The harsh Egyptian summer heat was horridly humid and simply smothering. It was the sort of heat that the young Pharaoh, Atemu, had come accustom to over the span of his short reign. Not that he had much choice. The young Pharaoh's duties included keeping a cool head even when the weather wasn't agreeing with him.
Some days, like today, however, Atemu just felt like ripping the horrendously heavy wig that he was forced to wear and chucking it at his advisers. They were treating him like a child and he was almost twenty-three!
Atemu leaned against the marble white balcony over looking about a mile of sand before the chaos of everyday peasants, working and buying in the markets. Sometimes he envied the men, women and children that had gown up without the responsibility of running the whole of Egypt. He didn't even have the relief of
sharing his burden with another.
"Your Majesty?" asked Seto, one of his bossy advisers. Seto was the youngest and the one the young Pharaoh got on better with. "Gifts have been brought for you to celebrate your birthday." the adviser continued, folding his arms. "It would be rude to reject them."
Atemu let out a sigh, fiddling with a gold bracelet as he began to speak. "Alright." he said turning. "Let's get this over with."
"No need to be so enthusiastic." Seto said sarcastically as he began to walk away.
Atemu laughed and followed Seto.
The gifts were from various royals of kingdoms outside Egypt. Kings that wanted to gain favour with the young Pharaoh had sent jewels and invitations to wed their daughters. Lords and high ranked, wealthy of Egypt sent the Pharaoh free samples of their business's stock. Atemu admitted that the offerings were generous and made a mental note to thank each of the senders.
At last there was only one gift left.
Two women stood before the Pharaoh. They bowed and place a hand on the figure between them that was wrapped as though mummified in purple cloth. "Great Pharaoh, we come bearing a gift from our master, Hezekiah, ruler of the kingdom of the second kingdom of the south." said one. She was a slim brunette dressed in the plain clothes of a serving maid. She was attractive in her way but had no effect on the young Pharaoh.
"Are you going to unwrap it?" the Pharaoh asked eyeing the offering with unease.
"No, Majestic One." the second girl answered. "He is for your eyes alone. Only you are allowed to look upon him. His body is only for you to take pleasure from. He is yours. I guarantee, Great One, that you will find no jewel more exquisite than the Young One."
The Pharaoh frowned and glanced at Seto who shrugged. Atemu rolled his eyes and turned back to the girls and the gift. "What if he's not? What if I'm not satisfied by your offering?"
"You will be." the first girl said. "If not, you may take an axe and slice of my head. Or take us to the noose. Take our lives in any way that pleases you."
Atemu blinked. "I don't think I'd have to go that far." he turned to Seto. "take my gift to my chambers and leave it there for me." he them gestured at two guards. "take these girls to the guest rooms. Make sure they're comfortable, well fed, bathed and clothed."
The guards bowed and obeyed.
Alone, the young Pharaoh made his way to the hall where supper was served.
As he dined, he thought of the gift that was in his chambers. He knew that there was a person hidden under the cloth of violet. Part of him didn't believe for a second the women's claims that the person beneath was one of unseen beauty but most of him was completely convince the girls had spoken only the truth.
Pharaoh Atemu finished his supper before retiring to his chambers.
The wrapped figure, having been sat on the Pharaoh's bed, stood abruptly. He waited patiently as his new master closed the door and took off his wig to reveal a hair style that consisted of three colours: blonde, black and red. The Pharaoh was well built, with a strong masculine figure that was coloured bronze with gold bracelets and other such jewel to complement such skin.
The Pharaoh's eyes, a striking pair of crimson orbs, studied him until he shifted uncomfortably in his violet wrappings. The Pharaoh came closer. "What is your name?" he asked, his voice gentle.
"What ever you want it to be." was the muffled answer.
"What was the name given to you by your mother?" the Pharaoh asked.
"Yugi." the covered figure said.
"Yugi." the Pharaoh repeated kneeling before the young one. "May I. . .unwrap you?"
"I am yours to do with what you will."
The Pharaoh frowned and shook his head. "would you like me to unwrap you?"
The was silence for a long moment. Yugi hadn't expected to be asked what he wanted. He was meant to do whatever his master wanted, not what he wanted. "Yes." the young one finally decided.
"Thank you." the Pharaoh said reaching for the violet wrappings. The Pharaoh gave a small tug on a loose bit of cloth and the wrappings fell apart to reveal a young boy with large, innocent eyes of amethyst. Their eyes met and Atemu could feel a sort of pleasant warmth fluttering in his chest and a tingle running down his spine. Then there was that sudden feeling of 'I know you'.
The boy was pale, paler than anyone Atemu had ever seen before, and completely unblemished by even a birthmark. His mouth was visibly soft and pink in colour, a small mouth but perfect in it's own right. His cheeks were rosy and almost childish and his hair was very similar to the Pharaoh's. The rest of his body wasn't quite as childish, just rather petite but still riddled with perfection.
The boy was mouth-watering.
"How old are you?" the elder asked.
"Almost seventeen summers old."
The Pharaoh frowned again. "You look younger."
"Yes." the younger agreed.
The elder's eyes lowered from Yugi's perfect face and travelled down that pretty little neck to the shackles on the young one's delicate wrists and dainty ankles. "Do you have the key to remove these?"
Yugi nodded. "In my hand." he said taking the Pharaoh's hand and placing a small object in the elder's hand. "It is yours."
Atemu looked up at the young one through long lashes before unshackling his feet and his wrists. "Are you hurt?" the elder asked and the younger shook his head.
Yugi watched as the elder studied him. "Do I please you, Great Pharaoh?" he asked shyly. Atemu didn't say a word. He just reached up and carefully ran a finger down the young one's perfectly smooth skin. Yugi shivered when the Pharaoh's finger gently ran down his neck. "I don't, do I?"
Atemu's eyes flicked up to the worried, tear-filled orbs above him. The Pharaoh offered a small, reassuring smile. "You're perfect." he promised. "I know why you are for my eyes only; your beauty was meant to make even the Gods weep with envy and worship you on their knees."
Yugi blushed. "You really think so?"
Atemu shook his head. "I know so."
A smiled adorned the young one's lips. "and I'm all yours."
"All mine." Atemu repeated before softly pressing his lips to Yugi's.