Chapter 1

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In the Sand

Italics are thoughts

Ivy hated Pharaoh Atem. She worked the entire day in the fields as he sat in his throne, with all his luxuries. Ivy threw a fist full of seeds to the ground angrily. She remembered when she was younger her family and herself went to see the Pharaoh, but since there were so many people they couldn't even catch a glimpse of him. But Ivy always assumed that he was some evil man, sitting in his throne, eating away all the time.

"Hey Ivy!" her friend Daren said, "Need some help?"

"Sure," Ivy answered, she kind of had a crush on him. She knew she wasn't suppose to do that, but who's going to stop her? Daren had light blonde hair and blue eyes, he was quite attractive, but teenagers weren't allowed to choose who they were to marry. Parents did that, and Daren's parents didn't really like Ivy. They always considered her skirts too short, because most women wore dresses. But to Ivy dresses were too long, and were too warm.

"Want to do something after we're done?" he asked.

"Like….?" Ivy said. He shrugged his shoulders.

"We'll find something," Daren assured her.

"Ivy!" her little, eight year old sister, Eve yelled to her. Ivy looked up, pushed her dark hair out of her face and revealed her blue eyes.

"Mom wants you to go to the market and buy a few things!" she said excitedly, waving a piece of paper, Ivy grabbed it out of her hand, and roughly dropped the bag of seeds, "Can I come?" her sister pleaded.

"No."

"Why not?!?" Eve shrieked.

"Because mother might need you and I haven't finished planting the seeds yet, so finish up okay?" Ivy said; currently their mother was ill. Reason #2 she hated the Pharaoh: He never seemed to help them...

"Daren!" Ivy heard his father yell.

"I better go," he said. Ivy nodded, and waved him good-bye, before leaving.

Ivy had nearly reached the market, she was walking through a vast open area, no one lived here; it was too far from the Nile. Ivy saw a mad horse running in her direction; it had lost its rider. She tried to stop it, it hesitated for a moment then tried to dart past her, Ivy grabbed the reins. She had dealt with crazy horses before, their family wanted an ox, but could only afford a horse. The horse caught her off guard, and bit her in the arm. Ivy yelled causing the horse to let go immediately. It uneasily swayed its head before stopping, and breathing heavily. Ivy placed her hand on the horse's forehead, it always calmed their horse.

"Are you alright?" a voice asked her. Ivy turned to come face to face with a tri-coloured hair teen. He looked at her arm with concern, "come, I'll get my healers to heal your arm."

Ivy shook her head. He judged her dirty skirt, and T-shirt.

"I insist," he pleaded. She wasn't going to loose him easily. Ivy sighed and nodded. The teenager mounted the chestnut horse; he offered her the stirrup and his hand. She mounted up on the horse.

"Take this for now," he reached in a pouch he had on his belt, he pulled out a white bandage to wrap around her arm for the time being, "what's your name?"

"Ivy," she answered, he handed her the bandage, he urged his horse to walk on as she tied the bandage.
The boy led his horse into the Pharaoh's palace; Ivy started to become nervous she didn't know if they were even allowed here!

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Are we allowed to be here?" Ivy said nervously. He started to laugh as if she were telling him a joke. She stared at him.

"Of course we are!" he said confidentially. Ivy tried to dismount but she couldn't put any pressure on her arm. A few guards came up to them.

Oh great! Ivy thought. To her surprise, they held onto the horse as the pair dismounted.

"Follow me," he said. Ivy did as she was told, she held her right, injured, arm. They soon reached a room where the Pharaoh sat on his throne. Ivy was relieved when she saw the Pharaoh wasn't there, she didn't want to appear to him with an injured arm.

"Priest Seth! Where are the healers?" the boy ordered.

"They are not available at the moment, Pharaoh," the tall man answered. Ivy froze, he is the Pharaoh?!?

Atem sighed, "Come with me Ivy."

He started to leave, Ivy stood in her place, as if she was glued to the stone floor.

"Ivy?" he looked at her confused, she snapped back into reality.

"Y-you're the Pharaoh?" she asked.

"Yes, who were you expecting?" he asked with a grin. Ivy was expecting some fat bozo who sat on his throne all day, calling women at his disposal; but she wasn't going to say that to him. Atem was the complete opposite of what she thought, he was thin, he had left the palace, and she was the only girl in the room.

"Are you coming?" Atem asked, she nodded, still a little shocked.

