Tale 11. Day of Hathor

I don't know if there really is a holiday for the goddess of love in Egypt. I'm just making it up. It's supposed to be a valentines day thingamajiger. I know that Beneseth has never flirted with Maadrath in the other parts of the story but I just forgot to add it. That's why I'm writing this fic.

Maadrath POV

"Good morning, Maadrath," Beneseth said.

"Good morning, kid," I replied.

"Maadrath, you know I don't like it when you call me that. I'm only a bit younger than you," Beneseth said with a hurt look in his eyes.

What was his problem? Well, I knew his problem. He had a major crush on me. It was so weird. I never thought I'd fall in love with him. When I was young, a couple of men tried to force themselves on me. I just barely got away with my virginity, much less my shirt. After that day I swore I'd never fall in love with any man. I could fool them and play them with my sexiness but I never let any have me. Especially Nahkti. Beneseth was different. He might only be a bit younger than me but he could be rather naïve and silly about some things in the world despite his prowess with the spear, and the bow and arrow ( a bit like Asok in DilbertO.o). Despite myself, I found that I was falling for him. He had never tried to dominate me or force me to do anything. I kept pushing him around and yelling whenever he was around because I didn't want him to know because I could never trust a man. I sighed and stared at him. Beneseth smiled at me. Did he know?

Beneseth POV

Maadrath stared at me with a ruffled look and I smiled at her. Nahkti had told me she liked me as well as I did her but it didn't seem that way to me. She would always be so rude around me. Calling me 'kid' and treating me as badly as she did Ryoo… maybe worse.

I had asked her out a few times but she always laughed me off and told me she was too old for me. The day of Hathor was coming soon. Hathor was the goddess of love and birth. It would be great if Maadrath would go with me to the city and be with me that night.

It would hopeless, though. Even I couldn't imagine Maadrath every carrying my child. I would go talk to Nahkti. I always did. It was stupid. He hardly knew how to deal with women except to just dominate them all the time and even he couldn't dominate Maadrath. Oh well… he was better than nothing.

"Huh? What's with the long face, Beneseth?" Nahkti asked me as I approached.

"It's Maadrath-sama…"

He laughed, cutting me off, "Just ignore her and drop whatever affections you have towards her. She does like you but you'll never get to her. I'd just let her make the first move, if anything's going to happen at all."

"But, Nahkti, the Festival of Hathor is in a few days and I want Maadrath to go with me to the city. I know I could show her how it is between us but she refuses to spend time with me alone."

"Well… maybe we… naw, that'll never work. Maadrath would see right through it."

"What?" I asked, "We could try!"

"Leave it to me. How many more days?"

"It's in three days, Nahkti-sama."

"Alright, Beneseth-kun. I'll tell her the morning of the third day. Good?"

"Aye! Thank you so much Nahkti!"

Nahkti POV

I wasn't sure it would work but Beneseth wanted to take Maadrath out so much. Maadrath could never refuse a dare. That's what I would do. Beneseth was so inexperienced. I had given up on Maadrath long ago. But then, Beneseth's feeling towards her were very strong, and I had known love once. You can't help yourself. You just have to be with that person no matter what.

3 days later

I stretched and threw some water on my face. "Good morning, Beneseth," I yawned as he walked by. Today was the day.

"Maadrath," I said when we sat down for breakfast.

"What is it Nahkti?"

"I have a dare for you."

"A dare!"

"You aren't scared, are you?"

"Ha! I could easily do any challenge you give me."

Good, Maadrath was getting mad. Now she would have to accept to save face. "Any?"

"Just name it!"

"I want you to let Beneseth take you to the festival."

"What the heck!"

"Yes! Go with him!"

"But, I… I," she glared at Beneseth who grinned nervously.

"You said you'd accept."

"Well! I do!"

"Then good!" I winked at Beneseth who gazed at me thankfully.

Maadrath POV

Set take it! Nahkti had just screwed up all my plans! Actually, I had planned to take Beneseth to the festival to explain how I felt to him. Obviously, he had similar ideas and got Nahkti in on them. Could it be possible we thought alike?… nah!

Beneseth gave me puppy eyes.

