Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. If it was, I'd be as rich as Seto Kaiba himself. (Well, probably not, but you get the idea…) And this fic is beta-read by Pamster. Thanks a lot to her for checking it and her advice.
Author's Note: This fic is not meant to be a long one like my other series. There will be another few chapters at the most. The 'eastern foreigners' mentioned are Persians. After giving birth, the child and its mother were supposed to be isolated from the outside world for a period of two weeks so that the baby did not fall prey to evil spirits, seeing no one but the immediatle family. The season of Peret falls between October 15th to February 15th and was associated with the time of sowing for the upcoming harvest, which was the following season, Shemu, that fell between February 15th toJune 15th. The last season was Akhet that was associated with the flooding and fell between June 15th to October 15th.
Summary: Things progress and Set is born, but something troubling lurks beneath the water.
-o-
Chapter 04: Expectations
-o-
Several months later, things had progressed as planned.
Unable to refuse the offer of the Per A'a's brother, Ain's father had eagerly agreed to Akunadin's proposal. This had been a bit quick for the brother of Akunumkanon, who had no doubt that the father held a belief that having his daughter in such a position would bring benefits for the rest of his family.
There had been the mandatory celebration once the young woman had moved to be with her husband in the palace, but Akunadin was starting to tire of all looks he was getting from those within. He knew how to handle the lesser people, but his brother was another matter. Akunumkanon he knew how to handle but the Per A'a was a different matter. And all of this just because his brother could not keep his mouth shut at birth. It was ridiculous.
Akunadin had known that he would be expected to produce a child, preferably a son. This he had thought of in advance. Then his son, if that were indeed the child's gender, would be expected to serve the current Per A'a.
In time, the next Per A'a could very well be his son, if he had one, nless something unexpected happened.
Walking along an upper floor corridor, which was open to the outside, Akunadin recalled the things that had just been mentioned in the meeting he had just attended. The eastern foreigners who had their eyes on Kemet had been engaging in small skirmishes along the border. It had been nothing too big, but something worth keeping an eye on.
Persians could not be trusted. That much he did know. Give them an inch and they would take a mile.
But why are they attacking now? Akunumkanon's brother wondered. They can see we are at full military strength. Something does not seem right.
Akunadin thought about what was happening. For some reason, the Persians were getting restless. He knew that one of his brother's generals had been sent out to guard the hot points at the eastern border. However, he could not rest. Not just because of the Persians but also because of all these expectations.
Sighing as he stopped beside a wooden door, Akunadin frowned. But then he smiled. Honestly, like he had told his brother, he would not mind a son.
-o-
Late at night several months after the skirmishes with the foreigners, Ain sighed quietly as she sat on the edge of the bed. Her partner, Akunadin, was looking for something in the adjoining room. There had been a noise in there for a while now, things being moved and grumbled dissent, and he still had to emerge. But she wanted him to.
Ain thought about what was happening. For some reason as of late, she had been feeling strange. Her breasts had become sore and that time of the month had passed by twice yet there had been nothing. It had happened to other women she was friendly with so she knew what this meant; she was expecting a child.
Sadly, the prospect frightened her as much as it brought her joy.
"Akunadin, I need to tell you something," Ain said.
"Tell me what? I'm busy at the moment," her husband answered.
Gazing at where her husband was in the adjoining room, Ain paused. It was his work, after all. Important work. She had not known what life with her husband would be like. Sometimes he was there, yet at other times his work kept him away. Like times when he had to travel out of the city on official business.
"Please, it's important," Ain said, pleadingly. "You won't be disappointed. I know you've wanted this for a while now."
"Wanted what?" Akunadin asked.
Seeing that Akunadin was standing attentively at the enclave's entrance, Ain smiled. It was somewhat half-hearted smile, but it was a smile nonetheless.
"A son," Ain replied.
Akunadin gazed at Ain; seeing his face soften as it did reminded her of why she had been attracted to him. He was serious, which she had learnt from experience, but there was a caring side to him that not many people saw.
