NOTE TO READERS:
Atem's father has been replaced by Sebak guardian/advisor of Atem for historical accuracy.
Thanks to: knucklesbob
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Chapter 8

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Leaving You

Ivy lay in the same bed she had fallen asleep in. When she opened her eyes she realized she had turned around in her sleep, when she tried to move, she felt a strong arm around her waist pull her back, making her cry out in surprise. Atem nuzzled her neck warmly and groaned a:

"Good Morning"

She answered with some quiet giggling. After she was able to breathe she looked up at him, " 'Morning," she whispered. He laid back, Ivy found a bit of his hair and twirled it for a while before they both decided to get up. Even though they both knew that Ivy was leaving tonight, the tried to keep a bit of passion between them.

Later…

Ivy stepped outside and noticed that most of the horses in the Pharaoh's stable were being led out. She quickened her pace.

"What's going on?" Ivy asked.

"We have to keep these horses someplace else for the next few days, there needs to be room for the guests' horses," the nearest man explained to her. Ivy whipped around to Min's paddock. He was still there happily grazing; Ivy didn't ask about Min, that could remind the man about Min's original fate.

"There will be a bigger flow of guests, now that the marriage is official," he continued. Ivy pondered about that for a moment, then made herself useful by helping to lead some of the horses and even cleaned after them. As she saw the approaching guests, Ivy quickly ran back to the palace only to nearly collide with some of the disappointed bachlorettes, who were leaving.

Ivy changed to get rid of the odor when she came back into the pharaoh's chamber, she stopped in her tracks when she saw Atem. He was dressed more elaborately then ever. With the royal blue cape and deep red in all the right places, not to mention the jewelry; it topped all of the other outfits.

Gathering…

Ivy observed it from a safe distance, it was a pre-marital get together; celebrating Atem's choice. She, Ivy, belonged there. Sitting, standing, and all around having the right to express her feelings for him. Instead of the blonde.

As Ivy stood there, it made her angrier and more upset. She would leave now. She scowled and began to make her way out. Atem noticed this and excused himself.

"Ivy! Wait!" he called. As he neared her, he gently grabbed her arm. She turned around, she didn't say anything except stare at him then look at her arm, where his hand was. He saw this and quickly removed it.

"Why did you come?" she sternly asked him.

"Because I wanted to say that I was sorry, for bringing you into this, I knew someone was going to get hurt but continued," he quietly said.

"Then why did you do it?" Ivy cocked her head, making some of her hair hide her face.

"I thought maybe I could bend the rules, maybe to make life better for royalty. Choosing who you could marry would be nice…"

At the last comment Ivy smiled at him. There was a long silence.

"I'd better go," she cracked, Atem sighed, "I think I'll walk…"

Atem looked up, "Nonsense, you can ride one of the horses to your home."

"No, I don't want to," she confirmed. Their eyes met up again, Ivy reached out and hugged him, he was shocked they never showed their feelings for one another in public. Right now, he didn't care. He strongly hugged her back.

Ivy walked through the streets, it was almost dark, and she was a nobody again. Just another person in the crowd. No one noticed her, she kept her guard up for anyone who could potentially harm her, but otherwise, she quietly made her way home.

When she arrived it was dark, she sighed she wasn't going to bug her parents or scare them to death by entering their home at this hour. Ivy glanced at the stable, It'll do.

She opened a few packages of hay and laid its contents neatly and covered them with a cloth. She used a blanket to keep herself warm and soon drifted to sleep.

Next Morning…

"Get up, you freeloader!" Ivy heard her mother yell. She soon felt something hit her, a broom, that made her immediately wake up.

"Ow, mom it's me relax!" she yelled, Ivy pushed away the blanket and looked at her mother.

"Ivy? What are you doing here?" she asked. The question smacked Ivy in the face. She really didn't want to talk about it…

"Oh, I see," her mother answered.

It made Ivy angry, no one knew how she truly felt. Everyone was arranged, they never really had to worry about whether their man or women would find someone else. That thought caused her to burst out crying.

"Ivy calm down," the elderly woman didn't know how to help her, her heart was never broken. She sat down beside her daughter, "Its okay I know how—."

"No you don't!" Ivy screamed. She knew her mother was going to say: 'I know how you feel.' That's a lie.

Her mother immediately pulled away, she sighed and decided to make Ivy something to eat first. As she left she put the broom away, Ivy cried into her sheets. It was a while before she managed to calm her nerves.

"How you doing?" a small voice said.

Ivy looked up, Eve. She tried to hide her tear stricken face.

Eve held out the food she had, "You hungry?"

Ivy sniffed and sat up, "Yes, thank-you," she helped herself to her mother's cooking. Eve sat and watched her the entire time.

"Why are you so sad?" Eve curiously asked. Ivy couldn't try to hide or yell at her sister.

"I'm sad because I can't see a really close friend of mine anymore," she gulped down the last bit of food.

"Why?" Eve continued.

"Because, um, it's hard to explain Eve," Ivy concluded.

"Aww okay," Eve sadly answered, she took her plate and stood up to leave.

"One more question: Which friend is it?" Eve said.

"You know the boy I came home with one day? And he gave you a piggy-back ride?" Ivy replied.

"Oh, I liked him, by the way Ivy, mom said you could stay here if you want," she said.

"I think I will, I don't want to depress everyone."

Sooo late, must update…..
Thanks to:
Wishlist, Dark Mage of Sea, animeaddict99, and knucklesbob (even though you reviewed chapter 5)
I predict 2 chapters left….

Cwayzee

No Horse terminology...