The Things We Do (Chapters 12-15)
An hour later Prince Marr entered the hall holding hands with Hacen. They took their seats at the head of the table and as soon as they were settled Marr started dishing food onto both their plates.
“We trust that you all had a most enjoyable night?” Hacen asked as Marr poured wine into their cups.
“Indeed,” Teal’c said, hint of a smile on his lips.
Marr looked down to the very end of the table, “Danyel? Have you and your chosen completed the 2nd step in the bonding rite?”
Daniel blushed a deep and beautiful (as far as Jack was concerned) shade of red, “I-I guess.”
“That would most definitely be a ‘Yes! And Oh GOD was it good!’,” Jack answered for him.
“Jack!” the young linguist yelled, “Would you stop that?!”
“Never. Besides, they’d just asked us separately until we spilled any way.”
Hacen looked at Marr who nodded. He then spoke, “Then we would ask that you complete the third and final step of you bond during our own ceremony tomorrow. It is our custom that friends of the royalty bond when they do, if chance provides.”
“Yes. It would also be another tie of friendship we could share between our two worlds,” Marr looked back at Hacen, “And it is the least we can do to repay you…”
Daniel glanced over at Jack, “Uh, we appreciate the offer, don’t get us wrong, but in our culture, as you know, same sex couples are frowned upon. We don’t plan to tell anyone what’s happened between us. Right Jack?”
“No one that doesn’t already know there’s chemistry between us, of course. Well at least not until we’re both retired,” the older man said looking at Daniel hopefully.
“Retired? Both of us?”
“We’ll talk about that later. The point is, if we did agree to go through this…ceremony with you, you wouldn’t be able to mention it to anyone back on our planet.”
Marr frowned, “Your planet would seek our aid yet frown upon our culture? If we were in need of your help, would you come to us?”
“Of course! Other planet’s cultures are all their own and we don’t judge that...much…but because we’re from ‘our’ planet, it’s different for us. Do you understand?” Daniel tried explaining.
Hacen nodded, laying a hand on Marr’s thigh, “It is their way Marr. If they have lived so long this way, and advanced to this level, that is all that matters. We have no right to judge them.”
Marr looked like he wanted to protest, but Hacen gave him a stern look, and whatever protest he had had, died, “Very well…We will speak of the ceremony to no one on your planet, save the ones that are present.”
Jack smirked, “Great! So I guess this means we get to start sharing technology and stuff?”
“We’re supposed to meet with Marr’s father at lunch Jack, to discuss relations, but I think we’ve already become their friends,” Daniel smiled to the men on the other end of the table.
“My father does not feel well today, Danyel,” Marr looked down at the table, “I fear he grows very ill, and will not be able to meet with you any time soon. He said I was to make the treaty with you.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Daniel whispered.
“So am I,” Marr said, glancing at Hacen, “It seems I came to my senses just in time.”
“Why?” Sam asked out of no where, “Wouldn’t you have just taken the crown anyway?”
“No. It would have gone to my mated cousin, Kara. She is beautiful, but her head is… empty, as is her mate’s.”
Hacen smiled weakly, “She would not be able to rule.”
When no one said anything to this, the two later comers dug into their food, and ate leaving everyone else present to have some time to think.
Daniel, was of course, thinking how best to word the treaty that would be needed between the two worlds, as well as trying to come up with a mental list of items they could use for an even trade, if any technology or items were worth it.
Carter used the free time to think about generators, minerals, and gate technology and also about her father, who was suppose to be coming to the SGC soon, to update everyone on the latest System Lord gossip. A certain red hair, that she didn’t seem to be able to find, also floated around in her thoughts, but there wasn’t much she could do about that.
Teal’c mediated, because he hadn’t had the chance to the night before, and junior was more then ready for his nap.
The Colonel however, was thinking about possible threats, as always. Namely the one that was called a ceremony, “Uh…Sorry to interrupt folks, but…about this ceremony thing…”
Marr smiled and finished the last of the food on his plate before answering, “After we have finished eating, we will take you to look for your holy mark’s design and then for your holy union gifts to each other.”
“Uh…” Jack said frowning, looking to Daniel.
“He wants to know what the ceremony involves and how it is preformed,” the younger man clarified. “We’ve run into some trouble before with rituals. He just wants to be sure no one will be hurt.”
“No one, meaning you!” Jack said glaring at Daniel, “The last thing you need is for someone to drag hot metal spikes over your back or having to get bit by 3 different kinds of poisonous snakes, or have acid dripped on your-”
“I think they get the idea Sir!” Carter cut in.
Hacen was looking at Jack with pity, “This has happened before to one or both…of you?”
“No! But it could! We’ve been shocked, drowned, beaten, shot, chained up, burned and all of us have at least died twice and AMAZINGLY brought back to life. Our luck can’t go on forever, and I don’t want this ceremony to need it.”
The prince nodded, “It is understandable that you would question others when you have all been through so much, but we assure you that the ceremony of which we speak will not cause either of you any pain.”
“It is a simple utterance of sacred words, and the pressing of a bonding mark to your skin, with the exchange of gifts,” Hacen said.
“So it’s basically like a wedding,” Daniel said, “except it sounds like we have to get a tattoo or brand or…something.”
Jack looked over at Teal’c, “You have one of these ‘marks’ on you?”
“No. I already wore my mark when I arrived on this planet.”
“Oh! The…” Daniel waved/pointed at the snake stamped in pure gold on his forehead.
“Indeed.”
Looking over at man beside the Jaffa, Jack nodded his head, “What about him? Where’s his ‘mark’ thing?”
“On his lower back, where many young Earth females seem to bare designs.”
Sam ogled, shocked, “Ok. No more TV for you.”
“I did not acquire this knowledge from television MajorCarter. I witnessed it while shopping for suitable summer clothing with DanielJackson.”
Daniel jumped in, “Back to this ‘mark’…can it be of anything?”
“Yes of course,” Marr said, happy to get back on a subject that he knew something about.
The blue eyed linguist turned to Jack, “What about Earth?”
“A picture of the planet earth?” the older man asked, “That’s not my style.”
“No, I meant the origin symbol. The seventh chevron!”
Carter looked thoughtful, “You could explain it away as part of the friendship between our two worlds Sir.”
Jack glanced over at her, “Then how are we going to explain why you and Teal’c don’t have one?”
Daniel smiled, “That’s the easy part. They weren’t there at the signing of the treaty. You of course didn’t think I could handle it by myself, so instead of just me getting marked you did too.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jack said, sliding his hand down a little too low in public for his young lover.
“Jack! Hand!”
The older man put his other hand out for Daniel, “Alright! All you had to do was ask. No need to yell.”
12
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Samantha Carter sat at the edge of a large glowing pool. A slow flowing waterfall, that seemed to be made only of light, tumbled over the side of a smooth sided cliff. It was a relaxing and beautiful sight and the perfect place to sit and think.
Jack and Daniel were off shopping at the local market for things they needed for the up-coming ceremony and Teal’c was off with his mate, probably having a wonderfully romantic time in a place much like the one before her eyes. Frowning she picked up a crystal rock from the edge of the pool and turned it over in her hand.
“Samantha? You are still here?”
