Apep and the Sacred Scrolls of Duat
Chapter 6: The Fate of Aknadin
When the Pharaoh awoke, breathing heavily and shaking, he reached for his sword, unthinking, and leapt to his feet holding the gleaming blade. He looked around the room to find his uncle wearily getting to his feet and blinking his eyes. "It was real," Atemu breathed, in just as much shock as Aknadin seemed to be.
On hearing his voice, the older Egyptian startled and blinked over at him before he fell back down to his knees, respectfully.
"Pharaoh," he said, his voice quiet.
"Are you...who you appear to be?" the king whispered, lowering the sword but not dropping it as he took cautious steps over to his uncle.
"I believe so. However...that is what I would claim even if the opposite were true."
"That certainly sounds like you, to be sure," Atemu gave a rueful smile.
"It is in your majesty's best interest to be sure of such things."
"Quite right," he sighed. "Guards!" he called out and the doors were flung open to reveal four of the palace guards who were ever present at the entrance to his chambers. "Wake the Priests," he ordered them.
Some time later, once it was was established beyond doubt that it was indeed Aknadin and not some form of imposter, the King was sat on his throne surrounded by his loyal Guardians, his mother and with Aknadin standing before him.
"Master Aknadin, former High Priest of the Royal Court, you are here today to explain your actions to the Pharaoh and to hear his verdict," Shimon announced. "The Deaths of the people of Kul Elna and the creation of the Millennium Items, the subsequent release of the Dark One, Zorc, the use of shadow magic to control Priest Seto and then, most grievous of all, to attack the the Great Pharaoh, all rest on your shoulders," he said.
"I have sacrificed much for my country," Aknadin spoke. "Not least my own family," he said, looking over at his son, Seto who stood loyally to the King's right hand. "That is a crime from which I can never be absolved. However, if you will hear me, I will answer to everything else," he said and the Pharaoh nodded.
"Proceed," Shimon spoke for the King.
"The village of Kul Elna...had been a problem for decades. My own father had sought ways to rid our country of its inhabitants, but failed. They were thieves and murders, a truly lawless people. More importantly, before the Millennium Items were created, Egypt had been at war with many enemies. Pharaoh Aknamkanon's efforts to reach a peaceful agreement had failed and our armies were being slaughtered, as were the people. I was given permission to create the Millennium Items to save our country. I did what was necessary. It was our only option. You were just a child, Pharaoh, you cannot remember the horrors of war this country faced all those years ago. We would have been destroyed, annihilated by our enemies without mercy. My brother and I knew that drastic action was needed. Had he known the true cost of our salvation he would have agreed all the same. It is and has always been necessary for the Pharaohs of this land to make the impossible decisions so that others do not have to."
"You did not give anyone, including Pharaoh Aknamkanon the chance to agree or disagree," Shimon remarked.
"Years of war had taken their toll on him. He had always believed in finding a peaceful solution and though his efforts were admirable, every time he failed it wore him down bit by bit. I had to watch as my brother's resolve was destroyed from within the walls of this very palace. Had he been forced to make this decision after all that, it would have destroyed what remained. I saved him from that."
"He was destroyed all the same," the Pharaoh said. "He gave his life to seal away the souls of the people of Kul Elna. His soul is theirs now. He will never know peace."
Aknadin sighed heavily and closed his eyes. "My brother...the King...did what he did to save your life. The fact that he is lost...is truly a tragedy," he said. "He was a great King and he loved you more than his own life. A father's love for his child...is not something you can fully appreciate until you hold your own child in your arms. He vowed to protect you at all costs just as I vowed to protect my own son...even if it meant abandonment. He and my wife...as long as they were connected to me...were in grave danger...so like my brother...I did what was necessary. I am not proud of my actions...however, I would not change them. It meant that my son survived and rose to the Royal Court through his own merit," he added proudly.
"I have no wife or children," the Pharaoh said, thoughtfully. "However, abandonment does not seem to be an easy choice...or a wise one," he said.
"Easy...no. As for wise, well...those who love are never truly wise," Aknadin replied.
"Those actions are not for me to judge," Atemu remarked after a moment, "You must make your own peace with them."
