AN: And here's yet another chapter today, you can thank HAZMOT for the double helping. The fact that I love writing this also helps a lot.
As always thanks to Annedith for the BETA and all the advice/help/everything-else-you-do-for-me. Let me know what you think :o)
***
The next morning Vala was gone when the others woke up and the servant who brought them breakfast told them she had gone to sit with her mother for the morning and would join them at lunch time. In the meantime, she had arranged for them to be given a tour of the Palace and the city.
"Vala seems to be slipping back into this whole princess gig pretty well." Cam told them as he helped himself to some of the fruit on the table.
"Back into? I don't know why it didn't occur to us before that she might be royalty." Sam shot back sarcastically, "We should have started calling her princess years ago."
Cam laughed and gave her a shove in the arm, "Now Samantha, my Granny used to say, everyone loves a little ass, but nobody likes a smart ass."
"Well Cameron, I would say I'm very smart although it has nothing to do with my ass." She laughed at him as he rolled his eyes at her.
There moment of light banter was interrupted by the knock on the door and a guard entering. He bowed before them before speaking, "I am Ando, a Sergeant of the City Guard. It is my duty today to be your escort around the city."
Ando looked mostly like all the other guards they had met in Ereigon, tall and broad, with brown hair that fell to his shoulders. He was dressed in what seemed to the standard chain mail with a leather tunic over it, only his was black rather than the blue that the guards and the way-point and stargate had been.
"I am under special orders to take Dr. Jackson to the Palace library before we begin if he wishes. Princess Elena has had scholars there arrange texts for you which she feels you would be interested in."
"That would be amazing." Daniel had been listening to Anarion, Vala and Eldarin talk in the 'high tongue' last night at dinner and was egger to learn more about it and the cultures of this planet. He made a mental note to thank Vala for her thoughtfulness when he saw her later but Anarion's words from last night floated into his head and he found himself doubting his natural instinct.
Ando led Daniel down a long corridor and into a huge library and handed him over to the scholars there then left to begin the day's tour with the rest of SG1.
"You must be Dr. Jackson, Her Royal Highness told us you would be joining us this morning. I am Hirgon the Chief Scholar of the City. I am to help you with anything you require in your studies." The scholar introduced himself.
Daniel stood stunned, he could spend the rest of his life studying the books in this room and still never be finished. He had no idea where to start.
"Perhaps we could begin with an introduction to the languages of this world? Her Highness mentioned that your first love is languages." The older man smiled at Daniel.
"Yes, that would be great, languages are a passion of mine." Daniel ignored the small voice in his head that said that Vala had become a greater passion a long time ago.
***
Sam, Cam and Teal'c stood on one of the wide bridges that crossed the river in the middle of the city. Like almost everything else in the city, it was made of white stone and was immaculately maintained.
"Would you like to proceed? There is a small park further down that looks onto the waterfront that may interest you." Ando prompted.
All morning he had guided them around the City. They had ridden down to the outer wall and steadily been working their way inwards back towards the palace. They had marvelled at the chance to see the great wall close up and Sam had asked question after question about the shield technology while Cam had been intrigued by the huge trebuchets that were set into it on the inside. The huge beams with long slings attached used heavy counterweights to fire a larger version of a pulse blast and could reach a target half way up the valley. Cam had begged for a practical demonstration but had, not surprisingly, been denied. After leaving the wall, Ando had shown them the various markets and public buildings that made up the lower part of the city.
As he led them into the small park he began his ever-constant commentary, "This garden was created at the end of the war by the late King Ecthelion in memory of his daughter."
The centre of the small garden was occupied by a large plinth on top of which a 3D holographic image of a young woman and an older man. The image moved as they entered the garden properly and the two figures began to dance in a small circle, like in a music box. As the team approached it they where surprised to see that the image was of Vala and who they could guess to be her father.
"It is said that the night before she saved us, Princess Elena and the King spent the whole night in the grand ball room dancing." Ando told them, "When the Jaffa left our world there was no celebration, for we had won the war but lost the greatest treasure in all of Eriador but until the end of time, in this garden, the Princess and her father will dance."
The rest of the garden was filled with well tended yellow roses, which Sam knew to be Vala's favourite flower, and a few benches down at the waterfront.
***
Vala had come to her mother's side before the sun had risen that morning and watched her sleep. The few times she had been ill as a child her mother had stayed by her bedside and done the same.
Eldarin hadn't been lying when he said that Aranel was dying. Even in the low light Vala could see how pale she was and the fine sheen of sweat that covered her face. Every half hour or so she would give a violent cough, but even that was not enough to wake her from her deep sleep. It was around ten o'clock in the morning before her mother woke.
"Elena, you should be with your friends, not sitting there watching me sleep." Her mother remarked softly when she finally noticed Vala sitting at her side.
"They are occupied this morning mother," Vala smiled softly, "They have an escort showing them around the city, even Cameron can't get into that much trouble with someone watching him."
Even in her declining state it lifted Aranel's heart to see her daughter speak so fondly of her friends. It was clear that whatever had happened and whatever she had been through, she was happy now and that she had begun to create a life of her own. The two sat and talked for a long time; Vala telling her mother all the things that had happened since she had been freed, even the things she hadn't told her brothers about.
