So I have all of these ideas floating around in my head... and now that the school year is over, I have some time for those flying ideas to land...

So now we have a different past life. YAY! I am not an Egyptologist, so there was minimal fact-checking here. But it *is* fanfic, so I guess I can be forgiven... right?

I don't own the song, NBC, the show, or the characters. But I have... many thoughts...


Ancient Egypt

I dream of rain. I dream of gardens in the desert sand.

I wake in vain; I dream of love as time runs through my hand.

Amun rolled his eyes as the music began. Why in the name of Anubis were they sitting here, feasting, when there was strategy to be devised and battles to be fought? It annoyed him further that this celebration was for him. He willed it to go quickly.

I dream of fire; these dreams are tied to a horse that will never tire.

And in the flames, her shadows play in the shape of a man's desire.

He kept his eyes low as the dancers began plying their trade. They were a lovely set, indeed, and, if tradition held, he would be given his choice of them after they were finished. He was being promoted, after all, and what better reward for a job well done than a concubine, or possibly a wife? He quietly studied them as they danced. None of them really inspired him, and it was probably just as well. He would just ask for another reward instead. Maybe some livestock...

This desert rose, each of her veils a secret promise.

This desert flower, no sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this.

Then he saw her. She was dressed in red, his favorite color. She was by no means the most skilled dancer, or the most beautiful (although, he admitted, she was quite lovely), but something about her drew him. She was draped in many veils, and, soon enough, the veils unwound, tripping her. She fell flat on her face and took out another dancer on her way down.

And as she turns this way, she moves in the logic of all my dreams.

This fire burns. I realize that nothing's as it seems.

Amun leapt to his feet and sprinted to the girl's side. His General was at her other side. He grabbed her arm and drew his sword. Amun looked into the girl's face and saw her fear… he saw her… change. She became a fox briefly, and then shifted back. Amun looked around to see if anyone else had seen it, but no one appeared to. His General was now speaking.

I dream of rain. I dream of gardens in the desert sand.

I wake in vain; I dream of love as time runs through my hand.

"How dare you disrespect this man and his celebration! You shall now suffer the consequences of your actions!" He raised his sword, preparing to liberate the arm from the lady, when Amun stopped him.

I dream of rain; I lift my gaze to empty skies above.

I close my eyes, this rare perfume is the sweet intoxication of her love.

"No," Amun said simply, "she did not ruin it. In fact, I think we can agree she made the whole thing much more interesting. If you were going to offer me one of these ladies for my bed or my bride, she is the one I desire, and you will not harm her. She is mine." The General lowered his sword, and looked from his new second-in-command to the dancer and back.

I dream of rain. I dream of gardens in the desert sand.

I wake in vain; I dream of love as time runs through my hand.

"Are you sure? She made a mess of your feast…"

"It was an accident borne from the wearing of one too many long veils." Amun looked down at the girl and offered her his hand. "Accidents are not always bad thing."

"Fine, then, this woman is yours. Do what you will."

Sweet desert rose, each of her veils a secret promise.

This desert flower, no sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this.

Amun helped the girl up and tenderly kissed her hand. "I hope you don't mind," he said, "but I had help you. You're… obviously not like the other girls…" She gasped and tried to pull away, but he suddenly shifted as well. He was a wolf-man. He was like her! She relaxed visibly and introduced herself as Beset. Amun led her over to where he had been seated, and had her sit on his lap. The rest of the feast went by much quicker, now that he had someone to talk to.

Sweet desert rose, this memory of Eden haunts us all.

This desert flower, this rare perfume, is the sweet intoxication of the fall.


Song: Desert Rose by Sting. From the album Brand New Day, copyright 1999, A&M Records