The next Morning

It was the day of Atem's Birthday; A meeting was being held in the throne room discussing the procedure for the banquet he was to hold tonight to celebrate his Birthday "I want to start this meeting off by saying Happy 18th Birthday, your Highness..." Shimon said with a bow "Tonight is going to be a very momentous occasion, you are to choose a Princess from another Kingdom to become your betrothed" announced Shimon to Atem's disgust.

Luckily for Atem, Shimon was standing off to the side so didn't see him roll his eyes then close them "...I wonder what Loretta is doing right now" Atem thought to himself with his eyes still closed & a smile on his face "Excuse me, your Majesty...Pharaoh, are you listening" said Shimon sounding rather annoyed "Yes Shimon..." said Atem opening his eyes & sitting up "I heard what you said, but please don't raise your voice I've got a splitting headache" he lied "Forgive me, my King, I think it is best for you to return to your chambers to rest & I will finish discussing these plans with your Royal court" "Thank you Shimon" said Atem with a nod as he got up & walked out of the throne room.

With Loretta

"Loretta! Breakfast time" called Rosetta as she set the plates of food down for her family, giving her husband a kiss on the cheek "Do you want me to go & check on her mum?" asked Rachelle "If you would, I dont know what to do about that sister of yours" said Rosetta looking down & shaking her head "What's wrong honey, is Loretta ok?" Questioned Abydos looking up from his scroll & raising an eyebrow "I dont know, she came home acting peculiar yesterday from being down at the market" "Oh? Maybe they stayed out in the sun for too long & she got heat stroke...It is a very common occurrence at this time of year" her Father said taking a sip of his coffee "Hmm, I just hope shes ok, as soon as the girls come down from upstairs i will ask Loretta what happened" said, Rosetta, as she finally sat down to eat her breakfast.

Up in Loretta's room Rachelle was sitting on the end of her sisters bed talking to her "What is going on with you Loretta, why are you acting so strange" said Rachelle tilting her head to the side as she watched her sister brush her hair & hum an unknown tune "Nothing is wrong with me, I'm just really happy" she said turning to look at her sister "Oh..." Rachelle said smirking "You have a crush on the Pharaoh" "Ssh Rach...If Mum finds out about what happened yesterday I'll be grounded till I die..." said Loretta as she heard her door creak open & somebody step in "Why will you be grounded till she dies?" said Celina "Oh Ra Cel dont do that, I thought you were Mum" said Loretta putting her hand over her rapidly beat heart & letting out a large sigh.

"Ok Celina, you cant tell anyone about this but we met the Pharaoh yesterday, he came into the marketplace while we were there getting food for mum..." "So? Why can't i tell mum that?" said Celina with her hand on her hip "Because...He has invited Loretta to go to his big Birthday celebration tonight, but those sort of parties aren't for people like us, only Royalty & nobles go to celebration at the Palace" "Wow 'retta, is that true, did the Pharaoh really invite you to his Birthday" said Celina as she sat down on Loretta's bed, looking at her elder sister with widened eyes.

Nodding & smiling she confirmed to her youngest sister that what Rachelle had said was true "It was actually an accident that we met him yesterday, i kinda went on to palace ground after I had snuck away from Rachelle & bumped into the Pharaoh's High Priest, I never meant to go that far i swear to Ra, but the Pharaoh must have talked to his high priest about the incident because when we saw him yesterday he apologized to me for Seto's behaviour" "So what are you going to wear to his Birthday celebration tonight...Hmm" said Celina nudging her sister as Rachelle rolled her eyes "I have a nice pale pink dress that i haven't worn in a long time, he might like that" said Loretta raising an eyebrow "Wow, you really do have a crush on the Pharaoh..." "I think I do..." said Loretta blushing as she nodded "I cant help it though...Did you see the colour of his eyes, they were the most beautiful shade of purple" "Oh Loretta" said Rachelle shaking her head.

Sunset

In the Palace everyone was scurrying around getting the last minute touches done on the decorations & the food, meanwhile, Atem was getting himself ready "I wonder what Loretta's favourite colour is...Hmm, well she was wearing a blue dress yesterday..." Atem said quietly to himself & looking down at his Sapphire blue Shendyt & smirking, "I really hope she turns up tonight..." he thought as he was interrupted by a knock on his door.

"Enter", coming through the door & shutting it behind him Shimon bowed "Excuse the intrusion your Majesty, I just wanted to let you know that the guest are arriving & you are expected to greet them" "Thank you, Shimon,...i will with you shortly" Atem said with a sigh "Is everything ok your highness, what is troubling you" said Shimon walking over & putting his hand on Atem's shoulder, looking over at Shimon Atem sighed again & closed his eyes "Im nervous & I dont know why..." "You will be fine Atem, you are a strong, confident young man & your Father would be very proud of you" "I miss my Father, it doesnt seem like that long ago that we spent every minute of every day together whether it was teaching me the ways of becoming Pharaoh or just having a friendly game of Senet, I wish he was still here" Atem said with a sad sigh.

