Dragon Knight
Author: tari_roo
Rating: PG13 (gen)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, I profit from nothing but oh boy, do I wish I had a dragon. Or was a dragon. Or knew a dragon. *sigh*

Summary: Sequel to Geek Knight vs. the Black Dragon. Atlantis is imminently under attack by an Asuran fleet, and Queen Elizabeth has a desperate last chance plan. Recapture the dragon that is supposedly their last hope in defeating the Asurans. Rodney McKay and his team are back on their quest to capture the black dragon, Jhepard-shon. Shep though is determined not to be found... mostly because he is still recovering from the last attack

Chapter 7

The room was filled with warm golden light, the air toasty and comfortable. The smell of fresh bread, rare meat, and something very savory wafted around him. As Shep opened his eyes, the light was low enough that it did not hurt his pounding head. The bed beneath him was soft, the blankets warm and inviting. It was strange lying in a human bed but oddly comforting.

The room felt wrong, too small, and too delicate. Its soft blue walls curled up towards a curved ceiling. The underlying scent of books, magic, and earthy oils permeated the room. The sun through the window felt muted too, like it was being filtered or screened. It was still pleasant and radiated life and comfort. Whoever lived here enjoyed spending time in this room.

Shep blinked, and as the understated hum of Atlantis grew into a full throated song of recognition, realisation dawned, and he remembered where he was. Atlantis.

Her touch was gentle, less urgent than before, a whisper kiss of greeting. She was essentially distracted elsewhere, and Shep felt her attention scattered and splintered throughout the City, focused on a variety of activities and projects. She felt – happy. Stretching, Shep automatically tried to unfurl his wings to stretch them out and abruptly stopped. Where were...

Spidery thin fingers darted in front of his face instead of black and pearl talons. Skinny legs, thin arms, tiny body.

In the catastrophic moment when the memories came rushing back and the realisation that he was changed, Shep's heart sank. It was all gone: his life, his home, his family. Gone in a single choice. The very essence of who he was... just gone.

In that moment, as despair choked him, he saw Cam lounging in a chair near the fire his long legs sprawled out in casual elegance. His face mirrored Shep's heart, a mixture of sorrow, regret, and anger. It matched the surge of emotion that ripped into Shep. Looking down again, Shep scowled at his hands – his white, fragile hands. No talons, no black hide, just soft human flesh. His hands shook as the reality of his decision pressed down on him, his heart pounding like a drum in his ears.

Sitting up, Shep wrapped his arms around himself hiding his hands and met Cam's anguished eyes. "Stop looking at me like that," Shep sighed, feeling that Cam was only reinforcing the awfulness of the situation. Cam looked away, his hand covering his mouth as if he were wiping away his sorrow, hiding it for Shep's sake. The fire crackled, a branch snapping in the heat.

After a while, the silence between them taut, the smell of food was too tempting to resist any longer, and Shep snagged some of the meat and bread. It felt wrong in his hands, too small, but as he bit into it – it tasted perfect, delicious even. Resisting the urge to wolf it all down in several large gulps, he ate slowly, deliberately, as Cam straightened. Dragon bread came in loaves large enough to crunch and mash, and this bread was far lighter, airier. It was surprisingly good.

Sighing, Cam picked up some bread as well and ate with him. They sat there for a few long minutes while Shep sated the yawning hunger within his belly. Eating helped, as it settled some of the discomfort of his new body. The food tasted similar but different, and he wasn't sure if it was because it was human food or because he was human. As peculiar as it was to see long, thin pale fingers and not to feel his wings, slowly Shep realised that he still felt like himself – he still felt... like he'd always had. He didn't feel changed. He half expected his wings to flap, his tail to move. It was disconcerting to say the least.

Perhaps knowing best where his thoughts had run, Cam said gently, "The first time I changed, I spent about a day just studying my human form. Silly things like ears and a nose. It was ... fun." Shep idly touched his ears, and was surprised to find the protruding cartilage, even though he knew what human ears looked like.

"I ... I changed back the moment I could and then back to human repeatedly. I liked it. Human form is great for some things like being able to run. It's not the same as flying, not even close, but it feels good, too. I was fascinated by the little differences more than the large. I was ... me in both forms."

