Author's Note: HOLY! ALL THE REVIEWS! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!
I wanted to update ASAP and started this chapter the day after I started the story. The reason it took so long to update was because I rewrote it… wait for it… THREE TIMES. Now, I have finally deemed it publishable. The end result? A reeeeaaaallllllly long chapter… Hooray!
Happy reading!
Chapter 2
Atem arose from bed with a deep, content sigh. He no longer needed to wake early and dress appropriately for the court, because there was no need. All suitors had been sent home.
Except for Lady Yugi.
Before he could drown anymore his this thought and his current pleasure, a knock echoed through the Prince's chambers. But, the person didn't wait for the reply and strolled right in.
"Father?" Atem questioned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, "Why have you come here? Am I needed?"
"No, Atem, you are not needed, I just came for a visit," Akunumkanon responded, not waiting for an invitation to sit down on the edge of his son's bed.
Atem hummed for a moment before observing aloud, "You have that look in your eye, Father..."
"What look?" the Pharaoh immediately countered, pulling back as if he was accused.
"That gleam in your eye when you want to tell me something but are afraid it'll upset me..."
Pharaoh Akunumkanon almost seemed to pout as he questioned teasingly, "Now, why would I, Pharaoh of Egypt, be afraid of anything?"
Atem chuckled and replied, "Because, you are intimidated by your youthful son."
"Am not!"
"Are to!"
"Am not!"
"Are to!"
Before Atem could even process, the Pharaoh began mercilessly tickling his son. Atem had tears running down his tan cheeks before his father even considered giving him time to breathe. But finally, he released Atem from his torture, letting the Prince take some deep breaths.
"You... almost killed me!..." Atem articulated through heavy pants, lying on his back on his bed.
The Pharaoh teased, "Still think I'm intimidated by you?"
Atem stayed silent, and Akunumkanon deeply chuckled.
The Pharaoh got up, ready to depart from his son's rooms, but Atem called, "Wait!" He sat up and inquired, "Did you think your little tickling ploy was going to make me forget that you had a reason for coming to see me?"
Akunumkanon turned back and faced Atem, admitting, "I did actually. And, I had almost gotten away with it!"
Atem smirked but urged, "Please, Father, tell me why you've come here."
The older royal sighed and began, "I am going along with your plan like you requested, son. But, there are a few things I must discuss with you first." Atem gestured for his father to sit once again, feeling a long explanation coming up. Akunumkanon complied and clarified in a hushed tone, "During your discussions and interactions with Lady Yugi, I will have spies placed on you."
"What? Why?" Atem cried indignantly. He was not a child whom needed to be babysat.
Akunumkanon sighed and asked, "Atem, how will I know that you will tell me the truth when it comes time about this girl? Would you lie to me that she is noble when she is not just to avoid going on a search for suitors again?"
Atem thought. He probably would. But, he answered indignantly, "Absolutely not!"
The Pharaoh shook his head, mumbling inaudible words.
Suddenly, Atem got an idea.
"Isis!" he exclaimed, "What about Isis! She can talk to Lady Yugi on a regular basis and be a spy for you. Obviously, Yugi wants to go home, so she would have no reason to lie to Isis."
His father contemplated this, stroking his beard. After a moment of careful thought, he agreed, "All right, Atem, I will go ask Isis to visit her every once in a while, starting today."
"Thank you, Father," Atem said, standing up to get ready for the day.
-transition-
"My lady," a wet-nurse alerted Yugi's mother, "I've nursed your baby."
"She's healthy, of course," the lady assumed and questioned, "Healthy enough to name?"
The nurse nodded but stayed in her place, trembling.
"What is it?" Yugi's mother asked with anxiety, "Is something wrong?"
"No- no, my lady, there is just a- a small problem," the woman stumbled.
Yugi's father, sitting next to his wife's bedside, cried with fatherly concern, "What is it? Tell us!"
The young nurse immediately lifted her eyes off the floor and informed softly, "She's blind, sir. She cannot see at all."
Yugi's mother instantly fell into sobs and Yugi's father wrapped his arms around her.
"Is- is there anything we- we can do?" the lady forced through her weeping.
The nurse weakly suggested, "I could bring her to the priests. Perhaps if they prayed over your daughter, the gods might cure her."
