I'm glad so many people like this! A quick apology—I wrote the entire story (yes, it's finished) and then broke it up into different chapters. So if the beginning and ends of the chapters seem kind of choppy, that's why. Anyway, opening night went well! I'm in the pit orchestra, incase anyone was wondering. The Radames is really good, and the Zoser sounds like the one on the Broadway CD (I forget his name). Anyway, there's another performance tonight at seven, so here's the next chapter!

"Captain Rogemes!" a soldier called out, "We're approaching Egypt!"

I smiled triumphantly. "Good," I said, before returning staring out at the glittering waters of what Mimida had called Nubia.

Nubia, what a name.

It was beautiful, like the very little I had seen of the country.

I lifted my head when I heard a bell being rung.

"Come now, Captain," a young boy said, leading me to a lower part of the boat, "Dinner's being served! Now that the illness has passed, we can feast!"

"What kind of feast?" I asked, trying not to show my excitement, as there hadn't been food in the loft in days.

"Not much of one," he answered, "Dry monkey heads, mostly. And water so contaminated it will make us vomit and ill again for days."

"It sounds…great," I said, forcing a smile.

"I know it's probably not the kind of luxury the son of a minister is used to, but I hope you'll understand."

I smiled down at the boy. "It's better than nothing," I said, "Anything is better than nothing."

He grinned widely and scurried into the galley, me on his heels.

I kept my smile, despite the facts the room smelt like shit.

And so did the monkey heads.

But I was full that night as I went to sleep.

Full and happy. It was said that we'd reach Egypt tomorrow morning, so then we could have good food. And I also heard there would be a banquet in our honor. That sounded like fun, though I knew we wouldn't be dancing on tables and scorning Benny like we had at the Life Café that one Christmas.

Before I knew it, my eyes were fluttering open and there were shouts of excitement. We had reached the Egyptian port! I rushed out on deck, hoping for a nice view, but Egypt was nothing compared to Nubia, which was disappointing.

A slave girl escorted the slaves I had captured and me to an elegant room full of silky fabrics where a man in ragged, orange pants and top met me. He looked a lot like Collins.

"Welcome home, Rogemes," he greeted, "Everyone was getting impatient. I kept your house in order, though a few gourds of wine went missing again."

"Rogemes, my son!" a man with a very sinister voice and a black robe with a red stripe exclaimed, interrupting Collins, "How I've missed you. Move aside Coleb."

With that, he pushed the man who looked like Collins roughly to the ground. It scared me how much he looked like Benny

"I've missed you…" I began, unsure who this man was.

"Don't you recognize your own father?" the Benny-guy asked, "Just another point proving you've been gone too long! How will you get on Pharaoh's good side, who's sickness is getting worse, by the way. He'll be gone in a matter of weeks."

"That's too bad," I said.

"Too bad?" Benny-guy shouted, "Too bad! Rogemes, I have devoted my entire life to getting you onto the throne! How will Pharaoh allow you to marry his daughter if he doesn't like you?"

"Minister Benser," Coleb said, "I'm sure the Captain is tired from his long journey. Maybe you should let him rest?"

"Oh, I suppose so," Benser said, "I will see you at the banquet tonight, son. The Pharaoh and the princess will be there."

I nodded. "I'll be there, father."

"Good boy, now what to do with these slaves? Maybe we should send them down to the copper mines. The slaves just keep dying down there."

"No," I said, looking at Mimida and Angel out of the corner of my eye, "Send them to the fields. They're all women and won't last a day in the mines. But not this one."

I grabbed Mimida by the arm.

"Send this one to the princess,"

"Yes, she'll be expecting something," Benser said, "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find a few thousand slaves. We need an extravagant tomb for the Pharaoh and it's not going to build itself."

I nodded and watched as Benser walked out of the room, taking the Nubian women with him.

"Coleb," I said, turning to the slave, "Take Mimida to the princess."

"Your name is Mimida?" he asked curiously, turning to Mimi.

"Coleb! Get going." I muttered, thrusting Mimida into his grasp and leaving the room.

I spied a great deal of scrolls on a shelf in the other room and picked one up. There were hieroglyphics all over them, but I could, surprisingly, read it. And what was even more of a shock was that it seemed to be a diary, written by me!

"Maybe now I can figure out what the hell is going on." I muttered, taking the oldest dated scroll and settling down in a chair. However, the talking from Coleb and Mimida caught my attention.

"I know who you are," Coleb said, "I may have been taken from Nubia when I was only nine, but I remember my past. My father worked in the King's palace, so we lived a privileged life. And since you are, indeed, the King's daughter, you can tell how I know you, Princess."

"Coleb," Mimida said, "What you say is true, but now I'm just a slave like the other Nubians here. You must not speak a word of this to anyone! The Egyptians would kill me if they found out I was the daughter of the Nubian King!"

"Very well, Princess," Coleb replied, "But your people do deserve to know."

"Can you please just take me to the Egyptian princess, Coleb?" Mimida asked, "I need to begin my duties as a slave. I deserve this. I took Angebka and the other women to the shore, where we were caught. If I hadn't been so selfish, we'd still be in Nubia. And if it hadn't been for that idiot of a captain. He is so full of himself."

"Even so, Captain Rogemes saved me from being beaten. He is better than most of the Egyptians here. And he did save you and the other women from the copper mines."

"That is true, but it doesn't change my opinion about him."

By that time, I had crept over to the door and was looking in from the crack between the door and the wall. As soon as the two Nubians had exited the room, I swiftly followed them.

They went through many halls before coming to a room. I spied a large, potted shrub outside the door and hid behind it. Luck was on my side, as there was a fairly large gap in the wall and I could see perfectly inside the room.

There must have been twenty handmaidens there, all surrounding an extravagantly dressed woman who looked like…Mark? Sure, she had longer hair and was a lot bustier, but it was definitely Mark. She was looking at herself longing in a mirror.

"Aren't I perfect?" She…he?…asked.

"Yes, princess, in every way you are perfect." The handmaidens chimed in unison.

"Then why hasn't Rogemes come to see me?" she…he?…no, definitely a she, exclaimed, "He's been to see his father, but won't even visit a beautiful princess with fabulous hair! How can two people be betrothed for nine years and still not even pay a visit?"

I felt the vomit rise up in my throat. Mark and I were…engaged? That just wasn't right. He was my best friend, but I didn't want to marry him!"

"Princess Marmneris!" Coleb exclaimed, making himself noticed for the first time, "The grandest in charm, manner, and accessories. The Captain has brought you a gift."

Marmneris squealed in delight, but frowned when she was Mimida. "A handmaiden? I don't need another handmaiden. Does this gift have a name?"

"Mimida," she said boldly, and the slaves gasped.

Marmneris gasped as well. "Did you just speak?" she asked.

"My name is Mimida," Mimida said again, "Did you not ask what it was?"

"You don't tremble or lower your eyes! Do you not fear me?" Marmneris exclaimed angrily.

"Would it please you if I did?" Mimida questioned.

"Not so much," the princess admitted.

"Than I am doing what you please," Mimida said, "Anyway, I have talent with a needle. I could make you a robe matching that the color of your eyes."

Marmneris squealed with delight and picked a small dog up from the floor. "A slave that knows her fabrics! I'm keeping her!" she told the dog, and to Coleb she said, "Take Mimida to the sewing room, if you would?"

"Of course, princess."