Note: In order to get chapters out and attempt to actually finish the story, I am rushing it a bit. I hope it doesn't take away too much from the story. Enjoy.

After three days of riding, the Pharaoh and his party finally reached the capital city again, where they were greeted with a small fanfare. Though it was known that the Pharaoh had gone campaigning, few knew why, and those that did worked at the palace and were sworn to secrecy. Atem had not wanted to give Nefret's kidnappers any advanced notice of his coming, so his departure had been quiet.

Now that he was returning from the unknown campaign, several brave villagers had ventured from their homes to watch the Pharaoh arrive at daybreak. Those few souls praised the Pharaoh, but as soon as he passed, Nefret sleeping against his shoulder, they would begin whispering urgently to one another. What had the Pharaoh really been doing out of the capital city?

Atem noticed the whispers and stares, but ignored them, focusing on the gentle breath tickling his neck as the woman in his arms slept fitfully. She had been sleeping for most of the return journey, and only spoke briefly to Atem when she woke. Her silence did nothing to discourage the Pharaoh however. He was just happy to have her safe and in his arms again.

"Papa!" Nefert yelled, running to her father and hugging him fiercely. Atem watched with a smile as the two embraced, tears running down their cheeks.

"Oh Nefert, I am so glad you are safe," her father said. Aktun looked over his daughter's shoulder, his eyes meeting the Pharaoh's. No thank you was necessary. His eyes spoke for him.

"I must go, but I will see you both later," Atem said, backing out of the room. As the door shut, Nefert and her father let go of each other, and the latter smiled down at his daughter.

"I see now why you care so much for him," he said softly, kissing Nefret's forehead. "He is so much more than a king, is he not?"

"Oh yes, Papa. I just…" She faltered, looking down, her smile fading.

"I know, my dear. And I am sorry. For as your father, I once promised to give you everything you ever wanted. But I cannot keep that promise it seems."

"It is not your fault, Papa," Nefret said, her eyes meeting her father's again. "There is nothing either of us can do." Aktun smiled, wiping a tear from his daughter's cheek.

"I can still feel guilty about it. Now come, we have a lot to talk about."

For five days, Nefret and her father took up residence in the royal palace, getting waited on hand and foot, as ordered by the pharaoh. Atem himself was finding himself less and less concerned with matters of state, and more and more concerned with his young, beautiful guest. His advisors noticed, and took matters into their own hands.

As he strolled through the gardens one morning with Nefret, the pharaoh was approached by one of his aids, who bowed hastily, looking anxious to get away. But he delivered his message, looking miserable as he addressed his lord.

"Sir, a letter just arrived for you. Princess Dendera of Nubia is on her way, gratefully accepting the invitation she received to visit your esteemed highness and your palace. She will arrive day after tomorrow with her procession."

"What invitation?" Atem said, his features darkening in a scowl. "I sent no invitation."

"I do not know my lord. I am merely the messenger."

"You're dismissed," his angry lord replied, waving his hand to shoo the servant away. The terrified man quickly scuttled away as fast as his legs could carry him without appearing rude to his lord.

Nefret remained quiet for a while, waiting for Atem to say something. But he just stood still, staring at nothing, a dark look on his face.

"Atem?" she said quietly, wringing her hands as she stood at his shoulder. He turned around, his expression softening as soon as his eyes met hers. He sighed, taking her hand and leading her over to a bench and sitting down, making her take a seat beside him. He kept her hand in his as he turned to look into her eyes again.

"Nefret, I-" he began, but she interrupted, something no one else would dare do to the pharaoh.

"It's okay, I understand. Really. You've got a lot to live up to. I will find Father and pack. We will be out of your way as soon as possible."

Atem was so shocked that he was frozen on the seat until after Nefret had disappeared on the way to go do as she said she would. He'd expected a much more in depth and awkward conversation than that.

As soon as he regained his senses and realized what Nefret had said, he stood up and raced out of the garden determined to stop her from leaving. But by the time he found her, she and her father were already packed and getting ready to depart on a pair of horses that he had loaned them upon their arrival.

