The Morning Sun

Under the Egyptian Sun

She wanted to hold her wig but was too afraid to let go, finally they left the city charging towards the desert with Amunher still in the lead, she turned her head and watched her childhood friend he had somehow grown into a man almost without her noticing she thought, as she looked at his strong muscled arms, his bronzed skin like marble, he was well built and tall like his father with the same red hair that shone like a fire under the glowing sun. She suddenly felt sad as another realization her childhood was fading hit her, he now was eighteen. They had been best friends since she could remember as well as Prehir. They were all inseparable and used to run riot through the palace, always getting into all sorts of trouble much to her family's alarm, although the chief Queen never told her off and treated her like her own daughter. She missed Nefertari, she still remembered her and knew the boys missed her, as well as the Pharaoh. She grinned to herself remembering all the wild things they used to do.

Looking back towards Amunher she looked up at him and saw him in a whole different light as if seeing him for the first time, his strong arms and his calloused hands as they gripped the reins tightly. The golden rings sparkling on his fingers. A horn bow with blue tips draped across his back the leather strap over his bare chest. He was wearing a short linen white kilt with golden trimmed edges and a beautiful golden pectoral of the eye of Horus across his chest, he suddenly turned to her grinning and she felt for the first time her cheeks flush as he smiled at her, slowing the chariot down. They finally came to a stop and he helped her off " Khep, you've lost your wig" he laughed as Khepri gasped feeling her natural dark brown hair fall down her back, panicking she cried" oh by the gods, now I am really going to get into trouble, that was a new wig" at that he laughed harder " it's not funny" she frowned and he stopped laughing, suddenly his gaze became soft and serious, he had never looked at her that way before, she felt her cheeks redden " I love your natural hair, it's truly beautiful" his gaze was direct and intense, he stepped towards her, she felt that he wanted to say more but the moment was shattered as her brother and Prehir came to a halt beside them.

" You win" Tarik said, stepped off the chariot and clapped Amunher on the back as Prehir gave her a wide eyed look and then frowned at his brother.

For the rest of the day they hunted, talked and laughed, like old times. Near the end of the day they went to the river Nile and watched the sun god Ra disappear behind the horizon, as they sat in the still hot sand and watched Nut cover the sky with her twinkling cloak and Khonsu rise, a beautiful orb glowing in the darkness covering everything in a blanket of silver.

Khepri closed her eyes hearing the boys talking and the rippling of the Nile water. The breeze whispered through the reeds, she felt it touch her warm skin making her shiver. A warm hand suddenly enclosed around hers, her eyes flashed open, Khepri looked up to see Amunher towering over her. The other two boys were standing behind, Amunher smiled down at her as he helped her up "we had better get back, otherwise everyone will be wondering where we all are" she nodded silently and followed the boys back to the chariot in silence.