Title: Castles
Author's Notes: Have I said how much I like this ship pairing? I'm hoping I got into Jen's head this time (not sure) so feel free to let me know if I didn't quite get her right! A little adventure plus I finally get them into bed. :)
Warning: Please note that the last part of chapter 7 has an M rating for sexual content. I couldn't figure out how to fix the rating for the chapter so here's the warning! Everything else is rated T. I'll post another warning at the start of Ch.7. It doesn't detract from the story if you need to skip it - but just be warned about the content!
When she was a little girl, Jennifer dreamed of living in a castle. Daydreaming about handsome knights on white steeds, rescuing princesses from evil henchmen, castles with moats, dragons and swords. She was always the princess in need of being rescued, and the knight was always a handsome nobleman.
Of course.
As she got older, the dreams faded, but never truly disappeared. Instead they were replaced with the more grown-up notion taking a European castle tours. Spending each night in a different castle while you traveled around the countryside. But with her studies and everything else that had gone on in her life, she'd never been able to actually do more than read about the tours in travel magazines, and daydream, never really thinking she'd ever be given the opportunity to go.
And now here she was, about to spend the night in a castle.
It wasn't European.
But it was a castle.
A fully functional, straight out of a movie set turret topped castle. Heck it even came with a moat… minus any flesh eating crocodiles or other alien life-form… much to Rodney's relief. The rooms were massive and medieval with their dark gray stone construction and tapestries hanging floor to ceiling. Light was provided with giant chandeliers and candelabras lining the archways and hallways – artificially lit – but glowing with an energy that very much resembled the flickering fire from candle wicks.
She had to admit, the building, the artwork, the whole atmosphere was really quite astounding. She took in as much as she could while accompanying John and Ronon down the long corridor and into a massive library to await their hosts.
John had already explained the people on this particular planet were very private. They'd only met a few of their more outgoing leaders, and from what Jen understood, outgoing was Colonel Sheppard's way of saying they didn't speak much.
She'd come to analyze some samples of what Teyla described as a very strong antidote to several common Pegasus species of poisonous insects. Hope had circulated through her lab to use the research in the Ancient database to create a strain of antivenin they could send out with all the off-world teams. It wouldn't work for everything, but every little bit helped when even the cute fluffy bunnies were carnivores with teeth sharp enough to rip your arm off. She'd originally intended to send Dr. Oberi, but then she'd heard John and Ronon were staying in a castle – a castle - and well, she'd changed her mind and volunteered herself.
Now, as she stood in the library staring at the massive floor to ceiling array of books, she was really glad she'd pulled rank and volunteered herself. The place was fascinating! In this room, shelves and shelves were filled to overflowing with hard covers and tomes, texts and bound volumes. It would have been an impressive collection in any galaxy. She stepped closer to the shelves and circled the room, eyes fixed on the shelves and their overwhelming collection.
At the exact moment she stepped across the open doorway, a grey cloaked figure appeared directly in her path. An older man, looking to be about fifty by Earth standards, he was wrapped head to toe in an overflowing robe. He would have looked very-monk like if not for long grey hair he had braided and hanging down over one shoulder.
For a brief moment, Jen had the startling double vision of a massively oblong skull floating in place of the man's face – a horrifying shadow with hollowed out eye sockets and stark white hair.
She gasped and jumped back, her hip banging against a small table. But as quickly as the image appeared, it was gone and she was left staring at the closed expression on the older man's ordinarily human features.
"Oh good, I see you've already met." Sheppard said good-naturedly. "Chancellor Zale, this is Dr. Keller. Dr. Keller, our host, Chancellor Zale."
Jen stepped forward, hesitating, unsure of their form of greeting. She didn't want to stick out her hand and find herself suddenly locked in the local jail for grievously insulting royalty like Rodney had on PX2-119.
She was saved from any major faux pas when the Chancellor clasped his hands together and bowed formally. She repeated the motion. "Chancellor." She smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"Zale, please." He smiled in return.
"Zale, then. Please call me Jennifer."
"Jennifer." He repeated, breaking up the syllables. "An unusual name."
Jen shrugged. "Actually quite ordinary where I come from."
He nodded then turned towards Sheppard. "I realize your days are set differently than ours and it is actually very late in your day, but we are about to sit down to our night meal. Please join us?"
Jen looked at John, who shrugged then nodded. "I don't see why not. Ronon here is always hungry."
