Prophecy
By Millennium
2: Lotus Flowers along the Nile
¹: Duat – The Underworld (the Place where the dead go)
²: Ab- I ahew – My heart pains
³: Seneb-ti – Health to you (Goodbye)
"===" – This is used when someone is speaking a language that the listener can't understand.
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"…We are gathered here today, in the memory of our late Pharaoh…" The voices seemed to buzz around and become slurred, till they were closed off entirely.
A soft blue lotus was nestled gently in a lightly tanned hand; teardrops like crystal kept falling upon the soft petals. 'Gone… First mother, now father…' There was a saddened sigh and a soft sniffle as Seshen wiped away the tears.
Akunadean looked over at his younger sister and walked over, joining her on the Nile River bank as soft chants and prayers echoed around them. "Seshen…" He said softly, laying a hand on her shoulder.
She sniffed and reached up to rest her hand on his, "I saw it coming." She said in a hoarse whisper. "I saw them both… they were in the sun, then disappeared into the darkness." She shook her head; "I should've been able to prevent it!" She said angrily, before coming saddened again.
"Don't put the blame on yourself." Akunumkanon said, joining them having finished his prayers. A priest took Akunumkanon's place and began some soft chants and more prayers. "Death is something that comes to all, it was bound to be their time." He said as gently as he could.
She looked up at them both, gave a soft nod and left their company. Picking up a basket she made her way between two-palm tree's and knelt down close to the water's edge. Taking out some of the contents in the basket, she laid them out on the ground before her. There were five lotus flowers, a blue, a purple, a pink, a white, a pale green, and a soft yellow; she also had a miniature boat with a thin candle at the top. Laying them before her she lighted the candle with the spark of two rocks and placed three of the lotus flowers in the water, she then placed the boat and then the final flowers. Standing up she murmured a soft prayer and watched as the lotus flowers formed a ring around the boat, leading it to the west side of the Nile. She bowed her head towards that direction and whispered, "Good luck on your journey to Duat¹."
She watched in fascination as a bluish-grey wisp of smoke whipped around the boat, encircling it as it sailed to the other side, "His Kaa and Baa are at rest." She announced to her brothers, who were behind her, "His heart won't be weighed by any regrets, he shall past the test." Picking up the basket she handed it to a servant and walked away, "Ab- I ahew ² to see you go, however, Seneb-ti ³."
Looking back one last time, she watched with a sad smile as the bluish-grey wisp carried the boat into the air and both disappeared with a soft breeze.
Mounting her golden-marked white horse, she rode back towards the direction of the palace, several other guards quickly mounted their horses and rode off, following her. One rider rode up next to her, "Princess, may I ask to where you are going?"
"Just back to the palace. There was no need to follow me."
"It is our sworn duty to protect you, My Lady." He said, crossing his fist over his chest.
"Fine, fine." She said sighing, "Just don't go on with all your pacts and everything." She put a hand to her head, "I don't think I could take it!" She spoke in a dramatic voice before laughing, the guards joined in.
"True." One mused, chuckling.
"Hmm…" She thought, then slowed her horse down, the guards skidded to a stop right next to her, surrounding her from all sides except the front – having learned that it was dangerous to be in the way when she was in a rush, "How about… a ride instead?" She looked around, "Would one of you be able to send word to our Pharaoh?" Another rider trotted forward, giving her a nod, "Tell him I'll be back before sunset."
"As you wish, My Lady," He said, bowing his head before riding back towards the ceremony.
"As for the rest of you…" She said, with a glint in her crimson eyes, "See if you can keep up!" She gave a yell and her horse reared up before galloping full speed in some unknown direction, leaving the rest of the guards in a cloud of dust.
"Princess! Wait up!" They yelled, then took off after her…
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« The Nile »
The ceremony was finished now, many commoners having gathered to pay respect to their late Pharaoh. Those of the palace were packing up and getting ready to set back to the palace; Akunumkanon was looking around for his younger sister with worry.
"Seshen? Seshen!" He called, then stopped as a guard came riding up to him… it was his sister's guard, worry crossed his face and he hurriedly asked, "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"No, your Majesty." He took a bow then straightened up, "The Princess is out with the other guards for a ride, I've been sent officially by her to inform you that she will be back before sundown."
"Thank you. You are dismissed." He said, relief on his features.
Looking around he saw that most had packed up so he mounted his horse and set off back to the palace, guards on both sides and two at the front and back…
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Once he had arrived at the palace he swept off, his purple and gold-embroided cloak billowing behind him, "Where are my Palace Scribes?" He yelled.
"Right here, your Majesty!" Two men yelled as they ran forward and bowed at his feet.
"Did anything happen when I was not here?"
"Actually…" One gulped, not making eye contact, "Someone tried to break into the Royal Stable, though we managed to catch the criminal."
"Bring them to the Throne Room at once!" He yelled and left towards his throne.