"How did you get packed so fast?" he asked, unable to help himself even though there were more important things to be said at the time.

"We are not very wealthy, your majesty, and we have been planning to leave for a few days now," she said with a smile. Every part of what she said was a blow to Atem. She wasn't rich, she called him "your majesty," and she had been planning to leave all along.

"Nefret, please, you don't have to leave," he said, almost desperately. He noticed that her father had tactfully led his horse out of hearing distance, and that the servants had disappeared.

"Yes, I do," she said. To his surprise, her eyes began to water. "It's best for everyone. I'm sorry, your majesty, but I have to go." With grace and skill that Atem would never have believed possible from her when they first met, she mounted her horse and started galloping away. With a look of apology and farewell, Aktun mounted and followed her out the gate, not looking back at the devastated Pharaoh, who at that moment wished he was anyone other than himself.

Pacing back and forth, Atem felt like a caged lion. However, the actual lion present was far more relaxed than her master. She lay quietly, her front paws crossed and her amber eyes following him back and forth. He hated not being stuck in this situation. He had to go after her. But he couldn't force her to come back with him. He couldn't marry her, and couldn't keep her trapped in his palace while he married someone else. It was unfair to her, he knew. Finally, he made his decision.

"Sekhmet, I think we have a trip we need to make."

Nefret smiled half-heartedly as she passed an old man on the street, a friend of her father's who she'd known for many years. He smiled back just as half-heartedly. None of the villagers knew what to make of Nefret anymore. They'd heard of her unbelievable adventure, with considerable embellishment that comes with stories passed from person to person. All the stories were wild and crazy, but that didn't change the fact that she was a single woman far past marrying age whose only real prospect had been brutally murdered by a cult. It was too much for these simple people to take in.

Sighing, she continued on her way home, carrying a bundle of wheat she'd purchased earlier in the day. She was rarely home anymore, preferring to wander the streets. Home just made her sad. But as the sun threatened to disappear below the horizon, she knew she had to return to check up on her father.

Turning a corner, she saw her home sitting beside the dark water, lonely and sad in the growing dark. Nefret shuffled toward it, kicking up sand and dust as she went. Reaching the door, she pulled it open and stepped into the kitchen, head down in her customarily defeated manner. But she felt something new in the house and looked up.

Sitting at her table as usual was her father. But he was talking with a man cloaked and hooded. Her breath caught. Sitting on the floor beside him was a sleek lioness with amber eyes.

"Nefret, I'm going to Heten's tonight. I will see you tomorrow." Without waiting for a response, Aktun walked past her with a smile, and left through the door. The lioness got up with him and followed him out into the night.

"Why are you here?" Nefret said in a hollow voice. She tried to hide the excitement welling growing as her heart threatened to beat its way out of her chest.

"Nefret," Atem said, sliding his hood off. "I couldn't let you leave like that."

"It had to happen. I couldn't-" Her voice broke as she tried to explain herself. She couldn't believe he was here again. She thought she'd escaped without having to force this confrontation. But it seemed she'd have to do it anyway.

"Nefret," Atem repeated, standing and walking towards her. Against all odds, her heart started beating even faster. He put his hands on her cheeks, wiping away a tear she didn't know she had shed. "I love you."

She couldn't breathe. She felt his lips meet hers. She couldn't believe it. All she'd wanted since they'd met was to kiss him, but she'd never let herself hope that it would happen. Yet here he was, in her own kitchen, kissing her passionately.

He pulled away and looked into her eyes. She was breathing heavy, trying to get oxygen to her brain as it attempted to process this new turn.

"I love you," she said before she could think better of it. Atem gave her a dazzling smile, and pressed his lips to hers. Nefret felt her knees collapse beneath her, but Atem's strong arm supported her, picking her up gently, still kissing her, never wanting to let go.

As a gray sky signaled the dawning of a new day, a cloaked figured rode out of the small village of Beni Suef. Beside him ran the lean figure of a lioness, her muscles rippling beneath her fur. They made a regal pair, but no one was there to see, except a single woman who stood beside the great river Nile, wrapped in blankets as her eyes followed the pair until they disappeared over the horizon.