ACT IV
Prince Riei's tomb, the burial chamber
Standing over the sarcophagus, Akagamunas stared into the painted eyes. Here rested Riei… In the battle between the Egyptians and the Achaeans, their fathers had ended up locked in death. The Kings had killed each other. One had left an eight year old boy his successor, the other his brother while his sons grew up waiting for the day they could take their father's throne.
"Riei…" Akagamunas drew his sword and looked into his reflection. "How often I thought I'd kill you to avenge my father. Now that I stand here I wonder what the point would have been, neither of our fathers emerged living men from that battle. By Zeus, I've been a fool… My brother prince… No, no, my brother king! My uncle had no right to take the throne… He's not my real uncle because the woman who made him wasn't my real grandmother." Akagamunas sighed. "My brother Atrides was first born… He should have become king, like you. He's dead and Old Achaea didn't even lift a finger to avenge him… So it fell to me to avenge him… The man who sits on the throne isn't the true king, I am! And the person who is sitting on the throne of Egypt isn't the true Pharaoh! Who is the true Pharaoh?" Falling to his knees, the Achaean prince looked at the face of the sarcophagus with sorrow filled eyes. "Riei, you have spoken to Sadiki from Elysian Fields where you undoubtedly are or whatever you Egyptians call it… Please, if just once speak to me…"
Sadiki entered the tomb. Seeing the scene before him, he walked over and tapped Akagamunas on the shoulder. "You know, shortly after Riei's death, Khaba half wrapped Omorose in bandages and demanded she be his wife…"
"That's fascinating." Akagamunas wasn't even interested. His eyes were focused on the painted face of Riei's sarcophagus instead.
"She kicked him in the jaw in response."
Turning to look at Sadiki, Akagamunas really did seem to be interested. "I missed that?"
"Women are more dangerous that what we think of them." Commented Sadiki.
"Of course they are, Sadiki." Akagamunas stood up. "It's probably why the Amazons keep their husbands in the country neighboring theirs and only visit them one month of the year." The two started to exit the tomb. "I've fought Amazons, you know… In Hatti, the Hittites had allies: Amazons, Thracians… But even they weren't enough!" He laughed. "It's a wild land, on the south coast of the black sea… They have known defeat at the hands of Heracles and his nephews Peleus and Telamon. It seems only those descended from the gods can defeat the greatest warriors."
Egypt, Memphis. The Temple of Hathor
Two unwilling brides stood before the statue of the Goddess of Love. To the Achaean princess Klytemnestra, she knew Hathor by the name of Aphrodite.
Walking towards them with the entire Egyptian court and a portion of the Achaean court on both sides, Khaba and Old Achaea walked towards their brides. Omorose did not like the thought of marrying someone she did not love and Klytemnestra did not like the thought of marrying her husband's uncle.
And then a voice rang out.
"High King, turn!" Both Old Achaea and Khaba turned to see a group of Achaean soldiers enter with Sadiki by the side of the leader. The leader drew his sword and pointed it at Old Achaea. "Thanatos has come for you… And you as well, Khaba!" The leader removed his helmet and to the shock of all, for they thought he was dead, it was Akagamunas. His face had been disfigured by battle yet it was undoubtedly him.
It was at this point that Sadiki went screaming mad. "Khaba, you traitor! I'll see you executed for this!"
"The people of Egypt would rather have Akagamunas as their leader than they would you." Replied Sadiki.
"Enough talk!" Akagamunas walked forward and ran Old Achaea through. So died one king and so rose another. Old Achaea wasn't that liked so even his guards stood behind him and Sadiki. "And now for Khaba! The hated snake that killed the much beloved boy king… " Akagamunas grabbed Khaba by the neck.
Khaba spoke quickly. "Please, spare my queen!"
"You have no queen and I would not harm her even if you did." Akagamunas threw his sword aside and began to strangle Khaba. During this time, Omorose fled the scene and Klytemnestra took up the sword her husband had cast aside. Once Khaba was dead, Akagamunas turned to look at her wife. "Before you strike, tell me if you truly believe I killed our daughter." Klytemnestra dropped the sword. People began to cheer Akagamunas' name only for the cheering to stop as soon as Nefertiri entered.
"Conqueror King, Omorose has fled and taken her life."
"What?" Sadiki stumbled a bit only for Akagamunas to help him stay standing.
"How so?" Akagamunas wanted to know the details. He was always one who asked for them.
"She took a dagger to heart." Stated Nefertiri. There were tears falling from her eyes.
"To join Riei in the afterlife no doubt." Commented Sadiki.
All eyes were on Akagamunas. They wished to know what the Conqueror of Egypt would say. "Then she shall be laid to rest alongside Riei. Let his tomb be hers as well. Let the lovers be together for eternity."
The End
Notes
The line "He's not my real uncle because the woman who made him wasn't my real grandmother" is based off of a line from Hallmark's "Merlin" where Morgan le Fay says Arthur isn't her real brother because the man who made him isn't her real father.
In classical mythology, the Amazons really did keep their husbands in the neighboring country and really did only visit them one month of every year.
Not knowing whom the Egyptian counterpart of Hera is, Hathor was used for the temple where the wedding between Khaba and Omorose is being held.
Echidna was name ruler of Egypt in Akagamunas' absence. Originally, it was supposed to be Sadiki but I thought Echidna was better suited.
Old Achaea's death is based off of the death of Priam in John Kent Harrison's "Helen of Troy." Khaba's is based off of Numedides at the hands of Conan the Barbarian as mentioned in "The Phoenix on the Sword."
A Greek becoming ruler of Egypt is based off Alexander the Great becoming Pharaoh.
Originally, more characters were supposed to be featured in this act but I really just wanted to kill off Khaba. I just felt like I was postponing what everyone wanted. We all wanted Khaba to die. Also, Akagamuns was really the main character of this act unlike in others where he is on equal grounds as the others or just a minor character. He's Khaba's successor and I just really wanted to show how'd he be as Egypt's ruler with hints that he is rather fair despite having wanted to conquer Egypt originally.
