Chapter 9

The sun dawned in, as it had any other morning, but as Masi woke this morning she noticed something was different. She sat up, yawning as usual, but when she reached over to wake Atemu, she was taken by surprise; he wasn't there. "Atemu?" she called, silence greeting her.

She scurried out of bed and threw on some clean clothes before running out the room to the dining hall; thinking she was late for the morning meal. She opened the door only to see that she was just in time, but Atemu was still absent.

"Where's the Pharaoh?" Mahado asked seeing her stunned look.

"I don't know," she uttered, looking at them like they were hiding him.

Seto stood, "What do you mean you don't know?"

"Precisely that! I haven't seen him since I went to bed last night! When I woke up he wasn't there!"

Seto stormed out of the room leaving behind one statement, "Eat without us."

Everyone remained silent as they ate; all slightly curious about where Pharaoh happened to be. After having eaten Isis tried to use her Sennen necklace, but it didn't reveal anything; he was obviously cloaking himself. Masika ran back to his room, looking out the balcony at their oasis, but he wasn't there. "Where could he be?"

A knock came on the door. It opened slowly, to reveal Mana.

"What is it Mana?" she didn't seem too well.

"Don't worry about Atemu," she mumbled.

"What do you mean? Do you know where he is?"

"Maybe. But he's safe, don't worry about him."

"Why shouldn't I? He even missed breakfast!"

"He's running errands," Mana stuttered.

"What do you mean? Were they that important that he left before daylight and scared everyone in the palace?"

"Well. He was expecting to be back before morning."

"What do you mean?"

"He left last night, after he talked to Seto, he came to the stables and got a horse. Said he'd be back by lunch, but he was going to try and be back before light."

"You didn't tell us this sooner?! Why?! Where did he go?!"

"I don't know! He didn't say where he was going!"

"Mana! You know him better than all of us! He confides greatly in you!"

"I know," she bowed, overwhelmed. "But I can't tell you, he made me promise!"

She huffed, "You should at least tell Akunadin."

"I told Mahado, I can't tell anyone other than him, they'd kill me!"

She nodded at the exaggeration.

"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, I really thought he'd be back sooner," Mana bowed deeply.

"Don't worry about it Mana, thank you for telling me. In the meantime, I'm going to go into the village, there don't seem to be any miniscule little chores for me to do," she closed the door behind her.

"Can I come too? There really aren't any more chores, I did them all while everyone was sleeping, I was waiting for Atemu."

"Yeah, c'mon," Masika led the way into the village, stopping at shops every-so-often to see what they had. Passing Old man Akii's shop she noticed his son was running everything so she stopped in.

"Jai," she greeted the boy.

He bowed being unaware of who she was. "How may I be of service to you?"

"Could you inform us of what happen to Akii?"

"My father? I'm sorry, but he died a couple of weeks ago," he bowed once more.

"That is quite a shame, thank you Jai," she turned and left, followed by Mana.

"You knew them? It might not be a wise idea to reveal that you came from the village just yet."

"I know, and it's not like I'm saying, 'look at me, I'm special'," she whispered as they walked.

"True, but it's obvious enough."

"What do you mean?"

"The headdress and necklace of yours are given proof that you are with Atemu."

"Are you serious? I knew the necklace, but I thought no one knew because it was crafted from another location."

"Yes, when I was told to get you that headdress- you don't know what it means do you?"

"No. Please, illuminate me," sarcasm clearly evident as they approached her parent's shop.

"It doesn't just mean you're his girlfriend," Mana buried her face in her hand. "I can't believe you didn't know."

"Then stop beating around the bush and tell me!" she shook her.

"I'm getting there! First off, I think when Seto told me to get it he was merely joking around with me. But now I'm not so sure, he and Atemu seem to be plotting something."

"Explain that later, what's this headdress mean?"

"It – I – I can't!!! That's something Atemu will have to tell you. It just doesn't feel right for me to tell you," Mana felt ashamed as they entered her family's shop.

"What's wrong?" her father saw the distressed look on their faces. He went to the front of the shop, bowing to greet them.

"Sir, do you know what this headdress means?" Mana asked him.

"Yes, I do. Do you?" his question aimed at Masika.

She could do no more than shake her head. "What's this big secret?! Am I going to have to wait until Atemu comes home?"

"Where is he?" her mother questioned.

"Running errands…. Since last night."

"He's getting something important!" Mana reasoned seeing the worry paint onto her parents' faces.

They finally agreed to drop the subject. "So what happened to Old man Akii? I heard he died."

"Yes, he did, old age does that to people, but his son is in charge of the shop now."

"I saw, Jai seems to be doing pretty well," she took a seat, having a casual conversation with her parents. Mana enjoyed watching them; in a way it reminded her of how Masi treated Atemu. They were normal people, not villagers and nobles, just people.

It was only until lunch that they stayed, chatting. "We should be getting back, Seto will get angry if we're gone any longer," Mana tugged on Masika's arm as she said her goodbyes.

Returning to the palace wasn't exactly their best idea, they did just so happen to run into Muhado who had been looking for Mana for her lessons. "I apologize Master Muhado, if I had known she had business, I wouldn't have brought her with me."

"No, it is fine. Someone of your stature shouldn't be in the village without protection," he bowed taking Mana off for her lessons.

"Er… okay," she took her dear sweet time going back to the Pharaoh's room, which did her no good, as he had still yet to return. "Atemu, what are you hiding?"

"How'd you know I was hiding something?" he entered with a devilish grin, arms behind his back.

"Let's see, you never came back last night, you weren't here this morning, and Ra only knows what 'errand' you were on. And everyone knows what this headdress means but me!!"

He looked kind of dumbstruck. "It means that we're together."

"Mana said it had a deeper meaning than that."

