Two chapters in two days! WOOHOO! new record for me! this was a fun chapter! i'm especially proud of the Cicada scene. (I actually wrote this chapter weeks ago but I will be keeping updates bi-weekly so plenty of time to get them polished and edited)

Disclaimer: i own nothing but the plot

Dedication: to Val for editing both chapters (totally 20 pages) you Rock girl! and of course AraminteIspwich for being such a phenomenal Grammar Knight!

As always read, review, comment, critique, ask questions and go nuts!

Chapter LVII: Revel

Atlantis marriages were celebrated with a revel. And before any revel, there must be a feast.

The heart of the palazzo's great hall had long, low tables filled with a smorgasbord of delights of a dozen cuisines—pastas and fresh breads; fruits, both honeyed and dried; and a plethora of seafood dishes. The air was hazy with the smell of salted fish marinated in olive oil and fresh herbs, the pungent steam of vegetables, and the sweetness of fruits and finely-aged wine. Crabs were boiled in their shells and drizzled with lemon juice; cod soaked in olive oil and sprinkled with herbs, or lathered in a garlic and parsley cream. And the deserts: fruits marinated in their juices, coated with sugar, or glazed with honey; buttery tarts and tasty creams—and last and best of all, there were pomegranates. Pomegranate wine, pomegranate seeds, pomegranate jams ground into a sticky paste or mixed with cream and stuff in tartlets, or served fresh and raw.

Only the best for Timaeus' little sweeting—the Trierarch smiled proudly and sipped a glass of his own pomegranate wine. The sweet, fruity taste filled his mouth and brought a wider smile to his lips. It was a small pleasure compared to the delight blazing brightly in Yugi's eyes and the open, wondrous look adorning his face. If anything, it made him even more stunning than when he'd caught him in the hallway, crowned and beautiful and every inch an Atlantian bride. Mai and Serenity had done phenomenally, and Yugi had worn it so well—if not for his Kemet gold skin, he'd have almost passed for a native Atlantian.

To say their entrance had been met with approval would've been a gross gloss over of the sheer jollification of their audience, in which they expressed their honor and the hunger in which they devoured their favorite food and new delectables in celebration of the newlyweds. When they entered, the crowd had parted and the whole room erupted with cheers and congratulations, the clangor of cups and the low mutter of a hundred drunken and delighted toasts to anything and everything they could think of in their regards. Toasts to their health, their happiness, their future, their fertility, to many happy days and happier nights, to their future children and their children's children, and their long lives and their marriage bed—all of which had reduced his sweet lad into a beaming, blushing bride who could only laugh and smile and thank them for their kindness.

They sat at the high table on a raised dais overlooking the others. On his left was the King and his daughter, to his right his bride. At the table below him sat his Officers with their wives—all but Otogi, who had found himself at the wrong end of his leviathan of a wife's temper when he had returned home with a still-healing arm. The rest of the crew scattered throughout, conversing with servants and dancers and songstresses. In the center, Serenity's students played lyrical tunes, and sang love ballads on stringed lyres and wooden pipes.

Yugi had absorbed it all with utter fascination and sheer delight. Timaeus could only smile as he cheerfully sampled a little of everything the chefs had prepared, and they did so with the same excitement as the boy sampled them. Timaeus watched him now, sipping a glass of flavored pomegranate wine and sampling a fruit tart and a piece of lemoned fish. He moaned with such satisfaction and delight that Timaeus almost shuddered.

Timaeus squeezed his goblet tightly, hoping to see that same look on Yugi's face, but for an entirely different reason.

"Our Prince seems to be faring well," Dartz chuckled behind him. Timaeus spun to face him and cast a quick glance towards Yugi, but the boy was deep in conversation with some servants and Serenity's songstresses who'd just finished a rather vigorous performance. The boy's eyes widened in fascination as they showed him the new instruments and explained how they were played.

"Very," Timaeus said and smiled wider. "He's quite the autodidact." He took another sip of wine and cast Yugi a sideways glance, but he was lost in their tales of concerts and romances and weddings and beddings. "I've no doubt he'll take to being Locri's Magistrate the same way he took to being The Eye's second Quartermaster."

