Jack's Viking Sky 8

Sky (Part 2/2)

by Mitch H

URL: http://www.stargateslash.com/asm/mitchh/jacksv082.php
Summary: Jack and Daniel have freed a world of the tyrannical grip of Nirrti's posthumous reign. Now the lovers must help each other face the changes in themselves. Sam and Teal'c finally reunite with their teammates and together the four deal with what lies ahead for SG-1, and help Nortvegr find a new path
Info:

Author's Notes:

Stranded on an unknown world, Jack and Daniel struggle to survive the harsh environment and the crushing confines of a Viking society corrupted by the dead goa'uld, Nirrti. Jack has been poisoned and Daniel must find a way to exist and prosper within the remnants of Nirrti's destructive laws in order to preserve his lover's life, and to get them to a possible gate home.

Sky is the last book in the epic series, Jack's Viking Sky. An index of words and names can be found at the end of each book. Many authentic Viking cultural and language references have been used in this story.

The extensive Alpha work done on this entire epic series was done by Rosie.

Books one through eight were first-time Betaed by Rosie.

Books one through six were betaed by Saladscream.

Book seven and the first half of book eight were betaed by Peacendjoy

The last half of book eight was anonymously betaed.

The contribution of these others to this epic is greatly appreciated by the author who acknowledges, that without help, this series would never have gone beyond a ten thousand word story.

Chapter 42 Try Again

The day slipped away, and once again Jack had spent almost all of its hours cuddling with Daniel in bed. "Don't like the direction this is going," he murmured against Daniel's veiled head. "Would rather we got out some today."

"Tomorrow," Daniel countered, keeping his face buried under the white drape.

"Yeah, but you wanted tomorrow off. Today you were supposed to do what I wanted."

"Did."

"When?"

"Breakfast."

"Oh."

"Yeah. How could you forget?" Daniel asked, his voice an ugly combination of a sneer with undisguised derision. "I faced him."

"Did you?"

"Did," Daniel repeated his earlier assertion.

"Hid behind your veil," Jack said, his voice now showing the disappointment he felt.

"I did?" Daniel sounded genuinely confused.

"Okay, cut it out. Time to eat again. You wanna go out and sit with Ulfrik someplace? Maybe we could go across the road to some inn, have something besides salty lamb."

"If you want," Daniel said flatly. "With Ulfrik, that'd be okay. Teal'c coming too?"

"Uh. Maybe just the big guys. Leave T here with Carter. She's been stuck in the temple. Probably going a little stir-crazy, but it's not safe for her to be out on the streets yet."

"And it is safe for me?" Daniel asked.

"Is. Yeah."

"Guardians."

"Balin came and told me earlier, there are maybe a hundred left. That failed attack plus the questioning they've started doing, the search for the goat's hair herb, that's debilitated the lot of them. Disbanded. Couple more of them are dead. Locals took exception to them eyeing up Skys on the streets."

Daniel shuddered. "When I went to the stables that day I didn't feel any danger from them."

"Was stupid of me, letting you go out with only two Champions to watch you."

"And Lemmel."

"And Lemmel," Jack conceded. "Can't forget Lemmel."

"He was the first person I saw on this planet, I think. In the desert. He stood up first, saw us first."

Jack smiled, pressing his lips against Daniel's veil. "Kid."

Daniel nodded.

"So you've had some time to think about what Teal'c said, how that whole thing went. Any clearer on it yet?"

"Yeah. Mostly. Yeah. He would never do what happens in my nightmares."

"Good, then. How about we go get some food?"

"No. I'm going to stay here. You go. Visit with Ulfrik, find out how things went down south after we left."

Jack sighed heavily and rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling, a ceiling that was so high overhead that details of it were lost in the dim haze of the evening light. The Champions would be gathering soon, doing their watching thing as it got dark. "Come with me," he said.

"Leave me alone."

"Tomorrow we'll go for a ride. Circle the city. Lemmel said you two went around it at a pretty fast gallop. We'll do that. Stretch first. My legs," Jack said, by way of explanation.

"Go," Daniel said, his head completely covered by the veil.

"You're embarrassed about T."

"Fuck off."

"I know you. I know you're embarrassed, but I also know you normally get over things like that quickly."

"I'm not normal anymore, Jack. Emotional cripple, remember?"

"So to get over this embarrassment, you gotta get up and just be around him a little bit. It'll fade. Trust me."

"Leave me alone."

"You already said that. It didn't get you anywhere. And this really was supposed to be a day that you got up and did things with me. Tomorrow—"

"We'll go riding. But not with him. Just you and your men, the one's who've fucked me."

"Ulfrik's never ... you know," Jack insisted. "Did he? He just gave you a ... blow job."

"No. You're forgetting. At the waterfall they all three did. Ulfrik first, because he was smallest. I chose him to go first, then Lemmel."

"Oh. Okay, then," Jack said, softening his voice "Yeah, I knew that. So we all go riding tomorrow. Ulfrik, we'll have to rent a horse for him. Take a few other Champions with us."

"So since I've agreed to be on display for you tomorrow, you have to leave me alone tonight."

"Okay. You know, that doesn't sound too good, display. But I'm holding you to it anyway. Riding tomorrow."

The next morning while Daniel stayed in bed, Jack had an early breakfast, sitting in the temple with Carter and Teal'c. He'd really ignored her since that comment she'd made, that accurate and so incredibly nasty comment. Observation, really. Truth. Not nasty, exactly, but that's the impact it had on Jack. Prostitute.

"We're ringing the gong this morning," Carter explained, sitting comfortably without any kind of veil, though several men were in the temple. She was such an enigma to them that neither Highborn nor worker caste felt they could take offence at her lack of cover.

"With the female sentries on duty now, the council of elders along with representatives of the Highborn community here, we've come up with a list of items to offer in trade for the rest of the boys. Any brown-eyed girls that might be born during the next nine months ... I'm going to make sure they have value to the women. We're setting up a kind of limited market here on the upper level of the temple, giving the women a chance to come out and trade."

"And as far as matching the kids up with their dads?"

"I'm working on that, sir. I'll need to get back inside, copy down the lineage chiseled into the interior walls. The names of every father ... We'll be able to find the father of the teenager you brought in. He'd only been out of the garden a week. If his father's a Sky here in the city, actually the Highborn who runs the children's hall, he's making plans for asking Highborn from all over the continent to come to the city, to see if he can match up children with parents, generations of families. The two girls I brought out, they'll have a father somewhere here."

"It's a mess," Jack said, shoving his food around on his plate. Lemmel brought him a platter of warm, fresh muffins and he shot the steward a look of gratitude.

"We'll offer them very small monetary value for the children to ensure we get all the boys, and perhaps some of the girls. Then when they're accepting of the idea of trade, I'll buy the ship from them."

"Yeah. Fine. Need anything from me before I leave the temple today?"

Sam pursed her lips and leaned forward a little. "Uh. Actually, sir, I need to speak to ... him. I need to ... Translations. The lineage is recorded in the pictographic language. Each name is actually a combination of symbols layered on each other. He ... He'll have to translate them. I don't trust the women to do it."

Jack shook his head as he picked a muffin apart. "I don't think ... Yeah. Well, maybe this afternoon. We're going riding, like I said. That'll clear some of the cobwebs out of his head. Usually does."

"I shall accompany you, O'Neill. There are guardians unaccounted for even now."

"No. Not a problem, T. We'll have lots of overgrown toothpick carriers with us today. Lots."

Teal'c nodded and then frowned. "He does not wish for my company."

"It's not you, I've told you that. It's the ... Just give him time, both of you. You really don't know what he's been through."

"And we won't, sir," Sam said brazenly, "unless you tell us."

"Not gonna happen, Carter. He doesn't need you knowing more than you do."

In answer, Sam Carter pushed back from the table and folded her arms across her chest.

Jack shot her a half-angry look before he left. Lemmel had vanished as fast as he'd appeared. Jack found the steward standing, holding Daniel's hand just outside the private sleeping quarters within the Hall of Champions. His lover was dressed seemly, veiled and his one concession to the typical seemly clothing was that he had on his riding boots. As an accommodation to the cooler weather, he also had on a thin cape, clasped at his throat with a blue brooch. Jack couldn't see any eye liner on him today, or red coloring on his naturally rose-colored lips.

Lemmel beamed a smile at Jack, and waited silently.

"Babe," Jack said briskly, and then forced all his irritation at Carter from his mind and used a happy tone of voice. "All right, you're ready. Balin and Ulfrik are already at the stable. Big guy trusts us to walk there without him. Only a couple dozen Champions to stroll with us."

"Couple dozen?" Daniel asked, his voice showing his strain.

"Let's get to it." Jack took his hand from Lemmel, holding it palm to palm instead of in a seemly fashion. They made quick time to the stables, despite walking in the center of a deadly donut of overly-armed Champions.

In the small courtyard of the stable, Daniel pulled away from Jack and took possession of Freyfaxi from the stable hand who held the stallion's reins.

Standing nose to nose with the huge beast, Daniel rubbed his velvety coat and exchanged breaths with him. Frey snorted, taking in the scent of his favorite rider. Then he whinnied and pawed the ground.

"You're ready as I am, Frey." Daniel slid his hands along the horse's neck as he moved to the side. He bent his leg for a lift from Lemmel, but then stopped and turned to the steward. He held his arms out to be picked up.

Lemmel beamed a loving smile at him and bent forward, lacing his hands and forming a cup to give him a leg up. He waited patiently.

With a short laugh, Daniel put his foot in the man's palms and stretched up to grab a handful of mane as Lemmel lifted him within reach of the stallion's coarse hairs. Seated, Daniel patted the horse reassuringly. Freyfaxi snorted impatiently.

"Leg up," Jack said, his hands grappling at the stirrup at Daniel's side.

"Aye, master?" Lemmel asked.

Jack glowered at his steward, indicating for the man to get him up behind Daniel on Frey's back.

Frowning, Lemmel lifted him effortlessly. Then he looked up at the veiled Sky, seeing the man's sorrow. The Sky had hoped to ride alone, not in someone's lap.

On the great stallion's back, Daniel bowed his head in bitter disappointment. He had thought he'd be in control. Silently, let go of Frey's reins, waiting for Jack to reach around him and take them.

Jack slid his hands firmly around Daniel's waist, lacing his fingers over his lover's stomach. "I'm ready, babe. Which way are you taking us when we get outside the gate?"

"Which way?" Daniel asked, staring down at Jack's hands laced on his stomach. "Oh." Daniel grabbed up the reins and squared his shoulders. "Right. Freyfaxi will enjoy the incline to the right at the beginning of the run. But not as fast as last time, Frey," he said, addressing the horse as he nudged the stallion to leave the stables.

"Not as fast, hear him, you big beast? I'm not gonna stay on, you go dashing across the country side. I fall off and you're gonna be one sorry piece of horse flesh."

Holding onto Daniel, Jack squinted his eyes but finally had to shut them. Daniel's veil had lashed him through the first half of the mad dash, and now that it had slipped down across his shoulders, Daniel's long hair was doing a worse number on him. Jack hunched over, pressing his forehead into his lover's upper back and just held on.

Almost immediately, the thundering monster slowed. Several teeth-jarring steps later he was down to a gentle trot, and Jack could hear Daniel talking to the animal.

"Whew. Damn. My kidneys are in my throat. You always ride like that?"

"No. We took it easy on you," Daniel said tritely. "We did, didn't we, Frey?" he said pointedly as he laid forward and patted the animal's neck.

"Shit! Sit still!"

"Sorry. We should get down and walk a while. You'll be stiff. We're on the northern side of the city. Isn't it green around here?"

Thick brush and vines grew under the dense line of trees that spanned the horizon east, north and west of them. A wide, lush meadow separated the city wall from the forested land.

"Yeah. And just how do you propose we get off this sky-scraper? You left the stewards and the Champions in the dust about a forth of the way around the city wall."

"Boulder," Daniel said, pointing off to his left to a small copse of trees that extended out from the forest line.

Jack spied the shade trees and the slow-moving river that ran past them. Several tall, pale boulders sat on the leeward side of them. As if Daniel's pointing had been seen by the stallion, Jack felt the animal turn and walk hastily in that direction.

"Slow down."

"He's hot," Daniel said. "He has to move too, to keep his muscles from cramping up. Hear how he's blowing?"

"Air?"

"Breathing deeply."

"Yeah. So let me slide down first," Jack said, shifting his weight to bring his left foot down to the boulder Frey had seemed to choose all on his own. He gained his footing and then held onto the saddle. "Next?" he asked, smiling brightly up at Daniel.

Swiftly, Daniel slid off the saddle and balanced on the tall boulder. He lifted the close-side stirrup and unbuckled the girth strap. Then he hoisted the small, close-contact saddle to his right, handing it and the pad to Jack. Then Daniel clucked and kissed at the animal. Frey backed up, turned and shoved his big black face at his rider, sending him rocking into Jack.

Laughing as Jack slid backwards off the boulder to land on his ass, Daniel unbuckled Frey's bridle and slipped the ear straps off. He held the bridle out to his side, the wet bit far from his pant leg.

"Go on," he said gently to the stallion. Frey ducked his head, rubbing his forehead up and down Daniel's bare stomach. He sucked in a lung-full of air and blew a great gust back out from his nostrils, tickling Daniel's groin. Then Frey trotted away, whinnying in delight at his freedom.

"Laughing at me? I'm under this ton of saddle on the dirty ground and you're laughing?"

"Yeah," Daniel said as he hopped down, his boots sending up a little puff of dirt. "Leave the saddle on the boulder. Lets take this bridle down to the river and rinse off the bit."

Jack pulled the fleecy pad from under the leather and wood construction. Laying the saddle on the top of the waist-high boulder, he carried the pad with him to a grassy, shady spot by the widened river's edge. "Could go for a swim here," he said, eyeing the placid water.

"If it warms up a bit," Daniel said as he squatted and rinsed the bit. "Give Frey a while to—"

"He won't go too far with the bridle off?"

"He won't leave me long. I'm his main line to sweet oats."

"Oats. So that's how you do it."

Daniel rejoined Jack and slipped out of his cloak, draping it on the ground by the pad. Jack had dropped down and was using the clean side of the pad as a pillow. He stared up at the clouds overhead.

"The others'll be along soon, but I'm leaving my veil off until then." He sat at Jack's hip.

"Could try leaving it off even then."

"City sentries," Daniel said, pointing to the top of the silvery wall that was about a hundred yards south of them now.

"Don't have binoculars." Jack closed his eyes and put his forearm over them.

"True. And the Champions who followed your men out of the city, they'll keep their distance."

"We bring any chow with us? We could have a picnic here with the guys."

"Your men. Just the three of them? Lemmel may have brought something."

Lemmel had not, but the resourceful steward sent two of the trailing Champions away to bring food for their House. Twenty mounted Champions had followed them from the city and Balin stationed them several yards down-stream so as not to muddy the waters or intrude on the presence of House Ondeil's Sky.

Daniel lay on his belly, talking softly with Lemmel as Jack seemed to be sleeping. "Unsaddle the rest," Daniel said over his shoulder to Ulfrik. "They'll follow Frey into the water any minute."

Ulfrik shot the Sky a lopsided grin and then ran spraddle-legged after the scattering Flemish mares. The weaver was bent on pulling off their tack before they soaked the leather. Freyfaxi was wading knee deep in the water now, tugging at slender shoots of grass. With a mouthful of soggy plants he slung his head back, sending muddy roots spraying toward Ulfrik.

Daniel chided the stallion, but broke off his comments as Jack's hand seemed to come out of nowhere and pull him down for a kiss. "Mfh. Nice," Daniel finally managed to say. He smiled wide, leaning comfortably on Jack's chest now.

"Nice. Could spend the rest of the day out here."

"Master, another blanket comes. Also, ah. Aye, they be drawing near with food and drink."

"What? How could they be back that fast?" Daniel said as he raised up to peer past Lemmel's legs.

Champions were ferrying things from the bottom of the city wall. Ropes were even now lowering baskets from the distant parapets. Balin had stopped the Champions from coming close to the household. He was relieving the men of their burdens and bringing the baskets, two at a time, toward Lemmel.

"Message up the wall was faster," Balin said. "Then down they send whatever be needed."

"Oh. Clever," Daniel said.

"What we got in the way of juice?" Jack asked, his eyes still shut. "No wine or ale. Something healthy."

"Berry juice," Lemmel said as he spread a blanket and moved the contents of one basket to it. After a moment, Balin brought him a table, about two feet tall and six feet long. Lemmel knelt by it, preparing food and drink.

Jack felt a real pillow being shoved under his head. He shifted to allow the intrusion of the extra comfort. A shaft of sunlight made its way through the trees overhead. He winced in irritation and shifted to his left, dragging Daniel with him. "Better."

"Let's go swimming," Daniel said, tugging at Jack's collar. "Come on."

"Mm-now?" Jack protested. "Ah. But we eat when we get back then? Something other than lamb, Lemmel?" he asked hopefully as he got to his feet, and opened his eyes. "A table? Where—"

"Come on, Daniel insisted. He led Jack behind a screen of thick, berry bushes and stripped, taking his veil off last. Jack stripped down, taking longer because he had on more clothes. Then he picked his way cautiously, barefoot down the gentle, grass-covered slope to the water's edge.

Northwest of them, the narrow river came from a deep forest. To the south, it bent around a sharp turn and headed around the city. Frey was splashing along the edge to the south, downstream. He was calling to the mares, stomping his foot in the shallow water. Bright droplets sprayed up all around him, catching the brilliant sunlight. He called insistently, blowing gusts of moist air from his nostrils and tossing his head back and forth, lashing his neck with his long, shiny mane.

Just as Jack stepped into the water behind Daniel, Frey trumpeted an insistent call and thundered up the bank. The mares scattered and Ondeil's small band ran wild across the clear meadow.

Daniel laughed at the horse's antics, and then sank backward into the slow-moving water. "He'll scatter the Champion's mounts if they're not well trained."

"We'll be walking home if he does." Jack clenched his teeth as the water rose up to his groin. Then he steeled himself and laid forward, cleaving the water toward his lover.

The current was too gentle to move them from the private spot they'd chosen. Jack drifted into his lover's arms, his toes barely touching the pebbled bottom. Their bodies wafted together from knee to shoulder. Jack could feel the buoyant water lift his cock and he ground it against Daniel's. "Nice."

"Peaceful," Daniel answered and then kissed him open-mouthed.

Jack humped against his lover, his cock filling with blood. After a moment he backed off, gently trailing his hands down Daniel's chest. "Getting cold in the water."

He tugged Daniel back with him to the bank and climbed up in the half-circle screen provided by the bushes, his wet feet slipping a bit on the soft-bladed grass. Daniel chuckled.

Together, they sank to their knees, kissing as they went down.

"Love the taste of you." Daniel combed his fingers through Jack's short hair.

"You," Jack said, his lips lightly playing across his lover's face.

They sank down lower onto their hips, facing each other and well secluded behind the thick screen of underbrush. Then Jack pulled Daniel onto him. They kissed in that position for a long while, a string of lazy, sweet kisses. Then Jack rolled Daniel onto his back and deepened the kisses.

"Never loved you more," Jack whispered.

"You," Daniel said, resorting to Jack's one-word declarations.

"I'm hard. If you want to?" Jack asked the unasked question.

"I do." Daniel spread his legs, bending his knees as he brought his legs up around his lover's waist.

"No lube."

"Try without."

"Will," Jack said. He hunched his back, bringing himself along his lover's exposed opening. "Too dry. Not gonna work."

"Lemmel has oil," Daniel whispered.

Jack stayed as he was and called softly to the steward to bring what was needed. Lemmel's dark arm extended from behind a bush toward them, the youth's face not making an appearance in the intimate, screened area. Jack snagged the little bottle of oil and ignored the helper. He'd know to fade away.

"Better," Daniel said with a satisfied smile as Jack's slick cock probed into him.

"Unh," Jack replied inarticulately. His face screwed up in concentration. His mouth gaped as he thrust hard.

"Oh! Oh," Daniel said, softer the second time. "Oh."

"Baby,"

"Jack." Daniel closed his eyes and panted. "Oh."

"Baby." Jack repeated the endearment over and over between thrusts into his lover.

Jack shifted his weight onto one hand and grappled clumsily for Daniel's cock. "A little hard," he said triumphantly. "Little bit, baby."

"Oh, God," Daniel groaned out the words, tossing his head from side to side. "Sweet, in me. Oh, that feels good. Harder."

"Good," Jack said, punctuating the word with a brutal thrust. "Yeah. Yeah," he whispered harshly, nakedly. "Fuck, yeah."

Their lovemaking slid effortlessly from gentle and breezy to hard and hot. Jack thrust forcefully and Daniel was now clutching at him, digging his heels and fingers into his lover.

"Fuck me, Jack," Daniel demanded. "Oh, yes," he hissed out the word. "Yes. Oh, God, I think I'm going to come."

"Baby. Soon," Jack implored. "I can't ... Ah!" he cried out wordlessly as his semen pumped willfully from him into his lover. "Ah, shit! I'm—Ah!" Jack spilled all his seed.

"God! Damn, fuck, yes!" Daniel shouted, his ass clenching as his unexpected and so long denied orgasm rocked him. "Yes," he finished, weaker this last time.

Lying together, Jack panted as lightheadedness washed through him. "That was a hard come."

"Wasn't it, though." Daniel lay unmoving half under his lover.

"You," Jack said.

"Me," Daniel agreed. "Was how hard?"

"How hard were you?" Jack asked for clarification. "About half-hard. A decent pud."

"Mmm. I'll take it. For now, that was pretty damned good. Came."

"Yep. Came," Jack agreed. "Both of us. Me in you. You on me."

"Way it's supposed to be. My exit-only lover."

"If ... you ever wanna try ... I mean, I would be interested in trying ... "

With his eyes still shut, Daniel chuckled. "Maybe some day. But I got a little hard, didn't I? My pipes do work, don't they?"

"Yeah," Jack said, his smile coming through in his tone. "Us, go wade around a while. Get cleaned up before we go back and have some food."

"All right. You know, we seem very isolated here behind all the underbrush," Daniel said as he rose and offered a hand up to his lover. "But the guys are really only about ten feet away."

"That why I smell food?"

"Are you a bottomless pit now, or what? Your entire day revolves around filling your stomach."

"Does, doesn't it?" Jack replied, sounding proud of the fact. "Fueling myself so I can fuck you senseless a little more often."

"God," Daniel said, shaking his head in mock disgust as he waded into the water. "Oh man, this is cold after all that sweating."

"Brr! Something other than lamb. I did warn him, didn't I?"

"You did. Where's my shirt? Thanks," Daniel said as he pulled it on.

"Leave the veil off," Jack said forcefully. "Don't need it, remember?" Jack picked up his socks and boots instead of putting them back on.

"I do need it, but my hair's too wet. If I put it on now it'll be soggy the whole ride back. I should cut my hair."

"No! Oh, Christ," Jack said, his hand over his mouth. "Wow. Don't know where that came from."

Daniel stood still, his veil in his hands as he gaped at his lover. "You like this mess?"

"Uh. Guess I do."

"It makes me look too feminine." Daniel picked up his own socks and boots and barefoot, followed Jack.

"Uh, not going to touch that one. Food," Jack said brightly. "Eat now. Discuss hair later."

He tugged Daniel back around the screening. Standing in the space where they'd lain earlier was a colorful pavilion. A round tent with a peaked center, it was made of a woven, green and blue striped cloth with scalloped edges and golden toned, runic motifs. The roof was a thick material, and the sides were thin enough to see through.

The center support pole had a blue, triangular flag flapping gently from it's top. The tie lines coming out from the structure also had colorful flags hanging from them. These were smaller triangles of gold and blue.

"I told you, ask for a castle and you'd get one."

"I didn't ask for a tent."

"The sun was bothering your eyes when you were lying down."

"Jeeze," Jack swore under his breath. He nodded at Lemmel who held the screened side open for them. A carpet had been rolled out across the ground inside, and the low table sat in the center against the supporting pole. Thick cushions surrounded it.

"Chicken!" Jack exclaimed in delight. He dropped to his knees on a cushion and snagged crusty bread and butter. "Yum. And muffins, baby. You want ... well, get what you want. Ulfrik! Balin! Get your asses in here. Chow time. Lemmel, tell me we have something other than ale to drink."

"Wine, ye have, master. And berry juice with the cold, chipped ice to chill it even more as ye do wish. Now, this here," he said as he uncovered a platter, "be roasted pig with honey glaze. Bits here in are clove of a northern spice. I know it not."

"Gimme," Jack said. Balin shoved a stiff, wooden L shape against Jack's back. He leaned back and smiled. "Ahh. Backrest. Baby, come lean on this with me. Oh? You got him one too? Well, share this one anyway."

Daniel snuggled against Jack's hip and picked at the fresh cuts of meat Lemmel had placed before him. "Grapes?"

"Aye. A vineyard east of this place where the hills be," Balin said. "Not much of the normal size folk eat them before they be turned into wine, but so I did think ye might care for them. Highborn, it be said, do."

"Nice," Daniel said, giving the Champion a wide smile. "Ulfrik, how was Jarngerd when you left?"

"Ah, Sky, she were most close to being full as a woman can. That babe will be born maybe even by now, and I know he'll be a big one. My first-born."

"What if it's a girl?"

"A girl? My Jarngerd, she'd never give me a girl first, would she? But then, if she so chose to do, then well, if she wants a girl, she may have one."

Daniel chuckled. "Let's open the pavilion on the side facing the water."

Balin rose from the table and rolled a swath of the netting-like cloth up, tying it with the bright, green ribbons that hung there for that purpose. He moved to the north-east then, and rolled up that section too. Their escorts were camped to the southwest, and the city wall was to the south. Half of their view was of completely unoccupied wilderness, and the other half was shielded from view of any but Jack's immediate household.

Daniel relaxed.

Full, Jack leaned back against the backrest and closed his eyes as the others finished the huge meal. He felt Daniel nestling close at his side and put his arm around the man.

"Love you," Daniel whispered in his ear.

Jack smiled.

"... definitely not Viking in structure. The interior pole instead of exterior for one thing. And A frames were the structure ... "

Jack slid down and got more comfortable.

"... with the outside supports often carved with dragon's heads or ... "

Jack rolled onto his side and scrunched a pillow under his head.

"... so what I would expect would be something similar to what we used on our journey north. Something oblong, with a single tarp suspended over a center support or line. But round pavilion-style tents like this would have come into ... twelfth century ... A frames because they were easier to transport on a longboat ... deck tents ... but then ancient Vikings didn't really wear helmets with horns either. Not animal horns. That's a modern thing. We've found only one on any excavation with horns and those were metal, like the tips of Balin's and ... "

Daniel stood under the scalloped edge of Jack's pavilion tent and watched Freyfaxi circle around his mares. The black stallion nipping at Frost Mane when she lagged too much for his liking. He showed his white teeth, extending his upper lip out several inches. Then he chose to run off to the right of his herd, bellowing his dominance at the distant group of Champion's geldings and mares tied to a tether line stretched between two trees at the southern end of the lush meadow.

Frost Mane wandered too far to the east, so Frey left off roaring his authority at the bound ones and badgered the mare back into his personal fold. He worked his herd toward the city wall, seeking the sweetest, freshest grasses for them. As they grazed, Frey kept nipping at Svaolfari's flanks. Finally, she kicked at him and Frey rushed her, getting halfway up her back before she danced out from under him.

Frey roared indignantly and raced after her a few steps until she halted. His cock began to drop from its black sheath even as he mounted the in-season mare. He entered her swiftly, nipping mercilessly at the back of her neck as he bred her. Svaolfari whinnied a protest but held her position until Freyfaxi dismounted her. She gave one last, unlanded kick and then calmly returned to grazing amid the sweet grass he'd herded her to.

With his ears flicking forward and back, Frey stood on a rise near the three mares, watching the clear meadow for any sign of danger, any sign of predators. None dared to appear. Satisfied at his dominance, he blew a gust of air from his great, black nostrils.

Daniel stepped out from the shade of the tent, combing his fingers through the damp strands of his hair. Frey lifted his head and Daniel paused, watching the horse draw in deep rushes of air. Frey's flanks quivered and he tossed his head. Sunlight glinted off the stallion's shiny coat. Daniel smiled. He pushed his damp mop of golden hair back from his face and sauntered away from the pavilion toward the stallion.

Frey pawed the rich ground and gave a last survey of the peaceful valley. Then he reared up on his hind legs, bellowing his presence to all as he pawed the air furiously. When he dropped back to the ground, he tore out in a mad dash across the valley toward the pavilion. Seeing the horse's head-long rush, Daniel grinned and ran toward him.

As Frey got within ten yards of the human he dropped his head almost to the ground and slowed his dash to a quick trot.

Daniel reached up and hooked his splayed fingers into the left side of Frey's mane, as close to his withers as he could reach. The animal cut to his left sharply and lifted his head quickly. Daniel kicked hard with both legs, bringing his right up as far as possible and was slung up onto the animal's bare back. Frey whinnied and picked up his pace, taking his rider off for a full-out run. The sun was warm, the breeze gentle. The meadow, the mares and rider belonged to Freyfaxi.

Chapter 43 Fair Trade Agreement

Clothed in the annoying hood and veil combination, Sam stood just inside the wall of the forbidden garden. Women, blue eyed and blond women like herself were changing out of their forbidding clothing at a small shed to her right. She'd been invited on her first visit to leave her outer clothing there with theirs. This time, like the last, she declined and just folded the hood back, letting the attached veil lay back across her shoulders. Her stiff, outer robe hid her zat and other devices.

The young woman who's seven-year-old Sky child had left the garden on Sam's first visit, came to get her.

"This way, kinswoman. Our hearts soar that you have come to our aid again."

"Well, you rang the gong," Sam started, but then just gave her a smile and a nod. She followed silently, taking in all the sights around her. She'd intended to ring it later this morning. It only increased her trade position that the women had rang first.

The forbidden garden was an almost perfect circle set in the center of the city. It had only one entrance, that was true, but there were actually two ways for people to leave. One way was through the temple entrance. Another, set about fifty yards to the south of the temple was a small archway where Sky caste were sent on the day they were deemed ready to serve. She glanced right toward that nondescript archway cut into the stone wall and shivered. A boy had been shoved through there a day before Daniel toppled the system. Since that day, no more had been shoved, naked and almost profoundly ignorant, through that opening.

Profoundly ignorant. "As you were telling me, you have schooling for the girls?"

"Ah, yes," her guide said pleasantly as she pointed out several low buildings in the distance to their left. "Each of our young kinswomen is educated in the matters of language. All learn both the writings of the gods, and of the common people. The few who will be record's keepers, those girls are also taught a third writing form, the paternoster, the symbols of our ancestry."

"They record the names and dates on the inner garden wall, right? Of the children and who their fathers and mothers are."

"Father is a term we do not use, though we know it," she said with a slight show of distaste.

"Their sires," Sam said, with the same show if distaste. "I will want to make note of some of the names today. The children who've gone to the Highborn hall, we'll want them to know who their families are."

"It isn't necessary," she said with alarm. "You shouldn't trouble the boys with too much thinking. That would be cruel. You promised to provide them with food and shelter. They don't need anything else. Nirrti provides."

"No, she doesn't," Sam said very gently, realizing she was revealing to this young mother the fate of her child who'd been torn from her side very recently. "The adults in the hall provide, and when the boys grow up they'll have skills and knowledge that will enable them to choose how they wish to live. I've explained this before. Do you still not believe?"

"It is not possible, so I do not choose to believe it. But I would know, how is my son?"

"I can find out for you. I'll ask in the hall. What is his name, and what is yours? I'll tell him you asked about him."

She collected data as the morning progressed, secretly videoing some of the carvings on the inner wall. They stretched completely around, she was told, made in layers that started low and then moved upward over time. Generations of people were recorded here. The women seemed to guard their own names very carefully, showing constant surprise when she kept introducing herself to each one she met as the morning wore on.

In one of the airy buildings set aside for learning, Sam sat in the back of a room and watched two teen-age girls studying goa'uld, the written and spoken form of the language.

Later, with her escort in close proximity, she was allowed to observe a group of five veiled teen-age boys, dressed in clothing similar to Daniel's pale garments. They were sitting under a tree tossing an apple back and forth.

"We do discourage such strenuous activities," her guide said. "They are not intended to grow the muscles of the gross guardians, or the monstrous men without. They must be graceful, smooth of limb."

"Monstrous? Do you call them that in front of the boys?"

"Yes," she answered, surprised at the question. "Such as they are, so they are called. But as I was saying, some boys need more active discouragement from inappropriate activities such as running, building things even. Oh, you'd be surprised at how willful some get. Then we have to get them back under control, end that very quickly when we see it."

"Running?"

"Yes. Tossing an apple, this we allow if they're seated, if they're being communal with each other. That's fine, because it fosters a male's naturally cooperative, naturally communal personality."

"I don't think I want to know ... Where do the boys sleep?"

"They have the group rooms there," she said, pointing right, "and attendants to watch over them. We take very good care of them. Their every need is met."

"Except when supplies get low as they are now."

"Yes. Boys, we can get more of any time we wish. Girls are the treasure of the forbidden garden. Each one's knowledge and skill are so valuable."

"How do you keep things in repair here? The buildings, the grounds."

"Girls who wish the special skills are taught these things. Passed from mother to daughter, our skills are valuable to us. The boys hold no knowledge, thus they have no value inside the garden."

Sam peered hard at the circle of boys, noting their lissome bodies, their vapid attitudes, noting the hawk-like women stationed around them, watching their every move. "And ... you said you discourage the boys from certain activities, interests. What if a boy persists in such behavior?"

"Then he is judged unsound. This happens in clusters, it seems. If one acts so, we must end him quickly or it will spread like a disease. My own son ... I had feared he might some day—In the Hall of Highborn children, will he be allowed to run?"

"Yes," Sam said, her mouth now in a tight line. "Kill them for playing, being active?"

"Of course. They must be able to serve once they leave here."

"Damn," she cursed under her breath. "The market I spoke of," she said briskly, harshly, no longer needing to see anything inside this place, "you may trade their freedom for the supplies you need. Let's go now. The merchants are ready, are gathered in the temple by now. If you will summon your sisters? Your kinswomen who count the grains and foodstuffs you need?"

Sam didn't wait for an agreement, but turned back to the entrance. Then she glanced over her shoulder at the surprised guide. "And gather all your boys. You'll need them for the trade. Food is terribly expensive, and I know you want to keep your girls alive. Terribly expensive, for the freedom of your valueless boys. We'll be practically giving you charity, and I hear that's not something you like."

"Charity hurts the Highborn," the woman said weakly, blinking at Sam.

"I'll wait in the temple with the women sentries. You'll be perfectly safe. No men," she added flatly. "I'll make sure of that. Women merchants, women stewards and sentries. Be quick and round up all of your boys. All."

