Neith

Reunion

The important thing is to teach a child that good can always triumph over evil.

-Walt Disney.

Neith's Pov

I was woken up by a gentle pair of hands. I stirred and mourned about before popping one eye open. The sunlight pierced through the curtains and I immediately shut my eyes again.

The late morning breeze was subtle. I hated getting up in the mornings mostly because I was always sore from my workouts but it seems like I over slept again.

Finally opening both my eyes, I came face to face with a girl I didn't seem to recognize. I lay in my bed and just stared at her in confusion.

The girl looked a few years older than me. Her soft black hair fell to her shoulders. They were decorated with some gold colored glass beads. She wore a long brown dress which meant she was one of the maids of the palace.

''Your Highness, you need to get up," she said in a soft voice, keeping her head bent low.

"Who are you?'' I asked, willing myself to sit up.

''I'm Maiu. I will be your personal maid from today your Highness," the girl said, her head still bent.

"Please lift your head. You don't have to bend down so much. And please don't call me your Highness either," I said, slightly uncomfortable with the situation.

"But what do I call you then?" Maiu asked lifting her head. Her black eyes looked slightly confused.

"Call me Neith," I said giving her a small smile.

"I couldn't possibly call your Highness by her name. If anyone heard I would be punished severely," Maiu said. Fear written all over her face.

"No one would do such a thing besides I'm a commoner just like you so please just call me Neith," I said.

"But you're the Queen now. I would feel uncomfortable calling you by your name," Maiu continued, her eyes still glued to the ground. I sighed, seems like I had to think of something else to make her stop calling me that.

"Wait you said you would be my personal maid from today? Who appointed you?" I asked suddenly recalling what she said before. Perhaps this was Aahotep's doing?

"That would be former Queen Nefertiti," Maiu said slowly looking up to me.

Why would she appoint me a personal maid?

"But why?" I asked looking at her confused.

"So I can look after all your needs of course?" Maiu stated it as if it were a simple fact.

"My needs? Like what?" I asked still trying to understand what she meant.

"Like preparing your bath and meals, getting you dressed and accompanying you on walks," Maiu said.

I looked at her horrified. I wasn't a baby. I could do all that by myself. I had to speak to Aahotep about this.

"Well that's not something I would require any help with. I can do all that on my own," I said trying to sound polite.

"But it's my duty to help you," Maiu said looking at me with her big black eyes. I sighed, maybe for today I would let her help me.

"Alright, I'm pretty hungry so I would like to eat something," I said to her.

"I'll go prepare breakfast and bring it up in a bit," Maiu said, her voice seemed cheery.

"No need. I'll be down in sometime," I said hoping she would leave soon. I know she wasn't at fault but I really didn't want any sort of maid. I'll have to get rid of her soon.

She seemed to be reluctant but she headed out without saying anything. I quickly got up and made my way to the bath. There was no way I would let anyone give me a bath.

The day went by slowly. Since I didn't have to do any of the normal chores like cooking or cleaning the house I was bored to death. Aahotep still hadn't come back yet which made me relieved that I didn't have to see his smug little face.

I practiced with my sword in the afternoon after which I strolled around the palace for a bit with Maiu. Her company wasn't bad but her stiffness while talking to me almost drove me mad.

Anka couldn't come today and Nefertiti couldn't meet me either as she had something important to take care off, so now I was just lying on my bed staring at the ceiling.

I glanced outside the windows and noticed that it was dusk and that the sun would be setting soon. I got off the bed and headed towards the small garden which I could see from my room.

I loved sunsets. I almost never missed seeing one. It always made me happy for some reason.

As I headed down I saw Ammon. I stood still. He didn't seem to have noticed me. He was leaning on a pillar and was looking out into the horizon, utterly lost in his thoughts.

I took in a deep breath. I had to talk to him. It had been way too long. I couldn't put this away because I was scared of what he would say.

I walked towards him and stood directly behind him. He still hadn't noticed I was there which was odd since he was usually pretty sharp.

