She had never felt pain this intense. A ripping, crashing feeling erupted through her as the midwives tried to keep her calm and cool by placing wet cloths on her forehead. Her most trusted midwife urged her to push, she couldn't stop the baby from coming if she wanted to. This was the day that she could carry out the next generation of Egyptian royalty. With the actions that she and her husband had done she was able to carry a child and give birth.

She stood on two stones with midwives keeping her upright, the traditional birthing position of Egypt. She felt the baby make its way out of the birthing canal and new erupting pain resonated through her body. She screamed in agony and tried to remain upright.

"Push again my Lady, you're almost there." The queen yelled one last scream and her baby was out. She started to hyperventilate as she was laid on her back to watch her midwives wash the child.

But the child wasn't making a sound.

"Why does my baby not cry?" The queen frantically yelled. She through her arms out, reaching for her baby.

"My Lady please…" A midwife tried to sooth her.

"No! Give me my baby," The baby was now wrapped in a clean cloth as it was given to its mother. When the baby was put in its mothers arms it opened its eyes which revealed a sharp crimson color.

"A boy my Lady. You've given birth to our new prince," But the queen did not hear her, she only marveled in her son.

"Why does he not cry?" She asked still looking into the eyes of her son.

"Perhaps he is conflicted?" A midwife asked hesitantly.

"No," The head midwife said quickly. "It is a sign of the gods, he is born to do great things," The new mother felt an intense connection, stronger than the one when she had carried him in her womb, with her son. He had his father coloring and hair, but he had her eyes.

Something that she was proud of.

"He must be blessed in the name of the gods," The head midwife took the young prince in her arms. Once the boy was taken from his mother he gave a defiant cry as if telling them he wanted his mother. Queen Tai felt anguish over her son leaving, but the ritual must be done in order to instill the blessing of life from the gods.

"We must let his father know of his safe arrival,"

"Yes my Lady,"

…

The aging Pharaoh was silently pacing in his study with his most trusted advisor and friend watching him nervously.

"My King, perhaps it would be better if you sat and rested," Shimon heeded the Pharaoh.

"I cannot, it is impossible," Aknamkanon continued to pace rubbing the navel of his nose thinking about his wife and his new child that would soon be born into this world. Be it a son or a daughter I knew he would love any child that came from him and the love of his life Tai. They had tried for most of their marriage to have a child and finally after years, almost a decade of trying they were having their first child.

But Tai had been in labor for over half a day already.

Aknamkanon wasn't sure how he could handle losing his wife. A knock on the door into Aknamkanon's chamber made both of the older men rise. A servant entered, her head bowed, and her voice a bare whisper.

"What news?" Aknamkanon asked.

"My Lady has given birth to a son, mighty Pharaoh. The court is prepared for him to be blessed by the gods."

"Sound the horn," The Pharaoh commanded as he and Shimon exited into the ritual room leaving the servant to carry out her orders. Aknamkanon first began to make his way into the chamber where his wife was recovering.

"Shimon, leave me for now," The Pharaoh commanded his friend, wanting to be alone with his wife. When Shimon bowed and departed, Aknamkanon went to his wife's side where she was gently sleeping. He woke her by stroking her cheek with the back of his hand and when she stirred she looked at her husband with adoration.

"My love, we have a son,"

"Yes," He kissed her cheek. "Thank-you," Tai gripped her husband's hand and squeezed.

"What shall we name him my Lord?"

"After my father," Tai smiled.

"An honorable name,"

…

The horn had been sounded, the people of Thebes gathered around the palace to hear of the arrival of their new prince. Awaiting the prince that would continue to keep them safe from war, famine, and disease as the great Pharaoh Aknamkanon had. To live in Egypt was to live in paradise for the people of Thebes.

The Pharaoh stepped through the red curtain that separated him and his family from the eyes of Thebes and heard the roar of cheering from the crowd in front of him. It seemed that thousands of people had come to see the arrival of his new son. He held out his hand to spread silence and waited for the murmurs to stop.

"To the people of Thebes I present my son, the crowned prince Atem!" Aknamkanon shouted and the crowd erupted in further cheer. Aknamkanon stepped away from the balcony and walked over to his wife who was carrying the small bundle in her arms.

Never in his life had he seem such beauty or felt such love for his new family.

…

Opposite the balcony where the Pharaoh was standing, was a figure in the shadows lurking in a tower. The figure was limping, exhausted from some ordeal standing next to a small child with blue hair. The child looked blankly at the balcony where the new prince Atem was announced to the world. The child looked frightened at the figure once the Pharaoh had disappeared behind the curtain.

"Look at them child and remember their faces for that are the root of all your suffering," The child looked at the figure, then back at the balcony.

"That fear I sense lurking in you must be turned into rage." The figure whispered and kneeled to the child and gripped his shoulders sharply.

"Turn it into rage,"

"Yes sir," The child replied.