Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Jewel of the Nile ❯ Chapter 1
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Shi-chan 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / / Romance / Suspense | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.09.2002 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.9K | Visits: 941 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / / Romance / Suspense | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.09.2002 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.9K | Visits: 941 | Status: Completed
1 Jul 2001
Author's notes: A brief historical note here, this is set sometime between 753 BCE and 612 BCE... That means sometime between the birth of the Roman Empire and the end of the Third Intermediate Period in Ancient Egypt. Assyria is in domination of Mesopotamia, Rome is a Monarchy, and it is somewhere between the Age of Tyrants and Age of Democracy in Greece. Christianity has not risen into view and the worship of many gods is prominent. End of history lesson. ^_^
Thanks: Sony_Mouse for the title... ack, who gave me the idea?
Warnings: yaoi, lime, lemon, angst, S&M
Category: AU
Pairings: 1xR, 1x2, 3x4
Jewel of the Nile by Willow
Part 1
The rolling desert wind fondled the plaited tresses of Pharaoh Heero's black wig, shifting the formal headgear about like a living creature. The barely eighteen year-old blue-eyed king resisted the urge to remove the headpiece and cast it into the secluded lake that was at the center of his palace garden. His wife and Queen sensed his agitation and joined him on the terrace, threading an arm about his bare waist.
"My King, what is it that bothers you?" the blue eyed woman asked. She already had rid herself of her headdress and her long blonde hair flowed down about her slightly sun-kissed shoulders. She nuzzled her husband's shoulder with her soft cheek, seeking only to soothe.
"It is not you, Relena," Heero told her, turning to gather her in a comforting hug, his strong arms wrapping around her slim shoulders. "Of that you should not worry."
"I did not think it was I, my husband," she said, pulling back from the embrace. She smiled at him playfully, an open invite. "But if there is anything I can do to alleviate your troubles..." She left the offer hanging in the air as she turned and went back into the palace.
Heero just watched after her, her blonde hair swaying with every step. He smiled briefly, enjoying the view, before letting the feeling of wrongness come back to the forefront of his mind. "I do not know what it is, but there is something amiss." He sighed before turning, with a last glance over the garden, and followed his wife.
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Relena sat in her chambers, enjoying the feel of her maids running stiff bristled brushes through her waist-length blonde hair. She closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh. Never in her land had she had such luxury.
Her attention was caught by the hiss of a wig hitting the marble floor. She smiled as her maids, bowing, backed away and out the door opposite the one their Pharaoh had just entered. She remained seated with her back facing the door, watching as her maids shuffled to retreat.
She felt a strong hand land on her shoulder and brush through her hair. Her husband had a fetish for long hair, she knew, and often times she would wear her hair down just to taunt him. It drove him crazy with lust to see it free and shining and Relena was not one to let such an advantage go to waste.
"You love my hair, yet you do not feel the same for me. Why?" she asked.
Heero was silent for a long moment, gently rubbing the long, silky strands between his calloused finger tips. "It is not that I do not try... I think it just is a matter of time."
"And I think that you are fooling yourself, but I am content just to be at your side," she told him, certain it was the truth. She cared for him, but could not bring herself to love him. And she was content to be his Queen, even if he didn't love her. Besides... as long as she was Queen, if he were to die, she would be ruler. This contented her also.
Suddenly, the slightly rough fingers grasped her neck and a hot mouth seized hers.
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Heero grunted as he collapsed on top of his wife's prone body. "Nnn," she moaned, nipping at his ear. "Feeling any better, my King?" she asked as he pulled out of her and rolled onto his back.
"Some," he said, kissing her cheek before climbing out of her bed. "There is something I must attend to."
"The kingdom can wait. It sleeps, like you should," Relena pouted. "You won't stay, no matter what I say... will you?"
Heero shook his head, dressing quickly. He was gone before she could say more. She sighed as she turned to look out the large window overlooking the inner garden. Exhausted from their bout of love-making, Relena drifted off to sleep.
