Ritual, by Amaranth Traces

The Day of Research

The next morning, Daniel woke up in the cool morning air with Sam’s warm body nestled in his arms, her head tucked under his chin. They were both lying on their sides, facing each other, with their legs tangled together. He revelled in the feel of her body in his arms. Daniel kissed the top of her head and sighed happily, wishing they could stay that way forever.

She stirred and he felt her breathing change. She was awake. Daniel expected her to pull away immediately, but she didn’t. He heard what he wanted to believe was a contented sigh and felt her arm tighten slightly around his body. They remained that way for several minutes. All too soon for him, she lifted her head. He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

Sam looked at the handsome man sleeping in her arms and smiled. She’d love to stay tangled up with him in bed all day but they had work to do today – namely finding a way to save the lives of their two friends. She placed one hand gently on his shoulder and whispered, “Daniel.”

His dazzling blue eyes opened, and she nearly gasped. “Morning.”

“Morning, Sam.” His face lit up in a brilliant smile.

“We really have to stop waking up like this.”

“Is it really so bad?”

She blinked at him. His voice didn’t have the teasing tone she would have expected to accompany a comment like that. Shaking her confusion off, she forced a laugh and sat up. “We have a busy day ahead. We have to learn about the ritual today.”

With breakfast, a woman arrived with a huge pile of documents. Some were bound as books, and some were loose scrolls. She carefully placed the pile on the floor in a corner and then left again without saying anything.

Sam looked at the pile worriedly. “Holy Hannah.”

“How long until this ritual?”

“It’s in three more nights.”

Daniel nodded. “Well then, let’s get started.”

Sam grabbed one of the bound books on the top of the pile and lay down on the bed. Daniel watched as she lay on her stomach and flipped open the book. Her feet wagged back and forth in the air. He smiled and turned to the pile of documents. Daniel took an armful of scrolls and sat on the floor, leaning against the side of the bed.

Daniel discovered something useful first. “Okay, I think I found it. This scroll outlines the laws that govern the behaviour of people from other tribes. It says that if there are misunderstandings or laws broken, then the woman can perform a ritual to become part of the tribe and promise that she and her men will obey the laws of that tribe.”

“Perfect. Does it explain what the ritual is?”

“Um, let’s see. Yes, here.” Daniel continued to read the scroll. “In the ceremony, there’s a vow that you have to take.” He winced and glanced at Sam. “It looks pretty long, too.”

“Too long to memorize?”

“No, no, I'm sure you'll be fine.”

“So, that's it? I give a speech and we go home?”

“Uh, no.” Daniel returned to reading the scroll. “There's also a ritual involving a bell and some wine, then...oh.”

“What?”

“The uh, ritual. It’s um, it's a bonding ceremony.”

“Bonding?” Sam frowned. “You mean as in...”

“As in marriage.”

Sam’s eyes widened.

“This says that in order to be accepted as a member of this tribe, you’ll have to take a vow that you and all of your men will obey the laws here. This tribe’s laws require that a woman places collars on her men to signify that they belong to her.”

Daniel read some more, then continued. “In their society, a woman takes a ‘first’ who is the true husband, and any other men that she takes are typically used for manual or domestic labour.”

Sam took a deep breath and puffed out her cheeks as she blew it out. “Okay, well no problem. It’s just an off-world ceremony. It doesn’t mean anything.”

Daniel winced. “Actually, that’s not completely true, Sam. I spent a lot of time after returning from Abydos getting my marriage to Sha’re to be recognised. The result of my efforts was the decision that all off-world marriages are now considered legal on Earth.”

“So, uh, oh boy.” Sam licked her lips thoughtfully. “Maybe we can explain to these women that—”

“That what?” Daniel interrupted. “That you lied to them since the beginning, and you don’t actually own any of us? Somehow I don’t think that would solve any problems, Sam.”

Sam dropped her head onto her arms and groaned into the bed. “So, three nights from now...I have to marry one of you?”

“There’s always an annulment when you get home.”

“Oh, thanks. That makes me feel so much better.” She lifted her head and looked at him, sighing. “Okay, let’s get some perspective. It’s not that big of a deal if it means saving the lives of Colonel O’Neill and Teal’c, right?”

“There might still be another alternative in all this.” He waved his hand at the still large pile of books in the hut.

“Good idea. Let’s keep looking.”

“Even if there isn’t though, we’re lucky that they have a law that allows leniency for people who don’t know the ways of their tribe.” Daniel looked at Sam seriously. “Most cultures are extremely intolerant of outsiders disobeying their laws. I know it’s not an ideal situation, but it could certainly be far worse.”

