Chapter 6

The days went by, slower and slower until finally the two were reunited. Being late at night they met at the oasis under the moonlight. For some reason Masika managed to beat him once more; laughing to herself, she lied atop the mound, awaiting her Pharaoh.

Sighing inwardly, she began watching the stars, moving slowly, almost unnoticed. "Such a beautiful night," she pulled her arms behind her head and closed her eyes.

"Masika!" a loud whisper came from the edge of the village.

"Huh?" she darted up to see a man approaching.

"Masika! Are you out here?" he asked again.

'Who is that?' she blinked her eyes, trying to get them to focus, but they wouldn't.

"Masika! C'mon!" he called again.

"Kontar?" she whispered. "What is it?"

"Masika! I found you!" he watched as she ran down the hill.

"What is it?" she rested her hands on his shoulders, "What's wrong?"

"Why are you out here?"

"Don't bother with that, what's wrong?" she prodded.

"Nothing really, I just wanted to talk to you, your dad said I could find out outside of town."

"Father…" she mumbled. "Well, I'd love to talk, but I've had a bit of a rough day. I was just in the process of unwinding."

"You can come unwind at home," he took her arm, trying to lead her off.

"No, I tried that, I just want to be alone right now," she tried to pull her arm back. It was true, she had purposefully beaten the Pharaoh to the oasis because she wanted some relaxing time, but it was interrupted by Kontar.

"I need to tell you something," he admitted.

"Can it wait until I'm feeling better?"

"No. It might just make you feel worse. I hate to ruin your good mood," his voice held some emotion; a first.

Sighing heavily, she asked what it was.

"I still love you," he pressed his lips to hers in an unrelenting kiss.

Taken by shock she pushed away from him, trying to get him to release her. Turning her head in every direction; nothing worked. Frustrated she groaned, kicking him; he pulled back instantly looking shaken and hurt. "You know Damn well that I don't love you! What are you trying to pull?" she shouted, "I'm already with somebody! You know that! You Jerk!" she ran off, back to the oasis; wiping the feeling from her lips the whole time.

"I want to throw up," without thinking she slipped off the outer layer of her dress, and jumped in the water. Making a relatively loud splash, she pulled herself above the water, wiping her mouth again. "I just can't believe that!" she sunk back in the water.

"Masika," the low growl was barely audible to her, but she popped her head out of the water to behold a beet red Pharaoh.

"Yes?"

"What just happened? Why did that guy do that?" his anger returned in the look that she'd seen him give her father.

"That's Kontar. Apparently, my father told him where to find me. As far as why… I'd say he's desperate, but did you physically have to watch that?" she wiped her mouth again.

"Yes."

"Then you saw me kick him right?" she felt proud for beating the man twice her size and four times as strong.

"Yes. And I saw you squirm."

"So why are you so angry? It's not like I sat there and enjoyed it!" she washed her mouth out as she remembered how he tried to deepen it, but she wouldn't allow it.

"Shock I guess," his eyes softened a little, still angry about seeing her being kissed by another guy, but he knew that she didn't ask for it. "Why are you in the pond?"

"I felt dirty. That man is very gross. And you know, I came out here to relax before you got here," she floated on her back. "But no, he has to show up and be all 'I still love you, even though you hate me!' Grr. So I'm still angry about my trip, and I got you angry too."

"What happened on the trip?"

She got out of the pond, soaking wet and walked over to the now sitting Pharaoh. "Well. Old man Akii is loosing his brain. We got lost, and when we finally got back on track, a sandstorm came. Spending that much time with an old man who can't tell left from right is not exactly my idea of a good time."

Pharaoh felt a small bubble rise inside him, "And what is your idea of a good time? Jumping in a pond?"

"Actually the water feels nice tonight," she gathered a small portion of the fabric in her hand and twisted it dry over his hair, causing him to flinch.

"What was that for?" he patted his hair.

"Nothing," she walked over to his horse, carrying her outer layer of her dress.

"What are you doing?" he asked, seeing her walk behind the horse and pull the wet clothes from her back.

"Changing."

"So openly?" he blinked.

"You can't see me, so it's not like it matters," she slipped the other half of her dress on before emerging again, folding her soaking wet fabric and hanging it over a branch of the tree.

