Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne.
As Sitiah's general left one glance into the man's eyes assured Folken that he did not approve of the contact the queen had with himself. It was etched in the frown on Setepenre's face. As they caught one another's gaze for that passing moment, a kind of understanding was reached. Neither of them cared much for the other's relationship with Sitiah, but both held an equal amount of care for her. They were both unceremoniously protective of her. Strategos found this amusing, while Setepenre found it to be surprising. Neither of course showed any sign of the emotions, and in a moment it was forgotten as the general continued into the hallway.
When the scribe had left as well, he shook his head, "What possessed you to do something so foolish?" She looked away from him defiantly.
"So it is foolish to do things for the good of my country?" She asked her tone still light. Picking up a scroll from her desk she moved toward him, holding up the scroll, "This is the twentieth petition I've received, begging me to think of the peoples' need for the grain that is being exported to Fanelia." Stopping in front of him, she somberly looked up into his eyes, "Am I queen so that I can give you whatever you'd like from Egypt? Or is it because I can make the decisions necessary for this country to survive?" There was nothing of the playful young woman in this queen. Her business-like demeanor was yet another reminder to him that she was more than meets the eye. He wondered at her for a time. At first he had thought that she would be easy to control, but she'd proven him wrong. He wasn't quite sure if that was a good thing or something to worry over.
He put his fist beneath her chin and replied, "Sometimes I forget why I did choose you." Surprising him she laughed pushing his hand away. She turned from him, taking a few steps away. Smiling with pure wickedness she looked over her shoulder at him.
"And I thought I was confident!" She sauntered toward her desk, and took a seat in the chair behind it, setting the scroll down. Shaking her head slowly she said coldly, "You did not choose me. The gods did… I rule by divine right." Her beauty was a danger, he realized as he stared at her. There was something very alluring about her at that moment. But the air around her was chilling. She was no longer dependent on him, and he knew it. His eyes narrowed at the thought.
"And your brother? What is he?" He folded his arms over his chest as though shielding himself from her. There was nothing about him to suggest that he was afraid of her new found confidence, but it was apparent that he disliked the idea.
"A mere consort," She shrugged nonchalantly, "He has no real power. He may be a king, but he can do little for this land. I hold the reins of government." Her kohl-lined eyes were impassive. Everything about her exuded femininity and peril that sent a warning. A combination that he was sure led to more trouble than it did moments of blissful abandon. She sat like a queen, as well as spoke like one, and yet there was something in her eyes that spoke of childish insecurity.
"I see, that's why you spoke to him today. To intimidate him," He stated simply, dropping his eyes to the floor with a small smile of pride, "Very good. A move worthy of myself." He looked up at her.
"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow sarcastically, "How happy I am to have met with your approval," Sitiah smirked, and then glowered at him, "If you're so interested in making sure I keep my family under my thumb, then why is Arsinoe alive?"
"You're not suggesting you'd rather have her dead, like poor Ptolemy, are you?" He mocked her lightly.
She laughed, "What do you think?" Glaring at him she got to her feet fingering the gold wedjet around her neck, "That bitch betrayed me. Her only desire was to be queen, to have the treasury at her hand. It was stupid of her to think she could win against me." He closed his eyes a moment, and then opened them to see that she had approached him. Looking at her face, he almost began to pity her, seeing the miserable look that had replaced the aloofness. "None of this matters now, does it?" She asked softly, her eyes on the tiles beneath her feet.
"You seem to think so. You brought up Arsinoe, not I," Folken said in a distant voice. Suddenly, Sitiah felt like a little girl again, standing before her father as he told her that Berenice would die for her crimes. She could remember the feelings of conflict looming within her mind. Did her elder sister really deserve death? Perhaps she did, after all, she had tried to usurp her father's throne. And she would have killed him. But still she was her sister! Her heart clenched and she wrapped her arms around her stomach.
"What will you do with her then?" She forced herself to look up at him. But he could see that the hatred she felt was causing her doubt. It was the sheen of a tear within her eye.
"She'll be taken to Fanelia, as a prisoner… And executed," He said, watching her closely. The sharp intake of her breath was not as quiet as she would've liked. Folken closed the gap between them slowly. His hand went to her cheek and stayed there. "This is what you want, isn't it?" His eyes searched her face. The weakness was there, but she quickly hid it.
"Just because we're blood, doesn't mean she is worthy of my pity," She said sternly, refusing to let her real emotions get the best of her. But her blood wanted to betray her. For some reason it was calling for her mercy, and she knew she wouldn't always be able to ignore it.
