Fic: Adjustments (3/3)

[melyanna]

Previously:

Part I
Part II


Kate did think for a moment to return to the queen's chambers, but instead, she set off for Elizabeth's garden. She had not been there since the snow melted, and she had to smile a little. It was mostly bare, but along the paths, the crocuses had bloomed. They were always the first to come up, often pushing through the snow in stubborn defiance of any lingering cold. Kate had always favored them, knowing that their coming meant winter would soon be over.

The night was cool, but fortunately she did not have to wait long. Marcus was there in a few minutes, smiling as he saw her. He was no longer wearing the sling on his injured arm. "My lady," he said, with a fond affection in his voice that made her blush.

Kate stood where she was, waiting for him to come to her. He approached her slowly, as though unsure of his footing, and when he stood before her, he merely held his hand out to her.

She did not take it. Instead, she cupped his face, feeling the roughness of his beard stubble against her palms. "Marcus," she whispered, while his hands came to rest at her waist.

"Kiss me," he said, pulling her even closer. His voice was low and rough, a tone Kate had not heard in a long time.

She could not have resisted him even if she had wished to. Wrapping her arms around him, she closed the distance between them and brushed her lips against his. His touch was light, even as his hands moved up and down her back, sending warmth through her. But he didn't push her for more, which surprised her a little. Now that they were together again, she would have thought he would be eager to make up for lost time, as it were.

Eventually, she drew away. His smile when their eyes met again was bright. "Kate," he murmured. Then he stepped back from her and offered his arm. "I think we should talk." He was right. Though they had spent nearly every free moment they could together in the last two days, they had not had the conversation they needed to have.

Without a protest, Kate took his arm. "What did my father say to you yesterday?"

"I imagine you know some of it," he replied, as they began to wander deeper into the garden. "He gave me a condition. This courtship must be in public."

"And so he said to me," she said. "I have to admit that that worries me somewhat."

"I know," Marcus agreed. "We neither of us are fond of such scrutiny."

Kate shook her head. "And yet we must be seen."

His expression turned amused. "Have you any idea how many people saw us the other day when you kissed me?"

That made her blush. They paused near a small statue of a young girl, near the middle of the garden. After Lord George had returned to his home in the fall, he had sent a box of bulbs and told the queen she might enjoy adding them to her garden. They had been planted in the box surrounding the statue, and the flowers were just beginning to come up. "They're called tulips," Kate said, as Marcus sat down on the low wall, and she joined him.

He reached out and brushed his knuckles against the soft pink petals of one of the flowers, which had not opened yet. "This is your favorite color, isn't it?" he said. "You wear it often."

"I suppose you are right," she replied. "But I do not think this is what you meant when you said we needed to talk."

He sighed at that and looked away. "I don't know, Kate," he said. "It is not in my nature to seek attention. I will do what I must to satisfy your father's wishes, but I am not looking forward to this."

But it had bothered him before that he could not speak to her or touch her in public. Sometimes he was an interesting contradiction, but that told Kate what to say. Gently she clasped his hand, drawing his gaze back to her. "And yet I know there must be something you desire to do without first looking over your shoulder," she said.

"To walk with you, arm in arm," he replied. "To touch your face, and see you smile. To tell you I love you, and hear you say the same. And to kiss you."

Kate was not at all surprised when he emphasized his words by cupping her cheek and leaning down to kiss her. This time it was not so innocent. This time he spared no fervency, and he left her quite breathless.

He stayed near, nuzzling her neck lightly, till she feared her skin might be reddened from the scrape of his beard. Yet she could not push him away. "I love you, Marcus," she whispered, wondering if this was the first time she had said that in so many words.

He quickly put such thoughts from her mind, however, with his next words. Low in her ear, he said, "I want to marry you, Kate." At that she gasped. It was so sudden, but he was not finished. "I do not want your answer now, for I've not asked you yet. But I want you to know how much I want to be your husband."

Marcus drew back, and Kate could see the serious and determined look in his eyes. He looked so different from the man who had tried to propose to her the summer before. Had the prospect of losing her forever to another man altered him so much?

