Author's Note: Well, surely by now we all know that MA belongs to DIC. Oh, and since the queen was never named on the show, I've named her Shinoba because I like how it sounds. Maybe one day I'll hunt around and see if I can't scrounge up the actual name of Amenhotep's wife.

Morning Grief

Queen Shinoba watched dispassionately as the priests laid out the body of her son. She couldn't let herself feel anything now, couldn't dwell on how small and fragile the body looked, couldn't think about how the child appeared to merely be sleeping and might awaken at any moment as the dawn's light fell across his face; if she did, she would go crazy with grief.

Kneeling down beside the body, Shinoba studied its serene face. It - that's what it was, never full of life, never a person. Don't think about the child's zest for life, those beautiful green eyes brimming with laughter. That's not her perfect little boy laying there awaiting the death ceremonies. This has to be happening to someone else. Two perfect crystalline tracks slid down Shinoba's cheeks.

"My fault," Shinoba breathed. "All my fault." If only she hadn't been so determined to keep her secrets. If only she had told Scarab her suspicions. Then he wouldn't have done this, would he? No, Scarab wouldn't have murdered the boy if he'd suspected what she did, that Rapses was his son.

Shinoba stood alone amongst the priest and the bodies, wrapping her grief around her like an armor. None dared approach her. She mourned not only for her son and his guardians, though. Last night, as Amenhotep had tried to offer her solace in their bed, he'd told her his plans for Scarab. Entombed alive - Shinoba could think of no worse punishment. And for herself - to lose the two she loved the most - her heart shrivelled in her chest at the thought. Shinoba didn't know how she could endure without Rapses to hold or Scarab to hold her.

The bodies again drew Shinoba's gaze. She wanted to flee from them, but where would she go? Out to watch Amenhotep carry out Scarab's sentence? Rage built up inside Shinoba. For Scarab to take away one of her dearest treasures was one thing, but now for Amenhotep to take away the other... Why was this necessary? Imprisoning Scarab wouldn't bring back Rapses!

Footsteps echoed off of the cold, unfeeling marble, and Shinoba stiffened as she felt herself drawn into an unwelcome embrace. She wanted to jerk away, to scratch and claw and fight, to release her pent up anger and frustration. Instead, though, Shinoba merely continued to gaze at her son's body until she was sure that Amenhotep's attention was also on Rapses, then she turned to look at her husband. "It should have been you," she hissed.