[hey yall, back again. I was listening to 'Wrong Again' by Martina McBride all during this ficc...]
Dance the Forbidden Dance
Chapter Six
Unsurities and Guilt
.
.
What was I thinking? Teana said to herself for the umpteenth time that morning. She was sitting on the edge of the Nile, watching Sena and her sister, Fabri, bathe. She had to hold Fabri, since she was just a little child, even though Sena was old enough to help herself.
Fabri, with absolutely nothing on, was sitting in the water. Hardly a year old, she splashed playfully, running her hands through the water. Teana bent down into the water, rubbing her back. She giggled.
"Silly, silly Fabri!" Teana cooed, making the girl laugh. Teana smiled. She loved Fabri, and she had known her since her birth. She remembered how excited Sena had been. But after Fabri was born, Sena was just... Sena. A girl who believed the world revolved around her.
"Teana!" She called, standing on the edge of a rock jutting out into the river. Teana looked up, waiting.
"Yes?"
"Watch me!" Sena cried, her arms spread out. She was wearing a simple tunic, unlike the magnificent one she usually wore. She backed up a bit, then ran forwards, diving head-first into the river. Teana gasped.
The river is very shallow here.
"Sena? Miss Sena?" Teana called nervously. She saw bubbles form where Sena had been. The girl surfaced, rubbing her head.
"Oww..." she moaned, running over to Teana. "I hit my head, Teana!"
"Oh, are you okay?" Teana asked, checking Sena. She just had a sore spot on her forehead, from where she brushed some rocks. Teana sighed in relief.
She would be in so much trouble if Sena was hurt. Fabri laughed and splashed, pulling Sena's tunic.
"Fabri!" she scoffed, spinning around. "Don't do that!"
Fabri just laughed. Teana smiled. Sena looked annoyed. Teana pulled Fabri out of the water, drying her soaking little body. Fabri watched Teana's face with her big, chocolate brown eyes, blinking occasionally. Fabri then reached up and touched Teana's hand, tapping her with her tiny fingers.
"Fabri," Teana said, bringing her face close. "Hi, Fabri!" Fabri laughed. Sena scoffed again.
"Come on, Teana!" she called. "Father wants us inside." Teana nodded and wrapped Fabri's little body in a cloth to warm her. She cradled the baby in her arms, brushing Fabri's dark curls out of her face. Fabri continued to watch Teana, reaching out to her long brown hair. Both Fabri and Sena were fascinated with her hair; it was much lighter then theirs in color, and much thinner. Teana was from a home in the mountains, where there wasn't much sun or dryness. Unlike Egypt...
"Teana," a voice said. Sena was hanging onto an older woman, her mother. Teana bowed graciously, still holding Fabri.
"Mistress," she addressed her. The woman smiled kindly.
"I'll take Fabri now, Teana," she said. Reluctantly, Teana handed over Fabri, who giggled at the sight of her mother.
"Fabri.... Sena, come," she ordered, and turned away from Teana.
"Teana, you may go to the center, if you wish," she said softly. "Just be back in time to exercise Angel and Prayer, alright?"
"Yes, Mistress," Teana said, bowing again. She grabbed her indigo shawl from her quarters and left the large estate, wandering up the streets of the city. She waved to people she knew, bowed to people she knew, exchanged hellos. As she walked, she became lost in her thoughts of Yami. He had told her yesterday that he wouldn't be coming to visit her.
"I have something to do with the Prince," he had told her.
"I wonder what...." she muttered to herself. She shook her head. "It's none of my business, I'm sure..." She arrived in the center, seeing the regal fountain before her. Women and children were there, talking and gathering water, children playing. Teana loved to sit and watch everyone around her, laughing and smiling.
As she watched, she let her mind wander, and found that Yami drifted into her thoughts. She jumped and blinked, realizing what was happening.
"It's.... nothing," she said, shrugging. "He's just...."
