If heavens grief brings hell's reign (I'll give you all my yesterdays)

by IzzyMRDB

One-Two-Three The rule of three come up so often in life and fate; but what happens in Lives and Fates? Thusetsis and Amunet, Ástríðr and Hróarr, Perseus and Annabeth. Three very different lifetimes, three very different fates. AKA A Percabeth reincarnation AU where Percy and Annabeth are their third life.

2. Thusetsis and Amunet

I yelled in delight as my knucklebones knocked my brother's out of the circle I had drawn up.

"Ha!" I crowed happily, "I win!"

"No fair!" He shouted, kicking away all the knucklebones. "You always win!"

"Amenhon!" I shout in anger, "What are you doing?"

His young face was red, tears leaking out of his eyes. "You always win! I hate you!"

"I won because I'm just better! You can win next time!" I tried to placate him, but he threw my hand off his shoulder.

"No! You're letting me win!" He stomped. "Go away!"

I threw my hands up in frustration. "This is my room."

"Fine!" My temperamental brother ran out of my room, leaving his toys on the floor, and screaming his frustrations to empty air.

"Ugh!" I groaned, throwing myself back on my bed.

Amenhon always does this. He wants to play a game, and next thing I know, he's throwing a tantrum because he didn't win. It's not my fault that he's bad at this! My mother says that since he's my little brother, I have to let him win sometimes, but father always says that if I have an opportunity to win, I should take it.

I press my palms into my eyes. Why does this have to be so difficult? Why can't Amenhon and I just get along?

There's a knock on the wall.

I look up to see my mother staring down at me with a small smile.

"I see you two have been arguing again."

"It's not my fault!" I protest, "He's the one who hates me!"

"Thusetsis," mother sighs, walking over to sit down next to me. "You are the first born; your brother is jealous, and it's your duty to be the one to placate him."

"How can I do that when he's jealous of everything? Hehensis is the third born and she doesn't get angry at everything."

"That is different, she is your sister. Amenhon simply needs some extra care." Mother strokes my cheek.

"Fine," I grumble. My anger has already washed away- he is my brother after all- but I still play upset for appearances' sake.

"Good," she says. Mother stands up and offers me her hand, "Now, we have some visitors to greet."

I took her hand with a smile. "Who is visiting?"

Mother smiles brightly, "Your father thinks he's finally found a wife for you."

The grin drops off my face immediately. "What? No, he can't!" I search her face desperately for any sign of jest. "Mother, please, I'm barely 10!"

"Plenty of time to get to know her before you marry." Mother frowns down at me, "Thusetsis. Your father and I met when we were your age, this is not so bad."

"But I don't know her!" I cry, balling my fists in anger. "You can't just make me marry a girl I don't know!"

Mother grabs my forearms in a tight grip. "This is why your father is giving you a chance to meet her now." She grabs my chin, her nails digging into my flesh and forcing me to look up at her. "You are the first born, you will inherit Egypt. You will need a good wife to help you in your rule, that is your duty, and it is your father's duty to find said wife. He has found her, and now it is your turn to do your duty."

I frown, but relent. "I don't like this."

"And I didn't like your father when we met, yet we are still married." She straightens, "Life is about duty, and my duty is to my children- you- and this kingdom. Your duty is to your father, your wife, and this kingdom."

"I don't want to be Pharaoh!" I insist, "Amenhon can inherit instead."

"Even if your brother inherits- you shall still have to do your duty. Your brother shall also be given a wife when he turns ten, in three years."

I don't want to be the first born, I wish I never had been born to the blood of the Pharaohs. I don't like being a leader, I just want to be happy!

"Now come," Mother commanded. "And if you continue to sulk when you are introduced to her, I will grab your whipping boy."

"I won't!" I quickly agree. I hate it when someone else gets punished for my actions. "You don't have to grab Thet!"

My mother frowns, probably annoyed that I know his name and have been talking to the lower class again, but doesn't comment. "Change your robes, the linen is dirty."

I nodded, and the slaves filed in to help me get changed and ready.

"I'll be going to check on your siblings, be ready within the hour."

"Yes, Mother."

oOo

Ready, and waiting in line with my siblings, I watch the procession enter the hall.

"Thuseksis!" My father greets amiably, not rising from his seat. "It is good to see you again, cousin."

The great lord, Thuseksis, bows down to father. "And you, cousin."

My father rises, and his cousin kisses his rings, before he pulls him up into a warm hug. "It has been too long, how have things been in your land?"

"The crops grow well, the gods have blessed us this season." He smiles, "And how are your children?"

Mother shuffles us forward at that. Father draws me closer and drops a hand on my shoulder.

"They've grown strong! Thusetsis grows ever greater at the khopesh, Amenhon is getting wiser in his studies, and my sweet Hehensis is a beauty!"

Amenhon gives me a sly elbow in smug glee at father's description of his intelligence, and Hehensis answers swifter than I, stepping hard on his foot while giving our father an innocent smile.

"Ah!" Thuseksis cries, "This must be your eldest!"

He gives me a bow and a grin, "Thusetsis. You're named after me, you know."

"And it is an honor," I inclined my head.

"Ha! You've trained him well, Nesu-Bity Amenhop." He tells my father.

"Yes, we are proud." His smile is fixed as mother comes to stand beside him. "And your children?"

"Yes, yes!" He waves, and four come to stand beside him."May I introduce my children:"

"This is Amon, my eldest son." Amon is older than me, probably 16 or 17, with the same dark skin and rounder figure as his father. He stands proud and tall, yet with a joyful smile.

"Thuseken, my second eldest." Thuseken is a short yet very slim 15 year old. He looks critical of all his surroundings, yet without offering offense. A vague thought enters my mind that he might get along well with Amenhon, his love of knowledge unparalleled, but then I remember that Amenhon is more likely to murder than get along with one smarter than him.

"Salenhet, my eldest, and her son Saksis." Salenhet is a tall woman, of nearly twenty, and carries a swaddled babe on her hip. Her light brown hair is barely covered by a blue veil, and it blows lightly in the desert air.

