Chapter 23: Goddess of Mystery

Yuki's POV

I kneeled in the Pharaoh's palace. I never would have thought I would end up here.

"I congratulate you on your union, User Ramses. You're fiancé is quite a beauty." Pharaoh Hohemreb said. I barely paid any attention. Hohemreb was known as a very foolish pharaoh, nothing more then a figurehead. My main point of interest was the woman sitting off to the side. The Queen Dowager Nefertiti. The Queen who has followed behind the rule of three pharaohs. Controlling them all from the shadows. I didn't like the way she was looking at us. She didn't believe this faux marriage. I could tell by the suspicious look in her eyes. I shot a nervous glance at Yuri. This place was well guarded, but if we dash now, we might make it before they react.

I clenched my teeth. No, we haven't failed yet. There was no information leaked about the goddesses in Egypt. We should be safe.

"Young ladies…I feel as if I know you from somewhere…" The pharaoh trailed off in thought.

I felt my heart skip a beat. I noticed Yuri stiffen up behind me. We had seen Hohemreb before he was pharaoh; In Emesa after Zannanza's death. He knew we were the goddesses of Hattusa!

"With all due respect, your grace, I feel as if you are flirting with my fiancée!" Ramses said in his signature teasing tone. I had to breath a sigh of relief though, the comment lightened the mood and distracted everyone.

"What was your name, my dear? And your sister as well." The pharaoh asked.

"A-Amunet! My name is Amunet." I blurt out the first Egyptian name I could think of. If I hesitated on such a simple question as my name, suspicions would rise.

"Yes. My beautiful Amunet. And her sister Naptera." Ramses trailed in seamlessly. I was grateful I didn't have to create a name for Yuri as well. I wasn't even aware if the name Amunet was common amoung Egyptians…

"Hm. Amunet. The goddess of mystery? An odd name for a child. And Naptera, 'beautiful one' or 'best one'. Are these women really best for you, Ramses?" Nefertiti scoffed. I couldn't help but see Queen Nakia in her place. The way they spoke, the way the stood. They were exactly alike. It was uncanny. I wonder why that is?

"Ah, I only plan to wed Amunet. And she is what I believe best for me." Ramses laughed offhandedly. His mannerism…it seemed to come as a blessing in this tense situation.

"Oh? I would have thought you chose her believe she would be best as the next Queen." Nefertiti seemed to be baiting Ramses for something. Was she suggesting Ramses was to be a pharaoh soon? I know this to be true from history books, but how could Nefertiti know? And why bring it up?

"I have offered you each of my six daughters to wed, but you have rejected all of them. Is it you do not like my daughters?" The queen continued. She was baiting something all right. I just need to figure out what.

"I reject them because I did not want to suggest I had ambitions for King." Ramses answered smoothly. That man really had a way of pushing things off.

"Really? It seems to me that you are sending a message. That you do not need to marry into royalty. That you see fate putting you in royalty." Nefertiti said loudly. Ah, so that was what was going on. Yes, this woman was much like Queen Nakia, throwing out dire accusations like that. How will Ramses deal with such an accusation? The room was pretty crowded; everyone heard Nefertiti's sly remark.

I know the reason Ramses didn't want to be seen as one going after the throne. According to my history books from Japan, there was an awful power struggle in Egypt. The murder of Tutankhamen proved just that. Those in line for the throne, they were often murdered quickly. Ramses was trying to stay below the radar.

Suddenly, Ramses burst out laughing. I turned to him in surprise. What could have gotten in to him? Laughing at a moment like this?

"You think I hope to become pharaoh? And that I chose this woman because she has qualities of a queen?" He continued to laugh.

Before I had any time to react, he snagged my chin and kissed me playfully on the lips. I growled and smacked him, pushing him off me.

"What are you thinking? At a time like this? And in public? Have you completely lost your mind?" I barked at him. He gave me a cat-like grin and wrapped his arms around me.

"See? She's fiery, but I love her dearly." He laughed. "We will wed in ten days. I humble request your royal presence."

I was mad enough I could spit fire. How dare he kiss me like that? I will admit, it got us out of a pretty tough spot. I'm still mad, though.