"Even the ... We have two who are very close to their manhood days. Will they be worth any grain at all?"

"Perhaps a little. Bring them. I'm sure I can talk some merchant into giving you something for the pair of them."

Sam crossed her arms, keeping her head tucked down as she made her way back toward the doorway of the forbidden garden. It truly was a beautiful place. Ornamental trees, flowering with purple cascades and round, pink blossoms lined the pathways making shady, peaceful walks. Brilliantly colored flowering bushes bordered the paths and thick, green grass covered the ground between every structure, every gathering area. There were climbing trellises, draped with vines and spire-shaped evergreens stretching toward the sky. Most of the buildings were stone and brushed naquadah, with clean lines showing excellent maintenance. There were no weeds in this garden, no discarded bits of trash on the ground. It was a garden in more than name.

Shuddering, she hurried through its cloying beauty and the strong scent of its flowers. Emerging into the temple, Sam took a cleansing breath, taking in the scent of paraffin candles, burning oil lamps and leather. The place smelled dusty, smelled of food being cooked in the back rooms of the Sky hall. It also smelled faintly of sweaty Champions and stewards. And there was a host of new smells.

As she and Teal'c had arranged, the upper level of the temple was ringed with tables laden with trade goods. Sacks of grains, bags of the stuff already ground and jugs of wine were most prominent. Some bolts of cloth sat near the left end. She saw earthenware jars and plates, a few pieces of the glazed, fired porcelain the north was known for. And she saw a display of jewelry and a pile of gold marks. They'd trade today for the food, most likely, but leave the women wanting other things in order to make future trade possible.

Sam would have Nirrti's ship!

"They're coming soon," she said loudly to the women gathered. Teal'c stood at the distant entrance to the temple and Sam caught his eye, giving him the pre-arranged hand signal. He and the Champions with him exited, shutting the huge doors. A wooden table had been upended over the entry to the Sky hall, providing a temporary block. The only exit left was through the Hall of Champions, curtained now, where Highborn men waited safely out of sight to take the children to their new home.

"Now, remember. I set the price," she said to the tall, worker-caste women. "Nothing is free, no matter how tempted you may be. The boys ... You may be tempted. They look ... You'll want to save them, but don't give into the temptation. We'll get them all—"

"Highborn," the head of the female sentries said to Sam, while nodding toward the door.

Sam turned. The first of the Highborn women had arrived. Shrouded in white and hidden under her winged hat, she led two veiled, toddler boys by their hands.

"This way," Sam invited her to the left, toward a sturdy table displaying sacks of dried beans.

Another woman emerged. She was forcefully tugging a boy of about twelve with her. He was veiled and wore the seemly clothing of the Sky caste, but he was mutely fighting her every tug. He looked terrified, as if he expected he was being led to his death. She put a hand behind him and propelled him firmly forward with her.

"Ah," Sam said. "Yes. Well, uh. How about some wine? We have a bottle here," she said, holding one up toward the woman. A bottle of wine in exchange for the youth.

"No wine. We need milk from the goats, or some ground flour. Do you have any cant seasoning? No, wait. Not seasoning. Wasteful. Milk. Flour. Beans and maybe some of the meat the guardians usually provided. They supplied it packed in salts. Fowl or lamb."

"Lamb," Sam said, pointing to a merchant selling meats. "Yes. But more than one boy for a shank of lamb. Bring two more boys and this merchant will consider your offer." Her stomach rolled.

After the freedom of forty boys had been purchased, the elderly Sky woman who'd given Daniel such grief, made an appearance. She tottered out, leaning heavily on a walking staff and surveyed the trade. Sam handed a basket of eggs to the woman she'd just negotiated a trade with, and passed a terrified, but angry teenager off to a worker caste woman. Then she stepped to the side out of the action to watch the elder.

Slowly, the leader of the forbidden women turned from right to left, surveying each area of trade carefully. With her face veiled, it was impossible to tell what she was thinking, what she might be feeling. Sam was worried.

"More," the old woman finally said.

Sam moved toward her and stood in front of her. "More? You need more than the freedom of your sons can buy you."

"Yes. Our counters say the supplies will not last a month."

"Send out the rest of your boys."

"Babes still at mother's breasts are all that are left. You have a desire for those too?"

"Yes. But ... not today. They can come, the mothers can come with their boys and live in the Sky hall. They may return to the garden when their children are old enough to live on their own."

"We will let them die first."

"Not necessary," Sam said, keeping a firm grip on her emotions. Unveiled, she was at a disadvantage to the old woman, but Sam held steady, kept her features calm. "You do have something in the garden that might interest the master of the City. Something that now is worthless to you. He'll make you an offer of gold marks for it. With gold you can buy whole sacks of grain, whole lambs and many barrels of wine. Seasonings. Honey drip."

"Gold marks?" she said earnestly.

"Yes. But he's not ready yet. Not ready to offer trade of any kind with you. Eventually he'll send someone to ring the gong and offer you a trade. Not today. Not now," she said, keeping her eyes steady on the old woman. Did they truly have all the boys from the garden now? She thought so. They'd question the ones released and find out. If so, then the negotiation for Nirrti's ship would move forward.

The afternoon found activity in the temple almost gone. Sam's guide insisted that was all the boys in the garden, except for three infants too young to trade away from mother's milk. Unlike the brown-eyed girls, the women saw some future value in the infant boys.

Sam watched the last merchant pack away small bags of beans and saw the posture of her guide slump.

"I've spoken with your elder. There is something else in the garden the master of the City will want to trade for later. It will get you a lot more than the freedom of your sons got you."

"Freedom?"

"Yes. Trading them to us, you remember, I said we would set them free. They'll live in the Hall of Highborn as free as the dark-eyed children."

"Yes, of course you did. I do understand, but it still seems ... "

"Like you're selling them."

"And I gave my own son away for nothing," she said. "Is he well? You said he could run if he wished. He ... had high spirits. Not a good thing in a boy. A dangerous thing."

"He can run all he wants. The boys get to play outside each day. They run and climb trees if they want to."

The veiled woman shook her head. "Hard to believe."

"Perhaps you'd like to go there and visit him. See for yourself?"

"No! Walk among the monstrous men? Never! How horrible to think. Oh, do you?"

Sam blinked, taking a moment to think carefully about her answer.

"Surely, you don't go among them, do you? They would rape you! Defile—"

"Like the guardians did to ... " Sam clamped her lips together before she said Daniel's name. He'd been hurt so horribly and he couldn't even talk to her about it! He couldn't even look at her. She clenched her jaw before continuing to speak to the woman.

"Lets discuss the possibility. We can keep you safe. The women sentries of the city, they'll escort you there and back, if you wish. Think about it a while and then let me know what you decide. I'm sure your son would like to see you again." The moment she said it she realized it might not be true.

"Oh, I don't think I could ever ..."

A tapping near the still-open garden door drew Sam's attention. The elder was back. She pointed a gloved finger at Sam and crooked it, beckoning her to come closer.

"Is that all the boys in the garden?" she asked her guide quickly. She got a nod and then went to stand before the old woman.

"Come. I will show you a thing of value. Perhaps worth gold, eh?" the old woman said and didn't wait for an answer. She turned and tottered through the door into the garden.

Sam gave one last glance around the temple, checking to see that the sentries were still alert, that the last freed boy was being ushered through the guarded entry into the Champion's hall. Then she followed the old woman.

Several paces into the garden, the elder was joined by five others. These were not covered with gloves and hats and veils, but showed their aged faces, their wrinkles and white hair.

"What do you want to show me?" Sam asked forcefully.

"Ah. Our garden has some treasure, surely you must want more from us than the boys or whatever your lordling might lust after. We have this," she said, sweeping her hand wide to indicate a swath of low-growing, green herb plants. Delicate blue flowers dotted the little plot of deep green, leafy plants. Netting stretched over the oblong plot, keeping all birds from the plants.

Sam squatted to study the plant. "Blue flowers?"

"Ah. You'd never have seen any in its live state. We allow no seeds or live plants to leave here. It is ours. We guard it for our goddess, Nirrti. The elder guardians occasionally traded for the leaves, but no one ever has the refined form. Perhaps this is what your lordling seeks. His Sky needs restraint, I think."

Her guide had arrived with the small party of elders and she knelt by Sam. "Valuable to the usurper, I would imagine."

The elder laid a bony hand on Sam's shoulder. "Take some to your lordling. An offer of good faith for future trade. Here. In its prepared form," she said, holding a small cloth bag of powder out to Sam."

Sam stood and took the bag. "Blue flowers," she said, sounding very doubtful.

"Ah," the old woman said with glee. Then she produced another bag and opened it. Drawing out a large pinch of the stuff she held this out for Sam to see. Then she seemed to stumble into Sam, dumping the powder down the front of her robe. She clutched at Sam's shoulder to regain her balance, leaving patches of the powder there as well as getting some on her hair.

"Are you all right?" Sam asked.

"Ah," the old woman repeated. "Ah. I am tired. Go now. Go, child, to your lordling and his Sky. Offer this. See if he wishes more of this in exchange for his gold."

"He will," one of the other elderly women said. "He will. Go now."

"Yes. Offer him trade," another said.

Sam dusted much of the powder from her clothes as she left the garden. In the temple, she ordered a sentry to close the door. As the thick slab banged closed, Sam let out a sigh of relief.

"All the boys," she said to the female sentry.

"Aye. Many as we never thought could ever come from within. Highborn men all have the little Skys safe now, Highborn. Taken to the hall, they be. Trade went as to ye liking?"

"Yes, it did. And I'm worn out." Sam shifted the cloth bag to her left hand and used her right to rub at her stiff neck. A few Champions were coming in from their hall now. They removed the temporary block to the Sky hall and Skys came out into the temple. Things were returning to normal. "That was ... tense, wasn't it?"

"To have them, the forbidden women in here, aye. A meal be prepared for ye, and even soon it comes to ye private table. Will the black Champion return to join ye?"

"Teal'c? I don't know. I'm thirsty—"

A man's shrill scream cut her off. Alarmed, Sam reached under her robe for her zat. Where was the danger? Had a guardian slipped into the temple amid all the activity?

Crouching on the floor near the DHD, a Sky covered his head with his arms. He screamed again and shoved at the Champion kneeling over him.

Sam leaped from the raised dais, taking the four steps in one bound.

"I smell it! Help me, Roskilde!"

The Champion kneeling over the huddled Sky drew his sword and wheeled in a half-crouch, scanning the temple.

Instantly Sam slid to a stop and backpedaled hastily from the armed man.

"The herb!" another Sky shouted. "Smell it!" Then he fled into the Sky hall.

Other Champions drew their swords, searching the temple, checking each dark nook and cranny for an intruder.

"The herb? The goat's hair," Sam said, suddenly realizing what was all over her. "It's me!" she shouted to the Champions. "From the damned garden. I've got it on my robe. Get him out of here. No!" she shouted to Roskilde. He'd gathered his lover in his arms and was carrying the man toward the Sky hall. "Out. Out of the whole building. All of you, get any Sky who has been exposed to this stuff. Get them outside. They're overly-sensitive."

As Roskilde swiftly changed his direction, taking his lover out through the front doors Sam wheeled toward the female sentry. "A bath. Not the damned bucket I've been bathing in. I need a lot of water now! Right now! Soap. Something to kill the smell."

"Sky hall ... " the woman said weakly, her eyes wide in fright.

Sam fisted her hands against the front of her robe where the majority of the drug was. She hurried toward the dark entryway. "Bath," she snapped at a Champion who held the curtain open for her. "And get them out. All of the Skys who are sensitive to the stuff. Out of the whole building, like I said!"

She paused in the dark passage, then turned right toward the lighter area. The first room she came to opened onto her left. A huge space, it stretched the entire width of the hall. A small cluster of veiled men were on the far side of the chamber to her right. In the center of the room two naked men sat in a hot tub. To her left there were rows of little stools sitting among buckets of water. Soap bars and thick sponges sat amid them.

Champions followed her, rushing among the Skys to seek out any having a reaction and get them out of the building.

Sam ran to the center of the stools and began to strip. She flung her drug-dusted clothing onto the wet, slatted floor, peeling each layer off until she was naked. Then she unlaced her boots, flinging them onto the pile too. She set her zat and equipment on the driest stool and picked up a bucket of water. She dumped it over her head.

"Even my damned hair. She got it in my hair," she said, speaking harshly to herself.

As she scrubbed vigorously, Sam's breasts swayed from side to side. Her pale skin, lit by the high windows glistened. Suds ran in wide swaths down her back, dripping off her full ass. She scrubbed her scalp, pushing the bar of strong soap through the short strands mercilessly. "And my boots! I walked in the stuff. I've tracked it all the way through the temple." She stopped scrubbing long enough to pour buckets of water over her clothing, dampening any dust particles that might rise from the material.

"Highborn?"

Sam squinted at the voice, getting soap in her eyes. She squatted and fumbled for a full bucket and then stood and upended it over her face and hair.

"Uh ... Highborn?"

"What? she asked the speaker angrily. Squinting through the stinging soap residue, she saw an unveiled Sky staring at her. "What? I need more water."

"Water? Buckets ... "

"Yes. Buckets of it. And get someone to scrub the floor where I walked. All the way from here to the doorway to the forbidden garden. I had goat's hair herb on the soles of my boots. A steward or a Champion," she added angrily.

"Y ... yes."

Sam saw another bucket near another stool and grabbed it. She let the cold water run slowly down this time, rinsing her back better. Her hair was still soapy. She went to the next bucket in the line and bent forward, dumping it at the nape of her neck and moving it up to the top of her head. Then she turned and saw the same man staring at her again. Other Skys had come to join him. They all gaped at her.

"You are naked," he said, staring at the juncture of her legs.

"Yeah. That's usually the way people take baths."

"You have no clothes on."

"Look, I had a drug all over me. Something that's very bad for you guys. And so, yeah, I'm naked. But you're all Skys so that doesn't ... Why ... "

"Eyvind. We talked yesterday. I was going to give you my name and I forgot. Eyvind," he said, his eyes now firmly locked on her swaying breasts.

"Eyvind," Sam said irritably. "So is someone mopping the floor?"

"Oh. Yes," he said. "Yes. And you wanted more water. There," he said, pointing helpfully to a large, wooden barrel behind her.

"Oh. Thanks. Now, listen," she said as she dipped a bucket into the barrel, "that floor needs to be mopped very thoroughly. And my clothes, I'll need to—"

"Oh ... dear," Daniel said as he stepped through the little cluster of Skys.

"What—Holy shit!" Jack cursed. He wheeled around and ran back to the exit.

"Sam?" Daniel said, his voice very casual. "How's it going?"

"Oh, Da—I mean. Hi. I had to ... There was a ... Sir?" Sam said, holding the bucket in front of her breasts. Then she lowered it in front of her groin as she peered across the chamber at her commanding officer's back.

"Nope!" Jack shouted, keeping his back turned. "No. Not a damned thing, Carter. No."

"So," Daniel said slowly.

Sam stared at Jack's back and then dumped the bucket over her head.

"She is naked," the tailor Sky said to Daniel. "I see her breasts. Did you know their breasts looked like that? The Highborn women?"

"Uh, Eyvind," Daniel said hesitantly.

"That part there," Eyvind said, "is the womanly nipple. It pokes out so."

"Stop pointing," Daniel said sternly, pushing Eyvind's hand down. "It's not considered polite. And you should all move away, give her some privacy.

"I want to look at her," he said insistently. "Oh, I feel funny down here."

"Sam, why don't you get dressed now—" Daniel said, reaching for her robe.

"No! The drug!" Sam slung the bucket down and dashed across the wooden slatted floor. She impacted Daniel full across his chest, sliding with him back away from her pile of contaminated clothing.

They rolled in a heap, her naked, him scantily dressed in his revealing clothing.

"Shit!" Jack yelled, and turned his back again. "Oh man!" he whined loudly.

Daniel and Sam lay tangled in a heap of naked limbs and bare skin. She was mostly over Daniel, her arms locked around his chest.

Eyvind squatted by the pair, peering intently at Sam's ass. "Is this a part of mating as you know it on Midgard, Highborn woman?"

"Oh, I am so not going to answer that," Sam said.

"Sam?" Daniel asked in bewilderment. "Could you ... "

"Hold on," she ordered him. She drew her legs together and raised up, but then pressed her breasts back against Daniel's bare chest. His shirt, what there was of it, had ridden up to his neck. "Could you guys, please ... I mean I know you're all Skys and everything but ... could you? Eyvind! Turn away."

The tailor sky stood and turned a hundred and eighty degrees, and then kept turning another hundred and eighty degrees. He stared down at her.

"Sam? If you could get up."

"And give them an even better view on my way up? No, thank you."

"Right. Right," Daniel said. "Um, we need a ... I'll give you my shirt."

"Which I'm supposed to cover what little part of me with?"

"Uh. Right. Jack!" Daniel called. "Jack! get over here. Bring Sam your cloak."

"Not on your life! Are you two still on the damned floor? Get up! Get off her!"

"I'm not on her!" he yelled at his lover.

"Crap!" Jack cursed. "Cloak. Cloak. My ... damn it, Ivan! Come here and get my cloak."

"He means you, Eyvind," Daniel said, staring up at the man who was still watching Sam's wet, naked body. "Sam, I could ... " Daniel brought his hands down and covered her ass.

She squeaked and raised up off him, her gaze wide.

"Oh," Daniel said, flinching from her stare. "Sorry." He shifted his hands up to the small of her back.

"This here, she looks like a man," Eyvind said, squatting to point at the valley between Sam's ass cheeks. "But softer. I think she might feel softer too."

"Put 'em back!" she commanded Daniel. "Go away. All of you, go away."

"Jack," Daniel bellowed, his voice now colored with panic. He covered Sam's ass again. "This is not funny, Jack!"

Jack pushed his way blindly through the gathered ring of Skys, not caring who he touched or how offended they were. They had clothes on! "Here!" he said angrily, thrusting his cloak blindly into the air near where Daniel's voice had come from. He held his other hand over his eyes.

"Down, sir," Sam said, reaching a hand toward the cloak. "No, keep me covered," she admonished Daniel as the man began to remove his hands. "Thank you, sir. Now, let go," she said to Jack, after tugging on the cloak several times.

"Oh," Jack said weakly. He kept his head turned away and let go of the cloak.

Sam tugged the cloth over her back, wrapping it across her hips. She brought the ends up to the sides of her breasts where they were mashed into her team mate's bare chest. Then she rose a little off him.

Daniel gathered the sides of the cloak and helped Sam close them across her chest. "Better," he declared.

"Thanks," she said, rising up to her knees.

Daniel straightened the neck, squaring it behind Sam's head and then he fastened the clasp for her.

"You can do that for Highborn women?" Eyvind asked. "Close their cloaks for them?"

"If you want," Daniel said, and then hastily added, "but only if they want you to. They don't need you to. I mean, women are capable of closing their own clasps."

"Thanks," she repeated as they stood together. "Sir, the trade—"

"Jack! It's safe now," Daniel said, sounding more irritated as his lover kept his back to them. "And take your hands off your ears. Why the hell did you have your ears covered?"

"Sounds, Sky! Naked sounds. Sounds of nakedness when you two started moving."

"Oh ... hell," Daniel said, shaking his head in disgust. He brushed his long hair back from his face and tugged at the binding veil that hung tied around his neck. "The trade-- But you said something about the drug?"

"I got it all over my clothes. My hair too." She combed her fingers through the damp strands and then hastily pulled the cloak closed again. "And there's a bag of it in that pile." She stuck one hand through the slit and pointed at her hastily discarded clothing.

"Dust?" Daniel asked.

"Yes."

"Damn, I'm glad I didn't get any of it on my skin. Damn," Daniel said, rocking back away from her. He leaned over, resting his hands on his knees, and drew a slow breath. "I don't smell it. You must have contained it well enough."

"Doused everything with water. That'll keep the particles out of the air. This whole floor under these slats will have to be cleaned. Washed and sponged down. The temple floor, someone's mopping that."

"Saw that as we came through," Jack said, still not facing the duo. "Wet trail from here to there. Didn't stop to ask what it was all about. Someone said you were in here, so we came to find out what you were up to. Never, and I mean, never expected to find you like ... that!"

"Well I'm covered now, sir!" she said, giving the back of his head a hard stare.

"Highborn," Eyvind said, stepping almost between Daniel and Sam now, "I had wondered, if this is seemly behavior? For you to bathe in here more often?"

"Hey, hey!" Jack yelled at the man.

"What?" Eyvind asked innocently, never taking his eyes off the cloak-draped woman.

"No," another Sky said timidly. "I don't want the scary one in here. Women are ... "

"Yes," an older Sky said. "We all saw her. She's as dangerous as they ... "

Eyvind turned to his veiled kinsmen. "This one is different. She would not kill the Nyrnortvegr."

"True?" a Sky asked, and got a shocked nod of agreement from Sam.

"All right. Show's over. Go on along now. Back to whatever the hell you fellas were doing. Go on!" Jack commanded, shooing the Skys away. He clenched his fists and turned toward Sam.

"Clothes," Daniel said. He had to shoulder his way past Eyvind and a couple other Skys who had not budged despite the master of the City's command. He went to the cabinets along the western wall and retrieved a set of his own seemly garments, and then carried them back to Sam.

"Thanks," she said gratefully. She took the pants from him and turned her back on the men to slip them on under the cloak. They were too tight across the hips and the gusset behind the lacing barely covered the gap. Getting the top on over her head was a little trickier and as she let the cloak slip away as she pulled the top down.

"Oh ... dear," Sam said, looking down at the cropped top that ended above her dark nipples.

"Oh, that is a strange look," Eyvind said, ducking past Daniel to stare at her front. "I think perhaps you need a longer ... unless women of your home world like their breasts to—"

"Shush!" Jack said, shaking a finger angrily at the man. "Tailor, I'm gonna tell ya again, back off and let her—"

"It's not ... seemly," Daniel said helpfully. "She needs a longer shirt."

"Well, I could make you something. I think if I could measure you—"

"Did I not say back off?" Jack bellowed.

"Will you come and hit me now, Jack? Brute force," he said, turning his attention back to the bare-breasted woman, "is what he's best at. Threaten to strike. Though he has yet to actually do it. Still, see? He's scared the other Skys away. If that was his intention he succeeded well, acting like a Highborn woman. But I could make you a lovely top. Perhaps you'd like the fashion of the worker caste women? With gathers around the neck and sleeves with lace."

"I would just like a shirt, thank you. One like ... sir?" she said, her hands clutched over her breasts. "The Highborn Jack."

"Ah. Then I will make you one, only fuller through your ... for your breasts, so they may swing free as they do now. I'll be right back," Eyvind said as he rushed toward the door. He stopped at the opening and turned back to her. "Give me two hours. Less maybe. Shortly after dark, I'll be back." Then he turned to leave.

"Ivan!" Jack bellowed. "Take a big guy with you! Don't come back wandering the streets after dark without one, hear me?"

Eyvind was gone.

"I should have asked him about pants," Sam said, staring at her exposed stomach dejectedly.

Daniel tilted his head and looked down below her navel. "They're a little low," he said, choosing to ignore the tiny fringe of hair that showed just over the lacings.

"The cloak," she said by way of reply. Sam picked up Jack's cloak and threw it back around her shoulders. It covered her well. With the pants on she could allow it to gape open a little and be able to use her hands now.

"We could get you some of Jack's. Jack? Right? She could wear some of yours until her clothes have been thoroughly decontaminated."

"My pants? But she'd be naked underneath them. On my pants. My underwear won't—"

"Well, she can hardly wear a pair of my underwear, now can she?" he asked disgustedly.

Sam glowered at the two. "I have extra underwear—"

"No," Jack said to Daniel. "Nothing to pull the loop on." Then he groaned and turned away. With his back to the other two, Jack issued a snappy command. "Report."

"Sir, the new female sentries and the women merchants Aegis chose completed the trading. In all we got another fifty boys out of there. As far as I know there are less than five left, all infants."

"And you gave them practically nothing in exchange?"

"Yes, sir. The value ... Yes, sir. They'll need more supplies within a month. I broached the idea of you purchasing something from them that would give them gold coins ... marks, I mean. Gold marks. Then the elders offered me the drug. Gave me a bag to show you. The older one, she spilled some on me. Not sure if it was on purpose, probably was. She got it all over me. Even my hair."

"And you tracked it back in here?"

"I didn't realize what it was. As soon as it was detected—"

"How the hell did that happen?"

"One of the Skys, sir. He ... smelled it—"

"Oh, God!" Daniel swore. "Who? You probably don't know his name. Where is he?"

"One of the Champions carried him out of the temple. They were supposed to get everyone out who might be sensitive to it. That's why I was surprised to see you inside here—"

"Shit. You know it all, don't you? Everything I've been through?" Daniel was the one who turned his back now, wrapping his arms around his chest. Gruber wrapped his meaty hands around Daniel's thighs and pushed, trying to get them apart. "You told her," he accused Jack.

"Sky," Jack said hastily, moving around to face his lover, "it wasn't ... There was ..."

Daniel closed his eyes and shook his head. The vaporous touches of Joslin and his master pushed their way into Daniel's consciousness.

Jack wasn't going to stand for Daniel retreating behind a wall of silence, not after the incredibly fine day they'd had. He put his fingers under Daniel's chin and pulled his face up, but was met with firm-shut eyes. "The ... I told her and Teal'c what they needed to do in order to perform their mission well. She had to know what the guardians ... The forbidden women, what they ... No, I didn't tell her very much. I told her you'd been drugged with the stuff the women had inside the garden. Told her and T, well you heard me discussing the need to eradicate the drug, and Teal'c was there. So, he knows you were exposed to it, but not what happened."

"I won't ... Jack, I'm going back to the Champion's hall. Whether you give me permission or not, I'm going. Stay here with her. Stay here and be with Teal'c, be with Sam. I'm not—"

"Not going to stay with anyone else but you. Don't ... This is not part of your dream. Sam's not Sha'uri. Teal'c won't come between you and me and neither will she. Nobody will."

"When she knows—"

"When I know what, Daniel?" Sam whispered. She forced her way into their intimate posture. "When I know what you've been through? You kept him alive, didn't you? Kept the colonel alive and you've paid a terrible price for that."

"God," Jack whispered, shaking his head, "please, Carter. Don't say his name. You don't know what that's—"

"It's not. Not for me, it isn't. He's my friend. Honestly, you have to realize, sir. He's my best friend in the world. Universe. He's who I turn to when I need a shoulder. Don't you even know that much about him and me?"

"So is that why you feel betrayed by me?" Jack asked her. "Is that it? But you got pretty angry—"

"Hell, of course I did. He's been keeping a damned big secret from me for a long time. You and him, your relationship. And now I see him hurting and he can't come to me about it." She turned back to the silent man. "You need to tell me. Let me help. Talk to me."

Daniel stared at the distant stone wall behind her head. "I can't start talking about it. Can't or I'll finish breaking."

"Baby, just ... I don't know," Jack admitted in defeat. He put his arm around his lover and, after a moment's hesitation, he put his palm on Carter's shoulder and slowly pushed her back.

Jack kept a protective and sheltering hold on Daniel as he led him back to their private space within the security of the Hall of Champions.

"It was a beautiful day, wasn't it? Wasn't it?" Daniel whispered sorrowfully, his face pressed against his lover's neck.

"Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful," Jack whispered intimately as he drew the curtain closed behind them, leaving Lemmel and everyone else outside. "Sun will be setting soon. Champions will be gathering." He guided Daniel to sit on the edge of their bed.

"Then, let's go out of here. I don't want to experience the sunset tonight. Let's go back into the temple."

"Really?" Jack asked, sounding very skeptical. "We just came through there."

"And now I want to go back again."

Jack shook his head, but helped Daniel back to his feet.

"You think I'm acting erratically."

"Yes," Jack said. "I mean I ... You're ... I thought, after all the hard riding we did today that you'd be able to sleep. Sleep now and stay asleep."

"I'll sleep after all of them have gone to bed. After the sunset. When it's quiet in here, okay? Please, Jack." After Gruber and Joslin have let go. After the guardians have stopped their assault.

"Okay. We haven't been out of here a single night since that first night, have we?"

They sat in the temple, comfortable on cushions in the floor space partitioned off for Teal'c and Sam. Jack had led Daniel in there, found the space empty and curled up on a mound of soft blankets and pillows that had been heaped on the floor.

Teal'c and Carter had arrived moments after Daniel fell asleep, his head in Jack's lap. They sat, somber and silent on the cushions by their team leader. Carter'd found more clothing, Jack noted. She'd gotten her head covered and was wearing his cloak over stuff that seemed to cover the rest of her decently.

"We tried," Jack whispered to them. "We tried to get a handle on this society. After he was attacked in Brooksmeet we tried to ... explore different ways of handling the confines. After a while I encouraged him to ... play with the others. I thought it would help. I thought taking sex back to being just sex, get rid of the religious thing, I thought that would help. Let him see how much freedom and control he still had. Maybe it worked for a while. Didn't hurt. Not until we got to the port city and he was drugged. That kind of brought everything to a head for us. Him, having to try to handle the restrictive role he's been forced into, and me freaking out. I misunderstood. Actually, I couldn't see how everything was smothering him.

"But when the guardians tested him, that made all the work we'd done, all the play aspect, the easy time with Balin and Lemmel and me, it all turned into something wrong. I thought it would work, help him handle the past prostitution if I watched him play with Lemmel. But then the guardians doing it to him, raping him in front of me, and me watching that? Well, you see?"

Daniel stirred in his sleep and Jack grew silent until he settled again. He leaned his head back against the heavy chair at his back and gazed out into the temple. The place was almost too dark to see across now. Night had fallen. The stained glass windows high overhead were black blotches on the stone walls, and only a few lamps were lit inside now. No Skys remained. Their hall had been thoroughly cleaned and all the ones who'd left earlier had returned. A few stewards and a handful of Champions were stationed about the great temple, keeping a watchful eye, though the temple doors were closed. Two women sentries sat against the door to the forbidden garden, playing a card game to keep themselves alert.

Jack surveyed the vast temple, absorbing the stillness, the peace within. "This is how the Asgard who dropped these people intended the temple to be used. A quiet place for peaceful meetings. Learning center maybe."

Lemmel came and stood at the edge of the partitioned-off area. He bowed deeply. "Master, Champion Roskilde wishes to speak with ye. Be it permitted, he would come to ye here? Though, the woman Highborn might take offence at him, being a man and all."

"Send him in, Lemmel. She's not offended by men," Jack said solemnly.

Escorted back by Lemmel, Roskilde went down on one knee and bowed his head. "House," he said, and waited for a signal from Jack.

"Yeah. Come on in here and grab a piece of the floor. I mean, come on and sit down. Just keep your voice low."

"Aye." Roskilde threw his bright cape back over his shoulders and sat cross-legged by Teal'c, keeping as much distance between himself and Carter as possible.

"You were gonna tell me about the herb," Jack said, his face still in a dour frown.

"Was, House. And am. I have had the displeasure of seeing it used by the deposed guardians. Overused, it poisons a Sky's mind. Makes them feel ... haunted as if it never leaves them."

"But this fades over time?"

"Aye. My Sky would tell ye so himself, but he will not leave my home for many days now, I fear."

Jack pursed his lips and studied the big Champion. Master of the bow, Roskilde had significant upper body strength. His arms were huge, even in comparison to Balin. "You gonna marry him? Your Sky?"

"Aye. This I will do. Before the Nyrnortvegr declared the new freedoms even such a suggestion would have sent me to ruin. Our love was forbidden."

"I know all about forbidden love," Jack said, his voice even more bitter. "Places where it's forbidden for men to marry men. Means ruin for some. Imprisonment. A man would keep such love secret, even from his best friends. And he'd hope they'd understand, hope they'd understand the danger, and also the regret he had for being forced to keep such secrets."

"Sir," Sam whispered.

Jack shook his head, keeping his gaze locked with Roskilde's. "So your Sky, he's gonna be all right after smelling that poison today?"

"Aye. We'd witnessed the use in temple before, but only when he covered his mouth and nose to block out the scent. Today he was caught unaware. Now, he rests in the company of my household, family and servants. My women around him comfort him."

"Women?" Sam asked. "Free women or slaves?"

"No slaves," Roskilde said. "My mother. My sisters and women servants of my house. I have a large family. All love him as if he were truly my wedded consort. He be thus in my heart, and has been for a very long time."

"It must have been tough, breaking the guardian's laws."

"Tough? Ye have lived through what I have, House. Our first day together was his first day from the garden. I saw him and fell in love—How strange to admit the love out loud." He shook his head and frowned. "Strange. But so it was. And for the closeness he was ripped from me mere weeks after our meeting. The guardians tested him—"

"I know what that's like," Jack said.

"He was proven capable, and so they left him on the ground of the eatery where they'd found us. It was a hard day. We stayed inside much after that, but he was taken again and tested within the year. We were within the company of friends. They took him and used the herb on him that time."

"Christ," Jack swore.

"I learned from that enconter, and so did my fellow Champions. They draw together around us, if ye can imagine such a thing. Each feast night a handful come to my door and walk with us if we wish to come to the hall. Not asked, they just are there and my Sky then comes within their midst, safe within their number. Also, I am most careful to always show Odin's smile. Thus, they do never again threaten to use the herb on him."

"Yeah. My desire ... they questioned Lemmel and Balin. Would have used that shit on him if Lemmel and Balin hadn't been there? Showing the blue eyes?"

"Aye. Most assuredly. But then, I am confused, House. I had thought he'd been damaged by the herb."

"He was. Just, not by the guardians. A couple guys down in Drangaskogen ... they ... He fought them."

"He would," Sam said.

Roskilde cut a glare directly at her. Sam shifted uneasily as he continued to glare at her. She tugged the white veil down, covering her face and neck better.

"House, this troubles me. Her here, seeing him asleep."

Jack gave the guy a sardonic smile. "Supposed to be men I hide him from when he's asleep, not women."

"True. But a woman ... "

"I won't hurt him," Sam said, her voice betraying a small trace of anger.

"She's of my household," Jack said to the master bowman. "Like your mother and sisters around your desire."

"Ah," Roskilde said, giving Jack an equally sardonic smile. "My desire. Ye be the first to call him so. This shocks me. I do not have pretensions of being Highborn."

"Oh, believe me, buddy, I know you don't. I've seen big guys who do. One anyway, and he's dead. You'd be shocked as hell to find out how he died, who killed him."

"Would I?" Roskilde frowned and glanced over his shoulder, eyeing Lemmel.

Jack shook his head, not bothering to correct the man's misunderstanding. "But anyway, there's no big separation between worker caste and Highborn anymore. The separation will fade over time. You're going to have a big part in that, when you get married to your Sky." Jack shifted his hand on Daniel's chest, using his thumb to rub the underside of his wedding ring. The coiled, gold wire glinted in the dim candlelight. The small casting of Thor's hammer gleamed.

