An AU chack set in Ancient Egypt circa the eighteenth dynasty. Most information is researched using Egypt: The World of the Pharaohsedited by Regine Schulz and Matthias Seidel. Some information is exaggerated for the sake of the story. Basic explanations will be given at the end.
Having dealt with three female servants that had no right being that bossy, Aten was happy to escape the confined space of his quarters that morning, although not entirely unscathed. The three women had poked and prodded him incessantly as they helped him dress and prepare for the day, fretting over his appearance and giving no thought to his personal space. Now that he was free he intended to go straight to the barque sanctuary—because Priest Madu had requested it, not because of the man's young apprentice—so he was careful to go the long way through the winding painted hallways to avoid anyone who might stop him with pointless trifling matters.
Aten reached the large cool room of the old shrine standing solitary in the eastern courtyard without incident and stepped through the sanctuary's wide stone entrance only to be greeted by a confusing sight. He had expected and half hoped that Onuris would be once again hidden behind the thin linens of Amun's barque, but the albino instead stood to the side of a litter which bore the repaired statue of Amun and an empty seat to its left.
Onuris was busy finishing the morning ritual of getting ready that Aten had just endured. He was busy tugging a long robe into place, its green and blue zigzags which emulated the Nile making the younger male's skin look like waterfall mist. As Onuris carefully situated the material across his delicate shoulders over the small silver collar he wore Madu was busy dipping a small stick into an elaborate turquoise jar of galena. A quiet request from Madu for his student to close his eyes and Aten watched unwillingly yet raptly as milk-white lids fluttered down over twin garnets. Madu then carefully drew the kohl-blackened applicator across his charge's eyelids, leaving behind delicate black lines that were meant to protect against evil spirits.
Onuris's eyes snapped open when the stick made a third track across his face, this time down his left cheek. His fingers flew to the new line as Madu explained. "I learned long ago to heed Sekani when he senses ill omens on the wind, and this morning he told me something powerful was coming. The tear of Horus I've just drawn will hopefully give you some small form of protection."
Again Aten found himself unable to look away as Onuris flashed his master a smile as soft as silk. "Thank you, Master Madu. I think I'm ready now." Onuris turned to climb onto the litter when he realized he was being watched. When he met eyes with his pharaoh, Onuris blushed and scrambled to get into the litter so he could hide behind the alabaster statue of Amun.
Aten had caught the blush before Onuris could hide, and couldn't help but think that it was much darker than the slight flush he had witnessed the night before and perhaps even a bit more pleasing because he knew for certain that he had caused this one. Aten bit his lip, angry at his traitorous mind for thinking such things. He could not allow himself to feel or think of personal pleasure. It put both him and his country in jeopardy. Before Aten could descend further into inner turmoil Madu walked over and began speaking.
"My Pharaoh, how kind of you to grace us."
Aten quickly recovered. "Naturally I would come at your request. You hold your position because you are wise from many years, but are still as quick-witted as ever. You show compassion and understanding combined with sensibility. I hold you in high regards. If Sekani did not fret so much I might think as highly of him."
Madu chuckled softly at that. "His constant worrying and fussing does take time to grow accustomed to, but in a few years you will come to see past it, Your Majesty. Now, allow me to explain the changes to the procession." Madu waved a hand to the litter and his now calm apprentice who was helping other priests arrange offerings around the alabaster deity. "I fear the second leg of our journey is too long for Onuris to pretend as he did yesterday. I wish for you to go out to the people and give them an explanation for his appearance. I'm sure you can think of something. Onuris will ride with the statue of Amun in this litter which will be carried behind the chariot you are to ride today. We will cross the river to the west and head north along the old path. The procession will end at the new temple constructed in your honor as is the custom of all the kings past."
"It sounds like you have everything planned out perfectly as always, Priest Madu." Aten cast a final long glance at the lively white youth settling down next to his cold stone counterpart in the litter before nodding politely to Madu. "I shall be on my way then." Madu bowed respectfully as he watched the pharaoh leave with a quick and at the same time hesitant stride.
"If only you knew the turmoil you cause this man, Onuris. Do you realize how easily you sway his heart already? Of course, like the infant, sometimes the heart is most peaceful caught in that sway of emotion." Madu spoke quietly to himself and his king's retreating back. Then he turned and addressed his disciple in a stronger tone. "Onuris, sit down and let the others finish the preparations. Your restlessness is upsetting the cushions." He teasingly ordered, earning a bashful smile in return.
