Mana continued…

"Two years ago, I was taken in by a band of thieves. I was small and could get into tight spaces easily. After a successful venture, my comrades decided to celebrate by getting drunk," Mana began.

Atem nodded and rested a hand on her head to soothe her. It was comforting to know that he was there and that she was in the present and not lost in her memory.

"I decided that I wanted to be a part of the celebration and made my way to the party. I was the only female among them. I should have known that it was a horrible idea. I should have stayed in my room till it was over and everyone was asleep."

She watched as Atem's eyes widened. He now knew what she was about to say next. He nodded for her to continue.

"The leader, Bakura, was the first and only one to claim my body," Mana continued. "The others watched and got enjoyment out of my misery. When they all passed out I picked myself up and walked out. My outfit was in tatters and I could barely walk."

Mana looked to see if Atem was disgusted with her, but instead he looked angry. His hand was still on her head and he was now running his fingers through her hair. He extended his other hand to her and she slid her hand into his. He clasped his fingers around hers and she felt like it was her only lifeline. More tears slipped down her face and onto the sheets.

"No one should have to go through that, Mana. You didn't deserve it," Atem commented.

"It haunts me in my dreams. I can never escape it. I can't…"

"Shush, love. I won't let anything happen to you. You are safe with me," Atem encouraged.

"Atem," Mana whispered.

Atem shushed her again before crawling over her so that he could wrap his arms around her. She turned in his arms and buried her face into his chest. She sobbed so hard she started to scream. Atem held her tight and allowed her to cry.

The doors burst open, but Mana didn't look up. She didn't stop crying. She wanted nothing more than to die in this man's arms. This man who was accepting every part of her past and not asking anything of her in return.

Atem

He could barely believe her story, but the fear in her eyes when she relayed the story said that she was telling the truth. He was furious. The Bandit King would pay for what he had done to this girl and he would be the pharaoh to end him. No matter how long it took.

He got into the bed with her and pulled her close to him. She clung to him so hard he could barely breathe, but he dared not move her. Once she started yelling he tried to calm her again, but it was too late. Two guards and Mahad came running into the room.

"Pharaoh?" Mahad questioned.

"She had a nightmare, Mahad. I want you to make her a sleeping draught quickly and have some food made for her to eat," Atem ordered.

"Of course, sire."

Mahad left the room, but the two guards stayed to watch over them. Mana kept crying and Atem did his best to calm her so that she would be able eat. Her sobbing finally quieted and she was calming. When a servant came in with a small meal he had them set it down.

"Mana, love, you need to sit up. Eat," Atem advised. She nodded and allowed Atem to sit her up. "I'm going to feed you, okay?"

"Sire, is everything alright? Should I call for a physician?" the servant questioned.

"No, thank you, please send Mahad to me and High Priest Set," Atem commanded. The servant nodded and left the room, but not before he placed the tray in front of Mana and the young pharaoh.

The pharaoh raised a piece of food to the sniffling girl's lips. She opened her mouth and allowed him to place the food on her tongue. She chewed slowly and swallowed.

"That's it, love," Atem urged.

"Pharaoh?" Set's voice came from behind them.

"I'll be right back, Mana. Eat some more, please."

Mana nodded and Atem slowly left the bed. He met Set and Mahad in the doorway. Mahad had a cup in his hand filled with an amber liquid. It looked much like the one's he used to make for him when he was a child.

"What happened?" Set asked.

"She had a nightmare. One that was more of a terrible memory," Atem answered.

"So now she is asking for your sympathy?" Set questioned.

"No, Set," Atem spat. "I want to take care of her. I want to see this girl happy…safe."

"Pharaoh, you are becoming too attached to this girl," Set advised.

"Isis, told you that she was not a threat," Atem reminded him. He turned to look at Mana who had eaten at least half of the plate. "Mahad, can I have the cup, please."