"You definitely are the spontaneous one aren't you?"

"Yep!" she nestled into his arms, "It feels like forever."

"It may have been, it went by slow enough," he kissed her hair.

She snuggled further into his grip, the perfectly chiseled arms wrapped tightly around her, the smell of fruit and flowers overpowering the senses; in that moment, everything was perfect.

"I don't ever want to leave this spot," Atemu found himself sighing.

"Me neither. But we have to. You can't run a country from this one spot. And I can't make jewelry from this one spot," she found one hand drifting to her necklace, toying with it. She found herself subconsciously pressing a gentle kiss to his neck.

"Someone's happy to see me huh?" he looked down at her gently.

"You tell me," she shifted in his arm, taking his face in her hands, pressing their lips together. A soft, happy moan bubbled in the back of his throat at the deepening of the kiss; how long had it been honestly since they shared a true kiss? A few weeks? Had she really been gone to Cairo for weeks? It didn't seem possible but indeed it was true. His arms tightened around her as they fell to the ground, forcing a whimper to arise from her throat.

The kiss soon turned to a session, drawing new emotions to arise in them both, forcing them closer together, her hand still coursing through his hair, his hands still glued to her sides, they rolled over, leaving her on top. She pulled back for a second, gazing into his deep crimson eyes.

"Something wrong?" he asked, words barely audible.

She shook her head, eyes blinking slowly, "I just missed you so much."

"As I missed you," he smiled, pressing their lips back together once more, rolling them over before he pulled back and sat up.

"What's wrong?" her eyes still closed.

"Nothing, everything is absolutely perfect. I just feel so lucky to have met you."

Her eyes opened slightly, "And I'm lucky to have met you."

"Come with me," he said.

"Where?" her eyes snapped back to seriousness.

"My home."

"The Palace?!" she would've jumped a few feet in the air if he hadn't been sitting on top of her.

"Yes. I've made arrangements."

"You what?" she stuttered.

"I told Seto, he's suspicious about me bringing a village girl to the Palace, but he said it would be okay."

"Atemu, I can't go to the Palace!"

"Yes you can!"

"What would I do about the jewelry shop? I won't have a job!"

"You won't need a job, you'll be in the Palace. You won't have to pay for anything ever again."

"What about my family?"

"You can come and visit them anytime you like. Its not like you'll be trapped in there as I am."

"I don't know Atemu. I have to think about it."

This wasn't the reaction he was expecting from her. He was expecting a joyous laughter, but he got confusion and second thoughts.

"I really want to, I just, have to think about it."

"What's your heart say?" he asked, looking apologetically at her.

"Right now my heart says that I should just run away with you to the Palace. I just need to make sure that I'm not just caught up in the moment," she took his hand in hers, kissing it gently.

"I – I honestly, wasn't expecting you to be second-guessing yourself," his eyes looked saddened.

She shifted her eyes, looking to the moon. 'This is big. This is wow. Can I afford it? I mean, will my parents be okay? I mean, I love the Pharaoh; I don't want to be without him. I don't want to make this decision just because of my higher calling. My heart is telling me yes, and I've come this far just by listening to that.'

"Masika?" he saw her dazed look fade as she turned her eyes back to him.

"Yes."

Shock settled on his face. "What?"

"I'll live in the Palace with you," she smiled, feeling the grip on her hand tighten.

"Are you sure?"

"Hey, my heart has gotten me this far, why stop listening to it?"

"Your parents?"

"I'll tell them later. As far as they know I have tomorrow off," she smiled, watching him lean over closing the gap between their faces.

"Thank you," he smiled, reuniting their lips, deepening the kiss instantly, but only for a few moments. "Lets go."

"I should go home and get in some clean clothes," she eyed herself.

He nodded in agreement, mounting his horse. He helped her up before racing off to her home. After changing they rode back to the Palace, leaving the guards utterly confused as to how the Pharaoh got outside the Palace, but they let him in regardless. "Wow! It's beautiful in here," she gasped.

"Welcome home."

"Pharaoh!" Seto saw him ride in.

"What is it Maser Seto?" he asked.

"Where have you been all night?"

"What are you talking about? It's not that late! I wasn't gone too long."

"Who's with you?" he finally took notice of Masika.

"This is Masika, she's a new resident."

