Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. If it was, I'd be as rich as Seto Kaiba himself. (Well, probably not, but you get the idea…) And this fic is beta-read by Pamster. Thanks a lot to her for checking it and her advice.

Author's Note: The boat Set is on is based on the description of those that existed at the time. And Meshkent is the goddess of childbirth and destiny, who tells the fortune of people when they are born. And yes, Neith is highly jealous of Kisara, but it won't last. It's her getting territorial. (I make her sound like a dog. Sorry!). She'll get worse somewhat before she gets better, and very childish and petty – just like any human can get. I wanted to explore this side of her, so… And Set won't take any of Neith's behaviour. Her and Kisara's reconciliation is something that happens later on, so be patient.

Summary: Kisara runs into the unfortunate end of Neith's ire as the jealous wife plots to bring her down via any means necessary.

-o-

Chapter 36: The Case Of The Jealous Wife

-o-

A short while later…

Resting inside the boat Akunadin had given him, Set lazily glanced outside at Neith as his wife rested a hand on one of the large oars. He wondered what was going on inside her head as they sailed upstream. Kisara had moved over to the side, out of view, and Set had watched on as his wife's eyes had hatefully followed the white-haired girl. Neith was so protective of him now that Kisara had arrived that he found it amusing.

Set raised the vessel he held to his lips and drank deeply. He would ignore her jealous behaviour for the moment; he had far more important things to think about. The power of the white dragon would be his; it was only a matter of time until he worked out a way to take it without killing that innocent girl.

Set's blue eyes then rose back to Neith; she was tapping her foot impatiently as soldiers nearby rowed the boat, her eyes staring to the side. Perhaps it was best he called her over before she did something drastic.

"Neith, my dear, come here for a moment. I wish to speak with you." Set called his wife to him with a wave of his right hand.

Neith came up to him soon after, a curious look on her face.

"Yes?"

Set looked up at his wife from his chair, the sun shining brightly outside. They had been sailing for several hours now and he had been resting inside. And he would continue to do so until they made it home. Neith had only gone outside to get some fresh air. They would be back in Naquda in a few hours, back on safe ground, and Atemu would regret what he had done.

"What do you think of our guest?" he asked Neith. "You don't seem to have taken to her as I had hoped."

Neith's eyes shifted away from her tall husband.

"Neith, answer me."

"I don't like her!" came Neith's reply, as she pouted and folded her arms.

Set rolled his eyes as Neith petulantly looked away from him. So, she was jealous! How sad; he found it quite annoying. All he wanted was Kisara's power, but he was unwilling to kill for it. Plus, the white-haired girl seemed to be someone who deserved not to die in so cruel a way. And here was Neith, getting jealous of a mere 'slave girl', as he had heard her refer to Kisara.

"I'm not asking you to like her. I'm telling you to put up with her. I only want her for her power, nothing more. You're reading too much into things," Set spoke calmly.

Neith muttered darkly under her breath and Set's eyes narrowed as he shot up out of his chair, almost sending it flying to the wooden floor.

"What did you say? How dare you!" he snapped.

Neith looked at Set, who was furious that Neith had imposed such a judgement on him. She had never before done such a thing in all the years they had been together. He did not need to explain or justify anything to her!

"All you care about is power!" Neith repeated, walking back outside.

"Get back here! Don't you dare turn your back on me!" Set yelled.

The Hem Ntjr quickly stormed out after his wife, annoyed that those sailing the boat could see and hear what was going on. Set hated airing his linen in public, but Neith seemed to have forgotten her place. He grabbed Neith's wrist, pulled her to him and cuffed her hard around the face, knocking her to the floor. He then glared down at her as she raised a hand to where he had hit her in shock.

"Of course it's all I care about, you stupid woman! It's what keeps our family safe!" Set then stooped down and pulled Neith up by her hair. "Now get back inside and keep that mouth of yours shut!"

