As soon as the team entered the entire hall fell to their knees. SGA-1 shared a confused glance; even the King seemed to bow to them. John noticed the Prince was still against the wall no one had even bothered to see to him.
"Heal him." Teyla whispered. Sheppard walked over to the Prince only to see the Prince cowering back. John bent down and placed a hand over his leg, after a few moments John removed his hand.
"Stand up." He told him sternly. The Prince stood but quickly kneeled before him. "Okay what is going on?" He shouted to the crowd. The girl who had told them of the challenge stepped forward.
"You're our leader, sire."
"You are not entitled to speak to him servant." Malinak told her.
"She can speak to me! What?" The girl looked round uncertain. Teyla stepped forward and hit John on the arm.
"You are an excellent negotiator John. How is John your leader?" She asked the girl, stepping toward her even more. The girl fell to her knees.
"Don't!" John told her, he rushed to her side and pulled her up.
"You defeated the crown Prince. You are the ruler of Hokalla, sire." John decided he'd like to look like a goldfish at that point.
"Ruler? Me?" He squeaked out. Teyla grabbed John hand.
"Faint! Faint! Faint!" Rodney chanted. Liz and Carson just glared at him and he shrugged only to continue his chanting.
"There must be some mistake…" Teyla tried to explain.
"There is no mistake my lady, my lord, you are our rulers. We are honoured to serve you." John just shared a glance with Teyla.
"We're not even from this planet. We won't be around most of the time…" John tried to say.
"That doesn't matter, you must lead us. It is tradition." John sighed and rubbed his temples. Teyla raised an eyebrow in defeat.
"Shall we?" Teyla simply nodded. "Fine." The young girl smiled.
"May I present our new leaders, John Sheppard and Teyla Emmagen." She called out to the hall. The response was people curtseying.
"Your highnesses." The people told them.
"Don't we usually have to be married to be rulers?" Teyla nodded. John kneeled down and in a loud and clear voice John said, "Teyla, these last few days have only shown me how much I love you, more that I could ever tell. Would you do me the honour of continuing to kick my ass at training not as my friend but as my wife?" Teyla smiled, John could never be serious, and obviously this was the nearest thing to being serious she would ever get.
"Yes John I will." He broke into a grin. Jumping up he kissed her he didn't miss the scowl on ex-prince Troy's face though. John and Teyla made a silent agreement before turning back to the crowd. Teyla pulled the young girl to her side as she started to leave back down the hall. "What is your name?" She asked the girl.
"Mikala, my lady." John decided to speak this time.
"Mikala, I promote you to become a Lady of this…court," He settled on the best word to describe the crowd. "Housing will be given and you no longer need to resort back to the tasks you are used to." John smiled at her. "Thank you for all of the help you gave me. You will be one of Teyla's closest Lady's."
"Thank you sire." The young woman smiled.
"Now for an important fact of being the ruler here. I don't want to be called sire, highness or anything like that. Either: Colonel Sheppard, John, Lieutenant Colonel or Shep. Understand?" He added a cheeky grin.
"Yes Colonel!" Every answered with enthusiasm. John wrapped his hands round Teyla's waist. She leaned her head back on his shoulder. "I hope you realise I have a people of my own to look after now."
"Actually you will have two."
"Huh?"
"As soon as we are wed you will be leader of the Athosians as well." He shook his head.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Sheppard turned to address the Malinak and Troy. "Understand if you ever come near Teyla again I will not hesitate to make you suffer worse." They nodded mutely.
TBC