Chapter 10:
Huy and Mariam were welcomed back to Egypt by everyone. Rameses helped Mariam off the camel.
"How is your family?" He asked.
"Well enough. My uncle Jethro passed away while Huy and I were there." She said.
"I am sorry for your loss." Rameses replied.
Mariam thanked him. As the days turned to weeks, Mariam once again found herself pregnant with another child. The birth was much easier than when Sef was born. As the months became years. Mariam found herself being the mother of five children total. Two were boys and three were girls. In order they were Sef, Rachael, Issac, Aset, and May. Huy loved his children and they loved him. Everyday, they would all gather by their father and he would read from the sacred scrolls to them. Sef loved following his father into the temples' holiest rooms. Hotep would only scoff whenever one Huy's "mixed" children came by.
One day, Sef saw his father kneeling before an icon in prayer. The little boy copied his father's position to his best ability. One of the scribes sketched the image on his parchment. Huy smiled as he glanced at his eldest son. Huy then blessed himself. Sef copied the blessing on himself.
"Father, How old were you when you joined the priesthood?" Sef asked.
"I was a youth when I did. I spent a few years studying and praying. When I was 22 years of age, I took my vows as a priest. I also joined the temple guard. They are the defenders of our faith." Huy replied.
"I want to become a priest like you one day father. I love the temples." Sef then said.
Huy felt his heart swell with pride. His oldest chid wanted to one day become a high priest.
"Then I pray that when the time is right the gods shall bring you to the temple." Huy said.
Sef nodded.
"I overheard you and mother talking the other day. You were talking about your tomb. I don't like it, because when people talk about tombs; it means they are going to die soon. You shouldn't die soon father. We would miss you. Especially mother." He said.
Huy chuckled. He knew his son's heart was in the right spot. Gods bless children for their innocence to the evils of this world. Huy thought to himself. He then ruffled his son's hair.
"There is more to talking about my tomb than my eventual death boy." He replied.
"Yes, I am preparing a place for my wife and your mother too in there. We all must prepare for entering the afterlife." Huy continued.
Sef nodded.
"May I see your tomb father?" He asked.
"Yes. I was just about to head over now." Huy replied.
The two went to visit the tomb. It was beautiful. The inside was filled with murals and prayers carved into the wall. Huy then showed Sef the chapel where the family could visit after he would be laid to rest. The two then went home. Sef hugged his mother. As the family gathered to eat lunch, they heard a knock on the door.
"Did you invite anyone Huy?" Mariam asked.
Huy shook his head. He checked to make sure he had his temple guard dagger on his side. Huy then answered the door. To his surprise, his mother was here.
"I can't stay very long. Your father and brothers don't know I am here. May I come in?" She asked.
Huy nodded and allowed his mother to enter. His mother then embraced Mariam.
"I am Anat. You must be Mariam." She said.
Mariam nodded.
"I am Mariam." She replied.
"You are as beautiful as I imagined the wife of my son would be." Anat then said.
She then saw her grandchildren.
"And they are beautiful too." She continued.
Huy introduced his children to their grandmother. All of them hugged her. Anat wanted to stay longer getting to know them. However, she knew her husband would be furious if she came home later than expected. So Anat left the house after a hasty goodbye.
A few days passed since Anat's visit. Hotep and Huy were finished with their priestly duties for the day. As they parted ways. Hotep secretly met with Mahu.
"I have news regarding Huy." Said Hotep.
"Don't tell me. He married his slave girl and had children." Mahu replied.
Hotep nodded. Mahu the sighed and shook his head.
"That idiot brother of mine has brought shame on my family. I will not suffer it. Neither my father. Also Hotep, I understand you have not been paying your taxes. For this I should have you arrested as that is my duty. However, I am willing to pay for your debt if you come with me to speak with my father about Huy's problem." Mahu said.
"I don't know. I don't agree with Huy's decision; but he is my long time friend. I mean I supposed I should be happy for him. He is in love and has a legacy. Maybe the gods did will this after all for them. Who are we as mortals to question their will? Our gods do work in mysterious ways." Hotep said.
Mahu sighed.
"Very well Hotep. Guards! Arrest him for failing to pay his taxes!" Mahu said.
"No! Wait! I will go with you." Hotep said.
Mahu smiled.
"Very well. We have made a bargain." He responded.
So they went and spoke to Huy's father. He became enraged and told Mahu he wanted to see Huy punished. His eldest son nodded and turned to Hotep.
"You will lead Huy outside of Goshen. Father and I will take it from there." Mahu said.
Hotep nodded.
