Two
"I thank Hathor for bringing you home to me Shenti even if it's just for a little while." Mié smiled softly at her husband, "And Rami of course. Did you really take ten hands in one battle alone?"
Rami opened his mouth to tell her it had been fifteen when his young friend cut him off; he had been enjoying the massage provided after his bath so he simply lowered his head and allowed them to talk, "It was amazing I've never seen anyone fight like Rami. I'm certain if we had an army full of men like him the Hyksos would be driven back in weeks."
"Well," a new voice broke through Rami's blissful haze; musical and lilting-it made him lift his head to glimpse the speaker-it was the Priestess from the hallway, "Surely we must ask the Gods to provide such an army."
It was impossible for Rami to realize she was mocking him ever so slightly he was too busy admiring her beauty once more. A softly curved body, high cheekbones, full lips and those eyes; Rami forced himself to look away because it was a sacrilege for her to rouse his body the way she did. The Great God had truly exquisite taste in wives.
Unfazed Shenti jumped down from his couch and rushed towards the Goddess, catching her in a familiar embrace. Rami started, only men related by blood could touch the forbidden. "Ashait! I've missed you terribly."
With their faces close together Rami could see the similarity that had eluded him previously; the curve of lips, the dark hair. But Ashait's eyes were the deeper green of reeds that shimmered when she smiled while Shanti's mirrored the Nile, "I'm sure you have little brother but the Gods have brought you back to us now."
"Sister," Shenti turned back to Rami and he had to fight to bring disinterest to his face as the boy pulled her closer, "I'd like you to meet my friend Rami. If not for him I might have met my Ka ten times over on the battlefield."
Ashait inclined her dark head in a small bow-like the other women of the house she wore no wig and little paint-but her jewellery clinked softly as she moved, "No words can thank you enough for bringing my dear brother to us whole."
"The blessing of Amun is thanks enough," Rami spoke before he could catch himself but enjoyed the faint blush his flirting brought to her cheeks.
Rami caught her eyes with his, she met him fearlessly and his estimation of Ashait rose several notches-she was a woman cowed by no one. He could feel her strength in her gaze but something moved behind those emeralds that sent shockwaves through Rami's heart-sadness. His Goddess on earth was not happy, despite the smiles she bestowed so freely on her family. Rami ached to have her smile at him that way just once-it would be worth everything he had earned fighting with the Pharaoh. Even his life would be too cheap to give to see a smile light Ashait's Ka.
"Amun blesses all of us!" Mié patted her husband's arm and broke the spell.
This time Ashait's face was a little more guarded, "Indeed he does. Now hurry you three Pharaoh draws near and you silly soldiers are the ones to present us to him."
A flame of unwarranted jealousy flared through Rami's Ka; soon others would arrive to marvel at Ashait's heavenly beauty. He tried to shake away the spiteful feelings, he had only just met the girl there was no reason to feel such things. No woman had resisted Rami's charm once he set it on them, but now he found himself faced with an insurmountable challenge. Perhaps it was only because he could not have the lovely Lady Ashait that she affected Rami so. She was as unattainable as Isis herself no wonder she appealed to Rami the ladies man like no other.
Lifting himself from his couch Rami motioned the servant forward to wrap his kilt around his hips. He could feel her eyes on him, drinking in every detail of his body and it made Rami's head lighten like no wine could. Setting his jaw Rami berated himself for his presumption; as if a Wife of Amun would look twice at a fisherman's son, a common solider heaped with rewards for his viciousness in battle. No, even if the Lady hadn't been promised to the God she would never be Rami's, she was too much for him to aspire to in this lifetime.
The warm light of torches filled the great Hall of Ipy's home, causing the wall paintings to dance and the gold adornments of the room to glow softly. When renovating the house Nebit had ensured that its beauty would come from simplicity-unlike the overly decorated homes of Hyksos nobles. It seemed to Ashait as she watched the procession of Pharaoh Kahmose enter through lowered lashes that the choice was well justified; like all visitors they seemed awestruck as they moved forward. Beside her Ashait could feel the others drop into their obeisance at Pharaoh's approach but her position as Priestess allowed Ashait to stand straight backed with her head inclined.
