A Wind Called Fate
Part XII: Confessions
A Mummies Alive! Fanfic
I awoke feeling alive again. The heartbreak hadn't gone away, but it no longer stole away my will. I was starving, too, and even the Physician's food sounded good to me. But my maids brought me real food - a full meal! They even let me out of bed so I could eat at the table. I was delighted beyond words. The bed suddenly seemed so confining. I wanted to be free of it, free of the room. But my maids said I couldn't go, not yet.
I insisted on sitting by the window, though. They were nervous, but agreed. They were right to be worried, late in the morning Amenutept was passing by outside and looked up. I gasped, drawing away. When I glanced back out he was still there, an unreadable look in his gaze. I wasn't sure what to think. I called my maids to take me back to bed, worried he'd come, yet hoping he did. He didn't. And part of me was disappointed.
The afternoon passed and dinner was served, and still Amenutept did not come. I almost felt like crying, but the time for tears seemed past to me. I settled down to eat with a heavy heart. What was I going to do? Should I apologize? Despite all that had happened, I rebeled against that thought. I still had my pride, and I'd done nothing wrong, truly. Though my words had been harsh, as his had...
I sighed, pushing away my half eaten dinner. I wasn't sure what to do. And that was when a familiar voice I'd waited all day to hear came from behind me. "Leave us." He ordered, and though I didn't turn I could hear my servants hasty retreat from the room.
It was such a familiar beginning. But things weren't the same between us. Again I wondered if I should apologize. Again, I rebeled...but perhaps...I could take back what I had said...tell him they were angry, foolish words...
"I never meant to hurt you." Amenutept spoke again.
I froze. Of all the thoughts in all the conversations I'd imagined us having, I never expected it to begin like that. "Nor I you...I didn't mean it...when I said I didn't care for you." The words were out of my mouth before I stopped them.
It was his turn to pause. "Do not feel obligated to tell me things you do not mean...our marriage was a bargain, not once did I demand you care for me. Such things cannot be commanded. Not even by a Pharaoh. "
There was that sorrow in his voice again, and this time I was the cause. I turned finally, and paused when I saw him. He wasn't facing me, but turned to the side, his gaze distant. Something in his stance, something in the way he wouldn't look at me told me how deeply my angry words had wounded him. I really don't think I thought. It wasn't contemplated at all, I suppose it was feeling, or instinct. But suddenly I was facing him, and then I was pressing my lips to his sofly, brieflly. "No, it can't. A Pharaoh can only be loved by his subjects as a King, as a god...but Amenutept is a man...you told me so yourself..." I didn't even realize what I was admitting, until I saw his startled gaze. Then I blushed, pulling back. "I...It is late, my lord..." I tried to turn away, embarrassed and worried what he would think now.
"Yshta." He took ahold of my arm. "Yshta...I must know if you meant that..."
"I do not take such matters lightly, my lord...I would not speak it if I did not mean it..."
He turned his gaze away temporarily, and my heart pouned in fear. Why wasn't he looking at me? Had I been wrong to tell him? "Come with me." He said at length.
"Where?" I was confused. It was nightime, most of the court would be retiring to their quarters already.
"Do you trust me?" He asked of me.
"...I do..."
"Then come..." He led me from the room.
The chariot ride was a bittersweet reminder of my past. Yet I couldn't truly concentrate on it as I stood in front of Amenutept in it, his arms around me so to hold the reigns. But it brought a pang of tempered sorrow, for though I could not ride the wind the same way again I could never look back with regret. We were alone. How Amenutept had manuevered us through the palace and out of it without being caught by the guards I still don't know. But looking back, I don't wonder if it was a trap as much as his knowledge. A warning that we didn't heed, but did we ever?
He stopped the chariot far from the palace or town, and slowly stepped bacl, looking over at me with a strange smile. "What?" I finally asked, turning to face him - confused. He didn't speak, didn't say a word. But slowly held out the reigns of the chariot in an offering. I looked at him, bewildered as understanding dawned. "You aren't teasing me?"
"You'd prefer to steal it?" He asked, his smile amused now.
