Sands of Time

Chapter Sixteen

As Atem sat in his room and listened to the people outside as they discussed their problems to Seth and he began to wonder if things would ever get better. How could he help these people with their problems when he couldn't even fix his own? He was nudged from his thoughts by an elbow. "Pharaoh, Aren't you hungry?" Jounouchi looked at the feast before him.

"Yes." he smiled when he heard Jou's stomach growl. "Won't you have some?"

"No thank you, Pharaoh, Jou knows better…" Honda's words went unheeded as Jou was already enjoying some of the food.

"Mmm this is good." Jou smiled as he ate. "Better than what they give us."

"Have some Honda, it's okay." Atem smirked as Honda nodded and started to eat. "Have some wine too." He smirked. "It's really okay. We'll have a little party right here."

A few Hours and drinks later Honda and Jounouchi were passed out on the ground with their arms around each other. A smile played on their lips as they slept with full bellies and warm hearts. "That was a little wrong, but I cannot allow any harm to befall Seth just because I am locked up in here." He grabbed the key from Honda's belt and walked out of his room.

He sloped through the narrow halls and casually walked through the garden toward his throne. He smiled as he walked up to Seth with a fire in his eyes.

"That look doesn't scare me." Seth replied, "How did you get out?"

"You're Guards are hungry, maybe if you fed them more my plan wouldn't have worked. Now tell me again, why you felt the need to lock me up?"

"I wanted to keep you safe."

"And I want to stay out here to keep you and all of Egypt safe. So what will we do?"

" I don't have much of a choice but to let you have your way. But I will be right next to you the whole time to make sure you stay safe." He smirked

"Fine. But lets get on with my Pharaonic matters." He strode over to his throne and sat down happily. "Send in the first order of business." He clapped.

"Pharaoh, we have a new treasure for you. She is a wonderful dancer." Came a guard with a golden leash in his hands.

"Oh? Is she better than my Queen Nefertari? Because I highly doubt that." he smirked, "send her in, you can never have enough entertainers, for the coronation festival. And what better day to have it then on the day the moon turns Crimson."

The guard tugged on the leash and in walked Anzu in a sandy colored dress that showed her shoulders and outlined her features perfectly. A veil covered her mouth and nose only showing her thirst quenching blue eyes. "Wow." Atem stood up slowly. "I've seen those eyes somewhere."

"What do you mean, Pharaoh?" Seth took a step forward.

"Nothing. Take her away to get ready for tonight." He waved her and the guards off, "he sat back"

"He seems like he's in a better mood." Mahado whispered to Seth. "I wonder what happened to change his mind."

"Beats me, but I think it is about time." Seth smiled and watched as Atem finished with the other people's orders of business. "Everything is ready, Pharaoh." Seth bowed as the last peasant left.

"She's here!" he smiled and jumped from his throne.

"Whom might you be talking about?" Seth gave him a strange look

"Anzu! She's back, after all these years." He smiled "I just knew she would come back."

"With all due respect I think you are out of your mind, I did not see her."

"Because you don't know her like I do. That was her, the new dancer girl." He beamed

"But Pharaoh," Mahado interrupted, "if that was her why didn't you say so at first?"

"That's a good question." Seth nodded.

"Well she obviously didn't want me to know it was her so I am going to have her little fun, But now there is a reason to live again." He smiled anew. Seth and Mahado just shook their heads and smiled for him. "Well, I have a party to get ready for." He walked out. "My Anzu is here to make everything better." He said to himself as he walked to his room.

"Why did she choose now to come back? It just seems too strange." Mahado said.

"My sentiments exactly. We should just be careful, we do anything to protect him."

"You needn't tell me." Mahado nodded, "well I have to get Mana ready for tonight, I put her in charge of the light show."

"Ra help us all." Seth teased, "Good luck. I am going to see about this dancer girl." He walked off.

Anzu slipped through the halls and headed for the kitchen where the wine was being prepared and pulled out a vial of greenish powder and made her way to the wine jugs and dumped the liquid into the wine. 'Sorry everyone,' she smirked and backed out of the kitchen only to bump into someone.

"What are you doing in the kitchen?" Seth grabbed her and turned her to face him.

"I-I was looking for something to drink." She sighed. "Is that so bad?"

"Well when you are supposed to… how did you know where the kitchen was? If I am not mistaken, and I'm not, the entertainer's quarters are quiet a walk from the kitchen and it is very easy to get lost in here."

"I um… I" she paused, 'how did I know the kitchen was there?'

"He was right." He smiled as he pulled off her veil. "It is you!" he hugged her tightly. "He will be so happy to finally be with you again."

"Eheh, r-right. That's why I came here, to see him." she just smiled 'what is this fool talking about?' she pulled away, "well I have to get ready." She said and sprang off.

"Hold on. Wouldn't you rather sit by Atem's side than to dance?"

'Sit by Atem? It would give me a better view of everyone dying.' She smiled, "Of course. I just didn't know if he would rather have me dance."

"No, You've been gone for so long, I think he wants to keep you as close as he can." Seth smiled. "Follow me." She nodded and followed Seth to her room and pulled the door open for her. "I will be your escort to the door. There is a dress for you on the bed." He said and waited outside, as she got dressed.

Anzu walked out in a white dress that drifted to the ground and flowered out on the bottom like the lotus flower. Around her waist as a thing golden rope belt and she wore armlets and bracelets and a golden Tiara with a blue gemstone in the center. "Is it time?"

"Yes it is." Seth smiled. "If we don't hurry then we will miss the royal toast." He looked his arm around hers.

"We wouldn't want to miss that." she smirked as he lead her to the last Ball either of them would ever see.