An AU chack set in Ancient Egypt circa the eighteenth dynasty. Most information is researched using Egypt: The World of the Pharaohsedited by Regine Schulz and Matthias Seidel. Some information is exaggerated for the sake of the story. Basic explanations will be given at the end.
The "Beautiful Feast of the Valley" had finally come, and the blazing Egyptian sun hung overhead as the festivities were prepared. This celebration was of great importance because lately the rule of the new pharaoh was being questioned. During the celebration, the shrine of Amun the primeval air deity would be transported from Karnak down the river to Deir el-Bahari where Egypt's king would present offerings and be blessed by the high god's statue. Then the procession would cross the Nile and continue to all the royal funerary temples along the west bank.
Even early in the morning it was stiflingly hot, but that did not stop the people of the land from gathering along the barque's path and celebrating. Onuris chanced a glance around the pillar marking the temple's entrance and was greeted with a sight of jubilation. Men chatted cheerfully in small groups while women in beaded linens served honeyed drinks to each other. The sweet scent of the melting cones on their heads mixed with the salt of sweat, reminding Onuris of the place where the Nile met the ocean and sweet river flowers became intimate with the cool salt wind.
"Onuris!" The young man pulled his head back behind the sandstone pillar to face a stout gray haired high priest. "You, young apprentice, should be helping with the preparation of Amun-Re's Barque so that he might travel to the southern temple and grace our Pharaoh." He looked sternly at the abashed albino boy wrapped in several robes far too large for him before letting his face soften and a smile grace his lips. "Although I can't blame you. I myself once stood right where you are and watched the people outside."
"Really, Master Madu?" The young man looked up in surprise at his mentor.
The old man laughed at the bright crimson eyes shining at him. "You think I wasn't your age once? I too found everything fascinating when I was young, and decided that I must learn everything there is to know in this world. The only difference between us is that you have actively pursued that knowledge since you came to live with us, and now that you are a young man there is very little left you can learn here. You probably know more than the wise god Thoth." The man laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling as only a light-hearted elder's can.
"No, I am not as wise as him, but one day I shall be and then I might have a chance at beating you in a game of Senet." Onuris replied cleverly.
"I look forward to it, but until that time, go help the others." Onuris heeded his master and ran to aid the priests in preparing offerings and such.
A dark skinned man just beginning to wrinkle with age wandered the maze of columns and halls decorated in images of the pharaoh's military conquests. An unexpected turn brought him out into the small palace's courtyard which held four small ponds lined with rushes and a lone figure seated at the crossroad of the garden's paths. He sat kneeled before the rising sun with his eyes closed and his head raised, not praying so much as connecting with the bright god overhead that was claimed to be his father. A soft northern breeze blew across toned skin turned golden by days in the desert sun and swept his ebony hair up in a playful dance before letting it settle back against the man's shoulders.
"There you are, Pharaoh Aten. I was worried you had stolen away as you sometimes do." The older man spoke. "I have come to inform you that the procession will soon begin. I trust you know what you must do?"
"Quite." The kneeling man spoke with clear authority, not bothering to change his position for the likes of his high priest. "I greet the statue of Amun, pour him an offering of wine, and ask him to show us a sign that I am indeed meant to be Pharaoh. Then," The man was suddenly standing which was quite impressive since he stood with the posture of a victor on the battlefield. His golden eyes which were so very much like the sun disk of his namesake caught the wizened priest in a fiery gaze that left the man fearing for his life. "Then your "priests" pull a few hidden strings and make it appear that the statue is moving, and have him give a sign of approval. It's nothing more than smoke and mirrors to appease the people."
"B-but appease them it does. You cannot rule if the people refuse to be ruled. You must gain their acceptance or you will have no loyalty in battle." The man stated, his hands repetitively clutching each other then stroking the leopard pelt he wore before returning to each other's embrace.
The bronzed warrior turned his cat-like eyes away from the anxious priest who almost visibly relaxed with the release of pressure. "Unfortunately you are right. I will come to the main chamber when the barque arrives."