"My people! I bring remarkable news." Aten spoke in a loud and crystal clear tone from a decorated balcony, the Egyptians below looking up in rapt attention. "Last night Amun-Re blessed our land with a mortal messenger in his likeness. A young priest with alabaster skin descended in a heavenly boat of gold to protect our land and bring it great bounty in the name of the god Amun. He will be made a royal priest of Memphis and serve in my court. Today you will all see with your own eyes that the gods do indeed watch us and hear our prayers. Glory to Amun-Re and the united kingdoms of Egypt!" A cheer rumbled up from the crowd like waves breaching the rocky shore, and many began drinking even though the procession had yet to start.
Onuris was absolutely terrified. He had never had so many people openly gawking at him, mainly because he always tried to cover up as best he could to avoid his skin burning. Now all these people were lining the roads to see both their pharaoh and his heavenly messenger. Onuris fought to keep looking ahead to Pharaoh Aten's chariot in front rather than hide behind the Amun statue which he would have much rather preferred. It both helped and hindered him that there was something on his mind. Onuris couldn't stop thinking about how strange his pharaoh was acting. First he behaved like a courtier. The next day he seemed not to notice Onuris at all. Had he done something wrong? Had he lost the man's favor before he had a chance to earn it, and consequently lost any chance of seeing if this thing he felt might be love? Onuris kept watching the elder man's back, and sighed. Two hours and not a single glance back. He tried to think of other things, but those pesky thoughts kept trailing back to Aten, and so Onuris was left to stew over his current situation for several hours more.
The golden boat of the sun god was cresting the western horizon when it happened. With night coming, people had begun to thin out, returning home. The procession had decided to head west for cover under the nearby cliffs, intent on getting a good night's rest before finishing the festival the next day. Before Aten could guide his chariot, and consequently the rest of the small parade, under the shadow of the gargantuan stone walls his horse had reared and started stamping wildly, trying to break free of the chariot's harness. Aten looked first to a strange bloody stain in the sky on the horizon and then back to Madu who was riding a small horse to his left, and when their eyes met comprehension dawned.
"Khamsin!" Aten cried out to the traveling party while Madu hurried his horse to the back of the procession to warn those who couldn't hear the pharaoh. They had to find cover quickly.
Khamsin or windstorms were common during this the time of harvest, but it was rare and deadly when the suffocating winds ripped along the Nile, kicking up sand as they went, blinding and choking any caught in their path. The very temperature rose with a khamsin's passing it was so fierce. Once it had even managed to dam up the Nile for a month, causing terrible famine throughout the two kingdoms.
Aten leapt from his chariot and freed his horse from its harness, letting it run off and save itself. Then he turned and grabbed up a dropped linen sheet that a frightened priest had shed. He ripped a strip off and tied it around his mouth and nose before tucking the rest in his belt. Then he rushed to help others cover their own faces against the sand getting thrown up by the wind that was now starting to bear down on them.
As the priests ran for the shelter of the cliffs, Aten looked around, his eyes squinted against the thick layer of sand building up on the wind's back. It was getting worse every second, and he knew that he should be getting to cover, but there was a nagging feeling that he had to find something here still. Almost blindly he felt about until a form collided with his front. He reflexively gripped it, and bowed his head to see past the curtain of sand and stinging wind. Frightened red eyes peered up fearfully at him. Onuris. Aten held on tight, looking around for shelter, but the two Egyptians were trapped in a fog of raging sand and earth, barely able to move let alone see. Determined to live through this, Aten flung Onuris and himself to the ground and quickly wrapped the linen he'd found around them to keep out the sand.
There they lay enduring the constant beating of the wind-driven sand against their sides and the quickly building heat of their bodies pressed together in the confined space. Aten didn't hear the sound of the storm sitting on top of them. He was aware of only the form shaking almost imperceptibly against him, and the uncomfortably hot breath against his chest. He was focused only on the lithe arms wrapped around his waist and the head tucked under his chin. In this most chaotic of moments Aten's own mind suddenly grew calm and tranquil. Why couldn't he let himself feel? Why couldn't he live his own life? There really wasn't a reason. He had simply been afraid of…something that he couldn't begin to describe, perhaps rejection or betrayal, but here in the grasp of Mother Nature and her moonstone child Aten realized that that was no reason not to take a risk. For the first time in his life Pharaoh Aten decided to do something for himself, and opened his heart just enough to feel for the beautiful boy in his arms. Now there was nothing to do but see where Fate chose to lead him.
