Forbidden

By: Élen Lístë Aldá

Prologue

Two children sat alone in the hall outside the door of their father's chamber, both knowing that something bad was going to happen. The storm that raged outside was an ill omen and did not bode well for their father's fate.

The two children, though no more than ten, were strong and brave for their age, but they both valiantly tried to quell the fear that fluttered in their young breasts.

They were a boy and girl, twins.

The boy wore a pure white sarong with gold thread sewn around the hem; he wore no shirt, and his leather sandals were sewn together with gold thread and studded with precious jewels. His hair was as dark as a starless night with red highlights and streaked with gold. Around his thin left upper arm was an unadorned band of gold; while bands encircled his wrists, adding to his royal bearing. Upon his brow was a crown of gold and rubies, a testament to his status as the son of the Pharaoh. He looked at his sister—his violet eyes normally smiling downcast.

The girl wore a thin gown of the same shade of white as her brother. The dress was sleeveless and came off on one shoulder. A gold brooch, bearing an insignia of the two gods Ra and Osiris, held the garment together at the shoulder. On her right upper arm was a band matching her brother's. She, too, wore bands around her wrists. She wore sandals similar to her brother's, but hers twined around her thin calf while his tied off at the ankle. Her hair was loose, and she wore a thin gold circlet that was half hidden in her ebony and reddish-gold streaked tresses. Her own flashing violet eyes where downcast as she fiddled with the brooch.

The boy noticed his sister's silence and put a comforting arm around her thin shoulders.

At his gentleness, her composure almost cracked. She straightened her shoulders and grimly held her chin up, drawing on her brother's silent strength.

The boy understood her determination to not show her emotions, a sign of weakness, even though they were alone.

After all, the children of the Pharaoh were expected remain strong at all times and not shame themselves, as well as their father, by showing their grief and fear, two signs of being weak; they were not weak.

The sound of faint foot steps echoing down the hall caused both to stiffen.

As the soft footsteps drew closer, the boy astounded, 'Not another priest! Surely Father will recover shortly!'

A cloaked figure turned the corner and the flickering torch light revealed it to be a young boy. He drew back his hood, revealing himself to be Seto, a young apprentice to their uncle, High Priest Akunadin. Seto was twelve and a playmate of the boy and girl.

He had shoulder-length light brown hair that shone like polished amber in the faint light the torches provided. He had kind royal blue eyes. He wore a robe made of finely spun cotton, trimmed at the neckline and hem with golden cloth. He wore leather sandals similar to the prince's, but not of such fine quality. It was the Pharaoh who clothed him, taking pity on the lost boy. When around others, he would become silent and fade into the background, despite his boyish handsomeness. However, when with his friends, the prince and princess, he'd be an all together different person.

He approached the siblings and kneeled down to their level for one did not look down upon the Pharaoh or his children, whether friends or not. "You need rest, my friends. You have sat here alone in this cold hallway for hours. Come," he said, offering his hand.

"We will not leave here," came the voice of the girl, who was looking down at her clenched hands.

The boy looked down to gaze at his sister with a gentle smile, "You are weary in both body and heart. You should rest, Nefra."

While still looking down at her hands, Nefra shook her head. She looked up at her brother with determined eyes and said, "No, Atem. I refuse to leave. I will await news of our father at your side."

Atem sighed and looked up at Seto with a light smile that was obviously forced. "It would seem that neither of us is willing to seek out our chambers."

At that, Seto let his hand fall and nodded his understanding. He looked at their tired yet grimly purposeful expressions and came to a decision. "May I sit with you during your vigil?"

The twins looked at one another, seeming to silently communicate. At Atem's nod, Nefra offered a half-heartedly smile and spoke for the both of them, "Yes, you may."

Seto stood, bowed, and after asking permission from Nefra, sat next to her.

Several hours passed, and still there was no word.

Nefra sighed, full of despair for her father, catching the attention of Seto. He reached out his right hand and clasped Nefra's small left hand in his larger one.

She looked up and, at his tender smile, felt tears sting her eyes, causing her to quickly look down

Seto's POV

Seto mentally sighed. It had been hours since he had sat down next to the princess. Nobody could bring themselves to break the silence that sat heavily on them. The princess' sigh was the only noise made after those arduous hours of silence.

He looked down at her hand and held it in his, silently offering her his strength. When she looked up and saw him smile in support. Her jewel-like orbs filled with tears, prompting her to look down to hide her expressive eyes before they betrayed her despair.

