Chapter 8


Atem sat outside his parent's quarters the entire rest of the day. The crowd that had been there early in the morning had waxed and waned. He overheard their comments and had seen the grim expressions on the doctors and priests' faces. He remembered the words internal bleeding. Staring at the floor, Atem watched the sunlight trail across the floor as time passed. He hadn't seen his father the rest of the day and was glad for it. For the first time in his life, Atem was confused and befuddled by his father, even angry with him. What had the time in at forsaken temple been about? Seeking refuge? Placating his sins?

Not once had he heard his father asking for his mother's life.

Pharaoh had asked for personal forgiveness, and asked for Atem's life to be spared. From what, Atem still had no idea. Atem grew angry and bitter, that his father hadn't even attempted to help her. To Atem, Aknamkanon had forsaken his mother as a lost cause.

It's not over, until it's over…Atem thought that he would have at least tried if it had been him.

His body was in a prolonged state of shock. His sneaking out and confronting a braggart, his poor handling of Mana, his lack of sleep, then that horrid display in the temple… His back and shoulders ached and his head pounded in tune with the beat of his heart. Had he eaten yet? He couldn't recall. Mana and Mahado had both taken turns passing him honeyed tea or wine. He'd humored them, sipping his drink that filled him with a sweetness that turned bitter in his stomach.

He was shaken awake by Mahado at some point. He didn't even remember falling asleep, someone had placed a blanket over him. Aching from sleeping again on the cold, hard floor was a trend that he didn't want to continue. Directly across from him, Atem noticed Mana sleeping with her slumped form curled up into a blanket. Mahado kneeled in front of him, his face tired and worn from the day's events.

"Mahado," Atem murmured. His voice was scratchy like he had swallowed sand. He cleared his throat and reached for the nearest cup of liquid. The wine burned going down.

"Your Highness,"

"What time of day is it?" Atem yawned the question.

"It is waning into the evening," came the reply.

"Neither of you has left me," Atem said, stating a fact.

"Neither Mana nor I would leave our prince during such a troubled time,"

It is good…Atem thought, feeling his heart warm… to have such friends.

"Has there been any change? Any news?"

"It is why I am waking you," Mahado pointed to the medical experts behind him. Among them were the six priests and priestesses who bore the Millennium Items. Not one of the magical items that had brought salvation for them in the past could save the queen of Egypt. They all looked forlorn and expectant.

A split second later, the door opened. Aknamkanon appeared, with not one thread or hair out of place. The only visible expression of what he might have been feeling was his red-rimmed eyes. He had been crying.

"Son," he said, pointing gently to Atem. "Your mother would like to see you,"

Standing aside, he waited for his son to rise, dust himself, and walk into the dim room. The Pharaoh did not linger. He was giving the prince some private time with his dying mother.

With the door closed, the already dim room was clouded with darkness. A raspy voice cracked from the mound of the bed. Mer-en was covered in blankets. As he got closer, he saw that she was sweating, but was also shivering as though she was freezing.

"Mother?"

"Come here my son," She waved her arm towards him, summoning him to her side. Gripping her hand, he placed her fingers to his mouth and kissed her hand.

"It is time for me to go to my ancestors," she whispered.

"Mother, please," He didn't think he had the energy left to cry, but at the sound of her defeated statement, he cried openly and fully. "Please don't give up," His throat was so full he couldn't continue speaking.

"Oh, my son," She removed her hand from his and placed it on his head. She did so like she used to when he was younger and needed comfort. "This is not something in which we have a choice,"

His father had uttered similar words to him earlier that morning.

"I have nothing left to give you Atem," She whispered. Using the pet name that only she used was like taking many arrows to his lungs. He was finding it difficult to breathe. Everyone else always referred to him as 'Prince Aknatem', or 'Your Highness', or in Mana's case referring to him simply as 'Prince'. He didn't even think that anyone had even heard him be called 'Atem' by his mother other than Aknamkanon. It was something special, only for mother and son, a special thread that bound them together.

And now he was losing it, along with her.

"Mother…" Weeping openly he collapsed at her bedside, unable to hold himself up.

"Shh, hush now, my son," Mer-en gently chastised him. "Now is the time to listen,"

Nodding, he gave her his full attention.

"I have nothing left to give you Atem, other than my prayers for you and the knowledge that I so dearly love you. I didn't know it, but the gods destined me and blessed me to be your mother," she paused. Atem could see how difficult it was getting for her to continue. More sweat had formed on her brow. Taking a cool, wet cloth he dabbed her face hoping to bring her a modicum of comfort. Her pallor was looking more sickly as the minutes ticked by. She was slowly getting more and more pale, looking less like his mother and more like a shade of herself.

