Author's Note:
Finally the time for mush has arrived! Thank you all, those who have bothered to read this story and sticking with it! I do hope to update as fast as I can. Your comments are very very welcome!
Chapter 13
The waters of the flood are ferocious in their season. The crocodile awaits upon the sandbank. Yet I have one down to the waters of the Nile that I may wade the flood, my heart brave in its rush. The crocodile was a mouse, the flood dry land to my feet.
-Ode to the Nile, 18th Dynasty
He had caught her limp body in his arms and doubted that she had even caught sight of him when she crumbled among the reeds. Placing her on a flat patch of grass, it seemed this was the only time he could have her to himself, laughing inwardly at the fool he'd become, recognising fully the irony of her unconscious state and his wakefulness as being the sole period of reprieve they had together.
The sun already hung low in the sky as the distant gleams of firelight emerged, reconstructing the palace and redefining its shape through the harsh shadows and vivid orange that would only glow brighter as the night deepened.
But the growing beauty of the Egyptian night was rivalled by the woman who now lay quietly by his side.
Enheduana-Rai seemed lovelier to him each time he saw her; her unusual looks grew into a beauty that he appreciate more deeply with the passing day and he wanted to censure himself for once thinking of her appearance as strange. She had captured all that was Egypt in her face, even though he now knew that she was not a native of the pharaonic land of rich silts.
But now she was pale and enervated, he noted unhappily, as she walked at an unsteady pace towards the same quiet marshes he had followed her to all those eighty days ago. And he never felt more helpless; he was no healer as she was; all he did was to stroke her brow and sprinkle mildly drops of water which he hoped would revive her. The marshes were never safe at night -predators loomed at large; man had not learnt to control the forces of nature or their creation.
All that the Pharaoh possesses is under the protection of the Medjai. Do not forget that, he had said to her before he left, afraid that he had outstayed his welcome. Did she realise that he meant she never had anything to fear from him anymore, or that she would now be safe with the Medjai?
There was a certain solace that he found in this drawn out silence, feeling the slight breeze cool his bare back, and he turned in its direction, savouring it until he felt her stir.
She opened her eyes drowsily, and scrambled for orientation; he saw recognition and relief flood her face before she spoke.
Why did you bring me here, Medjai?
I did not, he told her, you brought yourself here.
And you followed me? Her following question to him was a challenge, to which he needed more than a moment to give her an answer.
Yes, I did, Aretas opted for the truth. You were in the procession with the other women, and I saw you walk towards this place most likely in your half-conscious state before you collapsed.
Enheduana-Rai seemed to give it more thought, before she accepted his answer.
Illûm kawïlu'ûm ra'bütn Aretas, satirma ni tiq'waá.
Her native tongue rolled off her lips easily, and he thought it elegant sounding, despite his lack of understanding.
I thank you this time, Aretas, she repeated in their language.
You have nothing to thank, Enheduana-Rai, he smiled ironically. You saved yourself by collapsing; your body needs rest after the tiring procession. I only carried you under the shade of the reeds, out of reach of Ra's rays. No, do not move yet, your body is still tired.
She stilled. Are you one to command me, Medjai, but this time her voice held no sting, just a faint hint of jest that he realised he liked very much.
Aretas laughed aloud.
Your body is your own, Enheduana-Rai. Free to do with it what you choose, his eyes gleamed with barely suppressed mirth. Your wish to tire yourself out until you resemble a horse that has lost sight of its watering trough will be a decision of your own.
She smiled then, a full-bodied smile, so much more than the usual meagre upturning of her lips that made his breath catch. He realised that she had never smiled freely before, noting how it transformed her face, making it years younger. He was then able, to imagine her as a young girl, to mentally recreate her youth, where perhaps that smile had been bestowed more frequently and freely.
He offered his hand to pull her up.
Come, my lady, you need to prepare yourself for the feast of the funeral. Your body now needs rest and sustenance. Allow me to escort you back to your chambers.
She looked at him uncertainly, unable to explain to herself why she would prefer to stay in the quiet marshes in his company than with the women and other courtiers.
There is no rush, Medjai. I like the solitude here; there is none found back in the palace as the women talk incessantly.
He considered her for a moment, hesitating to say what was on his mind, and finally stood up from his cross-legged position.
Very well, Enheduana-Rai. I leave to your own counsel and I bid you a goodnight.
Why were there words that were stuck in her throat? Was it pride that now deterred her from saying what she wished him to do?
He had taken the first few steps and stopped completely before he heard her soft request.
I find that company would be very welcome, Medjai. Solitude can get tiring after a while.
An involuntary smile from him.
Will I find myself again at pointy end of your blade, Enheduana-Rai?
