"The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring into space."
― Marilyn Monroe

She'd never fallen asleep that night, although he was currently laying under her, eyes closed and chest rising and falling, signaling that he was sleeping peacefully. The guilt was eating her up too much inside, the fear too large in her heart. Yet when the sun began to peek over the horizon, she was ready. She slid out of the bed, pulling on a fresh change of clothes. Once she did, she peered over at Ahkmenrah, watching the rise and fall of his chest, his lashes against his cheeks. She was filled with emotion then, wishing that she could stay with him, that they could be anywhere else than here. But it wasn't like that. It couldn't ever be like that.

Cena leaned over him, pressing her lips softly to his, trying not to wake him. His lips were soft, she realized, softer than they'd ever been before. But maybe that was because she knew that was going to happen, that she had to go through with this wretched plan to make sure that things turned out alright in the end. It took all of her might for her to pull away and she did so slowly, tears threatening to spill. She left the room then, knowing that if she stayed any longer, she wouldn't be able to leave him.

Her first stop was the study. When she stepped in, she was reminded of the time she and Ahkmenrah spent in there. The times when she watched him write, doing things that he had to do as the Pharaoh's son. She kept him company, although he never admitted that it was the reason that he asked her to be there. He didn't have to, though. She knew without him telling her. She remembered when they laughed together as he tickled her. Gods, it was the first time that she'd been truly happy since her mother died, and since she'd been taken prisoner by his guards. Snapping out of her daze, Cena grabbed parchment and ink then left quickly, knowing that she had no time to spare. She slid into the kitchens, past the food and into the very back corner where all of the precious and valuable things were kept. She broke open the cabinet and searched quickly, finding what she needed; poison.

Finding the plate that she needed was easy; Kahmenrah's meal was made in advance and always had to have some extravagant display that was in some way different than everyone else's. Cena would have rolled her eyes and snorted if it hadn't been for the present situation. She paused, knowing that she was about to do something that Ahkmenrah may not forgive her for when he found out, but she knew that it had to be done to ensure his safety. Taking a deep breath, she poured out half of the poison, mixing it in with his meal. Satisfied, she stood back, before she heard voices. She ran out immediately, running as far as her legs would carry her down the halls, knowing that she had to hurry in order to do what she wanted to do without anyone discovering her before it could be done.

The garden was easy to find, and thankfully, it was very close to the kitchens. She didn't have very much time to spare; it was obvious. She knew that people were beginning to stir. She grabbed the paper, scribbling out what she needed to say to him on it, before she folded it and put in into the envelope, writing his name out on the front. Tears blurred her vision, but she continued on, knowing that she had gone too far to stop now. Setting the envelope down gently on the floor beside her, she looked towards the bottle, half empty, and yet still enough to kill more people than just her.

Cena paused, looking down at the bottle. "How awfully melodramatic." She mumbled to herself, her eyes closing as a single tear slid down her cheek. "I love you." She muttered, and after that, there was no hesitation. She chugged the bottle down easily, setting it down afterwards, feeling it already working in her system. She cried out, holding her stomach, pain in her entire body. And then she felt nothing, absolutely nothing. It was a relief from the pain, but in a way, it was far more terrifying than the pain was. It meant that there was nothing else to feel, that she was going to die. She fell to the ground, her vision blurring, her system shutting down slowly. Was this how it felt to die?

She'd cheated death once, and she knew that she couldn't do it another time. But it was okay, because she knew that she was doing it for the one that she loved most. Finally, her eyes closed, and she allowed herself to drift off into nothingness, his blue eyes, contagious smile, and laughter on her mind.

"Father." Ahkmenrah spoke up, walking into the throne room. His father was currently talking to Ketet's father, but Ahkmenrah paid no mind to that. "Have you seen Cena? I have something I need her to do for me and I haven't got a clue as to where she is."

"Have you checked the gardens? I know that she's usually working there." His father suggested, still having no idea about the little affair that his son had taken part in.

Ahkmenrah nearly slapped himself. How could he have been so stupid? "Thank you, father." He said before he left casually, not wanting to draw attention to himself. Once he was out of sight, however, he bolted to the garden, a feeling of dread settling in his stomach. He didn't know why he was so scared, but something told him that there was something amiss.

"Cena?" Ahkmenrah called out as he entered the garden. "Cena?" He didn't see her anywhere. Just where was she hiding? "Cena?" Suddenly, he spotted someone on the ground. By the dark brown hair and figure, he knew that it was her. But there was something wrong. Why was she just laying there? "Cena!" He shouted, running full speed towards her. He dropped to his knees beside her, turning her over.

His heart sank into his stomach. She was cold. "Cena!" He shouted again, desperately. "Cena, wake up!" He begged and begged, feeling tears sting his eyes. He looked around her, only to see a bottle laying at her side. Poison.

"Gods, no!" He cried out, cupping her face in his hands. "Cena, wake up, wake up! Cena, please!" He saw the tears on her face, and realized that he was crying. "Cena." He muttered, sobbing as he held her lifeless body in his arms, clutching her tightly. What had he done to deserve this treatment? Why did she have to die like this? Why, why when she was the only woman that he'd ever loved in his life? She was taken from him unjustly, too soon before her time. It was the cause of the war. That damn, damn war. If there had just not been any war at all, he could have met her through different circumstances. Perhaps maybe at one of the expensive banquets that his father always held. He could see it now; him seeing her from across the room, beauty above all other women in the room. He'd walk up to her, take her hand in his and kiss it, but she'd take it away, acting appalled by his behavior, but secretly pleased that he'd chose her. Cena would play hard to get. That was just how she was.