Lunch was dropped off, and by the time supper arrived, they had been through all of the books and scrolls but found no other options. They separated the documents into two piles: one for books with details about the ritual and the other for the texts that made no reference to anything helpful. Afterwards, they ate supper in silence, both lost in thought.

Their bath that night proceeded in a similar fashion to the night before. There wasn’t much time between when their evening meal was brought to them and when this planet’s sun set.

“Tomorrow we’ll have to go over the specifics for the ritual. I want to make sure I do everything perfectly so we can all leave this planet alive,” said Sam as they re-entered their hut.

She lit the light-stones to be able to see in the twilight.

“That’s a good idea. Traditional rituals can sometimes be rigorous in the level of detail that needs to be followed. We still have two days. I’m sure you’ll be prepared when the ceremony comes.”

“I’m so glad you’re here with me. I couldn’t do this without you, Daniel.”

“Sure you could.” He grinned at her as they settled into bed

“No, I don’t think so.”

Daniel propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at her. “Sam you’re the most capable person I know. You amaze me every single day. There is no doubt in my mind that you can do this.” He smiled softly at her and brushed her hair off her forehead.

She looked up at him and chewed on her bottom lip. “Daniel, I have to marry someone in a few days and,” she took a deep breath. “I was wondering if it could be you.”

“Me?”

Sam just nodded.

Daniel blinked at her. “I would have thought that you’d want—”

“Colonel O’Neill,” she finished for him. “Yeah, I know all about the rumours on the base about us. They’re not true. Besides that, it would be weird if I had to marry him or Teal’c.”

“Oh.” Daniel sighed and rolled onto his back to stare at the ceiling.

Sam pushed herself up on her elbow, looking down at him as he had done to her a moment earlier. She bit her lip again as she studied his face. “Daniel, you and I can get through anything. Besides, you said it yourself, we can get an annulment as soon as we’re back on Earth.” She watched him a moment before continuing softly. “It’s not a betrayal.”

He turned his eyes to her and frowned. “Betrayal?”

“Of Sha’re.”

The crease between his eyebrows deepened. “Sam, Sha’re is dead.”

Now it was Sam’s turn to frown. “I know...” she said slowly.

He sighed sadly and closed his eyes to hide his guilt. “The real betrayal is that I–I let her go long before that.”

“What? No, Daniel, you fought for her right to the end.”

“Yeah, but I knew that I’d never really have her back no matter what happened. It’s awful, Sam. Part of me was relieved when she died.” His voice was tortured. “At least her torment was over.”

Sam placed her hand on his chest and gazed at him with compassion. “That doesn’t make you a terrible person.”

“Maybe not, but falling for you while she was still out there does.” He opened his eyes and gazed up at her.

Her eyes widened in shock. I couldn’t have heard that right. “What?”

Daniel sighed and then pulled her hand from his chest, lifting it to his lips. He kissed her fingers as Sam watched, bewildered. “I’d be honoured to marry you, Sam, even if only for a little while.” He smiled at her.

Sam felt herself being swept away into the blue depths of his eyes. Leaning down, she kissed him. Her fingers escaped his hand and trailed down his arm as Daniel’s mouth responded to hers. Sam pulled away and gazed down at him.

He wrapped his arms around her and rolled so that she was lying on her back, and he was leaning over her. “What was that?” he asked quietly.

“I kissed you.”

“Ah, yeah. That part I figured out. Why?”

Sam shrugged with a small smile. “I’ve wanted to for a long time. I just never thought...”

“You’ve wanted to kiss me for a long time?”

“Yep.” She grinned sheepishly.

“Really.” Daniel considered this new information seriously.

“Daniel, I realised I was in love with you when Ma’chello took his little holiday in your body,” Sam whispered.

“Not long after me then,” he murmured, tracing the line of her cheek. “I was so afraid that we were going to lose you when Jolinar took you over. I knew then that I had fallen in love with you.”

Sam smiled. “You know, we lead really bizarre lives.”

He laughed and ran his finger lightly over her lips. They kissed again, and he looked at her solemnly. “I know this is quick, but we've known each other for so long. What would you think if we didn’t get that annulment once we get back home? We can just...see what happens?”

She raised her eyebrows at him. “That really is quick,” she said slowly.

“Don’t decide right away. Let’s both think about it though, okay?”

Sam smiled again. “Okay.”

With one more kiss, they turned off the light-stones. The respectful distance they had kept between them at the beginning of previous nights was forgotten as they snuggled comfortably in each other’s arms. Soon, they were both peacefully asleep.

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