She dreamed. Deep and dark dreams that ensnared her in their gaping jaws. Demons of the night intent on stealing from her every mote of light within her soul.

She dreamed of a great golden ship, halls echoing with footsteps as guards tramped by on patrol. She glided through the corridors knowing every sound, every nuance, as the engines hummed beneath her feet.  Guards acknowledged her at every junction, bowing before her. All seemed well…until the lights dimmed. The guards took up their weapons, saluting, turning on their heels and vanishing into the shadows. As she tried to ignore the unease creeping over her scalp, down her neck, the lights far behind her began to dim. Lower, lower into shadow, creeping toward her bit by bit. Terror exploded into life inside her, squirming within her abdomen, pushing against her heart and lungs. She could not move, could not even blink to banish the sight as tendrils of darkness swept the floor and walls, reaching, searching, seeking…

She ran. Where she gained the strength to flee, where she was running to – didn’t matter. She had to get away, had to escape. Somehow, between her instincts screaming at her and logic dictating to her, she knew the shadows were there to destroy her, enslave her. She ran. Her clothes whipped in the winds made by her flight, her feet taking any path they could, seeking only to find safe harbour. Every glance back only served to drive her faster, her sandals slapping in time to the pounding rhythm of her heart. Perhaps the glider bay. Perhaps the engine room. Perhaps the command centre of the ship. Somewhere, anywhere, to escape the darkness that stalked her through the corridors. One misstep. One moment of hesitation as the lights flicker and fade. Have to find a way to stop the slow envelopment of her body. To stop the creeping damp chill as the tendrils wrapped themselves around her ankles and wrists. Flailing, fighting to be free as they crept over her skin, dry dampness that prickled and stuck and itched and crawled. Fear that swept in front of the darkness, frozen flames licking at her flesh, drowning her screams moments before the shadows wrapped her in their tormented embrace…


* * * * * * *

It was a clear night. Not a single cloud ruined the spectacular array of twinkling, shimmering lights that stretched from horizon to horizon. The stars that had witnessed years of blood, misery and death now seemed to  shine and glimmer in joy for the new era that lay before them in celebration of freedom, the end of tyranny, the beginning of life.

Legs drawn up, arms wrapped around her limbs and chin securely nuzzled in the depression between her knees the young woman took a long, deep breath of the night air, letting it fill her until it spilled out, the soft scents and gentle sounds cocooning her in peaceful contemplation. She allowed herself to fall into the quiet, not fighting the need to hold on to who she was, just giving way, setting herself free to drift upon the eddies of the universe as the stars blurred in front of her eyes…

“Chayne! What are you doing?”

Startled, Chayne snatched a blade from her wrist sheath, surging up into a fighting crouch before she recognised the voice.

“Damn it, Ke’ran! Don’t startle me.”

“Don’t curse at me with Tau’ri oaths.” As the tousled dark head of the leader of her people rose over the edge of the roof, he threw her a look of annoyed disapproval. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” she replied, rolling her eyes and settling herself back into a comfortable seat.

“It looks like you’re trying to kill yourself.” Pulling himself onto the roof, the man rolled smoothly to kneel beside the younger woman. He looked at her face then up at the stars and sighed.

“You’re still going then.”

Chayne turned to face him, searching his face for some sign that he understood. His acceptance of his standing had brought a change in him, she could see that even under the starlight. His night-sky eyes were still lined but not as deep and unfathomable as before. His lips no longer seemed constantly twisted in worry nor his brow furrowed in concern. Except for now, of course, having found his sister sitting on the roof without a blanket, staring into space with a far away look in her eyes.

“Ke’ran, we talked about this.”

The older man sighed again, cautiously settling himself beside her, drawing his knees to his chest in the same way.

“I know.” He shook his head, blue-black curls draping forwards over his temple. “But I can’t help feeling that if you go, I won’t be there in case…”

He paused. Carefully, Chayne shifted to press her body against his, hip to hip. Fortified by her support, Ke’ran’s lashes swept down for a long beat as he swallowed.

“Chayne…we nearly lost you. Iiron, Nerum…now Jesan is leaving for his own home with a loving wife. With you gone, there is nothing…” He stopped again, screwing his face up in frustration. “I'm getting this wrong.”

