EGYPT: 2498 BC

Chapter Three

nuk ãq ap per tennu nuà

I enter being judged, coming out pure.

This was, without doubt, definitely the single most humiliating moment of Yuugi's entire- brief- existence. He shifted, squirming with shame and discomfort for the upteenth time, in the constrictive folds of his Carni bridal costume. Two hundred years of time-honoured tradition and it came to this singularly awful moment of a young prince practically committing suicide while looking like the very death; all of it for a father he loathed. Yuugi couldn't believe he was actually doing this, allowing it to happen instead of breaking free, stabbing himself, telling the Egyptian escort the whole plan and taking his father's punishment; anything would be preferable to just sitting here taking it.

Life wasn't fair.

Here he was, finally getting some sort of royal treatment and it was dressed as a woman, carried off as virgin sacrifice to start a war for the sake of King and country he hated even more than he currently hated himself. His legs were sheathed in diaphanous, translucent trousers, hemmed in pearls and semi-precious stones and heavy, woven scarves of many colours wound over and about his neck and chest to disguise his lack of bosom. His abdomen was bare except for the intricate henna tattoos swirling all over his pale skin, he'd never felt so exposed- even though he usually wore less- and every breath of wind set off a fit of nerves.

What if the King discovered him right away? Would he be killed on the spot? Tortured for information? Would the Land of the River become his tomb or his prison? Did it even matter…? He'd often said he didn't care one way or the other if he lived or died, but now faced with the very serious possibility- probability, even- of death he found he was more attached to his life than he had thought.

He looked around and took a moment to marvel at the absurdity of the situation. He was being carried on an elaborate litter, curtained with coloured veils that afforded passerby only fleeting glimpses of his form and piled high with pillows and furs. It rested neatly on the shoulders of six enormous slaves, darkly tanned skin glistening with sweat under the merciless Egyptian sun as they marched, staring vacantly ahead. A troop of armed Egyptian mercenaries trudged on before them, copper swords glinting at their sides, two tame leopards with Carni attendants and a Carni guard brought up the rear of the small procession. Yuugi was finally getting to Khm'ma'ht in fashionable resplendence, if not exactly in the capacity he had imagined.

His cool, pale blue eyes searched the country-side as the litter made its slow, stately way passed the common settlements at the outskirts of the city of Memphis in Lower Egypt, the capital of the greatest empire in the known world. The people were happy, that much was obvious even in the small flashes of them he could see; farmers and children and women walking to the city to trade or sell in the market. They all looked so content and well-fed, their deep gold skin gleaming health and care. Yuugi had never seen anything like it. Not even the nobles of Carni could boast such obvious vitality!

The King must be a very great man to bring his people such joy. Yuugi sighed, it didn't matter how great or fair a King he was, the so named 'Lord of the Two Lands', would never stand for the insult drawing closer and closer to his palace. Yuugi father had been right about that; and his sick and sorted plan was almost certain to go off without a hitch.

Life was also deeply depressing.

The sand shone in the noontime sun, glinting off pointed peaks in the distance that Yuugi told himself must be hills- he couldn't fathom anything man made on such an unreal scale- no matter how uniform or pointed, it had tobe a mountain! That is, he couldn't fathom until he looked ahead and saw the multitude of spires and columns and gargantuan statues and temples and… the impossible seemed like a walk in the park to these people. He stared openly at the hustle and bustle of Memphis, the common people strolling about their simply impossible city as if it were nothing at all out of the ordinary. Yuugi's mouth dropped open in shock and he gaped shamelessly as each new building they passed increased in splendour and the enormous stone archway at the city gates behind them dwindled in comparison.

He was laying back in the litter in a stupor when he was startled to attention by a very loud, very contrived cough. He peered up from under his eyelashes at an official-looking man in a nemes headdress and a heavily starched kilt, a broad, bejeweled necklace covering his upper chest and thick, black lines edging his eyes. Yuugi tilted his head in confusion at that, wondering what on earth had happened to this man's face; he appeared to have slight green discolouration along his lower eyelids, too.

"Princess Yuugi of Carni, daughter of the the great and noble King Syret," he bowed low in the Carni manner, "The Son of Ra welcomes you to the Great House of Kemet."

