Chapter Text
Spending his time watching over his wife and just holding her close, Seth keeps his eye on her now for the second day in a row. Nephthys had been unconscious for a while now, causing him to worry about her even more. Not wanting her to be in such a state for any longer as he just misses her eyes, voice and lips. Simply needing to hear her words of reassurance and love. Feeling as if he’d go crazy if this goes on for any longer.
Isis has been visiting him daily and things between them have been just awkward as both of them do not wish to cross each other"s boundaries and make one another uncomfortable. The time where he’s not in bed and by his wife’s side, Seth spends behind his work desk. Rereading the scrolls he had written right before his trial and most of the writing being about war strategies and reports from different countries. Remembering how focused he had been on just getting even more power, control and how that same mindset had given him severe consequences.
At night he’s allowed to go out, as it is the only time the servants and gods are not present and are retired for the night in their bedchambers and dorms. Seth only steps out into the balcony of his own bedchamber, not wanting to leave his wife out of sight once again as he must make sure that she is well at all times.
Now that he is in Heliopolis, Seth knows who also happens to be at the palace’s grounds. The son of Isis, Horus. Having not seen the Demigod himself, Seth is relieved as he does not feel ready for an encounter with the man. Feeling that he is simply too emotional to endure such an encounter, especially in such a place where his elder sister has the upper hand.
Seth also feels at home here. Having taken care of himself too, as he had taken a proper shower, changed his shendyt and had a proper meal, as well as sleeping and resting all he wants. A reminder that he still very much dislikes being a Demigod. Not wishing to live like one as he still can’t get used to the feeling of food in his body and his once unbreakable body needing qualities such as sleep or water now..
Having laid in bed with his wife next to him, Seth finds himself staring at the ceiling. Head full with thoughts of worry about his wife and the question ‘how much does she actually remember’.. As he would very much like the answer to that.
Mind consumed from these thoughts, he at first does not notice his wife’s amber eyes slowly opening and her looking up to him. Too lost in thought as Seth feels hopeless in this situation, his mind lost in a never-ending debate..
“Seth..” Nephthys mutters with her voice faltered from all of the time she had not spoken. Finally having woken up and even saying his name, an actual relief that she remembers him.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Seth’s red eyes immediately settle down on his wife. A look of surprise washes over his face and he feels immediate relief wash over him as she had finally woken up and had even said his name. Meaning that she remembers who he is, so perhaps she’d remember a lot more..
Immediately sitting up and turning to look at her, Seth’s face is one of surprise and literal happiness. A small smile appears onto his face as he keeps his eyes locked onto the familiar and beautiful face of his wife that he had missed so much..
“Nephthys.. you’re awake..” The demoted God of War says with a tone laced with relief and joy from the sight of his wife now looking up to him with the same eyes he loves very much, as well as finally being awake. Having heard her voice now, he reminds himself as to how much he’d missed hearing it over the past months.
Nephthys’ eyes dart over his familiar face, before her lips curl into a soft smile. Leaning and just hugging her husband, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his neck as she had not seen him in aeons.
The truth being that she had been stuck in such place and state for many years, as right after she had married Seth, this great curse had been put upon her by a fellow god she does not remember at all. The memory having faded over the many centuries she had spent inside of the dainty mirror, though all she knows is that whoever this deity is, it had created a copy of her very own self and set that copy out into the real world, possibly for a grand scheme that would affect everything. Nephthys vividly remembering that she had told the man that had found her in the mirror, about being stuck in such a state too.
Relishing the warmth and feel of her body against his, Seth closes his eyes and buries his face in the crook of her neck. Breathing in her scent that he had forgotten over the months and just holding her close, as he feels as if this is all he needs after everything he had gone through.
“Seth.. I haven’t seen you in.. so long ..” Nephthys says as she pulls back and cups his face in her delicate hands. Thumbs gently running over his cheeks, as she gazes up at him with a gaze that clearly shows that she had missed him so much.
Feeling as if he could just cry alone from her warm touch and soft voice, Seth wraps his arms around her waist and once again brings her to his chest, holding her there, as this is where he wants her to be from now on. Having not felt her in his arms for so long, he finds himself practically craving the feeling and even with the possibility of going insane if he’s once again left without it.
“We"re never going to be apart again.. I promise you that..” The God of War says with his tone shaky from the relief he feels, hugging his wife against his chest, Seth runs his hand through her long locks of blonde hair as he leans down and presses a kiss onto her head.
