this is actually chapter four, dispite it is registered as number 5. - enjoy -

4.

Aurelia's Past

Atem ran down the temple steps. The stone was warm and his feet became hot quickly. He was so light headed he didn't care about anyone seeing him exit the temple. The pound of his feet on the courtyard matched the pace of his heart. The girl he had only just met, Aurelia, was his first true love. Love at first sight was possible.

Isis was a little way ahead of him and he was catching up.

"Isis!" he called.

The holy lady stopped. "Prince, I see you have worked things out."

"Yeah, but you would've already known that." breathed Atem as he reached her.

"True. It's only by the power of my item that I can; even then I can't see all things. Those people who hold the other items, that power I can not see through."

"So the future reading abilities of the necklace affects all those with out the items! Well this proves you learn something new everyday. But you still knew it was me."

"Yes!" Isis turned and walked into the now quiet hallways.

"How?" asked the prince following.

"When I first laid eyes on Aurelia."

"How long ago was that? I only received the puzzle about a week ago so it must have been before then."

"It was many years ago." Isis paused. "Aurelia's a princess you know." she added and watched Atem's reaction. "Her mother was the gypsy queen. Her father was the general of the Egyptian army."

"Really!? Why isn't she in the house of women? Or with her people?"

"Her father was General Kun. He was around long before you where born. His last wish was to keep the child and raise her as an Egyptian woman, though I'm sure this wasn't what he had planned."

"Seems quite a story." said Atem. "Does Aurelia know?"

"Yes and no." winced Isis. "She knows who her parents were but not everything, how she got here and the real reason why she's a prisoner in the temple are a mystery to her."

"So…tell."

The two of them had wandered into the water gardens by now. A peaceful and tranquil place. The soft trickle of water was a constant song. A small crystal pool was in the centre with mosaic base, greatly influenced by the Greeks. Exotic ivy's and ferns had been planted in pots and placed decoratively around the room. White pillars were dosed in a thin layer of moisture. A steam hung low about the floor, and the two soon found the damp began to cling to them.

Atem opened several shuttered windows to remove some of the humid air. They sat down on a bench and Isis cleared her throat for the tale.

"It all began roughly 17 yrs ago. As you know Egypt and Israel had been at for a while." began Isis. "The enemy was strong so we needed all the help we could get. General Kun, Aurelia's father was in the favour of the Gypsy Queen Ulaila. With her help they became our allies and worthy one too. Despite war and the unpleasantness of death, it wasn't always fighting; both countries could go for months without shedding a single drop of blood. You where so young you shouldn't remember. Kun married Ulaila after her husband was killed. She fell with child and then began to worry about her safety. Kun with an escort of 20 men, rode down to where the gypsies were camped to bring her and the unborn child to Egypt's capital." she paused and chewed her lip as if to think about what she was to say next. "However on the way back……….."

'The company had halted at a small oasis. Horses needed resting and so did the riders.

Kun sat on a large bolder and sharpened his long sword. His dark hair was braided into a tight rope which hung down between his shoulder blades. His well tanned back and chest where covered in dust and sweat, they moved rhythmically and with expertise as he handled the blade.

A small sandy coloured tent had been quickly set up in the shade of the few trees. Stepping out of its entrance was a woman of incredible beauty. Amber eyes tanned skin and tightly curled hair. She wore a deep purple robe with golden lining. Beads and ribbons where tangled in her dark luscious curls.

Ulaila, tall and proud, walked towards Kun. Her body swayed slightly but it was to be expected of a woman in her situation. She was almost ready to give birth, but being so far in the pregnancy she was very small.

Kun stood and walked to his wife; he pulled her close and hugged her deep into him. Ulaila smiled and laughed as Kun was surprised to feel the baby kick inside of her.

"The child never moves till you're close." smiled the gypsy queen as Kun placed his hand on her swollen belly.

"He's a born fighter. Like his dad." chuckled Kun as the baby continued it's kicking.

