Teana slipped on a pale pink dress with thick straps that Maibe has laid out for her. As she was putting it on, she thought about yesterday's events when she was with Atem. He wasn't rude or annoying, it wasn't unpleasant, but it was not that enjoyable either. Atem had showed her most of the palace, with the exception of a few places, but... for some reason she just couldn't enjoy it. She knew that Atem showed her around because it was the simplest thing to do, when you did not know someone.

There was no said spark between her and Atem. Atem was courteous, charming and of course very polite, but she found nothing out of the ordinary besides his appearance which still mystified her.

As Teana was lost in thought, Maibe came in to apply Teana's makeup. She smiled upon seeing Maibe and silently sat at the vanity while Maibe concentrated on applying Teana's makeup. Teana, however, wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to it. She was in her own little world, thoughts flooding through her mind.

Teana sighed, she knows Atem is a nice guy, but that was all she could say. She was to marry him soon, but she felt no real connection to him. What was this wives' tale about love at first sight? That surely did not apply here. Unless he wasn't her true love... 'No! Don't think like that Teana. Mother didn't love father at first either.' She scolded herself again.

Her father was leaving today after breakfast, she was reminded. She would miss her father. At least Shukura would remain. She also had Maibe, whom she was warming up to. 'I am supposed to meet some of the priests and priestess tomorrow, maybe I shall make some friends out of one of them as well.'

After breakfast Teana bid her father good bye privately. She warmly embraced her father. "Oh father, I shall miss you dearly." Her father raised her chin up so their eyes could meet.

"Be strong little one. Marriage is not an easy thing. Try to be content. I am sure my daughter will make a beautiful bride." Teana smiled weakly. "Next time we meet, you will no longer be mine. You will be married. I am so proud of you my little Teana. I'm so glad Ra blessed me with a daughter like you. No son of mine would have ever made me as happy as you do."

Teana gasped, her father had just said he was glad that Ra had given him a daughter rather than a son! A son was always celebrated more than a daughter was, even if people were subtle about it. Teana had always wondered what would have happened if her mother did not get that complication in childbearing. Would they push to make sure they got at least one son?

Seeing her shock, Teana's father kissed her forehead delicately. "You as my daughter is much better than any number of sons who would not care for me as you do." A tear slipped from Teana's eyes. What was with her parents making her so emotional all of a sudden?

"Goodbye my sweet Teana. Take care." Teana felt her father's teardrops fall on her head. Her father never cried! Never before...

"Goodbye father." She hugged him tighter once more as her father flicked off his remnants of tear and with his fingers cleaned off Teana's as well. He slowly let go off her and planted another kiss on her forehead. "Be safe my child. Remember who you are. You are Teana, Princess of Nubia and my daughter and you always will be." With those words embedded into Teana's mind, he withdrew and embarked on his carriage. Teana watched as her father's carriage along with the servants and guards that accompanied them to ride off into the glimmering sunset.

"Oh Shukura! I'm so glad you did not leave me too." Teana hugged her.

"Oh gosh, me too! I would hate to go back to Nubia where my best friend would not be present." Shukura exclaimed. Teana smiled at her response and Shukura waved her hand while she moved back onto the bed sitting on her knees. "So! You have lots to tell me my lady." She said with a wink. "Has a man claimed your heart yet?"

Teana sighed and looked down at her hand, as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. She lightly drummed her fingers on her leg. "I do not know Shukura. Atem... well I do not see anything out of the ordinary from him."

"Out of the ordinary?" Shukura chuckled. "Have you seen his hair?" She motioned with her hand to her own head. "Wow. His hair is quite remarkable."

Teana gave a weak smile. "So it is. His appearance is quite remarkable, but his personality? It is not at all." Shukura frowned at her. "He is polite and kind... and sweet... but so are so many other people I have met. You forget, I am a Princess. I have been around and met dozens of Princes and nobles from near and far. Local nobles and foreign princes, some have been better than others. Nothing has ever stood out from either of them! Atem so far is no different, the only remarkable thing about him is the fact, I have never met him before, surprisingly." She smiled.

"And his hair!" Shukura added lifting and finger and lightning the mood. Her plan worked as Teana laughed.

"You and his hair." Teana shook her head. "Perhaps we can see if the royal hairdresser here can try to accommodate you with a similar fashion of hair. Perhaps you could wear a wig!"

Shukura's eyes opened wider with Teana's fake suggestion. "No thank you!" She puffed. Teana winked at her and then immediately her face went solemn again. She began to jingle her bangle with her index finger. "Shukura, do you think I will ever be able to love him?"

Shukura paused, trying to figure out how to answer. "I sure hope so Teana."

"I know my parents found love, through their marriage which was arranged, but that is not always the case." She stated simply.

"Teana." Shukura said affectionately. "Love marriages do not necessarily turn out any better."

"What do you mean? When a marriage is commenced due to love, how does it not turn out better?"

"Because, what we feel is not always what we think it is. There is love... and there is lust. My parents were wed out of love, but look at me now Teana! My parents had their wedding annulled and you do know how hard that is. My brother and I were ripped away from each other's grasp." A tear slipped from her eye. "But maybe... just maybe I can find him now."

Teana tilted her head questioningly. "Remember when I told you that I was not of Nubian descent?" Teana nodded to Shukura. "Well..." Shukura began. "I think I may be Egyptian."

"What?!" Teana shouted.

Shukura shrugged. "Something about here, the culture...it just seems so familiar... Egypt's culture is very much like Nubia's, but not entirely. I seem to be familiar with even the different aspects of Egyptian and Nubian culture."

Shukura gave a low cough trying to change the shift of the conversation. "Ahem. But it does not matter Egyptian or Nubian, for you Teana. Marriage life is the same. Do not fool yourself into thinking marrying for love would have been better. Love marriages are no better. Sometimes they are even worse. "

Shukura paused and thought on how to phrase the next part. "Promise me this though, do not announce your love, until you are sure it is true. I do not want you to get hurt as well."

Teana hesitated and then solemnly nodded as she watched on how the emotion welled in her handmaiden's eyes. It was at this moment that she agreed silently to this promise.

There wasn't an AtemxTeana moment in this one. Just a very touching father-daughter farewell. I want Atem and Teana's relationship to grow gradually...fear not you will get your moments eventually. I know many of you are asking for longer chapters, which is quite difficult for me. I am trying, but as a novice Fanfiction writer (This is is my first ever multi-chapter story and I have only been on Fanfiction officially for a couple of months) I'm still trying to manage that and updating regularly. My beta Akai22878, however is being a great help to me and I thank her so so much! You're awesome! :D
**I also posted a new one-shot that many of you may like for this pairing. There are a couple of surprises in that one-shot as well. So please check it out and review for that as well!
*And of course, I would greatly appreciate it if you review for this story!

~Startistica