It angered him to no end that he couldn't help his only friends. For as long as he could remember, they'd been close friends. He felt useless due to his inability to help them during one of the most important times they would ever experience. He didn't know his own parents, and because of his lack of experience he couldn't assist them in their present situation by offering comforting words.

Normal POV

The sudden opening of the door to the chambers belonging to Pharaoh Akunumkanon startled Seto. Out stepped High Priest Akunadin, the brother of Pharaoh Akunumkanon and Priests Mahado and Shada, two young men who showed great potential in rising in the ranks of the priesthood.

The first to step out was Akunadin. He wore his usual floor-length white robe; the hood was back, revealing his graying brown hair. His clothing was of better quality than the fine robes his young priests wore; his was made of made from a smooth lightweight cloth that came from traders from the East, befitting his status as the brother of the Pharaoh. His sandals were of similar quality to his niece's and nephew's. His Millennium Eye reflected the light of the flickering torches, casting him in a menacing aura.

Mahado preceded Shada. He wore a long, sleeveless white robe that fell to the floor, belted by a fine leather belt. Upon his feet were sandals made of richly crafted leather that tied off at the ankle, much in the fashion the prince's was. He wore no ornamentation other than the single gold bands around his muscled biceps. His rich brown hair was shoulder-length and shone in the torchlight. His expression was somber.

Shada exited the chamber last, closing the door behind him. He was a kind man, but was rather quiet, preferring to observe rather than speak. He, too, wore a robe similar to Mahado's. His robe was belted at the waist by a plain yet sumptuous hand-crafted belt made of the same quality of leather that graced Mahado's waist. His head was shaved and reflected the light the torched emitted.

The three priests saw the threesome, particularly Seto holding Nefra's hand. The children looked up as the holy men approached, bowing to the Pharaoh's children.

High Priest Akunadin looked at his young apprentice and quirked a questioning brow causing Seto to raise his chin in defiance and retain his possession of Nefra's hand, glaring at the man who had always frightened him.

Priests Shada and Mahado looked disturbed. They both knew the children were close, but if the plans for the twins were to be carried out, young Seto could not become involved. The two troubled priests looked at one another, holding a silent communication.

This does not bode well, worried Shada.

I agree, Shada. Young Seto must not interfere with the twins' destinies. Yet, I feel for him; he only wants to be loved, said Mahado with sympathy for lonely lad.

True that maybe, but still, he must not interfere, rationalized Shada.

Shada made eye contact with Seto and looked pointedly at their clasped hands and gave a slight shake of his head, signifying that the boy should not be holding the princess' hand.

Seto understood his meaning and felt a spark of rebelliousness shoot through him before he conceded that the older man was right, prompting him to release Nefra's hand.

At the loss of contact with Seto, Nefra looked up, trying to make eye contact with him, but he stared stonily at the wall on the other side of the hall.

Nefra understood the reason behind Seto's withdrawal and, despite her distress, was angered.

'It is not fair!' she fumed. 'Why can they not leave him alone and let us be friends! They are forever finding some cause to separate us.'

She reached out and held Seto's hand, causing him to look down at her, shock written plainly on his face, as she raised her chin and resolutely looked at the three priests.

Mahado and Shada were not in the least shocked. In fact, they had expected the princess would react exactly as she did.

Akunadin, taking in the event, began thinking. 'Interesting. Yes, very interesting.'

Atem, having witnessed Nefra's action, inwardly smirked, knowing what had prompted her to do so. He looked at Akunadin, his uncle, and asked, "What news? How fares my sire?"

Akunadin fixed his one-eyed gaze upon his nephew. He shook his head, genuinely saddened over his brother's plight. "He will not last the night…"

As the news began to sink in, Nefra launched herself at her uncle and began to hit him, screaming, "You monster! You are to blame for this! He did not know the cost your cursed Millennium Items would extort. You did not tell him; you kept it from him! You have killed my father!"

Akunadin did nothing to stop her onslaught upon his person; he only looked sadly down upon her. 'I did not mean for this to happen. It was never my intention to deprive you of your father, little one.'

Mahado knelt down next to the distraught girl and tried to disentangle the girl from her uncle's robes.

"You must cease this, my princess. It will do you no good to abuse your uncle."

Nefra ceased attacking Akunadin and looked at Shada then Mahado with eyes wide with shock as she realized what she had done. She stepped back and looked at her hands, stunned that she had followed through with her thoughts and actually physically hit her uncle. Her actions, along with the deep dislike she felt for her uncle, shook her down to her toes. She balled her small hands into fists at her sides and looked up at her uncle. "Forgive me, Uncle. I have shamed you and myself with my thoughtless words and actions," she said through stiff lips; she disliked apologizing, especially to him.