No, she thought, it had strengthened him. It had helped him cast aside his fears and his doubts. For her part, the thought of marrying a man she did not love had pushed her to think about what her own happiness required. Now, with his earnest proclamation, she knew exactly what that meant.

"I want to be your wife, Marcus," she told him quietly and plainly. "I want us to find happiness in each other, and in serving our queen together. And I want to..." She paused, biting her lip. Her voice dropped as she finished the thought. "I want to be with you."

It took him a moment to realize her meaning, and this time it was his turn to blush. "Kate!" he hissed.

"I'm not a child, Marcus," she replied. "Inexperienced, but not a child."

"I know," he all but growled. "I told you once I would give a great deal to be your lover, Kate, but I would give greater still to be your husband. I cannot-"

"I know," she told him in kind, pressing her fingers to his lips. "We cannot. But I thought I would be honest."

His jaw was tight. "In the future, then, let us assume that such things are understood."

Kate smiled at him. "Very well. But where does that leave us now?"

"Are you asking if we are betrothed?" At her nod, he said, "It was not my intention tonight, but you have answered the question before I have asked it."

"I do not want to keep this a secret," she replied. "We've tried to keep too many of those."

He nodded earnestly. "Then perhaps we should seek your father's blessing, along with the queen's, but not let the news go much beyond that."

Kate agreed. "My father will think this is too sudden, though."

"We will give him the time he needs before it is announced," Marcus replied. "It will give me time to get you a ring."

With that he raised her fingers to his lips, and Kate's breath caught. Suddenly she understood why Elizabeth had always had such trouble with John doing that, and she was very glad that Marcus did not often have occasion to kiss her hand.

"Come, my lady," he said, rising, her hand still in his. "I will take you to the queen. I am certain she has need of you."

That was probably true, and together they left the garden. But this time, instead of merely walking alongside him, Kate took his arm and stayed quite near him. It was not the grandest gesture they could make in public, but it was a start.

Having left Laura and Carson hovering over their sleeping daughter, Teyla intended to return to her room and go directly to sleep. As she walked down the corridor, though, a shadow loomed out from the wall and made her heart jump for a moment before the man came into the light enough to reveal himself.

Teyla swallowed, glaring a little at Ronon as he looked down at her with a slightly mischievous expression. "Highness." She had thought of him many times in the last two days, while her hands had been busy with work in Athos. Even after all that time, she did not know what to think about what had passed between them.

To her great surprise, he spoke first. "My lady. I need your help with something."

His expression was serious, so she dismissed the idea that this was some sort of illicit invitation. "All right."

He half-turned and then stopped himself, looking back at her. "Will you come with me?"

She hesitated for a moment but nodded, and he moved down the hall without another word. Teyla followed, realizing they were heading for the room that had been given to him. She had no idea what precisely was happening, but she elected not to ask. Despite what she had seen him do during the battle, she did not fear him. She hoped that was not foolish thinking.

He opened the door and stood back to let her into the room. When she was inside he moved as if to close the door entirely, but something in her face must have given away her concerns, for he merely closed the door over without shutting it.

Some of the tension left her and now that they were alone, she dropped the formalities. "What is it, Ronon?"

He walked to the small table before the fire and picked up a pair of scissors. He let out a deep breath. "When I was eight years old, I was sent to foster with my uncle. My father wanted me to be somewhere that I wasn't being treated as a prince all the time. Satedan warriors traditionally began their training at that age, and ten years later, if they proved themselves, they were recognized as warriors."

Teyla nodded, though she was mystified as to what this had to do with anything. The practice of fostering had faded out in Atalan some time ago when the nation had begun to rely on a professional army rather than the militias of the local lords.

Ronon stared at the fire in silence for a minute, and she was loath to speak until he managed to drag himself back from whatever visions he was seeing. "In those years, the boys didn't cut their hair. When a Satedan became a warrior, his hair was cut off to show he'd reached manhood."

After a moment, she realized what he was telling her. "You were still in training when the Wraith came."

Ronon nodded. "I vowed that I wouldn't cut my hair until I had slain the scum who had destroyed my family."

It explained why the long, heavy locks of his hair were intact. On a ship filled with vermin and lice, his hair was a problem, and though she hated to think of it, long hair was a liability in the kinds of fighting Ronon had surely seen as a prisoner.

