SUMMARY: After eighty years, destiny still isn't finished with them yet.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of THE MUMMY/THE MUMMY RETURNS
RATING: T+
PAIRING: Imhotep/Anck-Su-Namun
REVERSAL OF FATE:
They had landed an hour ago, just before dawn, at a small private air field. Lyla and Ben were silently arguing, while Gavin did a cursory check. Sun fished around in her ruck sack for the desert garb she had packed. Pulling out the heavier robe for him, and the lighter black chiffon one for herself, as well as the head scarves, she stood up handing the garments to him. Sun watched him shrug into the robe and cinching the ties. He took the long black scarf, put it over his head, and threw the right side over his left shoulder. She couldn't help but smile at him. Even without her surfacing memories, she could easily picture him in the ancient world.
Tom fit his borrowed sunglasses into place as he asked, "Where to now?" He fit the strap of the satchel across his body and then stuck his hand inside to make sure he had what they needed; map, puzzle box, and the journal belonging to her grandfather. When she didn't answer him, he fixed his gaze on her to see what she was doing. Sun shrugged into a shoulder rig with two holsters on either side made especially for the .45 caliber guns she had. The back of the harness had a larger holster, but she left it empty.
Sun secured her weapons and then put her desert coverings on. "Not far from here is a little Bedouin camp where we can get two camels and then set off in the direction of the oasis," she answered him. Sun put her sunglasses on and then looked up at the sky. It was still early enough to be dark out but with just a hint of the sun's first light creeping over the horizon. They could make it to the camp without the heat being down on them. "You ever ride a camel before?" she asked him teasingly.
"Have you?" Tom asked in the same tone.
Sun smirked. She took his hand and together they set off towards the camp. The shifted sand made a brisk pace difficult, but possible. "At least I'm getting my cardio in for the day," she laughed.
"I've been in the classroom too long," Tom said with a groan. Already his calf muscles were starting to burn. Running the streets of Paris was not like walking on the sands of Egypt. At least in Paris the cobblestones weren't shifting under his feet.
"After this," Sun said, "you may never want to do field work again." First, they had to survive whatever game Sarah was playing. They had one advantage; their memories. His hand tightened on hers, telling her that this was worth it.
A half hour of walking paid off. Tom saw the out cropping of tents set against crumbling ruins of a once small village. Then he heard the lowing of camels. He felt eager anticipation race through him at the prospect of riding one into the desert. For the next ten minutes, however, he spent it listening to Sun haggle with the camel trader. She was getting frustrated and finally shifted, letting him see the butt of her gun. The man immediately changed his position, taking the money Sun offered. At least Tom thought it was because she flashed her gun. It could have been for some other reason entirely. She was intimidating beyond all words, though not to him.
Sun hated to haggle. She hated men who thought they could get her to budge simply because she was a woman. So, she did something her father called 'Scary Face', to get what she wanted. It was something she rarely ever did, but time was not on their side. To her, it made her more of a thug and less of a civilized woman she knew herself to be. She had to be more articulate and be more persuasive. Not scary. So, she paid the man and tried not to notice the way he cringed.
Tom checked the saddle mount on the camel to his right. A couple of kids were running around, laughing as they came up to him, poking his leg, and then scampering away when he made a playfully mean face at them. He laughed with them. Then, he swung himself up and settled into the saddle, grabbing the thick braided reigns. He was hit with a wave of recognition and a sense of elation. The part of him that recognized the name Imhotep knew where they had to go and was eager to get there. There was a memory waiting to be triggered in the oasis and it wasn't one that carried sorrow with it. This memory would be a happy one.
Sun secured her bag to the back of her camel's saddle, as well as her ruck sack. She took a moment to wrap the strap of her canteen around the back horn. Then, she checked the SAT phone on the pocket by her left knee in her cargo pants. No calls from Lyla. Though, she didn't expect it, not for a few more hours at least. Sun was ready, but a little nervous if she was being honest with herself. She had butterflies in her stomach. Setting off into the desert with a man she just met to learn about a past that has caused her family so much trouble would make anyone take a moment to think about their choices. When she looked as Tom, however, the choice was made for her. She had to know who she was, who they were together. She situated herself in the saddle and then looked at Tom. He nodded, silently telling her he was ready, and they set off on their journey.
The hot sun was high in the sky, signaling that it was the top of the hour. Tom had settled into the back and forth motion of his camel's steady steps. He pulled out the map, though he didn't know why. It wasn't like he could use it to orient themselves. This was from three thousand years ago and the landscape had definitely shifted over the millennia. When he looked at it, he felt his vision blur. When he cleared it, he was looking at a landscape that had slightly changed. Pulling on the reigns of his camel, he got the animal to stop. "Hold," he said, but the word was foreign on his tongue.
Sun heard the ancient Egyptian word for 'hold' and did just thought. Tom was looking around, but not seeing their current scape. He was seeing the past version of their location. She held her questions until he got his bearings. In the silence that stretched between them, he tugged on the reigns, guiding his camel a little to the left. Sun followed him, trusting that he knew where they needed to go. "Have we veered off course?" she asked in the same old dialect. For long moments, he didn't answer her. They just kept going. Then she saw where they were going. They were heading towards the mountains. She knew they were headed in the right direction now and she was content to follow his lead.
Tom leaned forward, his head dizzy, but one deep breath and it was over. To his left, Sun's hand touched his arm and he smiled. "I'm all right," he said as he rested his hand over hers. "It was strange to see this place so different and yet the same. It had a timeless feel to it," Tom spoke, unsure if he was making any semblance of sense or not. The feeling that he was following the same path as Imhotep was nearly overwhelming. He had to be mindful that he, in the present, was going to make different choices.
