AN: here we go again. This was a pain in the bum so I hope you all appreciate it! :oP nah just kidding, but do let me know what you think.

***

"I still can't get over the idea that this is where you grew up" Sam told Vala as they walked along the corridor "It's like something out of a fairy tale."

"I never really thought about it growing up, but after I was freed I saw it differently." Vala told her honestly. She hadn't told Sam but for tonight she was going to help her friend live a little bit of the fairy tale The only problem was Vala couldn't quite remember where in this part of the palace the room she was looking for was.

After three wrong turns Sam was beginning to pick up on this as well, "Vala are you sure you know where we're going?"

"I'm… pretty sure, once we find the right corridor I'll know exactly where we're going."

"And you'll know we're in the right corridor because…?"

"It's the one with the statue of my great-great grandfather in it." Vala told her, as if everyone had statues of their great-great-grandfathers in their homes.

"Oh…"

Two more wrong turns later Vala was about to stop the nearest servant or guard, whichever came along first, when finally she came across a landmark she recognized.

"Come on, it's just through here." Vala took Sam's hand and led her to a large wooden door, "Close your eyes." She waited until Sam had her eyes closed and then, with some effort, opened the door and walked the other woman into the room. "OK you can open them now."

Sam opened her eyes and gasped. The whole room was filled with rows and rows of beautiful gowns, at one end there was a dressing area with floor to ceiling mirrors in a semi-circle and next to that was a display case with more jewels in it than Sam had seen in the rest of her lifetime put together.

"Vala? What's going on?"

"Well, we're having a ball tonight and you can't exactly go dressed in your fatigues now can you?"

Sam's smile split her face as she gave Vala a huge hug and let out a girly squeal.

"Come on, we had better get started. We only have five hours before we need to be ready."

***

While the girls spent the afternoon choosing outfits the guys found out what they had been provided for the ball. When their fatigues had been taken away last night they had been measured and suitable clothing had been found for them in the correct sizes.

Daniel had been provided with fitted trousers, a white high-collared, fitted shirt and a waistcoat of deep blue. The outfit given to Cam was the same except his waistcoat was dark green and a set of traditional Jaffa robes had been created for Teal'c in a soft grey fabric.

Once they where ready the three men had to, once again, wait for the ladies of SG1 to finish getting ready. They had been waiting in their small common room for almost half an hour. Teal'c kept giving Cam an annoyed look as he fiddled constantly with either his collar or his waistcoat and even Daniel had to stop himself from reaching out and stilling the Colonel's hands.

It was almost another twenty minutes before Sam turned up, making her presence known by wolf whistling at Cam and Daniel then laughing at the blush that crept up their faces.

Sam had chosen a dress that was the same style as the one she had worn last night but tonight instead of deep blue it was the palest green and the small belt was of gold. Her hair was loose and had been curled softly then pinned back from her face with small white and green jewels. Around her neck was another soft green jewel and there was a ring on her finger to match it.

"Are you guys finally ready to go?" Sam asked from her spot by the door.

"Yeah, we were just waiting on you two. Where is the princess anyway?" Cam asked as he came to join her. "Nice look on you, by the way." He added as he finally took in what she was wearing, "Very…feminine."

"Why thank you, Cam," She replied sarcastically, "You really do know how to make a girl feel beautiful."

"You look spectacular tonight Samantha." Teal'c told her and smiled as she blushed.

It wasn't often that Teal'c called her by her first name. In almost 15 years of friendship she could probably count the times on one hand, but that just meant that when he did it was all the more special.

"Thank you Teal'c. And to answer your question, Cam, she's with her brothers. Apparently being the guest of honour means she has to make a bit of an entrance." Sometimes Sam couldn't understand how Cam's mind worked and sometimes she just didn't want to.

***

They had been in the ball room for almost 45 minuets now and Daniel was feeling the need to escape for some space. The huge room was filled with nobles from all over Eriador and Daniel was beginning to see what Anarion had meant when he had said 'commoner' last night, Daniel hadn't been introduced to one person tonight who wasn't a King, Queen, Lord or Lady.

He finally found a quiet spot at the bottom of a grand stair case and sat down, his head in his hands. This afternoon Vala had been so excited to know what he thought of the library and he had wanted nothing more than to share his thoughts with her but he had brushed her off and changed the subject. The look of confusion and hurt on her face had been so obvious that for the rest of their time together that afternoon he hadn't been able to look her in the eye.

Daniel's internal musings where interrupted when a steward came down the stairs and spoke to him.

"Young man, you must clear this step immediately." The look on the steward's face and the tone of his voice told Daniel exactly how low down the list of importance he was tonight.

He stood and turned, about to make his way back into the ball room when he saw Vala standing at the top of the stair case gazing down at him.

If she had looked radiant last night Daniel didn't know the words to describe her tonight. His breath caught in his chest the same way it had when she had removed her helmet at their first meeting. Her dress was midnight blue and swept elegantly down to the floor, the long sleeves split at her elbows and her pale skin could be seen peeking out from the fabric. There was a circlet of silver upon her brow and the shinning white stones on it twinkled in the light. She began to descend the stairs towards him and as she turned the corner, Daniel could see that a gossamer fine web of silver held more of the white stones in her hair; it was more beautiful than even the clearest night sky he had ever seen.