That settled it. I took the reigns, and he rested his arms on the chariot sides to hold his own balance. It took me a long moment, and a part of me waited to wake up and find it all a dream. But it wasn't a dream, it was real, and a moment later we were thundering across the ground.
It was like water after a drought. So unbelievably glorious to ride the wind again. I couldn't even begin to describe it. I drove aimlessly, and occassionally wildly - so caught up was I in those moments. Slowly I stopped, giving the horses a break by a stream, and turned to face Amenutept. No words could express my gratitude. I didn't know what had inspired this act, but I'd never forget it - that I knew.
"Don't say your gratefi;. I wanted you to have this." He told me.
"I don't think I can help it. It means so much to me." I replied.
"I know." There was a moment of silence, as we stepped down from the chariot. Of understanding. I was reminded of my confession before we left the palace and wondered what it had to do with this midnight ride. But it became clear a moment later when Amenutept turned to face me, taking my hands, and sunk down on one knee. "Yshta....will you marry me?"
I didn't understand, as I looked down at him and he must have seen the confusion in my eyes, but waited my answer to explain. "I thought I had already agreed to that."
He shook his head. "This is not a Pharaoh's command or request...No bargain, or compensation...I, Amenutept, ask you. Yshta, please tell me - will you marry me?"
I looked down at him, my vision inexplicably blurred as I realized the full implications of his words. And I knelt down, wrapping my arms around his neck and letting the tears fall on his shoulder. "Yes...Yes, I will...I love you...."
"I love you as well, though I didn't know it. I've never known this before."
"There is no before, only now..." I whispered, and I meant it too.
We didn't have long to enjoy that moment, though. Because the twang of a bow was followed by an arrow clanging off the chariot. And when we lept up we saw figures approaching us - armed and no doubt dangerous. And this time there was no guard to protect either of us.
Yshta
So it took awhile, but I haven't given up on it. And it's about time they confessed their feelings, right? Well they have, now they have to escape to enjoy it. Which, given the show, we know they do, so how do they is the important part. No worries, the next chapter should be out sooner than this one was! ^-^ I hope.... -_-'
Salmon
Part XII: Confessions
A Mummies Alive! Fanfic
I awoke feeling alive again. The heartbreak hadn't gone away, but it no longer stole away my will. I was starving, too, and even the Physician's food sounded good to me. But my maids brought me real food - a full meal! They even let me out of bed so I could eat at the table. I was delighted beyond words. The bed suddenly seemed so confining. I wanted to be free of it, free of the room. But my maids said I couldn't go, not yet.
I insisted on sitting by the window, though. They were nervous, but agreed. They were right to be worried, late in the morning Amenutept was passing by outside and looked up. I gasped, drawing away. When I glanced back out he was still there, an unreadable look in his gaze. I wasn't sure what to think. I called my maids to take me back to bed, worried he'd come, yet hoping he did. He didn't. And part of me was disappointed.
The afternoon passed and dinner was served, and still Amenutept did not come. I almost felt like crying, but the time for tears seemed past to me. I settled down to eat with a heavy heart. What was I going to do? Should I apologize? Despite all that had happened, I rebeled against that thought. I still had my pride, and I'd done nothing wrong, truly. Though my words had been harsh, as his had...
I sighed, pushing away my half eaten dinner. I wasn't sure what to do. And that was when a familiar voice I'd waited all day to hear came from behind me. "Leave us." He ordered, and though I didn't turn I could hear my servants hasty retreat from the room.
It was such a familiar beginning. But things weren't the same between us. Again I wondered if I should apologize. Again, I rebeled...but perhaps...I could take back what I had said...tell him they were angry, foolish words...
"I never meant to hurt you." Amenutept spoke again.
I froze. Of all the thoughts in all the conversations I'd imagined us having, I never expected it to begin like that. "Nor I you...I didn't mean it...when I said I didn't care for you." The words were out of my mouth before I stopped them.
