Author's Note:

A carry on to my one-shot Oasis. I know I chapter-titled it but on reflection I think it is fine that way but after receiving a few reviews within twelve hours of it being posted (best response ever) I decided to actually attempt a multi-chaptered fiction with that pairing... I do not know the correct terminology for Mana/Atem pairings so any suggestions or if you know it please let me know. Also I have decided to begin this story before the Prince's birth.

Disclaimer:

Um, yeah... No... I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! but thank's for asking.

Lapis Lazuli.

Chapter. 1: Divine Vision.

The Saker Falcon wheeled and dipped against the hard blue of the Egyptian skies, its voice carrying across Pharaoh's kingdom.

Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen brushed aside the light linen curtain that concealed an archway, leading to a balcony. Deep creases of worry scored his forehead, mingling with the age lines that were already present. Holding himself with poise and pride, he was indeed cut from a kings cloth. Despite being at forty years of age, Pharaoh still held his youthful beauty. Long, clean limbs and a flat hard belly. His head was leonine and his hair, though thick, had turned silver. Unlike most men, who shaved their heads at the first sign of grey, Pharaoh was proud of the silver.

He strode to the rail surrounding the balcony, tracing his fingers idly along the hard and cold marble. So deep in thought, was the Pharaoh that, he almost didn't hear the predatory cries of the God-bird overhead. He lifted his head and peered up at skies. The sunlight glinted upon the rich glossy crimson feathers of the Saker Falcon as it drew its black tipped sickle wings back, hanging motionless in the air before dropping in a free fall.

"Magnificent creatures are they not, Majesty?"

Pharaoh blinked. The voice shocked him from the hypnotic trance the bird had put him in. As he turned from watching the bird who now beat its wings and rose majestically high into the air once more, grasping a dead pigeon in one deadly talon.

He sighed through clenched teeth and pressed a palm to his forehead and shut his eyes for a moment. "I am lost, Siamun."

"Lost Majesty?" Siamun stepped forward cautiously, his deep violet eyes glittered in confused awe.

"I require the guidance of the Gods... That is why I summoned you to me."

A cold wave gripped Siamun's gut, he slowly realized the reasoning behind the words. "The Mazes of Ammon-Ra..." he murmured.

"I am an old man, Siamun." With a sigh that shuddered through his aging body, Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen turned to face the Priest. "Work the Mazes for me. Use the Divine gift that the Gods bestowed upon you and tell me what is to become of my Great Dynasty."

Siamun bowed his head respectfully and took a step back. "My Pharaoh. Please understand. The power of the Mazes are not to be taken without care and understanding. Channeling the will of the Gods is taxing. I shall not be able to attend to the Queen should she begin her labour within the time span of the next few days." He knew he was chancing Pharaoh's wrath by denying him his wishes and using the birth of his first-born as a shield.

Akhenamkhanen met the Priests eyes with a hard glare, his face darkened in outrage. "You deny me, Siamun Muran?" he challenged.

He shrank back from under the Pharaoh's cold glare. "No, my Pharaoh... I..."

Before the Priest could continue, Akhenamkhanen dropped to his knees and grasped the hem of the robes Siamun wore and spoke softly, in a voice more fitting a scolded child that of a God-King. "Please, my old friend. Work the Mazes. Tell me that the womb of my Queen protects both my son, and the security of my Dynasty. Tell me I have seeded a King who shall protect and bring peace to this wounded Egypt. Tell me these things that I ask you, Siamun."

Siamun's shoulders sagged forward as he sighed out a deep exhale, then he smiled weakly. "Very well. But should your Queen discover I have worked the Mazes so close to the Royal Birth, she is sure to have me strangled."

Akhenamkhanen pressed his forehead to the floor before the Priests feet. "You have my gratitude Siamun Muran. My gratitude and my protection from the Queen's temper."

The Priest shifted his weight awkwardly from one foot to the other, obviously distressed by the idea of Pharaoh, the God-King, bowing before him. "Pharaoh does not belong on his knees before a lowly servant."

With a grunt, the aging King pushed himself to his feet and staggered momentarily as he regained his balance. "I see no servant, I see my Priest and my dear friend."

&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&

Long fingers of flame flickering from candles, caused the shadows in the chamber to dance over Siamun's hunched form as he prepared the mixture of herbs that are necessary to open the eyes of his Ka, ready to receive the Divine visions he was about to invoke.

With trembling hands he lifted the potion to his lips and swallowed.

Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen knelt before his Priest and watched him with a keen fascination as he removed a goatskin pouch from his hip and drew from within, ten ivory discs. Each disc represented a single episode of human existence; from birth to death, and then into the afterlife.

He split and divided the discs until only two remained. Lifting one in each hand, he breathed upon them and fondled them until the smooth ivory warmed with his own life-force. He closed his eyes as his stomach lurched wit the un-nerving sensation of his mental self being drawn from his earthly vessel.

"What do you see?"

"I hear an infant... crying. A new-born."

Akhenamkhanen groped at Siamun's robes in desperation. "An infant? Is it a boy? Is it the security to this very Egypt's future? Tell me Siamun, do not toy with me!" The words throbbed in the Priests mind, so he felt them rather than heard them.