"I have lived with that knowledge for years, Pharaoh, in death it will be no different. As for my actions in the creation of the Millennium Items and all subsequent disasters, I will accept your judgement and your punishment."
"You expect punishment?" Shimon asked.
"I do."
"The shadows were not created by the Millennium Items, they existed long before that," the Pharaoh said. "But what you did opened the doorway, allowing it to enter our world. However...if we acknowledge the bad...we must also acknowledge the good. What you did initially saved this country. These Items are both a source of evil and a force for great good. You unleashed a great evil into our world which threatened it for centuries even after Egypt had fallen. I want to ask you...and I want you to answer me honestly, knowing all this...would it have affected your decision in any way to create the Millennium Items?" the Pharaoh asked curiously, fearing the answer.
"...No...it would not," Aknadin answered honestly. "My aim at the time was to spare my country from ruin...and I succeeded," he added and his nephew sighed.
"I believe...I knew you would say that," he nodded. "We will never know what would have happened had they not been created and we cannot condemn you based on this alone. I truly wish I'd known you better...as my uncle," he admitted.
"And...as your subject...I ask you, what is your decision?" Aknadin asked in a businesslike tone. "Acknowledging familial ties...in this instance, I fear...would be most unwise," he advised, quietly.
"I disagree," the Pharaoh replied, "I think perhaps you have neglected your familial ties for long enough. I also believe that 3,000 years is far too long to hold a grudge. I cannot forgive you for using your magic to control Seto, only he can do that, but I can forgive you for threatening me...and I do."
"Pharaoh," Seto began, kneeling on the ground. "I respectfully object. Using me as a pawn to attack you is surely unforgivable. I would never willingly attack your majesty and I remember it all. Both Master Aknadin and myself are at fault for this. I should have been strong enough to repel the Dark Magic but I was not. This guilt is still with me now and I can remain silent no longer."
"Seto, the fault wasn't yours. Zorc's powers would have overwhelmed any one of us here, regardless of a Millennium Item," Shimon said. He, like the others, was aware of the young man's lingering guilt.
"That's true, Seto," the Pharaoh said, "You need not blame yourself for it. I do not."
"But, my Pharaoh..."
"Pharaoh," Aknadin spoke over his son, "The fault is mine for allowing the darkness in my heart to fester. It gave Zorc all he needed to find an ally in me," he insisted.
"I know all too well that we all have darkness in us," Atemu said. "At times it can overwhelm us even if we began with good intentions. I cannot hold this against you, ether of you. Your own guilt will do that enough...whether I want it to or not," he explained.
"I..." Aknadin began but the Pharaoh spoke instead.
"Zorc is gone," he said, "But there is something else...something new lurks in the shadows and threatens us all. I would ask for your help, Master Aknadin," he added and the older man was too stunned to speak.
"Aknadin?" Shimon furrowed his brow at the silent man.
"You...ask...for my help?" the Priest breathed.
"I do."
"After everything I have done? If nothing else, what I did was high treason! I disregarded my sacred oath as a member of the Royal Court and threatened the King of all Egypt! Am I not to be punished? Banished?"
"Three millennia in the shadows is more than sufficient. You have been punished enough," the Pharaoh declared. "The people know nothing about your former connection to Zorc, so we will tell them this; you were grievously wounded in the battle and kept within the sealed walls of the palace. Now that you are healed, you have returned to my court."
"I cannot..."
"Isis," the Pharaoh nodded to his friend.
The seer then walked towards the still stunned Aknadin, holding a golden box emblazoned with the eye of Udjat. She lifted the lid to reveal the Millennium Eye and held out the box to the older man. "The Millennium Eye is yours," Atemu continued, "I would not ask you to return to your duties unable to protect yourself."
"But..."
"I will not force you to do this if you do not wish to. Understand, you are free to do as you please, this is not offered to you as a chance at redemption. You have nothing to atone for. The past is the past. I must focus on the here and now and whether you aid us or not is entirely your choice," Atemu told his uncle.
"It would be my honour to serve," Aknadin replied, bowing and then taking the Millennium Eye with a shaking hand.
"Then welcome back to the Royal Court, Master Aknadin," the King smiled. However, he noticed the uneasy expression on Seto's face and it made him uneasy.
