The Spirit's Portal [PG] Legend of the Seeker/Stargate Atlantis
Title: The Spirit's Portal
Rating: PG
Pairings: Gen
Summary: Richard and company make some new friends and help them with something they lost.
Notes: Written for the Double Crossed challenge @
legendland.
Artwork by
confessorlove
“What is it?” Cara asked, standing beside the tall ring protruding at an odd angle from the side of the mountain. She tapped at the side of the ring with her agiel. “Made of stone,” she added. “Whatever it is,” she muttered under her breath.
Richard stood in the middle of the opening, looking up at strange object. Zedd stood at a device a little way back, buttons placed in a circle around a larger button. He was examining the symbols on each button with a frown on his face.
They'd been cutting through a forest towards the next village, leaving the pillars of creation behind them and heading back towards Aydindril when they'd come across this clearing. With no one in the area and the nearest village still a day away they had decided to stop for a while and see if they could figure out what this thing was.
To his right, Kahlan stood with her back to the clearing looking out into the forest around them. Richard knew she wasn't looking for anyone who might jump out on them so he had to wonder why it was she wasn't curious about this place. He watched her for a moment, taking in the shape of her body and the flow of her white dress as the wind made it flutter around her legs.
"Kahlan," he said, shocking himself as much as peeking Cara and Zedd's interest. He had no idea what he was going to say next, but when she didn't turn or move he knew without a doubt she'd been here before.
"It's the ring of the spirits." Kahlan said, still standing exactly as she had been since they arrived. "People in the surrounding villages believe it lets the spirits visit our world. I've heard stories that they believe they've lived another life when they come here and when they return through the ring, they go back to the spirit world."
"That sounds like a fun holiday," Cara said sarcastically.
"The buttons?" Zedd asked.
Kahlan turned for the first time to look at him. "Only the spirits know the right combination to get them back to the spirit world." She said and jumped as the device started to rumble. Cara backed away from it, standing next to Richard with both agiels in her hand now. Richard drew his sword, not sure what to expect and wondering if only good spirits could come through the ring. Lights around the edge of the device lit up and he and Cara backed up until they were level with Zedd.
The explosion of water from the middle made them all take several steps back and Richard because aware that Kahlan was alone to the side of the device. He was just thinking of moving closer to her when a figure stepped out of the water, closely followed by three others.
"Oh a forest, what a surprise," a man said, looking around.
"Hi," the first one through said, a smile on his face even though he took in the sword Richard held ready. "I'm Colonel John Sheppard, this," he indicated to the man now holding a device out. "Is Doctor Rodney McKay," he pointed to the only woman in his group. "Teyla Emmagan and," he turned to the largest of their party. "Ronon Dex. We come in peace."
Richard could only quirk a brow at them, they were dressed in unusual clothes and all but one wore a vest over the top with many pockets. Richard could make out straps here and there and a holder for what he guessed was a weapon. A second weapon if the what they were holding was also a weapon.
"I'm Richard Cypher, Seeker of Truth," he said, almost daringly and still unsure what to make of these visitors. If Kahlan's stories was right, they wouldn't know they were spirits. He tilted his head towards his Grandfather. "First Wizard, Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander," he turned a little to Cara. "Mistress Cara of the Mord'Sith and," he tilted his chin towards Kahlan, aware that she'd moved more to the side of the device and just out of sight of their visitors. "Mother Confessors Kahlan Amnell." He waited as three of the group turned to look at Kahlan, he expected them to start and drop to their knees as most people did when they found themselves in her presents so suddenly. They didn't move except to turn back to Richard and he exchanged a quick and meaningful look with Kahlan.
"Wizard?" the one called McKay asked, a smug grin on his face.
"Let it go, McKay," Sheppard said.
"Just curious," McKay said turning back to his device.
"We are looking for a device," Teyla started. "It creates power to other devices, usually to protection shields."
"It's about so big," Rodney interrupted holding his hands about a foot apart, "Yellow and orange, weighs about as much as a bag of flour."
"It may be used more as a symbol of gods or spirits," Teyla said giving Rodney a scolding look.
"A round device," Richard said. "It glows slightly."
"Yes," Rodney said enthusiastically.
Richard turned to Cara and muttered. "It's in the Palace of the Prophets." He turned back to their visitors and examined each one. "What do you want with it."
"Well, it provides us with power to run our city, keeps us protected from people who want to kill us." Richard let his eyes flick to Kahlan, her face blank she gave him a slight nod.
"Will you use it to kill others?" Richard asked.