The blonde woman looked up to see Ces standing behind her looking angry, “The Colonel and Daniel are getting bonded on the same day that Prince Marr and Hacen are. We’re going to stay and watch.”
“I thought you could not stay for long?”
“We’ll be leaving soon after this, at least, my team and I will be. Researchers will come and study things for a while, and trade technology or whatever it is that we decided on. Other teams will come back every once in a while to see that things are alright,” Sam babbled on, looking back out at the waterfall. She noticed two women had waded into the pool and were headed right for the falling liquid light. When they reached it, they both bowed and then stood again and walked through the curtain.
Ces noticed what Sam was looking at, “They go for the birth stones.”
“Birth stones?”
The woman nodded at the crystal the Major was rolling around in her hand, “You have one there, though it is dead. Fresh ones, taken from the cave under the curtain of light, grant one of the pair the growth of a life in their body. It is how we are able to have our children without resorting to the vulgar ways of old.”
“A crystal does this?” She looked down at the piece in her hand, “How does it work?”
“Couples go into the caves together and walk among the crystal walls, until they see one of the stones glow near them. They take it from its place and quickly break it open and share the wine inside. They then choose a room that has been hollowed out in the cave and proceed to make their promised child. If all is right with the stars, a life will grow in one of the pair.”
“Where do the stones come from?”
“The walls of the cave,” Ces said frowning, “I told you of this before.”
“No, I mean when they were first used or discovered.”
“Our false god brought us them, long ago, when our ancestors refused to populate in the old ways.”
Sam turned the crystal over in her hand, “So when one is picked another one grows in its place?”
“Yes,” Ces looked deeply into the Major’s eyes. “Why do you not love me Samantha?”
“Well,” she said taking a deep breath looking out at the scene in front of her, “After I leave here I probably will never come back. It’s not that I don’t like you. You’re a very beautiful woman. I just can’t marry you and leave you.”
Ces smiled softly, “Your friend Teal’c never thought he would return either.”
The major sighed, “Love on our planet is very different Ces. When someone feels for someone else, they want them close. Separation for long periods of time causes one to finally cheat on the other.”
Taking a deep breath Ces shook her head sadly, “That is not our way here. Ones from other worlds, and some of the higher ranking citizens, may have as many lovers as they wish as long as each one lives in another city. To be just bonded means everything here, and to die without being so, means one’s soul will never find peace.”
“You still want to be with me? Even though you know there’s a very good chance that I won’t ever be back?”
“Yes Samantha. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” Ces cupped her cheek and smiled sweetly.
Sam smiled, “Ces-”
“Please,” she begged, tears in here eyes.
“Alright, just don’t cry,” Sam whispered, leaning in and brushing the other woman’s hair behind her ear.
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“Daniel what did you say you wanted me to get you again?” Jack called from across the market.
“Jack…I want it to be a surprise,” Daniel shouted back. He stared down at a cage that held an odd looking ferret like creature with metallic rainbow fur.
Jack sighed and looked through the stall he was currently at. Orbs and crystals of all shapes, sizes, and glows filled the small area and retreated as far back as he could see. There was a small old man, with shinning pale green eyes staring at him, smiling.
“Uh…Hello. I’m Jack. We’re-”
“You came from the circle of the false Gods and are to be bonded with your choice, Danyel, at the ceremony with the prince and his choice. You search for a bonding gift for him.”
“Well…yeah….that about covers everything. So…what are these…crystal things?”
“They are gifts and tools for the Birthing. I do not believe you will need them for some time.”
Jack frowned, “Birthing?”
“The birth of a child, Sir,” the Major said walking up to the graying man with Ces at her side.
“Major?” he asked, watching the body language between his second in command and the beautiful woman next to her, “Something you like to share with me?”
“I’ve decided…We’ve decided to bond too, Sir,” she looked at Ces who was looking down at the ground, blushing.
Daniel came out of no where and saved her from having to explain, “That’s wonderful Sam!” He gave her a hug and pulled back to smile at the other woman, “You’ve made a fine choice.”
Ces looked up at the compliment and smiled before leaning in and kissing the side of Sam’s jaw.
“Well…I’m glad for you Major. Looks like you’ve finally decided to follow that order about getting a life.”
“Yes, sir,” she grinned.
“Well…as much as I would like to stand around and chat…I have to go back to picking out a gift,” Jack turned and went off toward a pottery dealer.
Sam looked at Daniel, “Do you think Marr and Hacen would let us-”
“I’m sure he would, but I’d pick out my gift and design now…and complete the second step of the bond later, unless the two of you have already…”
“You must ask the Prince for us. It is our law Danyel,” Ces interrupted him.
“No need,” Marr stepped into the conversation. “I allow it. Samantha is just as responsible for my bond to Hacen as Jack and Danyel are. She too, is my friend.”
“Thank you my Prince!” Ces bowed deeply.
Marr reached over and ran one of his hands along the side of her head, “Go and see to the gift for your lover. We will meet later to decide on your symbol.”
Ces raised her head and gave the three a dazzling smile before hurrying off.
Daniel grinned at the retreating woman, “She’s been alone for a long time, hasn’t she?”
“Yes. The woman she longed for…” Marr’s face darkened slightly.
“Did something happen to her?” Daniel didn’t like the look on Marr’s face.
“She…she was sent away from the village…with her…lover and their child,” the prince looked at him as if that explained it all.
“Uh…”
“Her…male…lover,” Marr spoke to him as if he were talking to a child.
“She was banished because she had a child with a man?” Daniel blinked surprised.
Sam jumped in, “They have another way of reproducing. Ces was telling me about it earlier. The Goa’uld who abducted these people must not have realized all of the preferred the same sex…but when they refused to have children they made these liquid that some how alters the bodies involved in sexual activity to make and allows one of them to carry a child.”
Daniel looked at Marr, “So you banish male/female couples?”
“We have found that it is easier if we live apart. No one falls in love with someone that will never love them back, if the ones that would not, are not around.”
“So they have their own part of this planet to live on?” Daniel asked.
“Yes…to the west…across the great water.”
“So you have no idea about how they live?” Sam looked to Daniel who was amazed.
“We know because traded children tell us of such things. When our children are young we tell them of the other side and ask them how they feel…16 seasons is when they are asked. If they say they would rather love their opposite we understand and we send them across the great water. The same is done on the other side. It is only considered dishonorable, if one lies, about how they feel. Let to…someone get close to them when they do not feel the same…is…our worst crime. This is what Ces’s first love did to her…She was truly hurt by it.”
Sam looked at Marr, “I’ll try not to do the same thing.”
Marr smiled at her, “You are different Samantha. You are from a different world, and you may do as you wish. Teal’c has a wife, does he not? His chosen only asks that he love him while he is here. That is all.”
“All the same…I think I’ll stay single…she deserves as much.”
Daniel smiled, seeing Sam’s softer side, but then turned back to Marr, “What are you getting Hacen for a gift?”
The prince moved in close so only Daniel and Sam could hear him, “Some of the finest oils in our world. His skin will smell as sweet as the palace gardens in spring and glow as if all three of our moons had given him their light.” When the man pulled away the dreamy look that had fogged his eyes remained.
Sam and Daniel shared a look of ‘He’s got it bad’.