"And of course, my young namesake's new bride: Amunet, my youngest."

My breath caught in my throat when I caught sight of my future wife. Her looks were exotic; flaxen colored hair was waxed into perfect curls on top of her head, eyes the color of thunderstorms stared back at me. Her slim stature did not diminish her height, and I was startled to find that she stood nearly three fingers taller than me.

"I am glad to be your bride, Thusetsis." The great beauty bows down to me. She says this while glaring at me fiercely, but I do not mind.

I grab her hand, bringing her fingers up for a brief kiss. "I am glad to have a bride as lovely as you, Amunet." I tell her, smiling.

She does not seem impressed.

Thuseksis chuckles, "I see your son is just as enamored by my daughter's exotic looks as I was with her exotic mother!"

"They shall make a good pair." My father agrees.

"That they shall," Mother steps in. "And now, shall we go towards the room of feasts? Our servants have prepared a meal fit for the gods!"

"Ahensit!" Father hisses at her quietly, "Osiris does not welcome your brags."

Mother quieted instantly, fearfully glancing at father as if Osiris would appear from inside his vessel to punish her.

My eyes flick away from my parents' usual disagreements to my new bride, but the moment was gone. She had slunk back to stand with her siblings, her grey eyes stormy as they evaded my own.

I followed the procession, led by my father, to the awaiting feast.

oOo

After three days, Amunet and I were finally left alone to get to know each other.

Well, not completely alone. Amunet's sister, Salenhet, was left to chaperone us, but she was sitting and weaving quietly in the corner, not paying us any mind.

"You are a great beauty," I told her. "The gods will have blessed us greatly if our heirs inherit your looks."

Hehensis told me once that all girls like to be told that they're pretty, and that would help me in gaining Amunet's favour. I don't think my sister was correct in this.

"A great beauty?" Amunet spat, "Is that all you see when you look at me? Beauty? Your father chose me as your bride, not for my beauty, but for my strength of mind."

"I'm sorry," I quickly backtracked. "I meant you no offence!"

"Yet I still took it." She frowned at me, "Truly, is your head filled with naught but the water of the Nile."

"Hey!" It was my turn to be offended. "I complimented you, you can't insult me!"

"But I did! You're so annoying." She huffed, crossing her arms. "Are you even good at anything? Or do you just spend your days playing?"

"Yes!" I protested, standing. "Father says I'll be a great warrior when I'm Pharaoh! And I excel in battle planning and swimming and sailing!"

"Truly?" She scrutinises me, looking at me up and down. "I can fight too, father let me learn, and I think I can take you in a battle."

I rear back in surprise at her easy admittal of knowing a man's art, but shook it off. "You can inot/i!"

"Then let us prove it!" She snarled, "We can have a spar!"

"And if I win, you have to stop insulting me!" I said

"And if I win, you have to stop being so annoying!" she shot back.

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

We stood there, glaring at each other, for a while until Salenhet spoke up.

"When our fathers told me to watch over you, I do believe they did not mean in the training grounds."

"But Sal!" Amunet immediately protested, "He insulted me!"

"I did not say I disapproved, merely that our fathers did not expect this." She stood, leaving her weaving to the side. "Though they should've." She muttered.

Amunet shot her sister a glare, and she immediately rolled her eyes in surrender. "Come. I might not be able to oversee this, but our brothers can."

The flaxen-haired annoyance looked back at me, but I simply nodded back at her with determination.

I'm not going to be beat by my own bride, that's embarrassing!

oOo

I'm going to be beat by my own bride.

In my defense, nobody had told me that Amunet is a demon with a dagger! The way she twirled and met every blow of my khopesh, her hair flying, was hypnotic. She didn't let my weapon even glance at her once, yet she nearly cut me with her own blade.

It was like a dance. I took one step forward, she ducked, a blow to her ribs was taken in stride, I nearly tripped, then twisted to meet her attack, and then we grin savagely; teeth bared like leopards.

We flowed and fought like we were made for each other, and I giddily thought of the future, where I can do this with her as much as I liked.

"What is going on here?!" My father's shout came from above, Thuseksis' laughter echoing him.

Amunet was distracted, she faltered when she glanced up at her father, and I took advantage.

With a fancy twirl of my khopesh, her blade went flying. Unfortunately, I'm not as practised with this move as I liked, so my blade also went flying. We were both unarmed.

"Thusetsis, what is the meaning of this?" My father called again, and I raised my eyes so I could lock onto his. Inwardly I cringed, he did not look pleased.

Thuseksis took mercy on me. "The two are simply sparring! Remember when we would do the same?"

"They are to be wed," Father frowned. "They should not be rolling in the dirt of the training field."

"And when they are wed, they will be rolling in the sheets of the marriage bed!" Thuseksis chortled, "They are young, let them work off their frustrations." He clapped his hand on my father's back, "Perhaps if they do it enough, they won't be arguing as often as my wife and I!"

"It's not proper," Father grumbled.

He deflated, "Who won?" He called.

"It is a tie, Pharaoh." Amon answered joyfully, "Your son disarmed Amunet and himself."

"I see." Father said, frowning down from the parapets. "And were there bet's made?"

"Just Amunet's and Thusetsis'; neither shall have what they want now." Amenhon gleefully states, smiling at my misery.

Father raises a brow, "Is that so?"

"Yes, Pharaoh." I say, avoiding his stare by looking at where my weapon had landed. "Now the both of us have to act kindly to the other."

"You weren't doing this before?" I knew if I looked up, Father's glare might evaporate me.

"He was," Amunet spoke up. My head whipped around to stare at her, but she ignored me. "We merely had a small disagreement, it is now solved."

"Hm," Father says, before dismissing us. "Continue then."

I watch as he and Thuseksis continue walking before disappearing back into the palace.

"Thank you," I call to Amunet as she bends over to grab her dagger.

"Do not thank me." She responds shortly.

"Yet I do," I say cheekily. "Where did you learn to fight so well?"

