Author's Notes:

This was thought up in Egypt. Honestly. Sinai Desert inspired me, and it took me half a year to write this down (or find the time to write this down...). What I know about the original Egyptian plot, I know only from other fics (Sadly, I don't possess any mangas...) so I hope it isn't that bad. I'll make it an AU anyway.

I want to finish it before I post it, so by the time you see this, I'll have finished the story. I'd still appreciate comments, also about mistakes, if it's something important there's still a chance I'll change it.

From now on Author's Notes will be at the end of each chapter, so I don't spoil the fun.

Those who don't know me yet: English is not my mother tongue, I apologize for any mistakes (Can't download the spell check)

Disclaimer:

Egypt is not mine...but I'll certainly conquer it tomorrow with my Kuriboh – army. Hehehe...

No, seriously. They're not mine. None of them...Not even the lovely little Kuriboh...

You know what? .... I feel terribly lonely.

Chapter 1

Re Harachte, the Rising Sun, threw the first, gentle rays of light onto Egypt. The High Priest Seth was on his way from the daily morning rites, walking through an avenue of sphinxes from the temple to the palace. He reached the pillared hall in front of the pharao's residence long before the other priests, who were following him.

Suddenly an arm shot out behind one of the pillars, grabbing his hand. The startled priest was dragged into the shadows in the blink of an eye, with a momentary flash of gold in the morning sun.

But the High Priest wasn't exactly harmless. An instant later the blade of his rod was against the attacker's neck, whom he held in place in front of himself.

An annoyed sigh,

"It's only me, Seth."

Instantly, the priest let go, stepping back.

"I apologize. I didn't realise it was you, my prince."

The glow of crimson eyes in the dark,

"It's alright. I need a private word with you, my priest. Are you free?"

"I am, but not for very long. I am wanted in the palace, my father wants to instruct me on some special rites."

"Alright...Follow me, please. I can't talk about it here"

Quick Morning Prayer of Atemu, prince of Egypt, to Re Harachte

Almighty Harachte, giver of life, giver of hope, make my father forgive me for what I am about to do. I just can't waste my life like that anymore. Right now I should be with the teachers, studying until midday, and afterwards I should exercise my shadow powers with the priests, and afterwards there is more work and studies. I fall into bed in the evening, more tired with every passing day. How can anyone live like that, just following the orders and wishes of his father? I can't understand why even the little children of the slaves down in the streets have at least one small hour to play every day, while I have to be inside, alone, tired, working. And now he wants me to give away the last thing I have, the chance to love, truly and deeply, by marrying some princess from Nubia whom I have never met before. No, I can't. This is my life! The only life I'll ever have. The only chance to do what I want to do, not what is my duty to do. Duties! I hate them. Harachte, this is the only escape I can think of. I hope you're not too angry with me.

End of Prayer

"Seth, you swore an oath, right? You swore you would keep all my secrets. I'm trusting you to keep what I'm going to tell you secret."

"I will keep my oath, my prince."

"Seth, I can't marry her"

They were standing in a small chamber near the great obelisk right of the entrance to the palace.

"Why, Atemu, you don't even know her yet."

"I just can't. I want to give my love freely, to the one I choose fit for it."

"That is a dream, my prince. As the future pharao you have duties. This is one of them."

"I know, but I hate it! I don't want my existence to be only about living up to others' expectations."

"But anything else will disappoint your people!"

"They will find someone else. Why me? I never asked for this! I never wanted this! Crown another instead of me! I'm sure there will be hundreds eager to accept your offer."

"The gods chose you, not one of those hunded people. We have to follow their wills."

"Who says that? The priests and my father. But none could ever tell me the reason why the gods would choose me and yet give me so fierce a will to persue my freedom. And I'll show you all that I can indeed do it. Tonight, shortly before sunrise, I'll go. I'm going to leave the palace in secret and try to make for Abydos. Through the desert."

"My prince, I can't..."

"Hush. You can't allow that, right? Well, the good news for you is that you don't have to allow it. You will keep this a secret and no one will ever find out you knew about my plan. Unless you want with me."

"...Is this why you told me? Because you thought I would come with you?"

"...Yes"

"No way. Atemu, your so-called plan is the solution of a child. A childish, defiant attempt to get rid of a problem. Of course I won't go with you and I strongly advise you to think about it again. Sleep a night over it, perhaps then you'll be in your right mind again."

"Fine. I don't need you to come with me. Are you going to tell my father?"

"No. I swore an oath."

For a moment determined gazes met. There was silence.

"Farewell, Seth" Atemu bowed and turned to go.

Seth bowed but didn't say anything.

