Chapter 2

Anafiel knocked on a door and we waited for an answer. I don't know why my stomach was all in knots because I was about to meet the betrothal to Prince Rolande; I was already standing with the prince's lover. Maybe it could be that she will one day be queen or whatever the queen would be called here in Terre d'Ange. It may be a good thing to be on the good side of the future queen and mother to the next generation of members of House Courcel. The door opened and a maidservant stood on the other side.

"We're here to see the Lady Edmeé," Anafiel spoke. "I have brought the Lady Aaliyah."

"Who?" came a female voice from beyond the door.

"The dark skinned visitor from the Astria Porta."

"Stop referring to me like that," I whispered to Anafiel.

The maidservant stepped aside as she opened the door, allowing us in. Anafiel walked in before me and I followed along with the hope that my ankles hold out. It seemed that the walk from the chambers that Prince Rolande had given me to Edmeé's chambers helped. I watched Anafiel and a young woman who was dressed just as fine as I was, give each other a kiss that I took as more greeting than anything else.

"Edmeé, I would like you to meet Aaliyah O'Neill," Anafiel said, turning to stand beside his foster sister. "Aaliyah, meet Edmeé de Rocaille."

Again, I attempted a curtsy and somehow managed not to make a fool out of myself. "Greetings, Lady Edmeé."

She walked over and kissed me on the cheek. "You may call me Edmeé, please."

Okay, this was strange. I didn't get this warm of a reception when I moved in with Jack and his wife Sara when I was ten and had to transfer school districts. After two school years, my classmates warmed up to me. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard nothing but good things about you."

"Flattery can get you so far, Lady Aaliyah."

I gave a half shrug. "I thought I'd give it a whirl."

"Aaliyah had the thought of asking you for help in moving in women's shoes," Anafiel spoke up.

I nodded. "If it's not too much trouble on your part, that is. I'm still attempting to remain awake through all of this."

"Anafiel seems to be a little preoccupied with other things." Edmeé turned to look at her foster brother. "I think it's a good idea, Aaliyah. Why don't you stay here with me and I can see what you do know."

"It'll be my pleasure." My mouth turned up in a smile, glad for the first time I was meeting someone that I could count as a friend and not someone that could use me as a political pawn.

"And maybe you could join the hunting party in a week."

"I'll have to do my best then, huh?"

"Well, now that the two of you seem to be on good standings, I'll leave you to the lessons," Anafiel cut in. "Edmeé, Aaliyah."

I watched him walk past me and heard the door close behind me. "Where shall we begin, my lady?" My arms hung at my sides, most likely because I didn't have pockets to hook a thumb in and I wasn't sure how having my hands on my hips or crossed arms would look or come across.

"Well…How would you normally dress?"

I wasn't expecting that. "On Earth … Jean pants, tee shirt, tennis shoes…"

"Like a man. I see that Prince Rolande has done a fair job on giving you a dress. Come, let me see how you manage with it."

Did Anafiel plan on Edmeé and me to become friends? Maybe he did, maybe he didn't, but those first hours the future Princess Concert and I shared were some of the best I had when I first arrived in Terre d'Ange. It was a shame that it was cut short.

I stood in front of the full length mirror, looking at the riding outfit that Prince Rolande had commissioned for me. I couldn't be positive, but I was sure that Edmeé had spoken with Anafiel, who then talked to Prince Rolande, who then commissioned a man's hunting outfit tailored to fit my womanly figure. I'd have to thank her later for it. In the week that I had been living in the Palace and Terre d'Ange, I had managed to lay a petition to meet with the king on the behalf of Earth to discuss an alliance between his country and my planet. I was still waiting on word from the king about that.

"What do you think?" Rolande stepped in behind me in the view of the mirror.

The outfit, fit with dark brown breeches that were tucked into knee high black boots with matching jacket that hung open and a tan long sleeve shirt under the jacket. Emilie had done a wonderful job on putting my hair in a braided bun that rested at the base of my skull. "How can I repay you for it? You've done so much for me already." I couldn't keep my mind from the spot where I was going to make my camp and Earth's point of origin etched into the side of a tree. Would someone else that came through the Gate know what that meant and contact the SGC?

"You are my guest." Rolande rested his hands on my shoulders. "And you do look like you are more comfortable in this then those dresses."

"The dresses have grown on me, Your Highness."

"And I have said to merely call me Rolande."

I watched him turn away in the mirror and wondered what I did to earn such informality with him. There had to be something in his mind I was connected to. I turned away from the mirror to see him speaking with someone that was dressed in Courcel livery. They spoke in hushed terms before Rolande sent him off.

"I have been meaning to ask you this after the hunt, but I'll ask you now," Rolande spoke.

I walked from where I stood from the mirror over to him, curiosity piqued. "Ask me what?"

"It was suggested that I name you my heir until such time Edmeé and I beget our own."

And I wonder who had put that thought in his head. It seemed like I would have to speak to Anafiel about that. "And what are your thoughts on it? You know I cannot hold to the position forever."

