"Thinking"

"{Mindlink}"

Six months had passed & everything in the Palace had changed drastically, Loretta for a start was now four months pregnant with her & Atems fourth child.

Laying in the warm Egyptian sun Loretta was awoken by the cry of a hawk circling overhead "Atem? Is that one of our hawks" Loretta said nudging her comatosed husband.

Waking up slowly Atem dozily opened one eye, tilting his head up towards the sky "I believe it is from another country, I wonder who it is looking for" he said as he studied it.

"Look here it comes..." Loretta said as she put her arm out for the beautiful little grey & white hawk to land on. Untying the scroll from its leg, Loretta gave the bird a small pat & then let it go on its way "I wonder who this is from" Loretta wondered to herself as she read the scroll

Sitting up, Atem watched Loretta's facial expressions as she read the scroll to herself "Is everything ok my love" he asked coming over & kneeling beside her

"I-I dont know, but I dont think you are going to like what you hear" Loretta stuttered as a tear ran down her cheek "Loretta..." Atem said sounding concerned, "please tell me, you said we should be honest with each other, whats happened" Atem looked at her taking her hand.

Clearing her throat & wiping away any tears that were sat in her eyes, Loretta started reading.

"Dearest Loretta,

I have very sad news that I wish to inform you on, this news, however, will not change the way I feel about you, you have been & will always be my daughter but...I'm afraid to say I'm not your real Mother, Losita.

You are actually the crown princess of Rome, I adopted you when you were only a year old, your parents were brutally murdered by invaders to the Kingdom, leaving only you & your sister to fend for yourselves.

I am so very sorry Loretta, I know this will come as a shock to you but I want you to go back to Rome & to rule in your rightful place as Queen.

If ever at any time you want to come & see me, you can, I will always be there for you my beautiful, sweet Loretta. I love you so much

~Rosetta "

Wrapping his arms around his wife Atem embraced Loretta as she cried on his shoulder "I'm sorry Loretta, I am so sorry" Atem whispered as a tear ran down his own cheek.

"I-I think I need to go & see my M- I mean Rosetta, I need to go & talk to her, then I need to go to Rome" Loretta whispered as Atem went wide-eyed

"B-but you are my Queen. Is it even possible for you to be Queen in two different countries" Atem said as he pulled back from Loretta with a concerned look on his face.

Shaking her head softly Loretta looked up into Atem's eyes, cupping the side of his face in her palm "I will always love you, no matter what. But I've finally found out about my true past, I have wondered my whole life why I looked so different to Rosetta & Abydos & then when I look at Rachelle, my elder sister, we dont share any similar traits either, the only one who truly looks like me is...Celina, she must be my real sister. It must be her who Rosetta was talking about in her letter" Loretta said now with a beaming smile on her face as she let her hand drop from Atem's face

"Would you like me to come with you?" Atem said he laced his fingers with hers. Looking up into his eyes, Loretta smiled sadly, "This is something I need to do on my own Atem, your place is here, you have your own palace to run & now...I have mine" she said giving him a kiss on his temple as she got up & began to slowly walk away.

As she walked down the hallway towards their chambers, a single stray tear ran down Loretta's cheek "So this is the end, I'm sorry little fella, you will never get to meet your wonderful & handsome Father" Loretta thought to herself as she tried to fight back her tears.

Making her way down to the stables Loretta sighed "I really hope I'm doing the right thing" she said to herself, being alerted to another presence in the area Loretta stopped & quickly drew her sword "Who's there, show yourself" she said slowly inching forward

"Please dont hurt me, my Queen, I'm sorry to have startled you," Ramses said as he came out through a stable gate with his arms up in surrender. "Oh Ramses, its only you, I'm sorry too, I'm just a little on edge at the moment" she sighed putting her sword away

"What seems to be troubling you, your Majesty, you dont look happy at all" Ramses said as he came within touching distance "I've just not long ago found out about my past that I knew nothing about & now I need to go & see my mother. Its not really a trip I want to take either" she sighed

"It would be my honour to escort you, your highness, at least then you will have a guard with you & some comfort if you need it" he smiled

