Disclaimer: 'Stargate SG1' and all the characters associated with the show belong to someone who isn't me. As I doubt that the owners would be willing to trade their rights for some magic beans that aren't in any way magical, this is not going to change at any point in the foreseeable future.

Author's Note: For those of you reading 'Stargate: Athena', a new chapter has been posted today.


Chapter Eight

"You're telling me that these people think that Carter and I are engaged?" Jack asked incredulously.

"Yes." Daniel nodded, wisely refraining from adding that the close proximity of their new quarters, between which he would have been willing to bet there was a discreet passageway, hinted that the Armidans were open to the idea that their queen and her champion might not wait until they were married. He wished that Teal'c had been willing to share the task of explaining to their friends the conclusion that Lord Cai and most of the court had jumped to.

"But all I did was knight him!" Sam protested. "Wouldn't a queen knight a lot of people? They can't marry all of them… right?"

"If you'd accepted Lord Arran, Sir Fionn or one of the others, I doubt they'd have thought that you knighting Jack had any special significance but since you weren't interested in any of them, I guess the Armidans assumed that there must have been a reason for that."

"And it couldn't have been that she just didn't want to get married?" Jack demanded.

"No." Daniel stated simply.

"They think that a queen needs a king." Sam said. Although she hadn't wanted the job, it irked her that she wasn't thought able to do it without a husband.

"Probably a King Consort." Daniel corrected. "Even if they thought that he'd end up doing the actual work to govern the planet, you were still the one chosen as ruler, not Jack."

"Because I don't mess with stuff offworld and get into trouble like you two do."

"What about Argos, sir?" Sam asked in as innocent a tone as she could manage.

"Watch it, Major."

"Should that not be 'Your Highness', O'Neill?" Teal'c, who had been watching and listening in amused silence until that point, observed. "After all, you are now a knight in Queen Samantha's service."

"I don't want you guys calling me that." Sam objected immediately. "It feels strange enough coming from the Armidans."

"Not enjoying the royal treatment, are we?" Jack's tone was half teasing, half sympathetic.

"Not with eight ladies in waiting who seem to think that I'm some kind of doll." She plucked at the skirt of her silk gown. "And I will never get used to corsets."

"I'm just surprised that they don't try to cut your meat for you and read you a bedtime story when they tuck you in."

"I wouldn't laugh, Sir Jack." Daniel pointed out with a mischievous smile. "As the queen's champion, you'll probably have your own squire, and at least a few pages soon enough – you'll need them to help you into your armour if you're called on to defend Sam's honour.

"Carter's a lot more capable of fighting her own battles than most people." Jack stated.

"They're hardly going to let the queen risk her own life in tournaments." Daniel said. "That's what her champion is for."

Sam interceded before Jack could respond. "We still need to discuss the treaty with the Council." She reminded them. "If everyone knows what they want out of it, and what they have in mind for a fair arrangement before Samuels and SG-9 return, it will make it all a lot easier."

"Be careful when you speak, Sam." Daniel cautioned her. "As far as Lord Cai and everyone else is concerned, you are entitled to do whatever you want with the planet and its resources. It's all yours and if you want to take it all, you can. I tried talking to Lord Cai but the idea of the people having any say in the matter is pretty alien to them, I'd be worried that if the Council members think that you want the naquadah and trinium to go back to Earth, they'll agree to whatever Samuels asks."

"I don't want to see the Armidans cheated." Sam said immediately. "But at the same time, the naquadah and trinium are needed on Earth."

"We've got to have some things that they need here." Jack remarked. "The plumbing in this place could be improved." He had been less than impressed by the bathroom facilities available in the castle.

"We could help with health care, education, agriculture and especially with developing their industries." Sam listed. The question was one she had considered before. "There's a lot we can give the Armidans, a fair deal is possible… if Colonel Simmons and Colonel Samuels are prepared to agree to it."

"And to stick to it." Daniel contributed, remembering how Major Davis had objected to the idea of giving the Russians access to the technology they had been promised.

"In this case, if the Pentagon did try to go back on their agreement, they would lose their access to the materials they want." Sam pointed out.

"Wouldn't you get into a lot of trouble with the Pentagon if that happened?" Daniel reminded her."

"Maybe." Sam said honestly. "But that wouldn't get them the resources they need."

"Don't forget that you've still got diplomatic immunity." Jack told her cheerfully. "At least they can't court martial you."

"Or you, sir – you're Armida's official ambassador to Earth." Sam said. "Hopefully it won't come to that, though. As I said, these materials are needed on Earth and it is possible to make a deal that doesn't cheat the Armidans. Medical supplies, as well as training and education to help improve this planet would be a small price to pay for the resources to power the naquadah generators and to let us build ships capable of interstellar travel."

"A friendship with the people of a planet forgotten by the Goa'uld is also something of great value." Teal'c said. "Should there be a need to evacuate Earth, or should the Alpha Site be compromised, Armida could provide sanctuary."

"True." Jack agreed. "There are definitely worse places we could end up."

"All in all, the concessions Earth would be making wouldn't cost it much, not compared to what they'd be getting in return." Sam said.

"It would, however, be of great assistance to the Armidans."

"Exactly… if Simmons and Samuels go for it."

"And I'm the lucky guy who gets to convince them to recognize a good deal when it's biting them in the butt." Jack quipped dryly. "Lucky me!"


Six days later

Lieutenant Colonel Bert Samuels had been pleasantly surprised when he and SG-9, whom General Hammond had insisted on sending along, were greeted by half a dozen Armidan soldiers, resplendent in deep crimson surcoats, met them at the gate and accompanied them to the castle.

He had been expecting defiance, even contempt from SG-1, well aware that none of the team held him in high esteem. Instead, he was given a guard of honour.

He eyed the castle with approval, his eyes scanning the corridors, mentally appraising the value of the treasures prominently displayed.

He was aware of the fact that Hammond was already protesting the continued absence of his flagship team and arguing that Major Carter's talents would be of far more value in the field and at the SGC instead of as queen of Armida. It was only a matter of time before the President was persuaded by his arguments and recalled SG-1.

When that happened, somebody would need to step in and govern Armida in her name.

Samuels was seriously considering volunteering for the position.

"Colonel?" The leader of his Armidan escort said quietly when they reached a set of heavy wooden double doors. "The Council and the ambassador await you." He inclined his head respectfully.

Before Samuels could question the man's use of the word 'council', let alone ask who the ambassador would be, the doors swung open and a herald announced his rank and name.

The hall was sparsely furnished, with a large round table set in the center. Ten of the chairs were occupied, nine by Armidans.

His eyes widened when he saw who was sitting in the tenth. "Sir… Colonel O'Neill… sir…"

Jack grinned. "Just 'my lord' will be fine, Sparky."

TBC.

Author's Notes: I hope to have this story finished in another two or three chapters at most. Thanks for reading and reviewing up to now.