"There is something, a test of sorts, members of Major Houses do to show their connection to House Courcel. We can do it now before we go to the hunt." Rolande led the way from the chambers and I couldn't stop from following. There was a sense of urgency about him I hadn't seen before, and stopped only once to speak quietly to another young man in Courcel livery before continuing on. Through corridors I had begun to be familiar with and around a corner to a corridor that looked like it was hardly in use. Cobwebs covered the lights and dust added some life to a dead corridor.

"Where are we?" I dared to ask.

"We are in a corridor that is off limits to everyone but the members of House Courcel. You are here because of the test I had suggested. My father and a few members of Parliament will join us shortly to witness it."

I stopped on a dime. "You never said that others would witness the test."

"I cannot really go before my father and Parliament and declare that you are a descendant of Elua without others seeing it. Now, please, keep up."

Why was I feeling nervous about some test Prince Rolande wasn't elaborating about and not the first time I stepped through the Gate? Probably because I had people I could trust when I stepped through the Gate. Here, I had the word of Anafiel, Prince Rolande, and Edmeé to trust. I had to trust Prince Rolande wouldn't kill me. Finally we arrived at a door that gave a loud creak when Prince Rolande opened it. I peered around him to watch as a dark room came to life with blue glowing light that matched the event horizon of the Gate. The lights brighten up to reveal that the room wasn't in the décor design that the rest of the Palace was. In fact, it was eerily similar to the Gate.

"Over here, Lady Aaliyah."

I followed Prince Rolande's voice to find him standing by a chair that matched the rest of the room. "What exactly am I supposed to do when the King and Parliament arrives?"

"All you need to do is sit on the chair. If things work as they should, the chair will lean back and the leg rest will come up. This little platform and the chair will light up as the chair leans back and legs come up."

I stepped up next to Prince Rolande and wondered what sort of material the Palace Archives had on this room. It was something to look into even if I didn't pass this chair test. From the door I saw shadows then the King entered the chamber followed by a handful of people that most likely represented the bulk of Parliament.

"Lady Aaliyah," King Ganelon greeted. "May I introduce the Duc d'Aiglemort of Camlach. Duc L'Envers of Naamah. The Lady of Marsilikos of Eisande. The Duc Morhban of Kusheth. Duc Trevalion of Azzalle. And the Duc Chalasse of L'Agnace."

I nodded politely. "Nice to meet you all."

"Now to what we have come here for. If you will, Lady Aaliyah, take a seat."

I looked to the seat and walked over to it. I didn't want to fail and have wasted everyone's time. I sat down and adjusted myself before putting my second leg in, closing my eyes as I did. My stomach did an immediate knot and my heart jumped in my throat as the chair back fell and the legs came up. Slowly I opened my eyes to see Prince Rolande smiling down at me.

"You did great," he whispered.

"I see that there needs to be a welcoming feast for a lost child of Elua," I heard Ganelon say. "Lady Aaliyah, welcome to the House and family of Courcel."

I willed the chair to go back to a sitting position, and it was rather smooth given the state of the room or the corridor outside the door. I watched the group of men and one woman leave the room and looked to Prince Rolande. "What does this mean?"

"It means that I can ask you this in all seriousness." He moved to kneel down at my left side at my legs. "Will you become my child in all ways duties and responsibilities? You will stand in as Dauphine until such time Edmeé and I beget our own. And you will stand in as regent for the oldest if Elua forbids my father and I succumb to death's answer."

It was a lot to answer to right off the bat, and I was not all that good at reading people. And knowing Prince Rolande for a week did not help much, but the look on his face told me that he was desperate for my affirmative answer. "You do realize that my lessons need to start now, right?"

"I believe that you'll do just fine. Now come, we have a hunt to join."

I have mentioned that Jack made sure that I took horse riding lessons, and they had paid off. I was more bummed that all the nobles and peers were walking their horses. I was itching to let my horse run, and my mare seemed to have sensed it. She was testing me, but wasn't outright challenging me for control. I looked around to the attending nobles and peers, seeing Isabel and her brother Barquel riding not far from where I was next to Prince Rolande. Barquel gave no sign that he witnessed my trial by chair mere hours earlier.

"Enjoying the hunt?" Delaunay's voice cut into my thoughts.

"I thought it was going to be a hunt, not a pleasure ride among vipers."

"That's an interesting way of putting it."

"It's true. I've been here a week and I've seen how Isabel looks at Prince Rolande. Duc Barquel plans for ties between his House and foreign ones." I couldn't be sure, but Anafiel looked amused that I had picked that out maybe in such a short amount of time.

"You're observant."

"You're just now getting that? I may appear to be an extrovert, but I do sit back and watch people, Lord Delaunay." For all the extracurricular activities I was in, I had time to sit and watch people. "That's not a crime."

"I know it's not. I do propose something to you, if you'll accept it."

"On top of me being taken in by House Courcel? I'm already facing the duties and responsibilities of being Prince Rolande's adopted daughter for the next several years."

