A/N: Dear Readers,

It really has been an awfully long time since I updated. I won't bore you with excuses.
The 3rd installation for Intervening Fate did not go as planned, but I am not unhappy with it. Comments, helpful critiques, and any other notes (with the exception of meaningless flames) are welcome.

All characters with the exception of Keket and Asim belong to Universal Studios.

If there are mistakes in reference to life/terminology/etc of ancient Egypt, please drop a comment. I'm doing this out of my own passion and interest and this is was not reviewed by a beta.

Thank you kindly.

Ardeth dismissed all remaining Med-jai in order to escort the girl to her new place of work, under the White Lotus, Nefertiri. When Asim made no sign of moving from his spot beside the girl, he made a note to speak with his warrior later. He wouldn't have one of his best compromised by a peasant they found in the sand, no matter how unusual she appeared.

The walk to the chambers was unusually quiet. Normally, anyone granted access to the palace would have question upon question about the royal family, but this girl barely glanced at the pictures in each hallway. Ardeth watched as Asim walked next to her, arms brushing every so often, and a look of peace eased the lines on his face. He wanted to blame sorcery, but he had seen sorcery worked on his men, and it never produced this kind of reaction. He would have to keep a close eye on those two.

They reached the entrance to the princess' apartments and it was time for the men to depart. Ardeth instructed one of the maids nearby to fetch Manu, the oldest handmaiden to the White Lotus, the very one that brought her into this world. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Asim nod to the girl and take her delicate hand between his two calloused ones. No words were exchanged but there was no need to. In that moment, Ardeth saw what only the most seasoned Med-jai were allowed to see by the gods, the Ka of two people, twisted together as one. They had bonded, and Ardeth wanted to know why, and most of all, how.

Stiffening at the scene, Ardeth barked an order to Asim and left without sparing a glance or word to the strange woman. The silence broke like a clay tablet as her voice followed him, "Are you not even the least bit curious of my name, Med-jai?"

He ground his teeth together as he stopped in the hallway, he would not bow as easily as Asim, "No."

A glance at his warrior revealed a small smile on his bare, tanned face. Grunting, Ardeth nearly ran back to the entrance of the palace, oh, to be rid of the insufferable. Training that afternoon would be worse than death for the smug warrior.

Silent laughter shook Keket's shoulders as she watched the mighty Ardeth-Bay struggle with himself. Her fond gaze followed Asim, her new guardian. Their bond was still weak and new, but with time and training, it would grow in strength.

The slap of worn sandals on the polished rock broke her from her thoughts. Turning, she found herself before the oldest human she had encountered yet. The weight of the sun bore down on the frail shoulders of Manu, and the worn branch of a fig tree bowed slightly under her hand. The old woman's face, wrinkled and tanned, held each year of her life in crows feet and laugh lines. Her eyes were milky white, blind, but not without an all-seeing wit, after a fever in her middle age left her without sight.

"Girl, what is your name?" Manu's voice, despite the aging state of her body, was strong and clear, one that wasn't argued with.

Regardless of her never-ending curiosity, Keket knew to speak when spoken to in the face of authority. As far as Seti was concerned, she was just to become a lowly serving girl for the White Lotus, under the instruction of Manu. "Keket."

A bony hand reached out and grabbed her forearm without hesitation. The grip was firm and unyielding. She seemed to consider what she felt, standing, unmoving for several moments, a twinge of fear clenched Keket's heart when Manu raised an eyebrow and moved her hand closer to the hidden tattoo on her wrist. She couldn't know! Keket looked to the other serving girl who, thankfully, was looking dutifully at her feet. The older woman's skeletal pinkie skimmed the edge of the sacred writing before she jerked as though bitten by some vile creature.

Those milky eyes looked up and straight into Keket's. "My dear…"

Silently, Keket begged the gods, and Manu, to let her pass. "Yes, wise Manu?"

The woman's lipped thinned in concentration before a slight head nod gave Keket her breath back, but she still sensed the question lying behind those all-seeing, sightless eyes.

Suddenly, Manu turned to the serving girl behind her, "Fetch linen, a comb, kohl, and," she sniffed the air around Keket, "some bathing oil, for our new girl."