"Thank you, Pharaoh Aten. I have read the stars and spoken with the gods. Today you will be blessed in ways unimaginable. Fear for nothing; my men will make sure everything goes smoothly."
"It's broken?!" The priests scattered, trying to figure out what was wrong with the Amun statue because it wouldn't respond to the control wires. The divine image was lifted from its shrine and a young man went to work on it, sweat glistening at the edges of his black wig as he worked under the burning light of the temple's open ceiling.
"I'm sorry, but there's no way to fix this." The man said, standing with a groan. "The statue simply refuses to move." He cast a glare at the white alabaster man seated regally on his chair of stone. "The procession cannot commence and the pharaoh cannot legitimize his claim." Negative emotions flowed through the room like noxious gas. If the pharaoh did not legitimize his claim then civil unrest would increase. It might grow out of hand by the time the next festival was held. The ceremony had to happen today.
Onuris watched from the shadowed corner, trying to keep his delicate skin from burning. He looked at his stark white hands in the dark, knowing that there had to be a way to continue the festival and save his pharaoh. It was thanks to Pharaoh Aten that his village was not overrun by foreign invaders. He was alive because of his king, and now his king needed him. Suddenly an idea struck.
"Master Madu, we need ceremonial robes, two plumes, some makeup and several thin linens." Onuris stated as he walked out into the middle of the dejected crowd. "There is a way to salvage the situation."
Cheers, prayers, and music filled the air as the golden barque was carried down the worn path by four strong priests. Behind the thin veil of linen shielding the divine statue from the illicit stares of the public the figure of the double-plumed god Amun could be seen. He was guided on his path by Master Madu who, despite his age, walked with a firm step that the four young men found difficult to keep up. The crowd accompanied them to the holy boat that was to transport their god. Several men even offered to help push the boat free of the shore's muddy grasp.
Onuris kneeled on a small white cushion surrounded by cloth, trying his hardest to breathe in time with the bearers' steps so that no one could see. What a wonderful time to develop an itch between his shoulder blades. He was thankfully able to address the problem once he felt himself being set gently on the boat's floor.
"How are you doing, young one?" Onuris recognized his master's voice.
"I'm fine." he whispered gently so as not to raise the boatman's suspicions. "Once Pharaoh Aten requests my blessing, what do I do?"
"You will tap the small staff in your right hand and then hold up the ankh in your left hand so that everyone will see the silhouette. This symbolizes that you wish he have a long and wise rule over the land." Madu stated.
"All right." Onuris allowed himself a deep breath before resuming his pretense of stone.
All too soon the craft met the shore to the south and another crowd stood ready to greet their god. The prayers and chants had become a dull buzz in Onuris' ear, helped along by the slurred cheers of fairly intoxicated celebrators. Suddenly the barque stopped. It was all Onuris could do to stop himself from flying from the safety of the shrine. Thankfully the rod in his hand helped him keep his balance.
There he was. A single silhouette stood out in front of the barque's progress. Weren't they supposed to greet the pharaoh inside the palace? He had apparently decided to further ease his people's minds by greeting the deity outside where everyone from nobility to farmers could see. Onuris watched the figure approach until they were only two feet apart, separated now by only the frighteningly thin linens that shielded a secret with the potential to destroy all of Egypt.
Onuris fought to control his breathing as the Pharaoh greeted "the great god Amun" and poured an offering of wine which Master Madu took. Then came the words: "All hail Mighty Amun of the winds who watches over Egypt. Praise be to him that first knew the world. I am Pharaoh Aten, son of Horus and ruler of this land. My right to rule is questioned. I ask you now, you who speak in private council with the wise and honest Thoth, am I fit to rule? Do you bestow upon me your blessings or must I give up my throne to a false king?"
