Chapter Thirty-Five

Altair Ain

The Town Hall filled up quickly and the place was abuzz with chatter as people talked about why they had been called here tonight.  Seated as the large marble table in the shape of a half-arc, just as the table in the Olympian Council had been, were Duncan, Morgan Le Fey, Nicholas, Annie, Colleen, David, Harry and Ares.  Only two Council seats were empty but not for long.

The heavy oak doors swung open and Daniel stood there with Calla in her electric scooter. He’d done everything he could to talk her out of coming tonight insisting that David could but the place and she could watch, she didn’t have to be here.  The last thing he wanted was for her to actually be present when Duncan did his thing. She wouldn’t hear of it, now that Ares could speak for her Calla saw no reason why she shouldn’t start resuming her role as Queen.  It stabbed at his heart to know that line of reasoning was about to cause her downfall.

Everyone turned to see the Queen in her first official public appearance since her stroke. She sat there looking old and frail sitting her rolling chair with the King behind her. She was dressed very beautifully in a long off-white A-line gown with her grey hair piled high on top of her head. They rose to greet them and nodded and curtsied as they passed by on their way to the Council Table. Calla smiled at them as they stared back at her with uncertain gazes that made her smile falter.  Upon reaching the table she had intended to stay in her electric chair but thought it best to show her citizens that she still had the capability of standing. Before anyone could stop her Calla pushed herself halfway out of the chair only to have her bum arm betray her and give way. She fell forward hitting her head on the marble table and landing halfway between it and the chair.  Everyone gasped.  The stinging in her head was amazing and Calla actually saw stars before she started to see grey. I will not faint. I will not pass out. She felt Daniel’s hand on her arm and did her best to push herself up and then settle in her appropriate seat at the middle of the Council Table.

“Are you all right?” Daniel whispered.

Calla nodded and raised her good hand to her sore head she came back with a bit of Ichor but it didn’t appear to be anything serious.  Taking the hand away from her head and waving it in the air in a dismissive gesture she smiled again at those gathered in front of her to indicate that she was fine.  Daniel took his seat next to her and called the meeting to order. David normally sat at her left but Ares was in that spot tonight and as Daniel took his seat the God of War turned her, took her hand and put his free hand around her throat. The crowd immediately and instinctively cried out against this action some of them quiet loudly but Daniel assured them everything was well. Keeping her gaze Ares began to speak for her.

“Greetings my Loyal Subjects,” he began and another gasp went through the crowd. They settled after a moment and didn’t make another stir until Calla was done. However, they gazed upon the God of War with open distrust as he spoke. From the Table it was clear to see the citizens of Altair Ain were very uncomfortable with the idea of their Queen communicating and making decisions through Ares.  “My Father is helping me for now so that I can communicate with you on this most momentous occasion.  As you know by now, Samantha Carter and her team, along with our beloved Annie, have found a way to help us and to bring New Life to our fare Kingdom.  I know you are all very excited at this prospect but I must ask you not to foolishly jump in.  To that end, I have asked Morgan Le Fey and Duncan MacLeod if they would be kind enough and brave enough to participate in an experiment and now I ask the same thing of you.  There is no other way to know for certain if this solution is true it must be tested and for that I must ask for volunteers among you.  It is only when a handful of children are born to us that will we know, for certain, if they are hale and hearty. Once we know that they are, or that they are not, we will then know how best to proceed…or not. I come here before you tonight to ask is there anyone among you who will take up this challenge?  Anyone brave enough to aid us in our quest?”

All gathered looked at their neighbor and then to the person beyond that as they hurriedly chatted amongst one another. It sounded like something their Queen would say and it sounded reasonable but how could they be sure it was really her idea?  “What says the King?” A voice cried out from an unseen owner.

Daniel wasn’t about to tip the scales just yet and he stood up. “I agree,” he announced, “I believe this a sound idea and the best route to take.”

“So say all of you?” Asked the same voice.

One by one the members of the Council stood up and voiced their agreement with the Queen’s plan. When they were done Daniel turned to those gathered once more. “I call for an open vote. What say all of you? Yea or Nay?” He asked. “All in favor?”

