Forbidden Love

Pairing: Atemu/Seto Pharaoh/Priest in ancient Egypt.

Story Summary: Before becoming Pharaoh, young prince Atemu befriends a commoner brought to the palace by guards. As the two grow closer a dark force with a sinister plan makes itself known to tear the two apart.

Chapter Summary: Akunadin takes drastic measures to put his son on the throne.

XX***XX

Chapter One: Prologue; “Dangerous Dealings”


In an alleyway behind a sleazy whore house a man seeks out a hidden place. His dark cloak is pulled over his face hiding it from view allowing him to melt into the shadows. Passerbies avoid the man feeling his one-mindedness. The dark man moved towards the forbidden door with a dark purpose.

As the door opened a bell did not ring, yet the owner emerged from the back to see to her customer. It was not a normal shop and anyone who managed to find her had to be at the end of his or her rope. This man was no exception.

His feet scrapped along the dirty floor as he ventured further into the unkempt shop. The urine smell permeating the air brought tears to his eyes. Shelves built into the walls held a thick coat of dust that didn't move in the breeze created by the opening door. What caught his eye were the numerous jars holding questionable items from frog eyes to what looked like shrunken heads. Curious about whether it was real or not his hand moved out to tap the glass until a voice stopped him.

"State your business or leave." The hunched over hag shuffled into the main room towards him. "It is a dangerous thing you want." Her cackling voice moved over his spine like broken glass. The rags she wore hung heavily and dragged on the floor.

"It is my brother's mistress," he lied, "She is trying to get pregnant. It is her hope that he will leave his wife for her." He had practiced this enough times that he believed it but the upraised eyebrow told him that she didn't. Regardless he pressed on. "I was told you could help."

She immediately began to dig through miscellaneous bottles and jars. After collecting several of them she emptied their contents into a scrap of parchment. "Mix these herbs into tea and have her drink every drop." She folded in into an envelope and held it out for him. "It will make one cup. She is to drink it no earlier than one hour before they lay together." Carefully he grabbed the makeshift envelope trying hard to avoid touching her overgrown, brittle fingernails. "She will fail to conceive his child or any child." With that she left the herbs in his possession.

He pulled the envelope to him and hid it inside his dark cloak. "I thank you for your time." In a smooth motion he flipped a gold coin into her open palm. "I was never here." Quickly he disappeared out the door and back into the darkness.

XX***XX

The old woman was more right then she would ever know this was very dangerous business. Unfortunately it was business that Akunadin deemed crucial. When his brother's wife is unable to conceive then his own son would be king.

Without shame he walked into the kitchen and approached the queen's servant. "Is that her majesty's tea?" As the Pharaoh’s brother he was known to lead the prayers for fertility and was greatly trusted.

"Yes, I was just taking it to her." The servant placed a mint leaf on the steaming liquid and inhaled.

"I was just heading up to speak with my sister I will be more than happy to take that with me." His smile was falsely inviting. The queen's head servant was a heavy set matronly women. It wasn't a difficult task to sweet-talk her especially when it saved her from walking a great distance.

"Oh that would be splendid but don't stay too long." She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially. "Her majesty has met with the priestesses and they have told her that the gods of fertility smile down on her tonight." The servant beamed. "By tomorrow she should be with child."

Thankfully she walked away saving him from having to respond. This was his chance. With the predictions of the priestesses it was assured that the king and queen would lie together. Before leaving the kitchen he looked around for witnesses then emptied the ill gotten herbs into the tea. Holding the cup gingerly he made his way to the royal bedchambers. Normally single men wouldn't be allowed alone with the queen but an exception was made for him. He was a priest and the Pharaoh’s brother.

"Brother, have you come to pray over our bed?" As beautiful as ever, the queen sat on the bed beckoning to him.

"Of course and I've brought you your tea." He approached the bed handing over the cup. "Make sure to drink it all." He went about his prayers putting on a convincing show although his soul wasn't in the ritual. The last thing he needed was this woman to give birth to his nephew. "I must be leaving now for your husband returns soon." He took the now empty cup from her and kissed her cheek.

"I thank you brother." Suddenly her eyelids fluttered a bit and a hand settled on her stomach. "I feel funny." An obvious pained look crossed her features.

"Are you unwell?" Akunadin leaned forward with fake concern.

"I don't know," she mumbled. "I think its fading." Her face smoothed out and she took a deep breath. "I thank you for your concern but I'll be fine."

"May the gods smile upon you this night." With him he carried the cup to destroy it just in case. In the hall he encountered his brother. "Pharaoh I've just spoken to your wife and prayed."

"Thank you my brother." The Pharaoh bowed deeply in a gesture never seen from a king. This son was all he wanted in the world. "By this time tomorrow my wife will hopefully be with child."

Akunadin stayed silent but bowed before leaving the happy couple. It was susceptibly the last time they would be happy. His brother was noble and kind hearted and most if all loyal. When his wife failed to conceive a child he would not lay with a harem girl. Then Akunadin's own son would be Pharaoh.