"Vala…" He trailed off, words failing him.

There was an exasperated noise from the steward, "Young man, you shall bow and address Her Highness in the correct manner."

"No, it's all right." Vala began but Daniel interrupted her.

"Your Highness," He bowed low from the waist, "You look amazing tonight."

Finally she was in front of him, "You don't need to do that Daniel." He was the first of her friends to address her like that, apart from Cam who still called her by her pet name, and it made her feel highly uncomfortable.

"It's who you are now." Daniel told her simply, a note of sad acceptance in his voice "Excuse me, Princess." He bowed again and turned his back on her to return to the ball room, completely missing the look of devastation on her face.

***

"Lords and Ladies, friends and honoured guests." Anarion began, bringing the room to silence as he spoke, "Tonight is a night long awaited by all the peoples of Eriador. For 17 years our planet has rebuilt and grown stronger in the wake of war but always there has been a note of sorrow in all our doings. Tonight that note is removed and we can rejoice fully at all we have done. Tonight my dear sister, Elgath of her people, returns to us."

Anarion motioned to the large double doors at the end of the hall and as the heralds blew a clear call on their trumpets the doors opened to reveal Vala.

Calmly and with much dignity Vala walked the length of the hall to stand in front of her brother when she reached him she knelt at his feet.

"My sister, you kneel at the feet of no one." He told her lovingly as he reached down and took her hand bringing her to stand before him. He kissed her reverently on the forehead before he bowed low before her.

The rest of the room followed his lead and bowed as well and once they rose a cheer erupted.

Anarion took a glass from the servant beside him, "My people, please raise your glasses to Princess Elena and the dawning of a new day for our people."

As the room called her name Vala once again felt herself become overwhelmed and longed for her friends to be standing beside her, knowing that with them at her side she could handle anything. Her eyes sought them out in the crowd and when she saw the proud looks on their faces, her smile became real for the first time that night.

However, it was short lived.

When her eyes locked with Daniel's she saw a sadness hidden deep in them and her own eyes reflected it back at him for a moment as her smile faltered.

***

Later than night, Vala stood out on the balcony, a glass of sweet wine clasped between her hands, looking out over the lights of the city. The noise of the party seemed so far away as she thought about Daniel and his actions today.

She had thought he would like his visit to the library she had arranged but when she had questioned him about it at lunch he had muttered a thank you then changed to topic. Then, tonight when she had asked him to dance with her, he had snapped at her that he didn't dance. As she had left the ballroom, however, she had seen him dancing with Sam.

Even the little things that they did everyday he had stopped doing today. When they stood with the rest of the team he had moved to stand between Cam and Teal'c rather than his normal place at her side, there was none of the little touches that they usually shared. Before tonight she had never realised how often he placed his hand on her back when they walked but now that she had noticed it she missed it terribly.

He was distancing himself from her and she didn't know why. What had changed between last night and today? She had thought they where making progress in their personal relationship. These last few months things had seemed to be changing. She had seen the new way Daniel had been looking at her and she could tell that he was building up the courage to ask her something.

A shiver ran through her as the night air began to chill her skin and she drew her arms around herself to keep in some warmth. She turned as she heard footsteps accompanied by the tap of a cane coming towards her and saw her mother coming towards her.

"It has been many years since such joy has been felt on this world, Elena, and yet I do not think I have seen you smile properly all night." Aranel said. As she came to stand in front of Vala she knew by the look on her face what was wrong with her, "You love this man?"

"More than anything." Vala admitted softly, "But I think he does not love me."

Aranel's reply was instant. She clapped Vala round the back of the head, "So you are just going to be miserable for the rest of your life? One thing has not changed about you over the years daughter, if I have learned anything from your stories it is this, you have never let any man define you. Not your father, nor you brothers, and certainly not any man you have cared for."

"What would you have me do?" Vala asked as she rubbed the back of her head.

"I would have you smile again and be the woman you have become."

"I'm not sure I know who she is." Vala told her mother, a note of despair creeping into her voice.

"Yes you do. You are Elena, child of the stars and daughter of Kings. There is no power in this world that can stop you from having what you want – no matter what your brothers may think on the subject."

"My brothers?" She paused for a moment, "You mean they... Oh I am going to ring their necks when I get my hands on them." Realisation came over her as to why Daniel had been pulling away from her. "Excuse me, Mother."

Aranel stepped aside with a barely hidden smile. She remembered other times when her sons had decided what would be best for their sister and how they'd turned out. With a new look of determination Vala set off back into the ball room to find her brothers and tell them exactly what she thought of their meddling

"Vala are you all right?" Sam asked as she stormed past them.

"Princess, what's wrong?" Cam had also caught the look on her face.

"Where are you going?"

That last one was Daniel and it did make her stop, "I'll deal with you later." She told him as she carried on over to where her brothers where standing.

"You two, come with me. Now."