Ever wonder what the deal was with the ring in "Live and Let Die"? Well, coming up here is the beginning of an explanation of the ring's connection to LLD. It's actually becoming a rather large plot point in CoG. In fact, there may be another sequel centering on the ring and what happened to it after the chariot driver scooped it up. But that is for another day!

P.S.: some of the text is adapted from LLD, if you recognize it:) Except he's not in prison or anything this time;)

I just realized there's a Buffy line in here...and I didn't even realize it when I wrote it. Buffy an Angel love theme rocks!!! (hint hint:)

Special thanks to Mythica for help with Achsu-rai's background:) For all you fact-checkers, the scenario we came up with is historically accurate (and so is the ring!:)

Chapter 13

I Knew I'd Seen that Ring Somewhere;)

Nefertiri did not find Achsu-rai until later that afternoon. When she saw him standing there across the hallway she nearly fainted with relief. He was all right, he was alive, everything was fine...and he was talking to Imhotep.

Now there was another dilemma. Imhotep had always been so kind to her...but now he looked somehow different, as if the dream was a horrible portent of things to come. She couldn't picture him doing something so sinister, she just couldn't. It's just your silly imagination, Nefertiri. Achsu-rai is fine, and Imhotep is...Well, Imhotep was something, but she wasn't quite sure what yet.

Achsu-rai and Imhotep had by now ended their conversation (with raised voices, Nefertiri noted) and as Imhotep stalked away the Medjai noticed her standing across the way. With an almost imperceptible jerk of his head, he indicated the other side of the hallway. What did he want her to do? Soon he had disappeared behind one of the stone pillars that lined the far wall. After a decent amount of time had passed, so as not to produce suspicion, she innocently walked across the hallway to the pillar and disappeared into its shadows as well.

"Achsu-rai?" she whispered, trying to focus her eyes in the dim light. "Achsu-rai, where--" Her words was transformed into a delighted scream as Achsu-rai descended upon her from the shadows. "Scare easily, don't we?" he asked before sweeping her into his arms and muffling her complaints with kisses.

"I have to tell you something," she said moments later, knowing if she didn't say it now she'd be far too distracted to form sentences. "I...I had a dream. It wasn't quite right, everything was a little different, somehow, but...Imhotep was there, he, he took me away from you, and then he told them to kill you--"

"Shh, it was just a nightmare."

"But if both are having them..."

Achsu-rai, unlike the princess, by now had the benefit of weeks to calm down and rationalize his dream, so he was trying to be less panicky about the situation now. "Nefertiri, we must have faith in the power of our love. I will protect you, I promise."

"Something bigger than us is coming, Achsu-rai. Something incredibly important, I just don't know quite what yet."

"Whatever it is, fate will tell us when it is time."

"But what if I can't save you...what if we can't save each other?"

"Stop that. If we trust in each other, and in ourselves, we will be fine. I promise," he said, drawing her into a hug to reassure himself, too. "These last few weeks...Nefertiri, these last few weeks have been as close to paradise as any mortal could hope to come. I will never let you go. Everything's going to work out, it has to."

"How do you know?"

"Because I believe in fate."

Nefertiri smiled, but her eyes were still teary. "And I believe in you, Achsu-rai."

He pulled out her embrace. "I was going to save this, but...Close your eyes," he instructed her, and she obeyed. From behind his back he produced a shining golden ring. It had been his mother's, the family heirloom, their most treasured possession. It was perfect. The center stone had reminded him of Nefertiri's personality--fiery, full of life. He knew that whatever happened between them, whatever path their fate took, a part of him would always be with her.

Nefertiri couldn't resist opening her eyes as he slipped the ring on her finger. Tiny aquamarine stones lined the edges, the shining gold of the center strip interrupted by a single, dazzling diamond.

"You looked!"

"I'm sorry, I just...Achsu-rai, this is beautiful."

"Not compared to you, my love. It was my mother Anna's."

"Oh, Achsu-rai, I couldn't--"

"You must. She would have wanted someone like you to have it. Someone kind and beautiful and amazing, just like she was. She came to Egypt from the island of Cyprus when she was just a little girl," he explained. "Her father was a very wealthy merchant, and his ship wrecked off Egypt's coast. He fell in love with the country, so they stayed. And many years later, my father fell in love with Anna."

"You have her eyes, don't you?"

He smiled sadly. "My father always said so, yes."

"Well that's two gifts she's given me, then. Three, counting you."

"You are the one who has given me a gift, darling Nefertiri. These last few weeks I have realized that I never truly knew happiness until I met you."

"Nor I," she replied, still choking back the torrent of tears. "But what if--"

"Don't think such things," he hushed her, wiping away a single crystal tear that had managed to escape. "Whenever you look at this ring, think of me...even if I am gone from this world."

The nightmare was still fresh in her memories and her fear finally forced the tears out. "Don't say that."

"I'm sorry. But remember I will always be with you, even when we are apart."

"Never leave, and that problem will be solved."

"I don't intend to." With that he leaned forward and did his best to make her stop thinking about the nightmares, starting with kissing away each and every single tear that had dared dampen her perfect face. He found it so easy to forget everything else whilst kissing the princess, as if the simple equation of his mouth exploring hers could overcome all the evils of the world.

"On second thought," he interrupted their increasingly passionate bliss, "I must go at the moment, but it's only a temporary absence, I promise."

"You're leaving me for my father, aren't you?" she asked, putting on a little pout that she knew he found irresistible.

"Oh, Nefertiri, you were bound to find out sooner or later," Achsu-rai said with a wink. "I'll see you tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow? Why aren't you--"

He silenced her protest with another kiss, then whispered, "I have another surprise for you. Make sure you wear something warm. See you then."

With one last embrace he departed, leaving her alone behind the pillar. Her eyes had adjusted to the light, and though it was dim, the aquamarine stones twinkled up at her like they were sharing some wonderful secret.

~*~*~*~

I love metaphors.