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Morning came and Heero sat alone in the Great Hall. It was early yet, and his advisors were likely just climbing out of their beds. Heero tired of waiting -- patience can only last so long, even for he -- and set off to find his friends.
He found one of them, Wufei, practicing a foreign fighting style in one of the many open-air courts that littered the palace. He watched the black haired boy for a bit, watched the sweat glistening on the hard, tan body. Wufei was the only one of his closest friends who actually had naturally black long hair. The others, including himself, had to wear wigs at official sessions since theirs were both the wrong color and short in length.
Heero grinned as Wufei finished his morning practice and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw his friend and King watching. "You, Pharaoh, are a demon," he stated fondly, smirking at his friend.
Heero just shook his head. "Where are Quatre and Trowa? I have plans to head out into the city."
Wufei gave him a 'you know very well where those two are' look before grabbing a cloth from where it was hanging on a tree branch and wiping his face. Heero sighed and waited till Wufei joined him before setting off to retrieve his other two advisors.
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A persistent knocking drew Trowa's attention. He made an irritated noise, but untangled himself from his lover's embrace and, wrapping a sheet around his waist, walked over to open the door. He blinked in surprise as a pair of irritated blue eyes met his.
"We must have over slept," Trowa said, stepping back to allow the Pharaoh and the black haired boy into the room.
Someone murmured something from the vicinity of the bed before a blond head popped out from under the thin white sheets. "Oh... oops," the blond giggled. "Sorry, Heero..."
Heero just rolled his eyes and waited for the pair to dress. "I want to go out into the city... something is happening, I can feel it..."
Quatre nodded. "Yes, there is a tension growing." The blond boy closed his eyes, his brow creasing in concentration as he fastened a golden belt around his slim waist. He opened his eyes and sighed. "I cannot pinpoint it."
Heero just nodded and, once the two late risers had finished dressing, turned and left the palace.
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The market place was bustling and, as this was a prosperous time, business was booming. The group bypassed carts of this and tents selling that, intent on the center court in which the slaves were sold. Heero grinned, the Mesopotamians usually brought it such fine 'goods' and he was looking forward to perusing the 'wares.'
A beady-eyed man of slight stature and sporting a scraggly beard streaked in grey met them at the entrance. "Hoping to get something off the auction blocks, Majesty?" the man asked, letting him in to the open-air arena.
"Why else would I be here?" Heero grunted, stepping past the man. "Are the wares good this day?"
"Aye," the man answered, ushering the Pharaoh down to the block where he could browse the slaves. "Take your time, Lord-Pharaoh, and call me when you've chosen your purchase."
Heero just nodded and turned to look at the 'merchandise.' Trowa walked up next to him and pointed at a long line of figures. "Those seem in best condition," he said quietly. Heero turned his head in the direction Trowa was pointing and stopped.
There in the line of chained slaves was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. The being had an impossibly long braid of golden-brown hair... never mind that the slave was as dirty as a pig in wallow, it was the most captivating individual he'd ever laid eyes upon.
Casually, so as not to appear to have chosen his prize so soon, Heero walked down the line, casting a shallow, unseeing glance over the rank of slaves. When he got to the being that had captured his eye he stopped and looked. "Hm," he murmured. At this close range he could tell that the slave was male, though with the elfin face and long plait of hair if you didn't think to look for tell-tale signs you'd never know it. "Step forward," he commanded. When the boy didn't move he grasped the pointed chin between his calloused fingers. "I said, step forward." He was rewarded a flinch as the boy obeyed. Heero ran his eyes once more over the wiry body. "Yes... this one will do..." he drawled, trailing a finger down the boy's cheek.
The boy's eyes -- violet, Heero noted -- flashed anger and before Heero could register the movement, the boy snap his teeth shut around one finger. Heero yanked his hand back and struck the boy across one high cheek bone. "Feisty... I like that," Heero murmured, leaning forward. "You know, if I wasn't already planning to buy you, that would have been the clincher." The boy stiffened and looked as if he planned to fight, then his muscles relaxed and his expression went blank. Heero smiled. "That's a good boy." Again the fire crept into the violet eyes, but the boy smoldered it before it could be channeled into reaction.