Vala lay on the bed curled into her mother's side as she cried and told her about Adria. Her mother had cried right along with her and had gently reprimanded Vala for naming her daughter after her father's mistress but when Vala explained she had named her that because someplace in her heart she knew the girl would never truly be hers, Aranel had felt her heart break slightly.
By noon it was Vala who was asleep and Aranel who watched over her. She gently stroked her daughter's long black hair as she thought over everything she had learned. It had been her original intention to convince Vala to stay here and resume the life she had been forced to give up but as she had listened to Vala speak she knew that even if she did stay here she would never be truly happy. She had grown beyond the role she would play if she stayed; she was her own woman now and a force to reckon with.
Aranel was happy with the woman her daughter had become, she had used her free spirit and pig-headed determination and honed it to a knife point. She had survived in a world where everything was against her and had come out of it all a strong and confident woman. The only thing that worried her was the sparkle in her daughter's eyes when she had talked about Dr Jackson. She knew that Anarion had spoken to the man about his attachment to his sister and at the time she had no intention of getting in the middle but now she was beginning to realise just how much Daniel meant to Vala as well.
She gazed down at Vala as she continued to stroke her hair. She still wouldn't get involved, her children were all fully grown now and they would have to learn to deal with things with out her, she wasn't going to be around forever. But in her heart she silently cheered her daughter and Daniel on.
***
As Cam, Sam and Teal'c made their way back up the entrance way to the palace they were passed by a troupe of horsemen who seemed to be escorting a group of other riders.
Unlike the riders and guards they had seen so far, these were clad in much simpler leather armour and had long green cloaks trimmed with gold. The embossed golden sun shone on their chests and the flowing mane of a horse crested their helms.
Ando stood to the side and saluted as the company passed.
"They are the House Guard of the King of Anorien. His realm lies to the south of our own, they are great warriors and there is no place in the galaxy that breeds such horses as they do. The man at the front is their King, Henneth, and the woman that rides beside him is his Queen. They, and their court, are here for the ball the King is throwing tonight. They are the first to arrive but before nightfall, the Kings of Lebennin and Gilrain shall be here also."
"How did they get here so fast?" Sam asked, "It took us almost two days from the gate and we didn't pass any other cities."
"They use the transport pads, Colonel. There is one in each city in the Houses of Healing for the transportation of the sick and there is a larger one outside each city for the movement of troops. Generally they are not used for occasions such as this but these are special times." Ando explained.
Sam was impressed. What Eldarin had told her yesterday seemed to be the truth, they did have very advanced technology; they simply chose not to use it most of the time. They continued on to the palace and were met outside it by Eldarin.
"Have you taken good care of our guests, Sergeant?" Eldarin questioned.
"I live to serve, my Lord." Ando said as he bowed to the Prince.
"I am sure you have done well." Eldarin laughed, "You may return to your normal duties, Sergent."
Eldarin took them into the palace and led them back to their common room.
"My brother and I have other duties that must be attended to this afternoon. Lunch has been brought to you here and I shall see that Dr. Jackson is brought from the library to eat." He left them to it and returned to whatever 'duties' he was needed for.
A table and chairs had been set out on the outside balcony for them so they could enjoy their meal in the afternoon sun. There was a whole spread of sandwiches and cakes along with fruit and cheeses for them to enjoy. A full bottle of the sweet fruit drink they had enjoyed last night was also present.
After ten minutes there was still no sign of Daniel or Vala so the three friends sat down and began their lunch together, talking easily of the things they had seen that morning.
While he had been impressed by what he had seen Teal'c had been quieter than normal as they toured the city. He had been humbled by King Anarion's greeting to him yesterday but assumed that it was the breeding of a King that had allowed him to be so gracious. But today he had seen that, while they may not have been so vocal in expressing it, the sentiment was generally held by the people they had met. This was a planet that had never been ruled by anyone but its own people and they seemed genuinely happy that the Jaffa had won this freedom as well. The fact that it meant that they were unlikely to be attacked again in the future by the Jaffa also played a part, but not a huge one.
They were halfway through their meal when Vala came out to join them. She looked tired and her eyes where puffy as if she had been crying but she also looked like a load had been taken off her shoulders. Her time with her mother that morning had obviously been well spent.
"Where's Daniel?" She asked as she snatched a piece of fruit from Cam's plate, sending him a cheeky smile.
"Jackson's not back from the library yet." Cam told her as he batted her hand away when it made another attempt for a strawberry.
Vala laughed and, unintentionally mimicking Daniels words from a few days ago, said, "Why am I not surprised." Her tone was completely exasperated but it was undermined by the smile on her face, "I'll go dig him out."
***
Daniel was sitting with his nose in a pile of books when Vala finally found him.
"I hope you haven't been giving Hirgon too much trouble." She said by way of introduction as she perched herself on the table beside him.
"Not nearly as much as you gave me as a child, Your Highness." Hirgon smiled as he came out from behind another stack of books. He gave her a pointed look that made her feel five years old again as she slipped off the table.
"Lunch is ready Daniel, and if you don't get their soon I think Cameron is going to finish it all." She told Daniel as she pulled the book from his hands.
"Vala! I was reading that!" Daniel exclaimed, as if only noticing her for the first time.
"And now you're not. Come on, I'm hungry." She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the library, placating him with a vague promise that he could return later.
Hirgon gave a chuckle as he listened to them disappear down the corridor, still arguing with each other. He turned to the small cat that he kept with him I the library "Some things never change, Hugo, and that is especially true for young people in love."