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: To Candice - I know, I preferred having the Armidans use a different form of address.
Chapter Three
"You know, that Cai guy is taking this remarkably well." Jack observed. "I would have thought that after spending a few decades running this place, and with his ancestors having ruled the roost for a few centuries, he would have been more than a little pissed off about Carter waltzing in and taking over." Despite himself, he couldn't keep a note of worry from his tone.
It was bad enough that Simmons was forcing Carter to play along. The last thing she needed was a diplomatic coup.
"I don't think that we need to worry." Daniel said reassuringly. "As far as the Armidans are concerned, Sam is divinely appointed. Since only she could pull the sword from the stone, only she can be their Queen. It wouldn't just be treason to rebel against her, it would be sacrilege."
"Any theories on how Carter managed it?" Jack asked. He knew perfectly well that his second in command was far stronger than she looked, but he wasn't convinced that she was stronger than the generations of Armidan warriors who, according to Lord Cai, had tried to draw the sword and failed.
"None yet." Daniel admitted. "Sam might have some ideas, though."
A week ago, nobody would have batted an eye over Sam sharing a tent with any of the members of her team, but both ladies in waiting had all but keeled over at the mere suggestion of any of the men entering their queen's bedchamber during the night. The men of SG-1 had been assigned comfortable quarters near those of the fourth member of their team and Lord Cai seemed to assume that they would be staying and had made it clear that if they needed anything, they had only to ask.
While none of them – with the possible exception of Daniel – would ever have volunteered for a long-term diplomatic assignment, Jack, Daniel and Teal'c had all been grateful to General Hammond when he had assigned them to accompany the new Queen of Armida and to remain with her as long as needed.
"Probably." Jack agreed, standing up and making his way to the chamber set aside for his use. "You know, this isn't too bad – at least we've got a decent set-up." He plucked at the tunic he wore. "But if they think I'm going to keep wearing this dress, they can think again."
The next morning
"Come on, Carter, you have to!"
"Sir…" Sam began, looking up from the documents on Armidan law that Lord Cai had given her and that Daniel had translated.
"Daniel, tell her that she has to." Jack demanded as soon as Daniel entered the large room that Sam had adopted as a study.
"That she has to what?" The other man asked, looking slightly bewildered.
"Build a round table." Jack stated, as though this should have been obvious to all but the most dimwitted of individuals. "After the whole sword in the stone bit, how could you not?" He appealed to Sam.
"I think there are more important things than trying to recreate Camelot." Daniel said, thrusting a bundle of musty documents into Sam's hand. "I found these in the library. They tell of some ancient monuments that could be fascinating."
"You think that an archeological dig is more important than having a round table?"
"Colonel O'Neill is correct." Teal'c chimed in unexpectedly. "The Knights of the Round Table appear to have promoted the ideals of bravery and honour, ideals any order of warriors would do well to emulate."
"See, Carter?" Jack pressed. "Teal'c thinks that it's a good idea."
Sam, with great difficulty, managed to refrain from rolling her eyes.
She had only had the job a couple of days but queenship was proving infinitely more stressful than saving the world. Lord Cai had been hovering helpfully around her for most of the morning, eager to offer his assistance and advice. Her commanding officer had latched onto the idea of building a round table an hour or so ago and had been encouraging it's construction since then. She knew Daniel well enough to know that once he got wind of a potential archaeological treasure trove, nothing would satisfy him but the chance to explore it fully. Several young women's names had been put forward as candidates for the positions of ladies in waiting and various nobles were jockeying for positions at court.
On top of that, she knew perfectly well that it would only be a matter of time before the pressure to allow the NID to begin to mine the planet's naquadah and other valuable metals began and the thought of signing over the rights of a people who had placed themselves under her leadership was far from comfortable or pleasant.
Tuning out Daniel and Jack's bickering, she returned her attention to the list of Armidan laws.
So far, a nice little loophole preventing her from ruling had not presented itself, but she wasn't prepared to give up just yet.
SG-1 had, after all, gotten out of worse situations.
Evening
The evening meal at the castle was an extremely formal affair.
After seeing the strict emphasis on everybody taking their places based on their social status, Sam was seriously considering taking Jack's suggestion and asking that a round table be built.
The absurdly elaborate gown, a deep blue velvet this time, that Rhea and Yseult had laced her into had not improved her mood in the slightest, especially as her commanding officer had managed to escape wearing his own native costume.
She had only been half-listening to Lord Cai, who was enthusiastically describing the plans being made for her coronation, which, he promised, would take place on the first auspicious day, when one of the guards stationed at the door to the hall cleared hs throat and tapped the ground three times with the the wooden base of the long spear her carried, before speaking out in a clear, carrying voice.
"Lord Gawen, Sir Arran and Sir Drustan are without, awaiting the Queen's pleasure."
Sam nodded permission, guessing that that was what he was waiting for. Lord Cai stopped speaking and turned his attention to the door, and to the three men who stepped through it, walking down the path between the tables to stand in front of the dais and kneel in front of Sam.
"My lady," Lord Cai rose, bowing towards Sam before gesturing to the three men. "May I present Lord Gawen, Sir Arran and Sir Drustan." The three men bowed their heads in unison. Lord Cai nodded approvingly before dropping his bombshell. "They come to offer themselves as suitors for your hand."
TBC.
Author's Note: That's all for now. I'll update as soon as I can, but in the meantime, please review and, as always, if there are any requests, let me know.