"My mother comes from a land where women learn to fight alongside the men," She explains. "Father indulges her, so I learnt the blade."

"You are great at it." I told her, "Mind showing me that trick where you switched hands again?"

"What? This?" She repeats the previous move that nearly made her win.

"Exactly!" I tried to copy her, but failed.

"No, no, no!" She grabbed my wrist. "Like this!"

She impatiently showed me the move until I got it. She had insulted me multiple times by the end of it, but I was beaming the whole time.

"What is it?" She says when she catches my staring.

"You are the most beautiful girl I've laid my eyes on," I said earnestly. "And the best fighter too."

She blushed, but covered it up by rolling her eyes and thrusting my weapon back at me. "You are the biggest fool I've ever laid my eyes on." She echoed, and turned, marching away from me.

I watched her go with a smile.

"You are in love already?" Amenhon taunted, "You got beat by your bride!"

I ignored him, goofily grinning.

Father made a great choice for my bride.

oOo

After a month, Amunet and her family were returning to their lands.

I had enjoyed her company greatly, though at times we tested each other's patience, we had slowly created a shaky friendship.

Amunet taught me magic (as she was well trained in such arts too), and while I had no talent for it other than a few water and river spells, we sparred a few times; she beat me every time. We rode together often, and my mare beat hers in a race through the lower streets. We snuck out to go swimming in the Nile, where we were chased by a few stray crocodiles, and then swore to each other that we would not tell our Fathers about that adventure. We had even pranked our siblings together.

I was sad to see her go, and I would mourn our time together being so short.

"And to think, before this, you were pleading with me to not make you marry her." Mother said, her grip on my shoulder tight as we stood under an umbrella's shade, watching Thuseksis' procession leave.

"I did not know her yet." I replied.

"You still don't know her," Mother hissed. "Remember child, those foreign types are all the same."

I furrowed my brow. "Same how?"

"They are all whores and usurpers. Savages," she spat. "You'll see. When it comes down to it, all foreigners are the same. I should have fought your father when I found out- but curse him, he knew what I would've said and kept it quiet. I didn't know until I saw her, same as you."

"She's not a savage." I growled, ripping my shoulder from her grip.

"No? Then why was she rolling around in the dirt with you?" Her teeth were bared, "You may not see it now, but you will eventually, and you will thank me for warning you."

"No I won't!" I snarled in anger, turning on her. "She's my friend and my bride!"

Mother raises her chin dismissively. "You are far too much your father's son."

She turns to leave, and Amenhon, watching our discussion, follows her.

I'm left alone on the balcony to watch as the procession fades into the horizon.

I didn't know it just then, but that would be the last I'll see Amunet for another five years, and when I see her again, everything would've changed.

But at that moment, I just felt like I would fight the whole world to have her coming back to me.

oOo

Mother has gotten worse.

Her usual arguments with Father had increased; she threw fits often, screaming the palace down, throwing vases at servants and slaves, buying more and more opulent things. She had even gone as far as hitting Hehensis when she argued with her about wearing the newest fashion from Persia; calling her a foreigners' bitch. Father had confined her to her rooms for that.

Amenhon took her side every time, and Father was going spare trying to stop the two of them. Recently, Amenhon had snuck Mother Father's recent council meetings summary, and Father had punished the both of them for conspiring with the kingdom's secrets.

Currently, I was trying to calm Hehensis after Mother and Father had another screaming match right in front of her.

Amenhon stormed out of the fight mid-way because Father screamed at him that, "This is why you will not inherit! You will drive Egypt to ruin with your warmongering- your mother's foolish hatred of foreigners!"

I could almost see Amenhon's 'Ha-Wi' (strike) at Father as justified, if only he hadn't been screaming about Egypt being great and so we had to enslave the filthy foreigners just a few seconds earlier.

"It shall be all right, sister." I soothed, "This too shall pass."

"It is not all right!" She screamed, "Thusetsis, please, open your eyes! Our family is tearing itself apart!"

"They are our family." I responded firmly. "Family sticks together, no matter what."

"You are a fool!" She spat.

"Hehensis! I am your elder brother, don't yell at me like that." I tried to chide her, but it only enraged her more.

"You are my elder by only a year, I shall speak to you how I wish."

"And that is the logic that drives Mother to think she can attack our Father in such a way."

She deflates immediately. "I just want our family to stop fighting."

I cup her cheek, "So do I, but I doubt they will."

"So what do we do?"

"Try to placate them, be kind, be the peacemaker, and don't provoke them. That's all we can do."

Her eyes, light hazel and green like mine- foreign eyes, are searching. "If that doesn't work?"

"Then we pray to the gods that the fallout does not harm our people."

oOo

Mother is dead and Father is dying.

How could it all go so wrong? One second, their arguments are simply petty and common, the next, Mother has attempted murder.

The shock, I believe, is what keeps the details from seeming real in my mind.

Mother slipped poison in Father's wine. A guard caught her escaping and killed her. Father seized and nearly died. A healer and magician saved Father. Father lives, but is sickly and won't last long. My coronation will be soon.

I wanted to scream. Have the gods not heard my prayers? Have they deemed me so foolish and blind for seeing the best in my family that they allowed this to happen to shake me of my naivety? No, I shouldn't think so arrogantly. This is a punishment for my parents, and the fallout is mine and Egypts' burden.

My father has sent out a messenger to fetch my bride. He said that he needs to see me get married before he passes, that he needs to know I'll have support when he's gone.

I wanted to yell at him that Mother was supposed to be his support but she tried to kill him. I didn't, I knew he just wants the best for me, to help me as much as he can.

That doesn't stop me from climbing on the windowsill and screaming my lungs out at this injustice.

I am 15, nearly 16 years old, and I am about to become Pharaoh. My wedding is taking place at the end of the month. Father will not live to see my children born.

And Amenhon has been acting suspiciously ever since Mother died.

When I came upon my Mother's broken and bleeding body, I stood silently in shock. My khopesh dropped to the floor and I did too; I had heard her scream and was coming to protect her. Hehensis saw and sobbed into my chest, and I numbly held her.