The albino tapped his staff on the floor of his barque accordingly, but as he went to raise up the ankh in his hand the sun was blocked by a coming storm cloud, smothering his silhouette within the cloth-draped haven. Everyone went silent, wondering what would happen now. Even Aten held his breath for a moment before regaining his composure. "Forgive me, Amun-Re, for your visage has left my sight. Horus has closed his eye in honor of this moment." Onuris had known his king was wise, but he had not given him proper credit before. He would definitely care for the country well. "I'm afraid you must give us a sign that we might see." Scratch that. He had just doomed all of Egypt with one sentence. There was no way Onuris could reveal his face. It was far too youthful to be that of the god he had replaced. Everyone would know it was a trick.
The situation outside was growing worse. Whispers snuck through the crowd like poisonous snakes waiting to sink their fangs in. Aten stood there, deathly still and almost afraid himself. Madu was quietly convening with his fellow high priests in an attempt to find a solution.
"Please, give me a sign." Aten breathed, for once in his life truly praying to the gods. Just when tensions had reached their breaking point and the crowd looked ready to panic, a ghostly white hand shot out from between linen sheets that had until that moment been pristine but now seemed filthy and dark in comparison to the fair skin they brushed against. Aten stared straight ahead as the delicate hand cupped his cheek and whispers broke out anew.
"Is there a person in there?"
"No human has skin that white. Surely it is of the finest alabaster."
"But never before has the statue made such a gesture."
"It is the work of the gods. They truly do accept Aten as our king. Hail to the Pharaoh Aten who is the child of the gods!"
The crowd broke out into cheers as Aten continued to stare. His mind was filled with the warmth of the decidedly human hand caressing his face and the ruby eye that shone out of the barque's dark womb. "You will make a fine king." Aten heard the breathy whisper of the "deity" before it went to draw its hand back in. He quickly caught it, afraid the gods might steal away this gift from the heavens before him.
"Amun has truly blessed me." Aten spoke loudly so that the cheering throng might hear. "Tonight I shall house his earthly vessel in my own home that he might share in the jubilations of the court." Reactions were mixed as people cheered, priests stared, and Onuris questioned what in the name of Re had just happened.
Guess who went to the mall and bought a big book of Egypt on sale at the bookstore? It's amazing, too. This book gives me info on Egypt from primitive civilization to its conquering of Rome. It talks about the way they ate and lived, their festivals and gods, and I was just so excited I had to share some of it with you all in the best way possible: with chack.
I'm also going to try and explain everything as it occurs in the story.
The Beautiful Festival of the valley is pretty much a celebration of the harvest from what I understand. The statue of Amun follows the same route mentioned in the beginning, although kings usually legitimize claims during smaller deity festivals. Statues were indeed rigged to move in response to people's prayers as well. And apparently a big part of these festivals is to get as smashed as you possibly can so you can "free your spirit and be closer to your loved ones in the afterworld".
Onuris is wearing several robes in order to protect his delicate albino skin. If you can't tell that's AU Jack then you need your butt kicked.
The barque is the litter/boat that shrines are carried in. Some were indeed shielded to protect against the gaze of the public.
Senet is an old Egyptian board game that most people know at least a little about. If not, you can probably find a picture somewhere. Think of it like the game Sorry and that should give you some ideas.
Thoth is a moon god responsible for the calendar, time, and mathematics. Thoth was the inventor of writing and language, and was guardian of divine order, rituals, and all secret knowledge.
I give only brief descriptions of the surroundings, but they're pretty accurate. Some temples had windows in their roofs. They had columns decorated to look like papyrus flowers and decorated the bases with battle scenes. An image of an idealized garden showed four symmetrical ponds lined up two wide and two long with reeds and geese.
Pharaoh Aten is obviously Chase. Aten means "Sun Disk". The Pharaoh actually had five royal names, but this is the one he prefers to be called by.
Forgot to explain Amun. He is the primeval creation god and in the twenty-first dynasty he is made a supreme deity. The twin feathers on his crown associate Amun with the tangible but invisible effect of moving air, and serve to identify him as the highest god of the New Kingdom.
That's everything I can think of to explain for now. If you have any questions, note me. I'm already almost done with the second chapter which has a bit more cultural info in it, but not too much. Also, if anyone knows something that might be helpful for the story, tell me. I absolutely adore Egypt.