Sorry for the time I take to write something! I am very busy! 0_0
PROBLEM
Isis was very tired the next morning, she had spent the night asking herself if the reason of her coming here wasn't to save Egypt from Memnon. But she couldn't accept to go to him and surrender herself! Of course, he was a great king and a beautiful man, not to add that he was madly in love with her, but... no!
Nofré did not dare to ask questions, but she knew something was wrong. As usual the prayers were said, then Isis left to take a walk in the royal gardens.
- You may go wherever you want today Nofré. I have to think, she said with a smile.
- Very well mistress.
The servant watched her go, she would tell her when the time was right.
Isis wandered aimelessly through the florished alleys, not even caring of the beautiful colors and scents...
She bumped into something and swore under her breath.
- Who the hell put a wall on my...
Then she looked at the "wall" and blushed a little, Imhotep was smiling at her, really amused.
- I did not know that you knew such a language?
She sighed heavily, looking at the sky.
- Imhotep please, don't say anything to me today, I am a "little" exasperated right now!
He looked surprised and followed her when she walked on.
- What happened?
She crossed her arms on her chest and stopped again, looking around to see if someone was listening to them. Then she turned to him and gave him a helpless look.
- I don't know what to do!
- What?
- I don't know what to do!! I am against a wall and I am waiting for the vaultures to come eat my head off!!
He looked at her with raised eyebrows, a little taken aback.
- What choice do you have?
She sat on a nearby bench and looked uncomfortable.
- I... I saw Memnon last night.
His face changed from surprise to cold anger, he sat beside her.
- What did he do?
- He tried to kiss me.
His jaw clenched, she knew he wasn't the best person to confide to with this but she had no choice.
- Did he hurt you?
- Just my pride. I said I dispised him and he was very very angry, she said grimly, looking at her hands.
He was happy of it, angry too because he had dared to put his filthy hands on her.
- Then?
She looked around again, when she saw no one, she leaned a little toward him.
- He asked me to come with him.
Imhotep rose as if something had stung him, he walked two steps away from her, his back to her.
- He has some nerves to ask this to a high priestess! For you to be part of his harem.
- No.
He turned to her, frowning. She grimaced and sighed again.
- He offer me his throne, his land and he abandons his harem too.
The rascal! He must really want her, the good thing was that she didn't seemed to be planning to accept. But then...
- Why don't you know what to do?
She kept her eyes on her hands, her voice quiet.
- He says he won't take Egypt if I do accept.
His blood froze, he knew that the king was surely planning to attack his country, but he never imagined that he would blackmail her with it.
She screamed in frustration, spreading her hands to the sky.
- Why? Why does it always happen to me?
He couldn't help but smile, she was beautiful even when she was frustrated.
- Have you refused him?
- Of course I have!! But... is the land of Egypt dependant of my refusal? Will I have a responsability when he attacks and kill people? Should I not sacrifice myself so they live in peace?
She meant those words. She needed an advice! She looked at him and was surprised when he came to sat by her, smiling tenderly.
- Your courage is great. I admire you for it,but as... a friend, a fellow priest and a protector of Egypt... I advise you not to do so.
- Really?
- Egypt is strong and pharaoh is no fool, he will fight and win against that stranger.
She looked at the floor again.
- Anyway, he says that he will come for me when Egypt is his... so, it's all the same, whatever I do, he will have me.
He put his large strong hand on her own and smiled again, she wanted to shy away, but feared to pain him...
- He won't have you. Egypt will not be destroyed and if one day it is... I swear it won't be because of you.
Thruth was shining in his eyes and she felt better, she smiled to him.
- Thank you Imhotep... It's the second time you heal me from my fears. I hope I will repay you one day.
He was happy to make her feel good, didn't she know that? But he couldn't show her his love, they were both priests...
From a large window, way high upon them, Memnon was watching, his jaw set, his fist clenching in anger... jealousy was eating him, but he refused to do anything against them... he would never hurt her.
She had refused him, though he offered her everything. He already needed her more than anything. He had closed his harem, sending his women back to their family and when pharaoh last time had proposed him to stay a little longer, he had accepted.
