Tornado: Sorry for not updating in so long. I have way too much school work.
DT: This is completely pointless, so let's get on with the fic!!
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It had been nearly a month since Sheatana had dueled on that fateful night. One month since her fears became reality, one month since she heard the prophecy. That month had been one of the hardest months for the princess to endure. Yami no longer allowed her and Seth to be alone, but instead she was to spend more time with her "fiancé". King Mogador had not left the castle, insisting that he be with his son as he stayed in Egypt.
The palace was bustling with activity as everyone was reading themselves for the royal marriage. Isis had become Sheatana's one source of friendship within the castle walls. She would be with the princess at all hours of the day and night. She tried her best to comfort the mourning princess, but she knew that only one person could. Seth was now more of an acquaintance than a friend to the Egyptian. He would come and go without to many words to his love; they hardly made eye contact.
Seth became withdrawn from the world around him. He spoke only when spoken to, and never offered his advice to the pharaoh. Deep down, he had known that this would happen one day, but he never imagined how alone he felt.
Each day he would pass Sheatana in the hallway with her husband-to-be, and it ripped his heart out. He watched helplessly as each moment she changed from one person into another. She was quieter, less proud, but what stuck out the most was the dullness in her eyes. The determined luster that she once held faded into a dull glaze. She never laughed nor did she smile, yet she didn't cry as she had done that night. She had accepted her fate, and it infuriated Seth.
Sheatana sat in her room, gazing listlessly out the window. Her silk hair had many waves in it from lack of brushing. The prince was positioned beside her and Isis in front of her. The prince was addressing her, but she cared not to listen. Her orbs were focused on the desert sands as they blew in the wind. Each grain tossing and turning before fading away. She wished that her magic would do that for her. Make her fade away. Even the shadow realm was more pleasant than the hell-hole the she lived in.
"What do you think darling?"
"What?" she asked, snapping her head from the window.
"Were you not listening? I was talking about the wedding. I think we should get married in the court yard," the prince repeated.
"No," she responded. "I want to be married in the desert… on horseback."
"Absolutely not. Why the desert? It's dry and windy and desolate."
"Why not the desert?"
"Why not the courtyard?"
"Because it's too common. Do you know how many people were married there? I don't want to be just like everyone else."
"That I don't understand. Why would you not…"
"Because I don't want to!" the yelled, bolting to her feet.
Isis sprang in front of her, and forced her back into her original seat. The princess glared at the man before she stopped struggling against her friend's grip. The prince was horrified, and inched away from the glaring beauty. The door opened. Yami, the king, and Seth appeared instantly. Their questioning eyes meandered to each of the rooms occupants. Sheatana jerked herself free of the priestess, held her head high, and walked out of the door. Slamming it as she did do so. The trio she had pushed passed stared after her for several moments before turning to the duo.
"What happened?" Yami asked calmly.
"They had an argument," Isis replied. "And I think somebody should go after her."
"Couples have arguments all of the time, my dear. I do not think that one conflict will cause great damage," King Mogador informed her.
"The fight is an excuse. She's wanted to yell, scream, rant and rave for some time now. Mind you, she never did tell me this, but I've known her for many years. Seth, back me up here!" she cried turning to the spot the high priest had once held.
He was gone.
Seth tore down the hallway, ignoring the questioning looks. The moment Isis had said "I think somebody should go after her", he did. He didn't need to ask anyone if they had seen her, for he knew where she was going. He prayed that he would arrive before it was too late.
The black staircase seemed to go on forever. Sheatana had never thought it took this long to reach the top. Her eyes could barely make out the steps in the darkness. Now was one of those times when she wanted Seth to hold onto. Twice she tripped before emerging into the sun shine. The brightness was a great contrast to the shadows she was just enveloped in. She strolled to the edge and stared at the town below. Women were doing their shopping, children were playing in the streets, and men were bartering with one another. All of them unburdened by the pressure of being royal. One street man had said "All the pharaoh does is sit in court and listen to people complain about their lives, and all the princess does is sit next to him and look pretty. What an easy life that is!" That was not all Sheatana had to do. She had expectations to live out and a brother to please; she had no life of her own.
She stared down at the ground again. It was a long way down. If she happened to slip, she was definitely going to die. All for the better, she thought. She took three steps backward and raised her hand to the sky. All of the sudden, the door burst wide open, and Seth sprinted through the doorway. Sheatana pivoted only to be captured in Seth's arms. He held her body tight against his. She rested her head on his shoulder before saying, "I wasn't going to jump."
"No," he whispered, pushing her away slightly. "But you were going to run."
"There is no more use for me here. I can't be with you, and I am unhappy."
"You have changed, Sheatana, and yet you haven't changed at all. Why didn't you run to the stables? We would not have found you then."
"I never thought of that. I thought that by the time you had arrived here, I would be gliding off into the sun."
"Had you ran to the stables, I would have never been able to find you. Horses are harder to track than big, blue-eyed, black dragons."
She smiled for the first time in what seemed like an eon. Seth smiled as well. He placed his arm around her waist, and guided her down the steps once more. Just before the pair reached the main floor, Seth pulled Sheatana into a powerful kiss. Her arms snaked around his neck as his fastened around her waist. They both enjoyed every second of it. Their tongues were just beginning to intertwine when the door burst wide open.
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Tornado: Sorry for the wait. R&R.