"Well, do it then!" Yugi's father snapped, only lashing out because of his fear.
The nurse nodded shakily and scurried out of the room to retrieve the child. She found her just where she left her and bundled the baby in several blankets to keep her warm. The nurse had to travel across town to the local temple to get the priest's help, and storm clouds were flooding the Egyptian skies. With care, the nurse mounted a horse and began the ride to the temple, caressing the child in her arms and clenching her to her heart.
The child began to feel rain speckle onto her face, and she gazed past the nurse with beautiful, violet eyes that didn't receive any vision.
"I'm praying they can help you," the woman whispered.
At last, the nurse spotted the temple on the edge of town. She quite literally jumped off the horse and ran directly into the temple, calling, "Is anyone here? We need some help!"
The sound of several people running to aid came to young Yugi's ears, and she turned her head toward the sound.
"What is your concern?" a priest questioned as he ran to the nurse's side, two other priests accompanying him.
"Lady Motou had her child," the nurse explained, motioning to the baby in her arms, "But she is proved to be blind. The Lord and Lady wished for her to be brought her in hope that you may pray over her and perhaps the gods may heal her."
"Yes, right away," the head priest nodded, taking the child from her arms.
He brought the baby into the temple sanctuary, praising her, "You're a very beautiful baby. I pray the gods can cure you."
The priests lied the child down at the front of temple and prayed over her.
After an hour, the priests returned to report back to the nurse.
"Did they cure her?" the young nurse questioned fearfully as they walked out the sanctuary.
"It is unclear," the head priest answered and told her, "We recommend that you leave her here for a few hours and come for her later. Only then can we know for sure."
The nurse swallowed at the thought of reporting this back the the baby's parents but nodded hesitantly. As she left the temple, she prayed fervently that the gods would pity this beautiful, blind child.
For the next few hours, Yugi stayed in the temple. Though it was cold and stormy outside, she was warm in her bundle. But, the stone floor she lied didn't suffice as a very good bed and was uncomfortable.
She began to cry.
"Don't worry, little girl," a young, male voice comforted, "I'm here."
Yugi leaned her head towards the voice, curious to whom the voice belonged.
It was Seto. A four year old Seto but Seto, nonetheless.
Seto leaned closer to the baby and whispered, "Don't tell the other priests I'm still here, okay?"
Yugi didn't answer but blinked, and that was good enough for Seto.
He sat down directly next to the child and inquired, "Why are you here? I mean, I like the company, but I'm usually the only one who stays here besides the priests." He moved closer and asked, "Wanna know a secret?"
Yugi blinked.
"I'm gonna be a priest someday, too," Seto promised in a hushed tone. He glanced around to confirm nobody was watching them. He added quietly, "For the Pharaoh." The boy didn't get a reply and resumed in his regular tone, "And, the priests told me that the Pharaoh just had a son. I'm probably gonna be a priest for him..." He continued with a smile, "The other priests say he's a very handsome prince."
Yugi's eyes closed lazily.
"Did you fall asleep?" Seto wondered aloud.
Yugi sneezed as if to prove his assumption wrong.
"Good," he smiled thoughtfully and observed, "You don't look at me a lot... Is something wrong?"
Yugi didn't open her eyes, content to only listen.
Seto hummed and pointed out, "You also don't talk much either... Do you just want to listen?"
Yugi did not respond in any way, simply enjoying a voice to listen to.
"Okay," Seto said as if she had replied and he agreed, "You can listen. I'll talk." He lied down next to the child and places his crossed arms under his head to act as a pillow. He whispered, "You know, priests don't marry, but I like you. Can we promise to be friends?"
Yugi hiccupped.
Seto beamed at this and suggested, "You know who you should marry? The Prince. Then, when we're older, we see each other all the time. We can all live in the palace together. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Yugi seemed to smile.
Young Seto yawned but continued to ramble on, putting Yugi to sleep and eventually putting himself to sleep.
When Seto awoke, the child was gone. He ran outside into the pale Egyptian sunlight and was just in time to watch Yugi being taken back home.
Seto tripped to the side of the road where a priest stood and asked in a whimper, "Where's... where's she going?"
"The baby?" the man questioned.
Seto nodded, confirming.
