Wisdom of Ages

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in The Mummy (1999) except for my OCs.

Terms to Know:

Horus: Falcon-headed God of the Sky and War. Son of Osiris and Isis. Pharaohs were said to be the living form of Horus.

Thoth: Ibis headed God of writing, knowledge, wisdom, the moon, and science. He is one of the oldest Gods of the Egyptian pantheon. Thoth himself claims to be of Atlantean origin in his fabled Emerald Tablets.

Oath of Horus: A fictional law that I have created for the story. All pharaohs were said to be incarnate of the God Horus. Thus they had a duty to their lineage to keep the bloodlines pure and within the family.

Hear ye these words of wisdom.
Hear ye and make them thine own.
Find in them the formless.
Mystery is but hidden knowledge.
Know and ye shall unveil.
Find the deep-buried wisdom
and be master of darkness and Light.
-Emerald Tablets of Thoth, Translation by Doreal.

Early summer, 1295

The soft tendrils of her dreams floated away on a cloud of fantasy as Ancksunamun awoke on her stiff mat. Since arriving at the palace, her dreams had felt like an escape from her monotonous routine. Most nights, she dreamt of a mud brick house nestled into the river valley. Fresh-baked bread and honey wafted in the breeze. Crocodiles lazed on the river bank, warming their cold bones in the sun. Kittens ran to and fro across the villager's feet meowing for food. The satiny Blue Lotus blossoms grazed her fingers as she placed them into her sister's hair. They enjoyed each other's presence as the sun went down. Each morning she lay there, savoring the simplicities of her past. She knew that life may never come again.

Groaning, she pushed herself into a sitting position and tried to open her bleary eyes. The cold stone floor greeted her. The other women around her were waking up, too, their eyes trained on the floor. Ancksunamun knew she was one of the lucky ones. She had been chosen to come here; others had not been so fortunate. Many were slaves stolen from neighboring lands. Forced to entertain the Pharaoh and his men.

Pink, fluffy clouds floated by the window as she thought of all she had given up to be here. Home was where her heart was, and nothing would change that. She didn't understand the allure of this job; she only knew many women back home wanted it. How she envied them now! The Pharaoh didn't even give the dancers the time of day, much less any appreciation. He spent the day swarmed by his concubines, who serviced him at a moment's whim. That was the job many of the women wanted. It could lead to better things. Bile rose in her throat at the thought of it.

Standing up, her flimsy blanket fell to the floor. Sauntering over to the shared wash bin, she didn't even spare a thought for it anymore; it was how it was. In her mind's eye, she was washing in the crisp waters of the river; that was all she needed to feel better. Stomach grumbling, she teared up, Oh how I miss mothers cooking! She was allotted two meals a day, and it was always leftovers from whatever the palace elite hadn't finished. Silent tears falling down her face, she stepped out of the tub.

Not giving herself time to dry off, she slipped her beaded dress over her head. The fabric clung to her skin, scratching her as she pulled it down. Hurrying over to the mirror, she fussed with her appearance. It was still shocking to her. In only a few months, a new woman was staring back at her. Wiping away the tears on her cheeks, she tugged on the dress, forming it to her newfound curves. Where there had once been ribs now sat perky breasts. She had never had those before. Turning around, she looked at her rump in the mirror, feeling self-conscious about its size. She wished there were other dresses that were less form-fitting. Sighing in frustration, she left for breakfast.

Imhotep awoke in a panic. Clutching his chest, he heaved for breath. The goddess had been in his dreams again, taunting him. Rubbing his hands across his head, he felt like he was going insane. Throwing back his covers, he stood up and made his way to the wash bin. Dowsing his face and shaving for his religious rites, he pulled on his black robes and left the room.

His heart pounding, he felt his breath still coming in harsh gasps. He had not been speaking to Seti or anyone for that matter. The headaches, the dreams… it was too much for him to bear. Seti was annoyed with Imhotep's lack of attention and ensured he knew it. But Imhotep couldn't focus.