She glanced quickly at Ronon, who was standing a few feet away, watching their exchange. Watching her. He hadn't spoken since she'd stepped out of the gate to meet up with him and the Colonel, not even to say hello. She was a little hurt, and a little curious as to what she might have done wrong, but she was also here to work so she tried not to let his silence swirl around in her thoughts. Tried and failed. Ignoring the man was like trying to ignore a pyramid in the middle of the prairies. He was too much of a presence. So instead she decided to avoid looking directly at him. Which is exactly what she was doing right now. Staring right into those amazing green eyes. Eyes that were locked just as intently onto hers. Yep, good job of ignoring him, Jen. She blinked and forced herself to turn back to her host.
Zale smiled at Jen and swung out his arm, indicating she was to walk with him. She looked for John's nod indicating it was okay before she accompanied the Chancellor out of the library. As they continued down the long hallway, Zale pointed out the function of various rooms along the way, sitting rooms and more libraries, storage closets and several other hallways that branched off to various parts of the castle. The place was massive and Jen commented such, prompting a smile from Zale and an indication there was much more to see on the other levels.
They met up with two more similarly dressed men, a younger man who's features resembled Zale's so perfectly that Jen didn't need anyone to tell her she was looking at the man's son. Introduced to Marton, she repeated the bow she'd made earlier. The other man, who was wearing a black robe, stood back to the side and was basically ignored. She smiled towards him but he looked startled and averted his eyes. She decided he must be an employee or servant and probably wasn't allowed to talk to the guests. An archaic practice, but it fit the overall castle environment.
As they continued down the hallway, Zale's son stepped in with them, and the servant simply bowed then hurried down a secondary hallway.
Passing another entrance, Jen glanced in through the half-open doorway and quickly saw that while all the other rooms and areas were brightly lit and vibrantly decorated with artwork and furniture, this room had bare rock walls and looked, well, forgotten. From what she could see of it's dim interior, the grey walls were snaked with huge cracks and the floor was dusty enough to show scrapes and footprints. It looked more like a ruin than part of this beautiful castle.
She hesitated and the Chancellor stopped beside her.
She turned towards him, curious. "What this room will be when you're finished fixing it up?"
Zale glanced at his son then back towards Jennifer. He looked confused. "Fixing it up?" He stepped past her and opened the door wide, revealing a large room that was…
Brightly lit and beautifully decorated?
Jen stepped inside and blinked. Then blinked again. Gone were the bare walls and floor, and in their place was a warmly decorated sitting room, complete with oversized artwork on the walls, plush carpeting, dark wooden furniture and a large warm fire in the fireplace in the back corner. She looked back at the Chancellor who was regarding her with renewed interest.
"I- I'm sorry." She apologized, feeling her face flush, and wondering just what she thought she'd seen. "I thought… I mean… It's a beautiful room."
As they continued down the hallway towards the dining room, Jen tried to dismiss her incoherent sight as a simple case of overtired eyes. She had been spending a lot of time in the lab this week, her eyes glued to readouts and lab reports, microscopes and computer screens. And while she liked to think she could work steadily, she suddenly wondered if she needed this little break more than she wanted to admit.
Shaking it off she followed the others into the dining room.
Tuning out Sheppard's conversation with the Chancellor about local trade options, Ronon watched Jennifer from across the table.
He hadn't wanted her to come.
He'd even considered telling Sheppard she shouldn't be here.
But he hadn't.
It wasn't that he didn't want to see her.
He did.
It was just that he didn't want to see here. Now.
There was something… off… about this place, and the fact that he couldn't physically see anything wrong bothered him. That she was here… and not safely back in her lab on Atlantis… also bothered him.
He frowned. There were other medical personnel capable of analyzing the concoction the locals had worked up in their lab. Why couldn't she have sent someone else? Then he frowned again, this time at himself for thinking she'd send someone to do a job she could just as easily do herself. She was a doctor. And any attempt to find a way to save lives was in her blood. Of course she'd come.
He studied her expression, following her eyes as they moved around the room. Twice now he'd seen her head snap towards one wall or the other, then she'd blink furiously, squint and look away before looking back, frowning. He'd follow her gaze, but see nothing out of the ordinary.
And he wasn't the only one noticing her odd behavior. Zale's son was watching her with a mix of interest and distrust. Ronon didn't like the interest. And he sure as hell didn't like the distrust.
As the meal finished, one of the black robed servants came to remove their dishes. He reached in for Jennifer's plate and she jumped with a very loud gasp, prompting silence from the rest of their small table.
Ronon watched her face flush with embarrassment as she stuttered an apology to the startled servant, touting an excuse of being tired.