“What have you selected for Jack?” Marr asked Daniel trying not to blush.
“Uh…”
“Samantha?”
“Hey! I have a reason! I just got into this!”
“Come! I will help the two of you choose a gift for yours,” Marr smiled and turned to led them to the best gifts.
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The next morning, even before the sun had risen in the sky, the three couples were all rudely awoken by their wedding attendants and taken away to two separate tents. One was for the dominants or Ahala and the other for the Adsero or submissives. There each of the three, from either side, was bathed, consulted, and robed. Now all they had to do was wait, until all the guests had arrived, so the ceremony could begin.
Daniel tugged nervously at his ceremonial robes. Jack had insisted that they both wear the color orange and that it had to be a shade that brought out Daniel’s eyes. The very thought of how Jack had been looking at him when he had said that make him blush bright red. He quickly peaked out of the tent and gasped at the sight of all the people who had gathered to watch the bondings.
“Danyel?” Ces called, making the man jump back.
“Yeah?” he dropped the tent and turned back around.
She smirked, “You are nervous!”
“Of course I’m nervous! Have you seen all those people out there that are going to be watching us? Aren’t you nervous?”
“No…I am happy,” she blushed and touched her emerald green robes, “I am in love again.”
He relaxed slightly, “I’m in love too, it’s just that I never thought I would be getting married in front of this many people, especially not to Jack.”
“But you should be joyous! So many people support your bond here, unlike on your world,” she laid a hand on his arm. “But that is not what is making you nervous is it Danyel?”
“No. Not really,” he mumbled.
“Then?”
“What if I do something wrong? What if everyone in the crowd laughs at me? What if Jack laughs at me?”
Ces bit her lip to keep from laughing, “Your world must be a very hard place to live in indeed! To think you worry so much about being imperfect!”
Daniel frowned, giving her a confused and hurt look.
“We do not expect perfect here Danyel. I have seen many bondings and I have seen many not go as perfectly as you would wish. We do not laugh at mistakes, because they are part of life. Life is not perfect so you should not seek to make it so.”
“Does everyone here think that?”
Ces gave him a wary smile, “Some think more like you do, but it is a taught to us all when we are small children, that perfection doesn’t always have the best out come. Sometimes the mistakes are better than the perfection.”
He gave her a grin, “I suppose you’re right. After all, it was mistakes that brought us this far.”
She raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to say something but Prince Marr came into the tent.
“I have never been so…so…” He looked to Daniel worriedly.
“Nervous?” the blue eyed man tried.
The Prince went and sat on a cushion, “Perhaps that is it. I have no reason to be nervous! I love him!”
Ces rolled her eyes, “Males! Do you all worry about being so nervous?”
Daniel shrugged, “We just need to think about something else.”
“Do you have something in mind?” she asked, looking at the prince almost sadly.
“What did you get Sam for her bonding gift?”
She thought about it quietly, “I will tell, if you tell me what you are going to give to your Jack.”
When he saw Marr look up interested, Daniel nodded, “Sounds fair.”
“She will get an Inoral.”
The blue eyed man’s eyebrows shot up, “Uhh…”
“It is a stone that is used in relaxation,” Marr smiled at Daniel’s shock. “It makes sounds that calm nerves, though none of our people know how it makes these. They are harvested from caves, and are very rare, because the people sent to retrieve them become too relaxed to work. It can take up to a year to harvest even one.”
The linguist smiled, “Sam needs all the relaxation she can get. Sometimes she works too hard.”
“I saw that in her. I knew it would be a truly wonderful gift for her, since I can not be at her side to relax her myself,” Ces whispered softly. “What did you get your Jack?”
Marr grinned, “His Jack is a hard one to get a gift for. Or maybe it is that Danyel does not think much is good enough for him.”
Blushing Daniel sent a look at the prince, causing Ces to giggle, “I just wanted him to have something that honored him.”
“What did you get?” she asked nudging the blue eyed man.
“One of the finest daggers even I have ever seen. I would not have taken Daniel for a man that knew of weapons, but he had one created. I have seen nothing like it in all my seasons! It is almost more art than weapon!”
Daniel blushed, “I just made a few changes to one of the designs already made.”
“It is genius!” Marr was gazing at him man proudly.
Ces sighed loudly and rolled her eyes, “Is that all men talk of? Weapons and nervousness?”
All of a sudden the prince’s eyes became worried again, and he looked at Daniel, “What if I’m-”
“You will be fine my Prince,” A man in white robes said smiling at him from the doorway, “It is time.”
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Jack looked down at his orange robes and grinned, “You’re going to look amazing in this…”
Hacen smirked from his seat across from Jack, “I have a feeling he will be more than enough gift for you in that color.”
The older man blushed but smirked, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to say anything.”
“I do not know if anyone else will be able to either,” Hacen chuckled back, “You are very blessed.”
Jack mock glared at the slightly younger man, “Keep your thoughts to yourself Hacen. As a man in love, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”
“As another man in love, neither can I,” Hacen bowed his head smiling to himself.
At that Jack chuckled, “So, what did you get Marr?”
“You mean as his bonding gift?”
“Yeah.”
Blue/silver eyes flashed in playfulness, “I am not sure I can tell you.”
Raising an eyebrow Jack quirked a smile, “Oh really?”
“It is hard to explain what it does,” Hacen amended, blushing brightly when he realized what Jack thought his gift was for. “It is a device that changes color and glows brighter when people close to it are feeling the same emotion.”
Jack gave him an odd look, “If you don’t mind me asking-”
“You wish to know what purpose that could serve my bonded?”
“Well…yeah I guess,” Jack mumbled, picking at the pillow he was sitting on, now embarrassed because he’d asked in the first place.
“Not only can my love and I use it, to gauge our feelings about certain topics together, but he also may use it when making treaties with other townships of our world when he is king.”
“Wow that’s…a great gift,” Jack frowned thinking what he’d got Daniel was no where near as good.
Sam ducked into the tent and shook her head, “Have you seen that crowd out there?”
Dark brown eyes widened, “No…Why?”
“Well, Sir, it’s huge.”
“It is not every day that a Prince is to be bonded. Many have come from afar to see this ceremony. There will be festivities for many, many days.”
Taking a deep breath Jack got to his feet and came up beside Carter, peeking out the door, “Holy…”
“Yeah…” she mumbled.
“Well if I wasn’t nervous before,” Jack dropped the flap and walked over to the nearest top pole, and banged his head against it.
“I know what you mean Colonel. How do you think I feel? I just got into this yesterday!” she flopped down on a cream cushion and sighed.
“What’d you get your lucky gal Carter?” Jack asked, banging his head against the pole again.
“Marr said helped me pick out a pet for her. Do you know what a Phoenix is?”
“A city in Arizona?”
She gave him a tight smile, “Well a Phoenix was said to be a mythical bird that catches fire when the time for it to die. When it’s done burning, it re-spawns from the ashes. The pet I got her is like that, only it looks more like a house cat. If its body becomes too old or hurt, it will burn itself up and be reborn. He said it was a gift often gave to those who have mates that live far away from each other, since it’s very protective.”
“Flaming Ball of Feline Furry?” he asked even more depressed. Carter’s gift was great too. Why couldn’t Daniel have just told him what to get?
