Transcending Memories – 007
Tea was pulled through a small tunnel, the darkness shrouding her as her captor kept pulling her farther down. She wasn't sure how long she had been in the tunnels or if she was even near the exit. She kept being pulled in one direction and then next before finally, with one more pull, she was outside where the moon was still shining brightly. Her captor walked towards her before lifting her and placing her within a wagon and soon joining. She didn't recognize the man and was even more surprised when he appeared before her down in the cell.
At first, as they continued to ride out of the city, Tea thought that maybe this was Mana's idea to try and get her away from the pharaoh so she could return home. While the idea excited her at the beginning, it was completely smashed when her hands were tied before her and she pulled by a rope to a small iron gate leading to another entrance into the tunnels.
They rode in the wagon and into the desert, keeping close to the high hills, away from the great pyramids that surrounded the city. Tea along with her captor and the person driving the wagon continued through the night as the sun began to edge it's pinkish color across the sand. Within seconds, they were no longer riding across the desert sand but a rocky road. It wasn't long before Tea noticed that she was coming to another city with a huge castle situated near the back.
People were beginning their morning as Tea and her captor road into the city. They kept to a main path leading to a huge gate. Two soldiers looked down upon the wagon before waving back behind the high gate. It opened with a huge sound allowing them through. Once the wagon came to a stop, Tea's captor jumped down and pulled her along with him. He led her up the stairs into the castle before moving right to a spiral staircase. Once more, she was forced to follow as he led her to a lavish room. There, he pulled out a dagger and cut the rope free before walking out of the room.
"My men were not lying. You are a very beautiful woman," spoke a young man, moments later as he walked in, closing the door behind him.
Tea turned from the window to glance at the newcomer. He was a young man with dark hair and bright blue eyes. He looked to be around the age of Atem. He was dressed in royal attire. Could this be the neighboring kingdom where Lady Ebonee was from? "I am sorry, but I do not know you," she replied softly.
The young man chuckled as he approached the young brunette, "I am Prince Hager. You should probably know it especially if you are to become my wife."
"Your wife?"
Prince Hager chuckled once more, but it only lasted for a second as a serious look covered his face, "My sister was to marry the pharaoh. Instead, I learn that he is courting another woman: you."
Tea shook her head, "You have it wrong. I am being courted by no one. I am only trying to find my way home."
"Is that so?" asked the prince with a curious tone. "I do not believe that. The pharaoh is pretty intent on making you his queen."
"If that is true, then why am I here? Why didn't you just leave me in the cell."
The prince moved towards Tea slowly before wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her flushed against him. With his free hand, he raised it slowly to grip the side of her face. "If you were to be wed to another, it would not only unite our kingdoms but also destroy him at the same time."
Tea pushed away and walked around the prince. "I don't understand. Why destroy him if you want to unite under him?"
Prince Hager turned towards Tea and reached for her hand, pulling her towards him once more, "Once we are wed, I will explain. For now, you are to remain here. The wedding will happen within 3 days' time."
Three days? She was to be married in three days. Walking back to the window, Tea could only hope that Atem has noticed that she was no longer in the cell, that she was no longer within the palace or the city.
zZz
Atem stared at the city below him as people moved around preparing market stalls or began to gather water from the neighboring river. A good night's sleep let his mind rest as he thought about all the conflicts that happen with the young dancer who rested below in one of the cells. He might have been a little tough on her, but she had to know her place, even if she kept denying it.
Chuckling lightly to himself, Atem placed his cape on along with the puzzle before making his way towards the corridor and the stairs. He grabbed the single torch before walking down the dark corridor. The torch fell to the ground as Atem stared into the empty cell, the door wide open. He quickly looked around, only to see the iron gate removed over the entrance to the tunnels.
Quickly, Atem ran up the stairs and straight to one of the guards, "Search the palace along with the city. Lady Tea is no longer in the cell. Find her, at once."
The search expand the whole city as Atem paced within the throne room. Isis came in twice shaking her head. There seem to be no sight of the young dancer. Atem was even considering taking a patrol to search farther out. However, even Seto recommended that it was better for him to wait. If the young woman wasn't found by evening, they would use some of monsters sealed away to widen the search.
Lady Ebonee watched from a distance as her brother left the woman's room. As her brother turned the corner and disappeared down the hallway, the young princess quickly enter the room. It was a woman, and she was sitting near the window with the sun causing shadows to drape over herself.
"I saw my brother leave the room and was curious who he was keeping," spoke the lady as she approached the woman at the window. The woman turned and Lady Ebonee gasped, "Tea?"
"Lady Ebonee?"
"What are you doing here?" She asked quickly upon seeing the young woman.
Tea was relieved to see a familiar face even if it wasn't someone exactly from the pharaoh's group, "Your brother kidnapped me and has said I am to marry him."
Lady Ebonee shook her head, "I figure something like that was happening when I saw one of his top men leave for the pharaoh's palace."
"I need to get back to Atem."
Lady Ebonee sighed as she took a seat in one of the neighboring chairs. Her brother didn't like the idea that the pharaoh decided to drop the engagement with his sister. However, to use Tea has a pawn into getting his way, that was taking it too far.
