AN: I know you have all been waiting months for this but now I think I've finally managed to get it going in the way I wanted. Big thanks to Hazmot for giving me the impulsion I needed to finish this. It is a little on the short side from what previous chapters have been but hey, be glad you're getting anything at all. Nah just kidding, hope the content makes up for lack in length. Thanks also to my wonderful beta for all the help.
This isn't the end, there WILL be more. (In fact the next bit's already half written)
Please let me know what you think :o)
***
Cam stood awestruck at the view before him, thinking it resembled the tales his grandfather told him about the D-Day landings.
No sun had risen that morning. The sky was full of black menacing clouds and, in the grey half light, he could see the assembled masses of the army. All around him banners fluttered in the high wind but none so large or as splendid as Anarion's. It was midnight black with the four crests of the kingdoms embroidered in silver and encircled with a golden crown. Captains were organizing their ranks in preparation for the march and on the far side of the valley the cavalry was amassed and waiting.
"You ever see anything like it?" He asked Teal'c who was standing beside him.
"Never."
"Are you ready?" Vala asked as she and Sam came out of their tent.
"As ready as we'll ever be."
"No matter what happens we stay together." Vala told them as they joined the ranks of the Kings House Hold.
Plain red banners were raised at the head of each column and as one man the army drew their swords and marched forward. It was an hour's march to where the wall of fire had been, No words were spoken as they marched and a heavy sense of foreboding fell on all the men.
They stopped when they came to the scorched grass where the wall had been. The horsemen of the plains gave a mournful cry when they saw what had become of the once green and fertile land; the whole valley was now a dry and barren wasteland, swimming with the ranks of the enemy, 100,000 strong at least.
Eldarin raised his horn from his side and the note he blew was so full and clear that the horn burst in his hands. From the ranks of the cavalry answering horns sounded and amidst the music, they charged. They rode like thunder down the plain to meet the enemy and the ground shook with their number. Eldarin led, his white horse galloping like the wind, and the enemy quaked when they saw the wrath on his face and the glint of his sword. They rode to the very feet of the enemy, one long offensive front, before the line broke in two and they herded the front force of the enemy between them. They came full circle so now they were behind the enemy and reformed the line before once again charging back up the plain. The frontal force of the enemy was now trapped between the returning cavalry and the advancing infantry.
As the enemy fell their bodies burned in a white hot flame before vanishing.
For many hours the battle raged on, neither side gaining advantage for even though the armies of Eriador were superior fighters, the number of Ori was simply overwhelming and, it seemed to them, that no matter how many they cut down 10 more would take their place.
Anarion rode among the men and everywhere he went, a cry would go up as they rallied around him and found their strength renewed. Eldarin led the cavalry in many charges and always the enemy retreated before him, for he was young and a prince, the joy of battle in his face and the fury of his hatred in his eyes.
Cam went into a blind rage when he saw the fallen body of Ando, the guard that had shown them around the city, and cut down many of the Ori in his wrath.
"We can't go on like this." Vala muttered to herself as she watched the carnage around her. She took one look back at her friends before sheathing her sword and running towards a horse that was running free on the battlefield.
Vala mounted the horse and took off at a gallop into the Ori lines, loathe to leave her friends but knowing that this would be the only way. She swayed slightly in the saddle and felt a tingling sensation deep in her chest but dismissed it at weariness from a long morning and little sleep the night before.
Behind her SG1 stood rooted to the spot as they watched their friend ride off into deadly peril, convinced that she would be cut down at any moment. But to their slackjawed wonder, and that of the men around them, Vala's horse charged onwards and light seemed to shine out from her. Pure white it was and as she rode further into danger it became brighter until neither Vala nor the horse could be seen.
"What the…" Cam trailed off, unable to completely articulate his thoughts.
"Did I not say there was more to my sister than met the eye." Anarion called down as he rode up beside them.
"You know what's going on?" Sam asked.
"No, but I'm sure we will find out in time." He shouted back to them as he rode off again.
Vala gained speed as she charged deeper and deeper into the Ori lines but the horse beneath her never once stumbled or even seemed to need direction, there was no saddle or bridal on the horse and yet it seemed to simply know Vala's every wish. The Ori ran before her and the light that she emitted seemed to burn their skin as it hit them.
