Ancient Love

Chapter 6: Something Isn't Right

"Time to wake up now your highness. You have a big day ahead of you today" I heard Anuktata's say as I heard her open the curtains. I turned over onto my side and opened my eyes to find that Ahkmenrah was not in bed. I sat up and stretched my arms. "Anuktata," I said to her as I stretched, "Where is Ahkmenrah?" I asked her as I stood up as she prepared my outfit and accessories for the day. "I remember he was talking to Ubaid earlier and had mentioned something about running some errands before his day started. He should be back by breakfast my lady." she said as she was scurrying around my room gathering up the necessities that I needed for the day. After getting ready, Anuktata and I walked downstairs to the great hall where the royal ceremony planner was waiting for me. "Ahh. Your highness!" He said as he walked towards me and took my hand before kissing it. I look over and I see Ahkmenrah entering the great hall while I was pointing out different spots of the room making suggestions on where things should be placed. He walked over and stood next to me and then kissed my free hand. "Good Morning my love." He said as he kissed me on the lips. "Morning Darling." I said with a long, tired sigh. "Is everything alright?" He asked me. "You don't seem like yourself today." he asked me concerned. I shook her head no and continued making suggestions and talking to the planner. Ahkmenrah sighed and he took the scroll with the list of everything that needed to be done for both ceremonies on it out of my hands and handed it to Anuktata. I turned to him and looked at him with confusion in my eyes. "Irissia my dearest. Please tell me what is bothering you. I'm really worried about you. Especially after last night." He pleaded with me. I looked at him and I took his hand. "Alright darling. I'll tell you. But you must promise me you will not worry." I made him promise as I started to lead him outside to the courtyard. "Your highness! Where are you going? There is MUCH work to be done!" the planner said as he yanked me away from Ahkmenrah. "I'll tell you later!" I yelled to him as the planner was whisking me away to a different room.