Amenhon had screamed and wailed. Threw the guard who killed her down the stairs in a fit of uncontrolled magic. Trashed a whole wing. Killed three slaves in his fit.

And then he became quiet. Told me that as the last of our family we had to stick together, that we have to be strong together. Became my friend in a way that we have never been.

Maybe, if I was a bigger fool, if I didn't learn from my mistakes, I would have believed him. But then I'd see that while he would act kind towards me, he would ignore and belittle our sister.

Amenhon doesn't want our family to be strong, he wants to be Pharaoh.

oOo

Amunet is arriving today.

I haven't seen her since we were children. I wonder, is her hair still the golden colour it was? Does she still practice with her blade each dawn? Does she still mutter words in that foreign tongue of her mother when she does not wish to be understood? Is she still the beautiful exotic fighter I once called a friend?

Will we be happy?

"Are you still brooding, brother?" A soft voice called.

I turned away from the window to see my sister had approached me while I was distracted.

Hehensis had grown in the past few months. She stood tall, yet not too tall to be called ungainly, and her figure had filled out. Her skin had darkened with her growing time in the sun, leaving her with flawless copper tones- not unsimilar to the clay pottery the traders bring from overseas. Her long linen skirts dragged on the ground as she walked, and her jewellery clinked with every step.

She will be married soon too.

"I am contemplating, not brooding." I insist, "there's a difference."

"Of course, the difference is whether or not you're in denial."

I rolled my eyes, "Always a retort with you."

"As if you don't enjoy such things too?"

"Our Mother is dead and a traitor. Father is bed-bound, dying." I grit my teeth, "I'm to be crowned at my wedding- which is tomorrow- and I am going to welcome a god into me so I can act as their vessel. I have no time for jests."

Her hazel-green eyes are soft. "One day, brother, you shall learn that if you don't jest in times of darkness, nobody else will, and then everyone will be miserable."

"Is that what you will do?" I snap, "Make jests in your marriage bed as Father marries you off to a foreign king for gold?"

She straightens, eyes ablaze. "Father is marrying me off for peace in your kingdom. I am doing this so you can have stability, not for anybody else."

I deflate, my head coming down to rest against my arms as I lean on the windowsill. "Forgive me, sister. I believe I am a bit high-strung today."

She snorts, coming to stand beside me as we overlook the bustling city. "I'll say. You need to cool off before your bride arrives; you don't need to make a prick of yourself in front of her."

"Hehensis!" I say in horror, "Language!"

"Are you Father now?" She teased, "Making me be a perfect princess?"

"I'm just trying to be the responsible one."

"You are always the responsible one," she elbowed me. "Even when we're having fun, you never hesitate to take the blame and be responsible. Do you ever just want to let loose? Make jests and relax?"

I sigh, "How can I do that when there are so many relying on me? I need to take my position seriously- I'm the heir, the Pharaoh- I need to act like it. How would anyone take me seriously if I am constantly making jests? I'm already coming to the throne young, I need our people to listen to me."

She steps away, the sudden lack of her warmth makes me shiver. "They will listen to you if you are strong, and you are. Our people have no ill word towards you, many are happy to see you inherit, you've always listened to them. What you need to remember, brother, is that a strong man may command, a kind man may be loved, an honorable man may be respected, but an unhappy man will never have what he wants. Be happy, love, and you shall have everything."

I listened to her receding footsteps, squeezing my eyes shut, and wondered.

Was she right?

oOo

Amunet has only grown in beauty in our time apart.

Her flaxen hair has turned into spun gold, more precious than anything I've ever seen. Her figure was lovely and full, tanned gold and supple. She stood taller than most women, yet still a full head shorter than I. And her eyes… they have not changed in their thundering intensity, nor their beauty.

She is an exotic beauty that I know many a man would start a war for. And she is mine.

"Prince Thusetsis!" Thuseksis greeted, "You have become a man!"

"Lord Thuseksis," I inclined my head. "I hope your journey has been amiable."

"It has!" He chortled, before becoming serious. "Allow me to extend my sincerest apologies for your family's misfortune."

My shoulders became impossibly tenser. "Thank you."

"May I present my daughter, Amunet, your bride?"

I stood up, walking down the steps so I could greet her face to face.

"My bride, you have become ever lovelier." I told her, bowing my head so I could kiss her fingers. Her eyes seemed to thaw from their cold, calculating gaze. "I look forward to our partnership in marriage."

"And I, my prince." She whispered, inclining her head.

When our eyes made contact, I could feel the full force of the Nile crashing against us- drowning me and pulling me deeper into her.

I reluctantly pulled away from her to face her father.

"Let my sister, Hehensis, lead you to your rooms for tonight. I shall see you once again on the morrow for the wedding."

"Of course, my prince." He smiled, "And let me say, my boy, I am glad to join my daughter to such a worthy young man."

That brings a small smile to my face.

"If you shall come with me," Hehensis called. "I know you are exhausted from such a long journey."

The sight of Amunet lightly chatting with my sister as they exit the throne room, is the last I would see of her until tomorrow, before the sun rises, at our wedding.

oOo

I anxiously adjusted my robes.

The golden silk and wine-dark linen didn't seem to fall well on me, the many gold bangles were too heavy, I feared my sweat would wash the kohl lining my eyes away, and I wanted to run a hand through my waxed hair.

I'm about to get married. I am about to be crowned. I am about to welcome a god as their vessel.

Father has been able to leave his bed to sit on a throne in the other room.

A throne I shall take when the sun rises.

"Brother, please, stop stressing." Amenhon called from where he lazed like a feline on a couch. "Your pacing will drive me spare. Sit, drink some wine. This shall be fine, your bride is bright and lovely, you will take a god easily, and you will be crowned. There is nothing to worry about."

I sent him a sharp glare. "There is everything to worry about." Like the fact that you've urged me to drink that wine enough times for me to think you've poisoned it. "I am about to take the weight of a kingdom, what sort of Pharaoh shall I be if I did not worry?"

