Chapter 9: History

Walking through the museum, Larry led the way, following the directions on the maps scattered through the exhibits. Everyone was much quieter, still shaken from what had happened with the Xiangliu. Beth lingered at the back, looking at the Tablet in her hands. She studied it, reading the hieroglyphics that gave riddles instead of answers. It was frustrating to say the least.

"My lady, I must ask, just how does that Tablet work?" she jumped as Lancelot fell into step beside her. His bright eyes were focused on the Tablet, which was now more green than gold.

"I..." Beth started, and sighed heavily. "I don't know," she admitted. "It brings everyone to life at night, and has done for a very long time," Beth explained, looking down at the Tablet in her hands. Tears lingered in her eyes at the thought of the magic disappearing.

"So it's almost like a way to live forever," Lancelot's voice was quiet and thoughtful, making her frown.

"Everything alright?" he looked up sharply as Merlin stood on Beth's other side, smiling pleasantly. Lancelot cleared his throat.

"Of course! I was merely curious!" he defended, a little louder than necessary, before rushing off.

"What was that about?" Beth asked curiously as she looked at Merlin. He was watching Lancelot, who had started another conversation with Nick. "Seriously dude, what's your problem with him?" she questioned, having had enough of Merlin's cautious glances when he thought nobody was watching.

"Just...be careful, alright?" Merlin said to her. "Lancelot was obsessed with the quest to find the Holy Grail. He thought that if he could provide Arthur with the one thing he had desired for so long, he could finally..." Merlin trailed off, worried.

"Finally have Guinevere for himself," Beth guessed. Merlin nodded. "I know what it's like, not being able to be with the one you really love. You'd do anything to have it," Merlin looked at her, surprised, and found her gaze on Ahkmenrah, who was speaking with Attila. As if he knew he was being watched, he glanced back and met Beth's gaze, smiling at her despite his own worry.

"Lancelot is different to you and the Pharaoh, Beth," Merlin warned. "He will do anything to have it," his words made Beth look at him, not understanding what he meant. The Tablet was cold in her grasp, and she looked down at it. Despite her fear, she felt determined. She wouldn't lose. Not this time. Kahmunrah had stolen her future with Ahkmenrah once. She wouldn't let the Tablet that had brought them back together, separate them again.

"This is it," Larry spoke as they turned a corner and stepped into the Egyptian exhibit.

"Perhaps I should accompany you in," Lancelot suggested, sticking close to Nick's side.

"No I think we uh, we got it from here," Larry told him.

"Really?" Lancelot arched an eyebrow, looking cautious.

"No, we're good," Larry smiled.

"Right. Well..." Lancelot patted Nick's shoulder, sending a tremor through the boy at the strength behind it. "Friends. Larry. Clown-faced Keeper of the Magic Tablet," Beth giggled as the others frowned a little at the name. "I shall never forget your bravery. Nor your jests," he shook the man's hand, and Larry tried not to look too offended at the nickname.

"Bye," Larry nodded, but as they turned to leave, Lancelot spoke again.

"I shall not say 'goodbye'-"

"I am," Larry finally snapped at him, impatient to continue on.

"What?" Lancelot frowned.

"I'm gonna say goodbye. I have to go. I'm sorry. I'll see you," Larry waved quickly and hurried off before Lancelot could continue.

"Bye," Beth waved, smiling at him as she passed. They continued on, and as Lancelot walked away, Beth frowned. "Shouldn't you be on your way too?" she asked Merlin, who was still by her side.

"What, you want rid of me so easily? You wound me," Merlin declared, a hand to his chest. Beth rolled her eyes.

"You're a dumbass," she told him, making him grin. As they approached a much grander room, Beth grew more nervous, and moved to stand behind Attila. Hearing Merlin giggle, she shot him a glare. Attila glanced around and smiled at her, moving to pat her shoulder. He spoke softly, soothing her, and she offered a weak smile back.

"I haven't seen these walls for many a moon," Ahkmenrah commented as he looked around at the familiar walls. He smiled at the part of his past he had been separated from. They approached the two sarcophagi in the middle of the room, and slowed as they found both lids lifted off, and the contents gone.

"Ahkmen?" the Pharaoh froze, his eyes going wide at the familiar voice he hadn't heard in years. Beth swallowed and ducked behind Attila as a beautiful woman emerged from the back.