Cam's eyes were soft and kind, and he was so desperately trying to offer comfort. Shep couldn't summon any sort of response – not yet. Cam laughed wryly, "I changed so often those first few times, my father said I had to careful I didn't end up stuck in between..."

He trailed off and glanced at Shep guiltily, not intending to remind Shep of what he could not do. Not meeting his gaze, not wanting to go there yet, Shep chewed thoughtfully and tried to shove away the anger and fear as the word stuck ran around his mind. Stuck. It screamed at him like a banshee. You're stuck, you're stuck, you're stuck!

"We don't have to stay, you know. We can leave anytime, I..."

Shep huffed in denial and shot Cam a knowing look. There was no going back home, not like this. It looked like his trouble at home had sorted itself out all on its own by default. He couldn't claim a throne when he was... stuck. Entire portions of the WingSong Mountains were inaccessible to humans. If you didn't have wings, you didn't get there, and no one had any intention of changing that. It was often their surest defence – the impassibility of the mountains.

Cam leant forward, his elbows on his knees, hands clasped together. "You can come to Notha. You will be more than welcome there."

Shep nodded. It was true; Cam's home would be best. The Dragonborn in Notha and other Cairns would welcome him with open arms. The division between Trueborn and Dragonborn was not their making and most Dragonborn dragons were friendly and kind. The Dragonborn always needed a true Dragonmage on hand as all other magic bar the change was lost to them. He said, "Perhaps." It was a real option, one that he should consider.

Cam sighed, picked up the remains of his meal, and ground the remainder of his bread into the table. "Perhaps." It wouldn't be easy though, and Cam would know that. It would not be easy living amongst a people who had the ability to shift into the form he longed to return to. Notha and any Dragonborn Cairn would be a constant reminder of what he had given up.

The fire snapped and crackled in the hearth, consuming the wood steadily, hungrily, warm air wafting over them. Shep stared at the flames, wondering if it would burn him if he stuck his hand into the flames. Would his skin turn black? The citadel was silent outside, no sounds of feet or people hurrying by.

"Are you going to tell them?" Cam was watching the fire as well and was not looking at him.

Shep shook his head, "Better to let them think I can change back whenever I want."

Absently Cam nodded, and he tossed another log onto the fire. "So you are going to stay?"

Shrugging, he replied, "For now at least. Atlantis is ... engaging." Cam's face was still turned away, and Shep studied it, watching for a reaction. Engaging was all to light a word to describe how his heart beat in tune with the City. She certainly would resist him leaving, would beg and plead for him to stay. Even in the brief space of time they had been connected, Shep had sensed her loneliness, her sorrow. Maybe they could be lonely together.

Cam snorted, no doubt feeling her attentions to a lesser degree. "It'd serve them right if you left now – left with the City pining for you."

Ah, perhaps Cam had noticed after all. Shep ran his hands over his face, marvelling and cursing again at the strangeness of that single act. "Yeah... but knowing her even as little as I do, she'd probably try to follow me." Cam laughed, soft and sad.

"So, we stay. For now."

"I stay, you don't have to..."

"We both stay! For now"

"For now."

Caught up in emotions he did not want to examine, Shep leant forward suddenly wanting to hide away. He pressed his elbows into his knees, grasped the hair on his head, and squeezed. The stuff was soft and silky and far far different from his horns. A strange sound came from his throat, and Shep willed the scream of fear away. Cam suddenly caught his hand as he pulled at his hair and said, "Hey, hey."

Looking into his friend's eyes, Shep felt a swell of raw sorrow rise within him drowning the fear. Cam's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and his grip on his hand was hard and fierce. "I am sorry, Shep. So sorry."

The dam inside him broke, and Shep blinked back tears. Dragons didn't cry. It wasn't physically possible, but stupid, fragile humans did, and he couldn't seem to stop the stream of water down his face. Cam's grip was crushing, willing Shep to believe him and his words fell like rain, "I won't leave you."

