Prologue: Birth
A scream rent the still desert air, followed by the syncopated pants of laboured breathing. The king clutched his wife's hand anxiously. After five hours of labour, the birth of his first child was almost at hand. He reached out through their Bond to mentally caress his wife, sending waves of reassurance and comfort. Nekti smiled at his concern and silently teased him that he was even more nervous than she about the birth. The link vanished instantaneously as another contraction hit. Nekti squeezed her violet eyes shut and dug her nails into Amenhotep's clammy hands.
Almost there, my morning star. You can do it. A female servant dabbed a linen cloth on the queen's forehead to absorb the beads of sweat.
"My queen, it is time to push. Next time you feel a contraction, push with all your strength."
Nekti's form strained forward as she felt the next stab of abdominal pain. The wooden backing of the birthing couch dug into her spine as she bent over and braced against her husband. Despite the discomfort, she concentrated all her might on bringing her child into the world. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes as the woman willed her muscles to push. After an excruciatingly slow five seconds, she felt the baby's head crown. She opened her eyes to see her husband crane his head to get a better view of the child.
Our first child; he's beautiful.
"My queen, one more push and the baby's body will be out."
Nekti shut her eyes again and willed the child out with mind and body. At last, she felt the tiny form exit her own in one smooth motion. Exhausted, the new mother let her upper body go limp. The woman had never experienced such deep fatigue. Her muscles burned and her skin was covered with a film of sweat but her mind was clear and her emotions shone with the rich afterglow of childbirth. She felt her husband's strong arms encircle her, lowering her gently back onto the couch. His excitement trembled in her mind but the emotions were distant in comparison to the demands of her tired body. The loud roar of rushing blood on fire with weariness filled her ears. Why wasn't the baby crying? she wondered dimly. The woman struggled to sit but the man pressed her firmly back onto the couch, demanding that she rest.
The midwife wrapped the still-bloody child in clean linens after wiping the mucous membranes from his nostrils, allowing him to breathe. She cradled the child and gazed at him in a brief moment of wonder. Of all the births she had overseen, very few infants were born silent and unafraid into the world. This infant, like the others, was different. Special. Shaking herself out of her reverie, she gently handed the tiny prince to the new father and turned her attention to the afterbirth.
The king Amenhotep ran a finger down the cheek of his first child, so newly come into this world. The infant stirred and opened his eyes. Crimson orbs reflected back into crimson as father and son shared their first glance. Amenhotep's heart swelled with pride and love. He smiled fondly as an ebony Sennen eye burned briefly on the little one's forehead. His first child was a child of the Dark, the Sennen eye a symbol of his ancient lineage and inherent power. The king's own Sennen eye glowed in response and a Bond was woven between father and son. Both symbols disappeared briefly. Amenhotep felt the stirrings of curiousity and wonderment emanate from the child as the large crimson eyes roamed across the features of his father's face. He tentatively touched their Bond, sending the rich warmth of love and pride he felt to the infant. He blinked back tears of joy as the child reached out to him in turn.
"Amen?"
Amenhotep shifted over to his wife's side and placed their son into her waiting arms. The servants and midwives glided silently out of the room, removing bloody linens and basins of water. A slave girl lit sticks of incense and the room slowly infused with the rich warm fragrance of wood with a hint of cinnamon while another dimmed the room to a comfortable glow by blowing out several candles. With the light of the slim crescent moon gracing the desert night, Nekti's happy features were glazed with a dreamy brilliance as she held her son close to her heart. The newborn snuggled close to the heat of his mother's body and blinked his scarlet eyes at her violet ones.
"I am proud of you, my morning star." The man embraced his wife with a passionate kiss, taking care to be gentle with the child in her arms. With the servants gone, Amenhotep relaxed his regal façade as the living Horus, ruler of the Two Lands of the Nile. "Our first child. He is perfect, so small and innocent. Our beautiful son."
"Is he...?"
"He is a child of the Dark." He could sense his wife's slight disappointment.
"It is not that I am unhappy. You know as well as I do that it is difficult for dark halves."
"I found you, though. Do no worry about the little one." Both parents smiled. The dilemma hung for a moment, then dissipated into the thick joy of the night.
"What is his name?"
Amenhotep answered without hesitation. "Yu-gi-oh."