Dartz nodded approvingly. "I admit I am pleased by this vicissitude," he said, sipping his own wine, a twinkle in his golden eyes. "Considering your union was not exactly a happy one when we departed. I trust you and your new consort have reconciled since then? I'd like to send the new Pharaoh word that his brother's marriage is now indeed a happy one."

"We both did," Timaeus admitted. "Neither of us hated each other, nor was he truly angered by the union—it was other things we needed to clarify. Nonetheless, I did deeply regret marrying him in that fashion—not the act of marrying him himself—and I thank the Iron Lady every day that he's forgiven me."

Dartz nodded and gave him a comforting smile. "Perhaps it was not ideal, but then again, a successful marriage was never an easy feat, and I've seen plenty of marriages that started with far less than you and he did." He cast a glance towards the Princess who refused a plate offered to her as graciously as she could. It had been offered only after Timaeus and his bride had refused it. Her smile was set so hard in her face he feared her teeth might crack. Her eyes were fixated on the bride and he saw the anger there. A princess-born, Cristina had never liked being anything but the center of the attention, and doubtless being second to the Dragon Knight's consort only blackened her mood. He shot her a warning look, and she nursed her resentment.

Sighing, he leaned closer to Timaeus as if to whisper a secret.

"He's sweet on you, you know," he said sotto voce. Timaeus nearly dropped his cup. He spun to his King with an expression the man had not seen on his face since he was a reckless teenager whom the King had threatened to scold in front of the entire Royal Guard for insolence. Dartz' smile curled at the corners. " 'Tis true, if he's not fallen already." His eyes twinkled and he stole another sip from his glass.

Timaeus could not answer. He turned to Yugi who was still laughing, taking a large gulp from a cup of honeyed pomegranate wine, and accepted another dessert offered him. Timaeus felt his heart flutter. Good to see that the day's events had not robbed him of his appetite. Then there would be great cause for concern.

The King's words came back to him and he stole another sip of wine, his own stomach in a roll. Was Yugi in love with him? He'd long since accepted his feelings for the sweet, spirited boy and had told him so. He had no need to deny it, though it still shocked him just how quickly he'd fallen. He had no doubt Yugi adored him, and that Yugi felt the same passionate pull towards him that Timaeus felt, but was it love? It was his deepest wish and his darkest craving. The one thing he'd wanted more than he had ever wanted anything else was Yugi as his: mind, body and soul—for his own heart and soul were already Yugi's. It was deeper than want, or lust, or even need. He didn't care if it took him months or years to win Yugi's heart—he swore he would—but… had he already? Was the King right? Had he earned his little one's heart and not even realized it?

The opportunity to ponder the thought further was lost when Dartz rose to his feet, clapped his hands together, and the music and feasting and toasting came to an abrupt halt.

"A toast! Friends, we have gathered here in witness to the unity of Timaeus—adoptive son of the Royal Family, Trierarch of The Eye of Timaeus, Magister of Locri and the first of my Dragon Knights—and Ujalah Yugi—former Prince of Kemet, brother to Pharaoh Psusennes I and his Great Royal Wife, and now, Magistrate of Locri." His voice echoed in a congratulatory bellow that commanded all in the room. He lifted a goblet high. "It is my greatest pleasure to announce the Magister and Magistrate of Locri." He gestured a hand to the couple, his voice high and meritorious. "For our beloved Lord has certainly chosen well!" he lionized. "Let us not forget that in every way our young prince is skilled as a healer and strong as a leader, he is also splendiferous as a bride!"

The crowd knew what to do. Following the King's toast, they burst in a long, loud chorus of ululating cheers: raising cups, thumping fists on tables, and toasting all over again.

Yugi spun to attention and smiled. Dartz' comments made him blush.

Beyond the widows, the sun had disappeared beneath the sea and the moon hung low, bathing the night sky with stars and amethyst mist. A string of more toasts followed, and then all the attendees gathered around the dais, arms loaded with handsels for the presentation of Yugi's bridal gifts. Then would come the revelry, and then their first night.

Timaeus took a large gulp of wine, suddenly nervous. Next to him, Yugi took a loud breath, straightened his back and folded his hands in his lap—it was all he could do to keep himself from shaking. Timaeus shifted closer, took Yugi's hand in his, and gave it a comforting squeeze.