"A much less stressed one." He joked. "One with less grey hairs by twenty."

"Amenhon, if you are here to make jests, I will ask you to join our Father in the other room."

He rolled his eyes, "Fine. Should I call for a slave to fetch Hehensis? Perhaps her jests might calm you."

"No." I waved him off, "She is tending to my bride."

"Then I shall join our father." He gave me a smirk, "Good luck, brother."

He disappeared into the other room through the heavy curtains, a couple of servants following.

I continued to pace.

It felt like years, but in truth the sun hadn't even peaked over the horizon. Eventually, my sister entered the room.

"It's time." Was all she said.

I squared my shoulders and stood straighter. This is the moment where I make history.

oOo

Kneeling, facing my bride, I had to stop myself from ignoring our fathers' speeches and staring at her.

She was breathtaking, a goddess in her own right, and I wanted to savor the sight of her. The gold chains they draped her in made her hair shine ever more, and the dark blue of her skirts blended perfectly with the fertile black of her draped top.

"-present their gifts." My father droned, and I almost cursed myself for getting lost in my bride's eyes once again.

Delicately, I rose and presented a perfectly crafted staff to Thuseksis. "To you, Thuseksis, Father of my wife, Amunet, I present a staff for strength. To thank you for the strength you have given my wife in her raising."

He accepted the gift with an incline of his head.

I watched as my bride wife presented her gift of a wand to him.

Oh good gods, she's so graceful.

My father is talking again.

"And as I have accepted Osiris to use me as a vessel, so shall my son."

I held my breath as I picked up my wife's crown, and her mine, and slowly lowered it towards her head.

There was a pause as both our crowns touched our heads, and for a horrible second I thought the gods had refused me, when it happened.

It was like something had clicked in my head.

' A new host?' A voice curled in my mind, and my breath left me.

"Horus." I whispered.

At the exact same time, I heard Amunet mutter "Isis."

I stared at her in shock, my wife is also hosting a goddess!

' Give me control,' Horus commanded in my mind.

'What? No!' I immediately protested. 'This is a partnership! I may be your vessel, but I will not give you full control.'

'No? I am a god, why not?'

'This is my body! If I give you full control, how shall I talk with my family? Be with my wife? Rule my kingdom? I refuse.' I argued.

I heard Horus snarl in my mind. 'Fine, but let me take over for now. I have to show myself to the people.'

Cautiously, I let my control slip.

Immediately, my sight went black as Horus took over, but I could still feel.

I could feel my peoples stares, their respect, their worship. My mouth moved, but I could not hear the words leave it. My eye glowed, but it was not my eye.

Amunet mimicked my movements, but it was not her mimicking.

Then, like a sudden flood, I regained control.

From Amunet's slight stumble, so did she.

I met her eyes, allowing all my wonder, anxiety, and love out for her to see. I gave her a small smile and she gave me one back.

"All hail Pharaoh Thusetsis, Vessel of Horus, and his wife, Amunet, Vessel of Isis!"

The entire hall rose in cheers and praise.

I took a deep breath; I will make history.

oOo

One week.

One week of getting to know my wife again. One week of tasting starlight everytime we kiss. One week of whispered words into her thigh as our sheets pool on the floor. One week of laughing as I beat her in spars and she beat me at magic. One week of laughter, sweeter than honey. One week of learning to host gods, together.

One week.

Now, I had to watch as the boat carrying my sister to her new husband and life, sail away down the Nile.

I gave her a strong hug, embracing her with the strength of a thousand warriors, tucking my head in the crook of her neck so nobody would have to see my tears. In all likeliness, this would be the last time I'll ever see her, and I didn't want to let her go.

"Take care, Thusetsis." She whispered into my ear, her smile unwavering. "I love you. If I do not see you again in this life, I shall wait for you in the next."

My hand, tangled in the black locks spilling down her back, cradled her head. "I love you, Hehensis. Please, do not cry, I shall see you again."

I watched her pull away, watched her board the boat heading northward across the great sea. I wanted to stop the whole proceedings, call her back, but I stayed my hand. This is for the best.

The boat unanchored, and began to sail.

Then, I saw my sister run back to the stern of the ship. "Remember, brother!" She shouted, uncaring of the world watching. "Be happy!"

I took a few steps, as if to follow her, but stopped at the bank. Wordlessly, I reached out a hand as if to touch her face.

I could not reach her.

My arm fell. I wanted to crumple, but I had to keep standing tall. My kingdom was watching; they had to see me be strong.

I didn't let my eyes stray from the horizon where my sister's boat was slowly disappearing into.

My wife's hand came to rest upon my shoulder.

"She is strong, she will be fine." She said, her convictions firm.

"I know she is," I stated. "I'm more afraid of what I'll do without her."

oOo

My father is dead.

He passed in his sleep, peacefully. There are no signs of further poisoning, nor of foul play. He went because it was his time.

I know that this is the best I could have wished for him, yet it doesn't stop the hole in my chest from gaping even more.

He was my father, he was always supposed to be there for me, but now he's gone.

Horus said that I'll see him again in the next life, that he has done a great job hosting Osiris and he'll be rewarded for it in the next life.

I just wanted to scream.

Amenhon has been slinking around even more.

I've been trying to find more information so I could arrest him, but the House of Life is reluctant, and he is as sly and slippery as the desert vipers. I have to instead live in paranoia, aware that he may rise up to try and dispose of me at any second now that Father is no longer here to stop him.

The only one that I know I have in my corner is Amunet, and even then I am not certain.

She's kind, beautiful, wise, but I also haven't seen her in 6 years. The last time I saw her, we were children, and we have only been married for a month. We are strangers, yet not.

I want to trust her, but my mother's betrayal has taught me not to trust blindly.

oOo

"What are you doing, sweet wife?" I say, leaning on the doorframe.

"Sweet wife? If you call me so, you haven't been paying attention." She teased, putting aside her weaving.

I chuckled, coming to her side and kneeling down to her side. I brushed aside her hair to press a kiss to her neck. "I have been paying attention. That's how I know you taste sweeter than any fruit."

