Prologue: Part 1

[Scoleciphobic]

I really need to stop starting these, don’t I? Oh well, sorry. No one seems to want commissions from me, so I’m writing my own. I hope you all don’t mind…^.^;;

This doesn’t mean I’m going to stop my other Ancient Egypt fic, either.

Let’s see…ah yes, the little key:

/blah/ = speaking in native tongue (Arabic)
{blah} = my random spazzes when I feel like I need to interrupt you with pointess comments…<br>Blah = thoughts
Blah = gods/goddesses speaking

Disclaimer: Anything historically incorrect—ignore! It is not my fault, and I am too lazy to look it up. I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, because if I did, why the heck would I be on here?!

Enjoy! ^.^;;

--

You jerked awake, a scream of sadness dying in your throat. The horrors or what you saw in the dream still flashed behind your eyes. Jumping out of your comfortable bed in a panic, you fled your rooms and tore down the halls. A chill had settled over your heart as you neared the destination.

Pulling the door open, you silently slipped into the bedchambers of your betrothed; the pharaoh. A rush of soothing relief passed through you as you saw the young ruler sleeping peacefully. You leaned heavily on the door behind you. The nightmare had scared you senseless. Now you realized it was all just a dream.

Until you saw the adder.

The venomous snake was slithering silently towards the sixteen-year-old’s bed. A strangled cry rose in your throat and you couldn’t keep it back. Instantly the snake swirled and came towards you. Another scream, louder and bolder, tore past your vocal chords.

Atemu woke up, and looked around wildly. He stared at you in confusion, before also seeing the adder.

“Khalidah!” he yelled.

You didn’t move. Fear had wrapped your heart in its claws and refused to let go. The snake kept slithering towards you. Your deep brown eyes clamped shut, awaiting the meeting between your soul and Anubis. A silent prayer escaped your lips, pleading that the jackal-headed god would guard and guide you to Osirius.

Suddenly large, strong arms picked you up from behind. Opening your eyes, you saw deep green orbs looking at you worriedly. You smiled softly.

/“Relax, Amon, I was not bitten,”/ you said softly.

A smile of relief appeared on your young, and handsome, body guard. Even though he was really almost a slave, you treated him like an equal. He was your favourite servant, mainly because your father had sent him along with you from the last place your family had set up residence.

You were a Bedouin princess. The only reason you were betrothed to Atemu, was so that the Egyptians could get their hands in your family’s horse bloodlines. You had the finest horses in Arabia, and it would be quite a gain for the Egyptians. On top of the studs, a hundred Bedouin horse trainers had been sent along with you, too. All for a small dowry.

/“Relieved, that I am, Princess. I would miss you very much,”/ he said as he put you on your own feet back in your rooms. /“Something tells me the pharaoh would, too.”/

You flushed and sent him a haughty glare. /“Be careful, Amon. Even if these Egyptians cannot understand us, they can still tell that your tone of voice is a bit too bold.”/

The dark skinned would-be gladiator just grinned at you. /“As you say, Princess.”/ His voice was more respectful, even if you knew it was sarcasm.

Suddenly the doors to your greeting chamber flew open to reveal a very worried pharaoh standing in the doorway. When he saw you, he rushed over to you and put his strong hands on your tan, but bare shoulders. He stared into your eyes, and you were able to identify worry and love in his.

“Are you alright, Khalidah?” he asked anxiously, before shooting a careful glance at your guard.

Amon just stared at the wall, going back to the pretense that he was only educated in Arabic, and could not understand a single word the pharaoh was saying. You, too, glanced over at your guardian, before smiling kindly at Atemu.

“I am fine, /beloved/, Amon saved me.”<br>
He sent a calculating glance at your silent bodyguard, before muttering, “Will you tell him I said thank you?”<br>
You smiled a little, before glancing over at your friend. /“He says ‘thank you’ because you saved me.”/

Amon sent you both a grin, nodding a bit at Atemu, before looking back at the wall.