She wanted to be offended, but after landing in the desert, riding a warhorse, and traveling through the dusty city all before Ra's rising, she could only guess what she smelled like. All these new senses were dizzying for Keket, being that the spirit world was so devoid of the strong scents and sounds of the mortal realm. It would take some getting used to.

They both watched the girl run off, well, Keket watched and Manu listened to her hurried footsteps. The older woman's hand had yet to leave its anchored place on Keket's wrist, and both looked down at it, different questions raged through the minds of goddess and mortal.

"Your name again, my girl."

"Keket, wise Manu."

She watched the aged human process her thoughts like watching a cobra decide when to strike. She really should have done a better job at shielding herself.

A small nod settled whatever conflict warred in her mind. "Keket, have you ever been a serving girl before?"

"Well—"

"Doesn't matter, as anything you might have learned would have been useless. You're to serve under the White Lotus, and that is the highest honor there is. You shall be working under me for your training."

Finally letting go of her arm, Manu leaned heavily on the staff and started walking into the apartments.

The young goddess gazed at the splendor around her. Unlike the dusty houses and dirt roads of the surrounding town, the princess had a life of cleanliness and privilege. While the polished floor and intricate decorations fascinated Keket, she couldn't help but notice that harsh contrast between rulers and their people, and the lives they lived.

Before long, they reached what appeared to be the main bedroom. Long sheets of fabric, thin but impermeable by dreaded mosquitoes, were curtained around the daybed, and the elevated sleeping mat. Wooden tables along the wall were filled with jewels, oils, makeup, and other goods for the princess's use. The amount of wealth in the room was comparable to the throne room, and all for one person. Serving girls were staged around the room, two by the patio entrance, and two more by the door Manu and she just walked through and the door to another section. They stopped for a brief moment before walking toward the other door. A short hallway lead to what appeared to be the servants' quarters. Woven mats lined one wall, with an elevated mat on the other, most likely for Manu. In the center of this room was a metal tub, filled with water, and a slight shimmer on the surface indicated bathing oils. Keket knew it was for her and her anxiety heightened once more. Bathing meant having to remove her clothes and bracelet and expose her tattoos. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Manu once more.

"Do not fret my girl. You shall be allowed to bathe alone."

The breath she had been unknowingly holding left her body suddenly.

"Your current linen will be burned and new, serving linen provided. You will line your eyes with Kohl and tame your hair down. Your presentation must be perfect for the White Lotus."

Questions would have to come later. "Yes, Manu"

The water was chilly, but refreshing in the rising heat of the day. The bathing oils added a smooth sheen to her skin and started to heal the dry cracks from the sun and the wild tangles in her hair. Once she felt thoroughly cleansed, Keket stood from the bath, gently dried her body, and knelt by what she assumed to be her new bed. A pile of new, stark-white linen was folded neatly on the woven mat, along with a comb, a pot of kohl, a camel hair paintbrush, and a crude metal mirror.

With her new face, Keket was curious as to the application of makeup, and dutifully sat with the mirror and carefully painted the kohl on her eyelid, trying to mimic what she had seen on the other girls' faces. The result was slightly crooked but not as terrible as she had first thought. Footsteps in the hallway brought her attention to a serving girl who had walked in, presumably to fetch her.

The girl looked up, studying her face, a small crease between her eyebrows. Wordlessly, she knelt before Keket and took the paintbrush from her limp hands. With expert strokes, she fixed the kohl lines on her eyelids, perfecting the cat-like picture that each servant was meant to be. She then took the comb and gently pulled through the tangles in her long hair. She seemed pleased enough with the result, nodding to Keket and standing to guide her to the next step.

The next several hours were spent under Manu's tutorage. Posture, timing, how to speak to the Princess, submission, and other important guidelines for serving the White Lotus of Egypt.

From what her father told her, the White Lotus was an important part of her mission, but not in this life. For now, she was monitoring the princess, the fair Nefertiri, to ensure her soul would be ready for her mission in the next life.

It was later midday when Manu finally relented on her training. Sweat beaded down her back and chest and her muscles were sore from the positions she was forced to hold. As she knelt to the water bowl for a drink, the older woman stood to address her and the serving girls that had been watching.

