Tut and Suhad: Looming Darkness
A plot. A scheme. One man. One woman. Two stories. A man that believes he should rule. A woman who can not stop being trapped within her own guilt and deception. The Great Queen Ankhe sits in her room. The pieces of her life still litter the floor from her tantrum. The man she claims to have loved since she was a child has left her alone and hurt. Her words tore at his heart and stung more than a thousand scorpions. Ka would like to leave the Great House for good but feels honor bound to his Pharaoh. How can he live under the same roof as the woman that betrayed him? The Great House is the same size as the Palace in Thebes. Ka moved his things to another room on the other side away from Ankhe. He called for a scribe to send a message to the King. Perhaps Tut would give him a solution to this problem. Ankhe begins cleaning the room of the broken things and ripped linens. "I should be in Thebes." She mutters under her breath as she walks around the room. "I am the Great Queen. That Mitanni should be here away from my brother."
As Ankhe thinks of a way to break Tut and Suhad apart, another comes up with a plan to get back into the Palace. The ex-Grand Vizier Ay begins his scheme. He will head to Karnak and talk Ankhe into helping him get his place back into Tut's court. When she was younger, Ankhe was the cute little puppet Ay used against her father. That was until the Prince came along. Then Akhenaten turned all his attention to his son and away from Ay's manipulation in his ear. Now the Prince is the Pharaoh and Ay is hiding in the Temple. He will talk to Amun about getting him to Karnak. One of his problems is his own flesh and blood, Nahktmin. He is afraid that the young man will tell Pharaoh about him being in Thebes. Ay scratches his chin. He doesn't want to kill his only son, however, should he get blamed for betraying his King? That is an idea. If he was to die at the King's hand, Ay's conscience would be clear.
On the horizon there are new fires burning in what used to be the center of the Nubian Empire. The outlying villages have come together to plan their revenge on Egypt and Tut. A new leader has risen and has been attacking the outskirts of the Mitanni. Word has reached the Pharaoh and his Queen Suhad. General Horemheb is in the throneroom discussing battle plans. "My King," He starts. "Word has come from a small Mitanni village just on the boarder of the Nubians. They say that raids have begun again. This time, the raiders don't only take what they want. They are slaughtering every man, woman and child. The sand is stained with their blood." Suhad turns her face away from the General. Cradling her newborn son, Sekmet, she excuses herself and heads to her chambers. Tutankhamun sits on his throne. His gaze is like stone. Emotionless and stoic. His fingers steepled in front of his mouth.
His words are full of ice. "I guess I should have killed them all." He slowly stands and walks over to the General. "Gather your army, General. I am no longer feeling generous. I will wipe them from these sands once and for all. I am no longer in a position to give mercy." The General bows and turns to leave. Tut claps his hands together and servants appear with his armor. The General takes notice. "My Pharaoh?" Tut looks over at him. "You were given a command, General." Horemheb studders a reply. "You..are not planning..to lead the fight? You have a new baby. The Prince and the Queen need you here." Tut turns almost spinning around to look at him. "You DARE question your King, General? You have been loyal to me, don't make me punish you." For the first time in his years of service to his Pharaoh, General Horemheb is nervous. "No. my King.. Never...I was just surprised that is all. I only wish to look out for you. That is my duty to Egypt. To protect her King." Tut motioned to him. "Away with you. Bring me my chariot. I will join you shortly. The general left, shaking his head.
As the servants finished armoring their King, Suhad returns from putting Sekmet down for a nap. "You're going?" She asked. "You can't. You shouldn't. What about our son?" Her eyes began to well with tears. Tutankhamun loved his son and his Queen but he was Pharaoh first and foremost. He had a duty to his people. "I must." He replied to her quietly. "I am Pharaoh. My people need their King to protect them." Suhad protested. "You are Pharaoh. You have an army at your command that can protect these people. You can lead from here. Let the General do his job." Tut shook his head. "You ask me to let the General do his job but don't want me to do mine? What you ask is selfish. How can I ask him to protect the people if I can not do the same?" Suhad walks over and puts her arms around him. "Khaten, please! Think of our son. He needs his father. Send Lagus to lead in your place. Don't leave us."
The Pharaoh looked into the pleading eyes of his Queen. He knew his duty. So did she. He could not turn his back on his people. "I am sorry. I must do this. I am the King." He kissed her on the forehead as he turned to leave. Suhad held him tightly and would not release him. "As your Queen, I command you to stay. I won't let you leave. You will have to drag me with you." Tut smiled. "You have to let me go. You know this is what must be done." He held her again, removing her hands from his waist. A voice came from behind them. "Daughter, let him go!"
Suhad turned to see her father standing there. "He is the King and he has a duty. As Queen you also have a duty. You must let him go so he can protect you and Egypt. You are the mother to the Prince of Egypt. You need to watch over him." Suhad couldn't believe her ears. Her father approaches the Pharaoh. "I misjudged you, Tutankhamun. All I saw in front of me was a young, arrogant man-child. I was wrong. You are indeed a King. I will look after Suhad. You do not need to worry yourself about her or your son. Do what must be done. May the Gods see you safely home." With his words, he puts an arm around his daughters waist giving her a hug. Tut walks over to him. "Thank you for understanding." He pats the older man's shoulder. He then kisses Suhad. "I'll return to you safely. Do not worry. Take care of Sekmet." He leaves the room. As he does Suhad burst into tears. "I just wanted to be with him. I never wanted to be his Queen. I fear something bad is going to happen."