Slowly a vision hardened within Siamun's mind. A child. Above it a Saker Falcon called. A child of Royal blood. The infant lay, still in its birth waters and with the fat placenta coiled upon its belly still, like a python sunning itself. Again the God-bird shrieked ensuring of the child's rise to Pharaoh. Then the infant wailed again and kicked both its legs into the air. With that simple movement Siamun could see, rising between the child's chubby thighs, a finger of flesh.

Gasping for air, Siamun's eyes burst open and the orbs roved in his skull, unseeing. He blinked rapidly, trying to focus.

Pharaoh grasped him about his bicep and shook him firmly. "Siamun...SIAMUN!! What of the vision?"

"A boy..." he croaked, then wetted his lips. "Your son."

&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&

As Siamun feared, his services were required the following night to birth the Royal Prince.

Late into the nights second watch, he had been roughly awoken by one of the Queen's hand-maidens and informed him that the Queen had pushed off into her labour. With barely the time to bless his instruments and scrub his arms with hot wine, Siamun readied himself to receive the child.

Finally, after what seemed to the Priest like days, he held a very still and very limp child in his arms. The birth had been long and strenuous for both the Queen and the infant, and now the sun shone brilliantly through the linen curtains. Siamun glanced up and held the concerned gaze of the Pharaoh who had hung back throughout the labour, his face drawn and ashen.

Exhausted, and with her hair plastered to her face, the Queen lifted herself to her elbows. "Why..." she swallowed. "Why does he not cry?"

Siamun felt his stomach plummet. No! The Mazes could not be wrong!

Closing his eyes, he willed away the tears and silently prayed to Isis...

... Then the air was split with a loud wail. Angry and hot with temper, the Prince thrashed and kicked wildly in his arms.

Siamun breathed softly, releasing the tight coil of fear from his chest. Quickly he cut the cord and wiped the birthing mucus from the squalling and squirming infant, and wrapped him in a clean linen sheet, before presenting him to Akhenamkhanen.

Pharaoh gazed in wonder at the tiny and fragile creature in his arms. His son. A smile graced his lips as his new-born continued to thrash and and kick in stubborn protest. "Already you show the courage and strength to lead this very Egypt from the shadows of a torn and battered nation and into the golden light of unity, prosperity and greatness." he told the child softly and brushed aside the linen curtain that led onto the balcony.

Siamun followed him. "My King?"

Akhenamkhanen turned and gazed into the eyes of the Priest and grinned widely at the man. "Siamun... The Mazes.." Unable to complete a full sentence, he immediately focused his attentions back on his son in his arms. "Is he not perfect?"

"A blessing, my Pharaoh. He has been born under the guidance of Horus. He shall hold a strong heart within his breast. Wisdom and honesty. He shall indeed make a fine ruler."

"Then let us delay the nation no longer. Let them welcome my son into the world."

The Market Plaza below the Palace heaved with the populace of the Kingdom, eagerly anticipating the presentation of the Royal child. The news had spread quickly throughout the lands since the blowing of the horn at the start of the Queen's labour, and many had been waiting outside the Palace since the powerful sound had echoed throughout the kingdom...

As the crowd chattered amongst themselves, a young woman weaved a path around the milling bodies. Glaring white hair spilled over her shoulders and her clear blue eyes were down-cast. She was of the Tehenu people, thieves and slaves turned free. She drew her shawl closer over her head to cover her hair. She should not be here. Tehenun people were not welcome here.

Slung across her chest, she wore a linen pouch. She was a new mother herself and nestled deep in the sling lay her son. His thick pelt of white hair fell into his face as he whimpered and squirmed closer to her warmth before settling with a squeak.

"Hush now, Little One." she soothed. "Hush."

"Bak-her! Pharaoh!" came the eager shout from a small boy who could not seem to seem to keep still. His mother hissed and cuffed him about the ear "Be still Boy." she told the whelp sternly.

From the balcony above, Pharaoh raised his hand for silence. "Pharaoh speaks." his voice rang out across the plaza, clear and strong. "Born under the guidance of Horus, Son of Divine Father Osiris. I present to you, the people of this very Egypt, the Crowned Prince Atem."

He raised the infant above his head to the swell of blessings echoing from the very souls of the people.

"Bak-her Pharaoh! King of this very Egypt. May he live forever. Bak-her Crowned Prince Atem."

Startled by the sudden noise, Atem blinked. Revealing bright crimson orbs. Then threw his head back and roared in scarlet-faced outrage at his people.

And, immediately, the great nation of Egypt took their Prince to their hearts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay. First thing's first, sorry it's a short chapter, but technically it's a prologue. Also as for the mention in the Author's Note, maybe it's not carrying on from Oasis as such (though you probably guessed that. lol). Originally it was going to, but I had no notes and my sucky organization skills struck again and led me this way. But I decided I wanted to write a multi-chaptered Millennium Saga fic and it will end up being an Atem/Mana pairing eventually.

Bless baby Atem. And bless baby Bakura's cameo with his mother Ikona.

Anyhoo, reviews?

Stay Smexy. xXx