His words make his wife smile and just snuggle into his chest, a small blush evident on her cheeks as she herself is very much relieved to see him all this time. Yet something comes to her mind.. that the copy that had been made of herself has been out into the world for aeons now. Causing her mind to fill with worry as she fears that something bad had indeed happened.
“I missed you, Seth..” She says as she slowly pulls away, before pressing a kiss onto his cheek and smiling softly at him. Her amber coloured eyes locked onto his as they gleam with a small hint of worry, feeling herself being pulled to his chest once more as they get comfortable in bed.
Seth couldn’t be happier from the sight of her all awake now and her kind words that have always had an effect on him. Holding her in his arms and gazing down at her from above, as there is a small height difference between both of them. Though his mind also is not at all in complete peace, as she perhaps does not remember anything..
“Nephthys.. we need to talk..” The Demoted God of War says as he must discuss the matter at hand with her. ‘When do her memories age back?’, ‘What exactly does she remember?’ ‘Does she even remember Anubis?’ Questions of this sort must be asked and answered, as they are very important. Though there is no denying that he is so grateful and happy at the sight of her awake and looking at him in such a loving way.
Knowing that she also must ask her own questions, Nephthys can only nod at him and gulp nervously as she is worried from the possibility of her clone or other self, having done something horrible or even put someone’s life in danger while she had been locked away in utter cluelessness. Something that she would never do herself, as it is not of her nature.
“Yes.. we do.” She says softly, unaware that she had been demoted down to a human, as well as countless other things. Having been hopeless and unable to do anything for centuries on end, stuck in a dainty mirror as she had only relied on the tan man whom she had seen in the mirror to get her out of there by telling her husband. Unaware too that the said man, who also happens to be her nephew, had also kept it a secret from Seth for such a long time and had not even planned on telling him.
Though she is very happy to see him. Having not laid her eyes on her husband for many years and decades, she had only relied on the memories of him. Remembering how he’d call her name, how he’d hold her close, how she’d comfort him and the very day they had gotten married. That day had been amazing and filled with happiness as she very much remembers the beautiful wedding traditions they had done together, later becoming official and becoming lawfully his. Her husband ruling over Egypt and both of them living their days happily together with so much love and happiness, until one day she had gotten cursed and hexed to stay caged inside the realm of the mirror. Such magic had made her helpless and weak, leaving her only with the hope of finding a way out or someone coming to save her. Remembering how a figure had threatened her and also having told her about how a clone of her own self had been created, the plan being that they’d use the clone for some deep and malicious intent.
Overall her and her husband have gone through some very tough things and challenges. A relief for both of them to be once again in each other"s arms, both of them mentally promising to themselves to not let go again and to not let anything separate them once more, as both of them have realised how hard it is to be on their own.
“Did the man tell you about me?” His clueless wife asks as she gazes at him with her amber eyes, her tone soft as always and voice calming him down as always. Thinking that not so much time had passed ever since she had met that man, having lost track of time and day from all of the time spent stuck inside the dainty mirror. She did not know who he was, having never met him before, though she had recognised a sort of resemblance between his elder sister and that man..
A frown immediately washing over Seth’s face from the mention of The Demigod that had betrayed him, especially if it’s his wife saying his name too. Knowing that she probably thinks that Horus had told him right when she had spoken with him and did not keep it a secret. As she tends to think the best of people.
“He did. A year after you had told him.” Seth says with a frown now evident on his face, holding his wife to his chest as he’s still very much sour about the situation. Looking down at her with his red eyes, as he leans down and presses his lips onto her head, holding her securely and safely in his arms.
Surprised at his words and feeling a bit worried and let down, Nephthys feels a bit sad as she hadn’t expected such a thing from that man, as everyone has kindness in themselves.. Not knowing about him being her nephew and being absolutely clueless of his selfish and obsessive reasons as to why he had kept the truth away from Seth for so long.
“It’s okay.. I’m here now, aren’t I?” She smiles softly and gently caresses his cheek in order to calm him, as she is just happy and content from being once again in her husband’s arms. Willing to forgive her nephew as she thinks that he might’ve forgotten and just remembered randomly now.
Amused at how easily she forgives and brushes off things, Seth is reminded of her innocence and her naivety to things. Knowing that all of that innocence, worriness and naivety only drove her to getting played around with and tossed aside as if she were nothing, making him feel a wave of anger washing over.
