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Tragic Fate

It was nearly noon when the pharaoh returned to his palace. The royal family rushing out to welcome the returning ruler of Egypt they were soon delayed once word of what had happened rang out. The pharaoh's most loyal and trusted friend had been possibly wounded, fatally, while protecting the pharaoh from harm. Aries was carried directly to Latoya, Yami walking along side the stretched with his body guard's hand tightly held in his own. Never leaving Aries side his family all crowded around to hear what had happened, Ri glued to her brother's side while Latoya applied her potions and cleaned the wounds on the battered soldier's body. Keeping his suspicions concerning Rameses to himself for the moment Yami told his family only that they'd been unexpectedly attacked as they'd neared home and that he thought his attackers Egyptians. Rameses and his mother also came to visit but they didn't stay long, especially since Yami gave them such looks that they felt chills roll down their spines. Could he know what they had done? But how?

"My son, you look worn out." Suna said gently as she reached over to stroke her son's dusty forehead. He looked so worn and tired it was a wonder her son was still awake and on his feet. Then again, her eldest son was as stubborn as a mule. All the children were actually, Suna thought as she watched Ri insist on helping Latoya clean the wounds. "You need a bath and some sleep, Yami. I will stay here and watch over him personally. I'll send someone to get you if there's any change."

"I'll be fine. Go inform my advisors that I have returned and that Rameses need no longer worry about matters of state." Yami said with a tired smile for his mother before turning his piercing reddish purple eyes on Rameses. "Thank you for all your hard work on my behalf, brother. I'm sure I'll have nothing but glowing reports." Yami doubted that very much but for his father's sake he'd pretend to believe it. Then he'd deal with Rameses in response to the likely countless screw ups his half brother had brought about.

"I'll be happy to inform them for you..dear brother." Rameses said with one of his fake smiles as he bowed and headed out, his mother following behind him. "What are we going to do, mother?" He hissed under his breath, looking over at her anxiously. "He knows. Somehow he knows."

"Hush. These walls have ears." Nefeteri hissed, sending her son a fierce warning look. What were they going to do though? If he knew that they were behind the attack upon him then Yami wouldn't hesitate to have the both of them executed. Yami's love for Aries was well known and if that bastard soldier were to die there was no question as to what her step son would do. She wouldn't be able to count on her husband to protect her from Yami's wrath. Yami, in this case, wouldn't allow her to live regardless of his father's objections.

"And so does the pharaoh. Do you think that the High Priest and Ri won't be running to him as fast as their sandals can carry them?" Rameses said under his breath, his eyes scanning for anyone who might not easily be silenced. At this point there were few he could count upon, now that he was no longer in charge. If he'd ever been in charge to begin with. He knew that several of his orders hadn't been carried out because they'd been canceled by other members of his family and by the Millennium carriers. Damn them all.

"I warned you to stay away from her until we had confirmed Yami wouldn't be returning." His mother hissed quietly, her own eyes searching. "I have been told there's a chance the High Priest might be thinking of our darling princess in a very unpriestly way." She added with a sneer, her eyes flashing at the idea. She herself had once made a pass at the man, only to be thoroughly rejected. As rejected as anyone could be and she was a Queen, damn it. His better, his queen. He was her servant, not the other way around. And yet when she'd tried to make trouble for him he'd shrugged everything she'd thrown at him like it was nothing. Like she was nothing. She'd envisioned him helping them with their plans to take the Egyptian throne from Yami, not for him to marry into the family and become a huge obstacle in their way. And that's where her spies had told her this "secret" relationship was headed. A chance overheard conversation when the lovers hadn't been careful enough. That needed to be destroyed along with her cursed step son. Immediately.

"What the...are you sure?"

"I trust my source."

Face flushing with anger Rameses's hands clenched in fury. Damn that bitch. It was bad enough that the High Priest didn't like him but if Ri had managed to use her charms to seduce the Priest then that pretty much eliminated any chance that the priest would be of any aid to them after the overthrowing. If there was an overthrowing, Rameses thought bitterly, seething inside.

"He'll need to be disposed of." The queen said softly to her son once they'd reached the end of the hallway. "I'll see to it." Leaning forward she kissed her son's cheek then continued down the hall while her son watched her go. It would be risky, arranging it herself. But unfortunately, she knew Rameses would just screw it up if he tried to arrange it. Never send a man to do something that required intelligence, Nefeteri thought as her mind began to plot and plan.

Through no small miracle Latoya was able to turn Aries around. Now expected to live Yami finally allowed for a return celebration in his honor. After all, it wouldn't have been much of a party if the guest of honor wasn't in attendance. Preparation going into the works everything was ready a week after Aries's miraculous recovery and everyone who could attend flocked to the palace for the gala event.