Mahad nodded and handed the cup to Atem. Atem went over to Mana and sat in front of her. She looked up at him with tired and lifeless eyes. His heart clenched in his chest. He needed to bring her out of this.

"Mana, love, drink this. It will help you sleep."

She shook his head at him. "I don't want to sleep. If I sleep it will happen again and again."

"I won't let it. I won't let him near you," Atem reminded. "Mahad made this so you should sleep without any dreams, love."

"Do you promise, Atem?" she asked. Her voice was weak and tired.

"I promise, love. I took these when I was little and there were no dreams."

She nodded and took the cup from him. Her hands were shaking and Atem helped her raise the cup to her lips. When she had finished the liquid. Atem removed the plate from the bed and placed it on the floor. He helped her get under the covers again before tucking her in.

"Don't leave me," she whispered as her eyes closed.

"I'm not going anywhere," he agreed.

Her eyes closed and her breathing evened out. He smiled down at her sleeping form and let out a sigh when he realized that the drink was working. He rose softly so that she didn't wake again.

"She called you by your name, sire," Set observed.

"I gave her permission to do so, Set," Atem clarified.

"If I could be so bold, sire," Mahad inquired. Atem nodded as he looked back at the sleeping girl in his bed. She looked so tiny and he wanted to crawl in beside her and hold her close. "You are falling in love with her."

Atem nodded. He was falling in love with Mana. He really didn't know what it was, but something was pulling at his heart. He loved her for her ability to be so strong after the horror she endured. He was falling in love with her determination to live.

"You don't even know her," Set stated.

"I know what it is like to lose my family. I know what it is like to be so scared that you can't breathe. I know what it is like to keep living even when you don't want to anymore," Atem replied.

"Sire," Set breathed.

"Mahad is there any way we can see what really happened that night?" Atem questioned. When Mahad didn't' answer he realized that he needed to clarify. "The night of Mana's attack at the hands of Bandit King Bakura."

"Yes, Pharaoh," Mahad answered. "It will be easier with her asleep. Our intrusion shouldn't trigger anything as long as we don't push too deep. But since this is a traumatic experience for her we could wake her up and cause her to panic."

"Do we have another option?" Atem pressed.

"Will you give me time to find one?" Mahad countered.

"Yes," Atem agreed. "And tell Isis to find out anything about Mana's past. I want to know exactly who she is and where she comes from. Once we know that I can move forward."

"Sire?"

"Leave me now," Atem ordered not answering the questioning gazes of his two most trusted advisors. "I am going to stay with her and rest."

"As you wish, sire," Mahad conceded.

Mahad and Set left the room and the two guards shut the doors behind them. Atem stripped himself of his crown, cape, and tunic before pulling on his night sheath. It showed off his chest, but he figured since it was a garment for sleeping Mana wouldn't be too frightened by it. He ate the rest of the food on the plate before crawling into bed. He moved over to Mana's side and wrapped an arm around her waist, spooning her. She let out a content sigh and unconsciously turned so that she could lay facing him.

He smiled down at her. When she was sleeping like this she looked happy and peaceful. She was even more beautiful and he wrapped his arm tighter around her. Before he fell asleep he vowed to protect this girl and make her safe.

Mana

When Mana woke the next morning, she felt well-rested and ready to face the day. It had been the first dreamless night in two years and she had enjoyed every minute of it. Until she remembered where she was and who she was with.

She opened her eyes slowly only to find that her cheek was resting against the smooth tan skin of a hard chest and that an arm was wrapped protectively around her. She moved her head carefully to look up at the owner of the chest to find Atem. He was sleeping peacefully. She moved slowly so as not to wake him so that she could watch his face as he slept.

Atem was handsome and kind. She was beginning to realize that staying with him might not be so bad. He cared for her. He accepted her. He looked at her as if she was the most beautiful girl in the world. He made her feel special and he didn't think that she was beyond repair.

