Thanks to... Kleopatra_gurl (merci much for reading LLD, and about Confession, I am v. v. sorry. Writer's block has decided to take up residency in that particular story, but have no fear, another chapter will come eventually:), DancinEvy (don't freak out, we've still got eight chapters left in which...no, wait, that would be giving things away;), katie, Princess of the Darkness, Jennie (the frame of this story is technically post-TMR, but an actual post-TMR story/sequel to this one may come eventually), BabyD, chica_bo_bica, Al (your imagination at work on the cliffhanger was awesome!:), RedLady, Solaris, pokey, Alicia, Dylan (actually I've written all but the final chapter...heh heh heh, the suspense;), MBooker, sare, jynkang, Lula, Tigerwolf, Seletha, and anyone I missed:):):)

Chapter 21

The Prodigal Son

With a jolt Nefertiri was brought back to reality. A moment of disorientation... Then she could feel a hand wrapped around her ankle, suspending her in the air as she struggled against the shock of hanging in nothingness. Another hand grasped her leg, yanking hard as Nefertiri felt herself be pulled up and over the ledge in what seemed like an eternity of single moments, all strung clumsily together in the chaotic tapestry of life.

Once placed on solid ground, she crumpled. Her savior collapsed beside her on the balcony, clutching her tightly as Nefertiri's mind slowly began to process what she had seen. From her throat came strangled sobs, muffled by her proximity to her rescuer, who did not seem to want to let her go. She beat against his chest in an effort to free herself, but Achsu-rai only gripped her tighter.

"It's okay," came the whisper. "It's okay, I've got you, you're going to be okay, I've got you, it's okay, everything's going to be okay..."

Nefertiri stopped struggling in his arms and simply let the sobs wrack her body. Hours seemed to pass before she realized who it was that held her, and she finally quieted. Achsu-rai's voice was muffled, far away, but she clung to it across the expanse of grief that threatened to pull her down into its abyss. All she had left...he was all she had left...

Achsu-rai's mind raced as he held the princess, not only unwilling, but unable, to let her go, for fear that he would lose her to the night. Reminding himself to begin breathing again, he gently unwrapped her arms from his neck and scooped her limp body from the cold ground.

Tahir rushed in just as Achsu-rai stepped in from the balcony. "What's happened? I heard screaming..."

"The pharaoh has been murdered." Achsu-rai gently tucked the princess into the safety of her bed. "Nefertiri almost went with him."

"Is she all right?"

"I don't know," Achsu-rai confessed. "Nefertiri? Nefertiri, can you hear me?"

No answer came from the princess, who for all intents and purposes seemed gone to the world. She was so still that Achsu-rai checked again to make sure she was breathing. "I have to go," he said. "I have to go but I'll be back, I promise, okay?"

Nefertiri clutched at Achsu-rai as he stood. "No..." she whispered, then let go of him and sunk back into her pillow, sobbing quietly.

"Take care of her, Tahir."

"Of course."

With one last anguished look at his love as she wept, Achsu-rai hurried away, anger building. He had to find Imhotep, make him pay for what he had just done. Nefertiri had almost died...

Achsu-rai realized with a start that he had given no thought to the death of the pharaoh. He was not furious with Imhotep for murdering the man Achsu-rai had sworn his life to protect, but for putting Nefertiri in danger. Had his priorities slipped so far?...

In the same moment, however, Achsu-rai realized that Nefertiri was his priority, and always would be. No one else mattered, not even the pharaoh...

Nefertiri knew she was a sight. The little makeup the servants had managed to force upon her was smudged beyond repair, and her wig was not in the best state. She didn't try to hide the tears, to cover them up. It would have been useless, for they would have been replaced within moments by a fresh batch. All she wanted to do was curl into a ball in some remote corner and fade away. The next best thing would have been Achsu-rai's arms, but she had seen little enough of him since that night on the balcony. Tahir had told her that Achsu-rai was busy trying to track down Imhotep, and she believed him, but that didn't stop her from wishing he could be with her instead. She needed him with her, and he wasn't there. It was as simple as that.