Sun reached behind, tugging on the strap of the canteen until she freed it. Then she handed it over, speaking softly, "Here, drink some water."
"I'm fine," Tom replied, waving off the offering.
"Humor me," Sun responded lightly, shaking the canteen at him. They'd already been in the desert for nearly six hours. She knew once they reached the oasis, there would be a place for them to refill the canteen. Of course, all of this hope was pinned on memories from three thousand years ago. There was no guarantee that the place they were heading was actually still there after all this time.
Tom sighed, rolled his eyes, and took it. Unscrewing the top, he lifted the large jug to his lips taking a deep drink of the water that was somehow still cold. Another gulp and he was lowering it to return the cap to its rightful place. "Thank you," he said handing the container back to her. Then Tom asked, "What do you think we'll find in this oasis?"
"Something happy," Sun answered without a moment's hesitation. "I know that when we get there we're going to see more of our past, more of a time when they were truly happy together."
"Are you sure?" Tom asked.
"I am," Sun said and nodded.
Tom fell silent for a moment. He thought about the direction they were heading, about Imhotep and Anck-Su-Namun making their way towards their rest stop, and he couldn't help but feel the same elation Sun was talking about. The last was branded with the happiness of two people in love, two people who didn't have to hide for fear of being discovered. "I think their happiness was only possible while Seti was away at Kadesh," he said, going on instinct. When she had recalled the triumph parade, and Pharaoh's return, the memory was marred with sorrow and loss. They were once more enslaved to secrecy and fear.
"Seti was gone for nearly two years, Nefertiri was named regent in his place, and we dared to leave the palace and Thebes," Sun spoke, trying to recall her time as Anck-Su-Namun. As quickly as the feeling came over her, it was gone again, and that left her to growl in frustration.
"Give it time," Tom said reassuringly, reaching out to touch her shoulder. If there was one thing he learned since the rising of the first memory, they couldn't be forced. Their recollections gave him more to think about. Their time together in the Pharaoh's absence revolved around the secret that Imhotep and Anck-Su-Namun were still keeping, even in death. It led him to think about to the night of the murder. Tom felt there was more motivating it other than a split-second decision on her part. They weren't just protecting each other. They were protecting their secret. But what?
Sun saw Tom thinking too hard about their past. Gently, she repeated his words back to him, "Give it time." Combatting the butterflies in her stomach, she concentrated on the happiness pervading her straight to her soul. She was in Egypt with him and they were heading towards a secret, tranquil place where their past selves got to be in love, to make love to one another. That would be the perfect place for them to honor the past, to let the spark of love between them grown into a raging pyre that consumed them and united their souls together. The anticipation was nearly too much to bear.
SUNSET:
Tom's camel was getting tired, he could tell. It took more and more effort to keep the animal on track and heading in the direction he wanted. Next to him, Sun was having the same problem. Then something caught his attention, the sound of hot desert air moving through leaves. "Do you hear that?" he asked Sun. Their camel's continued to move in the direction of the whispering wind until Tom's jaw was dropping. The oasis. It was still around.
"Oh, my gods…" Sun said in one long breath. She took tugged on the reigns, getting her camel to stop and then with a series of tongue clicks, she was signaling her transportation to go to the ground. Part of her recognized this place and that part set off at a run. She was distantly aware of Tom calling out to her. Sun was determined to break through the dense foliage and set foot inside a little slice of paradise.
"Hut, hut, hut!" Tom urged his camel on, hoping the other one would follow with the fast pace being set. Chasing after her set his heart galloping a mile a minute with fear. Then he lost sight of her as she was enveloped in the greenery of the oasis. Suddenly, his camel stopped, dropping down to the ground with a groan of annoyance mixed with exhaustion. Without even pausing after setting foot on the sand, he took off at a run. The moment he was inside the green boundary, he noticed the temperature difference, and he saw Sun. Going to her, he gripped her arms, pulling her around to face him. "Don't take off like that! You scared me!"
Sun had run flat out until she was amidst the lush green vegetation of the oasis. The sound of water caught her attention immediately as well as the tent. It was far from modern and she knew that she had slept in it before. This place existed out of time and was infused with such strong memories that she couldn't help but to fall silent and reverent to the power held in this place. Then hands were gripping her, turning her, and a voice was cutting through her dazed mind. Tom. He was worried. It snapped her out of her wonderment enough to say, "Look." She pointed to the tent.
Tom dropped his hands from Sun's arms and gazed at the tent. "What is this place?" he asked silently. The tent was made from ancient canvas, decorated in gold, and painted with hieroglyphs to ward of evil. The scarab at the top was the same symbol from the amulet Imhotep had worn every day of his adult life as High Priest. Tom took a single step closer, being drawn to the open flaps by some unseen force. There was something waiting for them in there, but he was reluctant to move any further with out Sun taking those steps with him.
"It's been waiting for us," Sun said, reaching out to take Tom's hand. Like before, a circuit connected, and they were taken back in time. The oasis remained the same, but the feeling changed.
"I don't know what we're supposed to do now," Tom muttered. His confusion was vying for dominance over the unnatural sense of happiness filling every fiber of his being. In this place, Imhotep and Anck-Su-Namun were the only two people in the world. They didn't have to hide their love here, they didn't have to look away for fear of being caught.
Sun turned to him, her hands cupping his face as she responded. "We re-create a little history." And then she was pulling him down for a deep, soul searing kiss. She pressed herself against him, wrapping her arms around him, branding his body with hers. He belonged to her and she to him. Love had never been a concern to her, not until she met Tom, not until she tasted his lips for the first time, not until she raised her hand and caressed the air above his face.
Tom broke the kiss, gasping, "I thought you didn't want sex." Not that he was complaining. Being in between the sheets with her would be like entering heaven. He would worship her body for hours, offering payers to whatever gods were listening, thanking them for bringing her back to him, bringing her into his life.