A few days later, Huy was planning to move a few icons around the temple. As he surveyed the shrines and chapels, Hotep approached him.
"Huy, why don't you and I go to where we used to sit for hours and talk as boys. I have a gift I want to give you. A sort of belated wedding gift." Hotep said.
Huy nodded.
"Sure Hotep. Let's go." Huy said.
Hotep and Huy then left the temple for the outskirts of Goshen. Just outside the city, they found the rock formations they used to climb as children. To Huy's horror, his cruel father and brother were there.
"Well done Hotep. Now leave us." Said Huy's father.
Huy looked at Hotep, who simply looked down at the ground.
"Hotep, why?" Huy asked.
"Go Hotep; and never speak of this." Mahu then said.
Hotep nodded and walked away. Huy tried to follow his so-called 'friend'. However, his wicked older brother pushed him back. The two circled Huy, like vultures circle a fresh corpse.
"I will give you one chance Huy. End your marriage to Mariam; and we will let you go." Said his father.
"No. I'd rather you kill me than force me to live without my wife." Huy replied.
"So be it then. Mahu, you know what to do." His father then said.
Mahu nodded and dragged Huy to his feet.
"Give me your dagger and make things easier on yourself." He said.
Huy surrendered his dagger. Mahu put it to the side. He then bound Huy's hands and forced him to kneel on a bed of thrones. Huy winced as he kneeled on the sharp thorns. Huy then saw Mahu grab his favorite tool for punishing people; a whip. Huy shuddered. To get a caning by Mahu was bad enough. However, to be whipped by him was worse. Huy shut his eyes and began to pray, as he braced himself for the coming agony. As Mahu began to land painful blows across Huy's back; only one name helped Huy endure the ordeal: Mariam.
One hundred lashes was the amount Huy had endured. However, it was not over yet. Mahu tossed his whip aside and grabbed Huy's dagger. Tears of pain were streaming down Huy's face. The high priest felt like he would pass out. Mahu suddenly grabbed Huy and lifted him to his feet. Huy whimpered as his soles were torn up by the thorns. Huy was then stabbed in the back five times; with his own dagger. Huy was then dropped carelessly onto the thorn bed. Huy's hands were untied. Suddenly, the high priest's breathing became more shallow and labored. He then began to convulse. His cruel father and brother watched a bit laughing before leaving Huy to die. Hotep, however, came back riding atop a horse. When he saw Huy's condition, he felt sick.
"By the gods." He muttered.
"Huy. Speak to me." He then said.
"M-Mariam….I need….Mariam." Huy said weakly.
Hotep nodded. He laid Huy across the horse and returned Huy to his wife. When she saw Huy all battered and wounded; Mariam began to cry. Hotep had someone fetch the physician. Mariam, all the while, spoke gently to her beloved high priest.
"Huy. Huy, can you hear me? Please say something." She said.
Huy coughed and opened his eyes slowly.
"Mariam…My dear…I don't have much time left." Huy replied.
"Don't say that. You will be fine. I know you will." She then said.
Hotep returned with the Physician. The physician gently lifted Huy. Mariam gasped in horror.
"Holy Osiris. It is a miracle Huy is still conscious." He said.
He then took out a knife and cut Huy's remaining garb off him. All that remained was his kilt-like garb that was tied around his waist. The Physician then told Hotep to take Mariam away, as he would try to treat Huy's wounds.
"It may be too much for her. Women are very delicate creatures. She doesn't need to see this." He said.
Hotep nodded. Mariam was promising Huy she would be back. Huy lifted a trembling hand and wiped away her tears.
"Mariam…" Huy began to say, but he was cut off when she kissed him.
Mariam reluctantly pulled herself away from Huy. Hotep brought her to his house for lunch. When they returned, the physician looked grim.
"I did my best. However, Huy is very weak. His heart has started to fall, and he is barely breathing." He said.
Mariam sat down on the nearest chair. The physician then gave her a small vial.
"If the pain becomes too much; this will end his suffering." The physician then said.
Mariam nodded; and put it where no one but her would find it.
"Huy is so close to death. It would surely be miraculous if he lasted even the night." The physician commented out loud.
He then left, along with Hotep. Mariam saw Huy was asleep. She kissed him lovingly and kept vigil over him. All night long, she watched over him. She prayed for him. She sang and chanted to him. She would leave freshly cooked meals at his side in case he woke up hungry. She even would wash him the best way she could.
Three days had passed since; and Huy was no better. Mariam listened for his heart beat. It was a very soft flutter in his chest.
"Huy, if you are tired of fighting. Then you can let go." She said, as a tear fell.