Set threw Neith angrily towards the cabin and followed her inside as she ran over to the corner of the room, huddling up on the bed that lay there. He could hear Neith crying to herself, her sobs lonely and bleak as he turned his back on her and glanced up at the sky. It was harsh, but it had to be done; she needed reminding of whom it was that was keeping her safe.

-o-

Later that day, Neith silently narrowed her eyes at the girl who had suddenly come into her life and Set's. As Neith watched her, Kisara leaned over the side of the boat and dangled her hand in the river. Grasping even more tightly the bowl of dates she held, Neith walked over to Kisara and placed the bowl on the side of the boat. She then turned to face the white-haired girl, a cloy smile on her face.

"Hello there. My husband would like to know if you are hungry. He told me to give this to you," Neith said in greeting.

"Thank you," Kisara smiled. "I haven't had anything to eat in ages."

Kisara then reached with a hand towards the bowl, and she immediately pushed it to the side, sending it and its contents sprawling into the river. They slowly drifted away, Kisara reaching for them with no success. The young brunette then had a wicked idea, and she moved behind Kisara with a smile on her face.

"If you want it, you'll have to swim for it!"

With a sharp shove, Neith sent Kisara flying over the side of the boat and into the river, where thw white-haired girl landed with a splash. Neith's face lit up evilly. That would teach her.

"Neith, what is this?" a cold voice asked.

Neith froze, her smile dropping instantly.

"Set! I lost my balance. Really! I didn't mean to push her in," Neith said, noticing his frown. "I'm feeling a bit seasick, and I kind of fell forwards – "

"Please; I've had enough. Stop the boat!" Set demanded, calling to his oarsmen.

Neith saw Kisara splashing in the water and smirked to herself.

"You there, fish her out of the river," Set then ordered the one of the men, after which he roughly grabbed Neith's arm. "You; come with me."

The brunette was dragged by her husband back towards the cabin and was dumped on the bed, the soldier Set had ordered pulling Kisara out of the river. Perhaps now that girl would learn her place.

-o-

I don't believe this! Not again!

Set strode towards the scene that had unfolded before him, and as he came closer he could see the wine that stained Kisara's scruffy tunic. Glancing at Neith who stood nearby, a vessel in her hands, Set knew what had happened. His wife had once again been grabbed by jealousy and was now taking great delight in the results of her work.

"Kisara, go inside and dry yourself off. Neith and I need some time alone," he told the white-haired girl.

"Yes, Lord Set."

Neith looked at Set as Kisara walked away, wringing out her tunic. His wife would never physically harm Kisara, not in his presence, and Neith was not that kind of person. Throughout this entire journey Neith had been treating Kisara like dirt, eventually spilling her wine over the poor girl.

"What is wrong with you? You've been like this ever since we left, and to be frank, your rude, prissy and selfish attitude is getting on my nerves!" Set snapped.

Neith swiftly raised her head to look her husband in the eyes.

"I've done nothing wrong! She needs to learn her place!"

Set's eyes narrowed and his lips curled upwards.

"And you need to learn yours! Kisara is my guest, so respect my wishes unless you wish me to beat some sense into you!"

He saw his wife's lips purse.

"You wouldn't dare! Not in my condition," Neith growled.

"You're right; I wouldn't," Set replied. "But that doesn't mean I won't hold you accountable for these actions in the future; remember that. Now go and get ready. We're almost there."

Neith sighed and looked at the familiar shores that lined the river of Set's hometown, now her home as well.

"We're almost home," the brunette sighed.

Set snaked an arm around his wife's shoulders and held her close. They were sailing past familiar fields he had ran past in his youth, in a time when he had longed to play in the water. Those working on the fertile land were watching them as they sailed past, no doubt surprised by the early return of their master and his wife. The town itself was located further up the steep hillside that descended into the river at a forty-five degree angle, suitable to fend off enemy attacks. Atemu would not dare to attack him in his hometown, not when there were both innocent civilians and an increased gathering of his loyal followers within those city walls.

