Disclaimer: Not mine. Not mine. Not mine. Not mine.

A/N: Argh, The names are confusing the author. If it is some minor mistakes PLEASE just ignore it. I'll change it if I see it. I promise I won't make mistakes with the major characters though. But if I chance to write Ron or Hermione instead of their given names in this lifetime, IGNORE IT. Sorry for this inconvenience. AND I am raising the rating to PG - 13, because by characters are teenagers with hormones.

A/N :To StrayCat: Thanks for the review - to answer your question let's just say that pharaoh has many, many wives - too many to mention all in my story.

***

Norfret opened and closed her mouth several times. Ahmenhotep looked at her with a very serious expression on his face. When she didn't answer, he asked her again.

"Who is HIM?"

"He's. . .err. . .he is the. . .uh, the uh. . ." Norfret was reduced to a stuttering fool.

"Who is the Royal Prick?"

"He. . ."

"Well, I'll take a guess for you. Hmm. . ." Ahmenhotep pretended to be in deep thought. "he can't be one of my brothers, because you wrote about all of them. I don't suspect it's Hordeth, because he us not Royal. I don't think it's my father. Because you really WILL be charged with treason."

Norfret shook. Ahmenhotep walked progressively close to her and she backed into the mast. No where to go. Fine sweat broke out through her body though the night winds were cool.

"Then it must be. . ."

Norfret closed her eyes.

"Me. Is it?"

She opened her mouth but no sound came out.

Ahmenhotep gave her the most serious and foreboding expression he could muster. She looked like a trembling child.

"Please your highness forgive me, I have committed the most grievous offence to your royal being I. . . I didn't know what I was thinking! It must have been the heat that deluded me! I swear upon Horus I did not mean any of it. I'll accept any punishment. . ."

He really tried to keep his serious expression but could not help it.

He started laughing.

Norfret cringed. She had been fooled again. He had been playing her like a lute all along. Only having just enough control to not slap and curse the Prince of Egypt, she started walking away. That is until he grabbed her arm and spun her around.

"Not so fast." He said through his dying laughter.

"Hasn't his highness already made a fool out of me? Didn't you have your laugh?" she asked bitterly.

He was too mean. She was so close to cursing him. . . she had her wand concealed in her belt. Ahmenhotep's expression softened into an apologetic smile.

"You said you'd accept any punishment."

Norfret stared at him in disbelief. "You think I deserve punishment after you mocked me in such a cruel way?"

"Hardly. You called me the royal prick."

Norfret sighed. "Anything."

Ahmenhotep smiled in anticipation.

"Close your eyes." He told her.

She narrowed her eyes and glared at him with suspicion. "Why?"

"Do it! I command you."

Sighing nervously Norfret closed her lids ever so slightly so she could see out. Giving her a gentle mocking laugh, Ahmenhotep used his fingers to close both her eyes completely.

She was nervous. Was he going to throw her overboard? Was he going to strike her? She trembled when she felt his large hands close over her wrists grabbing them not tightly yet forcefully. It was her first time being touched. . . by a man.

"What are you going to do to me?"

He didn't answer. The suspense was killing her and she had to open her eyes. He seemed to anticipate her move.

"Don't even think about opening your eyes or I'll tell your father about this." Great. He new exactly what she feared and how to control her.

His grip on her wrists tightened subconsciously. He knew what he planned to do. He knew that he wanted to do it. He saw her lips, she was biting them in frustration and anxiety no doubt. But when she released them from the hold of her two front teeth which were slightly large, he saw that they were red. And pouty. And it looked so,

"Delicious." He whispered.

"What was that?" she asked with her eyes pressed firmly shut.

He leaned in, still unsure but with definite purpose. Then the moment was totally ruined. The barge rocked dangerously and they were both pushed back. Norfret opened her eyes and he lost the grip on her wrists as they tittered on their feet trying to regain their balance.

"Ahhhhhh!" she screamed as she fell on top of him, both crashed painfully on to the deck. Norfret's cry had alerted Ahmenhotep's guard who ran towards them. As soon as he caught sight of them he stifled a laugh and he looked at them with a very amused expression on his face and walked away, gently shaking his head.

