A/N: I want to thank the five of you who read and reviewed Chapter One, especially for your encouraging words. Sorry for not posting earlier but I had to make some minor adjustments. Will start on the third chapter soon. Thanks for reading!

A/N2: This has not been beta-read so all mistakes are still mine. Sorry!

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own anything. Still up for a trade though… [See Chapter One]

Feedback: Yes, please… It is the only way to improve.

Chapter Two

The Great Hall, The Royal Zenandrian Palace
Zenandria
1840 hours

"Tell me, Commander Tucker," Princess Xadria asked suddenly, "are you presently pledged to anyone?"

Trip, who had just taken a sip of his drink, choked in mid-swallow. His eyes watering, he frantically tried to still the fit of coughing. Beside him, T'pol's expression remained impassive although her eyebrow rose slightly.

The Enterprise officers were gathered, along with the rest of the guests invited for the evening's celebrations, at the Great Hall, while they waited for dinner to be served. Still slightly uncomfortable in his dress uniform, and feeling the start of a headache, Trip had decided to stand somewhat away from the crowd until it was time for dinner. Somehow, he had ended up beside T'pol at one corner of the room. But since she didn't talk much, he figured it wasn't a bad place to be. At least he wouldn't look too odd standing alone in a roomful of people. They hadn't been there long when Princess Xadria, accompanied by her group of all-female attendants, had joined them.

Princess Xadria looked up at the young officer, concern in her gaze.

"Commander Tucker, are you all right?"

Trip nodded in reply. He cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Well?"

"Well, Your Highness, the answer's no," Trip responded, colouring a little. His voice was still a little hoarse from his coughing bout. "I'm not uh … pledged to 'nyone at the moment."

Xadria smiled to herself as she studied the attractive man standing in front of her, whom she found to be very appealing. She turned to her attendants. At her whispered comment, they broke into giggles, all the while staring openly at the Chief Engineer, who was in turn looking increasingly uncomfortable with each passing second.

After a moment, the princess turned back to them.

"I hope you will each enjoy the feast tonight. I will see you in the Royal Banquet Hall."

With a regal nod, she moved on to another group of guests. Trip shot T'pol a look.

"What was that all 'bout?!" he demanded.

T'pol blinked at his tone, although her serene composure was still firmly in place. Commander Tucker seemed a little more irritable today than usual. She did not comment on this unnecessary display of emotion, however, and was about to answer him when Archer spoke up.

"C'mon, it's time to head for the Royal Banquet–"

He stopped short at the expression on Trip's face.

"What happened?"

"It appears, Captain, that Princess Xadria have taken an interest to Commander Tucker."

"What?! Jus' 'cause she asked if I was attached to 'nyone doesn't mean that she's interested…," Trip trailed off.

He looked to Archer for help. "Does it?"

"I believe the word she used was pledged, Commander," T'pol countered. "Zenandrians only use that exact word when they are expressing unadulterated interest in someone."

Trip stared at her, aghast. He turned to Archer, just in time to see his mouth twitch suspiciously.

"It ain't funny, Cap'n!" he protested.

"Sorry, Trip," Archer lifted his hand in apology. "It's not every day I get to see a friend propositioned by a princess. And a really beautiful one at that."

"Yeah, yeah, it's all real funny," Trip grumbled good-naturedly.

He sighed. "Well, at least I'll have interestin' things to write 'bout if I ever decide to start on my memoirs."

"C'mon," Archer grinned, clapping him on the shoulder, glad to see that Trip's sense of humour was still intact. "It's time for dinner…. T'pol?"

He looked at her inquiringly when she didn't move.

"Captain, perhaps it would be better if Commander Tucker were to keep away from the princess for the rest of the evening."

"Now wait jus' a second here–"

"She's right, Trip," Archer interjected, eyeing the distant figure of the princess. "Let's get Hoshi and go in. We'll leave for Enterprise immediately after the feast."

~O~O~O~

The Royal Banquet Hall, The Royal Zenandrian Palace
Zenandria
1930 hours

Queen Mylir turned to the Enterprise officer seated next to her.

"So, Sub-Commander T'pol, what is it like aboard Enterprise?"

At T'pol's right, Archer tried his best to not grin at her distinctly haunted expression. They had switched places earlier when it became clear that Queen Mylir, who turned out to be a stalwart supporter of space exploration, had more than a few questions to ask the sub-commander. He didn't think his Science Officer was too happy about being cornered into giving her views on women in space though.

However, Archer's smile slowly faded as he wondered how Trip and Hoshi were doing on their end of the table. Despite T'pol's suggestion that Trip keep his distance from the princess, Archer soon realised that things were not going to go as planned the moment they were escorted to the main table.

Trip and Hoshi were seated on the left side, next to Princess Xadria, while he found himself and T'pol at the other end, on Queen Mylir's right. As all four officers were supposed to sit at the right side of the table, the change in the seating arrangement left Archer with a vaguely uneasy feeling that he hoped would be just that, and nothing more.