A loud round of ‘Yea’ went up along with a show of hands.

“All those opposed?”

The opposition was smaller by far but still vocal enough.

“Then it is agreed,” Calla proclaimed through Ares, “now, do we have any volunteers?”

Ollie and Chantel stood up to volunteer.  They weren’t certain a brood of ogres was exactly what the Queen was seeking but nonetheless they wanted a family of their own and saw no reason why they shouldn’t have one.

Handy, the leader of the dwarves rose next with his wife Lucia.  They were followed by Elrond Calafalas and his wife Anarane the leaders of the elves.  The last volunteer was quite the surprise and shocked all those around. Fiona rose to her feet with her partner of several decades another faery by the name of Columbine.

“Mother,” Duncan whispered in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “Are you sure?”  Fiona was no spring chicken and Duncan was well aware of the fact that his own birth had been something near miraculous with him being the old child born to the faery kingdom in quite some time. Another had never come along. If this worked then soon Duncan MacLeod would be expecting both a child and sibling within weeks of each other.

“Quite sure my son.” She said easily and held onto Columbine’s hand.

With his hand still on his throat but his eyes no longer meeting her stare, instead he was looking out at the crowd along with everyone else, Ares felt a warm surge go through his hand. He looked down at her and realized Calla wanted to speak once more.  “This is sufficient,” he said for her, “you are all very brave and noble people. I thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart for doing this. All of us owe you a great debt it will not go unpaid.”

“If it brings us children, healthy and whole, that will be payment enough.” Fiona returned. All gathered mumbled and nodded their agreement.

“Pardon me I don’t mean to interrupt or put a damper on this joyous moment,” said a man as he rose at the back of the room. All turned to see him and although most could say they’d seen him often enough they could not tell you his name.  He’d come to join them several years ago and ran a small shop of leather goods but for the most part he was unsociable and kept to himself in a small cottage near the far outer edge of Altair Ain.

“Identify yourself.” Daniel said although he knew the man’s name he wanted it stated for the record.

“I am Thanatos Orlando,” He was a small man with dark hair and hazel eyes who always dressed in black and fancied wearing a cape from time to time as he did tonight dressed in his best clothing head to toe.  “How do we know he speak for her?  How do we know this isn’t some kind of trick?”

The opinion finally voiced it was seconded by none other than Fey Wren.  “We have no reason to trust Lord Ares.”

Ares was immediately insulted. “I’ve served faithfully on this Council and as your Head of Security for five years. I am her Father and I would never betray my Daughter.”

A loud grumble rippled through the crowd and Duncan saw his shot.  “Do you want to rethink that or should I just start shooting holes in it?” He asked as he rose. “We all know the things you’ve done, most of them rather underhandedly I should add.”  The moment was tense when he stopped speaking, you could have heard the proverbial pin drop as Duncan looked first at Daniel sitting behind Calla and every so slightly nodding his head to encourage Duncan forward and then to Calla who was looking up in shock and dismay. God helps me.  “I move for a vote of No Confidence in the Queen.”  There he’d spit it out. The hard part was over for now. Well almost. Daniel hadn’t let any of the others in on this as he wanted their initial reactions to be genuine.

“What hell?” Ares roared. “You have some nerve, MacLeod!”

“Are you kidding?” David asked as he stood up. “Tell me that’s a joke.”

Nicholas was about to open his mouth as well but dawning came to all three men at the same time; this was the way they were going to insure the future of Calla’s eternal soul and Duncan was the scapegoat.  They voiced no further opinions on the subject. The meeting hall, however, broke out in a very loud round of chatter that took a very long time to die down.  “We cannot be sure Ares speaks for her and even if he does and this is true then her stroke has still left her unfit to reign.  While we all love her and wish her nothing but the best she is no longer capable of carrying out her duties.” Everything hinged on this next part. “Will anyone second me?”

Ares and David couldn’t after having risen to Calla’s defense. Colleen wouldn’t and neither would Morgan Le Fey who was so angry with her husband right now she couldn’t see straight. Annie just sat there dumbfounded not knowing what the hell was going on and she surely wasn’t going to second anything like this! The moments ticked past thick with tension and Daniel was just about to stand up and agree knowing he’d pay for it for the rest of his life but that it was the only way to go forward.

