A/N : So, here's another chapter ! By the way, thanks to all my reviewers, you all rock ! Review again !
NOTE : As you'll see, I mention a lot of egyptian Gods in this fic. I thought about putting a description for each of them, but then again it could be long and... Ok I'll admit I'm too lazy. But don't worry, if you don't know some of those Gods and what they represent or if you're just curious, it's so very easy to find the information on the Internet ! (I know, that's where I took most of mine) There's so many sites about stuff like that I still can't believe it... Anyway, just a little tip... Although I'm sure you would've thought about it yourselves... Well, maybe I just like to babble stupid things.
Ok now, on with the fic !
.: Despite everything :.
by cherry fantasy
"Don't dissociate your heart from your words. Thus, all you will undertake will succeed."
- Aménémopé, Egyptian writer
Chapter two : Despite everything
"Pharaoh ?"
Atemu blinked and looked down at Mahado. With a frustrated sigh, he realized he had been daydreaming, again. It was starting to get annoying. Atemu never daydreamed... Well, usually he didn't. He was always alert and attentive even with subjects as boring as politics. But lately, he had been spacing out too often for his own comfort, and his High Priests were getting worried. Especially one with deep blue eyes...
"I'm sorry, Mahado" Atemu answered calmly. "I must've been distracted. What were you saying ?"
Mahado eyed him carefully, as well as the other Priests. They were presently all in the throne room discussing about the approaching festivities in honour of Bastet, egyptian goddess of femininity, fertility and maternity. As usual, the celebrities would coincide with one of the Nile's floods, an event that was always long-awaited in Egypt. And as a goddess of fertility, Bastet was the divinity they were thanking during that special time.
But to be honest, the arrival of the annual festivity wasn't the first thing in the Priests' minds. They could see that their young ruler was upset with something, and add to that he seemed more tired and distracted than he should've been. Deciding to voice their worries, Isis took a step forward, bowed and asked softly :
"Forgive my arrogance, Pharaoh, but is everything alright ?"
Atemu stiffened and answered slowly :
"Yes, everything is fine. Why are you asking ?"
"Forgive me, my Pharaoh, but you seem a little tired and... upset. Is something troubling you ?"
Silence answered her. The other High Priests glanced at the Pharaoh, feeling quite uncomfortable. Atemu's worst angers, although rare, were oddly the most silent ones. It was impressive how scary he could become in those times, like a vengeful Apophis ready for the kill. Thus, it wasn't hard to understand why the Priests had gotten so nervous when all that answered Isis' question was an eary silence.
They were so focused on the Pharaoh's reaction that they didn't notice Set, the only Priest who was looking at anything but their king and who was also fidgeting nervously with his millennium Rod. Set never fidgeted with anything.
Finally, Atemu just sighed and said serenely :
"No, Isis, nothing is troubling me... at least, nothing you should concern yourself with. But I do appreciate your worries over my well-being"
Everyone relaxed (including Set, although it went unnoticed) and Isis smiled before answering :
"We always worry about you, my Pharaoh"
"As I gathered" Atemu retorted with an amused smirk. "Now, back to work. Is everything ready for the festivities ?"
"Almost, your Highness" answered Karim. "There is enough provisions for everyone and some rooms are being prepared for the nobles that will temporarily reside in the palace. Security has also been increased to ensure your protection"
"That's good. I also want you to send more guards in the city, just in case. Anything can happen with so many people all at the same place"
"It will be done my Pharaoh" assured Karim.
Atemu nodded then added :
"Anything else ?"
"Actually, yes" said Shada while coming up in front and bowing respectfully. "There is another matter that require your attention, Pharaoh"
"What is it ?"
"I have been told recently that some citizens had started to fall mysteriously ill, and so I went to check myself. Sadly I found out that it was true ; an appreciable amount of people seem to have contracted an illness that eventually brings them to death. I have spoken to some healers who had patients in this condition and they told me that the disease fortunately isn't contagious, but it is striking many people nonetheless for reasons they can't understand"
Atemu, who now looked very worried, asked with concern :
"Is there a cure ?"
