Cq: I'm Baaack! Sorry for taking so long!
Ankh: What took you so long?
Cq: SV
Ankh: SV?
Cq(rolls eyes): Summer Vacation
Ankh: Oh... what is this... summer vacation you speak of?
Cq(splutters): sigh* Remember that trip Shada and Isis took?
Ankh starts crying again
Cq(wincing): Okaaaay bad subject... onto the next chappie
Chapter Summary
It has been one year since Lord Shada and Lady Isis have gotten married. Isis now realizes that the visions she had received had been visions of the past... Jesus has been teaching all around Judea, Samaria and Phoenicia and is in a bit of trouble with the Jews. Meanwhile, Isis herself is in trouble with her husband... not only has she not given herself up, but she is also unable to bear children. What will happen if Shada finds out? What will he do? R&R!
One year later...
It had been a year since Lord Shada and Lady Isis had been married.
Unfortunately, even though Physician Ankhare had forgiven the young woman long ago, the two friends had been forbidden all contact with each other.
Ever since then, Jeniah had constantly been on Isis' mind.
Slowly Isis rose out of bed, suddenly clutching her abdomen. She screamed in pain.
Shada came running through the door. "What in the name of Hathor is wrong with you?! I thought you were dying!"
Isis moaned. "I might be! My abdomen is hurting badly!" she clenched her lower abdomen and groaned in pain.
Shada huffed. "Fine, I'll fetch the Physician. But so help me Isis, something better be wrong with you.... Otherwise..."
There was no need to finish. Isis knew what he meant.
When he left to fetch Ankhare, Isis sat back on the bed and laid down, trying to take it easy.
Her mind roamed back to their honeymoon, which hadn't been a real 'honeymoon' at all.
As soon as she'd realized that Shada only wanted her for child birthing and nothing more, Isis was furious and resolved to set out to make herself 'sick'.
I am such a fool! She thought. I should have known that that was Shada's intention! Now I'm ruined till the day I die!
Suddenly there was a soft knock on the door. Ankhare Isis thought. She missed his knock... all the time she wished that Shada would knock softly instead of barging in all the time.
"Who is it?" Isis moaned. "Ankhare" the Physician answered. "May I come in?" Isis covered herself with the 'blanket'. "Yes you may" she called.
Slowly Ankh opened the door. Setting his green gaze on Isis again made his heart skip a beat. Quickly he chastised himself.
"Ahem, I heard you were not well" he said. Isis shook her head. "I am in great pain and I don't know why" she answered. Slowly Ankh went over to her.
"Oh, no you don't" Shada growled. Ankhare stood up and away from Isis. "My Lord" he bowed slightly, his arm over his shoulder.
Shada sniffed. "What's wrong with her? She's been sick ever since she said 'I do'"
Mentally Isis grinned to herself. There's a reason for that my husband she thought.
She winced when she felt Ankhare's kind, but chastising gaze on her.
"My lord, I am afraid I must speak with your wife alone, you will need to go"
"Set no!" Shada yelled. "My lord, please... there is a chance that she is with child, I need to be sure"
at the word 'child' Shada's ears perked up and he grinned from ear to ear.
Isis rolled her eyes slightly. "Fetch me when you confirm it" with that, he waltzed out of the room. Ankh slammed the door behind him.
Turning to Isis he smirked a little. "Has he had any wine or beer lately?" Isis nodded. "Every day"
Ankh looked at her puzzled. "Oh my... well, let us see what we have here" slowly he approached the bed. Isis sat up, and Ankh sat at the edge of it.
"Isis... If you were with Shada's child, would you love it?" Isis looked at him quizzically. "I do not know... I've never been with child before...I don't know what it's like to..."
"Ahhhh" Ankh smiled. "So you have not given yourself up, is that it?" Ashamed of herself, Isis put her head down and nodded.
"I suppose after I betrayed you, and what he told me when we were away, made me not want to do it"
Ankh cocked his head. "What did he tell you?" Isis looked up at him as a girl looks at her father, when she's unsure to tell the truth.
"Well," she began...
Flashback One year earlier...
Isis sat quietly in the carriage, looking out at the orange sky.
Going over the events of the day, she suddenly realized that she knew literally nothing of the man beside her.
Of course she knew of his status in the Pharaoh's court, but she knew nothing of the man himself. About an hour later, they reached their destination.
Isis took a deep breath as Shada came around to let her out of the carriage.
"Welcome to the Lower Lands, my love" Shada said, smiling at her, a faint wolfish gleam in his eyes.
Just a few more moments... he thought, as he led her to the door of the massive estate.
Opening the door, Shada picked Isis up bridal style, startling her.
"Shada...please put me down." The man scowled and placed his 'bride' on the 'marriage-bed'.
Isis shuddered to her very core at the look Shada was giving her...he looked like an animal...a monster!