Yuri sighed and slid the wig off her head, letting her naturally curly hair puff out. I began to pull off the necklaces, before a maid scurried behind me and helped me undress. Uhg. I will never get used to these maids. It seemed like it was a bit too much for Yuri too.

"So, you met Queen Nefertiti. How do you think she was?" Ramses suddenly came in. I turned to glare at him as I pulled a new tunic over me.

"Knock." I reintegrated, trying in vain to wipe off the heavy makeup. I glanced at the mirror. I looked like a raccoon. I scrubbed at the makeup again with a rag.

"There was quite a bit of hostility between the two of you." Yuri sighed, pulling my hands away and dabbing at my eyes with a damp rag.

"May the gods help us from scheming Queens." I mumble. Yuri nodded and left to get rid of the dirty rags and discarded dresses.

"Ha. You're telling me. But that's why I am choosing you to be the next Queen of Egypt." He suddenly snaked his arm around my neck, pulling me into his chest.

I snarled and sank my teeth into his arm. He didn't budge, so I bit harder, I know there was blood. The coppery taste was making me sick.

"You can bite my entire arm off. It will not be enough to drive me away." He was suddenly serious. I hated when he was serious. It reminds me that he is still a general. That he is still a dangerous man that is keeping me here in Egypt. When he was playful, I could imagine him as a young sibling. When he was serious, I am reminded of the danger in this land.

"I will not love you. Don't you get it? I won't ever love you. I am only staying here to protect Hattusa, then I will take Yuri back with me." I glare at his image in the mirror. He had a pretty self-confident smirk on his face; he didn't even seem to notice the blood running down his arm from the bite marks. I still had the taste of blood in my mouth. Gross.

"Help me understand something. Why won't you just stay here with me? I can make you a Queen. You will have more power then you ever could in Hattusa. I understand Yuri's desire to go back to Hattusa. She will one day be Queen of Hattusa and rule over half the orient. You, on the other hand, will only reach the title of perhaps a noble at best. You will barely have power if you marry that advisor. So stay with me. Stay, and I can give you power over Egypt." He tightened his hold over me.

"I don't want power! I won't wed you for power! I don't need it! I am not in love with Ilbani because of his status. Power…it corrupts people. Don't you get it? I will not stay here because I will never love you! I can't!" I turn and shoved him off quickly. "Just as you do not love me. You fell in love with the goddess, Ereshkigal. You don't know anything about me! I hissed back.

"Let me ask you one thing. You say power corrupts. How about Yuri? What will you do when she corrupts?" Ramses didn't move closer to me. He looked genuinely curious.

"Yuri will not corrupt." I say surely.

"Oh? You sound sure of yourself. You never know, I bet your Queen Nakia and our Queen Nefertiti started as a wide-eyed, innocent princess. But look at them now." I wanted to wipe that smug expression off his face.

"Queen Nakia was a princess of Babylonia. Queen Nefertiti was a princess of Mittani." I think for a moment.

"What's your point?" Ramses urged.

"My point is, they were sent here to marry a stranger in a foreign land. They were separated from their family, treated as outsiders. It must have been lonely. Being here with no friends and family. And I notice there is rarely love in political marriages. When one doesn't have enough love in their life…they strive for something to fill the hole left in their heart. In their case, it was power. Those Queens are like that because of a lonely heart. Yuri is surrounded by people who love her. She will never fall under corruption." I look pointedly at him.

"Do you pity those Queens?" He returned my serious gaze.

"Yes. You know what? I do. I was sent to this foreign land. If Yuri wasn't here…if I couldn't make friends…then I wonder how I might have ended up. If Kail didn't love Yuri…perhaps she would become corrupt like them. Yes, I pity them, they suffer from lonely hearts. It's so sad." I sigh.

"Ah, you are too kind, Yuki. Truly, only you would think things in that perspective." Ramses laughed.

"Oh, don't be mistaken. I may feel pity for their situation, but I will very easily run a sword through them if I need to. Sadly, I am not as kind as Yuri. To protect the people I love, I will do whatever needs to be done." I say darkly, turning and stalking out the door without another word.