Lady Ebonee stood from the seat and walked to the door. "I will get word to the pharaoh, but I cannot promise that he will make it in time."
Tea could do nothing as time went by. On the second day the young prince made sure to show Tea around the palace, getting her familiar with the locations of each room and especially where their chambers were going to be located at after the wedding ceremony. If she wasn't on the arm of the young prince, she was locked in her room with at least three guards stationed around.
Lady Ebonee wasn't even around. She left after talking with Tea the previous day and hasn't return or been seen within the palace. Honestly, she wasn't sure what the princess was doing especially when she said she would get word to Atem.
zZz
The wedding ceremony had come quicker than what Tea was hoping for, and there was still no sign of the princess who said she would try to get word to the pharaoh. She kept pacing within the room that she was held in, hoping that there was eventually going to be some sign, but as she watched the sun began to set in the horizon, there seemed to be no chance or even hope of her being saved.
"It is time," spoke one of the guards. When the morning arrived, maids entered the room and helped Tea into a beautiful two-piece wedding gown with delicate slippers and a strange head piece that flowed around her shoulders and down her back. It was beautiful. Unfortunately for Tea, she wasn't exactly happy to be wearing it.
The ceremony was going to secluded within a small chapel towards the back of the city. Three guards in front and three guards in back followed Tea through the palace. At the exit stood Lady Ebonee. She approached Tea and handed her something wrapped in a white cloth before disappearing. Tea wanted to question her, ask her if she was successful. However, the young woman was gone quickly before anything could be said.
As the guards forced her to continue, Tea dropped her eyes to the white cloth. She unwrapped the item to see a strange Egyptian item within her hand. Curious, she wandered where she would have retrieved this from. Could she have made it to Atem and warned him on what was to happen? If that was the answer, then why give her this strange object. No, this must have been a gift from Atem to Lady Ebonee before Tea caused all the issues. She was wishing her the best and apologizing that she didn't make it in Atem in time. Tears began to pool within her eyes and fall silently down her cheek.
Prince Hager stood before a large fountain with another man, a priest of some sort. He was smiling in weird way as Tea made her way towards him. She tried to stay strong, knowing that her fate was sealed. Oh, how Tea wished she was back in the tomb in her time. No one of this would have happened. She wouldn't be standing in front of a priest as he spoke strange words staring at a man she didn't not love. It just didn't seem fair.
"Do you Prince Hager take this young woman to be your bride and queen?" asked the priest as he stared at the young man.
Prince Hager nodded, "I do." A small chuckled escaped his lips after he said those words.
The priest turned towards Tea. Fear started to grip her skin causing her breathing to come in short pants as glanced from the priest to the prince. The prince was glaring at her with a strange look, one that scared Tea straight to her bones.
The words seemed to pass by her as the priest asked her the same question. Once, twice she either ignored or didn't hear until the prince grabbed her arm. That shook her awake reminding her where she was.
With a strong voice and gripping the small object in her hand, she spoke, "No. I cannot marry this man."
"No?" asked Prince Hager. He took a step forward as he pulled out a small dagger from inside his cloak. "I would think you are in no position to make that decision."
"No, but I am in that position to prevent it," said a voice from behind the prince. Tea's eyes widen as she watched as Pharaoh Atem stepped out of the shadows. Five of his men were surrounding the priest and Prince Hager. "You will release Lady Tea before something worse happens."
"You broke your betroth with my sister. This is payment for what has happened." Prince Hager jumped behind Tea and placed the dagger below her throat before turning towards the priest. "Continue with the ceremony. The consummation will take place here, and Lady Tea will belong to me."
"Hager, you do not want to do this. Release Lady Tea before extreme measures need to be taken," demanded Atem as he approached both Tea and the prince.
Prince Hager moved behind Tea as the priest continued with his words. Tea's eyes widen as she felt the material of her dress being parted behind her and rough hands started to trace over her bare skin. Using as much strength as she could master, Tea turned in the prince's arms before raising her knee. The dagger, which she completely forgot, pulled against her shoulder blade causing warm red liquid to spread down her arm. The prince pulled her towards him roughly as he parted the dress once more and moved to break apart the sash that held his clothing together. He kept yelling at the priest to finish with the ceremony, but one of Atem's men was pointing a blade at his throat.
"Brother stop!" yelled Lady Ebonee. She was standing a short distance away from everyone with a dagger position at her throat. "Let Lady Tea go, or I will end this with my life."
Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Hager demanded that his sister drop the dagger as he continued to yell at the priest. Tea struggled against him as her eyes kept closing and darkness started to surround her. She saw movement from her left as one of Atem's men approached Prince Hager and grabbed the dagger from him causing the prince to lose grip upon her. Lady Ebonee dropped her dagger and ran towards Tea as the darkness started to consume her. All she could see was the prince being pulled away, his voice echoing around the room. Atem was rushing to Tea's side along with Lady Ebonee. Right before the darkness took her completely, she heard as both called out her name as she crashed upon the cold, tile floor.
Enjoy!