I slapped him. "Don't get any ideas, kid!" I growled. If I was going to get my feeling across to a guy, I was going to do it my way. That's how I always did it. Beneseth shouldn't get too hopeful. He and Nahkti had already messed up my plans. Nahkti…

"C'mon, kid," I grabbed his wrist and we got on a horse.

It was high noon when we reached the city. Many of the celebrations had already started. People were kissing and making out. Gross!

Beneseth hugged my waist and put his head on my shoulder.

Grrr… "Stop it!" I screeched at him.

"Wha-what, Maadrath?" He asked.

"Freaking let go of me!"

"What? I'm just tired from that vigorous ride. You didn't have to push the horse so hard."

"P-push the horse?" I asked, somewhat oblivious. I looked down. The poor horse was exhausted. Darn it! I did that a lot when I was mad. And Beneseth wasn't trying to do anything to me. Double darn it, I was being paranoid. "Uh, yeah, sorry. We should go get some water for the horse.

Meanwhile… somewhere in the palace Atemu POV

"Ahhhh! Vacation!" I said and leaned back in the throne. Just then I heard a scream.

"Seto! You perv! Let go of me!"

"But Aishisu-saaaaannnnn!….."

A very angry Aishisu came into the throne room dragging a Seto attached to her arm. She was actually a lot stronger than she looked.

She panted a bit then said, "Pharaoh-sama! Make him let go of me!"

"Seto-kun," I sighed, "Let Aishisu go."

"But! Cousin Atemu!"

"You will not address me that way in public High Priest Seto! Now release Aishisu-san!" I ordered loudly.

Seto let go.

Aishisu straightened her crinkled robes and stalked out of the room.

"Seto," I said, "You need to stop flirting with Aishisu. It's illegal."

Seto looked depressed. "I… I just can't help it. Especially today. Everyone else has a girlfriend, and, and, you've got Teanna. Cousin! You know she's been my crush since I was five!"

I patted him on the back. "I know cousin Seto, I know. Why don't you go hang out with Mahaado. He doesn't have a girlfriend since he's a priest too."

"Me? Hang out with that wimp!" Seto stood up and brushed himself off angrily. "I'd sooner hang out with that dog, Jouno!"

I laughed a little as Seto pranced arrogantly out of the room.

I walked out to the balcony where Teanna was watching the people partying. "Love is in the air, Shari," I smiled and put an arm around her waist.

"Indeed, dearest," She smiled back.

"Hey, since I have the day off, do you want to go down there, in disguise and goof around a bit?"

"With that hair?" She asked, with a wry look on her face. She flipped my bangs. "Of course. Sounds fun," She replied and pulled the crown from my brow. "Let's go!"

Teanna kissed me.

"Karim," I said, on the way out, "could you do me a favor and keep an eye on Seto. He's really pushing it today."

"Pushing it?"

"Yeah, he's really after Aishisu."

"Oh, dear. Alright. On more thing, Pharoah," he said.

"Yes."

Karim smiled. "You know what you and the queen are doing is just as improper as what Seto does."

I smiled back. "I guess I'm just as mischievous as I used to be, huh?" I grinned, remembering the many times I had eluded my teachers and nannies.

"C'mon, husband," Teanna said, and we headed out the secret door.

Back at Kuru Eruna NahktiPOV

I hoped Maadrath and Beneseth would have a good time. To be honest, though, I wasn't so sure they would. I had really ticked Maadrath off and she was probably blaming it on Beneseth. Sweet Osiris, I hoped the boy would be alright. Maybe tricking her wasn't the way.

"Nahkti-sama, how come you didn't go to the festival too?" Ryoo asked,

"I'm sure there are lots of girls there that would love to flirt with you."

"No, Ryoo-chan," I replied, "I can't ever go back to Memphis… not for love, anyway. It brings back too many sad memories."

"Memories? What do you mean, Nahkti-sama?"

"I don't want to talk about it," I replied, and hugged my knees, tears threatened. I turned away.

"Do you mean that girl, she was very pretty, the one you said belonged to the Queen?"

"I said, I didn't want to talk about it!" I screamed at him. I was going to hit him again but the tears were about to brim over. I whirled around and stalked away. I couldn't let Ryoo see me cry. Set take Ryoo! Why did he have to bring back the memories I was trying to forget, especially today?

