V.E.: Well, this is lovely. Finally got my Star Wars story into the garbage zone. By that, I mean the place not that all my followers had abandoned me. Still, this is probably my second most popular fic.
Now that Kisara is officially royalty, it's time to introduce another OC of mine. She may not seem important so much now, but she will have a role to play in the future after Pharaoh Aknamkamon's death. Sad how I'm thinking that far ahead in this fic, but it's really his death that will set a lot of the story with Kisara, Seto, and Atem forward.
So baby, you ain't seen nothing yet! Kudos to anyone who knows the names of that song, I don't.
In place of a disclaimer, I am going to insert a funny yet in some way tying quote for this chapter. To be honest, my funny part has been on low since Statistics this morning.
"Behaving like a princess is work. It's not just about looking beautiful or wearing a crown. It's more about how you are inside." - Julie Andrews
Kisara was having a hard time keeping herself from asking questions as Nephthys led her down through an unfamiliar part of the palace. The priestess had caught her as the snow haired girl was about to go back to her room and motioned to follow her.
Nephthys kept herself forward, though occasionally glancing back now and then at her student with some amusement.
"Keep patience my student, we will be there soon."
The snow white haired girl shot her teacher an even more confused look.
There where?
She kept on walking down the halls, the guards stationed on duty bowing as the two women of court passed them by.
Because that's what Kisara was now, a fully official part of the royal court. Still, the staring at her part wasn't so bad because she had always been used to it. Now she had to just get used to it happening almost all the time, even when she thought she was most alone she'd have to be careful about it.
If possible, as they went on the walls became even more detailed and richer in color. Though normally Kisara would have stopped to watch, she kept going because she did not want to lose track of the priestess.
Nephthys spoke as she finally started to slow down the pace.
"This is the Royal Wing, the only people who can inhabit this place are ones of the royal family. You won't need to go back to that small room from before near my quarters, everything of yours has already been moved."
Kisara perked up at interest.
"What about our lessons?"
The older woman failed to keep the amusement out of her voice.
"No, you will still have lessons with me, the location will simply move. But now that you're an official princess, you don't have to stay to your room. You are free to wander this palace where so ever you choose, but I hope you do exercise some restraint and caution when you do so. And be careful about where you are, there is always one of the younger magicians getting lost in this palace."
Kisara nodded, then asked a question with her eyes narrowed in confusion.
"But where are we going to meet from now on?"
At that, Nephthys stopped and her pale haired student with her. Before them was a rather ornately carved double door, giving an impression of something grand beyond. Kisara eyed it, wondering what this was.
Nephthys answered, her soft smile turned away from her student and completely at the door.
"In here."
The Egyptian priestess stepped forwards and pushed the doors open, revealing what was to lie inside.
"This, is your new room."
Kisara took one step into the room, lighted only by the streaming moonlight, and was amazed.
The floors were polished so finely and the balcony gave a perfect view of the moon above the Nile. The scenes on the wall weren't the random dancers and the gods that Kisara had seen all over the palace. Rather, it seemed like she was on the banks of the Nile, with tall green reeds, lotus flowers, the rich blue waters, and many water fowl found to be looking at the fish that leapt from the depths. The blue, green, and silver colors glowed in the light of night and made it all the more stunning. Just looking at, Kisara felt cooler as if could bring a watery breeze.
As for contents, her harp was off to by the balcony with its own chair. On the opposite side of the room, the senet board she had grown accustomed to playing with Atem was there, ready to begin a new game at any time. The large mirror watched over a full desk of small accessories and cosmetics. Next to that, was the robing room which would probably fully of all the dresses and other things Kisara would wear from now on.
The bed also had several cushions and sheets a fine gossamer, similar fabric draped the royal resting place. A simple night gown had also been laid on the bed for use.
Neftis was perched in a small nest of pillows, curled up and purring with content. Obviously, the cat had no problems adjusting to the royal side of life.
She was absolutely speechless.
"Oh my…."
Nephthys looked on at her student's expression in wonder.
"Believe it or not, this room hasn't been used since the Pharaoh's mother, Queen Theoris, had been alive. There were many other rooms you could have gone to, but Pharaoh Aknamkamon wished to have you put in. Do you like it?"
Kisara was still in semi wonder-shock.
"Like it…..it's beautiful."
Nephthys nodded with a satisfied smile.
"It suits you."
Kisara felt the blush at her cheeks, still quite embarrassed by the praise.
Nephthys didn't say anything as she bowed her head.