Finally, the beady-eyed man answered his summons. "This one, Majesty?" the man asked dubiously. "Lord-Pharaoh, you cannot be telling me this is your pick... Of all the well mannered and well behaved slaves, you pick this miscreant?!" At the words, the boy hissed like he wanted to throttle the man. Heero too felt anger boiling in him and for what reason he could not discern.
"All the more fun to break," Heero told the wretched man, a smirk thinning his lips as the boy's eyes widened in fear. "I have made my choice, what is the price?"
"1500," the man said.
Heero raised an eyebrow. "Such a high price for a 'miscreant'..."
The beady-eyed man winced. "Granted his is a troublemaker and lacks manners, but his is a good buy... After all, his beauty alone rates him as a prize..."
"So I've noticed... And...?"
"And... I cannot say... I am just the front man, I sell them at the price the Master gives me..." the man fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable with the question asked.
Heero really didn't care, no price was too high... after all, he was Pharaoh. He groped in his pouch for the right amount, giving the man slightly over the specified amount. Quickly the man unchained the boy, only to place a pair of shackles with a lead on the boy's thin wrists.
Heero smirked at his stunned friends as he led the boy-slave over to where they stood.
"Finished so soon?" Wufei asked, raising one finely sculpted eyebrow. Heero nodded and he decided to look over the purchase. Long hair, sinewy body, pale skin, tender face... and the most amazing eyes Wufei'd ever seen. He'd thought Heero and Trowa's eyes were amazing, but this boy's put both the blue eyed boy and the green eyed one to shame. "Nice choice," he commented.
"I'll say," Quatre put in, giving the boy a once over of his own. The braided boy blushed and ducked his head down, making Quatre giggle.
Heero decided they had meandered enough, morning was at its peek and he want to get started 'training' his new pet. He tugged lightly on the chain and the boy obediently followed them out of the arena and back to the palace.
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"First things first," Heero's maid said, grinning from ear to ear. Upon arriving at the Pharaoh's room, Hilde'd been shocked with a daunting task: 'civilize' the slave Heero'd bought at the market. A daunting task indeed, for the boy was stubborn and would not help her one bit in the task. "Please please get in the tub... You are bigger than I and I cannot carry you... Please? I'm not going to hurt you..."
The boy looked at her, obviously caring less if he got a bath (or helped her in the task) or not.
"Look..." she sighed. "I'll get whipped if I do not follow through with my task... Please, just get in the damned tub... I'll do the rest," she said, pleading mentally that he would just do that one thing.
The boy sighed and quickly, since Hilde'd already stripped him of his clothes, walked over and into the waist deep bath. She thanked the gods and followed him into the shallow pool. "I've got to wash your hair..." she said, taking the end and unfastening the leather thong.
Before long she was finished and the boy was clean. "There," she said. "Now to get you some clothes..." She made a quick trip out into the next room and returned with a pile of linens and a pair of leather sandles. "Majesty will see to it that you get other clothes, but for now these will have to do."
The boy dressed mechanically, distaste evident in his every move. After he was decent, Hilde led him into the Pharaoh's chambers to wait. "Do not try to leave... there are guards posted at the door. The Pharaoh will be back shortly."
As soon as the door shut, the boy slumped to the floor. And in a sweet tenor whispered, "Sweet Athena, what have I done to deserve this?"
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"Your Majesty, the borders have forever been a difficult region," the old, grey haired farmer said, kneeling before his King. "The soldiers that patrol the border are not enough to stop the bandits and other savages from ravaging our farms and homes... Children and women are lost, raped, murdered... and crops destroyed..." The man droned on, but Heero was not listening. He'd heard this sob story time and time again and they all asked for the same thing. "Please, Majesty... I beg of you. Can you, somehow, spare more soldiers to patrol?"