Prayer of Seth, Future High Priest of Egypt, to Atum, the Setting Sun

Atum, Father of Ends, I am in deep trouble of mind. Only a few hours are now left until he will leave and I haven't made up my mind yet. I know how he's feeling, I know it so well. How often did I wish I could just leave, get onto a ship on the Nile and sail with the wind to the sea! But something always kept me here. By Ra, I even made plans of escape, like he does now. And once I almost really left. That day I lay hidden in the papyrus, watching my father and the priests leave, thinking I had finally escaped them, the endless hours of training. And then he suddenly stood before me. That little child with the wildly coloured hair and the intense crimson eyes that should become my lord one day, eyeing me curiously. He was quick of understanding even then. "Are you goin' away?", he asked innocently and, staring into his eyes, I couldn't bring myself to leave him. I learned something about duty back then. I could have told him today, but he wouldn't have believed me. Everyone has to experience this for himself.

Atum, I realise that deep inside I have already made up my mind. But leaving behind everything, not knowing what the future will bring, is not easy. Give me the strength to do it.

End of Prayer

The streets of Thebes were silent. Carefully Atemu tried to lead his horse along without making too much noise. It was difficult. The horse wasn't used to darkness and it didn't understand why it had to go out at this hour. Furthermore it had to carry a number of bags Atemu couldn't leave behind. He sighed in relief when he finally saw the huge outer walls of the city.

Suddenly he heard the clattering of hooves not far behind. Desperately he looked for a hiding place for himself and his horse, but even as he tried to lead his steed behind one of the near cabins, there was the sound of quiet laughter.

"Don't bother hiding, my prince. It's only me"

The light of a torch was falling onto him and into the glow stepped the High Priest, leading two camels, one red, one white.

"Seth! But I thought you...."

"I know, I told you I would not come. But you made me realise two things today.

The first is that I in truth swore an oath. I swore to always follow my pharao, through Ra's fires and the Nile's waters, even to death and the afterlife, to always protect him with all my strength and knowledge and if it is necessary even with my own life. I will keep my oath. I'll never leave you, my prince."

The dancing flames of the torch were reflected in Atemu's crimson eyes, as he looked up at his priest, then he took a step into the other's direction, stopped again and finally bowed low.

"I knew why out of all my priests and servants, I entrusted my secret to you, most faithful Seth."

The other nodded curtly. The prince looked up and smiled. Then he asked,

"What was the second thing you realised?"

"I realised that you are still a boy of fifteen cycles, and that you should be allowed to act upon childish ideas, as long as I am with you to protect you"

"Are you telling me I am still a child??"

"Of course, my prince. Otherwise you would know that it is suicide to go onto a trip into the desert with a horse! You forget everything you were ever taught about the desert."

"Oh."

"Come, take those bags off your poor steed and put them onto Sitah here."

He patted the red camel's neck.

Atemu bit his lip, an annoyed expression on his face. But he did what the other had told him to do.

Again, Re Harachte was ascending the sky. The golden and red light glittered on the still surface of the Nile as the Prince and High Priest of Egypt left Thebes in silence.

Author's Notes:

The camels: The names are randomly made up. Red camels, as I was told in Sinai, are very rare (imported from Iraq, I think), and a sign of royality. White ones are rare too, but not as much.

Ages: Atemu is 15 (15 cycles), that means still a teenager (that's why it's PG13) I don't know about their age difference in Egypt, but I picture Seth being around 19 at that time. But if you know better, tell me, I appreciate it. I don't know either at what age Atemu died....but I couldn't bear making him younger than 15, I couldn't quite picture passionate kisses that way.

Egyptian Life: I don't know anything about their life and teaching in Egypt. But since this is an AU I think you probably won't care that much

Prayers and Gods: The prayers are the way I wanted to let you know what they're thinking and feelin. The story itself will be held plain without mentioning their emotions, more like a report of the things happening, although there will shine through some things.

I looked up which god would fit best for each prayer. But often gods have various functions, so don't worry if you associate the name with a different function.

Something more important: Note on the Places

www.mnsu. edu/ emuseum/ prehistory/ egypt/ maps/ central. html

Here you should find a map of Central Egypt at that time. (Since the link wasn't shown before, I made spaces into it. Now I think you can see it. You have to remove the spaces and copy it so you can watch it. Sorryfor the complications. I hope you can seethe map now)They go from Thebes to Abydos, and as you can (hopefully) see, the shortest way is right through the desert. I don't know how close Abydos really is to the Nile, perhaps I imagined it a bit closer, but it's not particulartly important...

Ok, that was enough notes for the beginning I think.