Gradually the world came back into focus. As the faces of her friends became clearer, so did what she had to do. She would not be responsible for SG-1 being imprisoned, not if she could help it.

"Hey, she's back!" Jack was the first to notice Keelah stirring.

None of them were prepared however, for the distinct change in the young woman's demeanor. Gone was the shy, timid ex-slave they had known for the last two months. The trembling wreck of the last hour melted away as she uncurled from the floor to stand. Her shoulders pulled back into perfect posture, her chin tilted slightly up in defiant confidence and when she moved towards the barred door there was a regal elegance in her stride. Her gaze swept over the two guards standing outside the cell, dismissing them as unimportant. Instead she spoke to the guard at the end of the corridor.

To the rest of SG-1 that particular guard looked no different to the others apart from the single top button of his coat that was embossed with a pattern too small for them to see clearly from this distance.

"Lord Captain, I have a message for you to take to the King."

The man raised an eyebrow at the foreigner knowing his formal rank, especially considering the earlier error made in the throne room. It threw him off balance enough to ask, "And what would the message be?"

"I request sovereign exculpate for my companions."

Daniel quietly translated the conversation, though he shrugged at their confused looks at what he relayed. He had no idea what 'sovereign exculpate' meant in this context.

"Your request is denied."

"You have no authority to deny my request. By Crown Law once the request has been made in front of witnesses from both sides, only the King can make that decree."

The man's eyes narrowed. "How are you so well versed in the Crown?"

"That is not your concern, Lord Captain."

"I will forward your message." Once the request had had been made, it took precedence over any other duties and he turned to relay it. He paused with his hand on the handle, twisting his head back to her. "Since you know of Crown Law, I assume you also know the consequence of denial?"

Keelah gave a single nod. "I also know the King must give his decision in person."

The man's gaze fell to the five others in the cell who where looking confused by the turn of events. They obviously had no idea of what the repercussion could be. "I suggest you try to convince your friend out of the request before I return. His Majesty is not in a forgiving mood."

When the door closed on the guard's departure the five members of SG-1 waited expectantly for an explanation. However, Keelah couldn't meet her friends' eyes. The bravado she had scrounged up started to slip away and she began to pace the length of the cell.

"Keelah, what did he mean by 'consequences'?" Jack asked. "It had a bit of an ominous ring to it."

She waved the question away. "It's nothing. All that matters is that the King comes here."

"The man threw us in jail for a slip of the tongue, I don't think he's going to be too happy to be summoned."

"Keelah, what 'consequences'?" Daniel pressed.

Again she avoided the question. "I'm sorry, but it was the only thing I could think of."

Daniel gave up trying to get a straight answer from her. Instead he turned to the two remaining guards and repeated his question to them.

After a moment's consideration one of them spoke. "If the King grants the request, you five," he gestured to everyone but Keelah, "go free. If he denies the request, the person who asked is executed and the companions are imprisoned for life."

"What?" Daniel hoped he'd just misunderstood.

"Talk to us, Space Monkey," Jack demanded. "What'd he say?"

He quickly translated what the guard told him.

"Keelah, honey, now don't take this the wrong way, but are you nuts?" Jack rounded on the woman who was still pacing. "We've gotten out of hairier situations than this!"

"It's not going to come to that," Keelah insisted. "At least I hope it won't."

Before anyone could try to convince Keelah to recant, the heavy wooden door swung open and the guard returned with the King, still dressed in his formal mantle, behind him. A third man who had the distinct air of the clergy around him brought up the rear.

SG-1 automatically closed ranks, standing protectively in front of Keelah.

The guard carried a small glass jar of yellow pills, speaking to Daniel.

"Each of you, place one of these under your tongue."

"What are they?" Daniel warily eyed the jar handed through.

"The request requires that the King speak to all of you, but not all of you speak our tongue. The enzyme will stimulate the language centers of your brains for a short time so that you may communicate."

The King waited impatiently while Daniel translated the Lord Captain's explanation.

"How very Star Trekky of you," Jack drawled, motioning for Daniel to pass the jar to Sam.

"They look like the pills SG-5 described, sir." Sam tipped one out onto her hand and scrutinized it. "But there's no way to tell without testing it."

"They could be poison," Teal'c voiced what they were all thinking.

"Ask the King," Keelah spoke quietly. "His word is truth."

"Yeah, forgive me if I'm not willing to trust the guy who locked us up for no good reason." Jack raised an eyebrow at Annika. "Casper, what's your hocus pocus telling you?"

Annika plucked the pill from Sam. There were so many emotions she didn't understand, oozing from not only Keelah but from the royal silently watching them, that she couldn't read anything. She studied the monarch. Could tell by his expression that pop culture reference aside, he somehow understood every word they had said. When Keelah had spoken she'd caught the slightest tilt of his head as he tried to catch a glimpse of her. His aura told her he was furious, however, there were two types of anger. One that had been smoldering for a long time and today something had caused it to reignite; she could only presume it was something they had done, though what it was eluded her. It was ringed with disbelief. The other was newer, equally as strong, but tempered by fear. She shook it off. Whether the man was having a crap day wasn't her concern right now. She closed her hand over the pill, bringing her fist up to her forehead. The direct contact with her third eye showed her what she needed. "They won't harm us."