They looked at each other, saying nothing—but the smile and the contact were all they needed. They turned their attention to the chain of gift-givers and the procession continued.

In Atlantian tradition, the commoners and staff members presented their gifts first. Their gifts varied between splendor and practicality and given in plenty: slippers and leather boots, golden chains and bejeweled belts, leather pants and wool skirts, silk robes and linen shirts. There were books and scrolls, and paints and brushes, exotic plants and furs, and even a copper tub. There were also bottles of perfumes and scents, and special oils given with salacious winks that made him blush. More gifts followed, more than he could ever want or know what to do with.

The seamstresses promised him a grand wardrobe, and as proof of their talent, presented him several gowns of lovely-hued silks, leather tights and beautifully-embroidered tunics for everyday-wear. There were furred slippers, gloves, and a long wool coat the color of clouds and trimmed with fox fur for the colder months. Yugi adored them all, running his fingers over the soft fur.

Tristan gifted him with a pair of beautiful daggers, like the sais popular in Kemet, and a set of leathery armor for his training. He smiled warmly as he explained their purpose, and smiled again when Yugi thanked him earnestly.

The songstresses gave their gift together. Serenity presented him with his very own lyre and cithara and a qules pipe, and she promised to teach him to play. Yugi thanked them with so much zeal, he could barely contain himself. Timaeus smiled at the expression.

Tomoya apologized for his gift. "I'm afraid I could not afford anything lavish," the scholar explained, his eyes downcast and voice soft. He lowered a collection of scrolls and books from his arms, dramatically different from the ones Yugi had known in Kemet, and a small case of inks and brushes. "But your husband's First tells me of your fondness for the world and I thought these would please you best." They were histories and stories of Locri and Atlantis—details of her laws and customs and mythologies. Yugi thanked him profusely.

Next came The Eye's officers. Ryou's gift was an atlas filled with magnificent maps of the world, a large wooden model of Locri and Atlantis, and a golden compass. Malik gifted him with a lovely gondola visible through the window with bright silver sails and a great green hull. Raphael gave him a series of metal brooches and pendants embedded with the enthroned couple of Locri's seal or shaped like a silver dragon with a single emerald eye and a sword in its mouth—Timaeus' own symbol. Otogi's gift, a small chest of apothecary bottles labeled and filled with different combinations of dried herbs was given by proxy from Malik and Ryou: a collection of teas.

Rhebekka and Mokuba gave their gifts together: one for Yugi and one for Timaeus. For Timaeus, a shimmering green helm with the metal melted and carved in the shape of a dragon's skull, one eye a bright emerald the other a slash across a shimmering pearl. For Yugi, Rhebekka opened a large chest to reveal a series of glass bottles, bushels of dried herbs and metal physician tools, some Yugi recognized, others he did not.

"You're the Physician now," she said with a haughty smirk and patted the swell of her stomach. "I won't be able to soon, anyway, once this little one's occupying all my time." She shared a special look with her husband and they shared an impish laugh.

Yugi giggled as if privy to some joke Timaeus did not know.

"Between the two of us, my lady, I'm sure Locri will be the healthiest county in Atlantis!"

Rhebekka threw her head back laughing. "I do enjoy a challenge!"

Critias and Hermos stepped forward next, each one holding a shiny sword: one a shimmering silver blade with emeralds encrusted in the onyx hilt, the other a great long sword chased with gold. The animosity was evident between them but they nursed it well, dropped to one knee, and presented their gifts. Instructed in the traditional refusal of the "warrior's" gifts, Yugi declined elegantly. "Such heroic gifts are fit for a fine warrior." He rose and bowed. "Please let my Lord Husband hold these in my stead." Mokuba took the swords and thus, Timaeus received his bride's gifts.

And last came the King. He beckoned his hand and a servant came forward and held a small box. Both Yugi and Timaeus blinked, surprised. They turned to the King, who only smiled. "A symbol of our Locri's greatness and a promising blessing of your union."

Cristina looked completely unimpressed.

