"Amu! There you are! I have been searching the whole camp for you!"

The Prince's retainers all turned in surprise at using such a name.

"Oh, Mala! There you are!" The Prince exclaimed with equal excitement, surprising his retainers even more so with such informalities. "I was worried about you, for you did not share the morning meal with us. Is everything alright?"

"With me, yes, everything is well. Utati, however, not so much."

"Oh, Utati? Your maidservant? What happened?" He was genuinely concerned.

"May we speak in private, my Prince?"

He nodded at his retainers, and they made haste immediately.

"Is she unwell?"

"To some degree, yes. Her first red moon graced her in the late hours of the night. So, this morning, the priestesses of Isis took her to the tent of cleansing. I, myself, had to be cleansed, so that is why I could not join everyone for the morning meal. I did have another servant tell the Minister, or so I hope she did. I apologise deeply that the message did not reach your ears."

The Prince nodded with understanding. "It is quite alright, Mala. I do hope that your maidservant will be well. I cannot imagine how she would be feeling. I have seen many of my older sisters go through the same thing. I would be so frightened if it happened to men also," he chuckled, and the Princess joined him in the humour.

"What is it that you have there?" He then motioned to the neatly wrapped bundle she was holding behind her back.

"Oh, yes!" She bought the bundle forward and held it before her, her smile bright and full of merriment. "This is a gift for you, my Prince. I hope that it will bring you some joy and amusement."

His topaz gaze widened with surprise as he looked upon the gift in awe. "For me?" He repeated, his voice squeaking with excitement.

"Yes, it is for you! Go on, open it!" Malawashina clapped her hands with equal enthusiasm.

His eyes widened further as he revealed the kite, and his excited laughter rang like birdsong. "This is the most beautiful kite I have ever seen! And it is fashioned like some exotic bird! How can I ever thank you for such a fine gift? Unfortunately, I have nothing now to give you in return for your kindness."

"That is not necessary." Malawashina smiled gently. "You taught me to play Senet, so we are even. Now, let us fly it!"

The Prince's face lit up brighter than the sun at the prospect, but no sooner did it light up did it dull once more. "I have my lessons soon."

"Then, my dear Prince, let us not tarry here! There is wind today, so we must hurry lest we miss it!"

The squeals of laughter as the two ran joyfully through the fields of wild grasses were boisterous enough not to go unnoticed.

"Prince Amunherkhepershef?" A raspy voice called as the two young adolescents skipped along with the kite as it bounced about from the breeze. But, alas, their joy deafened their ears as they ran, unaware, passed the twig of an old man that had called.

"My Prince? Princess?" The voice strained to call again, but it remained unheard. Finally, after the third attempt, the old man became frustrated enough to catch the kite string right from them. Both the Prince and the Princess stopped dead in their tracks, chests heaving from exertion, staring at the old priest with dazed expressions.

"How many times must I have to call you to have you open your ears?"

Prince Amunherkhepershef blinked hard before focusing his now miffed gaze upon the man. "Who do you think you are talking to, priest?" He hissed. Malawashina blinked with surprise at how suddenly the Prince's joyful demeanour had switched.

"I will not have you, Prince, speak to me in such a manner! You know very well when your lessons are! You know how important it is for you to study promptly each day. How do you expect to become the next Pharaoh of our mighty Egypt if you keep dallying about like a child?"

Malawashina took a step back at the sudden fire that emanated from the Prince.

"I can have your head, Ameni."

"Are you threatening me, boy?"

The Prince stepped forward as if to challenge further, and without thinking of any consequences, Malawashina hastily jumped between them.

"Please, the both of you, calm yourselves. I..."

"Be out of sight, Ameni, before I snap you like the twig you are!" The Prince ignored her words as he barked at the old man.

"Such disrespect! The Pharaoh will hear of this insubordination!"

"Well, he is not here, is he? Besides, we both know that you will not remember anything when you return to the camp, you empty-headed buffoon. Now be gone!"

The old priest glared daggers as he grumbled some unspoken curse under his breath. Then, without a word, he spun on his heels and stormed off.

"Amu..." Malawashina began, her eyes saddened and, in some ways, disappointed.

"That was too unkind...."

"I do not care!" The prince bit, his frustration still wrought upon his now reddened face.

"He does this to me every day! I never have time for myself. I never have time for my siblings or my friends. I always have to study, attend lessons, and be reminded how I must be responsible!"

Malawashina's expression softened further to one of sympathy as she placed a gentle hand on his arm. She was sure she could see the tears of frustration shimmering in his eyes.

"I understand, but he is just doing what he is told."

"You cannot understand. How could you? All you have to do is give birth to children."

"It might seem so from your perspective, but one day you shall realise how wrong you are with that statement."

Both the Prince and the Princess stiffened to attention at the suddenness of the voice behind them.

Amunherkhepershef glared at the Minister, who now towered before them, glaring back at the Prince with equal ferocity. It seemed he had come to them with haste from whatever he had been doing, for his linen gown gaped wide enough for Malawashina to see his taut musculature.

"Enough of this 'you will realise when you are older' nonsense! I am supposed to be a grown man with everything else, yet I am suddenly a child with the only fun I have!" The Prince protested.

The Minister sighed and softened his exposure. "I understand, Amunherkhepershef, I do. But we all must adhere to our responsibilities. Believe me, when I say that your father is trying to ease your burdens as best he can. Unfortunately, his father was not so generous. Now show us that you are not a child anymore and embrace your responsibilities. Your teachers are waiting for you. You can play again afterwards before the sun begins to wane."

"I can play only when the wind is blowing. There will be no breeze in the afternoon. You know that as well as my teachers. I can learn when the sun begins to wane!"

"You will go now."

