Still working out some kinks. Constructive criticism appriciated. However, this is my first fanfic. Be gentle.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the original Prince of Egypt characters, except for the few I made up, and don't own phantom. Life's not fair, is it?
Summary: Aliya was born amongst slaves, but she was destined for something far greater. Raised to be against and bring down the empire that have long treated her people cruelly. What happens when the path of her destiny is slightly curved when she meets the son of the enemy, Erik the Prince of Egypt, and they become inseperable? Will a country shared by two very different nations fall to ruin? Will Aliya, a destined warrior be forced to choose between her people and a man she's loved since childhood? Can love conquer all...
Princess of Egypt
Prologue
Mud.
Sand.
Water.
Straw.
Faster!
It was smoldering hot. The days are always hot here. The drumming rhythm of soldiers' feet threatened to descend upon us.
The sting of the whip on my shoulder,
The salt of my sweat on my brow.
My name is Yocheved, and I am a Hebrew.
Elohim, God on high
Can you hear your people cry?
Help us now, this dark hour…
It was just last night that Pharaoh had decreed that all male Hebrew babies were to be killed, because our people had grown too numerous in his eyes. However, this very day, Pharaoh has ordered that all newborns of the slaves shall be slaughtered, to bring balance between the Hebrews and the Egyptians. This is the story about my baby daughter and how I saved her life, so that she would one day save her people.
Deliver us.
Hear our call, deliver us.
Remember us,
Here in this burning sand..
I worked at the palace. Washed the linen, and whatever else they told me to do. I took orders from the other Egyptian women who worked there, as they were actual servants and I was just a slave. Many of them were cruel and condescending towards me, but there were a few who in time, proved to be the truest friends.
There's a land you promised us
Deliver us to the Promised Land…
I gave birth to Aliya just before my husband died. He'd been working in the copper mines for many months, and each day I had watched him become weaker, until that fatal day when there was an accident in the mine. I never saw him again, and almost thought I wouldn't be able to bear having this baby alone. However, I wasn't alone. There were my two other children, Miriam and Aaron, as well as an old friend who worked at the palace with me, Shamira. I always thought it ironic how her name meant "guardian," for that was exactly what she was to me and my family.
She kept me updated on the rumors of Pharaoh's decision to wipe out a generation of Hebrew children in the past couple of weeks. I kept Aliya hidden, and made sure no Egyptian knew of any baby residing in this house. Unfortunately, I could not hide her forever.
Now here I am, running from the guards, doing whatever it takes to keep them from taking my baby away from me. I'd made a basket, big enough to fit her small body. Since there was nowhere else to go, no one else to turn to, I'd come to the conclusion that I would set my baby adrift in the basket on the river. I knew what perils the Nile held above and beneath the surface, but I prayed that the river would take her away from this land, to a place where she could be free.
My child, I have nothing I can give
But this chance that you may live,
I pray we meet again…
Miriam and Aaron usually came with me to do minor chores about the palace until they were old enough to be placed elsewhere. They came with me, for I could not bear to part with my children at such a dark time as this. Especially Aaron, who was still so young, and even though the Pharaoh's order had at first only extended to newborn boys, I feared for him nonetheless.
It was most dangerous being in the palace right then. The very snake pit that held the vipers that would kill my baby, first chance they got. We had to get out. We ran down stairs, ducked behind pillars. At one point, my Aaron was almost discovered. As the palace guards marched toward the city, we ran like mad to the water's edge, a good distance from the palace. The papyrus and tall grass hid us well, as Miriam set down the baby basket.
It had now come to that most heart-wrenching moment. The moment where I would have to part from my newborn daughter, and leave her fate in God's hands.
Hush now, my baby
Be still love don't cry.
Sleep as you're rocked by the stream…
As Miriam removed the lid, I gently laid Aliya in the basket, nestling her securely in the wool I had placed there. One by one, we each kissed her head before replacing the basket cover.
Sleep and remember
My last lullabye
So I'll be with you
When you dream…
I waded out into the water until it was to my thighs, then set the basket down carefully, and let the current carry it down.
