Chapter 22: Love blooms on the battlefield

Kail's POV

Cold. I was cold. Why…why did she have to leave me like this? We were going to get married. She was going to be the new Queen. We were going to create an era of peace together. We were going to have many children; the palace was going to be alive with the laughter of children.

My chest hurts. It's as if someone had stabbed my heart and was constantly twisting the blade. Constant…opening the wound over and over and over again.

Yuri. My Yuri.

What was going on in the battlefield? I don't know anymore. Were we losing now? Why bother, when my Yuri wasn't going to come home. I was going to create a beautiful world for her. Now, what's the point?

Hazy. Everything was hazy. When was the last time I'd eaten? What was said in that meeting yesterday? Or was that the day before?

Ilbani…he was the only one who understood. He was the only other one lost in the same haze. He was the only one who had lost his goddess, his light.

Even stoic Ilbani…this was too much for him. He just floated from place to place, that little fox on his shoulder. As if he was trying to get his mind off things…but we both know it's impossible.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

How long had Hadi been calling me? I turned to see what she wanted. I suddenly jolted at the people behind her.

"Rusafa?!" I nearly shout. What was he doing here? He was lost at sea with…with them.

Ilbani was next to me in seconds. I tried to crush the little spark of hope in my chest. I couldn't take any more pain. I can't.

"Your Majesty, the goddesses…they live!" Sakuwai burst out.

"A-alive?" I didn't feel the joy I should have. I shook my head. Had I heard right? Or had my ears deceived me into hearing only what my heart yearned to hear.

"They both live, Sire. They are currently with General Ramses in Egypt." Rusafa bowed his head.

Alive? Alive! I heard it right! Yuri…she is alive! Relief flooded my heart, warming me from the top of my head and flushing down to my toes. She was alive. I had not lost that smile, that laugh, that stubborn way she glared when she wanted her way. She lived. I felt the grin stretch across my face, I wanted to whoop out in joy at that very moment.

"I knew she was too stubborn to die like that." Ilbani simply said as he stalked off. I followed behind. What was with that dreary reaction? How could he not feel the warmth that I was feeling right now? He stopped in a place hidden by the low hanging trees.

"Ilbani…" I began, but was interrupted by a sudden chuckle. I crept closer, perhaps he had heard wrong?

Suddenly, Ilbani was doubled over, laughing without any sense of control whatsoever. Ilbani, I had grown up with this man. And throughout our childhood, I couldn't recall a single moment where I had seen him laugh so hysterically.

"Ilbani…are you well?" I shift worriedly, trying to peer at his face.

"D-didn't you hear? They are alive! She's alive!" He gasped out in between chortles. He suddenly burst into a new fit of laughter. I think there were tears streaming down his face from the extreme laughter.

"Yes I heard. That didn't answer my question. Are you sure you are ok?" I ask warily. This was slightly unnerving; Nevertheless, I felt chuckles rise up my throat as well.

"Sh-she's alive. By the Gods, she's alive!" He continued to laugh. Suddenly, we were leaning on each other, laughing uncontrollably like children. I understood now. The relief. The pure relief that washed over me, unleashed in this laughter. I understand. We laughed for our loves, we laughed for the future and our past. We laughed until we were gasping for air, and then laughed some more. We laughed until tears came out of my eyes, until my stomach began to ache, until I was left gasping for air. Until only breathless giggles were left.

They were alive.

Alive.

Sakuwai's POV

I tugged on the back of Rusafa's tunic. He turned to face me.

"The spy…" I whisper. He immediately hushes me.

"I will keep an eye out. I have already informed the king, but we both have to watch all of them." He whispers back.

I nod vigorously and he turns again to leave. I looked around at the aids loitering around. I could not imagine any of them spying on us. I had learned to trust all of them like family after our travels. But one of them is. Princess Yuki…poor princess Yuki. She trusted them all so deeply. She accepted them into her heart, and now this. I wonder how she felt about this? Was she hurting?

I suddenly steeled myself. It doesn't matter how much I trusted these people. One of them is a liar. And I will find out who it is.