She considered asking if he was certain, but decided against it. The man had spent seven years thinking of this. It was not for her to question him. She held out a hand for the scissors and gestured to the stool. "You should sit near the fire, where the light is the best."

He moved the stool and sat down, which put his head at about her shoulders. Teyla repressed a sigh as her arms protested and took careful hold of one of the long locks. She paused for a moment, long enough for his eyes to flicker up at her, and then began to cut.

He must have washed his hair sometime in the last day; it was still damp near the roots, but it was clean. She had to cut close to his scalp to remove the locks entirely, which involved threading her fingers through his hair over and over. Ronon twitched occasionally, particularly when her fingers brushed against his ears. He glared at her when he caught her grinning at him, but they did not speak while she concentrated. His body was solid and his skin was warm against her hands and her knees as she moved around him. She could feel some of the tension leaving his body as she worked.

It was strange watching the metamorphosis unfold. Within only a few days, she had grown accustomed to his wild appearance, and as his hair was shed into a mess on the floor, he seemed to be changing into a stranger before her eyes.

At length she finished. She placed the scissors down carefully and watched as Ronon reached up to run a hand over his head. She thought his fingers trembled slightly but in the flickering light of the fire it was difficult to be sure. His eyes caught hers and he nodded. "Thank you."

"You are welcome," she replied quietly.

For a moment they just stared at each other. Teyla couldn't help remembering the other night, the way he had looked at her, the way his hands had pulled her roughly to him while they were kissing. She thought from his expression he was remembering as well, but he looked away, toying with a lock of hair that had landed in his lap.

"What will you do now?" Tense silence was not helping either of them, and it occurred to her that perhaps she could more easily settle her own feelings if she knew what would happen next.

Ronon hesitated for a moment before answering. "I asked the queen to grant me the small Wraith ship that was captured in the battle. I spoke to her earlier this evening."

His answer had produced the opposite effect of what she was hoping for. Another silence fell, this one much longer and even more fraught as the implication of his words sank in.

Ronon was leaving. Teyla did not know if Elizabeth would give him the ship, not with the state of the navy following the attack. But it seemed likely if he was determined enough to brave an audience with Elizabeth and make such a request, then his intention was to go.

Unfortunately this knowledge finally made her own feelings apparent. She did not want him to leave.

But she had no right to ask him to stay, not after everything he had been through, not after what he had done for them all.

Ronon was fidgeting uncomfortably by now and Teyla feared what he might say next. Her thoughts were too jumbled at the moment, so she straightened. "It is getting late. I should take my leave."

Ronon rose but she nodded to him and hurried out the door before he could speak. She heard him say her name lowly but she continued down the hall to her own chambers without looking back.

The next morning, John was awoken by a servant bearing a request from the queen for his assistance with something. He knew the college was meeting later in the day, so he dressed himself swiftly and ate a quick breakfast before heading for Elizabeth's rooms.

She was sitting with Daniel and Kate. He nodded to them all and slipped into the empty chair next to Daniel. Elizabeth spoke to her cousin, clearly continuing the conversation, "So all of the servants have returned?"

"Nearly, my lady. The residents of the city are also returned. The shopkeepers are talking about petitions for compensation. The supplies that were requisitioned for the defenses must be paid for."

Elizabeth looked slightly grim but she nodded. "Have word sent that we shall begin doing so within two days' time. It would not do to delay and risk appearing as though we do not intend to honor the debts."

Daniel agreed and after a few more comments regarding the state of repairs on the island and resupplying materials that had been used up in the last week, Elizabeth folded her hands in her lap. John knew her well enough to know it meant she was about to introduce a new subject. "I spoke to Prince Ronon yesterday. He has made a request and I am not sure what to do about it."

"We owe him a great deal," John observed, at the same time as Daniel said, "What was it?"

Daniel looked at him in exasperation. John glared back. Elizabeth cleared her throat softly, her expression amused for a moment before becoming serious again. "He has asked for the small Wraith ship which we captured in the battle."

Daniel blinked. "He intends to leave, then?"

"I believe so."

John was surprised. He would not have thought Ronon would desire to be at sea again, perhaps ever.