He attended to his temple duties in a distracted manner. Finding himself at the foot of Osiris, he snapped out of his reverie. The statue loomed overhead, staring down at him with kind eyes. Imhotep felt himself relax as he felt the God's presence around him. The heady scent of Frankincense permeated the air, washing over him. His eyes fluttered closed, and he prayed to his God.

"Oh, Lord Osiris,
Keeper of the Dead,
Father of the Living,
Please protect me,
Keep me from strife,
Always welcome me
To your halls of truth.

Oh, Lord Osiris,
Hear my plea,
I invoke thee,
Watch over me,
Help me do my best,
Bring me forth
Into the Light of Day
And I will always
Worship thee."

Imhotep opened his eyes and peered up at the God as the torches on the walls flickered. Imhotep felt lighter and more prepared as he left the Temple. His mind lighter, he knew he could now be a better confidant to the Pharaoh.

His most pressing matter at the moment was not his dreams; it was the Oath of Horus. The Pharaoh was not upholding his Pharaonic duties. It was causing Imhotep many nights of tossing and turning. The Oath of Horus denoted that the Pharaoh must keep the bloodline pure. But as many of his wives had failed to produce a male heir, the Pharaoh became desperate.

Seti had recently ordered a hostile takeover of a neighboring land. He was collecting concubines of high breeding to bring back to Egypt. Many had failed already. The worst part of Imhotep's job was that he was the one to do the Pharaoh's bidding, and it weighed heavy on his heart. Though he prayed to the Gods and upkept their sacred rituals and rites, Imhotep feared his soul was marred. He wished he didn't have to be the Vizier; it was a fate worse than exile.

Seti seemed only to be able to produce daughters, and this proved to be a thorn in Imhotep's side. It was his job to send the mothers away to the countryside, never to be heard from again. Their babies were kept at the palace as they were of royal blood. The mothers were kept quiet, not to breathe a word of their failure to anyone. Most of this hadn't been in the job description. What atrocity would be next?

Leaving the Temple, Imhotep's short-lived relief from the headaches was over. With each step toward the palace, the white-hot searing pain came back. He was not even surprised anymore, but he wished he knew why they kept happening.

Imhotep pushed open the doors, noting that Seti was already there. Seti looked despondent as he beckoned Imhotep over.

"Imhotep," Seti said. "Tell me, how many daughters do I have now?"

Imhotep rolled his eyes and almost chuckled. Keeping his composure, he sat down next to him and replied, "I am not sure, but I know there have been many."

Huffing and placing his head in his hands, Seti didn't respond. Imhotep's headache was increasing each moment he sat there. Shifting in his seat, he waited for Seti to speak again.

"I am a failure to the Gods, Imhotep. What do I do? Tell me what I must do!" Seti's voice rose from a whisper to a yell. Everyone in the room turned to look.

"Hush," Imhotep replied, giving a harsh stare to the workers on either side of the room. Dark eyes rimmed in gold swam through the sea of faces, and Imhotep felt his stomach drop. He stared back into the deep pools until they disappeared from sight. He had no idea who they belonged to. His heart pounded in time with his head. Sweat pricking his brow, he shook his head to clear it.

Leaning closer to the Pharaoh, he whispered, "Do you wish for me to convene with the Gods on this matter?"

Peeking through his fingers, Seti's dark eyes glistened with frustrated tears. "You must."

"So it will be, my Lord." Imhotep nodded. Cracking a good-natured smile at Seti, he nudged him in jest at the misuse of the title. He was trying his hardest to forget what had occurred. The dark eyes in the crowd felt familiar.

Smirking back at him, Seti sat straighter on his throne. "I have something else to ask you…." Seti said, snapping his fingers. Two Medjai rushed forward, and Seti whispered in their ears. They rushed off with a wave of the Pharaoh's hand.

Finally, the Medjai returned with a singular scroll on a red satin pillow. Seti nodded and turned to Imhotep, dismissing the guards. Imhotep snapped out of his reverie and concentrated on the Pharaoh.

"Here, I wanted to discuss this with you," Seti said, placing the scroll before him.