"So what can you tell me about the long-term effects of an overdose of that herb?"

"My Sky would explain it better than I. It does fade with time. Nightmares. The sleeplessness."

"Tension?" Jack asked. "Crying a lot maybe?"

"Aye. And the ... physical ... "

"Oh. That. Yeah, well, maybe my desire and yours could chat about it. We could come visit tomorrow if that'd be okay."

"I would like to come too," Sam said. "I'd like to visit with the women of your household. Your mother and sisters. Sir?" she asked, turning to address her superior.

"Ye will bring no herb," Roskilde said. "And no weapons. Knives. It will be hard on my Sky to have ye under the roof. He remembers well his time in the garden."

"Knives," Jack said thoughtfully.

Sam nodded. "I will come unarmed. You can search me when we get there. I understand the need. If any of the women come from the garden, especially if they ever come to visit their children in the hall, we'll have to search them very thoroughly. Keep all weapons out of their reach."

"For visits to the kids?"

"Yes, sir. They ... kill. It's not just the men who are judged unsound. If a male child proves to be ... they have to be docile or they die. Running is forbidden. Anything that might develop muscle or independence—"

"Pardon," the tailor Sky said.

Jack glanced up quickly. "Ivan," he said, frowning at the surprise arrival. Lemmel hadn't announced the guy or asked if he could come close. But then, the guy was a Sky, Jack realized. He didn't need permission.

"Strength," Eyvind said, "in any form. It meant death inside there too. I don't want those women coming out here." He sat down between Sam and Teal'c and laid a bundle of cloth at her hip. "I'd rather they never came out. Would rather they die inside their walls."

"Most probably will," Sam said sadly. "Thank you for the shirt." She picked up the cloth and held it in her lap.

"Welcome," Eyvind said. "And they'll die in there? Good. But I see this upsets, possibly offends you, Highborn woman. True, you are not one of them. I know that. Most of my kinsmen don't realize the difference. Most of them allow you here because of fear, the others because of confusion. They can't understand you are real."

Jack shook his head, not wanting to understand much of the conversation.

"Jack," Eyvind whispered, leaning forward, "cover his face. He's asleep."

"Shit," Jack whispered. He shifted, propping his right arm on his raised knee and using his sleeve to shield Daniel from them. "Thanks."

Eyvind shook his head and frowned at Jack.

"You're the one who hosts a Sky," Eyvind said to Roskilde. "He's with you by choice, right?"

"By choice, Highborn."

"Eyvind. My name. I'm unhosted and always will be. You can use my name.

"Honored, Eyvind, though a mere Champion should not have such an honor."

"When you two get married, I want to be at the ceremony."

"A great honor, Eyvind."

"Why is it acceptable to say your name and not ... Highborn Jack's ... " Sam shrugged and just pointed at Daniel.

Roskilde cleared his throat and stood. "Come visit whenever ye wish, House Ondeil. My household eagerly awaits ye pleasure." He bowed low, imitating Lemmel and Balin and then withdrew.

Eyvind slipped his veil back off his head and looked at Sam. "It is acceptable because I'm unhosted. I ... I don't ... I never accepted impartings. I'm not like them. But it doesn't make him bad, living the same way whores do."

Sam gasped.

"It's just what he is, Ondeil's Sky. You're as upset about that as he is. You don't like the idea of impartings, do you? Or of him being a slut? I dislike it, but you're supposed to accept and approve of it. If you don't, then what are you?"

"I'm his friend, and I thought you were too. How can you call him that?"

"A slut. I mean he ... I shouldn't." Eyvind bowed his head. "It hurts him and it shouldn't. Yet, I found out that he did it with the servants not as duty but by his choice. This makes him truly a slut, and perhaps that is why it hurts him so. I must think on this more. He's as strange as I am. I find myself sexually aroused by women. That's a terrible perversion. And him, he finds being a slut and a whore a perversion. He and I are alike."

"Whore," Sam echoed, the word sounding deceptively gentle.

"Most of my kinsmen understand the wrongness of it. Our worst fear is ending up as a temple whore, unable to make our way without periodic service in there," he said, pointing to the Sky hall. "But to them, accepting impartings for the necessities is the most honorable way to live. They don't think of impartings as whoring, but I do. You do, don't you?"

"We need to take him back to Earth, sir," Sam said forcefully.

"What we're gonna do is go visit chateau Roskilde tomorrow. If you wanna come, then fine. If not, you're not needed there. You're needed here. Make sure the women sentries get trained on how to search for the drug and any weapons. Talk to the master of the children's hall, get them up to speed on possible dangers. That's your duty, Carter."

"Yes, sir." Sam's cheeks were flaming.

Shortly after breakfast the next morning, Jack stood just outside his private chamber in the Hall of Champions, adjusting the toggle closures on the front of his jerkin. The green garment had been freshly laundered and smelled excellent. He gave Lemmel an approving nod. The steward seemed to puff with pride as he began straightening the folds of his own cloak, layering the fabric back over his shoulders to show the green piping against the brown cloth well. House Ondeil colors would be seen by many today.

Then the low murmur in the vast hall stopped suddenly. Jack turned toward the arched entry from the temple. Carter, under her long, thick veil and Teal'c, his brown cloak rustling, were coming toward Jack.

He gave them both a solemn nod and then opened the chamber curtain. Balin led Daniel out into the brightly lit hall. Daniel wore his summer veil today, the gold beads across his cheeks the only embellishment still on the cloth. He had on one of his clean shirts and his slit-legged pants. All four of his bracelets gleamed on his right arm, along with his wedding band. The circle of naquadah hung heavy on his chest. His down-cast eyes were circled with kohl and his lips were soft red with rouge.

Lemmel handed Jack the white, light-weight cloak that was intended for cooler weather, and to be used as a liner under a thicker cover in winter.

As Carter and Teal'c stopped at his side, Jack gave the young steward a nod and then shook the cloak out. He pulled it around Daniel's shoulders, tucking it under the drape of the veil in back. Then he adjusted the neck, closing the toggle and loop. Balin stepped back and Jack took Daniel's hand. Before moving out, he leaned forward and cupped Daniel's chin. With Jack in boots and Daniel in his suede slippers, Jack was a few inches taller than his lover. He lifted Daniel's chin slightly, and gave him a soft kiss on each cheek, just below where the gold beads rested. Then he led Daniel from the temple, his household following a few steps behind.

Outside on the steps, they were immediately flanked by numerous Champions, each one clad in his finest leather armor. One among them was a woman and Jack nodded to her. He hadn't seen her since the street fight when he and Balin had helped her with a young Sky, but he recognized the strong-willed woman. She bowed in the manner of House Ondeil. Then Jack surveyed the larger group. Horned helmets gleamed all around them.

Jack smirked. "You'll have to finish telling me sometime about the misconception."

"Misconception, desire?" Daniel whispered from behind the safety of his veil.

"About Vikings and helmets with horns on them. But not now," he added hastily.

"Sometime when you have absolutely nothing else to do?" Daniel asked.

Jack glanced at him and saw a wry smile. He matched it with a smile of his own.

Chateau Roskilde was grand, Jack remarked. Located close to the heart of the City of the Highborn, it was a three story stone house.

"Yeah, I was joking about the chateau remark, desire. But ya know," Jack paused and raised one eyebrow as he smiled at Daniel, "Looks like Chateau de la Guillonnier."

His smile grew as Daniel arched an eyebrow at him. "What? You're not the only one who knows old buildings."

"Chateau de la Gullonnier? You just make that up?"

"It's in the Loire Valley, over in France," Jack said smugly.

Daniel glared at him. "You actually know the name of a region in France?"

"Yep. Went there once on a ... on a very important ..."

"Beer tasting tour," Daniel said, giving his lover a depreciative nod. "Beer, wasn't it."

Jack tilted his nose up in the air and shook his head slightly. "Shows how much you know. Wine. Supposed to be wine but we ended up on a kind of a pub crawl all through these little villages. Awesome local brews, I tell you. Ahem!"

The three story structure sat secure in an unusually wide expanse of land, wide for a city home. The entire estate was fenced with a solid stone wall. A Champion's crest was carved into the double gate.

A female servant stood watchful outside the gateway and curtseyed deep before letting Jack and his household inside. The Champion escort waited outside Roskilde's property as Jack and his household entered.

Inside the gates, Jack and his Sky were met on the path by a young woman who introduced herself as Roskilde's youngest sister. Dressed in leather pants and a tightly laced jerkin, she escorted them up the winding path and into the foyer of the Champion's home.

"Rich looking digs," Jack whispered, adjusting his supporting hold on Daniel.

"Aye," Balin said at Jack's other elbow. "All pay him dearly for his mere presence at tourneys."

"Ye Champion speaks true," Roskilde said. He descended a wide staircase to join them, and curtseyed to Jack, and then bowed in Balin's fashion. "House Ondeil, my household be honored."

He showed them toward a sitting room and Jack paused to direct Balin, Lemmel and Ulfrik to wait inside the comfortable front foyer. Then, his much smaller party followed Roskilde into a sitting room and Jack led his silent lover to a too-tall couch and sat with him. Carter sat on Jack's other side.

"Ye Champion does know the right of it. I am paid handsomely for my face to be seen, my colors." He touched the ribbons stitched along the placard of his jerkin. Green and blue showed. He sat in a chair across from the trio.

"Sky color," Jack said, startled at the sight of the blue. "Never seen it used."

"None hardly have the right. Highborn houses, it be not necessary, considered gauche. But for a worker caste who hosts a Sky, who has the commitment we have? As ye know, the blue be right, be necessary. To have my blue at a tourney, merely me watching, or perhaps my official crest on the tourney documents means much. Thus, I have made a fortune from whom I bed." He frowned solemnly.

"That's not the reality behind your relationship," Daniel said softly.

"It is not the reality," Roskilde's veiled Sky agreed firmly. He entered the room, being led in a seemly manner by an elderly worker caste woman. Though she was a head taller than him, he seemed to be supporting her more than she was him.

He was dressed in seemly clothing, the fabric a snowy white with pale streaks of rose in the pant legs. His top was trimmed in rose as was his gold-embellished veil. He wore makeup around his eyes and his lips were painted with the same shade of rose that decorated his clothing.

Roskilde rose and faced the new arrivals.

"My Champion's grandmother," the Sky said as he nodded toward her and then to the visitors. He cupped a hand under her elbow.

"Highborn," the old woman said, her face wrinkling in a heart-felt smile. "Come to visit and bring cheer to our precious heart? Visit with ye guest, little flower. I will take my leave and rest my old bones under the fruit trees with the young girls. Winter comes soon and I want more time out there. Go, now, pet."

Jack flinched. "Pet," he whispered too softly for anyone to hear.

The Sky tiptoed and kissed the woman on her cheek.

"Sir," Sam said as she stood. "If I may? The fruit trees, I'd like to see them."

"As ye woman wishes," Roskilde said, but took a halting step toward the blond.

Sam opened her outer cloak and held it wide, showing the man she was unarmed. "No weapons."

"Then, aye," Roskilde said.

"Come," the elder woman said. "I will show ye fruit trees. My grandson says ye do not come from within the Forbidden Garden and are not one of the witches who harm. This be true?"

"Yes. It's true," Sam said, not looking back as she left with the very tall elder. "I'd like to learn more about the role of women in your society, the women who live out here, live free."

After the women left, Jack cleared his throat and redirected his attention to his lover. With the women gone, Daniel seemed to relax. He rose and slipped his veil off to lay across his shoulders. He walked to the standing Sky who also removed his veil.

Halting there, Daniel turned back to Roskilde. He flicked his gaze at Jack and then turned to the Champion again. "Am I permitted to be without my veil in your home?"

"It be not seemly for ye to ask permission of a worker caste, even though I be Champion, Sky." Roskilde looked very worried.

"A Sky is never wrong, Champion," Daniel said with a smile. "In your house, under your crest, I would seek permission as I would in any honorable man's house. Are you comfortable with me being unveiled?"

Roskilde shifted his weight, turning slightly to face Jack. He was obviously looking for direction from the man who was master of his city.

"It's your house," Jack said. "We're merely guests in it. No better or deserving than any other guests who've come to visit you or your Sky."

"Ah," the Sky said, "there you've touched on the heart of it. I have no visitors. No Sky would dare risk himself so."

Daniel turned back to the man, leaving his veil off. "Risk?"

"To draw the attention of the guardians, and risk a test? Risk being judged merely for associating with me? No. You are the first Highborn guests, the first of any caste to come seeking time with me. I am truly honored, you must know this."

"There's no risk," Daniel said. "So we can't claim to be overly brave or even altruistic. I'm here for a purely selfish reason."

"You seek to understand the herb and its effects," the Sky said, drawing near to Daniel and touching his hands. "And you come in here and honor my ... my desire. You ask him as you would any honorable man. Thank you."

"You're thanking me for being decent."

"Yes."

Daniel smiled, matching the Sky's amused look. "Just so we both understand. Decency hasn't always been given to us, either of us."

"We have something in common," the Sky said.

"More than you realize. Forbidden love is something I understand very well."

"I see the truth of that in your eyes, kinsman."

Daniel looked over his shoulder at Roskilde, but the Champion had his head bowed.

Jack stood and cleared his throat. "Roskilde, is it permitted for my Sky to be unveiled in your home? On your land?"

"Aye, House." Roskilde kept his head bowed, his face in a firm frown.

"Good," Jack said as he moved closer to the two Skys. "Then, let's see. The rest of it is that I should give you permission to see him without his veil, and to touch him if you need to. But as far as his name, we'll not be using it. Though, not because I don't trust you, and I sure don't withhold it because you're worker caste or anything like that. It's just that he's not comfortable with the use of it, so we'll just avoid it, okay?"

"Ye ask me if it be all right, and surely, honored as I am, House, it be an honor."

"All right, then."

"House, my hosted Sky, him who ye do see now, his name, we do not use also and, for I fear, the same reason. Be this acceptable?"

"Honored," Jack said, giving the unnamed Sky a bow.

"Good," Daniel said with a firm nod. Then he held his hands out, palms down and waited.

Roskilde's Sky brought his hands out, palms up and touched Daniel's hands. Then they leaned toward each other and exchanged an intimate, open-mouthed kiss.

Jack cleared his throat and flicked his gaze briefly to Roskilde. The man was still staring at the floor.

When their kiss broke, Daniel smiled. "Kinsman will you allow the presence of my desire, the Highborn Jack?"

"Yes," Roskilde's Sky said, turning to look directly at Jack.

"You have now met my desire, the Highborn, Jack Ondeil. He is an honest man and follows the ... new Nortvegr."

"Honored, Jack. Well met. I welcome you behind the veil."

"Yeah, thanks," Jack said giving the guy a lopsided grin.

"And Sky, you meet my—"

Daniel held a finger up against the Sky's lips. "'Ask me."

"It isn't right that I ask you. He is worker caste—"

"And your desire," Daniel said. "We both walk the new northern way. There will be changes. This separation of class will fade. Let that fading start now, with us."

"We who have suffered the most? It falls to us?"

"It often falls to the ones who suffer the most, falls to them to change a corrupt system."

"Then ... Sky, will you allow the presence of my desire, the Champion, Roskilde?"

"Yes," Daniel said, keeping his left hand still in the Sky's palm and looked at the taller man's bowed head.

"You have now met my desire, the Champion, master bowman, Roskilde. He is an honest man and follows the new Nortvegr."

"Roskilde," Daniel said, "I welcome you behind my veil. Though you already know him, you meet my desire, the Highborn Jack Ondeil. He is an honest man, and follows the new Nortvegr."

"Highborn," Roskilde said, bringing his head up finally. He looked at Jack.

"Jack," Roskilde's Sky said, "you meet my desire, the Champion, master bowman, Roskilde. He is an honest man and follows the new Nortvegr."

"Roskilde," Jack said, taking a long stride toward the man he knew well. He held out his hand for a shake. "This is how we do it in my household. Stick your hand out." Jack shook the silent man's hand. "And call me Jack."

"That ... I do not believe that will be possible." Roskilde raised one eyebrow and tilted his head to the side, regarding the smaller man solemnly.

"Well, eventually it'll happen. One step at a time."

"House, ye meet my, hosted Sky, my life-mate, whose name we will not use. Ye may be free to touch."

"You giving me that permission, the touch thing, because it's expected or because you're comfortable with me?"

"Comfortable, House. Ye honor him and thus, I am comfortable."

"Good. Same here. I mean, you meet my desire, my mate for life. You can touch him too."

"There," Daniel said, showing a satisfied smile to them all.

Roskilde's Sky chuckled light-heartedly. "We are all met. I have never introduced my desire in the formal way before. It feels right, though. Honorable. When we marry, this might become something I do again."

Daniel and the Sky walked back to the too-tall couch and sat together. Roskilde took a seat in a padded chair close to the end of the couch near his desire.

Jack perched on the edge of one of the tall chairs and finally scooted back, letting his legs dangle. "So, we came here to ask you guys what you know about the herb, its long-term effects. What can you tell us?"

"The way the witches use it," Roskilde's Sky said, "in the powder form, it seems to have a quick effect, which fades before the victim leaves the temple. I've seen that twice. But the crushed leaves steeped in hot water, the effect is different. Not as intense, but more intense because it doesn't fade, though one has only a small sip."

"Just a sip of the tea?" Daniel asked.

"Yes. And then the drinker vomits the liquid immediately. That much gives him the fullness in his staff and he will have an orgasm while a man uses him. It gives the user pleasure."

"Nasty," Jack said, shaking his head. He watched as Roskilde's Sky and Daniel seemed to scoot together. They were touching each other now, the way Skys in the temple did. "So, just a little of the tea. What about overdoses?"

"That's what you want to know," Roskilde's Sky said. "Rare. But it happens. I don't think it ever happens from the witches. I mean, in the temple during the ceremony I don't think it ever happens that way. But the guardians, they had the plant. Whole leaves they made tea from. They use it occasionally in the Sky hall during the ten-day service. Sometimes they'd use it during a test. Out on the streets ... "

"During a test, if they had any reason to suspect a Sky couldn't produce cum?" Daniel asked. "Lemmel and Balin were showing Odin's smile. That saved me from a second experience with the drug."

"As Roskilde's eyes saved me once."

Daniel shivered. "I was drugged, overdosed by a trader down in Drangaskogen. I didn't know what it was. I took a sip and then he forced the rest down me."

"Forced it?" Jack said, sitting bolt-upright.

"Yes," Daniel said, keeping his head tilted against the other Sky. "I don't know how much he poured into me. Must have been a lot. I almost died."

"Almost. Damned close," Jack said angrily. "Had convulsions. You were out of it for days."

Roskilde's Sky tightened his arm around Daniel's waist. "It wasn't even a test, was it? It was a rape. How many times we are raped and to them, even to our kinsmen it isn't seen as rape. It's what Nirrti's laws say we must live for."

"But not any more," Daniel said vehemently. "Not any more."

"Tell me about it. A trader gave you the drug but you didn't know what it was. And he forced more on you. Did you pass out from the pain?"

"Pain?" Jack asked. "Yeah, he did. They raped him."

"No, Jack. I mean the pain the drug causes."

"The convulsions?"

"No, Jack," Roskilde's Sky said again, a bit more forcefully.

"I did," Daniel answered. "The pain across here," he said, running his left hand across from hip bone to hip bone. "Felt like everything was being pulled together across here. And my ... deeper in here," he said, running his fingertips down to his groin. "Like being squeezed. I remember being shocked that I could come through so much pain."

"Me too. We were in a tavern having a fun time. The place was full of Roskilde's brothers-in-arms. I was so happy to be there at his side, hearing the stories and seeing the men smile so. They have such friendships, these full-size men. Do you know?"

"Yes. Balin used to sit in the Ram's Head and tell great stories. I know what you mean. To be a part of that, it must have been so fun."

"It was. That was the last time for me, though, outside of times in the Hall of Champions. The guardians, they'd been watching us, watching me. My first day out of the garden, I met him," he said, looking now at his desire with intense love in his eyes. "Met him. He was sitting outside at an eatery having a meal and I stopped and stared at him. He was so handsome. So I approached him and ... A guardian was watching, but I didn't realize at the time." He frowned for a moment before continuing his story. "I sat with him and he offered a bargain, my company in exchange for food and the use of his cloak. I was naked, you realize," he added, smiling again. "So I countered his offer. A set of seemly clothing for a month's use in exchange for my company for a meal."

"Cheeky," Roskilde said, his eyes squinted with his wide smile. "Of course I took the offer. He had his clothes and I extended the offer of my home and food for his presence at a meal a day. I proved I could be cheeky too. Realize then, though that my home was merely a single room in the back of a tanner's hall, rented week to week. I had only that month attained my Championship status."

"I cared not at all about his Championship status. I only cared about what I saw in his eyes, the kindness."

"And he accepted. We lived in that little room, no imparting, not behind the veil at all and were absurdly happy for weeks and weeks. Then they struck." Roskilde frowned and dropped his gaze to the floor.

"Yes," his Sky continued. "Ironic. We were at the same table where we'd met. They surrounded it and tested me there."

"On the street?" Daniel asked, his voice full of the horror he felt.

"Yes. Many of them. I wasn't living the way I was supposed to. I had no skill to sell and had taken no impartings that they knew of. I had found my desire too soon for their liking."

"Too soon," Jack said under his breath, shaking his head.

"I'd never had ... Roskilde and I, we hadn't ... so when they tested me, it was the first time."

"You were a virgin," Daniel whispered, tightening his grip on the man.

"And I didn't learn my lesson from that," he said bitterly. "They left me on the wooden deck of the eatery. All other patrons had slunk away during the testing. Only my desire remained. He picked me up. I was bleeding, you understand. He picked me up and carried me back to his home. I ... I hated that I hadn't given myself to him first. If he'd been the first ... "

"You loved him," Daniel whispered against the man's temple. "That's what counts. But, I do understand. It doesn't take away the bitterness they caused."

"And I didn't learn well enough. After I healed, I did give myself to him. He offered and I accepted, so he declared himself as my host and we thought things would go well. But the guardians were not satisfied. I'd never bargained for impartings. Never. And I refused to serve in the temple. They sent an envoy to request I serve, and on that day, I refused."

"How did you avoid the winter festival service?"

"It can be avoided if one pays enough. After he declared himself my host, my Champion began to be offered ... dare I say absurd amounts of gold? Absurd. Just for his presence, his sitting in judgment at tourneys. If he chose to participate, the money was even greater. Invitations to happenings here in the city, our presence at parties and weddings of others, this also brought honorariums, expensive gifts. All of this gold, the wealth given to Roskilde is doubled because it is known we are life mates, not merely Sky and host. So he paid for my absence at the winter festivals. The guardians do lust after gold marks."

"But the guardians didn't leave it at that?"

"We used to go out with his friends. They love having a Sky among them, as you know. Champions do love having us around. We were at a tavern and the guardians came. They brought the herb and I had to drink it. They weren't satisfied and gave me more while they were testing me."

"Raping you," Daniel corrected.

"Yes. And I finally learned my lesson. I've never left this house since then, unless my desire shows Odin's smile, and we are in the company of many of his Champion friends."

"Couldn't the Champions have stopped them that night at the tavern?"

"I was not showing Odin's smile," Roskilde said. "They had no cause to prevent the guardians from their task. We are careful to make sure it never fades now. As ye do with ye House's servants."

"I don't ... " Daniel closed his mouth and nodded. "Never let it fade." How many times on their trek north had Lemmel and Balin's eyes saved him from closer scrutiny by village elders? From possible judgments? And yet, that same barrier of safety had drawn Gruber and Joslin to him.

Roskilde's Sky continued. "I was drugged too heavily that night. Repeated doses of the liquid."

Daniel's gaze looked haunted now. He stared at Jack as the Sky continued to speak, and then turned back to listen to the whispering man.

"I don't know when I truly woke up. My mind was full of the herb for a very long time. Constantly, I saw them, their hands on me, and their eyes staring into mine. I could feel their thrusts into me, their disgusting words assaulting my ears like putrid worms wriggling into my head. The pain, just as you feel, the pain across here," he said, running his hands across his hips. And my orbs felt as if they were even still being crushed. For days I vomited even the least bit of water. Worst, I could not see my desire. All I saw about me were the vile faces of guardians."

"Yes," Daniel whispered. Then he drew in a deep breath, prepared now to explain the presence of the two men who were even now lapping at his crotch. "I couldn't see Jack anywhere. I kept hallucinating, thinking he was drowning in the sea and I couldn't find him. Hated that feeling. Every time I fell asleep after that, I'd have that dream. Still do. Jack drowning, or it's me in the ocean drowning, and Jack ... Or I feel them raping me. Feel them holding me down and ... the rest of what they're doing to me now."

"It fades with time," the Sky said. "It took a very long time before I could sleep. That was the hardest because, as you know, they steal their way back into your mind when you sleep. You wake with them raping you. Every time you wake they're in you. Horrible way to wake. Sleep becomes your torture."

"But it fades? The nightmares?"

"Over time. Eventually I could sleep in my desire's arms again. His mother and her mother, his sisters too, they left our bed and he returned to me."

Jack reached out and took Daniel's hand, not pulling him away from his huddle with the other Sky, but adding his own touch. "You slept with the women of the household? That helped?"

"Yes. It did help. If not for them in our bed, I would feel the guardians in me most of the day. You see, waking doesn't send them away. They stay all day long." He turned to Daniel and cupped a hand around his cheek. "You feel them surrounding you all day long, don't you?"

"Almost all the day," Daniel confessed. "I feel the trader's hands on me. Gruber and his assistant. I feel them restraining me, holding me down. It's hard to stand up sometimes, hard to get moving after I've been sitting still. Sometimes I fail, trying to push back that hallucination of them holding me. Have to shake off their dirty hands, ignore the feeling of their cocks in me and pretend like they're not here."

"They aren't really there," the Sky said gently. "Just the residue of the drug. Is it hard to realize Jack is not them? When he's in bed with you?"

"Yes, oh, God, yes, at times it is," Daniel declared. "When I'm trying to sleep, even when candles are lit all around us. It's hard work, to keep telling myself this is Jack's hand. This is Jack in bed with me."

"Your mind is being constantly tricked by the residue of the drug. Like a smoke lingering over a burned corpse."

"That's a horrible way to think of it," Jack said.

Roskilde's Sky looked him in the eye. "It is. My desire's grandmother explained it to me. She'd heard tales of the goat's hair herb, generations of tales of how it might be abused, and the effects it causes. I was lucky she was close to the city at that time. Since then, since my desire began showing Odin's smile and wears the blue of hosting a Sky, he has been invited, paid handsomely to attend tourneys. He rarely travels far from the city but still he makes enough to support his entire family in a grand fashion. Our home here in the city is the largest owned by a Champion, the largest amount of land owned by anyone within the great wall. His farmlands to the south, run by his young brother are prosperous. He had enough money to bring the women of his family here to live with me. I have been very fortunate in many ways."

"And you've been trapped here," Daniel said. "Being unable to leave the city, you've been trapped with the guardians all around you."

"Yes. I'd never survive the ten days of service required to leave this place."

"I see. But now you can leave freely."

"And now I can leave," the Sky said with a genuine smile. "And there's no need. Isn't that odd, how it worked out that way? So desperate to leave, and now that I can, there's no need. The guardians' reign is over. Our family and friends are all here within the City. Our home and our life is here."

"You have work to do here," Daniel said. "You're helping to establish the new northern ways."

"I had not thought much about that, but you are right. Our relationship which was half an abomination to the temple guardians, and half the wildest dream of every worker caste man, now our relationship is a step along the new path our society will take."

Jack cleared his throat. "Do you have any suggestions, any information that might help my Sky get over this herb's effect?"

"Yes. Stop sleeping with him. I mean, let him sleep with women each day, for some time during the day at least. That will give him real rest. And even then, the nightmares will come. Don't make him move quickly in the mornings. Let him rise slowly from bed. Be in constant contact with his skin when he is awake, as I have seen you begin to do in the Hall of Champions. This is right. And also ... perhaps, let Odin's smile fade a bit from your servants?"

"I'm not making him give them the smile," Jack said defensively. "Sorry, Sky. I mean ... sorry. It's a misconception. The men have Odin's smile from a long time ago. That's why Ulfrik was sent here."

"We heard this, we Champions. But we do not understand." Roskilde leaned forward staring intently at Jack.

"Yeah, well. Seems my Sky ... You two keep this a secret? I mean, at least for a little while. It'll get out eventually."

"Yes, we will."

"Aye."

"Okay, well apparently when my Sky gave the boy's Odin's smile, it kind of stuck. He gave Ulfrik the smile a damned long time ago. Months. Lot of months. Same with the other two. It's been months."

"And still so bright?" Roskilde asked, his voice sharp with alarm.

"Nyrnortvegr," the Sky whispered in awe. "This must be because you are the Nyrnortvegr."

"Probably because I'm from Midgard," Daniel said depreciatively.

"Oh. I see. But still, a miracle. And I see why you'd want to avoid inquiries about it. We will keep this secret."

"Okay. So other than letting him get up slowly, and spending time in the sack with women, which I'm not thrilled about, any other suggestions?"

"Drink a lot of water. No ale or wine. Move about as much as you can to work it out of your body. The old women say it's like little sprites, hiding in the corners of your body. You have to shoo them out by working muscles."

"Little sprites," Daniel said, nodding solemnly. "Makes perfect sense to me. Enzymes. The body has to clean them out. I can do that. I've noticed I do feel better after I go riding."

"Riding!" the Sky exclaimed in delight. "My desire tells me you actually ride a stallion all by yourself! I'd like to see that."

"Then we can go riding together tomorrow," Daniel said, patting the man on his knee. "You'd probably be more comfortable in Roskilde's lap, right?"

"Yes. It will be my first time to ride. We'll go outside the city?"

"Definitely," Daniel declared. "Should we meet at the stables? Shortly after breakfast. We could take a lunch, Jack. Go swimming in that little lake again."

"Swimming?" Roskilde asked. "My desire does not swim."

"Then we'll just wade around close to the bank. It's very beautiful out north of the city. And no one but our households with us. We can go veilless if we want."

Roskilde's Sky took several deep breaths. "Outside the city. I wonder if I'll be able to do it without fainting. When we go through the gate you'll have to hold me tight, Roskilde."

"Then it be decided," the Champion said. "He says I must hold him and take him from the city and so I will."

"Okey-dokey, then," Jack said. "Picnic tomorrow. But no full-out run, desire. My tail bone got pounded too hard yesterday. We take it easy tomorrow and Freyfaxi'll just have to endure my slower pace."

Roskilde left to summon Jack's men from the entry and the two Sky's donned their veils. Lemmel was sent to retrieve Carter and the group left.

The return walk to the temple was at an easier pace. Daniel walked beside his lover, his hand resting comfortably on the back of Jack's. When they reached the center market square Jack turned his hand over and moved closer, moving his right hand across his body to clasp Daniel's right hand, and his left arm encircling his veiled lover. They walked slowly among the open booths of food and wares. Jack purchased some grapes, feeding Daniel a few as they wandered by the rest of the merchants. Finally they reached a stall selling wooden staffs. The merchant called out to Teal'c, offering the man a fine, darkly stained one.

Daniel seemed startled as Teal'c stepped around them to take the bo from the merchant.

"What?" Jack whispered.

"Forgot they were with us. Sam's being very quiet. Not like her."

"It's not?" Jack asked, glancing back at the veiled woman. Though her face was completely hidden, it was easy to tell she was busy inspecting everything around them. "Looking for danger or you think she's just collecting general bits of information to drive me crazy with later?"

"General bits," Daniel whispered back. "Same as me."

Jack smiled at him, but then tensed up as Daniel tightened his grip on Jack's arm.

"They won't come with us tomorrow, will they? I wanted to be unveiled."

"You could be unveiled with them—"

"Not with Teal'c. You promised me you wouldn't make that happen. If you want them to come on the trip I'll stay at the temple tomorrow. Go without me—"

"Not going to happen. Not any of it. Them coming with us or you staying, I mean. They'll have plenty to keep them busy at the temple tomorrow. The ride is for you, baby. Understand?"

"For me. But does that mean you don't want to come along? Of course you don't. You don't really like riding, do you?"

"Don't get it in your head that I'm going along just to humor you. That's not what this is about. This is about you and me spending time together. Us being a couple. Going out with another couple and some friends for a ride in the fresh air. And chicken. No salty lamb. Can't forget the real important part, can we? Chicken with onions, the way they stick bits of onions and garlic in it before they roast it? That's what I'm talking about. Pie too."

"The important part," Daniel whispered, a genuine smile on his face. "Yes. You keep telling yourself that's the important part." He patted his lover's cheek and then kissed him on the lips.

"Hoo ya," Jack whispered enthusiastically. "The important part. The food and don't forget the nap afterward. Let's bring some extra undies for swimming."

"Yes, and an extra veil. Don't want to give any of the watch-dogs heart attacks. Two naked Skys? Do you think he'll really come with us?"

"Who? Roskilde's Sky?" Jack asked, shifting his hold again, bringing Daniel into a one-armed embrace as they made their way out of the market area.

"Him. I wish I could tell him my name. Don't know why I have such resistance to that."

"It's the seemly thing again," Jack said with confidence. "You're doing damned good. Don't need to keep pushing it. We have time here. I've settled that with T and Carter. They sent a transmission through the gate last night to Hammond, letting him know things are still okay here. Nobody's going to push us to get back to the SGC before we're ready."

"We?" Daniel asked, glancing briefly over his shoulder at the two Jack had just mentioned. "They should return if they need to. You too. I'm not ready yet."

"We're having our honeymoon here, babe. We just got married, remember? We're gonna stay here and enjoy it for a while. Go back when we're ready. When both of us are ready, I mean. Not before."

"I don't know," Daniel said. "I don't think you can keep General Hammond from sending someone after you if he wants to."

"Probably. But he doesn't want to. I've told him I have things here I have to take care of, and he understood that well enough. So if T and Carter need to bug out soon, no problem. You and I stay here until we're both really and truly ready to go. Got it?"

"Got it."

When they reached the temple, Jack steered his lover to the entry to the west, up the steps through the huge doors of the Hall of Champions. Teal'c, Carter and several of their escort parted then, going through the main entrance to the temple. There were only two ways into the expanded structure now, the original entrance into the temple, past where Nirrti's statue had stood, and the entry into the Hall of Champions. Since the Sky Hall entry had been sealed up a couple of vendors had taken advantage of the unused eastern steps to set up stalls selling baked goods and fruits and vegetables.

