"Ahkmenrah! We need your help!"
Effie and Nicky burst into the Pharaoh's tomb and cried out their pleas in unison, causing the young king to almost drop the crown he had been turning over in his hands in surprise. He took in the flushed faces of the young pair and immediately assumed the worst might have happened with the welcoming of the new arrivals, and felt a pang of guilt at his delayed appearance despite his promise.
"What had happened? Is everybody alright?" He asked urgently, his face creasing in concern, but Effie simply grabbed his hand and started pulling him towards the corridors.
"I'll explain on the move but we must hurry. Things are getting a little chaotic!"
"Basically, we need you to try and talk to this other Pharaoh guy – Ramses? Have you heard of him?"
Ahkmenrah shook his head, before frowning suddenly.
"Was he not one of those more 'famous' Kings you mentioned to me, Effie?"
"Yes, yes, but that's not important. We just need to see if you and him speak the same language. I would think that you do – to some extent at least – but we really need help before things go all pear shaped."
Ahkmenrah didn't offer a response, but simply allowed himself to be dragged along by the young girl. He wasn't sure how he felt knowing that he was going to come face to face with a fellow ruler from his own lands – especially one that was more renowned than him. He certainly had never considered himself the leader of sorts in the museum, but he had held a certain… satisfaction in knowing that he was one of the only exhibits that had actually held a significant amount of power in his last life – and in the flesh and blood as well. He could only be grateful that this Ramses character was purely wax.
"Es a causa de un… artefacto magico," (It's because of a magic…. Artefact) Rebecca struggled as she attempted to explain the mysteries of the museum to a disbelieving and still confused Isabella de Castile. "Hace los personas muertos vivos." (It makes dead people alive! – a very literal translation into Spanish)
Rebecca knew that after a ten year break from the language her Spanish was hardly perfect, and that her literal translations from English hastily made in her head were probably all the more puzzling to the Castilian Queen, but she saw her words sink in non-the-less and prayed that Miss Isabella would at least get the gist of what she was trying to say.
"Estoy… muerto?" (I am… dead?)
"Si! Pero, por la noche estas vivo. Debido a la magica." (Yes! But at night you are alive. Because of the magic.)
"Porque?" (Why?)
"No lo se. Es una magica muy Antigua." (I don't know. It's a very old magic)
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Effie, Nick and Ahkmenrah enter the lobby and felt a flood of relief at the sight of the young king. She had been half-watching Larry and Churchill's ordeals in trying to get the increasingly irritated-looking Ramses to follow them up the stairs but to no avail. At least now there was somebody to solve that little communications fault and get the legendary King to calm down. That would give Larry the opportunity to regain control of what had rapidly become a Bedlam-esque exchange between some of the new exhibits and the old. Xeres especially was already proving himself a problem.
"Ahk! Over here!" Larry called, and the trio rushed over – Ramses watching them with a sudden interest. He spied the crown of his Lower Lands resting atop of the head of the eldest looking of the group – as well as the small gold Cobra Uraeus fashioned to the front - and frowned, standing up a little straighter. Who was this man who wore the crown of the Two Lands? The crown that belonged to him?
"Akh – please try and talk to this guy. See if he understands you. I can't get him to do anything! He just waves us away like we're goddamn flies!"
"Alright Larry, I'll do what I can." Ahkmenrah assured him, before straightening his shoulders and turning to address the King with a mustered authority he wasn't entirely sure he possessed anymore.
"Life, prosperity, and health Ramses - fellow king of our Lands."
The addressed looked momentarily taken aback.
"I see you are somebody who finally understands my tongue. Who are you, stranger, to wear the throne of my kingdom?
"A King like yourself, you will find."
"A king like myself?" Ramses looked amused. "There is only one ruler of the Two Lands, stranger, and the last I was aware it was myself – Begotten by Ra, Son of the Light. Protector of the rule of Ma'at and Powerful in His rule."
