Shards of Ankh

Chapter Forty One

When Ankh opened his eyes for the day, he found Thea awake. She sat, perched on the edge of their bed, arms wrapped around herself. Ankh smiled and sat up, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Gently he pressed his lips into the crook of her neck. When she made no acknowledgment,  he murmured against her skin. 

"May Ra bless you this fine day, dearest."

Thea gently got up, walking to the wide open window. The guards still stood, though they had changed shifts so two more stood at attention now. Thea once more wrapped her arms around her midsection, staring at the tree her and Aqen had sat beneath just hours previously.

Consternation on his face, Ankh rose off the bed and moved to Thea. "My love, what ails you?"

Thea took in a sharp intake of breath, and spun. Immediately tears stung her eyes. "What did you say?"

Ankh looked baffled. "I asked you what troubled you."

"What did you call me?" Thea shook her head.

"My love."

Thea felt her eyes grow wide. "You love me?"

A serene smile swept onto his face. Blinking once, he nodded. However this news made Thea dissolve into tears. Immediately alarmed, Ankh brought her close to his chest.

"Thea, my dearest, what is wrong?" A pause, and then, "Is it a one sided love?"

"No," Thea said, continuing to cry against his bare chest. "No, it's not that at all. I love you, I do, I truly do."

Ankh gently lifted her head by the chin, planting a soft kiss on her lips. "Then the tears are not needed, unless they are from happiness."

"Chisisi is back."

A dark shadow washed over the king's face. Just as quickly it was replaced by an unsure smile. "That was just a theory, Thea. It has not been proven. Lapis found nothing at the docks to indicate he is here--"

"But he is," Thea told him desperately, sounding on the verge of hysterics. "He is, I swear to you he is."

Briefly glancing at the guards, Ankh gently took Thea by the crook of her arm, leading her back to the bed. They sat down, Ankh holding her by both hands. He viewed her with the utmost seriousness. Ankh spoke at barely above a whisper.

"You sound certain. How do you know? Did you see him?"

Thea, at this point, felt it silly to withhold anything from the Pharaoh. She spoke in the same conspiratorial whisper. "You believe me that I come from a different time, do you not?" 

Ankh paused, but then nodded. "While I do not claim to understand it, and it goes against all logic and sanity, I find myself believing you."

Thea gripped Ankh's hands tightly. "Aqen has heard your prayers. He is the one who sent me here."

Ankh looked stunned. Thea watched his face intently, different emotions vying for dominance. Finally it settled on bemused confusion. Laughing, he said, "Thea, what? The Gods are not real, Thea, they are--"

But she cut him off. "I know there was a point where you believed, before your mother died. Is it really so hard to believe in the Gods, but at the same time believe that I come from the future?"

Ankh opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Thea scooted closer, squeezing his hands even tighter. "Aqen loves you. He loves that you worshiped him. He is grateful for the statue you have erected in the middle of the town. Ankh--" Thea scooted even closer, practically on his lap. "You say you don't believe, you say you attend religious ceremonies out of obligation, but I love you, I know you, and I don't believe you."