"Mother..." Ahkmenrah breathed, before she rushed over and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. He returned the gesture, barely able to believe she was there. Another figure emerged from the back, and they parted as the man approached, carrying a large staff. "Father..." he approached slowly.

"Welcome home, my son," Merenkahre pulled him into a hug as Shepseheret watched with a tearful smile.

"I want you to meet my friends," Ahkmenrah spoke as he pulled away, turning to the others. They approached slowly, and the man turned to them.

"I am Merenkahre, Pharaoh of the Nile, and father to the son of the Sun," he declared.

"And I am Shepseheret, the glittering jewel of the Nine Kingdoms," the woman beside him introduced herself.

"And I am Larry," the man spoke awkwardly.

"Guardian of Brooklyn," Ahkmenrah supplied helpfully. Larry shrugged.

"Yes, well, I live in Manhattan now," Larry admitted.

"I know, but it doesn't sound as cool," Ahkmenrah shrugged. As Larry tried to get to the point of their visit, Merlin leaned closer to Attila.

"So are you going to hide this entire time, or – ow!" he yelped, jumping away from Beth as she punched his arm hard. Pegasus, startled by the actions, swirled around her.

"Stay out of it," she hissed. Merlin sniffed, pouting as he rubbed his arm. Beth rolled her eyes. "I'll get to it in my own good-" she stopped as she heard the startled gasp.

"By the Gods...could it be?" Shepseheret breathed, interrupting Larry and her husband. "Safiya?" she asked, unable to believe her eyes as she stared at Beth. The young woman sighed, swatting Pegasus away as he continued to swirl, pulling all their attention.

"Ra almighty..." Merenkahre stared as Beth reluctantly stepped out from behind the hulking man. He patted her shoulder again, offering a sympathetic smile. Ahkmenrah smiled in amusement as Beth blushed, rubbing her arm.

"Um..." before she could say anything, Shepseheret had rushed over and embraced her in a tight hug. Beth froze, not quite sure how to react to the Queen's embrace.

"After all this time, I cannot believe you..." Shepseheret trailed off as she released Beth and studied her. "There is something different about you. Are you truly Safiya?" she asked.

"I uh..." Beth shook her head quickly. "I'm sorry, my lady," Beth bowed her head respectfully. "But we're not here about that. We're here about the Tablet," she held up the Tablet in her hands. "Something's wrong with it," Shepseheret led her up to Merenkahre, and the man took it from her. Ahkmenrah took his staff as his father studied the corrosion.

"It's losing its power..." Merenkahre frowned as he pushed the pieces out of place and studied every bit of it. "It shouldn't be...not now. It should have lasted far longer," he shook his head. "Something has drained it," Merenkahre muttered, and Beth's eyes widened.

"Kahmunrah," her words had an immediate effect on the two, who looked at her sharply. Shepseheret reached out to touch her husband's arm in comfort.

"What do you mean?" Merenkahre asked her. Beth shifted uncomfortably in his gaze, but stopped herself from drawing closer to his son as comfort.

"A few years ago, the Tablet ended up in another museum, and Kahmunrah used it to open the Gate to the Underworld," Beth explained, her eyes growing haunted as she remembered what had happened. The two stared at her in horror.

"No...after everything..." Merenkahre whispered. Beth then shook her head.

"Larry stopped him before any harm could happen. But that must be what drained the Tablet so much," Beth told him, and the man relaxed a little, but still looked horrified at the mention on his eldest son. Beth glanced to Ahkmenrah, who gave a soft smile back.

"Do you think you could fix it?" Larry asked hopefully. Merenkahre looked up at him sharply.

"To do that, I would have to divulge the secret of the Tablet," he said firmly, in a voice that told them he would not do so.

"I uh...promise we won't tell anyone," Larry said weakly, not sure how to react.

"No," Merenkahre stated. Nobody spoke for a moment, all of them at a loss.

"Please, my lord, without the magic...the Tablet..." Beth trailed off, her fear returning. The others were silent, their heads falling in defeat.

"I cannot do that," Merenkahre shook his head, but looked apologetic.

"Father, why do you insist on keeping this to yourself?" Ahkmenrah demanded, not willing to give up.

"The secret was to be passed down to you at the proper time. Before then, I was sworn not to tell a soul about it," Merenkahre explained to him, softening a little more.

