Fic: With Fire and Sword (2/8)

[melyanna]

Part I


When the news of the impending Wraith assault was conveyed to him, Rodney had two completely conflicting reactions. He wished Lady Samantha was here so he would have competent help, and he was glad she wouldn't be there for their imminent demise. He tried not to think too much about her, as he did not like disagreeing with himself. It was most taxing.

But as he had to shoulder the burden alone, he went rifling through stacks of paper trying to find something he had drawn up some time ago. Since coming to Atlantis, but especially during the lull in construction over the winter, Rodney had been thinking about the island's fortifications. There was certainly room for improvement and he doubted anyone would disagree with him about that. But now there was a new urgency, and he needed to find the papers.

He was crawling under a table to search through a chest when he heard a knock on the door. He looked up but didn't recognize the boots he could see in the entry. "What do you want?" he asked. "I have a great deal of work to do, so if this is about-"

"Rodney," said a familiar voice, and Rodney narrowly averted whacking his head on the table as he scrambled to stand. Lord John was not prince yet, but it was probably best not to actively irritate the future husband of his patron.

"Yes?" he said, huffing out a breath.

"Lord Jonathan and I want to know if you have any thoughts for the security of the island," the marquis said.

Rodney rolled his eyes. "That is what I am trying to find."

"Then let me help you."

Together they lugged the heavy chest onto the table, where they could both sort through it. "What are we looking for?"

"Drawings of the shipyard, the docks, the whole island," Rodney replied. "I've been thinking about ways to fortify the island in the last year and a half. I don't know how they managed to survive when the Ori attacked."

"It is not as though the Ori dragged ships across the continent," Lord John drawled. "The island would be simple enough to defend during a land assault, though the Ori struck with overwhelming force."

Rodney stopped listening. He had found a bundle of papers that seemed like the right size, and he was untying them while the marquis continued talking. He rapidly flipped through the parchment, and something stopped Lord John. "Have you found it?" he asked.

"Yes," Rodney said, and he started to spread the drawings out around the table, but Lord John halted him.

"The queen and Lord Jonathan will see you now, Master McKay," he said. "We can determine what is critical in her study."

Rodney shoved the parchment at him and started gathering the rest of his supplies. Someday he might convince someone in this palace that it was far easier for them to come to him.

The guards following Lord John looked askance at him while he helped Rodney carry everything he needed to the queen's study. Rodney almost expected them to relieve the marquis of his burden, but they merely followed in silence.

She was indeed waiting there with Lord Jonathan. He bowed hastily, careful not to spill anything. "Master McKay," she said, "please, come and take a seat."

Rodney stepped into the room and deposited all his supplies on the large table in the middle of the room. In the nick of time, he remembered to wait for Queen Elizabeth to seat herself before sitting down. "I began drawing ideas for better defense of the island some months ago, your Majesty," he said, spreading the drawings out so everyone could see. The two marquises were standing behind. "Fortifications to the dock and the shipyards, of course, but also securing the isthmus and some of the more vulnerable points around the palace."

They immediately began studying the various sketches. Rodney was a little surprised by how rarely he had to explain anything. Even the queen, inexperienced as she was, did not often need help to understand.

"I think," she said, when they had looked over most of his proposals, "that the problem lies not in how effective these constructions will be, but in how quickly any of them can be erected."

Rodney nodded. "My entire crew can be put to work at this."

"The soldiers too," Lord John added.

"Yes. We already have timber on the island that I intended for the Queen Elizabeth."

The queen startled, and Rodney realized what he said. "You intend to name a ship after me?" she asked.

He nodded nervously. "Yes, my lady. The first of its class, a larger warship than the Margaret. I had hoped to have it completed already, but -"

There was no need to explain why. The queen's expression turned dark when she was reminded about the events of last autumn, which were now going to hamper their ability to defend Atlantis.

But those events might help them in another way. Rodney was reluctant to bring it up, but someone had to.

"Your Majesty, the weapon - the gunpowder," he said, somewhat nervously. "The summit resulted in a number of options for its use. I don't like testing such things under these conditions, but it seems we should seize whatever advantage we may have over the Wraith."

