Transcending Memories – 003
Tea laid upon the bed staring up at the ceiling, confusion racking through her mind. In just a few hours, her along with the other dancers would be dressing and heading to the grand throne room to help with the celebration of the sun. While Tea was glad to have another chance for the pharaoh to see her, she also knew she was part of the Royal Harem and had no idea when Priest Seto would ask for her.
When the time for the dancers to dress came, Tea was surprised by the costume she was supposed to wear. Sheer sleeves connected to the silver bralette. Even the white pants had sheer sleeves over the slits within the pants. The only thing that was different was the headwear and veil each dancer had to wear.
"You are not to remove the veil unless the pharaoh or a member of the Royal Court asks you to leave with them. The nobles are not to see what are faces look like." Lady Shani nodded her head towards each dancer and soon lead them to the throne room.
When Tea was lead to the center with the other dancers, she was sure that Atem would see her even with the veil. However, as she turned with the music, she gasped quietly upon the sight.
Pharaoh Atem sat upon the throne talking and smiling to a young, beautiful woman. She had long brown hair and deep hazel eyes. Every time the pharaoh would say something to her, she would raise a white fan to hide the blush that was dusting her cheeks. Tea dropped her head, turning to the side to hide the tears that were pooling within her cerulean eyes. When the song was over, she quickly walked towards the wall where Lady Shani was standing.
"Who is the young woman talking with the pharaoh?" Tea couldn't bear to look at him knowing that the conversation was still happening.
"That is Lady Ebonee. She is a close friend of the pharaoh from a neighboring country. Many believe her to be his intended."
Tea took a step back and looked over at the throne. The pharaoh was Atem. The same person that she has known for four years. The same person who came to her, wanting her the night before the Ceremonial Duel. Tea couldn't understand this cruel trick that was being played on her. She wished the sands of Egypt would swallow her where she stood.
Tea was about to ask Lady Shani if she could retire for the night when Priest Seto approached. "My lady, would you accompany tonight?" Tea looked back at the older woman, but she only nodded. Tea bowed before the priest and took his extended hand as he led her out of the throne room.
Overall, Priest Seto was a complete gentleman compared to what she heard the other dancers speak of. She heard them talk about how he lost someone that he cherished above all. While it did cause him to seem cold on the outside, there was some light that Tea saw within him. Once in the corridors of the palace, he asked for her to remove the veil and reveal her name. He commented how beautiful it sounded before silence drifted between them.
Tea remembered from one of Lady Shani's speeches as each woman was given a certain powder to drink that occasionally the men of the Royal Court might ask the women to join them in bed. To be honest, Tea was shocked and surprised on two reasons: one, that the men would consider that and two, the powder was supposed to be some type of birth control when she didn't even think that even existed in this ancient time.
As she followed the young gentleman down the corridors, Tea knew that Priest Seto was leading her back to his chambers. He held the door open, beckoning her in. She couldn't deny him and entered the room. The room was sparsely furnished with a door leading to a balcony and another door to an individual bathing chamber. Situated in the middle sat a huge bed with pillars and sheer sheets hanging from them.
Tea watched as Seto walked over to a long table. He laid down the Millennium Rod follow by his hat before removing his robe. Nerves started to flow through the young dancer. She never thought that her first time would be with Priest Seto of all people.
He walked over to her, stopping to stand behind her. His hands began to trace over her shoulders and down her arms as he leaned forward to place gentle, warm kisses upon the side of her neck. Tea wanted to harden her heart, ignore the touches, but everything he was doing was making it that much harder. He removed the sheer sleeves from both her arms and legs of her outfit.
Seto moved to the front of the young dancer. He cupped her face gently within his hands as leaned forward to place a soft kiss upon her lips. Tea closed her eyes as a tear fell from her eye and trailed down her cheek to fall upon the ground. The priest pulled back, wiping away the salty trail. He gently scooped up the young dancer and carried her to the bed, laying her upon the white sheets.
"Your name seems familiar," he spoke softly. "The pharaoh spoke of his friends that helped him defeat Zorc Necrophades. Is it possible that you are one of them?" He traced his hand down the side of her face.
Tea quickly glanced at the young man, "The pharaoh talked about us. How is this possible? Is this the Afterlife?"