"You should. You really should. Go home. Go to your family." Shep hiccupped, not wanting his friend to see him like this, full of self-pity and loathing. Regret burned through his heart, followed by anger and more pity. Cam should go.

Shaking Shep's hand as if trying to shake some senses into him, Cam shook his head. "No, not until you come with me. Vala can wait, and she's happy on her own for awhile. Besides, who else is going to help you figure out this ridiculous human form?" Cam smiled through his own tears.

Totally agreeing with the 'stupid and ridiculous form' Shep sniffed and wiped away the tears, breaking Cam's grip on his hand. This body leaked like a damp cave. Rubbing his face and burying the emotions for now, Shep smiled back wanly back. "Don't really have a choice, do I?" He stood needing to move and hoped Cam wouldn't try and hug him or something. He felt too fragile for that and that fragility just pissed him off.

Cam stood too, watching him carefully. They were almost of equal height and while Cam had not vastly outweighed him in dragonform, it was nice that he did not tower over him in human. Shep wobbled a little, his legs unsteady, but his feet relished the warmth of the stones. Uncertain what to say, not caring to return to more painful topics, Shep sighed, "So, running is good, you say?"

Cam nodded. "Yeah, running is good."

Clasping his friend on the shoulder, Shep tried to inject as much thanks as he could not yet articulate without crying again into that grip. It was bad enough being... stuck in this form forever, being denied the skies, his home, his family for the rest of his life, at least he did not have to do it alone. Cam returned the gesture, grasping his shoulder firmly.

Not alone.

*sga*dragon*sga*dragon*sga*dragon* sga*dragon*sga*dragon*sga*dragon* sga*dragon*sga*dragon*sga*dragon

The wind still bore the stiff scent of smoke and destruction mixed with the cleaner, saltier air from the ocean. The day was beautiful, the sun crisp and golden overhead, the sky the sort of blue that reminded you of your childhood. The ocean glimmered gently, a far cry from the turmoil of the battle yesterday. Unfortunately, no matter how wondrous the day was, it could not detract from the areas of destruction that wound through the City: the broken walls, shattered buildings, and the torn up streets.

Elizabeth exhaled loudly and blew her hair out of her face. Although it was late morning already, she had not dressed as yet and stood in her nightgown on her balcony. One day after the attack, and it felt like a week so much had happened. There was still plenty to do, and she needed to go visit her people today, reassure them, and check on the progress of the repairs. The little repair automatons were very efficient, and her own Tower was already in better shape than it been in years. Atlantis was certainly giving herself a good spring clean as well as repairing the damage wrought by the Asurans.

She had already visited the worst hit neighbours last night, spoken to the community leaders of those areas where civilian causalities were high. Fortunately most of her people had evacuated the areas nearest the walls and the fighting. Most. The number of dead was still too high for her liking. Many knights, mages and auxiliaries had died defending their home.

The sound of hammering and construction rose on the wind, and Elizabeth watched as the automatons fixed one of missile batteries she didn't even know her City had. She fingered a cut on her hand, briefly relishing the ache before leaving the wound alone. It was time to stop moping and head down to her people and see where best to lend a hand or a shoulder.

"Elizabeth?"

Smiling, she turned and motioned Samantha to join her. "Sam."

Sam's hair was still all over the place, and she had not yet taken off her armour, although it had been several hours since Elizabeth had ordered her to rest. "I've double and tripled checked the City Shield – we can activate it much like the Veil on command. However, I feel... no, I am certain that the dra... that Jhepard-shon would be able to override that command if he chose."

Elizabeth frowned and nodded. "Thank you. Perhaps now that you are certain we are at least protected while the walls are repaired, you can sleep?"

Samantha was not done. While she had at least taken the time to wipe her face before visiting, you could still see the line of dirt and ash in her hairline. Raising a shaking hand to her mouth, Samantha fought off a yawn and mumbled, "Sleep, perhaps. But there is still so much to do let alone understand what the City awakening means..."

"I already know what it means, dear."

Elizabeth heard the hardness in her voice and knew it was too late to take back those words. Samantha stared at her, her eyes bright and shiny in the sunlight. "What do you mean, Majesty?" Ah, the formality of a soldier preparing to do battle – if need be.