Later that day, Ahkmenrah and I were finally able to be alone together. He and I met up in the courtyard garden and sat down on one of the benches. I told him everything. From what the high priest had said to every detail of my nightmare. "Oh my love. I am not going anywhere!" Ahkmenrah said as he pulled me in close for a long embrace. "Wait a minute." He said to me as he looked at me with a confusing look on his face. "What is it darling?" I asked him trying to figure out what was wrong. "Something just doesn't feel right." Ahkmenrah said as he scooted away from me. 'What's wrong?" I asked very confused as to what was happening. "Iris my love," he said after he motioned for Ubaid to go over to him. Ubaid handed him a small wrapped box. "Follow me." He told me as he grabbed my hand. He lead me to a cart that was being driven by Ubaid. He put his hands on my waist and he lifted me onto the cart. He then put his hands on the cart and he got on. "Turn around." He instructed. I turned around and he put a silk blindfold on over my eyes and the cart began to move. After a while of sitting in the back of a cart blindfolded, the cart finally stopped moving. "Are we there yet? Why do I hear the sound of running water?" I asked Ahkmenrah as I heard his feet hit the soft ground as he got out. "Yes my love we are here. Please be patient" He replied as he helped me out of the back of the cart. He took my hand and guided me somewhere. "Sit down." He instructed me again as he sat me down on something soft. After helping me sit down, Ahkmenrah finally removed the blindfold. I slowly opened my eyes and I blinked multiple time to allow my eyes to adjust to the light. I stared in awe when I saw that we were in a very familiar spot by the Nile river. It was the spot where we first met and it was beautifully decorated. "Ahkmenrah! Did you do all of this?" I asked him in shock and amazement. "I had a lot of help." He replied as he sat down next to me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a big hug. "Now then, you never told me what it was that doesn't feel right" I said. "Now wait a minute." He said as he pulled away from me and scooted away from me. "This" he responded as he motioned in between us. "What I mean is that I would rather marry for love and not because someone told me to marry for diplomatic reasons. Irissia, I love you more than life itself! I would do anything for you! I would to give you the heavens if that is what you desired!" He said before he paused. "What I'm trying to say is, Irissia my one true love, will you make me the happiest man in all of Egypt by marrying me and not only becoming my wife, but my queen as well?" Ahkmenrah said as untied the ribbon off of the box and opened it up revealing a beautiful circular gold ring with a single ruby stone with small quartz stones surrounding it. "I looked at the ring in amazement. "Yes! Of course I will!" I replied as he took the ring out of the box and slid it onto my finger. "I don't want anything, not even death to keep us apart." He said as he kissed the ring on my hand. "Please follow me. There is something I wish to show you" He said as he put the blindfold back on me and took my hand. After arriving at another location, he took off the blindfold and lead me into a room filled beautiful paintings, gold, treasure, and jars ready for organs. In the back of the room was what looked like a gold piece of wall art. He and I walked over to it. "Iris my love." He said as we stopped in front of the wall art. "This is the tablet of Ahkmenrah. My father had it made out of Khonsu's magic to keep our family together, even after death." He explained as he motioned over to the tablet on the wall. "That bracelet I gave you, the gold on your ring and the gold on our wedding rings were all made with the scraps of the same gold that was used to make this tablet. "So now not even death can separate us." He took my hands and held them close to his chest. "This will be our tomb." He said as he motioned to the entire room. "Father and Mother will go here. Then me and you. And through those doors will be our servants and guards." He motioned to specific spots that had large boxes in place. He said as we came out of each other's embrace. "What about me Ahkie?" I heard Craig say as he came bursting in through the doors. "Where will you put your best friend Ahkie?" Craig said as he put his hand on Ahkmenrah's shoulder. "You will be in that other room with the guards and servants." Ahkmenrah explained to him as he pointed to another set of doors. "Why can't I be here in this room with you?" Craig whined. "This way no one can disturb you and you will always have people waiting on you hand and foot and always protecting you." Ahkmenrah said as he removed Craig's hand off of his shoulder. "Awwh Ahkie!" Craig said as he gave Ahkmenrah a big hug, "You're the greatest bro a guy could ask for!" Craig added as he hugged Ahkmenrah tighter. "Wanting to protect your best friend in the afterlife and making sure I'll be taken care of in the afterlife! What more could a guy like me ask for!" Craig said as he kept hugging Ahkmenrah tighter and tighter. "Craig let him go." I said to Craig as Ahkmenrah tried to break free of his embrace. "Ooooh shiny~ What is this?" he asked as he grabbed my hand and examined my ring. "What does it look like Craig? It's an engagement ring" Ahkmenrah pointed out. "But aren't you guys already engaged?" Craig asked. "Well yes. But as you know, I would rather marry for love and not because someone told me to marry for diplomatic reasons. Iris is the love of my life Craig, and I want her to always have a reminder of that." Ahkmenrah said as he looked over at me and smiled. "What are you doing here anyways Craig? How did you even get in here?" Ahkmenrah asked Craig who was mesmerized by my ring. "Craig!" Ahkmenrah yelled at him trying to get his attention. "Oh easy!" Craig said as he looked away from my ring. "I got bored, saw you guys, and I decided that I would just follow you." Craig explained. "Now, come on. Let's go eat!" Craig said as he pushed Ahkmenrah and I out of the tomb.

We left the tomb and went back to the palace for lunch. The lunch was peaceful, aside from the noises Craig was making as he scarfed down his food "Hey, this stuff is really good! What is it?" he asked in between mouthfuls of food. "That would be puffed dough that was brought over from Greece." Ahkmenrah explained. "Dude, this stuff is the best thing since my birth! And we all know how awesome that turned out!" Craig said strangely serious. It was not like him to be that serious. He only gets like that whenever he's defending Ahkmenrah.

Later that afternoon, Ahkmenrah and I laid in the bath together talking about the details for the ceremonies and anything else that came to mind and playing footsie under the water. We then heard the door to our room open and we heard Craig calling Ahkmenrah's name. "If we keep quiet, do you think he will go away?" Ahkmenrah whispered to me while Craig did whatever he wanted in our room. I shrugged and we kept silent as we laid our heads on the rim of the large tub we were in, letting the steam of the bath and the smell of the flowers and plants relax our bodies and minds. We both breathed deeply as the only sounds that were heard were the soft flickering of the candles and the muted sounds of Craig in our room. I never will understand his fascination with going through Ahkmenrah and I's belongings.

"What is THIS?!" we heard Craig yell in anger. Ahkmenrah and I jolted up in our bath and we quickly put on the robes that were provided. "Hey Ahkie! Come see what I found!" Craig called. Ahkmenrah and I went into our room and we saw Craig holding up a piece of paper and waving it around in the air. "What is it?" Ahkmenrah asked curiously. Craig glared at me as he adjusted the paper in front of his face and began to read it out loud...