Chapter: 2

Previously: Tiara followed Grandfather to a field. It was at this moment that she finally figured out that she was in ancient Egypt...

- -

Tiara felt her heart sink as she leaned forward slightly, feeling sick. She felt Grandfather's hand on her shoulder as he tried to help her stay on her feet. "I don't feel so good." She murmured. She followed Grandfather back to the hut and flopped into a chair. She let her neck relax and her head tilt back. How did I get here? She thought. How do I get back home to my time?

"I never asked, Tiara." Grandfather said. "Where are you from?"

She hesitated. "Uh…" She muttered. "I'm…from…a long way away. Far away from Egypt."

"Further than the Nile flows?" Gasped Grandfather.

Tiara nodded. "Which is why I'm pale." She explained. "I'm not pale because I'm sick. I'm just naturally pale." She looked up at him with her blue eyes. "Do you believe me?"

Grandfather leaned up against the wall of his hut and sighed. "It's hard to say." He replied. "I have never been past the Nile River." He pushed off the wall and went to the oven. He carefully—and with nimble hands—took out the bread out and set it on the table. "I know it is possibly rude to say, but how old are you?"

Tiara just smiled and replied, "I'm 15 and proud of it."

"You look like you could be older, almost like a goddess."

Tiara laughed sarcastically. "I wouldn't go that far." She looked down at her bare feet. "Is it alright if I stay here with you, until I can find a way to get home?"

Grandfather nodded. "You may stay here as long as you wish Tiara." He made her dinner.

Tiara shot to her feet. "You do all the chores by yourself, right?" She said abruptly. "I want to help you any way I can."

Grandfather looked at her with surprise.

"I know I don't know how to use a reaper, much less hold one. You could teach me." Tiara's eyes became pleading. "Please. I don't want to be treated like a person higher than others, because I'm not. If I'm going to stay here, the least I could do is help you around the house and in the field. I'll even help you where ever you need me."

Grandfather set the food before her. "Sit down, please." He smiled and she sat down. "I am surprised by your confidence and desire to help me." His smile brightened against his wrinkled skin. "All right. You may help me. Now you have to promise to listen to what I say without question."

"I already do." She took a bite of food, but soon realized that she was very full. Maybe I shouldn't have had those three cheeseburgers and two things of fries with a large soda. She thought. "I-I'm sorry, but…"

"I see." Grandfather patted her on the head. "You have had too much already. If you force yourself to eat, you will make yourself sick. I understand."

Tiara nodded slowly. "Is there anything that needs to be done before bed?"

"Getting some water from the oasis. But you must rest. You need your strength, for you will start your chores in the morning."

Tiara nodded again, stood up slowly and went straight to bed. She curled into a ball under the covers and drifted to sleep.

- - - - - - - -

Atem stood outside on the balcony, staring up at the clear, starry night sky. He took a deep breath and sighed. He leaned against the side, placing his elbow on it and resting his chin in his hand. He believed all the people in the city below were lucky for they didn't have to worry about living up to high expectations. "I wish I could be as free as the stars." He muttered.

His friend, Mahado walked out onto the balcony and stood behind him. "Are you all right my King?" He asked.

Atem took a deep breath and sighed. "I wish I was." He answered with sadness in his voice.

Mahado placed his hand on Atem's shoulder. "We all want something sometimes." He said, trying to cheer up his friend.

"I know." Atem hissed under his breath. "And many don't get what their heart really wants."

Mahado squeezed his shoulder slightly. "Pharaoh, what is it that you really want?"

"I want my freedom."

Mahado finally released Atem's shoulder and left. "Be sure to rest, Sire."

Atem waited until he knew for certain his friend was truly gone. He hurried back into his room, pulled out a rope and regular clothes from the chest at the foot of his bed. He then pulled out a sheathed sword and quickly changed. He took off his jewelry—all of it, except the Millennium Puzzle of course. He stuck his crown into a pouch, tied the rope and tossed it over the side. He then carefully climbed down and ran off the moment his feet touched the ground.

He knew it was dangerous but he wanted to find what his heart truly desired—freedom—even if that meant running away from the palace and only Ra knew for how long.

- - - -

Tiara woke up suddenly from a strange dream. She sat up slowly and crawled out from under the covers. She slipped on a pair of sandals Grandfather gave her. She then stealthily crept out of the hut and to one of the horses outside.

The brown stallion whinnied at her approach, but he quickly calmed down when he saw that she wasn't going to hurt him. He nuzzled her outstretched hand and let her pet his mane.

Tiara smiled slightly. "Yeah, you're a good boy." She whispered to the horse. "You're a good boy. Could you do me a favor?"