You will have to stay long enough to find out, Medjai.
The impenetrability of her face had seemed to fade from the first time that he had seen her; the woman was still a mystery to him but he ached to hear more about her, to give her a definite shape in his head, other than the shadow that flitted across each time he said her name.
He complied, settling down next to her, the tension and wariness had returned in full force, only that now it was no longer directed at her, but at himself. He had not, all evening, given her any cause for distress but he now feared what a prolonged time with her might bring out in him -
The Pharaoh is readying his armies, is he not? She inquired innocently.
That is true, Enheduana-Rai. There is no need for me to be unyielding about a matter as important as a war, as far as Pharaoh is concerned. It is probably no more a secret to those who live in cities -men of the streets - tax collectors, bakers, of all sorts are called to fight for their land and claim back what the Hebrews had taken from them.
So it is certain then, Egypt is in turmoil, she sounded disturbed.
Yes, Egypt is, he agreed without hesitation, seeing no reason to conceal the truth from her.
She looked at him directly, close-cropped dark hair, beard that cupped the chin and covered the area above the upper lip, muscular and unsmiling, with his upper body exposed, as imposing as a guard can become.
Tell me about yourself, Medjai.
The change in subject was so abrupt that he faltered, blinking in confusion.
Enheduana-Rai peered at him with eyes that were diligent, and he almost thought that the question was a trap.
The Medjai are the protectors of the Pharaohs; that much you know, he started out.
She waved him on a little impatiently, beads in her hair clicking together, shaking their protests.
It is said that a falcon, which was owned by a man and his family, saved the life of the Senuset, one of the rulers of the Middle Kingdom. In his gratitude, he offered the man riches of his kingdom, but he refused. He brought the man instead to the high priest, who then proclaimed that the man's descendents would grow great because of his heroic deed -that his descendents would be honoured by always being by the side of the Pharaohs themselves.
So I see. No one seemed to know that, for the Medjai are assumed to be ordinary men of the street who came into good fortune as the guards of the Pharaoh, Enheduana-Rai murmured, staring at him, realising that she had placed herself in a position of difficulty. Surely Aretas must want the same answer to the question she had just asked him.
He must have read that same trepidation on her face.
I did tell you before, that I will not ask anything of you what you are not willing to tell, he said gently.
I thank you again, Medjai. You have truly great tolerance towards Enheduana.
Rai, it is more than bare tolerance; it is much more than what you think, he whispered then, using only the last part of her name, looking into her eyes deeply, and it seemed to her that his voice had turned intimate, a wave of sensuality that threatened to carry her down a shivering waterfall, to the point of no return. Do you trust me now, enough to tell me about yourself?
She wondered why he had to quench this burning thirst by asking her to answer questions that he was not she was ready to tell a man whom she had at best, a somewhat offhand relationship with.
But before she could say anything, he had captured her lips with a hunger that jolted her so strongly that she shivered at the point of contact, holding her face tenderly in his rough hands, filling his own fingers with her straight, short locks.
And in that kiss lay fire, desperation and glory.
She felt as if she tasted the beginnings of a smouldering flame, wanting him to pull away before the small fire was fanned into an inferno, but too drugged to summon her willpower to stop him from doing so, and continued to dare fate by responding to his touch.
Her arm had snaked around his neck desirously, drawing him closer in the sweetness of the kiss, and she responded keenly, fitting and moulding herself in his tightening embrace.
Aretas would have lost himself in this intoxicating woman, if not for the sudden sound behind them of a creature that had crawled out of the water that made them both jump.
He held her forehead to his, desire still evident in his eyes, glazed black burning pools of liquid greeted her as she pulled away to look into his face.
It is not safe here, he whispered harshly to her, not knowing if he meant that she was not safe from the prowling nocturnal creatures or from him.
Her arms were still around him, tight but pliant when he gently uncoiled them from his neck.
Go, go now. Prepare for the feast, he urged. You need sustenance and then rest after that.
She nodded, taking a deep, cleansing breath.
I will see you there, in a while, Medjai? It was an uncertain question, that revealed to him her insecurities, and he wanted nothing more then but to allay her fears.
You will, Rai.
It was more than a statement; it was a promise, one that he fervently hoped she had discerned.
Enheduana-Rai's face was inscrutable; and with a last glance back at him, she turned and disappeared into the winding corridors of the palace, taking a longer, but deserted route that he recognised.
The gods help him; he was falling in to the same forbidden desire that had taken hold Djosyn, and all the injustice that Djosyn felt at the time of Nefertiri's injury returned with the strength of a gale whose purpose was to blow him over, but he found that in the calm centre of a storm, all he wanted to do was weep.
