Chapter 3

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Party

"Ivy!" she heard Mia cry.

Oh no…Ivy thought. Mia came through to door of Ivy's room.

"Quickly! Ivy change into your new dress! Me and Audrey will do the hair!" Mia scowled.

"Do I have to?" Ivy asked, she was lying on her bed, listening as each guest arrived. The girls were probably in better dresses than her, but who cared?

"Yes!" Mia yelled she picked up the dress and shoved it at Ivy, "Now put it on!"

Ivy did as she was told, and sat in front of a mirror as Mia started doing her hair.

"Hey Mia, where is Audrey?" Ivy said tiredly, she didn't know why but she felt tired, it was just one of those days.

"She'll be here soon, she's looking for something, but I think I will be done your hair by the time she's finished," Mia concluded.

"Okay," Ivy answered. By the time Mia was done, Ivy was half asleep. Just then, Audrey came in and slammed a whole bunch of jewelry on the table in front of Ivy, waking her up, and making her jump.

"What's this for?" Ivy said, still shocked.

"Your jewelry," Audrey said proudly, "I found it around the palace."

"Am I allowed to use it?" Ivy asked.

"Yes! Of course silly!" Audrey said Ivy started to move through some of the jewelry.

"There I am done!" Mia cried; Ivy looked up at her reflection. She didn't even look like herself, her hair was wavy at the ends and was full of volume. Usually, Ivy had straight hair that was flat, but Mia had done a great job.

"I don't even look like myself," she whispered.

"I'm not even sure the Pharaoh will notice you!" Audrey said.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Ivy spat.

"Oh, nothing! Here this would look good!" Audrey picked up a purple jeweled necklace and fastened it around Ivy's neck. Then Mia and Audrey got into a little fight about which bracelets would look the best, Ivy looked through the pile, and found a piece of jewelry that had small jeweled violet flowers on it. She studied it for a moment.

"What is this?" Ivy asked the two ladies.

"I'm not sure," Audrey said, "It looks too big for a bracelet, and too small for a necklace. I brought it anyway."

Ivy looked at her ankle, "Do you think it could go around your ankle?"

"Maybe," Mia answered, Ivy lifted her leg that would be revealed most because of the slanted cut and put it on.

"That looks right," Ivy commented.

Later…

Ivy managed to convince Mia and Audrey that she didn't need a bracelet, the bandage worked as one. But unfortunately, Ivy couldn't get away without Audrey applying some make-up on her eyelids. She made her way to the large room where the party would take place, when she entered the room she was shocked by all the people and how wonderful the room looked. There were materials with royal colours on them hung elegantly, there was some food on a table which Ivy recognized (most of it at least, but she figured that the rest of the food would be served later), and Ivy was right about the girls having better dresses than her. Mostly everyone else had an escort, Great! Ivy thought, I am going to look so dumb being alone! Ivy also noted there were many chairs for tired dancers, and a large balcony if someone needed fresh air.

Ivy walked past the food table and opened one of the large doors beside it and saw it was a large dining room. There were several tables which would seat 8 to a table, and there was a large table at the front, probably for the hosts, and others who worked at the palace. Up at the front she saw Atem, she opened the door ever so slightly just to fit her slender body through, and closed the door behind her. It looked like Atem was making some final adjustments, he was ordering servants to moving some chairs and fix some crooked flowers.

"Atem," she whispered as she got closer to the front. The room was so big and quiet, she was scared to disturb its peace. He was dressed elegantly in red and gold, and had some of the finest jewelry on. Atem looked at her, and stared. Ivy spun around once in the dress which was slightly hued in red, then stopped and dropped her hands at her sides.

"You look—great," he finally found a word.

"Not too bad yourself," she answered smartly. Atem was about to answer, before someone opened the door loudly.

"Atem," said the man at the door, "Your guests are waiting, are?"

His eyes set on Ivy, "I'm sorry miss, your not permitted to be here," he said kindly.

"Sebak, this is Ivy, she's my friend," Atem said calmly, he studied her for a moment then continued, "Are you finished, Atem?"

Atem looked around once, then nodded. Sebak came through the door, not opening it very wide. And strode up, he came so close to Ivy she had to move out of his way.

"Well let's go then!" he said.

"I just need to talk to Ivy for a moment," Atem said firmly, he walked up to Ivy, and held her arm as he whispered into her ear.

"Ivy, you're going to sit beside me when we are eating in this room, when everyone is leaving to enter into the dining room, I'll find you and I'll show where we're going to eat," he whispered, she nodded. Atem let her go and as he jogged back to Sebak, Ivy noticed that he was casting her a dark look. She looked away.

"Ready?" she heard him ask Atem, Ivy looked up as Atem nodded. Ivy made her way back to the ball room. It was a few moments before someone announced that Pharaoh Atem was entering the ball room. He descended down the large golden staircase, everyone was silent as he did so. Only music accompanied him. When he reached the bottom, there was a loud applause then everyone stopped as Atem said, "Let us begin!" Followed by another applause, Atem looked happy, but Ivy knew he was probably more nervous than ever.