His chest rose softly and Mana found it to be the most soothing sound in the world. She closed her eyes and listened to his breathing. It wasn't long before she felt his fingers tracing patterns along her exposed back. She sighed at the contact and opened her eyes to meet his. His eyes were shining with happiness and a small smile was on his face. She smiled back at him.

"How did you sleep, love?" he asked. His voice was husky from sleep and she had to hold back a shiver.

"Peaceful," she answered. "For the first time in two years. Thank you."

"I'm glad."

"Atem?"

"Yes, Mana?"

"I'm sorry that you had to witness that last night. I should have known that it would happen," Mana apologized.

Atem raised an eyebrow at her, but never stopped tracing designs on her back. "You have nothing to apologize for, Mana. I am just happy that you got some well-deserved rest."

"But, Atem," Mana began. "You shouldn't even be seen with someone like me. I am literally nothing to you." She started to get up and move herself away from him. He took hold of her arm and held fast. "You should be with someone worthy of you not someone who has already been tainted…destroyed."

Mana looked away from him and tried not to cry. As much as she wanted to stay with him she knew it wasn't her place. She couldn't stay with him and that hurt more than she cared to admit out loud.

"Mana," Atem beckoned. Mana ignored him. "Look at me, Mana." She wiped at her tears before turning to meet his eyes. He looked so confident in what he was about to say next.

"You know I'm right," she whispered.

"No, you are not. You are worthier of me then you know, Mana," Atem explained. "You have brought excitement and hope back into my life. You have shown me that it takes more courage to live than to give up."

"But, I know nothing about…"

"That doesn't matter to me and as far as my advisors are concerned I don't care. I don't want to marry for wealth or power. I want to marry for love," Atem declared.

"What are you saying?"

Atem sat up and the blanket pooled around his hips. She kept her gaze on his face and tried to hold back a blush, but she knew she was failing. He was grinning as he slid his hand up her arm so he could cup her cheek.

"I am falling desperately in love with you, Mana," he answered. She was dumbfounded.

"You've known me less than a day. How can you make a declaration so easily?"

"I don't know. All I know is that I love everything about you."

"That isn't logical," she contradicted.

"When was love ever supposed to be logical, Mana?" he questioned.

She pulled away from him and started to get out of the bed. She couldn't breathe and she couldn't decide if she was happy about his declaration or if he was lying to her. She moved to stand next to the balcony doors and leaned against them for support.

"You feel it too, Mana. I can see it your eyes."

Mana closed her eyes and tried to take a deep breath. She cared about him. She could admit that, but love? Did she love him? Did she want to spend the rest of her life with this man?

She didn't know.

"I don't know what I feel for you. I don't know what I am supposed to feel towards a man after what happened to me," she responded. "I care about you and I don't want to see you hurt, but…I just don't know."

Just as Atem was about to speak again there was a knock on the door. He cursed softly before allowing the disturber entrance. Mahad came into the room and bowed quickly to his pharaoh.

"What is it?" Atem questioned.

"Isis has information for you, sire. I also had the seamstresses bring a new dress for Lady Mana," Mahad answered.

"Fine. We will be out in a moment," Atem dismissed.

"I have also taken the privilege of setting up your mother's old rooms for her to use," Mahad stated.

Atem raised an eyebrow before nodding. Mana looked between the two in complete shock. She would have rooms of her own and they would be the queen's old rooms. She could scarcely breathe.

"She may use them, but I want her escorted here at nightfall for sleep. I don't want her alone if another nightmare pushes through," Atem commanded.

"As you wish, sire."

"Have two guards and the seamstresses escort her down the hall. I will pick her up shortly once I am dressed."

Atem rose from the bed and the blankets fell from his waist. Luckily, he had been wearing some sort of sleeping garment, but his chest was still exposed. He ran his thin fingers through his blonde bangs before turning away from them both.

Mahad met her gaze and smiled. He gestured for her to follow him and she did as if she was walking through water. She couldn't believe what was happening. Her head was spinning with everything Atem had said to her. Mahad had to snap her out of her daze to get her to look at him again.

