29 September 2008 - I've completely re-written this chapter.
Common, But Still Queen
Chapter 4
The morning after my arrival in Egypt I woke to the sounds of many footsteps, I rose quickly and on instinct began searching for a weapon. The first woman that arrived in my room shrieked, the others joining her, screaming. My arms dropped to my sides, the shard of mirror I previously held clinking on the floor, covered in blood from my fist.
Guards arrived in my room and seeing the blood quickly arrested me. I was taken to the throne room where I had first been presented to the Pharaoh and roughly pushed down into a kneeling position in front of their leader.
"Explain the crime," the Pharaoh called to the guard who held me.
A frowned grimly at the stone in front of my eyes; I can't defend myself if I can't understand them!
"She has attacked the lady servants of the palace, Your Majesty. As a guest of Your Majesty she has committed treason against you."
"Take her to the holding cells, I have no time to decide her fate now," the Pharaoh dismissed his guard.
I was lifted from my kneeling position and escorted away.
The Pharaoh swept from his throne, calling for the translator as he walked.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" the translator huffed, running to the side of his leader.
"I wish to speak to our Arabian Princess today. What is she really here for? Surely they would not send their Princess as a gift, I already have a bride-to-be. They would know this."
"You believe her intentions are not pure, Your Majesty?" the translator enquired.
"Exactly."
Arriving at the room the Pharaoh entered first, announcing himself.
"Where is she?" he demanded of the translator.
"I – I do not know, Majesty. I have not been – " the translator stuttered.
"Guards!" The Pharaoh yelled.
"Your Majesty," three men knelt in front of him.
"Where is she?"
"Your Majesty, she attacked the lady servants, she was taken to see you and sent to the holding cells," one guard answered.
"Why was I not told it was her?" the Pharaoh demanded.
"We are sorry for our incompetence," the guard bowed his head.
"Go back to your duties and do not make this mistake again," the Pharaoh marched from the room.
I sat in the barred cells in the Egyptian palace. The Pharaoh must have decided to execute me after all.
Footsteps outside my cell dragged me from my thoughts. Seeing the Pharaoh outside my cell, I instantly knelt and bowed my head.
"Rise," he commanded.
Listening to the translator, I rose to my feet, flicking dark brown hair out of my eyes as I did so.
"This morning you sought to attack a lady servant," the Pharaoh continued, the translator speaking quickly after him.
"I wonder if you thought it was I that was entering your room."
My eyes widened in shock and my heart started to race, I was going to be executed for something that hadn't happened.
"Do you wish to speak in your defence?"
"I did not intend to harm Your Majesty, or anyone," I was trying to stay calm; "I was simply looking to defend myself."
"You presumed to be attacked, Princess Yukia?"
"Not in this palace, Your Majesty."
"Which palace then?"
I read the impatience in the way he stood but felt relief when I saw the concern in his crimson eyes.
I swallowed, my line of sight dropping to the ground at my feet. I glanced briefly into his worried eyes before opening my mouth to say what I had never voiced to anyone
"Your Majesty!" A dark haired man rushed forward, "I have been looking for you."
"Seth," the Pharaoh turned away from me.
I felt the anxiety that had built dissipate as the Pharaoh conversed with the new man. They spoke quickly but fondly before the man swept off. My gaze followed him, analysing his certain movements. Just as he was about to leave my vision, he turned around, shooting a sneer in the direction of the Pharaoh.
"Release her," the Pharaoh commanded the guard outside my barred cell.
The guard opened my cell and I cautiously walked out.
"You will accompany me to the gardens; I wish to speak to you in less imposing surroundings."
The translator spoke quickly and I fell into step beside the Pharaoh as he strode through the palace.
"Why have you been sent to me?" the Pharaoh asked as we walked amongst the greenery that made up the palace gardens.
I listened to the translator and choosing my words carefully, answered, "The King and Queen wished to send you a gift to help strengthen the bonds of your two countries."
"And you believe this is the only reason you were sent?"
I thought about his question, realising quickly that he believed there were secondary reasons behind the King and Queen's presently known intentions. Thinking quickly, I decided that telling the truth would be the best option.
"I am not a true princess, Your Majesty," I admitted softly.
"Arabia wishes to insult me!" The Pharaoh exclaimed.
"No," I answered quickly, "that is not true. I am not a Royal princess. I am Princess to the Common of Arabia."
"You have two courts?" he questioned.
"The Common court has no authority," I answered, monotone.
"You are not happy with that situation?"
"They do not care for us! We are just street rats to them, filth that is not good enough to reside on the bottom of their sandals. We have no money but we receive no opportunities to better our situation. We are persecuted just for being born into something we cannot help."
"And this morning?"
"I thought it was a raid on the palace."
"You need not fear for your life in this palace, Yukia," the Pharaoh had turned to look into my eyes.
His fierce crimson gaze startled me and I blushed at the ground.
"Now, we must talk about your lessons," he was no longer facing me, but was perusing the garden with his gaze again, "It will not do to have a princess unable to understand her surroundings or her people. You start tomorrow."
He had stopped walking and turned, smiling at me, "We ought to be back at the palace as lunch is soon. What an eventful morning this has been."
I smiled at his humour and followed him back to the palace, curious about the lessons I would be receiving tomorrow.