Gods, if it were only so.

He spotted a letter on the ground and so he picked it up, not pulling Cena off of his lap just yet. She laid there, her body cold, but he didn't have the heart to remove her just yet. 'Ahkmenrah' it read on the front, and he recognized it as her handwriting. Elegant and neat, yet with a certain edge to it, just like her. He opened the envelope, pulling out the paper inside.

'Dearest Ahkmenrah,

There aren't enough words to express how sorry I am for leaving you like this, but I did it for the good of Egypt, and for your own good. I love you, Ahkmenrah, but there are things that must be done, and we weren't meant to be together in this lifetime.

I made the decision for you, because I knew that you weren't going to make the right one. I knew that you were going to choose to give up the throne, Ahkmenrah. I could see it in your eyes. You seem to forget that I know you well. I had to do something, and since you wouldn't listen to words, I chose actions. It was a rash decision, but I stand by it. I know that it was right.

Kahmunrah has been poisoned as well. I hope that you can forgive me for it, but there is a reason. He's been planning your assassination, Ahkmenrah. He was the one who sent the assassin the day that I stepped in to save you. I couldn't have him killing you, not when I wasn't around to protect you and warn you. I saved you, but in a way that I can't give you back something for taking away someone. In a way, taking my own life is a way of repenting for poisoning Kahmunrah.

Please be happy and live your life. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me.

Love,

Cena'

Looking down at her, he realized that she didn't look dead. Death hadn't taken away any of the beauty that he'd seen the moment she arrived in Egypt. She was still beautiful, alarmingly so, appearing as if she was in a peaceful sleep rather than lying dead in his arms. With a deep breath, he pocketed the letter and stood, carrying her into his brother's room first. Kahmenrah's room was only down the hall from the gardens, where he had requested to be. It was most likely how he'd found out about them in the first place.

True to the letter, Kahmenrah laid in his bed, his food knocked over before him. She'd put the poison in his food, he realized. Part of him missed his brother, the brother he used to spend time with as a child, the brother he used to run away from the tutors with and spend countless hours talking to. But part of him knew that his brother was going to kill him if he hadn't been killed. It a way, it tore him apart, but it also numbed him to the point where he barely felt the stabbing pain in his heart.

He swung around and marched to his father's throne room, Cena still in his arms. Most looked at him, shocked, but he found that he didn't care anymore. If they were going to banish him, fine. If they were going to kill him, fine. He was as good as dead now anyway.

He came before his father, who looked at him, shocked. "What is the meaning of this, Ahkmenrah?"

"Cena is dead." He spat, surprising his father with the venom in his voice. "She killed herself with poison."

"Then we will dispose of her body." His father replied dismissively, but Ahkmenrah continued.

"Her real murderer wasn't herself, though. It was you. It was Kahmunrah. It was anyone that ever stood against her. Against us." He took in a deep breath. "Cena is the only daughter of the Nubian king. She is the princess of Nubia. She was captured by our soldiers and brought here as a servant. When I learned, I was already in love with her, but it wouldn't have changed anything. The war with Nubia has done nothing but take the lives of our brothers." He spoke louder. "We let the judgement of others consume us, the greed of wanting more land overtake us. We let it cloud our thoughts and judgement, we let it keep us from doing what is right. Cena should not have died in vain." He paused. "I will be taking the throne, father, as your health is failing. And I will right the wrongs that have been done. My own brother has tried to murder me and is now lying dead. My only love is lying dead in my arms. And soon, due to your failing health, you'll be dead. I won't let my country be ripped away from me as well."

His father nodded his head, standing from the throne and crossing the room to his son. "You've finally grown enough for the crown." He spoke softly, reaching up and taking it off of his head. He set it on his son's head, nodding once. "The ceremony will take place tomorrow. As for Cena..." He paused, looking down at the brunette. "A proper buriel will take place today."

He stood on the balcony before his people, as the crown was placed on his head once more, announcing him as the official Pharaoh. Suddenly, the crowd burst into applause. Many servants stood, clapping for their new ruler. Smiles were on their faces, which surprised Ahkmenrah. As he looked down at everyone, clapping and congradulating him, he felt as if something was missing. He realized that it was the feeling of Cena's hand in his. But he pushed the feeling out of his mind, looking at the people around him, his people, realizing that Cena was right. He had to be strong, because these people needed him to be strong.

"I am Ahkmenrah," He spoke, loudly, with authority in his voice. "Fourth king of the four kings and ruler of the land of my fathers. And I am your Pharaoh!"

The room burst into a defeaning applause then, and he couldn't hear himself think over it. But it brought a smile to his face. He'd rule them just as Cena told him to. It was the least he could do for someone who'd done so much for him.

"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings."
― Anaïs Nin

A/N: Thank you guys for reading this story! I really appreciate all of the reviews I got, (from MismatchedSocksandKnickers, Nymartian, and spatterson.) I also very much appreciate each follow, favorite, and view I got!

The sequel will be out soon, so don't worry, this isn't the end for Cena and Ahkmenrah just yet.