"Lady Mana, these two guards and yesterday's seamstresses will escort you to your rooms. I have to help Pharaoh, but we will retrieve you shortly," Mahad explained.

"Why are you both doing all of this?" Mana questioned.

Mahad smiled softly at her as if she were a sister and it made her heart ache again. "Pharaoh cares for you more than he has for anyone before. You are special to him and I would not be surprised if he asked you to marry him."

"You can't be serious?"

"I have never seen him look at any woman the way he looks at you, Lady Mana. His feelings are true," Mahad clarified.

"But the queen's rooms? I don't think that is a wise decision," she pointed out.

"If Pharaoh has given his consent then I am happy that I made the decision."

"But, what about the rest of the court. They can't possibly be happy about this arrangement."

"It is true that some are opposed to the idea, but others are just happy that our Pharaoh is smiling again," Mahad answered. "Now let these four get you to your rooms. Pharaoh will be needing me and soon he will be calling for me."

"Mahad!" Atem's voice came from the closed doors.

"If you will excuse me, Lady Mana." Mahad excused himself with a bow and reentered the pharaoh's chambers.

The two seamstresses smiled at her as the two guards started walking in the direction of her new quarters. She started up a conversation with the two girls and found that they were not used to speaking to anyone of importance. They seemed nervous around her and she encouraged them to not worry about her status. She really didn't have a title or a place at court so there was no reason for them to be so formal with her.

When they approached the doors, she had to take a deep breath. She simply couldn't believe what was happening. The pharaoh was, apparently, in love with her. The pharaoh wanted her by his side. What was she going to do? It wasn't like she could just leave. If Atem wanted to keep her he would do so with or without her permission. There was one more day left of their contract and then she would leave.

"What is going on here?" a harsh voice inquired from behind her. Mana turned to meet the cold gaze of High Priest Set. She took a step back as he approached, but the two guards intercepted him. "I must have words with this girl."

"Lady Mana, is to be prepared for Pharaoh."

Set looked taken aback. He took a moment to compose himself before focusing his glare on Mana. Mana didn't know what to do. All she knew was that this man did not like her and the feeling was definitely mutual.

"As the High Priest, I am allowed to speak to whomever I wish. You cannot bar my way," Set reminded.

The guards looked at each other before nodding and stepping aside. Mana inwardly cringed at the look of triumph on his face. He took a few steps forward and looked her over.

"You look much better this morning," Set hissed.

"T-thank you," she stuttered out.

"Now you believe you are allowed a title?" Set questioned. His voice was hard and full of anger. She could tell he was trying not to hit her.

"I don't believe I deserve one either. Lord Mahad proclaimed it this morning in the pharaoh's chambers and your lord didn't refute him," I explained.

Set nodded, "And the queen's quarters?"

"Lord Mahad arranged it. I had nothing to do with it."

Set nodded again before taking a few more steps forward. He was right in front of her now and it took all her willpower not to scream. She was afraid of this man, but she didn't want to show him that she was too weak to fight back.

"You are nothing but a whore who seduced her way into the pharaoh's bed. Do not think that he will keep you around. You are a toy to him and nothing more," Set sneered.

"I did no such thing," Mana spat. "I didn't want any of this. Your Pharaoh asked that I accompany him for three days. It was a bargain. A game. I will leave when my time is up. I know I don't belong here."

"Now that there seems to be an understanding between us," Set began. Mana waited before she felt a hand connect with her cheek. The loud smack resounded through the hall and the two seamstresses screamed. Mana said nothing as the sting spread across her face. There was no blood from what she could feel, but it hurt.

"Set!" Atem's voice yelled from behind the priest.

Set turned in a curtain of robes and Mana just stood there. She waited for Set to come up with a defense, but he said nothing. Atem was striding forward so that he could stand in front of his priest. They stared at each other for a long time and Mana had to try to keep from collapsing on the floor.