“What is he doing?” Atemu asked curiously, because he can’t see what’s so interesting about the walls of his home.

You laughed softly, and trailed a slender finger down your betrothed’s bare chest. “We don’t have hieroglyphics on the walls of our tents. He is fascinated by them, and tells me the stories he thinks they mean.”<br>
Atemu chuckled softly before kissing you gently on the nose. “He sounds like a good friend to have. It saddens me to know I cannot talk to him.”<br>
You raised an eyebrow. “Why would you need to talk to him?”<br>
“So that I could know all your secrets.”<br>
Getting an innocent expression, you tilted your head a little. “Secrets? What secrets?”<br>
He just sighed. “Like why you put up with this arrangement. Why you have a tattoo of a jackal on your lower back. Many other things…”

You smiled. “Because I have grown to love you. As for the tattoo that is not something you need to know.”<br>
He just growled darkly, before sighing. “Will you be safe for the rest of the night?” he turned his violet eyes to you in a somewhat pleading manner.

You rolled your eyes. “If you remember correctly, the adder was not in my room. It was in yours. I should be asking you that question.”<br>
He just gave you a wry grin. “I do not worry about myself, because I know how to wield a sword. I can defend myself.”<br>
“Oh, but of course. That is why, I suppose, you didn’t know there was an adder in your room until I screamed, right?” you asked, smirking a little. But then, you shrugged and yawned. “Do not worry about me, love. I have Amon to protect me.”<br>
His eyes flashed with jealousy. “I see.”<br>
You smile at him. “Don’t worry, my love for Amon will not overcome my love for you.”<br>
Out of the corner of your eye, you saw your childhood friend shoot you a questioning look, but he quickly turned his attention to the wall when Atemu glared at him accusingly. It’s sweet how Atemu is jealous of an almost-slave, you thought to yourself, amused. Does his self-confidence go that low?

You couldn’t help but let out a small giggle. The pharaoh looked back at you, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“You tricked me!”<br>
“How did I do that?” you asked, eyebrow raised.

“You made me think you loved another!” he said accusingly, glaring at you.

You smiled. “I do love Amon, but it is as a brother, Atemu. Nothing more.” At least, not anymore.

The moody sixteen-year-old smiled at you. “Oh,” is all he said before he gently kissed you.

Pulling away from him, you shook your head. “Go on, to bed with you! You’ve got a busy day tomorrow. Busy, but boring, yes.”<br>
He just nodded wearily and sighed. “I can’t wait for us to be married. Then I will be able to take you everywhere with me.”<br>
You raised an eyebrow. “I go everywhere with you, anyway.”<br>
He shot you a wicked smirk. “Not to the bathing pools {Just pretend they have those, and he has his own really large one, ok? >.> I don’t really know what they bathed in, only that the pharaoh’s would be heated whenever he wanted it to be.} you don’t. Nor to my bed.”<br>
You flushed lightly, but in the dark room, he couldn’t see it. “Atemu!” you said, softly smacking his tanned arm. “The priests would have a fit if they heard such talk.”<br>
He rolled his eyes and sighed. “I care not about the priests.”<br>
You gasped. “You’re going to anger the gods! I really, really don’t want Ra to kill you, even if it’s for a good cause.” You shoot him a glare. “What would happen to the baby?”<br>
His eyes widen in shock. “You’re—? But we—I mean—what?! How could—I don’t—what?!”<br>
Looking at him lazily, you just gave him a wry smirk. “Calm down, Mr. Panic. I’m not pregnant, so don’t worry about it. This coming from the guy who is upset I can’t share his bed with him…” you snorted, not caring that it was unlady-like. You never were one to be lady-like in the first place.

He relaxed visibly, which made you frown softly. “What? Would me being pregnant be that bad of a thing?”<br>
He looked confused for a moment, before shaking his head. “No! You just scared me…besides, I’m not ready to be a father yet.”<br>
Smiling at him, you put your hand on his cheek and stroked near the corner of his eye. “Well, when you are ready, I’m sure you’ll make a great one.”<br>
He just smiled at you, before kissing you gently and moving towards your door. “I’ll see you later, my love.”<br>
With that he was gone.

