I want to briefly thank those of you that reviewed/favourited/alerted. I hope you enjoy :]


Chapter One


Kamilah* stood outside on the balcony, hands resting on the railing as balmy summer night winds tugged at her long hair and clothing. They only helped alleviate the stinging ache in her heart slightly. When the high golden doors behind her opened, she stubbornly continued to stare forward, refusing to turn around and greet her husband. He was the last thing she wanted to deal with at the moment.

Aknamkanon frowned as he looked at his wife's tense form. She had every right to ignore him, but he so desperately wanted to comfort her. It pained him immensely to cause her such anguish but it had to be done, there was no other way around it. He had needed a heir that she could no longer provide.

Sighing, Aknamkanon scrubbed a weary hand over his jaw as he slowly made his way over to Kamilah. Her shoulder's tensed even more when he settled beside her, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

The silence between them remained for long moments, Aknamkanon staring at the side of her face as she resolutely stared at the city below them, her plush lips pulled down into a frown.

"Kamilah, please talk with me."

Kamilah glanced at him quickly before returning her gaze to something other than him. "There is nothing to talk about," she murmured, voice cold as her kohl lined eyes continued surveying the citizens. "What's done is done."

"Kamilah," Aknamkanon pleaded, resting a large tan hand on hers. "Do not be like this, do not shut me out."

Kamilah ripped her hand away, turning to glare at him with burning eyes. "I have done only what you deserve!"

Aknamkanon recoiled as he witnessed first hand the layers of absolute agony swirling in her crimson eyes. His heart clenched and he wanted nothing more than to hold her close and whisper loving endearments. "Kamilah, I have a duty to Egypt and my people. There was nothing either of us could do. After Atemu was born-"

"I know," she hissed, body trembling in repressed rage and sadness. "You do not have to keep reminding me that I am unable to bear anymore of your children!"

Aknamkanon winced, pained eyes watching his wife, his Queen, fall to pieces in front of him, tears dribbling down her elegant cheek bones. Her lips trembled and whimpers started to slip passed her clenched teeth.

"I know I am now useless," she choked out, the regal woman he knew crumbling before him. "Must you - must you constantly remind me?"

She was instantly within the sanctuary of his arms, her face pressed against his neck as she wept. "Ssh, my love," he crooned, hand threading through her thick hair. "I do not mean to hurt you so."

"But you do, Aknamkanon, you cause me so much pain." she whispered, body sagging against his in exhaustion. She couldn't even find it within herself to continue crying, she was just so tired, so emotionally drained. "Why don't you just get rid of me? I will never be able to have another child, the healer's said Atemu would be my last. Why do you keep me here when I am no longer valuable?"

Aknamkanon scowled, tugging her face up so he could look her in the eyes. "I keep you, Kamilah, because I love you," he said passionately, gaze never straying from hers. "You are my world, the very air I breathe." His thumbs gently whipped away her tears. "Without you, I would be hopelessly lost. It matters to me not that you cannot have anymore children, you have given me everything that I could possibly need."

"What if you tire of me?" she asked, leaning into the warm caress of his hands.

Aknamkanon pressed his forehead against Kamilah's, looking at her lovingly. "I would never tire of you." He pressed a gentle kiss to each of her eyelids, arms holding her close. "Please don't cry anymore, it breaks my heart."

Kamilah offered him a watery smile before resting her head over his heart, the steady beat ringing in her ear like a drum as she drew intricate patterns against his collarbone. "Did you - did you love her?"

"I could never love someone that wasn't you," he said honestly, playing with a strand of her hair. "She was simply a means to an end."

Kamilah sighed and buried her lax body deeper into the sanctity of his arms.

Aknamkanon smiled, cheek resting against her head as he swayed them side to side. "Have you told Atemu yet?"

Kamilah pulled back and looked up at him, sorrow clear in her eyes until it was gone. "I haven't yet, but I did call for him not too long ago. He should be here within a few-"

The doors opened and a young voice called out, "Mother?"

Smiling, Kamilah broke away from Aknamkanon, gliding across the marble floor to where her beloved son stood. "Atemu," she called lovingly, kneeling down to pull him into a warm hug.