“Seconded.”

The fear rising in Daniel’s heart and the words dancing on his lips fell. Everyone turned to see the troll standing on his furry feet. Harry loved Calla but had no love or trust of Ares and if there was the slightest possibility the God of War was up to one of his tricks they had to stop it before it could go any further.

“I call for an open vote.” Duncan said hurriedly.  “All those in favor?”

Calla just sat there watching her Kingdom suddenly being yanked away from her here this long awaited moment of anticipation and near joy they were going to toss her off her  non-existent throne.  One thing she wasn’t going to do was let this go to an open vote.  With only the strength of her sadness to aid her she rose to her feet, settled in the electric scooter.  All eyes upon her she pointed to her herself, most particularly to her heart, and then made a slicing motion in the air to indicate this was over.  If they didn’t want her any longer then the proper thing to do was to step down.  Since she couldn’t really step she settled for silently wheeling down the center aisle of the Meeting Hall and out the door leaving them all behind.

“Calla!” Daniel shouted and ran after her.  It had gone a lot smoother than it could have but that didn’t make it hurt any less. He’d been fairly certain all along that Calla would never let it get to the vote and she would abdicate before that. It was dark out here now and all he could see was the silhouette of the little scooter making its way up the hill on the cobblestone street.  “Calla please,” he called out and ran faster to catch up with her. Previously he’d been unaware of just how swiftly that thing could travel finally he passed her and then stood in her path.  She was roaring down the road and for a few moments he feared she wasn’t going to stop and she’d just run him over with the little machine. “Stop!” He cried. She kept coming at him full bore and skirted around him at the very last second, the scooter came up on two wheels and he was sure she was going to tip over but it settled again and she continued on her way to the manor house.

It was going to be a long night in the Royal Bedroom.

Turned out it was a long week.

The news of Calla’s sudden abdication made headlines all over the world and there were a throng of reporters wandering around the Kingdom, most of them were being totally shunned by the citizens. Two days after the news broke and Colleen was installed as Queen of Altair Ain their number damn near quadrupled.

Colleen was nervous and more than just a little trepidatious about stepping into her Mother’s shoes. She tried to talk to Calla and reassure her that this had not been her idea and she was just as shocked and surprised as everyone else when Duncan called for the No Confidence Vote. While Calla didn’t appear to hold a grudge against Colleen the whole thing sent her spiraling down into a deep depression. For two days she didn’t eat, she didn’t try to communicate with anyone not even when Ares offered to roar for her knowing how angry she must be over all of it. Calla did nothing and she said nothing so long as she was left alone. If anyone tried to go near her they were apt to find the nearest object to her good hand being hurled at them. They all tried to reach her, despite the flying cups and vases. They all tried to help her but feeling bitterly betrayed she wanted nothing to do with any of them. After all, they might not have agreed with Duncan but they did not stand up for her either. Duncan kept a very low profile so did Morgan for that matter.  That was just as well, Calla was sure she wouldn’t miss if she got the chance to chuck a rock at his head. How he could have ever considered betraying her this way was beyond Calla’s comprehension.

They’d all sworn they loved her, they supported her and were here for her and then they openly planted a dagger in her back.  How could they do that? Didn’t they know how much it meant to her to lead this kingdom?   How could they take that away so ruthlessly?  Above all, how was she to trust any of them?

Still when the day came and Colleen was dressed in her very first Regal Gown with sprigs of bay, lavender and babies breath in her hair her Mother was there to witness.  “Aye, my darlin’ Colleen, you look so beautiful.” Paddy complimented as she stood in their bedroom checking herself in the mirror one last time.  “Have I told how much I admire you?” He leaned in close. “Not to mention how sexy ya are?”

“Stop,” she giggled, “you just like the idea of bedding a Queen.”

“Aye, ya know I do.” Paddy agreed. “So long as she’s you.”

“Where’s Lilly?” All of the younger Jacksons had returned home for this momentous occasion though most of them were just gearing up for mid-terms.