"And who is this Masika? A commoner?" his condescending tone made her flinch. Her arms already wrapped around him held tighter. He moved a hand to rest on her arm, to relax her muscles.

"She is my guest, that is all you need to know," Pharaoh's eyes turned cold.

"Hmm. Meet me in the library when you're done," Seto turned and marched off, revealing Mana and Isis in his wake.

"Atemu! You brought her home!?" Mana jumped for joy.

"Who is that my Pharaoh?" Isis questioned seeing the girl dismount after him.

"This is Masika, she's a new resident of the Palace. I expect you to treat her with kindness and respect; as you would to me."

"Oh this is great! Masi and I can hang out every day!" Mana bounced, greeting her with a hug.

"I take it as you two have already met?" Isis scratched her forehead.

"Yes, we met a few weeks ago," Masi bowed.

"You have no need to bow to me; the Pharaoh said you are to have his status, you have no need to bow to anyone," Isis herself bowed to this stranger.

"I don't feel polite in that aspect," Masi rubbed her head looking at Pharaoh.

"My Pharaoh?"

"Yes Isis?"

"May I ask what your relation is to this girl? I've never seen her," she seemed nice, as though not to offend.

"You'll find out soon enough, tell the rest of the council to meet me in the library. I may as well tell you all tonight," he dismissed her.

"Masi, I hate to be so rude, but I must go meet my council," he bowed lightly to her, and she to him.

"It's alright Atemu, I'll get Mana to show me around," she smiled.

He smiled and headed off for the library. Mana began her tour, showing her every room in the Palace would prove to be a full days work, so she settled with the main rooms: the courtyard, the judgment room, the library, the Pharaoh's room, and other such large rooms.

"Thanks for the tour Mana," Masi bowed outside the Pharaoh's room.

"Your welcome, maybe I can give you a more extensive one tomorrow," she walked off as Masika found her way into the Pharaoh's room. Overwhelmed yet again by the massive size and sparkle she found herself frozen in the doorway, until warm arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

"Enjoying your new home?" he pressed a kiss to her neck.

"Indeed. Its breathtaking," she sighed in awe as he picked her up, laying her gently on the bed, resting her head in his lap.

"Do you think you can adjust?" he looked down at the shining auburn eyes.

"I'm not so sure, it'll be really hard," she smiled up to him. The gold of the room seemed to make his skin radiate, making him seem almost angelic.

Slowly, he ran his fingers through her hair, relaxing after the tension of his recent meeting.

"You seem stressed," she lifted her hand to his face, with great difficulty seeing as she was lying down and things seem to be difficult when upside down. "What's wrong?"

Caring crimson eyes fell upon her, "I just had to explain to the council who you are, and they started yelling to me about how it was illegal and I shouldn't have brought you here."

"I'm sorry," she turned her eyes from him.

"It's alright, I had done my research, Mana and I both, it's not forbidden for a Pharaoh to be with a villager, its just very often frowned upon. Upon telling them this, they seemed to think that my people will look down at me, but I think, if anything it will bring us closer together. I just don't want them to think that I'm with you because of that. I'm with you because I love you," the words slipped past him, their first utterance at such an interesting time. The deep red nestled into his cheeks as his crimson eyes held great embarrassment.

"Well, I'm with you because I love you, nothing to be ashamed of there," she smiled, causing the blush to lift from his face.

His look screamed 'really?!'

'How is it that she always fixes these awkward situations? I need to fix one!' he thought he was becoming weak, but in truth it was because he'd never really been with someone in such a way.

"Hey Atemu?"

"Hmm?" his hand froze in its movements through her hair.

"Where am I going to sleep?"

He blinked, he hadn't thought that far, "Er, I thought it would be okay –"

"Okay, I just didn't know if that was your intention or not."

"I don't mean like that!"

"Didn't say you were," she laughed, how quickly he jumped to conclusions, "I'll stay here with you."

"As it should be," the Pharaoh scooted back a bit, removing her head from his lap. He bent over her face, pressing their lips together in an upside down kiss.

"I'll never leave," she smiled as lips parted.

"I won't let you," he smirked, "as for now, we should get some sleep."

Agreeing they found their way under the covers of the huge bed, tucking themselves in, they fell asleep, drowning in the other's scent as they spooned.