"I was waiting until we were here," Sun replied sweetly. This place was a slice of memory outside of time. This was where Imhotep and Anck-Su-Namun made love for the first time, solidifying their bond to each other. "It was here that they started down their path and it's one we have to walk if we're ever to understand them in relation to ourselves." She placed her hand over his heart, letting the beat thump against her palm. "Do you think we're rushing into this?"
"Not for a second," Tom replied. Everything she said to him made perfect sense. Resting his hand over hers, he drew in close again. The kiss that shared was aching sweet and slow. Without needing to see where they were going, Tom guided them towards the tent where he knew a bed waited for them. He dropped his hands down to her hips, running back to grip her thighs where he lifted her effortlessly. She locked her legs around him, draping her arms over his shoulders.
Sun heard the fluttering of tent flaps. She broke the seal of their lips looking back over her shoulder and saw the white canvas flaps open, inviting them inside. Her heart skipped a beat in anticipation. Tom felt the same, his arms tightening on her. Then he took a step up, his boot making a sound on the wooden platform. She sucked in a sharp breath. He carried her closer to the waiting bed and with each step her butterflies grew in intensity. They weren't just hers. Anck-Su-Namun had been just as nervous, just as eager to be wrapped up in Imhotep's arms.
Tom took that first step into the tent fit for royalty. The bed was in the center, dressed in white cotton sheets, and matching pillows. Reluctantly, he let her stand on her own two feet, but he didn't let her get too far from him. He pulled her back against his chest and moved her hair aside to place a kiss to the back of her neck. Sun moaned lightly. Tom took the robe from her shoulders, dragging it down her arms, and casted it away from them. He was about to reach for her shoulder rig when she stopped him.
Sun turned to face him and while he watched her, she unhooked the leather from her belt, she shrugged out of the holster. Under normal circumstances, she would have hung the rig up, but the heated look from Tom made her lax. She let it fall to the floor. The clatter went unnoticed by both of them. Her hands moved to the buttons of her shirt, but he stopped her.
Without breaking their gaze, Tom curled his fingers into the fabric of her white shirt, pulling it free of her pants. Like he had on her barge, he started from the bottom button, moving slowly up. When he freed the last one, he slipped his hands under the shoulders of the shirt, pushing it down her arms. Sun's breathing changed, growing shorter and more uneven with every passing second. He was about to reach for the front clasp of her bra when she stopped him.
Sun smiled, putting her hands on the outer layer of the robe. Mirroring his actions, she helped him out of it, letting it fall to the floor around his feet. His shirt was a simple cotton t-shirt that she relished pushing up his abdomen, revealing the flat expanse and the moderate muscle of his chest. She had a moment to miss the amulet that she used to love to trace with her finger. But that moment passed when he took the shirt from her, taking it the rest of the way off. He was glorious to behold, and not just her memory of him. Setting the tips of her fingers against the subtle rise of his collar bones, she slowly drew her fingers down his chest.
Tom gave himself over to her touch that was as light as the whispering wind over his bare flesh. He exhaled a shuddering breath when her finger tips ran over his nipples. She continued moving down, bringing to life the full force of his desire for her. Tom needed the taste of her one his tongue, and he didn't fight the need. Taking her lips, he moaned into her mouth while his fingers freed the closure of her bra. She took her hands from him, giving him the vague sense that she had taken the garment off. Everything else faded away when her arms draped over his shoulders and her chest pressed to his.
Sun lost herself in his kiss, feeling it resonate back into the past. She took pleasure in the way their lips danced, their tongues caressing each other. Her body was burning with desire, being fueled by him, by his very presence. Sun moaned again when he dug his fingers in the flesh of her side, trying to pull her even closer to him. They were trying to climb inside one another. Pulling back, she gasped for air after her lungs started to burn from the lack of oxygen. Kissing him was more important than breathing normally. The brief pause gave her the chance to search his eyes. From his heated gaze, she could see he wanted her on the bed. Without verbally replying, she went to sit on the edge, and started undoing the laces of her boots.
Tom took a moment to regain some of his equilibrium. Never before had he been so consumed by a woman as he was by Sun. It should have terrified him, yet, she was more than he thought he would ever have. There was a give and take between them, her passion flowed into him, filling him, giving him power. He was able to repay her in kind, filling her with his passion. Looking at her, he watched her kick off her boots, and scoot back on the bed. She slid with ease and that made him moan. The sight was incredibly sexy. Before joining her, he removed his boots as well.
Sun went so far as to undo her belt, but no further. She was distracted by Tom kneeling on the edge of the bed, crawling towards her. Sun pressed her head into the bedding, closing her eyes, letting her body feel his movements. Her stomach quivered when she felt his hot breath touched her skin moments before his lips did. He kissed her below he navel moments before pulling back and curling his fingers into the waistband of her pants. She yelped in surprise when he tugged her pants down, and then laughed as he continued to tug. Finally, the khakis came off, leaving her in just her underwear. When she opened her eyes, Tom was looking at her, the blatant hunger in his eyes made whatever laughter still lingering inside her vanish.
Tom gripped her behind her left knee, lifting her leg up to place a kiss there. Her sharp intake of breath let him know she liked what he was doing. Moving further up, he placed another light kiss to the top of her thigh and then further up to the subtle rise of her hip bone. Tom didn't linger long at her hip, he continued his journey up her body, kissing a path towards her breasts. Darting his tongue out, he touched the underside of her left breast, and licked up until he closed his lips around her pert nipple.