Hurrying down the hallway Ri cursed how tight her dress was that her legs didn't have much movement ability. She should have never let her mother talk her into wearing it. It had been a pain to get into and she had no doubt it would be just as fun getting it off. Pausing to catch her breath the light of the torches flickered off the large necklace that graced her neck. Hanging off it was her five most prized monster tablets with her Blue Eyes in the middle, hanging off its hook. Straightening the chain Ri took one last gulp of air and continuing down the hallway was about to turn a corner when she came to a start, automatically taking a step back. Peeking around the corner she stared in surprise at the sight of Nefeteri talking to one of the servants. They had to be whispering too because she couldn't hear a word they were saying. What on earth was she doing? Her step mother never talked to servants unless it was to yell at them. The woman was such an egomaniac that she gave her orders to her ladies in waiting to give to the servants. Frowning Ri wished she could hear what was going on. The servant was dressed for serving but she didn't recognize him. Then again she'd imagine more servants had been acquired for the evening. Maybe she'd been put in charge of something? But that made no sense, this whole party was for Yami after all. Nefeteri hated Yami. Only their father was too blind to see that. Well maybe he wasn't and was just living in denial. As much as she loved her father she knew he often deliberately chose to turn a blind eye to the actions of his second wife and her children. It frustrated the hell out of everyone. Watching the two depart Ri's eyebrows raised as the servant reached out and grabbed her step mother's arm. That was a death sentence. But Nefeteri just shrugged it off with a few words and continued on her way. Okay, something was definitely up here. Chewing absently on her bottom lip she was about to walk over to the servant for a little questioning when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Nearly jumping out of her skin she whirled around to see her brother Sirius grinning at her.

"Are you playing hide and seek with someone?" Sirius wanted to know with a smirk on his handsome face. "Because if you are this is a crappy hiding place."

"I just saw Nefeteri actually having a little whispering session with a servant. He grabbed her arm and she let him get away with it." Ri whispered, looking round the corner again. Dammit. The servant was out of sight and finding him again was sure to be impossible. There were servants running around everywhere.

"Seriously?" Sirius said in surprise, looking over her shoulder to see for himself. "Well that's one for the tablets. Was he good looking?"

"What does his looks have to do with anything?" Ri wanted to know, elbowing him for crowding her.

"Well if he was good looking he might have been her lover. She wouldn't be the first Queen that turned to a servant for her pleasures. Especially since only a servant would willingly bed that harpy." Sirius replied with a wink as he smirked at her. "I really doubt she's been celibate since father threw her over in favor of our mother."

"I do not need those images in my head." Ri said with a dark look, promising herself mentally that if any pictures formed as a result of this conversation she was going to hurt her little brother. Badly. "And shouldn't you be with our pharaoh helping him get ready? You're walking in with him right?"

"I'm on my way there. I just happened to run into you peeking around corners and had to stop and ask what you were doing."

"Well then go and try not to trip over those big feet of yours." Ri said sweetly, fluttering her eyelashes at him teasingly. "You're enough of an embarrassment as it is."

"I love you too." Sirius shot back as he stuck his tongue out at her. "See you at the party."

"See you there." Ri agreed, waving him off as she went around the corner while he continued down the hallway to find his older brother who was undoubtedly trying to talk their father into letting him check on Aries just one more time. Yami was such a worrywart.

Standing off to the side Ri watched the final touches being made to the main hall where the party would be held. Fit for a pharaoh, she thought with a smirk, crossing her arms in satisfaction. Her mother and her ladies in waiting had handled a lot of the details but she'd helped too. Especially by not trying to help too much. Decorating was not one of her gifts. Sensing someone coming up from behind her she tensed then relaxed as she recognized who it was even before he spoke.

"Can you breath in that dress?" Seto wanted to know, standing just behind her in the shadows. It wouldn't do for the two of them to be seen talking to each other in such an intimate fashion. At least until he finally managed to corner the pharaoh to speak to him about Ri's hand.

"Just barely." Ri said in a low voice, her eyes continuing to scan the room. "I take it you still haven't managed to get my brother alone to talk?"

"If he isn't with Aries he's running around correcting all the mistakes Rameses made during the short time he was in charge. Given your brother's likely reaction I think we both agree it's important to catch him on a good day." Seto said with a sarcastic twist of his mouth. He was definitely not looking forward to going head to head with his pharaoh on this issue.

"Oh we most definitely agree." Ri said with a faint chuckle, trying to keep her face from showing the amusement she felt. "We could always try to get him tonight when he's thoroughly intoxicated."

"When have you ever know him to overindulge, especially while Rameses and Nefeteri are in the room." Seto pointed out, his face hardening as he spoke the name of their two biggest enemies at the moment. They were both up to something, he could feel it. He'd had his spies watching them but so far they'd turned up nothing. His sister didn't see anything either. That worried him even more.

"True enough. Only a fool would get drunk in a room inhabited by people who want him dead more than they want to draw their next breath."

"So far my spies have turned up nothing but they aren't alone in their observing. It would appear your brother has taken similar precautions. Perhaps our worries about them will be over sooner then we thought. They have to be eliminated before they manage to catch one of us unaware. They're like cobras, stuck in a basket, just waiting for that lid to open so that they can strike."

