The Pharaoh's Visit
Atemu sat inside his throne room, feeling an uneasy feeling with this expression of remorse and guilt at once. Solomon his very old high priest and most trusted ally felt worried for their king. His eyes darting towards him he then cleared his throat and tried to get his attention. Atemu then sniffed somewhat, and heard Solomon as he felt he might be sick or something. "Are you well, my friend?" He asked Solomon concernedly.
"Actually my lord, I was going to ask you that." He told him looking at him in a calm manner.
Atemu then blinked for a moment, and then got up from his throne chair, watching from the area he could see the villagers below. He then turned and walk in the direction of his balcony an quickly went up there as Solomon smirk following behind him. Atemu move the drapes that blocked his way, as his guards saluted him once he got there. He moved past them and went to the balcony's edge and look down at the village that was his. His eyes narrowing more so he could really see, but to no avail he couldn't see what was really going on.
"I hope those people are okay." Atemu said softly.
"We shall see soon enough won't we." A familiar voice arose from the shadows as Leopard came back. He then looked over at Solomon as he walk off and then looked back at Atemu as Atemu watched him leave so suddenly. He then rotated his eyes to Leopard as Atemu then spoke firmly and with such determination and focus. "Yes please take me down there. I wish to see my people." He told Leopard. He then nodded at Atemu's command and bow, slightly as he turned and walk off along with Atemu as well, heading to the village.
Heba had reached Siloam's tent once more and heard overbearing people laughing and having a good time. At that moment, Heba had his shaw in his hand, still covering his face but his hand grew weaker. He then let it flop to his side as he fell to the ground and started to cry softly. His parents he left them behind and couldn't do anything about it. It was something he felt guilty about, and hated himself for it. The tears splashed softly on the ground, as his hair fell down on his face, and his hands trembled with sadness.
Siloam then went out in the back to grab more barrels for his drinks, when he hears crying in the distance. He questions it, and then it sounded like a familiar voice. He went around and saw that it was a young boy with a shaw on and he knew it was Heba. He quickly went to him and hug him without even asking what was wrong, but had to assume it was his mother's sickness. Heba had told Siloam about it numerous of times, and it must've been that day, where Heba had to leave home.
It was devastating indeed and Siloam didn't know what to do other than let Heba cry it out for a few moments. He hugged him tighter as Heba hug him back his cheeks feeling warm and his eyes hurting from the reddish they got. "It's okay, it's okay, Shhhh." Siloam told Heba. He then got up from the ground, picking Heba up with him. As Heba automatically wrap his arm around Siloam's roundish waistline. He did the same to Heba as he walked him inside his tent past all the people who were having a good time.
Siloam walking in the back room area where it was somewhat more quiet that in the front of his tent. He allowed Heba to lay down on his bed spread that was warm with fur from animals. Heba sniffed softly as he felt weak and helpless, Siloam then went to his tea maker and pour some old tea that was somewhat fresh still. He then sat down on the ground next to Heba as Heba was wrap up in the fur and sniffed watching Siloam closely. "Here, drink this. If this is what it's come to, I am your new parental guardian." He told Heba.
Heba didn't say anything, he didn't know what Siloam meant by that anyhow. He then slowly sat up as he was in pain from his chest, but grab the cup that Siloam ended up handing to him. He then wish to ask though what he meant because he was tired of not knowing and being confused about it all. "What are you saying, Siloam." Heba sniffed cutely. Siloam widened from an expression that seemed astonished. He didn't know that Heba wasn't aware of this, because his father had came to him one day discussing it.
At first, Siloam didn't approve by this, but he soon realized that everyone goes out that way eventually if not by the sickness. Siloam however, looked at Heba as Heba was already in too much pain, he was already overwhelmed and he didn't want him to do what his father had already most likely done. He sighed and look down at the lamp fire that was burning in the room and then looked back at Heba. He leaned over and grab Heba by the neck from the back softly and lean him in to kiss his forehead.
"It is nothing my child. I shall tell you another time. Please get some rest." Siloam said towards Heba and his weight was somewhat making it hard for him to stand. He eventually got up and dusted himself off as he went to the drapes and was about to walk out. "I have to work still, but if you need anything please come get me." Siloam told Heba gently. He nodded his head in a wording way, for he didn't wish to say anything anymore. He walked out as Heba watched him and then looked around his room seeing all dead animals and skins.
Siloam must've been a hunter or was a hunter when he was younger. As he had lots of dead animal skins, and things that were from animals from the wild. It intrigued Heba in a way, and fascinated him to say the least. He slowly got up and walk to a table with little trinkets and things that were from shops and animals bodies. He picked up a saber tooth, and examined that as he awe with softness. For some reason, he found it adorable to look at, but also deadly because of these animals. He then sighed and turned back to the comfort of the blankets and sat there quietly.
He was feeling heavy with a lot of pain, and wish to know what Siloam meant still. He didn't know whether or not to continue to pester him about it, or simply leave it be. He heard laughter and singing, outside his room, and glanced up at the entrance with hesitation. For a few seconds, he thought about walking out there and just enjoying himself. Nevertheless, those feelings became doubts again in a matter of a second. He didn't wish to do or go anywhere, but he did want to go back home and see his mother and father.
It was now sundown, and the sun was setting as the day was coming to an end. Around this time, it usually started to get cooler so people came outside more. When they did, Heba heard cheering and others exclaiming "He's here! He's here!" As Heba got up from the bed sheet. He wish to know what all the commotion was, and who's this "he?" That people continued to conduct. He eventually got up and walk out from the back room, seeing that the tent was empty, his expression was surprised when he turned to the entrance of the tent.
