Double-Dealing

A/N: Hello once again! Wow, it's been a long time since I updated. Well, since it's been a long time, I don't know if this story makes sense to me anymore (but then again, it never made much sense anyway). Haha… so without further ado, here come the thrilling (I use the term loosely of course) final chapters of this story.

Disclaimer: SG-1 is not mine… blah blah blah… you know the rest!

Chapter Six: The Courtship Ceremony

The wind blown curtains allowed flickers of sunlight to dance on the bed sheets. SG-1 managed to fitfully sleep throughout the night, even the Colonel who slept on the ground. The tranquil scene ended only a moment too soon…

"UP!" Balibob shouted as he burst into the room.

Teal'c was the first to jolt awake since he was sleeping the closest to the door. Sam stretched and started to get out of bed. Daniel squinted as he sat up, looking for his glasses. Jack opened his eyes but continued to lay still on the ground.

"Excuse me, the Royal Family is trying to sleep!" Jack groggily said.

"No time! Today is the Courtship Ceremony! We must get you dressed and practicing your lines! We can't have you impersonating the Family in a bad light!" Balibob said as he stood over the Colonel.

"Now how can we do that?" Jack replied sarcastically as he stood up.

"We must go! 'Tis a happy day!"

SG-1 slowly, sluggishly followed the hysterical man with the feathered collar out of the room.

XXXX

"Straighten up, I say," Prince Nar ordered.

Daniel rolled his eyes. There was no pleasing this Prince, he thought.

"You heard him, straighten up," Jack said as he began to sputter because bits of his beard got into his mouth.

"Listen to your father," Prince Nar added.

"He is not my father," Daniel protested.

The King and the Queen entered the room with Sam, who was dressed in the gaudy gold gown that she first saw the Queen wear.

"Hey Carter, how's it going?" Jack asked as he combed his beard down.

"Once again, this corset is killing me, sir, but other than that, I'm fine," she replied as she walked over to them.

"Where's Teal'c?"

"I am here," he said as he stepped into the room.

He was wearing his black guard uniform with a leather helmet and a black cloth masking his face so that only his eyes shown.

"Whatcha eating under there?" Jack jokingly said.

"Under where?" Teal'c genuinely asked.

Jack's laughter died down a bit after he realized that Teal'c didn't get the joke at all.

"Jack, that is so old," Daniel said.

Balibob took out a book entitled "Day of the Courtship Ceremony" and began to write in it.

"I suspect that you all know what you're going to be doing?" King Ful'ardi asked.

"Of course we do, your highness," Jack replied.

"We'll be on the balcony waiting for Teal'c to signal us down to the main stage," Carter said, just to make sure everyone was on the same page.

"That is right, Major Carter. I will be escorting the bride's family while looking for anything suspicious."

"Yeah, we'll do the same," Daniel said, "We should be able to see a lot from the balcony."

"The time has come!" Balibob shouted as he threw the book back into his pocket, "This is too exciting!"

"Let's get this show on the road, kids," Jack said in his most regal accent.

"That's good! Can I use that phrase?" the King whispered to Jack.

"We'll be hiding out here," the Prince said, "Just in case they figure out they killed the wrong people."
"Nar, don't say that! In any case, good luck!" the Queen said as the team was ushered out to the Royal Carriage.

"Do you think they stand a chance?" the Queen asked.

"It'll take a miracle," the King whispered to her and then shouted aloud, "Good luck!"

XXXX

The carriage ride was not very long. The team did manage to catch a glimpse of the rolling green hills they saw when they first stepped onto the planet, however.

"Come," Balibob said as he stepped out.

They exited the carriage and looked up at the massive wall in front of them.

"What exactly is this?" Daniel asked.

"Part of the castle," he replied as he began to lead them to the gate.

"You're telling me that we left the castle to go back to the castle?" Jack said as he combed through his beard.

"It's a huge castle, Jack," Daniel sighed.

"Just clarifying," he muttered.

They passed through the gates and found the inside completely empty except for the eloquent red carpet leading to the majestic main staircase.

"Up, up we go," Balibob said.

They walked up the staircase and stopped on the main stage.

"This is quite high," Teal'c said as he analyzed their surroundings.

"Let us keep going," Balibob urged them as they headed up the staircase to the left of the stage.

