Ahkmenrah rushed back inside the gilded hallways to meet his brother, followed swiftly by Montu. It was going to be all right. It was going to be all right. He held the papers tightly in his hand. The evidence that could help heal whatever it was between.

But before he could go any further, he was stopped by a sobbing Ismara who ran up to him and held his arms in supplication.

"Ahk!" she managed to get out. "He's gone mad! Oh-!"

She started sobbing again and Ahkmenrah held her firmly against him and slowly, soothingly asked:

"Who's gone mad?"

"It's Kahmun, he's going to take his life!"

The news hit him hard like a kick in the stomach. No, it couldn't be happening...

"Do you know where he may have gone?"

"He was heading East," she said. "I couldn't stop him, he..."

She was sobbing again.

"It's my fault I'm so sorry Ahk, I'm so sorry...I wish I had died before I-"

Her speech was cut off by a groan of agony. Ahkmenrah had seen the palace and noble women go through the throes of labor, he instantly understood what was happening.

"The baby..." she breathed out.

"Montu, take her to mother's chambers," Ahkmenrah said turning to the old Veteran. "They are the closest ones here, see that you call for a midwife. This is the birth of a prince and the heir to the throne after mine and Kahmun's death."

"Will you be going after Kahmunrah, your Majesty?"

Yes, that was exactly what he was going to do.

—————————

It was all hopeless till their cell door opened. In came Sabaf. From beside Sabra Nitrocris cried out in relief and rushed over to him and embraced him. Sabra observed the scene with sadness. In moments like these, she sometimes wished for arms to hold her too.

"How?" Asked Nitocris.

"I managed to steal in a knife," he explained. "I killed a few of his men, you best make your move swift Sabra, I have caused as much destruction as I could."

"You mean that I..."

"Yes assassinate him."

—————————

The news of the brothers and Ismara's child reached Khufu before anyone else. He called for one of his servants.

"Aten!"

Aten stepped forward and bowed before him.

"Yes, your majesty?"

This one already accepted that Khufu will one day become King.

"See that the mewling cubs do not return." Said, Khufu. "Make it look like they got into a fight."

Aten bowed low and deep before exiting the room.

—————————

Kahmunrah stood at the edge of the cliff. His and Ahkmenrah's cliff, from when they played together as children. It would be fitting, considering the nature of his betrayal. A part of him couldn't wait to embrace the cool depths of the Nile. Another part feared death. Death. It would all be over and he would never see Ramses, his son his flesh his blood, ever again.

But he couldn't go back. He had sinned too much.

Just as he was about to step to his demise, he heard a voice behind him.

"Well, brother I see you haven't lost your flair for dramatic exits."

An ironic smile twisted Kahmunrah's mouth.

"Clearly you haven't lost your flair for interrupting me at the most crucial moments."

There was a small pause. He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't do it Kahmun..." Ahkmenrah whispered. "Please, I forgive you."

"There are some sins, brother, that are unforgivable. Not even the mightiest of forgiveness nor the mightiest guilts can overcome it."

"For me, there is never a sin too big," said Ahkmenrah. "Not when it comes to you."

Kahmunrah felt the tears choke him, run down his cheeks. He felt his body quiver. Not because of his sins, not for himself, but for the fact that his brother still found it in his heart to forgive. He didn't deserve it.

"Please just..." Ahkmenrah's voice whispered in his ear. "I need you... Mother needs you, Ismara needs you, your child needs you."

Kahmunrah allowed himself to be led away from the edge of death. He allowed himself to be turned around, be he didn't look at Ahkmenrah. He kept his eyes firmly on the ground.

"Kahmun, look at me."

When didn't do so he felt his face being lifted up his eyes met his brother's eyes. As green as palm trees with sunlight streaming through them.

"I love you Kahmun and nothing will ever change that."

With that Kahmunrah took up Ahkmenrah in a rough tight embrace with Ahkmenrah returned with just as much zeal. They held each other tight as if they held the whole world in their arms. There were no words, perhaps tears, but they needed no words.

Finally, Kahmunrah whispered.

"I love you too."

"One more thing." Said Ahkmenrah pulling away he took pieces of parchment out of his leather pouch. "Father had meant for us both to rule."

He offered the parchments, pausing waiting for Kahmunrah's reaction.

Perhaps in another world Kahmunrah would have taken the papyrus scrolls and torn them to pieces, proclaiming that he didn't need them and all he needed was Ahkmenrah's love. It may have been perhaps honorable. But this wasn't another world. Here he would respect his dead father's wishes.

