Misery of Woman

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

Terms to Know:

Hathor: Cow-headed Goddess of Love, Beauty, Fertility, Music, and Dancing.

Kemet: Ancient Egyptian name for the land of Egypt. 'Egypt' is the Greek name. Kemet is the real name.

Osiris: Mummified God of Death. Egypt's first living God. Father to Anubis, Husband to Isis, and killed by Set(h).

**!WARNING THIS CHAPTER MAY BE TRIGGERING TO SOME READERS!**

"Silence is more than just a lack of words." ~Ancient Egyptian Proverb

Imhotep took a deep breath, fighting down his rising levels of panic. His eyes roved across the room, taking in everything. Her wig, crusted with blood, sat on the floor, discarded in the fray. Her chest rose in slow, shallow breaths. Imhotep honed in on her chest, ensuring she continued breathing. He prayed to Osiris that he could help him save her before it was too late.

"This is all my fault…if only I had been more careful…" Imhotep caught himself saying aloud.

Dragging his hands across his face, he shook with overwhelming feelings. He was fighting with himself not to break down in a frustrated sob. It would not do well to lose his head, especially now.

"Oh Hathor, Goddess of Women, please help me," Imhotep caught himself whispering as Hapu returned with his tools.

"Here you go, Master Imhotep," Hapu said, his voice in a hush. "I was unsure what you needed, so I brought the whole arsenal…" Hapu gestured behind him.

Imhotep peered around his Priest, and his eyes widened. It was indeed his entire array of tools, herbs, scrolls, and medicines. Nodding in a curt manner, Imhotep gave his protégé a slight smile.

"Well done, Hapu, you'll make a fine doctor," he said, hoping his voice sounded strong. His thoughts were on the woman on the table behind him.

Hapu shrugged and gave him a slight smile in return, "Forgive me for saying so, my Liege. But it appears to me that you care for this woman," he shuffled his feet around on the sandy floor. "I figured it was best to bring out all your tools," Hapu finished with another casual shrug.

Imhotep opened his mouth to reply, dumbstruck by the boy's assertions, but was distracted by the sound of a moan.

Spinning around in a flash of robes, Imhotep rushed to Ancksunamuns side as her head swiveled from side to side. Her eyes rapidly moved below her eyelids, and her breathing became more erratic by the second.

Imhotep assessed her now up close. Sucking in a sharp breath, his heartbeat was in his throat. Nausea rose as he looked upon what the Pharaoh had done to her. Her skin was mottled and purple. Dark bruising covered her face and neck. As he peered closer, he noticed some bruises yellowing with age.

"Bastard," Imhotep muttered under his breath. His teeth gritted, and his thoughts flitted to exacting revenge on Seti. His feelings towards him were so strong he wasn't sure if his hands were shaking from fear or hatred.

It was not the first time Imhotep had been sent a concubine in such critical condition. But this time was different. This time it broke his heart into a million pieces. His murderous thoughts were growing in their need to take revenge. He was unsure that he could ever face Seti again after this day. It would be too dangerous. But his duty to the crown was ever-present. Growling deep in his throat, he imagined his pleasure in ridding the world of its beloved Pharaoh.

His thoughts were interrupted again by Ancksunamun coughing. Cracking open her eyes, she peered at him.

"Lord Imhotep…?" Ancksunamun grated out, her voice scratchy. Grabbing the sides of her head, she let out a deep moan and fell back against the bed. Gripping her head in agony, her eyes closed again. Her lips were a deep shade of purple. Blood oozed from her body's numerous contusions, cuts, scrapes, and gashes.

Imhotep snapped back to reality. The shock he was feeling would have to wait. He needed to be strong here. Not waste the precious time he had.

Touching her hands lightly, he gasped at how cold and fragile they seemed beneath his.

"Yes, Ancksunamun. It is me. Can you hear me?" His heart pounded in his chest, leaving a metallic taste in his mouth. He knew he was wasting time but couldn't bring himself to act. His body felt paralyzed.