Yugi untied the ribbon curiously. Something flew out of the box landing on the back of Yugi's hand, and Timaeus saw what was. Yugi's eyes bulged with horrified fright: the large insect stared up at him with huge sparkling eyes set in a scaled head, sampling the unstable ground with its six, spindly legs. It lifted its translucent wings, and shook its antennae, looking every inch some alien monster. Yugi sat frozen for a minute—then his face contorted with terror. Hot unshed tears prickled his eyes; his lips trembled as if to scream, but the sound would not come. His reactions slowed from fright, Timaeus caught the way his hand trembled to strike and snatched his wrist. The cicada backed away, cautiously.

Silence more dreadful than a scream was followed by skeptical murmurs. All eyes fell upon them, wide with shock and bewilderment. The King looked concerned, Cristina looked delighted, but Yugi hadn't noticed any of them and simply stared at Timaeus, his eyes voicelessly asking what his words could not.

Timaeus wove their fingers together and smiled lovingly. "It is called a cicada," he explained, rubbing Yugi's wrist as the creature crawled along his hand to soothe his fears. "It is to Locri what a scarab beetle is to your people."

Yugi's eyes widened. Horrified realization causes his eyes to widen, but Timaeus only smiled and released his hand. "I'm curious how our King managed to obtain such a rare gift." He smiled over his shoulder. "As they only appear once every fifteen seasons and only in spring."

Dartz smiled and nodded, explaining, "They are proof that your marriage is a blessed one." The King beamed. "The cicada is a symbol of Locri's musical heart and her Lord and Lady, for they are born in the Underworld and sleep beneath the earth. Then in spring, when the Iron Lady returns to her mother, they emerge from the earth and fill the air with songs, a song of love from her husband, reminding her that he will wait until her return. The Locrian cicada is especially sacred because they sing from the trees, where everywhere else, they sing from the ground. Your union must be especially blessed, for this year they emerged from the earth in late summer,, all singing their lover's song."

At that moment, the creature chose to open its wings and shake them so rapidly they produced sound. Yugi stared at it, his eyes still wide and his hand still trembling but less afraid. Timaeus leaned and whispered in his Aramaic. "If it frightens you, I can hold it."

If Yugi heard him, he gave no warning. His eyes were focused on the tiny creature, listening to the sound it created: like hundreds of tiny metal bells jingling, like thousands of wooden beads rattled together, like a chain of metal disks shaken and stirred to create a pretty sound. Slowly, Yugi's fear subsided and his lips curved into a small smile. A stray tear escaped his eye.

"Forgive me," he said, wiping it away. "That sound… it reminds me of the sistrums my mother used to play."

The King smiled, happy his gift that was meant to be symbolic of love had brought back such a fond and personal memory.

"Aurelius?" Yugi asked, still smiling. Only Timaeus noticed that his hands still trembled. "Would you be greatly offended if I asked to set it free?"

The question brought another round of silence. Bemused, the King said, "Can I ask why?"

Yugi stood slowly so as not to disturb the insect in his hand. "You said it yourself—he's slept in the earth for nearly fifteen seasons, waiting for his mate. This song he sings is for her… It would be cruel to keep them separated, when I have already found mine."

The room was silent—the crowd unsure whether to appraise the decision or be aghast with the insult. The skeptical faces of before hardened, searching for weakness. Timaeus turned to his royal guests. A smile slit the Princess' face, but the King's was a neutral mask, unreadable and void.

Wisely, Yugi hadn't move, his hands moved to gently cup the insect in his palm, still singing its rattling love ballad. Timaeus kept a tight squeeze on Yugi's other hand and his eyes on the King.

Then the King smiled. "No, I don't think he would enjoy that at all," he laughed and ushered a hand to the balcony.

Yugi quickly sped to the balcony. A pair of servants opened the doors. He held up his hands and in the slight breeze that followed, the cicada stirred, uncertain if he was truly free. "Go," Yugi whispered. Spreading its wings, they all watched the cicada sail away into the night leaving an echo of soft, rattling bells.

"Yes, bright blessings have indeed been bestowed upon this union," said the King. He once again rose a cup to Timaeus. "You could not have asked for a kinder bride!"

Humbled and awed by the gesture, the rest of the house followed suit and soon, the celebration began anew.