"Get off me, get off me!" she cried, swatting him.

"You fell on me!" he retorted red in the face and enraged.

She didn't reply but wrapped her shawl more tightly about her and stood up, supporting herself with the gold leafed banister of the barge.

"So what were you going to do to me? Can I please have my punishment and leave?"

"Oh, yes that. . .um. . ."

Norfret cocked her eyebrow.

"I will have to think about a more fitting punishment for you. . . so for the moment you are excused."

She stared at him. A fitting punishment?

"You can go now." He waved his hand imperiously.

***

After much asking about, Norfret located Princess Merykara and Benia's quarters.

"You look nervous Norfret. . . what is the matter?"

"He read it." She hissed in to the princess' ear. Merykara gasped.

"He didn't really!"

"Oh yes he did."

"Did he notice the. . .er. . . HE?"

Norfret had already confided in Benia and Merykara about her little ramblings about HIM.

"Yes he did. He figured it out. And he said he will find a 'fitting punishment' for me."

"Punishment? Surely he didn't?" Benia asked. She was always of the opinion that Ahmenhotep didn't do things like give out punishments even to the servants and slaves.

"Yes he did. I asked for it actually, he looked so stern that I had to say it."

"Do you know what the punishment is?" they both asked, feeling sorry for their friend but at the same time intrigued.

"No. But I am absolutely certain it would be something public and humiliating."

"Oooh. . . I wonder what it is!" Benia and Merykara squealed excitedly but upon noticing the dreaded and betrayed expression on Norfret's face they immediately turned serious and promised her that they would talk Ahmenhotep out of it.

"He's always had a soft spot for us two." They said proudly.

The servant girl offered her a goblet of wine which she downed in one quick gulp. She wiped her mouth unceremoniously with her shawl.

"He almost gave me my punishment but the barge moved so he couldn't do whatever he was about to do to me."

"What was he going to do?"

"I don't know, he told me to close my eyes and he grabbed my wrist so I couldn't move them. I think he was going to push me off the barge or hit me. I can't decide."

Benia and Merykara looked at each other quizzically.

"I don't know. He might have me as bait for the hunt for the lion or perhaps for the crocodiles. Or maybe if I am lucky just a public flogging. . ." Norfret trailed of desolately.

"There, there. Don't be so depressed. Ahmenhotep may even forget about it. Stay out of his sight for a few days."

"That's what I have been trying to do but he usually finds me."

***

The next day, the bright Egyptian Sun filtered through the linen hangings of Norfret's quarters and woke her up. Stretching and throwing a light robe over herself, she went out on to the deck. They were out of Thebes now, and there were lush green fields and farmers on the fertile banks of the Nile. The desert cool was gone and the heat was almost stifling. There was only an occasional breeze or two. Shielding her eyes, Norfret leaned and revelled at the beautiful countryside. There were small skiffs with fisherman throwing their nets into the blue waters of the Nile. Ita was already up and about, arranging Norfret's breakfast from the Royal kitchens of the barge on the small table. The sun was still not high in the sky. It was early morning.

"A little early to be up and about don't you think?"

Why did he always have to come and talk to her?

"I suppose so." Norfret said reluctantly.

"You look terrible." He commented, looking perfectly groomed himself.

Norfret was suddenly very wide awake she looked down at her dressing robe and bare feet. Nervously she tried to flatten her hair; some of her wild curls were wilder than usual, sticking out at odd angles.

"I'm sorry that I am a sight to be frightened of. What is it that you want?" she asked bitterly and in a tired voice. She wasn't sure how much more of him she could take.

He didn't reply but brushed the hair out of her face gently.

"That looks much better." he said a little awkwardly.

Her un - kohled eyes rounded in surprise and blood rose to her cheeks at his touch.

"I mean, better that before. But not much." He added.

"Oh."

Ahmenhotep stood before her, silent clearing debating whether to talk or just walk away. "Well, I'll see you later. I suppose." He said walking away.

This left Norfret feeling slightly stupid, something she wasn't accustomed to.

***

A/N: Review!