He wondered where Siloam was as well, he wasn't even inside the place either. Heba walk to the drapes and walk outside as it was huge crowds of villagers all around. Heba was pretty short so being able to see was something he couldn't do. He tried to move his head over and over again, but to no avail he couldn't see why everyone was speaking and screaming. He then moved past some people saying excuse me to the men and women, when he saw a small peep hole through someone's side. His eyes widened at the sight he saw when he saw royal guards coming through the village. 'Oh! Are these people from the palace?' He wondered.
He then got pushed back, as he fell down on his butt and grunted. 'Ow! That hurt.' He told himself and rub his behind. Heba however got back up again and tried to hop and move around to see some more but couldn't and then sighed with annoyance. He wanted to see, he needed to see, so he decided to run off and try to find a different location that he could be able to see who was coming into the village at this hour.
"Remember to smile, and wave to the people like you really wanna be here." Leopard said with an eye roll, and a fake smile pressed upon his face. Atemu didn't bother listening as his smile was actually real and he was enjoying his time. He loved seeing his people, and that his expression was warm and kind. Looking around however, he saw some faces that gave seriousness, and others worry for their children. Atemu hated this feeling, because he wanted his people to love and trust him. He then soon told the person who rode them into the village to stop the carriage. As he did as he was told, Atemu got down from the wagon and looked around at the village's sensory.
"What? What happened to this place, why does it look so, so empty and propounded?" Atemu spoke aloud to himself. Leopard then climb off the wagon as well and stood by Atemu and chuckled by his remark of shock. "Don't be surprise my lord, these are peasants, nearly these people aren't even a quarter of your Real village people." Leopard told him. Atemu was somewhat confused by his accusation and tried to understand what he meant by that or was implying. "What do you mean? Real village?" He asked raising an eyebrow. Leopard then continued to explain as he walked through the village as the villagers watched them closely as Atemu followed as well.
"I mean, that these people are the workers for your palace they aren't the people who really supply the crops and growth for ourselves. We need to go through this nasty, diseased village to get to the real one that's just past the salt sea lakes and canon." Leopard proclaimed.
Atemu was hurt by Leopard's words in a way, these people deserved to be treated better than what he was telling him. Atemu balled his fist up and stop walking as he gave a serious angry expression to Leopard. "I shall Not go anywhere, until I help these people. No village should be suffering anyhow." He told him. Leopard turned around and blinked with a absurd expression and then sighed as he had no choice but to agree. "I feel that is a waste my lord, but as you wish. We can take a tour I suppose, although there isn't much to see." He stated.
He walked off as Atemu looked around and saw the people wearing clothes that barely fit them. Rags, for cloths and washes that were stained, and burn up. Atemu felt horrible by this scene, and eventually walked through the people, as he saw old men, coughing and children coughing as well, looking like they haven't slept within days. 'This is terrible. I need to help these people.' Atemu told himself. Heba could see now as he was on the cliff edge of a rock. He could see the entire village from where he was along with the crowd that surrounded the royalty. His eyes shimmered with disbelief when he saw the pharaoh himself.
He looked almost like Heba himself, as he gasp and spoke "omg" aloud to himself. 'He really Does look like me!' Heba thought as he blushed somewhat by the appearance of this man. He had more determination, and a more serious stern look though. His eyes was longer and more narrow like, and his hair had a spike that went up instead of down like Heba's. Although he was also muscular and had full lips from what Heba could see. He was almost like a prince charming, and Heba couldn't help but stare at him as he walked through the village continuously.
Atemu walked to some villagers as they step back somewhat when he got closer and bowed fast as they were frighten. "Please, do not bow, there is no need." Atemu told them. They looked at one another as they were astonished by his comment, and surprised that a ruler such as himself didn't say harsh words and instead said please. Atemu then visited the shops that smelled like fruits and vegetables as he smiled by the aroma they produced. He even ran into Siloam he was hesitant to speak, as he chuckled by the pharaoh's small size and stature. Atemu chuckled as well, and liked Siloam's humor and his personality better than others at his kingdom.
Leopard watch closely making sure no one harm Atemu as he walked through this place, he found to be revolting and disgusting. 'I have to meet him up close!' Heba thought to himself more and soon tried to climb down from the rock when he heard the sounds of something snapping. He didn't know what it was but he continued to move back from the edge and then fell as the rock started to collapse. He panicked in that moment, and looked at the cracks on the rock and look down from where he was. He would crash right into bricks, and broken glass that was near the village walls, and he would most likely break a bone. He was frighten and realized no one even knew he was up there to begin with.
He tried to move some more and grab the ledge that was right next to it, as he reach and stretch his hand out more. In doing so, he then made the rock break and shattered as his eyes widened and his heart raced as he screamed aloud and grab into the ledge with his right hand. "Ah! Someone! Anyone— h—help me please." Heba cried trying to get someone's attention. As people did see Heba dangling from the ledge top, as they all gasp seeing him up there and more so Siloam whom panicked and didn't realize Heba was even awake.
"Hang on Heba!" Siloam yelled as he rush pass the crowd and tried to go quickly where Heba was, but he didn't know if he'd make it in time. Heba was frighten and the more he tried to wiggle himself up to the edge, the more the ledge itself started to crack. This was the end for him, he closed his eyes as the tears went down his small cheeks, and he felt himself becoming stiff and his fingers hurting. He was holding on for dear life, but didn't know how much longer he could hang out for. When he thought it couldn't get any worse, he soon heard the sounds of cracking once more as he opened his eyes quickly and the ledge underneath his fingers cracked as Heba fell.