Here's the sixth chapter of my story. Everybody, please read and review!!
And I don't own anything Yugioh... just Jenna. Thanks!!!
The Pharaoh was in the throne room when his priests entered, Siamun in tow.
"Report, Seto," he said quietly, knowing what was going to be said before his priest did so.
His High Priest nodded. "It is as we suspected. There was nothing in the vaults, my Pharaoh."
The Pharaoh sighed. He had known it from the beginning, but still... "Is there any possible outside source that we could search?" he asked.
Siamun sighed. "Pharaoh... if the answers are not in our vaults, then there is nothing we can do. You know that. In fact, you knew there would be no solution before you even sent us in search of one."
He nodded resignedly. "True. But still... I am not looking forward to breaking the news to her."
Seto nodded. "It is a task no one would want. She will be crushed by the news. However, we cannot stall forever. We should get it over with now."
The Pharaoh took in a deep breath and nodded, getting to his feet. "Yes. Let us go."
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There was no answer when they knocked, so the Pharaoh and his Priests let themselvse in, finding Jenna out on the balcony.
This was the first time the Pharaoh had seen Jenna in Egyptian dress. The white material, golden jewelery and new hair style did nothing to hide the fact that she was not from around there, and somehow, it made her look all the more exotic. The sunlight gave her hair an incredible shine, her skin an even purer appearance. The way the wind played with the strands of her hair and the clothes she now wore made her look like a gift from the Gods.
He shook these thoughts off and stepped forward. "Jenna?"
The girl blinked and turned, a smile coming to her face. "Pharaoh! Priests! I'm sorry. I didn't hear you knock."
He shook his head. "That is all right." He took in a deep breath. "Jenna... we must speak to you."
She blinked again and then nodded. "Sure." She walked back into her room, feeling a small measure of relief when she was back in the shade once more. "What is it?"
The eight people in her room exchanged several anxious looks, the Pharaoh looking the most uncomfortable.
Jenna felt a warning sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach. "Is... something wrong?"
The Pharaoh composed himself and looked her straight in the eye. "Jenna... we have searched the vaults from top to bottom... but can find no method of returning you home. I am sorry. But there is nothing we can do to return you to your own time."
Jenna stared at the Pharaoh for a few long seconds before her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she simply fainted. Mahad raced forward, catching her before she could crash into the floor.
The Pharaoh sighed regretfully, although a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "Put her back in bed." he said quietly.
Mahad complied immediately, scooping up her tiny form and placing it gently in the bed.
Isis sighed. "Someone should stay with her. She will be greatly upset once she awakens."
The young King sighed once more. "I would, but my duties as Pharaoh take priority. I have been a little lax lately and I have to make up for it."
Seto nodded. "And I must aid in the search for Bakura."
Mahad looked at them. "I can remain with her, if it would please you, my Pharaoh."
He nodded. "Very well. I shall return later when I am free of my duties. Make sure she knows that."
He nodded, and they left the room.
Mahad sat at the girls bedside for about an hour when she woke up again. Her eyes fluttered open and glazed over slightly. Then she caught sight of him, blinking. She took in a shaky breath.
"I... fainted... didn't I?"
He nodded gently. "Yes. But it's all right. Considering your present circumstances, your reaction to our news was most definitely understandable."
She looked at him for a long moment, and then her eyes shut tight as tears started streaming down her face. "I'm... stuck here. I'll never see home again..." She started to sob, unable to hold it in.
Mahad gently sat her up and pulled her close, letting her cry into his robe. She gripped him like a lifeline and he could feel her fear and grief coursing from pores. He hushed her gently, rocking her as he would an infant, one hand rubbing up and down her back, the other going through her silky golden hair. It took almost a full quarter hour before she was calmed enough for her to pull away and look at him.
"What's going to happen to me now?" she asked quietly.
He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "The Pharaoh will ensure that you live your life in safety and comfort here in the palace. Releasing you into the outside world would be far too dangerous for you with your appearance, so that would be the best course of action."
She took in a shaky breath and nodded. "I thought it was going to be something like that." She looked at her hands. "I mean... look at me. My pale skin and blonde hair... I guess I would attract some unwanted attention."
He smiled a little. "Most definitely. You are very... exotic to behold."
She sighed and climbed out of bed, wiping away the tears that were still on her face. "Mahad... thank you for being here when I woke up. I really appreciate it, but... I'd like to be alone for a while, if you don't mind."
