The Mirror

When Imhotep had cleaned off all the blood on Anck-su-namun, he decided to bring her back to the temple to thoroughly clean her cut lip.

"Can you walk?" He asked, knowing she was still very shaken and scared. "Because you can't lean on me in public."

"I'll be alright." Her voice was so soft Imhotep could barely hear it.

"Okay," he whispered, "Let's go."

He opened the large golden doors as Anck-su-namun slipped on a white sundress. The couple silently walked out to the temple.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anck-su-namun returned to the palace later that day in much better spirits. Imhotep had this uncanny way of cheering her up even if she was in the worst of moods.

As soon as she entered the palace, though, she was confronted by Nefertiri.

"Where were you?" She asked.

"The Temple of Osiris." Anck-su-namun answered truthfully.

"Why?"

"To pray. Is that against the law, to honor the gods?"

"No." Nefertiri answered reluctantly. "It's time for my sword fighting lesson."

Anck-su-namun sighed and followed Nefertiri into the large fighting chamber. She was still very hurt from Seti's abuse, but the last thing she wanted was to show weakness in front of Nefertiri.

Anck-su-namun donned her fighting outfit, and she knew Nefertiri was looking at the black-and-blue marks all over her body.

"Let me guess," she scoffed, "You walked into a wall. Better be careful about that. Wouldn't want to scar that pretty face."

Anck-su-namun lunged at Nefertiri and the two engaged in a heated battle. Anck-su-namun knew she could not hurt Nefertiri, but oh, how she wanted to, even if it was just a small scratch.

Soon Nefertiri was on the floor, with blood dripping down her finger.

Okay, so maybe I did go a little overboard... Anck-su-namun thought, seeing Nefertiri's expression when she saw the blood. She looked like a three-year-old who had just scraped their knee.

Ugh, I'm am SO going to regret this. Anck-su-namun sighed and went to her sundress. Out of the pocket she pulled out a 21st century cloth Band-Aid and showed Nefertiri how to put it on her finger to stop the blood.

Nefertiri's reaction to Anck-su-namun's gesture of kindness was less than unappreciative.

"What are you doing?" she shrieked after Anck-su-namun had applied the bandage. "I can take care of myself! I don't need some... some whore doctoring me!"

Anck-su-namun pulled away, disgusted, and left for her room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next day Anck-su-namun received a message from Seti. She was to fight Nefertiri prior to a festival, in which Seti was going to make two big announcements. The festival was tonight, and Anck-su-namun feared that one of Seti's big announcements had to do with her.

Anck-su-namun went to see Imhotep later that day. He was looking exceptionally depressed.

"What's wrong?" Anck-su-namun asked tenderly.

"It's Seti," he replied miserably, "He... he wants to marry you. He's announcing it tonight."

"No!" Anck-su-namun cried and flung herself into Imhotep's arms. "I love you! I don't want to be married to that bastard Seti!"

He stroked her hair. "I know, love. I don't want him to even touch you anymore. He could kill you."

"I wish we could just run away. So Seti and his MedJai would never bother us again."

Imhotep's eyes opened wider. "That's it!"

"What?"

"We could run away!"

"But to where? We'd be caught before we even left Egypt."

"It doesn't matter. We'll just go. Anywhere the wind takes us."

"Imhotep, I'm scared."

"I know, love. I know."