A/N: Alright y'all, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it! I've also got enough poll votes to have an idea of which kind of story this will be. I hope I can satisfy everyone with the result, but someone will be disappointed about it. Anyways, many thanks to Chrystel Malfoy-Potter for making this chapter way clearer than it would've be.
Bastet
A few days later, I heard a rumor of a messenger that was to be heard by Mattiwaza. This made me a bit curious, despite our earlier argument. So while it was a public reading, I felt the need to be as inconspicuous as possible. I saw that Yuri and the twins were there as well, but they weren't my concern.
"Your Highness," the messenger began, "The Hittite army has destroyed your line of chariots." There were many audible gasps, including my own. The Mitanni charioteers boasted being the best in Mesopotamia, yet they had been defeated so swiftly. I quickly realized it was most likely due to iron reinforcements the Hittites recently put into use.
"What?"
"Prince Kail's concubine may know how this happened. Or, his princess may know more." the messenger suggested. I hadn't realized the people had turned to look at me now, expecting me to be a princess.
"How would I know?" Yuri and I asked at the same time, then she stared at me in annoyance. "We've been here this whole time." I continued.
The Dark Prince stormed over to Yuri instead.
"Regardless of what you were in the past, you are the Mitanni's Ishtar." he paused, grabbing Yuri. I saw him turn and make eye contact with me. I knew the words in his eyes. You are mine."Will you grant us victory?" when she didn't answer, he turned away. "I will go face Prince Kail in battle myself!"
As I watched him walk away, people bustling, I saw something dawn on Yuri's face. While I did want to steer clear of her, I was still a curious person. I wandered over to her soundlessly.
"What are you thinking about? I asked she glared at me, then softened.
"If the Prince of Darkness is leaving, security will be relaxed here. You'll be reunited with Ramses, and the twins will meet their father.
There was a loud silence between us.
"If you still need help with the prisoners of war, I would love to help." I offered. If Nephtys and User were here and the battles somewhere else, I would feel somewhat better about leaving them with someone.
"Nephtys and User should be safe now. There haven't been any outbreaks for a couple of weeks, so you should be able to bring them." she replied. I nodded.
"Just come to my room whenever you're ready to go." I replied. We said our goodbyes, then I set off on my next thing to do.
I was sure that Matiwaza would be in his study, located near the hearing room. As I walked in, he looked up, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes?" he asked skeptically. I shrugged.
"I just wanted to wish you luck." I replied nonchalantly. He looked at me in a way expecting treachery.
"Thank you." he replied in an unsure way unlike him.
"…and maybe borrow a dagger?" I asked. Sure, I could have stolen one from him, but that was unlike me. He stared in disbelief, then composed himself, with a stomach-dropping sparkle in his eye.
"I will if you let me hold Nephtys." he bartered. It was as if his stare of disbelief was transported onto my face. As you could guess, not many people asked me to hold my children.
" What's the catch? Has Nadia not given you a satisfying amount of children to hold?" I asked.
"Yes, but I could also ask you why you want a dagger-."
"An answer I'd readily give. Are you trying to earn my trust, make me reconsider? That's something I cannot deal with." I interrupted.
"Let me hold her." he repeated, and I sighed, handing the child to him. She woke with a start, seeing his face, and hers contorted with confusion. I saw him give her the tiniest smile.
She looked straight into his eyes, then gave him a toothless smile. His plan had panned out, if only a bit.
I gasped, then smiled. "That's the first time she has smiled." I whispered.
"Really," the Dark Prince said in mock disgust, "you should honestly get her out more, if my face is the one to make her smile."
"You've really done a lot here." I told Yuri as we served several prisoners of war water.
"Yeah. They seem a lot happier."
We passed an alley during the walk back from the well to get more water. As we conversed, I saw a shadow fall across our path. Suddenly, Yuri was pulled in by hands with an unseen master, and in an instant, I jumped into action. I turned the corner to the alley, seeing another man in the shadows, and all I could think was Amun, back for me. I emptied my newly filled jug of water onto the man's face. I felt ashamed in myself, that the twins were strapped to my chest, but I continued to pull my newly borrowed dagger from its holster, raising it quickly to the man's neck.
"Gods, Bastet!" The man shouted, and I recognized his voice easily.
"Horus!" I exclaimed, resisting the urge to wrap my arms around his neck too tightly, remembering Nephtys and User's position. I quickly pulled away, then asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Rescuing you, of course. Not that I imagined you needed any. But, I swear, Bastet, if you put up a fight this time-." he left the question open ended, then continued. "Prince Zananza is here as well, as you can see." He gestured to the opposite wall, and the prince, surrounded by the other three girls, gave me a wink. I smiled.
"I'm so glad to see you." I said to Horus, but my smile faded as I heard Yuri's words.
"We have to stay here. If we escape, security here will increase, and Prince Kail won't be able to access the city." Yuri told Prince Zananza.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
Where did that girl get her ideas from? I was eager to get home, nearly welcoming my previous drama over my current. I was ready to go back to Egypt, and let Ramses hold his children and love them the same way I did.
A partner in drowsiness during midnight feedings wouldn't be so awful either.
"Are you sure about this?" Zananza asked. I shook my head back and forth rapidly, but of course Yuri replied with a definite answer.
I sighed. There was no getting around it. I couldn't just back down now.
"I wish you could take the children." I whispered to Horus.
"The battlefield is no place for a baby. They will be safer here." he replied in reassurance, then remarked at the children. "They are still adorable, but look at one. Their hair, it's red, Bastet."
"What?" I exclaimed. I had noticed its darkening, but not any brightening. I looked down at Seti; surprisingly, his head was a dark red. It was strange; I knew nothing about the pharaoh, Seti, but all of a sudden, I knew that was an important asset, identification of connections with the gods. I said nothing to Horus about it, simply nodding my head in agreement.
"You've grown, Yuri." Zananza told her.
"Really? Everyone still makes fun of me, since I'm so short. Maybe not..." That statement, of course undid her facade of maturity.
"What a dunce." I declared in exasperation, but bid farewell to Horus with a hug and kiss on the cheek.
A/N: As usual, please be sure to review! Thanks for reading!