Oasis of Time

"What about you?" Amelia asked, opening her eyes to look at the maid.

The maid shook her head. "No, no, I am forbidden to marry," she replied. "I work here for the Pharaoh, but I am also a temple priestess. I must remain pure for the Gods."

"I see....too bad I guess" Amelia said before sitting up.

"Why is it too bad?" she asked, frowning.

"It means you'll be missing out on so much" Amelia said after some thought.

The maid frowned. "Like what?" she asked.

"Love, sex...children...." Amelia said, wondering if she'd missed anything.

"Do you believe that everyone needs those things?" the woman asked softly.

"Every woman does" Amelia said with a soft smile. "Welll maybe not children...but definitely love"

The woman smiled faintly. "Well, I can't deny that I have fantasized about being loved by a man, but I know it can never happen," she said with a sigh.

"what about the king? In this time kings of egypt are known for their many wives.."

The woman smiled and shook her head. "The Pharaoh is a very nice man, but I am loyal to the temple," she replied. "It was my choice to become chaste and give myself to the temple. And so I will remain."

"I see....but what about women?" Amelia asked, curious.

"What about women?" the maid replied, frowning.

"Could you love a woman?"

The young woman paused. "Perhaps," she replied. "But such things are still not proper for my title."

"I see....What is the king doing?" Amelia asked before looking at a flower.

"His Highness, the Pharaoh, is currently in a meeting with his advisors. They meet every morning around this time to discuss what should be done to make the kingdom better," the maid replied with a smile. "He should be out about lunch time."

"Ah I see...might I meet his highness's sister? The one he is to marry?" Amelia asked, wondering what she's like.

"I suppose," the young woman replied. "If she is not preoccupied at the moment."

"Please" Amelia said with a smile as she stood, dusting off the dress.

The young woman smiled and nodded, bowing politely before she led her away from the courtyard and through the palace to another building across from the first. She spoke softly to another maid and that other maid led the way to where the young bride-to-be was sitting, having her hair brushed and dressed. She looked over at the two of them and watched them quietly through dark lined, bright blue eyes. "May I help you?" she asked. She sounded like the child she was, but her posture and pose suggested that she was more a young woman than she was a child.

Amelia shivered under the child's gaze, she could feel her status now. Her brother had never looked at her like that, she suddenly wished she had never come. Her face a mask with a smile. "I only wished to meet you Your Highness. I've come a long way and I am interested in your culture" She said softly, it was something that came to her mind suddenly, making sure this child did not find out the real reason behind the curiosity.

The girl watched her coolly. "And you had to see me to see my culture?" she asked. "I fail to see the importance of that."

"Of course, what is a kingdom without it's future queen?" Amelia said with a warm smile.