"Be a good man, my son. Be a blessing to your people, for you are destined to be a great Pharaoh,"

"Mother," Atem said, his head lowered. "I will try,"

"You will be," Mer-en said, smiling at her only son. "Know this. You will be a great Pharaoh. I have seen it." She kissed his forehead. Her lips felt like wrinkled fabric on his skin. "I love you, my dearest son,"

It wasn't much longer after that when she closed her eyes and didn't open them again. When she had let go of her last breath, a slightly panicked Atem had run to the door and stumbled in front of the crowd who had waited for him in the hallway. There were few dry eyes in the crowd. Someone had woken up Mana and she held Mahado's hand like a boat tether.

"S—She is—

"She has gone to her ancestors," Aknamkanon said, pulling his son into a hug.

"She has gone,"


Atem had finally given his mother the necklace he had won from Chisisi. It looked beautiful on her. Soon after her parting moments, the embalmers took over care of her. Taking her to Sarneche to help her enter into the afterlife, they would wash her body, remove the organs, and embalm her. The entire kingdom mourned her as she made her journey into the afterlife.

The mourning and burial ceremonies had felt like it had passed too quickly for Atem.

Mana and Mahado both watched him silently over the next several weeks. Atem had returned to his normal schedule a month after his mother's passing, but it was as if a ghostly apparition had replaced him. He moved automatically, not feeling as he went through the days.

An almost permanent scowl sat on his furrowed brows. He either looked thoughtful and unfeeling, or he looked angry. There was no more laughter, no more pranks. He had stopped playing with Mana altogether and only spoke to Mahado about topics that required royal attention. Mana felt sad thinking of the last time they were together, playing in the cool of the vase and plotting. It seemed like years away. If she had known that would be the last time that they'd conspire and play together, Mana would have begged for more.

Grief washed over the entire palace, but things still had to be attended to. Pharaoh still had a country to protect and to run. His advisors and priests were at his side to support him. The one person who wasn't at the Pharaoh's side was Atem. The young prince had made a point to avoid him, not caring to look his father in the eye anymore. The only time Atem was present for the Pharaoh was when Atem had a specific lesson to learn or a duty to fulfill.

There was one particular day when Atem was summoned for a formal change in the priests' ranks. He stood to the left of his father, anxiously waiting for the moment when he was free to leave his father's side.

On that day, a young man that Atem had never seen before was brought before the royal court. He was tall, handsome, and appeared confident in the way he carried himself. His brown hair was mostly covered by a long formal deshret. Atem could sense something about this young man that was different than most. He could tell that he had a hardy character, filled with fight and grit. The cocky grin almost mirrored Atem's but it was nothing compared to the gaze he cast. His eyes said everything that Atem needed to know. Here was another young man in which Atem could feel a fierce warrior's spirit. Siamun cleared his throat to make a formal announcement.

"May I present, young master Seti. He has shown great promise and talent with heka. His skills in tactics and strategy are unsurpassed in the priest's ranks,"

Seti bowed to the Pharaoh in reverence and Siamun continued.

"Let us welcome the new guardian of the Millennium Rod, High Priest Master Seti. Though raised by peasants, he has risen to excellence. Passing his tests with the highest scores we've ever seen," Siamun announced.

"Welcome to my sacred court," Aknamkanon said.

"Many thanks for this great honor, my king. I am humbly honored to be brought forth to my Pharaoh. I vow to serve thee well. From this day forth, I am your humble servant,"

"As the youngest royal guardian, you will sit at the right hand of my son, the future king,"

Atem could feel his father's gaze on him, but he continued to ignore him, choosing instead to not lift his eyes off of Seti.

It was only for a moment, but Atem and Seti locked eyes. In it, they each recognized something in the other that would not be acknowledged for years to come. Unbeknownst to the two young men, a fierce bond of competition, honor, and emulation would be waged between them. Atem could feel a tug pulling at him, wishing and urging for him to go to battle, to prove himself. Something within Atem told him that this Seti had also felt this pull.

So let it be. Atem thought. A warrior's life is nothing less.

"Thank you, my king,"

Having been formally dismissed, Atem left quickly not wishing to see Seti be inscribed as a new Item-bearer.

"What do we do Mahado?" Mana said. She sounded defeated like she was stuck in an endless, depressing loop. "The prince—

"Is in mourning," Mahado said. "We should let him be,"

"We have left him alone for far too long already," Mana said. "I'm afraid, Mahado,"

"Afraid? Of what?"

