Kamilah's POV
A week has passed, and Pharaoh made the announcement of my status change to Lady Kamilah and has invited Father and I to live at the palace. So, Father and I have packed our things and dismissed the household, and are on our way to the palace.
"Father, do you think we will see Mana?"
"Probably, but it might be a while because of her magician training."
"You're right, but I really have missed her and would like to catch up with her."
"As would I, dear." The carriage stopped and Mahad opened the door and assisted me out to the ground.
"Welcome, Lord Ahnknem and Lady Kamilah!" The pharaoh, prince, the advisors, and all Guardian Magicians and trainees met us in the courtyard. Father shook Pharaoh's hand and the prince's and thanked them for inviting us to stay with them.
"Thanks for inviting us, and also for the other thing you helped with, old friend. We are grateful."
"Your welcome old friend. Lady Kamilah, my son told me we have a relative in our midst. Mana?" Mana walked forward when the pharaoh said her name.
"Welcome my lady. It is a pleasure to see you again." Mana was very formal, but that did not stop me from catching her in a big hug. "I have missed you too, dear." Mana returned my hug for a moment longer and returned to her spot beside Mahad and-
"JAHI! What are you doing here?"
Lady Kamilah, I am training to be your Guardian Magician. I will be your bodyguard." The pharaoh asked if my father and I would join him and the prince for a private dinner that evening, just us four. We accepted the invite and the pharaoh told us the truth- Jahi took his brother's place as my guardian magician in order to break the betrothal. It was punishment for committing treason or being sent to the shadows.
I have lived in the palace for a week and have not been able to help the servants. I mean, I know I'm a Lady now and not supposed to help the servants, but I am so used to it. As I'm wondering the halls, I happened upon the pharaoh and prince playing a game.
"My pharaoh, my prince. How are you today?" The prince answered.
"Very well. Are you nervous about our fathers making the announcement tonight at my party?"
"A bit, but I do wish for something to occupy myself with in the meantime. I have a few hours before the flowers are ready. I am growing a special flower for your birthday."
"Dear, would you like to join us in playing our game to pass the time?"
"Thank you , but I do not know how to play. Could I watch while you explain? I have inherited Mother's love for simple games and this one seems quite complex." I joined them and they explained the game, then the pharaoh let me play the next round and helped me, then the following round he left us in order to finish the preparations for the celebration. We played two more rounds with him narrowly beating me the last. I excused myself to tend to the special flower.
"It is time. I have to go get the flower for your celebration. I will see you there."
"I can't wait. See you soon." Atem kissed my hand as we bid each other goodbye. I return to my room to blossom the hybrid flower I created for this event. I grew this flower differently than my other flowers so it can survive the Egyptian weather and everyone in Egypt can enjoy its beauty. Today, I am using my magic so I can bloom it early for Atem, as a birthday and engagement present.
"Okay. Here we go." I find my center and begin my spell. Soon the flower is fully bloomed and is more beautiful than I imagined. In the center, it is a deep-yet bright-purple that matches the color of the royal family then fades to a golden yellow that probably rivals my hair color. In the center of each petal- there are eight total- is a spot that resembles the eye of Horus- that is on the king's necklace- inside the ankh cross colored red. I got dressed for the party and asked one of my ladies to help me do my hair in a style fit for a royal celebration. I met my father in the main hall and we made our way to the balcony to meet the pharaoh, prince and the assisstants.
"Happy Birthday, Atem." I handed him the flower and the look on his face made me speak some more. "This is the flower I mentioned earlier. It's a hybrid that can survive in the heat of the desert, without the need for magic to help keep it alive."
"It is unusual, yet beautiful and enchanting at the same time. Thank you Kamilah."
"You're welcome. It does have medicinal properties as well. I wrote them all down, but I left the scroll in my room."
"You created a new flower? Impossible." The oldest of the advisors spoke. He looked like the pharaoh, but a bit younger.
"Aknadin, she is a rarity- in beauty, smarts, and magic." Aknamkanon told his brother. Father whispered that bit to me while Pharaoh spoke. His brother still did not look impressed.
"That doesn't mean she's fit to be queen, but this is your decision,against my advice." And that was that. Pharaoh made the announcement that Atem and I would , we talked about this earlier during our games and decided to give ourselves more time on a decision, so Atem said we would have a date picked out by my birthday in one and a half weeks. Then the party portion of the celebration began. The citizens brought gifts for Atem and congratulations for our engagement. A familiar face came through the line up.