"No, we just need it for shields and computers."
"Computers?" Cara asked.
John pointed to the device Rodney was holding, "Things like that," he said.
Without hesitating Cara moved forward and snatched the computer from Rodney's hands. She turned it over and over, looking at every part of it, ignoring Rodney's attempts to take it back. Convinced it wasn't going to harm anyone she threw it back at the man and returned to her place beside Richard.
"Alright," Richard said, returning his sword to its scabbard, "I'll take you to it."
It took them two days to get back to the old world. Richard and Kahlan secured horses from a village only a few hours into the walk and it didn't take them long to realise their guests had no idea how to ride a horse and they had to give a few quick lessons before tying each of their guests horses to one of their own and setting off at a steady pace.
Richard kept close to Kahlan all the way there, aware that these people had no idea of the power she possessed and he found he didn't particularly want them to the find out. He could hear them chatting quietly behind them all the way and Rodney McKay complained at length about the condition of his legs at being forced to ride a horse, not to mention the smell of the horse and whatever else he could find the complain about. John and Teyla regularly scolded him for his complaints and John threatened several times to leave him somewhere if he didn't quit complain soon.
When they finally arrived they found several of the Sisters of the Light waiting out front for them. He would have to leave the explanations for the need to take away the device to their guests.
"The spirits told us you would be bringing guests to our palace." Verna said. "They instructed us to lead them to the temple of light for the item they require."
Richard quirked a brow he couldn't believe this was going so easily. Apparently, neither did John. He slid down from the horse with his brows up, thanked Verna and followed her inside with Teyla leaving Rodney and Ronon behind.
Turning the horses ready for the return journey, Richard pulled closer to Kahlan. "I've never known them to give something of worship up so easily."
"I've never known them to do anything easily," Cara said from his other side.
"They haven't left the Palace yet," Kahlan pointed out.
Richard studied her, she'd kept her Mother Confessor mask on from the moment their guests arrived. Everything from her posture to her expression screamed that she didn't like the situation.
"What's wrong?" Richard asked. Kahlan turned to look at him, the blank expression firmly in place. "Did they lie?"
"No," she said honestly. "It just seems strange that they want this particular item."
"We don't have to let them leave with it," Cara offered. "Or we could follow them back through the ring and see where they take it how they use it."
"If we go to the spirit world, we might never return," Zedd said.
A moment later, John and Teyla emerged from the Palace with the yellow and orange device in their hands. John was smiling as he handed it to Rodney and clambered back on the horse with very little grace. Teyla had no issue getting back into her saddle though and with a thank you to the sisters of the light they were heading back to the ring.
Back at the ring, Richard stopped John before he could reach the buttoned pedestal. "We'd like to see where you're taking the device."
John's eyes flicked to Kahlan at Richard's side before he answered. "Okay, we can arrange that." He turned to Teyla and gave her a nod. She stepped up to the pedestal and began pressing buttons. The water shot out from the middle again and Teyla vanished through.
"Will we be able to return?" Cara asked.
"Yeah," John said. "Any time you want."
Richard watched Ronon and Rodney vanish into the water. "Kahlan" he said. "Maybe you should stay here."
She turned a shark glare at him. "If anyone should remain here, Richard, it's you."
"Maybe you should both stay," Cara said. Richard began to argue with them and missed the moment that Kahlan stepped away from him and towards the ring. He reached for a moment too late and she stepped up to the water and pushed forcefully back by an invisible barrier. Lifted from her feet and almost thrown from the ring, Kahlan landed hard just in front of Richard and he dropped down to check on her before helping her up. John moved quickly to them to check she was alright before turning back to the ring and sticking his arm into the water.
Richard kept hold of Kahlan, keeping her steady on her feet as he watched Zedd move up to the ring and reach out with an arm. He couldn't put his hand into the water like John did, instead he received a sharp jolt from it and staggered back away from it. John, his arm still in the water looked shocked.
"I didn't feel anything," he said.
Richard considered for a moment, before asking a simple question. "Is there magic where you're from?"
"No," John answered.
"Magic is preventing us from going," Richard explained. "Kahlan, Zedd and I all posses magic. If we go through, chances are we won't have that magic in your world."
"Its stopping you so you don't end up coming back without magic too," John summarized.
Richard got up and held out a hand to John, he gripped it tight. "If you return here at any time, there is a village three hours walk that way," he pointed straight out from the front of the ring. Go there and ask for us, they'll get a message to use. But it might take a few days for us to get back here."
"Thanks," John said. "Easiest trip I've ever had and finally some trustworthy people." Richard smiled and watch John vanish into the water.