"Sweet." Jack gave his official okay and the jar was passed around. Everyone except Keelah took one of the pills, including Daniel so that he would have more than a novice knowledge of the language. "I have a few things I'd like to say to His Royal Crabbiness."

"As do I," Teal'c glared at their captors.

"How long does it take to work?" Sam wondered, her nose scrunching a little at the sour taste of the pill dissolving.

The King strode up to the cell. "Who invoked sovereign exculpate?"

"Guess that answers that question," Sam murmured, having clearly understood the words though they were heavily accented.

"Your Majesty, there has been a misunderstanding." Daniel stepped forward.

"Like why we've been locked up!"

"Not helping, Jack," Daniel hissed from the side of his mouth.

"Distracting him from the request thingy," Jack barely whispered.

"Oh, right." Daniel returned his attention to the glowering King. "Is it your custom to lock up people who come in peace?"

"People who come in peace and yet you bear arms."

"Well, when we get as warm a reception as you gave, can you blame us?" Annika asked.

"There has been no misunderstanding."

Keelah's quiet words caused the monarch to frown like he was trying to dig up a memory from the recess of his mind. Then his expression turned blank and he turned to the priest hovering behind him. "This is a Crown matter. There's no need to involve the Light Seekers. I'm sure you have much to prepare for the upcoming celebration..." the word had a slightly bitter tone to it.

"My orders are to remai-"

"Leave us."

The Lord Captain barely moved but it made the Light Seeker step warily back. He gave a small head bow. "As you command, Your Majesty." He backed from the room.

When the door closed, the King motioned to one of the guards. "Ensure he is not loitering in the corridor."

Unlike the Light Seeker, there was no hesitation from the castle soldier.

Only after the door had closed again did the King turn back to his prisoners. However his line of questioning had nothing to do with 'sovereign exculpate'. He addressed Daniel.

"From whom did you learn our language?"

"From a friend," Daniel answered cautiously.

"I presume this 'friend' is the one you hide behind you." There was a hard edge to his tone. "Stand aside and let her show herself."

It was instinct for the team to close even tighter together.

"Or did the one you protect learn it from another? A child perhaps? It would account for the bastardization of your words."

They could see the simmering anger on the man's face, yet they were at a loss as to why a simple slight of tongue would cause such a venomous reaction.

Keelah took a deep breath fortifying herself. "Much has changed, Corfy, but you still look like Ra'cheechee when you're mad."

The anger was replaced by surprise. "How do you know those names?"

Keelah slowly stepped forward. "Ra'cheechee was my pet, and I call you 'Corfy' because when you were ten you proclaimed your real name to be too pompous."

The blood drained from the monarch's face like he had seen a ghost, studying Keelah intently. "Kara'neenya? It's not possible." He took a step backwards in denial, then almost immediately took a larger step towards the bars.

A small hesitant smile touched her lips. "I have learnt that anything is possible."

He turned accusingly to the others. "Is this some sort of trick? An extortion attempt on the Crown? I must say you have found someone who bears a striking resemblance and have done a lot of research into obscure little details."

Jack took immediate offense. "Listen, bucko, we came here for a simple family reunion, not to be treated as criminals."

"You shall address the King as Your Majesty," the Lord Captain snapped.

"Oh, shall we now?" the general mocked.

"Open the cell," the King demanded, ignoring the pissing match going on between the two men. His tone brokered no argument and the guard immediately took the key from the peg on the wall and slid it into the lock.

The King strode in; the guard and Lord Captain were barely a step behind, not allowing the man to walk in unprotected.

In one stride Teal'c placed himself directly in the path of the monarch, blocking his way to Keelah. "If you hurt her you will not take another breath."

"You dare threaten the King?" the Lord Captain growled.

The Jaffa turned cold, hard eyes to the soldier. "He is not my king."

"Teal'c," Keelah placed a gentle hand to his shoulder, "it's alright. He just needs proof."

Teal'c didn't budge.

"He won't hurt me."

After a long tense moment, Teal'c took a very small step to the side.

The King gave a cautious look towards the Jaffa then gave his full attention to Keelah. He was still studying the features of her face. "You know what proof I need?"

She gave a single nod and pulled off her robe. Reaching for the waist of her pants, she began tugging at her shirt.

It was hard to say which member of SG-1 was more surprised when they realized what she was doing.

"Keelah, what proof?" Annika asked.

"I have a mark since birth," she replied softly. "One that is shared by my twin in a mirror image." She paused. "It is unfortunately for me in an inconvenient place."

Behind her back, Jack mouthed the word 'Twin?' to the others, who were as startled by that little revelation as he was.

"A description should suffice." Teal'c was ramrod straight, he knew precisely where that mark was located and thus knew how much she would have to strip off.