The anger he felt at himself for putting her in this situation was beginning to bubble over into his reality. It was his doing that she was here. It was his fault that his actions hurt her. That thought alone was enough to spur Imhotep into action.

"Hapu! Bring me the Willow Bark and the Acacia! And quickly!" Imhotep's breaths were ragged as he looked at her still face.

Hapu scrambled to find the herbs and handed them off to him, his young face a mask of seriousness.

Imhotep gently pried open her lips and gave her some of the painkillers. It would be necessary.

Looking down at her still form, tears formed in his eyes.

"Don't worry, I am here and always will be," he said, shaking with emotion.

With that, Imhotep got to work. He knew what he needed to do.

Ancksunamun awoke with a start. Her eyes shooting open, she groaned at the onslaught of the dim candlelight near her head. Her eyes were blurry. She peered at the ceiling above her, her head swimming and her throat tight. Her stomach gurgled as she lay there, threatening to empty its contents. Heart pounding, she fought through waves of nausea as she struggled to recollect where she was. Shapes danced across the ceiling like tiny monsters infiltrating her subconscious.

She watched as the shapes flitted to and fro above her, caught in some unending tragic story. Memories of dancing filled her mind. The soft twinkling bells grazing her ankles and her bare feet touching the too-warm jade floor of the throne room filled her mind. Giggles from Safiya and her friends filled her ears, and she smiled. Her eyes slipped closed as she relived those moments, basking in their simple warmth. Ancksunamun could almost feel the breeze of the musician's fingers as they played their instruments, singing her their songs of woe and debauchery.

Recounting the days she had spent shimmying her hips and presenting her body before the Pharaoh, she felt her nausea return. Her eyes slowly opened, and she stared again at the dancing shadows above her. How had she ended up here? She could not remember for the life of her how she had come to be in this place. Her pain had subsided now that she was again still, and she felt the corners of sleep edging into her mind. But something nagged her. A piece of her memory was gone. Ancksunamun lay there, a slave to the bed beneath her.

Her eyes closed again against her will. They felt heavy and lifeless. As she closed her eyes, shapes and patterns shimmered behind her eyelids. All Ancksunmaun could recall was that her sisters had not been presented today in court. That her family was missing…gone…and that some strange man had been there, looking at her. Her head began to throb, keeping in time with her too-fast beating heart. Oh, what was his name? Thinking increased her nausea.

Behind her eyelids, the man's hazel eyes stared back at her. Those eyes were so haunting in their familiarity. But whose were they? Each time she felt his name come to her, it was whisked away on a cloud of fantasy. Her eyes opened a smidgen as she felt warm fingertips graze her.

Ancksunamun moaned in pain as her body shifted. She felt tired. So tired. As if her body was no longer her own but floating in an abyss far from the land of Kemet. As if it had simply ceased to exist in the realm of the living. But every now and then, a twinge of pain brought her back down to earth.

Why do I feel this way? Cold, cruel black eyes filled her vision, and she gritted her teeth. No, she must not think. Golden skin and kind eyes filled her thoughts once more. As she floated away in her mind, she recollected those alluring eyes. And the way they looked at her with such benevolence. Smiling at the thought, she allowed the darkness to take her once more.

Blinking in the dim candlelight, Ancksunamun returned to the land of the living. The candles flickered in her peripheral vision, causing her head to throb with their erratic dance.

The air smelled sweet. The odd scent filled her nostrils; she had never smelled anything like it. Though strange, the room felt warm and comforting, almost like a sanctuary.

As she lay there basking in the warmth of the space, she was startled as she felt cool hands graze her abdomen. It felt as if bandages were being tightened. Fear shot through her. What could possibly be wrong with her? Where was she? And whose strange hands were on her body?

Sitting up, Ancksunamun regretted her decision as sharp pains shot through her, and she almost threw up. The corners of her vision blacked out for a moment as she felt the same cold hands carefully pushing her back down onto the soft surface below her.

Looking up into the man's eyes, Ancksunamun was taken aback by the man's distress.