Chuckling, she nodded, “Something like that, Sir. What’d you get Daniel?”
Jack sighed and opened his mouth to tell her but a man dressed in white entered their tent, “It is time.”
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The first thing Daniel saw as he was being led out with Ces and Marr, were the weird egg shaped objects that were set on an altar, behind a man in white robes. As he got closer he saw that each egg bore a symbol, including the sign Daniel and Jack had chosen, the point of origin from Earth.
He glanced over the crowd of people to the other tent where Hacen, Jack and Carter were emerging from. As he continued forward, Daniel tried to get Jack’s attention, but after a few feet he realized that Jack was probably so nervous right now that he couldn’t even think about much more than attempting to say the right words.
As Daniel moved into place between Marr and Ces, the world around him faded away and all he could do was concentrate on Jack who looked almost pained and pale as he stared back at Daniel. For a fleeting moment, the blue eyed linguist thought that the Colonel might have changed his mind, but he quickly squashed the feeling down and gave Jack a reassuring smile.
“There are many things to say about marriage,” the man in white robes said aloud, causing the people before them to quiet, “Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls, has come our way through the paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this.
“Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, these pairs have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. Others would ask, at this time, who gives the adseros in marriage, but, as a life is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if they come of there own will and if they have their family's blessing.
"Adseros, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?"
Daniel, Ces and Marr all smiled at the same time, “Yes, it is true.”
“With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you?”
Teal’c stepped forward, “The Adseros come with me, their protector, and I am accompanied by all of their family's blessings.”
“Please join hands with your chosen,” the each person of the three couples, stepped forward and took their lover’s hand, “and listen to that which I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember...
“Like a stone should your love be firm like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly.
“Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for the true gods are with you always.
“Ahalas, I have not the right to bind thee to your chosen Adsero, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time.” and place your mark in them, where ever you choose.
Jack, Hacen and Sam smiled, “It is my wish,” they all said together.
“And place your mark in them, where ever you choose,” the man motioned, and the attendants that had fussed around them all day, each handed an egg with the correct symbol on it.
Jack nervously took the egg and came over to Daniel’s left side and pulled the fabric away from his upper arm. He made sure the egg wasn’t at an angle, and then pressed it into Daniel’s upper arm. The egg glowed and then brightened briefly before dimming again. When Jack pulled it away a black symbol for Earth was marked on Daniel’s skin. He handed the egg to Daniel and stepped back, looking into Daniel’s eyes.
Hacen came forward next. He pulled open the front of Marr’s robes at his chest. He leaned in very close and pressed his egg into Marr’s right peck, watching as it glowed and then flashed before pulling away and putting the egg into his lover’s hand.
Sam blushed, as she kneeled down and raised Ces’s robes to reveal her upper thigh. She blushed even more as she heard Jack’s cough as she pressed her egg into the woman’s thigh, watching it flash and then dim again. She stood and quickly looked into Ces’s eyes, as she handed off the egg to the other woman, who looked so happy she was about to cry.
“Adseros I have not the right to bind thee to your chosen Ahala only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time.
“It is my wish.”
“And now place the mark on them, wherever you choose.”
Daniel really wanted to kiss Jack, because he still looked like he was about to pass out. Instead he pushed away the cloth at the colonel’s left upper arm, moving his hand across the his skin in reassurance, before pressing the egg down into his skin. When Jack had done this to him, his skin warmed and tingled, burning almost when the light flashed, but not enough to really be called pain, so he knew when he saw Jack flinch briefly what it was about. He pulled away and smiled at Jack, holding the egg in his hands.
Marr went forward and reached up to pull Hacen’s robes open, but first looked up to see that it was alright. The older man nodded slightly, and Marr hesitantly caressed the older man’s peck with his finger tips before pressing the egg into his skin. When he was finished, he stepped back, and lowered his eyes to the ground, blushing.
Now that it was Ces’s turn, it flitted through both Jack and Daniel’s mind for a moment that the red-head would now be pulling up Sam’s robes up to her thigh, but they were both surprised when the women chose instead to place it on the blond woman’s stomach, just above her belly button.
The man in white robes motioned again and a goblet was brought forth and handed to the Ahalas, “May you drink your fill from the cup of love.”
Jack, Hacen and Sam all came forward to their lovers and held their goblets to their chosen’s lips. After taking a drink, the other three took the cup from their lovers and pressed it back, allowing the others to take a drink.
“By the faith in all those here, and by the true gods, I now pronounce you Ahalas and Adseros. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you.”
And the three couples kissed, and the silent crowd gave a deafening cheer.
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Later Jack and Daniel were sitting on a stack of pillows under a canopy of wispy cloth, on the outer edge of what had to be the biggest party SG-1 had ever been in on.
“Hammond’s going to radio us tomorrow,” Jack mumbled, rubbing Daniel’s chest under his shirt.
Daniel smirked, and tipped his head back looking up at Jack, “Yeah…we should probably tell him we’re through with our part here…”
“We could lie and stay awhile longer…I mean…it’s our honeymoon and all and I’d rather not spend it fighting snake heads.”
The linguist chuckled, “Saving the world can be romantic sometimes…”
Jack grinned and leaned downward to give Daniel an up-side-down kiss, “Saving you is more romantic.”
The other man smiled fondly at Jack before reaching around behind him and pulling out a leather pouch, and handing it up to the older man, “Your wedding gift.”
Jack blushed and untied the leather strings around the package and flipped the leather aside, “Daniel!” He looked at the knife in his hand. The handle was made out of white gold embossed on the surface was the symbol for Earth. Wrapped around the sides of the handle was something written with pure gold in Ancient. The blade itself was doubled edged , but on the edge that curved in, there were long flame like teeth, “What’s it say?”
“I take this up to fight not because I wish to harm, but because I wish to protect something near and dear to my heart,” Daniel whispered, giving Jack a quick smile. “It seemed fitting for you, since you’re only going to use this when you need to save me.”
The colonel leaned in and gave Daniel a lingering kiss, before pulling away, “And I’ll kill whoever is making you be ‘in danger’ with it too. Thank you Daniel.” Jack wrapped the knife back up in the leather and set it aside, before reaching over and grabbing a large square thing and laying it on the younger man’s chest.
Daniel unwrapped it and was surprised to find a large book with an amazing decorated cover, bound in dark brown leather and gold, “What’s this?” He opened up the cover and saw Jack’s messy scrawl written over one of the pages.
‘I know I’m not the best guy in the world to tell someone my feelings, out loud, but I thought you should be able to get them out of me some how. My gift to you is this book, which I will write down, each and every time I can remember from a day that I’ve thought about telling you just how much I love you. I want you to keep this close to you when we fight and when we’re apart, you can remember each and every time I told you I loved you.
Yours Forever,
Jonathan Jack O’Neill’
Tears dripped down Daniel’s cheeks as he looked up at Jack again, “Thank you so much…I…I don’t even know what to say…”
“You like it? It’s not like that cat thing Carter gave her wife or anything but-”
“Jack…” He sat up and pulled himself into the older man’s lap, “it’s perfect.”
The colonel relaxed and cupped Daniel’s cheek, “I think I need to write something in it right now….”
“Later,” Daniel whispered pulling Jack’s lips down to his.