"Get some sleep. I will see you in the morning, Princess."
Princess. It felt so unnatural, yet it was what she was now. She was a royal, a princess. And that meant no one was ever going to forget.
Despite her musings, Kisara bowed her head in thanks.
"And to you, Lady Nephthys."
The Egpytpain woman took her leave then, closing the double doors behind her with a noticeable 'Thud!' Kisara glanced aound the room before she felt the yawn coming on. Stifling it, she realized how long the day had been and though the banquet had been marvelous, there was nothing more she wanted to do now than sleep.
Her body made a stop by her bed to pick up the night dress and then turned in the direction of the mirror and beauty desk.
First, take care of this jewelry and the makeup. Then, change clothes. Then, bed.
It was the first time in a very long time, Kisara had slept in. Even opening her eyes, she knew that she had gotten more sleep. She sat up and stretched her arms out, the sunrise's colors painting a wonderful picture she could view from her balcony when she was ready to.
Neftis was still sleeping, obviously far from her owner's page. The young girl shook her head.
Then again, no one can get cats to do what they don't want to do unless there is some sort of treat involved.
Also, said cat's owner was in no mood to get up and going either. She lingered in bed, stretching her arms for a few more minutes, and was about to get out of bed when a succession of knocks was at her door.
Stepping out of bed as the cat also woke with a yawn and stretch, Kisara answered quickly.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly and closed slowly, revealing a young girl around Kisara's age though definitely smaller. Unlike Kisara, she was definitely Egyptian though with lightly dark skin and dark brown eyes with some kohl applied. She had a sharp chin nose, though her eye shape was round and expressive with thin eyebrows. Her clothes were rather plain, though she had a light pink head scarf that covered up some of her shiny black hair.
Her hands were twisting, much like Kisara's had been when she had first come into the palace. She also was trying her hardest not to look at the pale princess. Her nervousness was clear, so that even though she was a complete stranger, Kisara felt a bit more at ease. As such, she was the one to make the next move.
"Hello, and you are?"
The girl looked up and that, seeming ready to talk, but words failed the girl as her eyes widened at that glimpse of the new princess.
That got a small laugh to escape herself before she could really help it. The nameless girl looked panicked before the new princess reassured.
"Don't worry you're not in trouble, but I would like to know who you are and what you are doing here?"
The girl seemed to regain some of her confidence as she bowed twice and introduced herself.
"My apologies, my princess. My name is Kiya and Lady Nephthys assigned me to be your service as your maidservant."
Kisara's head quirked in confusion.
"Um, what for?"
Kiya kept her head bowed.
"For whatever my lady wishes me to do. I am here to serve you."
She honestly had no idea how to take this, getting up from her bed.
"Umm, okay…"
She got up and walked over to her small desk with her mirror facing her, her combs and small jewelry on the desk along with her new makeup (which she had decided not to use unless it was a special occasion to not be wasteful, plus washing it out last night was a hassle). A clean dress was there on the chair and she quickly dressed in the fine clothing, leaving her night gown dress in a heap on the floor for now. The girl seated herself on the chair, scrunching her face at the mess that was her bedhead hair.
The quiet mouse of a servant girl crept up behind the seated princess with a nervous expression on her face.
"If milady wishes it, I could brush your hair for you."
Kisara considered it for a moment, a little weird out at having something done for her. Then she shrugged her head in acceptance.
"Sure."
The young girl's hand darted to the comb on the desk and quickly ran through the snow white hair, along with her own thin long fingers. After a while, it became slower and the fingers seemed to linger in Kisara's hair.
Kisara cocked her head toward Kiya in question.
"Excuse me Kiya, what are you doing?"
The girl's nervous face in the mirror was almost comical.
"I'm so sorry, my princess! It's just that your hair…is so soft."
Kisara was still confused.
"My hair?"
Kiya's turned from nervous to some crazy urge.
"Yes, your hair! I've never seen such flowing soft hair! And the color, I've never seen it before! If you cut it and sold it to a wig maker, they'd be sure to pay you a fortune!"
Kisara was suddenly taken aback by the otherwise quiet girl, not sure of where that had come from.
Kiya then snapped out whatever maniac urge that had come over her and shrank back to her quiet voice.
"I beg your forgiveness, my lady."
Kisara uneasily waved it off.
"That's…quite alright."
Kiya went back to combing the hair she had just praised, much quicker in motion.
