Description: Gwen, Princess of Nubia, is lauded the most fortunate girl in all the land. She's been chosen to marry the wealthy and all-powerful Pharaoh of Egypt. Arthur is a fair skinned slave from a faraway place of snow and mountains. He's been assigned to serve the Nubian princess and train this foreign beauty in the customs and traditions of Egypt. He's never met anyone like her and doesn't understand why Gwen should be the fifth wife of any man. If Arthur was pharaoh he would place the world at her feet but he's just a slave. It isn't his place to question such matters. With a conflicted heart, Arthur accepts and carries out his duties. He is soon convinced that he made the right choice. Gwen is becoming Egypt's greatest bride yet but what happens when Gwen decides she'd rather be the only love of a slave than the fifth bride of Pharaoh?
THE FIFTH BRIDE OF PHARAOH
Prologue: The Final Plea
Ancient Egypt, 1806 B.C.
Arthur clutched his handkerchief with a shaky hand. He used the cloth to dab at the spot of blood at the corner of his mouth. He sucked in sharply through his teeth as pain seared across his face. A raw taste flooded his mouth and Arthur spat out a bit of blood on the floor of his grimy prison cell.
In his many years as Pharaoh's faithful servant, Arthur had experienced many of the ruler's personalities. He'd seen bratty Pharaoh, noble Pharaoh, fearless warrior Pharaoh, but never had Arthur experienced the monster who'd captured and imprisoned him.
The emperor's eyes bore a perilous mixture of fury and disbelief as his fist collided with Arthur's jaw in one swift punch. Pharaoh ordered the arrest of the servant who'd betrayed him. Of all the women in the world why did Arthur have to go for that one?
Arthur glanced around the torchlit dungeon. The fires glowed against the inky night that poured in through barred windows. He went back to dabbing his tender and busted lip until realizing that his efforts were for naught. He threw the bloodstained rag across the cell. What was the point of fixing his lip just for his neck to be severed at dawn?
Pharaoh strode into the dungeon with a retinue of henchman. The noisy prison suddenly quieted, as if falling under an enchantment. Pharaoh had not come into Arthur's field of view, but the slave boy knew every time his ruler was near. The air would still around Arthur as if the world was rearranging itself to accommodate Pharaoh. Arthur preemptively took a knee, and as suspected, Pharaoh appeared.
"Your majesty," Arthur respectfully greeted the emperor, who had vowed to claim his head.
Pharaoh snapped his fingers and a guard ran forward with a chair. Pharaoh addressed his soldiers, "leave me with the traitor."
"Yes, Pharaoh," the guards replied in unison and filed out of the prison.
Pharaoh took a seat before the bars of Arthur's prison cell. Arthur dropped from his knee to sit flat on the floor, careful to remain lower than his sovereign, as was the custom.
Arthur asked cautiously, "did you read my plea to spare Guinevere?"
"Yes, and I have denied it."
Arthur's heart sank into his stomach and tears welled up in his eyes. "You don't have to kill her. You are the all-powerful Pharaoh of Egypt. Squash any rumors of her running away with me and carry on with your life together."
"To what end?" Pharaoh shook his head. "I cannot have a wife who might be putting any man's bastards upon my throne. If I can't trust her to remain loyal to me, how can I trust her to remain loyal to Egypt? Do you have the faintest clue of the bind you have put me in?"
"I know, my lord," Arthur spoke humbly with a tone of defeat.
"I'm going to have to kill you," Pharaoh spoke without emotion, as if taking a life was as simple as deciding how to dress in the morning.
"I know, my lord."
"You have left me no choice."
"I know, my lord."
"THEN WHY?!" Pharaoh shouted in a voice that could quake heaven and earth.
Arthur's eyes lowered in shame. "You demand to know how I could betray my emperor, why I would sentence myself to death over a woman. I would tell you if I had an answer. All I know is from the moment I met her I suddenly became aware of my blood being pulled in and out of my heart, the way the moon directs the tide. I tried to catch my breath, but the more I inhaled, the more I felt consumed…"
Chapter 1: Impending Doom
Months ago…
Gwen, princess of Nubia, gawked at the shadow on a sundial. She urgently informed her friend, "we must be going. It's getting late."
"I implore you, just one more vendor," cried the spirited Princess Sobek, sister of the Egyptian pharaoh.
"Just one more," Gwen agreed, not that she had much of a choice.
Sobek would have never let it rest. She towed Gwen through the sea of elated faces. This friend of Gwen's was nothing like what she'd expected of a princess of Egypt. Sobek had only been in Nubia one night when she convinced Gwen they should disguise themselves as commoners, sneak out of the palace, and attend a festival in the lower village.