Imhotep unraveled it, marveling at its weight. He sat staring at it, his mind reeling. Drawn upon the papyrus was a city of some sort. A massive necropolis built for the wealth of kings. It was rudimentary at best.

"What is this?" Imhotep asked, dumbstruck.

Chuckling, Seti replied. "It is to be my greatest work. It will be a city that showcases my prowess in battle. My triumphs over my enemies. It will be a place of worship and a place of hiding. It is to contain my eternal resting place. And Imhotep…" Seti leaned in, his warm breath on his ear. "I want you to honor me by building it."

Imhotep's mind spun in circles. Me? Build it? He had only taken a few years of architecture design while studying in scribe school. It was out of his capabilities.

"Seti…" Imhotep began. Seti held up his hand to stop him.

"I will not take no for an answer. I saw the work you've done in Saqqara. It would be a great offense to me if you did not take this job. I will have no one else do it!"

Imhotep scratched his chin, mulling over the possibility of taking on a job of this caliber. He trusts me this much to do this? Build his final resting place? "Seti…" he began again. "Why me? Why not your master architect? I'm sure he is more qualified to build this than me?"

Seti leaned in, his dark eyes serious. "I trust you, and only you do to this. You are my greatest friend in this world."

Imhotep smiled at that and clapped Seti on the back. "Alright! I'll do it! But first… we need to rework this design. It will not do!"

Seti laughed, and the two men put their heads together and got to work.

Ancksunmaun sat in a daze in the kitchens. Her supper sat uneaten as she picked at it. Her mind was elsewhere, back to the throne room this morning. The girls had been abuzz with the news that the Pharaoh was looking for a new concubine. The rumor was that he was becoming desperate to produce an heir. He had yet to be successful so far. It was strange to her that many of the concubines were seen pregnant... only to disappear without a trace. Baby girls were rampant around the palace, not a mother in sight. It was all unnerving to Ancksunamun.

Nonetheless, the other dancers were ecstatic about the Pharaoh's desperation. They knew that becoming a concubine was among the highest honors besides being a royal wife. Many women knew it was a long shot, but it was their only real chance out of a life of servitude. But Ancksunamun knew better. The Pharaoh would never choose a dancer as his concubine. He only chose those of the highest breeding. Women that he had purchased or stolen from neighboring kingdoms. He wasn't that desperate. Was he?

Pushing back her plate, Ancksunamuns stomach roiled. I never ever want to be near the man. Nor touched by him, for that matter. Standing shakily, she returned to her chambers for the night, leaving her food untouched. She thought back to the other event this morning. Seti had had a breakdown this morning, leaving the throne room silent and full of tension. He had been talking with a man she had never seen before. The man had moved into the room, quiet as a mouse, his face a mask of haughty indifference. Something about him felt exotic.

He had turned and looked at her, his eyes grazing over her, not seeing her. His eyes were hard, cold, and not at all warm or inviting. Though he was handsome, something about him made her stop cold. After all, he worked for her enemy, so how good-looking could he actually be? But there had been a pull in her abdomen, drawing her to him at the same time. White-hot heat had seared through her. Her whole body felt alive, igniting a feeling she had never felt before. She had gritted her teeth and pulled her gaze away, fighting the emotions within her. Their souls had felt connected for one split second before the spell had been broken. But the force of it had stayed with her.

Reaching the servant's quarters, Ancksunamun was met with a wall of sound. Loud laughter and excessive chattering filled the gloom of the dark hallways.

"Oh, my Gods! Kesi! I can't believe he chose you!"

The other women sat in a heap in the middle of the room. Pillows and blankets were strewn about, lost in the girls' excitement. Ancksunmaun rolled her eyes and walked over to her mat on the far side of the room. A loud laugh startled her as she sat down, and she huffed. Do they really need to sit in here and gossip?

Laying down, her back to the commotion, she tried to block out their prattling, to no avail.

"I believe it! I have always been his favorite, as you well all know." Kesi snickered.

"How did he ask you?" Another girl asked, her excitement palpable.

Ancksunamun sat there with her eyes trained on the wall and listened.