"Please, miss, lay back down. This is not a good idea," the young man said, his eyes large with concern.

Every inch of her being wanted to run, but the exhaustion she felt in her bones warned against it.

"Where am I?" Ancksunamun asked, her throat feeling ancient. "Why am I in such a state?"

Clearing his own throat, the man wrung his hands together. Ancksunamuns eyes shot to his hands, mesmerized by their movement. Her head felt foggy, and the darkness began seeping back into her consciousness. Everything felt warm, and the air around her seemed to rattle with each breath she took.

"You are in the infirmary, my lady…" the man said as her eyes shot back up to his face. It was a kind face, not at all like Seti's. A shiver went down her spine at the thought of him, and she twinged in pain. "That is all I can say to you…" the man finished, his hands again wringing together like he was squeezing a towel.

Ancksunamun felt her nausea return, and the world's edges grew dimmer. Closing her eyes, she swallowed it down. Reopening her eyes, she squinted up at the man.

"Who are you?"

"Hapu, a humble Priest of Osiris. And today, I am also your doctor," he smiled at her, his eyes soft as he looked down at her.

Ancksunamun smiled back at him, her jaw shaking, "Well…thank you, Hapu. I…appreciate all that you've done for me. But why am I here? Why can you not tell me?"

Hapu's smile disappeared, and his eyes were downcast. "It really is not my place to say, my Lady, I shall wait for my Master to inform you."

Ancksunamun opened her mouth to reply but was cut off.

Hapu smiled at her again and rubbed his hands together, "Now, that's my final word on that matter! I have administered your medicines, and finished with your bandages, too. Do you need anything else while I am here?" He said, talking a mile a minute.

Ancksunamuns nausea had risen with his refusal to answer her questions, and now his sudden burst of energy was jarring. "Oh…no. I am fine, thank you," she smiled at him, hoping she looked convincing. Her mind was really on what he had said earlier. Who was his Master? Why couldn't she remember? Her head throbbed with the thought.

"Of course, My Lady… Now… if you'll excuse me, I have others to attend to," bowing, Hapu turned away and left behind the curtain. It swayed behind him, giving her a glimpse out into the open. Numerous beds lined the space. Prone bodies flat on their backs awaited her on the other side. Coughs could be heard here and there, cementing in her brain the reality she found herself in.

Ancksunamun turned her head to look at the ceiling. The infirmary? Why would I be here? Thinking caused her brain to pound again, and she closed her eyes, finally letting the impending gloom take her away.

A heavy, saccharine feeling washed over her in waves. It started in her toes, warming its way through her body. Every sense felt electrified, on fire, as if she was standing in flames. She could feel her body still lying there on the soft bed of the infirmary, but it felt paralyzed, unable even to lift a finger.

But in her dreams, she was by the river, looking across its expanse as daybreak broke over the horizon. A steady hum of cicadas droned out any thoughts she may have had, and the quiet lapping of the water on the shore kept her there in that place—her sanctuary. A whisper of a voice sounded on the breeze. Ancksunamun…the voice called. Come to me…my Princess…

Ancksnamun felt a shiver go down her spine at the sound of that voice. She closed her eyes to the coming morning and relished in his deep timbre. The presence came closer, and she could feel his strong hands graze her shoulders as he stood behind her.

Anhcksunamun stood, her breath hitching. It was all she could do in his presence. It controlled her with its power. It was so intoxicating. She knew who he was, but she was afraid to admit to herself his name. It was too painful, too powerful. A name would make it all too real.

The man behind her grazed her shoulders again, his breath tickling her ear as he brushed her hair out of the way. Ancksunamun shivered again in the cool morning air. His fingers were gentle in their touch but demanding in their hunger. Biting her lip, Ancksunamuns eyes opened as she looked across the river again. The palm trees swayed in the breeze, their dark silhouettes standing like guards on the sides of the river.

"Ancksunamun, my darling, my princess," the man of her dreams murmured. Kissing her neck, a shiver went down her spine, turning it to jelly. She couldn't speak; dare she break the spell.