The stairs ended at a huge door.

"Open seasame," Jack tried.

"Sir, I think you need a key to get in," Sam said.

Balibob pushed past the 'Royal Family' and, taking out a large key, opened the door. He stuffed the key back in his pockets.

"I am the only one who has the key to these doors," Balibob said with a wink as they proceeded to step onto the balcony.

"Now, this is quite higher," Jack said as he leaned over the balcony railing, peering downward.

"The assassin has too clear a shot," Sam said as she began fanning herself, which scared her a bit because that was one of the real Queen's annoying habits.

"Do not worry," Teal'c replied, "The only way the assassin will be able to attack is from the ground, which as we have already noted, is at a very high altitude. From my briefing the other day, their long range weapons have no chance of reaching you."

"What about, if for some reason, they get close to us. What about their short range weapons?" Daniel asked.

"They should not be able to get that close to you. For guards will be placed at the doors and Balibob is the only one who can open the doors."

"Alright, I trust you Teal'c. Now when are my subjects arriving?" Jack said as he tossed part of his beard over the railing.

"Now, your highness," Balibob said as trumpets began to blare.

The gates opened once more and a flock of people began charging in. They were also careful not to touch the red carpet.

"Talk about the red sea dividing…" Jack said.

Daniel gave him his usual quizzical look and decided not to comment, for the moment.

"I must meet our guests at the main stage," Teal'c said and stood there, waiting for Jack to pardon him.

"Yes. Go, take your leave," Jack said playfully.

Teal'c left abruptly.

"Don't you think he's taking the role-playing a little too seriously?" Daniel asked.

"It's Teal'c. When is he not… serious?"

Suddenly, the trumpets stopped blowing and a low drumbeat began to play. Four pure, white horses entered the gates followed by a glimmering silver carriage as the drum rhythm crescendoed. As the carriage rode passed the people, they showered blue petals on it, filling the air with a blurring blue haze.

"Don't stand there gaping. Smile, wave, do something," Balibob whispered.

Jack, Sam, and Daniel hastily began to acknowledge the large crowd below them.

XXXX

Teal'c stepped onto the main stage. His black mask constricted his breathing, but as long as his eyes weren't covered, he was content.The carriage stopped at the foot of the stairs. A footman opened the door and stepping, ever so lightly, from the carriage was Prince Nar's betrothed, Princess Lyra.

Teal'c's eyes widened as he saw her, but not as much as when he saw who came after her.

Balibob had somehow managed to appear next to Teal'c.

"That is King Zaffaloft, Queen Stoweek, and Princess Lyra," he said happily.

"You failed to mention that King Zaffaloft looks exactly like me." He didn't say how much the Queen looked like Shau'nac.

"Well, this is really, actually the first time we've seen them," Balibob said and added, "But at least you have your face covered. So it doesn't make much of a difference."

"Indeed," he grumbled.

The King approached them first with a humble nod. The Queen stood by his side and Princess Lyra stood behind them.

"Greetings. I believe you are Balibob, the Chief Councilor of Affairs," King Zaffaloft said.

"On behalf of the Royal Family, I welcome you to our kingdom," Balibob said, "This is… a guard who will be escorting you on your way."

The King turned to Teal'c, "I most certainly believe we will be in safe hands."

"Indeed," Teal'c replied.

"He's got a good voice," the Queen said.

The three Royals turned to the crowd and bowed to them before venturing up the stairs located at the right of the stage. Before following them, Teal'c took a good look at the crowd, trying to see if anyone looked suspicious.

XXXX

The hooded figure moved swiftly through the crowd. He finally got to the edge of the red carpet, just in time to see the silver carriage. He caught a glimpse of the Princess who was to be given away to Prince Narcassous.

"Beautiful," he uttered, with a hint of melancholy.

He began to follow the carriage, weaving through the crowd again, until he got to the foot of the main stairs. He saw King Zaffaloft, Queen Stoweek, and Princess Lyra step out and proceed up the stairs.

His hood began to slip off as he gazed up at them. Suddenly, realizing that his hood had fallen, he quickly threw it on again, covering the oddly shaped scar on his cheek. He cursed at his recklessness, hoping no one had seen him.

Unfortunately, a masked guard standing on the main stage watched his every move…