Chapter One

Nefertari sighed looking up at the fading dark sky as it slowly became one of light blue she loved it when she got moments like this which were rare since she was always learning thing's that her mother had once learned, before she was kicked out of the hallow hall's of this place for bearing a child with a man who had payed respects here and they took the child from her us punishment she had been told all of this when she was old enough to understand and why they were harsh with her more than the other maidens here, she always thought it was because of her pale skin and deep crimson hair or her dark green eye's though she put her treatment down to some of that but the biggest part was because of what her mother had done, she did't hate her she felt sorry for the mother she never knew and sometimes she wandered if she was still alive out there somewhere and that she was happy she sighed again heading back to her bed if she did't go back to sleep before they came to wake her she would be in trouble again, she moved from where she had been sitting and went back to the large bed and laid down but she would't go back to sleep she never could when she woke early so instead she sat up with her knee's pulled to her chest in till there was a knock on her door, she did't say anything when it was pushed open.

"have you been awake all night again?" a woman's voice asked coming closer to her bed.

"no i woke early and i could't go back to sleep" she said not looking at her.

"well i hope your not to tired after all you girls have a big day to day" the women said moving around the bed and pulling back the drapes..or have you forgotten about to day Nefertari" she said looking at her.

"people from the Pharaoh's palace are coming to day" she said.

"well glade you did't forget now i'll bring some food to you so you can get ready in the mean time" the women said heading back to the door.

"i should't be apart of this i'm not like the other's" she said.

"maybe not...but we don't have meany maidens your age a small handful at least and the other's are far to young and despite what the other's may say Nefertari your a lovely and stunning young women now please hurry and get ready i'll be back soon" the women said closing the door behind her.

Nefertari looked at the door as it closed she did't have to look at the women who came into her room to know who it was and a slight smile made it's way onto her face Panya had always treated every maiden here with a kind hand and she treated her no different even if the other's did, she moved from the bed and headed for the washing chamber most of the time she shared with the other maidens but when someone came to chose a women for marriage they used their privet wash chambers, she undid her hair letting it flow well past her waist and allowed the nightgown she had been wearing fall to the floor and heading into the water she sighed it was always warm and had desert flowers in the water that gave off the scent that clung to the skin she cupped some of it and splashed it on her face, when she lowered her hands her green eye's blinked back at her since she had never known her mother she guessed she looked very much like her apart from the green eye's and pale skin which she guessed she got from her father long with her deep crimson hair which was even darker now that it was wet, also she had a very womanly build she was slender but not over the top and she had a fare sized chest well that's what she had been told by the other maidens here which made her standout even more which she hated since she had heard all the mutterings about her they had't even noticed that she was standing right next to them when they did this, but she tired to never let it get to her she sighed washing herself as she heard the door to her room open again which meant Panya had come back and she had brought the food for her and she would be picking out what she would be wearing and doing her hair and makeup.

"ah good you finished washing hurry it up they'll be here soon" she said when she came back into the room she sat and watched her looking through the clothes.

"here we go this will make you look like a goddess Nefertari" Panya said holding up the outfit she had chosen it was a deep crimson skirt with slight golden pattern around the waist which matched the golden beaded top that went with it.

"is't that a little much?" she asked looking at it.

"not at all you have to show those from the palace just how stunning you are and a fine fit to be queen" Panya said.

"their more likely to pick one of the other girls" she said finishing the last bit of food on the plate.

"never say never now get dressed and i'll do the rest" she said heading over to her.

Once she was dressed she sat in the chair letting Panya sort out her hair it took a while but Panya had manged to put her hair into a loose braid all kept in place with her golden scarab clip, she stayed still since Panya started to work on her makeup next and that was going to take as long as it did doing her hair she only opened her eye's again when she heard Panya move away and come back with a copper mirror her eye's stood out with the pale gold and the thin black lines Panya had done and her lips were a pale gold as well she smiled at her as thanks for all she had done Panya smiled back picking up the golden bands she was to wear as well one went around her neck and the other two around the top parts of her arms.

"there your ready....and just in time from the sounds of it come on go join the other's" Panya said leading the way out of her room.

Nefertari sighed not really ready for this but she followed Panya out of her room and followed her down the hall's she had known all her life and it did't take them very long to enter the large hall where the other girls her age were standing, all dressed up, and she walked over to them and she heard them mutter a little but she acted like she had't heard them also she had noticed the look's of the older women who had held the other's get ready, if by chance she was chosen she would't be to sad not to see them again due to how they have treated her over the years she sighed and fell quiet when two men entered the hall she noticed that one of them was older than the other's he wore a long white tunic with a black cape wrapped around his shoulders and wore a headdress which had a golden serpent on it but she could still make his spiky gray hair which matched the colour of his beard also she noticed his deep purple eye's and she always thought her eye colour was a little strange though the younger man with him had strange coloured eye's as a well and wore a long white tunic with golden shoulder pads and golden bands and his headdress also had gold on it also she did't fail to notice the strange iteam around his neck which looked like a ring of sorts she quickly stopped looking when he looked her way before they stopped in front of panya and the other's.