"And what do you think, Captain Archer?"

Queen Mylir's voice broke into his thoughts. With an effort, Archer forced his attention back to the conversation at hand.

"Well, Your Majesty…"

~O~O~O~

On the other end of the table, Hoshi was enjoying herself immensely. Glad I got the chance to come down here, she thought happily, as Dakr'a taught her another ancient Zenadrian phrase. The use of diphthongs in their language is simply amazing.

She turned to her right to share her thoughts with the commander but found him distractedly playing with his food instead. She frowned. Commander Tucker … or Trip … as he had kept insisting she called him, had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the meal. She nudged him gently with her elbow, determined to find out why.

"Mmmm?"

"What's wrong?"

Trip stopped arranging the food on his plate and looked up at her in surprise.

"Whaddya mean?"

"Well, you have been really quiet, and you're not eating. Is something the matter?"

Trip studied the mangled remnants of food on his plate for a moment. He wondered briefly about sharing T'pol's crazy theory with Hoshi then decided against it. The princess has been nothing but gracious towards them throughout dinner.

"Well, y'know I ain't much a fan o' alien cuisine," he offered, grimacing slightly.

"It's not that bad. That purple … uhm … spongy thing over there is actually quite delicious. It also helps if you don't examine it too closely. Here, let me get you one."

Trip put out a hand to stop her as she did so.

"Thanks, Hoshi … but I'll jus' take your word for it. 'Sides, my headache's decided to have a party of its own so I'm not havin' much of an appetite right 'bout now."

"Maybe we should leave–"

"No," Trip shook his head and winced when the throbbing increased marginally. "Look, the whole shindig is almost over, and we can leave then. Let the Cap'n and T'pol enjoy their meal."

"But…"

"Hoshi! Please…"

"Okay, okay …but if you feel any worse…"

On his right, Xadria smiled as she listened to Trip's whispered conversation with his shipmate. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop but the commander's articulation was … fascinating. By the end of the final course, the princess had made up her mind. She turned and nodded to one of her attendants, who went off and returned shortly with a wine goblet in each hand.

Accepting both goblets, Xadria held one out to Trip. After a moment's hesitation, he accepted it and looked doubtfully at the bright blue liquid it contained. He shot Hoshi a quick glance. She shrugged in reply, equally mystified.

He turned back to the princess, and found that she had raised her goblet in a silent toast. Still unsure whether he should be doing this, Trip slowly raised his.

"The sher'lk must be drunk quickly, Commander Tucker, with one swallow," Xadria instructed. "Ready?"

At Trip's nod, she gently touched her goblet to his and drank. As Trip did the same, he caught the stunned look on T'pol's face.

Uh oh, this can't be good …

His thoughts were cut off in mid-sentence as the drink rapidly burned its way down to his stomach. All he could do then was to concentrate on keeping it down. That and whatever little he had managed to eat during dinner. The room spun crazily and he squeezed his eyes shut to minimise its nauseating effect. Then, as suddenly as they had appeared, the strange sensations stopped.

He gasped and cautiously opened his eyes.

"Are you all right?" Hoshi whispered worriedly.

Trip nodded.

"Think it just 'bout cured my headache," he said wryly.

When he turned back to the princess, Trip found her preparing to leave the table. He quickly stood up when she did.

"Thank you, Commander Tucker. I will see you soon," Xadria smiled. She said goodbye to Hoshi and left with the goblets, leaving them staring after her in confusion.

"Commander…"

Trip turned to find T'pol beside his chair.

"I need you and Ensign Sato to come with me now."

Trip and Hoshi exchanged looks but silently left the table. T'pol led them out of the banquet hall into a small blue room, where they found Archer waiting there.

"Cap'n?

"I think you'd better listen to what T'pol has to say, Trip."

Trip turned curiously to T'pol.

"What was the colour of the drink you just had, Commander?" she asked.

"Well, it was kinda bright blue."

Archer sighed and rubbed the back of his head with one hand.

"I was afraid you might say that, Trip."

"Why? What's wrong with it?"

"There is nothing wrong with the drink itself, Commander," T'pol responded impassively. "However, since you did consume it, it means that you have just consented to be one of the royal suitors."

"Consented–? A royal what?" Trip asked, astonished. "Ya wanna run that by me again?"

"I think what T'pol meant was that you've just agreed to try for Princess Xadria's hand in marriage, Trip," Archer broke in dryly.

~O~O~O~

A muscle twitched on his otherwise expressionless features as he watched the princess and the alien visitor consume the ceremonial drink. So, she would choose this … this … human over me! He had never seen her express such an interest in anyone before, especially for one who was not a native of the planet. This man will make him the laughing stock of Zenandria should he be chosen in the final looked away, his eyes burning with hatred. Guess I'll just have to make sure that she will pick no one else but me when the time comes...