The constant sting of sand throwing itself against the thin linen barrier had finally died down after two hours, but its weight upon the two men was still present. It was getting harder to breathe with the wall of sand overhead and the stifling heat of the little space. Aten tried to keep calm, but it was hard with Onuris' breathing becoming shallow and quick. Any movement only caused more sand to pour into the already suffocating space so there was no escaping. They were trapped.
Minutes felt like hours before Aten felt a shifting in the sand overhead, and heard muffled sounds. The heavy weight of the sand began to fade away until fingers caught on the linen cover. Then suddenly Aten and Onuris were being dragged from the desert floor by many hands, the two survivors turning grateful eyes to the sliver of moon now lighting the strangely calm desert while cold night air assaulted their overheated skin.
Aten let the priests hand him water and brush sand off his shoulders, all the time asking him repetitively if he was well. Then he looked over at Onuris who was being given similar treatment, Madu personally attending the shaken teen. Aten watched for several moments before walking over and catching Onuris up in his arms.
"M-my Pharaoh?" Onuris questioned hesitantly.
"You're still shaking." Aten said softly. Onuris realized he was right. He had been terrified when he had stepped off the litter and been almost instantly separated from the others. When he had been buried with Aten the constant sound of the wind roaring overhead like angry demons had done little to settle his nerves. Even now he was marveling that he was still alive. Trying to calm himself down, Onuris relaxed in his pharaoh's grip, deciding that he rather liked the feel of it. He felt safe. He felt at home. Oh, Seth curse it all, he was in love!
Some faithful readers might notice this chapter is slightly similar to an old Taste of Romance prompt. This was the original. The prompt was written because I wasn't sure I'd ever get to write this. I'm glad I did. I tried to emphasize the reasoning and development of Aten and Onuris in this chapter so their love wouldn't seem too perfect and sudden, and nothing solves a problem of the heart like a good drama/action scene. Now for theme music Fun Facts!
First off, just for the sake of imagery I'm going to tell you, the litter Onuris rides in has a canopy of sorts because of his sensitive skin. It's not important, but that's how I see it. Also, the robe is based off of a mural of Egyptian Goddesses. One is completely covered in zigzags because she is the Nile goddess.
Galena is the black makeup used by ancient Egyptians, also known as kohl. Ever heard of "eyes are the windows to the soul"? Egyptians took it seriously. Kohl was always worn to protect against the Evil Eye, and because it was a disinfectant and fly-deterrent as well. I don't know if the Tear of Horus was ever actually applied, but we all know it looks good on red-eyed albinos, now don't we?
Horus, son of Osiris who was killed by his brother Seth, battled Seth and in so doing lost his left eye. He retrieved it after the battle, and it is now seen as the moon while the other eye is the sun. It was originally unintentional, but now I see that it matches Jack perfectly who wears his own mark under his left eye. The eye of Horus is worn for protection.
I hope you can all at least partly imagine the procession path. It helps if you can find an old map of Egypt. Mine shows a path traveling across the river from Luxor and then going north. The road is lined with temples built in honor of kings, and the procession typically ends at the current king's temple (As far as I understand. I may be misinterpreting the information I have).
It's hard to understand the maps I have so I'm only assuming there are cliffs there "otherwise the valley of the kings nearby would be the plain of the kings). If there aren't any, we'll just say weather corroded them away by our time ;).
Khamsin, meaning fifty, is a windstorm that builds up along the Coast due to air pressure, and usually hits between April and May which is during the season shemu (March to July), the second month of this harvest time hosting the "beautiful feast of the valley". Whether or not the windstorms travel as far south as the Valley of the Kings or if they can come along the Nile I'm not sure. I couldn't find sufficient data for that, but who are you to complain? You got AU chack snuggles. A passage o wiki described natives fleeing to their homes at the sight of a "blood-stint in the distant sky" that was the storm. The French group there at the time didn't know what hit them. They were choked and blinded by the storm, some fainting. Luckily it lasts for only a few hours. Unfortunately it occurs every few weeks for a good fifty days at least.
Seth is not only the cruel god who killed his own brother, but also the god of the desert. I just thought it'd be fun to make up an Egyptian curse with him.
Let me know if you see something written wrong, even if you think someone else has already told me. Now that college has started I may be so caught up in assignments that I miss something.
I hope you liked it! Have a great week, everyone!