Thank you, all you astute reviewers, I made a mistake...it's a THREE MONTH time span, not six months (I changed the time frame partway through writing this, hence the blunder). Oops!:)
Seletha, I'm not going to say (her question is "Is Khalil Ardeth?"), but if y'all were paying close attention during "Live and Let Die," you will find the answer:)
Anyway, thanks to all the reviewers--I love y'all! :) SORRY for the long delay, but midterms are starting up AGAIN...Also fighting the urge to go back through everything and revise the taglines...(writing class...a blessing and a curse!;)
Okay, this is my favorite chapter. I am so falling in love with Achsu-rai. (Girls, you're going to have to fight me for him!)
Chapter 5
Books and Revelations
It was dark by the time Achsu-rai was able to get rid of Khalil, finally sending him off to dinner in his place with the express instructions not to say a word to anybody. Achsu-rai never ate with the court, although since his father's illness he'd been welcome. Last week's banquet had been his first and only appearance at the nightly feast. He found conversation with Imhotep unbearable, the Pharaoh did nothing but hang on the priest's every word, he'd found enough courage to say ten words to Nefertiri, and even then he feared he'd insulted her. Not that it matters, Achsu-rai told himself. You might as well add the princess to your list of enemies on the royal court. She was probably wrapped around Imhotep's little finger as well. The high priest practically ran the country anyway.
So why did this thought put Achsu-rai's heart in such torment? He had, after all, hardly spoken to the girl, been in her presence exactly twice, and managed to rebuff the attempts she'd made at any sort of friendship. What had he been thinking?! Achsu-rai berated himself. She was obviously interested in some kind of relationship. Princesses did not go around telling bodyguards they had nice smiles...and that was the kicker: princesses did not go around making friends with bodyguards. Ever. It didn't happen, it couldn't happen, anything of the sort (especially anything more that that) was absurd...
That was when he saw her. She leaned reflectively on a handrail at the top of the stairs, looking wistfully out at the stars. Their light glittered down on her elegant red dress as she were a shimmering phoenix set against the black night...Achsu-rai mentally scolded himself again for thinking such thoughts.
"What are you doing out here?" he barked, trying to rid his head of such nonsense.
The princess whirled around and peered, wide-eyed, into the darkness. Achsu-rai couldn't help but notice the way the tiny gold beads in her hair clicked and danced around her head as she spun. She really didn't need all that fancy jewelry. The moonlight was quite enough to--
"I wasn't hungry," she cut short his thoughts with a whisper. "I often walk take walks around the palace while everyone is at dinner. It's the only time the whole thing is deserted."
"It's dangerous out here. You shouldn't be by yourself."
"I hardly think I'm in any danger if no one knows I'm here."
"But I know."
"Is that a threat, Medjai?"
"A friendly warning, Princess."
"My, what a way with women you have, Achsu-rai. Threatening me and treating me like a child? Charming."
"Only trying to help."
"Thanks for the thought," she said. "I would go to the library, but..."
"But?..."
"My father has forbidden me to read."
"Why?"
"Who knows?!" Nefertiri exploded. "He says that princesses should not have to stoop to something as intellectual as reading!"
"Is that really what he said?"
"Well...no. But that's what he meant!"
"So sneak in."
"It's locked. Believe me, I checked."
"There are ways of getting around that, Princess. Come."
Achsu-rai beckoned for Nefertiri to follow him down the corridor. "Where are we going?" she asked.
"The library."
"You're going to break in? You can't do that! Someone will find us!"
"Everyone's at dinner, remember? Come on."
Achsu-rai led Nefertiri through the deserted hallways, eventually coming to a stop at the unguarded library door. "No problem," he said, studying the lock. After a few moments of quiet...
"How's your father?" she asked quietly.
Achsu-rai did not answer for several minutes. He concentrated instead on the lock that had kept the princess away from her beloved books. It finally opened with a loud clunk. "You can't stand silence, can you?" he asked as he pushed open the heavy door.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, it's all right. He's not well. There. Happy?" he snapped.
"I said I was sorry! I'll be quiet!"
This time, as Nefertiri wandered slowly between the bookcases, Achsu-rai following close behind, it was he who could not stand the silence. "I am sorry, Princess. It is difficult to talk about my father. He is such a strong man, it is hard to see him..." he trailed off. Nefertiri was about to respond when she heard the whispered end of the sentence. "...dying."