She quickly changed the subject, smiling disarmingly, "Do you know where my Prophetess is right now?"
He kissed her forehead, seeming to forget as easily as she, "Where?"
"With your handsome young brother," She replied putting both hands on his chest.
"Ah, so that's what's had him so distracted lately," He mused with a curious smile, "She must be very- unusual."
"No, no, not- unusual- more like- captivating," Sitiah looked up at him through her lashes, her voice no more than a low purr, "A favorite of the goddess," Her nails sank into the fabric of his shirt as she tugged at it as she sucked gently at her lower lip. "Your brother is very lucky… At one time some priestesses remained celibate." She was doing it again, making him yearn for heated embraces in the cool of night. His hand traveled from her face down to her neck.
As his fingers massaged at the back of her neck she murmured tenderly, "I need to travel my kingdom. I want you with me. We will sail the Nile together." His hand stilled, as a strong current of foreboding swept through him, leaving a deep frown on his face. Her own instincts alerted her to the change in his mood. Before she could put up her defenses she blurted despondently, "You're thinking of leaving again?" She couldn't easily mask her hurt this time, so instead she began to turn away.
He halted her taking her arms. But she turned her head away, wishing he had not already seen the broken look in her eyes. She swallowed hard waiting for him to respond. Instead he released her, his carnelian-brown eyes falling to the gold symbol lying on the dune-colored skin just above her breasts. He picked up the charm, holding it in one hand as he traced it with the other. His unruffled manner spoke nothing of his love for the sight of the rise and fall of her chest. Yes, he had noticed how her breath had quickened as his hand brushed her flesh. He smiled, indulging in her suddenly very obvious attraction to him.
"There is so much more of Egypt to see," He said, staring at the necklace. His head lifted slightly as he looked at her with a sly smile, "Isn't there, Queen Sitiah?" So you are not the only one with power… Strategos has a hand to play in this as well. The spark of deviousness in his eye intrigued her. She cocked her head slightly to smile at him cautiously.
"Mmm," She hummed in agreement, "There
is much more to see. You have barely begun to see the marvel that is Egypt… I
think, she will blind you so that you will see nothing else, but her
beauty." She has more surprises for
you, dear Strategos. Her sultry
tone had been like silk, floating against his skin. He felt the caress, and the blade's edge of her words. And as their gazes locked, neither escaped
the intensity of the other's eyes. The
connection that had caught their attention from their first moment together was
just as strong. He knew, that she had
not been fooled by his surrender.
She could sense the plan beneath his veil of kindness. She couldn't quite read the true reasons,
but she knew the victory was not entirely hers.
***
"Daughter of Isis," She whispered, her eyes intent on the priest before her. The memory of a dream floated to the surface of her mind. But she had only been a child when she had dreamed of the goddess. Could it be?
"Yes, practically a goddess yourself," The man replied, his eyes so dark they seemed to go on into nothingness like the night sky. He pointed again to the mural on the wall. Isis in all her glory stood there, wings outstretched as she stared upward toward the heavens. Her beauty was startling, for she embodied all that was apart of Ma'at. She was every goddess, *Hathor, *Sekhmet, *Nut… Isis was the divine aspect of all women, the great mother of Egypt.
"She will give you the power you need to conquer all obstacles, and save Egypt from the hands of Strategos." He said turning to fix her with his intense gaze. He was only a priest, clothed in white, his head shaved. But he seemed infinitely more with his soulless eyes. Yet he maintained the quality of a servant, a devoted follower.
"From Strategos?" She slowly asked her eyebrows drawn in worry beneath the cobra coronet. Suddenly she could hear her heartbeat and every breath she took.
"You know, young goddess," He seemed to grow taller before her eyes, looming over her with his pale face, "You know very well the danger he poses!" She gasped at the hiss in his sharp voice. She took a step away holding her aching chest. But the man before her was calm, his eyes were not black, but blue.
"My queen? Are you alright?" The priest asked, his voice gentle and full of concern. Sitiah blinked and looked up to see the man frowning at her. There was no threat in his eyes, or in his manner. He was only a middle-aged man, a member of the priesthood serving in Isis' temple. She took a deep breath, and shook her head.
"Yes, fine, I suppose I'm just a little tired." She gave a quick smile.
As she walked beneath the pylon into the courtyard she sighed with relief. The sun shone down on her with loving rays, lighting her face. She shaded her eyes, beneath her hand. A white ostrich fan appeared over her, shadowing her from the brilliance of the mid-morning blaze. Her heart felt light, taken by the gentle breeze blowing through the columns of the courtyard.