"Did I do the right thing?" Atemu asked quietly, staring out at the end of the throne room where Aknadin and the other Priests had vanished. He leant his elbow on the arm of his grand throne and rested his chin on his hand, thoughtfully.
"To forgive takes great courage, my King," Shimon advised.
"Does it?" Atemu turned to him.
"Of course, Pharaoh," the man nodded.
"He's family, Shimon. Did I...forgive him simply because of that? If I banish him...I lose an uncle. Surely that would be more courageous than keeping him here."
"With the greatest of respect, I disagree with your majesty."
"...I hoped that you would," he smiled. "It's not going to be easy and Seto certainly didn't agree with me."
"No doubt he is confused. For as long as I have known him, he has never known who his father was and to discover it in such a way as he did was bound to have an effect. Even now."
"No doubt," he nodded. "I will speak with him privately about this. My mother was quiet and she left quickly too. I doubt she is relieved to see her brother in law returned," he sighed. "You served my father for many years...did you know that he and Aknadin were brothers?" he asked after a moment.
"Regretfully, I did, yes, Pharaoh," the man bowed. "And I beg your forgiveness but I was sworn to secrecy by your great father. He believed it was for your protection. Aknadin gave up his entire family so that they would be safe from Egypt's enemies and so that he would not be used against them, against you, when you became King."
"I won't hold it against you, my friend," Atemu sighed, "I can hardly condemn you for your loyalty to my own father."
"It broke his heart to have to deny his brother for they were very close. A Prince should be treated as such and yet Aknadin was denied it all and therefore, so was his son. It is little wonder that he began to resent it."
"He chose to deny it," the King said.
"Indeed...yes."
"And that probably made it all the worse," he added and Shimon agreed. "Now...speaking of families, how is yours?" Atemu asked in a much more optimistic tone.
"Oh, very well, Pharaoh," the man answered, jovially, "Very well, indeed. My young grandson is becoming quite the sennet player. Why, last week, he even beat me!"
"You're a lucky man," the King told him.
"Any man with family is a fortunate one to be sure. The time must come for all men, even Kings to...I...that is..."
"Are you suggesting that I find myself a wife?" the King did his best not to smirk. *1
"Well, I...that is to say I..." the old man stammered while the king stared at him, expectantly.
"Yes, Shimon? I eagerly await your council."
"Oh dear," the old man sighed while the King chuckled at him.
"You appear troubled, Seto," Isis remarked. She'd found the young man standing in the shade of one of the many grand pillars surrounding a palace courtyard. With Spiria now soaring across the dessert in search of the infamously hostile, Priests of Apep, she was uneasy enough and now with Aknadin back, they were all a littly edgy. Seto more so than usual.
"Am I to assume that the Millennium Necklace told you this?"
"No. My Gods given eyes told me this," she said and he scoffed, quietly. "You disagree with the Pharaoh's decision," she stated.
"I would not go against his majesty's decree," he replied, cautiously.
"You frequently disagree with his decisions. He relies on you for that."
"He relies on my for my servitude, as he does all of us."
"Were it so simple, you would not be so conflicted."
"If I were you, Isis, I would keep to your visions, they are why you are here after all," he glared at her and stormed away quickly.
"If you are to be a prince, then you must dress like one," the Queen Meskhenet declared again but Yugi, red faced from blushing so much from embarrassment, shook his head. After she'd left the court meeting she too was angry and confused just as Seto was. She'd been walking the palace halls and seen people staring curiously at Serenity and Teà as they had walked past. The attention wasn't good for them especially considering the fact that they were the only beings still alive in the land of the dead. So she'd decided to help.
"I'm really not a prince...ma'am and I really...erm..." Yugi stammered.
"He doesn't wanna wear a skirt," Joey snorted.
"It's a kilt," Mana corrected him.
"It's a skirt," Tristan countered.
"So, you're gonna go tell the Pharaoh he's wearing a skirt?" Teà said.
"Erm...well...y'know...he can do what he wants, right?"
"You guys don't blend in at all dressed like that," Mana shook her head, "Pharaoh's orders; look the part or no more court appearances."
