She couldn't believe it, her father had promised her to a Libyan. She loved
her father more than anything else, but he promised her to the leader of a
foreign government, simply to ensure relations between the two countries.
She pulled a wrap around her shoulders and walked out of her room, past all
her servants.
"Princess!" She was only a few steps from the gardens and was contemplating just running and seeing how far she could get. "Nefertiri!" She turned around to see Anck-Su-Namun quickening her pace to walk beside her. "Where are you going?"
"I-I just can't," she stooped her head in shame as tears rolled down her cheeks. The last thing she needed was for her feelings to get back to her father, she couldn't disappoint him, he was depending on the marriage.
Anck-Su-Namun looked at the tears and understood. She knew all about the pain that radiated from the heart when you were told with no say or debate that you were to be married to someone you didn't love, someone who didn't understand you and didn't want to, someone who wanted a warm body, not a wife. With no words, simply understanding she pulled the young woman into her embrace.
Nefertiri looked up with wide eyes. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left my room--."
"I understand." And she did. Both women could tell by the pain visible in two sets of expressive brown eyes, that they were in the same position, pain, that one moment was more comfort than anyone else could have given.
"Shall we walk in the gardens?"
"I-I think that would be lovely." They did, side-by-side they walked through rows and rows of fragrant and lively blooms. "I know you don't love him, but you haven't hurt him, and for that I'm thankful."
Anck-Su-Namun gave a solemn nod. "We might love each other in time, that's all I can hope for, that's all anyone can hope for."
The small part of her nature that was naturally cynical surfaced. "What is love? Is it worth all the pain we endure looking for it?"
"I'm not a scholar, I don't know all the mysteries of life, but I know this. Love erases all the pain from life, problems are always there, but love makes them insignificant, it makes us whole."
"Do you speak from life?" Moments passed without a response and she looked up, somewhat afraid of who could have overheard them. The concubine's gaze was caught in the distance. She followed the line and saw the high priest of Osiris during his noonday prayers. Anck-Su-Namun's eyes were shining, and all pressure was missing from her spirit. "You do!"
"No Princess, I have not, your father is the only--."
"I understand." They resumed their walking, each with a smile on their face. "Does he know of your love?"
"He does, and I believe he returns it."
"Please be careful…my friend." She walked back to her room in the palace, hoping that her new friend could find happiness.
"Princess!" She was only a few steps from the gardens and was contemplating just running and seeing how far she could get. "Nefertiri!" She turned around to see Anck-Su-Namun quickening her pace to walk beside her. "Where are you going?"
"I-I just can't," she stooped her head in shame as tears rolled down her cheeks. The last thing she needed was for her feelings to get back to her father, she couldn't disappoint him, he was depending on the marriage.
Anck-Su-Namun looked at the tears and understood. She knew all about the pain that radiated from the heart when you were told with no say or debate that you were to be married to someone you didn't love, someone who didn't understand you and didn't want to, someone who wanted a warm body, not a wife. With no words, simply understanding she pulled the young woman into her embrace.
Nefertiri looked up with wide eyes. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left my room--."
"I understand." And she did. Both women could tell by the pain visible in two sets of expressive brown eyes, that they were in the same position, pain, that one moment was more comfort than anyone else could have given.
"Shall we walk in the gardens?"
"I-I think that would be lovely." They did, side-by-side they walked through rows and rows of fragrant and lively blooms. "I know you don't love him, but you haven't hurt him, and for that I'm thankful."
Anck-Su-Namun gave a solemn nod. "We might love each other in time, that's all I can hope for, that's all anyone can hope for."
The small part of her nature that was naturally cynical surfaced. "What is love? Is it worth all the pain we endure looking for it?"
"I'm not a scholar, I don't know all the mysteries of life, but I know this. Love erases all the pain from life, problems are always there, but love makes them insignificant, it makes us whole."
"Do you speak from life?" Moments passed without a response and she looked up, somewhat afraid of who could have overheard them. The concubine's gaze was caught in the distance. She followed the line and saw the high priest of Osiris during his noonday prayers. Anck-Su-Namun's eyes were shining, and all pressure was missing from her spirit. "You do!"
"No Princess, I have not, your father is the only--."
"I understand." They resumed their walking, each with a smile on their face. "Does he know of your love?"
"He does, and I believe he returns it."
"Please be careful…my friend." She walked back to her room in the palace, hoping that her new friend could find happiness.