Akunadin grimly looked at his niece and nodded his head in recognition of her half-hearted apology. "He requests your presence in his chambers, my nephew and niece."

Atem reached for Nefra's right hand and, together, they walked into the chambers of their dying father.

Atem looked at Nefra as they walked toward the entrance of their father's sleeping chamber and murmured, "Be strong, Nefra, else his spirit will stay here, sensing your grief, instead of venturing to the after-life to stand at the right hand of Ra."

Nefra resolutely nodded and forced her grief back.

Atem knocked on his father's door, receiving a weak call, bidding them to enter.

Atem looked at Nefra and she looked back at him. They both nodded and faced the door, each drawing a calming breath.

The sight that greeted them as they entered was not one they were prepared for laying in the bed was a complete stranger.

Gone was the man they had known to be their father. Over the span of a full sun's cycle, their father had completely transformed. His cheeks were hollowed out, and his facial features were pinched as though he was experiencing excruciating pain. His body appeared to have shriveled in on itself. The only features that were recognizable were his eyes; the Pharaoh's vibrant violet eyes had faded to a dull indigo and were sunk in.

The sight of their strong father turned incapacitated, along with the pungent smell of the sick and dying, broke their hearts.

Atem's right hand clenched into a fist as he tried to quell his rage. 'Curse my uncle! Nefra was right. Whether knowingly or not, Akunadin has destroyed our father.'

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Yesterday…

Atem and Nefra were playing a seeking game with Seto, claiming it would help their tracking skills. He and Seto were "tracking" Nefra when they passed by the throne room balcony three feet above them and heard shouting.

The two boys looked at each other and turned to their right to climb one of the trees to see what the commotion was about. It was there that the two boys heard about the events that had befallen the village of Kuruelna .

"It was necessary, my Pharaoh. In order to gain enough power to forage he Millennium items I dreamed of, ninety-nine lives had to be given."

"Sacrificed, you mean," growled a deep voice.

Atem and Seto peeked from the ledge and saw Akunadin standing before Pharaoh Akunumkanon, who sat, mute, upon his throne on a raised dais.

As the Pharaoh retained his stunned silence, Akunadin plunged forth with his justifications. "It was necessary for the protection of the kingdom. I did it for-."

Akunadin halted his speech as Akunumkanon rose off of his throne in outrage.

"You DARE to say it was necessary! You try to JUSTIFY the needless slaughter of a village!"

"My Pharaoh, I-," began Akunadin.

"SILENCE!" ordered Akunumkanon.

Akunadin lapsed into silence.

'For my only brother, my flesh and blood, to betray me, and for what, some cursed trinkets that came to him in an evil dream!' thought Akunumkanon as he looked down into the face of Akunadin.

Pharaoh Akunumkanon turned his face away from Akunadin with shame, prompting Akunadin to speak.

"Brother," entreated Akunadin, "turn not away from me in shame."

Akunumkanon's head swiveled back to face the snake before him.

"Do not call me brother, for you are NOT my brother. Some evil has befallen him and stolen his spirit and placed an evil Ba in his body. He would not have ordered the mindless extermination of that village under the false pretense of it being ordered by me. He would not have plotted and sought power behind my back. He-."

Akunumkanon broke off and, with a strangled cry, clutched his chest. He stood frozen for what seemed like an eternity to those occupying the room and then crumpled forward. He would have fallen off of the dais to the white marble floor had Akunadin not caught him.

Atem would have jumped out of the tree to his father's side, but Seto placed a retraining hand on Atem's shoulder and shook his head, telling him that he shouldn't move or make a sound.

"Brother!" cried Akunadin as he leapt forward to catch Akunumkanon.

While cradling the fallen Pharaoh, Akunadin looked over his shoulder and ordered Shada and Mahado, "Fetch help and summon my nephew and niece."

Atem and Seto scrambled down the tree, nobody in the throne room noticed the rustling sound of leaves as the two boys hurried to find Nefra.

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Present…

"You called for us, father?" asked Nefra, breaking Atem from his daze.

Akunumkanon opened his eyes and recognition flared, giving him the appearance of gaining a bit more life. He weakly held out both of his hands to the twins, beckoning them to his side.

"Ah…my brave warrior and my fierce tiger lily…" wheezed Akunumkanon.

The Pharaoh paused to catch his breath. "I am fading from this world…I am being called to join our ancestors in the after-life so that I may take my place at the side of Ra…" Akunumkanon was seized by a coughing fit, and Atem and Nefra could hear his lungs rattle.