Kesi laughed. "He came to me while I was sitting, tending to my feet. You know how he's always looked at me like that." She laughed again. "It's no surprise… It was a matter of time."

"But what are you going to do? Are you leaving us?" Another asked.

"Well, of course! How could I stay here when I'm now above all of you?" Kesi said.

The other women laughed, oblivious to the nastiness that Kesi intended. Ancksunamun felt annoyance fill her as she lay there.

"Besides, it's not every day that you get asked to be part of the Pharaoh's harem!" Kesi squealed. She and the other girls fell into a heap of laughter. Ancksunamun had heard enough.

Pulling her pillow over her head, she attempted to get some sleep. It was no use with the banshees of the Thebes on the other side of the room, though. Why would anyone want to be near that man? How is that honor? It's an abomination, is what it is!

Their laughter carried on into the wee hours of the morning. Ancksunamun lay there, tortured by their drivel.

"Where do you think you'll be sleeping tomorrow night, Kesi? In his bed?" The group burst into a fit of giggles.

He is a fat old hog, Ancksunamun thought. I'm sure he can't even share a bed. She glared at the wall, wishing for the night to be over.

"I hope so!" Kesi giggled.

Groaning, Ancksunamn pulled her dress over her head, stuffing it into her ears. Finally falling into a light, fitful sleep, she dreamt of home and its wonders. But the dark eyes of the Pharaoh's Vizier floated above the midst, lulling her deeper into her dreams.

Imhotep found himself in the Temple after a long day at the Palace. The Pharaoh had been most excited to build this new city. "A city of death," Seti called it. Imhotep was more than happy to assist with the project, but his mind was reeling at the idea of being the head of it. He had never been given such a momentous task in all his years.

Seti wanted it to be grand and spacious. With large open spaces of worship and places of reverence. Imhotep knew that Seti did not intend for the commoners to worship the Gods. Seti wanted to be revered as a God himself. But the real point of the project was for Seti to have a place to hide all of his riches and immense wealth. It was to be a place of hiding for the Pharaoh if there was a revolt. This was the secret that the Pharaoh wanted to keep under wraps, and it was Imhotep's job to carry it out.

"You must make sure that it is never to be found, Imhotep. By no one but you and me." Seti's words rebounded in his head.

How… he did not know. All Imhotep knew was that he would have to hire secret builders to do the job. And those builders would have to be sworn to secrecy or face a fate worse than death. Imhotep would have to erase them from existence and have their souls fed to Ammit if they ever spoke of it. Imhotep was sweating at the thought of having to execute Seti's grandiose plan.

Imhotep's steps padded across the stone floor, and the cold seeped into his bones. Pulling his robes tighter, he set his candle down on the floor and crossed his legs beneath him. In front of him on a small altar sat the statue of Thoth. Imhotep took out his bow drill and ignited a flame, lighting the candles on either side of the figure. Frankincense and rosemary incense flooded his senses, and he inhaled.

Placing his offerings of dark beer, moon water, and bread on the altar, Imhotep kneeled and began to pray.

O Thoth, God of Knowledge,
God of the Writings of the Universe,
Hear my Thanks, Hear my Declaration
Of my Thankfulness to you, O Thoth!

Ancient One,
Ascended Master of Time,
God of Time and Space,
Allow me some of your Wisdom,
So that I may converge with You,
Becoming as One.

His words fading out in the darkness, Imhotep could only hear a faint water drip in the distance. Still kneeling, Imhotep shivered as a cold breeze swept through the room. The candles were extinguished by the gust, and the room went black. Imhotep cursed his luck and fumbled with his bow drill to start another spark. As he did so, he felt woozy. His head spinning, he grabbed onto the wall and slid down it, unable to see anything. His eyes slipped closed, and he succumbed to the darkness around him.

Snowflakes fell on his eyelashes, and his eyes fluttered open in shock. Imhotep found himself on a rocky alcove, high on a freezing hillside. Gasping in surprise, he scrambled backward, fear striking his heart. Where am I? Reaching down, he touched the strange powdery white stuff and recoiled. It was cold! Snow? Here? Imhotep's mind was spinning as he looked around, frozen against the rock ledge behind him. He was terrified to move.

