Okay, I just had to get this chapter posted since it is the final set up before I get into the real story. The next chapter is already in the making and I'm excited to see where this story leads. I hope it won't be too long in coming, but I intend to have it proofread before posting, so maybe within the week or so.

Return

The Request Granted

Atemu walked into the massive chamber. The last time he had been in this particular room was when he had entered the afterlife. He knew why he was summoned to speak with Osiris, and for the first time in many years, he was nervous. Osiris was not a god to be crossed, especially since he held your life and afterlife in his hands. Atemu reached the end of the chamber and stood in front of the large alter located there. He waited patiently for the god to arrive. Looking around the chamber, he noticed the intricate carvings that surrounded him, as well as the massive alabaster columns that towered over him. He heard footsteps coming from the side of the room and turned to meet them face on.

Osiris walked casually into the chamber and over to Atemu. Atemu nodded as a sign of respect. The god of the dead stood in front of the young pharaoh, sizing him. The silence was thick between the two. Osiris walked around Atemu, looking him over, and again stood in front of him. The pharaoh was beginning to feel a bit nervous, but knew that any display of weakness might cost him dearly. Not many stood before the god of death, and even fewer asked him for favors.

"You know why you have been summoned, Pharaoh Atemu?" The god spoke quietly, but in the enormous chamber even the slightest noise was magnified to enormous proportions.

"Yes."

"You know what you ask." It was not a question, but the god's statement made Atemu's heart begin to sink. He was sure that Hathor hadn't been able to convince the powerful god standing in front of him to allow him to live among mortal men again. "Hathor has come and informed me of your situation. I am not impressed."

Atemu gazed into the eyes of the god of death, curious and still leery of what he would see. It was not what he saw that shocked him; it was the intensity of the gaze the god placed on him. He felt Osiris looking into his soul. He felt bare as the god stared him down, ripping down walls and shattering secrets to reveal the truth.

The god turned away from Atemu, and he felt stripped. There was nothing he had in his entire being that was not out in the open now for the god to see, and to judge. Atemu knew that this was it. No matter what Hathor had said to Osiris, he now knew that he was being weighed. He could only hope Osiris might have compassion for what he saw from the pharaoh's soul.

The god stood still as he passed judgment on the young pharaoh behind him. It was an unusual request for a pharaoh, a god, to wish to return to the world of mortals. He needed to know why. The power of the feelings and memories that he had pulled from the boy had nearly overwhelmed him. He knew of the difficult times the pharaoh had had, ruling as the Living Horus, and then being locked in darkness for so long after saving the world from destruction. What surprised him the most was the conviction and power of the thoughts and memories that came after—flashes of smiling faces, images of an island, then a city with large buildings, flying, shadows, flashes of green, another island. And through it all, he noticed that one face remained constant. It was a boy, a boy who looked nearly identical to the young pharaoh standing behind him. The thoughts and feelings that were linked to this boy were indeed powerful. Osiris turned back to face Atemu.

"Is this why you wish to return to the world of men?"

Atemu looked at Osiris, searching his face for a hint of what he was thinking. He saw nothing but the cold, hard eyes of the god. He answered, knowing instinctively what the god was referring to, or rather whom. "Yes."

"Wait here." Osiris turned and walked out the doorway he entered from.

Atemu watched the retreating god with confusion in his eyes.

Awhile later, he again heard footsteps, but this time there were more than one set. He stared at the dark doorway and waited for them to enter. Osiris entered first, and Atemu nodded his head to him, followed by Horus, who he bowed his head to as well. Hathor followed behind Horus and she was met with a nod and a quick smile. The three gods stood off to the right side of Atemu, in front of the altar, and turned to wait for another set of footsteps to enter. These footsteps moved slowly, but were tempered with power. Atemu knew who it was before the god even made it to the doorway. He fell to his knees and rested his head on the stone floor as Amun-Ra entered.

The other gods bowed their heads as the chief god passed by them to stand in front of Atemu. His steely eyes bore down on the young pharaoh still kneeling on the floor.

"Stand, Pharaoh Atemu."

The pharaoh slowly stood up from his prostrate position, but kept his eyes averted to the ground. Amun-Ra looked the young man over long and hard. He had noticed early on that Atemu was unhappy, and was surprised that it had taken him this long to act upon his desires. Of course, he did not act upon them. The goddess Hathor took it upon herself to intervene on his behalf. He must know what he desires to gain anything. We shall see where his heart lies.

"You are not happy here amongst the gods, your family and blood heritage?" The words were harsh and Atemu flinched at the bite they held, but he remained quiet. Amun-Ra looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Look at me pharaoh. Look into the face of your god. You cannot hide anything from me and now you have reached the point of decision."

Atemu slowly lifted his head to meet the god's intense gaze. Softly he spoke, "What does my god wish of me?"

"I want answers."

"Answers…" The pharaoh repeated quietly.

"I want to know what you desire. You have not come to the gods of your own will but on the will of Hathor." His eyes darted to Hathor for a moment before resting on Atemu again. "Do you not have a desire for something so great that you would risk the god's anger? There is nothing to gain by allowing you to return to the world of mortals. You do not belong there…"

"Yes, I do!" Atemu shouted out before he could catch himself. The echo off the chamber walls surprised him.

Amun-Ra tilted his head at him quizzically. He was quite amused at the boy's outburst. At last we may see where his heart lies.

The pharaoh knew he had been out of line, but how dare this god, no matter whom or how powerful, insinuate that he knew what he wanted for his life. They stood in silence for a moment as Amun-Ra waited for Atemu to continue. He did not.

"Then where do you belong, my young pharaoh?" He left an opening for Atemu to grab on to.

"I belong with him." The god could see the conviction behind the young man's eyes as he spoke of this 'him'.

"Why?"

"I…I…I just do. He is a part of me. He is my life. He is my love." Atemu's head bent forward in shame. He knew that there was no way the gods would allow him to reenter the mortal world. There was no reason to.

A long silence followed.

Amun-Ra smiled. "That, my son, is what I wanted to hear."

Atemu's head jerked up to stare at the smiling god in front of him. "What? What do you mean?"

"My dear young pharaoh, you have sacrificed so much for the world, so much of yourself to do our bidding on earth as the Living Horus. You never had the opportunity to live a life." He paused and placed a strong hand on Atemu's shoulder. "I have seen your sorrow from the day you first arrived here. I am surprised you never came to me with this request sooner. All I needed to hear was that it was your heart's true desire to return to the one you love."

Atemu couldn't believe what he heard. He was going home. He was going to be allowed another chance to live. And live he would. Nodding to Amun-Ra and then turning to each god next to him in turn, he nodded with respect. "Thank you, my gods." He went to Hathor and embraced her. "And special thanks to you mother, for clearing my mind and making me realize what I desired."

Amun-Ra took in the scene in front of him. The young pharaoh had done so much; it was fitting that he be given a gift of gratitude. "My young pharaoh Atemu, it is time for you to go. May your days be great and may your life be blessed."

Atemu took one last look at his god-family before he was blinded by a flash of white light. Then darkness consumed him.

So, what'd you think?