The stallion bobbed his head as if to nod.

"Good. Could you take me to the Nile River? I believe someone might be there who's in trouble."

The stallion dipped his head again and turned his whole body to the side. He let Tiara put the bridle on, place a couple bags on his back with a staff and mount him—all the while calling him a "good boy." He was excited to go for a run and she could see it in his eyes.

"Ok. Let's go." She carefully dug her heels into his sides and he started off in a slow trot. She held tightly to the reins, being her first time without a lead on the horse. She waited until they were far enough away from the hut and she got him into a flat out gallop to the Nile. "I hope I know where we're going, because I don't have a map!"

The stallion was graceful and strong, even when he took a sharp turn. He made sure never to let Tiara fall.

Tiara felt like they were flying through the air and she wanted to laugh so hard, even though her heart was pounding wildly in her chest. I wish mother and father could see me! She thought with excitement. They would never believe this! Her blue eyes glittered wildly like the stars. She pinched her eyes shut as a wild smile played across her lips, having her unable to contain her excitement any longer. "Yeeha!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. "This is so awesome!"

- - - - - - - -

"Yeeha!" A female voice shouted. "This is so awesome!"

Atem stumbled slightly when he heard it. What was that? He wondered. He coughed out some sand. He hurried off away from the voice, unsure if it was friend or foe. Before he knew it, he lost his footing and fell into the Nile River and was swept away with the current. He thrashed about, trying to keep his head above the water.

A girl riding a brown stallion came galloping. She dug her heels hard into his sides and turned his head in the direction Atem was going down. "Hang on!" She called as the horse galloped towards him. Before she knew it, she was far enough ahead of him and leapt off her horse. She waited until the time was right and she dove in after him.

Atem continued to keep his head above the water. He suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist.

"Quit thrashing." The girl snapped. "It's difficult enough to keep us both up in this blasted current."

Atem did as he was told.

The girl turned onto her back and used one arm to bring them back to the shore. She whistled for her stallion who obeyed quickly.

The stallion tossed his head, bringing the reins down. He lowered his head and the girl snatched the reins. He began backing up and pulled them out.

The girl let go of Atem's waist and she released the reins. She then flopped onto her back as she panted heavily.

Atem was panting as well. He suddenly noticed something was off. He reached up for his Millennium Puzzle but found that it was missing. He shot to his feet. "It must have been swept away by the current." He said wildly.

The girl sat up slowly and looked at him. "What was?" She asked.

"My Millennium Puzzle." Atem snapped. "It's important to me."

The girl shot to her feet with anger flaring in her blue eyes. Her long, dark brown hair clung to her face, back and shoulders. "Obviously!" She shouted. "And don't you snap at me. I just saved your life."

"I know." Atem hissed. "And I thank you, but I have to get back what's important to me." He turned on his heel and began to leave. A sudden jolt of pain surged through him and he let out a scream of pain as he collapsed to his knees.

The girl rushed to him, knelt down and pulled up the shirt he wore. "Yer bleeding." She muttered. "Let me take care of it and you can look for your important item in the morning. You look tired." She stripped his shirt off and began to take care of his wound.

Atem snarled slightly, but it quickly faded when he watched her long, slender and nimble fingers treat his injury. He followed her pale arms up to her chest and then to her pale face. He didn't care about the fact that she looked ill, he found her beautiful. "What's your name, maiden?" He asked.

"Tiara." She answered. She looked up at him. Her eyes were far calmer than before. "And what's your name, sir?"

Atem blushed and looked away. He couldn't tell her the truth, so instead he said, "Y-Yami."

Tiara smiled softly and looked back to what she was doing. She began to hum a slow, gentle tune. When she finished, Atem rested his head against her shoulder. She could tell that he was asleep finally. She picked him up, put him on her stallion and led him to a cave just a short distance away. She felt a little sorry for him after losing something important to him.

She carefully slipped him off the horse and laid him on the ground inside the cave. She used his cloak to cover him. She slipped her wet dress off. She then curled up close to Atem, trying to keep them both warm.

Character Chat

Tiara: Damn you dragonchild247!

dragonchild247: *groans* What's wrong now?

Tiara: Yer having me feel sorry for this jerk?

Atem: Hey!

dragonchild247: Down children. Don't make me tell Ra on ya.

Atem: You wouldn't.

dragonchild247: *grins* I would dear boy. Trust me. I would.

Tiara: *growls and mutters something under breath*

dragonchild247: What are you mumbling about?

Tiara: *blush* Oh! N-nothing!

dragonchild247: *snorts* Good.