Lord Jonathan hedged. "We do not have a very large supply of the powder."

"Perhaps the Asgard-"

"Do not put your trust in the Asgard, Master McKay," the queen interrupted. "We cannot depend on their help to defend ourselves. If we are to survive, we must be prepared to do so alone."

"Then we shall have to make it count," said Lord John.

Queen Elizabeth rose then and met her betrothed's gaze for a long moment. It was rather irritating, as Rodney had no idea what communication was passing between them. Belatedly he got to his feet. The action seemed to shake the queen's concentration, and she looked back at Rodney and Lord Jonathan. "Do what you must," she said. "If that is not possible, do what you can. I will leave this in your hands."

Rodney watched her go, and then turned to the men. He cleared his throat. "Where shall we begin?"

Between the journey to the palace the night before and the assembly in the morning, Teyla had to suppress a yawn as she joined the queen, John, and Jack on their way to the harbor. She suspected rest would be hard to come by for everyone in Atlantis for the next few days.

She merely nodded to her companions and fell into step behind Elizabeth and John down the stairs. As they hastened across the open ground to the harbor, she could not help glancing anxiously out at the expanse of the ocean beyond. The shore ice was bobbing in pieces, rapidly eroding in the waves. It would not present enough of an obstacle for an armada.

Atlantis could not fall. The Wraith had to be stopped. But Teyla's mind was at odds - every available hand would be needed to defend the palace, but where would that leave Athos? She could all too easily envision what might happen if the Wraith attack on Atlantis failed. The ships would turn away and go directly past Athos. If her people were on the island helping to defend the capital, Athos would be defenseless.

She was weighing whether to evacuate her people as they approached a group of men wearing the blue uniforms of Atalan's navy. She recognized Captain Pendergast, who leaned on his cane as he spoke with the other men, the leaders of the newest ships in the queen's service. Gathered with him were Captain Emerson of the Odyssey, Captain Ellis of the Apollo, and Captain Marks of the Pegasus. Captain Ronson was at sea on the Prometheus. Teyla had little doubt the ship would return and confirm Prince Ronon's information.

The prince made her nervous. Not because of his rank, but because Teyla had never known anyone who had escaped from the Wraith. Those taken as prisoners never returned. She could only imagine what he had seen, what had been done to him. It was going to take years for him to recover from the experience, if it was even possible, and Ronon had no home to go to, not with Sateda destroyed.

She put the thought aside, focusing instead on ensuring Atalan did not meet the same fate.

Pendergast bowed his head to the queen. "Majesty, we are preparing the ships and the men for the battle. Our plan is to center the defenses around the Aurora, as she is the remaining battleship in the fleet." Elizabeth nodded and Pendergast indicated the men standing around him. "Our newer ships will attack the invaders from the sides and attempt to disable or destroy as many of the ships as possible."

"Would it not be simpler to barricade the island?" Elizabeth asked. Teyla understood the impulse. She wanted every available obstacle between the palace and the attackers.

Emerson shook his head. "My lady, we fear the Wraith ships may be larger than ours, and a direct confrontation may go ill for us. Our advantage is in speed and covering more area."

A shadow passed over Elizabeth's face but she forged ahead. "What do the ships need in way of weapons?"

Emerson spoke again. "My lady, we are preparing fire pots - small clay casks that will shatter on impact. They contain an oil which ignites easily and the casks can be hefted by hand or sling. The blacksmiths are forging more spears and knives for throwing."

"With our maneuverability, we should be able to engage and withdraw more quickly than the enemy," Ellis added. "Hopefully we can do enough damage to the ships, particularly if the Wraith leave them lightly manned when they mount their assault."

Elizabeth turned slightly paler at Ellis' words. "But it will depend on whether they do so, Captain, and it will also depend on the number of Wraith ships. I know the state of my navy, and we have few vessels ready to fight a force of any size."

"Yes, my lady. But there may be a way to reduce their numbers." Pendergast turned and pointed to the harbor, where an old, small vessel idled at anchor. Teyla recognized it as one of the smaller ships from King Edmund's reign that was still afloat. "We can stock one of our older ships with casks and dry straw and use it as a fire ship. Steer her toward the bulk of the Wraith fleet and set her ablaze. If the wind is on our side, they will be unable to avoid her."