Inside the Hall of Champions, Jack was assaulted with the strong smells as he'd never been before. A meal was being served. The hall was more full than it had been in years. Champions were continuing to arrive in the city, compelled by the far reaching proclamations about the Nyrnortvegr, the new laws that would affect every aspect of life on this planet.

As he escorted his now silent lover through the hall, Jack gave a solemn, commanding nod to the new faces he saw among the familiar ones. For his notice, he received deep curtseys from the newcomers, and bows from those who had grown accustomed to his ways. Nortvegr was changing, changing peacefully as Daniel had wanted.

Just as he'd begun to let a smug expression cross his face, Aegis reached him with news.

"Hold that thought, big guy," Jack said. "My Sky needs me first. Babe," he said, turning to cup Daniel's cheeks, "wanna lie down a while or are you hungry?"

"I'll stay with you if you're going to eat. I'll hear what he has to say. You don't need to shelter me, Jack."

"Shelter you?"

"Yes. Remember what he said? Roskilde's Sky? I really will feel them touching me whether I'm in there lying down or sitting by you at the table. Makes no difference. I can't escape them. This stuff, the drug just has to fade from my body."

Swiftly, Jack pulled Daniel into a tight embrace, his left arm locked around his back, his right up high so he could cup the back of his lover's veiled head. He held him there, pressing his lips to the white cloth on Daniel's forehead. "Yeah," he whispered. "Keep you by my side. Maybe that'll help, the skin contact thing he mentioned. But the sleeping thing? Sleep with the women? I don't know how that'll really help. If Tal and Jarngerd were here, maybe ... "

"Hey, last time I tried that you called me a perv, remember?"

"What? The night Tal and Lemmel got hitched? That was so not gonna happen, you helping that boy get his pants off."

"Was. Did. He ended up in our bed, didn't he?" Daniel asked, smiling against Jack's neck.

"Did. You hound," Jack whispered, then he turned and pressed his lips to his lover's warm smile.

After they parted, Daniel tilted his head back and glanced around the huge hall. "Sam and Teal'c, are they okay?"

"Yeah. Why you asking?"

"I just ... I didn't speak to either of them today."

"Easier on you not talking to them?" Jack guided his lover to the banquet table to the two chairs that had become indelibly theirs.

"Not really easier. Harder probably. I mean it will be harder when the time comes that I have to."

"Makes sense. Wanna sit with me again? This chair's wide enough for a family."

Daniel ducked his head and smiled. By way of an answer he swayed his body toward his lover.

Jack smiled as he sat and tugged Daniel down to sit between his thighs. To get more comfortable, Jack turned slightly sideways in the large seat, letting his left leg hang off the side. Then he propped his right foot up on a rung just below the seat. He positioned Daniel leaning back against his right thigh, and while it was accurate to describe Daniel as sitting between his thighs, their heads were beside each other, and Jack could look directly into his lover's face. "There. Good for you?"

"Yes. Next meal, we sit with you in my lap."

"Ah," Jack said, a broad, if somewhat smug smile on his face. "That'll be the picnic. I'll lay across your lap and you can feed me grapes."

"Like you fed me in the market today? Do we have any of those grapes left?"

"Lemmel?" Jack called out. "We make it back with any of those grapes? I don't remember what I did with them."

"House," Aegis said, approaching Jack again, now on his right side where Balin usually sat.

Lemmel was carried across the yellow floor and dropped to stand on a wooden box at Jack's left elbow. No other steward had been allowed such a privilege.

"Master," Lemmel said, bending to offer the grapes he'd placed in a tightly woven reed bowl.

"House," Aegis said again, a little more insistently.

As Jack reached for the grapes Daniel twisted around to look up at the Champion, a deep frown on his face. "What is it, Aegis? Sit down and tell us."

"Not for ye to be troubled with, Highborn," the frowning Champion said, but sat in Balin's empty chair.

"Don't start that," Daniel said irritably. He shifted in Jack's lap, turning more to face the Champion.

Jack met Lemmel's concerned squint, seeing the young man's gaze flick rapidly between him and Daniel. Casually, Jack studied the bowl of grapes, taking his time selecting a handful as Daniel continued to address Aegis. When he saw Lemmel open his mouth to object to Aegis, he gave the young steward a warning shake of his head.

"You came here with a problem, Aegis. What is it? Trouble in the city?" Daniel asked.

"Aye, Highborn, though for the House to be counseled with, so as ye not be troubled—"

"Who's causing the problem, Champion?" Daniel asked firmly.

Jack picked a few grapes from a stem, and then again searched through the bowl.

"Ah, there be ... " Aegis cleared his throat and stared over Daniel's head at Jack. "There be some from the tanner's hall who took objection to guardians taking up residence near them."

"Took objection? What did the tanners do? Wait, what did the guardians do other than take up residence?"

"Good that ye ask, Highborn. For that be the heart of the matter. Them, the guardians, merely did not rent rooms and be as neighbors. They set up a watch within the area, counting smiths and tanners alike and even questioning who might have had dealings with Skys."

"Dealings?" Daniel asked insistently.

Jack put some grapes on his plate and sorted them into piles as he listened.

"Dealings, Highborn. As I have come to tell the House. Dealings as they want to judge who be seemly among the worker caste."

"Which they have no right to do," Daniel said. "So the tanners took objection. What did they do to the guardians?"

"Killed them."

"Ah," Daniel said, and bowed his head. "And why do you come to consult my desire?"

"Because ... " Aegis paused and leaned right to stare directly at Jack now, "I would know, House—"

"Answer ... me," Daniel said, stressing the last word strongly."

"Highborn," Aegis responded, bowing his head at the chastisement, "I would know if he feels the tanners should be chastised for the deaths. Or perhaps if all guardians should be removed from the city, though this I may not ask outright of him, and never of ye."

"Removed. Where would you remove them to?"

"To graves," Aegis whispered.

"Do you feel that's justified?"

"Nay. Some say we should, though I may not consult ye, Highborn."

"That's true. And the tanners?"

"I would consult the House as to the direction to take with them. I fear they are the first to act, but many will follow."

"So you'll consult him on the tanners, and then the next group, and the next. Will there come a time when you'll be able to make decisions for yourself, or will you always rely on my desire to make up your mind for you?"

Aegis' eyes opened wide and he rocked back in his chair, staring frankly at a veiled Sky.

Daniel leaned toward him. "This week it's tanners who defended their neighborhood. Next week it will be the price of ... grapes climbing too swiftly in the marketplace, because I have shown a liking for the fruit." He picked up a grape from Jack's plate and held the plump, purple orb out to Aegis.

Instinctively, the Champion leaned forward, reaching for the fruit. Suddenly he realized he was reaching toward a veiled Sky and jerked his hand back, holding it against this chest as if his fingertips had been scalded.

"Your hand," Daniel said firmly.

Aegis grimaced in pain and held his hand out, palm up.

Daniel dropped the grape in the man's large palm. The four gold hoops on his right wrist chimed together. He nodded. "Sweet and crisp. That's the way I like them. I don't think you or the councils you have access to are incompetent, Champion. Either the council of elders here in the city, or the council of your fellow Champions. Between those two esteemed groups, I have confidence that just decisions can be reached. It's your city. You've lived in it. You know its people, its needs and wants. See to them as you have always wanted to. The motto of the hall of Champions," he said, spreading a hand out toward the carved symbols adorning the walls around them.

Stories of bravery, of chivalrous deeds were carved everywhere. Tapestries depicting heroic deeds of service hung from the stone walls of the hall.

Following the Sky's gaze, Aegis scanned the great hall. "Aye," he said softly, nodding slowly. Then he rose and turned to leave, but then paused and turned back to look directly at the Sky. "Thank ye for ... the grape, Highborn."

"You're welcome," Daniel said with a smile.

"Honeymoon," Jack whispered in Daniel's ear. "People on their honeymoon are supposed to have a hell of a lot of fancy, big meals, right?"

Daniel shifted, wriggling himself back into his lover's hold. "Sex. I think you're confusing food with sex again."

"Sex. Food. There's a difference?" Jack quipped, a silly grin on his face.

"Well, considering what you've been through on this planet, I can't imagine a more perfect honeymoon than me watching you eat heaping plates full of high protein food."

"Chicken. Some beef wouldn't hurt. Though, they don't have cows around here."

"Pizza, master," Lemmel said enthusiastically. "Ye weaver makes the round and tasty pizza this day. Him, he says be the maker of bread in House Ondeil. And so he selected cheeses this morning in the market. Away in the kitchens used by the Champion's hall he goes and makes pizza as ye so have longed for since leaving ye Meadows Cot."

"Pepperoni?" Jack asked eagerly.

"With spices a plenty, the meat in small circles. Spices of pepper for the meat, such he brought from the kitchen of ye southern holding."

"Excellent! Though, we'll have some lamb now, and pizza for an afternoon snack. Ale and pizza. Cold. I want the ale cold. Now that we've got that settled, let's get busy filling my stomach."

Daniel chuckled. "Yes, mighty House."

"And pie!" Jack said.

"Lemmel," Daniel said as Jack devoted his attention to the food being served to him, "we're going on a ride tomorrow. We'd like to have another picnic by the lake north of the city. Can you arrange things? Some food for the household and for two guests?"

"The mysterious woman and the black Champion, Highborn?"

"No. We'll be joined by Champion Roskilde and his Sky."

"Ah! Delightful! A grand outing, then. The Champions will vie mightily for the right to be among the escorts. And me, I have a place without contest. I am ever privileged, me, second steward under our Asny. Some days I wonder how such fortune came on my head, Highborn. How could such befall me? Son of a low desert trader to this position in one short lifetime?" Lemmel shook his head.

"I have as much an answer for you as I did for Aegis," Daniel said, seeming very serious.

Lemmel blinked at him a moment and then broke into a loud belly laugh. "A grape?" he jested.

Mutely, Jack handed Daniel a grape. After a moment, Daniel grinned and then offered the grape to the steward.

Instead of timidly holding his hand, palm out, Lemmel bowed low and then plucked the grape from Daniel's fingertips, letting his touch linger on the veiled Sky's. "My honor to accept such a fine answer. Sweet and crisp, ye did say, Highborn? And so I will have it too. Sweet and crisp fortune befell me in the low desert and set me on a path north. Though, to start the journey and then along the way I made choices, and caused things to happen that got me here at ye side, that got me in service to the man who be House to them all. My wants and my needs, I see to them in a sweet and crisp way."

"As you'll see to your Balin's needs for the rest of your life," Daniel said gently.

"And ye to the one ye desire," Lemmel said boldly.

"We are a lucky pair, aren't we, brother?"

"Aye," Lemmel said, boldly answering aloud to a blasphemy that would have ended his life only a few weeks ago. "And now I must summon some horned one to come fetch my ass off this stool so as a feast of roasted chickens may be readied for noon meal tomorrow. No doubt the First Weaver will insist on making the small buns his master and mine does so love. And with the chicken? Seed pods," he said, murmuring now to himself as he waved for someone to carry him off the yellow floor. "Cold ale packed in the ice chips ... red berry juice. Champion Roskilde favors that spicy mash root, I think ... "

" ... babies," Sam said insistently.

Startled, Daniel turned back around and saw Sam walking toward the table. Properly veiled, she was in deep and earnest conversation with Balin.

"Carter?" Jack called. "We're having lunch. No business talk right now."

"Yes, sir. I was just asking your ... Champion, your Champion, when you'd be free to discuss some translations. I've been talking with some people from the children's hall while you were having lunch. We've got a situation that needs to be addressed. I've got some video that needs to be translated."

Daniel squirmed, suddenly terribly self conscious to be found sitting in Jack's lap. This wasn't the first time Sam had seen him this way, was it? He furrowed his brow and bowed his head. Then he felt Jack's arms come around his chest, defensively holding him. Daniel nestled back, slumping against his lover.

Sam was standing directly across the table from them. Daniel twisted more left, turning his head further from her. "I'm glad she left today, when I wanted to talk to Roskilde's Sky."

"Yeah, babe," Jack whispered and then he turned his attention to the woman covered with the thick veil and cloak. "Yeah, uh, translations. We just got started eating. Give us a while. I'll come talk to you later."

"Actually, sir, it's not something you can help me with. These are the pictographic symbols. The paternoster. Names, lineage. There has been an inquiry at the children's hall. A Highborn came there wanting to find out ... well, he'd paid to father a child and didn't get one. He wants to know if there's any way to tell if one of the girl children or perhaps one of the Skys, the boys is his. There is, but I can't read the paternoster I recorded. I don't trust the women in there to read—"

"I'll do it," Daniel whispered to Jack. "Tell her I'll do it."

Jack cupped a hand around Daniel's head, stroking the white veil. "You really don't need to be—"

"Sam," Daniel said, speaking louder now, "go back to the temple. I'll do it, but not now. Jack has to eat a high protein lunch. He has to keep building his strength. Don't interrupt his meals."

"High protein ... " she said. "Oh. Yes, of course. Yes. I'll ... go wait in the temple."

"And if you could ... " Daniel paused and then turned toward her, "if you could start someone transcribing them off the viewer onto parchments. Contact the scribe hall. Balin, you could help with arranging that? Have each symbol marked on a separate, half-sheet of parchment. I'll put the translation below it, then they can be arranged according to lineage so in the future anyone can read them. You can affix the parchments to the inner wall of the temple. Let any Highborn who wants to search for a child have access to the records there."

"Aye, Highborn," Balin said, bowing deeply and stayed down.

"Okay," Sam said. "We'll get right on that." Then she glanced between Balin and Daniel and finally Sam bowed too. Then she left with the big Champion, hurrying to match his stride.

"High protein," Jack said with mild distaste. "Salty lamb, right?"

"And lots of it," Daniel answered him, shoving a platter of green seed pods back out of Jack's reach. "Since we got to the city you've been sitting on your ass way too much. Your muscle tone is not solid enough to be so mistreated."

"Yeah, well ... " Jack shrugged.

"Exercise. After we eat, I'm going to try to sleep, but you should go get some exercise."

"I could help you sleep."

"No. I'll ... I'll go to the Sky hall. Sleep with some of them in the dark chambers. They've got communal beds set up in there."

"But don't they always end up having sex in those beds? Does anyone ever sleep over there?"

"Sex," Daniel said, pondering the thought. "You're right. And it doesn't help to have Lemmel with me. Balin or anyone really."

"Carter?" Jack suggested, shaking his head even while he made the suggestion.

"Hell," Daniel swore softly. "I don't want to think about that. What if I had a nightmare in front of her?"

"I'll sleep with you for a while," Jack said, cupping his hand around Daniel's head again. "Just for a while, babe. And if you can't rest, then we'll discuss trying something else later."

"Okay," Daniel whispered, sounding as hopeless as he felt.

Jack laid down with him for a while, but after half an hour Daniel was up pacing, trying to walk away from Gruber's nasty tongue. "I could go to the Sky hall. You could go for a walk with Balin or—"

"Give it another try. Tell you what, let's go have a hot soak and then commandeer one of those dark rooms over in the Sky hall. It's too bright and too noisy in here."

"Right," Daniel agreed. He smiled hopefully at his lover as Jack put his cloak back on him and they walked through the temple toward the Sky hall. In the temple they were greeted with a new flurry of activity.

"Sam didn't waste any time, did she?" Daniel asked as he surveyed the new tables set under the spill of light from the stained glass windows along the front wall of the temple. Tall, worker caste scribes sat around the newly placed work-surfaces, diligently laboring over parchments. With her veil folded back off her face, Sam walked among them, carrying the battery-powered viewer playing the tape of the recordings she's made of the inner garden walls. Paternosters scrolled across its surface, set out in patterns, pointing from mothers and fathers to offspring. Each carried a note showing the gender and caste of the child born of the artificial pairing.

Daniel tugged Jack toward the workers, walking along behind them and peering past their too-tall shoulders. "Look," he directed his lover. "The Sky symbol. Fathered by a Sky, this child is also a Sky. And this one, a girl, but no Sky caste symbol. Must mean she had brown eyes. Here's a female symbol combined with the Sky caste symbol. A girl with blue eyes. This, see the upper right corner? That's the father's name."

"Sky symbol," Jack said as he moved down the table to point at another parchment being worked on. "I see it here too. And on this one. We'll be able to trace back generations of kids. Find out who the fathers of guys out here are, and grandfathers if any are alive."

"See this symbol. It appears several times. I think this Sky would be a temple whore. Every time he served ... or he could be one like Balin knew, the one who was owned by Ostergott."

"Nasty," Jack said. "Lot of kids from that guy aren't going to have anyone come claim them."

"But you realize those children can be adopted now? Now that we can identify them, there are probably Highborn who will want to adopt them." Daniel took ahold of Jack's sleeve and studied a parchment that had been finished. "Roskilde and his Sky might."

"Whoa. You're talking about interracial adoption here. You think these folks are ready for that?"

"We won't know unless it happens. And this ... Oh, Jack," Daniel exclaimed, grabbing up the parchment form where it lay by a scribe's elbow. "This paternoster. This is Odin's judgment. Odamari's name. Odamari has a son!"

"That what this means?" Jack squinted at the intricate squiggles.

"A Sky son. My God, his worst nightmare, and he didn't even suspect it. I told you, the Skys seem to all have a block against even thinking about what was done with their semen. A Sky caste son. He'll ... I think ... Sam?" Daniel called to the woman who'd been discretely keeping her distance from them. "Sam, show me this paternoster on the viewer. Is there a reference to birth dates?" he asked as he hurried around the table to her side.

"Yes. We can count the lines up. Here and here," she said, showing him as she scanned through the viewer. "The one you're talking about, along here somewhere. This area. That's it."

"Maybe four seasons ago. But this would be the date of conception. So the child would be about six or seven, by our counting of years. Their years last about twice as long as ours. Where is this child?" he asked, showing her the parchment.

"In the hall of children. But I don't know which one he is. I can't read these."

"He's still alive," Daniel said, turning to Jack. "There's no death symbol etched in the lower left corner. If he'd proven to be too rowdy, too willful ... How do you think Odamari will react when he finds out? He has a Sky son."

Daniel turned back to Sam, showing her the parchment again. "I want to see this boy. Let's go to the children's hall."

"All right," Sam said, smiling broadly at him.

"You were supposed to sleep—" Jack started to object.

"And his mother's name. I wonder if we should talk to her, let her know we've identified the boy's father? Let's dispatch a messenger down to Fairwood, Jack."

"We need to dispatch a hell of a lot of messengers," Jack said, following Daniel toward the temple entrance. "Balin!" he called out, not slowing his lover in his eagerness to rush out into the streets. "Going for a walk, Champion! Got your boots on, big guy?" He had a supporting grip on Daniel's arm as they moved through the open temple doors.

Balin had not been in the temple when Jack called out, but several other Champions were. Most of them clambered over themselves forming a guard around the parting group of Highborn. At the bottom of the temple steps, Teal'c fell in as point guard, his darker face standing out among the taller Champions.

Sam fell in a step behind her team leader, folding her veil down over her face.

"Children's hall," Jack said forcefully as he waved a hand shooing the men along ahead of them. Aegis was among them, shoulder-to-shoulder with Teal'c now. Efficiently, he redirected the march slightly left and along a tree-lined boulevard past merchant's shops and eateries.

The Hall of Highborn children was a very plain, brick building. Set back on a small plot of land, it was a tall structure but of only one story. The grounds were marked off with a low, stone wall that stood about two feet tall. Stationed approximately every eight feet along that wall were armed worker caste men and women. They were not Champions or city sentries, but were dressed in a variety of styles, marking them as men and women from every walk of life within the city. Champions and a couple of sentries could be seen within their number.

"Who organized this?" Daniel asked. "Because of the guardians?"

Sam nodded as she stepped up beside Daniel. "Because of the guardians. There are also watchers across the roadways, hidden in other buildings around here. Aegis, I think, he coordinated it with a group of Highborn men who live here in the city. The Highborn men actually administer the running of the hall."

Daniel stared past the armed men at the grounds surrounding the building. Highborn boys of all ages played outside under branching oak trees.

When he realized how some of the boys were dressed, Jack tightened his grip on Daniel. Some of the little kids were still wearing white scarves tied over their heads, just as they had the evening they'd left the garden. "Crap," he swore.

"Shit," Daniel echoed him. "Sam, stop. Go back to the temple. Oh, shit," he swore again, turning his back on the sight.

"They're playing," she said, not taking a step to obey him, but she did halt at Daniel's side. "Not running, really. That one is, there. Look. And climbing trees."

"I don't want to see this," Daniel said, doubling over and holding his stomach.

"But they're playing. They're learning to play. They'll need time," she said, touching Daniel on his hunched shoulder. "Just some time to adjust, to accept."

"Yeah," he whispered. "Time. I want to see him. I want to ... "

A worker caste woman stepped out of the building and called to the children. The dozen dark-haired youngsters responded instantly to her, running toward the doorway. Some with scarves on their heads shuffled along and others with scarves waited, standing listlessly until more worker caste women came from the hall and retrieved them, coaxing them gently to come inside.

"Guys," Jack said darkly, as he addressed the Champions, "wait here. Baby ... Desire, let's go in." He bent down and pulled Daniel up, keeping his arms around him. They entered after the last child, an older teenager under a large, white scarf had been led inside. "Older they are, the bigger the head-covering is. Wasn't so shocking when I saw them in the temple, but out here, mixed in with the other, the normal kids, it ... " He shook his head in disgust.

Daniel cleared his throat and took slow, deep breaths as they walked inside. "Like Brooksmeet on a million-dollar budget," he said.

"The orphan's hall there?" Jack asked.

"Brooksmeet?" Carter asked.

"The hall of children there. I visited it once," Daniel told her. "Like this. One huge room for meals. This an afternoon snack? Grapes," he said with a slight smile.

"Yeah," Jack concurred. "Juice. Milk for the younger ones."

"House Ondeil," a worker caste woman said as she curtseyed low before him, sinking all the way to the floor. "Honored. Ye household be most well come here. No full-size men work in the hall now as we have Sky children here. Even two Highborn girl babes under the roof. Ye Highborn will be most safe here, as if he were still in Odin's temple. Come. Ye wish to see what?"

The woman stared past Jack at Carter's veiled form. She seemed very alert. "Woman from Midgard, ye be, and thus safe among our new charges."

"Yes. We met at the temple this morning. It's good to see you again."

"Aye. Well come," she said with a genuine smile.

"We just want a look around," Jack said. "And also we're looking for one particular kid. A boy about six, maybe seven years old, or, I guess you'd actually say three years old. Sky kid."

Daniel tilted his head back and lifted his veil slightly as the woman rose to her full seven feet. "We'd like to see a Sky child. Do you know them all by their names? I have his. Arell. Do you know a boy who answers to that name?"

"Aye, Highborn. Him, yon. The bold one, we know him as. First to run. First to climb trees with the Highborn lads. He has a fiery spirit about him. See the blond hair showing? His veil, mostly he does not wear."

"He has it off," Daniel said in delight. "Jack, look." Daniel pointed at a child perched on his knees in a chair at the end of a table. He was chatting loudly with a dark haired boy at his left. His white scarf, a square of cloth folded in a triangle, was tied about his neck like a kerchief.

"If he turns around ... yeah. That's Odamari's kid all right. Same face shape. Pointed chin and all. But he seems to have Brynvold's personality. Isn't that odd? Man, I wonder how he and his Sky are gonna take this?"

"If Brynvold will adopt him, he'll have his heir. There won't be any more Highborn children for a very long time," Daniel said. There'll be a significant gap, I would imagine, from this generation to the next."

"That's right," Sam said. "These children will be the last born for a long time, until some kind of trust is established between the women and the Highborn men out here in the free world."

"Brynvold and his Sky have to be told. Soon," Daniel said, and then he turned to the worker caste woman who ran the hall. "Do you give the Sky children the same freedom as the others? Are they forced to continue wearing the veils?"

She curtseyed low, keeping her head bowed as she spoke. "They are as free as Odin has decreed, Nyrnortvegr. They may dress as they wish, play as they wish, go where the others do. Some ... do not. Some merely sit and wait for us to attend them, and so we do, Nyrnortvegr." Staying down in her deep bow, she looked up at Jack, her eyes growing moist.

"I had not known such ... Some have such sorrow, torn from their mothers, torn from their world. We must be ever careful with them, House Ondeil, must not push or ask anything of them, but merely tend and be gentle and wait. The Highborn lads help so much. They show the little Skys how to be as children, and we watch, wait."

"Learning to play," Jack said softly. "Like Marin."

Daniel squeezed Jack's arm. Some of the Sky children were staring at the small group of visitors. Daniel tilted his head quizzically, studying their expressions. Fear is what he saw on most of them. Then the child who looked so much like Odamari jumped down from his chair and shuffled toward them. It was such a different gait than he'd used outside. He stopped in front of Sam and gazed up at her veiled face.

"Are you my mother?" he asked calmly.

"No," Sam said, holding very still. Then she lifted her long veil and laid it back to reveal her entire face. "I have spoken to your mother recently. She hopes you're well, that you're happy here and that you get to run and climb trees a lot."

"I see," the boy said as he nodded confidently. "Will you go back in the garden soon? Will you see my mother soon?"

"I'm not from the garden, but I'll see her soon. Do you want me to take her a message?"

"If you wouldn't mind, tell her that I'm the fastest runner and that I can climb better than almost anyone except my new friend. He has dark hair and dark eyes and he's afraid of nothing, just like me." Then the boy pulled at his lower lip as he looked over his shoulder for a long moment.

"Something else," he said very quietly as he turned back to Sam, "tell her that here, the very big women don't end us for being bad. I've been very, very bad because I didn't believe them when they told us that. I didn't believe them. Pytor, he was close to his manhood day, he didn't believe either. So he was badder than me, and they didn't end him for it. They gave him new clothes and the things called gold marks. Pytor cries a lot but he's getting less that way. He stays in the big boy's room most of the time, but he cries less now. That's good, the big women here say."

"Yes," Sam said, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"They won't let you end us. They've said none of our mothers may come here and end us anymore. Ever."

"That's good," Sam said.

Jack eyed Odamari's son, the bold boy addressing Carter with real bravery. Then he realized he was supporting Daniel more for his own sake than his lover's. It was incredibly hard to look at these children. How many of them would have been murdered before being set free from Nirrti's prison? His and Daniel's efforts had saved these boys, and the two dark-eyed girls. They'd succeeded in the most important task of dismantling Nirrti's destructive system, not even knowing it needed to be done.

"I think that's very good," Sam said again. She nodded to the little boy and he smiled at her before running back to join his friend. She turned to her commanding officer and her friend. "When I chose to go down in the bunker with Cassie, when she woke and we thought the naquadah bomb Nirrti had planted in her chest was going to explode, I was prepared to die rather than let her be alone in her last minutes."

Daniel nodded and Jack cleared his throat. Sam moved closer until she could rest her hand on Daniel's arm.

"The pain I felt then, seeing the cruelty done to that little child, I think that's what you're feeling right now. It's overwhelming."

Mutely, Daniel nodded. He turned into Jack's embrace and relaxed in his lover's arms.

That afternoon a messenger was dispatched to House Halfdain, carrying a parchment Daniel penned. The rider met and passed by more than one caravan along the winding road to Drangaskogen, caravans with escorts showing the blue bands of hosted Skys. Unknown to the rider, one caravan on the roadway traveled north under the colors of House Halfdain.

Pants. Jack stood in the dimly lit, private room in the Sky hall, staring at the tailor's offering. Ivan was offering him pants for Daniel. They were brown, like Jack's own. They were solid from ankle to waist band. Solid. Jack took them from the tailor and smiled. When Daniel woke up Jack was going to give them to him—His lover's scream startled Jack and he almost dropped the soft cloth.

Rushing to the bed, he laid his right hand on Daniel's arm. "Babe. Dreaming again."

Daniel pushed him away and sat up, blinking in the gloom. He pushed the covers off his legs and slid back, coming up against the wall at the head of the bed.

"Easy. Move slow. Remember what Roskilde's partner said. Move slow," Jack cautioned. He sat on the side of the firm, sleeping platform, the pants wadded in his left hand.

"God," Daniel swore weakly. He wiped his palms across his face. "Damn."

"Yeah. Better? Need more light in here?"

"No. Yeah, I'm fine. Fine," Daniel said behind his hands. They were shaking where he held them over his face.

"Hello," Eyvind said. "I came to bring you the pants we talked about. Are you ... You have nightmares still?"

"What?" Daniel asked, blinking again as he pulled his hands down to clutch them across his exposed stomach. "Oh, hi. Hi." He took deep breaths. "Where are we? The Sky hall. I remember. Whew. Yeah. Okay. Not on the ship."

"That's right," Jack said softly. "In the Sky hall. Everything's okay."

Eyvind moved past Jack. "Why is this? The danger to you is over. Do you still fear the guardians? They'll never make it in here, the few that are left alive. You're safe."

"I know," Daniel said, shaking his head. "I know. Not a problem, not really."

"Their powder, the witch's potion does this to you still?"

"Does," Daniel answered. "I got an overdose of it."

"From a breeding. I know what they do with the essence. Do you have a child in the hall? I heard you were there today."

"No. Not my child," he said, scrubbing at his face again. "A friend's. I went to see a friend's son. None of those children are mine. I never ... bred with a woman."

"Have you, Jack?" Eyvind asked, stepping toward the bed.

"Crap," Jack swore, refusing to meet the unveiled Sky's stare. He turned to face more toward his lover.

"Do you have a child in that hall? Or perhaps in your lands to the south. Brooksmeet is your village in the south, it's known now. Your man, Ulfrik comes from House Ondeil's Meadows holding there. It's said to be a very rich land."

"No," Jack said, shaking his head.

Daniel reached out to Jack, stroking a hand along his right arm.

"Do you not want a son? An inheritor?"

"I had a son," Jack whispered, dropping his gaze from Daniel's pain-filled eyes.

"Had," Eyvind said, his voice now as soft as Jack's. The tailor dropped to his knees at Jack's feet. "Had a son?" he asked, peering up into the older man's face. "A Sky child?"

"He was ... " Jack closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Beautiful," Daniel said. "A bright little boy full of love. I'll cherish and honor his memory forever."

Jack leaned toward his lover. Daniel scooted away from the wall and pulled Jack into his arms, holding him tightly.

Eyvind silently withdrew from the little chamber, closing the curtain across the doorway as he left.

"First thing I remembered about you. First personal thing, when I came back in human form," Daniel whispered as he ran his fingers through Jack's hair. "The memory was of us sitting on your roof and you were drinking your third beer for the night. The telescope. Remember, Jack? You were telling me about sharing your love of astronomy with Charlie."

"Yeah. Remember that," Jack whispered.

"Grounded me. I'd felt so odd up until the moment I got that memory back. Coming back with no memory and all these strangers who knew me, staring at me, all around me. They all knew things about me that I didn't. I felt so ... "

"Exposed?"

"Like I do now. Same feeling. People looking at me and knowing intimate things about me and I wish they didn't. Because ... I don't know what they know. Like here, behind the veil, I never know who's in the room, who's staring at me. Someone who just had my legs on his shoulders. Men who know how I sound when a cock gets shoved into my ass. How I sound when I'm trying to hide pain. Horrible. Hate this. They've seen me naked. Sitting in the great hall of some inn somewhere trying to do a scribing job and I feel them watching me. Then I totally lost myself in Drangaskogen. That rape, it was the end for me. Took all I had left of me. Nothing private inside me any more. When I had an orgasm ..."

"Baby," Jack whispered, bringing his lips to Daniel's temple. "Not taken you from me. What they did, rape. Didn't take you from me."

"I found that out before. When we were standing in the locker room, I saw Charlie's picture in your locker. I remembered being up on that roof and you opening up your most painful, most private thoughts to me. You shared yourself with me, no holding back. And it didn't matter any more. At that moment it stopped mattering that I was surrounded by people who knew me more than I did, more than I wanted them to. I had what you gave me. The memory of Charlie. Sacred bond between us.

"Sacred bond," Jack said. "Like me presenting you with that sword. I could never have done that with anyone else in the universe. No matter what the reason. To get to the stargate, the only way home? No one else. When Balin was explaining that part of the ceremony to us and I thought, my God, give him a sword for my future sons? I'll only have one. And all I have is his memory. Could I give the protection of that memory to anyone else? Never. Just you, Daniel."

"Oh Jack!" Daniel sobbed into the crook of his lover's neck. "Jack. Jack."

"Daniel," Jack soundlessly formed the name, his lips caressing his lover's temple. "My baby. Love," Jack said between kisses. Then he pulled back to meet his lover's half-lidded gaze. "Daniel," he breathed the name as if it were a sacred prayer.

Seeing more than hearing his name fresh on Jack's lips, Daniel arched his back in erotic bliss.

Jack directed his lover back to lie on the bed, and crawled half over him. He rained kisses down on Daniel's face, across his lips, his nose and cheeks. He pushed the ever-present veil back farther and kissed his forehead, up into the line of his hair.

"Jack," Daniel sobbed the name. He drew deep breaths and calmed himself. "Kisses. On the roof. Remembered them too. First time you kissed me on the roof. Stars all around us. Kissed me and I kissed you right back."

"Did," Jack said in between a kiss on his lover's earlobe and his nose. "Right back."

"Jack," Daniel said, pushing gently against his lover's chest. "Stop for a minute. I have to ... Wife. If that's how you ... the only way you can relate to me, then fine. I'll be your wife for now. We'll work on the rest later."

Poised above his lover, Jack drew in a sharp breath. He peered into Daniel's eyes, almost black in the dim light. Jack licked his lips and let out a breath. "My wife. It feels odd. I mean, in my chest. You're my wife. I married you. Why is it that saying it that way makes it real for me? I mean, I love you. Did before we got married. But this ... You're my wife."

"Cultural training," Daniel explained.

"You can get above cultural limitations. Why can't I?" Jack asked, his face betraying his pain.

"You will. Give it time. I'll give you this. I'm your wife and you're my husband. How does it feel to be a husband again?"

"Oh, wow!" Jack said, his eyes wide and his lips stretching into a broad grin. "Wow. When you put it that way, it feels damned good!" He collapsed on his lover, wrapping him into a crushing embrace. He rolled to the middle of the wide bed, bringing Daniel on top of him. "I'm a husband! Fucking yeah! All right!"

Daniel laughed loudly, pulling and twisting in Jack's embrace. "You're crushing me, you big brute of a husband!" But his laughter betrayed his sheer delight in his lover's enthusiasm.

Jack's antics didn't subside. He rolled again, and got to his knees. More kisses were rained down on his lover. Finally Daniel captured his face between his hands, and Jack paused, meeting his intense gaze.

"You're my husband. That's a profound thing to realize, isn't it? Our lives have changed forever. From the day we exchanged rings, our lives will always be different."

"I'm your husband," Jack said, his lips trembling slightly.