Heero sighed and considered a moment. His people were not currently at war, so he did have extra soldiers to spare... But would it be prudent to send them away from their homes and happy lives to stop a few savages from running amuck in the borderlands? "Give me time to consult with my advisors. You shall have your answer by tomorrow at sundown."
"Thank you, Majesty," the man said, bowing and scuttling back into the throng of people.
"If that is all for the day, I shall be retiring to my quarters," Heero said. Before anyone could speak up, he was gone.
Quatre stood at the base of the throne and watched the blue eyed young man practically run down the hall. He sighed and shook his head. "He has it bad, yes?" he asked the tall man next to him.
"Seems he is in a hurry to break in his new toy... the Queen will not be pleased," Wufei said, stopping to stand beside them.
"What will no please me?"
Wufei nearly jumped out of his skin. The woman had a way of being silent that unnerved him to no end. She was like a snake, slithering into position before silently whipping out and capturing its prey.
"It is nothing, my Queen," Quatre said, smiling sweetly. "It just seems the Pharaoh is in no mood to socialize." Quatre nearly grinned over at Wufei. Relena's favorite thing to do was socialize with her King, flaunt that she was his mate, the Queen of Egypt. Quatre sweatdropped as he remembered that the young woman liked to refer to herself as the Jewel of the Nile... He would not argue with her over it, but he knew that a woman as she could never be the Jewel of the Nile.
"Oh, what a pity," the Queen pouted. "Perhaps I can change his mood..." She took a step toward the door but Trowa stopped her.
"I do not think that would be wise, my Queen," Trowa said, his quiet voice carrying a muted warning. "He was in a terrible mood, ready to break something..." When Heero was in the mood to break something, he didn't care what it was he broke... anything or anyone, he didn't care... And Relena knew this. Her eyes widened.
"Thank you, Captain, for the warning... I shall leave my husband to his own devices this eve..." She smiled. "I shall just have to amuse myself, shan't I?" And with that she turned and picked out a single blond nobleman and latched herself onto his arm.
Quatre pitied the man, but was glad Relena had not pursued her husband down the hall... Even though Heero was not currently in a break-something mood, he would be if the blonde woman had interrupted him.
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end part 1
Author's notes: A brief historical note here, this is set sometime between 753 BCE and 612 BCE... That means sometime between the birth of the Roman Empire and the end of the Third Intermediate Period in Ancient Egypt. Assyria is in domination of Mesopotamia, Rome is a Monarchy, and it is somewhere between the Age of Tyrants and Age of Democracy in Greece. Christianity has not risen into view and the worship of many gods is prominent. End of history lesson. ^_^
Thanks: Sony_Mouse for the title... ack, who gave me the idea?
Warnings: yaoi, lime, lemon, angst, S&M
Category: AU
Pairings: 1xR, 1x2, 3x4
Jewel of the Nile by Willow
Part 1
The rolling desert wind fondled the plaited tresses of Pharaoh Heero's black wig, shifting the formal headgear about like a living creature. The barely eighteen year-old blue-eyed king resisted the urge to remove the headpiece and cast it into the secluded lake that was at the center of his palace garden. His wife and Queen sensed his agitation and joined him on the terrace, threading an arm about his bare waist.
"My King, what is it that bothers you?" the blue eyed woman asked. She already had rid herself of her headdress and her long blonde hair flowed down about her slightly sun-kissed shoulders. She nuzzled her husband's shoulder with her soft cheek, seeking only to soothe.
"It is not you, Relena," Heero told her, turning to gather her in a comforting hug, his strong arms wrapping around her slim shoulders. "Of that you should not worry."
"I did not think it was I, my husband," she said, pulling back from the embrace. She smiled at him playfully, an open invite. "But if there is anything I can do to alleviate your troubles..." She left the offer hanging in the air as she turned and went back into the palace.
Heero just watched after her, her blonde hair swaying with every step. He smiled briefly, enjoying the view, before letting the feeling of wrongness come back to the forefront of his mind. "I do not know what it is, but there is something amiss." He sighed before turning, with a last glance over the garden, and followed his wife.