Amazing, her mind added for her. She blushed and shook her head.
"Well, he is, but...."
You love to be around him. Admit it. Teana looked around, making sure no one was talking to her. When she noticed no one speaking directly to her, she looked down at her hands.
"Well.... He is fun... And...."
And you want to kiss him.
"What?!" Teana blushed deeply, wondering if anyone could see her. Some of the people sitting near to her turned to see who she was talking to. They gave her quizzically glances, obviously confused. She smiled and waved them away. Angry at herself for thinking this way, she stood, fixing her skirts.
Admit it. You love him.
"I do not!" she exclaimed, hurrying away from the center, leaving the people there in their confused thoughts.
.
.
The reason Yami hadn't been able to meet Teana that day was because he was supposed to spend the day with Aklia. She linked arms with him and kissed his cheek, leaning on him and making him tremble. His father was speaking with the priests and the Captain of the Imperial Order. Jono was present as well at this meeting. They were meeting about Egypt's feuds with neighboring lands, which will most likely result in a huge battle. Yami hoped it wouldn't.
If there was a battle, the Imperial Army would stay here to protect the city, and the militia would be forced to fight.
They were all of Yami's friends.
"It's so scary," Aklia noted, squeezing his arm.
"What, the raids?" She nodded.
"You saw how beat up the militia was after the last one," Aklia said, nodding towards the far eastern borders of Egypt. "What if they challenge us to a real battle? What will happen?"
"We'll try to keep it out of Egypt's lands," Yami explained in a serious tone. "We don't want any innocents to be killed." Aklia nodded in agreement. The two were sitting on a bench in the courtyard, beneath a large tree, budding with flowers. The mitsukai [1] tree. Yami slipped his hand into Aklia's, smiling. It was comforting being with her, since he knew her so well.
The two had been nearly best friends for a good part of five years, since their engagement was announced. When Yami had first met Aklia during her first visit, they tolerated each other, and that was it. Soon, however, they became fast friends, playing together and enjoying the company of someone their own age.
....Until just a few years ago.... Aklia changed. She seemed to mature almost, become more like a girl then just a child. A woman, even. It made Yami nervous sometimes to think about how one summer she's his best friend, just someone to hang out with, then in only a few months' time, she's not just a child but a girl.
According to Asenath, she would have matured much faster then he. He secretly wished, however, that they both had stayed children, and just been friends...
"Atem? Atem?" Aklia was saying, waving her hand in front of Yami's eyes. He blinked and turned to her, surprised.
"What is it?"
"You were spacing out. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine..." Yami muttered, rubbing his face. He wished so badly to run off and meet Teana... He had to spend time with Aklia, though. Aklia was looking around the vast courtyard at the beautiful garden surrounding them.
"This is so lovely," she whispered. "Who planted these?" Yami smiled. He loved explaining the color scheme to people.
"Look closely," Yami whispered in her ear, pointing before them. In the center of the garden was a multitude of yellow, red and orange buds, just waiting to bloom "Those were planted when my sister, Asenath, was born. She was born at dusk, when the sun is red." He motioned to a batch of bushes and small, pink buds blooming, along with a couple of small trees. "Those were planted for Sekhem, because he was born a weakling, and those trees represent strength." In the far reaches of the garden was a batch of tall, blue and purple flowers, obviously planted for Atem.
"....And those were planted when I was born, because I was born at night during the spring rains...." he said softly. Aklia nuzzled his neck, making him jump in surprise. He didn't mind it, though; she was very close to him... He supposed he should get used to her, anyway...
But I don't love her, he told himself. She's one of my best friends... But he couldn't help it. It was more his hormones then anything that was driving him at this point. He put his hand on Aklia's cheek gently, pulling her closer to him.