And the other man agreed. After all…this moment wasn’t over yet…
“We trust that you all had a most enjoyable night?” Hacen asked as Marr poured wine into their cups.
“Indeed,” Teal’c said, hint of a smile on his lips.
Marr looked down to the very end of the table, “Danyel? Have you and your chosen completed the 2nd step in the bonding rite?”
Daniel blushed a deep and beautiful (as far as Jack was concerned) shade of red, “I-I guess.”
“That would most definitely be a ‘Yes! And Oh GOD was it good!’,” Jack answered for him.
“Jack!” the young linguist yelled, “Would you stop that?!”
“Never. Besides, they’d just asked us separately until we spilled any way.”
Hacen looked at Marr who nodded. He then spoke, “Then we would ask that you complete the third and final step of you bond during our own ceremony tomorrow. It is our custom that friends of the royalty bond when they do, if chance provides.”
“Yes. It would also be another tie of friendship we could share between our two worlds,” Marr looked back at Hacen, “And it is the least we can do to repay you…”
Daniel glanced over at Jack, “Uh, we appreciate the offer, don’t get us wrong, but in our culture, as you know, same sex couples are frowned upon. We don’t plan to tell anyone what’s happened between us. Right Jack?”
“No one that doesn’t already know there’s chemistry between us, of course. Well at least not until we’re both retired,” the older man said looking at Daniel hopefully.
“Retired? Both of us?”
“We’ll talk about that later. The point is, if we did agree to go through this…ceremony with you, you wouldn’t be able to mention it to anyone back on our planet.”
Marr frowned, “Your planet would seek our aid yet frown upon our culture? If we were in need of your help, would you come to us?”
“Of course! Other planet’s cultures are all their own and we don’t judge that...much…but because we’re from ‘our’ planet, it’s different for us. Do you understand?” Daniel tried explaining.
Hacen nodded, laying a hand on Marr’s thigh, “It is their way Marr. If they have lived so long this way, and advanced to this level, that is all that matters. We have no right to judge them.”
Marr looked like he wanted to protest, but Hacen gave him a stern look, and whatever protest he had had, died, “Very well…We will speak of the ceremony to no one on your planet, save the ones that are present.”
Jack smirked, “Great! So I guess this means we get to start sharing technology and stuff?”
“We’re supposed to meet with Marr’s father at lunch Jack, to discuss relations, but I think we’ve already become their friends,” Daniel smiled to the men on the other end of the table.
“My father does not feel well today, Danyel,” Marr looked down at the table, “I fear he grows very ill, and will not be able to meet with you any time soon. He said I was to make the treaty with you.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Daniel whispered.
“So am I,” Marr said, glancing at Hacen, “It seems I came to my senses just in time.”
“Why?” Sam asked out of no where, “Wouldn’t you have just taken the crown anyway?”
“No. It would have gone to my mated cousin, Kara. She is beautiful, but her head is… empty, as is her mate’s.”
Hacen smiled weakly, “She would not be able to rule.”
When no one said anything to this, the two later comers dug into their food, and ate leaving everyone else present to have some time to think.
Daniel, was of course, thinking how best to word the treaty that would be needed between the two worlds, as well as trying to come up with a mental list of items they could use for an even trade, if any technology or items were worth it.
Carter used the free time to think about generators, minerals, and gate technology and also about her father, who was suppose to be coming to the SGC soon, to update everyone on the latest System Lord gossip. A certain red hair, that she didn’t seem to be able to find, also floated around in her thoughts, but there wasn’t much she could do about that.
Teal’c mediated, because he hadn’t had the chance to the night before, and junior was more then ready for his nap.
The Colonel however, was thinking about possible threats, as always. Namely the one that was called a ceremony, “Uh…Sorry to interrupt folks, but…about this ceremony thing…”
Marr smiled and finished the last of the food on his plate before answering, “After we have finished eating, we will take you to look for your holy mark’s design and then for your holy union gifts to each other.”
“Uh…” Jack said frowning, looking to Daniel.
“He wants to know what the ceremony involves and how it is preformed,” the younger man clarified. “We’ve run into some trouble before with rituals. He just wants to be sure no one will be hurt.”
“No one, meaning you!” Jack said glaring at Daniel, “The last thing you need is for someone to drag hot metal spikes over your back or having to get bit by 3 different kinds of poisonous snakes, or have acid dripped on your-”
“I think they get the idea Sir!” Carter cut in.
Hacen was looking at Jack with pity, “This has happened before to one or both…of you?”
“No! But it could! We’ve been shocked, drowned, beaten, shot, chained up, burned and all of us have at least died twice and AMAZINGLY brought back to life. Our luck can’t go on forever, and I don’t want this ceremony to need it.”
The prince nodded, “It is understandable that you would question others when you have all been through so much, but we assure you that the ceremony of which we speak will not cause either of you any pain.”
“It is a simple utterance of sacred words, and the pressing of a bonding mark to your skin, with the exchange of gifts,” Hacen said.
“So it’s basically like a wedding,” Daniel said, “except it sounds like we have to get a tattoo or brand or…something.”
Jack looked over at Teal’c, “You have one of these ‘marks’ on you?”
“No. I already wore my mark when I arrived on this planet.”
“Oh! The…” Daniel waved/pointed at the snake stamped in pure gold on his forehead.
“Indeed.”
Looking over at man beside the Jaffa, Jack nodded his head, “What about him? Where’s his ‘mark’ thing?”
“On his lower back, where many young Earth females seem to bare designs.”
Sam ogled, shocked, “Ok. No more TV for you.”
“I did not acquire this knowledge from television MajorCarter. I witnessed it while shopping for suitable summer clothing with DanielJackson.”
Daniel jumped in, “Back to this ‘mark’…can it be of anything?”
“Yes of course,” Marr said, happy to get back on a subject that he knew something about.
The blue eyed linguist turned to Jack, “What about Earth?”
“A picture of the planet earth?” the older man asked, “That’s not my style.”
“No, I meant the origin symbol. The seventh chevron!”
Carter looked thoughtful, “You could explain it away as part of the friendship between our two worlds Sir.”
Jack glanced over at her, “Then how are we going to explain why you and Teal’c don’t have one?”
Daniel smiled, “That’s the easy part. They weren’t there at the signing of the treaty. You of course didn’t think I could handle it by myself, so instead of just me getting marked you did too.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jack said, sliding his hand down a little too low in public for his young lover.
“Jack! Hand!”
The older man put his other hand out for Daniel, “Alright! All you had to do was ask. No need to yell.”
12
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Samantha Carter sat at the edge of a large glowing pool. A slow flowing waterfall, that seemed to be made only of light, tumbled over the side of a smooth sided cliff. It was a relaxing and beautiful sight and the perfect place to sit and think.
Jack and Daniel were off shopping at the local market for things they needed for the up-coming ceremony and Teal’c was off with his mate, probably having a wonderfully romantic time in a place much like the one before her eyes. Frowning she picked up a crystal rock from the edge of the pool and turned it over in her hand.
“Samantha? You are still here?”
The blonde woman looked up to see Ces standing behind her looking angry, “The Colonel and Daniel are getting bonded on the same day that Prince Marr and Hacen are. We’re going to stay and watch.”