"In honor of a new serving girl for our Lotus, the High Priest would like to say a blessing."

Murmurs around the room revealed their excitement, Keket watched as the variety of emotions the girls went through, fear, excitement, and even arousal. Her father had mentioned something about a High Priest but she couldn't be sure if it was the one arriving.

As the murmurs and whispers continued, Keket felt his presence before he arrived. He was powerful, confident, and she could feel the mark of her uncle, Osiris, surround him like a shield. This was not a man to cross.

A hush fell over the room as the priest walked in. All of the serving girls, except Manu and Keket, knelt respectively. If anyone noticed that Keket did not kneel, they did not indicate otherwise.

"My Lord Imhotep." Manu nodded her respect.

The High Priest did not return the greeting, instead, his eyes met Keket's across the room. Dark, endless eyes that held knowledge beyond human understanding, eyes that knew the language of the Gods, but also the reality of human existence. Keket's heart squeezed in her chest and she felt her breath catch in her throat. There was something alluring, something dangerous about this man.

Slowly, similar to a crocodile stalking a helpless animal along Mother Nile, he approached where she stood, circling, inspecting.

A rumble came from deep in his chest, "Name?"

"Keket, my Lord Imhotep."

A moment's hesitation, a small skip in his step, was the only indication that he was affected by her.

On the outside, she appeared average. Light olive skin, long black hair, and brown eyes. Her skin was remarkably unblemished for being a peasant, but otherwise, she was just one of the other faceless Egyptians. He wondered why Manu treated her differently than any of the others. What was so special about this woman that not only was Manu captivated, but also the Med-jai warrior? When they arrived in the throne room, he noticed how close they were, and the warrior's reaction to Seti's interest in an addition to his harem.

Locking eyes once more, Imhotep nearly fell into her eyes. From across the room, he thought it was merely a trick of the light, but here, the intricate colors that swirled together were plain to see. It was as though every color of Egypt was calling out to him, calling to be admired, studied, adored and he felt the horrible temptation to stare into them for hours.

The thought disgusted him and intrigued him all at once. This peasant had more to her than one would expect upon first glance and he would need to be mindful of her.

Without another word, the priest put his hands in front of his chest, palm up and motioned for the new serving girl to place her own hands on top of his. He noticed her hesitation before she complied. The moment their skin touched, Imhotep felt as though a wave of the Nile had crashed into his chest. There was power, immense power, in this mortal, but it felt dormant, distant, as though a wall was holding it captive. He couldn't be sure that she was aware of this, but now, in front of the gossiping serving girls, was not the time for interrogation. His eyes flickered to her, waiting for any sign of deceit. His regret was instant, her eyes were slightly hooded, unfocused, as she seemed to examine him, both his physical body…and his Ka, like gentle fingers were caressing it. Her eyes finally met his and he could not stop himself from leaning in.

Manu's voice broke his concentration, "My Lord, have you finished? My girls should get back to their duties." The moment was broken and he quickly stepped away. The girl was watching him carefully, a small smile teased at her lips.

"Thank you for your blessing, Lord Imhotep. Until we meet again."

She kept in her laughter as the shaken priest hurried out of the apartments. While he might be a force to be reckoned with, he was still just a man.

A small creased formed between her brows, their collective magic was surprisingly compatible, so much so that Keket believed they could very nearly move mountains. That would be for another time though, perhaps never, depending on his involvement with her uncle's plan. The thought saddened her, she would have loved to bond her magic with the priest's. He had so much potential. Her thoughts were interrupted by Manu, clearing her throat to gain the attention of all the maids who had begun to gossip once again. "Let's continue, ladies, there is still much to do."

Later that evening, there were three others that Keket needed to meet in order to make the picture her father told her complete. Jabir, Raidon, and the white lotus herself, Nefertiri. Jabir was the White Lotus's personal advisor and childhood friend, he was closer to her than her own brother Ramses, a power-hungry fool. Raidon was the personal Med-jai to the princess, the only one allowed in her apartments alone, other than Jabir and her father.