"Are you close to him?" she asked softly.
"Very much so."
"I am sorry, Achsu-rai. I didn't mean to upset you. I don't know what I'd do if my own father was ill."
"Are you close to the pharaoh?"
"My father is very busy. I am very lucky that he is able to make time for me," she answered, turning away.
"But he doesn't enough time, is that it?"
Nefertiri looked up with unease. "I thought you were my father's advisor. That's not the sort of comment you should be making."
"Perhaps. But I am not just your father's advisor. I am also your friend."
Nefertiri paused. "Thank you."
"And as your friend, I must tell you that the circles under your eyes are not very becoming. Have you been sleeping?" Achsu-rai asked.
"It's the latest fashion," Nefertiri said dryly. Achsu-rai gave her a look that immediately told Nefertiri this was not the time for joking. Could that be...concern reflected in his steely blue eyes? "No, I have not."
"Why?"
"I don't know. You ask a lot of questions."
"And you are the biggest question mark of all, Nefertiri."
This, at least, drew a smile from the princess. They spent several minutes in companionable silence, Nefertiri studying the book she had chosen rather intently, Achsu-rai trying not to look at the princess. "What are you afraid of?" she asked suddenly.
"That list is too long, Princess."
"No, I mean, what's your biggest fear? The one thing that keeps you awake at night?"
Achsu-rai considered a moment before answering. Still, he was noncommittal. "I don't know."
"Come on, there must be something," she goaded.
"If I told, you'd laugh at me."
"No, I swear I won't!"
He pretended to contemplate an answer as he studied her. Achsu-rai didn't know how in the world this relationship had come about. Always before it had been fleeting glances, minimal eye contact and a nod across the room, barely acknowledging each other's presence as they went about their separate ways. But then she had forced her way into his life, barging in like she owned him, and refused to let him go. And she didn't even know it. They had spoken only three times, and yet somehow they were telling each other everything...Except this.
"Achsu-rai, I grow impatient," she teased, waiting for his answer. He couldn't tell her. She'd run the other way and it would be back to the way it had always been. He couldn't let that happen.
"I'm afraid..." he trailed off. He wanted to tell her, to sound crazy, to throw convention out the window. To tell her that ever since he'd looked into her eyes, he was terrified that he would lose her. That she would pass through his life so fleetingly, without a second thought, never giving him a chance to tell her that--
"Do you know what I'm afraid of?" she asked him, growing tired of his uncertainty. "I've always been afraid to die, ever since I was little. Ever since my mother passed away."
Achsu-rai's chest constricted. How?...
"But you know what?" she continued. "Ever since I met you, I haven't been afraid anymore. I know you'll protect me." For a moment, for an eternity, they stared into each other's eyes. Then, as if suddenly embarrassed, Nefertiri turned abruptly and began to walk away, clutching her book. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said as she dashed out of the room, not even giving him a chance to speak.
Every doubt Achsu-rai had flew from his mind. Of course he would protect her. He'd protect her with his very life.
Nefertiri raced through the hallways, ignoring Anck-su-namun's calls as she locked the door and threw herself down on her bed. What on earth had possessed her to tell him that? To tell him everything! She was acting like a smitten schoolgirl with a Medjai! Their future leader, no less!
"Nefertiri, you know it will do no good to lock me out," Anck-su-namun said as she sat on the bed.
"Aaargh!" Nefertiri cried. "Is no lock safe in this entire palace?"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing," she muttered.
"What's wrong?" Anck-su-namun asked. "Are you in love?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?"
To Nefertiri's surprise, the usually reserved girl broke into a wide grin. "Because I recognize that look you have. I have to tell you something, but you have to promise--"
"Anck-su-namun?" said a shy voice from behind them. Another of Nefertiri's maidservants stood in the doorway. "Anck-su-namun," she repeated timidly. "You must come with me now."
"Why?"
"Please, you must come with me."
Anck-su-namun rolled her eyes to Nefertiri and stood. "We'll talk tomorrow."
Alone once again, Nefertiri mulled over Anck-su-namun's words. Love? Preposterous. But somehow hearing it said out loud didn't shock her. For goodness sake, she'd only spoken to the man three times! And she very nearly always made a fool of herself in the process! No, even if it was love, it was most certainly one-sided. There wasn't a chance in hell a Medjai would get himself involved with a princess. To do so would surely mean death...
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