Ramses' POV

I watched Yuki's retreating form. A woman that didn't want power. I never thought that I would find one. But…Yuki didn't realize, she already had power. She had the power to silence a room, power to sway people in her favor. She had more natural power then she realized. Did I fall in love with the goddess? Perhaps. But more then ever, I fell in love with the woman who stood like a queen, who spoke like a queen.

That woman was made to be Queen. Ah, but perhaps she's right. I don't know anything about her. I never really had that problem with women before. There was never much to know about the women I usually tangled with. Usually, women in my life were flat to me. They were merely there. Either they were scheming like Nefertiti, or mindless like those princesses in the palace. It was rare in my life to find a woman like my sister Nefert, who had some spunk in her. Yuki, though, was more then just spunk.

So what was it I fell in love with? I didn't fall in love with her image as a goddess. I certainly did not fall in love with her beauty, though it was starting to grow on me. And she was right; I didn't know anything of her life before I met her.

I fell in love with her in a single moment. The moment, she had decided to pull that arrow out of her chest. I fell in love with a woman who was strong. It was merely that. And she was strong, so was it fair to say I had fallen in love with her? Or just the her in that moment?

"Bah. This love business takes too much thinking." I muse out loud.

"Ah, little brother finally feels the bitter draught of love."

"Nefert. Why can't you knock?" I turn to face my elder sister.

"Do you knock?" Came her retort.

"No. Perhaps it's a family thing." I laugh. Nefert is my favorite sister. She was clever, She thought. She was not easily distracted by little baubles like my other sisters.

"You know her heart is somewhere else." She suddenly says seriously.

"I know." I say curtly.

"Oh, Ok then. As long as you know!" She grinned and danced out of the room. Yes, my sister was definitely something else. I hope she never has her spirit oppressed by another man. She deserved better then that.

Yes, I know Yuki's heart is somewhere else. But what does that matter? All my life, I had believed I would never need a woman's love. I merely needed one fit to be queen. A woman that would be able to handle the power. She could be in it just for the power, and I wouldn't care. I didn't need a woman's love. Until now.

That damn woman has made a mouse of me.

Yuki's POV

Two months. It has been two months since our arrival in Egypt. I miss Hattusa, I miss Hadi, Ryui, Shala, Sakuwai, Rusafa….and Ilbani. It's been two months since I felt his touch, heard his voice. I'm afraid of forgetting.

What if I never get back? What if I forgot the velvety caress of his voice? The way his hands would cup my face…I'm afraid I will forget.

I have to keep busy…if I sit still, the ache in my heart is unbearable. I am afraid to forget him, but thinking about him makes my chest hurt. It makes it hard to breathe. But I don't want to forget. I can't forget.

So sometimes, when I have time alone, I think of him freely. I close my eyes and I see him. I see him walking into the room with a tray of food because I worked through lunch. I hear his wispy breath in my ear when we sleep. I could smell the scent of unbaked clay that seemed to cling to him. I could feel his comforting touch and the addicting feel of being enveloped in his embrace.

But then…I open my eyes and he's gone. I open my eyes, and my dream ends. Then I am left with nothing but the ugly reality that his is far, far away. Then I begin to ache again. I begin to feel as if I was breaking apart, that I was empty.

Ah, love is dangerous. This is what I was afraid of. It hurts. But then I remember what I promised myself. That love would never cripple me. That no matter how much it hurts, I have to move forward. I have to solve problems one at a time. That's the only way to get home. I have to keep moving forward. I know that…but it still aches.

"Hey, are you even listening?" Nefert's irritated voice pierced through my thoughts.

"Huh? Oh yeah. We're going to the temple of Isis for prayer…right?" I blink, clearing my thoughts.

I looked around again. Egypt. In a way, it was quite beautiful. The capitol city…looked a bit like Hattusa. The vendor stalls and noise were similar. But there were people that were off to the side, in the shadows. Starving. It's true, Hattusa has its share of poor, but the numbers seemed higher here. This just proved the fact that Egypt is in pretty bad shape.

"AHHHH!" I heard a scream nearby, Yuri looked that direction as well.

"Mercy, Your Honor! Please, mercy! The boy is only five years old!" A woman sobbed.

"Criminals must be punished." A man said with an arrogant smirk, his guards dragging a young boy by the hand.