"He could have claimed a reward," Daniel said, his forehead furrowed in thought. "He could have purchased passage anywhere he wished to go. Why would he want an entire ship?"

"Would you wish to place yourself at the mercy of a even a trading captain after what he's been through?" John asked pointedly.

"Daniel's point is well-taken," Elizabeth interjected with a glance in John's direction. "I did not ask for particulars at the time, but I wonder what his purpose might be. Especially as he said he would be willing to take any of the Wraith prisoners who cannot be released with him."

That was odd, John had to admit. He looked at Elizabeth for a moment before realizing her conclusions. "You believe he intends to take up piracy for himself?" he asked, incredulous.

"It is not the most outlandish thing in the world," Daniel muttered. "He's been brutalized for seven years. Violence and thieving have been all he knows."

John shook his head, struggling with the urge to leap out of his chair. "I don't believe that. If he had gone the way of his captors, he would not be here. And nor would we, for he never would have risked his life to deliver the warning to the queen."

"I am not disputing that, but now that the battle is over, if he returns to the open sea in command of a ship, particularly filled with men used to violence and stealing, I wonder at how long such a temptation may be resisted," Daniel replied.

"Do you mean then to hold him here against his will?" John shot back.

"No," Elizabeth cut in, her voice firm. "I am obligated to the prince, as is the entire nation, but I will not make that debt a burden, nor impose my will on anyone in that manner. But the question remains open what I do to facilitate his choices."

"With the state of the navy, it may not be that we can spare even so small a ship," Daniel said, his voice more subdued. "I can speak to Pendergast to ask for his opinion on the matter."

Elizabeth nodded, biting her lip slightly. It was clear she had not made up her mind. She glanced at Kate, who shrugged. "I have spent no time with the man. Lord John and Lady Teyla would have a stronger measure of him than I."

"Beckett as well," Daniel put in.

"I shall speak to them today." It seemed there was no consensus for the moment. She rose and the others followed suit, but Elizabeth must have noticed something in John's face for she paused. "You have something you wish to say, my lord?"

John hesitated before blurting out, "The man I fought beside, who saved the queen's life, is an honorable man. It is a small thing he asks. I can understand his desire to be master of his own fate once more after so many years of having his freedom denied. I do not believe anyone has the right to stand in the way of that."

"Even if in freedom he presents a danger to someone?" Daniel asked him.

"I do not believe that will be the case. Or at least that the prince would be a danger to anyone but those who bring harm on themselves." That made Elizabeth smile slightly, and he decided to push a little more. "Ronon may not intend to leave permanently. I hope he would always find a welcome here."

Thankfully she did not look offended by his words. "Of course. He may be a prince without a country, but even if he were not, we would not have saved Atlantis without him." She gave him a playful look. "I have it on good authority that rescuing the Queen of Atalan is a strong inducement to remaining."

John's ears turned pink and Kate smothered a laugh. Daniel merely sighed heavily. "Cousin, we really need to speak about your tendency to take in strays like this."

When her conference with Daniel and John was concluded, Kate walked with Elizabeth as she slowly made her way from her chambers. She leaned on her companion a few times as they descended, but she was able to walk the whole way. That might have pleased her under other circumstances, but instead Elizabeth felt a pang of guilt as she entered the infirmary. There were still many men here being tended by doctors, and more lives had been lost since the funeral. She had not time to visit all of them either, as the college was assembling shortly. But since she had already climbed down the stairs, it seemed a good opportunity to see Peter.

He was propped up in a bed, staring listlessly at the ceiling. She was relieved to see some color in his face. Even though Daniel had brought her the news yesterday that Peter was awake and Carson was hopeful, she had been worried.

"Majesty." Instinct kicked in and Peter began to sit up before freezing in place with a grimace. Kate, who had been supporting Elizabeth's arm, shot forward to ease the young man back down carefully.

"I think, Peter, for the duration you are excused from standing or trying to when we encounter each other," Elizabeth said dryly. "The last thing I want is to prolong your recovery."

"Thank you, my lady," he said, somewhat breathless from the pain still.

Kate fetched a stool and Elizabeth sat down, feeling awkward. "I also should beg your forgiveness for not coming sooner."

