TITLE: Memory Market

AUTHOR: Fawe (fawe@mastershouse.freeserve.co.uk)

CATEGORY: S/J romance

RATING: PG

DISCLAIMER: Stargate SG-1 and all related trademarks are not mine, I'm just borrowing the characters, etc etc. Don't sue me. Or else. *Looks threatening*

ARCHIVE: SJA, Heliopolis if they want it.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just finished writing First Ray of Sunlight, then I wrote this. I think my muse has been on the booze (Ooooh, that rhymes!)

FEEDBACK: Please. I'll like you if you send me feedback.
 
 

**
 

Have you been to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme,

Remember me to one you will find there,

She was once a true love of mine.
 
 

A bustling market place. Townspeople cry out to those who have come to buy their wares. Prices are called out, each vendor vying for the attention of the customers, especially the three who are said to have come through the Great Circle. They are three men; a scholar, a warrior and a leader of warriors. The leader has an empty look in his eyes; he has lost something important to him. His companions watch him with concern, for he is quieter than usual.
 

They stop at a stall selling weapons. The leader picks up a blade. It is a good blade, well-balanced. He slices it through the air experimentally, looking for whatever flaw hs prevented others from buying it. He is quick to spot it, a small nick near the hilt that in the heat of battle could cause the blade to crack, rendering the weapon useless.
 

He puts the blade down and picks up a smaller one. This is only a knife, but he seems more interested in this. Noting the interest, the vendor begins to extol the virtues of the weapon. The man smiles, and puts three silver coins in the vendor's hand. The exact value of the weapon, no more and no less. The vendor starts to argue, but sees the look in the man's eyes.
 

The three move next to a stall selling books, and the scholar selects some. He obviously has prior knowledge of what is available, as he does not browse, but selects four books and pays for them, before following his friends to one final stall.
 

This is a healer's stall, with herbs scattered in baskets over the ground. The lesser warrior, the one greater in stature, selects a few, knowing exactly what he is looking for. The woman running the stall puts a hand on his to stop him, and pulls a phial out of her pocket, offering it to him to smell. He smells it, and nods. The woman smiles, turning and looking into her tent, calling a word in her own tongue.
 

Another woman steps out. She is not like the local women. Her hair is fair, and her eyes are blue, not green.
 

The leader stares at her with hope in his eyes, and her empty eyes look back at him. He seems to be holding back tears as the phial is handed to him. Onlookers smile in recognition of what is to happen. Only a loved one can administer the memory drug, or it will have no effect. This woman is what the leader lost. And with the few drops of liquid in the phial, he will bring her back to him.
 

She accepts the proffered liquid, and pours it all down her throat. As she does so, the spark of life returns to her eyes. Letting the phial drop to the ground, she kisses the leader, who kisses her back.
 

The group is whole again. They can return to their business.
 

**Fin**

Okay, so I'm turning out some weird stuff tonight...

Feedback appreciated, though not insisted upon. ;)
 

Fawe