"What is going on?" Yuri asked a passing woman.

"Seems the boy was hungry and stole some food from the temple. According to law, his arm will be cut off." The woman said casually. Apparently, this was a normal occurrence.

"What? For stealing food?" Yuri raged.

"Well if a man is absent from work due to illness, he is to be executed." Nefert interjected.

Egypt really was a mess…

"Stop!" Suddenly, Yuri's shoe came in contact with the executioner's face.

"Who dares?! Who in the world are you? You dare to challenge the head of the temple?!" The head priest thundered.

"There must be another way! Cutting off the child's arm is too cruel!" Yuri cried. I stiffened. This looks like it's about to get rough. Though Yuri probably did just land us in a pit of trouble, I will admit I am proud of her for standing up for the child.

"Cruel, but effective. Women don't understand things like this. Guards, take her away." He commanded.

Soon guards came up and reached for Yuri. This has gone just far enough, I think.

"I wouldn't touch her." I say, pulling Yuri to me. I discreetly reached for my blade, just in case I couldn't bluff my way out of this.

"You! You are Ramses' fiancée. No? Please, Princess Amunet, leave this issue be." The priest said in a disgustingly condescending voice.

"I will pay for the food the child took. You are to command you're guards to back away from my sister and I." I said in an uncompromising voice. This place is not like Hattusa. In Hattusa, I had the status of Ereshkigal behind me. Here, I have Amunet. Here, I was nothing more then one of Ramses' women.

"It is not the money but the moral! A thief must be punished!" The priest sounded like he was talking to a child. His guards were getting closer.

"Good sir, Call your guards off or I will not guarantee their safety. And I fail to see any moral in mutilating a starving child. I only see a sad man throwing his power around and picking on an innocent child!" I grin back hollowly.

"Don't touch me!" Yuri screeched. A guard had grabbed her arm. Ah, I did warn them, didn't I?

"Wha?!" The guards shouted in surprise as I pulled the dagger from under my skirt and disarmed them easily. These guards were merely thugs, not trained soldiers.

"Hah!" I hear metal on metal and turn to see Yuri had also donned a blade and was fighting the other half. Where had she gotten that sword? It was then I noticed 3 dancers were helping our cause.

Who was I to look a gift horse in the mouth?

I quickly grab the little boy's arm and urge him toward his hysterical mother.

"May blessing be upon you!" She sobbed.

"I would leave before they find their weapons." I advise before turning again.

I suddenly squeal in delight, launching myself into the "dancer's" arms.

"Hadi!" I chirp. "Ryui and Shala too!"

"Ah, not just us." Hadi whispered in my ear and turned me to face a man shrouded in a cloak.

"Ilbani!" I suddenly feel like I was going to cry…or laugh…I took a step forward and was about to launch into his arms.

Yuri suddenly grabbed the back of my dress and pulled me back. I turned in confusion.

"Remember, here, you are the fiancée of Ramses." She whispered, but pain edged her words.

Oh. That's right. Here I am Amunet. Here, I can't touch him. I looked at him again. He was right there…! Right there, after so long. And I can't even touch him. Taunting me. It was unbearable. I want to touch him. I want to hold him. Why? After so long…it's unbearably painful.

"Uuu…" I mumble, looking at the ground.

Suddenly, a familiar hand grasped mine. Ilbani kneeled before me, my hand to his lips. His soft, perfect lips. I could feel his breath on my hand as he spoke.

"I am aware of your situation. I came to ask a goddess for her blessing. " He said. The way he held my hand, as if he didn't want to let go. It made me feel safe. And empty, when he pulled away.

"How do you know Yuki and Yuri?" Nefert suddenly asked. I panicked. I don't have time to create a good cover!

"We stayed with their family for a while, we are traveling musicians. At the news of Miss. Yuki's marriage, we rushed to give our blessings." Ilbani lied smoothly.

"On another note, Nefert, I believe we have just caused some problems for your brother…" I sigh, watching the angry priest stalk off.

"Yaay! Thank you so much, Princess!"

"Congratulations on your engagement!"

"Please, I sell these wares. Accept them as my wedding gift!"

Voices around me cheered for Yuri and I.