Her hand comes up to comb through my dark locks. "What is the matter, husband?"

I sigh, and let my head rest against her breast. "I got asked about heirs during a meeting."

She frowned, "We have been married for only two months, and we are still young. There is plenty of time for heirs."

"I know. They are simply concerned about establishing our rule." I traced invisible lines on her unblemished skin with my thumb.

"Hm," she hummed as she massaged my scalp. "If they are so insistent, I shall ask for barley seeds, but I do not think they should get their hopes up."

I pressed a quick kiss against her lips. "You are a gift, Amunet."

She raised an eyebrow. "I know."

I gave her a small smile at her confidence.

"Since you are still so tense," she began. "Would you like to work through your frustration in the training fields or the bedroom?"

My pupils widened, my mind already imagining all the moves I could do to pin her down.

"I think you already know." I smirked, and picked her up in a bridal carry.

I may not love her yet, but I already love her squeals of delight as I carried her out of the room.

oOo

There's a fire spreading through the palace.

Chaos has spread as I try to delegate magicians and servants to put it out. I can't seem to find my wife or my brother in the mess, and my worry only climbed.

"Guards!" I commanded, "Find the one responsible for this and bring them to me!"

They saluted, and I turned back to helping stop the blaze from spreading down to the city. If the flame catches down there, there will be no stopping it.

"Maw!" I cried (Water). I may not be very good at magic, but I can help.

'Horus!' I pleaded. 'Help me!'

'I'm a war god! I'm good at starting fires, not stopping them! We need Isis for this.' Was his rather unhelpful reply.

'I don't know where she is!' I growled.

"Halm, where is my wi-?" I tried to ask a slave, but got cut off by screams that did not come from the slowly flagging blaze.

Running to the nearest window, I leaned as far out as possible to see if I could spot whatever was causing the commotion.

And I could see.

In horror, I watched as my brother led a coup on the palace.

They were cutting down everyone who stood in their way; men, women, children, free-man or slave- they didn't care. I watched as a desperate lady in silks jumped out the window onto the water gardens below, her skirt on fire, screaming.

"No!" I yelled, Horus' voice blending in with my own.

'Amunet' was my first thought. My wife was likely caught in the coup and fighting for her life.

'My kingdom' was my second thought. My people are suffering and screaming- begging- for Amenhon not to kill them.

I raced through the halls, letting Horus lead me.

I need to find my wife, get her to a safe hiding space, then I have to defend the palace. I know there are guards and magicians already defending the throne, but they are leaderless without me to guide them.

' You won't be able to defend yourselves, you have to flee.' Floated around my head, but I pushed it away. 'No, we can still defeat him. He will only win if I can't stop him from getting to the throne room. He is still in the outer corridors.'

I could hear the sounds of a fight coming from inside my wife's sitting room, and my panic only worsened.

Bursting in, khopesh in hand, I was greeted with the sight of Amunet throwing a man out the window with a well-aimed "Hu-Ai!" (Fall)

"Amunet!" I said in relief, rushing forward to hold her in my arms. "Thank the gods you are well!"

I brushed her limp locks away from her face, soaking in the sight of her alive, if a bit covered in blood.

"Thusetsis, they're taking the palace!" She cried, "We have to get to the throne room and activate the defenses!"

"I know," Horus was already chiming in with the best route to the throne room. "Have you contacted the House of Life?"

"No." She shook her head, fearfully. "I can't get through to them, I fear that they've blocked all outgoing messages from the palace."

I cursed, panic rising, but tried to hold it together. "Okay. Stay close, we have to go."

We held hands as we ran, blasting and cutting down everyone who got in our way. There were tears mixed with her enemies' blood on my wife's face, but I could not wipe them off and reassure her that it'll be okay.

It's not okay.

When we got to the throne room, Amenhon was there waiting for us, lounging on imy/i throne.

"Well, well, well, look at what got dragged in." He drawled.

There were his own guards, mercenaries, and traitors coming out of every crevice of the room. We were surrounded.

I pushed Amunet behind me, carefully positioning myself in front of her so that I could protect her. She tightened her grip on her wand, watching my back.

"How dare you go against the will of the gods!" I snarled. "How dare you try to usurp your Pharaoh!"

"Pharaoh?" He spat, incensed. "You are Pharaoh only for the little trick of fate that led you to be born first! You should not be Pharaoh; you with your little foreign whore! I will lead Egypt to greatness, while you would've only dragged it to ruin!"

"You are a fool and a coward, brother." I told him. "If you are truly made to be Pharaoh, then let me propose something to you; call off your little lackeys and come fight me, man to man."

My brother laughed, a high, grating, sound. "And let you channel Horus? I think not."

His voice turned hard. "Men…" His eyes fixated cruelly on me. "Kill them."

In an instant, I spun to block a blow from some Persian mercenary while my wife shouted a "Heh-sieh!" (turn back) at the men diving at her.

Horus started to blend with me as we attacked, blow after blow was struck, men fell and many did not get back up again, but we were still outnumbered.

'We have to flee!' I told him, slowly inching backwards towards the window.

' No!' He snarled, attempting to continue fighting. 'I will not flee like some coward!'

'We have to,' I bit, throwing back another man. 'If we don't retreat, we will die! I will not let Amunet die because you don't have the balls to flee! If we go now, we can come back with reinforcements later.'

He hesitated, but finally agreed after a moment that lasted eternity. 'Fine.'

With a quick "Ha-di!" (destroy) thrown at the feet of my wife's attacker, I grabbed her, pulling her backwards.

"Go!" I shouted at her, indicating at the window. "I'll be right behind you, go!"

Determination and defiance were written across her face, but once she spotted the fear in mine, she nodded and ran towards the window.

I covered her, throwing a few more spells, but overwhelmed as I was, I quickly had to jump out of the window after her, turning into a falcon.

The last I saw of the palace for a long time, was my brother madly screeching "Shoot them down! Shoot them down!" as the city burned around him.