River, oh river
Flow gently for me
Such precious cargo you bear.
Do you know somewhere
Where she can be free?
River, deliver her there.
In my despair, of watching my youngest child float away from me, perhaps forever, I did not notice my Miriam follow the basket through the brush. My eyes couldn't leave the basket which contained a miracle child that would hopefully find freedom, and come back to us one day to set us free as well. A tear slipped down my face, as the wind whipped my veil across my face, knowing that I would probably never see her again…
Miriam
We were to scared to even breathe, Aaron and I. But somehow, we made it safely to the shore, away from the soldier's searching eyes. I watched tearfully, as mama waded out into the Nile with my baby sister in the basket. Once the current took hold of it, I hastily followed the basket downstream.
Suddenly, there was a stir in the water, and the large, menacing jaws of a crocodile broke the surface, mere inches from the floating parcel. More followed, gnashing teeth and flipping tails. Miraculously, the basket survived this and was hurled down to the next of perils: an Egyptian fishing boat. I gasped as the basket was caught up in the net, which was being hoisted up by fishermen. Luckily, it was knocked loose by the many squirming fish, back into the water. Still my little sister was not out of danger, as a merchant boat came head on, the numerous oars paddling ferociously.
Forgetting any caution of safety, I stumbled out of the tall grass into the river. I watched as the basket rocked and careened out of the oars path. It spun gently, as the Nile carried it still downward.
By the time I located it again, I was shocked at what I saw, and a feeling of absolute dread in the pit of my stomach, threatened to make me ill right then. The basket had come to rest at the bathing pool of one of the wealthiest, and most respected Egyptian families in the land. The man of the house, Jabari, rested in a lounging chair in the garden, near a small table of food. His wife, Raziya, and son, Paki, were playing in the shallow waters. "Look, mama!" Paki, who was only 5 years old at the time, pointed to the basket. Raziya rushed over to it and removed the lid. I thought my heart would stop. I relaxed however, when she smiled, and took up Aliya in her arms to show her husband.
Sister, you're safe now
And safe may you stay.
For I have a prayer just for you.
The threesome huddled around the baby and smiled and crooned at her. I gathered my courage and ran up to them. "Excuse me, my lady, but I know a woman who has the means to nurse the baby and help care for it, if you wish."
Raziya smiled graciously at me. "Of course, thank you, child." "Rush off, and bring her here at once." Added Jabari.
Grow baby sister
Come back someday.
Come and deliver us too…
Yocheved
And so, I provided for my baby girl once more. I cherished those precious few months, short as they were, nursing her until she no longer needed it. It led to the second time that I would have to leave my daughter again.
I trusted the wealthy, trading, merchant family. They had said that they always wanted a daughter of their own, and so I felt comfortable leaving Aliya with them. It was agreed that she was indeed a Miracle Child. That surely she was spared the treacherous journey down the Nile to serve some greater purpose. I had always prayed her destiny would be to deliver the slaves from pharaoh's hand, into what was known among us as the Promised Land. A place where we could be free, and raise our children in religion, and have plenty of provisions. It was said to be a paradise.
After many long conversations over the past few months with Jabari and his family, I learned that he secretly, remained a traitor to the crown. They never agreed with the techniques and laws Pharaoh used to rule the kingdom, and they had always hoped to one day find a warrior, a savior, to overthrow pharaoh, and his descendants. We now believed Aliya to be that savior. She would be trained with the skills and knowledge of a warrior. She would have a kind and generous heart. Most of all, she would bring us hope.
So, it was agreed that I would let her be raised here, and at a suitable age, she would be sent to the palace with me, to work, but also to secretly learn all she should know about the royal family.
I looked back at the woman holding my child in her arms, and smiled before continuing on. I had told them, that first day when they rescued her, that I had named her Aliya, which meant "to ascend." Our prayer was that the day would come quickly, where she would rise and take her place among her people, and lead us out of slavery.
Deliver us!