Rating: PG
Pairings: Gen
Summary: Richard and company make some new friends and help them with something they lost.
Notes: Written for the Double Crossed challenge @
legendland.
Artwork by
confessorlove
“What is it?” Cara asked, standing beside the tall ring protruding at an odd angle from the side of the mountain. She tapped at the side of the ring with her agiel. “Made of stone,” she added. “Whatever it is,” she muttered under her breath.
Richard stood in the middle of the opening, looking up at strange object. Zedd stood at a device a little way back, buttons placed in a circle around a larger button. He was examining the symbols on each button with a frown on his face.
They'd been cutting through a forest towards the next village, leaving the pillars of creation behind them and heading back towards Aydindril when they'd come across this clearing. With no one in the area and the nearest village still a day away they had decided to stop for a while and see if they could figure out what this thing was.
To his right, Kahlan stood with her back to the clearing looking out into the forest around them. Richard knew she wasn't looking for anyone who might jump out on them so he had to wonder why it was she wasn't curious about this place. He watched her for a moment, taking in the shape of her body and the flow of her white dress as the wind made it flutter around her legs.
"Kahlan," he said, shocking himself as much as peeking Cara and Zedd's interest. He had no idea what he was going to say next, but when she didn't turn or move he knew without a doubt she'd been here before.
"It's the ring of the spirits." Kahlan said, still standing exactly as she had been since they arrived. "People in the surrounding villages believe it lets the spirits visit our world. I've heard stories that they believe they've lived another life when they come here and when they return through the ring, they go back to the spirit world."
"That sounds like a fun holiday," Cara said sarcastically.
"The buttons?" Zedd asked.
Kahlan turned for the first time to look at him. "Only the spirits know the right combination to get them back to the spirit world." She said and jumped as the device started to rumble. Cara backed away from it, standing next to Richard with both agiels in her hand now. Richard drew his sword, not sure what to expect and wondering if only good spirits could come through the ring. Lights around the edge of the device lit up and he and Cara backed up until they were level with Zedd.
The explosion of water from the middle made them all take several steps back and Richard because aware that Kahlan was alone to the side of the device. He was just thinking of moving closer to her when a figure stepped out of the water, closely followed by three others.
"Oh a forest, what a surprise," a man said, looking around.
"Hi," the first one through said, a smile on his face even though he took in the sword Richard held ready. "I'm Colonel John Sheppard, this," he indicated to the man now holding a device out. "Is Doctor Rodney McKay," he pointed to the only woman in his group. "Teyla Emmagan and," he turned to the largest of their party. "Ronon Dex. We come in peace."
Richard could only quirk a brow at them, they were dressed in unusual clothes and all but one wore a vest over the top with many pockets. Richard could make out straps here and there and a holder for what he guessed was a weapon. A second weapon if the what they were holding was also a weapon.
"I'm Richard Cypher, Seeker of Truth," he said, almost daringly and still unsure what to make of these visitors. If Kahlan's stories was right, they wouldn't know they were spirits. He tilted his head towards his Grandfather. "First Wizard, Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander," he turned a little to Cara. "Mistress Cara of the Mord'Sith and," he tilted his chin towards Kahlan, aware that she'd moved more to the side of the device and just out of sight of their visitors. "Mother Confessors Kahlan Amnell." He waited as three of the group turned to look at Kahlan, he expected them to start and drop to their knees as most people did when they found themselves in her presents so suddenly. They didn't move except to turn back to Richard and he exchanged a quick and meaningful look with Kahlan.
"Wizard?" the one called McKay asked, a smug grin on his face.
"Let it go, McKay," Sheppard said.
"Just curious," McKay said turning back to his device.
"We are looking for a device," Teyla started. "It creates power to other devices, usually to protection shields."
"It's about so big," Rodney interrupted holding his hands about a foot apart, "Yellow and orange, weighs about as much as a bag of flour."
"It may be used more as a symbol of gods or spirits," Teyla said giving Rodney a scolding look.
"A round device," Richard said. "It glows slightly."
"Yes," Rodney said enthusiastically.
Richard turned to Cara and muttered. "It's in the Palace of the Prophets." He turned back to their visitors and examined each one. "What do you want with it."
"Well, it provides us with power to run our city, keeps us protected from people who want to kill us." Richard let his eyes flick to Kahlan, her face blank she gave him a slight nod.
"Will you use it to kill others?" Richard asked.
"No, we just need it for shields and computers."
"Computers?" Cara asked.
