Chapter 4
"I do not understand why you are so concerned," Alberich said for the tenth time that morning. "It is a blessing; not a curse!"
"Someone's parents coming back from the dead is not normal, Alberich," Jack persisted as they walked through the village with the elder. "You know, where we're from, we tend to worry about things like that."
"Daniel saw his parents die when he was only eight years old, and now they're back," Sam said, trying to clarify what the problem was.
"How wonderful!" Alberich cried, beaming. "What does Daniel think?"
"Well, he's a little worried," Jack interrupted, feeling ready to bash the elderly man over the head for being just plain annoying. "We're all a little worried. Now, you say this is a blessing. How is it a blessing?"
"Does he not have his parents back?" Alberich pointed out.
"That's not the point!" Jack groaned, bringing his hand up to his forehead in an exasperated smack. "The point is that people aren't supposed to come back from the dead! They didn't show up until after Daniel passed out at your little party, and we want to know why that is!"
"The elves bestowed a blessing upon him," Alberich said patiently, as if explaining the matter to a tiny child.
"Is it possible to speak face-to-face with these elves?" Teal'c asked, forestalling O'Neill's attempt to grab his gun so he could shoot Alberich.
"Of course," Alberich said brightly. "Speak, and they will hear you."
"Could we…maybe go someplace where we can see them as well?" Sam said as patiently as she could.
Alberich stopped, as if listening to something that only he could hear. "Yes," he said, sounding surprised. "They have heard your requests, and they wish me to take you to the caves. Once there, they will speak with you."
"Now we're talkin'" Jack said, relieved. "Can we go now?"
Space
It was a few hours' walk to the caves, but they got there with no problem. While they walked, Alberich told them stories of the other four who had been chosen to receive blessings. One young man's weak eyes were strengthened, a young woman was finally pregnant after several years of waiting, an older woman's painful arthritis was healed, and a child's fits had been eased. When asked, Alberich told them about the caves. They were the places that the people could retreat to in times of dire need, and if someone desperately needed something in between communion times, then they could travel to the caves and ask for it. Sometimes they received it, sometimes not, and sometimes it was a while before they got what they asked for.
"Did any of these people asking special blessings see the elves?" Sam asked, intrigued.
"Some have," Alberich admitted. "Most haven't. I think that only when the need is very dire do we ever see the elves."
"Such as?" Teal'c prompted.
"Well, there was a story my grandmother told us of when she was small. There was a terrible flood in the valley where she lived, so they retreated to the caves. Many among them needed the help of the elves, but before anyone could ask for it, they were there doing what was needed of them. They healed the hurt and sick, made the caves warm and comfortable, and brought food and water. After the flood waters retreated and the people were able to return home, the elves disappeared, and my grandmother said that they had done that since they were sure they were no longer needed."
"Wow," Jack said, too surprised to say more than that. "So, have these elves ever hurt anyone?"
Alberich turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"
"Well, what if someone was guilty of a very violent crime?" Jack said quickly, thinking of an example. "Would they punish that person?"
"There would be punishment," Alberich assured him, sounding thoughtful. "But it is very rare that such punishment is needed."
"And how is such a person punished?" Jack continued, intensely curious.
"He or she is removed from the community for the safety of everyone else, but very few who have undergone punishment ever wish to speak of it once they return. What little they told had to do with being treated kindly, yet firmly, and having their minds…opened…by the elves. They would never explain what they meant by that, but the elves always assured the other people that they were no longer dangerous and could be trusted. Indeed, that was always the case."
No one of SG-1 knew what to make of that. Instead of debating it, each person tucked it away for further discussion in private and asked other questions. What did the elves look like? (The description seemed to come right out of Tolkein.) Did they live in the caves? (No one was sure, but that was where they were most often found.) Were they ever seen down in the village? (Not that Alberich could remember.) Were there any cruel elves? (At that question Alberich had looked so completely shocked that they thought it better not to continue with that line of questioning.) Did the elves eat, drink, or sleep? (Alberich didn't know.) Had they ever made mistakes? (Alberich said that in all of his life, he'd never heard of an elf making a mistake, and it was clear that he doubted it was possible.)