It was obvious that the listing of royal titles was intended to intimidate the young King but Ahkmenrah stayed firm, patiently attempting to explain.
"As it was myself Also –Living spirit through Ra, protector of the Two Lands, he who binds foreign countries and chosen by the God of Light. We were both great Kings in our time, Ramses, but now that time has passed."
"What are you saying?"
"We are in the future, Ramses. Resurrected by the powerful properties bestowed upon me and my tablet by the priests of Amun. The gift of immortality to myself and those around me."
Ramses was silent for a few moments, watchful as he digested the information. Ahkmenrah was surprised initially that his story had not been debated, before remembering that a King of his times would have a far greater understanding and appreciation for old magic than the sceptical minds of this new era.
"If this is true, then what lands are we in now?"
"Lands further north and west than we have reached, Ramses."
"Beyond the Great Green? Past Hellas? And Hatti?"
"Further – much further. We are in a great and influential Kingdom known as America. A great country of multiple nomes united. Her power reaches even the furthers corners of the globe – places where the Two Lands could only dream of acquiring."
"And who rules such a Kingdom? Where is their Emperor? Their King?"
Ramses glanced past Ahkmenrah and scanned the crowds as if searching for this unknown leader.
"There is no King. The system of leadership is different here. Rulers change every four or eight summers."
"Why?"
"Because the people of this land choose who they want to be ruled by. It is the same in almost every land in the world."
"Foolish. No government but one ruled by a Pharaoh can ever succeed. Who is the highest authority in this place? Yourself?"
Akhmenrah shook his head, and gestured towards Larry.
"This man."
Larry snapped to attention and glanced between the two men, blinking rapidly.
"Wait, what? What are you saying?"
"That you are the highest authority."
"Don't you remember that talk we had a few months back when you tried to order the Knights about? There is no 'leader' in the museum, Ahk. We're all free people!"
"Larry, that is beyond explanation at this point. Ramses simply wants a quick answer to who is in charge, and you are the most likely candidate."
"Well… okay then." Larry shrugged before standing up a little straighter and smoothening the creases in his trousers. "Yeah… that's right. Tell him I'm in charge."
"Him?" Ramses asked sceptically as he glanced at the night guard, a bemused smile playing at his lips. "He looks as if he were weak. He does not have the stature of a King." His eyes then travelled over Ahkmenrah's form and – much to the young Pharaoh's irritation – crinkled in badly concealed amusement. Akh had always been sensitive over his short and somewhat un-toned stature, and he held is head a little higher and tapped his crown in an 'absent gesture,' to remind King Ramses that he too was a God Incarnate. Ramses glanced at it in response but simply smirked further, before turning to scan the rest of the lobby.
"You're ruler is not very efficient. His people are running amock."
"Today is somewhat chaotic. You are not the only one to have been thrust into this era abruptly."
"What are you doing about it?"
"Pardon me?"
"What are you doing about it, living spirit through Ra? You were a King, were you not? Help this leader of yours and show your authority."
"It's not as easy as that." Akhmenrah replied impatiently, biting back his growing anger at Ramses. "Half of them would not understand me."
"Well what about the other half that do?"
Akhmenrah had no response, flushing under the patronising gaze of his fellow King. He turned abruptly and faced the maddening crowd, determined to show that even though he wasn't one of the so-called 'famous' Pharaohs he still knew how to command respect.
He cleared his throat loudly, chagrined at the little effect it had.
"Everybody…" He started, before stopping and sighing. It was too loud – nobody would hear him or pay him the slightest bit of attention. Why was it so hard to get a roomful of people's attention? Because it had been three thousand years since he had ever had to!
"Do you need help?" Ramses asked then, laughing, and that provided the motivation for Ahk to do what hid did next.