Maadrath POV

"So, we're here," I stated, after Beneseth finished watering the horse, "What do you want to do now?"

"Well, it's about lunch time, want to get something to eat?" he asked.

"Hmm…" I glared at him.

"Uh, since I guess I'm taking you out I'm paying… of course."

"What the!" I demanded, "Of course we're each paying for our own food, don't get any ideas!" and I dragged him away.

Later…

I bit into my bread angrily.

"Maadrath…" Beneseth said.

"What?" I demanded

"Are you alright… I mean, I'm sorry… sorry that Nahkti and I tricked you. I didn't mean it to hurt you… couldn't you just enjoy the day, now that we're here?"

"Beneseth… it's just… I…" I stuttered. Just then someone walked by… someone I knew… very well… "Waaaa! Queen! What the heck are you doing here!" I demanded.

"Maadrath!" Teanna replied, shocked, "Uh, keep it down. I'm in disguise!"

"Disguise for what?" I demanded, "What are you doing that's illegal? Besides, since we're all here, give me one good reason why I shouldn't kick you goody-two-shoes butt right now."

"Believe me Maadrath, if I could, I'd be arresting you and Beneseth right now but I sort of am…" she looked around suspiciously, "doing something illegal."

I almost killed myself laughing. The queen? That goodie-goodie bitch? "Wait a sec," I said, "Aren't you royalty? Can't you do just about anything you want?"

"Anthing…" she mused, "Almost, anything."

"What do you mean?" I asked, surprised, "What can't you do?"

She laughed, "I guess, you're right, but it's not so much 'can't'."

"Well, then why not, and what exactly is it that you're doing?"

"It's not proper."

"What's not proper."

"Just wandering about like this."

"What's wrong with that, especially on a day like this?"

"Especially on a day like this! If anyone sees us…"

"If anyone sees you what? You're the queen. You're husband's the king, he wouldn't arrest you for whatever you're doing."

"Well… that's just it. He is too."

"Maadrath! Beneseth!" It was the Pharaoh.

"What!" we both demanded.

"Nothing, I'm just surprised to see you," he replied with his arms crossed and 'I'm the Pharaoh and you're not' look.

"Would someone please explain this to me?" I moaned.

"Well, Maadrath, it's very improper for a king who is considered an avatar of Heru and a queen who is considered an avatar of Isis to be just out here like common people."

"Heh, you two have big egos."

"That's really not the point. It's more of an uspoken code. We'd loose the people's trust in our leadership if we just went around and did stuff like normal people. I know it's hard for you to understand but to a certain degree it is illegal," Atemu finished.

I stared at him skeptically.

"Believe me, Maadrath," Teanna said, "Sometimes, we wish we had the freedom you did."

"But what do you mean? You can do what ever you want right?" I still didn't get it.

"We could… I suppose," The Pharaoh mused, "But that would throw the kingdom into chaos and disorder."

"And you really care about that?"

"Well, I'm the Pharaoh, it's the job the gods gave me, of course I do!" He said very loudly. Some people stared at us.

Teanna gasped. "We'd better keep moving," She whispered to her husband as the slipped away. She… wanted to have the difficult life that we had. I'd give anything to be able to live in a palace, wear fine clothes and jewelry, and have servants wait on you hand and foot. Who didn't? Or was there more to this "Pharaoh" thing than I knew about?

Seto POV

I hid behind the bushes watching Aishisu. She was watering the flowers around the temple. Wiping her brow, she sat down by a nearby fountain. She had removed her long cloak and I could easily see her graceful tanned arms. I smiled.

"Seto!" An angry voice said loudly behind me.

"Gkhy… What the heck do you want Karim?" I stood up to face him. Karim could be a little scary, especially when he figured my teasing of Mahaado had gone a little too far. Right now, he looked even scarier.

"The Pharaoh told me to keep an eye on you," he replied ominously. "Now, go do your duties!" He gave me a shove.

"Pervert!" Aishisu called after me as I left the garden.

"Stupid Karim, stupid rules," I muttered.

Teanna POV

I seized Atemu's hand and ran for it. We pushed past people and kept going until I was sure the people who had seen us were long gone.