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Relena sat in her chambers, enjoying the feel of her maids running stiff bristled brushes through her waist-length blonde hair. She closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh. Never in her land had she had such luxury.
Her attention was caught by the hiss of a wig hitting the marble floor. She smiled as her maids, bowing, backed away and out the door opposite the one their Pharaoh had just entered. She remained seated with her back facing the door, watching as her maids shuffled to retreat.
She felt a strong hand land on her shoulder and brush through her hair. Her husband had a fetish for long hair, she knew, and often times she would wear her hair down just to taunt him. It drove him crazy with lust to see it free and shining and Relena was not one to let such an advantage go to waste.
"You love my hair, yet you do not feel the same for me. Why?" she asked.
Heero was silent for a long moment, gently rubbing the long, silky strands between his calloused finger tips. "It is not that I do not try... I think it just is a matter of time."
"And I think that you are fooling yourself, but I am content just to be at your side," she told him, certain it was the truth. She cared for him, but could not bring herself to love him. And she was content to be his Queen, even if he didn't love her. Besides... as long as she was Queen, if he were to die, she would be ruler. This contented her also.
Suddenly, the slightly rough fingers grasped her neck and a hot mouth seized hers.
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Heero grunted as he collapsed on top of his wife's prone body. "Nnn," she moaned, nipping at his ear. "Feeling any better, my King?" she asked as he pulled out of her and rolled onto his back.
"Some," he said, kissing her cheek before climbing out of her bed. "There is something I must attend to."
"The kingdom can wait. It sleeps, like you should," Relena pouted. "You won't stay, no matter what I say... will you?"
Heero shook his head, dressing quickly. He was gone before she could say more. She sighed as she turned to look out the large window overlooking the inner garden. Exhausted from their bout of love-making, Relena drifted off to sleep.
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Morning came and Heero sat alone in the Great Hall. It was early yet, and his advisors were likely just climbing out of their beds. Heero tired of waiting -- patience can only last so long, even for he -- and set off to find his friends.
He found one of them, Wufei, practicing a foreign fighting style in one of the many open-air courts that littered the palace. He watched the black haired boy for a bit, watched the sweat glistening on the hard, tan body. Wufei was the only one of his closest friends who actually had naturally black long hair. The others, including himself, had to wear wigs at official sessions since theirs were both the wrong color and short in length.
Heero grinned as Wufei finished his morning practice and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw his friend and King watching. "You, Pharaoh, are a demon," he stated fondly, smirking at his friend.
Heero just shook his head. "Where are Quatre and Trowa? I have plans to head out into the city."
Wufei gave him a 'you know very well where those two are' look before grabbing a cloth from where it was hanging on a tree branch and wiping his face. Heero sighed and waited till Wufei joined him before setting off to retrieve his other two advisors.
----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
A persistent knocking drew Trowa's attention. He made an irritated noise, but untangled himself from his lover's embrace and, wrapping a sheet around his waist, walked over to open the door. He blinked in surprise as a pair of irritated blue eyes met his.
"We must have over slept," Trowa said, stepping back to allow the Pharaoh and the black haired boy into the room.
Someone murmured something from the vicinity of the bed before a blond head popped out from under the thin white sheets. "Oh... oops," the blond giggled. "Sorry, Heero..."
Heero just rolled his eyes and waited for the pair to dress. "I want to go out into the city... something is happening, I can feel it..."
Quatre nodded. "Yes, there is a tension growing." The blond boy closed his eyes, his brow creasing in concentration as he fastened a golden belt around his slim waist. He opened his eyes and sighed. "I cannot pinpoint it."
Heero just nodded and, once the two late risers had finished dressing, turned and left the palace.
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The market place was bustling and, as this was a prosperous time, business was booming. The group bypassed carts of this and tents selling that, intent on the center court in which the slaves were sold. Heero grinned, the Mesopotamians usually brought it such fine 'goods' and he was looking forward to perusing the 'wares.'