But abruptly the wind became stronger, the sun hidden by dark clouds that appeared out of nowhere. Her entourage became panicked as the wind kicked up sand and blew with a force that pushed at their bodies. The line of priests, priestesses, and servants behind her, scattered screaming and shouting unintelligibly. They seemed to forget all about their duty to her as she stood against the pummeling wind trying to shield her eyes with her arms.
A priestess ran past her screeching, "It's Strategos! It's the horrible conqueror! Run! Egypt is being swallowed!" Sitiah couldn't believe her ears. She tried shouting that it was not he doing this, and that he would not betray her, but her cries were lost in the storm. Unable to see to her right or left she stumbled blindly in the courtyard searching desperately for shelter. The tumult was becoming more than she could bare as the screaming reached a piercing climax and the wails of women and children began.
"Save us goddess! Save us Queen Sitiah, it is Strategos!" They all seemed to be crying. The sand stinging her eyes, her tears flowed as she felt her heart constricting with pain.
"Stop this! Stop, please! No more!" She pleaded falling to her knees as the stabbing hurt grew. Her eyes shut tight against the anguish, she began to choke as the air thickened with smoke. Smoke poured from everywhere, mingling with the sand and tormented moans in the air. The pungent smell of blood, and burning bodies assaulted her nose as she pressed her face to the earth. How had this happened? What could've spurred this disaster?
"Isis, Isis, if you can hear me, please help! Please my mother, help me!" She whispered fervently. There was a flash in the space around her; even with her eyes closed she could see it. She opened her eyes to the bright white light. Squinting her eyes she could make out a figure. It was the goddess. Her mother stood before her eyes, a warm smile gracing her delicate features. Untouched by the chaos going on around her she reached out toward the queen. Sitiah stretched out her hand. But she could not reach. Isis, her savior was a step away, but still she could not grab onto the offered hand.
The woman smiled, her hand dropping to her side, as she shook her head remorsefully, "Oh Sitiah, my daughter, Egypt is lost. Strategos' has corrupted this land. Egypt is no more." Sitiah's eyes went wide, as her body began to tremble. It couldn't be! She wanted to refuse the words, but in her heart she knew the goddess did not lie.
"No. No, please. Isis, you can save her! Please, save your land! Save- my land!" She cried out, her eyes watering again, this time because of the immense sadness filling her. But the goddess again shook her head.
Her soft voice replied, "Egypt is no more."
The queen woke to feel the tears on her cheeks. Shivers ran up and down her spine as her heart shook within her breast. The sheets clutched in her hands, she buried her face in them shaking her head. No. No. It was all a dream. Those images- they had to have been a dream. It's not the future. It cannot be. Over and over she denied the doubts springing to her mind. None of it was true! I would not let it happen!
Her eyes opened to scan the room beyond the mosquito netting around the bed. The Nile's waves lapping at the bank had a soothing affect, but still she felt drained by all she had seen. Her gaze came to rest on the man sleeping next to her. To her despair an irrational fear clawed at the edges of her thought. She took a wavering breath, biting her lip as she stared at his face.
A slumbering man posed no threat, she was almost positive of that, yet she was shaken. Of course Folken was no ordinary man. He most likely drew up his battle plans within the dream world, ready at any moment to come alive and order an attack. Nevertheless, as all men, he looked innocent in his sleep, calm and boyish. At any other time she would think him beautiful as he breathed in the cool night air. Often she would wake, sit up, and smile on him, watching as he dreamed. It wasn't unusual for a young lover to do such a thing. But she had never imagined that she would ever look upon a man with such love.
The problem was that she wasn't always certain he felt the same. Could her doubts be warning her of the truth of her vision? All of a sudden her whole body began to ache, and she began to weep. The pitiful cry reached Folken's ears tearing him from the foggy battlefield. His sepia eyes fluttered open as he frowned.
"Sitiah?" He questioned wearily, slowly sitting up. His lids were heavy, but he could clearly see her shivering form. He knew she hated to cry in front of him- him and anyone else for that matter. It was a weakness she couldn't tolerate in herself. It was more than obvious that something dubious was troubling the woman for her to be sobbing so. His hand came to rest on her bare shoulder, but she flinched away, holding the wine colored silk to her chest. Her hysteria had even brought the guards to the doors of their cabin.
