The Heart Of Ahkmenrah | Rami Malek

3. The Tablet

Word count: 1254

Elizabeth stared at the walls as they passed the giant jackels, bowing down to their king. She had studied Egypt for many years and was incredibly intrigued.

It's not like Elizabeth hadn't been to museums before and seen similar things, it felt different this time because she was with somebody who was alive when the originals were made.
Ahkmenrah explained and translated hieroglyphs as they walked, going to the main exhibit which was his sarcophagus and tomb.
He was quite passionate talking about his culture and people, he probably missed them.
"When I first met Ahk, I thought he was gonna be really old and gross looking" Nick laughed.
"Well thank you very much young Nick" Ahkmenrah smiled, he spoke with so much wisdom in his voice for somebody who looked so young.
"Ah don't worry Ahk, I think you look lovely" Elizabeth complimented him, she could have sworn she saw a tint of blush on his tan, olive skin.

They walked around his sarcophagus and stopped in front of the wall, a beautiful golden tablet proudly displayed.
"This is my tablet, my father gave it to me and since the day I was killed, I have come to life again every night"
Ahkmenrah spoke proudly.
"It was your brother that killed you right?" Elizabeth asked, recalling what she had already read about.
"Ah yes, most likely out of jealousy for our father presented me with the crown" he said seemingly reliving what he could remember of that day.
"However he can not attempt to steal the throne again, for he's stuck in the basement of the Jeffersonian, at least that's what Larry told me" Ahkmenrah smirked.
"What is it you wish to know?" Ahkmenrah questioned looking at her in a way that made her shiver.
"Well I knew you had the tablet, but history books do not talk about 'magic', simply something you owned.
How does it work?" Elizabeth asked.
"I must say Elizabeth, I wish I knew more to tell you, I just know that it was a gift from my father" he started. "He never spoke much of it, but it was always around me when I was growing up, it was kept with me when I was placed in my tomb, not even grave robbers could get to it".

All of a sudden there was a crash from the entrance and a monkey ran past holding something, Larry following him.
"Dexter! Sorry guys I have to go see what he's done this time, you good Elizabeth?" Nick asked just before he left.
She nodded and watched him scramble after his father.
"I'm sorry, you were saying?" Elizabeth smiled at Ahkmenrah, she was trying to ignore the fact that she was alone with him.
Elizabeth found him intriguing....... and intimidating.
He was mature and handsome but something about him seemed innocent. Of course he had been killed when he was in his early 20s.
He hadn't really been give much time to live, not that people lived very long in ancient times anyway.
It seemed the tablet was the most wonderful gift in the sense it let Ahkmenrah continue his life.
Elizabeth was pulled from her embarrassing thoughts when he spoke again, she shuffled a bit on her feet, listening.

" I'm still trying to figure out what makes it work, why it's possible at all" Ahk talked while gazing at the tablet, forever analyzing it.
"All I know is it must be connected to the moon no matter where in the world it is, when it it night time there, it brings myself and those around me to life" he finished.
"It's.. it's absolutely beautiful Ahkmenrah" Elizabeth spoke admiring it.
"Thank you, you can call me Ahk, Larry started it and now everybody does" he smiled at her.
"Sure Ahk, I must say I do love the name Ahkmenrah" Elizabeth said, now looking at her feet as she was extremely suceptible to blushing, a very frustrating trait of hers.
Ahk smiled warmly and looked at the tablet, then back to Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth earlier you told Sacagawea that you had read all about her, about all of us specifically. How do you know so much?"
"Oh, well I'm a history student, at Cornell university. I study mainly ancient civilizations and because you guys are at the museum of natural history and I knew that my uncle Larry has worked here since I was young... I wanted to know everything I could" Elizabeth spoke with a true passion for her work.

Ahkmenrah admired her for it, among other things.
" I'm currently working on ancient rulers, I wasn't really sure who to study and write about in greater detail. Although I must say, I have an idea on who now, Elizabeth continued, the volume of her voice faltering as she finished.
"Who would that be?" Ahk asked, not really getting what Elizabeth was implying, sarcasm wasn't really a thing of his time and no period of time spent with Nick would really change it.
Elizabeth laughed, she was about to open her mouth to speak when Larry and Nick walked backed in, both out of breath and the monkey on Larry's shoulder.

"What happened to you guys?" Elizabeth inquired, looking at Nick's ruffled hair and characteristic pink cheeks spotted with freckles looking redder than usual. A heavy blush seemed to run in the family.
"Well Elizabeth, this is Dexter" Larry sighed pointing at the monkey, the monkey smiled and grinned like it knew it was exhausting Larry and Nick.
"Dexter creates a majority of the problems around here" Larry said, trying to frown at the monkey but cracking a smile anyway.
Elizabeth could imagine it would be hard to stay mad at the little monkey, he was quite adorable.
Elizabeth walked towards Larry and held her hand out to Dexter.
"My name is Elizabeth, may we start out on good terms?" she asked the monkey.
Dexter grinned and squealed grabbing her hand and shaking it, it was more just him grabbing two of her fingers though.
"Good to know" Elizabeth smiled.
"Teddy and Sacagawea are playing a game downstairs with Octavious and Smith, would you two like to join?" Nick asked.

Ahkmenrah and Elizabeth looked at each other for a moment and nodded.
"Sounds lovely" Ahk said walking towards them.
Nick and Larry turned to walk out.
"Oh Ahk wait" Elizabeth started, lightly grabbing Ahkmenrahs shoulder, letting go rather quickly.
"Yes Elizabeth" Ahk smiled at her, making her thoughts get a bit jumbled.
"I-I was wondering if I could write my report on you, study you" Elizabeth spoke, slightly regretting her choice of words.
"Just.... if I could talk to you about your life and ask you about everything, anything? I have a couple weeks to write it" she finished looking back her feet, apparently her feet were very interesting this night.
"Of course Elizabeth, I'm always here as you know" Ahkmenrah agreed.
"Thank you so much, I'll most definitely be coming here more often" Elizabeth sighed with relief, she didn't know why she was so nervous to ask him. But she would jump on the opportunity to learn about him.... with him.
"I'll be looking forward seeing you" Ahk declared, walking after Nick and Larry.
His words made her heart flutter, she quickly shook her head as if it would help clear she thoughts and walked with him.

I must say its hard to make up stuff about a pharaoh that never existed, it is truly fun writing about it though.