Sun arched into him, moaning as his tongue moved over her sensitive skin. She placed her right hand on his shoulder, her fingers digging into the muscles, feeling tense as he held himself above her. Not wanting to remain idle, Sun slipped her left hand down, touching him. She felt the weight of his hardness through the durable khaki of his pants. It was nearly killing her to wait to have inside her, but she didn't want to give up the feeling of his mouth on her just yet.
Tom could get drunk on the taste of her skin alone. Lightly taking her nipple between his teeth, he lightly tugged before releasing it. She gasped and moaned for him. Her hand pressed into him and it was his turn to moan. Coming up, he placed his lips to hers again, rocking against her hand. He was so focused on kissing her, on the heated touch of her hand burning into him through the layer of his pants, that he was unprepared for her to take him to the bed beneath her. Tom was looking up at her, the fire in her eyes matching what was inside him.
Sun rested her hands on Tom's chest, the tip of her nose barely touching his. Lightly, she kissed him while keeping her eyes locked with his. She couldn't explain it, but she knew that as her heart beat, so did his. When she kissed him, she hoped she would never stop. He was her past, her present, and her future. Sun moved off him, sitting by his side to give him a saucy smile. He didn't need to respond. Getting up, he made a show of unbuttoning the button and lowering the zipper. It was then she caught the first glimpse of his hard length.
Tom pushed the pants halfway down his hips when she stood in front of him. She had her fingers curled into the band of her panties, having moved them halfway down her hips. He pushed the fabric down a little more and she moved with him. Clearing his hips, the thick, rugged khaki fell to pool around his ankles. She shimmied out of her underwear. In sync with each other, they stepped out of the last of their clothing. Then Tom held up his left hand and her right came to rest against it. He laced their fingers together as he said, "You walked right out of my dreams and became my reality."
Sun didn't have to reply to him, her kiss told him all she needed to tell hm. The press of her body to his brought them back to the raging passion. She moaned and gasped and craved to be united with him in the only way a man could be joined to a woman. "Take me," she moaned. He guided her down to the bed, moving her to the center where she welcomed him into the cradle of his body. The head of his desire slid between her nether lips, nudging at her intimate channel. She was wet and ready for him. With one hard thrust, he was inside her.
Tom took a moment, going as still as he could. "Oh, gods…" his voice was a strangled gasp. He couldn't believe how easily they fit together. She drew his gaze and as their eyes met, he moved his hips. The cascade of pleasure that raced through him and into her nearly had them coming undone. He surged into her again and again, needing more of her, needing the way her body locked on him.
Sun was experiencing too many things at once. The longer she gazed into his eyes, she felt part of her soul leaving her body, entering him, and part of his soul filling her. Tom thrust again, his hips grinding into hers. A very loud, very satisfied moan filled the tent around. They were truly becoming one and together they were hurtling towards a release that would solidify their bond. Sun moved with him, breathed with him, moaned when he did. They were each an extension of the other and that helped to bring them to completion.
The last thing Tom did, before giving himself over to the rolling orgasm, was to seal his lips to hers. One last thrust and they were falling into the arms of intense ecstasy. He was oblivious to everything outside their little world, to everything that wasn't Sun's body cradling him, her heart beating in time with his, or his soul being mated to hers. This felt better than anything ever had in his whole life.
THREE THOUSAND YEARS AGO:
Anck-Su-Namun woke feeling as light as a feather. Last night, Imhotep had stolen her away from the palace, spiriting her off into the desert. They were in an oasis enjoying the freedom of being together out from under the watchful eye of courtiers, the Medjai, and even the servants. The Pharaoh had gone off to wage war against the Hittites and liberate the city of Kadesh from their stranglehold. Princess Nefertiri had been named as Regent in his absence and would have little to now time to pay attention to anything else that didn't pertain to affairs of state. She could hardly contain her joy yesterday morning when his chariot rode off at the head of his army.
It was still dark when Anck-Su-Namun sat up finding Imhotep lying on his stomach, his face turned away from her, and his arms up with his hands dangling over the top edge of the platform bed. She stared at the expanse of his back, remembering the feel of his muscles tensing under her hands as they made love through the night. Moving the thin cotton sheet from her body, she stretched out on top of him whispering in his ear, "Arise, my lord, Ra conquers the heavens." Then, to be playful, she nipped his ear.
Imhotep groaned, mumbling, "Too…early…." Though, the smile on his face would prove he was more awake than his words conveyed. He found a few hours to sleep, to rest before the craving he had for her body drove him to have her, to be had by her. He relished having her stretched out on top of him. "Sleep a few more hours," he urged. The sky was still too dark for his liking.
"How can you sleep?" Anck-Su-Namun asked, putting a little fake whine in her voice. She placed a kiss to his neck, just under the ear she had nipped. It was intoxicating to be with him like this, to be able to touch him the way she wanted. It had been a single day since the Pharaoh's departure.
"I was worn out by a ravenous lioness," Imhotep responded. He dug deep, found a burst of strength to shake her off, and roll over to pin her to the bed. Playfully, she struggled, but soon they dissolved into laughter. He curled around her, pressing his lips to her brow.
"Can you pray to the gods, asking them to make this moment last forever?" Anck-Su-Namun asked. She could not imagine this moment ending.
"Perhaps there is a way," Imhotep suggested. He did not want to get her hopes up, but he had an idea.
Anck-Su-Namun sat up abruptly, staring down at him. "You must tell me," she demanded, placing her hand over his heart. Any chance she had to be alone with him, to be out in the open at his side was a chance to be happy.
"Would you like to sail down the Nile with me, to take a tour of the Kingdom?" Imhotep asked. He'd been putting off such a journey ever since their first meeting. He could not in good conscience leave her alone to suffer under the fickle hand of the Pharaoh with no safe harbor to turn to. Imhotep had to be there for her incase Seti… He could not finish that thought.