"Go on," Daniel said. "I know it'll make it more real for you. Say it, Jack. I'm your . . "

"You're my wife," Jack whispered solemnly, all traces of his antics gone now. "You're my wife. I took you as my wife."

"And you're my husband. For life, like you've said to me a thousand times since we crashed on this planet. For life."

The two men laid there entwined tightly in the dimly lit room, listening to the soft, distant sounds of others in the Sky hall. An occasional voice would reach them, along with the noises of everyday life, of men eating, dressing, moving about in the vast stone structure. The wick in the small oil lamp guttered finally, sending little flickers of light interspersed with moments of darkness. Then the flame was nothing but a blue line.

Daniel raised up and peered across the small chamber at it. "Blue."

"Yeah," Jack agreed, studying the glow.

"When we leave this room, I'm not going to be comfortable with you saying my name."

"Okay," Jack said. "Was good in here, though?"

"Was. Very."

"Small steps," Jack said. "Small steps, that's all we gotta take, babe."

"One more time, please Jack?" Daniel asked, peering down at his lover. "Say it one more time."

Jack pulled him down, bringing Daniel's ear to his lips. He spoke softly. "Daniel, I love you."

Daniel groaned and sagged against him, one hand splayed across Jack's chest, the other, searching through the older man's silver hair. He held on and turned his head, bringing his open mouth to Jack's open mouth. "Husband," he said, and kissed his lover.

Chapter 44 Change in the Wind

With the tailor's new pants stuffed in Lemmel's pack, Daniel smiled broadly as he adjusted his veil and waited for Jack in the Hall of Champions. "My husband ... My husband said he'd like it if I wear them after we swim!" he told the young steward who waited with him.

"Aye, and fine they'll look," Lemmel said, matching Daniel's broad grin. He brought a finger up to smudge the line of kohl under Daniel's left eye. "Better. I be not as skilled as them in the Sky hall at applying the Sky decoration. But as ye say, ye husband, my master loves ye in ... no matter what ye choose to wear, ye husband does—Oh, comes the woman, Highborn," Lemmel said, taking a step back as Carter came through the archway from the temple.

"You're not still scared of her, are you?" Daniel asked worriedly. He laid a hand reassuringly on Lemmel's arm. He noted that Sam had her veil laid back off her face.

"Aye. Though not so as to wetting my pants now," he answered frankly, keeping a wary eye on the unveiled woman. "That be an improvement, right?"

"Yes, I think it is," Daniel said, his smile still just as wide. "An improvement. Sam," he called to her, keeping a steadying hold on Lemmel. "How are things going?" She was walking around the end of the banquet table toward him.

"Great, actually. I heard you were getting ready to leave the hall for lunch, so while you're out we're going in the garden, me and some of the women sentries. We're going to do a little gardening of our own. Weeding. Going to burn that field and all the seeds. I've talked it over with the younger members of the women's council, sort of. Told them we were bringing them something in exchange for something and I kind of hinted it was a tree, not that crop. They won't be able to stop us. I don't want them prepared for it. Don't want them to try to hide any seeds. We'll get their reserve stores at the same time."

"An invasion," Daniel said, sounding as if he were about to object.

"This is my choice ... Sky," she said, showing her distaste at not using his name. But the hall about them was full of men. Champions and stewards, even several other Highborn men were in the busy place. With the new laws, the influx of Highborn and Champions returning to the city, it was the busiest building now. Sam glanced around nervously. Though they shied away from her every moment of the day, several were still within the sound of her voice.

"Your choice," Daniel said, his brow wrinkled.

"I'm not going against any of your edicts. No men will be with us. The sentries I've chosen all have cool heads, and they're strong. We'll have no real resistance. No weapons other than a few of those," she said, nodding toward the increasingly-popular bos seen in abundance now. "Teal'c's out now giving a group of the women more training. Some non-lethal techniques."

"Your choice," Daniel echoed again, but not softer this time.

"Yes, it is. You have to let us do what we're trained for. I'm military ... Sky. This is what I do. You tend to forget that sometimes."

"Yes. You and I, we're so much alike. The part about us that he gets so ... " He smiled at her.

"Scientists," Sam said, lifting her own mouth into a grin to match his.

"Yes."

"So you shouldn't worry about this. Let me do what I'm supposed to do. My part of the teamwork. You do what you're supposed to do. Teal'c is off doing what he's supposed to."

"And coordinating it all, that's what our team-leader does." Daniel nodded.

"What we rely on the Colonel for," she agreed.

"All right. I'll leave it to you and I won't worry about it. We're going riding with friends today, all the way around the city."

"Riding? Sounds like fun."

"Is for me," Daniel quipped.

"What are you waiting on, then?"

"My husband—" Daniel covered his mouth with both his hands and turned his back on Sam.

"Uh. Oh. Okay, then," Sam said haltingly. "Uh, I'll just ... It's okay, you know. I mean, you should know. It's okay."

"Should," Daniel said, keeping his back turned to her and his hands up over the lower half of his face. "Jack, we're waiting on him. Riding's not too fun for him. Is for me."

"Okay," Sam said, her tone softer now.

Daniel turned a little to his left, facing Lemmel. Then he slowly leaned forward, pressing his face against the tall steward's chest. Silently, Lemmel brought his hand up, loosely encircling Daniel's head. His dangling sleeve hid the smaller man's face.

Lemmel frowned as he studied the woman.

"Okay, then," Sam said as she backed away. "Should be all right," she muttered, but no one heard her.

As Sam reached the archway she heard a familiar voice ring out in the hall at her back. She paused by the opening and looked back toward Daniel.

"Got that lunch packed, Lemmel?" Jack bellowed halfway down the hall. As he strode toward Daniel and the tall steward, he scattered Champions in his wake. Several bowed low, waiting as he passed. Stewards scurried around behind him, preparing a clearer path for House Ondeil's impending departure. He'd have the Sky with him.

"Ah! There's my wife! Your husband's home, baby!" Jack said enthusiastically as he swept Daniel from Lemmel's sheltering embrace. He grabbed Daniel around his waist and led him like two dancers whirling in a circle. "Ready for a mad dash across the country side. Gonna ride like crazy, and then stuff myself so full of chicken I won't be able to move for a week."

"Wife," Sam whispered as she stepped backward through the archway. A deep frown marred her face. "He's got to stop that nonsense. I need to have a chat with my commanding officer."

"My husband," Daniel said, his smile faltering a little as he held onto Jack's shoulders. "Yes. Yes," he said, now more decisively. "I'm ready, yes. I'm not wearing my boots today. Roskilde's Sky won't have any and I want to make him as comfortable as possible. Lemmel has my new pants in his pack. I might change into them when we're through swimming."

"Really? Great!" Jack said enthusiastically. He patted Daniel's veil back in place where his boisterous greeting had tugged it crooked. "Yeah. Great. And chicken too, right Lemmel?"

"Master, ever waiting already be chicken and pies a plenty. Rode out this past hour in the company of a cook and with ye weaver, him seeing to ye bread needs."

"Gonna be waiting for us in that shady spot, then? Good. Let's boogie."

"Boogie?"

"Lemmel, it's not a far northern reaches expression," Daniel said, rolling his eyes. "It's from Midgard. Means to leave. Or go, usually quickly."

"Ah. Boogie. I like it!" Lemmel bowed low, sweeping his hand out to the side as he waited for his master and his brother to depart. Then he fell in step behind them.

Daniel wrapped his arm around Jack's as they left the temple. "I brought something for ... You know, a hosted Sky could be called by the name of the House who hosts him. Like Sky Halfdain, or Sky Wulfstag. But I can't figure out what's appropriate for a Sky hosted by a Champion. Roskilde's Sky. What would be appropriate for him?"

"Instead of his name you mean? Like you'd be Sky Ondeil. I'd rather you were Sky O'Neill, you know."

"Mrs. O'Neill," Daniel said, his voice dark with disgust. But his frown didn't last long. "Okay, I guess that's what I'm proposing. On this planet anyway. Sky Ondeil. But it's something that's been on my mind."

"What else has been on your mind?"

"Um," Daniel said slowly as they made their way toward the stables. "I brought something for him, Sky Roskilde I mean. I brought him one of the naquadah circles, if he wants it. If he feels it's important."

"You got yours on," Jack said, peering down at Daniel. "Yeah. Good. Just checking. You know you can take it off anytime you want, though, right? Don't need it."

"Don't need the veil, either. But it'll probably be the children who grow up with that choice, not the one's who've lived out here. In China the nationalists revolution is what slowed down the practice of foot binding.

"Foot binding?" Jack asked, guiding his lover left a bit as their contingent of Champion guards moved around a vendor's cart in the roadway.

"In China," Daniel explained. "That practice of binding a young girl's feet in long strips of cloth to prevent them from growing. It lasted a thousand years, that crippling tradition. They'd start when the child was between three and six. Horribly painful. The mother--and you realize, the mother had gone through this herself, and then here she is doing it to her own daughter—the mother would break the child's three smallest toes, fold them under the foot and then wrap the big toe and pull it back toward the heel. The bindings would be tightened daily, forcing the foot into an unnatural arch. The ideal length was no more than three inches long. Can you imagine that? Trying to balance, to walk or play on feet so deliberately crippled?"

"Three inches?" Jack asked, his face a mask if revulsion.

"Three inches for an adult woman. But it lasted for a thousand years. In 1911 after the revolution of Sun Yat-Sen is when the practice is believed to have officially ended. It was an incapacitating practice. Prevented girls from being independent. Anyway, it took generations, that change. This will too. At least one generation, before it's widely accepted."

"Really? That recently? The foot-binding thing." Jack shook his head.

"Yes. It was a terrible practice, and simply unbinding the feet of some who'd undergone part of the treatments was not an option. The pain could be deadly. A cultural practice that ingrained doesn't go away quickly. People resisted the change, and finally that change had to be enforced with heavy fines. Hard to equate that resistance with the terrible conditions it caused. Women were rendered cripples for life, unable to walk safely, you realize. Completely unable to run or squat. Even stand for long. Kitchens were adapted to accommodate them, seats suspended from the ceiling beams so they could sway from work surface to stove. Stools. Young girls had to be carried everywhere outside their home. Not able to walk on uneven surfaces, and still the practice persisted."

"Debilitating. I had no idea. But so is the veil. Blocks your vision. I can't see your eyes."

Daniel tilted his head back and lifted the trailing edge of the veil, but kept a firm grip on Jack's arm. "If you need, you should just ask to see my eyes. It should be your right. You're my husband."

"Oh," Jack said, his own eyes wide with wonder. His step faltered as his toe caught on a cobble stone. "Wow. My right. But I mean, it should be something you want."

"I do. I want you to look into my eyes. I'm fine with that, you realize. Wasn't. I'm getting better, Jack. I'm healing."

"Yeah, you are."

"Oh, I should tell you. I made a blunder earlier. Sam was over in the Champion's hall. I was talking to her and I fucked up. I could tell by her expression."

"Fucked up?" Jack asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

"I said I was waiting for my husband."

"Oh, baby," Jack said, cupping a hand around Daniel's cheek as he halted their walk through the crowded streets. A tight circle of tall Champions three layers deep around them gave them complete privacy. "That, me using the word wife ... I don't want you to regret that. It's my phobia."

"I'm your wife, not your phobia," Daniel whispered, trying to pull his face from Jack's gentle grip. His cheeks flamed with embarrassment.

"My wife," Jack said, his voice breaking in tenderness. "My wife and don't you forget it. I won't forget it. I'm your husband, and that makes you half of me, right? We're in this together. Have been since way before we crashed here. I'm just damned sorry it took this fucked up world to make all that come out of me."

"Me too. I mean for me. I'm glad it finally came out, how I really do love you. Not just a sex thing. I love you."

"Good. Then, screw Sam Carter. We're married and that's that!" Jack said, his face in a wicked grin.

For a moment Daniel gaped at him, and then he broke into a broad grin, matching his lover's wicked expression. "Okay."

Jack and Daniel resumed their walk toward the stables. "So you brought him a circle thingy."

"Yeah. In case he thinks it'll make him feel better about going through the city gate, you know?"

"Uh huh. Do. It might. Ivan the Terrible didn't seem to need one."

"You have to stop calling him that."

"Do I?" Jack asked, a supercilious look on his face. He pointed his nose high in the air.

"King Jack, Jack who's name means what's in the box, you're in terrible danger."

"I am?" Jack asked, startled. He stopped and tried to scan around between the tightly packed Champions.

"Yes," Daniel said, holding tight to his lover's arm. "You're in danger of pissing off your wife."

"Oh ... shit," Jack said. "Yeah, that can be deadly. Eynvin's not so bad."

"Eyvind," Daniel corrected him.

"Is not so bad," Jack said smugly.

"Anyway, there are more of the circles in the gatehouse. Balin said the guardian working there when the announcement came was slaughtered and the circles weren't taken from his room. I've instructed them to be handed out to any Sky who wants one. Free of course."

"And let 'em keep 'em, anybody who leaves," Jack said. "That stash at the temple over in what's now the Sky hall. Plenty spare ones in there."

"I wonder what they originally were used for? Or did Nirrti have them manufactured as jewelry?"

"Dunno. Ask T."

"I will. I'm not afraid to, if that's what you're thinking."

"No, babe. I wasn't thinking that. Not at all," Jack said earnestly. "You wanna chat with Teal'c, fine by me. Need me there, I'm there. Don't need me there and I'm gone."

"I see. Ah, did you ask him if he's taping the Simpson's for you?"

"Yeah. Lucky jaffa."

"Then he said yes," Daniel said, nodding as he walked beside his lover. "So that means we're not buying the seasons on DVD, right? My eyes are saved from future Simpson's DVD marathons?"

"Saved, yep. For Simpsons tape marathons. But I'm gonna have 'em converted over to DVDs cause of storage. Don't like the clutter of all those tapes on my shelves."

"God," Daniel swore, shaking his head.

Their contingent of armed Champions abruptly met up with the much smaller company of Champions who'd walked with Roskilde and his Sky. The two groups merged into one outside the stable gate.

"Kinsman," Daniel called a greeting, though he couldn't see the man through the gathering of tall worker castes. "Gotta be in there somewhere," he muttered aside to Jack.

"Hey, fellas, give us some room, will ya? Short people here, comin' through. Comin' through, I said."

Champions split before him like the ocean before the bow of a long boat. Jack forged ahead, bringing Daniel with him to the center of the other group. "How's it going? Roskilde, buddy. You two ready for a ride?"

"Aye, House Ondeil, we be most ready. A mount has been prepared and even now we await ye." Roskilde bowed low.

Daniel and the other Sky embraced each other, sharing a deep, open-mouthed kiss. Their rouge-coated lips meshed and when they parted, Roskilde's lover smiled and wiped at the corners of Daniel's mouth. After a moment, Daniel smiled and wiped at the other man's smeared coloring also.

"Ready, then?" Jack asked. "Good, and good to see you too, Sky." Jack gave a nod to the veiled man at Roskilde's side. Then he stepped to the Champion and stuck his hand out. "Shake, remember?"

Roskilde extended his right hand and stared down at Jack.

Jack took it and pumped it up and down. "Better. We're gonna ride double. You two riding double, right? Oh, and my w-- ... Sky," he said, stumbling over the name, "has something for ... Babe?"

Daniel turned around, searching the crowd for Lemmel. Balin stepped up to him and bowed.

"Where's Lemmel?"

"The young steward came a faster route, Highborn, so as to ride out to Ulfrik with some such as might be needed. He gave me what ye seek, here in my waist pouch." Balin extracted a tiny bundle of cloth from his leather pouch and handed it to Daniel.

"Fine. Thank—Good, Balin," Daniel said, tilting his head back to meet the man's eyes under the edge of his veil. "Good." Then he turned back to Roskilde's silent Sky. The man was well hidden under his veil now, his head bowed low.

"How are you doing? Feeling nervous?" Daniel asked. He got no response so he reached out and laid a hand on the man's shoulder. "Are you all right?"

"I'm frightened, kinsman. Ashamed to say it, but frightened to the point of being breathless."

A worker caste woman stood behind the Sky. She put a hand on his lower back and rubbed up and down. Daniel peered up at her, squinting into the sunlight that shone from behind her dark head. "We've met," he said.

"Aye, Highborn. At my brother's home. I guard his door and did have the honor to show ye and ye Highborn mate into the home."

"Oh. Good to see you again. And you came here today to make my kinsman feel a little more comfortable?"

"In any small way that I may, Highborn."

"Good. Very kind of you. Now," Daniel said, turning his attention back to his friend, "I thought it might be hard for you to go through the gate today. First time through, first time to ride a horse. And then all this attention too. So, I brought an extra one of these," he said, holding out his own naquadah circle. "One you can keep forever. They're free now, free to any Sky who wants one. You don't need them to go out or in the city now, I know, but still ... I haven't been able to give mine up. Jack keeps telling me ... Anyway, if you think it will help?" he said, moving his hand so the cloth wrapping the circle fell open. Sunlight shone over the veiled Sky's shoulder, lighting up the ring of metal.

"Oh. Oh, Gods," the man swore reverently. "Ring of Odin. That's what it originally was, you know. Not her. Not Nirrti. A symbol of the ring we step through to wed our desires."

"Is it?" Daniel asked. "Makes more sense. That's what it should be again, then. Odin's ring. Not hers. Nothing here should be hers any more. Do you want it?"

"Want it!" the man asked loudly. "Oh, want. Oh, I don't think that's the right word. And yet, is it a betrayal of my desire? To want it? To wear it? It symbolized that for me for so long I was only for him, and at the same time, my inability to withstand what they'd do to me. My weakness kept him a prisoner here in this city."

"Nay, little pet," the tall woman whispered as she bent over him. "My brother sees ye choice not as imprisonment, but as commitment to him. So true this be, I know. I've ridden with him out of these walls to contests attended by many fine Houses, many fancy and rich men and women far and wide. None have the treasure he knew awaited his return to this city. Ye. Ye, sweet little one."

"Believe her," Daniel said. "The love you have with Roskilde is the true treasure. What I have with Jack, that's the true treasure in our lives. What Lemmel and Balin have for each other, the life-long commitment. I can't put it into words. This is just an outward symbol, this circle. Just something we wear, we put on or take off. But that love can't be taken from us. Can't be misplaced or lost. If you want to wear this, wear it only as an outward symbol, but it can't detract from the genuine love Roskilde and you share. Nothing can."

"Kinsman," the veiled man said, "I ... Yes, thank you. Yes. Next week I'll have a ring on my finger. That will be an outward symbol too. Everyone will look at it and know I'm wedded to him. Wedded consort, not just his hosted Sky. I think I'm going to wear this on that day too. Honor Odin. Honor my desire's Championship, his family and how much they mean to me."

"You love them all," Daniel said softly.

"Yes." The man reached up and patted the woman's hand where it rested on his left shoulder. Then he took the circle from Daniel and put it on.

Daniel sat on Frey, feeling Jack's arms settle comfortably around his waist. Champions who'd heard how they rode, but hadn't seen it for themselves stared openly, gawked in a very unseemly manner at the spectacle, as the two Highborns waited for Roskilde and his Sky to mount. Roskilde sat astride a great, black gelding, his arms open to receive his Sky. His sister lifted the veiled man and handed him to her brother.

She smiled up at the two men and patted her brother's leather-clad thigh. "A sight I never thought to behold. Wondrous things have come to us, brother. When ye take our heart through the gate ... " She shook her head and took a deep breath before continuing, "I will watch so that I can truly believe. When ye bring him home we will have a celebration ready. This eve, little pet, much celebrating."

The Sky tightened his grip on Roskilde's arm and nodded at her. "Yes. We'll have a party. I'll wear the circle so grandmother may see it." He leaned over and took her hand.

"Aye," she said. She kissed the back of his hand and then patted her brother's leg once more before stepping back.

The group rode out. As they approached the gate, Daniel moved Frey into tight formation with Roskilde's gelding. "Would you rather walk out or ride? I don't know which would mean more to you."

"Desire?" Roskilde whispered, smiling poignantly.

"You wanna walk, babe?" Jack asked.

"Either way," Daniel said.

"Ride," the Sky finally said. "In Roskilde's embrace, like I've dreamed of doing a thousand times."

"Have ye?" the stoic Champion asked. "I had thought so."

"Then we'll ride," Jack said, speaking for them all. "After you, big fella," he said, indicating for Roskilde to take point. Their escort of armored Champions parted and took up posts along the narrowing street.

Roskilde held his head high as he nudged the gelding forward. His horned helmet barely cleared the bottom spikes of the gate. Male and female sentries standing both inside and out of the portal knelt on one knee, pressing a palm to the ground. They stayed in position as the Champion passed through with his hosted Sky.

Daniel followed a length behind them, eyeing the kneeling men with their heads bowed in respect. "Yeah, you better stay down," he whispered harshly.

"Pissed off at 'em?"

"Am. Didn't realize it until now. Watching him go through. These people were the muscle behind the guardians. They'd have captured him and held him for the guardians. I don't know, are we going to tolerate their continued service?"

"I guess that's up to the council of elders and the Champions, isn't it?"

Daniel snorted and twisted in the saddle to give Jack a wry smile. "Guess it is. I do keep saying that, don't I? And it has to be, doesn't it?"

"Does. Cause before too long you and I are gonna take a trip south. If Carter gets that cargo ship out of the garden. Gonna fly down and take Ulfrik home, I'm thinking."

"We can take the horses with us," Daniel said. He steered Frey slightly right, following their companions past the gateway and out into the open field by the western side of the road. "I'd like Frey to be back in the meadows when we gate home."

"Yeah. Me too. Park the ship here in the city for when we come back on vacation. Retirement some day, you know."

"Price of land in Florida and all that?" Daniel said, grinning broadly now.

"Right. And taxes."

"House, no words can express my gratitude to ye and ye wedded consort. None possible." Roskilde laid the reins of his mount on the animal's neck and hugged his lover.

Daniel worked Freyfaxi's bit as the stallion danced sideways, telling his rider it was time to run. "Easy, Frey," Daniel said soothingly. He patted the animal's shiny coat.

Their escort of heavily armed riders hung back, affording the two couples privacy for their outing. Sentries on the wall three stories overhead had been directed to keep their eyes averted from the Skys and their hosts. The world was open wide to Jack and Roskilde and the two Skys they hosted.

"A whole world," the Sky said. "I'm seeing an entirely new world today." He raised his veil up, scanning the horizon.

Daniel pushed his veil back and off, letting it hang around his neck. "Yes. Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Beautiful because I'm free today. Free. You bought me my freedom, kinsman. I'll never forget you for that. Bought the freedom of me, all the others who were trapped within. Some day the women behind the garden wall will realize you bought their freedom too."

Daniel bowed his head and stayed silent until Jack grabbed him in a crushing hold.

"It's part of what we do," Jack whispered in Daniel's ear.

"At a terrible price," Daniel said. "More people will die on this world before the new laws are accepted."

"Not by our hands."

"True." Daniel nodded and gently urged Freyfaxi to move up beside the gelding. "We'll walk them for a while, Roskilde. Frey's tense, wants to run, but neither your passenger or mine is ready for that."

"Aye, Sky. Truth. My desire does need time to be used to being on a beast." Roskilde took his mount's reins again.

"We'll walk them until we pass that small bush with the red fruit. Then maybe a little trotting? Up for that?"

"Aye. Our honor guard does respectfully keep back, do they not, House?"

"Jack. You're supposed to call me Jack when we're just out palling around with the ... with our consorts."

"Wives," Daniel said, his voice light this time.

"Wife?" the Sky asked, his eyes still flicking from distant tree to distant tree. "The term for a wedded woman. Are we such in your eyes, kinsman?"

"In my eyes? Not at all," Daniel said. "But Jack is having a little trouble adapting to things. The way this society views a wedded Sky. We're under their roof, as a lot of married women are in this society."

"Not all, though," he said as he turned in his lover's hold to survey the outer wall of the city. "And certainly not because they are lesser than the husband of the house. He has his duties, the wife has hers. We, you and I, we have no duties, kinsman. We are not worthy of the title, wife, are we?"

"Oh. Never thought of it that way. We don't keep the house, or run the kitchen. We don't raise the kids. Oh, that reminds me. My friend, Sam, the woman of House Ondeil has been doing work on the lineage of children brought from the garden. There will be some that will have no relatives to claim them. Have either of you ever wanted to have a child? A Highborn child?"

"Babe, you rushing things a bit? He just got out of the city a few minutes ago. One ground-breaking thing at a time."

"A child of our own?" Roskilde said, his voice almost breaking with desire. "But a Highborn child. I would not be permitted."

"You would," Daniel said. "I'd interfere on that if need be. There are children in there who will need a loving home. Who better to raise them? The boys who came from in the garden? You and your desire understand their plight better than anyone out here. To have survived such terrible limitations for years."

"A child," Roskilde said, his gaze locked on the far horizon as he rode along.

"Desire," his Sky whispered. "Yes, you would. A son. But he'd not be able to follow your footsteps, never be able to achieve a Championship of his own. He'd be too small. Like me."

"Like you, my desire," Roskilde said. "With a quick mind and a loving heart? We should take your kinsman's generous offer. We should seek a child of our own. Two. Three. I am wealthy. We could raise many in a grand style. Even now men discuss that Skys will come fewer and fewer into our world, I have received offers of attendance at Championships. And now ye may come attend at my side, we will be more wealthy. The farmland sustains us if ever the offers fade. We could raise a dozen children—"

"A dozen! No. I think, one or two. One or two that are Highborn, from the garden. And we should seek to have a worker caste child of your seed."

"Of my seed? Me lay with a woman?" he asked, his eyes too wide open as he stared down at his lover.

"You sound like Lemmel," Daniel said, grinning broadly at the big man. "Women aren't that scary. Ask Jack. Better yet, ask Balin when we're having lunch. He can tell you how to get the job done."

"Jeeze," Jack swore, shaking his head. "Gotta stay awake for that conversation. Really. Gotta stay awake long enough ... Jeeze."

"Your Balin will have lunch with us?" the Sky said. "And your steward. He's an interesting fellow. Very sweet."

"He is," Daniel said. "It will be all right? You'll be comfortable being unveiled with the three men there with us?"

"Yes. With you there, I will be. I'm very fond of you, kinsman. Not in awe of you anymore. Like the first time I saw you after you opened Odin's ring. What a day that was!"

"Yes," Daniel said, nodding. He shifted his hold on the reins and patted Jack's thigh. "It was pretty traumatic for all of us—"

"You'll call me Jack, Roskilde. We need to work on that."

"I be worker caste and have no pretensions—"

"Said that already. We're out with the wives, just you and me and our sweetie pies. You call me Jack."

Daniel leaned slightly forward to look at his kinsman. "The trauma of it all. It's taken us a while but things have settled."

"Yes. I've seen a lot of changes among our kinsman in the Sky hall. Great changes."

"Jack. Come on. Say it. I call you Roskilde, not Champion Roskilde, or master bowman Roskilde."

"Aye, ye do, House. And thus, I call ye House."

"Jack."

"House."

Daniel leaned over more and touched the Sky's knee. "I've brought pants with me today. Solid legs on them. I'm going to try them on after we swim."

"As the tailor wears now? I've seen them! Beautiful."

"Try it. Ja ...a . . a ... ck. You can do it," he said in a childish tone. "Open your mouth. That's it. Now. Juh. Juh. Come on."

"Be unseem—"

"Jack. If you don't ... If you don't say it, I won't share my pie with you. Oh, I'll ... I know. I'll do what my sweetie did to Balin on the steps of the temple. Kneel? Want me to kneel when we get back to the temple? Embarrass the hell out of you in front of all your little school chums."

"School chums? Do ye mean I am to be in a school to learn as Highborn do?"

"Uh. No. I meant the other Champions. But if the threat of school works better—"

"Jack. I have now said it. Ye may torture me no more, wicked House."

Jack rocked back, his face a picture of smugness. "Much better. Roskilde and Jack. Just two buddies out with their main squeezes, seeing the country side."

"... trotting," Daniel said. "So just grip the mane hair like this, and ... " He nudged Frey gently and the stallion picked up his gait into a springy trot.

"Oh! Oh! Oh!" Roskilde's Sky whaled in panic. His fingers were enmeshed in the long black hair of the gelding and his legs were now stiff down the animal's sides.

"I have ye, love," Roskilde said firmly. He had one arm completely around his mate and the other hand on the reins. The animal trotted smoothly in synch with Freyfaxi. "Not in danger, I swear on my life."

"Am I in danger?" Jack asked his lover.

"Only of me passing out if you squeeze any tighter," Daniel said. "Let's move them up into a lope, Roskilde. A gentler ride. Hang on, kinsman. You're doing fine."

They rounded the city gradually and finally came within sight of the northern most section of the wall. Far from the wall and near the water another pavilion had been erected. This one was easily four times the size of their previous shelter. It was also a striped fabric, brown and green with triangular green flags fluttering from every wire and pole. The center support had a blue square flying from it; Ondeil's colors with his Hosted Sky's flag on high.

"Yeah. Just a little picnic with a friend or two," Jack said, eyeing the massive table laden with food in the pavilion. Two reclining divans, one-armed padded couches sat along one edge. The walls of the pavilion had been rolled up on all four sides. A gentle breeze blew through it.

Daniel steered Frey toward the boulder they'd used last time, but Ulfrik came running toward them, his hand outstretched for Freyfaxi's rein. The stallion shied away and Ulfrik bowed and stumbled out an urgent apology to Daniel and to the stud. Then he took the animal's rein, speaking to him in a whisper so the horse could get his scent.

Lemmel joined them, holding his hands up to help Jack down. Then he lifted Daniel down.

"Kinsman," Daniel said as he stepped to the side of Roskilde's mount. "Can I help you down or perhaps you'd allow Lemmel? You're going to be a bit wobbly after that ride."

"Steward Lemmel," the Sky said graciously, "if you would assist me?" He held a hand toward the steward who stood at Daniel's elbow.

Roskilde shifted his grip, bringing his lover to the left side of the saddle and letting him slide into Lemmel's supporting hold. Then the Champion dismounted and Ulfrik took the gelding's rein and led both horses away.

Balin arrived, having left the escort of Champions several yards south of House Ondeil's gathering. He dismounted and helped Ulfrik unsaddle the mounts. Roskilde's animal was set free to graze with the other animals and the men met under the pavilion.

"Food first?" Jack asked. "Or a swim. I need to wash the horse stink off my hands regardless of what we do."

"Frey doesn't stink!" Daniel said indignantly.

"Yes he does, babe. But only in a very dignified way. I promise." Jack sauntered slightly bowl-legged down to the water's edge.

"It was an exhilarating ride," Roskilde's Sky said. "I'll want to do that again and again. Many times."

"You should. And about that idea we were discussing. The children who will be available for adoption?" He took the unveiled man by the arm and wandered down toward Jack.

Roskilde trailed after them. "To see ye free from the city," he whispered to himself, "I have yet to comprehend this fortune that be ours. Blessed."

During the course of the meal, Roskilde managed to call Jack by his name, getting a prideful grin from the Highborn man and a scandalized gasp from Ulfrik who was busy serving the seated couples. Balin and Lemmel sat at the far end of the table, Balin's concession to Jack's insistence that they all eat together like they had last time. Then he managed to use Jack's name himself twice in their conversation about political changes likely to happen within the city council of elders in the coming months. He got an approving smile from Lemmel.

"New ways," Lemmel said to Daniel. "I see this right enough, I do. My ma, she'll be sore vexed at the changes, she will. Most in the low desert, might not hear of them for maybe years, Sky?"

"Might be years before everyone hears and believes," Daniel agreed.

"Then we'll keep our family within the walls of the city for now," Roskilde's Sky said. "A child. I don't care how old, really. A child. Two actually. We've said two if two are available. Don't want to be greedy."

"You don't think," Jack said and then paused as if reconsidering his words more carefully, "don't think it'll be too much, trying to fight the cultural stuff? Being married like ... "

Roskilde's Sky turned to him. Unveiled, the man's blue eyes shone brightly, and his face showed the inner peace he felt. "Married, a Sky and a worker caste. Yes, this will cause a stir. I'm ready to cause stirs now."

"Me too," Daniel said, sounding very unsure of himself. "I've been hiding under that damned veil too long. Time I started coming out. Oh, what an odd choice of phrase, eh Jack?"

"Coming out?" Jack looked startled. "Oh. Translated, yeah. Yeah. Did that to T and Carter."

"But we won't do it back on Midgard. We won't have the same freedom there. But, we have other freedoms," he assured their friends, "other freedoms that make up for it. I can go anywhere on that world unveiled, without fearing I'll be raped for it. I just have to start trying that on this world, a little at a time. I've done it before, back in Brooksmeet I used to have the noon meal occasionally ... "

"That led to no good," Balin said dourly.

"Yeah," Daniel agreed. "What I was thinking. Guess that's why it's so hard now. It all goes back to Thaid's murder."

"Not murder, Sky," Balin said. "I know," he added hastily. "To ye it was so. I do understand how ye see what was done, and hope my House does too. Jack," he said haltingly. "Jack loves ye."

"Oh, Balin," Daniel said, taking Jack's hand between his own. He kissed his lover's fingertips. "Yes. Thank you for saying that. And don't get upset with me for thanking you. I need that freedom too. I need the freedom to be able to say thank you, as much as I need the guts to go around without that veil hiding me. You know," he said, keeping his hold on Jack as he turned to the other Sky, "I've thought about what you said. We're not wives. We don't have the responsibilities or commitments. But if you adopt children, you'll have changes in the type of commitment you two share. Jack and I have a working relationship. He does rely on me. Teamwork, we call it. In that regard, the label of wife fits, as you see it. I'm his help mate, the one he relies on and gets unconditional support from. So in that regard the label fits for Jack and I.

"You and Roskilde will have to make a new label, for something that describes how two men are committed and work as partners on this world."

"I could be Roskilde's help mate. I could assist with the family business," the Sky said. "I don't read or write, but I know how to bargain, to read a man or woman and make good bargains. I've sat with his sister when she does trade for the family. I've seen a few times when my advice could have made our profits larger, made the transaction go smoother."

"Then it must be done so," Roskilde said.

"Wedded consort," Jack said softly.

"Not really," Daniel said to him. "More than an ornament on your arm. I need to be more, and so does my friend here."

"And we should start," the Sky said haltingly, "start with names. We'll have to be ... braver about it than I can be at this time."

"Me too," Daniel said, shuddering and looking over his shoulder. "It's a terrible thing, when your own name is turned against you. This crazy man named Hrainlang, he hurt me trying to get me to tell him my name. He thought it would give him some sexual satisfaction."

"Hrainlang?" Jack asked. "You didn't mention that part. The bruise on your thigh and the knife, but not the name thing."

"I'm sure that had a lot to do with my reaction later. At the time, though, it didn't affect me too much." Daniel turned to the man in Roskilde's hold. "But like you were saying, Sky, we have to be braver about it now. Sky Roskilde. If you're hosted, wouldn't that be a proper term for you? Highborn have two names, their given name and the name of their ancestral clan."

