"Prince, I have a message for Nefret from her father."

Atem looked at the messenger blankly, before standing up.

"Very well. Come." He led the man towards the gardens, where Nefret was playing with Sekhmet and Mana. Upon seeing him, Nefret grinned widely. But her look changed to confusion when she saw the sad look on his face.

"What is wrong?" she asked urgently. Atem smiled sadly.

"A message just arrived for you from your father." Atem sat on a bench looking out over a pond, his back to the rest of them. Nefret quickly took the letter the messenger handed her, ripped it open and began to read, Mana looking over her shoulder.

"He's ill," Nefret said quietly. "Djer is watching over him, but he is worried sick about me. He wants me home." Nefret looked over at Atem, who sat quietly by himself. After a moment where no one spoke, he stood up and walked towards Nefret, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"You should go home," he said quietly, looking into her dark eyes. "Your father needs you."

"But I-"

"You are free to go," Atem said, hiding his sadness behind a smile. "I will have supplies ready for your return journey."

A tear slid down Nefret's cheek as she looked into Atem's violet eyes. Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. By then, the messenger and Mana had slid away quietly, leaving the two alone. Atem wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her tighter to him. He did not want to let her go, but he knew that she had more important things to do than stay with him. Never had he felt such pain before. And he knew she was the only one who could get him to feel that pain again.

"Nefret! You are home!"

Nefret smiled sadly at Djer, before kneeling down at her father's bedside. She put her hand on his forehead, smiling as he opened his eyes slowly.

"Nefret, my angel. Thank goodness you're alright!"

"I'm fine Daddy. I came back for you."

She watched his smile turn into a wince of pain. Sadly, she leaned forward and kissed his forehead. Clenching a golden necklace in her hand, she stood up.

"I am back for good now," she said softly. As she let go of the golden necklace it swung once before coming to a rest on her chest. Shimmering in the light was a golden eye, the symbol of Horus, and of the royal family.

~Five years later~

Nefret cleaned up the table after dinner, putting the dishes in a bucket to be washed later. Djer, who had been living with her and her father for some time now, watched her move about in silence. After her father stood up and went to his bedroom, Djer spoke softly.

"Nefret, you haven't been the same since you returned from the capital. It was five years ago. Please, why can't you marry me?"

Nefret remained silent, not looking at Djer. He had long ago asked her to marry him, but she still would not say why she refused. The entire village would gossip about it. She was nearly ten years over the age when most girls were married, and she still did not have a husband. After a while, they had begun to think something was wrong with her, because she refused the attentions Djer gave her.

"It's because of him, isn't it?" Djer said sadly, after Nefret failed to answer his question.

Three years previous, word had reached Beni Suef that the old Pharaoh had died, and Prince Atem had taken the throne. Since then, news reached the village that noble women from neighboring countries had begun flocking to the capital, seeking to be his queen. But three years past, and he still had not chosen a wife. Just three days before, the people of Beni Suef heard that a Nubian princess was on her way to see the Pharaoh. Each time word reached Nefret that another noblewoman was to visit the Pharaoh, she would become quiet and emotionless.

"Nefret, it was five years ago. He is the Pharaoh now, and you know he can't marry outside a noble family."

"But he hasn't married yet," Nefret said quietly. Djer looked at her with hurt eyes.

"I wish you could love me the way you love him," he said softly. "I only hope you can realize it before it's too late. Some of the townsfolk have been telling me to stop wasting my time waiting for you."

At this point, Djer got up and walked over to Nefret, putting his hands on her arms. Still she refused to look at him. She did not want to face the fact. She could not be with Atem, but she couldn't love Djer the way he deserved, especially after all he'd done for her.

Suddenly there was a great crash as the front door was flung open. Both Nefret and Djer looked around and saw a swarm of people dressed in black pouring into the cottage.

They grabbed Nefret and ripped her out of Djer's grip, pulling her towards the door. She screamed, just as her father rushed into the room. He watched in horror as his daughter was knocked unconscious, and Djer was beat savagely as he tried to help her. But there was nothing he could do.

As quickly as they came, the figures were gone, leaving the room trashed and bloodied as Djer lay bleeding on the floor, though miraculously still conscious.

"Djer! Are you alright?" Aktun said, helping the younger man up. Djer wiped the blood from his face fiercely.

"I'm fine. But we have to go save Nefret."

"We can't go alone! There are too many. Maybe the Pharaoh will help…"

At hearing Pharaoh, Djer got angry.

"No! I don't need the Pharaoh's help. If you won't go with me, I'll just find her myself."

With that, he grabbed a cloak and ran out the door.

"My lord, Princess Acira is here. Pharaoh?"

Atem made no move to leave the balcony where he was standing. He had no desire to meet Princess whatever-her-name-is. He was sick and tired of all the noblewomen coming to meet him. To him, it was a complete waste of time. But he still was forced to meet them all the same.

"I shall be there shortly," Atem answered after a while. The servant bowed as he backed out of the room. After a moment, Atem heard footsteps behind him again.

"I shall be there shortly," he repeated, getting irritated.

"It's not about the Princess, Pharaoh," came the voice of Priest Seth. Turning in surprise, Atem looked up at the high priest.

"Then what is it?"

"An old man is asking to see you. We don't know who he is, but he says it's important, and he won't leave."

Atem sighed. He did not need to put up with crazy old men on top of the crazy noblewomen who kept visiting him. He followed Seth out to the front steps, where four guards were holding back a man who looked like he had been quite intimidating in his youth.

"Can I help you sir?" Atem said calmly, looking down at him. The man looked up quickly, and stopped struggling.

"Pharaoh, please! My daughter was kidnapped right out of my home. I need your help to get her back. Please!"

"Please, explain to me exactly what happened."

"Well we had just finished dinner two nights ago," the old man began. "I had been going to bed when I heard a commotion in the dinning room. When I reached the doorway, these men in black robes were dragging her away, and beating on the young man who has been living with us. Before I could do anything, they were gone. But Djer went after them, and I am afraid they have done something bad to him. Please, you must help me."

"Why should the Pharaoh take time out of his busy schedule to help you rescue your daughter?" Seth asked coldly.

"She always spoke so highly of you my lord. I thought, perhaps, you would remember her and take pity on me."

"Tell me," Atem said, curious now. "What is your daughter's name?"

"Nefret, your majesty."

Atem's heart stopped. This was Nefret's father. His Nefret.

"Your majesty?" Seth said after the Pharaoh failed to say anything for a long while. "What are your orders?"

"Take this man inside and give him food. I need to speak to him in private. And please tell our guest the Princess that I unfortunately will be unable to see her, but thank her for making the journey anyway."