"By who?" Ahkmenrah asked him.

"By me," they all looked around to see an older man step into view. His grey hair and silver eyes made Beth frown, as she found him very familiar. With a sharp inhalation, both Merenkahre and Shepseheret fell into bows before him. "Rise, I don't believe we have time for such courtesies," he smiled in amusement, waving a hand.

"Who are you?" Larry asked with a frown.

"Show some respect," Merenkahre hissed at him. "You are speaking to the God of the Moon, Khonsu," his declaration made them all freeze.

"Khonsu?" Beth repeated, her eyes still on him. The man smiled at her. "Wait, we've met before," she accused him.

"Oh, you remember?" his eyes shimmered in amusement. Beth put a hand to her head as it throbbed.

"Nothing like two young woman taking fate into their own hands," the two jumped and looked around quickly. Going on the defensive, Beth's eyes turned amber, before they saw an old man sweeping the pathway nearby, cleaning up the litter scattered around. "I'm sorry if I frightened you, I just couldn't help myself," he chuckled, looking up. His pale blue eyes and his grey hair shone in the moonlight.

"Damn right we're taking fate into our own hands," Marie told him, smiling once her heart-rate calmed. Beth relaxed, her eyes turning brown again. It still surprised her how naturally she was able to call her powers to her now.

"Good to hear," the man smiled at her, before his eerie eyes turned to Beth as if studying her. She frowned, recognising him from somewhere. She just couldn't place it. "Be careful out there...it seems as if tonight could be quite...eventful," he mused, turning away.

"What do you mean?" Beth couldn't help but call after him, and he paused, looking around.

"The grand reopening of the Planetarium is tonight, am I right? Or are you lovely ladies dressed to the nines for something else?" he asked, and when she didn't answer, he turned away with a chuckle. "Goodnight," he called back, walking away before Beth could ask anything else.

"You were that old guy who talked to me on my way to the museum, two nights ago," Beth remembered. His smile grew and he nodded. "But...I knew you from somewhere else," she muttered.

"I'd say the first sign of madness is talking to yourself, but if you're seeing things, you're probably past that stage," Beth jumped with a frightened squeak and whirled around as a man swept the path behind her. He had grey hair that almost seemed silver in the moonlight, and an amused smile on his face as he continued to sweep. His broom glinted in the poor light. Beth frowned, realising that it had been him she had seen from the window.

"Um...why are you sweeping at night?" she asked curiously. The man laughed, looking up with pale blue eyes that were almost silver in colour like her own currently were.

"Why not? The night is very important. It's a full moon tonight too," he looked up at the moon, his eyes shining in the moonlight. "Magic happens on the night of a full moon," the man commented softly.

"True..." Beth agreed with a nod.

"Besides, there aren't any guests around at night. Usually the best time do it undisturbed," he mused aloud. "If you're looking for that other security guard, he ran off towards Air and Space a moment ago with a lovely young lady and a glowing tablet. Probably showing off for her," the man chuckled.

"Oh, thanks!" Beth smiled, and hurried in the direction of the Air and Space museum.

"Oh, and be careful, there are some weird ones out tonight," he called after her.

"You were the one who pointed me in the direction Larry and Amelia had gone in, that night in the Smithsonian," Beth accused him.

"Well I couldn't rightly leave you to wander the grounds at night by yourself and risk missing out on such fun," his silver eyes shimmered. Beth couldn't speak, not knowing what to say in response. To think a God had been watching out for her was baffling. "But anyway," Khonsu clapped his hands together. "Merenkahre, if you wish to keep the power in the Tablet alive, I would suggest you reveal the secret," he suggested.

"My lord, you made me swear-"

"I think now is an appropriate time to wave that oath. You were always meant to pass on the secret, who cares if there's a few members of the audience," Khonsu chuckled, patting Beth on the head. Merenkahre sighed, and Shepseheret touched his arm again, nodding with a gentle smile. Merenkahre nodded back, and turned to Ahkmenrah.