We gasped for breath. "You could have been a bit more discreet, dear," I said, "You practically proclaimed your job to the entire kingdom!"

"I'm sorry, shari, I get really worked up when people question my ability… and it wasn't that bad. There's a bunch of wacky people around here, anyway."

"You have to be more careful," I panted a bit more, "It's not like when we were little. Back then, one of our nannies could just cover for us. Now, if we're caught...It could mean everything."

"I'm sorry," I said, "I get all worked up when people question my behavior when it isn't that good in reality."

"That's okay," I said, "I just hope none of those people recognized us."

Atemu then took me in his arms and put his face in my hair. "No, I-I'm sorry. I don't want to lose… lose you or anything else." I felt a tear drop from his cheek onto mine.

"D-don't cry," I said, almost begging, "We… we were here to have fun and be together. Not think about work again."

"Aye!" He said, "You're right, my very smart wife!" He stopped crying and swept me up into his arms bride-style. "Let's go, enjoy ourselves!"

"Okay!" I replied, then paused, "But first, let's get back in disguise," I said, pulling the hood of the cloak back over his head. I leaned in and kissed him in the hood. It felt so good it was as if we were the only ones in the world in that quiet ally wrapped in our cloaks.

Maadrath POV

I leaned over, sipping my cup of wine. Beneseth was still staring at me.

Then I stared at him.

He looked away.

He looked at me.

I looked at him.

He looked away.

We kept this up for the next fifteen minutes. Finally I blurted out, "What's your problem, Beneseth!"

"N-nothing…." he started in his usual way. Then he stopped. "Oh… Set take it Maadrath! I'm sorry if I am being blunt but I'm tired of beating this thing around the bush for the millionth time! I… I love you Maadrath!"

Wow, he had never just gone and said straight to me. I started to trust him at that moment.

"I'm madly, insanely in love with you! I want you so badly!" he paused to take a breath. "I'm really sorry, I just didn't know how to tell you that. I thought if I brought you here, everything would take care of itself but it was no better than our situation back at Kuru Eruna. Go ahead, beat me over the head and tell me I'm a kid. I promise never to bother you again."

"Beneseth… I…" I muttered. No one had ever been so honest to me before. Beneseth's polite 'beating around the bush' had always seemed to me far too similar to other men trying to sweet talk me into bed with them. Now, though, he had broken all bounds of politeness just trying to get his feelings over to me. I leaned over the small table and hugged him. "I've always loved you too."

The next thing I knew, Beneseth was crying over my shoulder and I was comforting him. Then, I let him pay for my meal.

Later that evening, Beneseth and I found a quiet spot to watch the sunset. When the moon rose, I placed my head on Beneseth's shoulder. He put his arms around me. I think before that moment, I never realized how beautiful he was. He was not always angry and crude like Nahkti was and I think I felt that he really did love me, not just for my body. I had never gotten this close to a man before since my childhood and it felt a bit foreign and familiar at the same time. Beneseth ran his fingers down my spine and I shuddered. I felt out of control and I didn't like that very much.

"Maadrath, are you okay?" he asked. "I'll stop if you want me to."

"No, Beneseth," I flashed my sexiest smile, "Take me away."

When we arrived at Kuru Eruna the next day, I felt as though I had never felt so good before. To finally trust someone and to be free of myself.

"So, Beneseth," Nahkti winked, "Did you get your lady?"

Beneseth blushed and quickly covered his face.

"Shaadup, Nahkti!" I yelled but I smiled afterwards. "Beneseth did get his lady, didn't he?" I grinned at Beneseth. "Why don't you show Nahkti what we learned last night hn?" I tapped my lip.

Beneseth blushed like crazy.

I groaned, "C'mon! Act like a man! I don't want a husband who I have to baby around!"

Beneseth sweat dropped and then cupped my chin in his hand but he hesitated.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," I said, "I won't bite… at least, not too hard."

Beneseth turned bright red but he pressed his lips against mine. The night before, that first time flooded back for a moment at the taste of him. Beneseth quickly drew away and stared embarrassedly at Nahkti.

"Not bad, Beneseth," Nahkti said. "But… you will share… won't you?"

"You perv!" I shouted as we bother bonked him in the head. Beneseth laughed lightly.