"When do we leave?" Anck-Su-Namun asked eagerly. She had lived in Thebes her whole life, never having been to another city. This desert oasis was the furthest she had ever been.
"Not for some time," Imhotep answered honestly. "We have to be sure that he stays to see the campaign through. The last time he went off to war, he was injured and transported back to Thebes to recuperate. He had been away for two months that time." This was before either he or Seti had ever set eyes on Anck-Su-Namun.
"Two months will seem to be an eternity," Anck-Su-Namun said softly, but her voice was full of happiness. She now how something to look forward to. She would be with Imhotep and their love would flourish in the light of the day. There was no need to worry about being recognized. No one outside the palace knew she was supposed to belong to the Pharaoh.
TWO MONTHS LATER:
The day finally came for Imhotep to make his journey. Before any other living soul had woken for the day, he and Anck-Su-Namun boarded the barge that had been gifted to him by Seti. The reports from the battlefield were promising. Pharaoh would be away for many more months, leading the army to glorious victory. They, on the other hand, would be loving each other every chance they could. Traveling with them would be Imhotep's most trusted priest's, and his own detachment of guards. They didn't answer to the Medjai. On this morning his heart beat faster, his body was thrumming with anticipation.
Anck-Su-Namun stood at the stern of the barge, her hands resting on the wide railing. She breathed deeply of the early morning air, letting it fill her lungs and wake her up. For a moment, all seemed to be well, and then her stomach was pitching, shifting with nausea. She fought against it, but to no avail. Leaning over the railing, she heaved, expelling the contents of her stomach. As she finished, she felt a presence behind her. It was her love and she could feel his concern. She pressed the back of her hand to her lips, standing up straight, and turned to him. Her only answer to the question in his eyes was a shake of her head.
"Are you ill?" Imhotep asked, reaching out to place his hands gently on her hips. This was not the first time he had seen her reduced to such a state. There was a small hope filling him that she was with child, his child. They had not exactly denied themselves the pleasure of being with each other these last two months. He knew that whenever she shared the bed of Seti, she took steps to prevent bearing him yet another son or daughter.
Anck-Su-Namun thought about her reply. "I feel strange. Not sick, but far from normal." She wasn't going to allow this to keep them from enjoying their time together. "We can still make the journey down Nile."
"Are you sure?" Imhotep inquired, resting his forehead to hers. Her words were music to his ears. He would do anything, move Heaven and Earth, to have this time with her alone.
"I am," Anck-Su-Namun replied. She needed this. They needed to be together. It was already too late to turn back as Thebes was fading in the distance as the sailed towards to mouth of the Nile.
Confident that she was fine for the moment, Imhotep lifted her, situating her on the edge of the railing, and putting himself between her parted knees. He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his cheek against her jaw. Now was as good a time as any. Pulling back slightly, he took his right arm from around her and reached into the inside pocket of his robes. In the palm of his hand were two rings; gold coiled snakes. She took them, taking the bigger one to slide onto his middle finger of his right hand. Then, she handed the smaller one back to him. Her right hand was shaking as he slid the coiled serpent into it. They smiled at one another seconds before he kissed her sweetly, just a press of his lips to hers.
The day slipped by unnoticed. Anck-Su-Namun felt her body return to normal, and even had a healthy appetite when the evening meal was prepared. She was ravenous in fact. It was liberating to be out of the palace with Imhotep. His fellow priests were without their gold paint. They were normal people sitting around sharing a meal, sharing laughs, and talking about the latest gossip. It was strange to hear a devout priest gossip. Mostly, she sat by and watched the man she loved interact with those around him. He had a caring soul and a good heart. That, more than anything, was why she was in love with him.
When night found them, the barge was docked at Abydos. Imhotep had left to go to the temple of Osiris to pray to the great god. Anck-Su-Namun remained behind with the contingent of guards. She respected his faith but did not pray to the same god as he. This was never a source of contention between them, however. He knew she was a warrior; fought and trained like any soldier in the army of Seti. When Anck-Su-Namun had the occasion to pray, she offered her prayers to Sekhmet, the goddess of war. After the appropriate offerings were given, his prayers given, Imhotep returned to the barge to find her in bed, the thin sheet was all she was wearing. He shed his robes and joined her.
The days that came and went found Anck-Su-Numan relatively back to her normal self. She hadn't been sick, her appetite was back, and she was happier than she'd ever been. Imhotep was attentive to her, taking her through the towns they came to. He even took her to Amarna, showing her around the ruins of the abandoned city once dedicated to the god, Aten, during the reign of Akhenaten. She was enraptured with the sight of the crumbling ruins that they made camp and stayed for as long as she wished to explore. They stayed for nearly a week. With him at her side, she explored nearly every nook and cranny of the once mighty city. Would Thebes someday look like this? It was foolish to think it would endure for all time. She shook that wicked thought from her head and concentrated on being with Imhotep and seeing the rest of the vast Kingdom that Seti ruled over.
It wasn't until they reached Memphis that Imhotep saw noticeable changes in Anck-Su-Namun. In the bustling city they were able to find a doctor with the time to see them. He was more than happy to give up his time for a High Priest of Osiris. It took him all of five minutes to tell them that Anck-Su-Namun was with child. They had taken a few minutes to digest the information, to understand all that it meant. Rather than talk about it, Imhotep took her hand, and they walked through the crowded streets. He let the noise drown out all his thoughts while he sorted out his feelings. Happiness was the first one to make itself known, but then fear reared its ugly head. During this journey, he'd kept his ears open for news of the Pharaoh's return. So far, they were still free.