Sighing heavily, you looked over at the silent statue who was shaking with suppressed laughter.

/“Ok, mister wise guy, what’s so funny?”/ you asked, crossing your arms.

He burst out into laughter, although it was still rather quiet. The normally stoic guard bent over laughing, before finally catching his breath.

/“Did you see his face when you told him you were pregnant? He just about had a heart attack,”/ he snickered.

You just rolled your eyes at him. /“Haha, very funny. Yes, he just about died of shock because we haven’t done anything. I know. Now can you leave? I’m tired…”/ as if to prove your point, a huge yawn overcame you that ended up popping your jaw.

Still chuckling lightly, the dark-skinned man walked out of your rooms to stand just outside your now-closed doors.

You yawned again as you slowly made your way to your bed, only to find that a shadow was sprawled across it, looking idly about the room with keen interest in his chocolate eyes. Letting out a small, squeak, you instantly growled and glared at him.

“Hullo, Bakura.”

[Scoleciphobic]

The white-haired, brown-eyed thief just gave you a happy grin {>.>;; he can do that! He has no reason to hate you…yet} and chuckled. “You sound so happy to see me, love.”<br>
Growling louder, you continued to glare at him, although it was fading to a scowl. “I’m just thrilled you’ve decided to wrisk your pompous, arrogant, conceited neck to come see me.”<br>
He frowned, sending you a reproachful look before sitting up in your bed so you’d have room to sit on it, too. “If I’m so conceited, why am I here in a place that I could so easily be caught in? For that matter, why haven’t you screamed for your little safe-keeper to come rescue you?”<br>
You snorted and sat on the bed across from him. “Because I don’t need to be rescued.” You gave him a small smirk, “Besides, I know for a fact you won’t hurt me, will you?”<br>
Even in the dark, you could see a reddish shade cover his cheeks, which made your smirk grow. He scowled, seeing your amusement, before getting off your bed and beginning to walk around.

“Nice place,” he said softly. “But then again, I can see why the pharaoh would like you enough to give them to you. What do you do?” he asked, turning back to you. “Warm his bed?”<br>
In an instant, the tomb-robbing thief was on his back with you sitting on his chest. A nice, sharp, wickedly curved dagger was pressed up hard against his vulnerable throat. Bakura stared up at you in shock, a little bit of fear in his eyes. {You caught him off guard! O.O} You growled at him and pushed the blade harder against his skin.

“I warm no man’s bed,” you snarled through gritted teeth. “If you say that again, in my presence or not, I will slit your throat. I have my ways; my ears hear everything.”<br>
He just stared at you, a little bit of awe, respect, and pure admiration filtering into his eyes to get rid of the shock and a small percent of fear.

“Good,” you said, slipping the dagger back into its hidden sheath and patting him atop his white head.

You stood up and got off him, moving back towards your bed. “If you must know, I’m engaged to him.”<br>
Since your back was turned, you failed to see the jealously pained expression flicker through his gaze. By the time you did turn around, you were propped up on your bed and he was staring at you impassively.

“Now,” you said. “There must be a reason you are here. What is it?”<br>
A lazy smirk made its way onto his handsome face. “What makes you think there is one?”<br>
You snorted. “Because even you aren’t that stupid as to just come to the palace for no reason at all.”<br>
“You belittle yourself, Namir,” he said with an insolent grin. “You’re beauty is more than enough reason for me to risk my life to witness it again.”<br>
You gave him a look that was meant to tell him that his charm wouldn’t work on you anymore. “That time I rescued you from my father, was only because you were too young to have your hands cut off. Of course, if you had been any older, my father would have just ordered you to be killed.” A sad look appeared on your face at the mention of your father, because you missed him dearly. Sighing softly, you shook your head. “However, I do not believe you have any right to be in my bedroom.”<br>
He gave you a sad look, before sighing. “Alright, fine. I truly came here just to give you—”

/“Khali, why do I hear voices in there? Are you alright?”/

“Leave!” you hissed, turning to find Bakura already climbing out the window. He motioned at the table next to your bed, before slipping out of sight.