"A son?" Akunadin asked, sounding somewhat surprised.
Ain smiled and nodded.
"Possibly. We shall have to wait and see," she replied. "For all we know it could be a girl."
The scroll Akunadin was holding was soon placed back where he had found it. Now that he took a more detailed look at his wife, Akunadin could indeed see that something subtle about her seemed to have changed. There was no glow, as the myth described it, but her skin seemed to look clearer. That and he could have sworn her hair had grown several inches in length.
"How long do you think it's been?" Akunadin asked.
Ain's shoulders moved upwards, indicating she did not know.
"I'm not really sure. A few months at least, I think," Ain replied, pausing. "Akunadin, I'm scared."
Looking down at Ain from where he stood, Akunadin folded his arms.
"It's not without risks but I am sure you shall be fine," he spoke. "Try not to let it worry you. You're a strong woman, Ain. I know this will be hard but you will bear it well."
Akunadin then smiled and walked over to where Ain was sat on the bed. He sat down on her left and rested his hand on top of her own, which were linked on her lap.
"It will be fine, Ain. Just wait and see. He'll look like you."
Akunadin's right hand left his side and travelled up to touch Ain on the shoulder. He then pulled the younger woman close to him, reassuringly stroking her hair as he leaned her against his shoulder. He was having a child, possibly a boy. Those feelings made him feel strangely warm on the inside. It was a strange emotion, but one he was pleased to be having.
However, the prospect of a son or daughter was not the only thing on Akunadin's mind. He was also aware of the fact if he was gifted with a son that he would have an heir and his brother would not. He did not like to think about it too much, but if things remained the same his son would inherit the throne.
-o-
Six months later, during the season of Peret, Akunadin had returned with a very pregnant Ain to Naquda. A short distance upstream of the capital, the town was known for being the birthplace of the Netjer Set. Because of this, here the worship of that particular god was not as vilified as it was in other portions of the land. The town was situated along the Great River, as was the estate Akunadin himself owned.
Ordinarily, at this time of day Akunadin would have been in the town at the temple. But now was pacing the floor of his room with worry. Ain had gone into labour and he was worried, like most would be, about what could go wrong. The child could be stillborn or Ain herself could die. It was not unheard of, but he had faith that things would be all right. The Netjer would not punish the Per A'a's brother, right?
Akunadin pushed his loose hair back under his headdress, after which he gazed across at one of his upper servants, who was standing in front of the closed door. He had requested some silent company whilst he waited for his child to be born.
Not that he had much to talk about.
"Sir, are you all right?" the servant, Akil, asked.
Akunadin gave the man a questioning look that asked 'what kind of a question is that' and then bowed his head.
A slice of the day had passed, and Akunadin turned his head in the direction of the door. Ignoring his servant, he thought about what lay beyond that door and those walls and passages: a wife, a son, l and a daughter.
Suddenly, the silence was interrupted by the sound of a baby's crying.
Akunadin's head shot up from where it was bowed and then Akunadin himself slowly rose from the bed. There was a knock on the door, and the servant opened it, admitting the town's midwife into the room.
"Lord Akunadin," the midwife greeted.
"Is my wife all right?" Akunadin asked, gazing at the young black-haired woman. "What about the child? Is it male or female?"
"Your wife is perfectly fine, my Lord. And I am happy to inform you that the child is a boy, as you had hoped for."
Akunadin walked past the midwife, leaving her and his servant behind him. Soon reaching the room several doors away, the father knocked on the door, after which he opened it. The walk there had been nerve wracking with excitement and expectation that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The child's crying had died down.
Entering the room, he cast his gaze about and saw Ain sitting on a stool in the middle of the room. There was a small flesh-coloured mound in her arms, which was no doubt his child.
Everything seemed so peaceful. It was an amazing contrast to the hustled atmosphere of the earlier parts of the day.
"I know this is probably the last thing I should be asking, but how are you?" Akunadin asked.
Turning to face her husband, Ain smiled as she held out the tiny child she was cradling in her arms.