Anck-Su-Namun followed Imhotep, not really seeing where they were going. She was pregnant. Imhotep was the father. Somehow, she already knew. Her body had been waiting for him, for his seed to create new life. Anck-Su-Namun placed her right hand over her slightly swollen belly and smiled. But that elation lasted only a moment. When they shared a look, they were both thinking the same thing. Seti would have them killed for such treachery. One of the things they could hope for was that his military campaign lasted for years. No matter what, for the mean time, they couldn't return to Thebes. They spent the rest of the day roaming the city.
That night neither of them could sleep. Imhotep was curled around Anck-Su-Namun's legs, his full attention was centered on her abdomen. He kissed her exposed flesh below her navel over and over. This was where his child was growing. He could hardly believe it was happening and yet, it was. For now, they could lose themselves in city life, living in Memphis or continuing on to another city. Those decisions could be made tomorrow. Tonight, he wanted to enjoy the news that he was to be a father.
Anck-Su-Namun stroked the back of Imhotep's head, trying to enjoy the way he lavished attention upon her, upon their unborn child. But fear was trying to work its way into her heart. She was afraid, not for herself, but for him and their baby. They had options. One being they could run, make a new life in the far east, and forget all about Egypt and their life of luxury. Another option was them going back to Thebes, daring fate to break them apart. Or, they could simply stay in Memphis. She hated every one of those limited choices. So, she asked, "Are you angry with me?"
Imhotep heard her whispered words and immediately moved up to look her in the eyes. "No," he said, "I love you more than I did the day before." It was true. His heart was about to burst with all the happiness filling it. He was allowing himself this day, this night, to be truly happy. Upon the rising of the sun on the next day, he would start to make plans.
"We should flee this very night," Anck-Su-Namun said, her words quivering under the weight of her fear.
Imhotep sat up, the sheet pooling in his lap. "Where would we go?" The reach of the Pharaoh extended pretty far, and if Seti was successful in his campaign to liberate Kadesh, then nowhere would be a safe refuge for them.
"We go to Punt. It is a favorable port…" Anck-Su-Namun tried again. She was reticent to leave Egypt, but she would if there was no other choice, then she would adapt and make do.
"Under Egyptian authority," Imhotep interrupted. One misstep, one conversation with the wrong person and word would filter back to Thebes, back to Seti, and they would be hunted down.
"We go East, to Babylon," Anck-Su-Namun quickly responded. If they had to, they could continue as far East as the land allowed.
"You would willingly live among people who do not speak our language?" Imhotep asked. He would vanish with her in a heartbeat, but only when they had a plan in place and a destination. They had to make sure that when they fled Egypt, all traces of their departure were covered. That meant laying the ground work well in advance.
"If it would allow us to raise this child together, freely, then yes," Anck-Su-Namun stated fiercely. The maternal instinct had already taken hold of her, demanded that she take steps to protect her child.
"A compromise then," Imhotep suggested. "For this moment in our lives, we concentrate on the baby, seeing to it that it is delivered healthy and strong. We lose ourselves in our country, moving from city to city seeing a splendor that cannot found in Thebes, and I make plans to aide us in our escape." Lightly, he rested his hand over where their child grew inside her.
"You swear we will leave?" Anck-Su-Namun asked, resting her hand over his. When he gave his word, he did everything in his power to keep it.
"On my life," Imhotep swore. He would do anything he had to just to ensure the life of the woman he loved and their unborn child, even if it took him down a dark path.
SEVEN MONTHS LATER:
The days came and went as the lived their lives far from Thebes. Each day, under Imhotep's watchful loving gaze, Anck-Su-Namun's body changed. They were losing themselves in the day to day life of Bubastis; a place that worshipped Bastet. It was a town that appealed to Anck-Su-Namun and Imhotep had never seen her so happy. Time was drawing near and soon their child would be brought into this world. For that, he wanted them close to home, yet protected in the desert. He would need his priests to be his eyes and ears when the time came. Joining their retinue, he had recruited a few more body guards as well as two nurses and a midwife. They made the journey on land while his brothers of the faith made use of the barge to return to Thebes and make preparations for their return. Anck-Su-Namun was carried on a liter by the four new guards. She argued, but Imhotep prevailed.
Anck-Su-Namun could not shake the feeling of ill tidings coming for her and Imhotep. They had been deliriously happy for months. Not even the gods could abide this for long. She sensed they were sending disaster their way. Imhotep tried his best to ease her fears, but they would not be easily subdued. The vibrant life of the city gave way to towns scattered few and far between. Where it was green and lush, it was now arid and sand as far as the eye could see. As the miles shrank, Thebes drew closer and closer.
Imhotep rode silently beside the liter. He had made all the plans he could that would ensure their escape. All of it hinged upon Seti staying away for another year. There was a part of his plan that he knew Anck-Su-Namun wouldn't consent to. But it had to be done even as he hated to consider such a thing. Though, he could hold off on enacting that part for a little while longer. Soon enough, their first day was yielding to darkness, and they made camp just outside Giza. The ancient tombs of Pharaoh's long since dead glowed in the fading light. From where they were encamped, they could see the hulking form of the Sphynx; crumbling under the ravages of time.
Anck-Su-Namun tried to get comfortable, but due to her size and the position of her child, she was finding this difficult. A groan from her drew Imhotep to her side. They had always had a way of silently communicating with each other. When she sat up, he situated himself behind her and pulled her slowly back against his chest. This time the noise she made was a sigh of contentment. "It is as if this child knows it's time is drawing near," she spoke softly. In a soothing manner, she ran her hands over her swollen belly, hoping the movement would lull their child into peace. A kick was her answer. She chuckled.
Imhotep rested his hands where hers had been and their child stilled instantly. "Seems the babe prefers the calming touch of his father," he teased. Then he began to move his left hand in a slow circle.