Taking another deep breath and exhaling, Elizabeth smiled wanly at her Princess Royale, General of the City, and childhood friend. "The Dragon – the dragon said I would pay a price, Sam. At first I thought he meant to claim my throne, demand my realm or something like that."

Unerringly, Sam's hand found hers and squeezed it. "We would fight..."

Smiling reassuringly, Elizabeth shook her head, "It might still come to it, Sam, and I don't know its…his mind fully. But somehow, I don't think ruling is his desire."

"Then what is? How does he plan on extracting this price?" Samantha scowled, her other hand clenched tightly on the hilt of her sword.

"As I said," Elizabeth sighed, "I think the price has already been paid. Like he said."

Sam opened her mouth to speak but stopped. She followed Elizabeth's gaze to the small machines repairing the Central Tower windows across from them. The City had a certain glow about it, a glisten in the sunlight. "The automatons?" Sam stammered, confused.

Removing her hand from Sam's, Elizabeth ran her fingers over the stone railing of her balcony, tracing the carvings and smooth design. "Perhaps you have been too busy to notice, my dear. At first, I was. But last night as I lay in my bed thanking the Goddess, the Gods and all the Ancients that we were safe, I did as I always do – every night."

Blinking, surprised to find herself suddenly emotional, Elizabeth continued, "For years, both as a child and as Queen, I have said goodnight to the City. Sometimes, actually in most instances, I feel her saying goodnight back."

Elizabeth turned and stared into Sam's eyes, watching to see if she understood. "We don't talk about it a lot, although we have been recently: the Atlantis hum. The sense of the City some of us have."

Sam nodded and replied, "I have felt it – sometimes. Whilst on the walls, or returning home. A touch of welcome."

Nodding in return, Elizabeth continued, "Not everyone feels it – some not at all. Woolsey knows of it and said my grandmother would sing to the City late at night as she rocked my father."

"The Ancient Bloodline," Sam said, tracing her own pattern on the balcony's etchings. Elizabeth looked away. "Daniel was convinced that the legends and tales about this City being alive were true. That once the Ancients talked with a living City, and we believed him because we had felt her touch, had glimpsed her light."

Her grip on the balcony rail deepened so that her knuckles went white, and Elizabeth said sharply, "I bet the lives of my people on the mad hope, the crazy dream that one day this City could wake and save us – would live again."

Sam stepped near and covered Elizabeth's hands with her own – hers dirty and cut, covered in scabs. Elizabeth stared at those scabs long and hard while Sam said, "And the bet paid off. It worked. The Dragon woke the City."

Heart pounding, pulse racing, Elizabeth reached out with her mind as she had so often this morning and tried to reach the Atlantis. As she did so, she whispered, "If the City is awake, why can I not feel, Samantha? Whilst she slept, I felt her often – far more frequently than I would ever admit. And now..." Elizabeth caught Sam's sudden understanding and sighed, "Nothing. I cannot feel her at all."

Sam's gaze grew distant as if she too were trying. "Can you feel the hum? Every mage in the City knows the hum at least – the recognition of innate power?" Elizabeth asked.

The wind changed and began to blow from the land side, blowing the smell of smoke and death away from them. Sam's eyes were wide as the implications ran through her mind. "Have you checked with anyone else?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Carson. He had the strongest connection that I was aware of, and he felt nothing. Like a wall had been put up."

Slowly, gently, Sam stepped back and paused for a while. They both looked out over the City watching the repairs, and Elizabeth tried to stop the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. "Perhaps, it is not as bad as we fear. It's not like we did anything in particular with that connection – the hum. It was just ... there."Sam's voice was thoughtful, hopeful, and she turned to Elizabeth with a smile. "Truly, my Queen. It does not seem too high a price..."

Elizabeth's expression must have stopped her, derailed her thought. Elizabeth shook her head and said slowly, "Think about, Sam. Truly think about it. This City – our home, has far more depth and layers than we had ever imagined. It is the last Ancient City, and we at best had a tenuous connection to it. And now..."