Yuugi noted, rather belatedly, that his litter had stopped the steady, swaying movement which had lulled his mind almost into hibernation. He rose uncertainly, wondering if he was to use the protocol of his homeland or the traditions of Kemet. Surely this man was practicing Carni graces out of respect- a symbol of their King's warm welcome. Tottering in a near fit of nerves, Yuugi performed the elaborate curtsey the ladies of his people learned by heart almost before they could walk.

The man who had greeted him smiled openly, a genuine smile showing two rows of straight, dazzlingly white teeth, the effect heightened against his dark skin. "Little princess, do not be afraid, we forgive you your ignorance of our culture and take no offense.His majesty knows this marriage was prepared rather hastily. Rise and walk with me, fair one."

Yuugi blushed at being spoken to as if he were a child, "I just…" He sighed heavily and shook his head, following the tall, friendly form of his escort with resignation.

He looked back at his charge, "I am Sensut, what you would call a noble."

The prince nodded, "I'm honoured to meet you," Yuugi was at a loss as to what to call him, so he let the sentence dangle in the thick silence as they passed into the shade of a stone roof. The pillars supporting the monolithic awning were immense and intricately carved, portraits and animal representations possessed of immaculate detail. The stories he had heard about this land were proving themselves vastly insufficient to describe its wonder.

"You may be puzzled, princess, that there is not more than myself to meet a future member of the court bringing alliance with a close neighbour…." Sensut wrinkled his nose as if to ward off pain he knew was coming, his hands twitching with the need to rub his temples, "Unfortunately you chose a time when the Great House is in some… slight upheaval." he grimaced, knowing that was a cryptic way to put it.

Yuugi regarded him cautiously, studying him and learning all he could from his outward attitudes. He had become good at picking out things about a person which taught him a great deal about their character at a glance. This man was tired and frustrated and not a little concerned. "Upheaval…?" He questioned carefully, not wanting to overstep his bounds, realizing they were both being hideously unorthodox already.

Sensut sighed, "I'm afraid its not for me to tell you about that, my princess," he waved his hand apologetically as they walked, "I do not know what would be thought of our conversation."

"It would be thought inappropriate and you- of all things Nut ever breathed life to- should know that best." The voice was dark, toned slightly sinister, arrogant and cold without being completely malicious. It warned, but did not strike. It reminded the prince of an asp, all slinky and strangely mesmerizing, but so obviously not to be trifled with.

As he finished speaking, a brooding figure appeared in the streaks of sunlight blazing through the pillars, washing him into brilliant silhouette until Yuugi's eyes could adjust. When they did he gazed in detached fascination at a slender figure of dwarfing height, flesh gleaming darkly, completely unmarred by hair or imperfection. A leopard skin was drawn loosely around slim hips and hung lifelessly- head and paws carefully kept intact- over one broad, sharply boned shoulder and at his thin wrists black bracelets lay cold against his skin. His scalp was clean-shaven and meticulously washed, the hair of his eyebrows missing too; even his eyelashes had been groomed. The cleanliness and adornment extended from head to toe, even the sandals on his feet were held in place by gold thrashes.

"First Prophet Seth," Sensut's voice was deep and booming, his eyes lowered in humility as he bowed, so low his knees scrapped the floor. He continued, still speaking Carni, out of politeness to his charge, "May I present the Princess Yuugi of Carni, bride of the Lord of the Two Lands, price of our alliance with her nation."

Yuugi curtsied again, pearls clacking with his somewhat awkward movement. He was too nervous for grace, all of a sudden, now that he had met someone who was obviously important while in the middle of an uncouth conversation in a back hallway of some sort. Goddess, isn't this going well.

Seth, the 'First Prophet'- Yuugi didn't know what that was- eyed him through suspicious slits and then sniffed dismissively, "The Son of Ra Atemhotep needs nothing less than another wife, especially now, especially when he doesn't use the ones he's got. Carni is not a useful place and it is ruled by a covetous, greedy mockery of a man, why an alliance with him?"

"You would do well, cousin," another voice interrupted, "to remember- before you speak of such matters- your place."

