A/N: I DON'T OWN THE MUMMY

This is my take about how Anck-Su-Namun met Imhotep and fell in love with him and decided to risk everything for love, and screw Seti I!

I'm trying a new writing style – several small moments in time to make up a story – and I really, really like how it turned out here.

# indicates a jump forward in time, so the writing following a # happens after the previous writing

The paint itched. Anck-Su-Namun wished for nothing more than to claw it off her skin, to be free from the visible chains it meant being the Pharaoh's most favoured concubine. It no longer filled her with pride, just with dread. It wasn't that Seti treated her badly, in fact he was almost annoyingly adamant to make her every wish come true, it was simply the fact that Anck-Su-Namun no longer was enthralled by the Pharaoh, she barely felt desire enough to be able to join him in bed when he called for her, which he nowadays did too much for her liking. But, unless she openly renounced him, she would never be free. And she couldn't. Not when her high position meant that her family was cared for, had food and a better house that sheltered them all.
Anck-Su-Namun rose from the divan she had been lounging on, protected from the sunrays by a veil that was suspended above her between poles in the ground, and walked into the palace and to her rooms. In there, hidden from eyes, she shielded her naked, painted body with a blue dress that hid everything but her feet, hands, neck and face. While the temple of Isis held no dress code, Anck-Su-Namun had always felt a need to cover up, to hide the marks of who she was from the goddess, even though she was sure that Isis, if she did look down on her, certainly knew. No one could hide from a goddess.
The prayer room was empty, but the fire burned high and bright in its midst, and Anck-Su-Namun kneeled in the door and whispered her greetings before she headed close to the fire and put her offering, a bracelet and a flower, in the offering bowl. Kneeling with her head bowed and eyes closed, she said her prayer in her mind for she knew the would reach the goddess, and Anck-Su-Namun did not want mortal ears to hear her words. She sat like that until her mind was as blank and still as undisturbed water and peace coursed through her. Grateful, Anck-Su-Namun rose up and bowed low one last time, left the room without turning her back on the holy fire, and greeted the high priestess with another bow as she passed her in the entry room before she stepped out into the burning heat of daylight once more.

Osiris was pleased, and it filled Imhotep with the greatest sense of a duty well done, and he bowed even lower, touched his forehead to the sand even though this ritual in truth did not need such respects from him, but he had always done what felt right rather than what other's thought to be right, and so far it had earned him his god's favour and joy, and that was truly all that Imhotep needed in his life. Raising to his feet, he left the inner room, the most sacred place where only he was allowed to thread, without turning his back to it, and then walked through the temple with the robes of the High Priest billowing around him as it he had borrowed a piece of the night sky to clothe himself in. he greeted his fellow priests – for he saw them as equal even if they had all chosen him to be one level above them – with bows and a soft smile.
Out in the blazing sunlight, he stood for a while just basking in the feeling of life. And then he saw her. Too beautiful or this world, clothed in blue the shade of a clear sky, with long hair that was the same dark shade as his own robes, face, neck, hands and feet all bare and painted with gold and black, she stood just outside the temple of Isis. Imhotep let his eyes move from the vision that was Anck-Su-Namun, for she was not his to gaze upon, but oh how he wished it was so. From what little he had seen of her since the year she had become Pharaoh Seti's mistress, she was kind and gentle but also had a shadow of something else, something Imhotep was sure that Seti knew nothing about. Darkness. It slithered around her even know, as much a part of her as the light he also saw. She was touched, just like Imhotep himself. He walked past her, looked into her eyes, smiled and bowed.
"My Lady, may the goddess and god smile upon you," he murmured gently, and saw a surprised yet pleased shimmer in her dark eyes. Her smile was tiny, unsure, but it was there. And as she bowed back, Imhotep saw her cheeks darken slightly, and her hand twisted into the fabric of her dress.

#

Anck-Su-Namun strolled through Thebes, her goal the palace and her own private rooms. She had gotten leave this day, and had spent it with her family. They were all well and in good health and it warmed her heart. And still, even as she sent a thankful prayer to Isis for this, she couldn't help but feel a sliver of hatred for Seti, because she now knew for certain that if she left him, her family would suffer. And for this, she truly hated him.
"What troubles you this beautiful day, My Lady?"
Blinking in surprise, Anck-Su-Namun saw the familiar face of Osiris' High Priest, Imhotep, a few steps ahead of her. She bowed low and tried to make sense of the sudden whirlwind of strange emotions that the man woke in her.
"May the god and goddess smile upon you, Lord Imhotep," she said in greeting and stood back up from her bow.
"May the smile upon you as well, My Lady. Now, please, what ails you? Perhaps I can help?"

That's how it started, Anck-Su-Namun realized later, with a question from him, a long answer from her and the soft eyes of Imhotep as he listened and suggested possible solutions.

#

Imhotep watched from his place beside Pharaoh Seti as Anck-Su-Namun danced, and it was like fire had taken human form.
"Is she not the most beautiful, the most worthy of my attention, Imhotep?"
Imhotep still did not know what to answer when the Pharaoh asked him this question, which he had done a lot lately during their various interactions. This time, the High Priest chose to be a little more… engaged… in his reply than he had been the previous times.
"She indeed, My Lord."
Seti seemed pleased, and when the man spoke next, Imhotep suddenly understood why the Pharaoh had been so insistent with mentioning Anck-Su-Namun's beauty.
"I will take her as my wife, hear beauty will add to my wealth."
Imhotep had no words. In his own, very well-hidden opinion, it was wrong to pretend to care for a person when one only wanted them for their outside, to add to one's own power. Many men did it. And Seti, the great Pharaoh, was no different.

