A/N I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I just manipulate it.
A/N I hope I'm not to ambitious when I thank you (the reader) for reading on past that last chapter. Thanks for sticking with me. And now, for the chapter you've all been waiting for...
The next four days went by too quickly for Atemu and Safiya and their wedding ceremony was upon them before they knew it. According to tradition, the two separated with the rising of the sun on their wedding day and were not permitted to see each other until the ceremony began at noon.
Safiya went to one corner of the palace where the girls she had befriended when she was a servant dressed her in beautiful white robes, decorated her hair, and applied her ceremonial make-up. Her one desire was that they allow her hair to cover her left eye, and they did so, still making her the epitome of elegance. While they worked, the women wanted nothing more than to hear about the Pharaoh and how sweet he was. So, with a broad smile on her face, Safiya told them of his gentle touch and magic with words.
While Safiya was preparing for the ceremony in one corner of the palace, Atemu was preparing for the ceremony in the opposite corner, where his servants dressed him in fine white robes to match Safiya's, and applied his ceremonial make-up. One servant even polished the Millennium Puzzle that was ever-present around his neck. Atemu had never before been so nervous in his life and he began to pace, frustrating the servants as they tried to make him look his best. Finally, one servant couldn't take it anymore. "Excuse me for speaking out Pharaoh, but unless you relax, there is nothing more we can do for you."
He looked down and saw the disarray that he was in and laughed nervously. "Alright, I'll calm down." He stopped pacing, took a deep breath and tried to relax. "But what if something goes wrong?" He suddenly tensed up again and resumed pacing.
The servant laughed quietly. "Nothing will go wrong, my Lord. Everything will go smoothly and beautifully." Atemu finally quieted down and the servants were able to finish.
When all of the preparations were complete and the ceremony was about to begin, Atemu made his way to the large gathering hall in which they were to be wed. With Seth at his side, he waited by the altar for his bride to join him, as was the custom. In Atemu's mind, the moments dragged on until Safiya finally appeared, and when she did, he felt his heart skip a beat. She was more beautiful than he had ever imagined. Her white hair was decorated with colorful flowers and feathers native to the land, and her robes gracefully accentuated her trim figure. He also noticed that not a single scar was visible upon her body, a feat that was hard to accomplish. Even the scar on her eye was covered by her hair. She was starting with a clean slate, putting her scars in the past.
Seth did not recognize her and whispered to Atemu, "She's beautiful. What is her name?"
Atemu shook himself out of his reverie. Knowing how Seth would react, and not wanting to ruin the ceremony, Atemu had chosen to withhold her name until they were officially wed. "Her name is unimportant. It is her heart that matters." The High Priest was taken aback that his friend would withhold the name of his betrothed, and it showed upon his face. But Atemu refused to say another word.
The ceremony was a quiet one, open only to those who lived within the palace grounds. It was also a quick ceremony, lasting not more than an hour. As it drew to a close, Atemu took Safiya's left hand and placed a ring with the seal of the Millennium Eye on her finger.
"As long as you wear this Millennium Band and I wear the Millennium Puzzle, we will never be far from each other. Our souls will be connected."
She threw her arms around him and pulled him in for a long and passionate kiss. The act caught him off-guard and they almost tumbled to the ground. But he quickly regained his composure and kissed her back, just as passionately.
"Thank you, my Atemu. Thank you," she whispered.
A few moments later, the ceremony ended and Atemu and Safiya were officially wed. Shortly thereafter, the two quickly made their way to the highest balcony of the palace, hand in hand. They found the people already gathered and eagerly waiting to meet their queen. A cheer erupted as soon as the Pharaoh and his new wife stepped into the sun. Safiya smiled and bowed her head humbly to acknowledge their praise.
Atemu raised his hands for silence and was forced to wait for a few minutes before the crowd finally quieted down. "My people," he shouted in his trademark deep, authoritative voice, "I bring before you now, your new queen." But before he could say her name, the people began to roar their approval. Atemu laughed, raising his hands in a vain attempt to quiet the people once more. When he finally received a degree of quiet, he shouted, still laughing, "You don't yet know her name, and yet you still applaud her. That is a true Egyptian welcome. I'd like to present to you, my fellow Egyptians, your Queen Safiya."
Seth, who had had followed them at a distance, arrived just as Atemu announced the queen's name. "Safiya! Atemu, what is the meaning of this!"
Atemu heard Seth's trembling voice and excused himself from Safiya's side and the crowd's attention to address him. "I would have told you sooner Seth, but I feared that your jealousy would ruin this day and destroy that which Safiya has tried so hard to maintain: your relationship with me." He placed his arms on the taller man's broad shoulders and looked deep into his icy blue eyes. "Listen to me Seth, I am willing to forgive you for the wrongs that you have bestowed upon Safiya, but you must let her go. She no longer serves you, she is with me. She has made her choice."
"But… Sh-she was mine," he stuttered.
"She was never yours, Seth. She had every opportunity to leave you, and I even offered to intervene, yet she chose to remain your servant. Why she chose that, I will never know. And aside from that, the Safiya of your childhood is dead. You killed her every day by your own hand. This is a new Safiya, with a new life, and I love her dearly."
Tears welled up within Seth's eyes as he listened to Atemu's words. Memories of the days of his youth flashed before his mind's eye, memories of times long gone…
A/N Sorry about the evil cliffie, guys. I will update soon, I promise.