Elizabeth stared at the ship for a long moment and then she sighed. "What I am hearing, gentlemen, is that until we know precisely how many ships are coming, our plans cannot be finalized."

"Yes, my lady," Pendergast admitted.

Elizabeth drew her cloak about her. "Very well. Inform Master McKay of what materials you need for weaponry-"

John held up a hand and interrupted her. "My lady, what about the gunpowder? If it could be contained somehow, it could be as effective as the fire pots, if not more so."

"It would also increase the yield of the fire ship," Jack agreed. "But we do not have much of it to spare."

"It is worth pursuing," Emerson pointed out. "From what I have heard, the gunpowder is more incendiary than fire pots and could travel further distance without losing potency."

"And the more damage we can do from a distance, the better our odds," Elizabeth concluded. "Very well. Captain Emerson, go see Master McKay and learn what you can." She turned back to Pendergast. "Do I need to say that I should be informed the moment Prometheus returns?"

"You do not, Majesty," Pendergast said, bowing his head.

The two groups split, but Teyla lingered near the harbor for a moment, looking toward Athos. The truth was she had little choice. Facing the Wraith armada was going to tax Atlantis to its utmost, and every hand was needed. She could not withhold fighters that would be so badly needed.

She would ride for home today. That would leave enough time to gather men and supplies and return before the Wraith arrived. Athos would not leave Atlantis to stand alone.

Perna still had Laura up and walking for a few minutes every day, which was getting more and more difficult. Her hand was on Laura's belly now as Laura sat up as best she could. Carson was using the opportunity to rub her lower back. "I don't like the look on your face," Laura said.

"You're very, very close," Perna replied, still frowning. "This could not have come at a worse time for you."

Laura looked to Carson, whose eyes had closed. "Perhaps the information is wrong," she said, although she did not believe it herself. "Perhaps there is no invasion coming, or perhaps the baby will come first."

Perna made a noncommittal sound and continued her examination. Laura turned to her husband. "We never did decide on a girl's name," she said, trying to turn the mood of the room.

Carson groaned. "Do not remind me." That brought a small smile to her lips. "Perhaps we will be spared that trial."

"I'm afraid I can give you no insight," Perna said, smiling a little herself. "Only that sometimes a name is obvious once the child has arrived."

"That would be nice," Laura replied. She cast a glance at Carson. "I still like Julia."

"I still like Alice," he reminded her, kissing her cheek.

"I have to agree that this will be easier if the child is a boy," Perna remarked dryly.

The midwife pulled a chair over and sat down next to the bed. As much as she wanted to keep her mind off the situation, Laura knew when it was time to be serious. "It's too late, isn't it?" she asked softly.

Perna nodded reluctantly "A week ago it could have been done."

"A week ago, Atlantis was the safest place to be," Laura said, sighing. Her hands closed over her belly, a gesture that had become instinctive in the last few months. The baby was moving almost constantly right now.

There was more trouble than this, though. She was fairly certain that Elizabeth and Kate would not leave the island now, not when she could not evacuate with the rest. Laura hated being this helpless, but more than that, she hated that her condition would place her friends in harm's way.

If she thought it would do any good, she would appeal to Jack and Lord John and Lord Daniel, but she knew her friends too well. They would never consent to leave when it meant leaving Laura behind.

Perna left the room for a moment, and Carson held her a little closer. "Are you all right, love?" he asked.

Laura shook her head. It would be a while before she was all right.

The afternoon was hectic and long. John went with the heralds as they announced to the population of the island that they needed to prepare for an evacuation. Most of the people had some idea already - the nobles were leaving and much of the populace seemed not far behind them - but John found himself trying to dispel rumors and calm fears while still giving the impression that the matter was serious and everyone needed to prepare, whether to evacuate or to stand and fight.

Afterward, he went by the armory, where Jack and a few of his men were examining their supplies. The situation looked grim, but he had an idea of a way he could contribute to the preparations. It would be a valuable thing when his only other option was a long wait. When the Goa'uld had attacked Caldora, he had had more than his fill of waiting.

