Around two weeks later, the pharaoh had sent some guards to go retrieve his children, as the year for Sekmet had ended. Once their carriage had arrived, a servant went and let the pharaoh know of their arrival.
A guard stood outside the carriage and held out a hand to let the princes and princesses out, and then the High Priestess and her priestesses. Sekmet let her siblings run on ahead of her, and they quickly ran to the throne room to greet their father.
Sekmet walked more slowly. She had brought four of her priestesses back with her. Since priests and priestesses of Isis were healers and midwives, they could help when needed. Sekmet wore a red gown and gold colored hooded robes, while her priestesses wore cobalt blue dresses with gold stitching and black robes, all colors of their goddess. She also wore braids in her hair, her natural hair, as she didn't like wigs, and never wore them.
The guards opened the doors to let the five priestesses in and each of them bowed once in front of the pharaoh. "Father." Sekmet greeted with a small smile.
"Sekmet, you have returned. You look to be in good health. How was the journey home?" The pharaoh asked as he stood.
"It was okay. Ramses kept us entertained." She said, hiding a bemused smile, the youngest child of the Pharaoh was something else, he loved to cause chaos, and when he wasn't, loved to play, although they always joked that trouble found Ramses, instead of the other way around.
"I am sure he did, I have requested a meeting this afternoon and I would like for you and Neferure to attend, no doubt she has forgotten the day and that you have returned home. You should surprise her but be gentle, she had a scare not too long ago." The pharaoh sighed as he looked out to his kingdom.
"Will do." She nodded. "Then I will get my priestesses settled in the infirmary." She studied her father for a moment, she had always been close to him, and she felt that something was off. "Papa?" She used the informal name since there wasn't an audience. "Are you okay?"
"Child, many things trouble me but none to trouble you. I am fine, you are home safe with you siblings. Now go and unpack, check on your cousin and I will explain more this afternoon. Trust me Sekmet, all will be well." the pharaoh smiled as his daughter.
She nodded and hugged her father before leaving the throne room, her priestesses following her. She first went to go check on her cousin. She was walking down the hall when she heard books from the library, and she stopped and back up, and had to dodge books and lightly cleared her throat.
Neferure threw book after book behind her completely unaware of what day it was. She was on the hunt for answers, she wanted to know what the strange feeling was whenever she touched or even talked to Amun now. It was driving her mad. She had even seen him kill a man but this new feeling or whatever it was would not go away. "Ugh so frustrating! What is this darn feeling! I want it to go away! Its distracting!" Neferure sighed as she plopped down on a chair.
Sekmet raised a brow as she leaned in the doorway. "Problems, cousin?"
"Ugh oh! Sekmet! You came back today!" neferure said jumping up. "I wasn't there to greet you! Oh I am so sorry! I just I am so confused by the emotions going on in my head, torso and stomach region. I truly think I might be near death."
Sekmet smiled. "It's okay. Don't worry about it." She shook her head. "What's going on with you?" She asked, a bit concerned, but then again, serving the goddess of healing, made her like that when someone said anything like that.
Imhotep was now the new high priest of Osiris, however he had been with his brother at the training grounds. The pharaoh wanted to speak to them privately this afternoon and he wanted to know if Amun knew what to expect.
"Do you know why the Pharaoh wishes to speak with us?" Imhotep asked his older brother.
Amun shook his head. "No, not at all."
"Have you been flirting with any of the servants? You know the Pharaoh doesn't like that, he will punish anyone for doing that." Imhotep told his older brother.
Amun snorted. "No. I'm not Barkari." He then stared at Imhotep. "I thought I told him to stop doing that."
"Oh I forgot, you have your eyes on a priestess." Imhotep said with a raised eyebrow.
Amun refused to meet his younger brother's gaze as he simply walked ahead.
"Amun! Get back here or I will go tell her right now!" Imhotep smiled and ran after his brother.
Amun abruptly stopped. "You wouldn't."
"The last place I saw her I believe was the library...it's not too far from here." Imhotep said as he turned on his heel.
Amun watched his brother for a moment before sighing and going after him.