Manu led her into the main common room, where there was a small throne (much smaller than Seti's but still very grand). Seated in the throne was truly the White Lotus of Egypt. Her skin was milky pale from lack of sunlight, her ebony hair cascaded down her shoulders in loose waves, surprisingly not a wig but her own hair, her eyes were lined with the smoothest kohl, and her oiled body was wrapped in fine linen and jewels. Her eyes, a beautiful warm brown, carefully took in Keket, from her own kohl-lined eyes to the gold bracelet on her wrist. "Where did you get that bracelet, girl?" The question was guarded, but not unkind, for all the princess knew, Keket could have stolen the bracelet.

Following her teachings from Manu, Keket knelt low to the ground, legs folded under her body and hands on the glossy limestone. "It was the only gift my father was able to give me before I began my journey to the great city of Thebes, My Lady." Technically the truth. This seemed to satisfy the princess's curiosity.

"Rise, and come closer so I may see you better."

Head bowed, Keket slowly got to her feet, an example of gracefulness, and walked until she was within touching distance of the royal.

Two figures stood on either side of the throne, one thin and draped in fine robes, and the other muscular and donning the armor of the Med-jai. Keket assumed them to be Japir and Raidon, Nefertiri's companions in this life and the next. The three of them made a powerful sight and Keket could clearly see their Ka twisted together, bonded in a tight, interwoven sting. There was something different about the bond between the princess and the Med-jai however, and Keket had the suspicion that they had bonded in body as well as spirit. However, her father's words played back in her mind,

"The princess, the White Lotus Nefertiri, is not part of your mission, her path is already laid out for her and her companions. Worry not about their lives other than blending in, my daughter."

If it was their destiny to be lovers in mind and body, then Keket would leave it be. She would wait to see what their relationship was like before she gave them her blessing and protection. As her new maid, Keket doubted that would be a problem.

Nerfertiri studied the face of the new girl. Normally she wouldn't have this much interest and just leave it Manu, but the old serving-woman insisted that she be evaluated by her. At first glance, she seemed to be any other Egyptian woman, almost plain, but once she locked eyes with the young woman, Nefertiri nearly wept as the colors of Egypt, her beloved Kemet, washed over her and she saw her world in those eyes. She now understood why Manu wanted her to give her approval, this woman was special and she wanted her by her side, not milling around in the other apartments. A small voice told her that she should be watching for her father and brother and their intentions with this new girl. She would also need to consult Jabir and Raidon for their opinions later.

Happy with her assessment, Nefertiri nodded to herself before standing to address the girl.

"I see a lot of potential in you and I should like you to be my personal maid. Before, I relied on Manu but with the increase of duties she has, I have been meaning to look for a replacement. Do you think yourself up to the task?"

There was no hesitation, "Yes my Lady."

The princess allowed herself a small smile, "Excellent. I'll have you start tomorrow when Ra is peeking at our kingdom from over the horizon."

There was no groveling or gushy praises from the new serving girl, just a simple bow and exit through the serving chamber door.

Nefertiri relaxed as the rest of the girls left the room and she was alone with her best friend and her lover.

Jabir was the first to speak, as usual. "Well, she quite the looker isn't she?" A heavy thud echoed in the chamber followed by, "Ow! What was that for? It's not like I was ogling her like Ramses was this morning when she came in. I thought for sure her dress was going to go up in flames from the heat in his eyes! Not to mention the pharaoh…"

Nefertiri turned to them, "Now Jabir, that enough. I know very well how my father and brother can be, but I won't have it talked about this close to a meal. You know it ruins my appetite."

"Yes princess." He looked only slightly admonished, but it was an old game with them at this point.

She turned to her lover, Raidon, "Well? What do you think?"

He seemed to think for a moment, "She's not exceptionally beautiful, but her eyes are captivating, amazing even. It's as though all of Kemet swirls within them." Taking a step toward her, he continued, "But never as amazing or beautiful as you, my dear." He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, soothing the pout she had playfully put on. What he said was true though, one could drown in her eyes.

"We must mind her, my friends, there could be more than meets the eye to our new serving girl."

We've now met most of the key characters, and the lines that tie them together are about to get tighter and more complex.

I do hope you've enjoyed.

See you in Chapter 4: The Faults of Youth