He still did not know if she loved the priest, she was so independant, secret, he could not guess. But he would try again, he wanted to win her love, he would find a way.
Back in the garden, Isis and Imhotep were still speaking about Memnon when a young boy ran to them.
- My lord! My lady! You must come at once! The pharaoh is asking for all the priests and priestess to gather in the council room!!
They looked at each other.
- What for? asked Isis to the breathless child.
- I don't know, but it is urgent!!
Imhotep gently took her arm and lead her behind the running boy through the corridors.
- What is the matter, Imhotep?
- The gathering of the priests and priestess is really rare and it means that something is menacing the land!
She groaned.
- As if Memnon was not enough...
They entered the great round room, were all the sacred men and women were sitting on a high marble stair all around the room.
Memnon was already there, sitting by pharaoh and glared at them. Isis and Imhotep shared a look again. What was he doing here?
They went to sit side by side, saluting their comrades in the process. All went quiet when pharaoh rose.
- The gathering has been called, because we have to make a big decision.
He paused and turned to Memnon.
- The great king Memnon is here, to show him that he is more then an ally, he is a friend and the faithfullness of the people of Egypt is his now.
Memnon bowed his head, still looking at Isis. She was clenching her jaw and was trying very hard not to roll her eyes and snort at the bit of comedy he was playing.
Pharaoh spoke again.
- Mounept is coming back.
Whispers and soft shouts broke the silence. Imhotep bend a little towards Isis and spoke in her ear.
- Mounept has been banished 6 years ago, he was using black magic to destroy the king, but Thas stopped him, I was still his student. I began a priest just after that, Thas had been dangerously affected by the fight with him.
She stayed silent. Memnon saw the look of fear in her eyes and asked himself why.
Tetis, an old priestess rose.
- My lord, how can it be possible?
- Because, he is now the councelor of the roman king Ferus. Who is coming here, to ally with us.
A general gasp echoed through the room. Imhotep rose too.
- My lord, can't we explain to him...
- I already did Imhotep. He says that no harm is to come from him until the end of his stay here.
Then everyone began to speak at te same time.
Isis stayed strangely silent and turned to Imhotep who had sat back.
- How does he look?
He looked at her frowning... and then, understood.
- He has blue eyes.
She paled, rising her hand to her throat, gasping for air. He was the one from her dreams! The one who destroyed everything!
She was so pale that another priest exclaimed.
- By the Gods!!! The high priestess is not feeling well!!
Every heads turned to them, Pharaoh looked in her direction slightly worried. Memnon rose from his chair, if Thorak had not held him back he would have gotten to her.
But Isis waved it off.
- I am well! I am well. Just the heat. She let out a strangled laugh that calmed everyone but Memnon and Imhotep.
Pharaoh called for silence.
- I ask every priest and priestess to be very careful and to count on their powers to protect the palace while he is here.
Everyone silently agreed, nodding their head. Isis nodded too absently, thinking about the situation... she had to call Thas back! At least, she had to tell him that her dream was about to come true.
She rose as soon as the meeting was ended, bowing to the pharaoh, she left the room, not seing the eyes of Memnon that followed her worriedly. He had seen the distress she felt, though she hid it well. Imhotep could not follow her, it would be seen by everyone and let them suppose things...
She walked fastly to her room and barged into it. Nofre jolted, she was reading a parchment. Isis rumaged through things on a large desk and began to write on a piece of parchment.
- Nofré, send this to Thas instently! It is really important!
- What happened?
Isis sealed the piece of paper and geve it to her servant, giving her a scared look.
- My nightmare is coming true, I fear for Egypt.
It was enough for the faithful woman, she bowed her head and left the room to give the message to a guard.
Isis turned to the high statue of her Goddess and joined desperately her hands.
- Please Goddess... let it not be true, let me save Egypt.
It seemed to Isis that the woman of marble had a sad look in her fixed eyes...
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Memnon wanted to know what was bothering the woman he loved, he was pacing in his room, swirling his swords...
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Imhotep was sitting in his temple, trying to figure out his love's dreams... since he had been in her head he had known them...
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Somewhere in a far away land, Thas received the message and at once decided to go back to the palace, it was beginning...