Suddenly before she had a chance to ask the question that was on her mind, her husband's lips slammed upon her own in a rough demanding kiss.
With all her might, Isis was finally able to shove him off of her. "NO! What are you doing?!" she demanded.
"Kissing my wife!" he snapped, making another move toward her. She turned away from him.
"Please, Shada...why so urgent? We have all night! Besides... we hardly know each other!"
Ankh stared at Isis in disbelief. "What was his reaction?" he asked calmly. "I'm getting there" she answered smiling bitterly.
Isis felt her cheek stinging. Shada had slapped her.
"How DARE you?! I take your pitiful, loathsome, disgusting appearance, and marry it, (A/N: Oh no he didn't!) thinking I will have children, however long it takes... (A/N:Pfft 9 months, dummy) and this is how you treat me?!"
Isis stared at Shada in shock. He wanted her as a decoration and child laborer? Oh Heck no!
"You pitiful, loathsome, lustful, wretched, evil man! I should have never married you! I will never bear your children for as long as I live!"
Shada shoved her, and she fell back on the bed. Pouncing he landed on top of her, preventing her from squirming away.
As Isis desperately tried to get away from Shada's grasp, he just laughed menacingly.
"I am your husband Isis... you will do as I say!" with that he roamed his large hands on every part he could reach.
Isis screamed. "Lord Jehovah!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her face.
Suddenly it felt as if an earthquake hit. Shada climbed off of Isis, and went outside.
Fire was raining down from the sky. Shada rushed back inside and raced back to the bedroom.
"Isis... come! We're going home!" Isis got up, painfully, putting on her clothes. Just as quickly as it came, the fire stopped. But Shada was already content on heading back to the Palace.
As the carriage rolled on, Isis was smiling slightly. Jehovah was indeed watching out for her.
End Flashback
Ankh raised an eyebrow as Isis finished her tale. "Well, that was interesting. Did he harm you at all?"
Isis's eyes welled up with tears as she lifted the blanket and her gown, revealing to Ankh the bruises.
The Physician gasped in horror. "Isis!" the young woman nodded.
"It was once revealed to me and my family,that I would not be able to bear children" the girls eyes welled with tears.
Ankhare couldn't help but feel sorry for her. "Did...did you tell him?" Isis sobbed and nodded.
Overcome with compassion, he hesitantly took her into his arms, rubbing her back gently.
"Ankh? I-I don't know why I've been having this pain... I- Augh!" the girl let out a small scream.
The sheets which she had been laying upon were drenched with blood. Isis looked up at Ankh tears streaming down her face, embarrassment on her cheeks.
Ankh smiled slightly and also blushed. "It appears that the way of women is with you"
Isis buried her face in her hands, and started to cry. "Shhhh.... It's all right now. Come, I will help you clean up."
Going to the door, he noticed Lord Mahado's servant girl Mana pacing in the hallway.
"Mana!" Ankh called softly. The girl turned, and jumped slightly at seeing the Physician in the doorway.
"Oh! Master Ankhare! You scared me!" Ankh smiled slightly. "Forgive me, my child, but I have a favor to ask of you."
"Sure, anything" Ankhare smiled gently at the girl and led her into the room.
Upon seeing Lady Isis on the bed bleeding and in pain, Mana gasped.
"Lady Isis! What happened?!" Isis tried her hardest not to cry. "Shada" she whispered.
Suddenly Mana closed her eyes and began muttering under her breath. The glass globe on top of her walking stick started to glow.
Ankh and Isis looked at each other. Mana was obviously being trained how to use the Millennium Magic. "what are we to do?" Isis asked in Hebrew. "Nothing for the moment, my dear" Ankhare answered in the same tongue.
"Mana" he said gently. "Let go...let go to anything your holding...set it free" Mana opened her eyes, and the globe stopped glowing, but she had a glare on her face.
"He will pay for what he's done!" she spat in Arabic.
"I realize this... but the Law says that we are not to bring justice into our own hands." Ankh answered back, trying to calm the girl down.
"B-but she's my friend!" the girl's green eyes started to well up with tears.
Smiling sympathetically, Ankh decided that now would be the best time for her to fetch some fresh linen.
"Mana... I need for you to do me a favor" Mana dried her eyes and looked up at him. "Sure, anything"
Ankh blushed slightly at the though of Isis' condition. "Can you go and fetch some fresh linen? The ones on Isis' bed are... soiled"
At this mention, Ankh blushed and Mana giggled. She knew exactly what the good Physician meant.
"Sure, I'll help" she bowed and left. With that, Ankh went back into the room to check on Isis. "Are you feeling a bit better, My Lady?"
Isis nodded a little. The Physician had given her a bit of wine with a healing herb to ease the pain.
"The wine was a bit bitter, but thank you" Ankh smiled a little. "You, my dear, are undeniably welcome" Isis and Ankh smiled at one another. Then Isis' expression changed.