"So, do I," Anck-Su-Namun agreed as she too was lulled by his gentle movement. It had been on her mind since they set out that morning, so she asked, "We are not going back to the capital, are we?" It had been some time since they had talked about escaping the grip of the Pharaoh. When questioned, Imhotep simply asked that she lay her trust in him. In this she was content until the day drew closer for their child to come into this world. Now she wanted to know what he had planned.
"No," Imhotep answered succinctly. Seti had planned for his death and for his burial. Even though his body would rest in the Valley of the Kings, he thought it prudent to have a few false tombs erected near Thebes. The oasis where they had spent their first night of freedom was a day's ride from the first false tomb, but it was not to be a monument to Seti. Imhotep had designed another purpose for it. After he had started making plans for them to escape, he had drawn up plans and had them delivered into the hands of the tomb builders. By now the alterations had been made, and his priests had started adorning the stone walls to tell a different story and not one that glorified Seti or his reign.
"Is there more to that thought?" Anck-Su-Namun asked, angling her head back to stare up at him. To her eyes, his face had grown grim over these last few days of their travels. Hers must seem the same to him. They were heading home to uncertainty and danger.
"Trust me, my love," Imhotep whispered, kissing the top of her head. He held her close and let the feel of his body soothe her. They tried to revel in the quiet moments because before too long their life would be anything but.
The miles faded, and towns came and went. All too soon, Anck-Su-Namun began to recognize the landscape. It was as if she were returning to a golden prison. Rather than turn towards the city they headed deeper into the desert, to the oasis that had been their haven all those months ago. Imhotep stopped their journey long enough to rest the horses and the guards. He wanted to make it to their destination just as the sun rose. His persistence made her nervous. She barely recalled anything after arriving at the oasis. Her body was tired, and she slipped into the black oblivion of sleep.
While she slept, Imhotep set off, leaving orders with the guards to follow him after they've rested. His priests were already at the temple, making the final preparations he had devised. The stallion he rode ran full out through the cold desert night. Imhotep could feel the beast's excitement at being given the freedom to run as hard as he wished. The distance between the oasis and the temple faded away and Imhotep saw the glow of torches. Padjet was waiting for him, his face betraying nothing. Imhotep envied the man his calm exterior. "Is everything ready?" he asked, dismounting his steed.
"It is," Padjet replied. Many times, he had counseled Imhotep to use restraint in regard to Anck-Su-Namun, but it was clear his friend was already lost to her, suffering the most torturous emotion of all; love. All he could do was help where he could.
"Show me," Imhotep ordered. He could feel their time growing short, and not just the arrival of their child, but something darker looming on the horizon. Padjet led him into the temple. It was an open space, with pillars in the four corners to support the roof. He stopped in the center of the room looking to the left where he saw a side entrance, and the same when he looked to the right. Braziers were lit casting the carvings in shadows, seemingly making them dance. One half of the temple told the story of Imhotep's rise to High Priest while the other half told Anck-Su-Namun's story; how she was given to Seti and how she fell in love with Imhotep.
"My lord," Padjet muttered, motioning for Imhotep to follow him. Walking towards the back, he strode down a corridor that led to a burial chamber with two raised stone altars. For now, it was set up as living quarters. But that was not what Imhotep wanted to see at the moment. Padjet removed the black key that was used to open the Book of the Dead and moved to the south wall. He crouched down to fit it into place. Turning it so the scarab faced the underworld, locks disengaged, and a section of the south wall pulled back, sliding open to reveal a secret passage; an escape tunnel leading through the sandstone mountain.
"You have exceeded my expectations," Imhotep said.
"High praise indeed, my lord," Padjet responded, bowing his head.
"It is well placed, my friend," Imhotep said, resting his hand on Padjet's shoulder. "And the other safeguard?" he asked.
Padjet nodded. He went back to the entrance of the chamber and motioned to the carved pillar to the right side. He motioned to the top and said, "Press this and a thick slab of stone will cover the door giving you and Anck-Su-Namun time to escape."
"Good," Imhotep said with a single nod of his head. "Gods willing, we will not need it."
"You may," Padjet warned. "Reports from the battlefield say that Seti had been successful in liberating Kadesh. Soon, he and his army will be marching back to Thebes."
"How much time do we have?" Imhotep asked, the first note of fear rising in his voice. It wasn't just his life on the line anymore.
"Six months," Padjet answered. Then, to try and understand the recklessness that his friend had fallen into, he asked – and not for the first time, "Is this woman really worth courting the wrath of the Pharaoh?"
"She is carrying my child," Imhotep answered. "I have loved her from the first moment our eyes touched," he elaborated as he fiddled with the coiled serpent ring that adorned his right middle finger.
"Then I pray you have smooth sailing in this course you have set for yourself and for her," Padjet said in a sigh with a shake of his head.
"As do I, my friend," Imhotep replied softly.
AFTERNOON:
Anck-Su-Namun felt her jaw fall open. At one time this was a simple sandstone mountain stretching half of the horizon. Now, carved into the rockface was a temple as grand as any dedicated to a King or to the gods. Imhotep was there waiting for her. Even though it had been a short time they were apart, she felt his absence. Elation raced through her upon seeing his smiling face, but it soon dulled when she saw the joy did not reach his eyes. As soon as the liter was set on the ground, he came to her, helping her to stand. She greeted him by caressing the air above his face. He returned the gesture with both his hands and then his lips touched hers lightly. The moment was a fleeting one as he took her hand, guiding her up the stone steps. "What news from the capital?" she asked.
"Seti has conquered Kadesh," Imhotep replied, tightening his hand on hers marginally. And before she could ask, he added, "Our time grows short, but I have a plan in place." First, their child had to be born. He led her into the temple to show her what he had been working on for them. "This temple was meant to be an edifice glorifying Seti and all of his deeds, but these walls tell another story. Our story."