"As if my desire's name is a clan name? That's an odd thought. All in his household carrying his name, as if he were the head, the first in a line of Highborn?"

"Maybe," Daniel said. "Like Ondeil. Not like, say, Lemmel's name. He's Lemmel, Lars' son. Larsson, being the clan name that only endures for one generation. It's confusing. But in Highborn houses, like Wulfstag, the name endures for all generations. So, for a Champion, the same would hold true, if you take his name as your last name. He is the Roskilde. Balin is the Balin. I would be Sky ... Ondeil."

"On Earth," Jack said softly, "you'd be Sky Jackson-O'Neill."

"Jack's son?" Lemmel asked, his eyes wide in scandalous shock. "Ye be not his da!"

"I'm not that old!" Jack said, flashing an angry glare at the young steward.

"Whelp!" Balin said, giving Lemmel a backhanded slap on his shoulder. "Respect! The Highborn be too sensitive about being mature."

"I'm not that old," Jack insisted, now with a bit of a whine in his voice.

"It's just an odd coincidence," Daniel said hastily, his mouth wide in a grin. "I have a second name, a family name on Midgard. It's Jackson, but doesn't mean I am the son of Jack. It has to do with, well, with uh, an ancestor of mine who chose that name. We've used it ever since then."

"Odd coincidence," Balin said, shaking his head in surprise. "Jackson. Sky Ondeil falls better from the lips."

"Sky Roskilde," the other Sky said. "I find it suitable. More substantial. It makes me an individual, though. I feel almost vulnerable thinking about it."

"That's part of the hidden debilitation, the old system," Daniel said. "It robbed us of our individuality, our identity and thus, our autonomy, forbidding us to have names."

"Oh. And we'll need to take all that for our own now, won't we? We'll have to become useful in other ways than as conduits for impartings."

"Sex toys," Daniel said darkly. "Yeah. And eventually be known by our own names. My own name? One day I'll be able to hear it freely without the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach."

"One day," Roskilde said as he stroked a hand down his lover's uncovered hair. "Sky Roskilde, I shall call ye when others be about. Ah, and desire as well. I shall say to my elder sister, Sky Roskilde be ready to ride today. She will say to me, Sky Roskilde loves to ride."

"You ... they don't say your name either?" Daniel asked. "Family?"

"No. They're not Highborn or stewards. How could they then?"

"That needs to change," Daniel said forcefully.

"It does and it will, with time. I agree," he said.

"To identify the children, to connect them with their fathers, Skys will have to tell us their names."

"It still is hard for me to accept, that we are the fathers of these children. In the garden we're taught that all of us come from Nirrti's womb and are transplanted into the wombs of her chosen maidens. The iron building that sits in the center of the garden, that's where she bestows Sky children on her maidens."

"Artificial insemin—" Daniel stopped and shook his head. "There are no words for it in your language. It means the essence taken from a Sky during the ceremony, that's actually what is used to make the women pregnant. It was done inside Nirrti's ship, that's all."

The Sky bowed his head and remained silent for several moments. "I will accept that. Makes me even more glad I never endured it."

Roskilde boldly gathered his lover in his arms, cuddling the man in front of the others.

Soon, Jack announced it was time to swim and the two couples went to the water's edge, leaving the three worker caste men of Jack's household at the pavilion.

The two Skys stripped off down to their veils and waded hip-deep into the water before Jack and Roskilde had finished taking off their boots and pants.

"Something to be said for dressing light," Daniel called. He splashed water toward the shore and then backed into deeper water, smiling at his lover.

Roskilde beat Jack into the water, his taller figure dwarfing his lover. He crouched, wading out to get the water up over his shoulders, holding his lover's hand the entire time.

"This is scary!" the Sky shouted, not sounding frightened at all. "So very strange to be in so much water. Not like a bath. It's cold!"

"Aye, desire. I shall warm ye if ye so wish. Sit on my thigh," Roskilde said, drawing the blond man into his embrace.

Daniel pulled his veil off and slung the cloth toward the shore. It landed about a foot from the bank, making a wet, plopping sound. He ignored it as it sank, the gold beads weighing it down.

Roskilde's Sky removed his, but held onto it, peering around nervously, though they were the only people within sight.

"Feels good," Daniel said to the man. As he was nodding encouragement, Jack came up behind him and kissed him on the neck. Daniel shouted at the man and whirled on him, dunking him under the water. They wrestled a while, and then floated a bit down stream of the other two men.

Some time later Daniel was on the shore on his back, his legs wrapped around Jack's waist. "No lube."

"Don't care," Jack said between nibbles on Daniel's neck. "Just gonna hump you into oblivion."

Daniel closed his eyes and smiled smugly up into a cloud-dotted sky. "Just do that, then."

"Am."

"Good." He combed his fingers through Jack's recently-trimmed hair and sighed happily.

Hours passed peacefully.

Dressed in his new pants with his dry, winter veil on, Daniel climbed on Frey's bare back. "We'll just walk a bit," he said, answering Jack's grousing. Lemmel shifted his hold and Daniel swung his right leg over. He patted Frey and then leaned forward. "Hoist Jack up here, Lemmel. No stirrup, so you stay there until he's got a hold of me well, okay?"

Jack threw the edges of his cape back over his shoulders and put a foot in Lemmel's cupped hands. He clambered up on the animal, getting snug behind Daniel.

Roskilde grabbed a hunk of his geldings mane and swung up onto the animal. His booted feet hung to the bottom of the horse's belly. He held a hand out and Balin lifted his Sky up to sit the man just behind the horse's withers. Roskilde smiled at the other Champion.

"Just around the trees ahead and then we'll come back here for the saddles, okay?" Daniel told the household. He clucked, and Frey moved out at a very sedate pace. They were to head northwest, even farther away from their armed escort. The landscape was completely deserted ahead.

"Oh man," Jack said. "Scoot back a ... yeah. Right there. Oh man. Your pants sure do come low in the back."

"That's my ass crack you've got your finger in," Daniel said in a mock-warning voice.

"Turn back to the tent for a minute," Jack said. "Roskilde, we'll catch up with you in a moment, okay? Lemmel!" Jack called, waving urgently to his steward. The youth trotted to his side and Jack leaned down, whispering to him. Lemmel dashed to the pavilion, his abrupt departure causing Frey to shy to the side. Daniel quickly moved to reassure the stallion. Jack gripped Daniel hard around his stomach. Then Lemmel was back, passing a small vial to Jack. He gave his master a bold wink and then backed away, slower this time.

"What?" Daniel asked, twisting around to try and see what Jack had. He caught a glimpse of Lemmel as the youth approached his Champion lover and grabbed him playfully about the neck. Balin shifted left, bringing his hip into Lemmel's stomach and flipped him on then ground. Balin stretched out on him, kissing him hard.

Daniel twisted more, trying to see what Jack had taken from the steward who was now being ravaged by his lover.

"Eyes front," Jack said. "You gonna knock me off this beast? Long way down for me to fall, you know. Get going. Roskilde's way ahead. But not too fast. Looks like those two wanna be alone."

"The Sky, he's turned around on the horse," Daniel said. "Facing the back now. Looks like fun."

Jack shifted his hold, sliding a hand down Daniel's bare stomach, feeling the taut muscles and smooth skin. "Does."

"You're the master at one word sentences."

"Yep."

"Oh, brother," Daniel said, shaking his head. "And this winter veil, too damned thick." He untied it and let it hang across his shoulders. "Better."

"Better," Jack agreed.

"You going to keep that up all day?"

"Could," he said, getting a frustrated snort from his lover. "But won't. I have better things to do than ... talk. Even one word." Jack tugged at the lacing of Daniel's new pants, pulling the bow at the top open. Then he began spreading the gusset, loosening the very low waistband.

"What the hell—"

"Just lean forward a little," Jack whispered softly in Daniel's ear. "Nobody's near. We're ... Wait a minute." Jack leaned back and pulled the edges of his cape around to drape along his sides, the edges forward over Daniel's thighs. Then he unlaced his own pants and pushed the gusset down below his hardening cock. Then he used the vial Lemmel had handed him.

"Oil," he said.

"Back to one word sentences?" Daniel said.

Jack pocketed the vial and then scooted forward again, laying over his lover's rounded back.

"Oh!" Daniel exclaimed, tightening his legs along Frey's sides. "Whoa, Frey. Good boy. Oh, Jack, this is not smart ... Oh, God," he groaned out the words.

With one hand, Jack held the tip of his slickened cock against his lover's opening, and with the other hand he gripped Daniel's hip and pulled him back. "Ah, Christ," Jack swore. "Ah holy fuck. Don't sit up. Ah. Ah shit, yeah."

"Jack," Daniel whispered, his voice raspy now. He hunched over the stallion's neck, kneading his fingers through the coarse mane. His nostrils twitched as he panted with desire, full of the smell of the animal and the cooling air of the lush landscape. Daniel turned his head to the side and laid completely down, letting his hard cock be trapped between his stomach and Frey's black coat. His balls were squashed hard, trapped between him and the horse. Daniel wriggled to his left and then settled back to his right, getting them positioned beside the wither bone. Frey kept walking.

"Yeah, that's it. Keep him walking," Jack said. "Oh baby, yeah." His cock was being slowly rocked in and out of his lover. "That's it. Good ole Frey. Just like you say, baby. Yeah."

Daniel nodded, feeling his cheek slide along the coarse hairs, while his cock was being slid along the smooth coat of Frey's back. "Um hum," he agreed. "Good ole ... yeah, deep like that."

Jack had started using both hands to pull Daniel back, then push him away, to increase the length of the stroke the animal's gentle walk was giving him. He sighed in bliss. "All day, ride like this."

He got a nod and a moan from his lover. Jack spared a moment to make sure they weren't catching up with Roskilde. Then he adjusted the fold of the cloak on the side toward the city. Nobody would be able to see a thing. He smiled smugly.

"That's it, Jack. Pump ... "

"Your cock on his fur feel good?" Jack asked. "Balls ... "

"Yeah. Fine. Wither bone's not wracking me. My cock's hard as steel. I mean, honestly its twice as hard as it was the last time we made love. I'm really getting over the ... Just fuck me, Jack. God, that feels good against his fur."

Jack changed his position, sitting up more now. He put a hand on Daniel's lower back, pushing him firmer onto Freyfaxi. Then he started thrusting with his hips while at the same time sliding Daniel back and forth. "Better? More sensation on the fur?"

"Y—yeah. Yeah," Daniel gasped out. "Could come. Oh my God, I could come." He tucked his toes along Frey's sides, feeling the animal breathe. "Gonna. You be deep in when I ... I ... Jack?"

"I could. Not yet. But if you can, do it. I mean come if you can. Do it for me."

"Mess-messy."

"Do it. Can you?" Jack said, increasing his pressure and the rocking motion aided by Freyfaxi's steps. "Come, baby."

"Un—not—yeah! Oh, yeah!" Daniel bucked slightly along the stallion's back, coming in three hard shudders. "Oh, my God, Jack," he said in exhausted awe. "I did."

"Know," Jack grunted out the word. He plastered himself to Daniel's back and thrashed as wildly as he could on the animal's bare back. All worries of being observed or obvious in his actions were gone as Jack drove himself into his lover until he too achieved orgasm.

"Oh man," Jack whispered as he lay draped on Daniel. "Instead of trying to get that cargo ship out of the garden? Let's just ride home to the meadows. Like ... this. Deal?"

The only answer he got was a happy chuckle.

Returning to the City had both Skys in quieter moods. Sky Roskilde as he was now determined to be known, kept his fingers wrapped around the naquadah circle he wore. At the last minute they chose to ride through the gate, instead of walk as they'd planned.

Then, leaving the stables and starting the short walk through the city, the Sky ended up asking Roskilde to carry him. "My knees feel broken," he said with glee.

"Why so happy about being saddle-sore?" Jack asked, baffled by the man's tone.

"Skys aren't—hosted Skys—any Skys, we weren't permitted to be this sore from anything as rigorous as riding or swimming. I did both today."

"And did them well," Daniel said, lifting the edge of his thick, winter veil. "This is our turn toward the temple. We'll see you soon?"

"Yes. For the wedding, if not before."

"Good then, kinsman," Daniel said, and stretched up to kiss the man being held in Roskilde's arms. "You really did well."

"Thank you, kinsman. Sleep well," he said, and waved as his Champion and several of their escorts left toward Roskilde's estate.

"Jack," Daniel said, staring off at the group of well armed men, "think I should try to cut down on the kissing thing? I mean, men kissing men. It's not the way I was raised."

"You do a lot of things you weren't raised to—I mean, you adapt to new customs well. It's part of who you are. It's actually what makes you good at your job, babe."

"Good at my job?" Daniel said thoughtfully as he walked with Jack.

"SG-1 can't function at top efficiency without you. And that's not an idle bit of ego boosting. You know we've tried a few times. I know what I'm talking about here."

"You just said I'm good at my job."

"I did?" Jack asked, frowning hard.

"Can't deny it," Daniel quipped, grinning broadly under his veil.

Aegis met their party at the top step. He shouldered his way between the Champions escorting House Ondeil, and bowed very briefly. "Trouble came to ye woman, House."

"Trouble? Carter?" Jack asked, glancing around behind the big man toward the temple entrance.

Teal'c stepped from the dark opening. "All will be well with Major Carter. She sustained a mild injury—"

"What happened?" Daniel demanded as he shoved the veil off his face. "Where is she?"

"In the temple," Teal'c said, stepping aside as Daniel rushed in.

Jack jogged after him, his boots much noisier than Daniel's suede slippers. They found her in the screened area, her shirt half off. She was wiping blood from a wound on her left shoulder.

"Sam!" Daniel exclaimed. "What happened? You get hurt in the garden?"

"It's not that deep," she said hastily as he moved to help her. "I just got the tip of a lance is all."

"All?" Jack asked. "How'd it happen? Report."

Teal'c entered the space then, bringing a bucket of water to the injured woman. "Major Carter was returning from the hall where orphaned children live when she and her party of armed escorts were attacked."

"By guardians?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah," Sam said. "It wasn't that—Ouch." She hissed in discomfort and then handed her cloth to Daniel to finish the cleaning job.

He used the sterile gauze from the field first aid kit and then applied an antibiotic to the wound. Jack handed Daniel another clean bandage from the pack. Together they wrapped her shoulder. Jack then handed her a couple of pain reliever tablets and some water.

"Thanks, sir."

"So, T. Guardians?" Jack said, looking back over his shoulder at the Jaffa.

"Indeed. I arrived at the scene of the battle and found the skirmish disorganized but lethal. What the guardians lacked in tactical experience they made up for in brute numbers. We counted the dead and believe only five now remain alive on the planet. Of those five, three are known to be quite elderly."

"An all-out attack?" Jack asked in surprise.

"You were gone from the city with a large contingent of Champions. Major Carter has apparently been the cause for more consternation to the guardians than my own appearance was. Word had spread from among the female sentries of the task they performed this morning, ridding the garden of its drug. Upon hearing this news, the guardians undoubtedly felt her presence meant they had nothing left to lose. Hence, the attack was, for them, their final battle."

"Good. Two left. Find them. Put a watch on them." As the jaffa turned to leave, Jack added, "a watch on all five of them. Be easier than the policing the Champions have had to do."

"It shall be done," Teal'c said and bowed formally.

"You need to lie down someplace quieter than in here," Daniel said. "How about the Hall of Champion's—No," he said, shaking his head. "There are a couple of smaller rooms over in the Sky's Hall. We'll commandeer one of those. Just close the curtain and then you can ... Come on," he urged her, helping her to her feet.

She put her right arm over his shoulder as he helped her from the temple.

Jack combed his fingers through his comfortably short hair and went in search of the council of Champions.

In a small, private sleeping chamber, Daniel moved the single candle to a shelf built into the wall by the curtained doorway. Then he straightened the covers over Sam. "Better?"

"Head aches," she said as she settled back on the padded platform, her injured left shoulder on the side toward the wall.

With Lemmel on guard outside the room, Daniel left for a moment and returned with a damp cloth and an instant cold pack from the field first-aid kit. He sat on her right side and mopped her brow with the cool cloth.

"Thanks," she said.

"Too bright in here?"

"Just right."

"Good." Daniel swung around, bringing his legs up on the wide platform and ran the cloth down to her neck. "Must have been tough, handling yourself in a battle with all the big people. Both sides big," he added.

"Yeah. Lie down here with me for a minute and hold the cold pack against my left shoulder."

Daniel rustled the plastic pack, conforming it to her wound and settled against her right side. Sam grunted, shifted her right arm, and brought it up under Daniel's neck. He rested his head on her right shoulder and she settled comfortably with a sigh.

"You can't interrupt Jack's meals, Sam."

"He said he'd been very ill. An alien spider's venom. Something that liquefies the muscle and fat of the body, a powerful histerotoxin, a refined digestive fluid like a brown recluse or the hobo spider on Earth. It began to dissolve—"

"Yes," Daniel whispered harshly. "His muscle tissue began to dissolve. Sam," Daniel said, shaking his head, "when he woke up, I mean, got alert enough to realize how ... The first time I sat him up and he saw his own legs? I saw the fright in his eyes. Bones, the skin stretched over them. And he'd look at his hand, hold it up and stare at his fingers, the knuckles so large and the bones on the back of his hand so stark. He was horrified at what had happened to his body. He never said it out loud but I saw the shock, the real fright in his eyes."

"You must have felt the same way," she whispered.

"I did. And he felt helpless. That hurt him so badly. You have to understand, he's been through hell. I don't think he ever thought he could survive such torture, such horrendous damage, you understand? He'll never acknowledge that fear he felt but, please, you have to understand."

"I do. I won't interrupt a meal again, I promise. You've done a remarkable job getting the muscle back on him. Remarkable. But it must have been horrible for you, watching him slowly suffer. Lonely too. No one could talk to you, could they? You were alone when the colonel was so very ill."

Daniel nodded, his head rustling against her shoulder. "So you have to understand, if he reacts oddly, if he says things or ... acts different than you expect, please remember what he's been through, okay?"

Sam nodded Then she laid there listening to the stillness. The pain medication was taking effect. "Have a good ride?" she asked, her eyes drifting shut.

"Yeah. And a swim. It's good for me to get the exercise. Washes ... " Daniel was interrupted by a yawn, "the poison out of my ..." he yawned again, "my system."

"Good. And helps sleep. Shift down a bit. Let my right shoulder ... There. Perfect," she said as he nestled against her armpit.

"You need sleep," Daniel said and yawned.

"Yeah," Sam said softly, looking down at the top of his head. She watched his fingers grow slack around the ice pack. His hand slid down from her shoulder to rest on her chest, and the pack stayed in place. She smiled as she heard his breathing deepen.

Sam studied the beamed ceiling. Though most of the main chambers in this hall were very tall, the back rooms had low ceilings. There was storage space on top of them, with narrow ladders leading up to it. The ceiling in this room was about twelve feet tall, low for the typical dwellings of worker caste.

She looked over at the single candle burning by the door. It was tallow, made of mutton fat and gave the room a distinctive, but not too unpleasant odor. She'd never forget that odor though. It filled her senses on this planet.

Daniel was sleeping deeply.

Then she wondered what her commanding officer was up to. Was he walking the battle scene? Getting detailed reports of how one of the guardians had managed to slip through her escorts and score a blow? Some of the Champions had been wounded much worse than she was. Had any of them died? They'd killed so many guardians, it was unlikely that the entire compliment of Champions had escaped any mortal wounds, despite their leather armor.

Daniel's breathing was still deep and regular.

Sam studied the cloth that hung over the curtained doorway. It was a rough weave. That man, Ulfrik, he wove cloth for her C O. He was of House Ondeil. He was a titled servant. Lemmel was a titled servant but he was also an indentured servant. And he was married to a man, just like ... Daniel and Colonel O'Neill were married.

And the women behind the wall murdered their own children for being rowdy.

Daniel and Colonel O'Neill were married. They wore each other's wedding rings. Daniel had worn a wedding veil and married him. Him. Sam had kissed him. More than once. But then, she realized with a grin, so had Daniel. More than once. And more than kissed. And Colonel O'Neill was in love with Daniel.

Whatever the man felt for her, and there was something, he was in love, head over heels, gone, in love with Daniel. And amazingly, he seemed to know it. Men usually didn't. But he did. Sam smirked.

The curtain moved and she glanced at it quickly. Her C O stepped through and she carefully moved her left hand up, laying a finger across her lips to keep him silent. Then she realized her right arm was cupped around Daniel's shoulder. It had been for quite some time. She was holding him in the crook of her arm.

The Colonel glared down at her! Sam kept her finger against her lips and met his glare, keeping her own expression neutral.

The man walked softly to the end of the sleeping platform and glared at her from a new angle. Sam winced as she moved her arm back down onto the padded platform. And now Daniel's right hand showed. She could feel it, feel each finger, feel his thumb and his palm, warm where it rested on the prominent mound of her left breast.

Daniel's breathing was deep and regular. Sam stared at the colonel. Daniel's husband. His husband, that he had so proudly proclaimed to her in the Champion's hall, and then hid in embarrassment. Daniel should never have to hide from her!

The colonel's eyes were boring a hole into her breast, right through Daniel's hand. She stared at the man and kept her own breathing as deep and regular as Daniel's.

Then the colonel sat in a hard chair at the end of the bed. He kept staring at the two of them sleeping together on the padded platform.

Daniel had been asleep for hours. The cold pack on her shoulder had melted long ago. Her right arm tingled occasionally from the weight of Daniels' head pressed against her right armpit. Her C O sat like a stone statue as Daniel slept.

She tried not to watch the angry man. He was glaring at Daniel's hand again. Jealous? How in the hell could he feel jealous after all that Daniel had done while on this planet? She'd heard. She'd listened and learned and knew how Skys lived, knew how Daniel had earned money here. How in the hell could that man be glaring in jealousy?

Then, as Sam watched him, the colonel frowned. She saw him rub his chin. He bowed his head and rubbed his face. Then he looked back at Daniel. She saw pain, pain in the older man's face. He seemed suddenly flooded with sorrow, doubt. He glanced toward the curtained doorway and tensed as if to rise and flee. But he turned back to Daniel. His gaze drifted down the sleeping man's body.

Sam followed his gaze, feeling Daniel's bare stomach pressed against her side, the obscenely prominent bulge of his tied genitals pressed against her hip. Daniel's right leg was cocked slightly, and laying over her own. His right foot was between hers. She felt the colonel raking his body with a raw and hungry gaze. She saw self-recrimination in the man's eyes. He was hurting.

Protect the linguist. Protect the civilian. That was their job. Get him back through the gate. On mission after mission, they'd charge into a pit of fire and ... Oh, God, the first time they'd lost him. In fire, they'd all believed. But it had been a trick. They'd been brainwashed to think he'd died in fire, when he was actually being held underwater.

She'd cried. Jack ... Jack had broken. That military reserve, that calm face he showed the world? It had broken and she'd seen it. They'd all seen it. Even the general had seen it as Jack smashed his car window, crazed with grief for the loss of Daniel. She should have known then. Jack. Sam blinked away a tear. In her vision of Daniel dying in that fire he'd called out for Jack to save him. He'd called out for Jack.

How that vision must have tormented the man sitting at the foot of the sleeping platform. And did it still? Daniel had been through hell on this planet. The guardians had raped him. A gang of them, apparently. Gang raped in front of that man. No wonder Daniel hid under the damned veil.

No wonder her C O looked like he was about to break again. Mission failure. Did this constitute mission failure? But Daniel was alive. And he'd get well. The mission was a success. She'd have to find a way to tell the colonel that his mission, this time, his mission was successful.

Sam stared at the ceiling.

Eventually the wick on the tallow candle guttered and Sam glanced at it to see if it was going out.

"M--no ... no," Daniel moaned. He thrashed out with his right hand, pushing at empty air. "No. Jack will see!" Then he pushed himself out of Sam's embrace and rose up. "No! Please!" he groaned loudly as he opened his eyes.

"Daniel," she said softly, "It's okay. Just a dream."

"Oh God," he gasped, covering his face with his right hand. "Feel them? Hands."

"It's okay Daniel. They're not here," she said hastily. "You're all right. It was just a dream."

"Dream? But I feel them."

"Baby," Jack said as he hurried around the end of the platform to his lover's side. "Be still. Remember? Don't try to get up too fast. Lie back down if you can."

"Jack? They're here. On me. In ... Hate it. I feel them."

"I know, baby. I understand now," he said as he helped Daniel to lay back down against the woman's shoulder. "Just gotta wake up slower, remember? What Sky Roskilde told you? Don't try to get up."

"Damn," Daniel swore. "I hate feeling them. Hands gripping my wrists. My thighs so tight. Feel their fingers digging in."

"Just us," Jack said as he ran a hand down Daniel's arm.

"Never know though. I feel the fingers digging into my thighs, crushing my wrists and ankles and I never know if it's the guardians or if it's that bastard, Gruber. Then sometimes I'll feel the table under my back and I'll know it's Gruber and Joslin raping me, not the guardians. I still have them to look forward to in the future."

"Table," Jack said, frowning harshly. "In Drangaskogen."

"One of them smothered me. Laid on me. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't scream when they were going in. That hurt, what the drug did to me. Across here," he said, rubbing his right hand across his hips. "And down. Hurt."

"You feel that pain when you wake up?"

"And sometimes when I'm awake. Move too quickly out of bed or a chair. I feel it."

"Just move slow, Sky. You should—"

"Daniel," Sam corrected him. She reached out with her injured left arm and touched her C O's arm.

He opened his mouth, his face a mask of anger now, but she brought her hand down and gripped his hard. "Daniel," she repeated. "Daniel, you want to move slow." She pulled his hand up, struggling with the older man as he glared, seemingly ready to explode at her.

Sam brought his hand up to Daniel's cheek, curling his fingers and pressing his palm to the quiet man's flesh. "You want to say, Daniel, move slow. Daniel, we're here for you. That's what you want—what you need to say, sir."

Stubbornly, Jack frowned at her, but his face lost its look of cold fury. He broke his stare with her, letting his eyes drift to the man who's face he was touching. Daniel's eyes were closed, and his face looked relaxed. He nuzzled against Jack's palm and then brought his lips to it. He kissed Jack's palm.

"Daniel," Jack whispered, his voice barely audible. "Daniel, we're here for you. Daniel, rest a while longer."

"Mm hum," Daniel said, nodding against his lover's caress. His breathing became deep and regular again.

Sam glanced back up at her C O. He was staring at his lover. He was staring at the one he'd chosen, the one he'd married. She rolled her lips in as she studied him. He was gazing with naked love at the man he'd chosen and he looked damned pleased with that choice. She nodded and sighed. Married. Chosen Daniel when they were still back on Earth. Slept with him there. And more than once. Slept with him. Then here, married him. Chose Daniel. He'd chosen Daniel.

She tightened her grip on her best friend and felt him relax more. Well, that choice, the choice both of them had made, it didn't push her out of their lives. Didn't. Daniel had kept a secret from her. Her C O, and she was aware he was more, he'd kept a secret too. But they had to. Back home she'd have to forget this secret. She'd have to let them have this bit of privacy there. Things would have to go back to the way they were and she'd have to squelch any grain of resentment she knew she'd feel ever time they left together, every night Daniel begged out of a dinner invitation with her, or every time her C O disappeared with Daniel behind a closed door. That would be hard.

"Daniel," the colonel whispered, his voice foggy with pain and longing.

She watched him settle more on the side of the bed, his hand still cupping her friend's cheek. Sam blinked again and felt a tear fall. She ignored it. He'd chosen Daniel and she would live with that. She would live with loving them both, her best friend and the man who would always be in her heart.

Eventually the colonel withdrew, stepping back from the sleeping platform as noiselessly as possible. She watched him pause by the curtain and finally he nodded at her. She gave him a tiny nod and then he was gone through the doorway.

She closed her eyes and allowed sleep to come.

CHAPTER 45 Family

Barefoot, Odamari strolled gracefully into the temple entrance, supported in a seemly manner on Brynvold's outstretched hand. The couple and their servants paused in the doorway, staring around at the activity in the vast chamber.

Jack walked among the tall tables where scribes were working on more footage Carter had shot inside the garden that morning. She'd captured the rest of the centuries of symbols, but translating back more than a few generations was not practical for their purpose of uniting children, of giving the living Highborn an understanding of their own genealogy. Dates were being estimated and added to the parchments, before the documents were affixed to the wall in family tree structures.

Pausing by the arrangement on the wall, Jack studied the lines drawn from one parchment to several others. The father had served many times in the temple, so his genetic traits, either his willingness or his inability to live any other way would have been desirous. Guys like Ivan the Tailor had no lines going down from their parchments. Whether the women knew what they were doing or not, they'd been selectively breeding Skys for the traits they wanted for a damned long time.

Maybe Daniel had underestimated, all that talk about how long it would take this culture, the Skys, to recover from Nirrti's damage. A thousand years of binding women's feet in China didn't end overnight.

And right now Daniel was asleep in Carter's arms. Damn.

"Jack?"

Turning from the wall, Jack saw a group of people, backlit by the bright daylight shining in through the temple entrance. "Brynvold? Buddy!" Jack called as he headed toward the man and his party.

"Well met," Brynvold said, gripping Jack's forearm. "We've heard such fantastic tales."

"All probably true,' Jack said with a broad grin. "Glad you made it. We just dispatched a messenger to you—Wait a minute. No way did that rider reach you yet."

"We received no message other than tidings sent from the Hall of Champions to my Champion. We heard of the departure of the goddess. Odin has turned his eye to us again, it's said."

"Fantastical," Garan said. The elder Sky was dressed in a thick veil with a rectangle of open weave across the front. His view was unobstructed. He had on slit-legged pants as all Sky wore, and an unbelted tunic that hung down to his knees. His bare chest and flat stomach showed as he moved up beside Odamari. Like the younger Sky, he was also barefoot. "Are we to believe such tales? What they say, that Skys have been deposed on one hand, but exalted on the other. Which is it, Jack?"

"Deposed or exalted? Well, Odin's decree was that the Skys are now to be considered his friends and treated as such. That answer your question?"

"We had heard that, but I need further explanation."

"Then you'll have to talk to the town council, the council of Champions. Them first, I guess. They're kind of overseeing things with the Skys, helping them, I mean. Not ruling them. No guardians left. No judgments or any of that stuff. Skys are free."

"This cannot be so," Garan insisted. But he peered around the temple through the open weave of his veil. "No guardians."

"There are only five left alive. The others chose to oppose Odin's decree and died for it."

"We passed into the city freely. My pride's steward showed your rune stone, and we came in free. You own the City of the Highborn, which shouldn't be possible. Sentries ... actually a woman sentry gave us our circles." Garan fingered the decoration hung on a black cord around his neck. It was the plainest piece of jewelry on his body. He wore red faceted gems and gold hoops on his wrists and ankles today.

"I would see your desire," Odamari insisted gently. "He is near?"

"Yes. He's sleeping. Been tough on him, all this. The trip north from your place was ... We ran into some trouble, got here and things got a little worse. He's sleeping."

"Is he injured? You sound as if he's injured," Garan said as he laid a hand on Jack's arm. "What can we do to help?"

"Actually ... nothing right now. Let's go ... um ... Champion's hall. Busy in there nowadays, but—"

"The Sky hall," Garan said. "It's truly closed? No one performs service in there?"

"Closed. Shut down and that front door was sealed up. Skys use it now as their home, anybody want to go in, they have to get approval of a Sky. Like you two. You can go in and out at will. But me and Brynvold, we only get in because you guys say we can. Same with Champions and stewards—"

"Sir?" Carter came into the chamber, holding her arm at her side. She had no veil on and the lacing of her shirt was open, showing her cleavage.

"Oh my gods," Garan said, his voice weak with shock. He backed up, stumbling into a scribe and his table and then whirled to flee the temple. He bowled into two Champions on his way out.

Brynvold grabbed Odamari and ran toward the doorway, with Jack in hot pursuit.

"It's all right! She's not from inside the garden. Hey, hold it! She's not one of them. Come on back!" Jack caught up with them on the steps outside in the pure sunlight.

Garan was against a pillar, his back to it as he stared at the temple doorway. Odamari and Brynvold stood before him in a defensive posture. House Halfdain's armsmen began surrounding the group of Highborn men.

"She will not touch either of us!" Odamari shouted.

"Okay, okay," Jack said, holding his hands out toward them. "She won't touch either of you. She came through the stargate--Odin's ring--from Midgard. She's not from within the garden and won't harm either of you. In fact she's helping. She's helping the Skys. You'll see. I give you my word, Brynvold, she's safe. In fact she was just in there sleeping ... Never mind. She's a friend of my desire. You'll have to trust me on this."

"I will not. I ... Is she armed?"

"No. Carter!" Jack called to the doorway. "Get your ass out here. Show them you're not armed."

Jack stood on the landing outside the door, his body as tightly strung as steel cables on a suspension bridge.

Peering out, Sam looked at the ring of armed men facing her. Each held a lance or sword and looked ready to strike. She stopped several steps behind her commanding officer. She was dressed in muslin breeches made for her by the tailor yesterday. Over that she had the shirt with lacings he'd made for her some time ago. And over that she had a white, hooded cloak, the sides thrown back to allow easy movement. Carefully, with her uninjured arm, she unfastened the cloak and let it fall. She couldn't catch it with her arm as sore as it was from the injury to her left shoulder. Then Sam held her hands out and turned slowly in a circle. Facing them again she could see they weren't satisfied. She lifted the hem of her shirt, revealing the waistband of her pants. They had no pockets. Then she lifted the loose material of the pants, showing her sock-covered feet. Daniel had taken her boots off earlier.

"No weapons," Jack said. "And can you kind of tell by looking at her, she's not from the garden?"

"Perhaps," Garan said, shouldering his way past Brynvold. "I would approach her first though. Keep Odamari safe."

"You're a brave old codger," Jack said, giving the man a half grin.

"Not that much older than you, gray-hair, so watch your tongue!"

"Yeah," Jack said, frowning in embarrassment. He watched Garan pass him and approach Carter. "You're not gonna try to slap her or anything are you? Cause that won't get you anywhere and ... actually she's got a wound on her left shoulder. Courtesy of a guardian. Careful."

"I won't hurt her if she won't hurt me, Jack. And I resent your implication. I've never caused an offensive bump in order to kill."

"Oh, sorry," Jack said, feeling even more embarrassed. "I didn't mean ... "

"Are you not from within the Forbidden Garden?" Garan stared at the unveiled woman.

"I'm from another planet. I came here to help ... House Ondeil. He's my ... I take commands from him."

