The next day, Ramses did something he rarely did; he went to Ariel's room. Usually it was the other way around; he would wait for her to find him out; but on this occassion he went to find her. She was sitting on her bed, brushing her hair. She looked around in surprise as he came into the room. "Ramses! So, how are you feeling after last night?"
"Oh, gods, it was a nightmare!" he groaned, lying down on her bed. He laid his head in her lap; she smiled and set aside her brush. "Ariel, what am I going to do?"
The banquet itself had gone without a hitch but when Seti had found out that Ramses wasn't prepared to marry any of the five girls they had invited as potential queens of Egypt for him, another argument had followed in the late hours of the evening. Ariel hesitated. "And your father still won't listen to you?"
"No. Talking to him is like trying to put your hand in a crocodile's mouth without having it bitten off!"
"Aw!" She laid her hand on his shoulder. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
"I just wish he'd understand that some people don't see the world the way he does! If I do marry, I want a girl I can have fun with, who can make me laugh and cheer me up when I'm down; who I can actually talk to without fear of her thinking I'm a fool and who understands me..like..." he broke off. Ariel was staring dumbfoundedly into the space in front of her. "Like you," Ramses finished.
"I was just going to say," Ariel bit her lip. "You've just described me, Ramses."
He sat up and turned to her. "I want you, Ariel."
"No! You can't!" She got to her feet. "Ramses, I'm a servant!"
"You're also my best friend."
"Yes, but it's against the rules! We can't!"
"Ariel-"
"And even if it wasn't; even if we were free to love each other, your father would never allow it!"
Ramses got slowly to his feet. "Ariel, I didn't say "love."
"Didn't you? I thought you did." She covered her mouth with her hands. "Forget I said it."
"Ariel, do you love me?"
"No!"
"Ariel-"
"Please don't make me say it!"
She was on the verge of tears. Gently, Ramses pulled her into his arms. She buried her head against his chest. "We can't do this, Ramses; it's forbidden."
"You do love me, don't you, Ariel?"
"Yes," she whispered. "Very much."
"Oh, Ariel; why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I know that it's impossible for me to be in love with you."
He sighed and let go of her. "It shouldn't be! Ariel, I-"
"I know!"
"Please, just let me say it. I love you, Ariel."
"I love you too."
He kissed her. Thankfully Ariel's room was her own and she had no fears that anyone would walk in on them; so she allowed herself to kiss him back...