Elizabeth paused because she saw that Sam had followed her trail of thought, her wandering path of reason. Trying to keep the fear out of her voice, Elizabeth picked up the trail, "And now, that connection is gone. Completely. Instead of Atlantis waking and connecting to us... to me – it has connected to a Dragon, a man, who... who has no reason to love us, less to even care for us. He may have saved us – but... he doesn't need to ask for my throne, Samantha."

"He controls the City," she whispered, aghast.

"And who knows what he can do! What hidden power, weapons, and abilities the City has bestowed upon him."

Sam stared at her in horror and took a step back and then another and suddenly began to pace. "He, he... could do nothing, Elizabeth. He could just leave and... and ..."

"Yes, yes, he could. But what if Atlantis will not speak to anyone but him – what if he leaves and we remain with a City that now thinks and wants ... an angry child woken from slumber, and we will have no means of communicating with her."

"Shards and shells!" Sam cried, pacing with agitation. She pointed in Elizabeth's' general direction. "We could be borrowing trouble here, thinking the worst, making a big deal out of nothing."

Again, Elizabeth nodded. "But it does not diminish the threat or potential danger."

"And he has no love for us. Not when..."

"Not when we captured him, poisoned him, hurt him, kidnapped his friend, and browbeat him into helping us."

Running her hands through her hair, Sam laughed in frustration. "Well, my Queen, it's obvious what you have to do!"

Closing her eyes, Elizabeth smiled wryly and said, "Yes. I've got to win him over."

Surprised, she opened her eyes as Sam took her hands and squeezed. With her face close, her eyes shining, Sam whispered, "No, Elizabeth. No, you have to teach him to love this City – to love us."

Elizabeth could only nod.

"Our lives may well depend on it."

*sga*dragon*sga*dragon*sga*dragon* sga*dragon*sga*dragon*sga*dragon* sga*dragon*sga*dragon*sga*dragon

The corridors of the main citadel of Atlantis were filled with an unusual hubbub of noise and commotion - this was mostly due to the new little automatons, but some of the noise hailed from a familiar source.

"Radek! What in the name of the High Moon are you doing?" Rodney struggled to free himself from Radek's grip, but the determined little Zech dragged him down the corridor relentlessly.
"An entire floor we did not know about, Rodney. An entire floor!"

Rodney protested loudly but had caught a modicum of Radek's excitement and didn't fight the pull too much. "Rooms and rooms and rooms filled with... stuff!" Radek rolled his r's with that abominable accent of his, but it expressed the shared joy of discovery. "Carson has claimed three rooms for us already, but …"

They had reached the new floor, which had opened up between floors three and four. Rodney slowed to a stagger and yanked back on Radek's arm. "Wait, wait. What is this?" They had just passed a massive doorway which smacked him in the face with 'come see'. Unable to stop himself, Rodney stepped into the room which should not be possible and stared up at the rows and rows of strange oblong shapes.

Sunlight shone through beautiful stained glass windows which the automatons were cleaning, filling the incredible chamber with multi-coloured light. "What are they?"

Radek shrugged, but he was just as awestruck, his fly away hair practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "No idea, but I am certain they will be fascinating. Perhaps some sort of ship."Rodney nodded, his fingers itching to get a closer look at the boxes - curiosity burning through him. "Come on, there is more to see." Rodney did not resist as Radek tugged him out of the room.

Whatever the Dragon's presence meant for Atlantis, at least it would be an interesting journey.

*sga*dragon*sga*dragon*sga*dragon* sga*dragon*sga*dragon*sga*dragon* sga*dragon*sga*dragon*sga*dragon

Fin

AN: This was quite a labour love as I pretty much wrote it for my own benefit. I am intrigued by the concepts and notions around 'true' forms and finding your place in the world. This world and story is greatly expanded in my mind and I've already told myself the remaining stories to a degree. One of the things that drew me and kept me engaged in SGA was the aspect of the team and the friendship and family they formed. This story covers the preliminary set up, setting the stage so to say, for that same friendship to be formed and developed. As a fanfic reader and writer I love playing with AUs where it seems difficult or unlikely that the same relationships in canon could form... but still do.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this meander around the vast AUness of my mind :)