"You'll see. I'm sorry I was gone so long, I wasn't expecting it to take so long, but I'm home now!" he smiled, giving her a hug and a gentle kiss.

"I was kind of worried about you," she wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm truly sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he kissed her softly, backing them away from the door.

"It's okay," she smiled as the kiss reached its end.

"I have something for you," he backed away, holding a box out to her. "But before you can see what's inside it, you must answer me one question."

Confusion was written on her face, but she listened.

"Are you willing to spend the rest of your life with me?"

She stood shocked for a second, "Are you serious? Is this real? Am I dreaming?"

"Yes, Yes, and No, you're not dreaming."

"I- You- You're serious," it settled in, he was asking for her hand in marriage and she was stuttering away dumbstruck. Her heart pounded at the question, overwhelming her with joy.

His spirits seemed to drop at her confused expression, but turned around as she answered him with a kiss.

"Yes, I am. And I will," she smiled. "I can't imagine life without you."

Smiling he lifted her in his arms, spinning them in circles. Happiness overwhelmed him and he couldn't help the butterflies that bubbled up.

She couldn't help but laugh at his happy emotions as their lips met once more before he put her down. "Oh! Right, I almost forgot," he opened the box, revealing elaborate jewels as proof that she is his bride-to-be.

"Wow, Atemu!" she gasped, watching him hang it from her neck. "Now I hate to ruin the moment, but… you never finished explaining the whole headdress thing to me."

"Hmm. It would seem that I happened to leave that blank."

"Yes, and I would like to know what it's all about."

He sat on the bed, pulling her into his lap, "It's a sign to the people that you'll be the new Queen."

"You've been planning this?!" she turned around in his arms.

"Well, yes. Not to mention there aren't any headdresses that just mark you as my girlfriend."

"Are you sure it's legal for me to marry you?"

"Yes I am. I made sure before I asked you to live with me. I know it sounds like I've planned this all along, but I didn't' want to bring you here, grow even more attached to you, and then not be allowed to stay with you," he pressed a kiss to her neck, nuzzling the skin gently.

She laughed a bit at the feeling of his tongue against her skin. She raised her hand to his cheek, asking him to let up a bit. In response he only sucked a bit more, "Atemu, come on, let up. That really tickles!"

He snapped up. "You're ticklish?"

She covered her mouth with her hands, shaking her head.

"You are!" he took advantage of this rare moment, to pin her to the bed and tickle her mercilessly.

"No! No!" she called between laughs and gags for air, "Please stop!"

"I'm enjoying this!" he laughed, watching her squirm. Finally tears began to well in her eyes, and she realized she needed to fight back. Hastily finding his sides she pressed her fingers against his skin to tickle him in a last resort.

His laughter rang through the hall, as he was more ticklish than she was. She took advantage of the situation and rolled them over so she could wrestle him to tears. "Mercy! Mercy!" he cried, trying to raise his hands to her sides. She saw his vain attempt, taking him by the wrists, she pushed them back down to the bed. She laughed watching him squirm with his eyes closed; not noticing she was leaning in. Their lips met in a shaky kiss as he had been trying to release himself, but he relaxed and allowed the kiss to deepen, quickly dominating it.

A quick knock on the door and they were instantly separated, on opposite sides of the bed, laughing at their reaction as Mana walked in.

"It's dinnertime. What are you two laughing at?"

"Nothing," Masika raised herself from the bed, suppressing laughter, "for a second we thought you were Seto."

Mana gasped, clearly offended, before laughing, "He walked in on you two kissing didn't he?"

"Yeah."

She nodded, seeing the jewelry that now hung from Masika's neck. "Are you serious!?"

"About what?" Masika looked confused.

"You two are really getting married?!" she became bouncy again, forcing Pharaoh to roll his eyes.

"Yes, we are, but don't ruin the surprise, I want to announce it at dinner," Atemu straightened himself up.

"Well, those jewels are a dead giveaway. Does Seto know?"

"Sort of, I told him my intentions, but I don't think he took me seriously," they walked from the room.

Entering the dining hall seemed to bring a certain arousing effect as whispers and murmurs passed throughout the high council. Taking no note of it, they both received their seats, and ate their food silently.

"Pharaoh?" Isis was first to speak.

"Yes Isis?"

"Is there something you would like to tell us?"

"Yes, but it can wait until after dinner," he gave them all a passing look.

"I think it best you tell us now," Seto voiced.

"Well, I've chosen to wait. That's something you have to live with."

A groan came from him as he returned to his food.

The anxiety for this new news seemed to force the food down their throats as they all finished relatively quickly.

"Please my Pharaoh! We've waited so long already," Isis begged.

"As you wish," he stood, taking Masika by the hand.

"I'm sure that none of you seemed to actually see my intentions when I brought her here, but I am telling you this now. She and I are to be married."

"Pharaoh! That can't be allowed," Shadah stood.

"Ah, but it is. I've done my research and believe you me, it is allowed. And even if it weren't allowed, I would still have asked for her hand in marriage."

"Pharaoh, I can't be sure this is a rational decision!" Akunadin interrupted.

"Because she is from the village? You are all well used to her attendance in the Palace, and you are all well used to treating her as her soon position shall be. Things within the Palace will not be much different than they are now, she will just be in the meetings instead of helping in the stables."

They couldn't disagree with him there; that was most certain.

Seto exchanged a glance with Akunadin, but never did he think his words to the Pharaoh about keeping the bloodline would sink so low.

"I am happy with my decision and if my people are not happy with my decision then they may feel free to say so, but that will not sway my opinion."

"Pharaoh, I believe that some of the village are already well aware of your bride-to-be," Isis removed her hand from her Sennen necklace.

"And?"

"They approve," she smiled.

This would work. It could work and it was going to.