"What lovely imagery." Ri said with a sigh, rubbing her cool shoulders as she tried not to think of just how easily those snakes could strike before slithering off to hide in their nests. Unless the snakes were caught in mid strike nothing could be done without blood having to be shed. As it was that might have already happened, Ri thought, thinking of Aries. Yami hadn't said anything but she'd seen the way Yami was looking at Rameses now. There was a new, more fierce hatred there that hadn't broken through Yami's icy control until now.

"Just keep your eyes open and watch your step." Seto warned, placing a hand to stroke down her exposed spine. He could only hope for his sake that the front covered a lot more then the back. Otherwise it was going to be a very, very long night. Especially since it was Ri. "I mean it, Ri. We both know how you attract trouble."

"I resent that."

"You can resent it all you want as long as you remember it." Was his blunt response as he withdrew his hand. "I have to go, if you think there's going to be trouble come to me. Don't go off on your own or I'll turn you over my knee later and give you the spanking your father is too soft to give you."

"Promises, promises." Ri said with a husky laugh before walking away, putting as much swing to her hips as the stupid dress would allow. It was a good time to be alive she thought as the faint sound of a male chuckle reached her ears before fading away as he disappeared behind the curtain. A grin on her face she headed over to where her mother was going over some last minute instructions to see if there was anything she could do to help. In the mood she was in she felt she could do anything.

Everyone crowding into the great hall an hour later they all stood on either side of the room, waiting for the royal family to make their appearance. First came the younger children, the girls carrying baskets full of flower petals which they threw around them while the boys marched on looking as princely as they could manage. Then the pharaoh's sisters came next, headed by Ri as they walked gracefully down the aisle, up to the front where the pharaoh's throne awaited, a smaller throne on either side. The women taking their seats around the chairs on their pillows they turned to watched their brothers walk down the aisle, also taking seats beside their sisters as the trumpets sounded. Next came the holders of the Millennium items, the priests and priestess moving forward with everyone regarding them with fear and awe. They walked single file with the High Priest Akhenaden in the front followed by The High Priest Seto and his adopted sister Isis who looked troubled, gazing around her as though she expected some unforeseen trouble. The other sex priests following behind they divided into threes to stand on either side of the thrones to await the arrival of their pharaoh.

Next came the old, beloved pharaoh, a wife on either side as they helped him down the aisle to be seated to the pharaoh's throne's right. Then Suna went over to take the seat on the left while Nefeteri was reduced to sitting with the children. It was one of Yami's few obvious demonstrations of his hatred and distrust of her that he had decided that the third wife of his father would sit on his left rather then the second.

Finally came the pharaoh of Egypt in all his finery, surrounded by his personal soldiers with the noticeable exception of Aries who was still in the healer's quarters being treated for his injuries. Walking up the aisle he acknowledged the cheers of his people as he passed by them before walking up the steps to take his seat upon his throne once more. After the noise had died down he thanked everyone for coming then ordered the entertainment to being.

Soon everyone was enjoying the festivities as they were entertained by magicians, dancers and musicians. Smiling happily Ri amused herself by glancing in Seto's direction every once in a while when everyone else had eyes only for the spectacles. It pleased her that he caught her at it every time and either smiled faintly or returned her gaze for a moment. While the servants weaved through the crowd serving food and wine the hours rolled by until soon it was time to retire to the next room for the feast. About to get to her feet Ri frowned, her motions slowing as her eyes landed on the face of the servant she'd been eyeing to see what he carried. It was the servant from before, she realized, straightening to her full height. Eyes narrowing she couldn't say what it was about him but a shiver went down her spine as she realized he wasn't watching the guests at all. He had eyes only for her older brother. Looking from Yami to the servant she bit her lip then telling Sirius she'd be right back started to walk over to where her eldest brother was helping to guide his father to the next room. Intending to tell her brother to alert his guards to keep an eye on the servant she had no idea that the servant in question was right behind her, weaving his way through the crowd to the same destination.

Seto, seeing her face broke away from the other priests and made his way to her side. "What's wrong?" He said under his breath, shortening his steps to accommodate her.

"There's a servant I saw talking to Nefeteri that's been eyeing Yami. I just want to give his guards a description of the man to keep an eye out." Ri whispered back, having no idea that said servant was practically on her heels now, staying just out of sight behind one of the landowners that was attending and dwarfed him in stature.

Demanding a description Seto nodded. "I'll put the word out to look for him. You go and pass on the warning." Leaving her side he wove his way back into the crowd, his eyes scanning for someone that fit Ri's description. Unfortunately there were several in his line of vision alone. Why did the suspect always have to be average looking, he thought with a mental curse.

Continuing on her way Ri had finally managed to get her oldest brother's attention, the young pharaoh leaving the side of his father to walk forward to meet her half way, a questioning look on his handsome face. Within steps of her brother Ri heard something resembling a battle cry come from behind her and acting on instinct she whirled around, using her body as a shield just as the knife that had been intended for her brother's stomach entered her own instead. Eyes going wide Ri stumbled back against her brother while screams erupted to silence the din.