With the sun beaming through the scattered leaves in the tree, and the beauty of the surrounding garden, Aklia felt like she were in a story. Gently, Yami pressed his lips against hers, wrapping her into a kiss. Aklia had been expecting it, and didn't push away. Instead, she closed her eyes and collapsed into him, letting him hold her tightly. The kiss was very soft and very sweet, and Yami found himself enjoying it much more then he thought. He pulled away, opening his eyes.
Aklia smiled and leaned against him. Yami waited to see if she would say anything, but she didn't.
What was that? he thought to himself. Why did I just kiss Aklia? What the hell drove me to that?! Is it the atmosphere? The fact our wedding is coming?
The fact that I'm thirteen? Is there something happening to me?
What was that?
Whatever it was, he felt extremely guilty about it afterwards...
And satisfied.
It scared him to say it, but, since the last time he'd kissed her like that (when they're wedding was announce), he enjoyed it much more. He found himself nearly pining for it to happen again, to wrap himself into a kiss with his fiancée...
What was going on?!
Just seconds ago he was thinking about how much he didn't love her!!
.
.
Maia was washing her face when Teana approached her that afternoon. Teana had wandered the streets, returning at noon to her master's house to watch Sena and Fabri. Her heart wasn't in her duties, however; her mind continued to drift back to Yami, her heart quickening at the mere thought.
Maia was standing straight, running her hands through her long hair as Teana approached. She picked up the basket at her feet and held it in her arms, brushing her hands through the fresh grain she was carrying to a packaging building. She blinked in surprise of seeing Teana come running in her direction.
"...Teana...?"
"Maia!" Teana cried, panting. She leaned over, trying to catch her breath, Maia watching with a confused face.
"Are you alright?" Maia asked, concerned. Teana nodded, standing straight.
"Maia," she panted, putting her hand on the older woman's shoulder, "Please. Tell me something."
"What?" Maia asked, repositioning her basket. Teana looked at her feet, and then her eyes fell on Maia's face.
"...I met someone a while back," she started, taking a deep breath. "....And he befriended me. We would be together for awhile, then go back to our duties. But we always found time to be together. He was... Maybe my first real friend." Maia, who knew she was speaking of the Prince, nodded slowly.
"....Okay...."
"And now," Teana explained, shaking her head, "I think... I think I'm falling in love with him."
Maia couldn't hide her surprised expression. She turned away quickly, thoughts overturning in her mind, worries surfacing and uncertainties re-focused.
Oh, shit, she thought to herself. She fixed her skirt and faced Teana again.
"....Are you sure?" Maia questioned, worry flitting her chest. She had the weird feeling that this would all get out of hand..
"...I'm sure," Teana assured, more to herself then to Maia. "And I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"Of what we have now," Teana explained, wringingher hands. "What if he doesn't love me back? What if he completely abandons me?... It's happened before...." Maia sighed and smiled.
"Teana," she said softly. "Do you love Yami?" Teana shrugged.
"....Yes..."
"How much?"
Teana shook her head, tears forming in her eyes.
"...A lot..." Maia gasped in surprise once more.
"What?" Teana's hands were balled into fists, shaking. Her head was bowed and her shoulder heaving, crying soundly to the ground. She lifted her tear-stained face to Maia, her teeth clenched.
"....It..... Almost hurts to be apart," she said, sniffing. "Today, when I knew he wasn't going to be around... I felt as if I would be lonely all day. As if no one would say anything to me, although almost everyone I ran into I knew. Well, too. It's just.... I...." Teana shook her head and burying her face in her hands, still trembling from her tears. Maia set her basket down and placed her hands reassuringly on Teana's shoulders.
"Teana... Teana..." she said, trying to get her attention. "Sennaniakah! [2]" Teana looked up at Maia, still sniffing. Maia tilted her chin up to face her, sighing once more.
"So you love him," she started. "It can be painful, but it won't kill you. Now," she commanded in a gentle manner, "I know you might be scared. And truthfully... If you knew anything about your situation..."
"What?" Teana asked innocently, tears still falling down her face. Maia shook her head.