Ivy remembered Atem telling her that at the party he was to dance with every possible queen. And by the looks of all the people he would be pretty sore by the end. Ivy first helped herself to some of the starters, and was disappointed when her favourite dish wasn't there, it was probably going to be served at the main meal. She put a healthy amount of food on her plate, then found a good chair where she could observe everyone who was dancing. Atem was dancing with a very attractive blonde at the moment.

"Ivy," someone said. Ivy looked around and noticed Mia and Audrey.

"You were coming, to the party? Why did you fuss over me then?" Ivy asked, if she knew they were coming she wouldn't have let them work on her dress, hair, or make-up.

"We like to see our art on someone else," Audrey said happily.

"Art?" Ivy asked, confused.

"Yes, the dress, jewelry, and the make-up," Mia answered.

"Alright," Ivy said perplexed.

"And Ivy, my dear, look around for once! I've seen a few good looking boys, try to make eye contact with you!" Mia said. Ivy stared at them, then continued eating, now making sure she was looking at her plate. The pair left. But Ivy couldn't help but look around, and saw that Mia was right she had already seen one boy look at her. They stared at each other for a few moments, he smiled warmly, while Ivy smiled shyly. She mentally slapped herself.

After slowly digesting the food on her plate, they were called to the dining room, sure Ivy still had an apatite it just wasn't that big. Atem did as he said, he found her and led her to the dining room.

In the Dining Room…

"Atem do you remember how this tasted?" Ivy pointed, she'd forgot how it tasted. Atem had food in his mouth, he looked up and shook his head. Ivy happily reached over and put a bit of it on her plate, she stuck her fork in it, and put a piece in her mouth. It was pretty awful, Ivy swallowed the piece she had taken whole.

"That's disgusting," she said, she quickly drank some water, Atem smiled. When no one was looking he took a piece too, Ivy beamed at him and watched him. He tasted it then he too, swallowed it whole.

"That is disgusting," he grimaced, Ivy silently giggled. During the entire dinner many of the girls gave her evil looks, Ivy figured they weren't going to be her friend anytime soon. Soon everyone was finished and resting their bodies, then Sebak announced that Atem still needed to dance with some of the fine ladies. Ivy heard Atem give a small groan, she put her hand on his shoulder.

"I feel sorry for you," she joked, Atem gave her a small smile, before going to dance.

Later…

Atem was slowly finishing up the list of eligible women, and now maybe he was finished, Ivy couldn't see him dancing anywhere! Someone grabbed her wrist, if it was that boy who looked at her like that before, she would turn around and smack him. She whipped around and was taken aback by the person who was holding her wrist. It was the same person who held it when she was injured.

"Atem! What are you doing?" she asked.

"It's time for you to be embarrassed," he smirked.

"What?" she asked cluelessly.

"Ivy I saw you giggling at some of the people dancing, don't lie," Atem said smartly.

"At least I'm honest," she straightly said, Atem smiled. A new song was starting, it was a slow song, Ivy looked at Atem, he tilted his head to all the dancing pairs. She sighed, and followed him.

"You give up too easily," he commented.

"I know," she said, as they reached the dancing floor, "Atem I should tell you that I don't know how to dance."

She mimicked the position according to how the other pairs were standing.

"Just look at your feet and I'll help you," he said calmly, and he did; once Ivy had gotten the hang of it, she looked up again and realized how closely her and Atem were. Then she focused her attention on others, she spotted Mia and Audrey, who were grinned and send little 'I told you so' faces; Ivy smirked and looked away from them, only to meet two hateful eyes, belonging to Sebak. Why did he always look at her like that? Ivy soon wished she was looking at Mia and Audrey again. She sighed quietly and leaned her head on Atem's shoulder.

After the party…

Ivy stayed behind, and watched how Atem and Sebak sent everyone to their assigned rooms, the palace would be full of people for 2 weeks straight. Ivy fiddled with her bandage as she sat on a chair, soon the last people left and Atem came and offered to walk her back to her room. She accepted and they both left.

"Atem, who is Sebak?" Ivy asked as they walked back.

"Sebak, he is my advisor. No, more like my guardian. Sebak was put in charge by my father to take care of me," Atem explained.

"Really? I don't think he likes me," she said.

Atem laughed, "That's Sebak, he doesn't trust anyone at first. He'll warm up to you."

They arrived at Ivy's room first, before she left, Atem put a comforting arm around her shoulders brought her closer and kissed her temple.

"Goodnight Ivy," he whispered, she could feel his forehead against her head, Ivy stared at the ground and felt herself go red.

Even though Ivy was pretty much speechless she managed to whisper back, "'Night Atem," though she didn't have the courage to look back at him. He let her go and walked further down the hall, she watched him before turning and entering her room.

What do you think?
Too quick? Just right?
Sooo do you thinks its going to be all happy and
cheery for these two!
Nope, I think I'll see how far
I can push them.
(laughs evilly)

Don't ask, but I think it's the pill I took. (I'm not a druggie, just sick at the moment)

'Till next time!

LadyoftheHorses

No Horse Terminology this time!
(I don't think there will be anymore of these but we'll see)