"That we are losing him. It feels as if he's on the end of a rope, crying out for help in the middle of the ocean while a storm crashes all around us. We have the strength to pull him to safety, but we are not pulling him back in,"

"Mana—

"I yelled at him Mahado," Mana rubbed her arm uncomfortably. She had been riddled with guilt for weeks because of their last encounter. They had both been exhausted and emotional, and neither had satisfactorily ended the event. But she felt like even that angst-riddled fight was better than this numb, emotionless man left behind.

She could feel Prince Aknatem's life-saving rope slipping through her fingers.

"I yelled at him the night he snuck out before we knew of his mother's illness,"

"I fought with him that night also," Mahado said thoughtfully. "Yet, I do not believe he bears any malice over it,"

Boys. Mana thought. Grunt and snip at each other, but you're best friends seconds later.

Mana didn't know that the prince and Mahado had also fought that night. The entire evening and the day after had been an emotional whirlwind. She wanted to ask more questions but remembered her cousin's stubbornness.

"I cannot stand the thought of losing him, Mahado," Mana clutched her hands to her heart. Slowing her breathing, she could feel her heart rap against her breastbone. Mahado couldn't understand the source of Mana's overwhelming speech. Perhaps it was more than the loss of the queen and its effect on the young prince.

"Why are you—

Then it struck Mahado. I should have stopped this. He thought. I should have prevented this.

"Oh Mana, of all people…"

His face demanded that she look at him. Locking eyes, he strode over to her until he was leaning over her small frame. He whispered the next statement to not be overheard.

"You are in love with the prince, aren't you,"

Mana looked away, feeling pressured to spill all of her secrets to her cousin. She hated how much sway he had over her.

"I don't know when it happened," she said honestly. "My friendship with the prince has always felt natural, like puzzle pieces waiting to be connected. He's my dearest and oldest friend Mahado. I cannot tell you when my feelings for him changed, I don't know myself,"

She was telling the truth. She had been thinking about this ever since Mahado's blunt comments so many weeks ago. By the time they had that conversation, her feelings had already been set. She couldn't pinpoint when her relationship with the prince had transitioned from one of loyal friendship to adoration.

"You cannot be with him. You know this, don't you,"

"Why can I not be?"

"Because he will be Pharaoh and a crown queen will be selected for him,"

Mana still refused to look at her cousin.

"Doesn't he have a choice? Why can't he choose me? I am a dignitary's daughter. A talented magician," Mana reminded him, "And we are close friends," She had an advantage most other girls her age didn't. She had known him, known his secrets, had made him laugh and grow. The bond they had developed over their years together was so close. Almost unbreakable.

"They will not allow a Chaldean, even one as talented as you, to marry an Egyptian king,"

"I just want to be with him, Mahado," Mana said, unwavering.

"With such comments, you are denigrating yourself," he said, not holding back his words. He wanted Mana to wake up, to see what she was doing. "Think Mana, if you are not allowed to marry him formally, you are telling me that you would be satisfied being his mistress to 'be with him'?"

"Don't speak of such things!"

"I will speak to it if it ends this incompetent and irresponsible behavior!" He hissed. "I am merely relaying to you what you are telling me. By 'be with him' you are debasing your lineage. You are labeling yourself as nothing more than a convenient hole for him to stick his prick into when he pleases!"

Mana slapped him. Before he could react in retaliation, she was up and moving away from him. She quickened her pace and ran, looking for a private sanctuary to think.


After Atem left the court, he found himself wandering around the palace, aimless. He was beyond bored. There were no lessons, no orders to give, no wrongs to be righted. Perhaps, he thought mischievously, I can sneak out again. Find a new opponent to face. Or maybe he could challenge Seti, he looks like he could be a challenge. But before he could continue his musings, he heard crying coming from one of the inner courtyards. Following it, knowing who was the source of the sound he hunted for Mana.

He found her hidden in a corner. The shadows of the palm trees were casting her in a twilight-like glow despite the early hour of the day. She was using her magic to move the water in a small fish pond. Waving her hands back and forth, the small waves followed her hands without her ever touching the water. Seemingly unbeknownst to Mana, her ministrations were irritating the fish. So much so, that one jumped up and smacked her square in the face. Mana looked completely shocked and offended. A small red rash was quickly appearing on her face.

Atem couldn't help it. He laughed out loud, barreling over and clutching his ribs as if they would break. His outburst had startled Mana, who suddenly stopped what she was doing and now looked at him with embarrassed indignation. He felt like it had been ages since he had laughed. It felt so good to laugh again.

"Y—Your f-face!"

"It's not funny, you jerk," She said pouting. Her forehead was getting redder from embarrassment making her face look all the more hilarious. Just like Atem, the more he laughed, the more she couldn't keep her sour expression. She laughed too. They laughed and laughed until it wasn't possible anymore because of the lack of air.