"Never mind that. But anyway, even if it hurts, I assure you, he will come back."
"How do you know?"
"I know A -- Yami," Maia said, catching herself at the last moment. "He isn't the type of person to leave someone hanging." Teana smiled.
"Really?"
"Would I lie to you?"
.
.
"It's not a matter of business, it's a matter of life or death!"
"How would you know? You've never been in this situation before!"
"Don't say anything about life and death until you've experienced enough battles as I have!!" Aklia blinked and turned to closed-off room, wondering what could be going on in there. There was the occasional bang of someone pounding the table, and sometimes many voices would start at once. Aklia sighed to herself. They were arguing about the on-going feuds with their neighbors to the east, Syria. Yami had joined the brigade when they pulled him in, unable to decide on something. Now he was arguing as well.
"Wow," Aklia said, staring at the doorway. No women were allowed inside; not even servants. "It sounds dangerous in there."
"One reason why we're not allowed," Iani said in a humorous tone, fixing a curtain. They were in the throne room, waiting for the fights to end. Aklia was sitting before the actual throne, on the wide-brimmed steps that led down to the floor, elevating it in the room. Iani was attempting to let the sunlight in by fixing the curtains in the window. Helena was occupying Mana on the floor by teaching her hand games learned from Asenath. Aklia was waiting for Yami.
Yami had told her to 'wait for me, it'll only be a minute'.
A 'minute' lasted about two hours so far.
Aklia sighed again, louder this time. Iani turned to her, smiling gently.
"If I may, Lady Aklia," she offered, bowing, "I suggest you should find the Queen." Aklia looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"She's in her quarters, and only I am the only servant allowed," she explained. "However, I am very busy here, and unable to get her. She's usually the ones to break up the fights in there."
"....I thought she wasn't allowed." Iani shook her head.
"She's a hard woman to break, Lady Aklia." Aklia shrugged and stood.
"Well... Are you very busy?"
"Extremely. Pharaoh's orders."
"Alright. I shall get her." Aklia turned on her heel and headed down the hall, her crimson cape flying out behind her.
Now... Where is she...? Aklia wondered, climbing a staircase. She vaguely remembered her way to the Queens quarters. She hadn't been there in years. Not since she used to hide in there when she was little...
She remembered the wide window at the top of the stairs.
Go left, she thought, turning down a wide corridor. She was high up, on the fifth floor, she presumed. She came to the end of the hallway, a circular room beyond a heavy curtain hanging before her. Beyond the curtain was a circular room with a series of doorways branching off into other rooms.
The Queen's quarters.
Carefully, Aklia pushed the curtain aside and entered the room. Anna wasn't in there. Aklia, not quite sure what to say, cleared her throat loudly.
"Erm..."
"Aklia?" a voice called. Anna came from behind a curtain and through a doorway, smiling at the girl. Aklia grinned back. "What is it?"
"Iani suggested I bring you downstairs," Aklia explained quickly, bowing to the woman. "It's getting rather violent in that meeting room...." Anna scoffed and rolled her eyes, shaking her head sadly.
"Oh, they always get like that..." she muttered, brushing past Aklia. She was wearing a cream-colored tunic that touched the floor, with a red sash around her thin waist. She had a a long, broad golden necklace on her collar bone and spreading over her shoulders, a cape made of some type of transparent material flowing to meet the floor. She adjusted the bands that were on her arms, and ran her fingers through her long, black hair.
"Aklia," she said, turning to her, "How violent is it in there?"
"You can clearly make out what they're saying," Aklia said, a slight chuckle in her voice. Anna made a reassured sound, then began walking out of her quarters.
"Come, Aklia," she called. "I'll go and stand by. They're not as violent as they can be yet; I like to break them up when they get extremely tempered." Aklia hurried beside the Queen, remembering how much this woman was like a mother to her in the past.
