Chapter Ten- Birth and Restoration

Atem let out a screech as she squatted on the birthing stone. Her selected staff flitted around her, dabbing her face, and offering prayers or giving her advice. She was barely aware of them. I knew months ago that it would hurt, but this is torture! She threw back her head and screamed loudly. She then bent her head and breathed fast and hard. A hand landed on her shoulder and she heard Isis' voice. "Easy, my pharaoh. Deep breaths."

She groaned at another stab. "It's not easy, Isis," she panted. "Not…at all."

"I understand. Perhaps, focusing on something else will help."

"Such…as?"

Isis smiled. "Well, I know that at this moment, Mahad is pacing up and down the hall."

Atem's lips flicked up in an amused smile at the image of her boyfriend pacing. She started to think of what she would like to do with Mahad. A walk in the courtyard for one. A friendly duel. Perhaps…

She screamed again and then gave a grunt as she felt something move. Instinct prompted her to push as the next stab hit and she did so. She gasped and groaned with each stab while pushing as well. Why in the names of the gods do women have to endure such pain? It seems so cruel. She pushed at the next stab and she heard excited murmuring. What had happened?

"It's coming," Isis said in awe. "The baby's coming, pharaoh. Keep pushing."

Atem did so, but her mind was on what Isis had said. It's coming? A thrill welled up in her heart. She was having her child, something she had fantasized about for months only without the pain. She felt a gut-wrenching stab and gave the loudest scream yet as she pushed. She heard crying and sounds of admiration.

"You can relax, pharaoh," Isis said, guiding Atem to her bed and into it. "You're a mother or rather, father by this time tomorrow."

"What is it?" Atem asked, sitting up. "Can I see?"

"Of course, my pharaoh," said the woman who had been selected as the nursemaid. She came to her side with a white bundle. "Congratulations. It's a boy."

Atem took the bundle and gazed into a face that looked similar to Mahad, but with her purple eyes. A fuzz of dark brown hair capped his head. He was the most beautiful baby to her. She just couldn't take her eyes off him. She wasn't aware of the stone being taken away or the women leaving the room. She was aware when Mahad sat beside her to gaze at his son.

Mahad paced up and down the hall, pausing whenever Atem cried out. He was concerned about what he heard. It was clear that giving birth was painful and he wished he could be there to comfort her and coach her. He turned to the door to see Isis about to enter. She looked at him. "I'll help her, Mahad. It'll be okay. Our pharaoh is strong, she'll get through this." Isis went in and closed the door.

Mahad resumed his pacing. It didn't seem fair that Atem had to be in pain to have a baby. Actually, it wasn't fair for any woman to be in pain to have kids. He felt helpless as Atem gasped and groaned on the other side of the door. He jumped as Atem gave a loudest scream yet. There was a brief silence and then he heard crying that sounded like a baby's cry.

"It's here. My child's here," he said to himself softly as he moved toward the door.

He waited for the door to open and when it did, the assistants filed out, smiling and then Isis stopped in the doorway, beaming. "Congratulations, Mahad. It's a boy." She hugged her friend before letting Mahad inside.

He found Atem in bed holding a bundle in her arms and gazing at it, clearly unaware of anything else going on around her. He came around to the other side of the bed, sat beside her, and gazed at his son. "Oh, Atem. He's beautiful," he said.

"He is," Atem replied, her voice soft and tired. "I was thinking of naming him Amun.'

"Prince Amun," Mahad said. "I like it."

"Siamun will announce his birth later today and tomorrow I will present him to the people…after I'm cured."

Mahad put an arm across her shoulders. "I look forward to that moment."

"So do I, but for now, I need to rest."

"Of course. I'll take Amun and you get some sleep." Mahad accepted his son as Atem dropped off to sleep. Once she had, he got up and quietly left the room only to find the court and Siamun in the hall. He smiled at them. "I was going to look for you."

"Isis told us the news and as I have to announce his birth, I wanted to see him and of course learn his name."

"Of course." Mahad lowered his arms slightly so everyone could see the sleeping baby. "Atem chose the name Amun."

"It's perfect," Isis said while the others nodded and Siamun bustled off to make the announcement. She stepped closer and added softly, "I bet you and Atem look forward to tomorrow."

"Yes, we do. It has been a long time coming." Mahad returned to Atem's chambers and laid Amun in a basket that was placed beside Atem before laying himself beside the basket. He continued to admire his sleeping son before falling asleep too.

Atem dozed on and off through the day and night, breast-feeding Amun, and speaking to Mahad. She eventually fell into a deep sleep after another breast-feeding. A small bed for their son had been placed nearby and that was where he was sleeping while Mahad pulled Atem to his chest and joined her in sleep.

A tickling, yet spiky feeling against his nose woke Mahad from his sleep. He slowly and blearily opened his eyes and sat up to look at Atem. The hair wasn't lying flat: it was spiky and standing upward. Atem rolled over and Mahad's heart beat faster: Atem was male again! I missed his normal appearance. He's just as he was before the attack. Any extra weight has left him.

Atem's eyebrows moved slightly before his eyes opened and focused on Mahad's face. "Welcome back, my pharaoh," he said softly.

He smiled back. "Thank you," he finally said in his deep voice. He sat up and stretched before getting out of bed and over to where his normal clothes had been stored and started pulling off the maternity gown. Mahad watched without embarrassment as Atem dressed.

Soon, Atem was fully dressed, went to his son who was whimpering slightly, picked up a bottle of milk that had been left by the nursemaid while the parents had slept, and began to feed him. Mahad came around and sat beside his boyfriend watching Amun drink.

A knock came before it opened and Siamun entered. He bowed. "My pharaoh, it is good to see you male again. It is time for Prince Amun to see his people."

"Thank you, Siamun. Your timing is perfect. Amun has just finished his milk." Atem put the bottle down and walked out the door with his son, Mahad and Siamun behind him.

He approached the balcony with the rest of his court waiting on either side of the doorway. They nodded at his return to his original gender and smiled at the bundle snuggled in his arms. He returned their smiles as he walked out onto the balcony with them walking behind him and standing outside the opening, three on each side.

Atem approached the railing and looked out at the crowd below him. They were chanting his title, but fell silent when he raised a hand. "My loyal subjects," he began. "Several months ago, I appeared before you as a woman and related the solution. Not long after that, you were told I was pregnant and yesterday my son's birth was announced. Now I stand here, cured and with my child. I present to you your future pharaoh, Prince Amun!" He adjusted his baby and held him up so that he could look upon the people who cheered at their new ray of light and hope for Egypt.

The End