By that time, they'd reached the caves, and Alberich led the way in. The first thing that they noticed was that there were torches burning in holders on the walls. "In preparation for our arrival," Alberich explained. "They know we cannot see in the dark."
"Can they?" Sam wondered aloud.
"You will have to ask," Alberich told her as he led them along the passageway. "I'm sure they will answer you."
"Indeed," Teal'c said, looking about the caves with his usual calm.
From what any of them could tell, Alberich was leading them down through a tunnel that was sure to lead to a larger room. Almost after they had come to that realization, they were there, staring around a large cavern that echoed, but was also strangely warm. It was also large enough to hold the entire village twice over comfortably.
Jack whistled, his eyes widening at the echo. "Whoa. Sure is big."
A gust of cool wind and Alberich's gasp and sudden bow alerted them to the elves' arrival. Turning, SG-1 saw three people who looked like figments of Tolkein's imagination. A man stood on either side of the lone woman, and their outfits were simple but elegant. With their light blond coloring, the sapphire and emerald shades that they wore suited them perfectly and made them that much more breathtaking.
Elder Alberich, we thank you for bringing the strangers to us, the woman said in a voice that was so beautiful that Jack was certain he'd go crazy from hearing it.
"It is an honor, my lady," Alberich said, bowing again. "May I present Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter, and the warrior Teal'c."
All three elves bowed their heads in unison before regarding the three off-worlders. You are welcome, strangers, the woman said again. I am Alys. What is it you wished to ask?
"Well, there's a little matter of a blessing you gave to a friend of ours," Jack began, wondering just how this woman was speaking to him when he never saw her mouth move.
The one called Daniel, said one of the men.
"Yeah, him," Jack affirmed, surprised. "Well, you see, his parents kind of came back from the dead. They died when he was eight years old—he saw it happen, in fact—but now they're back, wandering around the base, and it's creeping us all out a bit, not to mention scaring the hell out of Daniel. People aren't supposed to come back from the dead."
Your stories hold mention of people returning from the dead, the other man said, gently correcting him. You yourself are familiar with many, and Daniel knew many more. Why should it be so strange to you now?
"Well, it happens in stories, not in real life," Sam pointed out. "Besides, he saw his parents die, and now he sees people every day that he knows are dead. How can they be who they say they are? Who are they, really?"
We cannot create people who no longer have physical bodies, Alys said gently, as if saddened by that fact.
"No, but I feel you know something of this matter that you are not telling us," Teal'c said, sounding very worried. "What are you? How have you done this thing for Daniel Jackson?"
We gave him a blessing, Alys said, sounding for all the world like Alberich.
"You see, it's not such a blessing. That's what we're trying to tell you," Jack interrupted.
We had a feeling that you would not understand the blessing we gave to Daniel, but please understand this: Only the person who receives the blessing can ask for it to be taken away. Daniel is not here and he is not asking for it to be taken back, so it will remain, Alys said firmly, looking regretful but at the same time, determined. She was sorry that they were worried, but she was not going to encroach on Daniel's right to decide.
"Well, all right, we can understand that," Jack said, sounding as if he were perfectly fine with that. "Now, could you answer a few more questions for us?"
At the least, they looked surprised and just a bit wary. Such as?
"We're explorers, and we'd like to know a bit more about you and this planet. We were asking Alberich tons of questions about you and he answered them as best he could, but we'd also like to hear your answers," Sam said, sounding just like Daniel. In a pinch, she could act as a culture buff as well.
Alys seemed to relax. Ask what you will, and we will answer, but there are some questions that will not receive full answers. It is not always necessary for you to know everything at the moment you ask.
It seemed they had to be content with that.