"My lady, queen?" A man's voice penetrated through the gold encased panels. Through her tears she ordered the men away in halting Egyptian. Her speech was normally better than that and the soldiers hesitated for several moments before slowly wandering back to their posts. Folken was at a complete loss. He slipped his arm around her back, his hand squeezing lightly on her upper arm.
"You're very cold," He observed drawing her against his chest. Indeed the warmth had fled her body, leaving her chilly to the touch. Kissing her head he tried turning her towards him. But she pulled away, scolding him in the language of her subjects. He sighed in frustration, leaving her be as he shook his head in bewilderment.
"Sitiah, I don't speak Egyptian. And my Greek is hardly ideal. Tell me in Fanelian, what is wrong?" He brought his hand over his eyes for a moment then dropped it to his knee. For a moment she seemed confused and began to reply in a language neither Greek nor Egyptian. But she paused inhaling deeply as she sniffed.
Finally she looked at him, the salt water glimmering in her eyes desolately, "You have no patience for me, Strategos. Isn't it true?" Taken back by her words he stared at her for a long time. He looked slightly wounded, hurt by the accusation. Affection was not something he displayed with ease. But in their months together he had shown more care for her than he ever had to anyone he held dear. Even as he sat there it was hard not to coldly rebuke her. His ego had been slowly depleting with everyday that he felt her warmth. Still, she had not broken all barriers, and in truth she never would, but she would come damn close.
"What is it you're really asking me?" He questioned, his eyes taking hold of hers mercilessly. There was no means by which she could look away. Two heavy tears slowly coursed their way down her cheeks as she shook her head.
"I don't know," She whispered, closing her eyes for a second. When she looked at him again she murmured, "I'm sorry," She gave him a tremulous smile, "It's late. Let's not start an argument tonight, hmm?" With a forced laugh she leaned toward him, placing a hand on his cheek. "Besides, I'd win, wouldn't I?" She teased pressing her forehead to his, her lips inches from his own. His eyes narrowed, but he smirked with a chuckle.
"I imagine you would, my queen," He replied quietly. Her hand fell to his chest as she began to circle his muscles with feathery fingertips. She pulled her head away to fix him with a haughty smile.
"Your queen indeed! The great conqueror grovels at my feet…" She linked her hands behind his neck. He moved closer to her with a smile, placing his hand on her side.
"I grovel to no one," He responded firmly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. She only smiled, knowing what the look meant.
"Ah, then I submit to you," Sitiah spoke softly as she laid her head on his shoulder, her breath caressing his neck, "The queen is yours." Her scent was filling his whole being, enchanting him as her words did. Pulling her into his lap he noticed the sudden warmth to her flesh.
The aura surrounding them was made of golden clouds, the breath of the gods. Hathor's blessing was on them. And when a goddess blesses the bed of lovers, the feelings of tenderness wash over everything. Lovers not yet established could even feel the great magic collecting. It was thick in the air. Strategos and Sitiah were truly destined. But destiny is fickle, shrouding people with uncertainties that can tear apart even the fated ones. Within his arms, she could still sense the spires of doubt, haunting the deepest reaches of her heart.
*Sekhmet is a lion-headed goddess associated with destruction. Her fiery breath was turned on the enemies of the king. She could send pestilence or cure it.
*Nut was the goddess of the night sky. She was often seen stretched over the land of Egypt, or men, with stars.
*Hathor or Het-Hert in Egyptian is the goddess of love, fertility, marriage, and beauty. She was normally portrayed as a cow, or a woman with bovine horns. In fact it is the temple of Hathor at Dendara that depicts Cleopatra and her son Caesarion in Egyptian royal dress. The goddess was also identified with birth, and had two royal birthing houses in her temple complex at Dendara. The reliefs on the walls show Hathor giving birth to her son by Horus, Ihy. But, there were many other gods and goddesses identified with pregnancy and birth as well. Taweret was one of them, a hippo. Many charms of different stones were found carved into the shape of this goddess. Bes, a dwarf, was another of the deities invoked to protect pregnant women and ease birth. Like I mentioned early, Egyptian mythology is incredibly multifaceted.
*Isis is a character that often took on all the qualities of the other goddesses. She was the greatest of these, and the others seemed to be her other aspects, extensions of her. Rome, Greece, Egypt and other countries in the Mediterranean area held her in high esteem at the time and dedicated several temples to her. Her cult following was extremely popular. Her name means throne.
Author's note: I hope that chapter wasn't too long for ya. I guess I got a little carried away! Well anyway, please review, I need the encouragement!