As evening drew near, John hurried himself up the narrow stairs that would take him to the queen's residence. Even a few months ago, he would have been halted there and asked his business in the rooms above. Now, as her Majesty's betrothed, he was allowed to pass unchallenged.

The door to her chambers was another matter, but once one of the guards made his request known, the door was opened to him and he stepped into her sitting room without pause. "My lady."

"John," she replied, rising to meet him. She was alone, he realized, and she looked only a little more composed than the night before, after Dex had told them his news. "I have only a few minutes to spare, I'm afraid."

He nodded. "I know you are busy." She gestured to the small sofa near the fire, and he gladly sat down with her. Yet the look in her eyes distracted him from his purpose in coming. "Are you all right?" he asked gently.

Elizabeth looked at him for a moment before shaking her head. "No. But I will be."

Her hand sought his, and he remembered the morning of her coronation, when in this room he had knelt before her and they had had nearly the same conversation. This time, he did not know what to say, but he suspected he did not need to say anything. He beckoned her closer and she obliged, meeting his lips with a hunger of her own.

Since their betrothal, John had noticed a change in her behavior toward him. He had been given to holding back, but Elizabeth had grown more bold. It had become increasingly difficult to resist. Now, with danger looming like an executioner's sword, he let Elizabeth control the kiss, but could not resist putting his arms around her. She shifted up to her knees as her tongue began to explore his mouth, and he tugged her closer to kneel over him.

Elizabeth's skirts were bunched uncomfortably between them, but John did not care, not with her hands cradling his head through the aggressive kiss. He'd had glimpses of this side of her before, but its intensity was new to him and not unwelcome. Besides, he'd been gone for weeks. This most recent separation had left him craving far more than company and conversation, and their reunion had left him wanting. His hands roamed over her body eagerly, first staying on her back, but then as her lips trailed across his cheek, he cupped her breasts. She arched into the touch and his fingers were going to the laces of her gown before he even thought about it.

He expected her to stop him, but instead she sat up and watched as his fingers worked the garment open, then she helped him pull her bodice down. While his hands caressed her, he trailed kisses down her throat and lower, and he realized she was loosening the ties of her corset. Elizabeth seemed to have forgotten that their time was short and John was not able to think clearly enough to remind her, too mesmerized by her boldness and her obvious hunger for him.

He slipped his hands under the corset and helped her tug it over her head. Her chemise was still in his way, but he didn't try to remove it, not yet. His lips trailed down from her throat again, nuzzling fabric out of his way as he reached the swell of her breast. She cupped the back of his head tenderly and he moaned. Unable to help himself, he suckled her soft skin hard enough to leave a mark, well below what her clothes would normally cover. She cried out his name in a high, breathy voice, and finally he remembered where they were.

"Elizabeth," he murmured against her skin, and she shivered a little. "We can't do this. Not here."

She did not speak until he lifted his head. Her eyes were dark with desire. "Bedchamber."

Stunned by her single word, he could not move for a moment, but it did not matter. The door swung open unexpectedly. Her hands flew up to pull her undergarments back into place as the door closed again and Kate hissed, "Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth was scrambling off his lap. John would have helped her with her clothes, but Kate hurried across the room and began righting Elizabeth's garments almost furiously. "You should go, my lord," she said angrily.

"I did actually come to speak to the queen on a point of business," he said, even as he rose and walked somewhat unsteadily toward the door.

"What do you want, John?" Elizabeth asked, her voice laden with another meaning.

He had to bite his tongue, and he certainly did not turn around to look at her. "I took the liberty of examining the archers' supplies," he explained. "I know they are all busy making more arrows, but we could use more. I thought someone should go to Athos and enlist help there."

"Go," she said, and John did not miss the significance of her sending him instead of a messenger. Perhaps this was as much about removing temptation as anything else.

Tentatively, John glanced over his shoulder. Kate was standing before Elizabeth, lacing her gown up again, but Elizabeth met his eyes. "I will return as soon as I can, my lady."

She nodded in reply. He could see both frustration and relief mingled in her expression and he knew she could see the same in him. What had just happened had been terribly risky, but part of him wanted it again anyway.