"Or a braver one," he whispered the last bit to Timaeus in secret. Timaeus did not hear him, transfixed on the boy standing in the balcony light. The slight breeze blowed the silks about him like billowing wings, the silvery moonlight glittered across his skin and his eyes illuminated him in the way the sun never could, and the romantic chime of bells following him as he stirred, brave and beautiful even in his terror and uncertainty… He was like an ethereal muse, or the Moon herself stepped down from the sky.

Timaeus could bear it no longer, and he abandoned his chair, his guests, and the whole party and stole across the room, swept his Yugi into his arms and—not caring who watched—kissed him with more love and devotion than he ever had before. As the world faded to only the sweet softness of Yugi's lips and his gentle hands around his neck, Timaeus heard the cicada's romantic melody singing in the background. An eternity later, he pulled away and Yugi met his eyes, his face dazed and dreamy-eyed. He kissed him again, this time on the cheek.

"You are magnificent." He scooped Yugi up and pressed their foreheads together. "And as brave as you are beautiful."

"I wasn't scared," Yugi protested, but he was too lost in his daze to argue properly. "I didn't know what it was. I thought it would bite me."

Timaeus was loo lost to laugh. Instead, he spun to the crowd, his lovely bride in his arms and cried. "Let the revelry begin!"

The crowd erupted with a final toast of cheers, and the revelers began their celebration—dancing wildly, drinking greedily, and singing in a thousand voices that somehow blended harmoniously in wassails and the clanging of wood cannikins and jeweled cups. Timaeus ignored all of it and carried Yugi across the room. The King nodded as they passed while Cristina ignored them completely. Critias scowled. Hermos grinned. Mai whooped loudly and gave a salacious wink. The girls giggled behind their hands and the men snickered. Their shipmates clicked their goblets together loudly and downed more wine, catching glimpses of their Magister and Magistrate as they passed.

"And just where are you off to?" Ryou asked, half-drunk and dizzy.

Only then did Timaeus stop, his smirk curled into a mischievous grin that made Yugi blush. Oh, how he adored that blush—and by the time this night was done, it would never leave that pretty face again.

"Where else?" he said, dashing with amative confidence and haughty pride. "To consummate our marriage, of course."

This chapter was so much fun to write once I changed it to Timaeus' POV. I realized we hadn't gotten his POV in a while and I felt it was the perfect time to do it-and it was SO much fun to show his own feelings for Yugi and how they've affected him.

I'm especially proud of that Cicada scene. My research in to ancient Locri shows the cicada was a symbol of locri musically and like Egypt many of their instruments had a rattling or cricket song sound to mimic the cicada's music. The cicada was also a symbol of resurrection and rebirth as well as the Lord of the Dead and Iron Lady (in case some of you still haven't figured out their true identities ;)

Since the ancient Greeks believed the underworld was LITERALLY a world under the ground everything under the earth from the moles to tree roots to jewels and crystals to the dead belonged to the Realm of Hades, Lord of the Death. Cicada's spent most of their lives under ground in cycles of thirteen to seventeen years, when they matured the burst forth from the ground filling the air with song in late sprig and early summer (identical to how the Iron Lady was returned to the world above for half the year and then returned to her Husband in autumn and winter) since male cicada's were the only ones that sang, they were also a symbol of lovers. It was incredibly rare but sometimes the thirteen and seventeen year cycles would align, and a child born from a combination of these two cycles was a remarkable event. I really wanted to tie this into the Atlantis culture...but given Yugi has never seen one, I figured it would be a terrifying experience for him.

I gotta say, in the original story Dratz was meant to be a huge jerk but I like him much better as an ally to Yugi, and as a father figure to Timaeus who simply wants him to be happy and can see Yugi obviously makes him happy. Its a fun dynamic to play with! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! the next one is in the works!

NEXT TIME: At long last, the moment you have all been waiting for: gifts are given, secrets are revealed, promises are made and kept and after an intense first meeting,. a tumultuous marriage, months at sea, and a VERY rigorious test of control Timaeus and Yugi at long last consummate their marriage...

Or in which Yugi is a bold bawny minx and Timaeus is a horny devil