Anck-Su-Namun saw herself painted on the wall in finery befitting a Queen. "Is this how you see me?" she asked taking her hand from his, so she could go over to the section of wall where her image was. Lightly she touched it, tracing the painted white dress she wore. Love swelled her heart and light her eyes when she turned to look at him. "Why did you not tell me about this?"
"It was to be a surprise," Imhotep answered softly. "Padjet has informed me that Seti will return to Thebes inside of six months. This place is now part of our escape to freedom." He held out his hand to her, beckoning her to follow him. Leading her down the passage, he brought them to the burial chamber. He felt her hesitate just inside the entrance. "Do not be frightened."
"I am not afraid," Anck-Su-Namun said defiantly and with a trace of a bite. She knew a tomb when she saw one. "Are we to die here?" she asked as she looked around the room. The stone altars in the center indicated that a pair of sarcophagi were going to be there for all of eternity, but the ornate bed set against the left wall told another story.
"No," Imhotep answered her. To show her just what this place was, he went to the back wall, set the key in the lock, and turned. The section of wall slid back and away to reveal the secret passage. He turned to her, but she wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were fixed on a point on the floor. When he came around the altar, he saw a puddle on the floor, and she was holding her stomach. Rushing to the entrance he shouted, "FETCH THE MID-WIFE!"
The day turned to night on the heels of Anck-Su-Namun's curses. She was in more pain than she had ever been in. Her body felt like it was being slowly split in two as her child slowly came into the world. Imhotep sat with her through it all, letting her squeeze his hand as tightly as she wanted, blame him for her pain, apologize for it all, and then go right back to cursing his name. He soothed her where he could and fell silent when she raged. Through it all, she barely heard what the mid-wife was telling her.
Imhotep had lost all feeling in his fingers from the strength of Anck-Su-Namun's grip. He would gladly allow her to break every bone in his hand if it helped ease the suffering by a fraction. He tried to think of things to say, but his words would not be helpful to her. Imhotep could only be with her and be here for whatever she needed, whether it be to yell at him or to reassure her that it would be over soon. Though his words were hollow, labor was known to last for longer than a day.
"I want this to be over!" Anck-Su-Namun shouted, her voice echoing off the stone walls around them.
"I see the head. Push."
Anck-Su-Namun pushed.
EARLY MORNING:
It was near dawn before Imhotep held his son. Anck-Su-Namun was exhausted and needed rest. He gently took his child in his arms, staring down at the sweet newborns face. It was hard to describe what he was feeling in this moment in time. Pride. Joy. Love. All of that coupled with a fierce instinctual drive to protect his family. Holding his son now, he knew that when the time came, he would find it impossible to say goodbye. Anck-Su-Namun would hate him. But protecting their son had to come first. As much as it pained him, he would have to entrust the care of the baby to Padjet and the two nurses.
"Where is he?" Anck-Su-Namun was fighting tooth and nail to stay awake, so she wouldn't miss a moment with her baby. Opening her eyes by sheer force of will, she saw Imhotep holding their child and her heart nearly burst from all the love filling it. Father and son. Her family. She hadn't known just how far she would go for her child until she held him in her arms for the first time.
"Right here, my love." Imhotep sat down on the bed next to her, holding their son.
"What is it?" Anck-Su-Namun asked, worry creeping into her voice.
Imhotep could have lied to her, could have pretended for a little while that they could be a happy little family, but he had promised to always tell her the truth. "We have to put him into hiding," he said watching his son sleep in his arms.
"We cannot…" Anck-Su-Namun hissed, careful to keep her voice down lest she wake the babe.
"He is not safe in our care at the moment," Imhotep replied just as quietly.
"He is our son," Anck-Su-Namun said heatedly.
"Which is why I am entrusting him to Padjet and the two nurses," Imhotep replied. "They will spirit him away to Babylon, guard him until we can join him."
Every instinct Anck-Su-Namun had screamed at her to argue, to fight, to make him see that they should all flee this very night, but she trusted the man she loved. She trusted that Imhotep had a plan that would see them to safety. If he failed, then she would have to make plans of her own.
THREE THOUSAND YEARS LATER…
PRESENT:
Tom woke to the pre-dawn light and a mixture of feelings. When they were spent from a night of love making, he fell into a fitful sleep, dreaming of Imhotep and Anck-Su-Namun, and the six months leading up to the murder of Seti. It was hard to put into words just what he was feeling. He witnessed the birth of Amun-Hotep, their son, and saw him put into hiding. Then came the rift between the two lovers. He watched it grow everyday they were separated from their child. Anck-Su-Namun grew distance with him s she fought to restore her body to that of the pristine temple Seti knew and worshiped in. All too soon, Seti and his army marched towards Thebes and the triumph parade happed and he was witnessing the murder all over again, but now he understood it. Anck-Su-Namun may not have wanted to kill Seti, but she had considered it. They had killed not to protect them, but their son.
Tom looked to his left where he found Sun asleep on her side, peaceful and unaware. The cotton of the sheet had slipped down to cover her hips and he was drawn to her, compelled to caress her side with the back of his fingers. In sleep, she moaned, shifting closer to him. It was strange to think that his soul – Imhotep's soul – had existed for so long just to find her. They had a love that stood the test of time and Tom was falling victim to it, willingly as he may be. He realized that this was how Imhotep felt before death came between them and kept coming between them. Leaning down, he whispered, "We won't end like them." Then, he kissed her cheek softly.
Tom was about to settle down, to continue watching her sleep, when something sharp struck him in the back of the neck. He had only a few seconds to realize it was a dart before everything went black.
TO BE CONTINUED….