“You are, but he had kept it away from me intentionally.. Whatever, tell me everything you remember from the mirror or.. just in general.” The demoted God of War says as he is genuinely interested in finding out as to what his wife can remember and what she just knows, knowing that there is a possibility of her not knowing many important things that had happened.
All Nephthys can remember is her childhood with her brothers and sister, the days she had spent as a Goddess of Peace and Harmony and the beautiful, wonderful wedding she had with her husband. Not knowing herself as to how much she had spent locked in the mirror’s realm or how much things around her have changed. Only knowing that she had been locked away and that a clone of some sort had been created to take her place and possibly make harm to others, making her shiver in fear as if from just the possibilities..
“While I was in the mirror.. nothing happened and nothing changed.. There was no day and no night. Just loneliness and darkness. I don’t know how long I was there for.. But I do remember my past. I-I.. I remember my childhood with you, Osiris and Isis, taking care of my followers in my temple.. and our wedding.. It was just perfect..” Nephthys says softly with a small smile on her face, reminiscing on the lovely memories and how perfect life had been.
Seth’s eyes are wide in surprise and worry as the realisation crashes down onto him. His wife is absolutely clueless and unaware of anything that has happened since their wedding. The wedding that had happened before the birth of their son, before the betrayal, before the aeons of anger, before the birth of Horus, before all the pain he had caused Isis, before everything had turned against him, before the trials, before the punishment, before the pain and lessons he had endured all for a single year.. Meaning that there was indeed some sort of clone of her and he was so dumb to just believe it all..
“Fuck.. you don’t remember anything..” Seth says as he sighs in frustration, his hand leaving Nephthys’ waist as it runs through his long locks of red hair. Feeling as if everything is bound to crumble down again. Knowing that he’d have to tell her everything now and go over the painful details that will surely taint and make him a villain in her eyes.
Though a new idea comes to Seth’s mind that makes his breath hitch and for his eyes to widen slightly as it is quite the risky thing and would definitely make him feel as if he’s once again doing something bad.
The idea to act selfishly once more sounding very appealing to Seth, as he just doesn’t want her to think bad of him and to be scared of him. Not wanting to tell her about what he had been doing since their wedding.. or what had happened with the trials and what had caused them to even occur in the first place.
Knowing that it would make him nothing but a bad husband, he feels as if it’s the best option right now. Something good having finally happened to him, as Seth has Nephthys on his side once more and also her pure obliviousness to his actions.
He feels as if he simply cannot screw this up, as if it’s another chance given to him to just fix his life..
“You haven’t missed out much, my love..” Seth says as he gazes down at his wife, feeling as if he’s doing something wrong. A progress of his being that his past self would not even realise that this is wrong, atleast.
Nephthys offers a small smile to him as her beautiful Amber eyes lock with his, knowing as default and as his wife to just trust him as she had promised such a thing when she had first married him. Swearing her forever faith and trust in the one she loves.
“I am glad. I am happy to be with you once more..” She says softly as she gazes up lovingly at him, the sight of him before her just immediately making her feel better. A reminder to herself that she just loves being in his company and near him. And that he hadn’t changed. The same handsome face that had made her blush many times in so many ways.
Seth gives her a small smile as he just wraps his arms around her petite waist and pulls her to his chest, feeling a need to just keep her close. Knowing that even though he’s lying to her for the nth time and keeping the truth from her.. it’s for the best for him to do now, as he believes that he also deserves something good to happen to him.
His crimson eyes settle onto the top of her head as she is snuggled right against him with her head tucked against his chin. Leaning down and pressing a kiss against her forehead, Seth lets his mind loose.
Wondering as to what to do.. ‘How would he keep this away from her..’, ‘Isis has yet to see her.. what if she tells her..’, ‘What if.. being too clueless is going to be the end of her..’.
A shiver run downs his spine and causes him to tighten his arms around Nephthys.
Pressing her closer and firmer against his chest as the thought is very much unappealing to him, if not.. very terrifying.
“All you need to know is that.. things have changed and we cannot stay in Heliopolis.” The Demoted God of War says as he leans down and presses a kiss onto her head, taking in the natural sweet smell of her soft hair.
He knows that his words will shock her, he knows he cannot tell her and he knows that she’d question it. Yet Seth wishes to put himself first for the first time in months now.
“Can’t stay..? But why?” Nephthys asks as she slightly pulls away from his arms to look at him, her amber eyes meeting his own as she awaits an answer.
Having not expected such words from him as she had basically spent her entire childhood in Heliopolis and then godhood. For years on end she has viewed that city as her home as well as the people of her city as most precious.
