NOTE: Thnks for the nice comments everyone I really appreciate it. I think that I will be posting a new chapter to this story at least once a week just like in the manga. I really hate it when I have to wait forever for someone to update things so I'll try to be someone who doesn't take forever. Thanks for reading and I'd always love to hear feedback so leave me reviews and I'll be really grateful. ^-^
Kiara rode along behind the king surrounded by his guards. She was feeling a little uncomfortable because she could practically feel the rumors about her spreading along. She could see people staring and she knew that in an hour or so everyone would be talking about her and they would have categorized her as something.
Will I be a princess, a bad omen, or just someone who came out of no where and should go home right away? She didn't really want to think about what they might be saying about her. She was very conscious of the fact that her clothes were wet and they were drying onto her skin. Plus while every other woman here had a long skirt and most had a shawl on, she was wearing blue jeans which of course showed off her legs.
I must look like a tramp to these people. And here I am riding with the king. Brilliant. She sighed and looked up at the sky. It was pretty. Very blue and it spread out everywhere. There were no sky scrapers or smog or anything else to cloud it up.
"What's that?" she asked loudly looking at a taller building. It was pretty and differently shaped from the others.
"That is a temple." Freckles said. Kiara thought his names was Kikkuri but she hadn't been able to confirm that yet.
"Another one? Didn't we just pass three of those?"
"There are many temples to fit the needs of all the gods." he said it with a little smile and she thought that he probably thought that she was a silly fool for not knowing these things.
"Then is that another temple too?" she asked pointing to another big pretty building.
"No, that is the house of one of the chairmen."
"Oh. How many of those are there?" she looked around trying to see more. If she stopped thinking about all the possible trouble she was in then she could see that this was an incredible experience. How many other people could really say that they had gone back in time and seen the B.C. ages that people really didn't know that much about? Well, how many people could say that and be telling the truth?
Not that I could ever tell anyone. They would really would think I've been eating lead paint from somewhere and then they'd send me to the funny farm.
"How many chairmen or their houses?"
"Do all of the chairmen have more than one house?" that was surprising. She thought that having lots of great big houses were things that only the kings had done. Weren't the kings the only ones that could afford it? They used lots of taxes right? But the king in front of her didn't seem the mean greedy type.
Kiara sighed as Freckles kept explaining about the chairmen or something. She had never liked history much. History books were such dull things. She didn't mind learning or reading; she liked both. But she could never seem to find a fun school book. Which meant she never learned anything from it.
"So, um, why was everyone standing around that temple? Was it a party?" she asked interrupting Freckles. What had he said anyway. She felt a little guilty for not paying attention. He seemed nice after all.
"It was a celebration to honor Ishtar for all that she has done for the Hittites."
"Ishtar...." Kiara mumbled to herself trying to remember if she knew that particular god. She had loved mythology. It was so funny. And weird. And some of it was kinda gross, but some was nice.
Do I know who Ishtar is? Or is supposed to be anyway? The old pagan gods aren't real. Of course I can't say that in present company. They think Ishtar is real enough so it would be better if I didn't point out that she's not. Who is she anyway?
"What has she done? I mean, since I'm here for a little while and everyone seems to like her a lot maybe I should know? I don't want to say anything stupid." Kiara thought she might remember if she knew this goddess if she heard a little about her. But then again, a lot of the gods were the same with different names depending on which country and culture you were talking to. Example, Jove=Zeus.
"Ishtar is our goddess of war who has helped us in defeating both the Mitanni and the Egyptian armies." Freckles said it so proudly and with such a big smile too. Kiara saw that the other three men were also smiling and looking proud. Well not Adviser guy. He didn't look much like the smiling sort. And the king looked a little uncomfortable. She wondered why. Maybe he didn't like Ishtar? Whatever the reason he seemed to become a little nervous and he started riding a little faster.
Goddess of war? Athena maybe? "Did you say Egyptian armies? As in Egypt?"
"Of course. What else would they be?"
"Right." for a moment she was distracted from figuring out who the goddess was.
I know about Egypt. I got majorly fascinated with Egypt a while ago. I read lots of books watched some movies...it was fun stuff. Mostly fake probably. I wonder who is pharaoh now? Maybe I'll know when I am if I know who the pharaoh is. Kiara tried to think about the pharaohs she knew but for some odd reason she could think of no names. It was like the information had vanished from her head. The only Egyptian royalty she could remember was Cleopatra. She used to loved Cleopatra. But then, she read about how Cleopatra was a whore. After that Cleo wasn't so interesting anymore.