"Sakuwai, what's wrong?" A gentle voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Oh. Shubas. It's nothing. I'm just tired after such a long trip." I lie.

"Well, let me walk you to your room then. Would you like me to bring you anything to eat?" He hurriedly puts an arm over my shoulder as if I would pass out any minute.

"Haha no, I'm fine! And I'm the handmaid, aren't I supposed to bring you food?" I joke at him.

"You may be the goddesses handmaid, but we are friends. We are on equal ground, you are tired. And so as a friend, I will bring you some soup later." He smiled shyly back.

I giggled at him. He sounded so much like Miss Yuki. It was odd, this shy, mouse of a man compared to someone as brave and self assured as Miss Yuki?

But I couldn't help but see the common kindness behind their eyes. They cared for people around them, they saw people as people, beyond the statuses forced upon us. He was like Miss. Yuki. He saw me, not a beggar, not my dirty hands. Just me.

Could he be the spy? Why would he do such a thing? I cant imagine Shubas doing such a thing…but then again, I couldn't imagine any of them doing it.

I nestled into the soft pillows. For now, I just want to sleep. I just want to sleep and dream of my fairytales for a while, before I am forced back into the real world.

It wasn't very much after my nap that His Majesty called all of us for a meeting. I stood next to Rusafa in front with His Majesty, carefully checking the facial expressions of our friends. Perhaps the spy would show some kind of emotion. Some sense of guilt. I watched each face intently, steeling any emotions I had. I trusted every single one of these people. But that doesn't matter. I can't let my emotions get in the way. I had to smother my emotions for now.

"If anything happens to Yuri because of this little issue…I will personally strike off the head of the perpetrator. I hope…that my sword will not be stained with any of the blood in this room." Came the King's chilling declaration. I glanced around the room but to no avail. Everybody's expression seemed to mirror the same surprise, the same disbelief and shock. The king stalked out of the room silently, leaving us to find the culprit on our own.

"Rusafa! You can't honestly think any of us would betray His Majesty?! Any one of us would lay our lives down for Princess Yuri and Princess Yuki!" Kash broke the silence.

"Whether I want to believe it or not, the fact stands that important information got to Egypt. Information that only those in this room can get." Rusafa sighed. I looked around again. Mittanamwa, Kash, and the sisters were arguing, trying to see if there was any other way the information got out.

Suddenly, I locked on to Shubas.

I may be young. I may not have much experience in life, but I know a rattled expression when I saw one. Why was he anxious? I can't make split decisions yet, but I think Shubas knows more then he lets on…

I felt my hands shake. How could sweet, kind Shubas be hiding something? I can't imagine him sneaking around and doing such a thing. Why would he hurt our goddesses?

I found myself standing in an empty room. Everyone had left. What should I do? What would Miss Yuki do?

I steeled myself. I would watch. I would gather information. I would not be a burden.

That night, I stayed in the bar, watching. Miss Yuki had a talent of hiding in the shadows, I had a talent for hiding in plain sight. With all of these "working ladies" here, I blended in effortlessly. Men never seem to realize, that even ladies like us…we hear things. People like us; we are like furniture to some. We are nothing more then part of the background.

But, that means they sometimes say things they don't mean for others to hear. They don't realize that we are people, that we hear things. That's why maids knew the best secrets.

I grazed aimlessly through the room, picking up snippets of information as I went. I suddenly saw Shubas dash out of the bar toward the military rooms. I quickly trailed him.

It was so dark, there weren't any torches here. I took a deep breath and forged ahead.

Where did he go? I just saw him…

"Sakuwai?" A voice behind me made me jump a good three feet in the air.

"Sh-Shubas?" I squeaked. I guess I wouldn't make a good spy.

"What's wrong? What are you doing here so late?" His voice was lined with concern. My heart melted a bit at that. He was worried about me. I had to take a deep breath. I couldn't let my emotions get in the way here. I have a job to do.

"I couldn't sleep, and I went to go for a walk, but I got lost." I lie smoothly, throwing in a careless smile.