"Oh! I really needed that," Atem said joyfully, laughter still lingering in his voice. "I can't remember the last time I laughed,"

Atem rubbed the tears out of his eyes. Finally settling down, he asked, "Why were you crying?"

"I uh," she didn't want to talk to him about this. She chose to give him a partial truth. "I fought with Mahado. He was being ugly to me, so I slapped him,"

"Oh," he said, concerned, "I'm sorry Mana," He came up to her and squeezed her arm in affection. "Sometimes a family can't help but fight," He said, thinking of the cold distance between his father and himself. "But families are meant to reconnect in the end,"

I probably shouldn't tell her that Mahado is going to be her magician's master soon. This was not the time or the place to inform her of that. That would come later when the fight between Mana and Mahado had cooled.

She stared into his beautiful amethyst eyes.

"You're hurting," she said with awed kindness. "You're in the midst of your own mourning and yet you inquire about my welfare?"

The same fish jumped out of the water, splashing Mana's feet as it landed in the pond. Atem motioned for her to come away from the water. Sitting together on a nearby platform they watched the water ripple in front of them. Atem handed her a cloth from his pocket. Using it to wipe the splash from her face, Mana gave it back to him.

"You never cease to amaze me, prince. You are an enigma,"

"How so?"

"You're stubborn," she said. She started to flick her fingers to count. "You're arrogant and are sometimes impatient and spiteful. You are so competitive, almost to the point of overkill,"

"Sounds like I'm a bad guy," Atem mused, he raised a curious eyebrow.

"But," she continued. "You're also honest, loyal, responsible, and compassionate. You're smart and fair. Courageous and generous. You will be a great Pharaoh someday,"

His mother's last words echoed in his ears. "Be a good man, my son. Be a blessing to your people, for you are destined to be a great Pharaoh."

He held her hand, interlacing her fingers with his, thankful for her and her words. A deep burning inside him that he hadn't been aware of was being soothed. The grief of his mother's death seemed less sharp. He was thankful for his friends, especially Mana and Mahado. Where would he be without his friends? Mana laid her head on his shoulder, just like she always did when such heavy things arose between them.

"You're my best friend, Prince," She said, thankful.

"You're mine, Mana." He was telling the truth.

"I wish…" She said, searching for the correct words. "I wish to ask you to share with me everything that you are,"

"What if what you find scares you?" Atem thought, thinking of the darkness in his heart. He was not immune to sins. He was as susceptible to the darkness in his heart, just like everyone else. His father had inadvertently taught him that during their time in the underground temple.

"There is nothing in you that could frighten me," Mana whispered.

Without either one being fully aware, Atem found his lips pressed to hers. Which one of them had initiated it? He didn't know. He closed his eyes and pulled her close. It was a first kiss being shared between friends, and it was simple and exciting. To an outsider, it would have looked hesitant and inexperienced, an exploratory journey between two teenagers. Neither of them had any idea what they were doing, but it was nice and sweet. When the haze cleared from his mind, Atem realized what he was doing. He was kissing his best friend.

Atem shot open his eyes wide, not sure what he was feeling. Did he have these kinds of feelings for Mana? It would be unfair to both of them if he didn't.

Mana too realized what she was doing to him and pulled away from him, horrified. A small sound escaped her throat, and she clasped her hands to her mouth, her eyes as wide as his.

"Ma—

Rising like a shot, she jumped as far back from him as she could in one movement. For the second time that day, Mana ran away from her friend.

"Mana! Wait!"

What have I done?! Mana screamed to herself. What have I done?


Author's Note:

1a) Atem's mother has never had much consideration in the manga and none in the anime, so I fixed that in this story. A mother has a profound impact on their children, good or bad. Since Atem turned out relatively well, I think his mother had a wonderful impact on him. (Minus his ruthless side) 1b) In this era, the type of sudden illness Mer-en was killed by would not have been detected until it was too late. Share with me your thoughts as to what you think her illness was.

2) Sarneche was the ceremony that helped the deceased to be prepared as they entered into the afterlife.

3a) The scene in the Court was taken directly from Season 5, episode 36. I had always wondered what had placed that scowl on young Atem's face upon meeting Seti. 3b) A deshret is the formal headgear that Seti wore in the manga.

4) Did Mahado go too far? Share with me your thoughts.

5) Mahado and Mana are from the country of Ur. Historically, Ur was the land of the Chaldeans, who eventually became the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar during the Bronze Age. During this time in Egypt, wives were chosen for the rich and powerful, but intermarriage between nations was not common unless political alliances were necessary. The same could be said for Atem as he grows up.

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