Atemu grinned with childlike innocence and returned the embrace, digging his face into his mother's fragrant hair. "I missed you."

Kamilah smiled and squeezed him tighter. "As I you, my son."

Aknamkanon walked over to his hugging family, lips curled in a slight smile. "Atemu," he greeted.

The six year old instantly sprang away from Kamilah, wide eyes staring at his father in fear. "F-Father, I didn't know you were here."

Aknamkanon chuckled deeply, reaching out a hand to pat the tri-coloured hair. He would never admit it aloud, but he never spent as much time with Atemu as he would have liked. Therefore, Atemu didn't know that he could be carefree around him as well.

"It's alright, Atemu."

Kamilah tsk-ed, pulling the young boy back into her arms so she could pepper kisses all over his face. He seemed to forget his father's looming presence and let out a high pitched whine, trying in vain to get away from his mother's kisses and tickling hands.

Aknamkanon grinned before the reason why Atemu was called here snapped to the forefront of his mind. He hated having to be the one to cut off their moment, but they had important matters to discuss.

"Kamilah."

She froze, body tensing once more, instantly catching his hidden meaning. Sighing, she pulled completely away from Atemu and gracefully rightened herself, hands smoothing out the wrinkles in her straight caftan.

Atemu pouted at the lack of attention and tugged impatiently at her dress. "Mother, can we go play?"

She smiled and poked his tiny nose, laughing as his face scrunched up in dislike. "I'm afraid we can't play at the moment, we have something very important to talk about."

"But you promised that we could!" he exclaimed, scandalized at being lied to.

"I promise we'll play later, love. I'll even let you practice with your sword," she winked, eyes lighting in happiness when he became excited.

"Really, you mean it?"

"Yes, but right now you have to pay attention, okay? If you don't you won't be playing with anything."

"I promise to listen mother."

Aknamkanon nodded in satisfaction before turning to his wife. "Go get him."

Kamilah gave a stiff nod before walking over to the crib set against the far wall. Atemu tilted his head, eyes watching his mother with rapt attention as she picked up a bundle and cradled it to her chest.

"What's that?" he asked, standing on the tip of his toes, trying to see what she was holding. "I wanna see!"

Chuckling, Kamilah glanced at Aknamkanon before gingerly moving aside a part of the blanket. There, nestled in her arms, was a little baby boy with bright amethyst eyes and a small tuff of feather soft tri-coloured hair.

Atemu's mouth dropped open in wonder, moving closer. "Who is he?"

"He's…" Kamilah cleared her throat, lips trembling slightly before she got her emotions under control. "He's your new brother."

Atemu's brows furrowed, lips puckering in thought as he reached up a chubby hand to touch the tuff of hair on the baby's forehead. "But…where did he come from? You aren't fat like the other ladies who have babies are."

Kamilah bit her lip and took a deep breath before continuing, "He was given to us from the gods."

"The gods?"

"Yes, Heqet* has gifted us with him."

Atemu looked to his father for confirmation. Aknamkanon nodded curtly, reassuring his son that what his mother said was true. Atemu suddenly let lose a breath taking smile, eyes bright and shining.

"So I have a little brother now," he rushed, unexplainable feelings welling up inside him at the notion of not having to play alone ever again. "Someone I can play with?"

"You can't play with him yet, he's still too young."

Atemu pouted before instantly becoming bubbly once more, his little body wiggling with uncontained excitement. "So what's his name?"

"His name…" Kamilah frowned, brows furrowing as she glanced at Aknamkanon. "His name is…"

"Yuugi." Aknamkanon supplied, eyes lowering to the floor as he felt Kamilah's gaze burn through him. "We've named him Yuugi."

"Yuugi…?" Atemu crinkled his nose in concentration, hoping he was pronouncing his little brother's name correctly. "Yuugi." He smiled, liking the way the name felt on his tongue. "Yuugi."

The little baby opened sleepy eyes, amethyst clashing with crimson as the brothers stared at one another. Something shifted and an unbreakable bond was formed as a tiny hand curled around one of Atemu's fingers.

"Yuugi."


- Kamilah means perfection

- Heqet was an Egyptian goddess that was depicted as having a frog head. She represents fertility.

Review please!