Chapter two
After some time of refusing to ride in a chair of gold carried by slaves, Rose and the Doctor were escorted by the bald man, who gave his name as Senenmut, along with the two women and some others towards where the Pharaoh had been waiting for them.
They were watched and starred at the entire time. Their escorts were only speaking when spoken to. Rose made sure to practically glue her hand to the doctors, afraid of what would happen if she was left alone with the strange and ancient people.
They walked through the large building and out into a market type place. The area was crowded with people working and walking around the stone paved streets, nothing like what Rose pictured to be the vast empty deserts of Egypt. The sands were full of buildings and shops and people all living their ordinary lives.
"Tell me Senenmut, who exactly is Pharaoh?" asked the Doctor?
Senenmut shot him a strange look but quickly changed his expression to natural and answered "Hatshepsut was named our Pharaoh three days ago." And turned to carry on walking.
The Doctor leaned in to whisper to Rose. "Ah" He said with glee "First ever woman to be truly accepted as Pharaoh."
"hat-eep-ot?" said Rose confused
"Hatshepsut" he corrected
"Hatch-ep-sot?"
"Hatch-shep-sut" he said impatiently.
"She brought twenty years of peace to Egypt and Married her half-brother-" He continued. Rose looked up at him with shock clear on her face.
"Oh don't look at me like that" He said "it was normal here, kept the blood clean. Weird part was though, she died very mysteriously. Statues and portraits of her were gathered and destroyed when her nephew took over, no one know what really happened to her."
"What, she just disappeared?" whispered Rose.
"Kinda yeah" he shrugged.
They came across a large long set of white stairs, leading to a very roman looking building with huge pillars and ascending stories all built into a mountain. They began climbing the endless stairs and reached a corridor placed in the middle between the massive pillars. The heat was quickly becoming unbearable and the Doctors large coat was thrown over his shoulder.
They were encouraged to lead the way through the building. Huge golden doors were opened for them as they walked along. The walls were magnificent and beautiful, with endless mosaics and encryptions painted in bright gold and blue paint.
They reached the largest door yet, leading into a massive open room. There was no roof and the cool breeze was welcome after their seemingly endless journey. A long pathway lead to a single chair, surrounded by half naked men and women holding large leaves and fanning the woman in the chair.
She sat, tall and proud. Her dark skin covered only by huge gold jewelry, her hair covered with a blue and gold stripped cloth with a golden serpent on the front.
Her eyes were closed, but black with makeup, making her eyes seemed as if they stretched across her entire face in a thin line.
The two men either side of her stood straight and stopped fanning her with the huge leaves.
She slowly opened her eyes, revealing a sharp bright green.
The Doctor and Rose slowly approached as she eyed them, unmoveing. Rose looked back and forth from her to the Doctor, following his steps carefully, being sure not to offend the most powerful woman on the planet. The Doctor was moving slowly, keeping direct eye contact.
They reached about three quarters of the way down the pathway and he gracefully bowed down to the woman on the throne, sill keeping eye contact. Rose copied him, slightly stumbling in the process.
They held their position for a while and the room fell silent. Rose's heart was in her mouth and she kept her head down, still looking to the Doctor for guidance. She realized this was not always the best thing to do, especially in the presence of royalty. He often offended people. Hearing the words 'off with their heads' was a usual occurrence when travailing with him.
The Pharaoh slowly lifted up one arm, still keeping eye contact. An intense second passed and she snapped her fingers once, sending three men to their sides with offers of fruit, wine and other luxuries.
They were clearly slaves. Scars covered their bodies and they were thin. They youngest must have been about 14. Rose took another look at the woman sitting on the throne. She wondered how old she actually was. She was definitely younger than Rose, probably about seventeen, maybe younger.
The Doctor paused for a moment, considering the situation. She wondered what he was thinking, maybe he thought they were lucky to not have been killed on the spot at the pharaoh's command. Maybe He was equally as confused as she was. She really had no idea what to do in these kinds of situations.
The Doctor looked at the food, at the boys and then back at the pharaoh.
"No thank you" he said very clearly and slowly, almost bitterly.
The boys stood back to the side. the Pharaoh had a small curl of a smile on her lips, like she knew exactly exactly what he would have said after all.
She was very pretty, with small features and petite frame. Her face resembling a pixie of sorts.
She slowly stood up, sending everyone else in the room to the ground in worship of her. She paused for a moment, clearly enjoying the power she held as the new leader of Egypt. She spoke kindly but firmly.
"I welcome you to my kingdom, and my home" she said "May I ask your names?"
The Doctor ended his bow and stood up, putting his hands into his trouser pockets.
"Im the Doctor, and this is Rose" he confidently blurted out with a smile "and you are Hatshepsut, brand new pharaoh of Egypt, the chosen child, I presume."
She just looked at him, still a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"The queen who would be king, im I right? I assume you just lost you father then, terrible tragedy. Were sorry for your loss, arnt we Rose?" he went on.
"yes" she said " You were there."
The Doctor considered this for a moment.
"Uh..Nope. Not yet. Ive never been here before. Tuthmosis the first was Pharaoh, correct?"
"He spoke of you many times, Doctor" She said "only to me."
"Well, that's something to look forward too, aye Rose?" Rose tried to hold back the smile threatening to take her lips. She was still perched on her knee while he quickly became confident enough to start acting like he owned the place. Rose saw no point in continuing her bow and stood up to join him.
Hatshepsut smiled again to herself and raised her hand in a swift motion. One of the young boys quickly fumbled to bow at her feet as quickly as possible with his head to the floor. She frustratedly snapped her fingers and he arouse to her height.
She took a moment to whisper something in his ear. He nodded and quickly stood at the Doctors side.
"Hondo will take you both to a room in the palace. You are welcome to stay along as you wish." She sat back down and closed her eyes.
and with that there were escorted by Hondo and a group of young boys who carried comfy looking chairs many stories up in the beautiful building. They were also accompanied by two young top naked girls, who were obviously just their to look pretty and hold plates of fruit. Their escorts attempted to lift them up onto chairs rather unannounced and the Doctor managed to kick up a fuss until they allowed them to walk, resulting in rather strange looks between the slaves.
When they reached their detestation Hondo pulled back a thick piece of cloth that hung as the doorway, revealing a beautiful large and colourful room.
On the opposite side of the room there was no wall, but a spectacular view of the working city instead. The sun blazed down on the orange sand making the entire world look like it was on fire.
The room itself was much bigger than it needed to be. There was a bed in the middle of the room that was very low to the ground. It was covered with bright pillows made out of various materials that had been dyed blue, purple and probably just about another dye at hand.
Large sheets of material were draped around the giant balcony-like window and plates of fuit and wine were occupying most of the floor around the bed. In the corner of the room was a shiny metal tub filled with cool clear water.
Other parts of the room held shelves and tables holding huge gold pieces of jewelry and clothing.
It was a lot to take in.
Hondo bowed and left the room.