On the other side of Rolande I saw out of the corner of my eye I saw someone slip down from the back of their horse. I stopped and dismounted my mare, rushing over to whoever fell. Subconsciously I was aware that Rolande and Delaunay had stopped and turned their horses in my direction, but I couldn't turn my attention to them just yet. I had to see if she was still alive, if not for myself, for Rolande and Delaunay. I didn't want to face them with the news that she was dead. Kneeling down, I felt for a pulse on the neck, I couldn't hold in the sigh that spoke more volume than my spoken word. Finally I met their gaze. "Edmeé's dead, my lords." I sat back on my heels and allowed my gaze to wander over to her saddle. Shifting over, I checked the strap that went under the horse and noticed that it had been cut most of the way through and the motion of the horse and Edmeé did the rest.

Around me there was commotion, most likely people trying to call in the beaters and hound handlers, arranging to have Edmeé carried back to the Palace, and someone attempting to console or hold back someone else. I looked up and around to those that were around me and my gaze fell upon Isabel. She looked back at me and glared, as if she was daring me to say something. But I couldn't and she knew it; though I couldn't speak to Anafiel about it. I stepped away from Edmeé's body and watched as several men moved in and careful picked her up and carried her away. My heart went out to them, it really did. To lose a woman who was close like a sister and the woman who would have been Princess Consort, what I could say to that?

"Lady Aaliyah." A male's voice spoke from behind me.

I turned to see a man with black hair bound simply in a ponytail. I struggled for a name, having remembered seeing him before during the past week. "May I help you, my lord?"

"Gasper, if you will Lady Aaliyah. I believe I found your mare wandering not far from here."

I arched an eyebrow, wondering what he was getting at, but given what had just transpired here, he may be just attempting to get me away from the spot. "Lead the way, Gasper." I motioned him to take the lead. The mare I had been given was a few feet away and I took the reins as I turned to Gasper. "Thank you, Lord Gasper."

"You should watch yourself, Lady Aaliyah. If it is possible, I would contact the Cassiline Prefect."

"The Prefect cannot protect me if someone plans on doing the same to me what they did to Edmeé."

"Indeed."

Why did Gasper go and say that? It just pulled on my heart strings, hearing the familiar word Teal'c said. I had the constellation charts on the table back in my chambers along with a copy of the Eluine Cycle. If only I had the spare moment to take pictures of the DHD back at the Gate, I'll be fine. I led the mare away and mounted when I joined back up with the hunting party that was now beginning to make its way back to the Palace. Gasper did have a point, I needed to watch myself. If what I did know of Isabel, she wasn't one of those women who wouldn't rest until she got what she wanted.

I wanted a couple minutes to myself when we returned to the Palace, but a gentle, guiding hand that belonged to Rolande.

"Come with me please."

I could refuse, but the pressure of his hand on my shoulder suggested otherwise. "May I ask where we are bound?"

"I've called for a full Parliament session. I'm to make sure that you will be protected."

He sounded … scared. Did Edmeé's death scare him into doing something rash that required a full Parliament? "Where's Anafiel?"

"He won't be joining us for this?"

Okay, that was weird. He and the Prince were tight at the hip, so what changed … So Anafiel thought that Isabel was to blame as well. I should have been happy at the thought, but I didn't want to be the go between and add to the additional rift between them. "And the full use of Parliament?"

"You'll see."

I hated surprises. I had seen the throne room a few times before, but not filled with every one of the seventy members of Parliament flanking the King. I wanted to stop, but with Rolande's hand still on my shoulder, it was out of the option. I didn't stop until Rolande released me mere feet from the King. I watched him walk around and stand between myself and all of those who were in charge of the government of Terre d'Ange.

"Lady Aaliyah O'Neill of the Tau'ri," Rolande began. "I stand before you now as well of all of Parliament to declare you a member of House Courcel and in all standing second in line for the throne. The events this morning has shown me that no one knows when their life might end. You, Aaliyah O'Neill, shall now be called Aaliyah O'Neill de la Courcel, Princess of the Blood."

Uh… Was I supposed to make a speech now? I took Drama not Speech in high school. I mentally kicked myself in the attempt to not look like a fool standing before seventy two people, but Rolande seemed to save me for a moment as he had waved someone over to him. The person was in the now common sight of Courcel blue and silver livery carrying a small pillow that had a coronet decorated with white and blue diamonds. I walked over, of my own accord I don't know, and fell to a knee. The weight of the actual coronet was light, but with it came the duties and responsibilities of a second in line for the throne.

"Rise, Princess Aaliyah and receive the ring of your station."

I stood and saw Rolande holding a female's ring that bore a swan on each side and a bright blue stone mounted in the middle. He took my right hand in his right and put the ring on with his left. I met his gaze and saw a mask of happiness, beyond that was something to talk about between us that Parliament didn't need to see.

"There shall be a fête in a week's time to celebrate," Rolande announced.

"Thank you, Your Highness," I said for him to hear.

"I would like to speak with you later if you manage the time," he replied in the same manner. "Until then, let us move you into your new chambers and have a tailor visit with some new dress designs."