The sun made its glorious descent below the horizon, bathing the joyous festival in magnificent twilight. There were magic shows, puppeteers, acrobats, and jugglers. Vendors and merchants filled the streets, as far as the eye could see. They sold food, spices, livestock, and fabrics. The scent of sweet desserts and salty meats wafted throughout the kingdom. You could practically taste the air.
Some structures in Nubia were humble. Others soared clear to the heavens, with mighty pillars, and statues of the gods. All were swarming with elated figures, drunk on beer, love, and happiness.
This festival was held to celebrate Wepet Renpet, also known as the opening of the year, marked by the Nile's annual flood. This Egyptian New Year also served as an assembly period for the Counsel of African Kings. Pharaoh Helios, a former rival of Nubia, would be in attendance this year. Nubia offered a warm welcome to Egypt, a symbol of peace between two nations.
"Why are you in such a rush to leave," Sobek questioned as she moved her body to the beat of African drums. "This festival is incredible!"
"Believe me, you will want to be gone when the Wepet Renpet bells sound. The closest boy in your vicinity is going to kiss you, whether you know him or not!"
Sobek laughed at Gwen's paranoia. "I forgot… I will fall down and die if a man kisses me. I should miss the best celebration ever because I'm at risk of a boy kissing me. Egyptian lands are at risk of war, famine, disease, and drought but the worst plague of all is a boy's kiss."
Gwen had a good laugh at herself. "When you put it that way, I sound prudish and fearful."
"You are."
"You're not even a little concerned? We have our reputations to protect."
"No one will recognize us, and bystanders will be too occupied with kisses of their own to notice with whom we are engaged."
Princess Gwen had skin of spicy cinnamon. Princess Sobek was tanned, like the golden sands of Egypt. Both girls possessed raven hair and eyes of sparkling obsidian. Their beauty earned them lusty gazes as they explored the celebration.
Gwen was surprised and a little unnerved at how differently men perceived her when they were unaware of her title. Sobek, on the other hand, soaked up the attention with the consistency of a sponge, a sign that this was not the first time she'd pulled a charade like this.
It was urgent for Gwen to leave soon. Her uncle, Myron, King of Nubia, was loaning their castle to every eligible prince of Africa. Gwen knew that she should be home entertaining; one of these royals would likely be her future husband, but Sobek was a terrible influence.
"Isn't this the most amazing thing you've ever smelled?" Gwen said as she held an exotic spice up to Sobek's nose.
"It is remarkable. What is it called?" Sobek asked with a grin.
The merchant spoke up from behind his stand, "this is a spice known as cinnamon, my lady. The one next to it is called nutmeg."
"I'll take them both," Gwen said as the enchanting festival whirled around them.
If nothing else, Sobek knew how to have fun and Gods only knew how much Gwen needed that in her life.
Gwen closed her eyes and turned her face to the moonlight, breathing in the spicy air. She enjoyed the sensation of a warm breeze as it fluttered the colorful silks of her gown. Gwen's eyes drifted open as the shopkeeper placed the bag in her hand.
"Thank you," Gwen said politely and he told her the same.
"Alright we've gone to our last stand," Gwen reminded Sobek. "It's time to leave. I'm hosting a party."
"I haven't even purchased fabrics."
"Sobek!" Gwen shouted with glee as her mischievous friend towed her throughout the celebration.
The royalty of Egypt traveled by camel and chariot, but their hapless slaves were forced to make the entire journey on foot. Pharaoh's servants were just outside of Nubia. The exhausted slaves took a much-needed respite on the side of the road, while guards doled out soup and beer. Luxuries like beef and wine were reserved for the wealthy.
Arthur aimlessly picked his food. He kept lifting a spoonful of soup and allowing it to fall back into the bowl in a series of splats. He had no appetite. All he felt was a pull like magnetism calling his soul away from this place, and the harsh iron shackles keeping his body from following his spirit.
He could envision the city ahead, alive with festivity, funny men, and beautiful women. He could taste the tanginess of the wine, the sweetness and warmth of a fresh baked pie.
The wind shifted and blew dirt into the open wounds on his feet. It stung bitterly. The leather straps of his sandals had chafed his feet bloody. Heavy manacles had scoured his wrists raw.
Despite these harsh conditions, Arthur counted his blessings. I'm more fortunate than those who labor in the sun building the pyramids of Egypt. Builder slaves fall victim to the lash, malnutrition, treacherous falls, and the desert sun. They don't live very long. I'll be in Nubia shortly, treated to a bath, and serving the brides of Pharaoh.
The echo of persistent clanging caused Gwen to spin abruptly. She collided with a man, much fairer skinned than her. His shackled arms launched out to catch her. Once steady, her eyes trailed up to his face, which bore a half smirk of a smile. It was the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen.
There was beer pouring from the rooftops like rain. Drunkards were gallivanting. Fistfights were springing up like daisies. The cover of night had transformed a lighthearted festival into chaos, but as Gwen gazed into the face of this peculiar slave all seemed perfect.