"Ah, My brother sure knows how to pick them." Nefert mused.

"I understand completely, ma'am. Your brother has my sympathies." Ilbani commented, earning a playful snarl from me.

"Ilbani." I pull him to the side. " Thank you for coming for me. I-I'm so happy you're here." I try to keep my face straight. And was failing.

"You aren't coming back with us, are you? I figured as much. So we will accompany you to Ramses' palace." Ilbani smiled gently.

"Dangerous…It's dangerous! Ilbani, I don't know what I would do if you were hurt! You've already risked so much coming here, please, don't risk anymore!" I begged him.

" You still don't understand? I'd risk it all for you." His words made my heart flutter. I really missed that feeling. I really missed him.

"You…you know I love just you right? That you're the only one for me." I whisper to him. "This wedding…it's all fake. I needed…"

"To keep Yuri safe. I know. You have offered us a perfect way to get information on Nefertiti and Nakia's little relationship." Ilbani patted my head fondly. "You should know, I trust you. "

Ilbani's POV

Yuki. Seeing her here, alive and unharmed. It brought such a relief to me. Even if I can't touch her now, just seeing her eased my heart. Or so I would have thought. I thought I would be ok if I just saw her. If I saw her safe, a weight would lift off my heart. Well, I was half right.

Seeing her safe, yes it was a relief. But seeing her…It made me want to touch her more. It made me yearn to feel her in my arms again. Seeing her in front of me, so very close.

Even worse, seeing her in Ramses' arms. Even though I was grateful to see her violently reject him in his residence, she was forced to accept them in public to fool everyone. I understood that. I know it was necessary for the safety of His Majesty and Princess Yuri. I know, that Yuki would do whatever it takes to protect her sister. Just as I would go to great lengths to protect His Majesty. I understand. It still hurt.

Seeing another man's arms around her. Watching as he smirked at me. Mocking me. Knowing I could do nothing about it. It was painful.

But I have to push forward. I said that I would help Yuki in any way I could. Exposing her here for a petty jealousy would kill us all. This is my fight, it is the only way to keep her safe. I trust her.

I don't trust him. I don't trust the way his eyes follow Yuki around. The way he would put his arm around Yuki's waist and pull her close. This was no mere plan for him. I doubt he will let Yuki go easily. I don't trust him.

Yuki's POV

"I heard you had a scrap with the priest at the temple. I don't really mind, I don't like that priest anyhow. But whatever you did, the commoners are showering us with wedding gifts. I am more interested in the entourage you brought back with you." Ramses said with his arms crossed.

"You. I know you. You are Mursili's right hand man. And those ladies look suspiciously like your maids, Yuri. I dare say they are the very same. We are in times of war. I have no choice but to detain you." He continued.

"Wai-" I began, only to have Ilbani interrupt me.

" I would wait a moment before you arrest us. I have some information that you might wish to know." Ilbani said with a serious smirk.

I quieted and concentrated my attention on Ilbani. Information that would cause His Majesty to let them come all the way to Egypt.

"You must know that your Queen Dowager has been receiving information on Hattusa. You may be interested in how she is getting it." Ilbani began. Does that mean they found the spy? If the sisters were here, I am relieved that they were not involved. But then who would have leaked the information?

"The source if the information leak…is our own Queen Dowager, Nakia. An interesting turn of events, no?" Ilbani finished.

"My God…"Ramses breathed.

"Queen Nakia has committed outright treason!" Yuri exclaimed.

I didn't say anything. I just stood there. I can't say I was shocked. But I was certainly surprised. Treason, all for what? A war with Egypt? Gods save us from these conniving Queens.

"…Dead. She's dead." I whisper. All eyes were suddenly on me. "I have let her slide by too long. She has killed too many. Now, she as dug her own grave. I will not let this chance slide." I said in a hollow voice.

I really will get her this time. Her misstep was too large. No way that she can run. I have the cards. Now I just need to play them right.

Nakia. You best watch your back.

So now Yuki and Ilbani reunited...sorta.

And it looks like Nakia is just about done for.

Now all that's left in Egypt is to confront Queen Nefertiti.

Though I am kinda sad to leave Ramses behind...

Anyhow, thanks for reading!

~EternallySnowy