Quickly getting in bed, you threw the covers up around you and closed your eyes to appear asleep. The door creaked open, and light streamed in to hit you in the face.

You faked a sleepy groan. /“Amon? What are you doing?”/ you asked looking over at him, squinting sleepily.

In the soft light, you saw him flush and immediately felt bad for lying to him. He mumbled something resembling an apology and closed the door. You yawned and closed your eyes, falling asleep.

Bakura’s mysterious gift lay forgotten on your table.

~

Sometime, hours later, you stood next to Atemu as people came to him and told him their various problems and things. Amon stood just in your line of vision, making odd faces that would, in turn, make you have to fight to keep from laughing. Every time so much as a snort escaped you the priests off to the right would shoot you a glare. You just grinned innocently at them.

This last person was rambling on and on about how this stranger had appeared in the market place and had supposedly stolen from him.

“Do you know for sure he stole from you?” you muttered, not knowing that the room had gone silent.

Everyone stopped whatever they were doing and turned to look at you. Even Atemu did, however his gaze was seemingly amused.

[Scoleciphobic]

The man stuttered. “Well, no, but he was the last person at my stall and when I looked again, a piece of fruit was missing!”<br>
You could barely contain the anger that was beginning to rage in your chest. “So you saw him steal it, then. Is that what you are saying?”<br>
The man’s face began to get red. “Well, no, but I’m just saying I know he was the last person to have been near my stall!”<br>
You nodded sagely, crossing your arms. “Did you, or did you not, see him steal it?”<br>
The merchant spluttered for a couple minutes, before growling. “No.”<br>
A cheerful, yet slightly mocking, grin appeared on your face. “See? Now that you’ve admitted that you aren’t completely positive he stole the food, could you please give us a description? Perhaps if he appears again, everyone else will be able to keep a close eye on him.”<br>
The man seemed to growl at you, but he sighed in resignation anyway. “He was tall, about Pharaoh’s height and age. He had light blonde hair, very deeply tanned skin, and his eyes were a light purple.”<br>
{To have you know him, or to not have you…that is the question…}

You tensed a little, but quickly hid it. The only two people in the room who had noticed were Amon and Atemu. {AA! Double AA!! Batteries! ^__^} However, they too hid it quickly. You had seen that very man the day you had arrived in Egypt. He had been standing at the entrance to some type of temple, and his eyes had been staring at the world around him in longing as if he’d never been outside of the shadows of his temple.

“I see. Thank you, sir,” you said to him. Raising your voice, you added, “So now, if you see this person, you will know to keep a good eye on him.”<br>
You glanced around the room to see that Atemu’s people were staring at you in shock. You could almost hear the thoughts of indignation going through their heads. How dare you, a barbarian of the sand, dare to tell them what to do? You sighed softly to yourself before sending Atemu a look that said ‘I’ll see you later’ and walked out.

Amon followed behind you, but you remained silent until you came upon the entrance to one of Atemu’s many gardens.

/“Why did we leave?”/ he asked, confused.

You just sighed and sat yourself on one of the cool stone benches. /“Because I felt like the Egyptian people were going to riot and kill me…I don’t know why I stepped in, Atemu will probably be mad at me. That is, if he doesn’t call off the engagement.”/

/“He won’t. He loves you too much, Khali. Surely you know that,”/ he replied, looking at you with a surprised look on his face.

You glanced away from his searching eyes, and shook your head as you sighed. /“Maybe. But why would he continue this engagement when I’m sure another there are others out there with more…law-abiding, and courteous daughters that are willing to make the same deal as a dowry.”/

You felt Amon sit down at your feet. You glanced down at his head full of black hair, but since he was facing away from you, you couldn’t see what his face looked like.