The Priest nodded immediately and got to his feet. "I understand. The Pharaoh will be in to visit you himself when his daily duties are complete."
She nodded. "All right."
Mahad gave her a small bow, and then turned and left.
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The Priest reported to the Pharaoh immediately upon leaving the room, relaying the events that had unfolded once the girl had regained consciousness.
The Pharaoh nodded with a sigh. He was actually surprised at how well she was taking the news, but he had a feeling her grief would come out on several more occassions in the near future. He felt another pang of sympathy for the girl with the light skin, and was surprised to find himself resisting the urge to run to her room this very moment. He still have some duties to perform... which would take a few hours. He could not set them aside any longer, as much as he might wish to. And also, Mahad had said that she wished to be alone for the time being, and so he would give her that.
"Thank you, Mahad. Have a servant bring her some food, and then you may aid in the search for Bakura."
The Priest nodded, giving a bow, and then exited the room. Pharaoh sighed and returned to his duty... which was giving an audience to several civilians who wished to ask for his aid in matters such as agriculture, commerce, and even some who had sick family members and were desperately seeking the aid of a professional healer. He nodded to himself. His people needed him right now.
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It was late evening before the Pharaoh was finally finished his daily duties, and he headed for Jenna's room once more. There was no answer when he knocked, so he simply entered, not too surprised to find her standing on the balcony once more, looking up at the night sky.
In the sunlight, she had looked beautiful, but in the light of the full moon, she looked even more so. The way the moonlight reflected off her hair and lightly touched her skin gave her ann appearance that simply took his breath away. The expresssion on her face was undeniably sad, and he was surprised to find himself resisting the urge to pull her in close upon setting his eyes upon her. He quickly shoved the impulse away and cleared his throat a little, just to let his presence be known.
She blinked and turned curiously, managing a weak smile when she saw him. "Pharaoh... I'm sorry. This is the second time today that I never heard someone knock on my door..."
He shook his head. "Again, there is nothing to apologize for. You are going through a very difficult time and it is only natural for you to be distracted." He stepped up to her slowly, his eyes turning concerned. "How are you faring?"
She took in a shaky breath, and he noticed her eyes were slightly puffy, a sure indication that she had been crying only moments before he had arrived... something that made his heart ache for her all the more. "I'm... I'll be okay. It's just my mind is having a hard time wrapping around what happened... and around what I learned." She sighed and her gaze went back to the night sky. "It's weird... just before you came out here... I was thinkign that my family must be worried sick about me. But then I remembered that they won't even be born for another 5000 years.. And if they don't exist... they can't miss me."
He reached out and gently took hold of her chin, turning her face so she faced him. "They do exist... in the World of Your Memories. And as long as you always remember them and honor their memories... they will always be with you in spirit."
Her eyes shut tight and tears started rolling down her cheeks once more. "Oh, God... I'm going to miss them so much..." Her shoulders started to shake as she started to sob.
The Pharaoh didn't hesitate for an instant. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, rubbing one hand up and down her back and the other running through her hair as he held her and led her inside once more. He set her down on the bed gently and just held her as she cried for several moments, before she hesitantly pulled away.
She sniffed and wiped her tears away as the Pharaoh looked at her in concern. "I... don't know what I'm going to do now. I hardly know anything about this time... especially about this region of the world..."
He smiled at her gently and wiped a stray tear from her face, surprising both himself and the woman sitting beside him. "We will help you. And we will protect you from any who would dare bring you harm. I promise you that. Adjusting will likely be difficult, but we will all be here to assist you."
She managed a ghost of a smile. "Thank you, Pharaoh."
He put his hand on hers and regarded her a moment, his smile still in place. "It is late. You should get some sleep. In the morning, someone can bring you on a tour of the palace."
She hesitated, almost positive there was no way she would get any sleep at all that night with what she had learned, but then nodded. She had to at least try. She didn't need sleep deprivation on top of everything else. She layed down on the bed, and then, to her surprise, the Pharaoh reached out a hand, gently touching her temple as the pyramid around his neck flared and she felt her mind go incredibly light and her eyelids slide shut as he smiled at her gently. The girl was asleep in seconds.
Pharaoh looked at her sleeping form for a long moment, his hand remaining where it was before he got to his feet with a sigh once more. Tomorrow was another day and he needed some sleep himself to prepare for it.
He quietly left the room, heading or his own chambers.
Hey, compared to the other chapters, this one was pretty long, wasn't it? Hope ya liked it! You gotta let me know!!! Review, plz!!! Praise or flames... any are welcome.