Theo's heart nearly missed a beat; he would've penetrated the deadly blade into her throat just because of the shock. He quickly drew back his knife, and bowed to the princess.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him, Theo was a bit shocked by the question, it wasn't like the garden belonged only to her.

"I just found it, and it's nice, sitting here." He replied in Egyptian, to his surprise, she smiled at him, the smile melt his heart.
"Yeah, it is." He saw the moonlight reflecting in her brown eyes, her black hair barely moving by the wind. She started walking and found a spot beside the pond and dipped her feet in it, Theo wasn't sure if he should sit beside her, or stand. "Come, sit." She indicated, he sat beside her and dipped his feet in the cold water, it felt nice.

"I'm Akana, I don't have to tell you who I am." She said, Theo realized that he was a good head taller than her, she could've easily rested her head on his shoulder.

"You don't, I know who you are."

"What are you and the crown prince doing here?" Theo felt her arm brushing his, he looked over and noticed how tiny she was, she had a petite frame, but she wasn't skinny like most girls in Rome, who could only care about how much thinner they have gotten. The Egyptian princess definitely had some meat on her bones, but she looked like Venus nonetheless.

"To settle the dispute, to save bloodshed." He answered simply, he wasn't really sure how else to answer he. Theo was a warrior, he was taught to think like one, and his opinion on this whole unsettlement between Egypt and Rome was only from a warrior's point of view.

"I do not get it, why do men have to fight? They die, and what for?" Akana said, he could tell that she's lost someone in a war; there was bitterness and sadness in her tone. She looked over to him, expecting an answer, as if his answer could prevent more wars.

"I don't know, that's just how kings and pharaohs settle things. It works, doesn't it?" Akana smiled, "I make you laugh, why?"

"You're the only person who doesn't talk to me as if I will chop your head off. You are not afraid of me."

"I know I should." Theo replied, "I apologize."

"What for?"

"For almost killing you, and for sitting here like this, you are a princess, I am a servant. I should not be sitting beside you." He replied, he realized that she has been staring at him for quite a while, her black hair falling down to her chest, the white dress looked even more gorgeous in the moonlight.

"For almost killing me, no one has to know that, as long as you don't do it again." Akana replied, she was laughing even more now, "but for sitting here like this, being my friend. I thank you."

Suddenly a cold wind brushed past them, Theo felt the goosebumps on Akana, she was sitting closer to him than before now, her skin was colder and she had taken her feet out of the water.

"You are cold, you should go back to your bedchambers, I do not want me to be the reason that you are sick."

"No, stay, with me. I'll be fine, you are very warm, just stay close to me." Theo wasn't sure how to respond, but from her it sounded more like a command, so he stayed. Akana took his arm and put it over her shoulder, she rested her head on his shoulder. Theo merely followed her directions, at that moment, he felt as if the entire garden was gone.

Theo and Atilius walked side by side to the main court, where the pharaoh, along with his advisors and generals, will discuss the matter that the Romans came to do. Atilius couldn't help but wonder where Theo was last night, he did not return to the room until later after midnight, Theo couldn't give an answer, so he dodged the question. Atilius, knowing his best friend, didn't chase the subject.

When the two men walked in, they saw the pharaoh, sitting on his throne as usual, but what really caught their attention was the princess sitting beside the pharaoh, she was a breathtaking sight.

The Romans did not know that the pharaoh had prepared a surprise for them, Egypt was known for the life that the city brings in the day; Mensah had hoped that by letting the Romans see that, they would consider a more peaceful resort to settle their dispute. Because he, like his daughter, despises war and bloodshed.

Akana was brought alone for the tour because the Egyptian people loved their princess, she had always been known as the levelheaded one, and since the pharaoh did not have a crown queen, she advised her father in certain political matters. The Egyptians saw her as the female power figure, since there was no queen.

The pharaoh had ordered three chariots, one for him and his personal guards, the second one was for Akana, and the third one was for the Romans.

Atilius looked at the golden chariots, wondering if they were made out of real gold. He knew that the pharaoh's chariot was, but as for the princess and his, he thought that they were just gold on the outside, however, he couldn't complain, the chariots were the most unique thing he'd ever seen.

As everyone gets to their place, he noticed that the princess did not have many guards.

"Theo, you wouldn't mind riding with that beautiful princess would you?" Theo looked over to the prince, dumbfound. "It's just that she does not have a lot of guard like the Egyptian king does, and I think that if I put you to protect her the king would see this as a peace offering." Before Theo could get a word out Atilius already patted him on the shoulder and went over to the pharaoh to suggest his idea, by the looks on the pharaoh's face, Theo guessed that he was going to ride with the princess.

Theo was overtaken by the life in Egypt, the people, there was so many. The life was so busy, there was children running around barefooted playing with toys he'd never seen before, the woman carried huge baskets on top of their heads, they made it look so easy. When they saw the pharaoh and the princess they all stopped in their tracks. Theo had never seen anything like it, the people was bidding hi to their pharaoh, the children was giggling and whispering to one another.

Suddenly Theo sensed something, and everything else turned into a blur.

Akana felt the hot sun on her, she squinted her eyes and waved, smiling, she enjoyed doing this. Seeing all those people's faces, it gave her a feeling she can't explain. Suddenly she noticed a pair of eyes staring at her, it was a Nubian slave, Akana noticed that he had stopped following his mater and all his attention was directed on her. She looked away, paying no attention when suddenly she felt a strong arm pulling her.

Akana fell into Theo, she saw him with his sword in his hand, then she felt her chariot shaking. If it wasn't for Theo's strong grasp she would've fell off the chariot, next thing she knew she heard guards yelling in Egyptian, the crowd was scattering now, some went after the Nubian slave, everything turned into chaos. All she could think about that time was her father, but she couldn't get a look ahead, Theo was holding on tight to her and he blocked her view. Finally, Akana gave up and just rested her heads against his chest.