“I thought you could not stay for long?”
“We’ll be leaving soon after this, at least, my team and I will be. Researchers will come and study things for a while, and trade technology or whatever it is that we decided on. Other teams will come back every once in a while to see that things are alright,” Sam babbled on, looking back out at the waterfall. She noticed two women had waded into the pool and were headed right for the falling liquid light. When they reached it, they both bowed and then stood again and walked through the curtain.
Ces noticed what Sam was looking at, “They go for the birth stones.”
“Birth stones?”
The woman nodded at the crystal the Major was rolling around in her hand, “You have one there, though it is dead. Fresh ones, taken from the cave under the curtain of light, grant one of the pair the growth of a life in their body. It is how we are able to have our children without resorting to the vulgar ways of old.”
“A crystal does this?” She looked down at the piece in her hand, “How does it work?”
“Couples go into the caves together and walk among the crystal walls, until they see one of the stones glow near them. They take it from its place and quickly break it open and share the wine inside. They then choose a room that has been hollowed out in the cave and proceed to make their promised child. If all is right with the stars, a life will grow in one of the pair.”
“Where do the stones come from?”
“The walls of the cave,” Ces said frowning, “I told you of this before.”
“No, I mean when they were first used or discovered.”
“Our false god brought us them, long ago, when our ancestors refused to populate in the old ways.”
Sam turned the crystal over in her hand, “So when one is picked another one grows in its place?”
“Yes,” Ces looked deeply into the Major’s eyes. “Why do you not love me Samantha?”
“Well,” she said taking a deep breath looking out at the scene in front of her, “After I leave here I probably will never come back. It’s not that I don’t like you. You’re a very beautiful woman. I just can’t marry you and leave you.”
Ces smiled softly, “Your friend Teal’c never thought he would return either.”
The major sighed, “Love on our planet is very different Ces. When someone feels for someone else, they want them close. Separation for long periods of time causes one to finally cheat on the other.”
Taking a deep breath Ces shook her head sadly, “That is not our way here. Ones from other worlds, and some of the higher ranking citizens, may have as many lovers as they wish as long as each one lives in another city. To be just bonded means everything here, and to die without being so, means one’s soul will never find peace.”
“You still want to be with me? Even though you know there’s a very good chance that I won’t ever be back?”
“Yes Samantha. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” Ces cupped her cheek and smiled sweetly.
Sam smiled, “Ces-”
“Please,” she begged, tears in here eyes.
“Alright, just don’t cry,” Sam whispered, leaning in and brushing the other woman’s hair behind her ear.
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“Daniel what did you say you wanted me to get you again?” Jack called from across the market.
“Jack…I want it to be a surprise,” Daniel shouted back. He stared down at a cage that held an odd looking ferret like creature with metallic rainbow fur.
Jack sighed and looked through the stall he was currently at. Orbs and crystals of all shapes, sizes, and glows filled the small area and retreated as far back as he could see. There was a small old man, with shinning pale green eyes staring at him, smiling.
“Uh…Hello. I’m Jack. We’re-”
“You came from the circle of the false Gods and are to be bonded with your choice, Danyel, at the ceremony with the prince and his choice. You search for a bonding gift for him.”
“Well…yeah….that about covers everything. So…what are these…crystal things?”
“They are gifts and tools for the Birthing. I do not believe you will need them for some time.”
Jack frowned, “Birthing?”
“The birth of a child, Sir,” the Major said walking up to the graying man with Ces at her side.
“Major?” he asked, watching the body language between his second in command and the beautiful woman next to her, “Something you like to share with me?”
“I’ve decided…We’ve decided to bond too, Sir,” she looked at Ces who was looking down at the ground, blushing.
Daniel came out of no where and saved her from having to explain, “That’s wonderful Sam!” He gave her a hug and pulled back to smile at the other woman, “You’ve made a fine choice.”
Ces looked up at the compliment and smiled before leaning in and kissing the side of Sam’s jaw.
“Well…I’m glad for you Major. Looks like you’ve finally decided to follow that order about getting a life.”
“Yes, sir,” she grinned.
“Well…as much as I would like to stand around and chat…I have to go back to picking out a gift,” Jack turned and went off toward a pottery dealer.
Sam looked at Daniel, “Do you think Marr and Hacen would let us-”
“I’m sure he would, but I’d pick out my gift and design now…and complete the second step of the bond later, unless the two of you have already…”
“You must ask the Prince for us. It is our law Danyel,” Ces interrupted him.
“No need,” Marr stepped into the conversation. “I allow it. Samantha is just as responsible for my bond to Hacen as Jack and Danyel are. She too, is my friend.”
“Thank you my Prince!” Ces bowed deeply.
Marr reached over and ran one of his hands along the side of her head, “Go and see to the gift for your lover. We will meet later to decide on your symbol.”
Ces raised her head and gave the three a dazzling smile before hurrying off.
Daniel grinned at the retreating woman, “She’s been alone for a long time, hasn’t she?”
“Yes. The woman she longed for…” Marr’s face darkened slightly.
“Did something happen to her?” Daniel didn’t like the look on Marr’s face.
“She…she was sent away from the village…with her…lover and their child,” the prince looked at him as if that explained it all.
“Uh…”
“Her…male…lover,” Marr spoke to him as if he were talking to a child.
“She was banished because she had a child with a man?” Daniel blinked surprised.
Sam jumped in, “They have another way of reproducing. Ces was telling me about it earlier. The Goa’uld who abducted these people must not have realized all of the preferred the same sex…but when they refused to have children they made these liquid that some how alters the bodies involved in sexual activity to make and allows one of them to carry a child.”
Daniel looked at Marr, “So you banish male/female couples?”
“We have found that it is easier if we live apart. No one falls in love with someone that will never love them back, if the ones that would not, are not around.”
“So they have their own part of this planet to live on?” Daniel asked.
“Yes…to the west…across the great water.”
“So you have no idea about how they live?” Sam looked to Daniel who was amazed.
“We know because traded children tell us of such things. When our children are young we tell them of the other side and ask them how they feel…16 seasons is when they are asked. If they say they would rather love their opposite we understand and we send them across the great water. The same is done on the other side. It is only considered dishonorable, if one lies, about how they feel. Let to…someone get close to them when they do not feel the same…is…our worst crime. This is what Ces’s first love did to her…She was truly hurt by it.”
Sam looked at Marr, “I’ll try not to do the same thing.”
Marr smiled at her, “You are different Samantha. You are from a different world, and you may do as you wish. Teal’c has a wife, does he not? His chosen only asks that he love him while he is here. That is all.”
“All the same…I think I’ll stay single…she deserves as much.”
Daniel smiled, seeing Sam’s softer side, but then turned back to Marr, “What are you getting Hacen for a gift?”
The prince moved in close so only Daniel and Sam could hear him, “Some of the finest oils in our world. His skin will smell as sweet as the palace gardens in spring and glow as if all three of our moons had given him their light.” When the man pulled away the dreamy look that had fogged his eyes remained.
Sam and Daniel shared a look of ‘He’s got it bad’.
“What have you selected for Jack?” Marr asked Daniel trying not to blush.
“Uh…”
“Samantha?”
“Hey! I have a reason! I just got into this!”
