When Amneris entered her bedchamber, all seemed quiet. Radames lay still in a peaceful slumber. Once again, Amneris found herself jealous. She knew that sleep would not be possible. Her body still shook with rage at what she'd seen.

How could Aida be alive and well when Amneris and Radames suffered so?

Her mind was a mess as she climbed into bed. She had been lied to by her father, by Amonasro, by Kadoteas. They had all allowed her to think the worst. They had allowed Radames to fall to such a state.

As she pulled the blanket over her head, Radames stirred. He looked at her weakly, but with more life in his eyes than she'd seen in days.

"I saw her," he said in a hushed voice.

Amneris rolled over to see him better and replied, "So did I."

His eyes widened as he took in what she'd said, then he smiled, "Isn't it wonderful? She's alive. All our suffering was for nothing."

"You find that wonderful?"

But Radames had already passed out. Amneris sighed and looked up at the ceiling, contemplating what he'd said.

Maybe it was wonderful. Radames could heal and finally give Amonasro the talking to he deserved. Plus Aida was alive. Wasn't that worth celebrating?

But they'd lied. Everyone. Her father, Amonasro and worst of all, Kadoteas. The thought alone made her want to cry. It made her restless and fueled with the desire to hit someone. Radames was in range, but he was not the one to take it out on. Besides, he couldn't fight back.

After a few minutes of deliberation, Amneris left the bed and went in search of Kadoteas.

He was smiling when he opened the door, then very slowly, his expression came down. She did not look happy.

He started to ask what was wrong, but she cut him off.

"Where is she?" she asked.

Kadoteas' mouth opened as though trying to find what to say. She knew and there was no point in playing dumb.

"Go to the first floor, fifth door on the left."

"Is that whyI've been restricted from corridors and rooms this whole time?"

Kadoteas nodded, "She was moving about the castle; she couldn't be seen."

Amneris closed her eyes and turned to get to the stairs. She couldn't stay there much longer, knowing he'd lied to her. Kadoteas folded his arms and looked down at his wrists.

"Amneris," he said before she was gone. She stopped walking, but didn't turn back to look at him, "I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you. This is my father's insanity. I didn't have a choice."

Despite herself, Amneris believed him. Without a word or a look, she walked to the stairs and out of his sight.

Before she knew it, she'd arrived at the door he'd told her: first floor, fifth door on the left. She knocked. The door opened quickly and once again, the two women stared at one another.

"Are you going to let me in?" Amneris finally asked through the crack of the door. Aida continued to eye Amneris with caution. Their last encounter had ended violently.

Amneris rocked uncomfortably on her heels, "I won't hit you again."

Aida took another minute to look the woman over, then stepped aside.

To call the silence uncomfortable would be an understatement. For the first view moments, they kept their distance, their gaze on the floor or the wall and arms folded. Finally their eyes met. They looked into each other and saw the agony that neither could hide. Amneris in two steps crossed the distance and put her arms around her friend's neck in an embrace. Aida hugged back and tears soon came to both of their eyes.

"I'm so sorry," Aida cried in between sobs.

"How did this happen?" Amneris wailed back.

"Your father."

"My father hated you. How did you escape?"

Aida pulled away and took Amneris' hands in her own, "He let me go."

They sat: Amneris upon the bed and Aida on a cushioned bench across from it. Amneris noticed for the first time that the room was much like the one that she had shared with Kadoteas a few hours before. The memory brought a rush in her body and a sting in her heart all at once.

Aida smoothed out the skirt of her black gown. She was as lovely as ever, even though she had thinned out a bit. It seemed the past months had taken their toll on her as well. She looked at Amneris and said, "He put me on a boat about an hour I left you in the temple."

"Why would he do such a thing?"

"He did it for you," Aida replied, shocked that she would need to wonder, "He called it your wedding gift. I got to live as long as you never found out. He was afraid that if Radames knew I was alive, he would never settle down with you and be your husband. I don't think he what Radames would go through."

Amneris shook her head feeling that part of her was still upset. She replied steadily, "He wouldn't have wanted Radames dead. Someone had to be there to take care of me when my father died."

Aida looked her friend over. With a smile, she said, "You need no one to care for you. How you've grown, Amneris. From the god to the human."

"One must grow when faced with ruling a country, among other things." Amneris had a touch of fire on her voice.

"I understand."

"I doubt you do," Amneris continued with heat, "I lost you, my father, and then Radames. He was gone the moment you left his sight. The man I loved for all those years disappeared…you died and you took him with you."

"Amneris, you know I loved you as well as I did him. I never meant this."

"You should have come forward sooner."

"My father would not have it. He wanted an advantage over the negotiations. If I came forward, he would have no leverage."

"And you wanted that."

"No! Amneris, understand, my people have suffered for decades at the hands of Egyptians. My father is desperate for this to end. He felt that he deserved to be in complete control. The fact is, he's terrified and he convinced me to be afraid as well. It didn't last, Amneris. That's why I've been coming to Radames. This has to end, whether my father gets what he wants or not."

Amneris wrung her hands. She was angry but empathetic at the same time. Her thoughts suddenly turned to another thought.

"What does Kadoteas want in all this?" she asked, bitterly. She needed know her own part in this plan when it came to the man she had recently began to love, "After all, it's his legacy that will change. He won't be able to lead his country in battle. Your father was furious about it."

Aida looked levelly at her friend and replied, "My father agrees with it. He'd much rather see Kadoteas succeed his as a ruler than a general. You see as much as he loved torturing Radames, he thought Radames had the right idea. Don't you?"

Aida's expression was curious and accusing all at once. She wanted to know about Kadoteas. Amneris couldn't meet her eyes.

"Do you love him?" Aida asked plainly as though inquiring about where Amneris' sandals had come from.

Amneris continued to stare at a spot on the wall behind Aida's right ear. The question hurt her heart more than she'd expected. Aida gripped the bottom of the bench and tilted forward, "It will be mutual for him if the answer is 'yes.'"

Amneris closed her eyes and allowed herself a great smile.

"I slept," was all she could say.

Before Aida could inquire about the peculiar reply, a knock came at the door.

Kadoteas entered the room a moment later and asked, "Did I miss the brawl?"

He sat beside Amneris and she put her head upon his shoulder. He took her hand, then looked to Aida and said, "We have to tell him."

Aida stood and began to pace, "He's going to kill me."

"I believe we still frown upon murder in this land."

"Yes, brother," she replied icily, "we also look down upon adultery. No offense, Amneris"

Kadoteas craned his head around to Aida, "You know as well as I do how the law works."

"What law?" asked Amneris lifting her head.

Aida once again took her seat and explained, "Years ago, when Nubians were first being taken as slaves, a number of them escaped and complained that they had been forced into marriage by the one who had captured or bought them. When they returned, many of them had families already here. So, to stop the confusion, Maranec, the king in that age, ordained that no one married in the land of Egypt, would continue to be married as long as they remained in Nubia. In other words, if you ever had guilt about the time you spent with my brother, you had little reason to."

"I'm not married to Radames when I'm here? That's actually a relief."

"What will we tell father?" asked Kadoteas, returning to the topic.

"The truth?" offered Amneris.

He nodded to her, "I'll speak with him. He'll understand. He has to."

Aida looked at the two of them together and understood why. Her brother would not give Amneris up without a proper fight.