So John took a long route to the stables, where he found Teyla. "Countess," he said, mustering as much dignity as he could. "I did not expect to see you here."

"I am going to Athos for the night," she replied. "I am hoping to bring men tomorrow to defend the island."

John nodded. Athos, he knew, had always been vital to the defense of Atlantis. Laura had told him once of Elizabeth's introduction to Athos, how Teyla had saved her from Kinsey's assassin and then the town had sheltered her until Sumner came for her. Athos would come to their queen's aid now too. John had no doubt of that.

"The queen has sent me to ask your people to assist us in making more arrows," he told her, walking to his own horse's stall. Silvanus whinnied at the sight of him.

Teyla said something else and he made a noncommittal reply, focused instead on saddling his horse. The evening was chilly and rainy, but the weather gave him something else to think about. He would take any distraction now, anything to keep his mind off of what had happened with Elizabeth. Most of all, John was glad of Teyla's company. Now he might not spend the entirety of the trip thinking about Elizabeth's warm body straddling his lap, the wanton look in her eyes, or the fact that she had not stopped him.

He knew before this afternoon that she wanted him, but she was young and inexperienced. His nights were often filled with dreams of her, of their bodies tangled together, of their passions matched and finding his release in her, and those fantasies had a common theme. To coax her into bed with him, especially before their wedding night, he would have to seduce her with gentle but persistent reassurances and reminders of his love for her. Despite the risks of letting him bed her now, Elizabeth had just offered herself to him, rendering his imagination moot and leaving him utterly astonished.

Provided they survived the next week, the next three months were going to be excruciating.

On the other hand, he was grateful that Kate had interrupted them when she had, and not after he had recovered from his shock enough to throw Elizabeth over his shoulder and carry her into the bedchamber. Despite his fantasies, he had no intention of sullying Elizabeth's honor or his own, nor risking the possibility of Elizabeth conceiving a child before their wedding night. Hopefully he could hold to that resolution long enough.

But Teyla pressed him for information on what he knew of the preparation for the defense of the island. It was not much. All had been chaos on the island after the assembly that morning, and John had found himself the target of a number of inquiries. Now that he had time to think about it, he realized the irony of it. Some of the men who had approached him for information today were men who had raised objections to his and Elizabeth's betrothal. Now they came to him because he was in the queen's confidence and they thought he could give them the answers they sought.

Athos was busy, as always. News of the impending assault had already spread through the village, and John and Teyla were immediately barraged with questions. Teyla had probably not intended to make her appeal to the men of the village so immediately, but while still seated on her horse, she said, "Men of Athos, our people have always stood guard to the island of Atlantis. The queen has been our friend and ally. Will we fail her now?"

A rousing chorus answered that they would not. It lifted John's spirits a little to see that he had not been wrong in thinking that at least here, Elizabeth would not be lacking in support.

Once they had dismounted and their horses had been led away, John went about his purpose, gathering those whom he had taught the winter before to make arrows. Even the women and some of the older children joined in the effort, and by the time he decided to retire for the night, they had amassed a considerable stockpile. John had no doubt that the process would begin again in the morning, and that Athos would provide for the archers until time or materials ran out.

Quite late that night, he sat before the fire in the inn. Normally the common room would be crowded, even at this time of night, but the situation had nearly everyone busy elsewhere. John was a little surprised when Teyla arrived and sat beside him. "Have you had success, my lord?" she asked.

He had to smile a little. "Indeed. I am not sure how to express my gratitude to you and your people."

"You of all people understand duty," Teyla replied, staring into the fire. "They remember the Ori." John had not thought of it in those terms before, but he was not given to thinking much about the Ori. Teyla was old enough to have memories of those days too. "We will not see Atlantis brought so low again."

He nodded, although he was not sure he shared her confidence. "You made a point to say that you are here for the night," he remarked.

"I am returning to Atlantis in the morning," she replied. "Jack is right. Every sword hand will be needed."

John was surprised. "I am not certain he meant you."

"He made a point of singling me out after the assembly," she said, almost grinning. "He knows as well as you do that I can wield a sword."

John did indeed know that, but his thoughts were in another place. "Do you think Elizabeth can be convinced to leave? Even to come as far as Athos?"