"Oh!" Garan said, shaking his head. "A woman of our kind taking commands from a mere man. That's harder to comprehend than the joy of Odin turning his eye back to us. Ragnarok is over then? And Odin is again immortal now, residing in Valhalla?"

"Something like that," Sam said. "I'm helping the Skys to adjust. I got the Sky children out of the garden before the women could ... I know why you were afraid of me. I know what they do and I think it is beyond wrong. They won't have a chance to kill any more boys. We also got two girls out of the garden before they could be killed for having brown eyes."

"I can't imagine ... " Garan said. "And the goddess did nothing to stop you? She'll make more boys in their bellies to kill."

"No. No more," Sam said.

"Maybe we can take this talk inside?" Jack asked Brynvold and then turned to Sam. "Where's my ... where is he?"

"Wedded consort," she said loudly, staring boldly at him. Then she spoke in a softer tone, intended for his ears only. "Your husband. He's in the bathing chamber with other Skys. Wanted to change out of those new pants the tailor made before he came out of the hall again."

"Okay," Jack said as he picked up her cloak and laid it around her shoulders. "And your veil?"

"I'm not wearing it anymore," she said as she walked in with him, slightly ahead of House Halfdain.

"Yeah?" Jack said. "He feel the same way about his?"

"No," Sam said darkly. "But you have to let him make what progress he can. The pants for almost all day, that was pretty good, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. Okay, lets take the company into the Champion's hall, and then I'll go fetch him."

"Sir, when I first arrived you told me not to ... slip up and call him your wife. Now I'm telling you the same thing. You might think this culture, being here in the midst of it makes that okay, but it doesn't. You'll go home eventually. So will he. Going native—"

"Oh, crap," Jack swore at himself, shaking his head.

Sam didn't need to say any more.

With Brynvold and his household comfortable in the busy Hall of Champions, Jack started to go get Daniel. As Jack reached the archway, Balin came in, escorting House Ondeil's Sky in a seemly manner.

Daniel was veiled properly, in slit pants with the loop pulled. He wore suede slippers and had his gold bracelets on, two on each wrist this time. His wedding band and the naquadah circle reflected shafts of sunlight from the round window high overhead. A Sky in the hall had applied makeup more artfully than Lemmel ever could. His eyes had delicate lines of kohl on the lids and his lips had a blush, wet look to them.

"Gentlemen," Jack said, his gaze locked firmly on his lover, "my wedded consort." He stared, the most peculiar smile playing across his lips as he watched Daniel come to him.

"... through the ring," Brynvold said.

"As you had hoped," Odamari said. "A blessed day. Such fortune ... "

Their voices faded as Jack took Daniel's hand from Balin. He nodded briefly to the big Champion and then pulled Daniel into a full-body embrace. Their mouths met and Jack forgot the hall full of onlookers.

As their kiss ended, Jack kept his arms around Daniel and leaned back a little bit. The peculiar smile returned to flicker across his mouth.

"What?" Daniel asked, tilting his head as he met his lover's intense gaze.

"I want to introduce you that way more often. When we get back to Earth there'll be other ways to show you I love you, but here, I can declare it so openly. I was thinking, is this too easy? Me being free to blurt it out that way, my wedded consort."

"My husband," Daniel countered, tapping his own chest.

"True. I am. Yours. You're mine. I'll work on that word too. Makes you a husband again too, not just me. That's how it should be, because that's our culture. Not going native."

"Me a husband too?" Daniel whispered.

"What does that mean to you? To be my husband."

"Responsibility. Security maybe. I don't know. We'll work on it?"

"We will. Right now it's time to go have a gab-fest with the company."

Balin emptied Champions out of their own hall. The vast chamber was vacated for the master of Nortvegr, House Ondeil and his guest, House Halfdain. Lemmel and Ulfrik served, but Halfdain's First Steward was a woman and did not enter the hall. His First Champion came and was in attendance, assisting as Balin did, to ferry food and drink across the yellow floor. Jack sat sideways in his usual seat, Daniel perched between his open thighs. Brynvold and Odamari sat across from Jack while Garan sat by Daniel, peering solicitously at the quiet, veiled man.

Sam sat on Jack's other side and began explaining what had happened at the temple.

"And that's how I got the children out," she finished. "Daniel translated the symbols. We're charting their genealogy now."

"Daniel," Odamari said as he leaned over the table, "when you were with us in Fairwood you mentioned none of this idea, this mission of Odin's you were on."

"Yes," Garan said. "You did, didn't you, Daniel? You said something about our freedom."

"Jack, I'm stunned by all that you and your Daniel have done." Brynvold lifted his mug in a salute.

In his hold, Jack felt Daniel flinch the last three times his name was said. When Brynvold spoke, his lover hunched his shoulders, pulling himself in tightly. He'd bowed his head and was taking deep breaths. Jack pulled him back, turning him by his shoulders. Daniel was hyperventilating now. "Babe?" Jack whispered. "It's ... this is a little PTSD, maybe? Overload?"

Daniel clamped his hands over his ears as Garan said his name again. Each time it had been said, he felt a guardian enter him. The first time they'd raped him only House Ondeil and servants of House Wulfstag were present. This time the audience was bigger. Sam was seeing it too.

"Fellas," Jack said as he hugged his lover, bringing Daniel's head to his own shoulder protectively, "we need to ... Listen, uh, we both appreciate your enthusiasm. I mean you're real friends. We've ... But for a while could you take it easy on the ... "

Sam laid a hand on his arm and Jack gave her a haunting stare. She turned from him to the others at the table.

"For a while, we should not use the name of House Ondeil's wedded consort. I've been too free with it today." She nodded at the newcomers.

"My pride has an alliance," Garan said to her, his voice sharp now.

"And as such, we," Brynvold said warmly as he looked at Garan, "will protect him as much as we do our own heart, our own desire."

Garan nodded at Brynvold and then turned to Daniel. "Sky, you are seemly in our eyes. Forgive me for the jest I made in Fairwood. Your Jack ... You're never a burden to him."

"I am," Daniel said, his face pressed against Jack's shoulder, and his voice trembling with shame. "I am. He did everything he could to keep me safe and I did exactly what you said I did. I tried his patience. I played at being a worker caste child. I pursued things I shouldn't have. On the ship, I was unseemly. In the northern port I was unseemly and it cost me more than I could afford. I suffered for it there, and here in the city I still hadn't learned. Jack did everything he could to keep me safe. He did everything a House should do for his hosted Sky. I failed and paid for that failure."

Gruber's tongue in his navel was wet and hot, driving home the extent of his failures.

"But ... I'm getting better. I'm healing."

"You were tested," Garan said, his voice brittle with pain. "I've seen it. When I was younger than Odamari I saw it here in the city."

"I was tested and I passed. That's all there is to it." Two of the guardians who'd tested him pulled at his thighs, trying to pry them farther apart.

"He was drugged," Jack said. "Overdosed with goat's hair herb. Almost died from the poisoning."

"Stop," Brynvold said. "Odamari, Garan, leave us now. Champion, take them. And you, woman, would you leave us?"

Sam looked at her commanding officer. He nodded, keeping his hold firm on his lover. When the three had withdrawn to the back area of the huge hall, Brynvold addressed Jack again.

"Drangaskogen's elders counseled my Champion that they suspected a wrong was done to a Sky who traveled on one of my vessels. They held a trader to be questioned by me. He claimed his assistant, a one-eyed man had all responsibility for the deed, but would not confirm what the deed was."

"Where is he now?" Jack asked.

"Your Sky should hear this," Brynvold said, speaking as if Daniel weren't there. "Will you tell him the remaining offender is dead? Before I arrived in Drangaskogen he died at the hands of a fellow prisoner. The truth of his transgressions will never be known. But he was the poisoner?"

"Okay," Jack said. "We won't talk about it any more. My Sky is healing. He just needs time, understand?"

"I understand. The ways of the Skys, they're mysterious to us who grew up out here in the free world. Well, I'll summon the others back now, unless you wish to have time alone?" he asked, half rising from his chair.

"Yeah, go get 'em and take your time," Jack said. After the Highborn man had left, Jack stroked Daniel's veiled head. "You wanna talk about it?"

"I'm glad he wasn't executed. Glad I don't have to talk about it any more than that. Moving past it, okay?" He kept his head down.

"Okay."

They resumed their meal, but Daniel stayed leaning against Jack. He finally turned around so that he was facing the others at the huge banquet table. Jack handed him grapes.

"Highborn children of both castes, all in one hall," Garan said. "I have to see this."

"Yes," Jack said. "Now, you understand, the tale that the women would tell, about Nirrti making the women pregnant? That was never true."

"But Sky babies can't come from ... " Odamari stopped and shook his head. "My desire wants to make a son. He'll never have one now. I was prepared for him to go through the milking ceremony."

"You went through one when you won your freedom to leave the city," Jack said.

"Oh, gods," Garan swore softly, revelation dawning in his eyes.

Daniel turned to the man. Their eyes met.

Across the table Odamari cleared his throat. "Did they use what they took from us? They lied and said it was worthless. With the herb, it renders our seed worthless, so they couldn't have been using it for ... No." he said emphatically.

"It only prevents Odin's smile," Jack said. "It doesn't prevent pregnancy."

"Gods," Garan swore again.

"They took from us," Odamari repeated himself. "And with that they made Skys. I feel ..."

"Violated," Sam whispered, her voice so quiet that only Jack and Daniel heard.

Jack nodded.

Daniel reached out and touched Garan's sleeve and then looked at Odamari. He pushed his veil back. "Yes. They used what they took and made Sky children with it. You served in the temple about, I guess eight years ago."

"To earn my freedom," Odamari said. "Did they use ... "

"Yes. And they made a child with it. And he's free," Daniel said hastily.

Odamari covered his face with his hands. "Sky?"

"Yes. A Sky child. I've interpreted your symbol and found a child born from your essence. He's alive and free. He's in the Hall of Highborn children. He's about seven, four years old, a bright boy. He's very active."

"Active!" Odamari said in alarm. "They would kill him!"

"Yes," Garan said. "Are you sure he's Sky?"

"Yes," Daniel said, a smile creeping across his face. "Yes, he's Sky and clearly your son. He looks like you."

"We must go see this for ourselves," Garan said, standing abruptly. "Where is the marking? Where may we trace this symbol? And then see the child. Now. I will not tolerate waiting."

Brynvold rose swiftly too, and his Champion attended to Garan, leading him from the chamber.

Daniel scrambled out of Jack's chair.

Jack grabbed Daniel's hand and, with Sam, trotted after the departing group. In the temple, Garan hurried among the tables peering intently at the scribing work.

"This, you can read this, Sky?" he asked Daniel. "It looks like bird tracks on a sandy beach."

"It does, a bit," Daniel said frankly. "Come over here," he directed the group to the wall where Sam had started assembling family charts. "Your symbol, here," he said, as he spoke to Odamari. "This is your name. Down here in this corner we see that a male child was born from your ... essence, as Jack said earlier. Sky caste symbol here. And here in this corner, because there is no mark here, the child is alive. And this is the mother. Now, here, this is the name of the child."

"And above this? Garan asked, tracing his finger up along the line from that parchment to another.

"Ancestors," Sam said. "This is how we will trace you back to your father, and his father, and so on. Here, we've located a parchment with Odamari's symbol in the spot indicating he is the son of this Sky."

"Ancestor," Brynvold said, tilting his head to study the drawings. "Who is his ancestor?"

Sam smiled at him, showing him that she was pleased at his interest. "This would be his father, and that name is ... Well, how do you pronounce this?" she asked Daniel

Daniel stepped to the wall and traced his fingers along the edge of the parchment. "Oh, my," he whispered. "It is ... Odamari, your father is Garan."

"Oh! Oh!" Garan gasped out as he sagged against the wall."

"Garan?" Odamari said, rushing to the elder. "I ... my ... my ancestor." He grabbed the man in a hard embrace.

"Ancestor," Brynvold said, his eyes shining bright with happiness. "Family."

"Oh, gods," Garan moaned as he grappled to hug the younger man, to kiss his cheek and clutch at him. "Oh, gods. He so wanted an heir, my desire. And I never knew there was a child with my blood in his veins already in the garden. Odin," he whispered reverently. "You were in the garden, so close that day. Oh. But I have you now. I have you now. My own child! If he had lived--I want him to know my child. But he knew you. Oh, I'm all mixed up!"

"The child's name?" Brynvold asked in an urgent whisper. "Child of my family."

"Arell," Daniel whispered back to him. "But you'll know him when you see his face."

Jack laid a hand on Carter's shoulder, getting her attention. He nodded his head, indicating for her to withdraw. Then he drew his lover with him and they left the three Highborn men to ponder their new knowledge.

The three went back toward the partitioned-off area where Teal'c and Sam had been sleeping. They found the jaffa there, sitting in mediation.

"We gonna bother him, you think?" Jack asked, effortlessly switching to English.

"No," Teal'c answered, then breathed slow and opened his eyes. He looked up at them from his position on the floor.

Jack sat on Teal'c's bed and made room for Daniel beside him. Sam sat in a chair by the bed.

"You sleep okay?" Jack asked his lover as he slumped against the wall. He had one foot on the edge of the bed and the other dangling off the side.

"Pretty good. I feel ... more alert. I can think clearer. I had no problem following the conversations earlier."

"The riding, exercise, some of it. Plus a decent sleep. You slept for hours. Wake up any other times than when I was there?"

"I don't think so. Just that once. Hours? Really?"

"Yeah. Maybe three, and then maybe three more. It's getting dark out. You see?" Jack said, pointing up at the stained glass windows that showed above the screens.

"Wow. Yeah, that's longer than I've slept since we docked above the great divide."

"Then you and her," he said, pausing to look at Carter, "you two try that again. Tonight, maybe."

Teal'c stretched his arms and spoke. "A representative of the Champion, Roskilde awaits nearby. A woman," he added. "She brings tidings from her brother to House Ondeil," he said to Jack and then turned to Daniel. "And a small company of women to sleep with you this night, Sky Ondeil. Two are her sisters. Two are nieces and one is an elderly aunt. I inspected them."

Jack drew a big breath of air, and left his mouth hanging open. He barked out a little laugh. "Inspected them? Excuse me?"

"I examined them and found them to be ... seemly. Young steward Lemmel instructed me in what would be proper conduct for women who may attend a hosted Sky. They are clean and well mannered. I found them to be satisfactory. He pronounced them to be seemly, and said that Champion Balin would approve." Teal'c bowed from his seated position.

"Let me get this straight. Other people are making arrangements for my wedded consort to sleep with women?"

"Hey," Sam said, flashing them all a big smile, "it's not so bad, this idea of a man and a woman in the same bed."

"Yeah, but ... well, yeah, I know. But ... Never mind," Jack said. "Suppose it wouldn't hurt. In the Champion's hall though, no women allowed unless they're Champions too. So the old auntie won't qualify. But I've seen his sister, she's a looker."

"Pervert!" Daniel said, grinning as he slapped Jack's knee. "Highborn man and a worker caste woman? You're the dog."

"Hey, she's got a build on her. She could bench-press me without breaking a sweat."

"And that's what you look for in a woman?" Daniel arched an eyebrow high.

Sam laughed and then covered her mouth.

"We gonna walk them over to the children's hall? Make sure they find the right kid?" Jack asked, pointing at House Halfdain.

"Not unless they ask," Daniel said. "I think that's something Brynvold is capable of handling all by himself. He's got things well in hand."

"And Garan. Good guy."

"I like him," Daniel said. "He has a balanced head on his shoulders."

Sam changed the subject. "I'm going to bargain for the ship tomorrow. They're still reeling in there from the crop burning today. I want to go offer them gold when they feel most desperate. They thought that crop was going to buy them a lot. So we go in now, they'll be more eager to trade."

"Fine. Fine by me," Daniel said.

He slept in the Sky hall that night, on a sleeping platform designed for forced orgies. With Jack holding his hand, Daniel laid down with two of Brynvold's sisters on either side of him. Then Jack slipped out of the room and the next thing Daniel knew, it was morning.

"Why does that work?" he asked the more vocal sister.

"I know not, Sky. But old gran said do it and thus we did for the one who be the heart of our brother's home. He slept as ye did, with the troubled brow, but did sleep."

"Okay. Thank you. I appreciate your being here. I don't want this to last long."

"Ye wish to return to House Ondeil. This be understandable. He be right nice looking, for such a short man, he be."

Daniel chuckled. "Nice looking, regardless of how short he is."

"Aye. Now as to us, we've to return home. If ye'll need a nap, as Skys take naps, then the nieces might stay to be available. Will this please ye?"

"No. I mean, it won't be necessary. If I need to take a nap, my friend, Sam will be here. Thank you for the offer."

"No thanks may be tendered. Ye be Sky even under Odin's new decree."

"Thank you," Daniel asserted, and for good measure he gave them both a squeeze on their bare hands, his skin on theirs.

"Twice blessed, we both be now. Champion Roskilde's family be more than wealthy. Thank ye, Sky."

They left and Daniel donned his veil and went in search of Jack. Lemmel was waiting on the other side of the curtain. "Hey, Lemmel, how's Jack this morning?"

"Not up yet, Highborn. Ye wish to wake him?"

"Actually I wish to crawl in bed with him. I feel great. No screaming."

"Sore, I do know! Listened all the dark hours and heard nothing more than small noises."

"You've sat out here all night?"

"Aye. Now, that woman who calls my master, Sir, her, she be awake and dressed. She says the horses must learn to go into a small space and be calm, as on a ship. Today Ulfrik spends at the stable working on this with small stalls, he does." Lemmel kept his pace short as they walked from the Sky hall to Jack in the Champion's hall.

"Now also, House Halfdain, them, they've gone to their city home, and they've with them a Sky lad since last night. What else have I learned? Ah, the woman who calls my master, Sir, she says—"

"Sam. Or if you prefer, Carter. Or like Teal'c says, Major Carter. That's the formal way of addressing her. It's like saying House Ondeil. She should be addressed as Major Carter."

"Carter of House Ondeil? I should use her name? Be this seemly?"

"Yes. What did Major Carter say?"

"That she goes within the Forbidden Garden this morn with fresh, cold milk to entice trade. A plot of turf she had set aside, on Champion Roskilde's estate. Says a ship will come sailing there, without water. This be what our Asny calls, spaceship."

"Ah. Hey, if Jack's not awake yet, hold off on breakfast, okay?"

"Aye, Highborn. Holding it off, I'll be doing."

Daniel grinned up at his friend. "You really slept out there all night? Balin's not going to appreciate that, having his bed all to himself. I think he prefers you in it."

"I know he does, little brother," Lemmel said very quietly. "Prefers me there to be a sheath for his mighty sword. And so I shall have many opportunities to be for him as I wish, but last night I was where I wanted to be."

"Yeah?" Daniel said. "That makes one of us. Seriously, Lemmel, you don't need to be deprived of your lover just because I am."

"Brother," Lemmel whispered, a satisfied smile on his face, "I did as I wished. Ye should know this little truth. I did it not as duty, but from love. Between ye and me, duty comes after the love, one brother for another. This, ye have shown me many times. I show ye the same. Say it. Leave it. As Highborn do, so do I. Know ye the why of it?"

"Why?" asked Daniel

"Because thus ye would do for me. I have come to know this and now be the time to say it. Brothers do for each other, not out of duty, but out of love."

"Ah," Daniel said, thinking hard about the big steward's reply.

As they reached the partitioned off area where Jack and Daniel had been sleeping, Daniel held his finger to his lips and then slipped in through the curtain, leaving Lemmel without to go rest in his own bed. Jack was sprawled on the bed inside, bonelessly, his limbs wide.

Daniel slipped his veil off and draped it across the foot of the large bed. Then he crawled in, snuggling under his lover's right arm. He laid his head on Jack's shoulder and curled against his side, draping his right leg over Jack's. He listened to Jack's heartbeat.

In the low desert he'd done the same thing, laid in dark, lonely rooms listening to Jack's heart. He'd sacrificed himself for that heart, and he'd succeeded.

With his eyes still closed, Jack curled his fingers around Daniel's shoulder and rolled into him, bringing his right leg up between Daniel's legs. He brought his left arm over and wrapped it over his lover, enfolding him.

"Mission success," Jack whispered against his lover's unveiled hair. "That's what Carter told me last night after you went to sleep."

"I was just thinking the same thing," Daniel whispered, his lips brushing against Jack's throat. "Had a mission, to keep your heart beating, and I succeeded."

"And I did too. Stumbled a few times, but my primary mission is always the same. Keep Daniel Jackson alive."

"I didn't make it easy for you."

"Me too," Jack said. "Didn't tell you how ill I still was in Brooksmeet. Kept pushing things. Getting up too fast. Almost killed myself pretending I wasn't as ill as I was."

"Me running around doing what I shouldn't."

"Enough of this? We through beating ourselves up over it?" Jack asked, his voice soft as he began to run his fingers through Daniel's hair. "God, remember a lifetime ago when I thought I'd lost you aboard Klorell's ship? Found you again in the gateroom. I couldn't keep my hands off you, off your hair. Right there with the entire damned base watching. I couldn't keep my hands off your hair."

"I remember," Daniel said, and then he chuckled. "I remember very well. So does half the base. And we're never saying space-monkey again, remember?"

"Ah. You know about the rumors."

"Half the base thinks you're sleeping with Sam. It's me the other half thinks your sleeping with."

"Yeah." Jack ran his hand down the long strands. He pushed his fingers through the lush hair and combed down to the middle of Daniel's back. It felt soft. "Feels so good."

"I'll have to cut it when we go back to Earth."

"Yeah. So I better get my fill of it now, right?"

"Yes." Daniel kissed Jack's neck. "I'm going to go without the veil today. There are only five guardians left in the city."

"Okay," Jack said, his voice neutral. "Around in here, then the temple and ... a little at a time. That's the way to do it."

"Sorry I freaked out last night, about the name thing. I just got a little overwhelmed."

"Baby, you did good. Did good. Small steps. But ... Carter, she says I need to make sure the steps you and I take are forward."

"Have been," Daniel insisted.

"Maybe not all. Wife thing. It was for my comfort, I know that, a way for me to relate. But it was stupid of me to give into that need. Hurt the ground you've worked so hard to gain. Stupid of me."

"Not intentional," Daniel insisted further.

"Yeah. So I need to wrap my mind around the idea of you being a ... just a husband first. Mine second. Thinking of you as a husband, I mean, I know how dedicated you can be. Devoted and ... I mean, committed. You're committed and that commitment is toward me. Which, by the way, doesn't scare me, in case you're wondering. Commitment doesn't scare me. Mine or someone else's."

"Good to know," Daniel said, smiling as he snuggled closer. "Knew it already, but, good to know. So now, I'm a husband and you're one too. That makes us more equal in your eyes."

"Does it in yours?"

"I didn't really have a problem before, but Sam's probably right."

"I know she is. I would have slugged anyone else who called you my wife."

"It's not a derogatory term."

"Is. Cultural thing. No use pretending I didn't grow up in the fifties and sixties."

"Ah. You're right. My experience was vastly different. My mother was my father's partner, not his field assistant. She had as important a role in their work as he did. And both parented me equally. I don't think of wife the way you do, but I'm not oblivious."

"And that's what Carter pointed out to me. So we got that straight."

"But you'll always be my team leader, Jack. I don't need that to change. Even if it ever does, you'll be the one on point in our personal lives, whether we're going on missions together or not. At home, you'll be point man."

"And you watching my six." Jack kissed Daniel's forehead.

"Exit only, right? That hasn't changed."

Jack chuckled and gave Daniel a light punch in his stomach. "Hasn't. Though the tongue thing? I think I wanna repeat that."

"With Balin or with me?"

"Oh ... " Jack said, sounding very casual, "either, or both at the same time."

"God," Daniel swore, and then broke into peals of laughter as his lover tickled him.

Chapter 46 Metamorphosis

The City of the Highborn was changing.

Sam settled the Tel'tac gently into the small clearing within Roskilde's fenced property. The ship had sailed out of the garden effortlessly after she and the female sentries had cleared it of the ornate, but rotting cloths that had been continually heaped over it in the past centuries. It gleamed in the sunlight. As the engines shut down, she peered out through the view panel and saw Teal'c and Balin waiting for her, so she stepped out and greeted the men with a satisfied smile.

They'd have some cleaning to do inside the vessel before it was ready to take a trip beyond the city walls. Nirrti's medical equipment would be removed and room would be made inside for House Ondeil, animals and all. Sam shook her head as she met the two men. Daniel refused to go without the horses and they were going to indulge him. In the past two weeks everyone worked hard to indulge Sam's best friend.

He was changing too, coming out of his shell, she knew. Since House Halfdain had arrived, Daniel'd slowly quit hiding under the veil. He was wearing clothing more like hers and the colonel's for several hours of the day now. The veil was becoming more an ornament and less a piece of camouflage for him. Daniel was healing, becoming his strong self again. Yet, she was still determined to indulge him on many things. They were going to fly four huge horses half way around this world.

Over the next fourteen days, Champion Roskilde's people performed the installation of stalls for the animals. Sam spent her time working on the rest of the ship. It was in remarkably good condition. Daniel visited frequently, checking the cargo hold changes and spending time with Sky Roskilde. Teal'c worked with Sam on many of the days, but when she didn't need him, he was always with the Champions.

Sam had been delighted when a Sky child moved to Roskilde's home a week after the Champion married his Sky. House Ondeil, with his wedded consort at his side had held a celebration for both events, having the festivities in the street outside the temple. Roskilde was in a state of bliss every time Sam saw the big man.

House Halfdain would be departing before House Ondeil was ready to fly south, taking with them the strangest thing to leave the city yet, a forbidden woman, the mother of Halfdain's next generation. That had been a difficult and long negotiation for Daniel, but he'd accomplished something no one ever thought possible. The first woman to leave the garden would be doing so only weeks after it had opened, not years. She had agreed to the possibility of more Halfdain children, siblings for the first son of Brynvold and Odamari. Brynvold would father future children, and she had readily agreed to Garan's tight supervision of her time with Arell and any future children.

And another message had been sent back through the gate. SG-1 had agreed, no mention would be made of the ship's existence. Jack had voiced his doubts about the soundness of his decision, and then stuck to it. Teal'c and Sam both shared his doubts, and also his conviction that it was the correct thing to do, even though they were breaking very basic regulations.

The team was resolute that no mention in any report would be made of what their archaeologist had to go through in order to survive, and they were united on these decisions, these things they'd chosen to withhold from stargate command. Sam came to feel comfortable with the decision. Teal'c said he did too and she didn't doubt him.

With a confident smile, Sam resumed her work on the ship that belonged to House Ondeil.

In the center of the city, Lemmel trotted ahead down the cobblestone street, glancing frequently over his shoulder at his little brother jogging a few steps behind him. They were two blocks from the temple now. Daniel stopped to lace his left boot tighter and Lemmel came back to him. "Still, we go?" he asked.

"Yes, Lemmel. Don't worry so much." Daniel pushed his winter veil up off his forehead, the tied ends hanging toward his right shoulder. He had on solid pants and a light, laced shirt today. Over that, he wore his white cloak to cut the morning chill.

"But my master be out with the city elders, Sky. He knows not—"

"We'll be at the Champion's practice field and back again before—"

"Steward!" Balin shouted angrily as he came striding out through the gap in the single-rail fence. It surrounded and marked off the area where Champions gathered to perform weapon routines in unison and to have light, mounted skirmishes.

"Aye, Balin," Lemmel answered, his voice tight with ire, more resigned than Balin's anger.

"Ye bring the Sky here with no escort? And ye bring him here, here of all places—"

"Balin," Daniel interrupted the big Champion, though he didn't rise from tying his boot lacing. "I think you and I are past that. The streets are safe. I'm safe. I'm also not going to interfere if you try to beat Lemmel. He'll interfere on his own behalf from now on. Any way he wants," he added for emphasis.

"Ah," Lemmel said, breathing the word out as an erotic groan. "Any way I so wish." Then he glared at the Champion and continued in a serious tone of voice, "And I take my brother for a stroll through my master's city, as he be ever most safe as ye well know, Balin, my love."

The angry Champion put his fists on his hips and glared at the steward. "My love? Not Champion, master swordsman as it would have been back in ye master's Meadows when ye wanted forgiveness for some transgression?"

"Nay," Lemmel said boldly. "My brother shows me a new way, and for all its newness, I like it and shall follow it. So shall ye, my mate. In due time."

"I'll give ye—"

"And, mighty Champion, master swordsman whom I do so love above all others, my brother and I go past ye into the practice field." Lemmel helped Daniel to his feet and they walked by the fuming Champion.

Balin spat a curse out, and then followed them.

Inside the fence, Daniel paused and surveyed the huge field. This wasn't his first visit here, but it would be the first time he'd walked out on the field. About a hundred yards long, it was lushly carpeted in worn grass of a very hearty strain. Dirt ruts were worn around the outside where men obviously ran frequent laps. Weapons stands were to his right. Tables bearing pitchers and buckets of water along with fruit were to the left of the entry. At the southern end of the field Daniel saw pairs of bare-chested Champions hacking away at each other with glistening great-swords. The constant clangs, and occasional sparks held his attention for a moment.

"There, brother," Lemmel said softly as he pointed to the north end of the field.

Daniel turned and looked where Lemmel pointed. A group of approximately a hundred Champions were moving in unison. Each held a polished bo, moving the weapon in sweeping arcs and then in rapid figure eights as they advanced forward, step by step. In the middle of the group he saw Teal'c.

The weapons rack to his right held other bos. Daniel handed Lemmel his cloak, pushed his veil back to hang around his neck, and bareheaded, picked the shortest bo from the group. Then he strode out across the field. Behind him he heard Balin's objection and Lemmel telling the big Champion to hush. Pale sunlight filtered through clouds to shine on his hair.

Determinedly, Daniel took long strides across the grassy expanse. He circled around behind the group of a hundred men and found his way between the second and third row of them. As he approached each bo-wielding Champion they froze. The line at his end was behind a step in the routine, so Daniel quickened his pace. He slid in between the man at Teal'c's left and the jaffa who was moving smoothly. Daniel took a step forward, bringing his bo level across his chest, matching Teal'c. The Champion whose place he'd taken slipped out of formation and moved to the end of the line. Those Daniel had passed resumed their routine.

Teal'c brought one end of his weapon down by his right foot, his left arm bent across his chest. Then he stepped wide to his left, dragging the pole along the ground. Daniel moved in sync with the jaffa. Together, they and all the men around them brought that dragged tip up fast, sweeping it forward and then lunged down to the ground, sending the tip forward three feet with deadly force.

Then they rose to the balls of their feet and pivoted left, bringing the bo in a half circle before repeating the maneuver in the new direction.

On and on the group of a hundred, plus one, moved through the intricate and strenuous routine. Five rotations later, the routine sped up. Daniel twirled more gracefully than the Champions around him, but not as smoothly as Teal'c who beat them all for grace and speed. Another maneuver was executed perfectly, and then Teal'c began to chant out numbers. He was counting down.

"Five," he called, and moved through the conclusive stage. "Four," he called to them, signaling the coming together of breath. "Three," he called out into the chilled air, setting the pace for each man to bring his thoughts to the here and now. "Two," he called out, signaling a marshalling of inner peace. "One," he concluded, and brought the tip of his bo down to tap on the ground by his right foot. He bowed. Those around him bowed. He took a cleansing breath and then turned to his left.

Daniel's head was still bowed and he took deep breaths. It had been a long time since he'd worked through a bashaak session.

"Cha-tii," Teal'c said, and bowed his head.

"Teal'c," Daniel answered the gentle endearment of a master for his young trainee. He rolled his shoulders, working the slight tension from his body. The jog here had been a great way to warm up for the routine with the bo. He felt marvelous. The Champions began to walk away, most moving toward the weapons stands and the water near the eastern entrance to the field.

"It is good to see you here," Teal'c said softly.

"You too, Teal'c." Daniel blinked before raising his head and looking up at the jaffa. He had to shake his unbound hair out of his eyes. "You too." He saw a hopeful smile on the man's face and suddenly Daniel felt a sharp pang of memory. He'd returned from ascension. He was alone. Jack had given him the framed sketch of Sha'uri he'd kept and, at the time, Daniel hadn't understood the importance of the picture, or of Jack having kept it safe.

And then he'd remembered her. He'd gone through the base that night in search of someone to tell. He'd found this big man at his side, showed him the drawing and seen this same look, this same stab of pain across the black man's face.

Daniel reached up and brushed his palm across Teal'c's cheek, trying to wipe the brackets of pain away from around those full lips.

Teal'c closed his eyes and held perfectly still. They were alone in the northern end of the field now.

Daniel stepped closer, rubbing harder. He moved his fingers across Teal'c's dark lips. "I'm sorry—"

Teal'c turned and breathed warm air against his palm. Then he brought his hand up to cover Daniel's on his cheek. "I am sorry. When I first took one you loved, took her through the gate and from your side forever, I have never regretted an act more. I have atoned for it, in a small way. I walked away from my home and came to be with O'Neill because I thought he could redeem me. I thought he was the best hope, and I chose that path because of you."

"Me?" Daniel asked, shaking his head in denial of what he was hearing.

"You. In the palace of the gods they came to choose the hosts for their children and you threw yourself in their path, not to attain a hollow grab at glory or power, but out of love, out of devotion. I had never seen such. In my hundred years of life I had never seen such. And I knew O'Neill must be a formidable man to have one such as you in his command."

"Me?" Daniel repeated. "I thought you turned against Apophis because of Jack—"

"You," Teal'c said. "Remember what you do not wish, or take my word for it. The moment is clear in my mind, as it is clear in O'Neill's mind. He knows what swayed me, what saved all of your lives that day, and ultimately what saved Earth."

"I don't really remember."

"You would not wish to. It was a ... traumatic moment. I remember. Believe what I tell you. I took her through the gate from you and when I arrived here, you thought I would take O'Neill from you. That is what you reacted to. And you kissed me. I was not offended—"

"I tried to use sex to control you."

"If you wish to control me, Daniel Jackson, you need but speak. There is something unsaid between us and now, here, now is the time for it to be spoken. I am more indebted to you than any jaffa has been indebted to another being. I have taken from you and yet you have returned this action by making even more of a sacrifice for me. When first we encountered beings relocated by Thor's ancient people you freed me from within Thor's hammer. You did so, giving away the opportunity to save her from being hosted. I can never repay—"

"Don't need to," Daniel interrupted him. That same, sharp look of pain flashed across Teal'c's face and Daniel blinked. "You don't need to," Daniel asserted.

"I have also sworn I will not have sex with you. I tried to swear that I would rebuff your tenderness and this I could not do. I have failed you and yet, you stroke my cheek in the most tender of ways."

"I'm sorry—"

"Please," Teal'c groaned out the word. Then he pulled back and dropped to his knees at Daniel's feet. "You touch me to ease my own pain. Do you think I do not know this?"