Peter shook his head. "Of course not, my lady. One person's injuries could not take precedence over the entire nation. And Doctor Beckett informed me you were injured as well."

She nodded. The memory of the brief flight from their sanctuary, the Wraith pirate looming over her in the stairwell, the sight of Marcus bleeding badly from injury, was not something she would soon be able to forget. But she was no stranger to violence. The young man lying before her was less familiar with it, odd as that was. "I could not manage the stairs until today, or I should have been here. Even now I fear I have only a moment. The college is convening." She told Peter of Hurst's death, which it seemed he had not heard yet, and discussed Lord David becoming chancellor.

Peter reiterated what some of her advisors had mentioned. Lord David was so far as anyone knew next in line for the throne if something happened to her. Having him act as chancellor gave him experience with matters of state, and would reassure the nation that the order of succession was in place, even if they all hoped such a thing would never occur.

Impulsively, Elizabeth reached out and placed a hand over Peter's. "I have missed your help and your counsel these last days," she said. He looked abashed at her praise so she stood. "I will need you at full strength when you return, Peter, so I expect to hear from Doctor Beckett that you are being a model patient. I will not have you rushing your recovery on any account, not even my own."

He smiled a little. "As you wish, my lady."

"I shall visit whenever I can, Peter." She nodded to him and she and Kate departed. Once they were out of earshot, she turned to Kate. "Make sure his rooms are being made ready and he has whatever care he needs. Be sure to speak to Daniel as well. We should find some books to help keep him occupied. I imagine Carson will have him resting much of the time."

"I will, my lady."

Elizabeth sighed. "I should not play favorites, I know, but Peter is no soldier, and he fought without hesitation." And came close to dying for his bravery, she knew.

Kate squeezed her arm gently. "He will recover, Elizabeth. And hopefully within a reasonable amount of time." When Elizabeth shot her a look, she raised her eyebrows. "I remember all too well what it was like before you had a secretary to manage your schedule."

Elizabeth's lips twitched in spite of herself. There had been a number of occasions where her appointments had been hopelessly disordered and someone inevitably ended up offended, until Peter was there to bring order to her days.

"And with the wedding approaching, I imagine the chaos is only just beginning," Kate added with a smile.

They were approaching the college chamber by then, so she merely sighed. "Do not remind me."

Elizabeth entered the assembly without assistance, but to climb the steps of the dais she had to lean heavily on Kate's arm. The room had quieted upon her arrival, and she felt even more on display than usual. She held in her grimacing as best she could as she sat upon her throne and looked out at the assembly. At least everyone knew already that she had been injured, so a new round of wild speculation was less likely.

"My lords, my ladies," she said, looking out among them, "as you can see, the chancellor's chair stands empty. Two days ago we received word of the death of Lord Benjamin Hurst. He was a good friend to us, a loyal servant of Atalan, and he will be sorely missed."

She waited there, and for once the college understood her wish without being told. Everyone held silent for a long minute. Some of the men, especially the older men who had been Hurst's peers and friends, bowed their heads in solemn respect for their colleague. But then Elizabeth caught Lord David's gaze, and it was time to move ahead.

"We have asked Lord David Heightmeyer to take up the chancellorship, and he has accepted."

There was a burst of murmuring, but no one stood to speak. It surprised Elizabeth immensely, though it was probably because Samuels and Glaston were still away. She was not exactly troubled by their absence. "Lord David, come forth."

He did so, coming up the steps of the dais slowly and kneeling before her. "My lord," she said, "do you swear your service to the governance of your countrymen, as chancellor of the college of your peers?"

"I swear it, your Majesty," he replied, his voice steady and confident.

"Then we hereby appoint you chancellor of the college of lords," she told him simply, and he rose to kiss her hand.

Then, after a brief, private smile at Kate, he took the empty seat and struck the gavel against the arm of the chair. "The college will hear the Countess of Athos," he said, in his first act as chancellor.

