Royalshipping (Anzu x Priest Set)

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((Making use of Anzu's Egyptian counterpart Teana here))

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"You know, people are beginning to talk."

Too many times, he had had this conversation. Every time, it sent a horrible shudder down his spine.

"They're worried. The people of Kemet need you to have an heir."

He wasn't ready for that.

"They're afraid of you disappearing like your predecessor. Only this time, there won't be anyone to take over."

He knew that. He knew how important it was to solidify his people's confidence in him. He knew that he had to have an heir. He had already taken Isis as his queen...what more did he need to do? He couldn't forceher to become pregnant. They had tried. They had been trying so hard. The rumors were saying that Isis may even be infertile. A deep-seated worry was falling over the kingdom.

"Many are suggesting you take a second wife."

Even marrying Isis had been so, so difficult for him to do. Could he even manageto take a second woman to bed? And who would it be? He had half tried to form alliances with some neighboring kingdoms, but many of them were wary of Kemet since the dark god had risen there. They were uncertain of forming an alliance with the, in their opinion, shaky kingdom. And even fewer were willing to consider marriage proposals.

Besides...could he really do this again? Could he hurt another heart by being unable to devote the care they deserved to them?

It was another sleepless night, Set thought wryly. The thoughts swirled around in his head incessantly. They absolutely refused to allow him to close his eyes.

He sighed, sitting up in bed. His room was dark, and the cool breeze from outside floated in from the balcony. He knew that just below there would be a pair of guards, and outside his door would be another pair. If he were to go take a walk to clear his head, at least one of them would leave the door to trail silently behind him. He missed the days when he was just a priest, and he didn't have shadows tailing him everywhere. Didn't they think he could take care of himself? He held the Millennium Rod, after all. And the weight of the Millennium Puzzle hung heavily on his chest, its power cold and alien to him, but there nonetheless. He was the furthest thing from helpless.

He sighed. He had to move, shadows or not.

He rose from the bed, throwing a sheer tunic over his head and slipping on his sandals. At the opening of his door, the guards snapped to attention, dark eyes curious.

"I'm going to the gardens for a few moments," he said.

They nodded. As he expected, they fell into step a few feet behind him, silent shadows at his heels. He sighed, but did not tell them to stay back. People were worried enough about losing another pharaoh; he didn't need to add to the rumors by sending his guards away at night.

He took the darkened corridors down the stairs to the open courtyard. Cool desert air washed against his skin, and he closed his eyes for a moment just to feel it envelop him. When he opened his eyes again, he took in the sight of the gardens. They were pretty extensive, for a courtyard, with lush trees and shrubs, interspersed with marble fountains that glittered a dark blue with stars, like the deep sky above.

He walked silently out onto the cool stones, feeling the cold temperature of them even through the soles of his sandals. He could still hear the guards trailing behind him, but they were farther now. There was more than one guard in these gardens. Set was well protected out here.

He walked for a few moments, touching tree leaves as he passed them absently. It was cold. Colder than he had dressed for—but he wasn't ready to go back to bed.

And then he heard the soft sound of strings.

He hesitated, cocking his head slightly. Was he imagining that? No, it was definitely the sound of an instrument being plucked at. But where? And at this time of night? He focused his hearing more, and thought he heard a soft voice. A light chuckle. The shuffle of feet on the stones.

He glanced back at his guards. Either they didn't hear it, or they were unperturbed by the sounds, as they did not react. He hesitated. And then he walked forward, winding around the thin trees towards the source...

He broke through, and—there.

He stopped dead, transfixed for a moment. The way that the moon shone down on this part of the garden caused the figure before him to almost gleam with moonlight, as though she were made of quicksilver. Her long, slender legs moved with a grace unlike any he had ever seen before, bare feet hopping and skipping across the stones. She raised her arms, hands outstretched towards the sky as she made a graceful twirl. Her chestnut hair bounced around her face, done up with several braids. Her hazel eyes looked black in the starlight, reflecting the sky above as though her eyes were studded with diamonds.

Another girl sat at a distance on the edge of a fountain, plucking at the string instrument on her lap, violet hair falling in waves around her shoulders. But Set could hardly see her for the girl that danced in front of him. Her light garments flashed and swirled around her, like mist. As though she were dancing inside a cloud.

He recognized her, vaguely. She was one of the permanent dancing troupe, a noble girl that had joined some time ago as was common among the lower noble houses. But always she had danced along with the group, in their practiced forms and synchronized choreography. Never before had he seen her dance with such...such...freedom.It was, he thought, one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen.

He could only stare for a moment, making no noise—and so, when she noticed him suddenly, her eyes widened and she tripped mid spin.

Set moved forward before he thought about what he was doing, catching her by the arm before she tumbled to the ground. She clapped a hand over her mouth with surprise and quickly jumped away, before her eyes widened at the realization of what she had done.

"I—I apologize, your majesty," she said, bowing low. "I did not see you there, or I would have greeted you properly."

"I understand. It is all right; I did not announce myself."

"No, it was a serious breach of propriety. I am deeply sorry."

She bowed even lower, and Set thought he saw her shoulders trembling.

"I accept your apology," he said, finally, thinking that might make her calm down. "I myself apologize for startling you."

He hesitated.

"That was beautiful. Why do you not dance like that in public?"

She rose slowly, hesitant.

"I...my lord, I have been asked by the troupe leader not to show off; it is unseemly."

Set pressed his lips together. It sounded more like the troupe leader was jealous, and didn't want to be seen as less talented.

"So you practice at night, instead?"

"Yes...I apologize, my lord, I should not be using your gardens for such a thing. It will not happen again."

"No, wait," Set said, as she bobbed her head down again and almost seemed as though she were going to flee. "You have my permission to continue to use the gardens."

The girl blinked. Her mouth opened slightly.

"R-really?"

"Yes. That was a beautiful sight...talent such as yours should not be wasted."

He did not miss the spark of joy in the girl's eyes, although she kept a neutral expression. She bowed low again.

"Thank you, my lord. I will cherish your kindness."

Set smiled. It was the first real smile, he felt, that he had had in months.

"May I have your name?" he asked.

"Teana, my lord."

"Teana," he said. It was a bit foreign; she must be mixed. It rolled nicely off of his tongue. "Well, then Teana...I have a favor to ask of you."

"Yes?" Teana said, looking surprised.

"If you are going to use the gardens for your practice...would you mind if I came to watch you some nights?"

The girl's cheeks deepened.

"O-of course, my lord," she said. "I-I make no promises as to the quality of my practice as it is not an official performance but—"

"If you dance with as much joy as I saw you do so tonight...it will be beautiful," he said.

She stared at him, looking both flattered and embarrassed. Then she realized she was staring and dropped her eyes, blushing deeply again.

He smiled again—it was an odd, but not unpleasant feeling.

"Thank you, my lord," Teana murmured.

Set nodded.

No,he thought to himself. Thank you, Teana.

Was it possible for one to fall in love again?

Perhaps it was.

. . .

A/N: not even going to lie I kinda ship this, although Logic and Mizu are my endgame ships for Set. Okay you're back to Roseshipping next chapter.