#

Anck-Su-Namun had no tears left to cry. She once again submerge her face in cold water scented with rose petals, and felt the coldness cool the heat from the tears. The bride of Seti could not, after all, look like her world had ended.
She dressed, no longer caring for the body paint which she by now could apply mostly by herself – as Seti's bride to be she no longer needed it – and hurried out of her rooms, through the any corridors of the palace and out in the night.
The temple of Isis was empty, or at least it appeared so, and Anck-Su-Namun was undisturbed as she hurried into the prayer room and knelt by the fire, bowing so low that her forehead touched the circle of sand that surrounded the fire.
"Isis, merciful and great, please help me! Grant me a way to escape the chains of Seti, for I do not desire him in any way and thus am unworthy, and let me, if only for one night, feel true joy and love. Please, help me, and I shall do all I can to honour and repay you."

#

Isis rested in the arm of her husband, felt all the love and joy she knew the mortal woman did not, and it saddened her heart.
"My love, she asks for one night. Of all the tings he could beg us for, she asks for a single night, and she has many nights ahead of her."
Osiris sighed into her hair, his arms tightened their hold on her, he kissed the crown of her head.
"I know. She is humble. And yet, there is darkness in her. Even we, my love, cannot see which way she will go if we grant her what she asks."
"But, darling heart, are we not here to bring joy and peace where we can?" Isis said and took her husband's hand and kissed it.
"We are, indeed, my queen. But we are also here to keep evil at bay."
Isis huffed.
"It may be, my love and heart, that by granting her joy and love, we will keep evil, as you say, at bay."

#

Imhotep lit a small fire in his personal chambers and prayed, whispering out to the shadows the fire created.
"Osiris, Isis, merciful and great, please give her peace and calm of mind. Give her a change to feel true joy and love. Let her be free of the chains of the Pharaoh."

#

Isis, feeling very smug indeed, pointed at her husband who stood invisible by his High Priest, drawn to earth by the mortal's prayer.
"Do you see now, my heart, that this is the way we must pave for her. For them. This, their union, is what will bring joy and love and, most likely, hold evil at bay."
Osiris sighed, nodded, looked worried still.
"I do see, my darling queen, and yet I still see evil and darkness slither around them both. From their union, great darkness can spring!"
"And I see great love and light! Two sides, like you and me. Will you stand back, will you shun your duty?" Isis said and stood tall and unyielding as her husband grew in size, flashed his power around her. She met it with calm acceptance and love, and as always, he was the one who ended up yielding when her words rang true, as she did for him when he spoke true.

#

Anck-Su-Namun, dressed in gold and black and with a new headdress, entered the temple of Osiris, something she normally did not do, and felt the force that had pulled her all day lessen somewhat, but not fully. Curious and confused, she looked around but saw nothing and no one that could even begin to explain the pull. And then, so suddenly and with a strength that scared her, she felt him.
"My Lady, what brings you here? What can the servants of Osiris aid you with?"
Anck-Su-Namun knew one thing for certain: when in doubt, speak what you are most sure of. And so, after bowing low to the High Priest, she spoke softly and truthfully.
"I was drawn… to you, My Lord Imhotep, for reasons yet unknown to me."

Imhotep was, for once, speechless. A goddess touched woman claimed to have been drawn to him, god touched man. The only reason he could think of that could explain such a thing was that Osiris and Isis had heard his prayer and somehow meant to include him in Anck-Su-Namun's path to find a single night of joy and happiness. He pushed away the more mortal thoughts of what that could mean, and tried to See to better know how to aid her. He Saw many things around her, but strongest was the light and darkness that swirled together, not yet fully joined, and Imhotep understood. He was meant to help her join the forces that fought within her, that brought a part of the distress she felt.
"My Lady, please allow me to escort you to the inner room, the very heart of Osiris house on earth. There, I think, you may find an answer to why you have been drawn to our temple."
Her relieved and happy smile was like the sun, and her words like the soft cooling wind a blazing hot day.
"Thank you, My Lord, may the god goddess always bless you for your generosity."

#

Anck-Su-Namun left the temple of Osiris just as the sun rose above the horizon. Wrapping the dress, that was torn in some place, closer around her body, she entered the temple of Isis and found the prayer room occupied by a few of the priestesses, so she knelt in silence and said her prayers in her mind, filling them to reach the goddess so that she would know Anck-Su-Namun's gratefulness.

Imhotep woke up alone, and was not surprised. He did, however, feel a slight hint of that feeling when he saw a lock of dark hair on the pillow where Anck-Su-Namun had slept – for the few hours they did sleep – along with a small note.

For you, my heart, to remember me by if our paths do not cross again.

He kept the lock in a medallion that he had always carried around his neck – empty until now.

#

Imhotep touched her face, oh so softly, and Anck-Su-Namun lost her will. She kissed him feverishly, felt his thumb slide down her neck to her shoulder, rub the skin there hard enough to smudge her new body paint – damn Seti – but she could not find it in her to care. All that matter was Imhotep.

The Medjai stood on the other side of the now still body of Seti, their weapons raised towards her, but they all wore looks of confusion and doubts on their faces. Anck-Su-Namun stood straight and tall.
"My body is no longer his temple!" she cried out and ran the dagger straight and true into her heart, her mind and love on Imhotep as the world around her darkened.