𝑫𝑹𝑨𝑷𝑬𝑻𝑶𝑴𝑨𝑵𝑰𝑨 - Ardeth Bay

TWENTY FIVE

25|THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

Ancient Egypt

Footsteps sounded through the golden temple, a young woman with white hair and captivating eyes walked towards the thrown. Her body was covered in gold jewellery and a crown rested on her head.

"My Pharaoh." One of her advisers stepped forward and bowed to her. "The south have plans to attack, they do not see you fit enough to rule this kingdom."

"Why? Because I am a woman?" She spat with disgust. The advisor slowly nodded his head, fearing what she would do. "Send the Chieftain to my quarters, tell him I need to discuss war plans with him."

"Yes, my Pharaoh."

The Pharaoh paced up and down her chambers, feeling weighed down by the heavy pieces of jewelry covering her body. Finally, her golden doors opened, the Cheiftain of the Medjai waltzing into the room with a daring look.

"My Pharaoh." He smirked, walking close to the woman till they were only inches apart. "You wished to see me?"

"Help me take my jewelry off." He removed the crown off her head and put it down on her small table. His fingers moved carefully to remove the rest of her intricate accessories, purposeful strokes against her smooth skin. She stood before him, a lose silky white dress hanging off her small frame.

"Thank you, Ardeth." She smiled seductively, slipping the dress off her shoulders before walking into her large bath. His eyes watched her closely, admiring every curve on her body. "Join me."

"If that is what my pharaoh wishes." He slipped off his black robes, stepping into the hot water, standing only inches from her. He raised a hand, stroking it over the gold paint that adorned her body, watching as it trickled down her skin.

"The south wish to go to war, I need your help to crush them." Tiye informed him, sighing as she pressed her body against his, hugging him tightly.

"We will destroy them all."

The war was long and brutal but finally the Southern leader was killed, the war ending. Tiye lay naked in bed beside Ardeth, admiring the stars out the window. Ardeth soon left to go check up on his men while Tiye wrapped a white robe around her cold body.

A scream of pain caused the Pharaoh to run out on to the balcony and she watched as Ardeth was stabbed repeatedly by men with covered faces.

"No! Ardeth!" She cried before hearing banging on her chamber doors. Grabbing the sword by her bed and prepared for whatever dangers were coming her way.

"Queen Tiye, you shall be reunited with your Medjai but dangers are coming your way and they will kill you in ways that will make you wish you were dead." A mystical voice called down to the teary eyed woman, a slight harshness in the tone.

"What do I do?" Tiye cried, falling to her knees as pain consumed her heart.

"You know what to do." She raised the sword in her hand and breathed out as the eyes in the reflection stared back at her knowingly. Tiye let out a muffled cry as she raised the sword to her stomach, the doors bursting open.

"You will never get my kingdom." The sword plunged into her stomach, blood dripping out her mouth as a grin covered her lips.

The temple around her began to crumble, bodies being buried beneath the earth. Her golden treasures following her under.

___

Present Time

The hot air balloon ship flee threw two stoney mountains, Tiye leaned against the side and admired the waterfalls and river.

"That's the Blue Nile down there." Rick informed them all of the water the were looking at. "We must be out of Egypt by now."

"In ancient times, all this still belonged to the upper kingdom." Evelyn added. "The Oasis must be around here somewhere."

"Don't worry, Evy, we'll find him." Rick reassured his wife, gripping her shoulder tightly. "He's a smart kid. He'll leave us a sign."

"He is even smarter than his mother." Tiye winked at the woman teasingly.

"We're in trouble!" Izzy screamed. Everyone turned around and saw the giant wall of water coming straight for the ship.

"Horus, fly!" Ardeth sent the bird away to safety as the others stared in shock over the wave that had developed a face.

"Izzy, come hard right! Starboard! Starboard!" Rick screamed to the pilot. Ardeth held his wife closely as the ship flew forwards at an alarming speed. Izzy turned the boat harshly causing them all to go toppling to the side.

Finally, the avoided the wave as Izzy flew them upwards, away from the water.

"Was there a little something you forgot to mention?" Izz complained once they were steady again.

"Uh, people?" Jonathan called out, staring ahead of them. A green valley filled with life lay in front of them, a pyramid resting in the distance.

"Ahm Shere." Ardeth stated. They all got distracted again as the roaring of the water came towards them, Imhoteps face almost smirking at them through the water.

"He's back! Hang on!" Izzy screamed. Tiye grabbed her husband tightly and hid her face in his chest, scared for all their safety.

Suddenly, the ships engine gave up and the giant wave struck the boat, sending it tumbling to the ground.