"I do too young Pharaoh, your Father was a good friend of mine & like you I miss him dearly but we must get on with the celebrations when you are ready please make your way to the throne room" "Um Shimon...Before you go I actually have a confession to make" "Oh? Have you perhaps chosen a young lady to be your betrothed?" said Shimon looking at Atem in sheer delight "Yes...I have..." said Atem blushing "She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, she has long black hair & the most stunning sapphire eyes" "Oh...What country is this girl from" "She's Egyptian...I think" "Egyptian, really...I dont know of any of the Egyptian nobles that have Daughters of Marrying age" said Shimon rubbing his chin & thinking "That's because she's not...She's the girl that bumped into Seto the other day in my outer courtyard" said Atem with a smirk "What! You mean to tell me that this girl is from the village...You know the rules Atem, if you are to produce an heir the child must have Royal or noble blood..." said Shimon starting to get angry at Atem "I have no interest in having children right now! Do I need to remind you Shimon I am the Pharaoh, who I marry is up to me, Not you! Now leave my chambers before you anger me further" "Please accept my sincerest apology my King, I have no right to interfere in the plans for your future, I just want you to be happy" "Apology accepted, now please leave me be & I will be to my Throne in 5 minutes

With Loretta

"Hey, are you ready to go, Priest Seto is here" called Rachelle "Coming..." said Loretta as she opened the door to her room & began to walk down the stairs, turning to look up at her daughter Rosetta gasped "Oh Loretta, you look like a real princess" said her Mother with happy tears in her eyes as she looked over her Daughter who was in a pale pink, floor length gown & pure white slippers "Loretta, I have a little present for you, I was going to give it to you next month for your birthday but I feel now is the appropriate time for it" said Rosetta as she brought a small box out from behind her back "What is it Mum" said Loretta raising an eyebrow "Open it & see" opening the box, Loretta's eyes widened when she saw the sparkling Ruby necklace "Oh wow, Mum thank you so much, its beautiful, can some one help me put it on, i better not keep Seto waiting" she giggling, giving the necklace to her elder sister to put on for her.

Turning around she looked at her sisters & Mother "What do you think?" "You look beautiful Loretta, now away you go & please behave yourself" "Yes mum I will & thank you," said Loretta giving her Mother a hug & a kiss. Stepping out the door, Loretta was met by Seto who was standing by his horse "Ready to go..." he said with a bow & smirk "Thank you, Seto"

At the Palace

Standing at the main entranceway to the Palace, Atem stood nervously watching & waiting for Seto to arrive when suddenly he was interrupted out of his thoughts by someone "Excuse me, your majesty,, Ive been told by Master Shimon that we need to shut the gates now with your permission, of course Sire" said the guard with a bow "Oh, yes of course, go to your post...I guess she didn't make it" he said sighing sadly.

Just as the gates were about to be closed & Atem had turned around to walk back inside, the call of a male voice was heard "Stop! Don't shut the gates" "Open the gates & let my High Priest pass" commanded Atem as the guards began to pull the huge doors back open again. Slowing his horse down from a gallop to a trot Seto walked the horse forward until they came to the main steps of the Palace Entrance.

"Thank you so much Seto, Im sorry for making us late" she said as she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before slipping down off his horse & into Atem's waiting arms "L-Loretta...I-is that you, you look beautiful, I am so happy to see you" he said as he took her hand & kissed the top of it, "Its nice to see you again, your Majesty & Happy Birthday" she said with a bow "Oh thank you, please call me Atem, we are somewhat friends now I presume, I know we have only seen each other twice but i feel like I have known you for months if not years" blushing slightly Loretta nodded "I know how you feel, when i first met you, there was something about the way you looked at me & the comfort you gave me that felt familiar" she said back to him as he lead her along the massive hallways towards the throne room.

Upon reaching the throne room Loretta saw many other young & very beautiful girls in various styles of dresses "Wow, are these all your friends..." said Loretta as she watched them bowing to Atem "Well...ah yes you could say that, um...Loretta, I need to tell you something, these girls aren't just here to celebrate my birthday, I-I have to choose one of them to become my Queen, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner" he whispered now feeling guilty that he hadn't told her "What! How could you Atem! You knew this was the case & forgot to tell me! I can't stay here, I dont even deserve to be here, I have to go" she said as she let go of Atem's hand & took off running back out through the Palace with tears streaming down her face. Hearing the commotion Mahad came over to Atem "Is everything alright my King" "No Mahad, it's not, I've just made the biggest mistake of my life now I may lose the only girl who I truly loved"

TBC...