....After the wedding, she technically would be her mother....
"If I may, Queen-sama," Aklia asked timidly.
"Yes?"
"Why are they so violent?" Anna laughed gently, confusing Aklia.
"Is my eldest son in there?"
"Yes..."
"Can you hear him yelling?"
"Yes I can."
"Is my husband yelling as well?"
"Yup."
"Ah. That, my dear," Anna said, pointing to the air, "Is heredity."
"What?"
"My husband has a short temper," Anna explained to Aklia. "Before Yami's birth, he never had anyone to match his temper. It seems to me that Yami has inherited a short temper as well... I believe all three have..." she said, thinking out loud. Aklia chuckled a little alongside the Queen.
"I hope I don't get into a fight with him..."
.
.
"Teana! Teana!" Fabri greeted Teana with. Teana smiled as the little girl reached out to her, trying to grab her tunic. It was dusk, and Teana had been working in the fields near to her master's home. Fabri was sitting on Sena's bed, beside her sister, waiting patiently for Teana to wash up.
"Hello, Little Fabri," Teana said softly, bending down and picking the girl up. Fabri giggled as she was lifted into the air. Sena frowned in jealousy.
"Why don't you pick me up anymore?" she asked with a fake hurt tone. Teana sighed.
"You're just too heavy to lift anymore," she said playfully. This made Sena angry.
"No I'm not! Pick me up!" she commanded. Teana set Fabri down on the floor.
"If you insist..." she reached out, and swung Sena into her arms, Sena wrapping her arms around her neck.
"Whoa..." she said, looking down. Teana struggled with holding the girl up. "This is high.... Put me down!" Teana obeyed. Sena sighed gratefully. Fabri was sitting on the floor, clapping joyously and reaching for Teana.
"Teana!" she called again. Teana gently bent down and lifted Fabri, placing her back on the bed.
"Sena, watch Fabri for a moment," she asked of the girl. Sena raised her eyebrows.
"Why?"
"I must speak to your mother on something." She quickly left the room afterwards. She walked down the hall, arriving to where the mistress was staring outside of a window, sitting on the sill.
"Ah, Teana," she said, smiling. "How long have you been here?"
"Only a few moments, mistress," Teana explained, bowing. "I wish to speak with you on something."
"You do? Sit, Teana," she said, motioning to the spot beside her on the sill. Teana cautiously sat down and admired the beautiful view of the Nile from here. "Now, what is it?" Teana wrung her hands and turned to her mistress.
"I... You know that young man I have been with the past few weeks... Yami, his name was?" Teana asked, approaching this carefully.
"Yes... The one who successfully controlled Angel?"
"Yes, him."
"What about him?" Teana bit her lower lip.
"...I.... I was wondering," she said, looking at her hands. She didn't want to see the look of shock on her mistress's face after she asked her question. "Suppose this man tried to.... court me...." The mistress
was taken aback, surprised.
"Court you? You mean.... suggest to marry you?"
"...Yes...." Teana said slowly. She wasn't speaking on any hints she had picked up; she was just suggesting the possibility. "...What would you think about it?"
"Well..." The mistress thought for a moment, Teana waiting eagerly for her answer. "....I suppose, if you were to have children of your own, you would do good from raising my daughters..."
"I guess so...."
"And he would have to allow you to continue work here, since we all love having your company," The mistress said, making Teana blush. "Yes, this situation might very well work...." Her eyes lit up in excitement at the prospect of marrying him. In a mocking tone, the mistress said, "....I guess I could give you my blessing..."
"Really?"
"Yes, dear Teana," she said, smiling brightly at her. "Really. If any man were to court you, it would be fine with me." Teana bowed to her, thanked her, and ran from the room, still blushing.
I don't believe it! she thought, stopping in the hallway. Of all things to ask... Marriage! Just the thought made her shiver. And Yami never even mentioned that he liked her... She shrugged and walked along. She wasn't even sure if she really loved him or not.