"Doesn't really sound like him," Joey muttered.
"That is probably because he did not say such a thing," the Queen replied. "But I cannot allow you to draw so much attention to yourselves any longer," she added.
"Well, I like it," Serenity smiled, twirling round in the beautiful, silken robe she'd chosen with plenty of jewel encrusted adornments on her arms, in her hair and around her neck.
"And, indeed, you look very beautiful," the Queen said, happily.
"How about this one, Teà?" Serenity held up a similar gown to her own for her friend.
"Erm...I don't know..." she replied, nervously.
"Y'know what?" Duke suddenly declared. He was standing behind a golden dressing screen and walked out proudly with his hands on his hips. "I can roll with this," he smirked. "I kinda feel like a king now," he said.
He was wearing even more eyeliner than usual and his hair was still very modern, but other than that and his pale skin, he looked no different from anyone else in the palace. He'd chosen some harem pants and a tight fitting vest with a cloak and gold earrings.
"Me and Serenity'll just have to go see what's going on and tell you later," he grinned. "Since you're all stuck here why don't we go right now?" he asked her.
"Sounds great," the young woman smiled, taking his arm which he held out to her.
"Wait a minute!" Joey exclaimed, "Dice boy, you're not goin' anywhere!"
"Pharaoh's orders, right, Mana?" Duke grinned at him. "We fit in, you don't, so you're staying here."
"There's no way he said that! Right, yer'majesty?" Joey looked back at the amused Queen who shrugged in a manner much like her son.
"Oh, fine, give me the dress," Teà threw up her hands and then took the dress that her friend was still holding. She went behind the dressing screen and she was done a minute later. "How's it look?" she asked, rubbing her arms nervously.
"Really, really great," Serenity nodded.
"Now these," Meskhenet picked up a pair of scarab earrings from a pile of jewellery on a table.
"Mother, are you there?" they heard the Pharaoh ask before he entered the room. "You really should know that..." he began but stopped when the curtains were pulled back and he entered the room. "You...what are you doing?" he blinked in confusing, taking in the scene.
"I did inform the guards at my door that I was busy, my son," she replied.
"Yes...and I..." he spoke slowly as he stared at Serenity, Duke and then Teà who were all dressed as Egyptians now. "I..." he stopped just as his mother held up a pair of earrings to Teà's ears.
"Oh, no, that will never do, my dear," she lamented.
"Told 'ya, it's a skirt," Tristan whispered to Duke who then burst out laughing.
The Pharaoh turned to look at them , stunned as they giggled. Their amusement was such a shock to him after the events of the morning and he simply couldn't understand what was so funny. His mother's attitude he could understand though. Aknadin was the reason that her husband's soul was trapped in the shadows of Kul Elna and the reason that her son had been trapped in the Millennium Puzzle for 3,000 years. And that same son had seemingly just forgiven Aknadin and thereby absolved him for what had become of Aknankanon.
"What?" he asked, confused as they continued to laugh. Duke muttered the same thing to Joey and Yugi who then laughed as well.
"Oh, brother," Teà and Rebecca shook their heads and Serenity did her best not to laugh as well.
"You..." Yugi managed to utter between bouts of hysterical laughter.
"What?" Atemu asked again, still confused.
"Nothing, my son, nothing," his mother assured him and did her best to silence their laughter with an attempt at a stern glare, ruined somewhat by her own smile. "Now, what do you think about these?" she asked, holding up a pair of cat earrings, "For Teà? She must have something."
"You're angry with me, aren't you?" Atemu sighed, "Seto is too."
"Why would I be angry?" she asked, serenely. "No, not these ones either," she shook her head at the earrings.
The Pharaoh rolled his eyes and glanced at the table of jewellery. "The eyes of Horus, they're blue," he said, quickly. In fact they were made of gold, but the eyes were inlaid with precious blue stones.
"Blue?" she asked him.
"Teà's eyes are blue," he answered without thinking. "Now will you please listen..."
"Indeed?" Meskhenet smiled. "Very well observed," she said as the young woman in question both blinked and blushed.
"When I was a child, you once berated me for deserting my post at court," he said, suddenly. "You left quickly," he added.