On and on she rode until at last the battle was behind her and she could see the outline of her daughter silhouetted on the crest of a hill, her red robes contrasting sharply against the dull grey sky. As Vala got closer she could see the dispassionate look in her daughter's eyes as she surveyed the carnage she had unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. The cool calm of her gaze sent a shiver down Vala's spine and the light surrounding her disappeared, falling back into her.
The horse slowed and came to a stop in front of Adria, stopping long enough for Vala to dismount before throwing its head back and charging off into the distance, never to be seen again.
"Mother," Adria's words echoed the emotional void of her eyes, "Do you see now how futile your attempts at stopping me have been?"
"We will stop you." Vala told her, showing none of the doubt she felt inside, "I will stop you."
"And how do you plan to do that, mother? You are simply a human and I am a god. You don't have the power to stop me, even if your pitiful army defeats my forces." Adria's eyes flamed red as she spoke and for the first time Vala saw a flair of emotion behind them.
Vala did not answer immediately. Time seemed to slow, the noise of battle faded away, and Vala looked out from behind her eyes in a moment of perfect clarity. As if in that one moment she could see all the small events that had brought them to this place, how they fit together so perfectly, leading them all to this moment in time.
She blinked and the moment passed. The certainty fell away leaving only the knowledge of what she must do, of how this had to end, weighing heavily on her heart.
Adria cocked an eyebrow at her mother, a smug smile on her face as she misinterpreted her mother's actions. However as she saw Vala's lips turn into a sorrowful smile and her eyes fill with pity Adria's expression turned to one of confusion.
Vala reached out her hand to clasp her daughters face and as a single tear fell from her storm grey eyes she whispered a single word.
"Sorry."
Adria blinked for a moment in confusion until she saw a light begin to emanate from her mothers hand and she felt it seep slowly into her skin. She staggered backwards but both women knew that it was too late, the damage had been done. The light enveloped Adria's body and she collapsed to her knees onto the barren ground, her beautiful face twisting in anguish as the light of her mother battled with the fire within her.
"How?" She managed to ask, her voice laden with pain.
"Love, daughter." Vala told her kneeling down to look her in the eye, "The power of the Ori is rooted in hate and the wish to dominate but the power of the Ancients, the power within me, comes from love." She held Adria's face in her hands again as more tears spilled from her eyes. "Hatred cannot exist where love is strong. Within my heart is all the love there is. I love all who went before me, all who are here and all who will follow." she said with a catching sigh, "I love you my darling, but love also has the power to destroy and hurt as much as hate. You never should have been. You cannot be now." Vala leaned forward and, wrapping her arms around her daughter, gently kissed her forehead. "I love you." She whispered again.
Adria closed her eyes as the light began to over take her and leaned in to the cradle of her mother's arms, accepting both her fate and the love she would never be able to feel in return.
And there on the violated earth Vala felt the body of her daughter fade from her arms forever. The power of her ancestors left, its task finally complete, and she slumped forward as the pain of her actions overwhelmed her.
In that moment Vala welcomed the darkness that overtook her.
***
Daniel stood on the great wall that surrounded the city, his gaze locked on the horizon where he knew his friends to be. All day he had stood there with worry heavy on his brow, there had been no news since the King had departed the night before, and not knowing the fate of his friends was slowly driving him mad but more than anything he wished for news of Vala.
She had snuck away in the night without saying goodbye to him and he knew he would regret it for the rest of his life if the last time they spent together had been spent in anger. He ran over in his mind all the regrets he already had regarding Vala, all the missed chances and time he had wasted. In all the years he had known her how many times had the words 'I love you' been on the tip of his tongue only to be replaced with some sarcastic comment or put down? He vowed that if, 'no not if' he mentally corrected himself, when she returned he would not let another opportunity pass him by.
Jack's so often repeated words rang in his head, 'What has she gotten you into this time space monkey?' Daniel smiled as he finally realised the answer.
But just as quickly as it had come his smile faltered and he clasped his hand to his chest as a searing pain struck him.
"Vala!" he managed to gasp as his legs buckled beneath him and the world went black.