Teyla's expression sobered. "I do not know, John," she admitted. "Were it not for Laura, I think perhaps it would be possible."

His eyes widened in alarm. "Can Laura not leave?"

"I do not know," she answered quickly, "but the fact that they did not remove her from the island today does not speak well of the risk, both to her and to the child."

"And Elizabeth would never leave her," John said lowly, almost to himself. He could not blame Elizabeth, exactly, but that did not make him particularly happy with the situation.

An awkward silence followed. Then Teyla leaned forward. "Jack asked me to convey a request to you." His curiosity piqued, John raised a brow. "He wants you to command the archers."

That made him frown. "The archers have a commander."

"You are more recently acquainted with war, my lord." She drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair. "I know he has not spoken to the queen about this, but I believe it would also be something of a relief to her. The archers will not be so directly in the way of the fighting."

His frown deepened. He did not much like the thought of being kept sheltered for political reasons. Elizabeth's father had not done as much when the Ori attacked, but perhaps King Edmund's fate was a reason for him to accept Jack's request. Besides, if he were positioned on the ramparts, should the unthinkable happen and the Wraith storm the palace, John could get to Elizabeth and get her to safety. Kicking and screaming, probably.

That was twice in one evening that he had contemplated carrying her somewhere over his shoulder. The strange thing was that both thoughts were equally frustrating.

Ruefully, he wondered if the prospect of him in the fighting had anything to do with their encounter hours earlier. He did not doubt Elizabeth's desire for him, but it seemed logical that, before their marriage, she would only give him so much liberty with her body if there was a very real possibility that he would not survive the Wraith assault.

Teyla was looking at him strangely, and he shook his head. "I will speak to Jack upon our return," he said, standing up. She stood with him. "For now, it is high time I retired."

She wished him a restful night, but John knew exactly how slim the chance of that was.

Jack felt like he hadn't slept since Prince Ronon arrived, even when he woke up two mornings later. Sarah sat beside him a few moments after he stirred, which made him wonder why she was not in bed with him. He tried to say her name, but his voice was muffled by his pillow. She shushed him gently and kissed his temple. "It's all right. The child woke me," she said, running her fingers through his hair.

He shifted enough to be able to look at her. She was in her shift and robe, her hand resting against the curve of her belly. A few moments later, he realized that the sun had to be coming up, because the room was not so dark.

Reluctantly, he pushed himself up. Sarah stood out of the way as he dragged himself out of bed. There was so much work to be done. During the day, he could keep his mind occupied but now there was nothing to distract him.

They got dressed in silence. Jack stood behind his wife and gently tightened the laces of her gown. Then he rested one hand upon her shoulder while his other moved over her belly. The sensation of his child moving within her was by now familiar, but this morning it brought a fearful anticipation. He could not bear it if something happened to his wife and child.

Sarah reached back and touched his face; he kissed her fingers. "We must speak with the queen this morning," he said. "Let me put my boots on."

"I am not detaining you," she pointed out.

A few minutes later they walked arm in arm to the queen's door. It was early enough that the corridors were very empty, but Elizabeth's guards allowed them in without comment. Inside, Jack saw that Daniel, John, David Heightmeyer, and Teyla were already waiting. John and Teyla were both taking off their cloaks and gloves, suggesting that they had just returned from their respective errands in Athos.

With a swift look at Daniel and John, Jack was fairly certain they had come with the same purpose as him.

The door opened, and Elizabeth came out of her bedchamber with Kate close behind. It was immediately apparent that the queen had not slept much better than Jack had. "What is the status of our preparations?" she asked immediately.

"Reinforcements will arrive tomorrow," Jack replied. "McKay reports the work on fortifications is proceeding as expected, though not as fast as we would hope. He is working with the craftsmen on the weapons." He hesitated a moment before saying more. "We have not yet heard from the Asgard."

Elizabeth frowned, though she did not look surprised. "They will do as they please, as we have learned," she observed grimly.

"Thor will not abandon us, Majesty," Jack said quietly. He glanced at John. "They came to Caldora's aid. They will come to ours."

She nodded again, though not in agreement. "And the soldiers here?"

