CHAPTER THREE
"The Choosing"
Thebes 1316BC
The sky was still dark when all the girls were woken up. All exhausted from barely getting any sleep, they all dragged themselves to the baths where they were all to be washed, then dressed and then finally made up for the choosing. Anck-su-naman and Hetepseop stuck together they were the only two people they knew. All through the morning all the talk was 'who would be Princess Nefertiri's maidens or the Pharaohs?' or 'would they end up as palace servants?' Of course there were the cocky girls who thought they were absolutely Hathor's child and would get chosen as the Pharaohs maidens, but Anck-su- namun found out that only one girl gets chosen for that and really didn't think that any of these girls would be the one.
By mid morning all the girls were ready and were lead to a magnificent room filled with golden ordainments and tapestries. The girls all stood in owe and started thinking 'I would be living in a place like this for the rest of my life, how wonderful!' but it wouldn't be wonderful for every one as not all the jobs would be wonderful. Again the 10 servants came out followed by a couple of Medji's. The girls stood in straight lines waiting. During the choosing there were tears from the ones who weren't chosen to be maidens and then there were the few that were screaming of happiness. It was finally Anck-su-namun turn. The head servant Nebefere came over and stopped before her.
The usually cold face softened a little, as she looked Anck-su-naum up and down. "What is your name dear?" Nebefere asked her, "Anck-su-namun" "How old are you?" "15"
Nebefere thought for a minute and then called over Pakhet, one of the senior Medji. "Do you think she would be old enough to serve the Pharaoh Seti?"
"She is a real beauty but how old is she?"
"She is 15, which means she could have a year to learn how to please Seti and on her 16th birthday present her to him and to the kingdom. I think this one will be special."
"Yes lets take her up to the chambers of Seti's maidens and give her time to adjust to living there"
At first Anck-su-namun didn't realise what was happening and then it suddenly hit. She wasn't going to be a servant or a maiden for the princess; she was going to be a maiden for the Pharaoh. At first she was excited but that turned to fear. She didn't know exactly what she would be doing with the Pharaoh and what other duties were going to be bestowed to her. Would she just be serving him by cleaning and bringing food? Or would she entertain him and please him in other ways?
It must have been the look on Anck-su-namun's face that made Nebefere decided she felt sorry for this poor girl who had know idea what she was going to be getting into. Anck-su-namun was lead through corridors made with gold leaf. As they neared closer to the part of the palace she would be staying in she passed the most beautiful women she had ever seen. She asked,
"Who are they?"
"They are Pharaoh Seti's concubines, his maidens. They are the most beautiful women in the world all picked out especially to serve him. You are one of them now. You will belong to him and no other man will be allowed to touch you, or have you, if that happens you both will be executed no matter who touched you and whose fault it was it is what will happen. To make sure you aren't touched, everyday you will be painted in body paint so you must make sure you don't smudge it."
Anck-su-namun's heart fell now knowing what was in store for her. Her life would be owned forever and would never get to experience true love. Acknowledging her disappointment Nebefere told her that it wasn't so bad, most women would love to be them and that she will enjoy every bit of life.
When they arrived at Anck-su-namun's chambers the depression ended for a little while just looking at her room. It was the most magnificent room she had every seen. There was a four-poster bed with purple, pinks and white silks, there was a dresser made from gold with a mirror, jewellery and make up on top. There was a room for bathing and a balcony. She had everything she needed and wanted. The room was somewhat a room out of a fairytale.
" Tomorrow you will start you first lessons in dance. There will be servants sent in the morning to get you ready. I'm afraid this is where I leave you. I may see you around sometimes, but it will be not often. Good luck Anck-su-namun. I believe you will do very well." Nebefere gave her a quick hug and then left her. Anck-su-namun lay herself down on the bed and fell asleep.
^^^^^^^^^^****^^^^^^^^^^^^
2 Days Earlier.
All was busy in the temples of Osiris. The priests were getting things ready for the midsummer festivals. Imhotep was just finishing his studies. He was to be named the new High Priest and grand Visa to the Pharaoh. He had just turned 20 and was already 6 foot tall and as described by others 'sculptured like a God.' He had been training to be the High Priest for 10 years, as his father had been one and his father before that. He exited the temple and on the way out bumped into his best friend Ashait who was a junior Medji. They had known each other ever since they both had entered their training at the palace and have been friends every since.
"Have you seen the line up of new girls to be maids at the palace?" Ashait asked, "Nah I've been at the temple all day. When did they come in?"
"They've been coming in all morning. They still should be coming now. Wanna go look?"
"Yea lets go" So both guys ran off to go look at the line up. Imhotep was really surprised to see so many girls there. There were so many more than any other year. He searched the crowed for no one in particular when a girl caught his eye. She looked a little lost and scared, but yet again there was a sense of calmness in her face. He stared at her until she went out of his sight. Ashait looked at Imhotep and then at the girl,
"You know she would be out of bounds so I wouldn't even think of anything. Anyway you have to concentrate on becoming the High Priest and you won't be allowed to have any relationships right? Don't they say that once you fall in love you lose the power to receive the words from Osiris?" Ashait joked.
"Yea you are right, I'm not allowed to do like anything, oh well. My work is my life. Lets go back to the palace grounds," And both guys walked to the palace..
