Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Love of a Priestess ❯ The Priest's Priestess & A Pharaoh's Love ( Chapter 13 )

As Yami suggested I went downstairs to the secret rooms. I stopped before the stone tablet of the High Priest. Curious, and a little afraid, I reached out and touched the smooth, cold stone. At first, I felt nothing. Then I felt a slight tingling, and knew that the tablets held some of the power I needed to Channel.

I opened my mind and attempted to search the stone's. I needn't have tried. The stone seemed eager to relinquish its memories to me.

She stood in a line of young girls, in a large hall. They stood side-by-side, facing the large doors leading into it. They opened, and priests began marching in-two files, which culminated with the High Priest and his advisors at the very rear.

The High Priest was very handsome. The young priestesses began twittering as they saw him, his tall, godlike body standing proudly. He wielded the power of the Rod in his position. His dark blue eyes nearly drove the priestesses insane with desire.

The procession stopped just before the line of priestesses, and the files parted to permit the High Priest to pass through. He stood before them, beautiful and desirable and powerful, and waited silently.

The High Priestess had first to perform her duty. She stood before the young priestesses, prepared to name her successor. But there was never any speaking. She raised her hands, then drew them down to point at a young girl standing some ways away. The girl eagerly stepped forward, standing beside the High Priestess as the next announcement was made.

Now the High Priest stepped forward. All eyes were turned on him. Slowly, he looked up and down the long line of priestesses, then his eyes settled on her. He strode up to her quickly, and held his hand out. She was obligated to take it. A gasp ran through the girls as she placed her small, white hand in his.

He led her away from the line, so that she stood where all could see her. She would soon hold the one of the most honored positions in the Temples: Priestess of the Priests, the High Priest's consort.

~~~~~

I removed my hand from the stone. My mind was confused, cloudy. Hadn't I just seen memories of the priestess with the Pharaoh? How in love they had seemed! And yet here she was, being chosen as the High Priest's consort! I could not understand. There was more I needed to know.

I hurried to the next room, the one housing the stone tablet of the Pharaoh. As I stood before it, I wondered what this stone knew. I reached out and firmly placed my palm on its surface.

"Come, my little bird, sit here."

The priestess smiled prettily and settled herself in the Pharaoh's lap. He smiled and kissed her.

"I want to ask you something very important," he murmured in her ear. "But we must both promise to keep it a secret. It would do no good for the whole city to know of it."

She nodded quickly, and he continued. "I want to ask you if you will marry me. But-" he said, cutting off her joyful response. "It has never happened before that the Pharaoh married anyone who was not royalty. You are a beautiful, wise, and gifted priestess, but you are no princess. Thus, I wish to keep this a secret between us, until we can be properly married by the priests so that none might have objections. I am fast friends with the High Priest. I'm sure he will assist us in this matter."

"I accept gladly, my Pharaoh."

"Do you say that simply because I am Pharaoh, or because you really mean it?"

"I do mean it, truly, my love."

The Pharaoh smiled, and they kissed passionately.

"The night wanes, my bird. Hurry back to the temple before they notice your prolonged absence. I will speak to you further tomorrow night."

"Good night my darling," she whispered, kissing him again.

"Be careful. I'll have guards escort you." She nodded, and disappeared into the hallways.

The next morning, as he breakfasted with one of his advisors, the Pharaoh asked him what the news of the kingdom was.

"Have you gone mad and forgotten? The temples are in a frenzy! The High Priestess is choosing her successor in the next few days, all the young priestesses are being reviewed. And the High Priest's select priests have come to examine them as well, for it is time for the High Priest to chose a consort. The brightest, most talented, and most beautiful priestesses will be vying for the positions."

"Why, do they compete for these stations? Can they choose not to participate?"

"Not according to Temple law. But why ever wouldn't a young priestess want the chance to be the High Priest's consort? In any case, the priestesses are holed up now in the Temple, and won't be coming out again until the decisions have been made. By the way, the young priestess assigned to this city is expected to be selected for one of the positions."

The blood in the Pharaoh's veins nearly froze.