"Captain Lorne has ordered most of the guard to join the soldiers in training," Jack replied. Even Ford, who had accompanied John to Caldora, had left his charge, and Elizabeth's guard had been reduced. "I have asked Lord John for his help in that regard."

Elizabeth cast a swift look at her betrothed. "I suppose that is only natural. You have seen war more recently than anyone else in this room."

"He has also asked me to take command of the archers," John said. "I suppose that is natural too."

Jack nodded his thanks, but Elizabeth was moving on before he could speak. She looked to Teyla. "And the college?"

"Most of them have fled, my lady," Teyla replied, contempt in her voice. "But I have brought men from Athos. More will arrive tomorrow morning with supplies."

Jack wondered for a moment if he was about to antagonize Teyla again, but he reminded himself that Teyla was as capable a fighter as most men he knew. It was natural that she would have contempt for able-bodied men who fled in the face of this assault. Elizabeth, though, was not Teyla. Neither were her companions or Sarah.

Thankfully Daniel broached the subject first. "Cousin, we ought to determine now when you will leave the island."

"That is simple enough to determine," Elizabeth replied. "I am not leaving."

"Elizabeth," John said.

"No, John," she said, turning to him. "You are asking me to flee not because I am your queen, but because I am a woman. My father fought to defend this island. The least I can do is not run away like a coward."

"Your Majesty, Edmund stayed because he had no choice," Jack told her. Normally he did not refer to the late king so informally, but his temper was rising. "There was nowhere to go. We were trapped here. As it was, when I saw the Ori crossing the mountains, I sent my wife and my son to safety. This is not the act of a coward. Your place is not in battle."

Elizabeth did not answer him. Instead, she looked at Sarah. "Is he sending you away?"

"Yes," Jack said.

Sarah turned an astonished look on him. "No, you are not."

"Sarah, I have to know that you and the child are safe," he said, lowering his voice a little, as he was well aware that they were not alone. "You cannot stay here."

"You cannot guarantee my safety outside this palace either," she shot back, angrily. She reined in her temper swiftly, though. "Jack, I didn't marry you simply because of this child. I am not leaving you."

She looked hurt, and all Jack could do in that moment was take her hand in his. Tactfully, Elizabeth turned the conversation back to herself. "My lords, I appreciate your concern, but my place is here," she said. "Besides, I spoke with Mistress Perna last night. She said there is no way Laura can remove from the palace without significant risk both to her and the child she carries. I could never abandon her for my own safety."

At that Lord David looked at his daughter and finally spoke. "I assume you have reached the same decision, Kate."

Kate nodded. "I cannot leave Laura behind."

Elizabeth looked between the two Heightmeyers. "Lord David, have you prepared to stay?"

"Yes, my lady," he said in obvious surprise.

"I need you to leave," she replied. "Since I am staying, I must do something to protect the line of succession. I am grateful for your willingness to stay and fight, but I need you to be ready in case we do not prevail."

Lord David looked quite shocked by this. "My lady, I -"

"I know," Elizabeth interrupted gently. "I would not ask you to leave your daughter behind if the situation were not so dire, or if there were someone else in the line of succession whom I trusted as much as I trust you."

"My place is with the queen, Father," Kate reminded him.

David was too overcome to speak, and Daniel patted his shoulder. Elizabeth, meanwhile, was looking from one face to another. "Let us go to work," she said. "We have much to do, and time is not on our side."

On the morning after his crew had begun fortifying the area around the shipyards, Rodney was met at his door by Peter Grodin, the queen's secretary. "Good morning," the man said. "The queen has sent me to assist you in any way I can."

Rodney stood and blinked for a moment, not quite awake enough to understand why she would do such a thing. Then he recalled that Grodin was an educated man. Not as educated as himself, of course, but Grodin was schooled enough in the natural arts that he could at least understand most of what Rodney was trying to accomplish. In addition to that, the queen obviously valued his work, so it was likely that he could be trusted to oversee parts of the endeavor while Rodney saw to other matters.

"Yes, yes," Rodney replied at last, stepping out into the corridor. "Tell me, what do you know of fortifications?"