"I was only reminding her of her place, Pharaoh," Set explained.

Mana watched as Atem's confusion gave way to fury. He raised his hand quickly and struck a blow across Set's face. Set stumbled back a bit and she could see from his posture that he was just as confused by the pharaoh's actions as she was.

"The one who will remind her of her place is I and I alone, Priest. You have no power over her destiny. I do," Atem seethed.

"You seemed too preoccupied to do it yourself, sire. I only did what I thought was best," Set defended.

"I promised that she would not be harmed while under my personal protection," Atem continued. "So, I will say this once and only once, Set."

Those in the hall waited with bated breath. Atem strode forward and pressed his face as close to Set's as he could. Mana knew that Atem wanted Set to know and understand exactly what he was feeling.

"Her place is by my side, Set. I will not allow you to discourage or abuse her anymore. Now leave my sight." The hall was deathly quiet as Set stood their dumbstruck. Atem shoved past Set so that he could get to Mana. "Let me see, Mana."

She removed her hand from her cheek and allowed him to raise her chin so that he could look at the damage. He made a soft sound in his throat before he cupped her cheek and rested his forehead against hers.

"He didn't break your skin, love. It will hurt only for a little while," he stated.

"I know," she replied.

"Now go get dressed. We have a meeting with Isis," Atem reminded.

Mana nodded before turning and opening the doors to the queen's chambers. She could barely look the room over when she felt the seamstresses pulling yesterday's dress from her body. They looked over her cheek again before moving on.

The next dress they had designed for her was exactly like the first except in a deep blue color. It brought out her green eyes and seemed to darken her skin. One the seamstresses asked if she could do Mana's makeup. She agreed with the only stipulation being that it be simple and not too dramatic. The girl agreed and Mana sat down so that one seamstress could trace her eyes and the other could pull her hair out of her face.

After a few more minutes she stood in front of a mirror and realized that she was about to embark in public with the pharaoh. A blush came to her cheeks and she had to try hard not to pass out.

"Are you alright, Lady Mana?" one of the girls asked.

"I think I'm going to pass out," Mana replied.

"You are nervous," the older girl pointed out.

"Very."

"You will be fine. No one will dare hurt you while you stand beside Pharaoh. They will be too afraid of harming him," she pointed out.

"What if he is making a mistake? What if…"

"Do not deny his feelings for you, Lady Mana. He never would have raised a hand against his priest if he didn't love you. Priest Set and him are more like brothers than the cousins they truly are. Don't disgrace him by making his earlier actions meaningless," she scolded.

Mana nodded and the girl gave her a quick hug. Mana sighed at the contact and felt like she was being embraced by a caring older sister. When she released the girl, she went to the doors and slowly opened them. She found Atem leaning against one of the pillars with Mahad at his side. Set was gone and she was glad for that.

Atem pushed himself away from the pillar and moved forward. He extended his hand to her and she took it without overthinking the gesture. She came out of the room and Atem's mouth dropped. She let out a giggle which only seemed to make him smile.

"You look…"

"Yes?" she prompted.

"Marvelous," he finished.

"Thank you, sire," she replied. She bowed her head and he cupped her face so that he could make her look at him.

"I can't take my eyes off you, Mana," he revealed.

Mana took a minute to consider her options. She could let this man love her and learn to love him back. She was positive she had some type of feelings for him and if she explored it further she knew nothing but happiness would be her future.

Or she could run away and let the next day pass by without any type of interaction. She would go back to her little cave and fight to survive. It might be selfish, but she didn't want to leave his side.

"Then don't," she whispered.

Atem looked at her in complete shock before his smile widened. He lifted her off the ground and spun her around. His eyes were shining and she wanted nothing more for that happiness to stay in those violet orbs. He set her on the ground and searched her face for something, she didn't know what he found there.

"Mahad!"