"No" answered Shada quietly. "The healers are trying their best but haven't found anything yet"
"Why haven't I been informed of this earlier ?" the young king asked with a frown.
"I am very sorry my Pharaoh" Shada said with a deep bow, "but no one had noticed the similarities until recently, and I myself only learned about the whole ordeal this morning"
"This is not good..." Atemu whispered.
"Are you sure it isn't contagious ?" Set intervened for the first time since their meeting had started. "There will be a lot of people gathered for the festivities, the disease could spread very easily"
"Well we can't exactly cancel everything, can we ?" Akunadin stated.
"Besides" Shada added, "the healers were absolutely positive. This illness isn't contagious. They, along with family members and friends, have all been close to the patients very often and among them only four have fallen ill too. They say it is too small of a number for the sickness to be infectious, or else dozens of people would've already contracted it by now, including themselves. There's also the fact that some persons who had never been in contact with the ill ones have become sick too. They can't figure out what is going on... According to one of the healers I spoke to, this is a punishment from the Gods"
Set and Atemu froze while Mahado exclaimed :
"A punishment ? This is ridiculous ! We have done nothing to wrong the Gods ! No, it must be something else"
Atemu quickly glanced at Set, fear slowly growing inside of him... He had to speak with Set. Right now.
"Pharaoh ?"
He turned to Karim as this one asked :
"What are your orders ?"
Atemu thought for a moment, then said :
"Since this illness doesn't seem to be contagious, the festivities shall go on as normal. Make sure everything is ready. Meanwhile, I want all the healers, including the royal ones, to focus entirely on finding a cure. Give them all they need for it, and anyone who may help in their search is ordered to do so. I want daily reports on how things are progressing. That will be all"
"Yes my Pharaoh" they answered in unison with another bow.
Atemu then rose from his throne and after giving Set the 'we-need-to-talk' look, he climbed down the stairs and passed his Priests who knelt silently before him. Then he exited the room and went to his chambers as quickly as he could, dismissing the few guards and servants once he was there. He knew that Set would join him soon, and he didn't want anyone eavesdropping on them...
o0o
"What if it's our fault, Set ? What if the Gods are angry at us for what we've been doing ?" Atemu said while pacing back and forth beside his bed.
Set, sitting more calmly on the bed, answered his lover :
"Don't be irrational, Atemu. We've been together since five months, surely if the Gods would've disapproved they would've done something much sooner"
The Pharaoh stopped his pacing and stared at Set before asking :
"Is it me you're trying to convince, or yourself ?"
Set frowned but didn't answer. Atemu resumed his pacing and said :
"I admit you have a point, though. But then again, who really knows what the Gods could be thinking ? I... I just don't want my people to be the ones to pay for my mistakes"
There was a silence, then Set whispered :
"So that's what it was to you ? A mistake ?"
Atemu stopped dead in his tracks and turned to him. His lover's face was expressionless, but Atemu knew him well and didn't miss the hurt look in his eyes. Beating himself up inwardly, the young sovereign walked to his Priest and sat beside him. Set didn't look at him and Atemu felt like slapping himself. Hard. Instead, he just raised his hand and placed it on his lover's cheek, then he gently turned Set's face toward him. Locking their gazes together, he said :
"I'm sorry, Set. I used the wrong words. You and I... what we are... what we share... could never be a mistake in my eyes no matter what anyone says. Not even the Gods, Râ forgive me, could convince me of that. I realize what we're doing may not be the wisest thing, but you know what ? If given the choice, I would do it the same all over again... Except I would probably start it sooner !"
He was smiling now, slowly caressing Set's cheekbone with his thumb. This one just smiled back, his defences down. Atemu cupped his face with both hands and added :
"Whatever happens, Set, just remember that I love you and that I always will. I'm sorry for what I said earlier, I didn't mean it like that. I was just upset and worried about my people. You know that I say stupid things when I'm upset. Forgive me ?"