“She’s ready, don’t worry, my darlin’, everything is goin’ to go off without a hitch, you’ll see.” Paddy promised.  “It’s gonna be a fine day and you my beautiful Colleen are going to be a fine Queen.”

Although the mood was somber the UPs did everything possible to also make it festive and as such the whole of the Kingdom was decorated with late fall flowers, wreathes and candles.  Calla sat in her electric scooter dressed in a plain white gown with a blanket over her legs and watched as Colleen stood on the steps of the Town Hall. With Paddy and Lilly at her side Colleen swore to protect to defend the Kingdom of Altair Ain and to Rule with Honor and Sincerity so long as she reigned. A great cry of “Long Live The Queen!” Went up through the crowd. Colleen could see her Mother cringe though she tried to hide it.

As soon as Daniel proclaimed her Queen Colleen wanted to make her damn Decree and be done with it but they wanted her to wait. If she did it right away it would look suspicious especially to Calla and so it was agreed that Colleen would wait an appropriate amount of time, say when the babies were born and, Gods willing, they were all right.  Surely she’d live that long and if it started to look like she wouldn’t then Colleen wouldn’t wait she’d simply do it and be done with it before it was too late.

The day after Colleen’s coronation Daniel sent Ares and David to Eros’ Tower to find the wedding necklace the old bastard had given Calla. David didn’t want to return the Tower but agreed to go nonetheless.  It didn’t take them long to find it. Daniel remembered her wearing it when he came into Eros’ bedroom that fateful night and David was sure she was still wearing it when Danny shot him. The final battle between Daniel and Eros had taken place with Calla on the floor and it must have been during that time that the necklace broke and came off her neck. They found it under the big bed covered in dust.

Just one more to go, Daniel thought as they handed it over and it put in the safe with the other jewels.  Everything was falling into place and lining up nicely even if Calla was unhappy with the present situation.  He would go off in search of that last necklace after Calla went through her tests at the SGC.  That was tomorrow.  She hadn’t so much as grunted at him in three days.  When he laid down in the bed with her at night she was so far away from him that he could barely touch anything but the nightgown around her.

While Ares and David had been off on their excursion to the island he’d called Morpheus and asked about the Dream Dust explaining the unexpected side-effect it seemed to have on Calla the next morning.  Morpheus didn’t understand at first when Daniel asked what it was made from and where he got it.  “Cover your mouth and nose, whatever you do, don’t breathe in.” Morpheus advised and then the King of Dreams shook his head violently and dust scattered from it like heavy dandruff. He caught some of it in his hand and held it out to Daniel. “I make it.” He said as though it was the most natural thing in the world and to him it was.  Daniel reached out to touch it but Morpheus pulled his hand back. “I wouldn’t advise that, my King.” He warned. “It needs time to breathe, to settle if you like.  I only use it fresh on those I don’t like because it gives them horrible nightmares. The longer it sits the mellower and more pleasurable the dreams become.” He looked around for a moment and pursed his lips. “Don’t be surprised if over the next few days those who come into this room are suddenly tired.”

That made sense as Daniel was beginning to feel sleepy and he hadn’t breathed in until all the dust settled to the carpet.  He’d have someone vacuum it up in hopes that would help. “Did you use a special version of it on us?”

“Yes,” Morpheus agreed, “a very fine vintage, the finest in fact. Nothing but the best for the King and Queen. However, if it had some special effect on her I don’t know anything about it or what would cause it.”

By the time Morpheus left Daniel had an ounce of the special Dream Dust to take with him for analysis to the SGC.  Even though much of their trip was going to be unpleasant for Calla, Daniel hoped she would be happy to spend time with Jack and Sam and see her old friends again.  Maybe that would help lighten her mood.  He knew he should have stood up in protest when Duncan called for the vote if only for her benefit but he was afraid that enough of them would follow his lead and cause a great division between the citizens. His only solace there was that they were all on Shit List it wasn’t just him.  Well, if you had to be in a sinking boat it was best not to be alone.

End of Chapter Thirty-Five of
Golden Years
by Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling
Go to
Chapter Thirty-Six