As if by some miracle, Huy awoke at those words. Ignoring the pain, Huy sat up as best he could. Huy kissed his wife and embraced her.
"I will always be with you Mariam. Thank you. Now, I must go." He said.
Mariam nodded, as her tears began to fall.
"Tell the children I love them and that I'm sorry." Huy then said.
Mariam began to cry.
"Huy. Don't leave me. Not yet. Please don't go. I need you." She said.
"I'm sorry…my time has come…I love you." Huy replied.
With a final sigh, Huy passed away in Mariam's arms. Mariam was beside herself with grief. Who would take over as high priest to Pharaoh until Sef was grown? Who would give their daughters to their future husbands? Who would raise the children to be godly men and women? Mariam Then realized that the children were playing with the pharaoh's children in the palace; and Sef was at temple with other children who wanted to join the priesthood. He was due to come home any minute now. God, what am I to do? How will I be able to tell Sef? Mariam thought to herself. Her heart was shattered, but Sef and the other children needed to know the truth. She caressed the side of Huy's still face and kissed him one last time. She then gently laid him get down and arranged him to look like he had merely fallen asleep. Mariam then knelt by Huy's side and began to pray for his soul.
Sef had been praying for his father's healing in between lessons all day. At his young age, Sef was a blossoming scholar. All the priests thought the boy was a pleasure to teach. As Sef neared his home, he could hear his mother weeping. The young boy felt his heart sink. He wouldn't need his mother to tell him anything when he got inside. Sef took a moment to collect himself before he entered the home. I already know father is dead. I won't force my mother to tell me about it. She is in enough pain right now. He thought to himself.
Sef entered his parent's bedroom. He saw his mother holding Huy's hand and praying. He placed his tiny hand on her shoulder. Mariam turned and saw her eldest son standing beside her. He was almost a spitting image of Huy; but his hair was curlier, his nose was not as pointed, and his build was not as skinny.
"Sef, I don't know how to tell you this.." Mariam began to say, but was cut off when Sef embraced her.
"It's okay mother. You don't need to tell me anything. I know father began his journey into the afterlife. However, we shouldn't feel too sad, because was healed today mother. He isn't suffering anymore." Sef replied.
Mariam looked at her son. He is surely Huy's living legacy. No other child could speak such wisdom. She thought to herself. She kissed Sef on the cheek. Sef waited for his siblings to come home and sat them all down before he told them the sad news. Rachael, Aset, and Issac all cried. May was upset by seeing all her older siblings so sad. Mariam had no choice but to also give Sef the unpleasant task of fetching the priests in charge of preparing the dead for proper burial. Sef didn't mind though, and went on the long walk to the temple of Anubis without complaint.
Back at the house, Mariam was washing Huy's body. Her remaining four children were in their room praying. As she rested her hand over Huy's heart, she sighed.
"God, if it is your will. Please bring my husband back. Please. I can't imagine life without him." She prayed.
Suddenly, she heard Huy cough. Huy then slowly sat up and looked around. He was surprised to see his wife dressed in mourning garb.
"Mariam. By the gods. Why on earth are you dressed like someone died?" He asked.
Mariam stood in shock. Then she smiled, and wept with joy as she embraced her husband. It was a miracle. Huy was alive. God had heard her prayer and delivered.
"Thank you God. Thank you." She prayed through her tears.
Huy kissed her and wiped her tears away. Sef was surprised to see his father was alive again; and so were his siblings. Huy hugged each of his children. It was a truly miraculous day.
Hotep, Mahu, and Huy's evil father were soon arrested for conspiring to kill a high priest. Rameses was ready to put them all to the sword. However, Huy insisted on banishment.
"Your majesty. My wife swears to me that I had died in her arms. Yet on the same day of my death, I was somehow revived. The gods did not want me to die that day. I was given another chance to live. I want to bless them with the same chance as I had been blessed." Huy said.
Rameses looked at the chained men and sighed. His shook his head.
"Huy, I pray the gods grant you a long and happy life for promoting such kindness to undeserving souls. I decree that these three prisoners be spared; on the condition that they are exiled from my kingdom never to return." He said.
As Hotep and the others were lead away; Huy looked over at his mother and wife. He smiled. Anat soon moved in with them. And of course, they all lived happily ever after.
The End.
I hope you enjoyed this story. Thank you all for reading. Once again, I don't own Prince of Egypt characters. I own only my OCs (Mariam, Anat, Sef, Rachael, Aset, Issac, May, Huy's father, Judith, Joshua, and Mahu). Reviews are love!
P.S - I will continue to do Prince of Egypt stories. So stick around.