"Just admit it and I won't say a word." Imhotep called to his older brother. He stopped right outside the library as his brother caught up with him and he could hear two female voices.
"I am not going to admit anything." He said, he hadn't know his brother stopped and almost ran into him. He noticed the four priestesses outside the door, he was confused for a moment, priestesses of whose?
"Don't be mad or judge me but, whenever I am near Amun or touch him, I get this strange spark, a weird feeling in my stomach and my heart starts to beat fast. Dear cousin he is going to kill me." Neferure sighed and fell back on the chair dramatically.
Sekmet couldn't keep a straight face and laughed a bit. "Oh, I'm sorry." She said, getting a hold of herself. "That means you like him. I've heard people refer to that feeling as butterflies once."
"Sekmet! Are you telling me I LIKE AMUN?! THAT IS THIS STRANGE FEELING?!" Neferure practically yelled in shock at her cousin.
"I think she just admitted it brother." Imhotep smiled then looks to the priestesses. "Greetings priestesses of Isis, I take it your lady is in there with the priestess of Ma'at?"
The four priestesses nodded, giving a polite greeting. "Yes, she is." One of them spoke.
The High Priestess slash princess had to cover her ears. "Neferure! Please, tone it down a bit."
"Yeah, so I hear." Amun sighed.
"That's it I am going to go drown myself in the Nile!" Neferure said and then ran out of the room in tears.
"Did she just say she was going to drown herself?" Imhotep asked skeptical if she would really do it.
"No, wait! Neferure!" Sekmet attempted to follow. "Don't do that." She sighed, before shaking her head and noticed the brothers. She had only known Amun because of Imhotep, once upon a time, their mother's had been best friends, and so, she pretty much grew up with him. She raised a brow as she looked at Amun. "Well, do you want to go stop her?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'll, I'll go do that." The guard nodded, going in the direction that Neferure had gone in.
"You do not think she will really do that...do you?" Imhotep questioned with his hand on his chin in a thinking manner. "Amun would be distraught to know the woman he loves killed herself for liking him. Also, Welcome home Sekmet, high priestess of Isis."
"No." She shook her head. "She technically may not hold a royal title, but no one can convince me that she's not a drama queen." She shook her head. "Don't tell her I said that." She said as an afterthought. She gave a small smile upon his greeting. "Imhotep. Long time no see." She figured that it had been seven years, which also didn't seem that long ago, and it did at the same time.
"You have a new title, new clothes and new hand maids to follow you. The title suits you well priestess. I am sure your father is quite happy to have you home. The palace has missed its crazy princesses." Imhotep joked with her showing a small smile.
"Since when have I been crazy?" Though she had to admit, as a child, she was a very energic little thing, often dragging her friends out on 'adventures', and by that, it was mostly him. But as she grew into a teenager, she became more mature, and wise, but of course, by that time, he had already left for the temple.
"I remember your adventures as you called them when you were a child, my memory is still good for the moment. Though I must say in age in beauty you have truly flourished." Imhotep smiled as he bowed before her.
"And I don't remember you complaining too much when I dragged you along." She smiled a bit with that tease.
"It was always a fun adventure with you, especially when we had to hide from your crazy aunt." he chuckled.
"Oh, heavens, don't remind me." She muttered. "Walk and talk?" She had to get her priestesses settled in the infirmary, as that's where they would be spending a lot of time as healers and midwives.
"Yes, I do have a meeting with your father this afternoon though." Imhotep nodded as they began their walk.
"So, you too then." She commented. Her priestess followed her at a distance.
"Yes, he requested to see Amun and myself. You are going as well?" Imhotep asked confused.
"Yes. And my cousin. He told me when I got home." She tilted her head a bit. "What does that father of mine have up his sleeve now?" She murmured. It wasn't long before they reached the infirmary, where she let her priestesses get settled.
"Hmm, I'm not sure but the Pharaoh is wise, I am sure whatever he wants to tell us is worthwhile." Imhotep said with confidence in the Pharaoh .
"Yeah." She looked over her priestesses, "I suppose it's about time to head to the throne room."