"Jono asked me to the ball!" Maibe squealed.
"That is terrific! I am so happy for you!" Teana exclaimed back with almost as much enthusiasm. Teana chuckled, "And you thought that Jono could be interested in Shukura !"
"Wait, my brother...what?" Shukura stuttered shivering at that thought.
Maibe and Teana laughed. "She was afraid you two might be interested in each other before you two found out you were brother and sister."
"Jono would never... uh. He told me he had his suspicions about me since the second he saw me."
"Yes, Shukura . However, jealous Maibe here did not know that was what he was thinking while he was so graciously starring at you." Teana explained.
Shukura blushed. "Well you two make a lovely couple." She complimented.
"Shukura, have you found someone to accompany you?" Maibe asked.
"Well... actually..."
"Ooh...do tell dear." Maibe commanded.
"Hondo asked me and I told him I would be honored..."
"She told him she would be honored." Maibe interrupted and winked.
Shukura gave her a look and continued. "But he was worried about what my brother would say. He has been very overprotective of me and is constantly checking up on me. Hondo is afraid that my brother will not allow his companionship to the event with me."
"I can imagine your brother's reasons Shukura . He has just been reunited with you and he does not want to lose you again. But he should allow you to go with Hondo. Hondo is Jono's best friend. If you cannot trust your own best friend with your sister, who can you trust?" Teana thoughtfully stated.
Shukura shook Teana's seated leg."Come with me when I tell Jono. Reason with him Teana. Please?" She pleaded. "I do not want to go alone to the ball while all of my dearest friends have someone to accompany them. I am not saying I am totally interested in Hondo romantically at the moment, I just met him, but he seems like a nice person... and I really want to go to the party with someone..."
Teana bit her lip."Well Shukura...I.."
"Please!" Shukura pleaded again binding her hands in a desperate manner.
Teana blew a small lock of her hair that had gotten in front of her face. "Fine..." She softly huffed. She couldn't dare say no to her best friend. "The things I do for my friends."
"Why you! How dare you try to accompany my sister!" Jono glared at Hondo.
"Well... I.. uh." He stuttered.
"Big brother! Hondo is very respectable, he has been helping me get acquainted to living here in Egypt. He has been the upmost gentlemen and he is your dearest friend is he not? So why cannot he accompany me?"
"Because. You are my little sister and I..."
"Jono." Teana interrupted. "I believe Shukura is right. Would you prefer Shukura to be accompanied by another gentlemen whose intentions are not known? I think Hondo accompanying Shukura is a wonderful idea for both parties. Not only is he your best friend, but you know where he resides, and you have the necessary means to bring him harm if he acts in the littlest of ungentlemanly ways with Shukura ." Hondo winced at those words.
"Plus having your best friend accompany her, warrants you to check up on the two as much as you want. You certainly could not do that if an unfamiliar were to accompany her." Teana reasoned.
"Necessary means to bring him harm, eh?" Hondo winced again. Jono brought Hondo into a headlock as he shivered.
"Alright. I will grant you permission Shukura . However if you, Hondo do anything and I mean anything to bring my sister any bit of discomfort or pain you shall hear from me, in a most unpleasant manner." Jono threatened.
Hondo gulped. "I shall only treat Shukura with the utmost respect." He promised.
"Very well." Jono said as he turned to leave eyeing Hondo once more. "I will be watching you my friend, if I dare call you that."
When he was a safe distance away Shukura exclaimed."Teana!" She gave a beautiful smile. "You did it! You convinced big brother." She threw her arms around the princess.
"Oh please. No thanks is necessary." She humbly stated hugging Shukura back.
"The Princess has sharp diplomacy skills." Teana turned around.
"Seto! How long have you been standing there?"
"Only long enough to hear you speak your case on behalf of Shukura ." Seto casually stated.
"You shall make a fine queen one day, princess." Teana blushed, only to see Hondo and Shukura sneak off.
"Oh you are so kind. Do you really think so?" She looked up at him.
Seto moved closer. "Indeed I do." He smiled.
"Ahem."
"Atem! What are you doing here?" Teana gasped while Seto immediately took two steps back.
"I was taking a momentary break." He said calmly. His eyes, however held an accusatory glare.
"Oh, well... Seto and I were just talking..."
"So I see." Atem interrupted. Seto just stood there silently pressing his lips together.
"Well I should be returning back now." He glared at Seto while marching off.
The High Priest and princess stood silently for a minute. "What did he think we were doing?" She quietly asked. "He seemed to be mad at us."
Seto paused. "I am not entirely sure Teana. But let me tell you this, Atem has always had a slight problem with his jealousy and anger. Hopefully you may do him so good."
"Thank you Seto." She now smiled weakly.
Seto took her hand and then bowed. "Of course Princess." He then left.
Both were unaware that after Atem encountered them he hadn't entirely left. He hid behind a pillar watching them and straining to hear them. Unfortunately he couldn't hear a thing they said, but he noticed the closeness they shared. Seto and Teana had indeed become good friends in a short amount of time.
