Thread: Dreams of the Desert [[DreamerxSkye Pilot]]

Aio??tri had taken his seat, the the left-hand side of his father, just as usual. He bottled up the sigh of withheld torment as he sat down into the wooden chair, not wanting to show his distaste for this lunchtime event. Even as he took his seat, the young prince knew that it would be quite some time before they even would be served some appetizers... Golden plates where set for the over 40 guests and officials, most of whom Aio??tri didn't even care about. He smiled and nodded through the conversions, laughing at their lame jokes as needed, but not because he wanted to. It was all a grand show for him, and if he did not show respect to all of those invited, the Pharaoh would surely take a whip to him. It was a lesson Aio??tri had repeated several times in the past before it finally sunk in. That lesson wasn't something he was wanting to repeat at this point. Most of the guests and officials there today only wanted to talk about the upcoming ceremony for the himself. The decorations, the procedures, the little details... he had people to take care of all of that for him... none of it was Aio??tri's decision, and never had it been. The ceremony was almost the only thing on anyone's mind really... everyone cared so much about it, most of them seeming to care over it more than the prince himself. Aio??tri did care about it though, yet the procedures, prayers, words, and schedule had been so pounded and wedged into his mind over the last many weeks and months, that the upcoming day had lost it's original charm, along with the meaning. With his stomach softly growling, some of the servants finally brought out trays of bread, cheese, mixed fruits placed decorativley on the platters too.. A few of the berries were not anything he had ever seen before, the Prince being cautious about trying them. Aio??tri wasn't one for new foods, especially when it might be very hazardous to his health. But, after a few of the guests had sampled the exotic fruits without any problems, he did take a few nibbles. As the servants brought in the first course of food, Aio??tri's eyes tried to catch a glimpse of exactly which of the slave girls were doing so, looking for one in particular. None of them seemed to be the one his deep eyes searched for. One girl caught his attention from the corner of his eye, his heart skipping a beat. At first, he thought it might be Tahirah, but once his eyes cast their full gaze upon the dark skinned servant, it was more than obvious that he had mistaken her identity. The Prince sighed under his breath, wanting to catch just a peek of Tahirah this afternoon, but as time drug along, it became clear it would not happen. After the appetizers, and much more casual talk that Aio??tri could hardly stand, the main course arrived. Large platters of roast pork, vegetables, and other tidbits were carried in, catching the boy's attention completley. After a small prayer from the priest, everyone tackled the large amount of food presented before them, the chatter coming to a quick end. The sounds of thier vocies merged quickly into the sounds of eating, little conversation slipping through their mutual gorging. As everyone slowed down from gorging themselves, and the talk grew to a minimum, the Pharaoh finally stood up from his seat at the head of the long wooden table. Instantly, all eyes were cast upon him, lips sealed shut. My friends and colleagues... The Pharaoh started, his large voice booming through the hall, commanding the attention he already had. In a few days time, we will witness a great event... one which I have been planning for for such a long time. My only son, Aio??tri, will have a temple dedicated to him... and to commemorate this glorious event, I have an announcement to make... Aio??tri felt his cheeks grow a it pale, not sure quite what to expect. He felt a little sick, actually, worrying about what his father might announce. My queen is carrying our next child, our next prince or princess, The whole crowd started to chatter amongst themselves, until the Pharaoh spoke again. Aio??tri, being our firstborn is still entitled to our kingdom, but he will share it with our next born child... Aio??tri went completley pale, feeling his heart sink deep in his chest, nearly feeling sick to the core. He wanted it all, everything to himself. Aio??tri had plans, none of them including a little brother or sister... After what seemed like a small eternity, the young prince regained his composure, looking up to his father, catching the Pharaohs already stone-like gaze onto him. Tha...Thank you father, He stuttered, still in shock, his mind a mess. A sibling would only complicate things so much more... The meal continued on, with Aio??tri not saying much, keeping even more of his thoughts to himself. After the lunch started to dwindle down, the Prince took his leave, nearly dashing off to his room. The entourage Aio??tri carried with didn't even see, in the post meal gathering. The Prince sat down on his bed, barely noticing the sheets had even been changed, not really caring about the rest of his afternoon. His mind wrestled with itself over and over again. Gritting his teeth, the boy punched the wall, regretting it as son as his fist hit the stone wall, crying out in a gasp. Standing up, he paced about the room a few times, trying to think of how to handle this. Going over to the window, the cotton curtains drifting in the breeze, Aio??tri looked down upon the street below, clearing his mind. It looked so simple, so much easier down there... why couldn't that life be his instead? After one person looked up to his window, realizing who he had seen and starting a small clamor, Aio??tri pulled himself away from the window, going back to sit on his bed. With a sigh, he rested his face in his palms, contemplating the upcoming complexities to be had.