Atem brought a fresh bandage and some sort of ointment; he sat beside Ivy on a bed. He instructed her to stick out her arm; he unwound the bandage and held onto her wrist as he smeared the ointment on.

"That sings!" Ivy protested as she tried to pull away. But Atem overpowered her.

"That means it's working," he explained, soon the pain went away, and Atem wound on the new bandage, "You'll need to stay here for a few nights."

"What about my family?! They don't know I am here!" she said, as he cleaned up.

"We will tell them tomorrow," Atem replied.

"We?" Ivy asked.

"Yes, you cannot possibly ride a horse with that arm," Atem said. Ivy silently groaned. Atem was leaving.

"Wait," Ivy said, Atem stopped and turned around to face her, "Where do I sleep?"

"In this room," he answered.

"Um, okay, Thanks by the way," Ivy said sincerely. He smiled at her before leaving. Ivy sat in silence before standing up and wandering in the large room. She found that she even had a balcony, she examined Egypt, before going back inside to find some food.

Ivy had explored most of the palace, she had managed to find some food, and started to make a mental map of the palace. Ivy passed by a very fancy looking room, she stopped and entered the Pharaoh's chamber she assumed. It too, had a balcony only it also had a comfortable chair on it. She would only rest here for a minute….only, she ended up falling asleep.
Pharaoh Atem came into his chamber, tired, after a long day of, well, being the Pharaoh. He started stuggling with all the jewelry he had to wear, he let out a loud frustrated groan when he couldn't undo a necklace clasp, Ivy woke up, it was dark out. She heard the Pharaoh pace around his room.

"Pharaoh?" she said as she peeked around into the room. He jumped, and stared at Ivy.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his heart was still beating quickly.

"Did you expect me to stay in that room all day?" she asked him quizzically.

"I guess not…" he said. She started giggling, "So, what's bothering you?"

"Oh, nothing," Atem replied quietly.

"Pharaoh, people don't groan that loudly for nothing," Ivy said. Atem sighed, "The necklace clasp is difficult to open."

"I'll help you," Ivy said, she walked up behind him, stood up on her tippy-toes, and undid the clasp, "Whoa! This weights a lot!" Ivy said, referring to the necklace, "How do you wear this all day?"

"Practice," Atem said with a grin. Ivy handed him the weighty necklace. He took it and placed it a smooth surfaced table. They stood in awkward silence for a moment.

"Well I better go," Ivy said, she strode to the door, "Goodnight Pharaoh."

"Ivy," Atem said, causing Ivy to stop in her tracks, "Call me Atem."

The Next Morning…

That night, Ivy slept peacefully until she woke up…

Ivy stirred to the sound of two people whispering.

"So what's her name?" one voice said.

"Ivy, from what I hear," said the other.

Ivy's eyes flew open, as she whipped around in shock towards the two voices.

"Good morning, miss!" greeted one woman, "I'm Audrey, and this is Mia."

Ivy looked at them as if they were crazy, "What. are. you. doing?"

"Well," Mia began, "We noticed your ragged clothing yesterday, and thought we could make you some new ones!"

"Why? I'm leaving soon!" Ivy breathed. The two women looked at each other mischievously, before grabbing Ivy out of bed.

By the time Mia and Audrey were finished Ivy now had two extra skirts and tops, plus a robe to keep warm at night, and even a change of clothing to sleep in. They even tried to make Ivy a dress but she said that she would never wear it.

Ivy put on the new clothing, and headed to the kitchen, following her mental map. She grubbed through a few things in the kitchen before finding something decent. Ivy found a utensil and went in to the throne room.

"Morning," Ivy said to Atem, between mouthfuls. She walked up to his throne and sat on the arm of Atem's throne.

"Ivy what are you eating?" Atem asked. Ivy shrugged her shoulders.

"It's good, whatever it may be," she answered. He looked over her shoulder.

"Ivy! That's food for tomorrow nights gathering!" Atem said. Again, she shrugged her shoulders. Atem rolled his eyes and placed his chin in his hand.

"Pharaoh Atem! Your horse is ready!" someone called out.

So, what do you think?
Continue? Burn it?
(I don't burning is an option I already have
Chapter 2 almost finished)
R&R no flames please and thank-you!

LadyoftheHorses

P.S. There is a bit of horse terminology like stirrup and reins,
Stirrup- A flat-based loop or ring hung from either side of a horse's saddle to support the rider's foot in mounting and riding

Rein- A long narrow leather strap attached to each end of the bit of a bridle and used by a rider or driver to control a horse or other animal