Not Quite the Lord of the Rings
by Lothithil
Not Quite The Lord Of The Rings
an SG-1/LotR crossover guest starring the DarkElf
Part six, Door Without A House
'Trying to follow an Elf through a wood is only slightly less difficult
than tracking a breeze across a clear sky,' O'Neill reflected. He tried
to stay as close as he could to Morlothiel, but she moved like a deer;
her legs seemed to grow from the ground beneath her, and whenever she
paused she disappeared against any background of trees or grass,
impossible to see until she moved again. Only pride kept him from
putting Teal'c at point-- pride and a desire to learn more about this
fascinating person.
"We should have hung a bell on her," he muttered to Carter as they walked.
"I know some professional dancers who'd like to have her moves," Sam responded lightly.
"You know some professional dancers? Are you going to introduce m--"
"No, Sir."
The Colonel sighed as if in great disappointment, but in truth he was
delighted. It had taken a long time to get Sam Carter to lighten up and
play the game, but now he knew he could count on her to banter with
him, giving back as good as he gave. It made even the most potentially
boring off-world missions into something to anticipate.
While they walked the colours of the world deepened as the sun dipped
to the serrated horizon. Twilight arrived with a sprinkling of eager
stars just as they returned to the Stargate.
The Stargate was located in a dell, protected on all sides by thick
belts of trees. A rill of water ran across the floor of the small
depression, showing them their own footprints marking the soft ground.
The gate stood gleaming in the rich violet light, the strange metal
glowing like the skin of some deep-sea creature, appearing alien and
yet at home in this landscape. Tenacious vines wove up and over the top
of the ring, opening their pale sun-shy blossoms to the growing
darkness.
"From here I know not whither the path that brought you." Morlothiel
walked to the edge of the stone platform that held the ring of the gate
upright. "I wonder how you came here, leaving no path to this place."
"Well," Carter came forward, somewhat hesitantly. "It's kind of
complicated... when the Stargate is activated, a corridor forms between
two gates outside of sub-space, allowing us to be transported instantly
to our destination."
Morlothiel frowned. "It sounds like strange sorcery indeed!"
"It's not sorcery, it's science." Carter looked toward her Colonel for
help. O'Neill raised his eyebrows in a 'how do you think I could
explain it if you can't' expression.
Daniel came to her rescue. "It all sounds strange because of the words
we must use to describe how we travel are words for which your people
have not yet found a need. We came here from another place. A place far
away. This is like a doorway and when we open it, it takes us to many
different places, depending on which of them we chose."
Morlothiel said, "A house may have many doors and each lead to a
different room. Here is no house and one door, and yet you say it leads
many places? I do not understand. Where is the water from which you
emerged? The stream here whispers of deep springs beneath the ground,
not strange hallways between the stars."
Daniel smiled. Advanced she may not be, but Morlothiel was obviously
not simple-minded. "The water is an illusion. It looks that way because
it is the closest thing in our minds to what we are seeing."
Morlothiel regarded Daniel closely. "I must allow myself to accept that
there is much I do not know. Not even the great smith Fëanor hath
conceived such things! To travel far with one step... I would see this
for myself."
Daniel sighed. "I wish that I could show you our world, Morlothiel.
Maybe someday-- if we are allowed to return-- I can come back and bring
you there. Right now, it would be dangerous for you to come, and our
leaders would not be pleased. I wish that we could take more time here.
I don’t want to leave this place."
"It would be dangerous for you to stay, Daniel." Morlothiel grew tense,
and everyone became aware of how quiet the forest around the dell had
become. "Go quickly! We have been followed!"
O'Neill had his P90 up even as the elf-woman drew her sword. "Dial home, Daniel! We've got company!"
Figures in the darkness sprang forward and he swung his gun toward
them, ready to fire. But to his alarm, Morlothiel ran forward to meet
them, sword already swinging. He could not fire without risk of hitting
her.
Teal'c leapt forward, swinging his staff-weapon like a club. The
creatures were moving fast, and their skins and clothes were as black
as the shadows from which they had emerged, but they howled and fell
just as many had before as the mighty Jaffa engaged them.
O'Neill fired at one creature that leapt toward Daniel, a single burst
that seemed to stop the beast more from surprise than from injury. It
stared down at the hole that had appeared in it's hide, then looked up
at O'Neill with a snarl and came forward, swinging a wickedly spiked
cudgel.
Daniel was urgently programming the address for home. His hands flew
over the curved surface of the DHD, leaving lighted symbols at each
touch. The chevrons on the gate lit up and the event horizon came
rushing out in a wave of electric-blue. The spectacle sent the
creatures staggering back in surprise.
Morlothiel used the distraction to slay her opponent and the orc beside
it. She had seen the gate come to life before, and while it was
marvelous and strange to her eyes, she had business at hand and friends
to protect. From the hand of one fallen orc she wrenched a short, ugly
knife and threw it with deadly accuracy, piercing the throat of an orc
who stood gaping at the Stargate.
O'Neill saw an opening and let go with his weapon on full-automatic.
The gun stuttered loudly, spitting light and death. The rest of the
orcs scattered back into the cover of the trees, yelping in alarm.
Carter rapidly entered the code on her GDO. "All clear, Sir!" she shouted, bringing up her own gun to cover the team's retreat.
"They will return swiftly with greater numbers!" Morlothiel said
grimly. Her sword dripped with black blood; it covered her hands and
spattered her clothes. "You should go quickly, O'Neill. It would be
most dangerous for you to return, now that the orcs have found your
doorway."
"We’re not leaving you here to face them all alone! You're coming with us!"
Morlothiel looked toward the gate then glanced around. The glow filled
the dell with shimmering light, and the gleam of red eyes was cast back
from the trees; dozens of evil lamps. "I feel the desire to finish this
fight, but I think I shall indeed come. Lead on!"
"LET'S GO! Daniel, Carter!" They instantly turned and ran to the gate,
stepping through the rippling circle. O'Neill walked backward,
navigating the steps easily as he covered his team's retreat.
Morlothiel stood beside him, sword still ready and a look of curiosity
and excitement on her face. "Come on, T!"
Teal'c obeyed, trusting O'Neill to cover him. As he turned toward the
gate, a wave of orcs leaped from the bushes, screaming and waving their
weapons. O'Neill's gun drove them back. From out of the trees came then
the whine and rip of arrows tearing through leaves. The deadly rain
fell around them, the flinty tips shattering against the stone of the
gate and slicing through the blue surface.
When Teal'c was with them, they all stepped into the strange water
together. Morlothiel threw out her arm as they staggered through and
O'Neill was ready to steady her. "The first time through the gate can
be disorienting... hey!"
The elf-woman had not lost her footing, however. She sagged against
him, the tip of the sword that she still held tightly in her hand
clanging on the metal ramp. From the center of her back protruded a
black-shafted arrow.
He caught her before she could fall, supporting her so that the arrow
would not do more damage. On her face a look of wonder fought with
pain. From her lips came a single word, before her grey eyes closed him
out:
"...B-beautiful..."