Ramses' presence would do her good, Nefertiri had decided. She hadn't seen her brother in months, and was looking forward to having him around again. Not that he'd have much time for her, either, what with all of his responsibilities...was she not important enough for anyone to make time for anymore?

Nefertiri allowed herself a small smile, her first in days, as she thought of the one person would love her always, no matter what. Her child. She had to admit that the idea appealed to her, being a mother, having another little life to care for, to love...

Love. All it had brought her was misery. It had brought them all down, Imhotep, Anck-su-namun, Seti...

No. She, Achsu-rai, they were different. It was not going to end like that, not for them. It couldn't. They would survive, they would live....they would love.

Even if it did take more than one lifetime.

It had taken only days for Ramses to travel back to Thebes. He was greeted with the requisite joy befitting the return of a prince, though the celebration was shrouded in the vestiges of intense grief. His coronation ceremony was brief and low key, the usual fanfare packed away owing to the violence with which his father had died. This sort of thing was likely to throw the country into an uproar, and Ramses wanted to make the transition as smoothly as possible. Nefertiri suspected, however, that her brother was indeed disappointed with the lack of festivity, as he had never been one for modesty in any arena.

It was not long after the ceremony that Ramses seemed to notice that Nefertiri was standing by herself in the corner, alone with only her depression for company. "Sister," he greeted her, voice dripping with pity as if he could tell by looking at her how far gone she was. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here."

Nefertiri forced a smile as her brother hugged her. "There wasn't anything you could have done."

"Still, I...I should have been here." Ramses released his sister and took a glass of wine from the tray of a passing servant. "I promise you, Imhotep will pay."

"That is not what I worry about, Ramses."

Ramses sensitivity seemed not to run as deep as Nefertiri had hoped. He had never been one for subtle hints, either. "How are you holding up?" he asked, sipping his beverage and glancing about the room.

"As well as can be expected. A lot of things have happened since you've been away, Ramses, and I--"

"Just a moment," Ramses interrupted, and beckoned to a man a little ways away. "I'd like you to meet my general."

Tall, broad shouldered and imposing, the man coming toward them might have been handsome if not for the smile. It stretched across his face in two perfect rows of frighteningly white teeth, set in a permanent sneer as if the entire world amused him. He bowed his head as he neared the pair, though his eyes remained fixed on the princess. "Nefertiri," said Ramses, "you remember our cousin Hadamer."

Nefertiri took an imperceptible step backward, eyeing Hadamer with caution. "Yes, of course. When I was six, you locked me in a kitchen cupboard and I was trapped there for three hours."

Hadamer laughed, a guffaw that reverberated around the room and complimented his revolting smile. "Ah, yes, Nefertiri, I remember that as well. I do not, however, remember you being quite so beautiful." He made a move to take her hand to kiss it, but she shied away before he could even come close.

"Other men have noticed this before, sir, do not think yourself original."

"No men better than I, Nefertiri."

Nefertiri took another step closer to Ramses, trying to get as far away from Hadamer's leering grin as possible. "I speak from experience when I say you are most certainly wrong."

"Is there another man I must steal you away from, then?" Both Ramses and Hadamer laughed then, as if this was the most ridiculous thing they'd ever heard.

"I assure you," said Ramses, still chuckling, "my little sister is ill-advised in such matters. I think you would be good for her, Hadamer."

"Then I shall do my best to triumph over this 'other man,' Nefertiri," smirked Hadamer.

"A most difficult task that would be, I assure you."

The smile faltered, just for a moment, but then was back. "Might I meet this mysterious suitor, then?"

Nefertiri had no legitimate answer to this, and this caused the two men to burst into another fit of laughter. "If only you knew," she whispered, and slipped quietly into the crowd as the men continued to laugh at their own cleverness.

~*~*~*~

Don't give me crap about Amenhotep and historical accuracy, please. Stephen Sommers can mess with the facts (and boy, did he), so can I:)~ It's more fun that way, anyway:)