By the time they had finished breakfast, Rodney had determined what he would have Grodin do. For the first hour, they stayed outside, watching the work. Halfway between the palace and the water's edge, about half of the men still on the island were digging holes until they struck water. Rodney had always been impressed with how shallow the wells in the palace were, but now there was use for it. These pits would be hard to see by night, creating great danger for the attacking Wraith. Even if the attack came by day, the water at the bottom of the pits would make escape more difficult. Avoiding them would be the only reasonable course of action by day or by night, and that would force the Wraith to narrow their attack to certain places. The night before, Rodney and Lord Jonathan had discussed where those places would be. The broadest gaps between the pits were as far away from the palace's entrances as they could manage, making the gates easier to defend.

A hundred yards beyond the pits, another group of men were taking the dirt dug from the pits and building up an earthen wall that stretched from the north beach to the south. Rodney had not yet decided if they needed to dig down from there as well to make a steeper drop, but that was not the point of the exercise. Lady Teyla had rounded up workers on the mainland to gather as many large tree branches as they could. They would be brought here and sharpened, then laid across the mound, points facing the harbor.

The previous day, when he showed the drawing of this to the queen, she had nodded immediately and reminded him to get wood as green as possible, so that the impediment would not be so easily set ablaze. All three men in the room had looked at her in some degree of amazement before Lord Jonathan remembered that he had instructed her himself in the country's military exploits. It seemed there had been some particular battle in the past where such a trick was employed. Rodney was simply grateful that she understood what he was trying to do.

Once it was clear that his instructions were being followed, Rodney left the oversight to Grodin and went to the blacksmith's shop, where a number of smiths from the island and mainland alike were gathered. During the summit, the scientists assembled had come up with a few designs, some of which corresponded with the Caldorans' descriptions, and some which were for smaller devices. One, a small metal container holding the powder that could be lit, had been christened a grenade, after a fruit common in Atalan's southern orchards. It was now up to Rodney to create them, all without adequate time in which to test any designs.

He wondered why the Asgard had not yet arrived, and what Queen Elizabeth had meant when she said that they could not count on that ancient order. Rodney had his share of experience with the Asgard leaving a nation, but he could not imagine the Asgard abandoning Atlantis to such a fate.

But as he thought about the Asgard leaving Iolan, his thoughts were drawn inevitably to his sister. He had thought several times of writing to Jeannie, but though he often seemed as though he could not hold his tongue, he could not find the words he ought to say to her now. Not being a soldier, he had never spent much time thinking about his death in violent terms. He did not know what comfort to offer Jeannie, if any could be had.

At least he knew she would be cared for. As much as he had struggled with the idea of his sister marrying his friend and former patron, he was glad of it now. Jeannie's last letter had conveyed the news that she was carrying a child. She sounded so happy, and from her description, Radek was positively joyful at the turn of events. This child would not be a replacement for the daughter she had lost any more than the king was for her first husband, but Rodney was happy for her. She had a good life now, more than he could ever have offered her even if he had stayed in Iolan.

None of which helped him think of what he would say to her.

Peter Grodin found him musing over the first of the metal gunpowder containers late in the afternoon. "Did you have anything to eat, Master McKay?" the man asked without any attempt at formalities. Then he stopped short, looking at Rodney, who currently had a mouth full of bread. "Never mind. Sometimes the queen has to be reminded that mealtime has arrived, but I see you do not suffer from such single-mindedness."

Rodney made a face but changed the subject. "How fares our project outside?"

"Well enough. The pits are nearly dug," Grodin replied. "Lord Jonathan wishes to know if you will be planting stakes in the bottom of them."

The thought had occurred to him, and he found it rather distasteful. Of course, there was no such thing as polite warfare, no matter how the noble classes jabbered on about chivalry in battle. "If he thinks it would be useful," he said, somewhat diffidently.

"I'll convey that to him." Grodin looked as though he would leave, but then he paused. "I know the queen intends to send messengers from the island in the morning," he added. "If you wish to send word to the princess consort..." He left the thought unfinished but his expression said the rest for him.

Rodney nodded his thanks and the other man departed. With a heavy sigh, he turned back to his work. While he had often come up with his best solutions under pressure, he doubted that limited time would help him figure out what to write.