"It's just, I come from a rather poor family in the less well off part of the capital. I was sent to work find so there would be one less mouth to feed. Before that, I had to find a lot of ways to scrimp and save to feed me and my brothers and sisters."
Kisara relaxed herself more at the story, remembering the hard winters with Amma.
"Don't be, I'm fully aware of what that means."
Kiya seemed ready to ask about that, until she thought better of that and switched direction.
"Still, your hair really is beautiful."
Her current hair client was struck dumb. No one had ever complimented her hair like that, in fact it was one of the things that the slavers had always pointed out. It was always the darker haired girls that seemed prettier to her. But…this was a first for her.
Trying to keep her mind from the subject, she decided to satisfy her curiosity about this new girl.
"So have you always expected to be a maidservant?"
The young mouse like girl's wide eyes widened and shook her head frantically, still combing the moonlight hair.
"Oh no, I was supposed to work in the kitchen. Then a month ago, Lady Nephthys took me aside and gave me to Femi to be trained. I didn't understand why until I was told to come here this morning."
The young girl shook her slightly.
"The Lady sure does have a way of about her. I never know what she's really thinking."
Kisara smiled in understanding.
"You have no idea, try being her student. Did she say when she would show up for our lesson today?"
Kiya shook her head as she got to just the ends of the white hair.
"No, she said that your lessons were cancelled for today. She said something about Priest Khalid announcing that he would be going on a journey around Egypt in a month or so."
The foreign born princess nodded in understanding; knowing very well that though Nephthys was her teacher, she was first and foremost the owner of the Millennium Necklace and the Court's Royal Seer.
Kiya stood back and allowed the young girl to expect her handiwork.
"There you go, milady."
Kisara turned her head a few times, satisfied with it and acknowledging she could get use to this. She turned her attention to the silver jewelry on the desk
"Thank you, Kiya. I'll be spending the day with Atem and the others."
The girl nodded, her light pink head scarf slipping to left more of her shiny black hair show.
"Is there anything else you would like me to do, my princess?"
Kisara sighed as she turned to face the young girl her age.
"Kiya, when we are alone, it is perfectly okay for me to call me Kisara since I can call you your name. Is that okay?"
Kiya's face changed momentarily, but she got over it and bowed her head in agreement.
"Very well…Kisara. Is there anything you would like me to do white you are out?"
"MREOW!"
The two young girls turned to see Neftis looking sullen and entitled while she jumped to the ground.
Kisara smiled in amusement.
"Well for starters, you can feed Neftis. But be careful, she's really particular about people."
Kiya smiled without nervousness for the first time since entering the royal bedroom.
"Oh, don't worry. I'll be fine."
The young servant girl took small deliberate steps to the white kitty, crouching down to scratch the cat in a sensitive spot. It worked too as the pale haired cat settled into a contented purr at her touch.
Kisara looked on in surpise.
"How do you do that? I doubt Femi taught you that."
Kiya shook her head as she kept her attention on the cat.
"Oh no, I've always been good with cats. My grandmother used to say it meant that Bast favored me and that I was sure to live a happy life and have many children. Although, I have no idea how that will work out now, but I don't mind."
Kisara just simply accepted the faith towards the gods with acceptance and placed the silver blue cobra crown on her head and examined herself for any thigns she had missed.
"How do I look?"
Kiya smiled at her, still petting the cat.
"Like a princess."
Kisara nodded, acknowledging the statement even though it was very possible that servants were not supposed to point out flaws or tell the complete truth.
"Yes, like a princess."
She stood up and walked to the door out, calling out to Kiya.
"I'll be back later. We'll talk later."
Kiya stood up with a smile (Neftis looking at the girl with reproachment for stopping).
"About what my lady?"
Kisara turned to the hopeful 'friend to be' with a smile on her face.
"So we can get to know each other better."
Kiya nodded shyly, the girl's eyes shining warmly at the kindness.
"I'd like that pri…Kisara."
V.E.: Well, we've met Kiya now. She may not seem important now, but she will play a much bigger role in the future when Atem is pharaoh, Bakura is active (yes The Thief King will be in this story), and there is going to be debate on who Kisara is going to marry. Plus, I feel like Kisara needs a confidant that would understand and as much as I love Mana, she isn't exactly the stay still and patiently listen type of person. Plus, she'll have her own problems in the future.
Speaking of the future, the next chapter is going to be an interlude, but it's about the one person we've all been dying to hear about. That's right, Seto is going to make his pre-Court appearance!
Please review. I need mental support after today's music exam.