Ronon watched her carefully. Technically it was late by Atlantis standards. She could very well be tired. A reasonable answer. But something was telling him differently. He'd seen the shock in her eyes when the man's hand reached for her plate, and the wary and confused way she was watching him clearing the rest of the table. Ronon visually examined the other man and his hands, but could see nothing out of the ordinary.
"Earth to Dr. Keller?" John said, leaning towards Jen and breaking her out of her thoughts.
She flushed and turned towards him. "I- Sorry. Um. Pardon?" She shook her head. The fleshless, skeletal hand she'd suddenly seen reaching for her plate made her heart race and she struggled to calm herself down. She had no idea why she'd mentally projected a skeleton's fingers in place of the poor man's hand but as she watched him removing the other dishes, she suddenly wanted to apologize. She also hoped he wasn't going to get into any kind of trouble for her outburst.
"Kale was asking if you'd like to get started first thing in the morning?
Jennifer looked to her host at the end of the table and took a deep breath to steady her voice. She forced a smile and nodded quickly. "Yes. Please. That would be perfect."
Kale smiled in return. "Very well. As I realize it is very late, we have prepared chambers for each of you," he glanced at Sheppard. "The rooms are all together, as you have requested."
John nodded his thanks.
Kale continued, his palm out to indicate his son who was at the opposite end of the table. "You mentioned an interest in our weapons stores and battlements? Marton has agreed to give you a tour before you retire for the night."
Oh goodie. Jen thought, fighting back a yawn. Weapons stores and battlements.
"Dr. Keller." Kale nodded towards her. "Your quarters are ready, should you prefer to retire. Our sun rises quite early here."
Jen nodded her thanks. "Yes, actually. That's um, probably a good idea. Weapon's stores aren't exactly my area of expertise."
Rising with the rest of the small group, she followed Kale and Marton as they lead them down a twist of corridors. Another turn of hallways and they stopped in front of a large arched doorway. Pushing on the half-closed door, he stepped aside to allow Jen to enter. She stared in awe around the room and was only vaguely aware of the Chancellor telling John and Ronon their rooms were directly across the hall.
The bedroom was bigger than her entire apartment back on Earth, and the bed itself was, well, incredible! It looked bigger than a king-size and that was being generous. Massive posts arched up from the four corners and joined at the top, draping silky sheer curtains down around the sides with a flourish. The bedding looked plush and thick and there had to be at least a dozen pillows tossed against the intricately carved headboard. Earth princesses eat your heart out!
She tore her gaze away and spun around. A set of high backed chairs were staggered in front of the large fireplace, which was happily crackling with a blazing fire. In another corner, a large wardrobe stood slightly open, revealing her clothes already hanging inside. Sitting on the floor next to the massive wooden closet were the two cases of lab equipment she'd brought along.
On the other side of the bed a large archway revealed another smaller room, with the edge of a massive claw footed tub visible.
A throat cleared behind her and she returned to the doorway. John angled his head towards her. "You okay then, Doc?"
Jen nodded and stepped into the hallway. "Yes. I'm um… fine. It's just… bigger than I expected."
"Yes, they certainly super-size here." John answered with a signature smirk.
She looked down the hall to where Ronon was standing, his arms crossed, watching her. She raised her eyebrows but his expression didn't change.
Marton called from the other direction. "Colonel? Shall we? The men are waiting."
John nodded and stepped away, hesitated, then glanced back. "Channel two." He said softly, one eyebrow raised.
Jen nodded her understanding. He was telling her to keep her com system on and open.
Sheppard moved down the hallway towards Marton and Zale.
Jennifer turned to see if Ronon was following and jumped slightly when she almost smacked right into his chest. He'd moved to stand directly behind her, and like usual, she hadn't heard a thing.
She looked up quickly.
"Ronon?" John called from the end of the hall.
Ronon continued to stare down at her, and she wondered why he was looking so… intense.
"W-what?" She stuttered.
"Lock your door." Was all he said.
Jen blinked.
"Now." He growled.
"Oh." Jen stepped back, suddenly understanding. He was waiting for her to lock the door behind her. "Right. Locking. Um…" she backed into the room and started to close the door, but hesitated. "Okay."
"Lock." He repeated, his eyebrow raised.
"Yes. Yes. Locking the door." She closed it firmly and twisted what she assumed was a deadbolt, not sure if she actually liked the loud metallic snap as it clicked in place.
"And goodnight to you, too." She whispered into the wood with a shake of her head.