Set just rolled his eyes and answered softly :
"You know it"
He pulled Atemu on his lap and kissed him deeply, relishing in the unique taste of his lover's mouth... After a moment they parted and Atemu rested his head on his Priest's shoulder, sighing softly in contentment. Then he whispered :
"What are we going to do, Set ? Even if it isn't our fault, I can't just stand back and watch my people die like that"
"You took the right measures, love" Set answered. "There's nothing more we can do, but wait... and pray"
"Yes... I suppose you're right"
"As always" Set confirmed with a grin.
Atemu snorted and poked him in the side.
"You're so full of yourself !" he admonished.
"But would you have me any other way ?"
Atemu looked up at him and retorted, seriousness entering his playful tone :
"No, probably not"
They stared at each other for a moment, silent. Then suddenly Set smirked and laid down on the bed, managing to pull Atemu under him. He straddled him and said with a sly grin :
"Now Pharaoh, I think I should punish you for what you said a few minutes ago"
"Oh ? But I thought I was forgiven ?" Atemu answered with a hint of amusement in his own voice.
"I changed my mind" the Priest retorted while running his fingers along the other's thigh. "It was very naughty and a punishment is required"
Atemu would've answered if it wasn't that he suddenly didn't remember how to speak coherent sentences. He shot Set a fevered look and pulled him down for a heated kiss, vaguely acknowledging that Set was slowly undressing them both. Atemu drew back a second to get the millennium Puzzle off his neck ; the object was very important to him, but right now... well, let's just say that it was in the way of more pressing desires.
He felt Set's lips leave his mouth and slide down along his jaw, kiss his neck and then gently nip his collarbone. He moaned and gripped Set's shoulders tightly, his fingernails piercing the skin. Set's mouth left his collarbone and went lower on his chest, his tongue tracing a wet path as it headed for one hard nipple. The Priest took it in his mouth and started sucking on it, getting a myriad of alluring sounds from his lover. Atemu's own fingers started drawing different patterns on Set's back, slowly getting lower and lower... Set moaned, his mouth moving to work on another nipple as his hands slowly caressed his companion's sides, before suddenly grabbing his hips in a firm hold and pressing them as close to his as possible.
"Oh... Râ... Set !" Atemu breathed out, before throwing his legs around the other's waist to have closer contact.
In a last moment of lucidity, the young Pharaoh idly wondered what else he could do to get himself some more punishments like this one...
o0o
"I take it you liked your punishment ?" Set asked with a grin some hours later.
"Mmhm..." Atemu purred softly while snuggling against his lover's chest.
Set smiled and whispered :
"I'll take that as a yes"
He heard the Pharaoh chuckle and his gaze softened. He loved the sound of Atemu's laughter, it was making him all warm and funny inside. Of course he would never admit such a silly thing even if Sekhmet herself was the one asking.
He passed his arms around Atemu and brought him closer. He was about to close his eyes and try to sleep when he heard his lover call his name :
"Set ?"
"What is it ?" he answered gently.
"Could you promise me something ?"
"Anything"
"Never forget that I'll always love you... despite everything"
"On one condition"
"What...?"
"You have to promise me the same thing"
Atemu looked up at him with a blissful smile, then he kissed him lovingly and murmured :
"It's a promise then"
"Yes, it's a promise..."
A/N : Yes, I like romance and sappy scenes. I can't help it. But don't worry, there won't be just that in this fic. But I'm warning you, it will be there often !
Also, the illness I am refering to in this chapter isn't made up. It's what we call today malaria, but in the story I can't name it because in Ancient Egypt they didn't know what it was. In fact, in real Ancient Egypt, illness was almost always considered like some kind of punishment from the Gods, so they didn't really have names for it. Do you follow here ? Oh well anyway, I've looked into it and there truly has been some cases of malaria in Ancient Egypt.
Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter ! I know it was a bit short, I'll try to make the next one longer. R&R please !