A scream rent the still desert air, followed by the syncopated pants of laboured breathing. The king clutched his wife's hand anxiously. After five hours of labour, the birth of his first child was almost at hand. He reached out through their Bond to mentally caress his wife, sending waves of reassurance and comfort. Nekti smiled at his concern and silently teased him that he was even more nervous than she about the birth. The link vanished instantaneously as another contraction hit. Nekti squeezed her violet eyes shut and dug her nails into Amenhotep's clammy hands.
Almost there, my morning star. You can do it. A female servant dabbed a linen cloth on the queen's forehead to absorb the beads of sweat.
"My queen, it is time to push. Next time you feel a contraction, push with all your strength."
Nekti's form strained forward as she felt the next stab of abdominal pain. The wooden backing of the birthing couch dug into her spine as she bent over and braced against her husband. Despite the discomfort, she concentrated all her might on bringing her child into the world. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes as the woman willed her muscles to push. After an excruciatingly slow five seconds, she felt the baby's head crown. She opened her eyes to see her husband crane his head to get a better view of the child.
Our first child; he's beautiful.
"My queen, one more push and the baby's body will be out."
Nekti shut her eyes again and willed the child out with mind and body. At last, she felt the tiny form exit her own in one smooth motion. Exhausted, the new mother let her upper body go limp. The woman had never experienced such deep fatigue. Her muscles burned and her skin was covered with a film of sweat but her mind was clear and her emotions shone with the rich afterglow of childbirth. She felt her husband's strong arms encircle her, lowering her gently back onto the couch. His excitement trembled in her mind but the emotions were distant in comparison to the demands of her tired body. The loud roar of rushing blood on fire with weariness filled her ears. Why wasn't the baby crying? she wondered dimly. The woman struggled to sit but the man pressed her firmly back onto the couch, demanding that she rest.
The midwife wrapped the still-bloody child in clean linens after wiping the mucous membranes from his nostrils, allowing him to breathe. She cradled the child and gazed at him in a brief moment of wonder. Of all the births she had overseen, very few infants were born silent and unafraid into the world. This infant, like the others, was different. Special. Shaking herself out of her reverie, she gently handed the tiny prince to the new father and turned her attention to the afterbirth.
The king Amenhotep ran a finger down the cheek of his first child, so newly come into this world. The infant stirred and opened his eyes. Crimson orbs reflected back into crimson as father and son shared their first glance. Amenhotep's heart swelled with pride and love. He smiled fondly as an ebony Sennen eye burned briefly on the little one's forehead. His first child was a child of the Dark, the Sennen eye a symbol of his ancient lineage and inherent power. The king's own Sennen eye glowed in response and a Bond was woven between father and son. Both symbols disappeared briefly. Amenhotep felt the stirrings of curiousity and wonderment emanate from the child as the large crimson eyes roamed across the features of his father's face. He tentatively touched their Bond, sending the rich warmth of love and pride he felt to the infant. He blinked back tears of joy as the child reached out to him in turn.
"Amen?"
Amenhotep shifted over to his wife's side and placed their son into her waiting arms. The servants and midwives glided silently out of the room, removing bloody linens and basins of water. A slave girl lit sticks of incense and the room slowly infused with the rich warm fragrance of wood with a hint of cinnamon while another dimmed the room to a comfortable glow by blowing out several candles. With the light of the slim crescent moon gracing the desert night, Nekti's happy features were glazed with a dreamy brilliance as she held her son close to her heart. The newborn snuggled close to the heat of his mother's body and blinked his scarlet eyes at her violet ones.
"I am proud of you, my morning star." The man embraced his wife with a passionate kiss, taking care to be gentle with the child in her arms. With the servants gone, Amenhotep relaxed his regal façade as the living Horus, ruler of the Two Lands of the Nile. "Our first child. He is perfect, so small and innocent. Our beautiful son."
"Is he...?"
"He is a child of the Dark." He could sense his wife's slight disappointment.
"It is not that I am unhappy. You know as well as I do that it is difficult for dark halves."
"I found you, though. Do no worry about the little one." Both parents smiled. The dilemma hung for a moment, then dissipated into the thick joy of the night.
"What is his name?"
Amenhotep answered without hesitation. "Yu-gi-oh."