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 A Promise Kept

Jessie shifted the pack she had slung over her shoulder, squinting against the glare of the morning sun. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn they were still on Earth, as there was nothing to suggest otherwise. The green grass of Herboren glistened with dew as the sun’s rays spread across the rise of the hill they were traversing.

"So, what was your impression of Kanathia?"

Jessie glanced at Cam, who was keeping in step beside her. Grinning, she said, "Interesting woman…I mean, priestess. She definitely has that motherly vibe going on, but I have a feeling few people would be willing to cross her."

"Yeah, I have to agree with you there. She sure took a liking to you, though, once she found out we’re engaged."

She chuckled. "Well, this is a matriarchal society, with an obvious emphasis on family and the cycle of life." As they crested the hill, they could see tall Corinthian-like columns to their left. "I think it’s interesting that their deities are goddesses, given the prevalence of patriarchal cultures in general." Her conversation was momentarily cut off as they sidestepped down the hill, trying not to lose their footing because of the steepness. "I think that probably has a lot of influence on their culture as well as the way they celebrate life."

Reaching the stone columns, they passed through a simple arched entrance into the courtyard beyond. Cam squinted against the bright sunlight as he looked up at the large pillars. "Speaking of celebrations, did you think it was weird General Hammond encouraged us to take part in any festivities?"

"Obviously the General trusts Lya; she was the one who said to interact with the culture and people here." Jessie grinned. "Speaking of festivities, you think they’re working Pisano and Spencer hard?"

It was Cam’s turn to chuckle. "Putting it bluntly, the ladies who asked for their help were very easy on the eyes. They could have the guys moving boulders, and I doubt you’d hear any complaints." Reaching the end of the courtyard, they turned left, following the pathway as it led out to the garden Kanathia had spoken of earlier.

"Whoa." That ineloquent response would have surprised most who knew Jessie; the view, however, was explanation enough.

"Wow. Just…wow." Cam, too, was at a loss for words. The manicured area stretched out to the size of a football field. Wisteria-like flowers hung down in masses from multiple garden arches placed throughout, framing inset benches. Bushes were meticulously trimmed into whimsical shapes, and carved statues were set amongst the greenery. Plants resembling boxwood had been trained to form a low-growing labyrinth, the spaces alongside the path filled with exotic and delicate blooming flowers.

Jessie finally found her voice. "This is incredible." Raising her head, she inhaled slowly. "Do you smell that?"

He nodded. "Must be from all the flowers."

She concentrated on the scent. "It reminds me of gardenias, but there’s more to it than that. I’ve heard the expression of a fragrance being haunting, but I never truly understood that until now." Jessie pulled out the camcorder and started recording the area in its entirety. "This is like an elaborate Elizabethan knot garden. I love the way they created a maze, and the flowers are amazing." She shook her head slightly. "I can’t believe they smell that beautiful." Panning slowly from one side of the garden to the other, Jessie swung back to the center of the maze, zooming in on three large statues, their size a stark contrast to the shortened shrubbery. Clicking the power button off, she walked over to the entrance of the boxwood maze.

"Jess, you sure that isn’t off limits?" The enormity of the knot garden was impressive, as well as the intricacy of the maze. Given the fact the bushes were only a few feet tall, however, made the potential journey to the center less daunting.

"I don’t think so—there’s a defined walking path. Besides, I’m certain Kanathia would have told us to stay away if it was restricted." Focusing on the statues gracing the center of the garden, she added, "You can stay here if you want—I want to get a closer look at those statues."

"Uh-uh…where you go, I go. If we get in trouble, we’re doing it together."

If she was surprised when Cam laced his fingers through hers, she didn’t show it. Smiling, they walked hand-in-hand through the maze together, occasionally stopping to examine an unusual plant or the garden sculptures they found along the way. Some of the figurines were inset with delicate crystals, reflecting the sunlight in an ethereal way. The different blooms were intriguing; while they each had a subtly different fragrance, they all shared the underlying scent of gardenia.

Despite the multitude of turns, their journey to the center of the maze seemed to take hardly any time at all. There was an expanse of shortly cropped grass forming a large circle that surrounded the statues of three women dressed in long, flowing gowns. They had their backs to each other and were decorated with elaborately crafted flowers and leaves, as well as a companion animal. The statues appeared to be made out of mother of pearl, inlaid with gold, silver and gemstones. Each was very life-like, the eyes carved to give the appearance of an iris and pupil.