"He?" asked Ulaila. "My dear husband it will be a girl."

Kun shrugged. "I don't care what it is as long as it's a part of us."

Ulaila pushed him playfully; Kun kissed her and sat back down in his rock to continue sharpening his sword. Ulaila cuddled up next to him and drifted into a peacefully, comforted sleep. Kun gentle stroked her cheek and kissed the top of her head…….'

"Isis! Look." interrupted Atem. "I love the detail but I get the fact that their in love."

Isis frowned. "You shouldn't dismiss the feelings of others so freely. When you and Aurelia grow closer you will do these things too."

"Maybe!"

"It's more than maybe. The bonds of destiny have begun their weaving and love has taken a firm rooting in both your hearts."

Atem tried to look unimpressed but deep inside he had already guessed most of what Isis said.

"Can I continue?" asked the Priestess.

"Of course."

"Kun and his men remained at this spot for the rest of the day. As a military man he sent out two scouts………"

'Kun sat on his steed waiting for his men to return.

The sun was low in the sky and in a matter of minuets the entire landscape would be plunged into what seemed an eternal darkness. Ulaila sat on her camel and watched a lizard desperately soak up the remaining heat.

The night fell as the scouts came back.

"General! You were right! The Israelite troops turned away from the valley. The path is quite clear until the last few miles of wasteland." said one.

"After that…" continued the second. "There is a small squad of Romans. But we can easily take them out as easily as skirting around them."

Kun was quiet for along time. Ulaila placed her hand on her husbands arm, as she did so a small faint ache rose up inside of her. It was so small that she completely ignored it.

"We'll continue south along this road." he said as last. "Then pass along the top of the valley, from there we should be able to make to the city or to the main camps a few miles from the city. We should be safe after that." there was a chorus of agreement. "No torches are to be lit." he added.

It was a risky business to do this trail with no light, but with enemies around with light was the more dangerous option. There was no objection. Kun knew this road blindfolded. With stars and the moon as light it would be easy.

The journey started once again. The pace was swift and with the animals fresh they were covering a lot of ground……….'

"Question!?" interrupted Atem.

"Yes!"

"How do you know all this?"

"Well my necklace allows me to see what I want."

"Only if the person has nothing to do with an item." added the prince quickly.

"Yes. Well I was worried about them, so I was watching to make sure they were safe. Ulaila was soon to give birth and we had become good friends."

"Ok, I get! Now carry on."

"I will if you let me." said Isis through gritted teeth.

"Sorry." smiled Atem as innocently as he could.

"Kun and his troops had reached the top of the valley by early morning……."

'The horses' sides billowed out in harsh snorts and short bursts. They where being watered and a given a small rest but they could not liner for long.

Ulaila's pain had grown quiet a bit but she hid it well. She knew these where the beginning pains of child birth. She was afraid that the child would require delivery out in the desert and that she could die from the birth as so many other women did. They moved on again.

Kun was ridding up front and Ulaila was surrounded by his men. It was such open country and any enemy soldier could spot them and raise an alarm instantly. The stopped again at a large boulder and waited through the blistering midday heat. Ulaila couldn't keep still, as her contractions grew more and more painful the more she wanted to squeeze Kun's hand to dust and cry out. These pains where unbearable though she walked about in the shade, stood by Kun then walked about some more.

Kun could see his wife was in discomfort but he passed it off to be impatience. He never suspected that his first child was going to be born in matter of hours.

The horses where rested and the moved on again. They company threaded down a rocky slop to a large flat of land.

One of the men at the rear turned his head. "General! Look enemy soldiers!"

Kun looked over his shoulder. There was a small group of Israelites heading their way. Ahead of them there was endless desert they where still out of sight of the City.

"Prepare for Battle!" he cried. "Ulaila. Continue straight on the city should not be too far."

"No Kun!" protested Ulaila.

Kun looked at her and smiled. "I bet that child will be born with you arrogant personality."

