"Princess Teana! Princess Teana... it is time to wake up!" yelled Maibe.

"Mmm? Ten more minutes Shukura..." mumbled a lazy Teana. Maibe came closer and blinked out of confusion.

"Shukura, Princess Teana, it is Maibe. Please wake up! You are in Egypt now, the Pharaoh requests your presence shortly." Maibe hesitantly shook the girl. Teana's eyes fluttered open.

"Oh dear!" She got up quickly.

"My lady shall I prepare your garments?"

"Yes, please. I shall go to the wash room now. Please have everything laid for me in the meantime. I expect that Shukura showed you where everything is?"

"Yes, my lady."

Alright then."

Teana stepped out of the bathroom refreshed from her shower. On her bed was a baby blue sleeveless dress set out for her. On her vanity, chucks of matching jewelry was also placed. 'Maibe has quite the taste in fashion.' Teana thought as she slipped the dress on. She nearly finished dressing when a knock was heard at the door. Teana opened it to see Maibe and Shukura.

"Oh you look gorgeous Teana! The blue really brings out your eyes!" Shukura gushed. "Time for makeup!"

"May I do it?" Maibe piped. Teana was surprised by this. Maibe came across to Teana as a shy, timid girl. Perhaps there was more to the girl than Teana thought at first. Teana suspected Maibe only acted this way to her superiors, considering her status as a servant. She hoped Maibe would reveal herself all in good time. Teana looked to Shukura for confirmation to allow Maibe to do her makeup.

"But of course, I don't mind." Shuruka moved aside to allow Maibe space to work. Teana sat down at her vanity as Maibe slowly painted her eyes with light blue eye shadow and darkly outlined Teana's eyes with kohl. Then she applied some pale pink paint to Teana's lips.

"There, you look beautiful Princess. I do not see a need for blush as your cheeks are so rosy already. I did not apply too much makeup either. More should be applied for only special occasions." Maibe stated matter-of-factly. Teana looked in the mirror and smiled brightly.

"Oh gods. You work wonders Maibe! This is incredible, thank you!" She gave Maibe a hug, which took Maibe by surprise. She was not used to superiors acting in this manner towards her.

"Alright Maibe, you are officially on makeup duty from now on. You can work wonders with a brush." Shukura complimented. Maibe broke into a grin and nodded a thanks.

Teana joined Egypt's royals for breakfast with her father. It wasn't much of a voluntary act on her part, much like dinner had been yesterday. Mostly the fathers of the engaged spoke. Teana and Atem stayed out of their conversations for the most part unless spoken too.

"I have decided that it would do you children some good if you got to know one another before the wedding yes?" Pharaoh Aknamkanon chided.

"Yes, that would certainly help with Teana and Atem getting acquainted with each other." Teana's father agreed. "Doesn't that sound lovely dear?"

"Yes father."

Pharaoh Aknamkanon spoke again. "Until the day of the wedding, I have cleared most of Atem's schedule for the afternoons. The two of you shall have time to spend together then."

"That sounds wonderful father." Atem commented.

"Atem shall come get you this afternoon Princess."Aknamkanon told her.

"Of course."

Teana was laying down on her bed. She was fingering her gold locket that Maibe picked to match her outfit. She was waiting for Atem. 'Egypt is even hotter than Nubia is.' Teana sighed. 'I guess I have to get used to it now that I'm going to be living here. Not to mention eventually becoming queen.'

Teana's thoughts were interrupted when she heard a knock at the door and deep voice questionably ask "Princess Teana?" It was Atem of course, that deep voice could not possibly belong to anyone else.

Teana abruptly sat up on the bed and proceeded to walk over to the door to open.

"Princess."

"Prince?" Teana tilted her head to one side.

Atem gave a nervous smile. "Shall we?" He head out his arm. Teana gave a nervous smile that showed of her white teeth and hesitantly joined her arms with him. Relieved Atem spoke again. "I thought perhaps you would like a tour of the palace, Princess Teana?"

"That would be lovely, as long as you agree to stop calling me Princess Teana and leave it be Teana." He raised his eyebrow. "If we are to be married, you should just call me by my name."

Atem was surprised at her abruptness and then grinned. "As long as you return the favor and call me simply Atem."

Teana smiled brightly at him with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. She let go of his arm and then bowed and winked at him. "Yes of course, simply Atem."

Atem chuckled. "Very clever, but just my name shall do for now." Teana rejoined their arms.

Teana was pretty bored for the most part. The palace was pretty, but to her it was uninteresting. She was a princess after all, she was used to this grandeur. She became interested only when Atem showed her the ballroom. "You have a ballroom here too!" She gasped.

"Of course, Egyptians love to dance! Nubians do not enjoy dancing?"

"Of course! I was just worried that Egyptians didn't."

Teana spun around getting a good look at the room and Atem couldn't help but glance at her. Her eyes sparkled while looking around and the way she spun around she looked quite pretty. But then again, he had met countless other beautiful girls too. He just was not engaged to them like he was to Teana. He hoped she would be special.

"Do you like to dance?"

"Huh?" Teana twirled around but then realized what he said. "I absolutely love dancing!"

"Then you shall enjoy doing so at the ball at our celebration coming up."

"Wait, what event do you speak of?"

Atem furrowed his eyebrows. "Oh, of course you are uninformed. You are Nubian after all, silly me. Every year Egypt has festivities to celebrate Egypt's rich history and rule."

"Oh." Teana mumbled.

"Um, as um... my future bride, ah I am expected to uh..." He stuttered, not knowing how to say the next part. How was this specific girl making him nervous? No other girl had before, unless it was when they were distinctly doing everything in their way to court him. The situation was quite different now. He actually was courting the girl before him."...to accompany you to this event. " He blurted out hastily, trying to say everything before he could make another mistake.

"Oh, alright." She replied. "I guess it would make sense. I mean they would not want the future bride of the prince to be found with another man as her date would they? And vice versa?" She nervously gave a soft laugh.

Atem did the same and nervously laughed with her. "So do you agree to it?"

Teana smiled and winked at him again. "But of course, simply Atem."

So Atem and Teana finally get to talk to each other and spend time with each other. They don't exactly hit it off, but they don't dislike each other and try to make the best of their situation. They are somewhat nervous around each other. I'm trying to make the story somewhat realistic so that they don't automatically fall in love.
**I am however, having some trouble in making up problems and issues of dispute between the couple, while their relationship develops, so if anyone has any ideas, feel free to shoot me a PM. I could use the help. :)
*Big thanks again to all my reviewers and my beta Akai22878!
*Please review!

~Startistica