Seto chuckled loudly, "No, you are very much alive. The pharaoh received a gift from Ra. He has been allowed to live his life as it should have been."
"So, this is after the defeat of Zorc?" She asked curiously. Tea remembered how Atem told everyone after the Memory World that Seto became pharaoh after him. Could that have changed?
"Yes. Zorc was defeated by the pharaoh, but instead of him sealing away his soul, he was given a chance to live. He explained what happen to him with his friends from the future. He spoke of you quite often."
Tea dropped her head to stare at the thin threads of the white sheet, "We were very close before he departed. I guess me being here will change everything."
Seto rolled to lay upon the bed, "Your arrival might cause some differences. However, the future events that have happened with the pharaoh, those will still happen."
"I don't understand."
Seto sighed, "Your future still happened. The pharaoh was still sealed away in the Millennium Pendant. The difference is that after he passed away, Ra gave him a chance to relive his life as it should have been."
Tea scrunched her eyebrows together, trying to figure everything out. "Is this kind of an alternate reality?"
The young priest nodded. "In a way, yes. The pharaoh has passed onto the Afterlife. The afterlife, though, is his life as it should have been."
Tea moaned deeply as she dropped her head against the bed, her voice being muffled by the material. "I am still so confused. The afterlife is for the people who departed. We watched him walk through the door. I saw his tomb."
"Lady Tea, you need to not think about how this has happened. You arriving here must have been a gift from Ra answering something within your own heart."
Tea rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling, "My own heart, huh? By the look of it, Atem has completely forgot about me."
"Time is different here compared to where you are from. How long has it been since his departure?"
"It had been three months."
Seto nodded as he traced a finger along the side of the young dancer's face. "The pharaoh has been living his life for three years now."
"Is there a chance you could arrange for an audience with the pharaoh?"
Seto nodded, "I will see that it is done, Lady Tea. However, he is entertaining Lady Ebonee as she is the neighboring princess who has been friends with the pharaoh for quite some time." Tea watched as Priest Seto rolled from his bed and moved to grab his robe, hat, and the Millennium Rod before walking over to the door. "You may rest here for the night. I will make sure no harm comes to you. Tomorrow, you will meet with the pharaoh."
zZz
Priest Seto kept his word. As soon as morning arrived, Tea returned to the room the dancers were staying in. A few of the women were snickering behind their hand assuming something more happened in the chambers of the priest. Tea just rolled her eyes as she walked over to her bed where supposedly new clothing would be located. The dancers were only required to wear the dancing outfit during events.
Tea glanced at the other woman in the room. The clothing was no different than the dancing outfits except the pant legs had no slits and the sleeves were a little longer on the top and so was the top. However, when Tea stopped by the bed she was using, she found a completely different outfit laying upon it. This was one was almost a dress. The sleeves came down to mid elbow. It had a decorative collar that went with the belt.
"This was a gift from Priest Seto. He explained to me that later this afternoon, you would have an arrangement with the pharaoh," spoke Lady Shani as she stopped by Tea.
"Yes, he was very kind to me compared to what I remember," responded Tea as she picked up the beautiful Egyptian dress.
Lady Shani nodded, "He was once very cold-hearted, only caring about winning without worrying about the consequences. After Lady Kisara was killed by his father, things began to change with him."
Tea smiled knowing how difficult things were for the young priest. She watched as the elder woman walked out of the room, leaving her alone to dress. Tea wasn't sure when Priest Seto would retrieve her, but she wanted to make sure that was ready when that time come.
Tea sat upon the bed when she was finished to stare out the window. Priest Seto explained to her that Atem was entertaining a neighboring princess. Even Lady Shani commented on how he doesn't choose someone from harem but will eventually need an heir. Is there a chance she arrived too late in the past where Atem is engaged to the young woman? Tea shook her head. No. She had to believe that there was still a chance. Why would the Gods of Egypt bring her back to the past if not to allow her a second chance with Atem? It would be sick, cruel, twisted joke if that was the answer.
a/n: I hope everyone likes where this is leading. I have been doing a lot of research regarding Ancient Egypt. What is your opinion of Lady Ebonee or even the Royal Harem. Let me know. If I don't receive review, I am not going to stop, but they do motivate me to write faster.
R+R!