"How do you do it Mahad?" Atem yelled storming into the room.
Mahad widened his eyes and was slightly frightened at Atem's outburst.
Atem didn't give a chance to have Mahad speak because he continued. "How do you not storm up in flames every time you see Mana with someone else? Do you not get jealous? Am I the only one who get jealous? How do you control it?"
"Well considering it's you that I am usually jealous of..." Mahad whispered and mumbled under his breath.
"What?" Atem glared.
"Atem, you must calm down. Breathe. Take deep breaths and sit down." He motioned at a chair.
Atem gave him an evil glare, but listened to him. Mahad took a seat in front of him. "Now what is this about? Teana?"
"What do you think?" He snapped. His voice softened. "Yes." He covered his face with his hands. "I have never felt so jealous before."
"Maybe because you never had much to be jealous about before."
"What do you mean?"
"Well you are the prince, an only child, you have servants and I do not believe you had to fight for anyone's affections before. What I am guessing here is that Teana's affections are the first serious thing you have had to fight for. It may be because, just the fact that she is your betrothed and you truly want to make this work or even that you may actually have some sort of serious feeling for her romantically."
"It is just that, she is my betrothed. Not Seto's or anyone else, yet she seems to get along with them so much better than I am right now. Sure we have our moments and time together, but it is not enough. She spends all her time with Seto while I am attending my duties and I am... I am... afraid she will find love elsewhere." Atem revealed.
Mahad paused. "A month ago were you not complaining to Mana about how much you loathed this arrangement? If Teana were to find love elsewhere, would that not benefit you? That way you would be free to marry whomever you choose. Nubia and Egypt would still have an alliance of some sort as Seto is the High Priest, the two kingdoms just would not be joined together and Teana and you would not have an heir to rule the two the two lands."
Mahad knew this was not possible, but Atem did not notice. If Teana married Seto, the dispute over land could not be solved as the two lands would not be joined. This was not an option, the joining of the two lands was the reason why the marriage was arranged in the first place.
"But I want Teana to love me, marry me and have my heir, not Seto!" Atem exclaimed.
Mahad widened his eyes. "Seems to me you have fallen for her."
"What? No..." Atem tried to deny.
"You just told me you wanted her to love you, marry you, and eventually bear your children, not to mention."
"I said all that?"
"Yes." Mahad confirmed.
"Oh." Mahad nodded his head. "What do you do to calm your jealousy?" Atem asked softly after a while.
"I can control my jealousy much better than you can, but when I see Mana with another I..."
"Aha! I knew it you do have feelings for Mana!"
"What? I..no..ooops."
Atem smirked. "This is wonderful!"
"No! It is horrible! You are already betrothed to Teana. Mana and I on the other hand can never be together!"
"Why not? Priests are not forbidden to marry."
"Mana is my apprentice. She is many years younger than me." Mahad regretfully stated.
"That matters because?"
"Because it does. It would not be very appropriate for me to be with someone who is..."
"Age is but a number. As long as you cannot be mistaken for her father... I do not have a problem with it. I mean when you are both in your old age, nobody cares how old you are, just that you are really old."
Mahad chuckled this time. "Of course you would say something like that. Do you really think Mana and I could be happy together?"
"Of course. Besides it is so obvious Mana likes you back."
"Wait she does?" Mahad questioned in wonder.
"Please. She talks about you like you could be Ra himself." Atem rolled his eyes.
Mahad shyly smiled. "So! About helping you with your jealousy..."
"Aah, that." Atem said smacking his hand lightly on the side of his face.
"Try counting, or taking deep breaths."
"Why?"
"It may help you cool down the anger and jealousy you may be feeling." He explained.
"Well it sounds..." Atem stopped when he eyed Mahad's glare. "Fine I shall try it." He grunted.
Some brief hints at Ardentshipping and Apprenticeshipping for those of you who like it, although as of right now there isn't plans to develop their relationships greatly. The story's main focus is the main Anzu and Atem couple. Sorry to those who wanted more of that couple, though there may be a little more Polarshipping. Atem also finally realizes his true feelings for Teana this chapter. Dum..da..dum ..da..dum... (He wants her to bear his children! lol :D) The question is, does Teana return his feelings yet? Next chapter is the ball with more AtemxTeana moments! I know you have beem waiting for it!
**And a special thanks to C.W (guest) for your review saying that this was the 'greatest story' you have 'ever read'! *Sniffle* *Sniffle* :') It makes me so happy to hear you say that. Really, thank you so much! I love to see all my readers reviews!
*To Fanfictionfixer1 (guest), I will take into account what you have said. I've changed some of the following things that you have pinpointed already in my story. I have read that kohl (used in substitute of eyeliner) AND a type of mascara were used in ancient time although there is no designated name for it in the past known. My story isn't really meant to be very historical based, it's more so just a background to the plot, although I do try to incorporate it somewhat. It's my first multi-chapter story and I'm still trying to develop my writing style. I thank you for your review nevertheless.
Stay tuned and PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!
~Startistica