"Everybody SILENCE!" He roared – with far more force than was even necessary – and Larry, Effie and Nicky jumped at least a foot in the air. Churchill dropped his flask and turned around thunderously, scanning for whoever had made that abominable cry, and the Civil War Guys lowered their weapons in turn and looked towards the Pharaoh quizzically. Rebecca and Isabelle de Castile were pulled out of their disastrous conversation and shared a mystified glance, and Xeres even halted his mad struggling to raise an eyebrow. As Ahkmenrah felt each of the lobby occupants fall silent and turn their gazes on him the blood rushed to his cheeks and he felt as if he wanted to disappear with the humiliation. Why had he shouted so loud The situation hadn't even needed it – realistically. Ramses had just made it seem like it did. He did it on purpose, Ahkmenrah realised, glowering silently at the elder Pharaoh. He wanted to make me look like a fool.
"Uh… you alright Ahk?" Larry asked cautiously, stepping over towards his friend and laying a hand on his shoulder.
"Simply fine, Larry. I was just… engaging the exhibit's attention for you."
"Um…Ok…"
Ahkmenrah glanced back at the crowd and – realising that they were all still silent – made the snap decision to go ahead with whatever his plan had been. I'll show Ramses that I'm a Pharaoh.
"For all of those who understand me, follow President Roosevelt here and the faceless soldiers to the hall of miniatures, where you will be addressed on your current situation. If you care for your own well being then you will not attempt to cause any disruptions and will go willingly. No harm is meant to any of you."
A few dark mumbles and whispers began to arise, but nevertheless, the new and English-speaking exhibits began to filter out behind the Horse backed President, and even a few of those non English-speaking took it upon themselves to follow. Ahkmenrah smiled internally, pleased at how he had been able to turn around an uncomfortable situation.
"Well done, stranger." Ramses came up behind him and clapped him on the back. "That is what a King can do when he takes the lead."
"I am aware of that, Thank you." Ahkmenrah replied stiffly, before gathering his robes and storming towards the stairs - inevitably back to his tomb. Effie, Nick and Larry shared a knowing look, before Effie took off silently after him.
Another chapter here – and up rather quickly I would say. I'm quite pleased about that – I usually leave months and months in between which is awful of me, I know.
Anyway, I got to introduce one of my favourite historical figures – Ramses! Yes I know he sounds like a bit of a… mean person in this chapter – To Ahk, anyway, but could that all just be a part of Ahkmenrah's both paranoid and increasingly jealous personality? Or is Ramses reluctant to forget his past as a King and planning to exert his authority as the one Pharaoh. Either way – look out for tension between our lovely Ahkmenrah and his more notorious co-patriot.
And look out for Marie Laveau! I know that some of you might be wondering WHY she was mysteriously added to the list, but prepare to be introduced to her in the next few chapters! I have big plans up my sleeve for her, and YES she is part of that original storyline mentioned in the summary box for this story. I just never had a name for the mystical stranger I was going to bring in, but I felt like she would just do perfectly!
SHOUTOUTS for my TWO reviewers… A little bit disappointing but I suppose I can't expect regulars if I don't upload for a few months. Still… try and review this time if you didn't before!
Thornedbudx: YES WINSTON CHURCHILL! WINSTON CHURCHILL HAS ENTERED THE MUSEUM! I love him so much and I thought that there were SO MANY amazing things that I could do with him that he MUST be included. I warn you though – I am going to include all of his personality traits that are well known to the world. The strong and courageous leader, of course, but also the overweight alcoholic who roused up the laughs with his rude and sarcastic comments to certain ladies at parties and parliamentary opposition. My trip was brilliant, thank you, and I broke it off with the boyfriend myself so I'm not particularly sorry. Just a lot less stressed! Thank you for being one of my regulars!
Doodlechick12: Yes! I updated! And thank you for your review! I don't think I've heard from you before so welcome! And please review again! I hope you like this chapter!
Well that's it! Thank you my lovelies and REVIEW! I love getting feedback so much! I check my e-mail every ten minutes after posting a chapter! Don't disappoint me!
Adieu,
Rage