"Oh, well why don't I get a glass of warm milk for you and then I'll walk you to your room. Is there anything I can do to help you sleep?" He asked, grasping my hand and leading me back the way I came.

As I followed behind him, I couldn't believe that Shubas would want to hurt anyone. I suddenly shook my head. It doesn't matter what I feel right now. Someone is spying. I need to find out who.

Ilbani's POV

My Yuki was alive. She was in Egypt, but she was alive. That one statement shined a light on every other misfortune. Suddenly, all of the problems seemed to dim.

That doesn't mean that they disappear. There was still a spy. There was still a war. And Yuki was still in Egypt. But she was alive.

I stood behind the King, keeping an eye on things as usual, Kikkuri beside me. The three sisters were just entering with lunch.

"Ryui, Shala! One of you was out in the military rooms last night. Which one was it and where did you go?" Rusafa suddenly burst in with Kash. The twins looked utterly astonished.

"Ryui! You were gone for a while last night! Where were you? You know everyone is worried about the spy!" Hadi grabbed her sister's shoulders. Ryui seemed reluctant to answer.

I watched things unfold; I could not bring myself to believe that Ryui would do such a thing. Those sisters, they would give their lives for Yuri. If they wanted her dead, they would have done it long ago. They had access to every part of the princess' lives. I did take an intrest in Shubas, who looked like he wanted to say something, stepping forward.

"I-I" Ryui stuttered, her face turning red.

"Ryui was with me last night!" Kikkuri suddenly interjected. That did send a jolt of surprise at that information. I never would have guessed those two would have had a spark. Hadi seemed quite surprised as well, she was more angry though.

"With everything going on! Shame on you!" Hadi shouted, raising her hand on her sister. The resounding slap echoed the room. It victim, Kikkuri, sat there, looking quite uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault not Ryui's." he sounded like a dejected puppy.

"You know what? Celebrate the wedding back in Hattusa. But right now, I have some questions for Shubas over there." His Majesty turned all our attention to a fleeting young man. He suddenly dashed for the door.

Of course, he didn't get far before Kash tackled him to the ground.

"Shubas? Why? I trusted you!" Rusafa shouted, drawing his weapon.

"No!" Sakuwai suddenly leapt forward, standing in front of Shubas.

"Sakuwai? Move! This is not your concern!" Rusafa snarled.

I raised an eyebrow in surprise. When I had left Sakuwai with Yuki, she was a scrap of a girl, now, she stood with her head held high in defiance. I couldn't help but marvel at Yuki's affect on her after only a short while.

"I-I don't think Shubas would spy! He wouldn't hurt the kingdom!" Sakuwai cried, her voice wavering just a bit.

And argument began to break loose. Understandable under these circumstances. Chaos. That was what ensued when our goddesses were gone.

"Stop." His Majesty's voice suddenly rang loud and clear. Everything stopped. " I believe I chose my aides well. Shubas may not have been the spy, but I believe he may know something."

"I-I passed information on Your Majesty's health to Zora in the second infantry unit! But Zora would never…" Shubas seemed at a loss.

Suddenly, Mittanamwa burst into the room, dragging a haggard Zora behind him.

"Here! Here is your spy to my mortal shame! You may have both of our heads for this!" Mittanamwa growled in fury. His face was nearly purple with anger as he drew his sword. Kash and Rusafa hurried to calm him down.

"P-please! I was not passing the information to enemy agents! I was merely passing it to the Queen Dowager!" Zora shook as he kneeled.

The room seemed to freeze. The Queen was receiving this information. A sense of doom descended into the room.

"I-If the information was sent to the Queen Dowager, and ended up in Egypt…then that means…" Hadi trailed off.

"That the Queen Dowager is sending information to Queen Nefertiti in Egypt." Sakuwai finished.

"You dog! How could you! I trusted you!" Shubas shouted, punching Zora straight in the face.
"Enough, Shubas." The King commanded.

The rest of the conversation faded away as a realization of the danger hit me. Yuki was in Egypt. If Nefertiti finds out Yuki and Yuri are in Egypt, they will be done for. Useless. I felt so useless. I was stuck here while the woman I love was in mortal danger.