Pulling his robes closer to him to ward off the chill, he looked down in bewilderment. His robes were now soft and lined with fur. Running his fingers across it, sparkles of white light glittered, warming him. He stared at it in awe.

"Ahem." Came the clearing of a throat, and Imhotep was startled.

Suspended in the air was a man with the head of an Ibis. His legs crossed, Thoth sat, his magical quill in one hand and a scroll in the other. A heavenly green glow permeated the air around him, pearlescent in quality. He sat writing something, not even looking at Imhotep.

Imhotep stared, his mouth agape. He had never seen a God of this caliber before. This was the most visceral experience he had ever had.

Not looking up, the God pushed up his tiny glasses and continued writing. "Imhotep." He said.

Imhotep exhaled, and the freezing air left clouds of condensation.

"Thoth," Imhotep replied, feeling dumbfounded. Letting go of the rocky ledge he had been holding onto for dear life, Imhotep bowed in reverence.

Putting down his scroll, suspended in the air next to him, Thoth held up his hands. "There is no need for the formalities, my dear one. You called upon me, and I am here at your service."

Imhotep swallowed once more and looked into the God's beady eyes. They were filled with immense kindness and wisdom. Nodding his head, his throat dry, he didn't know how to respond.

"I realize that this is a bit overwhelming," Thoth said. "But it is the easiest way for me to converse with one as powerful as you."

Imhotep's mouth gaped once more. "As powerful as me… what do you mean?"

Thoth chuckled, "You will see in time, dear one." Thoth shuffled through some scrolls that seemed to appear in thin air. "I also apologize. I am a bit disorganized today and am running behind. It is not my usual place for a meet-up with priests."

Imhotep held up his hand. "It is no bother to me, my Lord." He bowed again. "But where are we?"

Thoth smiled, his face a conglomeration of humanoid features and God-like ones. It seemed to change before his eyes, from human to Ibis and back again.

"It is a place between time and space. A place between worlds. A place that exists and does not at the same time. I call it…Home." Thoth said, his eyes warm. "It is a place to be with my thoughts and escape from them. I can be my true form here, which I realize is alarming to humans, but it is how it is."

Imhotep nodded, not understanding.

Thoth continued. "I realize that it is much too cold here for you," Waving his hand, the snow stopped.

Sun beat down upon Imhoteps back and warmed his bones. The chill of the air was replaced with the sweet scent of petrichor and flowers, and he felt more at ease.

Thoth laughed, "I like it much colder than you humans do. It helps clear my mind and allows me to feel at my best. And as you know, Imhotep…. contemplation and study are the most important things in the universe. Knowledge is the key to everything. Do not underestimate its power." Thoth narrowed his eyes, conveying his message to Imhotep.

Imhotep felt strange. "Yes, my Lord, I agree. Knowledge is indeed powerful." Wringing his hands together, he waited for the God to continue. He was still in shock from seeing a God in person. Thoth started back at him, millennia of knowledge in his eyes.

Thoth relaxed his face and sat back down, suspended in the air. "Good…now, what have you called on me for, my dearest Imhotep?"

Imhotep sighed, still wringing his hands together. "I have called upon you today, my Lord, on behalf of Pharaoh Seti. He has not been upholding the Oath of Horus as he should."

Thoth's eyes flashed. His quill began vibrating in the air next to him, and Thoth grabbed it. He started writing something down on his scroll. Looking back up, the God pondered what Imhotep had said. Finally, he answered.

"I do not believe that this is such a grievous action. Though I will have to ask my brother his opinion on this, I see nothing wrong with it. But, a word of caution. There will come a time when it will become an issue." Thoth set down his quill and leaned closer to the rocky ledge. "Seti is to produce an heir to the throne, but not without a great cost to many. That is all I can say on the matter." Waving his hand, Thoth sat back.

"What do you mean this is all you can say on the matter?" Imhotep quipped.