It surprised Ashait that Pharaoh was not a man of great beauty; he was short and strongly muscled with heavy, even coarse features. Seen next to the rough beauty of her brother's friend Rami, Pharaoh was quite plain except for the aura of power that surrounded him. Pushing that traitorous thought away Ashait examined Pharaoh closely. There was no mistaking the mighty bull of Ma'at. The battle scars that ran up his body were only partially hidden by his golden armbands and lapis collar-this was a warrior king forged by hardship.
"Rise," his voice was as gruff as his appearance but Ashait noticed as he lowered his hands to help Nebit and Ipy rise from the ground, "It is good to see such good friends of my father again. I thank you for sending me your only son, as you can see I have brought him back undamaged."
"For which I am quite grateful Majesty," Mié smiled widely touching her hand to Shenti's as if to reassure herself he was really there.
The familiarity of the gesture and the pure motives behind it panged Ashait's heart; reminding her that such simple contact was denied to her. With great effort Ashait pulled a smile to her lips as Pharaoh turned her way, "Is this little 'Shait? The girl who would not leave me alone till I taught her how to throw a spear?" he lifted an eyebrow-it had been a long time since she had seen the royal family, "You have grown indeed little one."
"I would hope so," Ashait's smile became more genuine as she remembered that happy childhood memory-it had been a simpler time then before civil war ripped the land apart-before Kahmose had become Pharaoh, "I couldn't have been older than five at the time."
Behind Pharaoh a tall young man not much older than Ashait moved forward shaking his head gently, "You were such a determined child."
It took all of Ashait's training in the Temple of Amun not to rush forward and hug her childhood friend Ahmose-not even Pharaoh's brother was immune to the restrictions put upon her. She settled instead for a blinding smile, "Ahmose! You're just jealous because I could always throw farther than you."
"So everyone likes to remind me." His voice was dry but he smiled brightly, nodding to someone just behind Ashait, "But now it seems you have been replaced old friend, Rami is the only one who out throws me now. He's not nearly as pretty though…but he tries. I see the trip agreed with you Rami."
Ashait froze wondering just how it was that she hadn't realized he was right behind her, no man ever put himself so close lest he accidentally touch her and incur Amun's wrath. Already he had come close bumping into her in the hall, and then there was the way he had looked at her in the bathhouse-like she was more than just Bride of Amun…like she was holy to him for other reasons. It was almost the same look Ashait could see shinning from Shanti's eyes when he watched Mié. Butterflies danced in Ashait's stomach just thinking about it.
The smooth sounds of Rami's voice brought her out of her reverie, "Most certainly…I thought my Ka had flown and Osiris had granted me leave to the heavens when I arrived," Ashait could feel his dark, burning eyes fall on her briefly, "This is a place of much beauty."
"Indeed it is," Pharaoh smiled at his most loyal solider and younger brother, "Hopefully there will be food fit for the Gods as well."
"Would you expect less my Pharaoh?" Nebit asked a slight smile on her immovable face.
Kahmose shook his head and laughed lightly, "No I wouldn't. Lead the way my Lady."
Waiting until the others had begun to filter towards the dining hall Ashait was started by a silky voice close to her ear; it shattered all of her thoughts like glass, "Are you not joining us tonight my Goddess?"
Blood rushed to Ashait's cheeks as she spun to face Rami-memories of him standing naked for the servants to dress him flooded her mind making her tone harsher than she had hoped, "I am no Goddess…just a servant of the Gods."
"Surely even servants of the Gods eat too," his smile was as bold as his dark eyes-a thrill ran down Ashait's spine despite the warmth of the night, "Even Pharaoh needs to nourish his body so it can hold his Ka within."