"You were born at midnight," he told his son softly. Everyone fell silent. "I was Pharaoh, and I had seen wonders that most men had only dreamed of, but when I first gazed upon you," Merenkahre smiled. "You were instantly more precious to me than all the wonders of the ancient world," he admitted. Ahkmenrah stared at him, never having heard the story either. "I knew I couldn't bear to say goodbye, so I ordered the High Priest to create a gift to you, my son, using all of what we learned regarding the mysteries of the Afterlife. Forged in the Temple of Khonsu, God of the Moon and watcher of night-time travellers; the Tablet of Ahkmenrah. Our tomb was designed to channel Khonsu's rays down to the Tablet, rejuvenating its powers every night. The Moon God bestowed his powers upon the Tablet, stating that as long as it bathed in his light, our family would be together forever, and even death could never part us," Merenkahre finished.

"In other words..." Khonsu stretched casually. "It's been away from my light for too long," he explained.

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Beth asked, turning to him. "You approached me in disguise, but never told me that the Tablet needed your power. Why?" she demanded. He watched her, looking amused.

"I also saved your life, you know that?" she froze at his light comment. "The day you almost got hit by that truck, remember?" Khonsu reminded her.

"You what?" Larry scowled at the girl, who went red.

"The old guy..." Beth remembered, before shaking her head. "That doesn't answer my question! And why would you save me?" she demanded.

"The Gods have put a lot of stock into the Tablet, and you. We weren't about to lose you again before you'd even awakened to your destiny," Khonsu grinned.

"Hey Khonsu, why are you spilling everything already?" another voice complained, and another man walked in. This one was younger, with curly hair and glasses, frowning at him.

"Oh, hey Thoth," Khonsu greeted.

"Thoth? The God of Knowledge?" Beth frowned, recognising the man too.

"Good evening," she jumped at the pleasant voice that seemed to come from nowhere. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," she found a young man with a pair of thick glasses perched on his nose smiling at her.

"Oh...it's okay, I seem to be very jumpy today," Beth smiled back at the man, whose easy smile relaxed her.

"It seems to be one of those nights. I suppose with everything happening here, everyone is very excited," the young man commented, pushing his glasses back up as they slid down his nose. "Are you here for the festivities too?" he asked her.

"I work here, I'm the night guard," Beth told him.

"My, that sounds fun," the young man's eyes gleamed at the idea. "So much can be learned from a place like this, and at night...I imagine it is even more interesting," Beth arched an eyebrow at his words. "Since you do not have to ensure people are abiding by the rules," he clarified.

"Oh, right," Beth chuckled, wondering why she was so on edge. It wasn't as if the stranger knew anything about the museum coming to life. "Are you here for the reopening? The entrance is over that way," Beth gestured, and he glanced around.

"I see," the young man nodded. "Thank you. I hope you enjoy your night," he told her, walking away.

On her hands and knees, Beth struggled to breathe, her vision still spinning as the flames circled her. She could feel the intense heat around her, but it didn't come close enough to burn her.

"What...what's happening?" she managed to whimper, clamping her eyes shut to try and stop her vision spinning. The ground began to quake nearby, and she managed to look up and see Rexy stomp by, roaring loudly.

"Come on," she gasped, and the fire burned even bigger and brighter, as Beth found herself being lifted into strong arms and carried away from the chaos.

After a minute, she was set down gently on a seat, steadied by hands, and she opened her eyes, looking up weakly. The dizziness was fading, leaving her shaky and feeling nauseas. She frowned slightly, confused as she stared up at the young man in glasses, watching her with a curious look.

"You?" she recognised him from outside. With curly brown hair and glasses, he didn't look much older than her.

"I knew tonight would be very informative, but not that much," he mused, more to himself than her. "Seems I've been held out on," he murmured.

"Who are you?" he blinked, as if only realising Beth was there.

"You can call me Todd," he grinned easily at her.

"Todd?" Beth repeated, drained and barely able to keep up.

"Hang in there, Bet'anya. They'll need your strength," Todd told her with another easy smile. After making sure she was able to sit by herself, he backed away. "We'll meet again soon enough," he then turned and walked off.

"Wait!" Beth called, but he was already gone.

"Seriously? Just how many of you have been talking to me?" Beth complained, folding her arms.

"Exactly Thoth, you can't complain, not when you've had someone helping them here too," Khonsu shrugged lightly. They frowned, until Merlin went to stand beside the other young man, who grinned at him.

So this is really when the big changes come in. I hope you like them!

I'm also officially finished writing this story, so updates will continue regularly! I'm so happy that I've finally managed to get through it. A lot of my block came very early and it was hard to push myself to keep going, so I hope you've enjoyed it!

Let me know what you think!