He removed his rough sword calloused hands from the smooth black skin of her shoulders. He bent to retrieve her sandal. She felt herself exhale as he held her ankle to slip on her shoe.
He rose with her fallen bag of spices. "My lady."
"Thank you," she spoke, nearly breathless as he passed her the bag.
"No, thank you," he insisted. His eyes traced the curves of her face as if trying to brand her image upon his mind.
"For what may I ask?"
"For being the most amazing thing I'll ever get to touch."
"You are entirely too bold, slave," her tone was reprimanding but her smile gave her away.
"Apologies, my lady."
His full glorious smile came out and Gwen could feel her stomach flipflop. Her life had been spinning out of control, but in this one perfect moment, all was calm. For the first time in her existence, she knew she was in just the right place at just the right time.
A thunderous BING, BING, BING, echoed throughout the celebration. The bells were ringing. Tradition demanded a kiss between them.
His smoothness went out the window and he rambled awkwardly, "we don't have to… I wasn't expecting…" Arthur drew in a deep breath and gathered his wits. "Sorry, I get flustered when I'm nervous."
"Ancient lovers believed a kiss would literally unite their souls, because the spirit was said to be carried in one's breath." Gwen took a deep breath to calm herself. "Sorry, I spout trivia when I'm nervous."
They chuckled at the absurdity of it all.
Arthur shook his head with amusement. What's one kiss between strangers in the night? The awkward conversation we're carrying on has lasted longer than the kiss would have.
Gwen just stood there with a bashful smirk. It's one kiss of my own volition before being forced into a lifetime of mandatory embraces. I doubt I'll know my future husband any better than I know this slave.
Arthur, convinced that no beautiful woman would kiss a man in shackles, politely nodded, "goodnight, my lady."
"Goodnight." Her hope was snuffed out like a suddenly extinguished candle.
They had bid farewell and yet no one moved. They stood in silence, waiting for the other person to walk away. Gazing into his eyes was like falling into the stars, causing Gwen to feel weightless and disoriented.
Arthur looked deeply into her eyes, searching for signs of rejection. When he found that her desire mirrored his own he leaned forward and kissed her softly, a chaste press of his lips to hers, with an answering push of hers to his. This simple embrace was like being hit by a title wave. It bore the power of an earthquake and the heat of a volcano. They parted with a slow exhale.
Life carried on around them, but they were trapped in a different moment than the other people in the crowded festival.
Arthur was violently struck in the face with the heavy handle of a whip, a painful and abrupt end to a wonderful encounter. Gwen shrieked in horror.
"I apologize, my lady," spoke a slave driver with a patch over one eye, a sadistic tyrant known as Osiris. "These slaves are savages. He asked that we stop for a moment, so he may smell the pies, and he rewards my leniency by harassing a young woman."
"This was my fault," Gwen spoke hurriedly. Her hands were shaking and her mind was flustered. "I bumped into him. He merely caught me from falling and being trampled by drunkards… and then the bells went off. The servant was only trying to help."
Gwen made certain to pull her hood forward and cast her face in shadow when she addressed the slave driver.
She could not believe it when Arthur mouthed the words, "I'm alright."
He was the one who'd been abused and still he was comforting her. She'd never known a man who would place her needs above his own. Now the one time she met a fellow of such caliber they lived in parallel universes. When his silent words failed to wipe the concern from her face a subtle nod and wink did the trick.
"Very well," Osiris nodded. "Sorry for the inconvenience, my lady."
Osiris signaled his guards and they led the single file of slaves away.
Gwen stood mesmerized, her mouth slightly parted in a smile. She silently urged Arthur. Look back… glance back just once so I can recall your likeness in my dreams. And just as if he'd done the impossible and heard her silent plea, he glanced over his shoulder with a smile.
Arthur was drawn from his beautiful memory by the sound of a metal plate skidding across the floor of his prison cell. Joyous festival music faded into the tortured cries of sick and dying prisoners. Beauty and décor transformed to dreary gray walls and iron bars. Gwen's delightful scent was replaced by the foul odor of urine and rat droppings.
He stared at the food with disgust. It's stewed rat or some other diseased rodent with a loaf of moldy bread. Knowing the food might give him more sickness than strength, Arthur ignored his growling belly and pushed the plate aside. Perhaps I should have eaten it, might have given me a better death than decapitation by the sword of an executioner.
The furious Pharaoh, sitting just beyond the bars growled with contempt, "what happened next?"
Arthur confessed, "I walked away on that wonderful night, completely unaware that I had started down a path from which there was no return, and the impending doom that would follow. All I knew was from the moment I kissed her half of my heart sang and the other half recognized that I would never be the same again…"
Author's Note: Hi everyone! In response to requests I will be posting my most popular deleted stories here in this one collection. I will be writing new stories as well and they will be posted separately :^)
-Embrasia