Neith then looked up at him and he smiled back. They were home.

-o-

Once onshore, Neith yawned as she leaned forward on the camel she was riding. Set had taken it off one of the soldiers that had come down from the town to greet him, and her husband was now leading it as Kisara walked behind them, all of them travelling up the steep dusty path to the city's entrance.

The young woman felt tired, the short journey having taken its toll on someone in her condition. It was midday, the sun was at its peak and they had not stopped or eaten for a while. Neith's stomach then rumbled.

"Don't worry, lotus," Set chuckled, guiding the camel. "You can eat enough for the both of you when we get home."

"Thank you. Set?" Neith enquired gently.

"What is it?"

"When we have this baby what will happen? I doubt Atemu will be willing to just let you slip through his fingers."

Set was about to reply when suddenly Neith felt the camel stop. Twisting around, she could see that Kisara had fallen. She would have laughed, if Set had not ran to help Kisara up.

"Are you all right? You don't look so good," she heard Set ask Kisara. Neith's husband brushed the dust off Kisara, causing the jealous wife's face to turn scarlet. "Here, come and have a seat."

Neith bristled as Set then made the camel sit down, lifting the girl she detested so much up behind her. This was all she needed! But the girl was sick, so perhaps it was tolerable. Neith shot a glance at Kisara as Set goaded the camel up onto its feet, after which they continued up the path towards the town.

"Are we still to sleep in the same room?" Neith asked Set tetchily, shooting Kisara another glance.

Set looked up at his wife, his brows furrowed.

"Of course. We do so every night, lotus," the Hem Ntjr replied, choosing to ignore Neith's attitude.

The camel was led forward through the town's entrance, people stopping to watch them as the trio passed by, bowing respectfully. Neith had hoped to upset Kisara, but she had fell asleep, making her words meaningless. She was soon led through the town and up towards Set's estate, which had become her home.

-o-

Once inside the estate, Set awoke Kisara as they stood amidst a band of people. Neith looked around the courtyard at all her husband's servants; a number of household staff, as well as a multitude of his soldiers. Upon all the soldiers, her sharp eyes could pick out a snake tattoo on the inside of their right wrist. They had set up camp in the city and the estate, bringing home the finality that they were now fugitives.

Was this what Meskhent planned for me when I was born? What kind of future is this? Neith contemplated.

"Come on, Neith. Let's get you inside and out of the sun." Set helped her down from the camel and held her close. "Kisara, can you follow us?"

Set quickly led Neith inside, passing all the soldiers and staff and taking his wife inside the entrance hall. At least they were together. That was why Neith was here; she wanted a future for her son and herself. Kisara hung around the entrance as Set settled her beneath a statue of the Netjer who had given her husband his name. Set was so devoted to the one who had looked out for him, not caring about how his patron was viewed elsewhere, especially in the capital.

"Just stay still for me. I'll have someone fetch you some food in a minute, once I've checked that the little one is okay."

Neith felt Set gently run his hands over her round stomach, his eyes closed as he paused before checking her forehead. He then kissed her and opened his blue eyes.

"You'll both be fine. My lord has kindly been looking over you on my behalf, like I asked of him," Set smiled, bending down to hug Neith close.

Neith herself gazed over her husband's shoulder at Kisara, who was watching the two of them. The brunette's face then turned into a smirk before she closed her eyes and buried herself in the crook of her husband's neck, wrapping an arm around him. She felt Set stroke her hair lovingly, giving her one last final kiss before pulling back.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to sort out a room for our guest. Just wait here until I return."

Set then left with Kisara, leaving the brunette seated at the foot of her husband's patron. Neith smiled and ran her hands over her belly, imagining they were those of her husband. She could see them as a family, all three of them together, devoid of any strangers who threatened their peace. Her dream was coming true; they were finally going to have a child.

-o-