'How could his strength have left him in a day's time? He has always been so strong…' wondered Nefra.

Akunumkanon looked to his left at Atem and said, "Atem, my heir, you must rule over the kingdom in my stead… You are a skilled with a sword, but have much to learn…Be a kind, yet firm ruler and learn from your mistakes…Do not be stubborn and refuse help when it is offered. Accepting help does not make you weak…"

Akunumkanon then looked to his right and met Nefra's eyes.

"Nefra…my beautiful daughter…You are still young, yet you possess great beauty and poise…However not only do you posses those qualities, you are also strong and have a good head for affairs, both in training and in domestic, but you are willful…You must allow your brother to see to your well being…"

'Curse the Fate that parts me from my children…'

"You both must promise me that you will do as I wish; that you will safeguard one another…"

"We promise, Father," both Atem and Nefra promised as one and kissed their father's reed-like hands.

Akunumkanon nodded and held them to his side. Nefra and Atem heard his breathing repeatedly falter until he drew last breath.

Atem and Nefra stayed by his side into the afternoon, neither one daring to show their grief.

Late afternoon, Akunadin, along with Shada and Mahado, entered the Pharaoh's room and found Nefra and Atem each laying at their dead father's side. Akunadin turned and left the room for about five minutes and returned with two servants.

"You are both weary in heart, body, and spirit. These servants will escort you to your rooms so that you may rest and food will be brought to you later"

Neither had the heart to argue with their uncle, so they did as bid. The servants escorted them to their chambers and bowed themselves out. Nefra stayed put long enough to ascertain that she was alone and slipped out of her chambers and entered Atem's chambers. He was standing with his back to the door while he faced the window, watching the rain fall.

Nefra walked up next to him and put her hand in his. Atem's hand closed, returning the strength Nefra was giving him.

Neither one said a word as they watched the rain fall, wishing the rain was their tears.

A knock sounded, and when Atem bade the person to enter, Seto walked into the room carrying a tray of food.

"I had a feeling you would be here, too, Nefra. I brought more enough food for both of you. I will leave it here on the table next to the divan," Seto said as he placed the overloaded tray of food on the table and turned to leave.

"Please," began Atem, "stay here. Share our meal with us."

Atem looked at Nefra, who nodded in affirmation. She took a step forward and said, "As you said, there is more than enough, and we do not wish to be alone."

Seto looked at his two friends, sensing the sorrow and tension surrounding them, and nodded. 'At least I can do this for them, the ones who have shed much light in my dark and lonely life.'

The three friends sat down on the divan and shared the meal. Once they were done, Nefra walked Seto to the outer door of Atem's chambers.

"Many thanks for the kindness you have shown us, my friend," thanked the princess.

"It was nothing really; I just wanted to help you both in your time of need."

"Your soothing presence is more than enough to salve our raw emotions. Again, you have my gratitude." Nefra leaned forward and placed a light peck on his cheek. When she drew back, Seto had colored to a dull shade of red.

He nervously cleared his throat and bade Nefra a pleasant night.

Nefra walked back to Atem, who had followed them, his mouth in a half-hearted moue of disgust.

"Honestly Nefra, did you have to do that? I cannot believe he allowed you kiss him."

Nefra shrugged.

"Girls…," Atem said, wearily; he was not in the mood for the light-hearted banter he and Nefra usually indulged in when it came to the difference between boys and girls.

Nefra and Atem walked toward the bed and turned down the covers. They climbed into bed and pulled the covers up over them.

"Pleasant night, Nefra."

"Pleasant night, Atem," said Nefra as she leaned over and kissed Atem on the cheek, which he promptly rubbed off. "Boys…," said Nefra, feeling the same way as Atem.

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The twins slept until morning the next day. When they woke up, they both bathed themselves and walked to the garden, passing several servants bearing many traveling cases; they paid them no heed. The rain had breathed new life into the garden and the air smelled sweet. Lilies of the Valley and an assortment of jasmine, along with a variety of other flowers, permeated the air.

They seated themselves on a bench and listened to the birds sing, pacifying the grief they both held pent-up inside. Atem heard feet crunch on the graveled pathway and turned to see Seto walk down the path toward them. Atem nodded and nudged Nefra. Nefra looked up and smiled a genuine smile at Seto, causing him to look away as the tips of his ears colored red. Atem rolled his eyes at his friend's behavior to his sister's smile.

"What brings you here, Seto?" asked Atem.

"Your uncle, High Priest Akunadin, is searching for you."

