Disclaimer: Hope you forgive me Ms Rowling; I was only borrowing for the sake of entertainment…

A/N: I could have them both committing suicide like Romeo and Juliet…and my email has been changed to fairilights@hotmail.com

"You could explain to mother that you couldn't possibly marry Ahmeni."

Nervously, Norfret bit her lower lip, "But how could I? She's the queen…oh I am so frightened!"

"It's alright Norfret, mother will understand…"

"Hold on." Norfret said suddenly, a rather mischievous glint flashing in her brown eyes. "Why can't I marry Ahmeni?"

Ahmenhotep dropped the golden goblet with his sherbet and gaped. "What do you mean?"

"It is not as if I am officially betrothed to someone." She said, raising an eyebrow at Ahmenhotep.

He turned distressingly red. "Oh that…"

Norfret pondered in mock seriousness, a small smile playing on her lips "I mean, I like Ahmeni he's always been nice to me, since I have not been offered by anyone else I suppose - "

Ahmenhotep grabbed her shoulders. "Norfret, don't…don't make me do this now."

Her smile faded. "Why?"

Ahmenhotep gently placed a kiss on her brow and laid his forehead on hers. "I love you. You do know that?"

"Yes…"

"But I…I don't know how…"

"Just ask me. Ask me."

"What is your answer?"

"You know it will be a yes."

"Yet…I did want to do this in my own time. Not in desperation."

"Ahmenhotep, will you marry me?"

He snapped back and his grip slid down to her arms. She looked hopeful, slightly nervous and impish, her hair still in disarray from her sleep. She had a certain glow about her though the sun shone brightly upon her.

"Yes." He said quite breathlessly, and kissed her. He could feel her smiling,

"Well we got that out of the way," she mumbled against his shoulder as her pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I wish a private audience with her majesty the queen."

"You do hmm? And who are you?" one of the head chamberlains asked Norfret with a sarcastic smile.

"I am Lady Norfret."

The chamberlain did not look impressed and arched an eyebrow at her. "I am well aware that you are a lady, otherwise why would you even be allowed to stand in the ante chamber? The queen is currently engaged in a tête-à-tête with Lady Heseret."

Norfret crossed her arms and gave a pitying look to the chamberlain. "Lady Heseret is my mother."

The chamberlain faltered for a moment but stood her ground. "Be that as it may,"

"And I am engaged to the Royal Prince Ahmeni." Norfret added. Well, she was at the moment, but she soon sought to change her status so as to become engaged to Prince Ahmenhotep. Her impatience with the chamberlain did not do to well on her nervousness. However at the current moment, it did have its uses.

"Forgive me Lady, I hope I have not offended you and if I have then I implore for your forgiveness."

Norfret nodded calmly. "Announce me,"

"Your majesty, Lady Norfret wishes an audience with you." The chamberlain called through the door.

"Send her in." came forth the queen's voice.

Her golden sandals gently clacked on the marble of the queen's audience halls as Norfret held her head steady and walked towards the queen. Her mother gave her a warning glance from her perch next to the queen. Norfret ignored her mother's look and gravely she faced the queen and bowed as low as she was able without snapping her back. She recited the official rite with a slightly shaking voice.

"My dear. What is it? Do you wish to talk about the wedding plans? Lady Heseret and I have been avidly discussing the subject and I believe that Thebes would be a better place to hold it although Avaris is where I had my wedding…"

Lady Heseret smiled and gave Norfret a stony glare, as if daring her to object to her marriage to Prince Ahmnei.

"Thebes would be wonderful your majesty…"

"And I wonder, whether we should invite the king from Babylon? He has been incessantly recommending his daughter to us…he will be disappointed that we have chosen a lady of Egypt instead of one of his daughters!"

"Your majesty…"

"Yes dear, what is it?"

Norfret arranged her hands in front of her, and clasped them so that the queen could see the cornelian bracelet. Ahmenhotep had asked her to wear it, saying nonchalantly that it would 'make things easier'. Norfret wasn't sure about the latter but it certainly seemed to have quite an effect on the queen.

"My bracelet!" she gasped. The she turned alarmingly pale. "Then…you…Ahmenhotep…oh!"

Norfret nodded slightly as the queen tore her eyes away from the bracelet and sought her for confirmation.

"Oh child!" she rose from her throne shakily and grabbed her wrist. She brought it up to her eyes, as if seeking for some mistake but Norfret could see in her eyes that she had known it as soon as she had seen the flash of pink from Norfret's wrist.

"Oh dear." The queen looked slightly disappointed but not angry. Indeed she seemed to fighting back a laugh. Lady Heseret on the other hand did not look pleased.

"You see your majesty; I do harbour feelings for another,"

"Excuse me your majesty, I apologise for my daughter's impertinence, she has this notion that she is in love…with which rascal I do not know…"

"Do be pleased Heseret…that rascal happens to be my other son. Ahmenhotep." The queen allowed herself to smile and sat back down on her throne with a huff.

"Well there go all my plans for the marriage." She said, nevertheless a smile gracing her face. Norfret breathed deeply, as if she had just ran a thousand miles. Mostly in relief.

"Do forgive me you majesty." Norfret said, bowing, infinite relief washing over her. Her mother stared at her round eyes but not angry, thank Isis.

"Has that son of mine asked for your hand in marriage dear? I hope he has, then I won't have to cancel the wedding at all."

And as it was not customary for a young maiden to seek one's hand in marriage, Norfret smiled and told a little white lie.

"He did. And I said yes."

A/N: I know this is incredibly short…but, I think this is the end. Or does anyone want another sort of epilogue-ish chapter? Review!