"Congratulations on your engagement, Your Highness. My Lady." It was Gahiji! And his father. I must have been physically trembling because Atem reached over and placed his hand on mine.
"Thank you, and thank you for your gift."
"I didn't bring a gift. My gift to you is the tramp sitting beside you." Gahiji smirked and walked away with his father following behind him. I stayed a few more minutes then excused myself for some fresh air. I returned to the balcony and after a few minutes Pharaoh joined me.
"Are you alright, dear one?"
"Gahiji was here. He didn't bring a present, but instead called me a 'tramp' and said I was his gift to the prince."
"He is still trying to degrade you, but remember- you are only as strong as you feel. If you let what he said get to you, you will always believe you are worthless. You need to show your strength like that day in the garden. Now that you and Atem are engaged, you will be each other's strength." He then got a weird look on his face and pushed me behind him as a blast of purple magic hit him in his chest. He fell backwards- dead. I tried my best to heal him with the spells Mama taught me, but it was too late. I was crying over him when my father, Atem and the advisors came running in. Father's attuned to my magic and notified them. I told them what happened before Father removed me and walked me to my room. He stayed until I was asleep. When I woke up, someone was knocking on the door. I sat up and allowed entrance. It was Atem.
"Are you okay, Kami?" He has been calling me that for a few days now and I actually like it.
"I'm okay. You? I'm sorry about your dad."
"I"m happy you are okay. About my dad, thank you. I came to see you last night after I got my father's corpse situated and dismissed the party, but you were sleeping. Your father let me in a moment to just check on you. Your eyes were still red and puffy and couldn't bring myself to wake you."
"Thank you." He came and sat down next to me on the bed and it was my turn to put a comforting hand on his.
"In two days' time, I have to announce my ascension to the throne and I wanted to ask you something."
"Sure. What's wrong, my Pharaoh?" He side eyed me with a raised eyebrow. "What? You are Pharaoh now, even if not official."
"You're right. Anyway, I was wondering about– how would you feel about getting married on your birthday? I know it is really soon, but it is something both our fathers wanted. And well, the sooner we get married….." I knew where he was going.
"I like it. And you are thinking about the kingdom too. Let's do it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm gonna be your strength just like how you are mine." I lean forward and give him a peck on the cheek. "Now, I have to ask you to leave seeing as how I am still in my clothes from last night and my head hurts from sleeping in this up-do." I pointed to my hair, still piled on top of my head.
"Of course. One of your ladies was waiting outside when I came in and asked her for a few minutes alone first. I will send her in." He returned the peck to the cheek and stood up, left and my lady came in to help me bathe and change. We made the announcement two days later. Now it's my birthday. I'm turning sixteen and getting married today. I'm excited and nervous because I'm marrying the prince, whom I have become very close to recently.
"Come in." I replied to the knock on my door. It's my ladies followed by my father. I have just gotten out of the bath and in my wedding dress. Now it's time for hair, jewelry and makeup. My father is holding two boxes. "What are those?" Father passed the smaller box to me first.
"This was your mother's. She wore it on our wedding day, as did her mother. She wanted you to have it for your wedding." I opened the small box and found a hairpin. It was simple yet elegant. It had white and pink diamonds in the shape of cherry blossom leaves on a branch.
"Thank you, Father." I hand the pin to the lady doing my hair and she puts the pin in place. Then my father hands me the bigger box.
"This is from Pharaoh. He wanted to bring it himself, but I told him he could not see you until later this evening at the ceremony. I told him you wanted your dress to be a surprise. Now that I have seen your dress, this compliments it and the pin perfectly." I opened the box once it was in my hands and was astounded by the gift- three golden bands. "The two smaller bands go on your arms and the bigger one on your head." All three bands have the eye of Horus on them, just like the Millenium Pendant Atem wears. I put the two one my arms while one of my ladies puts the other on my head, but it sits on my brow instead of the top of my head. I go to adjust it, but am stopped and told it is supposed to sit there. A bit later, there's another knock and my father allows entry. It's Isis.
"My Queen? It's time. We are going to the throne room for the ceremony, then the balcony for the citizens to see their new queen, then to the main hall for the reception." I nod my acknowledgement and stand up. We followed Isis and the rest of the night went as planned. I married Atem. We greeted the citizens, then we partied into the night until Atem called it. We headed to our room and went to bed. The next few days we spent in bed with each other. Then came the fateful that changed everything.