I have lost my crown.

oOo

Landing at Amunet's Father's lands as a refugee was probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life so far.

I had to, shame-faced, tell the man who entrusted me with his daughter that I lost everything. That I had nothing to give her anymore. That I had to retreat because I couldn't protect her.

Horus was silent as everything went down.

Thuseksis took my report with a solemn air. He had not let go of his grip on Amunet throughout the entire time, she had tucked her weeping face into his chest.

"You are welcome here for as long as you need, Pharaoh." He intoned. "I shall help you take back your throne."

"Thank you," I said, but inside I was numb. "If there is anything I can do to pay back your hospitality, I will."

He looked into my eyes, and I could see that his brown ones were steely. "Protect my daughter, that is all I need from you."

In an uncharacteristic display of unbecoming behaviour, I humbly knelt at his feet. "I swear to do whatever it takes to protect Amunet."

An arm was thrust in my face, and he helped me to my feet.

"Then you have my support."

oOo

As I lay in bed with my wife, I could only focus on her beauty and not a single thought strayed to the chaos plaguing Egypt.

My wife's lightly slumbering body lay on mine, my arm wrapped tightly at her waist, as she breathed softly on my chest. My fingers traced unseen paintings on her naked flesh, but nothing could be more beautiful than the feeling of her under my hands.

"I promise you my love," I whispered into her mussed hair. "I shall love you until my last breath."

She shifted as she awoke, blinking sleepily up at me.

"Good morning husband." She told me sweetly.

"Yes, it is so good that you are here with me." I told her huskily.

She burrowed herself deeper into my arms. "What has awakened you so early?"

"The fact that I have the most beautiful spouse here in my bed."

"Mhm," She hummed. "And what are you going to do about that?"

I smirk, "This."

Her look of surprise when I pushed her off the bed was priceless.

"Now the most beautiful spouse is alone in my bed." I laughed.

"Why you-!" She spluttered indignantly.

I pulled her back, letting her fall back onto me. "And now I have the most beautiful women in the world on me!"

Her smile lit up the room as she straddled me.

"I suppose you do." She laughed.

"Yes, I suppose I do." I whispered, then pulled her down into a searing kiss.

I can still taste last night's honeyed pears on her tongue.

oOo

After another night of meeting Thuseksis' military advisors and getting nowhere, I was exhausted.

Slipping silently into my room, I was surprised to see Amunet awake, waiting for me.

She was practically glowing, her smile wide as she lay in bed with the sheets draped around her figure.

"Husband," she greeted. "I was growing worried that you weren't coming back."

"I would never do that to you." I told her, lowering myself onto the bed next to her.

Her eyes fluttered close as I kissed her neck. "I have something important to tell you." She managed to gasp out.

"Oh?" I teased, sucking on her supple skin. "Do you?"

"Yes!" She said, pushing me back to kiss me deeply. "Very important."

"What is it?" I rasped.

She drew back to beam at me. "I'm pregnant."

That gave me pause. My sluggish mind didn't seem to be able to catch up with the still moving reality. Did she just say…

"Pregnant?" I whispered.

She looked at me with worry. "Yes, I… Are you not happy?"

Not happy? I'm ecstatic!

I broke free of my spell, beaming. I kissed her deeply, pulling her towards me carefully.

"I love you," I whispered against her lips. "You are beautiful; carrying my child. I love you so much."

She laughed, throwing her head back.

"We're going to be parents." She told me reverently. "We're going to have a baby."

I think the whole land could hear the sounds of our celebration, but I did not care.

A baby.

The smile did not leave my face for weeks after hearing the news.

oOo

Amunet glowed with pregnancy.

Her hair bounced in golden ringlets, her tan skin blushed rosy in the sun, her laughter came easy and her smile easier. Her eyes, like thunderstorms, had tempered into smokey ash.

I loved her.

As I watched her enjoy a day at the beach, her swollen stomach being lightly hit with the salty waves, a slave approached my vantage point above.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Pharaoh." He bowed, "But a messenger from your sister has arrived."

It has been nearly two years since my sister sailed off to her new life, and I've been able to get three messages from her. One detailing her new husband in the Aegean islands: a large warrior named Leonike. One speaking of her first-born, a son she named Thusetsis after me. And the last letter arrived just a month ago, speaking of her son's first words. It's strange to hear from her again so soon.

When I entered the receiving room, only to see a solemn Thuseksis stand up to greet me, all joy fell off my face.

"What happened?" I demanded.

"I'm so sorry, my son." He attempted to comfort me.

"No." I said desperately, "Please, tell me what happened."

"Pharaoh," The messenger said. "Your sister fell ill, she passed into the halls of Osiris only a month ago."

"No." I whispered, falling to my knees. I shook my head, begging for it to not be true. "No, not my little sister."

"I'm so sorry." The messenger intoned, but I knew he didn't really mean it.

I could only sob as I lost the last of my family.

oOo

My pacing increased as my wife's screams grew louder.

"Thusetsis, please, sit down." Thuseksis told me from a bench.

"Sit down?" I asked hysterically, "My wife is giving birth in the room over! How am I supposed to sit down and be calm about this?!"

"Her mother gave me four healthy children with no consequence to her. Amunet takes after her mother, she will be fine." He said.

"That is no guarantee!" I bit my thumb as I did another round of the room.

Amunet let out another hair-raising scream.

If it weren't for the way his eye's flickered over to the direction the sound came from, I could've sworn that Thuseksis was completely calm about this.

"It has been five hours." He told me, "They have just told us that the babe is about to be born. It will all be over soon."

I turned on him, about to yell at him that there's no way he can know that, when Amunet screamed again.

And another scream joined hers.

"Congratulations," Thuseksis clapped me on my back. "Your child has a healthy set of lungs."

That's my child. My child is crying in the other room right now.

Tears sprang to my eyes. I'm a father!

Then, after a beautiful moment, Amunet screamed again.

No.

Thuseksis looked just as horrified as I felt.

"What's going on?" I said desperately, "Is Amunet okay?"