"Four year old children don't tend to have much interest in court matters. I told your father as much," she said, dismissively, "But both of you were so determined."
"We are neither of us children," Atemu declared.
"You had made your decision. You did not need me there," Meskhenet replied, justifying why she had left the court earlier.
Yugi and his friends began to feel a little awkward standing there. Their conversation, for a mother and son, seemed suddenly too rigid and formal for what they were used to. It seemed very strange to them.
"You must acknowledge Aknadin at some point, he cannot be ignored," Atemu said to her.
"I am your mother. But I am also a former Queen. Publicly, it's not in either of our interests for me to disagree with your decision, however in this instance, here in private, I do disagree with you," she replied. "Your choice is truly worthy of a mother's pride, but also of a Queen's derision," she said, bluntly, shocking the teenagers behind her.
"Whoa, that's harsh," Joey muttered to Duke, who nodded, but the Pharaoh didn't even bat an eyelid at her comment.
"I didn't pardon him because he is my uncle," Atemu sighed. "We are not in a position of strength, he could assist us," he explained.
"And if he turns on you again? On all the people who oppose him?"
"He won't."
"How can you be sure?"
"Mother...I've had many encounters with dark magic and once...it overwhelmed me even though I began using it with good intentions. I cannot hold it against him when I know just how easily we can be seduced by it," he told her. "I tried to protect myself and a dear friend and I failed. Without realising it...I changed. By the time I understood what had happened it was too late," he said. He'd moved to stand at the balcony at spoke as he looked out over the city.
"Another of your adventures which you hid from me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. One day, I will tell you all, but not today. For now, as a Queen...but more importantly, as my mother, I ask that you trust me. Aknadin is more likely to injure himself now trying to prove his loyalty, not us."
She sighed as he came to stand beside him. "Isis has dispatched Spiria to bring the Priests of Apep to us but there is still much to do," he added, logically, "Not least is finding out what has become of our foreign allies. We cannot afford to distrust one another now."
"What happened with this...dark magic you encountered? What became of it?"
"It was destroyed," he answered, simply.
"At what cost?"
"It is gone, for now, we focus on the serpent," Atemu declared.
"In that case, I'd best go and acknowledge our returned Priest. Good day, my King," she strode past, place a gentle hand on his shoulder for a second and then left.
Her son watched her leave and then stared back over the city once more.
"So...erm...morning..." Yugi muttered, sheepishly after a light cough to let their friend know that they were still there.
"I am sorry," he said without turning to face them, "That was a private matter. I should not have involved you."
"That was...I mean that was just..." Serenity frowned with a sad expression on her face.
"Occupational hazard," he shrugged.
"Of what? Having a mom?" Teà asked in disbelief.
"Of having a mother who was a Queen. We have our own opinions and sometimes we disagree. My uncle Aknadin, who betrayed us and was lost to the shadows, has been returned to us and I pardoned him. She doesn't approve."
"She's just worried though, right?" Serenity asked, "I mean...she loves you, she's your mom."
"My father used to say that duty always comes first. Duty demands that I execute traitors to the crown not welcome them back to the palace and lie to the people about it. I am unsure of my own decision and my mother knows it. My uncertainty could cost us dearly. Do not worry. What she does is all that she can do for me; she questions my choices with honesty and integrity when I cannot," he explained. "I realise it may seem...strange to you but my time is very different from yours. Please do not concern yourselves."
"But..." Yugi frowned.
"I should go," Atemu stopped him. "Changing your clothes is a wise choice. The less attention you draw to yourselves here, the better...if that's at all possible." he said, turning back to leave. "You look...very nice, incidentally," he added and left without another word.
"I know, I can look great in anything!" Duke called after him.
"I don't think he meant you, dummy," Joey muttered.
"Y'know...I think he was right about these," Serenity said, holding up the Eye of Horus earrings. "They do look pretty," she added.
"Erm...thanks..." Teà managed to say.
A.N. I think maybe the Pharaoh's mother is kinda abrupt in this one, but I don't think it can all be sunshine and roses being a woman who had power and then would have had to give it all over to her son. There's no way she'd be able to disagree with him or advise him publically and I guess there'd have to be some tough love in the royal family.