"You cannot tell me what to do, you are just a Minister, and I outrank you!" The Prince crossed his arms defiantly across his chest. The Minister, however, would not take the slight lightly. His glare narrowed and pierced into the Prince, making the young man shift with unease.

"Back at the palace perhaps, but I was assigned here by your father, the great Pharaoh, to make sure you tend to your duties, which means that I am in charge of you. He also allowed me to whip your arse black if you are not compliant. So tell me, my Prince, which one will it be?"

The Prince, defeated, stormed off to the camp without another word, the Minister and the Princess watching him in silence until he disappeared amongst the tents.

"Forgive him, my Lord," Malawashina began, seeing the frustration also wrought upon the Minister's face. "It was I who insisted on playing before his lessons. I did not keep track of the sun...."

The Minister sighed, flustered. "Alas, your exalted mother did not give me permission to whip your backside either."

Malawashina's eyes shot open at such words, and her cheeks flushed hot and crimson.

"Surely, you would not do such a thing, my Lord?"

He blinked at the realisation of what he had let slip from his mouth.

"Forgive me, your Highness, I far overstepped! I would never, ever do such a thing! I let my tongue fly in the heat of the moment. Forgive me!" He immediately went to his knees before her and bowed his head low in remorse. As she stood there, looking down at him, she could see all the way down along his torso from the opening in his gown. He pressed his head to the ground before her feet. How could this emerald-eyed god bow before her? It was too surreal and took her off guard.

"Please, Lord Seti-nekht, I implore you to stand."

As he did so warily, his gown flew open from a sudden gust of wind, allowing Malawashina enough time to see the entirety of his upper beauty. Her mouth involuntarily gaped at his lean, athletic build; his bronze skin glistened with a thin layer of sweat clinging to him. He, too, stared at her for the longest of moments until he finally regained his senses enough to wrap and tie the gown around himself.

"Forgive me, Minister. I did not expect you to bow... so low. It is not our custom in Hattusa."

"In Egypt, we deeply respect and revere our superiors. This is just how we show that."

"Is this also why Prince Amunherkhepershef can never be allowed to enjoy himself without being pulled back into his duties? Can he ever receive just one day, a whole day, to do as he wishes?" Malawashina finally asked, her own voice full of frustration. "Can he ever be allowed to be just a boy?"

The Minister sighed once more and looked at her gently. "I wish it were so easy, Princess. But you, of all people, should understand that it is not. He wishes to be a man, so he should act like one. Our responsibilities come before pleasures. That is the way of life, especially for the heir to the throne of Egypt."

Malawashina sighed, but it was doleful and weary. "Oh, I do know it well, Minister."

He looked to her curiously, then, for her eyes had lowered, and her entirety had become solemn. "You were considered an heir back in Hattusa?" He asked.

"No, my brothers surpass me on that front, but as the eldest Princess, I am sure you can imagine how important it was for me to be trained properly. I had many suitors trying to claim me as their prize...." Her face scowled at the mere thought. "I was a piece of meat to be sold at the highest price at the market. A pawn to be played in their games."

"Then how are you not married to the king, your cousin? You could have stayed within your homeland and your bloodline."

Her darkening at this did not go unnoticed. "The Pharaoh's offer came sooner, thank all the gods."

The Minister quirked a defined brow at her as they then turned to return to the camp.

"Indeed, we must thank all the gods for allowing your union to the Pharaoh, but Princess, I cannot help but believe that you thank them for taking you from Hattusa."

She glanced away once more, and her face steeled.

"Forgive me. I did not mean any offence," apologised the Minister.

"It is alright, Minister, I know," she replied. "May I speak honestly and truthfully without repercussion?"

"Of course, Princess, say what is on your mind. You do not need to fear."

"Mursili is a monster and a pig. He treats the women of his household like animals. We are nothing to him. Just meat to be devoured...." With her words, salty tears burned at the corners of her eyes. She wiped her face hastily with her sleeve, but they had already begun to trickle down her cheeks in tiny rivulets.

"Since I was a child, he had wanted me for himself. He had tried to claim me, but my brothers heard my cries and came to my defence. They would have killed him had he not been the king's son... The whole situation nearly destroyed our family's honour because, of course, in the eyes of the court, I was the one to blame. I should not have seduced him; I should not have been so revealing... I was seven years old! How could I have done any of these things they accused me of? I was a child!" She had stopped then, and her fists were clenched white at her sides, her teeth gritted together as she spoke.

"If it had not been for the good relationship between the king, and his brother, my father Hattusili, we would have been ruined. In the end, Mursili was forbidden to marry me by his father. But for the longest time, it did not stop the court from making rumours about me... and then about my mother... and my sister when she was born. So finally, even when King Muwatalli, may he rest forever, died and Mursili became king, Mursili was forced to abide by the rule or face being thrown from his throne. Thankfully, the court had slowly begun to see what he truly was... a serpent in the rushes over the short years of his rule. He never once stopped being a despicable cretin towards me, though. I know I speak treason, saying these things to you, but... I would rather die than live under the roof of that monster for another day."

The Minister had listened to every word as she spoke, and his expression became one of deep concern and sympathy. He could not fathom how any human being upon this earth could treat another with such heartless contempt, especially to one of one's own lineage.

"Then, the marriage proposal from the Pharaoh must have felt like a blessing."

"I will not lie if I admit that at first, I was apprehensive. We were once enemies, after all...."

"And I do hope we are now friends...." He offered gently. She smiled up at him and wiped her eyes with the handkerchief he had handed her at that moment.

"Yes, I would like to hope we are," she answered. The Minister smiled down at her, and his teeth shone brightly from the sun that struck them.

"It is a friendship I shall never betray, my Princess."