This voice made Yuugi's breath catch in his throat; it held such an unspeakable command about it that he knew instantly to whom it belonged. The god-King, the Lord of the Two Lands, the Son of Ra, whatever they chose to call him… he was truly, magnificently a King. His voice was low and rumbled in the pit of one's stomach, reverberating like thunder, full of fierce nobility. It was arrogant and vaguely vain, but still kind and world-weary. It was melodic, lilting over words, carefully enunciating each one and infusing it with meaning and intent- not a voice that spoke without consideration of every single implication of what it said. It was a cultivated voice, one that had been partially affected.

With the King's sudden presence everyone in the room threw themselves to the floor, prostrating themselves before his sandaled feet. Sensut kissed the sandy filth of the floor just in front of his lord's foot, Seth kissed the foot itself. Yuugi had gone down with them, but made no move to approach the King.

There was a soft rustling of cloth, a padding of light footsteps and a hand rested itself unobtrusively on Yuugi's bowed head, "Look, child, have no fear."

It was Him.

Yuugi lifted his gaze slowly, eyes drifting from golden sandals up lithe, muscled calves to the edge of the King's garment, a schenti, a kilt-like affair in painfully pristine white linen, woven with utmost care and starched to perfection. He wore a belt that Sensut lacked, laced with gold and stripes of a light blue and black in thick, horizontal lines. His slender, shapely chest was bare, miles of beautiful glistening golden skin, taunt over just-visible muscles. At the throat he wore a shebiu, or jeweled collar, tiny anhks, flails and falcon charms layered with coloured beads. On his brow he wore the pschent, the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt and the golden cobra, poised to strike, seemed to stare at Yuugi measuringly from the extravagant headdress.

His eyes were ruby-brown and something seemed to glow in their depths. His face was angular, slender like his body, his features sharp and well-defined, the cut of his cheekbones and jaw harsh and straight. The bridge of his nose and the slant of his eyebrows elegant and regal, not a curve to be found. Until his lips. His lips were full, as was the nature of his race, and the lower pouted out slightly, generous and looking like it could be easily pulled into a wide grin- it looked, in fact, as though it were experiencing difficulty resisting that very urge at any given moment. The King's eyes were lined with black just as Sensut's were and his lower eyelids discoloured with a green tinge, making his already exotic, severe and beautiful face almost pop with the awesome fantasy of it all.

His lips twitched, finally drawing back into that easy smile Yuugi had suspected all along- and the small prince's worries briefly fluttered out and died, lost in the vision of the King. The beautiful, beautiful King; exotic and kind, perhaps he would not sentence death? Perhaps he would even… understand?

The Lord of the Two Lands had long, slender, nimble fingers that curved delicately under Yuugi's chin to bring his eyes directly to his, "Welcome little Queen, to Kemet, the Black Land."

HISTORY BITES!

-The 'Son of Ra' is a divine title of the pharaoh.

-Atemhotep (meaning: the god, Atem, is satisfied), I have decided, is Yami's full nomen name. The name given to him at birth and his 'Son of Ra' title name.

-Yes, people really kissed the dirt in front of pharaoh's foot, unless they were in particular favour- then they could kiss his actual foot.

-The title 'pharaoh' is not being used within the narrative (unless I make a mistake, which I am wont to do) because it didn't exist in the Fourth Dynasty, where we have set our stage.

-This was the time of the God-kings, when the Pharaoh was considered a god and was the only person in Egypt garunteed an after life. That changed later with the advancement of the Osiris cult.

Kemet means literally, 'the black land', meaning the Nile Valley where Egypt was/is. This is what the Egyptians called their land.

-the nemes headdress is the famous one, cloth with stripes on it hanging either side of the face and gathered in a sort of pony tail behind. Everyone's seen them, you'd know it if you saw it. :)

-Questions? Just ask. If I missed something or was too lazy to look something up and you see a mistake, please correct me!

An: This reminds you of Sabriel! Wow! Thank-you! That's an amazing book, as is the sequel, I just read them a couple of months ago for the first time. I only hope to aim so high in quality!

Thank-you for the reviews!