Chapter 4

-

Time

Ivy woke up, No Mia or Audrey, she thought happily. She lay in bed for a bit longer before getting up and pulling on her robe. As she walked through the halls she thought about what had happened.

It's never going to happen again, she heard her mind say, savor it while it lasts

"Shut up brain, you depress me," she said very quietly. Ivy entered the kitchen, found something and took her position on the counter as she ate, a few people came and went, before they left they usually gave her a strange glare. Then Atem came in. They both froze for a moment, but then Ivy continued eating. Atem got something to eat and leaned against the counter beside her. They ate in silence for a bit.

Some came through the door, "Pharaoh Atem you are needed," said the servant, Atem nodded, and began to walk to the door. Ivy was finished eating.

"Atem," she said, he turned. Ivy signaled him to come closer, he strode to her side, Ivy held his chin as she lightly kissed his cheek. She saw him go slightly red, before smiling at her.

"My Pharaoh?" the servant came through the door again. Atem left after him.

Ivy continued her day completely bored, she realized how much company Atem provided to her. He was probably off busy with all the ladies. She breathed in deeply taking in all the fresh air; Ivy had placed herself on the large balcony beside the ball room.

"Atem!" she heard s familiar voice roar, Sebak. Ivy hid behind a wall and listened.

"But Sebak if only you knew her—," she heard Atem plead.

"No, she will depart before your wedding, Atem, she's obscuring your choice," he answered firmly.

"If you only knew Ivy, she's really kind—,"

Again Atem was cut off by his guardian, "No, she isn't staying until your wedding, as I have said, she is distracting you, don't thing I don't see these things Atem!"

"Besides even if all goes as you plan, that wench won't be able to support the role of queen," he said heartlessly, "the little whore was probably sent here purposely." Ivy opened her mouth, sure certain insults didn't hurt her, but then again she wasn't made out of stone. She bit her lip holding back her tears, but her eyes began to water. Ivy managed to find a way back to her room without passing through the ball room.

Ivy sadly returned to her room, well one thing was for sure:

Sebak hated her. She wiped her watering eyes; Ivy didn't want to bawl about something that didn't make sense.

He hated her because…to Ivy it seemed that this man had no reason to hate her.

Once she reached her room she collapsed on the bed.

"Miss Ivy!" Audrey said angrily, "Don't think we don't see this flirting! Do you know how angry his advisor is going to be!"

"Atem?" Ivy said as she sat up, the two nodded.

"Yes, I already know how angry he is with me, you two wouldn't happen to know why? Would you?" Ivy asked. They stood silently.

"Do you?" she asked again, silence, "You do! Why? Tell Me!"

Mia approached her and sat on the bed, "Isn't it obvious?"

Ivy stared blankly.

"He's afraid that Atem will choose you to be his wife instead of one of the ladies of royal blood," Mia said flatly.

"That seems impossible," Ivy said quietly.

"Or is it?" Mia's eyes flashed with mischief. She probably knew that Atem kissed her. Ivy glared at Audrey's flushed face. Then again, maybe both of them knew…

Later…

Ivy didn't see Atem all day, she was still in her room, and incredibly bored. Ivy sighed and returned to her bed. Maybe she could try to fall asleep. It was dark out…

She sat on the bed and fiddled with her bandage, she was startled when someone sat on the bed beside her. Her blue eyes darted up and met up with a pair of violet ones.

"Atem!" she said happily.

"Do you want me to check your arm?" he asked, Ivy looked at her arm and nodded. He left her side and came back with a new bandage and the same ointment. Ivy tensed up. Atem did the same procedure when Ivy first came to the palace.

"I hate the ointment," she muttered as she rubbed her bandaged arm. Atem laughed softly, then Ivy felt his arm around her waist, causing her to burn up a bit.

"Atem," she began, she picked up his unoccupied hand and played with it, it helped her find her words, "I don't know if I should be around you anymore."

"Why would you say that?" he said.

"Because Sebak said, I am distracting you," Ivy replied.

"You heard that conversation?" Atem said, she nodded, he looked grimly to the ground.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that but Sebak does what he thinks is best for me," he answered.

"Just like all guardians," Ivy said, then she started rambling on about how maybe, Sebak was right. When she looked back up at him, she couldn't move her eyes away, but her mouth kept talking away. Then they were cut short by Atem's lips over hers, she sat, stunned, for a moment before responding back.

The Next Day…

Ivy took her usual position on the arm of Atem's throne, to which he had no objection. They both couldn't show any affection to each other because someone would eventually notice…besides Atems main priority was to choose a wife. And if someone noticed that Atem favoured Ivy, she could be kicked out of the palace. They talked for a while before Atem had to leave, to which Ivy left to the kitchen to eat something.

That Night…

It was dark out; Ivy was preparing to sleep when someone knocked at her door.

"Come in," Ivy said her face lit up as she saw Atem enter.

"I want to show you something," he replied, Ivy nodded and followed him. As they reached the end of a long corridor Atem put his arm around her waist. Ivy tried to pull away, what if someone saw them?

"It's alright no one will see us," he said calmly, "No one is going to be in a garden at this hour."

Garden? Ivy thought, then she noticed they were standing in a wonderfully grown garden. She had never seen so much grow in one place! Well maybe only when the Nile flooded. The garden even had a fountain that happily churned water.

The pair sat on a bench as they each listened to each other's stories. They didn't dare mention Atem's wedding; they were both too scared to spoil the moment.

It was late before they both decided to leave. Before re-entering the palace Atem pulled her into a dark corner and kissed her sweetly she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, deepening the kiss. After a moment they pulled away.

"Same time tomorrow?" Atem asked.

"Defiantly," she said. When Ivy returned to her room she immediately collapsed on the bed and fell asleep.

Sorry for the prolonged update…
Been kind of busy,
I can tell you from here it's not an easy
journey for Ivy.

See what I mean by the next chappie!

Cwayzee