He didn't take them, he needed no proof.

"Then let us rule together," he said resolutely. "And return this country back to her former glory."

—————————

The three of them hid in the shadows of the room. One knife between them. This was their chance.

"So," whispered Sabaf. "Nitocris and I will cause a diversion and you are going to kill him."

"Brilliant plan." She muttered sarcastically. But it was the best they had.

Sabaf smiled wide, like a proud cat who knew his worth.

"Since that's agreed upon." He handed Sabra the knife.

He then offered his hand to Nitocris she took it and together they rushed towards the guards. Sabra masked herself in the shadows and slipped into the throne room. As soon as Seker, the heretic King was in her sight, she lunged.

—————————

Then from behind Ahkmenrah Kahmunrah noticed a figure, as silent and as stealthy as a panther spear poised in an attack. Kahmunrah's smile faltered and left. The figure noted this and got ready to launch into an attack.

Kahmunrah shoved Ahkmenrah out of the way and ran headlong for the man. Yes, he was weaponless and this was probably a stupid idea but as long as Ahkmenrah could escape it was okay. It didn't matter.

He managed to grab a hold of the wooden shaft of the spear and tried to wrestle it out of his hand.

"Get away!" He cried to his brother facing him. "Now..."

In a sickening moment, he felt the spear wrench from his hands. Before he could react he felt the sharp point enter his gut. An overwhelming pain coursing through his body, a mixture of shattered nerves and torn flesh. He cried out in pain. But there was more. It wasn't just the pain of torn flesh, but something burning.

Poison.

———————

She never made it. He caught her wrist before the knife scratched his neck.

"You really think it would be that easy to defeat me?" He asked. "I've monitored your meals. I know how much I have weakened."

He twisted he wrist.

"So this is the most feared assassin in the world. This is the White Lioness?" He asked. He spat in her face. "Pathetic."

Sabra felt the knife drop from her hand. His grin merely widened.

"Poison..." he said. "Some are less harmful than others. Some kill some merely weaken. Do you think I didn't anticipate this."

That explained the lethargic motion of her body.

She felt herself being backed up against a wall. He smiled down at her leeringly.

"I've always hated it when women donned armor and played at being a man."

"She never had to play as a man." Said Nitocris.

Seker frowned. Sabra found the opportunity to kick him in the groin, feeling satisfied as he squealed like a pig.

He let go of her in that moment of distraction Nitocris had taken up the knife and grabbed his thick dark curls, the knife at his jugular.

"For my father." She said and plunged the knife into his neck.

———————

"Kahmun!" Cried Ahkmenrah seeing brother stagger back.

He turned to the now weaponless man.

"YOu'll pay for this." He whispered and lunged at him. His hands at his throat. All he saw was red. He saw only anger. His hands only left when he knew for sure the man was dead.

He then turned to Kahmunrah. He had to save him.

But his older brothers feet were slipping off the edge of the cliff. In a last-ditch attempt, he grabbed a hold of the end of the spear. Kahmunrah slipped off, his hands bloody clinging to the spear, it was the only thing that held him.

For the first time, Ahkmenrah realised the violence of the water thrashing below them.

"Hold on!" He called down to his brother.

Kahmunrah looked up, but his eyes were those of a man already resigned to death.

"I'll die protecting you." He said. "Like I promised."

"I don't..."

"When you were born I promised to protect you."

"I can save you just hold on...and..."

"It's no use..."

"What do you mean. We can..."

He tried lifting him up, but his muscles were strained to breaking point.

"It's no use..." Kahmunrah repeated. "The tip was poisoned. I can feel myself leaving."

Hot tears burst from Ahkmenrah's eyes.

"No!" He choked. "No Kahmun, please."

"When Ramses is born and when you and Sabra have children, and one day when they point to the pictures tell them my name. Tell them all the stories and tell them... tell them how I hope they shine." he paused, there was regret in his next words. "Gods of Egypt all those stories I would have told them."

"We can make it." Said Ahkmenrah. He was trying to convince himself. "You can still tell them all those stories, I'll even let you tell them about the time I got drunk and flirted with a dog, but please stay with me."

"Oh Ahk, you're such a baboon." He said. 

A final smile splayed his lips. A beautiful smile. His last.

His grip on the spear slipped.

He fell.

His smile immortalised on his dead body as he hit the water. The water clouded by blood. But it  didn't stay for long. The Nile cleansed herself.

Kahmunrah was gone.

————————

Sorry, I'm so so so so so so so sorry. I know you hate me. No ressurections sorry, but he will be back. Love you all still.

- Sargun