*****There you go. Its now nice and late at night and I'm tired so there will probably be mistakes I may have to edit it later if its too shocking but I'll post it know Please review!!!!! Xoxoxoox sare
"The Choosing"
Thebes 1316BC
The sky was still dark when all the girls were woken up. All exhausted from barely getting any sleep, they all dragged themselves to the baths where they were all to be washed, then dressed and then finally made up for the choosing. Anck-su-naman and Hetepseop stuck together they were the only two people they knew. All through the morning all the talk was 'who would be Princess Nefertiri's maidens or the Pharaohs?' or 'would they end up as palace servants?' Of course there were the cocky girls who thought they were absolutely Hathor's child and would get chosen as the Pharaohs maidens, but Anck-su- namun found out that only one girl gets chosen for that and really didn't think that any of these girls would be the one.
By mid morning all the girls were ready and were lead to a magnificent room filled with golden ordainments and tapestries. The girls all stood in owe and started thinking 'I would be living in a place like this for the rest of my life, how wonderful!' but it wouldn't be wonderful for every one as not all the jobs would be wonderful. Again the 10 servants came out followed by a couple of Medji's. The girls stood in straight lines waiting. During the choosing there were tears from the ones who weren't chosen to be maidens and then there were the few that were screaming of happiness. It was finally Anck-su-namun turn. The head servant Nebefere came over and stopped before her.
The usually cold face softened a little, as she looked Anck-su-naum up and down. "What is your name dear?" Nebefere asked her, "Anck-su-namun" "How old are you?" "15"
Nebefere thought for a minute and then called over Pakhet, one of the senior Medji. "Do you think she would be old enough to serve the Pharaoh Seti?"
"She is a real beauty but how old is she?"
"She is 15, which means she could have a year to learn how to please Seti and on her 16th birthday present her to him and to the kingdom. I think this one will be special."
"Yes lets take her up to the chambers of Seti's maidens and give her time to adjust to living there"
At first Anck-su-namun didn't realise what was happening and then it suddenly hit. She wasn't going to be a servant or a maiden for the princess; she was going to be a maiden for the Pharaoh. At first she was excited but that turned to fear. She didn't know exactly what she would be doing with the Pharaoh and what other duties were going to be bestowed to her. Would she just be serving him by cleaning and bringing food? Or would she entertain him and please him in other ways?
It must have been the look on Anck-su-namun's face that made Nebefere decided she felt sorry for this poor girl who had know idea what she was going to be getting into. Anck-su-namun was lead through corridors made with gold leaf. As they neared closer to the part of the palace she would be staying in she passed the most beautiful women she had ever seen. She asked,
"Who are they?"
"They are Pharaoh Seti's concubines, his maidens. They are the most beautiful women in the world all picked out especially to serve him. You are one of them now. You will belong to him and no other man will be allowed to touch you, or have you, if that happens you both will be executed no matter who touched you and whose fault it was it is what will happen. To make sure you aren't touched, everyday you will be painted in body paint so you must make sure you don't smudge it."
Anck-su-namun's heart fell now knowing what was in store for her. Her life would be owned forever and would never get to experience true love. Acknowledging her disappointment Nebefere told her that it wasn't so bad, most women would love to be them and that she will enjoy every bit of life.
When they arrived at Anck-su-namun's chambers the depression ended for a little while just looking at her room. It was the most magnificent room she had every seen. There was a four-poster bed with purple, pinks and white silks, there was a dresser made from gold with a mirror, jewellery and make up on top. There was a room for bathing and a balcony. She had everything she needed and wanted. The room was somewhat a room out of a fairytale.
" Tomorrow you will start you first lessons in dance. There will be servants sent in the morning to get you ready. I'm afraid this is where I leave you. I may see you around sometimes, but it will be not often. Good luck Anck-su-namun. I believe you will do very well." Nebefere gave her a quick hug and then left her. Anck-su-namun lay herself down on the bed and fell asleep.
^^^^^^^^^^****^^^^^^^^^^^^
2 Days Earlier.
All was busy in the temples of Osiris. The priests were getting things ready for the midsummer festivals. Imhotep was just finishing his studies. He was to be named the new High Priest and grand Visa to the Pharaoh. He had just turned 20 and was already 6 foot tall and as described by others 'sculptured like a God.' He had been training to be the High Priest for 10 years, as his father had been one and his father before that. He exited the temple and on the way out bumped into his best friend Ashait who was a junior Medji. They had known each other ever since they both had entered their training at the palace and have been friends every since.
"Have you seen the line up of new girls to be maids at the palace?" Ashait asked, "Nah I've been at the temple all day. When did they come in?"
"They've been coming in all morning. They still should be coming now. Wanna go look?"
"Yea lets go" So both guys ran off to go look at the line up. Imhotep was really surprised to see so many girls there. There were so many more than any other year. He searched the crowed for no one in particular when a girl caught his eye. She looked a little lost and scared, but yet again there was a sense of calmness in her face. He stared at her until she went out of his sight. Ashait looked at Imhotep and then at the girl,
"You know she would be out of bounds so I wouldn't even think of anything. Anyway you have to concentrate on becoming the High Priest and you won't be allowed to have any relationships right? Don't they say that once you fall in love you lose the power to receive the words from Osiris?" Ashait joked.
"Yea you are right, I'm not allowed to do like anything, oh well. My work is my life. Lets go back to the palace grounds," And both guys walked to the palace..
*****There you go. Its now nice and late at night and I'm tired so there will probably be mistakes I may have to edit it later if its too shocking but I'll post it know Please review!!!!! Xoxoxoox sare