Teyla rose, and Elizabeth was struck for a moment at how beautiful her friend looked. She remembered just a few days ago that Teyla had still been dressed in her battle clothes and traces of blood were dried on her face. But there was one constant: Teyla was composed no matter her situation. Now she nodded to the new chancellor in thanks and looked about at her colleagues. "My lords, there are many stories of the battle which I could tell you now, stories of our brave sailors, of the young men who volunteered to risk their lives for their capital. But I wish to tell you of something very few saw, for it happened inside the walls of this palace."

Elizabeth's breath caught as she realized what Teyla was about to do, but she could not bear to stop her either. "A handful of Wraith broke through the lines and entered the palace," Teyla said. "They found their way to the corridor where the queen was staying with Lady Laura, who could not be removed from the palace. They fought with the two guards who remained with the queen. They might have succeeded and done great harm had it not been for Ronon, Prince of Sateda."

Her eyes darted up to the gallery and Elizabeth followed her gaze. John was sitting next to Ronon, who to her surprise had cut off his messy hair. He was almost unrecognizable. "The prince saw the Wraith break through," Teyla continued calmly. Elizabeth wondered for a moment who had been her source. "He followed them, and Lord John of Sheppard saw Prince Ronon enter the palace and came too. Together they came upon the Wraith as they fought with the queen's guards. But these two men stopped the Wraith and saved Queen Elizabeth and her ladies." She paused, looking at Ronon again. "Athos thanks Prince Ronon for saving the queen."

Amid the murmurs of agreement and raps on the railing, Teyla curtseyed to him slightly. For his part, the prince looked rather unnerved by the scrutiny, but eventually returned a stiff nod. But Teyla was not finished. "As for Lord John, I believe there is a concrete way we can thank him for his service," she said. "As you are all aware, this is not the first time the marquis has saved the queen's life. During this battle, Lord John also commanded the archers, who were a great defense for us. Were it not for his leadership, we on the ground would have faced an impossible task. He has proven himself over and over to be loyal to our queen and our country. I call on my peers today to give their assent to the queen's request, for he has proven himself worthy to be named the Prince of Atalan."

With that she nodded to Elizabeth and took her seat. To Elizabeth's surprise, however, the room was relatively quiet for several moments, and not with the tense silence of impending outrage. After a minute, Lady Sarah stood, was recognized by Lord David, and said simply, "Berwynn seconds Athos."

She too sat down, and Jack rose, then Daniel, then a dozen more. By the time Lord David called for a vote, Elizabeth was having a hard time keeping a smile off her face. John would be crowned Prince of Atalan. The vote was not even close.

When all other business had been concluded, Elizabeth waited in the little antechamber she used to enter and exit the hall. John was there after only a few moments. He swept her into an embrace and nearly off her feet, even though they were not alone. "That was it," he said in her ear. "The last hurdle."

Elizabeth drew back and beamed at him. "I was wrong about one thing," she said, which got a confused look from him. "I said I would be your wife by midsummer, and you my consort." Tenderly she brushed her fingers across his lips and his jaw. "You will be my prince."

He grinned. "Today I will not take amusement in your being wrong."

In retrospect, Teyla was relieved Ronon had told her of his request to the queen the night before. When Elizabeth raised the issue with her following the meeting of the college, Teyla was able to remain calm in the face of the queen's questions.

Teyla observed that they had no right to prevent Ronon from leaving Atlantis or Atalan if he so chose, and that the least they could do for him was grant him the ship. She objected, though, to turning loose the most savage of the former slaves. Sending such wild men out into the world would merely make them a danger to someone else. Better they stay and serve out their days where they could at least be prevented from harming anyone.

Elizabeth looked surprised at this, but then Daniel appeared in the audience chamber and spoke quietly to Elizabeth for a moment. The queen seemed to come to some decision, for she summoned the prince and Teyla had only a few moments to steady herself before Ronon entered the room.

The glance he shot her was rueful and she knew her words during the assembly had flustered him. Some part of her took a measure of satisfaction. It was unfair that he could discompose her so easily. She would take whatever advantage she could get.

They did not speak, though, for Elizabeth commanded the attention of the room. "Prince, thank you for coming. I have decided to grant your request regarding the captured ship. It is the least Atalan can do for you after you have done so much for us."

Ronon bowed his head slightly, but his eyes never left Elizabeth. "And the men?"