John pointed to the device Rodney was holding, "Things like that," he said.
Without hesitating Cara moved forward and snatched the computer from Rodney's hands. She turned it over and over, looking at every part of it, ignoring Rodney's attempts to take it back. Convinced it wasn't going to harm anyone she threw it back at the man and returned to her place beside Richard.
"Alright," Richard said, returning his sword to its scabbard, "I'll take you to it."
It took them two days to get back to the old world. Richard and Kahlan secured horses from a village only a few hours into the walk and it didn't take them long to realise their guests had no idea how to ride a horse and they had to give a few quick lessons before tying each of their guests horses to one of their own and setting off at a steady pace.
Richard kept close to Kahlan all the way there, aware that these people had no idea of the power she possessed and he found he didn't particularly want them to the find out. He could hear them chatting quietly behind them all the way and Rodney McKay complained at length about the condition of his legs at being forced to ride a horse, not to mention the smell of the horse and whatever else he could find the complain about. John and Teyla regularly scolded him for his complaints and John threatened several times to leave him somewhere if he didn't quit complain soon.
When they finally arrived they found several of the Sisters of the Light waiting out front for them. He would have to leave the explanations for the need to take away the device to their guests.
"The spirits told us you would be bringing guests to our palace." Verna said. "They instructed us to lead them to the temple of light for the item they require."
Richard quirked a brow he couldn't believe this was going so easily. Apparently, neither did John. He slid down from the horse with his brows up, thanked Verna and followed her inside with Teyla leaving Rodney and Ronon behind.
Turning the horses ready for the return journey, Richard pulled closer to Kahlan. "I've never known them to give something of worship up so easily."
"I've never known them to do anything easily," Cara said from his other side.
"They haven't left the Palace yet," Kahlan pointed out.
Richard studied her, she'd kept her Mother Confessor mask on from the moment their guests arrived. Everything from her posture to her expression screamed that she didn't like the situation.
"What's wrong?" Richard asked. Kahlan turned to look at him, the blank expression firmly in place. "Did they lie?"
"No," she said honestly. "It just seems strange that they want this particular item."
"We don't have to let them leave with it," Cara offered. "Or we could follow them back through the ring and see where they take it how they use it."
"If we go to the spirit world, we might never return," Zedd said.
A moment later, John and Teyla emerged from the Palace with the yellow and orange device in their hands. John was smiling as he handed it to Rodney and clambered back on the horse with very little grace. Teyla had no issue getting back into her saddle though and with a thank you to the sisters of the light they were heading back to the ring.
Back at the ring, Richard stopped John before he could reach the buttoned pedestal. "We'd like to see where you're taking the device."
John's eyes flicked to Kahlan at Richard's side before he answered. "Okay, we can arrange that." He turned to Teyla and gave her a nod. She stepped up to the pedestal and began pressing buttons. The water shot out from the middle again and Teyla vanished through.
"Will we be able to return?" Cara asked.
"Yeah," John said. "Any time you want."
Richard watched Ronon and Rodney vanish into the water. "Kahlan" he said. "Maybe you should stay here."
She turned a shark glare at him. "If anyone should remain here, Richard, it's you."
"Maybe you should both stay," Cara said. Richard began to argue with them and missed the moment that Kahlan stepped away from him and towards the ring. He reached for a moment too late and she stepped up to the water and pushed forcefully back by an invisible barrier. Lifted from her feet and almost thrown from the ring, Kahlan landed hard just in front of Richard and he dropped down to check on her before helping her up. John moved quickly to them to check she was alright before turning back to the ring and sticking his arm into the water.
Richard kept hold of Kahlan, keeping her steady on her feet as he watched Zedd move up to the ring and reach out with an arm. He couldn't put his hand into the water like John did, instead he received a sharp jolt from it and staggered back away from it. John, his arm still in the water looked shocked.
"I didn't feel anything," he said.
Richard considered for a moment, before asking a simple question. "Is there magic where you're from?"
"No," John answered.
"Magic is preventing us from going," Richard explained. "Kahlan, Zedd and I all posses magic. If we go through, chances are we won't have that magic in your world."
"Its stopping you so you don't end up coming back without magic too," John summarized.
Richard got up and held out a hand to John, he gripped it tight. "If you return here at any time, there is a village three hours walk that way," he pointed straight out from the front of the ring. Go there and ask for us, they'll get a message to use. But it might take a few days for us to get back here."
"Thanks," John said. "Easiest trip I've ever had and finally some trustworthy people." Richard smiled and watch John vanish into the water.