''Ahem... What are you looking at?'' I asked casually. He immediately turned around. A look of shock and confusion masked his face. The first thing I noticed was the dark circles under his eyes. They were so bad. Did he even sleep at night? He also seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Was he eating properly?

Tears weld up in my eyes. I couldn't see him like this. I didn't care what he thought. I didn't care if he would scold me either. I just threw my hands around him and hugged him tight. I would never let go even if he broke my arms. I just didn't care anymore. I cried like a baby, the same way I had done when father died. I hugged him tighter and tighter till I lost the feeling in my arms. At first he didn't hug me back and just stood there but finally he gave in and hugged me.

''I can't breath if you hug me that tight,'' he said softly, stroking my hair. His big hands felt warm. He was warm and after a long time I felt like I was back home. I loosed the grip a bit but didn't let go.

''I won't let go of you,'' I said trying to control the itch on my cheek that was driving me mad.

"I won't let go, ever."

He caressed my hair,"It's fine. I won't run away,'' he said softly.

''Promise?'' I asked looking up at him. He smiled and nodded. Slowly I let my grip go.

''It's almost time for the sun to set, let's go see it,'' Ammon said, taking my hand in his, just like he did when I was a kid. I smiled and rubbed the dried tears way with my free hand and headed towards the garden.

We watched the sun sink into the ground below, painting the blue sky in shades of orange and grey. We sat there in silence for a while before I spoke.

''Why didn't you speak to me for so long?'' I asked, looking down at my palms. I was too scared to look at him.

''You know why. After I told you not to ask about father you did it anyway. I was so angry when I heard what you did and even more when I heard you were going to get married that too to Aahotep,'' he said. I could feel the slight anger he held in his voice.

''I never wanted to speak to you again after that,'' he continued, running his hands through his hair. My heart almost stopped when he said never.

''Then why did you speak to me now?'' I asked, tears starting to cloud my eyes again. I cursed internally. Why was I such a cry baby? He looked at me and his face softened.

''Well because it breaks my heart to see you cry. I guess I really can't stay mad at my baby sister,'' he said smiling as he ruffled up my hair.

''Hey I'm not a baby,'' I defended.

We both laughed at that. I was glad that he couldn't stay without talking to me.

''So how is your life being married to the Pharaoh and all? Not to mention you're a queen now. Must be nice to have maids to do whatever you want huh," Ammon said, grinning widely.

I shot him a death stare.

''He is an absolute ass. I hate him so much that I would like to see him dead,'' I said, my voice filled with hatred.

''Hey don't say things like that you i***t,'' Ammon said hitting me on the head.

''Ah! But I do hate him. If you had told me in the first place what had happened to baba this wouldn't have happened you know,'' I said as I rubbed my head.

Ammon tensed,''I've told you before father had a heart problem so he died. Why do you keep insisting that's not the case? It's your own stupidity that got you into the this mess,'' Ammon stated.

''Still continuing that lie? Why else would the Pharaoh want to marry me? Something is definitely fishy and I'm going to find it out,'' I said sternly. I heard Ammon sigh.

"You will find out nothing more than you already know,'' he said.

I wanted to ask him more questions but I decided against it. I didn't want him to get angry and leave again.

''Why didn't you come for the wedding?'' I asked changing the topic.

''I did come. No matter how mad I was I couldn't miss my baby sister's wedding can I,'' Ammon said looking at me with a small smile. I smiled back. It made me so happy to hear him say that.

We would be alright.

''I love you, you big donkey,'' I said nudging him.

''Big donkey? Really?'' he asked, lifting his brows. I nodded and laughed while Ammon shaked his head in disapproval.

After talking for the next hour about useless stuff Ammon headed back to his quarters. He wouldn't let me go with him saying I would only distract him from doing his work. So I decided to head back to my room.

I skipped all the way there as I was happy beyond words. I had spoken to Ammon after such a long time and I was so glad and relieved that we were getting along.

I opened my door and the smile on my face dropped immediately.

''Hello Neith, seems like you and Ammon are talking to each other again.''

Oh no! what was he doing in my room?