"What is the use, Ankh? First you are helping my grandmother and now me? I was little more than a servant when we met, and now Shada treats me as if I were a pleasure slave"
Ankh winced. Ironically, Isis was going through the same thing that he ad been trying to avoid. But he couldn't say 'I told you so' to the young woman who still held his heart, could he?
Thou shalt not commit adultery. Those words gripped him firmly, Ankh ended up feeling guilty and ashamed of himself.
Mana returned with the linen sheets and Ankh worked quickly to change the sheets. While he did that, Mana helped Isis clean up and get into another nightdress.
As Isis returned, trying to keep her balance, Ankh stared at her. (think of Phantom of the Opera, when Erik looks at Christine leaving with Raoul)
Is it wrong to love her? Ankh thought to himself. No, his mind thought. It is not wrong to love her, it is just wrong to want to love her.
He caught her before she fell, carrying her bridal style to the bed. Both blushed deep scarlet. Ankh tucked her in gently, making sure she was warm enough.
Shaking his head, his eyes focused on the sleeping form of the young woman who had captured his heart so long ago.
"Sweet dreams, Lady Isis" the Physician whispered, getting up. "Mana, do you mind keeping an eye on Lady Isis for me? I must see Lord Shada about something."
Mana scowled slightly and then nodded. Ankh smiled and walked out of the door in search of his former nemesis. Come to think of it, Shada would always be his nemesis when it came to Isis.
The Physician finally found him speaking to Pharaoh Hakizimana. Quietly, Ankhare cleared his throat.
Hakizimana looked up at him and smiled. "Here is the Physician now, Shada... perhaps you can express your concerns to him" Shada growled under his breath at Ankh.
If it weren't for the fact that the Pharaoh was sitting right there, Ankh would have killed the man before him.
He decided against it though, seeing as the punishment for murder was death.
"How is she?" Shada asked, folding his arms. Ankh tried to keep a hold on his temper before he answered.
"She is in much pain, and is sleeping right now" Shada dismissed this. "Yes...yes... is she with child?!"
Ankh growled lowly. "She is not.... the way of women is with her...nothing more" Shada looked shocked. "Sh-she's not with child?" Ankh shook his head.
"No... and as she has informed me, that she told you... she will never be able to have children" "WhAt?" Shada was enraged, a vein was popping out of his head. He looked as if he wanted to kill Ankhare...and Isis.
"See here now, patience, Shada....Ankhare...Is there nothing that can be done?"
Regrettably, Ankh shook his head. "There is not, Your Majesty... the only thing that could be done is the Will of the Lord Jehovah...perhaps there is a reason for this tragedy."
He glared at Shada and frowned, folding his arms across his chest. "Are you implying that I...?"
"Yes! You have harmed her in every possible way! All that you care for cannot and will not come about! May the Lord have mercy on your soul Shada for how you have treated your wife!....Tread cautiously, for she may be taken away from you and given to another man!"
"Why you insolent worm of a man! You have wanted her ever since I married her! Do you deny this?!"
Ankh clamped his mouth shut. He sighed and put his head down. "I do not deny this... I have loved Isis ever since I laid eyes on her in the kitchens...and what of you?! All you wish for is children? Why not go to the streets then among the commoners if you are so desperate!"
There was murder in Shada's eyes. He balled his fist and prepared to tear this sniveling, disgusting, undeserving rodent to pieces.
"That is ENOUGH!" the Pharaoh bellowed. "Shada, lay not a hand on the Physician, or I will personally throw you in the dungeon myself!" Shada growled slightly and put his fist down.
"Ankhare, can you prove what you imply?" Ankh breathed deeply and looked straight into the Pharaoh's eyes. "That depends on Isis... if she can testify to all that has been done to her"
Ankh noticed Shada's eyes gleam as he referred to the man's wife by her first name. Mentally, he grinned triumphantly.
"Hmmm... Shada, you will stay away from your wife until Ankhare confirms that she is better. Ankhare, there is to be no involvement..."
"There better not be!" Shada growled. "There will not, Your Highness...my God will not allow it... lest I be put to death."
"Sounds like a plan." Shada grinned evilly. The Pharaoh and Ankh glared at him. Hakizimana nodded. "Very well then... you both are dismissed." Both men bowed and walked out of the throne room.
"You will regret this" Shada said as he passed Ankhare on the way into his chamber.
Isis had been taken back to her former room that adjoined with Ankhare's. "I already do" the Physician whispered, closing the door.
Looking at Isis' sleeping form, he smiled slightly. She was finally going to be safe. All was well.
Cq: well, that's the end of another chappie!
Ankh: Well done!
Isis: Yay!
Ankh holds Isis close
Cq: tsk tsk tsk...ankh... let her go.
Ankh: but she's not married!
Khalfani, Karim and Mahado laugh
cq: *O-o oh... well onto the next chappie!