AN: I haven't written a song fic in a long time. I also didn't want to put it off into its own little story. It belongs with the drabbles just like everything else. I hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters...even the one who rises and the other who fears. A nod of recognition towards Kazuki Takahashi and his creative prowess, oh how I swoon. The song that is featured is Castle by Halsey.
Fear gripped him tightly as he peered down the large hall with wide ruby hues. The air was thick with the scent of incense, from the pillars hung almost transparent white curtains that crossed this way and that above him like a canopy. Servants and guards stood at either side as still as statues. His six priests were behind him in two lines; three within each, from short to tall. Siamun, his vizier, stood beside him patiently as the soon to be monarch was currently having a mental battle with himself.
Today would be the day that his title of Prince would be dropped and greater title would be bestowed upon him. Something he had dreaded in the last few days more than anything. His hands clenched at his sides, his knuckles whitening at just how tightly. Nothing would begin until he took the first step yet he stood there like a deer caught in headlights.
"Prince!" A somewhat hushed whisper shook him out from his stupor. He turns his head far too quickly towards the voice that his gold earrings whipped the side of his neck. He grimaces slightly, only to blink rapidly at the extremely excited brunette who was flapping her arms around like a bird beside a guard.
"Mana!" Came another whisper from behind him but he ignored it as the girl ran up to him, grasping his hand and giving it a small squeeze. There were audible gasps around them and even a few words that he could not catch, for his focus was not on them but on the girl he easily called his friend. The apprentice smiles at him, does a small bow then returns to her spot with a skip in her step. Atem stares after her for a few silent moments then shakes his head somehow feeling less anxious from one simple touch.
Sick of all these people talking, sick of all this noise
Tired of all these cameras flashing, sick of being poised
Now my neck is open wide, begging for a fist around it
Already choking on my pride, so there's no use crying about it
A breath is taken, his body straightens and his head is held up high. An air of confidence radiates from his future majesty completely replacing the nervousness he had held only seconds ago. The very atmosphere in the hall had changed once again enough that it sent shivers down a few spines. Atem releases the breath he took and takes the first step towards a destiny he could not escape from, with his priests behind him each step of the way. The servants they passed went down on their knees and the guards lowered their heads. Beside him the old vizier was giddy with glee at Atem's ascension to the throne and it appeared he was not alone in this. Many of the priests held small smiles, Mana practically had to be held down from ruining the procession with her excitement and a few servants had tears streaming down their face.
I'm headed straight for the castle
They wanna make me their queen
And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean
Yet there were a few who had an odd sense of deja vu. The way Atem held himself as he walked the hall was similar to an event that happened a few years before the future Pharaoh's birth. It caused a small stir amongst them. Soft words were spoken and it did not go unheard by a certain elderly priest. In fact, his hearing seemed to zero in on anything that pertained to that certain event.
To when she had ascended.
I'm headed straight for the castle
They've got the kingdom locked up
And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut
Looking towards Atem he knew from looks alone that he was the near splitting image of his brother, the previous Pharaoh. Yet the way he walked, the way he held himself and the confidence that he radiated was more like his mother. A woman who had come from the lowest of royalty and became Queen in just a few years.
Straight for the castle
He remembered it as clear as day. The woman who had skin as dark as obsidian, hair as black as crow feathers and eyes the color of rubies. Her son, Atem, sat in her lap as she poked and prodded him causing waves of laughter to bubble forth from him. It was his turn to keep guard of them today and as much as Priest Akhenaden wanted to opt out of doing such duties, he could not disobey his Pharaoh. The Queen made him feel uneasy as though she was seeing right through him with her red hued gaze or perhaps...it was something else entirely. He didn't know and never tried to figure out his feelings for her. The Priest just knew that she made him uneasy and she delighted in this fact.
The laughter soon died down only to be replaced by hushed whispers, quick kisses upon chubby cheek and a few hums. However, one part of the conversation was spoken loud enough to hear.
"You will be Pharaoh one day," she states, running her fingers through blonde bangs and twiddling the ends between two fingers. The boy pouts and shakes his head. "Nope! I'mma be a prince forever!" The woman chuckles leaning down to kiss the tip of her son's nose and then licks his forehead. A look of utter disgust appeared on the prince's face then he begins to wipe furiously at his now 'tainted' skin. The Queen laughed loudly which made the prince frown then sniffle, his eyes welling up with tears. Her laughter quieted at this and she wipes as his eyes, humming softly.
Oh, all of these minutes passing, sick of feeling used
If you wanna break these walls down, you're gonna get bruised
Now my neck is open wide, begging for a fist around it
Already choking on my pride, so there's no use crying about it
"You will be Pharaoh," she says firmly. "And you will be a Pharaoh that no one will forget. One that even the Gods will listen to." Atem's sniffles had quieted at her words and he peered up at her in wonder. "Should even your name be erased your stories will be told for all eternity." The Priest who was listening in on the conversation suddenly stilled as her red hues found his dark blues and held them. Her next words sent shivers down his spine.
"The greatest Pharaoh who ever lived. Never to be forgotten"
I'm headed straight for the castle
They wanna make me their queen
And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean
I'm headed straight for the castle
They've got the kingdom locked up
And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut
Her words had stayed with him all these years. Haunting him. At first he thought they would disappear and they had for a while, until his brother became sick with an illness that was found to be incurable. Her words echoed and he was filled with a dread he could not explain.
Straight for the castle
Atem reached the end of the hallway to where it turned into a balcony. The sounds of the citizens buzzed below them as they waited for their Pharaoh to appear. The Priests fanned out behind the drapes that covered its entrance. His majesty waited for a few moments then motioned to Siamun to part them. The elderly man did so and Atem walked through them and the sounds of the people below went wild with praise.
There's no use crying about it
There's no use crying about it
There's no use crying about it
Akhenaden watched with dread as the Pharaoh stood on the balcony surrounded by applause. The love of Kemet's people for its king was so very evident yet all he could see was her. The Queen who decorated herself in gold. Who was known as the 'Pharaoh's Lioness' for the love she shown for her child, her husband and Egypt, and the ruthlessness she showed in order to protect them.
There's no use crying about it
I'm headed straight for the castle
They wanna make me their queen
And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean
I'm headed straight for the castle
They've got the kingdom locked up
And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut
The Pharaoh stood there for a few moments taking in the waves of adoration he received, then he raised his hand above him and the world stilled. Silence fell quickly and the feeling of dread rose within the priest. The monarch watched as his citizens went down on their knees and bowed before him, for he was a God upon this Earth and their sovereign. Pride swelled within him and Atem turns on his heel and leaves them to it. A quick glance to his priests was all he would give before he left them to their own duties.
Straight for the castle
They wanna make me their queen
And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean
I'm headed straight for the castle
They've got the kingdom locked up
And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut
The servants left, the guards dispersed and one by one the priests left leaving Akhenaden to visibly shake alone, which he was all too grateful for. The red hues that he had seen that day were the same as the Pharaoh's, just like her words. Piercing through his soul.
Straight for the castle
"Never to be forgotten"