"Here. Look at him," the tired woman spoke.
Akunadin silently made his way over to Ain. As he took the child, the first thing he noticed was how round his face seemed. One thing he knew about children was that it took them a while to grow into their features.
Gazing at this son, Akunadin could see that it was obvious he had inherited the colour of his skin from his mother.
"I'll make sure you're well provided for whilst you spend some time with him," Akunadin said, referring to the two weeks the child would spend isolated from the outside world.
"Thank you," Ain replied.
The young woman then gazed up at her husband.
"Have you decided on a name for him yet?" she asked. "We agreed you would name him if he turned out to be a boy."
Akunadin remained silent as he gazed down at his son, the young child's eyes still closed. He thought about the first thing the boy had done, as well as the town he had been born in, and had the perfect name. He would dedicate the child and his name to the Netjer who had been born in the same place as his son.
"Set shall be his name," Akunadin said, holding the boy in the air.
-o-
Three weeks after the birth, back at the Royal Palace in Waset, Akunadin was walking through one of the corridors that led towards his brother's room. His new son was asleep in his arms as those few present gave him glances as he passed them in the hallway.
People were going about their business as Akunumkanon's brother paused before the door that led to his brother's room, a place where the two of them often did their most profound talking.
Knocking on the door with the knuckles on his left hand, adjusting his son as he did so, Akunadin thought about this routine. Usually, he went to his brother's room. They were brothers, true, but there was also the fact his brother was the Per A'a and he was not. For that reason, he was always going to be second best. That life was something he did not want for his son.
When his brother answered the door, Akunadin nodded and walked past Akunumkanon into the room. He could hear the door being closed behind him and turned around.
Seeing a sparkle in his brother's eyes, Akunadin looked at Akunumkanon. Kemet's Per A'a, in turn, was gazing down at Set with a smile on his face.
"So, what is the boy's name?" Akunumkanon asked.
"Set. I decided to name him after the Netjer of the town he was born in," Akunadin replied.
"Set…" Akunumkanon frowned at this. "Do you think that is wise, Akunadin?"
The younger of the two brothers gazed deeply at his companion. Shifting his arms to hold Set, for they were growing tired, Akunadin frowned inwardly at his brother's remark. Until the politicisation of the Netjers Heru and Set, Set had been venerated as the one who protected the barge Ra sailed on in his journey through the sky. That Netjer also happened to have his birthplace in the same location as his son.
"Yes and nothing you say will change my mind. My son's name has already been recorded," Akunadin replied.
Besides, there was another reason his son had received the name he had. This reason was one his brother would be likely to suffer if he made the wrong move.
"I see. In any case, he looks adorable," Akunumkanon said.
The older brother leaned down and then poked Set on the nose in an attempt to illicit a pleased reaction. However, Set just stared at his uncle with his blue eyes. Sighing tiredly, Akunadin moved his son but stopped when a loud piercing wail started to emanate from within his arms.
"Now you know why," Akunadin said, holding Set out in midair.
This earned an agreeing half-hearted nod from Akunumkanon.
"Here, you have him," Akunadin then grumbled, passing over his son.
Soon after his uncle took him, Set stopped crying. Suddenly, there was a foul smell in the air and Akunadin could guess what had happened, as he wrinkled his nose.
The two brothers stood in relative silence for some time before Akunumkanon commented on what had happened, letting out a hearty laugh.
"He's got a strong stomach," the older brother said.
Akunadin took Set off his brother and carefully held him in his arms once more.
"Evidently," Akunadin agreed. "He gets it from his mother, no doubt."
"In any case, I am sure he shall serve me as well as you have, brother," Akunumkanon said, looking at Akunadin.
"Thank you," Akunadin replied. "In any case, I should be going. He'll be wanting his mother soon."
With that, Akunadin made his exit.
Once the door to Akunumkanon's room closed behind him, Akunadin sighed. Looking down at Set, the middle-aged man felt as if he were being pulled in two different directions. He had always been loyal to his brother, yet he wanted more for his son than having to be just another servant.