She flickered a glance at Daniel, then at Teyla. "My advisors have reviewed them. There are some who seem of sound mind. We will offer them the option to go with you, on the condition that you promise to return those with homes to their loved ones with all speed."

Anger flashed across his face but Elizabeth forestalled any outburst with a raised hand. "I cannot in good conscience release men who would be a danger to others or to themselves." Ronon raised an eyebrow, a silent reminder of the great danger he could present if he chose. Elizabeth let out a tiny sigh of exasperation. "These men no longer know friend from foe. They do not know themselves. The risk is too great."

There was a short staring contest. Teyla had met only a few people who could outlast the Queen of Atalan in such a contest, and Ronon, for all his ability to fluster her, was no match for Elizabeth.

The queen turned to her cousin, who stepped forward slightly and addressed Ronon. "I chanced to speak to Master Thor of the Asgard this afternoon and told him of your request. He reminded me that we received word in the months after Sateda was destroyed from the late King of Iolan." Daniel lifted a parchment he carried in his hand. "The king wrote that he had granted safe haven to a few hundred survivors of Sateda who appeared on Iolan's shore in the aftermath of the Wraith attack."

Ronon stared at Daniel in shock for a moment, his body actually swaying slightly. When he spoke his voice was barely a whisper. "My people? In Iolan?"

"We received no further information, so the best I can say is that some of the Satedans are likely still there," Daniel told him, not unkindly.

Ronon swallowed audibly and Teyla repressed the urge to reach for him. He appeared shaken to the core by the news.

"It will take a few days for things to settle down," Elizabeth put in gently. "In that time you may assemble supplies for your journey and see to your new ship." She paused for a moment and then reached her hand out to him. "You will always have a welcome in Atlantis, my lord, so long as I or any of my kin are here. I owe you my life and the life of my future husband, as well as the safety of my country." Ronon took her hand and bowed again, looking uncomfortable, but Elizabeth smiled. "Wherever your travels may take you, I hope you will return to us at midsummer. John and I would be pleased to have you at our wedding celebration."

That got a small smile from the prince. "I shall bear that in mind, my lady."

Teyla could not help that her heart beat slightly faster at his words. He took his leave of Elizabeth, but before he left the room his eyes met hers. She knew they would have opportunities to speak again before he departed, but in that moment she saw what she fervently hoped was a promise, the only one she could hope for just now. That he would not forget, and that he would return when he was ready.

After her meeting with Prince Ronon, John escorted Elizabeth back to her chambers. Kate disappeared for a few minutes, which surprised him somewhat. He quickly busied himself with other matters, however, sending for ice, which arrived shortly. Elizabeth was sitting near the fire, and he paused briefly to stoke it. She was going to need the extra warmth in a moment.

Elizabeth hardly looked up from her reading as John settled himself on a low stool in front of her chair. It wasn't until he rested his hand against her ankle that she gave a start. "My lord?" she prompted.

"I believe Doctor Beckett would tell you to tend to your knee now, after all the walking you just did," he replied. Delicately he ran his fingertips under the hem of her gown. "If I have my lady's permission?"

She bit her lip, her breathing quicker than a moment before. "Where is Kate?" she asked. "We have already proven that we ought to have a chaperone."

He grinned at her wickedly. "I do not know. But I do know that this ice will melt whether she is here or not."

Elizabeth huffed at him, which made him chuckle. "You have my permission, but if you stray an inch beyond your allotted task, I will have the guards haul you out."

"Very well, Majesty," he replied.

Deftly he lifted her skirt, pulling her foot up to rest on his thigh. She winced a little at that but shook her head when he looked at her in concern. "It's only a little sore," she told him.

He was tempted, very tempted, to remove her stocking as he had when she had first injured herself, but it was not strictly necessary. Mindful of her warning, he prepared the compress and fixed it upon her knee. Then he grabbed the blanket that had been left on the arm of the chair and draped it over her legs, both to keep her warm and to preserve her modesty.

"Is that acceptable, my lady?" he asked, only half teasing.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Quite, my lord."

"At least this happened now, and not a few weeks hence," he remarked, which drew a confused look from her. "I am reasonably sure that when you and I are married, your knee will be fully healed. We will be able to dance as much as we like, and I will not fear giving you further pain on our wedding night."