A beady-eyed man of slight stature and sporting a scraggly beard streaked in grey met them at the entrance. "Hoping to get something off the auction blocks, Majesty?" the man asked, letting him in to the open-air arena.
"Why else would I be here?" Heero grunted, stepping past the man. "Are the wares good this day?"
"Aye," the man answered, ushering the Pharaoh down to the block where he could browse the slaves. "Take your time, Lord-Pharaoh, and call me when you've chosen your purchase."
Heero just nodded and turned to look at the 'merchandise.' Trowa walked up next to him and pointed at a long line of figures. "Those seem in best condition," he said quietly. Heero turned his head in the direction Trowa was pointing and stopped.
There in the line of chained slaves was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. The being had an impossibly long braid of golden-brown hair... never mind that the slave was as dirty as a pig in wallow, it was the most captivating individual he'd ever laid eyes upon.
Casually, so as not to appear to have chosen his prize so soon, Heero walked down the line, casting a shallow, unseeing glance over the rank of slaves. When he got to the being that had captured his eye he stopped and looked. "Hm," he murmured. At this close range he could tell that the slave was male, though with the elfin face and long plait of hair if you didn't think to look for tell-tale signs you'd never know it. "Step forward," he commanded. When the boy didn't move he grasped the pointed chin between his calloused fingers. "I said, step forward." He was rewarded a flinch as the boy obeyed. Heero ran his eyes once more over the wiry body. "Yes... this one will do..." he drawled, trailing a finger down the boy's cheek.
The boy's eyes -- violet, Heero noted -- flashed anger and before Heero could register the movement, the boy snap his teeth shut around one finger. Heero yanked his hand back and struck the boy across one high cheek bone. "Feisty... I like that," Heero murmured, leaning forward. "You know, if I wasn't already planning to buy you, that would have been the clincher." The boy stiffened and looked as if he planned to fight, then his muscles relaxed and his expression went blank. Heero smiled. "That's a good boy." Again the fire crept into the violet eyes, but the boy smoldered it before it could be channeled into reaction.
Finally, the beady-eyed man answered his summons. "This one, Majesty?" the man asked dubiously. "Lord-Pharaoh, you cannot be telling me this is your pick... Of all the well mannered and well behaved slaves, you pick this miscreant?!" At the words, the boy hissed like he wanted to throttle the man. Heero too felt anger boiling in him and for what reason he could not discern.
"All the more fun to break," Heero told the wretched man, a smirk thinning his lips as the boy's eyes widened in fear. "I have made my choice, what is the price?"
"1500," the man said.
Heero raised an eyebrow. "Such a high price for a 'miscreant'..."
The beady-eyed man winced. "Granted his is a troublemaker and lacks manners, but his is a good buy... After all, his beauty alone rates him as a prize..."
"So I've noticed... And...?"
"And... I cannot say... I am just the front man, I sell them at the price the Master gives me..." the man fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable with the question asked.
Heero really didn't care, no price was too high... after all, he was Pharaoh. He groped in his pouch for the right amount, giving the man slightly over the specified amount. Quickly the man unchained the boy, only to place a pair of shackles with a lead on the boy's thin wrists.
Heero smirked at his stunned friends as he led the boy-slave over to where they stood.
"Finished so soon?" Wufei asked, raising one finely sculpted eyebrow. Heero nodded and he decided to look over the purchase. Long hair, sinewy body, pale skin, tender face... and the most amazing eyes Wufei'd ever seen. He'd thought Heero and Trowa's eyes were amazing, but this boy's put both the blue eyed boy and the green eyed one to shame. "Nice choice," he commented.
"I'll say," Quatre put in, giving the boy a once over of his own. The braided boy blushed and ducked his head down, making Quatre giggle.
Heero decided they had meandered enough, morning was at its peek and he want to get started 'training' his new pet. He tugged lightly on the chain and the boy obediently followed them out of the arena and back to the palace.
