Disclaimer: I own nothing, nothing at all, and it is very sad...
A/N: So snow days are wonderful things that allow me to write new chapters...Now this one is going to seem like its getting slashy towards the end...its not, there is no slash there, just friendship stuff or if your into mixy slashed then you can interperet it as that! This one is told from Amneris POV! Enjoy!
I knew I shouldn't have but I had to. I followed Radames to the place by the river. It wasn't the first of their secret meetings I has experienced. I crouched in a place by the reeds watching and listening. I saw Radames approach Aida, and then I saw him embrace her and her kiss him deeply. I had tried to make myself believe that I could accept their love but seeing them together cut into me. Finally they spoke, Aida first.
"Radames, I love you." She said, "But I am going to marry Mereb. I have to, for Nubia. Mereb will be a strong King, the perfect leader for this time of peace."
Radames nodded, "I know." He sounded so hurt, "It is the same reason that I married Amneris and did not run away with you." Of course, he married me out of duty, not pity. I couldn't decide which was worse. "But I need to know, why couldn't you tell me who you were? I loved you, I wouldn't have turned you over as the princess." Aida looked at him sternly,
"Yes you would have." She stated plainly, "It would have been your duty. Just like it was mine to protect my people by keeping my identity secret." Her body seemed to have lost a lot of its former strength, but perhaps she was just tired. "I need you to understand this, Radames, it practically killed me not telling you." There were tears in her voice even though I couldn't see them.
"I understand." He said, "Aida, I do. Please don't cry!" He held her close, "I love you." That was when I couldn't take it anymore. I walked from the reeds as quietly as I could and then I ran back to the palace. I collapsed in the quarters that were provided us. I couldn't stand it! He was my husband, the only man I ever loved and he would never love me in return.
The next morning a Nubian maid entered my chamber and prepared me for the morning meal with Aida and her women. It was so strange, as she dressed me I felt cold and numb. In a way I hadn't since my wedding to Radames. I entered the dining chamber and I saw Aida sitting, she looked the same as she always did, she was dressed simply in a purple gown. I looked down at my elaborate dress. I looked at her and I tried to hold back tears.
"Princess Aida," I said cold and ceremonial, "It is an honor to see you again." I held my head up, I would not let her see my discomfort.
"Queen Amneris," Aida smiled coolly back at me, "My old mistress, let us sit and eat." How could she be so calm? So collected?
After the meal Aida dismissed her women and it was just us. It had been such a long time since I saw her.
"Amneris," she said it so quietly, she seemed almost frightened. Strong, bright Aida was frightened, "I hope you'll understand. He told me you know." I looked at her and began to weep profusely.
"Aida," I shook my head, "Please forgive me for not telling you what I knew. You were the only real friend I ever had." Then she smiled at me.
"Amneris, you mean you aren't upset about me not telling you who I am?" She looked puzzled.
I stared strongly back at her, "Of course not. I would have done the same in your position." Suddenly we had a connection, the same one we had felt on her first night with me, "I sensed it in a way though. You understood me so well. I should have figured it out, the same way I should have seen how Radames looked at you. I was blinded my own over confidence."
Aida smiled, "Radames loves you very much Amneris, and he will grow to love you more. As I will with Mereb. It is our fate, we were meant to find each other and bring each other strength for our people, and to end the war. But we have both accepted that it is not our fate to be together." Then she began to cry, but she held herself up.
"Aida," I whispered, "Thank you, for the meal, and congratulations on your engagement. I hope it is much shorter than mine was."
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