"My prince! Look out!" the tall, long haired Egyptian boy yelled out as he pushed the prince of Egypt out of the way of a deadly snake. He winced in pain as the serpent's fangs pierced through his bronzed skin. He didn't hesitate even for a moment in his actions; this was his prince and it was his duty to keep him safe, even if it cost him his own life. "Are you all right my prince?"

"Yes I'm fine Mahad, but you're hurt! Hold still and let me help you," the shorter boy responded. He took the injured boy's arm and began to suck the venom from the wound.

"No my prince, there is no need for you to do this!" Mahad cried, but the other boy continued to extract the poison until every last drop was gone.

"Of course I would do this for you, Mahad. You're my friend. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Someday I'll become the pharaoh and I want you to be there by my side," the young prince told him with a smile.

It was in this moment, when the future pharaoh saved his life, counting him as his equal and his friend, that Mahad vowed to devote his life to Atem. He would only ever belong to Atem and Atem alone. Always.

Seven Years Later….

"Fetch Mahad for me please."

Atem was on his balcony, looking out over the city that would one day become his. It was a beautiful day; the sun shone brightly over the city, but a crisp breeze kept the weather from becoming unbearably hot. The wind disheveled his multi-colored spiked hair, but the prince didn't seem to mind. He leaned over the edge of the balcony and rested his head on his hand, sighing. He was lonely and couldn't wait for his servant to come back with his friend. He was feeling too confined in the palace and needed to get out.

"Master Mahad is here, my prince," his servant said as he returned with the magician. Atem whirled around to face his friend and smiled.

"My prince, what is it?" Mahad inquired.

"Mahad, when it's just you and me you are allowed to call me Atem," the prince smirked.

"Yes, my pri— I mean Atem," Mahad pronounced the prince's name as if it was a foreign word. It made him feel incredibly awkward to be so casual with the man who would be pharaoh.

"I was thinking the two of us could ride out and do something today. I need to get out of here and I know you would never let me go alone," Atem said, eyeing Mahad. The magician could be a little too protective at times, but Atem admired his loyalty.

"If you wish to go somewhere I will certainly accompany you. I'd love to go," Mahad said. He mentally kicked himself for adding that last part.

"Great! Do you think we should invite Mana?"

"Mana…I think she is busy training at the moment," Mahad answered. In reality he had no clue what Mana was up to. He just couldn't stand the way she behaved around Atem.

"All right. It will just be you and me then," Atem said. He thought he saw a small smile on the magician's normally stoic face, but he must have imagined it. It was always duty before emotions for Mahad. Atem and Mana were probably the only people on Earth who had seen Mahad smile. It was a rare event.

Atem ordered his servant to ready two horses for himself and Mahad. The two of them rode out of the city and in the direction of the Nile. Atem was a strong rider and was ahead of Mahad leading the way. The magician had no idea where they were going, but he would follow Atem anywhere and he would always be right there behind him to protect him.

They rode alongside the banks of the river as the sunlight glistened beautifully off the surface of the water. Atem stopped at a bend in the river where the water was particularly quiet. He slid off his horse and walked over to the edge, slipping his sandals off and letting the cool water flow over his feet.

"The temperature is perfect. Are you going to join me?" Atem asked as he looked back at Mahad.

"You want to go swimming?" Mahad asked shakily.

"Yes, I thought since Mana isn't with us it would be the perfect thing for us to do. We used to swim here all the time before we both became so busy. Between you with all of your work training the magicians and my father trying to teach me to one day take his place, I feel like I have hardly seen you lately. I miss spending time together," Atem said, a hint of sadness in his voice. He took a step further into the water and turned back to look at Mahad, a smile on his face once again. "Come on Mahad!"

Mahad stood on the edge of the river while he watched Atem take off his tunic and throw it onto the bank. He felt his chest tighten up, as if he forgot how to breathe, and his heart was racing so loudly he was sure the prince would be able to hear it. He stood and admired the prince's flawless bronze complexion, the lines of his slender, toned body, the way the water glistened on his skin.

We did used to swim here all the time…but that was before I felt this way.

Atem fully submerged himself in the water and came back up, his normally spiky hair now lay completely flat. He gave Mahad a look like he was wondering why it was taking so long for him to get in the water. The magician slowly removed his clothes and his millennium item and stepped into the river. He splashed the cool water onto his blushing face, trying to calm himself. He would surely give himself away. Pulling himself together under such circumstances seemed an impossible task. He began to swim on his back, taking in the vast expanse of the sky and pretending he wasn't swimming unclothed with the object of his affections.

The magician was shocked when water suddenly was splashed all over his face. He flailed around, finally orienting himself and wiping the water droplets out of his eyes. He saw Atem laughing and he shot him a glare. The prince gave him a mischievous smile and splashed him again. Mahad felt embarrassed about this entire scenario, but he also wanted to cherish this much-needed alone time with his friend. The magician retaliated, putting his hands on Atem's head and dunking him under the water. The prince came up for air and spit a mouthful of water in Mahad's face. The two of them were laughing so hard their sides were beginning to hurt.

"Mahad, you're laughing!" Atem happily pointed out. "I haven't seen you smile in ages!"

Mahad blushed, smiling shyly. It truly had been a very long time since the two of them had what could be called fun together. Mahad honestly could not remember the last time he laughed. He had completely thrown himself into becoming a master magician and training other young spell casters in order to protect his prince to the best of his abilities; he had no leisure time anymore.