Daniel dropped his bo on the ground and knelt too. He put his hands on Teal'c's shoulders. His fingers, splayed wide, did not even begin to curl over the back of the big man's body. "You ... Yes. I saw this look before. I ... I remember that too. You felt guilty for something you'd done. I forgave you for that. We put it behind us. I guess, I want you to forgive me for kissing you in the temple."

"Ah!" Teal'c cried out. "How can I? Such sweetness!" he exclaimed in anguish. "To forgive means I must take the moment from my heart and I do not wish to. I wish to cherish that moment. The reason behind it was orak. You thought I would take O'Neill from you as I had taken Sha'uri. I understand this well. I understand that you would sacrifice yourself for the one you love. I wish you to command me. My shame for asking. My shame, deep as any Champion might feel for defiling a Sky. This is how I feel."

"I don't understand," Daniel said, shaking his head.

"You do. I love you as young Lemmel does, and yet, unlike he, I am unworthy of such love. To have taken the kiss from you was truly an act of shol'va. I betray your trust by stealing physical love and keeping it for myself."

"A kiss?" Daniel asked, bewildered.

"Indeed. You are on shim'roa with O'Neill."

"Shim'roa? Honeymoon," Daniel said softly. "Yes. Are you ... all right with what Jack and I have done?"

"Had I known back on Earth that you were his sim'ka, that one day you would marry, I would have then made my request for forgiveness formally so that on your wedding day I could have attended with honor."

"Attended," Daniel said with a smile. "You'd want to have attended?"

"Indeed!" Teal'c said forcefully.

"I guess that means you're okay with it." Daniel stared down for a moment and then laughed. "I guess this means you approve."

"Approve is an inadequate word to express my emotional state concerning your joining with O'Neill."

"Then, that kiss, I guess we should not worry about it?" Daniel asked, looking up at the dark-skinned jaffa.

"Worry? I think ... you wish me to feel no guilt. I will endeavor to conquer my feelings of guilt and retain only the feeling of friendship, brotherhood such as young Lemmel has for you."

"Brotherhood," Daniel said thoughtfully. "You and Jack have the brotherhood of warriors between you. Maybe you and I can have more of that too. You've been training me since that first day I arranged for you to use the base gym. Remember that?"

"You freed me from my confinement and arranged for me to exercise. I was most grateful."

"And you've returned that, Teal'c. You've taught me a lot. Worked out with me. Helped me develop my body and learn to fight. You've given me the ability to defend myself so that I can survive out here in the galaxy."

"Along with the self-defense lessons O'Neill has given you and the fire arms training from Major Carter."

Daniel sank back on his heels and stared out across the field. Lemmel and Balin waited a few yards away. He hadn't noticed them follow him across the field. "I've come a long way since the first time you and I met on Chulak." He saw that Balin had a hand on Lemmel's shoulder. Lemmel turned to his lover and smiled. Their attention was focused on each other. They'd both come to accept that he was as safe with Teal'c as he was with them.

"A long way since that day. As have I," Teal'c said.

'I kissed you. The reason is irrelevant. I was mixed up by the drug and I didn't harm you."

"You did not harm me. The reason ... I have had your forgiveness for what I did in the past."

"Say it. Leave it," Daniel said absently as he scanned the green and blue horizon. "A Highborn saying. Means we put the past behind us and move on."

"Indeed? I see the wisdom in such a saying."

"Brothers, then," Daniel said, studying distant trees swaying in a slight breeze.

"Brothers," Teal'c whispered softly, lovingly.

Startled, Daniel looked at the man. "That sounded ... good." He smiled.

Teal'c smiled at him and Daniel reached up and brushed a thumb along the man's cheek. "I'm glad to see that frown gone."

Chapter 47 To Everything, Turn, Turn, Turn

Six weeks after he'd opened Nortvegr's gate, almost two years after they'd crashed here, Daniel draped his winter veil over his head, keeping it back off his forehead like a scarf. He wrapped one end around his neck and let it hang down his back. Then, at Jack's side, he stepped out of the temple. The sunlight hit his naked eyes and he turned his face up to the sky, reveling in the warmth. The air had grown chilly since they'd come to the city. Winter was coming. It was time to go south, back to Brooksmeet to deliver Ulfrik to his wife. Lemmel and Balin too. They'd have a baby down there by now.

The group had left the meadows a little over eight months ago and like Jarngerd, Tal had been sure she was pregnant when they left.

Today, Daniel wore real pants and felt calm. He wore a long-sleeved shirt with lacings at the neck, and boots on his feet. Standing in front of the temple, he knew a throng of worshipful, intense eyes were on him, and he felt no fear. The naquadah circle he'd worn so long was stored in his tuc with his journal and notes from their travels on this planet, already packed away on the ship. The only jewelry he wore was the wedding ring Jack had given him. It felt right.

"Think the littlest steward'll be glad to see us?"

"Ha!" Daniel barked out a laugh and then squeezed Jack's arm. "She'll break you into pieces hugging you."

Jack stopped on the second step and took Daniel's face between his hands. "I could get used to this. Going on a vacation to see family. Having a place we're connected to. I could get used ... " Jack pressed his lips into a firm line and stared harder at Daniel. "Not going to give this up. We'll go back to work, but I'm not going to give this up."

"After the changes on the planet spread a bit, we'll be back," Daniel said just as firmly. "Next time we have vacation saved up, come back here, leave the ship with Roskilde so we can get down to the Meadows quickly. It'll be fine with Roskilde, like you said it would."

"Against regs," Jack said. "But then, those same regs make my love for you illegal. So, our home here? That's compensation for the regs."

Daniel nodded and Jack kissed him, there on the steps of the temple that was now full of free men and women, and new artwork depicting a blue-eyed man with sun-bleached hair.

The ship was in flight. Freyfaxi snorted and rolled his eyes. Daniel fed him some oats and patted his sweaty neck. The huge stallion was unhappy in the ship, but tolerated it to be near Daniel who, along with Jack had shut themselves into the cargo hold to block out any sight of the flashing and blinking lights in the piloting area.

Frey hung his head over the top railing of his stall and nudged the human's palm for more of the sweet oats. Finding nothing there, the stallion pushed his velvet nose past the hand and snuffled at Daniel's stomach. His head dipped lower.

Jack leaned against the bulkhead and let out a low, obscene chuckle. "That stud is my number one competition, you know."

Daniel glanced over his shoulder, his mouth gaping open at his lover. Then he quickly scanned the cargo hold of the small craft. The three mares were quiet in their stalls. No other people were in the chamber, and the bulkhead door was indeed closed, but Daniel still gave Jack a dirty glare.

"What? Don't tell me you don't know he'd eat you right up if he could."

"Oats, Jack. That's all he's looking for."

"Oats, my ass. Or rather, your ass. Which," Jack said casually as he pushed himself away from the wall, "as I recall had a damned fine time on his back. Remember?" he sidled up against Daniel as Freyfaxi rubbed his forehead against Daniel's lower stomach, his great nostrils gusting in the man's groin. "Remember your naked cock, so hard," Jack whispered, "hard and leaking as I fucked you on him? Rubbed your cock up and down his sleek coat? My cock in you, Daniel. You were so hot, so tight around me and I was riding you into him?"

"Jack," Daniel said, his voice no more than a weak protest.

Jack pulled his lover's ass back onto his hard cock, grinding himself there. Freyfaxi snorted loudly and followed Daniel's retreat, burying his nose in the man's crotch again. Jack bit at Daniel's right ear. "Remember that? We'll do it again in the meadows. Ride out to that waterfall. I'm going to fuck you all the way out there, then fuck you naked in the water. Fuck you all the way back too."

"Oh God," Daniel groaned, laying his head back on Jack's shoulder.

Jack ran his hands around to Daniel's groin and slipped both of them into the low waistband. He groped his fingers down, and found his lover's hot erection. Thankfully, he no longer wore the loop underwear. Jack worked the hard, aching tool. As he shifted Daniel's cock up along his stomach, the sensitive head came out of his pants. Jack felt the stallion's hot breath on the back of his hand and he covered Daniel's cock protectively.

"Not an apple, you old nag."

"Frey—" Daniel tried to protest, but got nothing else out. He hugged the animal's head to keep himself upright.

"Yeah, baby. Oh, you're leaking like a faucet. Whoa, hay-burner. He's licking your ... Get off, horsey. This juice is all for me to slick my baby's cock up so I can jerk him—damn it."

"Shit!" Daniel yelped. Frey's wet tongue made its way more forcefully between Jack's fingers.

The stallion pushed forward hard and Jack was lifted off his feet for a moment. Then he regained his footing and tried to back up a step. With his arms locked around Daniel, and Daniel's arms locked around the stud's head, Jack got nowhere, but his grip on his lover's hard cock shifted up and down fast. Frey's dexterous tongue found its goal again and again.

"Oh, shit!" Daniel shouted again as he came.

Freyfaxi's wet tongue and nubile lips lapped at and sucked up everything Daniel had to offer.

They had Daniel's clothes straightened before Teal'c came in to investigate the shouts. The dark jaffa stared at them several moments, the two men standing several feet from each other and staring hard in opposite directions, before commenting on their flushed appearances. When he got nothing but guilty stares for an answer, he shook his head and left the chamber, closing the bulkhead door behind him.

"Think he knew?" Jack asked, sounding very worried.

"Not in a million years!" Daniel barked in angry embarrassment. "How the hell would he ever even ... I mean to guess ... That? Not in a million ... Never!"

"Yeah," Jack said, still staring at the closed door. "We're still gonna go for that ride, though. Don't think this gets you out of it."

Daniel snorted and turned his back on Jack, crossing his arms firmly. Within seconds Jack was wrapping him in a tight hug, kissing him almost to the point of unconsciousness. Later, when they'd both started laughing so loudly the horses were upset by it, Lemmel peeked in.

Seeing the two on a pile of hay on the floor, tightly wrapped in each other's arms, the young steward beamed a smile at them. He withdrew as smartly as he'd seen the black Champion do earlier.

Carter landed the ship over a rise from the meadows cot. They'd rightly decided that landing it by the cot would scare the inhabitants unduly. As the ship settled to the ground, frightened sheep ran, bleating in terror from the foreign object, but didn't wander far before returning to their grazing. Sheep have a short attention span.

Freyfaxi had a long attention span and a long memory. He smelled the inrush of fresh air and trumpeted his disapproval at being kept in the stale barn. He pawed the deck and Daniel rushed to lead him outside. There, he slipped the animal's halter off and let him tear out across the dry field.

Freyfaxi knew this field. He owned this field. He owned this field and the next and the next after that. He owned everything in the fields too.

Standing by the ship, Daniel scanned the familiar horizon. Winter, such a short season this close to the divide, had finished her cold work here while they were gone. Spring was returning to the meadow. He watched as the mares joined their stallion and raced after him up and over the familiar rise toward the barn where they expected to find oats and dry hay.

Daniel pulled his cloak around him more and then turned back to watch Jack come out of the ship. He smiled and held his hand out to his lover. They were home.

Ulfrik ran ahead of them, his legs pumping mightily as he whooped in happiness. Balin strode at a more sedate pace, but when Lemmel passed him running, the big Champion grabbed his helmet and raced the younger man up the rise.

Daniel laughed and Jack joined him. Sam and Teal'c trailed the newlyweds.

"They'll need to saddle up and ride to Brooksmeet," Jack said. "Tal will have had the baby by now."

"I wonder if it's a girl or a boy."

"I wonder how fast Balin'll make it a brother or sister."

"Ha! Yeah," Daniel said.

"Sir, I'd like to see the village." Sam took a few long strides to get level with her commanding officer. She was wearing a light cloak similar to Daniel's, and neither wore a veil now.

"Not yet, Carter. I was thinking you'd want to spend some time flying a few aerial surveys. Keep you up there away from anybody who hasn't heard the news yet."

"Sam, it's not safe," Daniel said. "I mean, you ... Well, let this society get back on its feet before knocking it around any more, okay?"

"Yeah," she said, giving him a warm smile. "I was thinking I'd like to circle the globe in the Tel'tac. Check out any other continents. The planet's rotational—"

"Agh! No," Jack protested. "A break. No more science today. Food, our own bed, a hot soak. That. Nothing more today."

"Yes, sir."

"I wish to see this village also," Teal'c said. "Champion Balin has mentioned an upcoming tournament which will take place to the east, here in the southern half of this continent. If we are here when it commences, I shall participate."

"Christ," Jack said. "That, I'd like to see."

Jarngerd was still sobbing loudly when Jack entered the cot. She was on the floor, her arms wrapped around her husband's ankles.

"This she so does much of," Lemmel explained casually to Sam and Teal'c. "My Balin says it be a woman thing."

Sam stared down at the back of the worker caste woman's head and then watched the steward nonchalantly stroll off to the back of the rambling home. "Huge house," she said absently.

"Huge people," Jack said. "Balin, you heading into the village soon?"

"Aye. Soon as I may speak with this woman, her carrying on so. Not even allowed her husband to see his new babe in yon cradle." He pointed at a rocking cradle by the fireplace.

His words must have penetrated her blitz. Jarngerd jumped to her feet and rushed to the cradle, bringing back a baby swaddled in a blanket. "A girl child," she whispered with pride, but with her face bowed demurely.

"Ach!" Ulfrik choked out as he held his child for the first time. "Ach," he repeated, his eyes bright with tears now.

Jack smiled and patted Balin. "Take off, big guy. I know you wanna be doing the same thing."

"I do," Balin said solemnly.

"Then get ye to the kitchens, Champion," Jarngerd said, her head still bowed. "Ye wife be there even now. Our Tal been here since my babe was born so as we could keep company. Not safe," she added frightfully, pulling the blanket back to reveal her child's face. "Not safe for her to be in Brooksmeet when her time did come also, we feared."

Ulfrik peered down at his infant. The child blinked at him and the weaver gasped.
"Odin," he whispered in awe. "Odin's gaze has indeed returned to us."

"Aye," Jarngerd said reverently.

Balin hesitated only a moment, and then ran back past the fireplace toward the kitchen, toward Tal and Lemmel.

"What?" Jack asked, taking Daniel's hand and approaching the baby.

Ulfrik held the child up to them. The baby blinked again, revealing blue, shimmering eyes like her father.

"Whoa," Jack said. "Not something I expected."

"Twice blessed child," Jarngerd explained, still keeping her head bowed. She sounded very doubtful. "Be this the reason, Highborn Jack?"

"Uh. I dunno. No. I mean, it's because Daniel's the Nyrnortvegr. I mean, from Midgard. That's probably it."

"Sir, if this is some kind of genetic—"

"Carter," Jack snapped. "Leave it. Odin's gaze has returned to the people. Leave it at that."

Daniel cleared his throat and touched the child's waving hand. "Tal's child too?" he asked in a whisper.

"Aye, Sky," Jarngerd said to the unveiled man. "A lad. My Ulfrik and I, we've been blessed with a girl child. Blue eyes." She'd kept her head down until that moment. "Master, truly it be a fine thing?" she asked, and finally turned her face up to them.

Jack stared at the woman. His mouth gaped open.

"Was come to pass, Odin's smile in my own eyes the moment the babe was born. Tal's fair eyes too, master. Her and me now with the blue as a woman was never meant to have."

"Well, it's ... it's ... like I said," Jack fumbled for words, "it's ... Odin's gaze has returned and that's all there is to it." He shut his mouth and turned his attention back to the baby Daniel was touching.

"Aye," Jarngerd said. "Ye brought back another Sky, master?" she asked, glancing nervously at Sam, obviously ignoring her feminine shape.

"No. This is a woman. Carter's a woman from Midgard, not from the Forbidden Garden. Though, those women have started coming out of there too. A couple are living out of the garden already. More will come out later. Eventually lots of them will. One's moved to Fairwood with her son and his new fathers.

"This eye thing," Jack said again, "in your baby and you and ... you said Tal has it too? This is just another sign that Odin has returned his gaze to his people. That's all. Like Ulfrik's eyes, not fading and all. Got it? Nothing wrong here."

Jack gave her a confident nod with his lie. Furling. Damn. Had Daniel passed it on to these kids, somehow and they'd passed it on to the mothers? That Furling thing? Jack had managed to put all that shit out of his mind for weeks. And now here was another anomaly. He deliberately didn't meet Daniel's gaze, didn't let the man see anything that would rouse his suspicions again. Carter'd leave it alone if he made it an order. He'd do that, but after Daniel left the room.

"Woman from Midgard. And with blue eyes. May I see her, master? Be she of ye household too?"

"Yeah. See her, hear her and all that. And use her name, like my desire. We use his name again, Jarngerd. Remember how it was before I learned better? We're going back to that."

"Ye be ill again, master?"

"No," Jack said, not managing to stifle a laugh. "I mean Daniel has a name and we're going to show him the respect we would any man. We'll use his name, because of the change, Nirrti being out and Odin back in."

"As the messenger said. Him, he come across the great divide on a hard ride. Gave a letter to the council, he did, and our Tal come out here to ye Meadows Cot with letters and to be here with us. Our Asny be ever at the inn even now, though. Wish her to be sent for, master?"

"No. Wait a day or so. Let the boys settle in before we have the kiddo under foot again."

"Aye. Just as ye say, master." She turned to watch her husband who was enraptured with the blue-eyed baby girl. "And all will accept our babes?"

"I'll see to it," Jack said. "I'll meet with the council of elders, let them know that your kids got a double blessing from Odin, and nothing needs their attention. They'll be fine, Jarngerd."

The sun was setting and Daniel strolled out onto the covered porch. Jack's old reclining chair was out here. He ran his finger tips along the back of it as he walked by. Then he leaned against the rail on the southern end of the porch and stared out at the rolling meadowland. The grass was only green in patches yet. Winter didn't last a full year in this region. Spring would change that rapidly in the days ahead, but the seasonal change meant he and Jack had spent almost two years of their lives on this planet.

As a small flock of sheep moved across the meadow eastward, Freyfaxi snorted at them, scattering the animals. He pawed the ground and trotted toward his open barn where his mares and his oats waited for him.

A creak of a board on the porch behind Daniel drew his attention. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Jack said, sliding up from behind to wrap his arms around Daniel's waist. "Gonna miss it. Not gonna miss you, though. Even if I'm not kissing and hugging you all the time on base, not gonna miss you one bit. Won't be separated from you."

"We'll make it work. I was thinking, my house up for sale, the first thing. Then I'll rent a small apartment with security parking so my car won't be missed on the street. You'll have to give over half your garage to me. Can't leave my car sitting outside your place every night."

"Sounds good. Half my closet too."

"All the domestic things," Daniel said with a wide smile. "That's a first for me. Never been in a house with anyone before. Married."

"Yeah," Jack said, seeing for a moment the specter of Sha'uri and her exotic homeland. Did Daniel see a shadow of Sara O'Neill in Jack's past? "You and me, we'll make all this new for each other. Learn as we go."

"Right." Daniel covered Jack's hands with his own and nestled his head back against his lover's. "Sam will be all right with this. We've spoken."

"Yeah. Me too. I mean she and me, we did too."

"Beautiful, this land, these people."

"Yeah. Is," Jack said as he nuzzled Daniel's ear.

They watched the sun descend to the horizon. The big, yellow ball sank down, touching off fiery rays in the sand that hovered in the air this time of year. They'd started their time on this planet in an unending sea of blowing, cold sand. They were ending it seeing that sand paint the sky in brilliant, warm colors. Gone was the simple, blue haze. In its place was a brilliant display of aerial hues that delighted the eye.

Jack kissed Daniel's ear again. "Love you, Daniel."

"I'm never going to hear you say my name quite the same way. It always meant something to me before. Did you know that? The way you'd say my name. Everyone else around you is, sergeant, general, captain, all titles. Me, it's my name spoken so intimately. Like you're stroking me when you say it."

"Stroking," Jack said with a sexual leer in his voice.

Daniel chuckled and rubbed his temple against Jack's. "Stroking. Love you."

"Same," Jack said.

"Oh, God. Not your one-word sentences again? Hey, I hear two babies crying inside."

"Yep."

"Stop it. Balin hasn't put that boy down yet, has he? Lemmel'll have to use a bo to pry his hands away to get equal time."

"Lemmel, my sweet, is in the kitchen with Tal making some fantastic, non-salty lamb." Jack turned and kissed his lover's ear briefly.

"Lemmel and Tal. Think he'll have to help Balin make that little sister or brother?"

"Eh. No. Balin'll get it done all by his lonesome." Jack tightened his hold on Daniel.

"Think their next child will have blue eyes too?" Daniel asked.

Jack grimaced and stared at the sunset. He wanted to change the subject, but he knew Daniel would pursue it if he suspected Jack was avoiding it. "Dunno."

"That actually qualifies as four words. I do not know. You're breaking your pattern, Jack."

"Really?"

"Stop it," Daniel said, his voice light with amusement. "I feel good about how we're leaving this place. They'll be all right here. In the past we've left a few places in a mess. I'm glad we didn't do that to these people. Removed Nirrti's horrible laws, and didn't destroy the place in the process."

"Right. I mean yes, I do understand. I'm glad things are stabilizing. Like you said, with the Chinese foot-binding thing, it'll take time. But things are heading in the right direction."

"And we'll be back, maybe next holiday break?"

"Sneak away," Jack said. "We can take down-time together. Nobody'll bat an eye at that. Gate off-world and then here."

"Sounds good," Daniel said.

The sun disappeared behind the land and dozens of yellow bands appeared in the dark blue sky, stretching from where the sun set, up to the purple zenith high overhead.

"Odin's eyelashes," Jack whispered. He smiled.

Carter came out on the porch and leaned against the rail by Daniel. Jack nodded at her, keeping his arms firmly around his lover. She smiled at him, touched Daniel's arm and then watched the fading sunset.

Teal'c joined them a moment before the last ray disappeared. "This is a peaceful place, O'Neill. I shall visit again, if you permit."

"Yeah, T. Every chance. You, us. Carter, you too. If you want."

"Yes, sir. And if I don't get the aerial surveys finished on this trip, there'll be future opportunities."

"Yeah," Jack said. He felt Daniel start tracing his fingertips across the back of his right hand where it rested against Daniel's stomach. "Our future," Jack whispered as darkness fell on the rolling meadows land. "Together."

"Love you," Daniel said.

Jack smiled, fully aware of Carter and Teal'c by his side. "I love you too, Daniel."

EPILOGUE

The herd of sheep that grazed near the grotto moved off over the gently sloping landscape. On the woven blanket, Jack rolled onto his side and ran his fingertips down Daniel's bare chest. His lover's eyes were closed in satisfied bliss now, his face turned toward the warm sunshine that bathed both their nude bodies. Jack scooted closer. Then he leaned down to lick at a brown nipple.

"Um," Daniel said, his lips stretching into a contented smile.

"Like that, do ya?" Jack watched the little smile turn to one of deep pleasure. Then he licked the nipple again. A little splash from the small pond drew his attention and Jack glanced up at the rippling water. A fish leaped up again, trying for a low-flying insect. Then Jack turned his attention back to his lover.

"Um," Daniel repeated. "Suck,"

Jack laughed and then complied with the casual demand. Alone in the meadow now that Freyfaxi had deserted them, Jack worked his way down Daniel's taut stomach to the points of his hipbones. He ran his tongue from side to side and then sucked loudly at his navel.

"Not what I meant," Daniel said, his voice strongly colored with a smile. "Nipple."

"Cock," Jack said with a growl. Then he lunged down to Daniel's groin and captured his prize. Daniel was only semi-hard and Jack sucked his cock in between his barely opened teeth. He got the desired screech from his lover and the panting of over-stimulation.

Daniel fisted his fingers in Jack's hair. "Killing me!" he protested, but thrust himself into Jack's mouth at the same time, giving lie to the declaration. "Ah, fuck, Jack!"

"Mff!" Jack said, not relenting even a little bit. He drew Daniel's growing erection in deeper, feeling it battering against the back of his mouth now. Jack rose up on his elbows and straightened out his long throat. He'd make room for that delectable staff.

"Oh, oh, yes," Daniel hissed. "Yes." His eyes were still closed and he began to relax back on the blanket as Jack worked assiduously to bring him joy.

Jack grinned around his lover's cock. Then he had to shift upright and pull off. "In you?" he asked.

"Yes," Daniel hissed again. He bent his knees and raised his legs slightly.

Jack scrambled to kneel where he loved to be. He scooped up the small oil flask Lemmel had tucked in his saddlebag. Jarngerd had packed the food, Asny the blanket and Balin had bridled Freyfaxi, leaving the saddle off. But Jack put them all out of his mind, Carter and Teal'c too, and devoted himself to making love with Daniel.

His eyes still closed, Daniel reached up and stroked his fingers blindly over Jack's face and shoulders. "Love you."

"Know," Jack puffed the word. He was right on the edge of coming. He'd gotten too excited on the ride out here. "In you now."

"Yes, with me. With me. Make love with me."

"Lover," Jack said. Gently, he pushed his oiled member in the hot and very tight opening of his lover. "Move with me, Danny."

"Ah, yes, Jack," Daniel whispered. "Oh, so good."

Neither spoke as they rocked gently against each other, hands stroking, lips meeting, breath shared. The sun was warm, the air fresh, and the solitude of the grotto deep within the boundary of House Ondeil's Meadows Holding was purest peace.

Jack felt Daniel's body start to sweat. He picked up the pace of his pumping. "Come soon?"

"S—soon," Daniel answered. He opened his eyes and gazed up at Jack. "Love you. So good. Love you."

"Danny," Jack answered, breathing hard now. He bit his bottom lip and concentrated, holding himself on the precipice of a huge orgasm. His loins were tense. He was almost losing control.

Then Daniel groaned and locked his legs tight around him, digging his fingers into Jack's flanks, urging him in as deep as possible. Daniel was coming. "Lu—uh, uh!" he said.

"Love you too!" Jack shouted. He frowned hard as he struggled to hold his orgasm off for one more second. But Daniel's body wouldn't be denied. His clenching muscles robbed the orgasm from Jack, and giving into the torment made coming twice as sweet. Jack cried out softly, his voice heard only by his lover, a few sheep and the occasional bird.

Then Jack collapsed on Daniel, feeling him clinging to him tightly. Daniel's legs were still firmly around his waist. The blue-eyed man's cum pooled between their pressed stomachs.

"So incredible," Jack said, still breathing hard.

"Always is," Daniel said. He brought his hands up and stroked his fingertips through Jack's hair.

"You do that a lot."

"What?"

"My hair."

"Yeah," Daniel said gently. "Miss mine?"

Jack smiled against Daniel's neck. "Sometime."

More than half a galaxy away from the lush grotto a special hand-carved little box sat on the mantle-piece of Jack's fireplace. Coiled inside the box was a long braid of sun-bleached, blond hair. Lemmel had gifted the box to House Ondeil half an Earth year ago when the young man was released from service. His contract was for service until House Ondeil returned to his ancestral lands. That was the day a united SG-1 had left Nortvegr.

On Earth, Jack had taken Daniel home after their extensive medical exams and debriefings. He'd washed Daniel's long hair, and then braided a strand of it. He'd cut the hair himself, and placed the braid in the box that, most of the time, held their wedding rings.

"Maybe I'll grow it out a bit more," Daniel said. He smiled as Jack kissed him.

"No, you won't. Looks perfect just as it is. I love it exactly as it is. Got that?"

"Yeah," Daniel whispered. "Got you."

"Got me," Jack said sternly, nodding his head in firm agreement. "Got me, and I got you."

"This is the meaning of life stuff," Daniel said.

"Is it? The stuff you're always looking for?"

"This is it, Jack." He shifted, loosening his grip around Jack's waist as the man shifted. He slid his feet down to the soft blanket.

Jack propped himself up on his elbows and gazed solemnly down at his lover. "I'm glad you told me that. I'd have never known."

"I'm serious."

"I know you are. That's something I know about you that I didn't know before."

"Before we came to Nortvegr?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah."

"You learned a lot about me here, didn't you?"

"Did," Jack said, nodding slowly.

"Then, okay. This is the meaning of life stuff. You and me, here, being with each other. This sharing. This living. Life. The meaning of life was here all along." He tapped the center of Jack's chest, and then the center of his own chest.

"I see," Jack said, nodding again.

"You really do, don't you?" Daniel asked, squinting suspiciously at Jack. "Why is that? Why do you believe me?"

"I see something in you, Daniel Jackson, something I didn't before we came here."

"What's that?"

Jack pursed his lips and pondered what he'd discussed with the Asgard. Daniel was not an ordinary man. He'd known that long before talking with those incredibly irritating grey butts. Daniel was the height of humanity, the strength of human nature, human kindness. And more. More. He was greater than what the Ancients had tried to attain, and what the Asgard strived for. He was what the Nox sought and admired. He was Daniel Jackson, and would never settle for being anything less.

Furling was such a funny little word. It belied its meaning, an unfathomable grandeur that Jack knew he'd never fully comprehend, though he held it in his arms even now.

"What?" Daniel repeated.

"I see the most profound love that has ever or will ever exist. That's what I see in you. I see that love reach out and fill me, and surround me. It lifts me up and carries me when I need it. It feeds and sustains me. I see that love echoed in me, and I see the same love come from me into you. I see it fill you. I see that my love lifts you up and carries you when you need it, feeds you, sustains you. Echoes in you and surrounds us both. And it is one love."

Daniel's eyebrows climbed his forehead. "Did I just hear all that come out of your mouth?"

"Yes," Jack said with a snort of disgust. "And don't ever ask me to repeat it."

"My God, Jack? That's the most ... eloquent ... breathtaking ... I've never heard you ... This is what coming back here does to you? We have to make getting back here more often a serious priority."

"Should," Jack said.

"That was ... I'm speechless," Daniel said.

"Yeah," Jack said.

"And now you're back to one-word sentences?"

"Yep."

Daniel laughed hard. He pushed Jack away and rolled onto his side, holding his cum-sticky stomach. "Oh. Oh," he said, wiping at the tears in his eyes. "Still. I am amazed."

"Me too. Swim?"

"Yeah," Daniel said. He held his hand out and Jack pulled him to his feet.

They kissed and then stepped into the cleansing water together. A few feet into the pond, Jack pulled Daniel into his arms again. "Meaning of life stuff. Husband."

"Husband," Daniel said, and shared a kiss with the man he'd married. Their wedding rings gleamed in Nortvegr's yellow sunlight.

Asny plucked at the linen tablecloth draped over the banquet table that sat in the shade of House Ondeil's tallest tree. They were to have a feast outside this evening, the household and a few friends, when Highborn Jack Ondeil and Sky Daniel returned from their ride. She adjusted a basket of spring flowers and turned to see the black stallion, Freyfaxi, walking slowly down the slope toward the Meadow's Cot. Saddleless, he carried the two tiny men on his back. A wide smile sparkled across her features and she took a running step toward the returning men.

Swiftly, Balin snagged the girl, gently halting her mid stride. With the blue-eyed babe of his union tucked securely in the bend of his right arm, he steered Asny-child back to the table.

She looked up at him, a frown marring her face for a moment. But Balin's gentle smile had her studying the situation more carefully. She looked from him to the men on the horse.

Freyfaxi stopped near the bottom step of the Cot's covered porch, but no one was running to take the horse's reins, as they should. Lemmel was at the other end of the table with Jarngerd, carving steaming veal into slices. He made no move to help with the horse.

Asny frowned. Tal came, and took her son from Balin and placed him in a wide crib by the tree with Jarngerd and Ulfrik's blue-eyed daughter. Ulfrik stayed by the babes, making no move to go see to the master. The black warrior and the Highborn woman were seated on a blanket near the crib, seemingly ignoring Highborn Jack and Sky Daniel, and Asny's frown went to a full scowl.

She stared at the two as they slid from Freyfaxi's back. Sky Daniel tugged the bridle off the stallion and the black animal nudged him before turning away toward his barn. Still all the grownups in the meadow were acting as if the two men they'd been waiting for hadn't returned! She glared up at Balin and he only smiled at her. She looked at the Highborn men again.

Sky Daniel no longer wore a veil because he'd cut all his beautiful hair off as short as an ordinary Highborn man. Today, he wore unseemly clothes, the kind he'd worn when he'd first arrived in Brooksmeet, the same clothes Highborn Jack wore. They were comfortable clothes, loose fitting with lacings at neck and waist, made by Jarngerd who fashioned clothes of the finest quality. Asny saw nothing wrong with the unseemly clothes.

Since his return, Sky Daniel wore a little metal and glass frame on his face, two personal windows he used to keep everyone from seeing his blue eyes. They didn't really work to hide his eyes, but no one bothered to tell him that.

At the bottom step, the two men halted. Sky Daniel took Highborn Jack's hands in his and brought them up to his lips. Then he kissed the palms. Then Sky Daniel turned his back on Highborn Jack and guided his lover's hands over his shoulders. Sky Daniel bent his knees, and leaned forward. He lifted Highborn Jack onto his back and slowly climbed the porch stairs.

Biting her bottom lip, Asny glanced up at Balin, and then turned to watch the two Highborn again. This was how Sky Daniel had carried Highborn Jack so long ago, up the stairs of the Ram's Head, when they'd first come into her life. So ill, Highborn Jack had been, that he couldn't stand well without Sky Daniel. He was so ill, climbing stairs was impossible, and Sky Daniel had carried him even when there were others to do the job. Sky Daniel had done it. And Highborn Jack held onto him. Why were they doing it now? Highborn Jack was no longer ill. He could walk on his own!

They reached the top step and Sky Daniel put Highborn Jack down. Then they did something that baffled Asny even more. Highborn Jack opened the door of the cot, picked up Sky Daniel and carried him inside.

The cot door was shut firmly. Asny looked around and saw that everyone was smiling. Jarngerd was working with Lemmel, but was glancing frequently at her husband. Ulfrik was watching over their daughter, and giving his wife many smiling glances. Tal kissed her child and then went to Lemmel's side and kissed his cheek. He blushed, laughed and then looked at Balin. The Champion squeezed Asny's shoulder and then went to Tal and Lemmel. He hugged them both.

The Highborn woman named Carter stretched out on her blanket, handed a cup of juice to the black Champion and then she closed her eyes. The Champion sipped the juice and nodded appreciatively.

Asny looked at the closed door of the cot, and then met Balin's smiling gaze. She nodded at him. Jarngerd held a plate of food out to her, and Asny took it, pausing to give the big Champion a kiss on his cheek before joining the Highborn woman and black Champion on the blanket. It was a good day. The summer sun warmed the ground of House Ondeil's southern Meadows Holding. Sheep grazed over the rolling, green land. Birds flew peacefully high overhead, and insects buzzed in the tall grass. Horses wandered in an open paddock nearby.

The orphaned child, indentured slave and First Steward to the First House of Nortvegr ate her slice of apple pie before her vegetables.

End