This wasn't the first time I felt like this. Whenever she would pull these stunts, I would be left feeling pathetic. I was no soldier, I can't charge in swords drawn like His Majesty. What kind of man was I? I couldn't even protect her. What use am I? Yuki. My Yuki. She never depended on anybody to help her out of a tough spot. Perhaps it's because she knows that she is the only one who is capable. That I can't do anything. That I am just an advisor, stuck behind a desk, stuck taking notes.

"What use am I, if I cannot fight?" I ask into the empty room.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Hadi. I sighed and began to walk away.

"You don't have to fight to be important." Hadi said. "You know, Princess Yuki couldn't fight at all when she came here. She still isn't strong enough to take on most soldiers. Sakuwai can't fight at all."

"What's you're point?" I growl in frustration.

"I'm saying, Princess Yuki doesn't charge in swords drawn like Princess Yuri. She knows that she cannot hold her own in battle most of the time. So she instead she would do what she does best. She gathers information, she plays behind the scenes. Sakuwai can't wield a weapon. She couldn't protect Princess Yuki in Egypt, so she tried to protect her by getting information back to us here about the spy. You don't have to wield a sword to protect her." Hadi smiled softly at me. It was killing her too. Being stuck here.

What can I do? What could I do to make her safe?

That's it.

"Hadi. Get me a clay tablet." I command.

"Of course. But may I ask why?" She asks as she turns to leave the room on my request.

"I am going to tie a noose around Nakia's throat so tightly that she will never escape." I vow.

Yuki's POV

I fidgeted uneasily in the long dress Ramses' mother put me in. The jewelry was loud, too jingly. The dress was too long, but it was tight and hard to move in. This was no dress for fighting.

"Oh, the wedding dress fits you perfectly! With this and the birth of my first grandchild, I will have no regrets!" Ramses' mother sobbed. I fidgeted again. I never knew what to do with crying people. Comforting has never been my strong point. I awkwardly pat her shoulder, which sends her into more tears. Eventually, Ramses came and ushered his mother out of the room.

I fingered the smooth fabric of the dress. I had agreed to this "wedding" to get to see the Queen Nefertiti. I wouldn't allow Yuri to do it. If news got back to Hattusa, The King would be crushed. Then again…Ilbani wouldn't be happy about this either.

Ah…I'm such an awful woman. I constantly do this to Ilbani. I don't mean to hurt him. It just always ends up like this. Sometimes, I want to be more like a court lady. A lady who would just sit still and not cause trouble. One who would pass my days sipping tea and gossiping about meaningless drabbles. One who would wear pretty dresses and attend parties instead of senate meetings. Then maybe Ilbani wouldn't always have that troubled look on his face. I know I should, but every time something happens, I find myself in the midst of it all. And Ilbani always ends up looking incredibly agitated.

I'm so awful. And I'm such a hypocrite. I wanted Yuri and Sakuwai out of trouble. I worry over them constantly. I get vexed when Yuri refuses to listen to me and gets into trouble. Yet here I am, constantly putting Ilbani in the same situation. He deserves so much better.

"Ah, so your heart belongs to someone else." Nefert's cheery voice came behind me. When did she get here? Only Yuri and Nefert were left in the room, all the maids had left. I sigh and begin to pull the jewelry off of me carefully.

"That was a statement. Not a question. " I answer simply. Pulling the dress over my head and putting the boys tunic back on. Yuri was looking at me with worried eyes.

"Women's intuition. There is more to this wedding then you let on." Nefert sang, bouncing out of the room. She was a strange woman. Not like any of her sisters, and defiantly not like any of the aristocrats I know. She wasn't pompous, and she was clever. But she had a boldness about her that reminded me of Yuri. She said whatever was on her mind, did whatever she pleased.

"Yuki, are you sure you're up for this?" Yuri asked unsurely.

"Yuri, I told you. It's not a real wedding. I need to get to Queen Nefert. I will not waste an opportunity." I smile a bit at her.

"You sound like Ereshkigal right now." She whispered.

