Two and a half years would pass before anything would happen concerning Daniel and Sam. This time we find Daniel on his hands and knee's in the main chamber washing the stone floor by hand. This was part of his duties. The other was helping Sam serve important guests that would arrive. Humming lightly to himself he swished the rag over the floor, not really thinking about what he was doing since he was used to it.
"Very nice." Sam whispered from her place on the stairs near where Daniel was working. She held a red fruit, almost like an apple but tasted like a star fruit in her hand. A large bite was missing from it and she was chewing happily.
Daniel glanced up from his work and his humming stopped. "Only you would manage to get time off from our Goddess." His eyes sparkling in amusement. He stood and walked over to her, taking his place at her side and grabbing the fruit, taking a bite off it and handing it back. Juice ran down his chin and bare chest.
Sam watched him and uttered a "Hey!" When he took the fruit from her hand but soon her attention was diverted to the juice running down his chin and chest. She could feel her face heating up and a faint flush spreading over it so she looked down and took another bite. "Yes. Our Goddess has given me this time for myself. She said that she needed time to consider a matter concerning us and she would tell us after prayer." She was careful to keep her voice even when speaking about the prayer. She hated praying to Thoth and knew that Daniel hated it also but they didn't dare speak badly about their God in fear of their Goddess's wraith who had the ability to hear and see all that went on within her palace walls.
"A matter? Concerning us? But we have done nothing wrong." He frowned then looked over the shining floor. He had been working for over seven hours before Sam appeared and he was almost finished. He was the quickest when it came to his duties and he was usually well rewarded for it by either Thoth or Ma'at. "But if it's the will of our Goddess then it must be important." He glanced up at the sun that shone through the holes in the roof. Snow was falling outside and the world looked like a arctic wonderland but no cold ever reached inside the palace. It was always warm and inviting. Another Goa'uld device that was able to mask the palace from the elements. "Prayer will be beginning shortly. You should prepare. I will be there once my duties are finished." He stood and bowed his head slight then returned to his task, doubling his efforts to be finished before prayer began or punishment would be handed out.
"Alright." Sam stood and headed up the steps towards the room that they shared. She really didn't need to get ready. Her outfit was fit for the prayer service. It was almost identical to the one that she wore the first few days on the planet. But now it was a little more eloquent. It was still see through but now made of finely woven silk with blue beads that hung from the neckline. A silver serpent bracelet was wrapped around her upper right arm and blue and purple jewels covered her neck and upper chest. She was dressed much like Ma'at since she was personal servant to her most of the time and head over all the other female servants. Or slaves as they liked to refer to themselves. Her eyes also held the black mark of Ma'at and all the Egyptians. A line had been painted from the corner of both eyes in order to make her more connected to their Goddess. A pair of blue jeweled sandals covered her feet. The mark of the God and Goddess could be seen on her collar bone in the shape of the black ibis with a feather sticking out of it's head and circle surround it which represented the moon. The feather and the moon were done it blue. She then picked up a small jeweled band and placed it over her forehead almost like a bandana. It was to hold her hair back since it was now down to her shoulders and kept at that length at all times.
Once Daniel finished with his duty he quickly took his supplies back and returned to their room. He smiled at Sam as he pulled on his silver serpent bracelet that wrapped around his upper right arm, the same as Sam. He never wore it when he was doing his duties incase it would get dirty or even broken. Next he wrapped the blue silk belt around his waist and tired it in the front in a certain pattern. Next he placed the mark of Thoth around his neck which was basically a necklace with the ibis made of blue jewels. He also had the mark of the God and Goddess on his collar bone. It was placed there with a red hot stamp and then colored with dye that stained the skin permanently. He slipped his feet into his sandals that almost matched Sam's except they were thicker and only had one blue jewel that sat in the middle of each shoe. He dipped his hand into a nearby basin of water and run it through his very short hair trying to get it to lay down flat. He then did the same to the square beard that sat in the center of his chin. It was fake but made up if his real hair so it matched. "Alright. Lets go." He smiled at her and took her hand then rushed out and towards the meeting room. They entered just before Ma'at did and gave her a respectful head nod from their seats on the color mats on the floor.
Soon the lights dimmed and the prayer began. All became silent and then quietly chanting began. Each ticking second it became louder and louder until they were almost screaming for Thoth to save them from the evils of the outside world. To protect them from what lay beyond their lives in the palace. This continued for four hours until everyone's throats were raw but they all felt refreshed and ready to face another day. After the final prayer was said, by Ma'at herself, they were dismissed and sent back to their rooms for the remainder of the evening since duties weren't allowed after the prayer was conducted. But Ma'at kept Daniel and Sam behind with the motion of her hand. "I must speak with you both." It wasn't a request but a demand. She stood from her throne and entered the chamber off to the right, Daniel and Sam followed. Ma'at leaned heavily against a nearby gold table before sinking into a nearby chair. "I grow old and weary, Servants. My days on Kemet, the name of the planet, are numbered. My husband will find a new mate while I journey through the underworld. Once I come out the other side I will return to his side but not to this planet not for many years. We have no children and my subjects will fall into darkness while waiting my arrival. Which won't be for five thousand years." She raised her chin in the air and eyed them both. "You have escaped the bonding ceremony each time it is offered since you two are humans from Earth but now you will not escape it any longer. Each person must be bounded that is of age. My people must continue." She raised her hand and dismissed them.
Daniel and Sam both managed to bow their heads and leave despite their shock. The bonding ceremony. How could they go through that? They were friends not lovers. How could they produce a child when the love wouldn't be there? Daniel was the one that spoke once they returned to their rooms. "The bonding ceremony is a great honor that our Goddess is letting us participate in. But with all respect...is she CRAZY?" He plopped down on the bed of pillows and placed his head in his hands. "What are we going to do? If we go through that ceremony we lose everything. Not only will a child be expected but also everything of our pasts will be forgotten. New names will be give to us our old ones will be forbidden to speak under penalty of death." He laid on his back and stared at the white stone ceiling.
Sam nodded and sat down beside him. "I know Daniel. I don't understand it either. I don't want a new name. I've gotten pretty attached to the one I already have." She was being sarcastic which reminded them both of Jack. "But there is nothing we can do." She laid back and closed her eyes, snuggling into him.
The next few days went by in a blur. Daniel and Sam were placed on restricted duty since they had to prepare for the bonding ceremony. They had to read up on the hieroglyphics which told them what they had to do. Yes, they both knew how to read them since they were schooled in the ways of the Egyptians since their arrival so their adjustment would be smooth and without incident. They both could also speak it fluently and understand it as if they had been born there. English was rarely used except to each other, Ma'at, and several of the other servants that were from Earth-like planets.
Then the day was upon them. They dressed in their prayer outfits and headed to the main chamber which was lit only by candle light. There were about 15 other couples there. One being their friends Ja'mel and Tomes'ka who were from Abydos, how they came to be on Kemet was still a mystery. Daniel smiled at Sam and gave her hand a little squeeze as the ceremony got underway. They were told to repeat several things and they did. Then they were told to cut their hands using daggers that were on tables near the walls. Each couple got one dagger and did what they were told. Once their hands were cut they were to place them together and repeat several more things. Pain began to course through their bodies as their palms heated up. Soon the ceremony was over and they were instructed to stay and enjoy the wine and roasted meat as a celebration. Soon all the couples were seated around on the rugs that were laid out on the floors. Some were talking quietly while others were nursing their injured hands. And others were enjoying the food and beverage such as Sam and Daniel were doing. They wouldn't get their new names for one season so that Ma'at could be sure that the bounding would last.