"I prefer to stay away from crowds," Ashait could have kicked herself for the note of wistfulness in her voice, "I wouldn't want someone to touch me and suffer needlessly."
Testing the limits of his safety Rami moved closer to Ashait forcing the girl to look up at him and swallow deeply; he was beautiful, from the smouldering eyes to the smooth tanned skin, the leanly muscled shoulders and lean lips. His lips looked as full and soft as a girl's and the shaved head of the solider only served to heighten his exquisiteness. Ashait took a small step back from him, the beginnings of anger flaming in her heart; "How dare you! I am one of Amun's Brides would you presume to touch me?"
"The men here must be blind my Goddess or they would all presume to touch you." His voice was soft but all the teasing it once possessed was gone a fire of a different type blazed in his eyes.
"Don't say such things you fool," Ashait's voice cracked as she tried to whisper, "There are plenty of pretty slave girls to warm your couch here. Most would gladly go to a war hero like yourself…"
He closed the distance between them once more, "And if I didn't want one of them? Even Isis would look like a cow next to you…"
"Please!" her heart thudded loudly in her chest as Ashait stood caught in Rami's eyes, "If someone heard you…they would kill you for speaking so to me."
He closed his eyes then opened them-their intensity was not dimmed-Ashait could feel his hunger beating against her skin. There was nothing she wanted more in that moment but for him to take her in his arms and hold her, to press his lips against hers and to let her body melt into his. "Even my Ka would not be enough to worship you as you deserve my Goddess."
Ashait pulled in a ragged breath and took one step back from him; every instinct she had told her to allow his warmth to suffuse her. It physically pained her to do it but Ashait hardened her resolve; she couldn't let him destroy himself just for her. He might hold his life cheaply but Ashait couldn't imagine the torments in store for him if he violated her vows. It would break her heart.
"Sister? Rami? Are you coming….If you don't hurry there won't be any more figs I'm a hungry boy tonight." Shenti's voice broke the spell and ducking her head Ashait moved into the dinning hall and seated herself as close to Pharaoh as she could. Perhaps his watchful eye would prevent Rami from doing something foolish.
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Ooooh yes my Angst Fairy wand is just twitching with glee….I have lifetimes with which to prevent Rogue and Remy from being happy! Congrats to Scooby for getting most of the characters….the others are as follows
Ashait - Rogue
Rami - Remy
Shenti - Kurt
Mi - Kitty
Nebit - Mystique
Ipy - Hank
Pharaoh Kahmose - Wolverine
Ahmose - Scott
Ahmose-Neferteri - Jean
Apepi - Magneto
And the responses roll in….
Melancholic – I hate that when that happens…I thought it was just me though…hmmm…maybe we should gather a pitch fork welding mob and 'take care of business'? Gosh You're in awe of my writing skills? That makes my day really it does. I'm still stuck on this whole thing where I think I suck. Yes, this is a sexy Egyptian fisherman though…how could he not be? Yeah, this idea bounced in my head for BTVS for ages and ages but well I despise the fandom now and the plot bunny fit sooooo well here. I truly do believe in destiny…and this is my way of proving it. You can hold them hostage as long as you feed them…watch out…they bite.
Scoobyd0530 – That was why I gave him that name…other than it means 'fish' in Egyptian. Muahahahaha. Come on this is me…no relationship is easy in my world…and what use would my pretty Angst Fairy costume be if I let happiness reign? Another Gosh It means a lot that you like all my stuff…even if you hate it sometimes too…that's what I'm going for really. I hope I cleared up the who's who for this one for you.
Star of Chaos- Last but not least huh. Muahahahahaha. I know I'm evil. But look…love at first sight. Does that help? I'm combining this plot bunny with the one I told you about…the Civil War…that should be a fun section to write. And I still can't help but giggle over the whole Xavier as a whacky Quaker.