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"First things first," Heero's maid said, grinning from ear to ear. Upon arriving at the Pharaoh's room, Hilde'd been shocked with a daunting task: 'civilize' the slave Heero'd bought at the market. A daunting task indeed, for the boy was stubborn and would not help her one bit in the task. "Please please get in the tub... You are bigger than I and I cannot carry you... Please? I'm not going to hurt you..."
The boy looked at her, obviously caring less if he got a bath (or helped her in the task) or not.
"Look..." she sighed. "I'll get whipped if I do not follow through with my task... Please, just get in the damned tub... I'll do the rest," she said, pleading mentally that he would just do that one thing.
The boy sighed and quickly, since Hilde'd already stripped him of his clothes, walked over and into the waist deep bath. She thanked the gods and followed him into the shallow pool. "I've got to wash your hair..." she said, taking the end and unfastening the leather thong.
Before long she was finished and the boy was clean. "There," she said. "Now to get you some clothes..." She made a quick trip out into the next room and returned with a pile of linens and a pair of leather sandles. "Majesty will see to it that you get other clothes, but for now these will have to do."
The boy dressed mechanically, distaste evident in his every move. After he was decent, Hilde led him into the Pharaoh's chambers to wait. "Do not try to leave... there are guards posted at the door. The Pharaoh will be back shortly."
As soon as the door shut, the boy slumped to the floor. And in a sweet tenor whispered, "Sweet Athena, what have I done to deserve this?"
-------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
"Your Majesty, the borders have forever been a difficult region," the old, grey haired farmer said, kneeling before his King. "The soldiers that patrol the border are not enough to stop the bandits and other savages from ravaging our farms and homes... Children and women are lost, raped, murdered... and crops destroyed..." The man droned on, but Heero was not listening. He'd heard this sob story time and time again and they all asked for the same thing. "Please, Majesty... I beg of you. Can you, somehow, spare more soldiers to patrol?"
Heero sighed and considered a moment. His people were not currently at war, so he did have extra soldiers to spare... But would it be prudent to send them away from their homes and happy lives to stop a few savages from running amuck in the borderlands? "Give me time to consult with my advisors. You shall have your answer by tomorrow at sundown."
"Thank you, Majesty," the man said, bowing and scuttling back into the throng of people.
"If that is all for the day, I shall be retiring to my quarters," Heero said. Before anyone could speak up, he was gone.
Quatre stood at the base of the throne and watched the blue eyed young man practically run down the hall. He sighed and shook his head. "He has it bad, yes?" he asked the tall man next to him.
"Seems he is in a hurry to break in his new toy... the Queen will not be pleased," Wufei said, stopping to stand beside them.
"What will no please me?"
Wufei nearly jumped out of his skin. The woman had a way of being silent that unnerved him to no end. She was like a snake, slithering into position before silently whipping out and capturing its prey.
"It is nothing, my Queen," Quatre said, smiling sweetly. "It just seems the Pharaoh is in no mood to socialize." Quatre nearly grinned over at Wufei. Relena's favorite thing to do was socialize with her King, flaunt that she was his mate, the Queen of Egypt. Quatre sweatdropped as he remembered that the young woman liked to refer to herself as the Jewel of the Nile... He would not argue with her over it, but he knew that a woman as she could never be the Jewel of the Nile.
"Oh, what a pity," the Queen pouted. "Perhaps I can change his mood..." She took a step toward the door but Trowa stopped her.
"I do not think that would be wise, my Queen," Trowa said, his quiet voice carrying a muted warning. "He was in a terrible mood, ready to break something..." When Heero was in the mood to break something, he didn't care what it was he broke... anything or anyone, he didn't care... And Relena knew this. Her eyes widened.
"Thank you, Captain, for the warning... I shall leave my husband to his own devices this eve..." She smiled. "I shall just have to amuse myself, shan't I?" And with that she turned and picked out a single blond nobleman and latched herself onto his arm.
Quatre pitied the man, but was glad Relena had not pursued her husband down the hall... Even though Heero was not currently in a break-something mood, he would be if the blonde woman had interrupted him.
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end part 1