The cheering continued as John, McKay and Teyla were escorted out of the Temple. Jaigon immediately walked into the crowd with his head held high and arms outstretched to greet the people. He hadn't said a word but half the guards remained behind, surrounding the team.

"Are you sure Dr Beckett will be safe remaining inside?" Teyla whispered to John as she watched the exuberant people hurry away to begin preparations for the coming celebration. The Elder knew how to play to the crowd and was very soon out of sight in the mass of people. The men he had left were obviously to keep people away as much as guard the team. The townsfolk still leaving the outpost flowed around them on all sides. The stares and whispers were rather unsettling but there seemed to be very little of the hostility they had experienced inside.

"Ronon will keep an eye on him" The Colonel replied, "Besides, not like we had much choice in the matter" He eyed the soldiers who all seemed disinterested in the conversation but he still kept he voice low as he spoke "Rodney, any chance you can disable that signal?"

"Not without access to the consoles. I'm not even sure what could be causing" The rest of the crowd had moved off whilst they spoke and the large door behind them was now clear. The majority of the people in the square seemed busy throwing yellow bunting and decorations over every available surface. Tables were placed around the pillars in the centre of the square and food was being laid out.

Despite their new celebrity status no one seemed to be looking in their direction. John carefully took a step backwards before turning towards the outpost. Two of the guards immediately blocked his path and the others raised their rifles. Sheppard instinctively reached for his own weapon only to remember at the last second that it was no longer there. Yet the situation was prevented from going any further by the arrival of Councillor Enrick.

"There you are Seeker!" The Councillor brushed passed the guards as if their threatening stance was the least of his concerns and even pushed down the barrels of the nearest two as he approached. "How wise of you to test the men's resolve on following the Writ by not permitting anyone to enter the Temple. As you can see they are extremely dedicated" He may as well have winked as he faced Sheppard, "Perhaps you would like a tour of Crowlan until all are permitted to re-enter the Temple when the Festival of Light begins." The arrival of the councillor seemed to have caught the soldiers off guard and there was a confused pause but John knew it wouldn't last long.

"Sure why not, a tour sounds fun" He said but as they moved off the soldiers started to follow and Enrick flapped his hands at them like an over excited hen.

"No no, you must guard the Temple. With the Angel still awake anything could happen. I will escort the Seekers" The men seemed unsure and Enricks expression suddenly became far less friendly. "I'm sure the Elder would be most displeased if anything happened to the Angel due to your absence" The threat of Jaigons wrath was more than enough and the guards fell into position on either side of the door with rigid precision. The councillor turned with a satisfied huff and began to lead the team away. "We must hurry, before they think to send a runner to Jaigon" he whispered.

"But our friends as still inside the temple" Teyla pointed out and the Councillor shook his head as they walked.

"I'm afraid you will be unable to rejoin them until after the celebration. For now we must get you away before you try something else that will get you all killed" McKay baulk at the startling revelation whilst John and Teyla exchanged a look before allowing the councillor to usher them along. He quickly led them away from the main square and down a side road where he unlocked a boarded up workshop and waved them inside. As soon as the door was shut John turned to him.

"Ok, what the hell is going on?" The councillor was taken aback and just for a second his face took on the same unfriendly expression he had given the guards.

"I believe I just saved your lives" He said and John grimaced before holding up his hand in apology.

"Well, thank you, we appreciate it. Now maybe you could tell us why we needed saving in the first place?" The Councillor let out an irritated breath before speaking.

"Only the Elder or those with his permission are allowed in the Temple before a festival. Jaigon could not refuse your Healers request to tend the Angel, especially after he proved himself as he did. However the rest of you are still in question. If you act in any way that is counter to the Writ he will use it as an excuse to declare you all false Seekers"

"You mean he'll kill us?" Sheppard had held doubts about Jaigons earlier threats but he had a feeling they were about to be confirmed.

"Any who transgress the Writ are put through ordeals to prove their faith. In your case, fail to show you are true Seekers and you will be tied to the pillars in the square and burnt"

"And how exactly is that supposed to prove our faith?" Rodney asked, appalled that religion could so easily blind someone to reason.

"Officially, the Angels fire will not burn the righteous." Enrick said before lowering his voice considerably. "Unofficially, it reaffirms Jaigons position and quells any attempt to undermine his authority."

"You do not believe in the Angel?" Teyla asked and Enrick glanced around the room as if he expected someone to be watching them. When he spoke it was with regret.

"The last time she awoke I was a child. I wanted to see the Angel command the Temples Fire, so I concealed myself to watch rather than going into hiding with the others. That day I did not see the serene, shiny beacon of our salvation as the Elders have always preached to us. I saw a bleeding woman curse and swear as she struggled to make the Temple work. When the Elder came to put her back to sleep she screamed and fought. She did not going willingly." He looked down as if the memory pained him and the team exchanged glances. "My whole life I have dedicated myself to discovering the truth behind the Temples power so she and all of us can be free from the Elders tyrannical rule of religious zeal"

The last was said with real fire and a gleam in his eye that made John question which between Jaigon and Enrick was the real fanatic was. However, given the situation, he would take the man who saved them from a mob over the one who threatened to set it on them. John moved closer and carefully placed his hand on Enricks shoulder. The older man flinched and looked up.

"Can you tell us who she is?" He asked gently

"The Writ says she fell from the heavens, pursued by Demons. She used the Temples Fire to destroy them. Then she promised to keep us all safe if the Demons should return before going to sleep." The Councilman recited the old tale

"These demons wouldn't happen to fly around in pointy ships and suck the life out of you with their hands?" John asked and Enrick nodded

"How does she know when the 'demons' have returned?" Teyla asked.

"The Writ says the Temple knows and wakes her"

"Sounds like 'The Writ' says a lot of things" MacKay muttered and John glared at him to be quite.

"Listen, we don't want any trouble. We just need to fix something in your Temple and then we'll be on our way. Can you get us inside?" The Colonel asked.

"The Writ forbids..." Enrick began before John interrupted.

"I know what the Writ says. I'm asking if you can get us inside?" The Councillor seemed torn.

"The earliest writings tells us that when Seekers appear they will make us safe from the Demons that steal our children and we will not need the Angel anymore. You will think me mad but myself and other have come to believe them to be visitors from another world. Perhaps if we could understand them we would be better able to protect ourselves, rather than having to rely on the Elders and their so called Angel" He didn't seem too happy about the current situation.

"You would prefer it if Lexia, the Angel, were not here?" Teyla asked and Enrick turned sharply to face her.

"What do you think of me? I wish my people to be free from a religion that blinds them to progress but I will not leave them in danger. I have seen the demons, we stand no chance as we are. But it is not the Angel that keeps us safe, it is the Temple. If I could only figure out how it works we would not need her and she could leave, as it is so obviously what she wants to do."

"Enrick, we can help protect you and your people from the demons but you have to help us first. You need to get us into the Temple" John held his eyes as he spoke and the Councillor stood up straighter.

"It will take time. Wait here and I'll see what I can do."