The man continued kissing down her neck as he reached for her hands, holding them in his grasp. Their fingers interlocking, Ancksunamun knew that this man undoubtedly owned her–mind, body, and soul. She knew deep within her that her heart belonged to him too.

Spinning her around in a quick movement, the man smiled as he held her there, suspended in his arms. She looked up at him, her face in a state of shock. His face was half in shadow, but his eyes–those eyes penetrated deep into her, locking her there. Looking up at him, she memorized every plane of his masculine face. Ancksunamun felt like she was melting into his arms.

Golden-flecked eyes filled her vision, their hazel depths conveying things she didn't even know possible. Swallowing, Ancksunamun nary had any time to react before he lowered his face to hers, his lips brushing her own before he hungrily took her lips by force.

The world began to spin, and Ancksunamun found herself tossing and turning in her bed in the infirmary. The taste of the man's lips was still on her own. As she came to, pain filled her body as she returned to reality. It coursed through her, tethering her to this earthly plane. Her thoughts were still focused on him and his pouty lips–on how they felt on her own. Nothing had ever felt so delicious in all her life.

Moaning, she cracked open her eyes and was startled as she was met with the eyes of her dreams.

"You!" she squeaked as she sat up in bed. Pain washed through her, but she was too dumbfounded to care. His name infiltrated her mind, all too real at that moment. "What are you doing here?"

He stared back at her, his jaw taut. His eyes were impenetrable. Blinking, his pouty lips opened, and her eyes were drawn there against her will.

"I work here," was his dry response.

Annoyance shot through her, and she looked back into his eyes. Mirth sparkled in the hazel depths, if only for a moment before it disappeared. She wondered if she had imagined it.

"That's true," Ancksunamun replied, beginning to grow angry with herself.

Tearing her eyes away from him, she could still feel his gaze upon her face. It tingled when he looked at her. Rolling her eyes, she huffed. The way her body reacted to his man, and the way that even her own dreams filled her head with thoughts of him, irritated her. Shuffling with her blankets, Ancksunamun twinged in pain as her abdomen began to burn from sitting up. Gritting her teeth, she pulled up the blankets to take a peek.

Bandages covered her upper torso, while her stomach was loosely wrapped in gauze. Every slight shift felt tender, and she grimaced as her muscles twitched in her lower half. Breathing through her teeth, she shifted her hips to the right and almost screamed from the pain that coursed through her.

"Ow! What happened to me?" Ancksaunamun asked, her teeth clenched together.

In a moment, he was there attending to her. The pain in her body was starting to increase in its intensity. Each pump of her heart sent waves of nausea through her body. She worried she would be sick.

Closing her eyes, she waited for his hands to touch her. She knew it would only bring solace and torture–a sickening combination that only she knew the true depth of. Ancksunmaun could feel him before he touched her–that same heavy, familiar aura she had grown accustomed to in her dreams. The scent of kyphi and musk reached her nostrils, and she had to fight the urge to inhale. Don't be creepy! This man hates you, remember! And you hate him…

"I wouldn't sit up for a few days, at the very least. It will do more harm than good," he said, his breath tickling her face as he helped her settle. His eyes looked above her, focused on his task.

Of course, he didn't answer my question. Fitting.

He gingerly laid her back down, shifting the pillows behind her head. Peeking through her eyelashes at him, her breath hitched at his raw masculine beauty. His face hovered just near her own, handsome in his own way. Candlelight flickered on the sides of his face, softening it, making it appear kinder, wiser, more boyish than anything else.

Every brush of his fingers on her skin felt electric. The touch of his hands was agonizing in the way their gentle callouses soothed her body. Anger shot through her at her body's reaction to his touch. Grabbing the linen blankets from him, she made herself comfortable. Her eyes shot daggers at him.

"Thank you, Master Imhotep, for your kindness, but I can take it from here," she said with venom. Regret filled her as soon as the words left her lips. Stupid, stupid girl! He's only being kind to you because it is his job. Nothing else…she told herself. She wasn't convinced.