She pushed the Egyptians out of her head and thought about this strange goddess some more.
This is killing me. I'm probably gonna remember at 3 in the morning someday and I won't even remember why I wanted to know.
"Hey! That's a big house! Is that your house?!" she asked looking up and noticing the palace on the hill for the first time. It was a great big palace on a hill. How had she missed it before?
Daddy would be rather annoyed with me. She thought feeling annoyed with herself. She really needed to be paying attention.
The king glanced back and he smiled a little. He was so hot. She shook her head getting rid of that thought. She didn't date guys like him. And he was a king anyway. And she was going home. Wasn't she?
Hadi was carrying the laundry into the palace when she heard the whispers. They were all talking about the strange girl who had come out of the fountain. Hadi had smiled and kept on going. Today they were celebrating for Queen Yuri. She had come in here in through a spring from her strange land but that was old news and there was no reason for her to stop her work to listen to idle chatter.
"Sister!"
Hadi looked up and saw Rui and Shall coming towards her. They both looked nervous.
"Has something happened? Does Queen Yuri need anything?" she wondered if perhaps the baby? But no, there were still a few weeks before Yuri should be having her baby.
"She is fine, but have you heard the news?" Shalla looked around as if to see who was listening. Hadi became a little nervous herself. Things had been relatively calm since Nakia had been banished. But was something else happening?
"Everyone is talking about some girl who's come up from the fountain during the festival!"
"What? Today?!" That was news. That was something she would have liked to stop and listen to.
"And that's not even the worst of it! Apparently everyone is saying she's some new goddess and that she came here as another gift to the king!" Rui and Shalla looked outraged at the idea of anyone else being companion the the King other than Yuri.
Hadi straightened her shoulders. "Those are just rumors. The King loves Queen Yuri and if he would never bother with someone else." now she felt annoyed with herself and with them. There was a lot of work to do and while this new girl sounded interesting it did not seem very important. It could have even been a hoax.
"But he's riding with her! They are coming back together along with Ilvani and Kikkuri and Kash and Mettannamuwa. What if the rumors are true?! What if he has to take her?!"
Hadi gave the both of her sisters a smack to the head to clear they thoughts and continued on her way with the laundry. "There's nothing to be worried about. His Majesty will only see Queen Yuri. This new person will just be another girl trying to get in the way. She won't succeed." Rui and Shalla looked doubtful but they followed along behind their sister silently.
The real problem is what this woman is doing here. Hadi thought walking through the halls. She passed by many servants who were whispering quickly. If this woman is just another schemer trying to get to His Majesty then I'm sure he'll send her away quickly. But what if she is like Yuri? What if she came from somewhere else? Is this the Nakia's work again? What would she have to gain anymore? Revenge?
"Hadi!"
Hadi stopped and to her dismay she saw Queen Yuri walking towards her. Yuri was very pregnant now and a little exercise was good for her but Hadi wasn't sure it was a good thing to let her hear the rumors. But judging by Yuri's face, she had heard the rumors.
"Yes Your Highness?"
"Is Kail back yet?" Yuri asked holding her hand on the wall lightly. Yuri was the same as she had ever been. Small and strong and this pregnancy had been of almost of no hindrance to her. Now of course nearing the beginning of nine months it was harder for Yuri to be as active as she had been. Hadi didn't mind that. Yuri was always working to hard and it was good for her to rest for once.
"I have not yet seen him, but perhaps we shall go see?" Hadi said smiling helpfully. Yuri nodded but she still seemed upset. Hadi wondered if it was the rumors that this woman was from a different world that was bothering Yuri, or if it was the rumors that this woman would be the King's new consort.
Hadi handed her bundle of laundry off to a different servant and she, Rui, Shalla and Yuri went to the courtyard to wait for the king's return.
Despite herself Hadi was beginning to feel nervous again. What if the rumors did come true? It hardly seemed possible. King Kail and Queen Yuri had been through so much just to be together, but life was always so strange and unpredictable.
They did not have to wait long before the gates were opened and the King's party returned.
Hadi could not help but gasp when she saw them.
The king was riding in the front along with his aides and there was the woman riding right next to him. They were both smiling and laughing together. They looked just like lovers might.
Hadi turned to look at Yuri. Yuri was watching Kail and she held her hands together tightly. Hadi wanted to say something reassuring but she was unable to come up with anything that would not seem like a lie.
Rui and Shalla was glaring at the new woman and grinding their teeth together.
What is happening here? Hadi thought in dismay. Perhaps, even with Nakia gone the King and Queen will have to fight to stay together.
