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: I am so sorry about this - I watched '48 Hours' after I posted the last part and spotted my mistake; on the show, Simmons was taken into custody when Jack got evidence against him. Since I like having Simmons in the story, could we pretend that they didn't find proof against him yet?

Chapter Two

"This room is bigger than my whole apartment." Daniel commented, his eyes scanning the chamber to which they had been escorted, taking in the lavish details. "And it doesn't even look as if it hadn't been occupied."

"The royal suite is kept in readiness, your Highness." The taller of the two ladies in waiting, both of whom looked to be in their late teens, spoke up, dropping a deep curtsey. "So that we would be prepared when our king... queen was sent to us." She amended sheepishly.

"Hasn't the last king been gone more than four hundred years?" Jack asked Daniel in an undertone.

"Closer to five hundred."

"The bath chamber is within." The second lady in waiting told Sam, pointing to the door.

"Thank you... I'm sorry, I don't know your name."

"I am Yseult, your Highness." The girl curtseyed. "And this is Rhea."

"It is our honor to serve." Rhea curtseyed a second time, keeping her eyes lowered.

"We have a bath prepared for you, my lady, and gowns laid out." Yseult said eagerly, anxious to be of service.

"The gowns really won't be neccessary."

Neither of the girls heeded her protest and if Sam had hoped that her teammates would help out, she was sadly mistaken.

"When in Rome, Carter."

"I'm not wearing this! No way in Hell!"

"Jack..."

"Did you not tell Major Carter that she should adopt the local dress?"

Jack glared at his friends, neither of whom had protested when Lord Cai had presented them with outfits of their own once Rhea and Yseult had chased them out of Sam's chamber while she changed. "Carter is a woman." He spoke slowly, as though addressing toddlers. "Women can wear dresses. I'm a guy. I don't."

"It's not a dress." Daniel argued immediately, smoothing the folds of his rust colored garb.

Jack shook out the crimson garment, gesturing impatiently towards the skirt. "It looks like a dress to me."

"It's a tunic."

"It has a sash!"

"Tunics were often worn by men in Britain in Arthurian times." Daniel began. "And a lot of dyes were hard to come by back then, so the colors are probably a mark of high status. We should take it as a compliment. Besides," He added, with a rather wicked smile. "When in Rome..."

Jack scowled. "There are times that I really, truly hate you." With many grumbles and a few oaths that would have made a Marine's hair stand on end, he wriggled into the despised garment. "Happy?"

"Ecstatic."

"I'm glad someone is." Sam, having escaped the clutches of her ladies in waiting, entered the room in time to hear Daniel's sarcastic comment. Compared with her, the other three had gotten off pretty lightly where clothes were concerned. She had thought that the sky-blue monstrosity she had had to wear on Simarka had been bad but this dress was far, far worse. It was made of white silk, with what felt like thousands of tiny pearls interwoven with the embroidery. She was half-convinced that it would have been able to stand on it's own.

At least she could be thankful that nobody had asked her to wear a veil.

Somebody cleared their throat at the doorway. "Your Highness, honored sirs." Lord Cai bowed to Sam before nodding at the three men. "Dinner is served." He offered Sam his arm. "May I have the privilege of escorting you?"

"Okay." Sam replied as graciously as she could, allowing him to take her arm and lead her from the room, almost sensing the smirks behind her.

Even Teal'c had raised an eyebrow at the sight of the amount of food spread on the table before them.

Sam had, for obvious reasons, been escorted to the place of honor at the table set on the dais, slightly above the others, and Lord Cai had seated himself on her left, with Jack taking the seat on her right.

If the way the Armidans were hospitably pressing food on their new ruler and her teammates was any indication, they must have been convinced that none of them were ever fed on Earth... and the rate at which Teal'c and Daniel were tucking into their meals probably convinced them of that.

"Hey, Sam, do you think that you could get whoever does the cooking here to transfer to the commissary?" Daniel joked, sobering quickly when he saw the faintly scandalized expressions on the faces of Lord Cai and any other Armidans within earshot. "I beg your pardon, your Highness." He apologized.

While this had the effect of mollifying the Armidans somewhat - not to mention amusing Jack to no end- Sam blushed in embarrasment. "Don't call me that, Daniel."

"But my queen, he must accord you the respect and reverence your position demands." Lord Cai protested.

"We are supposed to go along with this." Daniel said, remembering how adamant Simmons had been that none of the group do anything to jeopardize Sam's rule.

"You don't mind if I don't curtsey, do you?" Jack queried in an undertone.

Sam grimaced. "Funny."

She briefly wondered if diplomatic immunity would cover throttling one's commanding officer.

TBC.

Author's Note: Just a short chapter, I know, but there'll be an update as soon as I can write one. In the meantime, please review.