Ancksunamun saw him flinch as he sighed and backed away, sitting in the corner. Almost as if he was protecting her. What would he have to protect me from? Evil, dark eyes flashed through her mind yet again, and she struggled to push the image away. A lump formed in her throat.

"Very well, Ancksunamun," the Priest said, his words quiet. His eyes were back to their impenetrable stoicism, but it was too late; Ancksunamun had already seen the hurt within them.

Ancksunamun coughed and looked away from him. Guilt and annoyance battled for dominance inside of her. Looking up at the stone ceiling, she could feel his eyes on her, and she tried to ignore it. The comfort she had felt when he was so near left her incensed. She huffed as she glared at the ceiling.

"Why am I here?" Ancksunamun finally asked, trying to break the tense silence between them.

The silence lingered for a moment before he cleared his throat. "Are you sure you want to know? If you do not remember, perhaps some things are best left unsaid."

Rolling her eyes at the ceiling, she huffed again, "Of course, I want to know! I feel as if my body was ripped in half! Look at me!" She exclaimed, pulling down the blankets to expose her torso. "And now I'm not even allowed to sit up! And for God knows what reason!" Her voice was rising, but she was trying to quell the feelings she felt inside. "And you! You don't even like me, yet you're here…and forced to take care of me…because it's your job…" Ancksunamun trailed off, her eyes trained on the ceiling. She did not want to see his expression.

Silence filled the space again for quite some time before Imhotep graced her with an answer.

"I am not forced to be here, Ancksunamun. You are important to me," Imhotep said, his voice so quiet she had to strain to hear him. "Furthermore, you would be dead if I hadn't been here."

At that, Ancksunamun turned to look at him, her blood running cold as she saw the severity of his face.

"What does that mean?" She whispered, afraid to know the answer.

Imhotep looked away, his face half in shadow. Her eyes were trained on him, awaiting his answer.

Again she repeated, "What does that mean? What is wrong with me?"

Imhotep swallowed, his breathing quickening. He turned to her, his eyes intense.

"How long had you been experiencing symptoms of pregnancy?"

Ancksunamun balked at him, and she blinked, trying to comprehend his question. She felt as if she had been plunged into the Nile.

"What do you mean by pregnancy?" Her throat was dry, and she could feel her heart pounding in her eardrums.

Imhotep sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, scratching behind it. She could hear the sound of stubble grazing his skin. A cough from behind the curtain could be heard. The silence stretched on again, painful.

"Exactly what I said… I'm unsure how else to phrase it," Imhotep finally said, his eyes despondent.

Ancksunamun lay there, paralyzed to the bed. She recalled the endless mornings of throwing up in the chamber pot and running to the washroom to splash her face with cold water whenever she overheated. The constant backaches and feelings of nausea she had felt. She had always attributed it to being around Seti...but now…now…

"Just tell me what I need to know," Ancksunamun whispered into the ether. She was shaking.

"You were… pregnant with Seti's child….A boy." Imhotep finally said, his eyes meeting hers again, an unidentifiable emotion burning in the depths. The intense darkness in his eyes scared her, unlocking a primal fear deep within her.

Chills wracked her body as the weight of the words hit her. Sitting up, bile rose in her throat, and she reached for the receptacle she had seen earlier. Retching, she felt the world spinning. Wiping her mouth with her wrist, she looked at him, her eyes wide.

"What do you mean by I 'was' pregnant?" She asked, terrified of the answer.

Imhotep looked away, his eyes unfocused. His harsh breaths could be heard throughout the chamber. Behind the curtain, another patient groaned.

She waited with bated breath for his response. The world continued spinning, and her abdomen stung as she clenched her core muscles. She wasn't supposed to be sitting up, but she hardly noticed.

"If I was pregnant…and with a boy…" Ancksunamun struggled to articulate her words.

Imhotep looked up, his eyes dark with an unknown emotion. "Yes, Ancksunamun. That would mean that you were to bore the heir to the throne. Seti's first and only son."