A slave burst into the room, wide-eyed. "There's another babe!" He announced.

"What?"

Thuseksis grasped his chest. "Oh gods," he murmured. "There's two!"

I was confused, my mind working far too sluggishly to understand what was going on, my mind was pure anxiety and panic.

I could hear crying.

There's…. Two cries?

I numbly followed my father-in-law to the other room, where the most beautiful sight greeted me.

Amunet, exhausted, smiling down at a pair of bundles in her arms.

She smiled at me as I approached.

"Husband," she said breathlessly. "May I present your son and daughter."

Twin squirming babes were in her arms. They both had my hair, and her nose, my dark copper skin, and her pink lips. They were perfect.

"A son and daughter." I sobbed, "They're beautiful."

I carefully held my fragile daughter in my arms.

"Hehensis," I whispered down to her. "For my sister."

"And Hasanik," Amunet said. "For his beauty."

I let my tears fall down my face openly.

"I promise," I told my children. "That you shall have everything you deserve."

Amunet let out a sob, leaning further against me.

"They shall have it all." She echoed.

Everything, even if I have to give my life for it.

oOo

I have made more allies in the past six months than I ever thought possible, and with the House of Life's support, we are now able to retake the city.

Meetings were long, and it felt like I spent all day in the War Room, planning strategy after strategy. Somedays, I mourned the fact that I could not spend more time with my family. My children were growing so fast, and I was not there to see it, but this is for them.

This is so they can live happily, in peace, without the fear that their uncle will find them.

I collapsed in a chair, rubbing my temples, and interrupting an advisor's droning voice. "So, what you're saying, is that without access to the Nile, we have no chance of taking the city."

"Exactly, Phar-" He broke off to the sounds of a commotion outside the room.

"My queen, you can't-" I heard a servant protest.

"Don't tell me what I can and can't do." My wife's biting retort came.

Amunet came storming in, her eyes like rolling thunder, her skirts flying behind her.

"Amunet," I stood. "What is the matter?"

"The matter is that you have excluded me from all the war planning. I am your equal, I will fight for our kingdom, same as you, and I will be included in planning the strategies." She said, head held high.

I could see the other men go to protest, but I just smirked.

"The floor is yours." I told her.

She gave me a smirk back as she walked up to the table.

"We need to take the Nile," She started. "And I have a plan."

oOo

Fifteen thousand men.

We have fifteen thousand men marching onto the palace, ready to retake it. Amenhon had only two thousand, but he also let them in from the inside. We might fail.

Amunet's arms curled around my chest from the back. Her curls were tied back, but they still blew in the desert air.

"We can do this." She said, staring off at the great city on the horizon. "We can win."

"And if we can't?" I asked, solemnly watching as men disguised themselves to sneak into the city. "And if when the sun sets, we are all dead?"

"Then we will meet again in the duat." She said, "And we will be together in the next."

I gave her one last kiss. "Then let's go down in history."

oOo

The men had successfully snuck into the lower city, letting our disguised warships in and opening the gates of the palace.

Amunet and I disembarked the first ship to land, weapons in hand, and working together perfectly with our gods.

Isis screamed spells, killing men by the hoards, bathing her in crimson.

Horus cut down men like they were wheat, I could barely see my own skin under all the blood.

We were demons; slaughtering anyone who stood between us and our goal.

"Now!" I shouted, commanding soldiers into the castle.

At my heels, Amunet sent another exploding spell to an approaching mercenary.

The building was on fire, but I did not care, we were so close.

Of course, nothing is so simple.

One second I was opening the doors to the throne room, the next, I could hear Amunet's sudden gasp.

I turned to see the most horrifying sight I had ever seen.

Amunet, on the ground, desperately clutching her stomach where an arrow stuck out of her. A pool of life-blood slowly growing around her.

"NO!" I wailed, grief overtaking me. "AMUNET!"

They say grief makes men go insane, like bloodthirsty beasts, and I have to say I agree.

I fought like a leopard, striking at every man who came near her like a sand snake, destroying any evidence of life like a crocodile of the Nile.

Until it was just my brother and I.

"You will die!" I snarled, more beast than man, bared teeth. "You will die for all you've done!"

"Perhaps," Amenhon smiled. "But so shall she."

I let out a hoarse yell, savagely swinging at him.

He ducked, chuckling. "You've always let your anger get the best of you."

I swung again, ignoring the way Horus yelled at me to calm down.

He glanced the blow off with his own wand. "Hehensis would be so disappointed."

"You never knew her!" I screamed. "You never cared!"

"Of course not, why should I care for some whore?" He knocked me back with a spoken word.

I landed beside Amunet, my khopesh skidding away to the other side of the room.

"You've always loved whores," he grinned madly, coming to stand over me with his blade ready. "After all, you married one."

He never got to finish his little speech.

With one last cry, I thrust up with Amunet's dagger.

Amenhon choked on his own blood, eyes wide, my wife's blade protruding from his neck.

… and his in my chest.

I gasped, falling backwards to lay beside Amunet, my brother's body falling over to lay still away from us.

"Th-Thuse-" Amunet gasped, weakly reaching out with a bloody palm towards me.

"A-au-" I tried to reply, but the freezing burn spread in my chest- the words freezing in my throat with it.

I stared into the eyes of my wife, my love, my Amunet. They were the same thunderstorms that I fell in love with all those years ago, in this very room, as children.

But the storm was passing now. Growing dull, glassy, gone.

And so was I.

oOo

Thusetsis and Amunet died together, embracing in a pool of blood and betrayal. The only thing left lingering was their love in the shape of two young toddlers. Two toddlers that night were crowned Pharaoh. Two toddlers who grew to conquer so much for Egypt, for their parents.

All for love.

Thusetsis and Amunet held hands as they walked towards the light, a light they believed was their journey to Anubis' hall of judgement.

A light that made them breathe again.

.

.

.

And so they were born again.

A/N

Part 1 of 3 is done! Part 2 will take a while still, I'm only half-way done with it. What do y'all think?