“Come! I will help the two of you choose a gift for yours,” Marr smiled and turned to led them to the best gifts.
13
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The next morning, even before the sun had risen in the sky, the three couples were all rudely awoken by their wedding attendants and taken away to two separate tents. One was for the dominants or Ahala and the other for the Adsero or submissives. There each of the three, from either side, was bathed, consulted, and robed. Now all they had to do was wait, until all the guests had arrived, so the ceremony could begin.
Daniel tugged nervously at his ceremonial robes. Jack had insisted that they both wear the color orange and that it had to be a shade that brought out Daniel’s eyes. The very thought of how Jack had been looking at him when he had said that make him blush bright red. He quickly peaked out of the tent and gasped at the sight of all the people who had gathered to watch the bondings.
“Danyel?” Ces called, making the man jump back.
“Yeah?” he dropped the tent and turned back around.
She smirked, “You are nervous!”
“Of course I’m nervous! Have you seen all those people out there that are going to be watching us? Aren’t you nervous?”
“No…I am happy,” she blushed and touched her emerald green robes, “I am in love again.”
He relaxed slightly, “I’m in love too, it’s just that I never thought I would be getting married in front of this many people, especially not to Jack.”
“But you should be joyous! So many people support your bond here, unlike on your world,” she laid a hand on his arm. “But that is not what is making you nervous is it Danyel?”
“No. Not really,” he mumbled.
“Then?”
“What if I do something wrong? What if everyone in the crowd laughs at me? What if Jack laughs at me?”
Ces bit her lip to keep from laughing, “Your world must be a very hard place to live in indeed! To think you worry so much about being imperfect!”
Daniel frowned, giving her a confused and hurt look.
“We do not expect perfect here Danyel. I have seen many bondings and I have seen many not go as perfectly as you would wish. We do not laugh at mistakes, because they are part of life. Life is not perfect so you should not seek to make it so.”
“Does everyone here think that?”
Ces gave him a wary smile, “Some think more like you do, but it is a taught to us all when we are small children, that perfection doesn’t always have the best out come. Sometimes the mistakes are better than the perfection.”
He gave her a grin, “I suppose you’re right. After all, it was mistakes that brought us this far.”
She raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to say something but Prince Marr came into the tent.
“I have never been so…so…” He looked to Daniel worriedly.
“Nervous?” the blue eyed man tried.
The Prince went and sat on a cushion, “Perhaps that is it. I have no reason to be nervous! I love him!”
Ces rolled her eyes, “Males! Do you all worry about being so nervous?”
Daniel shrugged, “We just need to think about something else.”
“Do you have something in mind?” she asked, looking at the prince almost sadly.
“What did you get Sam for her bonding gift?”
She thought about it quietly, “I will tell, if you tell me what you are going to give to your Jack.”
When he saw Marr look up interested, Daniel nodded, “Sounds fair.”
“She will get an Inoral.”
The blue eyed man’s eyebrows shot up, “Uhh…”
“It is a stone that is used in relaxation,” Marr smiled at Daniel’s shock. “It makes sounds that calm nerves, though none of our people know how it makes these. They are harvested from caves, and are very rare, because the people sent to retrieve them become too relaxed to work. It can take up to a year to harvest even one.”
The linguist smiled, “Sam needs all the relaxation she can get. Sometimes she works too hard.”
“I saw that in her. I knew it would be a truly wonderful gift for her, since I can not be at her side to relax her myself,” Ces whispered softly. “What did you get your Jack?”
Marr grinned, “His Jack is a hard one to get a gift for. Or maybe it is that Danyel does not think much is good enough for him.”
Blushing Daniel sent a look at the prince, causing Ces to giggle, “I just wanted him to have something that honored him.”
“What did you get?” she asked nudging the blue eyed man.
“One of the finest daggers even I have ever seen. I would not have taken Daniel for a man that knew of weapons, but he had one created. I have seen nothing like it in all my seasons! It is almost more art than weapon!”
Daniel blushed, “I just made a few changes to one of the designs already made.”
“It is genius!” Marr was gazing at him man proudly.
Ces sighed loudly and rolled her eyes, “Is that all men talk of? Weapons and nervousness?”
All of a sudden the prince’s eyes became worried again, and he looked at Daniel, “What if I’m-”
“You will be fine my Prince,” A man in white robes said smiling at him from the doorway, “It is time.”
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Jack looked down at his orange robes and grinned, “You’re going to look amazing in this…”
Hacen smirked from his seat across from Jack, “I have a feeling he will be more than enough gift for you in that color.”
The older man blushed but smirked, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to say anything.”
“I do not know if anyone else will be able to either,” Hacen chuckled back, “You are very blessed.”
Jack mock glared at the slightly younger man, “Keep your thoughts to yourself Hacen. As a man in love, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”
“As another man in love, neither can I,” Hacen bowed his head smiling to himself.
At that Jack chuckled, “So, what did you get Marr?”
“You mean as his bonding gift?”
“Yeah.”
Blue/silver eyes flashed in playfulness, “I am not sure I can tell you.”
Raising an eyebrow Jack quirked a smile, “Oh really?”
“It is hard to explain what it does,” Hacen amended, blushing brightly when he realized what Jack thought his gift was for. “It is a device that changes color and glows brighter when people close to it are feeling the same emotion.”
Jack gave him an odd look, “If you don’t mind me asking-”
“You wish to know what purpose that could serve my bonded?”
“Well…yeah I guess,” Jack mumbled, picking at the pillow he was sitting on, now embarrassed because he’d asked in the first place.
“Not only can my love and I use it, to gauge our feelings about certain topics together, but he also may use it when making treaties with other townships of our world when he is king.”
“Wow that’s…a great gift,” Jack frowned thinking what he’d got Daniel was no where near as good.
Sam ducked into the tent and shook her head, “Have you seen that crowd out there?”
Dark brown eyes widened, “No…Why?”
“Well, Sir, it’s huge.”
“It is not every day that a Prince is to be bonded. Many have come from afar to see this ceremony. There will be festivities for many, many days.”
Taking a deep breath Jack got to his feet and came up beside Carter, peeking out the door, “Holy…”
“Yeah…” she mumbled.
“Well if I wasn’t nervous before,” Jack dropped the flap and walked over to the nearest top pole, and banged his head against it.
“I know what you mean Colonel. How do you think I feel? I just got into this yesterday!” she flopped down on a cream cushion and sighed.
“What’d you get your lucky gal Carter?” Jack asked, banging his head against the pole again.
“Marr said helped me pick out a pet for her. Do you know what a Phoenix is?”
“A city in Arizona?”
She gave him a tight smile, “Well a Phoenix was said to be a mythical bird that catches fire when the time for it to die. When it’s done burning, it re-spawns from the ashes. The pet I got her is like that, only it looks more like a house cat. If its body becomes too old or hurt, it will burn itself up and be reborn. He said it was a gift often gave to those who have mates that live far away from each other, since it’s very protective.”
“Flaming Ball of Feline Furry?” he asked even more depressed. Carter’s gift was great too. Why couldn’t Daniel have just told him what to get?
Chuckling, she nodded, “Something like that, Sir. What’d you get Daniel?”