“No. I understand. You’ve spent so long being the silent protector then the not-so-silent. It’s hard to give that up.” Chayne lifted her head to find the brightest star. “You are like that star, Ke’ran. You shine so brightly, burn so deep, that you feel everything. You see people following your light and you want to shelter them, comfort them, give them security in the coming days.”

“But?” He knew her so well.

“But…see that small spot of gold, not far below? It doesn’t shine brightly; it doesn’t guide anyone to goodness or kindness. It simply waits for its chance to step out from the halo of the brighter light. Jesan has always walked with you, Ke’ran, so you have never seen him as anything other than a star of equal power. Between you both, you have kept our people together through adversity not known in our history since the dark days of the Ancestors. It was your twin suns that lit the way for us all.” She dropped her chin back to her knees. “I? I have been waiting to shine, Ke’ran. Leaving, seeking my own path, is the only way I can learn who I am.”

Ke’ran let the heavy, leaden breath drift from his lungs as his body grew sluggish with the realisation that she was right.

“Besides,” She continued, “You are the leader of our people now. The rebuilding of homes, families, trading partnerships and trust will take years, even with the help of our friends among the Tau’ri. I can’t help with that…not yet. My body and mind are trained for one purpose – fighting. Until I can put that aside within myself, I can be of no help to you in the task ahead. You know that. You’ve always known it.”

Chayne’s head had slowly tilted from her knees to rest against her brothers’ shoulder while she spoke. The act of shrugging in sympathetic reasoning for him rubbed her cheek against his arm. Without thinking, Ke’ran shifted to pull her into his body, letting her curl to press close to his chest where she rubbed her face like a cat and sighed.

“I know.” He rested his cheek on the crown of her head. “You’re right, I’ve known for a long time. You were too young to have learnt anything else. I just wish you didn’t have to leave – it’ll be quiet without you.”

“You won’t even notice I'm gone.” She sighed, snuggling closer to him. “You’ll be too busy cutting trees, stripping bark, weaving straw, baking bricks, guarding children, telling stories, keeping Jesan out of trouble…”

They both laughed.

“Explain to me again how it is that my older brother has become the most irresponsible, irritating, irrepressible and completely madness-inducing member of the family.” Ke’ran sighed. “I used to think that you and Nerum were the worst pair of mischief-makers and trouble-finders.”

“We were.” Chayne poked him in the ribs, mock-indignant. Ke’ran just raised an eyebrow at her.

“But lately Jesan has been…” He shook his head.

“He’s in love.” Chayne sighed. “We’ve never seen him this happy. It’s like he’s a child, enjoying the summer and harvest again.”

“I know.”

They sat there a moment, just thinking and enjoying being close. Then Ke’ran tightened his hold briefly before moving away. Chayne looked up at him as he rose to his feet, carefully spreading his weight.

“Time to go in?”

He smiled and offered his hand. She took it, allowing him to pull her to her feet. They made their way to the edge, he picking his way down to the ladder whilst she caught a firm grip and simply rolled down to drop into a crouch on the ground. Ke’ran rolled his eyes.

“Can’t just get down, can you.”

Chayne grinned, tossing her head to flick hair from her face.

“Just like getting down from a tree.”

“Really?” Ke’ran smirked. “Funny...I didn’t see you fall on your ass.”

Chayne briefly considered igniting a small brawl but settled for punching her big brother in the shoulder.

“I haven’t done that in years.” She pouted playfully. “And I don’t intend to start it up again.”

“Good to hear.” Ke’ran let the smile fade from his face. “I’m really going to miss you, little sister.”

She raised smoky-blue eyes to his midnight-blue ones, tears threatening even as she stepped in close to wrap her arms around his waist and bury her face in his shoulder.

“I’ll miss you too.”

Slowly they made their way back into the house, arms wrapped around each other, seeking comfort for everything that had been. As they finally drifted into sleep, Ke’ran held his sister tightly in his arms, wishing he could protect her forever whilst Chayne breathed in the beloved scent as she had for years and wished for the future to be worth the pain she was causing.