"No. He has to see it." Keelah pulled the shirt over her head then reached behind her back to release the clasp of her bra. She wished that she didn't have the added audience of the two guards, but understood there would be no chance of them turning away; not because they wanted to get an eye full of her naked torso, but because as far as they were concerned she and SG-1 were still very much a threat to the man they had sworn to protect. Swallowing, she let the intimate apparel drop away then raised her eyes to watch the reaction of the man before her.

His eyes locked with hers for a moment, and she could see his wariness, the doubts, the hope that she was whom she said and the anger and sorrow if she was not. Slowly his eyes dipped down. He looked not to her breasts themselves but rather to the valley between them. His face was inscrutable as he studied the dark pink, small, oval shaped mark with a squiggly tail off to the lower right of it. Unconsciously his hand reached out.

Teal'c gave a growl of disapproval but Keelah grasped his hand, threading her fingers tightly through his. "It's okay, Teal'c."

The King hesitantly touched the birthmark with his index finger, tracing it. There was nothing sexual in the act; it was simply to reassure himself that it was real and not a tattooed hoax.

Another long moment and he drew his hand away, reaching up to his throat. He opened his mouth to speak, but the power of speech temporarily eluded him. He released the clasp of his mantle, drew the soft fur-lined cape from himself and almost reverently placed it over Keelah's shoulders, covering her nakedness. Then to everyone's surprise he dropped down to his knees in front of her. At first they figured that emotion had simply overwhelmed the man, but when the two guards also knelt they guessed it was more than that.

"Keelah? Something you want to tell us?" Jack quipped.

"Your Majesty," the man on the floor could barely choke the words out.

"No!" Keelah dropped down beside him. "Corfy, that is not why I came back. You are the King. I came back to see my brother, not to claim a crown."

He refused to raise his eyes to her.

"Please, Corfy."

Slowly he raised his face, tears leaking down his cheeks. "I can't believe it's really you, after all these years..."

Gently she cupped his face, her own tears blurring her sight. "It's really me."

With a sound that was half disbelieving chuckle, half sob he hauled her close, holding her tightly against him. For a long moment the siblings simply hugged each other. When they did eventually pull back both started talking at once. They broke off with a laugh.

Without a word, Daniel plucked a tissue from his pocket and passed it to his wife. Annika, very misty eyed at the reunion, gave him a grateful smile.

"We have so much to talk about," Keelah said softly.

Corfy nodded. "I don't know where to begin."

Jack cleared his throat. "While you're deciding on a topic, do ya' think we could go some place less confining?"

"Of course, of course." The King rose to his feet, tugging Keelah up with him.

"Your Majesty." The Lord Captain also stood, though his tone held a touch of warning.

Both twins looked at him as he motioned with his head to the door.

"We'll take the North passage."

"You're both sworn to secrecy."

"Of course, Sire." The Lord Captain bowed low, as did the other guard.

"Without saying, Sire."

Teal'c didn't like the implications of that cryptic conversation. "That is our duty."

"Why the secrecy, Corfy?" Keelah asked quietly. She didn't want a big fanfare and was quite happy to remain in the background, but she hadn't expected that reaction from her brother.

He sighed. "It's complicated. I will explain everything, I promise, just not here."

Daniel spoke before Teal'c ruffled any more feathers. "This secrecy doesn't have anything to do with the Light Seekers, does it?"

King and guards were startled by the question.

"We'll take that as a yes," Jack drawled.

"We'd like to help," Sam added. "If they're who we suspect they are, we've had some experience."

A spark of hope lit up the monarch's face and he was torn between wanting to elaborate now yet being unable to. "Then we really do have much to discuss, but where the walls have no ears."

"You'll need this." Keelah removed the cloak from her shoulders and held it out to her brother.

Immediately the guards lowered their eyes and turned their backs.

Keelah also turned around to pick up her discarded clothing, studiously ignoring the bemused looks from SG-1.

The King gave a sharp hiss when he saw the scarring on her back.

Keelah was never more grateful that thanks to Sam using the healing device, the scars were nowhere near as bad as what they had been.

"We healed what we could," Sam said quietly when the King's eyes darted to them, seeking an explanation and yet dreading the answer.

"They were...worse?"

"Indeed they were."

"I guess it's safe to assume none of you were involved in my sister's abduction."

"They rescued me, Corfy," Keelah said softly. "Gave me my life back."

"Is that what you thought?" Annika asked curiously. "That's why we ended up in here?"

"In part," he confirmed. When he would have explained more the Lord Captain hesitantly interrupted.

"Sire, people will begin to wonder at your absence."

The King grimaced. "So much to talk about and not enough time." He pulled Keelah into another hug. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Go do your duty, Your Majesty," she whispered, reluctant to let him go.

Though equally reluctant, he drew back. The look he gave SG-1 portrayed his gratefulness, the disbelief at the turn of events, his curiosity and his worry. Then he schooled his features and strode out.