Jack sighed and opened his mouth to tell her but a man dressed in white entered their tent, “It is time.”
14
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The first thing Daniel saw as he was being led out with Ces and Marr, were the weird egg shaped objects that were set on an altar, behind a man in white robes. As he got closer he saw that each egg bore a symbol, including the sign Daniel and Jack had chosen, the point of origin from Earth.
He glanced over the crowd of people to the other tent where Hacen, Jack and Carter were emerging from. As he continued forward, Daniel tried to get Jack’s attention, but after a few feet he realized that Jack was probably so nervous right now that he couldn’t even think about much more than attempting to say the right words.
As Daniel moved into place between Marr and Ces, the world around him faded away and all he could do was concentrate on Jack who looked almost pained and pale as he stared back at Daniel. For a fleeting moment, the blue eyed linguist thought that the Colonel might have changed his mind, but he quickly squashed the feeling down and gave Jack a reassuring smile.
“There are many things to say about marriage,” the man in white robes said aloud, causing the people before them to quiet, “Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls, has come our way through the paths of belief, and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this.
“Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, these pairs have come here today to be joined as one in marriage. Others would ask, at this time, who gives the adseros in marriage, but, as a life is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if they come of there own will and if they have their family's blessing.
"Adseros, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?"
Daniel, Ces and Marr all smiled at the same time, “Yes, it is true.”
“With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you?”
Teal’c stepped forward, “The Adseros come with me, their protector, and I am accompanied by all of their family's blessings.”
“Please join hands with your chosen,” the each person of the three couples, stepped forward and took their lover’s hand, “and listen to that which I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember...
“Like a stone should your love be firm like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly.
“Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for the true gods are with you always.
“Ahalas, I have not the right to bind thee to your chosen Adsero, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time.” and place your mark in them, where ever you choose.
Jack, Hacen and Sam smiled, “It is my wish,” they all said together.
“And place your mark in them, where ever you choose,” the man motioned, and the attendants that had fussed around them all day, each handed an egg with the correct symbol on it.
Jack nervously took the egg and came over to Daniel’s left side and pulled the fabric away from his upper arm. He made sure the egg wasn’t at an angle, and then pressed it into Daniel’s upper arm. The egg glowed and then brightened briefly before dimming again. When Jack pulled it away a black symbol for Earth was marked on Daniel’s skin. He handed the egg to Daniel and stepped back, looking into Daniel’s eyes.
Hacen came forward next. He pulled open the front of Marr’s robes at his chest. He leaned in very close and pressed his egg into Marr’s right peck, watching as it glowed and then flashed before pulling away and putting the egg into his lover’s hand.
Sam blushed, as she kneeled down and raised Ces’s robes to reveal her upper thigh. She blushed even more as she heard Jack’s cough as she pressed her egg into the woman’s thigh, watching it flash and then dim again. She stood and quickly looked into Ces’s eyes, as she handed off the egg to the other woman, who looked so happy she was about to cry.
“Adseros I have not the right to bind thee to your chosen Ahala only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time.
“It is my wish.”
“And now place the mark on them, wherever you choose.”
Daniel really wanted to kiss Jack, because he still looked like he was about to pass out. Instead he pushed away the cloth at the colonel’s left upper arm, moving his hand across the his skin in reassurance, before pressing the egg down into his skin. When Jack had done this to him, his skin warmed and tingled, burning almost when the light flashed, but not enough to really be called pain, so he knew when he saw Jack flinch briefly what it was about. He pulled away and smiled at Jack, holding the egg in his hands.
Marr went forward and reached up to pull Hacen’s robes open, but first looked up to see that it was alright. The older man nodded slightly, and Marr hesitantly caressed the older man’s peck with his finger tips before pressing the egg into his skin. When he was finished, he stepped back, and lowered his eyes to the ground, blushing.
Now that it was Ces’s turn, it flitted through both Jack and Daniel’s mind for a moment that the red-head would now be pulling up Sam’s robes up to her thigh, but they were both surprised when the women chose instead to place it on the blond woman’s stomach, just above her belly button.
The man in white robes motioned again and a goblet was brought forth and handed to the Ahalas, “May you drink your fill from the cup of love.”
Jack, Hacen and Sam all came forward to their lovers and held their goblets to their chosen’s lips. After taking a drink, the other three took the cup from their lovers and pressed it back, allowing the others to take a drink.
“By the faith in all those here, and by the true gods, I now pronounce you Ahalas and Adseros. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you.”
And the three couples kissed, and the silent crowd gave a deafening cheer.
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Later Jack and Daniel were sitting on a stack of pillows under a canopy of wispy cloth, on the outer edge of what had to be the biggest party SG-1 had ever been in on.
“Hammond’s going to radio us tomorrow,” Jack mumbled, rubbing Daniel’s chest under his shirt.
Daniel smirked, and tipped his head back looking up at Jack, “Yeah…we should probably tell him we’re through with our part here…”
“We could lie and stay awhile longer…I mean…it’s our honeymoon and all and I’d rather not spend it fighting snake heads.”
The linguist chuckled, “Saving the world can be romantic sometimes…”
Jack grinned and leaned downward to give Daniel an up-side-down kiss, “Saving you is more romantic.”
The other man smiled fondly at Jack before reaching around behind him and pulling out a leather pouch, and handing it up to the older man, “Your wedding gift.”
Jack blushed and untied the leather strings around the package and flipped the leather aside, “Daniel!” He looked at the knife in his hand. The handle was made out of white gold embossed on the surface was the symbol for Earth. Wrapped around the sides of the handle was something written with pure gold in Ancient. The blade itself was doubled edged , but on the edge that curved in, there were long flame like teeth, “What’s it say?”
“I take this up to fight not because I wish to harm, but because I wish to protect something near and dear to my heart,” Daniel whispered, giving Jack a quick smile. “It seemed fitting for you, since you’re only going to use this when you need to save me.”
The colonel leaned in and gave Daniel a lingering kiss, before pulling away, “And I’ll kill whoever is making you be ‘in danger’ with it too. Thank you Daniel.” Jack wrapped the knife back up in the leather and set it aside, before reaching over and grabbing a large square thing and laying it on the younger man’s chest.
Daniel unwrapped it and was surprised to find a large book with an amazing decorated cover, bound in dark brown leather and gold, “What’s this?” He opened up the cover and saw Jack’s messy scrawl written over one of the pages.
‘I know I’m not the best guy in the world to tell someone my feelings, out loud, but I thought you should be able to get them out of me some how. My gift to you is this book, which I will write down, each and every time I can remember from a day that I’ve thought about telling you just how much I love you. I want you to keep this close to you when we fight and when we’re apart, you can remember each and every time I told you I loved you.
Yours Forever,
Jonathan Jack O’Neill’
Tears dripped down Daniel’s cheeks as he looked up at Jack again, “Thank you so much…I…I don’t even know what to say…”
“You like it? It’s not like that cat thing Carter gave her wife or anything but-”
“Jack…” He sat up and pulled himself into the older man’s lap, “it’s perfect.”
The colonel relaxed and cupped Daniel’s cheek, “I think I need to write something in it right now….”
“Later,” Daniel whispered pulling Jack’s lips down to his.
And the other man agreed. After all…this moment wasn’t over yet…