Atem, on the other hand, could not be running around having fun simply out of principle. The way he was behaving now was not the way a prince should behave. He was bored, but he always did what had to be done; it was clear he would make an excellent pharaoh someday, the kind of pharaoh who would defend his kingdom with his whole heart.

Spending this time together away from their duties at the palace was like finding an oasis in a seemingly endless desert.

Atem had a strand of damp blonde hair plastered to the middle of his face. Mahad reached forward and brushed it back behind the prince's ear. Atem looked so different with his hair wetted down, making it long enough to hang past his shoulders. The magician watched the way the water dripped from the ends of his hair down his firm chest. When he realized he was staring he immediately pulled back. He scanned the expression on Atem's face, trying to discern if he felt uncomfortable with his actions. The prince looked utterly at ease though; a warm and contented smile played across his lips.

"Mahad, I'm glad you came out here with me. I couldn't ask for a better friend," Atem said softly. He saw a happiness in Mahad's solemn gray eyes that he hadn't seen in a very long time.

"Anything for you, my prince."

Atem stepped gracefully out of the river and slipped his tunic back on with Mahad following suit. The sun was beginning to set and Atem needed to be back in the palace before nightfall. It was dangerous for the future pharaoh to be outside the city walls after dark. They rode directly back the palace and by the time they arrived, Atem was very sleepy. He slid off his horse and let out a rather large yawn.

"You should get some rest, my prince. You look exhausted," Mahad said as they stepped through the doors of the palace. Atem answered that he was indeed very tired and Mahad offered to walk him to his room. Upon arriving, Atem's servants immediately began to prepare him for bed. Mahad wished the prince goodnight, not taking his eyes off of Atem as he shut the door. He turned around and ran directly into something hard and practically fell over.

"What the—Mana? What are you doing here? You almost knocked me over!" Mahad angrily said to his apprentice.

"I heard you were back and I was waiting for you. You and Atem went somewhere without me today? How could you!" she said dramatically. She crossed her arms over her chest and shot him a look that said she was demanding an explanation.

"You know Mana, you aren't the center of the universe. People make plans without you," he said as he brushed past her and walked away. She was getting on his nerves.

"Don't you walk away from me, Mahad!" she yelled running after him. "What is going on with you?"

Mahad turned and faced her. He narrowed his eyes at her, causing her to shrink back. He grabbed her arm and led her to a corridor where they were unlikely to be overheard, Mana protesting the entire way. When they reached the secluded area Mahad dropped Mana's arm and leaned against the wall. He looked down at the floor and sighed.

"Master, what's wrong?" Mana asked, concerned. She had never seen him so wracked with emotion.

"Mana, Atem wanted to ask you to come along today, but I told him you were busy," Mahad said still facing the floor.

"You didn't know if I was busy! I was bored all day!" Mana exclaimed. "Why would you do that?"

"I wanted some alone time with him. I haven't spent any time with him lately and I just wanted him to myself. It's nothing personal Mana."

"You wanted him to yourself?" Mana studied Mahad's face. He was hiding something. "You're not telling me something Mahad and I want to know what it is. You don't seem…well."

Mahad finally looked up at Mana, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. She gasped and rushed over to him, taking his hands.

"Mana, I don't know if I can tell you."

"You might be my master but you're also my friend, Mahad. I promise I won't tell anyone." She put her hand on the side of his face and tilted it so he was looking her right in the eyes.

Mahad took a very deep breath. "I-I'm in love with him, Mana. I'm in love with Atem." He shut his eyes and braced himself for her reaction. He was suddenly being crushed by a hug from his apprentice.

"I knew it! I was right, I knew!" she squealed. "Alright, so I wasn't really sure and only suspected a little bit, but I know you well Mahad. Nothing escapes this girl!" She released him and stepped back, smiling widely at him.

Mahad was shocked and embarrassed beyond all reason. "You knew? For how long?"

"I'm not completely sure, but I remember that after the day he saved your life, you looked at him differently. At first it seemed like the purest kind of adoration. You always followed him around like a puppy. But after a while it started to seem even deeper than that. I was sure there was something behind all those longing gazes off into the distance while we were training."

"You…you don't think he knows, do you?" Mahad asked her. He would die of mortification if Atem even suspected.

"No, I really don't think he does. He cares about you a lot though, Mahad. Maybe him finding out wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

Mahad processed what she said but immediately shoved that thought away. "Mana, he's the future pharaoh, my friend, and a man. Even if by the grace of the gods he somehow felt the same way, it wouldn't matter. Nothing can ever come of this. Honestly, I always thought you liked him. That's why I've been a little annoyed with you lately. He would be better off with you anyway."

"No I don't like Atem! Yeah, maybe I flirt a little bit, but that's just in my nature." Mana winked. Mahad wasn't amused. "It's just playful. I don't mean anything by it."

"Well, that's one thing I no longer have to worry about I suppose. Mana, whatever you do, don't go meddling trying to fix us up. You are not going to tell anyone this, do you understand?" Mahad became very stern with her. Mana was known for running her mouth and he was very uneasy.

"I promise, master! Your secret is safe with me!" She skipped off, humming a tune Mahad didn't recognize. He had never seen anyone so consistently happy in his entire life. He should have known she would never have judged his feelings. She could be irritating, but she was a very good person.

Mahad sunk down the wall until he hit the floor. He hung his head, an insufferable ache creeping into his heart. It didn't matter what he thought, or what Mana thought. He would never be with Atem. He let a single tear splash onto the floor before he pulled himself up and finally headed off to bed.