Disclaimer: I don't own so don't sue!

A/N: How long has it been since I updated anything? Hoy, I better get on that.

Duel of Love

Chapter 27: Regret

Pharaoh Atemu

We left the Thief King in that place. He wasn't the number one thing on my mind. He could stay there unconscious for as long as he liked, I didn't give a care. Miss Katiana was…and she needed me more than my need to deal with the Thief King, so we left him. He had one of the enchanted weapons…something told me that taking him captive would do no good to getting it.

"She's finally asleep," I whispered, rubbing her back, feeling her wince beneath me as I touched her scar lightly. It was still red, High Priest Shadi had put something on it to protect it from being infected but we needed to get her back to the palace to treat her properly. But would it ever stop looking so raw now? I had watched the sword dig into her back!

"We should leave tonight my Pharaoh," High Priest Seto said, glancing out over the vast desert.

"Yes we should," I said, holding her close. "I'll carry Miss Katiana as we ride back."

"She's lost her sight," High Priest Seto muttered. "And she wears a great many scars." Suddenly his expression turned angry at me. "How much more must she go through for you? Hasn't she lost enough?"

"I didn't ask her to go through any of this! I didn't want her to go through any of this!" I exclaimed and quieted my voice when Miss Katiana stirred in my arms. "I love her how could I wish her harm?"

"We need to get back," he said, apparently ignoring my last few words as he stood up and brushed off some sand. He started to walk away but in a deliberate attempt to wound me further with words muttered, "And knowing her like I do, she will blame herself for being blind, not being strong enough to do anything about it…"

I looked down at the one I loved in my arms, sleeping soundly in my embrace. I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask for any of this!

…

We arrived back at the palace with little trouble. I didn't stop the horses to rest; my only desire was to return to the palace so that High Priest Mahado could possibly examine Miss Katiana's condition and see if there was some cure. I prayed to Ra that there was a cure or else I would make a point of it to find one. Even if she was blind I loved her still.

"My pharaoh, you've returned," High Priest Mahado said, greeting us at the entrance. "High Priestess Isis told me I should be here to greet you when you return." He looked at the sleeping woman in my arms. "What has happened to Priestess Katiana?"

"I need you to examine her," I instructed without hesitation. "She lost her sight in the ruins, come, I'll explain the details as I get her back to her room." I carried her without difficulty and though she shifted a bit in my arms, even over the course of us returning, she did not wake.

"She's gone blind?" High Priest Mahado asked. "That is something that doesn't just happen…"

"I'll explain it once we get her to her room," I snapped and he lowered his head, contenting himself to wait.

"As you wish my pharaoh," he said.

…

"I see, and you need me to examine her to see if I can find a way to cure it?" High Priest Mahado asked and I nodded. "I shall try my best then. May I wake her?"

"I recall her not liking male doctors. If you need to wake her, have your apprentice lead the examination."

"Very well my pharaoh, I shall return shortly with Mana," he replied.

…

I paced back and forth outside of the room. I could hear Miss Katiana sobbing but I forced myself to not enter until High Priest Mahado and Mana had done everything for her they could. High Priest Seto had stopped by and talked with me for a while, and I could tell he was pained as well hearing her sobbing through her door. He even made sure to ask me if a woman was examining her rather than High Priest Mahado, and I told him that he was only overseeing Mana's examination. It seemed agreeable to him and without many other words between us he left.

Madera, the woman who was Miss Katiana's closest friend, however, did not stop to see how Miss Katiana was doing; no doubt she knew what had happened, considering she knew everything else that seemed to be going on. She did not stop by to either check up on Miss Katiana or to scold me, and I assumed she had done that on purpose, giving me time to let it sink in how much I had messed up yet again.

…

I stayed by Miss Katiana's side the entire night, doing my best to stay awake. I held her hand and lightly touched her hair, although a part of me believed I had no right to do so anymore. She lost her sight because of me, she got scars because of me…and she still loved me. I couldn't take that. I couldn't understand why she loved me so much. Was there any way to help her now? Was there any way I could heal some of the pain and suffering I had caused her? I would give away everything and anything I could just to heal her pain. Wait that was it. I could find a way to heal her sight. After all she had done for me, it is the least I could do, to heal her sight and return to her something she had lost because of me.

I stood up and touched Miss Katiana's hair lightly and placed a kiss on her forehead. I would get her sight back, and I had a good idea who to ask for a place to start. I exited the room and looked back longingly.

"Forgive me my love, for not being there when you wake," I whispered before I slipped out into the night.

Katiana

I could feel my eyes open but all I saw before me was darkness. I felt my hand come to my head and I felt my face and knew my eyes were open.

"Why c-can't I see?" I asked. "Is anyone t-there?" I didn't hear anything and started reaching my hands out blindly.

"P-Please, is anyone there?" I asked again, louder this time. Why wasn't the pharaoh here? Why wasn't he here by my side?

"Katiana, are you all right?" a voice asked.

"Who's t-there?" I asked. "I c-can't see you." I started to feel panic, thrashing my arms out now in a desperate attempt to hold onto someone. I felt a hand slide into my own and I forced myself to go still.

"It's Seto, High Priest Seto," the voice replied soothingly. "Did you just wake up?"

I nodded. "Where's the pha-pharaoh?"

"I don't know, he was with you the entire night," Seto replied. "I looked in on him only a few hours ago and he was struggling to keep awake to watch over you."

"I c-can't see…" I trailed off pitifully. I held his hands tightly so that I knew he was there, and so that he couldn't get away from me either.

"I don't know what happened back in those caves yet," Seto replied, "I'll find out though; High Priest Shadi is looking into it."

"I d-don't thing it can be f-fixed," I said and felt tears welling up into my eyes. The bed I was in gave way as someone, I think Seto, sat down next to me on it.

"There will be a way," he said. "There has to be."

"Where is the pha-pharaoh?" I asked, "I w-want…"

"To know he's okay?" Seto asked and I nodded. He brought one of my hands to his face so I could feel him smile. "He is, believe me. He is more worried about you than anything."

I didn't say anything, but I don't think I had to. I felt Seto take me into his arms and hold me against him. He let out a sigh, but I didn't ask him what was on his mind. I didn't want to. I was glad he was okay, but I was still worried about the pharaoh, where could he be? I clutched onto Seto, wanting to hold onto something, to feel something that I couldn't see and he held onto me, as if unwilling to let me go.

TBC

A/N: Short as hell, I know, but I wanted people to know I wasn't dead.