"Thank you very much Ra, I am glad that it is you that is Atem's head guard, could you help me set Cairo up please," she said trying to smile

"Of course, I actually have her saddle right here, I will put it on her now for you, I will ride my own horse next to you if that is ok" he bowed

"That will be fine, its only going to be me, so a carriage isnt necessary" she sighed as she watched Ramses work around Cairo

With Atem

Sitting in his throne, Atem sat wondering what had suddenly happened between him & Loretta "I cant believe it, I am losing the only person I love & care about..." Atem thought to himself as his sadness turned to anger "I wish she had never gotten that stupid letter...I've only just gotten to know Loretta & now she is being taken away from me" he said swinging his arm knocking the wine glass off the arm of his throne, smashing it.

Hearing a commotion going on Shada ran into the throne room & bowed at Atem's feet "Is everything ok Sire, I heard a loud bang" Shada said with a bow spotting the smashed wine glass

"No Shada, everything is not ok, I'm going to losing Loretta & its all my fault," Atem said pinching the bridge of his nose & sighing.

"If you want to speak to the Queen before she leaves, I've heard that she is down in the stables," Shada said as he stood up but kept his head bowed

"I have to get down to her, this could be my last chance before she is gone forever, Thank you Shada," Atem said putting his hand on Shada's shoulder before quickly walking off

"Good luck your Majesty" Shada called as he watched the panicked King stride down the steps of his throne & out the throne room door

At the stables

"Ok Ramses, I'm ready to go, please lead the way" Loretta said with a sigh climbing up onto Cairo "Yes your Majesty, as you wish" Ramses said bowing his head & flicking the reins of his horse making it walk.

Running through the palace as fast as he could Atem came to the entrance of the stables just as Loretta & Ramses's horses were walking out through the Palace gates "Loretta!...WAIT!" he called dropping to his knees "I've lost her..." he whispered as tears streamed down his cheeks dripping into the sand.

"{I'm sorry Atem, please dont be sad, I will be back, one day. I love you my Pharaoh, my love, my heart}" Loretta said to Atem via mind link

"{Please dont leave me Loretta, I can't live without you by my side, I love you too my Queen, you will always be in my heart}" he said to her as he stood up holding his fist over his heart "Until we meet again Loretta" he whispered to the wind as it caressed his bangs across his cheek

Getting to her Mothers house & stopping in for a short time to find out more information from her & to pick up her younger sister, Loretta & Ramses now make there way towards Cairo's port.

For the next two days Loretta & Celina take a boat over to Rome, sitting on her own at the bow of the boat with the window blowing gently through her long ebony hair, Loretta looks out over the water as the new view of the country she grew up in appears on the horizon "I cant believe I am finally seeing the hometown of my birth & the place where my parents met their tragic end" she whispers to herself as she feels a soft hand on her shoulder.

"Are you ready for this Sis?" Celina questions her elder sister "I'm not sure Celina, I have worries that I have never had before, I dont think I am ready to rule as Queen in two countries? And whether I'm allowed to is another problem, I dont want to leave Atem, i love him...I miss him" Loretta whispers as she turns to her sister who embraces her.

"I've always admired you for your courage & determination Loretta, you are my sister & I love you, I know you will see Atem again, I just know it" Celina says trying her hardest to smile but fails as her eyes begin to water & her bottom lip starts to tremble.

"Thank yo, Celina, thank you for everything, you have been the best little sister a person could ask for, I love you too. Now it is time for us to start a new life in this new country, on a temporary basis anyway" Loretta smiles wiping the tears from Celina's eyes

Feeling that the boat is now slowing down & getting ready to berth, Loretta closes her eyes & takes a deep breath "I can do this , I am the Queen, I will get back to my family in Egypt, I am not going to give up" she thinks to herself as she opens her eyes & exhales "Excuse me your Majesty" a crew member of the boat says with a bow.

"Oh, hello, how can I help you" Loretta asks raising an eyebrow "I am here to inform you that it is now safe for you to disembark, your highness" he bows again

"Thank you for that, I suppose I better get going my sister is probably waiting for me" Loretta blushes & smiles "Thank you, your Majesty, & enjoy your time in Rome" he bows again before walking off.

TBC...