XX***XX

Akunadin awoke to the sound of bells ringing. The sound rang throughout the palace and courtyard. It had been a week since the queen had drunk the potion he got from the witch. He had thought it worked until this morning. Those bells brought forth the joyous and terrible news that the queen was with child bearing the Pharaoh a son and heir.

Furious he tore through the city looking for the hag. Her shack was cloaked in magic but it was no match for his abilities. The allusion cloaking her home was dispelled with a wave of his hand unnoticed by the passing villagers. When he walked into the parlor he was in a week ago he found her with a customer.

"Take this child." In her quarreled hand she held a small brightly colored bird. It chirped wildly and looked out of place. Suddenly her other hand flashed out of her rags holding a rusted knife. The blade plunged into the bird's breast silencing it. "Wrap this in the cloth you stole and place it beneath the bed that they share. I assure you their love will be no more."

A mousy young girl took the bleeding body and held it tightly. "Thank you." Dropping some coins she rushed out passing Akunadin.

"Are you selling more faulty spells?" He approached her swiftly slamming his hands down on the table. "That potion didn't work. She is with child."

"Hm," she fumbled with more jars. "This brother of yours must have a potent seed." She mixed three powders into a bowl then folded the powders into another makeshift envelope. "Give this to the women in food. It will kill the child in the womb."

His hand flashed out and claimed the envelope. "This had better work." With that he left. He would try this once more but only out of pure desperation not out of faith in her potion. Before it was not surprising that her poison couldn't stand up to the predictions of the priestesses. Before it was a clash of black magic and good but this time it was just a woman.

XX***XX

Over the months slowly he mixed the contents of the envelope into the queen's food. As the birth date got closer the powder was used up but her stomach grew. He personally attended her and watched disappointedly as her health remained unchanged by the poison. By the time he had given it all to her she still showed no signs of trouble. The midwives assured him the baby was happy and healthy inside his mother. With a day remaining before the predicted birth he once again sought out the witch.

"I have waited and waited and again your poison failed. Being that I did not pay for it there was no reason for you to trick me for money. Now, give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you." His hand squeezed the hag's neck pushing her harder into the wall.

"That was a strong poison yes," She croaked, "but not my strongest." Her long nailed fingers wrapped around his arm. "Woman is a mysterious creature; her body created to perform one act. She has a strong will and will protect the baby. If you let me live, I have one more poison that will not fail." He loosened his grip and pulled his hand back. Gasping for air she stumbled away. "Follow me." With a wave of her hand she beckoned him further into her lair.

The back was quite different than the front. Gone were the dusty jars of powders and herbs and in their place were more dubious ingredients. Dried animal parts and other unnamable substances lined the walls. With a practiced precision her gnarled fingers mixed ingredients in a dark pot over a small fire. When it was boiling she spooned some into a small vial.

"This concoction will bring a final end to your problems. It must be drank, every drop." She handed the bottle to him then rummaged through her things and produced a needle. "Dip this in the liquid and prick her with it. All your problems will be gone."

He eyed the red liquid suspiciously. None of the other poisons had worked so there was no guarantee that this one would. What if it did work? This child was his brother's one lifelong hope. The death of both his wife and child would kill him. Half way between the village and the palace he stopped and squeezed the vial tightly. If after their deaths his brother couldn't go on he could be Pharaoh and his son would succeed him.

As he returned, the palace was abuzz with activity. Midwives and priestesses attended the queen preparing for the upcoming birth. The Pharaoh paced about the throne room frustrated at not being able to see his wife. Akunadin found out from the queen's private servant that she had yet to show signs of labor.

"I wish to hold a private audience with her majesty before the birth." He asked a priestess standing outside the royal bedchambers. "To give one last blessing for her child from a priest and family." He added smiling.

She returned his smile and let him pass. The glass vial was warm and foreboding in his palm. Next to it was a needle tainted with the poison. "Hello my brother. Today is the day." Her happiness made his stomach flop. 'Today is the day, indeed.' He thought.

"I come with a small token, something to help you." Cautiously he handed her the vial. "You need to drink it all. I don't know about the taste." With a trust that amazed him as well as made him queasy she took the vial a downed it.

She choked a bit and gagged. "That tasted awful but then again the things that are good for you usually are." She smiled at him.

"Sorry about that." He pocketed the empty vial and eyed her carefully. If it was working it wasn't immediate. It was then that he remembered the needle. One prick and it would be over. Now all he had to do was create the perfect cover. "I must be leaving you to your keepers and the next time we meet you can introduce me to your son, my nephew."

Leaning forward he pulled her into a hug. As he pulled away he stuck the pin into the meat of her upper arm quickly. "Ow, that hurt." She rubbed at her arm.

"I'm terribly sorry; my jewelry must have pinched you." He hurriedly tucked the needle away in his inner robes. "Are you alright?"

Her hand rubbed at her stomach as she winced in pain. "I think," she swallowed thickly, "I think the baby's coming."