I'll... talk to him tomorrow.
.
.
"Fucking bastard, he thinks he can send us out like dogs on a leopard's tail and just sacrifice us to Syria..." Jono was still fuming over the heated argument he had with the Leader of the Imperial Order. Maia rolled her eyes and grabbed his sword away from him.
"Stop complaining, it won't make it any better," she said, placing the sheathed weapon on a table. Night had fallen before the argument stopped. At one point, they were nearly hoarse from yelling, and Anna bounded in, telling them they needed to stop yelling before they all either went deaf or lost their voices.
"If I see any one of you for the rest of the night, you're all dead!" she had shouted, making them all quiet. (Many in the room were shocked at Ankumanukanon's reaction. He stopped dead in his tracks.)
After the argument, Yami had spoken to Jono about Teana, asking if anyone had attempted to court her.
"No, I don't think so," Jono said, staring quizzically at Yami. "Why? It's not like you can court her, you know."
"I know," Yami said, shrugging. He looked at his hands, then up at his own balcony, leading from his bedroom over the courtyard. "I was just wondering if anyone loved her in the past...." Jono shrugged.
"I don't know," he had said, lying through his teeth.
"You didn't tell him about...?" she trailed off, leaning forwards. Jono looked appalled.
"Of course not -- Maia, Teana entrusted us with that information, and she'll tell Yami if she wants to," he said, a look of shock and sincerity on his face. Maia raised her hands in self-defense.
"I'm just checking," she said innocently. "Egypt is a dangerous place for a girl like her, Jono."
"I know." Both were silent for a moment, thinking about the predicament they had before them.
"Teana told me something today that shocked me," Maia said softly. Jono turned to her.
"Are you allowed to tell me?" he asked jokingly. He began to gulp down a mug full of water.
"Yes, I am," Maia said, smiling. She looked down at her hands. "...But this is serious, Jono. She practically told me she loved Yami."
Jono spit out the water that was in his mouth, making Maia gasp, then laugh.
"You're kidding," Jono said, shocked. "She said that?"
"No, not directly," Maia explained, still giggling over the 'explosion'. "She said 'I think I'm falling in love with him', not 'I love him'."
"Ah, so she only thinks that... Because, you know, this could complicate... things..." he said thoughtfully. Maia walked over to Jono and leaned against him, bumping her hip against his.
"Since when have things not been complicated?"
"Since..." Jono trailed off, thinking. "...Hell, I don't know when!" Laughing, Maia kissed him gently, making him jump. She pulled away from him, her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Why do we have to be confused in all this?" she asked. Jono shrugged.
"I never know the right answer to anything, Maia. Anything."
.
.
mitsukai [1]: in my other YamixTeana ficcy (I'm Still Dreaming), which is a different, futuristic rendition of this story, i made up a flower called mitsukai that grew in Egypt. It was Teana's symbol -- whenever a mitsukai was mentioned, the readers knew to think of Teana. In the fic, the first time that they were, erm, intimate with each other (;;), she saw them and was like "Aww, pretty white flowers!" Basically, white daffodils with longer petals. She wears one in her hair. Such a long, symbolistic explanation... --
Sennaniakah (senn-nah-nee-AHK-ah) [2]: the odd, long name I thought up for Teana. I thought 'Teana' was an inadequate name, so I made it really, really long. Like most Egyptian names When shortened, her name was 'Ana', which transformed into Egyptian (she's from Sudan) is 'Te-Ana', which becomes 'Teana'. Loooong... ack. You guys shoulda seen the name i came up with for Yami... It was... er... Yami: Amikomantah o.o yesh, that long word there... Much longer and more believeable then Atem, I would say
[that is the end to this odd, odd chapter. Im not quite sure where this came from, i just wanted Teana to dwell a bit on her present situation... yesh anyway... Next chappie: Mythology Lesson squee]
Shibby-One