans face. He fell onto the sand, blood pouring out with no time to puddle around Tycho's boots as he ran toward Boran.

The pain was immense but he knelt at Boran's side and lifted the mans blood stained face. Large angry eyes opened and smiled bitterly.

'That woman, Tycho, will end all that we know.' He rasped.

'We can only hope.' Tycho nodded.

Boran's eyes fluttered and his head went limp. Tycho gritted his jaw and turned to the two remaining men, both of Boran's group. An arrow mercilessly flew into the side of one of them and knocked him off his feet. Tycho turned with a ferocity and watched as Teyla began to make her move.

Teyla felt the power in her rise, felt the confidence and the joy of the chase, and the knowledge that she would win. She heard the crowd roaring its approval at her bloodlust over the sound of the beating hooves of eight horses. She slammed the reins repeatedly, pulling them left. She could hear John in her head and felt an intense wish that he was at her side to join her in this victory. 'Overtake the little guy to get ahead, it's the only way you get anywhere on a motorway. Speed and a flashy car. Which is why I'm always dawdling on the inside lane in my little Kia.' She had no idea what most of it meant. And she didn't care.

The horses started to pull out and level with the second chariot as they raced around the Arena, the archer setting himself up for another shot.

Tycho walked forward, watching the chariots race over the massive space. 'Go.' He whispered.

Teyla quickly wound the reigns on the handle just in front of her and stood on the end of her sword, it flipped into the air and she caught it with ease. The archer aimed at her and Teyla swiped the arrow, breaking it in half and then reached in, grasped the top of the mans breastplate and pulled him forward into her sword. He fell off the back with a small yelp, and Teyla turned to the driver.

She grinned, and the driver watched her with wide eyes. Teyla leapt over the edge of her chariot and onto his, the weight of a person jumping on the chariot sending it swerving into the centre. Teyla grabbed the handle and elbowed the driver in the face. He fell off and Teyla took the reins, slowing the horses to a stop.

She stepped off the back and approached the driver as he crawled away from her with a bloodied lip. The crowd were beside themselves with joy and excited thrills of seeing her approach this man in his last moments.

'Killing blow! Killing blow! Killing blow!' The chant started and Teyla looked up, the sword in her hand gripped firmly. She saw Tycho down the other end and realised that this was all that was left – this one man, crawling like a bug to get away from her, fear apparent in his eyes and his mixed, incoherent mumblings pleading with her not to harm him.

Teyla paused, spun the sword in her hand and slammed it into the ground. The drivers head centre metres from its blade.

She was not a murderer just yet.

She stood tall and ignored the crowds' chants as they grew louder. She heard a shuffle below and looked down to see the driver leap up with an arrow head in his hands, desperately seeking to impale her with the broken shaft. Teyla side stepped and the man stumbled past her, she snatched the sword from the ground and viciously brought it round as the man turned, decapitating him where he stood.

The crowd roared their praise at her kill, and paid her respect with the endless chanting of her name. She had never heard it in such a manner. They worshipped her for her skill to kill.

Teyla listened to them, her ears ringing as she walked to the centre. Tycho and one of Boran's men meeting her there. Nine whittled down to three – it could have been worse. Tycho looked weary holding his side and Teyla frowned with concern.

'It is nothing; I have already removed the arrow. The Medicine Man will heal it.' He said, breathing hard.

The other man looked surprised, shocked that he was alive. Teyla felt this was slightly funny but did not laugh. The others had not been so lucky.

The Emperor walked down off his throne, but the crowd continued to cheer her name. He raised his hands and the chant continued for a few seconds before quieting to a silence. He smiled coldly.

'Well…see how popular you are Teyla? All you had to do was decapitate a barbarian.' He commented.

Teyla smiled. 'Perhaps if you killed a few yourself, they would think more of you than they really do.'

Titus said nothing but smiled tightly. 'You are entertaining, girl. You have done well, as have your…or what is left of your team mates.' His eyes fell on Tycho who avoided eye contact and inspected his wound. 'And since you have been such a good girl, I will give you a gift, a grand surprise.'

'Your surprises usually mean death.' Teyla said sourly.

Titus nodded to the Domino and grinned at her. 'You had best hope not…'

Two guards came forward from behind the Altus Domino, dragging a third.

'…unless you having something against him.' Titus nodded to the guards and they thrust the man forward so he slammed into the balconies edge.

To Teyla's horror, John Sheppard's handsome face stared down at her with a guilty smile.