Walking down the strip he saw that as soon as he entered the room, everyone bowed their heads down to the ground in respect, striding past them and down the red and gold strip he walked up the steps and took his seat on the throne.
Not long after the doors burst open and a man was dragged through, kicking and yelling loudly in a foreign language that seem to cause the guards holding him to flinch as each work was spoken.
"==== == === ==== ==== ==?!" He hissed in a low voice.
¿/What do you want with me?/ ¿
Akunumkanon frowned at the man, "Speak Kemetic now."
The man gave a hiss, "=== === ====== =?"
¿/And why should I?/ ¿
Catching the Pharaoh's glare he snickered, "Fine." He wrenched his arms out of the guards' grips' only to have five different spears pointing at his neck, "Cowards." He muttered darkly.
"Where are you from?" Akunumkanon inquired.
"Kuru Eruna." He said, "But what does it matter to you?"
Akunadean stepped up beside the Pharaoh, a thoughtful expression crossed his face, 'Kuru Eruna…Now where have I heard that name before…?' Then suddenly it clicked, 'It was one of Father's priests who betrayed him! He was banished! That's right… and he said that he'd be back… His name was Eruna… that's where I heard the name.'
"What is your name?" Akunadean asked, putting in his words before the man could speak again.
"I have no name in your language, though I am the son of Eruna."
"I thought it true…"
"Why are you here?" Akunumkanon snapped.
"Is it obvious?" He chuckled softly, "The dearly departed Pharaoh is gone… He banished my father from his Kingdom! I'm out for revenge!" He snarled. "==== ===, ==== === ===!!!"
¿/Damn you, DAMN YOU ALL!!!/ ¿
"I'll kill you all. I'll be back… I shall hunt you down and if you die by not my hand, I shall kill your son, and his son after that! You shall all be brought down by hate!" he cackled insanely and disappeared in a surge of black smoke.
Akunumkanon stood up at once, "Search the entire palace! This man is not to escape!" He yelled.
"Sir! Right away!" the lead guard said, bowing quickly then yelling out orders for his men.
The Pharaoh fell back into his throne, massaging his temples, "Damnit… Why are people always out for revenge on our family?" He murmured softly enough so that Akunadean could only hear.
"I-I don't know."
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« Elsewhere »
"Phew!" Seshen said, wiping away the sweat with her hand, "We're here!" She dismounted from her horse and turned around, waiting for the guards to catch up.
Once they arrived, they all slowly dismounted before falling over backwards in exhaustion.
"Don't tell me you're tired already! All you did was sit on a horse!" She exclaimed.
The head of her guards sat up, wiping away the sweat that had collected on his brow, "I'm sorry, My Lady." He stood up, then bowed his head in respect, "We will try and do better to keep up next time."
She shrugged, "Okay then." She reached into the pack that hung on her horse and pulled out a several flasks followed by various fruits.
The guards all sat up, hunger and thirst clear in their eyes as they watched, mouths hanging open as each food piece came out one by one.
Seshen pointed to the ground and then a large wooden table appeared, placing the food on it, she turned around, tapping her foot impatiently, "If you want to eat, you have to help out!"
That got their attention, they all sprang to their feet and quickly washed their hangs in the buckets of water that Seshen had materialized along with the table. Once their hands were clean, they began setting out the food in the shade of the large ridge they were in.
Seshen muttered darkly as she continued pulling things out of the bag, "Silly bottomless bag… that's the thing wrong with it! Things come out in reversed order you put them in!"
She finally found what she was looking for, plates and cutlery. Making them levitate in mid-air, she made the food stack up on all the plates, each plate of food had equal share, even hers.
Finally the food glided back down and all landed on the table softly and Seshen took a seat, "Okay guys… Dig in!"
"Thank you Princess!" They all coursed in one voice before stuffing their faces.
Seshen smiled and started her lunch-time meal, her eyes looking at the ridge wall with absent interest. Frowning she focused her eyes more, 'Could've sworn I just saw someone…' She shook her head to clear her mind. 'Maybe it's just me.'
Instead she returned to her meal, focusing her attention on the plate of various breads and fruits before her. "Princess! Duck!" A guard yelled and threw a wooden plate at her head.
She ducked under the table and an arrow his the plate dead centre. Shocked, she shakily stood up, just in time to hear a loud neigh and watch a figure ride off from the top of the ridge.
"Are you okay?" The same guard asked, laying a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah… I-I think so…" She gasped, "That was too close for comfort." Looking over at the arrow, she saw that it pierced straight through the plate and directly into the table. Walking over she pulled the arrow out and frowned at the tip, showing it to the other guards who had stopped eating and were looking on in either interest or concern, "Look… Poison." She whispered, turning the arrow so they could examine the green substance on the tip…
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Thanks to the reviewers!
Pharaohs Angel: Thanks!
Glitnir-Gebo: You really thought it was sad? Thanks for reviewing!
Ain-Siti-Naunet: Yup, you got it all correct. :-) Thanks!
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