She blushed and bit her lip again. "John, much as I look forward to that night, I would rather not speak of it."

John chuckled a little and leaned forward to place a conciliatory kiss upon her ring.

Gingerly he rose and placed her foot on the stool where he had been sitting. John was about to sit down next to her when the door opened quietly. Kate had returned, which did not surprise him, but Marcus trailed after her. He met Kate's eyes and asked, "Should I go?"

She shook her head. "Stay, if you like."

John sat down as he had intended, and Elizabeth watched curiously as the other pair approached her. "My lady," Kate said, looking more nervous than John had ever seen her, "we would like your permission to be married."

Elizabeth smiled brightly, though her lips trembled a little. "Of course you have it," she replied, "and all the blessings I can offer."

Kate leaned down and they kissed each other's cheeks, and Elizabeth gripped Marcus' hand as the captain grinned. John knew that expression, having felt that way himself after Elizabeth accepted his proposal. He rose then and shook Lorne's hand, and then he took Kate by the shoulders and kissed both her cheeks. That surprised her somewhat. "I'm very happy for you," he said, before Kate threw her arms around his shoulders and he found himself stumbling backwards slightly.

The embrace was not overly long, as neither of them was given to such outbursts of emotion. When John released Kate, she reached back for her captain, who took her hand and kissed it. "Has your father given his blessing?" Elizabeth asked.

"He gave his blessing to my courtship," Marcus replied. "From what Kate said of their conversation, he sounded very much like he intended to bless our union as well."

"We thought we would give him a few weeks before we apply to him for permission to marry," Kate said. "A courtship of three days' duration would never satisfy him, even if he expects that courtship to end in a marriage."

It made some sense to John. They had been courting for years, in an informal sense, but Lord David was not privy to all the details of it. "When will you be married?" he asked.

"As soon as the earl will allow," Marcus replied, putting his uninjured arm around Kate's waist. "Though I doubt it will be before you and the queen are wed." He glanced quickly at Kate, who looked vaguely apologetic for some reason.

Elizabeth smiled. "I am not sure if we could endure the stress of planning another wedding on top of ours." John groaned lowly at the reminder and Elizabeth swatted his hand. She turned back to Kate. "I fear with Peter recovering and Laura tending to Moira, I will not be able to give you as much time to yourself as I would like, Kate, but I hope we can come to some accommodation."

Kate nodded. "Thank you, my lady."

Elizabeth waved at them. "We can begin now. Off with you both. My betrothed has just reminded me we have wedding details of our own to discuss."

Kate laughed and Marcus shot him a sympathetic look, but they were swift to make for the doors. Once they were gone, John looked at Elizabeth and asked plaintively, "Do I really have to hear wedding plans?"

Elizabeth chuckled. "Not tonight, no, but I'm sure when Lady Catherine returns we neither of us will have much peace until she is satisfied."

He sighed at the thought. Elizabeth shifted closer and John put an arm around her shoulders, enjoying the simple pleasure of holding her at the end of a long day. He pressed a kiss to her dark hair. "Then we should enjoy the peace and quiet while we have it."

Elizabeth didn't say anything. John looked down at her face, wondering at the wistful expression. "Elizabeth?"

She shook her head. "It is nothing."

He didn't speak, but she raised her eyes a moment later and saw that he was still watching her. She sighed. "Kate and Marcus are engaged, Laura has just had a baby, and Sarah will soon have hers. The Wraith were just defeated, the lost heir of Sateda was found and the college has sanctioned our marriage," she rattled off quickly. "So much has changed, is changing. It is a little overwhelming."

He thought of the changes he had left in Caldora before returning home, which he had not had time to think of for days. He reached for Elizabeth's hand, his thumb brushing against her engagement ring. "Some things remain constant, Elizabeth."

She looked up at him curiously, and he leaned down and kissed her slowly, until she was melting into his arms and he needed to end the kiss before the temptation became too much. Elizabeth smiled at him, her cheeks pink, and then cuddled against his shoulder, her body warm against his side. They stayed that way until the sun had set and the clock struck the hour.