The Joining


Part IV

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Peshet led me to a second set of women's quarters, a place I had never known existed.

"You are no longer a servant," she began, explaining my new role. "You are one of a select group of women who will serve the Pharaoh."

Well, I had basically been serving him since I was four years old. I was confused, but I was so frightened that I could not open my mouth.

"At first you will spend your time learning–the other girls will speak to you and explain what you must do. You must learn what is expected of you."

Peshet paused and stopped, looking down at me. "You will begin to wear new clothes. You will have access to different parts of the palace. Your life will be very different."

She was about to start walking again, but I think she could tell that I was about to cry. She stopped and cupped my face in her hands. Her face softened as she looked at me. Perhaps she was seeing herself, many years ago.

"Little one, you must not cry. You will be doing your duty for the Pharaoh, like all of us." She wiped away a single tear that had slipped out of my eyes. "There will be other girls your age. It is an easier life than being an ordinary servant. You will be pampered and dressed in fine clothes. You will never have to worry again, because you are personally protected by Seti himself." She straightened. "Are you ready to do your duty?" I hesitated, wiped my face, and looked at her. I knew I had no choice.

"Yes," I whispered. So she took my hand again and led me onward, toward my new life.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In retrospect, I should have understood immediately what my new position was. I was, of course, a whore.

Perhaps that is not accurate. I was one of about twelve other women who were the Pharaoh's personal women, his mistresses. We were not simple whores. We were the most beautiful women in Egypt.

We were special, the chosen ones, almost treated as royalty by the women who served us. We were protected. No man was allowed to touch us.

I later learned that Pharaoh prided himself on the women he could have. He believed that as the most powerful man in Egypt, and most of the known world, he should have the most beautiful and seductive women in the kingdom. His men were always on the look out for a woman worthy of joining his personal harem. As it turned out, no new addition had been made for over four years. Seti wanted a new woman. So I was her.

But alas, at thirteen, I did not immediately understand what my new role was. Coming to accept my new position was difficult. At first I was shocked. I knew nothing about pleasing a man! And the other women were not especially forthcoming. At first they crooned and clucked over me like a child, as most of them were three to eight years older than I was. But soon they came to see me as competition. These women wanted the attention of Seti, wanted to be considered his favorite. That meant gifts, prettier clothes, a higher standing than the other women. But it also meant that when they were no longer beautiful they would be taken care of by the Pharaoh.

Pharaoh's current favorite was a girl about five years older than I was. She was 18 years old and beautiful. She was cold and calculating and unkind to me. Not that I cared. I did not want to be competition. I wanted to be left alone.

My coarse tunic and wig were discarded. My hair was naturally glossy, long, and black, so it was hung straight with golden beads. Like the other women my body was wrapped in short lengths of filmy fabric, and the parts of my body not covered were pained black and gold. Then gold jewelry was placed around my neck and wrists. I looked like a completely different person.

The biggest shock were my quarters. I was given my own small room, with a fluffy bed and ornate furniture. This was a place that was completely mine. Here was privacy.

Although I had all of these possessions, I had no real friends. Ankhmut was gone. I felt completely alone.


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It was the job of the older girls to teach me what the Pharaoh wanted and expected. And they did, mostly. It was explained what happened between a man and a woman. It was explained what positions the Pharaoh liked and where he liked to do them. They told me how to walk, how to tilt my head seductively. But since I had no contact with the Pharaoh it did not end up mattering.

After a week of living in my new home, Peshet came to me while I was being dressed.

"The Pharaoh will see you today. You must be perfect." She smoothed my hair and made sure the paint was on flawlessly. She led me out of the quarters, down a hall to two large doors. Two Med-Jai were guarding them.

They opened the doors and Peshet motioned me forward. I walked hesitantly into the room. It was lavishly appointed. I did not see anyone, so I stopped and looked back at Peshet, who was standing a few yards behind me.

"I'm over here," a voice said.

I swung my head to my right, where a man was sitting in a lush chair. It only took me a second. I could not speak a word. I simply dropped to my knees and touched my forehead to the floor.

"Pharaoh," I whispered.

"Rise, rise," he said dismissively. I stood shakily. I must have appeared to him as exactly what I was. A scared girl.

He looked me over.

"She's thirteen?" he asked Peshet, who stood with her head bowed a few feet behind me.

"Yes."

He looked at me again.

"She's pretty, but nothing more than a child," he said, disappointed.

Peshet moved forward. "She will grow into a woman in time. Her beauty will expand as a flower blooms, my lord."

He nodded. "Fine." And he turned back to his scrolls.

Peshet led me back to my small room. I was filled with relief. He did not want me yet. And that gave me time to live, to prepare, to learn.

I knew that I was alone, that no one would support me or help me. I knew I would have to fend for myself and grab for anything that I could. That day was the day I became an adult.

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