Cam’s voice broke the silence. "I know Kanathia said the statues were of the goddesses they worship, but…am I imagining it, or do they look familiar?"

Jessie studied the carvings. "You’re not imagining it." The first statue depicted a woman with a staff in one hand and a flat shell in the other. The crown on her head was arched, hair alternately braided and flowing, her feet sheathed in sandals with ivy straps across the top. An ornately detailed peacock sat at her feet. Her taut waist was laid bare, a delicate gemstone belt adorning her hipbones with a silken material attached, flowing down her legs like water. A gold amulet lay between her breasts, which were adorned with the same material as the skirt, draped over her arms and cascading behind her. It was a definite contrast between the usual white marble statues seen on Earth, but the resemblance was uncanny. "If I’m not mistaken, this is Hera, the Greek goddess of love and marriage." It was a depiction of Hera at the peak of her youth, her beauty…the epitome of womanhood.

Jessie reached out and touched the statue. "Her beauty was legendary, especially her eyes." She knelt down to get a closer look at the carved bird as well as the flowers at her feet. "It’s said that she’s linked to the peacock because its iridescent feathers look like eyes; given the peacock here, along with the lilies, I’d say there’s more than a strong possibility it’s her." Standing up, she took the camcorder and began recording the statue’s detail. "Hera blessed and protected a woman’s marriage, brought fertility, protected her children, and helped her find financial security. She was the only goddess who accompanied a woman through every step of her life. "

"Guess that makes sense, considering this is a matriarchal society, but how did she end up here?"

"That’s a damned good question." Jessie walked around to the next statue and studied it closely. "This one reminds me of Ataegina. She was the goddess of rebirth, fertility, nature, the moon and healing."

"Ataegina? That’s not Greek, is it?"

"No. She was a Chthonic goddess worshipped by the Iberians, Lusitanians and Celtiberians of the Iberian Peninsula. I may be wrong on this one, but with the depiction of the goat, along with her carrying a cypress branch, it does fit in with that goddess’ description. The name Ataegina is most commonly derived from a Celtic source, meaning ‘reborn’ and ‘night’. In the Badajoz region epigraphs drew parallels between Ataegina and the Roman goddess Proserpina, or Persephone. That would make her the goddess of Spring and seasonality, hence echoing the ‘reborn’ derivative."

Cam had already moved around to the next statue. "What about this last one?"

Jessie nibbled on her lower lip as she studied the unique features. "This one’s a toss up. There’s a goddess from the Western Slavic mythology called Zywie, who was the goddess of health, healing, regeneration and rebirth. This looks like a cuckoo, and since that was Zywie’s animal, I think that might be her." She made sure she had good shots of all three statues before turning the camcorder off. "Considering the word Herboren means ‘reborn’, it seems like there’s an ongoing theme of rebirth woven throughout this society."

Cam shook his head. "I bet Daniel would have a field day with this. I mean, what are the chances? A remote planet like this, and from the looks of it their deities are pulled from Greek, Slavic and Iberian goddesses?"

"We know the Goa’uld took humans from Earth as slaves. Maybe for some reason this planet ended up inhabited by races from three different cultures?"

"Well, it sounds like a stretch, but right now there’s nothing to contradict that."

"I wonder…" Jessie’s voice trailed off.

"What?"

"Well, I’d have to sit down with Daniel and get his opinion, but maybe through the slave trade one of the minor Goa’uld’s ended up with a mixture of slaves? I say minor because I don’t see any references to the ones we know of now, though it could have been more of a major player then, either ending up with a mix because they picked the best of the slaves, or ended up with what was left over, or…"

Cam couldn’t help but grin, and not for the first time wonder if somehow, some way, Jessie and Daniel were related. He could empathize with Jack’s occasional frustration with Daniel when he got on a roll, but Cam had an advantage that Jack didn’t when it came to halting the flood of information.

Jessie stopped talking as Cam leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. Seeing the twinkle in his eye, she looked at him sheepishly. "I’m babbling, aren’t I?"

Cam ran his hand over her back reassuringly. "Nothing wrong with that. I’m sure you and Daniel will have a lot to discuss when you get the chance."

Jessie looked at the statues one more time. "I guess we ought to be getting back, huh?"

Cam checked his watch. "Yeah. We’ll check in with Spencer and Pisano first, then we’ll see what this celebration Kanathia spoke of is all about."

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