/“Alright, fine,”/ he said softly. /“Why did you get all tense when you heard that man’s description?”/

Sighing, you shrugged. /“I’ve seen him before. When we first arrived here, I saw him from the back of Oded.”/

/“Why didn’t you say anything?”/

/“I didn’t think it was anything important! He didn’t look like a thief, in fact, he seemed more like a person who had to follow their father’s orders, and rarely got to be around other people.”/ You frowned softly.

Suddenly Amon turned to look at you, a small smile on his face. /“You sounded bitter there, Khali.”/

/“Did I?”/ you mused. /“Well, I didn’t mean to.”/

“Khalidah!”<br>
Sighing, softly, you turned towards the palace where you saw Atemu walking down the steps towards you. To your surprise, however, he wasn’t frowning in anger, instead he was grinning as if someone had told him his birthday had come earlier this year.

“Yes, Atemu?” you asked, tilting your head a little.

When he arrived in front of you, he sat down on the bench next to you. Amon had gotten up and was standing on your other side, as if inspecting a tree.

“That was great!” he said excitedly.

You blinked, before frowning in confusion. “What was great?”

[Scoleciphobic]

“The way you handled that man! Even the priests agreed that it seems as if you are a natural at solving those sorts of problems. They finally complimented you, and at least a few of them agreed that the engagement—” he stopped abruptly and his eyes widened in shock.

He had almost let something slip that you weren’t supposed to know.

But you could guess. Smiling sadly, you looked away from him. “A few of them finally agreed that the engagement wasn’t a total loss?”<br>
He stiffened next to you, before sighing. “Yes.”<br>
“I’m not surprised, that I am not. After all, your people think I’m some sort of barbarian, coming out of the sands riding on a horse like I was a part of one.” There was a definite bitter tone in your voice, and you could hear it this time.

“Khalidah…”

“No, it’s alright. I am part of a horse, which is what my family’s life is based off of: the health of our horses. Without them, we would be nothing.” You sent him a small smile. “You need to start calling me Khali, it is shorter…besides, everyone at home did.”<br>
He tilted his head in a way that made your stomach flutter. “Even the slaves?”<br>
Only you could hear the sharp intake of breath that came from your now-stoic guard. You looked at your husband-to-be and shook your head. “Slaves to us aren’t like the slaves that you keep. We treat our slaves like family, or friends even. So yes, even our slaves called me Khali.”<br>
“Amon, too?”<br>
You just nodded a little, before sighing again.

“What’s wrong, Khali?” he asked, trying out your nickname to see if he liked it. He must have, because he smiled a little.

“I’m just restless, that is all.” You shrugged. “I have never been in one place for this long.”<br>
He frowned thoughtfully, before his red-violet eyes lit up with excitement. “Would you like to go for a ride?”<br>
“A ride on what?”<br>
“Horses, of course. What else would we ride?” he asked.

You looked at him to see if he was serious; both about the ride, and about what you could have ridden. “Um, camels?” you asked incredulously.

He shook his head. “No, we don’t ride camels for entertainment. Horses, however, we do.”<br>
You jumped to your feet and stared down at him in happiness. “You’re serious about the ride?”<br>
He stood up too, slower than you, however. “Yes, I wouldn’t lie to you.”<br>
You grinned and wrapped your arms around him in a hug. “Thank you, Atemu!” you said, kissing him on the cheek.

He just smiled at you, enjoying your happiness. “You’re welcome, Khali. I shall meet you in the stable soon, yes?”<br>
You just nodded before running off to get read. Amon followed quickly behind you.

~

A little while later, you were walking calmly, but quickly, to the stables where you knew your favourite horse was. You had changed out of light blue, linen dress. Now you were wearing a beige-coloured linen shirt that left your arms and most of your shoulders bare, and also let your flat and tanned stomach be seen. The bottom half of it consisted of matching beige linen that was sewn to fit like loose, flowing pants.

It was one of your favourite outfits.