Thoth sighed. "It is not time for you to know. All is as it should be."

Imhotep knew better than to question the Gods' will, so he nodded in response.

"What is it that you wish to ask of me for yourself…Imhotep," The God asked, his eyes serious. There was a hint of fear in the depths.

Imhotep looked into Thoth's eyes, searching them before answering. "I have been having strange dreams, my Lord. I do not know what to make of them."

Thoth nodded, ushering him to continue.

His throat dry, he continued. "Night after night, a woman enters my dreams. I never see her face, but my soul knows her. Each night we come together in an intimate way, and each time a part of my soul goes with her. And when I awake, I am plagued with tremendous headaches."

Thoth looked at him with curiosity. "I see… and do these headaches disappear?"

"Yes, they seem to disappear all of a sudden. Most often when I am at the palace."

Thoth nodded. Staring at Imhotep, his eyes hardened. Imhotep's head began to feel crowded and tight, and pain radiated from all corners of his mind. Falling to the ground, Imhotep grasped his head in agony. It felt as if someone was there inside of it! Looking up through bleary eyes, he made eye contact with the God. Thoth's eyes were trained on his, unblinking. Imhotep cried out in pain as the shifting in his head increased. Memories flashed by in quick succession, one by one, until all of a sudden, the pain stopped. The fullness of his head abated, and Thoth sat back on his knees with a gasp.

Shaking his head, Thoth tsked his beak in nervousness. "I am afraid, dear one, that I cannot help you."

Imhotep's head spun. "What? What do you mean you cannot help me?"

"I cannot help you. In fact, none of the Gods can." Thoths eyes were shifty.

Panic ensnared his heart, and Imhotep felt himself shaking. What is he hiding from me?

"It is not that I am hiding things from you, Imhotep. I cannot help you. I wish I could. Now… it is time for us to say our goodbyes." Thoth said, avoiding eye contact.

Imhotep felt his fear rising. "You can't hide things from me! Does this have to do with the scroll Kher-heb has?" Imhotep asked, dread filling him.

Thoth froze. "It is not time for me to speak on this matter." Was all he replied. Thoth began to shrink in size as he stared at Imhotep.

Imhotep hyperventilated, his breath coming out in harsh gasps. Snow began to fall again, and the air was blustery and cold. "Wait! You cannot leave me!'

Thoth looked back at him, "I am sorry, my Dear one. Remember! Knowledge is the universal law."

Imhotep cried out as he watched the God shrink in size until he was no more. Sobbing, Imhotep cried out into the void. "Am I forever to be cursed?"

A flash of green light on the horizon was his answer. Imhotep crumpled to the ground, more confused than ever. His vision went black, and his skin icy; Imhotep succumbed to the darkness once again.

Waking up in the small worship space, the candles were again lit. Their flames danced on the altar, mingling with the smoke from the incense. Imhotep stared at them, mesmerized by their dance. Rosemary clouded his senses, making him feel woozy. His eyes fell upon the statue of the God, from which a green haze emitted. Imhotep blinked and pushed himself up from the ground toward the doorway. His head spinning, he stumbled toward the door, not bothering to turn around. The statue of Thoth grew brighter and brighter as he retreated. In a flash, its green light diminished. No trace of the ethereal experience was left behind.

A/N: Hi, all! This is an updated version of this chapter! Please go back and re-read the previous chapters if you still need to! There are a lot of new plot points that I revamped and added to. I have closed some plot holes as well. -as of January 15, 2023

Thank you for the comments! They make me so happy!

I have taken many liberties with Imhotep's character. In the movies, it bothers me that he is reduced to only a priest and a "monster." He was soooo much more than that. He was a visionary, a scholar, a priest, and an architect and is said to be the father of modern medicine. So many of the facts in my story are bending the truth a bit to fit the narrative of the Mummy movies (I do not own). But I wanted to keep some realism too.

Look into Imhotep. He is so cool! He built the first pyramid (In Egypt) at Saqqara for Pharaoh Djoser. But alas, here, in the wrong period, it must be Seti. Enough rambling, thank you!