"She was only here for a little while, Seto. Her family was trying to cure her blindness. It didn't work..."
"What?..." Seto's weak voice trailed off and tears finally formed in his wide, sapphire eyes as he picked up, "You mean, I won't ever see her again?"
The priest patted the boy's back gently and comforted, "I don't know. Perhaps. But, you'll make plenty of other friends."
The man walked back into the temple, leaving Seto out in the dusty road.
Only after a few moments of silence did Seto whisper his reply.
"But, she promised... We are all gonna live in the palace together..."
-transition-
Yugi woke up, feeling a strange emptiness that only followed after one had a forgotten dream. She listened intently and heard no form of movement or sound, deciding it was most likely still late in the night.
She turned to the side and pulled her blanket over her shoulder, trying with much difficulty to recall her dream. All she could decipher was that it was a recalled memory.
And that she heard a voice. A very distinct voice.
Gnawing on her bottom lip, she tried to match up the voice with a name. But, she just couldn't. It was strange...
"Lady Yugi?"
Yugi jumped, thinking it must be the dead of the night. She questioned, "Who is it?"
"Priestess Isis," the female voice. She trailed off, "I hope I'm not intruding..."
"Not at all," Yugi promised and sat up. She admitted, "I just thought it was still night..."
"No," Isis confirmed, "It's morning." She inquired, "Would you like to join me for a walk in the courtyard?"
"Yes," Yugi replied, getting up.
Isis informed her, "I'll wait outside until you are ready."
"All right," Yugi agreed. She carefully began walking across her chambers, praying intently that she didn't trip on anything.
"Would you like some assistance?"
Yugi jumped once more. She had assumed Isis had left already. Had she stayed back to help her?
But it wasn't Isis.
It was a male voice. A very familiar male voice.
"Who are you?" Yugi demanded an answer, adding, "Your voice is familiar. I have heard it recently."
Atem swallowed dryly. He hadn't taken into account that she might recognize his voice.
Yugi sensed the hesitation and promised, "If you don't tell me your identity at this very moment, I will call the guards to arrest you."
She didn't know it, but it was an empty threat. The guards wouldn't arrest the crown prince. But, Atem rapidly made up, "I'm the head of the Prince's servants, Atem...u." He mentally facepalmed. Atemu? Could the name be any more obvious?
"Atemu?" Yugi questioned as Atem thought about his unintelligent cover name, "Why is your name so similar to the Prince's?"
"I was named after the Prince," Atem answered easily. A smile escaped him as he admired how well he was acting, but Yugi couldn't see it obviously.
Yugi hummed for a moment before saying quietly, "You were… in the courtroom yesterday… were you not?"
Atem gritted his teeth but answered honestly, "Yes."
Yugi's expression signified that she was becoming angry, about what, the Prince couldn't guess.
But, unexpectedly, her anger melted, and she whispered, "I suppose you couldn't have stop the Prince even if you had wanted to…" She twisted her foot nervously, "I suppose nobody could. Except the Pharaoh of course…" She suddenly looked up in Atem's general direction and asked, "Is the Prince always so arrogant?"
Arrogant?
Atem's eye twitched.
No, do not get angry. Just defend him- I mean me- calmly.
"You misunderstand, Lady Yugi," Atem assured her, "The Prince is not like that at all."
Yugi gave an unexpected smile and stated, "Well, he's just going to have to prove that to me then."
Atem smirked and answered, "He will."
"You seem confident, Atemu," Yugi continued smiling pleasingly, "I look forward to seeing your promise fulfilled."
Atem returned this pleasant smile though she didn't know. He reminded, "By the way, Isis is still waiting for you."
"Oh!" Yugi exclaimed with a look of surprise and said, "I have to get ready then. Please leave." She inquired, "Will I be able to talk to you again?"
"Yes," Atem instantaneously replied. He left with a grin, excited to begin proving her wrong.
Author's Note: I had to end there.
My foreshadowing is delicious! Delicious I say! I bet you've never heard someone describe their foreshadowing as delicious, have ya? I'M SPECIAL.
Again, thanks for all the many reviews so far! They really brighten my day!
P.S. Writing from the point of view of a blind person is HARD. Seriously. Hope I did it good enough…
More reviews would just be icing on this delicious chapter cake! (I like the word delicious today.) :)