"welcome i hope your trip was't to tiring for you" Panya said stepping forward.

"it was't tiring at all i am Shimon and this is Mahad" he said with a bow.

"and good to meet you both please make yourselves at home" Panya said.

Once they were settled they sat at the large table some of the other's had sat close enough to talk with them and offer them thing's to eat while other's danced to the music that played it was how they made themselves standout and even show some skill's they had Nefertari was just glade she could slip to the back and stay out of this, though Panya had shot her some look's but she acted like she had't seen Panya looking over at her and she would of stayed hidden by the wall drinking the win she had been tending to for a while, if the one called Mahad had't come over and tapped her on her shoulder she jumped a little since she had been lost in her own head wishing this was over with.

"are you ok?" he asked looking down at her (he's taller than she is)

"yes master Mahad i'm fine wine does't sit that well with me that's all" she said it was't a lie as such but it was better than saying nothing.

"maybe some air would help" he said offering a hand to her.

"yes thank you" she said taking his hand after Panya glanced her way and gave a nod saying go with him.

"may i ask your name" he said leading her outside.

"it's Nefertari" she said.

Once outside she felt herself calm down a little the sun was high and she could feel the heat of it on her skin she lent on the balcony stone and took in a deep breath of that fresh and warm air and she found herself just staring at what was beyond these wall's almost forgetting that she was't alone, Mahad had watched her the whole time and could't help but let a slight smile show she was't like the other young ladies and it was just down to her pale skin or her green eye's and red hair, it was the way she had held herself and greeted them before they were made comfortable also he could't help but notice a slight fire hidden behind those green eye's of her's it was a fire that would make her a fine queen for the Pharaoh, but there was also sadness to them which was almost heartbreaking to see in someone as lovely as she was.

"it's a lovely view from here" he said making her jump again.

"yes it is...though i wish i could see it from behind these wall's" she said.

"you've never been outside of these wall's" Mahad said.

"no .... none of us have it's not allowed we are born to brides of those of royal blood it's all we know, i guess you could say we'er trading one life behind wall's for an other i'm sorry to say that make's me a little sad" she said.

"that's understandable Nefertari but in the Pharaoh's palace you'd have more freedom than you'd think sure you would't be allowed beyond the wall's without guards with you but you'd be allowed outside if that's what you wished" Mahad said.

"you mean that?" she asked looking at him.

"yes i do" Mahad said.

"that's good to know thank you master Mahad shall we head back i'm sure master Shimon is wandering where you have gotten to" she said leading the way back inside.

She lead him back inside and they both stopped dead in their tracks since some of the girls had gotten into a fight after one of the girls knocked wine into the other's laps Panya was trying to get them to stop but they were't listing also the other women tired which only made matters worse she glanced at master Mahad who had made his way over to master Shimon neither of them looked impressed which made her sigh she might not get along with the other maidens here or the older women apart from Panya, but she could't let them make a fool of themselves or end up hurting one and other since she had seen these thing's become violent once she walked right over to them and without having to clunk their heads together to make them stop with a few words she brought this fight to an end making it clear how bad they were making themselves look and everyone else here in front of the guest and it was no way for maidens to act, and that they should say sorry to their guests which they did before leaving the hall to clean themselves up while the other's picked up thing's that had been knocked to the floor she gave them had since it was a rather large mess that had been made.

"she's something is't she" Shimon said standing next to Mahad.

"her name is Nefertari and yes Shimon she is something very different from the other's i thought she had a fire to her and i was right" he said.

"oh and when did you notice that?" Shimon asked.

"when we first got here she was watching us also speaking with her but also she had a very sad look at the same time" Mahad said.

"not shocking since the women here have been raised for one thing" Shimon said.

"i don't think that bothers her it's the fact that she has never been allowed to set foot outside these wall's and that goes for the other's as well she said it was like trading one life behind wall's for an other, though she seemed to cheer up for a moment when i said that it was different for in the palace though you can't go outside the wall's without guards but you'll be allowed outside" he said looking at Shimon.

"i see so Nefertari has a fire to her which make's her able to handle thing's that most people would back away from like stopping something like this fight from getting out of hand, also a gentle and kind heart which i can see for myself ....sounds like you've made up your mind Mahad" Shimon said.

"you have to agree also since we were only going to be here in till morning" Mahad said.

"then it's a good thing that i do the other young ladies here were well" Shimon said.

"not his type" Mahad said with a smirk.

"indeed" Shimon smirked back.

"though do you'll think he'll be pleased with her after all she not like the other's in look's i mean?" Shimon asked.

"i believe he'll find her a rare flower indeed after all we know our Pharaoh he does't judge someone by how they look" Mahad said.

"very true so we both agree then" Shimon said.

"yes we do...Nefertari will make a fine Queen of Egypt" Mahad said.

"though she'll have a lot to learn before then" Shimon said.

"well she'll have a fine teacher wont Shimon" he chuckled.

"why thank you Mahad" Shimon said chuckling back at him.