It was his turn to pause. "Do not feel obligated to tell me things you do not mean...our marriage was a bargain, not once did I demand you care for me. Such things cannot be commanded. Not even by a Pharaoh. "
There was that sorrow in his voice again, and this time I was the cause. I turned finally, and paused when I saw him. He wasn't facing me, but turned to the side, his gaze distant. Something in his stance, something in the way he wouldn't look at me told me how deeply my angry words had wounded him. I really don't think I thought. It wasn't contemplated at all, I suppose it was feeling, or instinct. But suddenly I was facing him, and then I was pressing my lips to his sofly, brieflly. "No, it can't. A Pharaoh can only be loved by his subjects as a King, as a god...but Amenutept is a man...you told me so yourself..." I didn't even realize what I was admitting, until I saw his startled gaze. Then I blushed, pulling back. "I...It is late, my lord..." I tried to turn away, embarrassed and worried what he would think now.
"Yshta." He took ahold of my arm. "Yshta...I must know if you meant that..."
"I do not take such matters lightly, my lord...I would not speak it if I did not mean it..."
He turned his gaze away temporarily, and my heart pouned in fear. Why wasn't he looking at me? Had I been wrong to tell him? "Come with me." He said at length.
"Where?" I was confused. It was nightime, most of the court would be retiring to their quarters already.
"Do you trust me?" He asked of me.
"...I do..."
"Then come..." He led me from the room.
The chariot ride was a bittersweet reminder of my past. Yet I couldn't truly concentrate on it as I stood in front of Amenutept in it, his arms around me so to hold the reigns. But it brought a pang of tempered sorrow, for though I could not ride the wind the same way again I could never look back with regret. We were alone. How Amenutept had manuevered us through the palace and out of it without being caught by the guards I still don't know. But looking back, I don't wonder if it was a trap as much as his knowledge. A warning that we didn't heed, but did we ever?
He stopped the chariot far from the palace or town, and slowly stepped bacl, looking over at me with a strange smile. "What?" I finally asked, turning to face him - confused. He didn't speak, didn't say a word. But slowly held out the reigns of the chariot in an offering. I looked at him, bewildered as understanding dawned. "You aren't teasing me?"
"You'd prefer to steal it?" He asked, his smile amused now.
That settled it. I took the reigns, and he rested his arms on the chariot sides to hold his own balance. It took me a long moment, and a part of me waited to wake up and find it all a dream. But it wasn't a dream, it was real, and a moment later we were thundering across the ground.
It was like water after a drought. So unbelievably glorious to ride the wind again. I couldn't even begin to describe it. I drove aimlessly, and occassionally wildly - so caught up was I in those moments. Slowly I stopped, giving the horses a break by a stream, and turned to face Amenutept. No words could express my gratitude. I didn't know what had inspired this act, but I'd never forget it - that I knew.
"Don't say your gratefi;. I wanted you to have this." He told me.
"I don't think I can help it. It means so much to me." I replied.
"I know." There was a moment of silence, as we stepped down from the chariot. Of understanding. I was reminded of my confession before we left the palace and wondered what it had to do with this midnight ride. But it became clear a moment later when Amenutept turned to face me, taking my hands, and sunk down on one knee. "Yshta....will you marry me?"
I didn't understand, as I looked down at him and he must have seen the confusion in my eyes, but waited my answer to explain. "I thought I had already agreed to that."
He shook his head. "This is not a Pharaoh's command or request...No bargain, or compensation...I, Amenutept, ask you. Yshta, please tell me - will you marry me?"
I looked down at him, my vision inexplicably blurred as I realized the full implications of his words. And I knelt down, wrapping my arms around his neck and letting the tears fall on his shoulder. "Yes...Yes, I will...I love you...."
"I love you as well, though I didn't know it. I've never known this before."
"There is no before, only now..." I whispered, and I meant it too.
We didn't have long to enjoy that moment, though. Because the twang of a bow was followed by an arrow clanging off the chariot. And when we lept up we saw figures approaching us - armed and no doubt dangerous. And this time there was no guard to protect either of us.
Yshta
So it took awhile, but I haven't given up on it. And it's about time they confessed their feelings, right? Well they have, now they have to escape to enjoy it. Which, given the show, we know they do, so how do they is the important part. No worries, the next chapter should be out sooner than this one was! ^-^ I hope.... -_-'
Salmon