Amon had tried to talk you out of wearing it, because he didn’t think that the people of Egypt would like the style, but you had sternly told him that they wouldn’t care. After all, the prostitutes stood around completely naked!

As you entered the large, clean stable, you let the wonderfully soothing scent of horses sweep over you. Suddenly a shrill whinny followed by shouts of anger in many different languages, made you hurry down the long aisle.

You knew that scream of anger! It was unmistakably Oded’s.

Sure enough, arriving in the stall you knew he had been placed in, you soon saw that at least ten stablemen were standing around trying to get him to calm down.

/“Calm down, Oded,”/ you said gently, but loud enough for the horse to hear.

Automatically, the stallion stopped his tantrum, and walked over to the edge of the stall. He nickered softly and thrust his shiny black muzzle out to you. You smiled and gently rubbed the velvety soft fur on the end, and he snorted a little.

“P-princess!” one of the Egyptian stable hands said in surprise.

/“Khali!”/ all of your father’s men said in unison.

You smiled at them all before turning back to your horse. /“Have you been a naughty boy?”/ you asked the temperamental stud.

He just snorted and rolled his eyes softly, his ears flitting back a little.

You laughed at him. /“Basil,”/ you said suddenly to the youngest of the stable boys your father had sent along with you. The poor kid jerked his head in your direction, his eyes wide in shock that you had called his name. /“Please fetch me my bridle; I am to go riding with the Pharaoh today.”/

The thirteen-year-old bowed low before rushing off to do your bidding.

/“Do you think that is wise, Princess?”/ a deep voice behind you said in a low growl. /“He might take advantage of you.”/

/“No, Jaser, he won’t have the chance. Amon is coming with us.”/ You turned around to see the oldest and wisest of your father’s stablemen standing behind you.

Jaser was like a second father to you, even when you were young. He was big, burly man who’s skin was almost black from years of the hot Arabian sun. The lack of lines on his face told anyone he met that he wasn’t one who smiled a lot, but he didn’t need to. You had learned to read his eyes for emotion.

At the moment, those eyes were full of pride, love, and concern all at the same time. You smiled reassuringly at him, but that wasn’t enough.

/“How do you know that he will not kill Amon?”/ the man asked gruffly.

You sighed softly. /“Oh please, Jaser. Atemu has yet to do anything to harm you, so I do not believe he would do that now.”/

Before Jaser could reply, Basil came running up to you, your horse’s bridle in his hands. He held them out to you, a faint blush on his caramel-tanned cheeks.

/“H-here you are, P-princess,”/ he stuttered shyly.

You smiled kindly at him and took the semi-decorated restraint from him. /“Thank you, Basil.”/

He bowed low again, before backing out of your presence.

Shaking your head at the boy’s shyness, you quickly entered Obed’s stall and slipped the handmade bridle on over his majestic head. Grabbing a fistful of mane, you easily swung yourself up on his bare black, back.

Jaser pulled open the stall door, and you galloped out into the aisle. The sound of companion hooves behind you, alerted you to Amon’s presence.

Once out into the courtyard-like plain, you glanced around to see Atemu waiting for you.

It would be wonderful to feel the desert air flowing through your long, black hair. To be flying over the sand, that was a treasure no man should be exempted from.

--

Well, that is Part 1 of the Prologue. I don’t want to make the Prologue super-duper long, but I can’t make it so short no one wants to read it.

I hate short updates. ^_^;;

The more reviews I get, the faster I will update!

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Name meanings:

Khalidah: Immortal

Amon: the Hidden

Basil: Royal, Brave

Jaser: Fearless

Oded: Strong

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Marik: I wasn’t in this chapter…<br>
Fountie: No, true, but you were mentioned…>.>;; sorta…<br>
Marik: *sighs* But still…<br>
Fountie: *huggles Marik* It’s ok. You’ll be in this story eventually. *blinks* w00t! Foreshadowing!!

Marik: -_-;;

Fountie: Heh…like I said, review!