Ulaila cried as a contraction rose up but Kun thought is was for him.

"Go woman." he commanded.

She obeyed and forced her camel to go faster, the pains where now shaper and almost constant.'

The palace was only over the next hill. Inside the priestess Isis had been watching. She was very young to have received her necklace but she was familiar with its power. Still it had been a lot of hard work trying to keep a constant eye on the small group.

"Wretched gypsies." a younger Akunadin scorned. "That child will not be accepted as one of us. It's better off dead."

The image ended and she frowned at him. "Their in trouble." she said. "Only 3 miles away. An Israelite troop was able to pass the patrols and is heading straight for Kun and his team."

Akunadin rolled his eyes. "Send out the chariots, send word to the Pharaoh and have him meet us at the main gates. You and I will go out to the battle field……."

"Hay!! Why'd you stop?" asked Atem. "this time it wasn't my fault, so what happened?"

"I don't know." said Isis blankly. "I was on my way to them so I couldn't watch. I guess Kun did fight and when we got there the battle was almost over….."

'With the sight of back up the enemy tried to flee, but Egyptian archers are well known for their marksmen and aim.

Kun was mortally wounded but he wouldn't let that deter him from finding Ulaila. He had seen her fight but had she fallen.

"Ulaila!" he called.

Isis had discovered her body first.

Kun stumbled over. "Ulaila…" he cried sinking to his knees. "I'm sorry."

The lady was silent and her eyes where slightly glazed. Isis could see the arrow through her chest and several slashes on her arm and belly. But there was a lot of blood to be from those wounds alone.

Kun then lay down by his wife and placed his hand on her womb filled stomach. "Isis!" he began. "The child is still alive. Take it and raise it as an Egyptian."

The young girl nodded and began to cry as she surgically removed the baby from Ulaila. Kun was still conscious when the baby's first cries where heard.

"It's a girl." said Isis wrapping the baby in her cape.

"She was right." smiled Kun, his eyes began to close and he sounded sleepy. "I'm glad she was right."

Within minuets of Kun's death Isis received her vision of the girl child's future. Akunadin saw nothing as a burden on his part and as he had said the child was not allowed among the rest of the society. The Pharaoh owed it to Kun not to send the girl to a slum house or not make his wishes come true. He placed Aurelia in the care of the priests.

Akunadin imprisoned her in Hathor's temple….'

"Basically that's it." sighed Isis. "When Aurelia was 10 she was already a fair maiden and that's when Akunadin became interested in her. She was so innocent he made his promise. No doubt you know it now?"

"Yeah I know it." the prince nodded.

"There you have it. Aurelia's past."

Atem sighed as well and thought about the tale he had just heard.

"Anyway Prince you need to find your father."

"Oh yeah." he cried jumping up. "Thanks for telling me that story. Could I tell Aurelia the full tale someday?"

Isis nodded.

Atem smiled and ran out of the water gardens. It was finally coming together, so it was destiny that he and Aurelia where to be together. The only obstacle left to remove was Akunadin. Atem knew with the help of his father that would be out of the way too.

He arrived at the hall and entered it. The music was being practised at that moment, and his father was talking with Akunadin. Atem approached with his head held high. Akunadin could see in the princes eyes there was deep unrest.

Aurelia waited. Somewhere in the temple was an evil. She could feel it in every inch of her body.

Somewhere far away her love was about to beg for her freedom. She was in deep anticipation and couldn't' keep still.

Atem waited till Akunadin had left.

"Atem at last…." said his father.

"Wait what I have to talk about is more important." interrupted Atem. "Father I know about Aurelia.."

Akunumkanon's eyes dulled and he stopped smiling.

"I want you to set her free from Akunadin's grasp." demanded Atem.

The pharaoh sighed and looked out at the Hathor temple. "Son………."

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thats chapter 4.....at last i got it up..... so....chapter five is on its way.

pleez R&R

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