"I'll send in the midwives." Running across the room he called for her attendants that ran to her side.

To avoid suspicion he went to his brother to wait. Midwives and priestesses scurried about with warmed water and rags. The queen's pained cries rang out through the corridors. With each one the Pharaoh winced and paced in frustration. Though nobody had told them anything he already knew that they were dying. He could tell from the looks on the women's faces every time they exited and entered. Birthing pain was expected but the sounds coming from the ladylike Queen were otherworldly like he had never heard before. Only year earlier he had assisted a woman with the birth of his son and heir. Suddenly the cries stopped and time seemed to stand still. One priestess ran crying towards the royal chambers.

The Pharaoh stopped his pacing and stared longingly at the door. Something was happening to his wife and he couldn't be by her side. Unnoticed by him, his brother's look was quite the opposite of his worry. Akunadin waited in grim faced glee to comfort his brother at the loss of his family.

The door to the hall leading to the royal bedchambers flew open. A midwife ran past them caring a bucket of red tinted water. "What is going on with my wife?" He grabbed her arm causing water to splash out on to the floor. "Is this blood?" A quaver racked his voice.

"There's been a complication." She said unable to lie to her King.

"That's it; I'm going to see her." Pushing past her he quickly approached his chambers. Several priestesses were there to stop him. This wouldn't be the first time they've had to stop a curious husband from seeking out his wife while giving birth. He was their King and if he pressed past them they wouldn't stop him. "I want to know what is happening." Before anyone could speak a new shriller cry filled the palace.

The chamber door opened and a midwife exited. In her arms sat the source of the cry. The small squirming bundle with hair like his father stared at the world through crimson eyes. The Pharaoh reached out to take the child and held him tightly. Instantly the baby stopped crying and looked at his father. "Atemu," he whispered, "you are everything we ever wanted." There was silence in the room behind them that told him that his wife had passed bringing his son into the world.

Akunadin watched in silence. The baby survived but the queen did not. The queen was not his concern but the child ruined everything. He placed his hand on his brother's shoulder looking down at the child. A beautiful boy that looked like his parents whose very presence enraged him.

"I'm so very sorry." The words had no feeling behind them. His brother held the baby close and wept.

XX***XX

The kingdom was in a time of morning and celebration. Their beloved queen was dead but the king had an heir. The queen's funeral was lavish and grand. Her body was laid to rest in the Pharaoh’s tomb awaiting her husband to join her in the afterlife.

It was a full month before he could leave the palace. As a high priest it was his duty to oversee the queen's mummification. He personally directed the funeral prayers. In addition to his formal duties he was also the Pharaoh’s brother. He had personal responsibilities to comfort family in time of need. The Pharaoh sat for hours on end at his son's side ignoring his kingly duties.

When his Pharaoh was asleep for the night he snuck out into the village seeking the old hag one last time. He was angry and out for blood as well as needing to take care of this last loose end. When he entered she was waiting and smiling. "I was wrong. It wasn't the woman's will keeping it alive it was the child's."

"I hope you did something worthwhile today for it was your last on this earth." Pulling a dagger from his robes he pointed it in her direction. "As a high priest I shall let you have last words."

"Sit," she gestured to a stool. "Before I die I shall give you a reading." Akunadin sat and offered her his hand. She grabbed it tracing his palm with yellow broken fingernails. "You harbor much ill will towards your brother. Your delusions of grandeur make you believe you would be a better king. You are wrong." She looked him in the eye fearlessly. "This child you despise will not fall by your hand. He will be a great and powerful leader."

In anger and frustration he wretched his hand away from her dirty grasp. "What a waste, to use your last breath to tell me useless information and lies."

"Just because it is something you don't want to hear doesn't make it a lie." She continued. "Before your blade runs me through I tell you this. No plan you put into action will succeed. But your son, the one who lives beyond the palace gates, will be Pharaoh."

As he stood and advanced on her she did not flinch. If she was the sorceress she thought she was she probable saw her death a long time ago. "You're right about one thing, Seto will be King." Bringing the blade down in a swift arch he slit the hag's throat leaving her to bleed to death on her table.

XX***XX

Notes:
1) This chapter takes place several years before the rest of the story.
2) For the Pharaoh to not sleep with a harem is unlikely but I needed to paint a picture of him as a great man and Akunadin’s actions don’t make sense if someone other than the queen could mother an heir.
3) I have not read the entire manga and have only seen the dubbed anime on TV so I have little knowledge of Atemu’s mother or if she is ever spoke of in the manga. It is one of the reasons I decided to just kill her off.


Special Notes On Names:
1) Yami=Atemu.
2) I understand that some authors call Priest Seto, Seth when he appears in a story with Seto Kaiba to avoid confusion and I don’t mind. But there is no reason to call him Seth if Seto Kaiba is not in a story. That is not his name. Seto Kaiba is not in this story so Seto is Priest Seto Not Kaiba. This is a huge pet peeve of mine and bothers me to no end. This will probably not be the last time I mention it.