"Why?" asked Nefra, but Seto was silent. She wrinkled her brow as she tried to determine his sudden unwillingness to answer her question. 'How odd. Why does he not tell me?' thought Nefra.

Nefra went still as she heard more footsteps approach. Seto noticed her sudden stillness and looked over his shoulder.

"He is coming…and he has others with him," whispered Seto in an odd voice.

Akunadin, accompanied by four men they'd never seen before, approached them from the path that Seto had taken. All of the men bowed to Atem and then turned to bow at Nefra; none of them acknowledged Seto.

"Nefra," said Akunadin, "you must come with us."

"What? Why, Uncle?" asked Nefra, her tone giving voice to her bewilderment.

"You must leave Cairo ."

"I do not wish to leave Cairo ," argued Nefra.

Akunadin nodded to the four burly men; three went to stand around Nefra, one on each side and another from behind.

Nefra looked at Atem, who was being held back by the fourth man.

Atem tried to jerk away from his captor, but to no avail; he was powerless to come to Nefra's aid.

Nefra took a step toward Atem, but as soon as she did, the two men at her sides grabbed her by the arms in a tight grasp, causing her to wince.

Atem released a growl of fury at the rough handling Nefra received. The muscle in Seto's right cheek twitched from his pent-up wrath.

Akunadin walked up to Nefra's captors, Millennium Eye flashing in the sunlight, and said, "Harm Princess Nefra again, and you will regret it."

The two men relaxed their hold on Nefra once they realized that the man looking at them through a narrowed gaze was serious.

"Seto?" Nefra implored, eyes filling with tears.

He looked away from Nefra, hands clenched at his sides. 'I am sorry, Nefra. I only did what I did to keep you safe'

At first, Nefra was stunned. 'He turned away from me!' she astounded. Suddenly, Nefra heard a strange whooshing noise in her ears as she realized the horrible truth behind Seto's strange behavior. Nefra felt a part of herself painfully die. Her heart cried out in agony as it slowly died. As suddenly the noise came, it ceased and she felt numb all over; then a great rage overtook her heart.

"You knew...You KNEW!" she cried, wild with rage.

Akunadin looked at Seto and marveled, 'So you did not tell what you had heard. It must have been when I explained that it is for her safety; that she would never willingly leave the palace. He must be very fond of her, indeed.'

Akunadin turned to the men holding Nefra and nodded again, signaling them to take her away. The men walked an unwilling Nefra up the path toward the barge that was docked on the West side of the Nile 's bank facing north.

One of the guards pushed her, causing her to stumble. She fell forward, out of her captors' grasp, hard onto her hands and knees, crying out in pain as the rocks broke her skin.

She scrambled to her feet and ran back, past the two men, toward Atem. One of the men reached out and missed her arm, instead the sound of tearing cloth rent the air, but Nefra paid no heed to it. The third man, the one who was behind her, caught her arms in a punishing grip, causing her to cry out, again.

Atem roared in anger, cursing the men. Seto gritted his teeth and fought the urge to go save Nefra, to rip out the man's throat.

The man picked her up and carried her back up the path toward the waiting barge.

"Atem!" cried Nefra. "Release me at once! Put me down; I wish to be with my brother! Let me go! Please, in the name of Ra, release me," cried Nefra brokenly.

Nefra turned in her captor's grasp, causing her to painfully wrench her arm. The last person she saw was Seto.

"I will never forget this, Seto! Do you heed me! I will never forgive this!" vowed Nefra.

One of the men punched her in the stomach, causing the air to rush out of her lungs and she went limp. The last thing she heard was Akunadin cursing the men and Atem calling her name as he struggled to free himself.

"Nefra! NEFRA!"

"Nefra…,"came a quiet whisper that was never heard.

Then, everything went black…

Thank you so much for reading the first chapter of Forbidden. The information I get for my fanfic is courtesy of Janime, so please do not come to me saying that I've ripped off the site, because that is not my intent and I've already run it by the owner and mods of Janime. I'd greatly appreciate your reviews on my story. You know what to do: Click the little button that says "Review." I'll eagerly await them!

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Élen: (huggles Seto) "We've done it! I've finaly posted this story."

Seto: "That's right. Now everyone will bow down and glorify me, including you."

Élen: (glares at Seto) "You're cute, but not that cute." turns and walks away.

Seto: "Fine, I don't need you..." looks over shoulder and sees Elen still walking away "Wait! I didn't mean

it!"(runs after Élen) "Only you write about me in such a flattering way! You know I love you!"