“Seth.. what do you mean, my love?” She continues as she raises a hand and gently cups his cheek. Her gentle and warm hand causes a flood of guilt and warmth to run through Seth as she is just curious and he is just.. lying.
“I mean that we can’t stay. It’s not possible anymore, Nephthys.” Seth says as he keeps his tone firm, not letting her presence affect his mood and soften him. The matter at hand is too risky in his opinion, so there will be no mood and decision changes.
Nephthys furrows her eyebrows slightly in worry as this is too much of a short information for her. Sighing softly as she knows that her husband is very much hardheaded and won’t budge when it comes to anything.
“Alright.. as long as I’m with you, it’s alright.” She mutters softly before offering a small smile too and gently wrapping her hands around his neck and hugging him. Her feminine and smaller frame engulfed by his larger one as she is pressed against him and wrapped around him.
His words make him fall into a pit of pure guilt. His hands tighten around her waist as they run up the small of her back and tighten. Knowing this is for the best.. he promises that this would be the last time he ever keeps a secret from her.
The obedience she gets from her does at some point give him a boost of confidence and power, but yet also reminds himself of how he had used to make sure she knows he’s superior in the past. His past self had just been too harsh and demanding to his wife.. a thing his current self cannot approve. Now that he has a chance to fix things and act accordingly, he promises himself to not screw up.
“I want you to rest..” The demoted God of War mutters before he pulls her back to his chest and kisses the top of her head. Both of them on the bed as he gently reaches over with one of his arms and pulls a pillow down to slightly fluff it.
Indicating that his wife definitely needs some rest after waking up and suddenly being asked to remember and recall stuff so suddenly.
A small blush appears on Nephthys’ face as she has learned to treasure the times he had been so sweet and so kind to her. Knowing that Seth is very sweet and caring, yet doesn’t show it as he is truly sometimes shy and too stubborn.
“As you say.” She says with a soft smile, a pink little blush evident on her cheeks as she gently pulls away from his arms and gently lays down onto the soft mattress of their large shared bed. Feeling quite tired as her husband is correct, she definitely feels somewhat drained.
“I’ll stay here..” Seth mutters as he lays down next to her and supports his head with his hand, leaning over his wife as he just watches her. Having not felt such calmness and tranquility in months.. if not a year..
The feeling of being complete and safe runs through him as he has only felt this way with her and a certain Demigod. Yet he reminds himself that he cannot spend such emotions so carelessly to such undeserving people..
“I love you.” His wife says softly as she turns her body to face his own, laying on her side just like him as she gazes up at him with her pretty amber eyes.
Having not had the pleasure in uttering such words in aeons, she makes use of the chance as she very much remembers how her husband simply loves praise and reassurance. Knowing that he deserves all the best, as she herself had tried to give all good to him since childhood.
A wave of sadness and guilt hits Seth once more, though he stays silent. His decision final as he just offers a smile to his wife, reaching a hand over and gently brushing some of her blonde strands away from her pretty face, wanting her to be as comfortable as she can possibly be.
“I love you too.” The demoted God of War says as he cups her cheek gently with the outstretched hand, running her thumb over the plumpness of her soft cheek and relishing at the feeling of her so close and so beautiful.
His words immediately affect the blonde before him as she just blushes and averts her gaze down. Cherishing his words so much as she is genuinely greatful to hear them coming from him.
“Sleep now, Nephthys..” Seth mutters before leaning in and pressing a kiss onto her forehead, wrapping an arm underneath her head and around her waist as he pulls her into his chest once more.
Arms wrapped around her, Seth provides a safe and comfortable environment for her, as he wishes for her to rest after all that. Pressing her into his chest, he runs a hand through her long locks of blonde hair soothingly as he lures her into sleep. As she closes her eyes and gently snuggles into his chest, Nephthys allows her body to relax and mind to ease.
Minutes later Seth notices that his wife is now very much asleep as she had been very tired as assumed. A small smile appearing on his face as the sight just warms his heart, having not seen her in.. a year, yet her true love in aeons.
Keeping his gaze on her, Seth just watches her rest in her most peaceful and vulnerable state. Feeling the need to just be close to her and to be there to protect her from simply everything. The sight of her finally back in his arms is just so touching and precious to him..
Though his mind is at all not at peace, as he still feels guilty for lying once more to the one he loves. Feeling as if he had been unfaithful to her and that he must confess that at some point he had truly started to fancy and even develop feelings for the son of Isis, his own elder sister’s child.