"I am Ereshkigal." I pull the clips out of my hair, wincing as a few strands were plucked from the clips.

"No. You sound cold. You don't want to do this. Even if you know it's fake. You don't want to. " Yuri whispers, soothing a hand through my hair.

I smile unhappily. Of course she would see through me. That's who she was. She was right, of course. I hate this plan. I know it's fake, but it still feels wrong. Marrying another. Wrong, wrong, wrong!

But I can't let this opportunity slide by. I have to protect the ones I love, no matter what. I have to protect them. If this is the only way I can do it, then so be it. My discomfort will have to be set-aside for now.

"You know, you can be selfish every once and a while." Yuri whispered, helping me pull off a necklace from me.

"Selfish? Haven't I been selfish enough? Haven't I been living in luxury since our arrival in Anatolia? Haven't I done as I pleased in this land, regardless of what others thought? Haven't I put that poor man through enough trouble? Haven't I been selfish enough?" I ran a hand through my hair, checking for stray pins.

"No. You don't live in luxury like a princess. You give what you have to those in need. Like Sakuwai and the young boy in the village, Hassik. You sacrifice everything to help everyone else. You do what you please when it comes to helping others. Ilbani understands that is who you are. That's why he loves you. Don't you get it? He doesn't want some noble girl. He fell in love with you for you. But for a moment, why don't you just do something for yourself? If you don't want to do this, then don't. We can figure out another way. We always figure things out. You can be selfish sometimes." Yuri said softly before leaving. I couldn't help but look up in surprise. I really was transparent. I should fix that if I want to continue in politics back in Hattusa.

"Ah. It would be nice. But…I don't have that option. I can't do that though. There are too many lives on the line. Too many liabilities." My voice seemed to echo through the empty room. I have to do what is necessary. I have to. For the ones I love, I have to.

"Yuki! We have arrived in Thebes!" Ramses' voice drifted into the room from behind the door. Damn. That means I have to put on another fancy dress. I grumble a bit as I slipped a new dress over my head; at the same time the door burst open.

I pull the rest of the dress over myself, grateful that I wasn't facing the door when I changed.

"Can't you knock?" I hiss as Ramses swept into the room.

"I could. But I wont. Besides, what's the harm of seeing my pretty wife naked?" He teased, pulling on the strap of my dress. I slapped his hand away quickly.

"Please keep in mind that this is all pretend. You realize that, right?" I grumble, heading toward the door. His laughter followed me down the hall.

Yuri's POV

I trailed behind Yuki and Ramses as we walked off the boat. There were too many people. I could tell Yuki was uncomfortable. She walked with her head held high, standing perfectly straight as she did when she was determined. But I could see her glancing back and forth at the crowds. I saw her fingers twitch nervously, every once and a while touching the outside of her leg. Probably where her dagger was strapped. Yuki hated crowds. Crowds hid things, dark things. And with all of the attention on her, Yuki was just not comfortable. With all these other ladies scrutinizing her, she must be apprehensive.

Poor Yuki. I can tell she hates this entire plan. I can see it in the way she recoils just the slightest bit at Ramses' touch. The way her smile didn't reach her eyes.

Yuki always thinks she hides her emotions so well. And she does. But I've known her long enough. I've seen her bury her emotions. But I have also seen her ticks. I know slight twitches mean a lot more. A tiny shift in her eyes gives away a lot.

Right now, I know that Yuki is unhappy. I also know that she will do what it takes if it makes other people happy. I wonder when she will do things to make herself happy? But then again…Yuki always smiles the brightest when she makes someone else happy. I wonder if she realized that? That's just the kind of person she was. She cared for those above herself.

We finally found ourselves outside the gates to the Pharaoh's palace.

Sorry I took so long on this chapter! I kept getting sidetracked XD

So apparently some guy from Mittani has the power to control the world and no one really cares...weird.

I'm gonna experiment more on Sakuwai's character as we go through the story.

Honesty, the Egypt arc was slightly blurry for me, so I gotta re-read that part of the story.

Thanks for being patient and reading!

~EternallySnowy