Part VIII: Engagement
A Mummies Alive! Fanfic
I sat in court as the nobles and peasants brought their grievances to the Pharaoh for judgement. Slowly they were growing accustomed to seeing me with Amenutept, and the nobles seemed to guess who I was. Some seemed openly hostile, while others went out of their way to be nice to me. But something in the way they acted seemed unreal, as if nothing they said or did was what they meant. It was all a well-planned act from days or atleast hours of planning, not what they really felt or thought.
I wondered how Amenutept could have become who he was from such surroundings - though he seemed to spend more time with his guards and army than the nobles. Sometimes he did plan what he said or did in advance, but even then he didn't seem as fake as the other nobles to me. But perhaps it was just me, I was beginning to realize I was strangely bias in his favor. I didn't understand why, but I was.
As the last of the cases finished for the day, Amenutept stood. He glanced at me, and I knew it was time. "My nobles, my people." He rose his voice above any conversation that was going on - the hall quickly fell silent. "I have a proclamation to end this day's court on. One that will no doubt bring you great joy. At long last, Ra has sent to me the woman who is destined to be Pharaohess of all Egypt." Whispers began, and they grew louder as Amenutept turned to look at me. I rose to my feet, feeling unsteady as I went to his side. He took my hand, and turned to the court. "I present to you the Lady Yshta - the future Pharaohess."
The peasants cheered loudly, and I resisted the urge to step back from the sudden noise. The nobles pressed forward, vying to be the first to congratulate Amenutept and be the first to introduce themselves to me. But despite the pleasantness of their words, there was no happiness in their eyes. It was obvious the nobles were displeased at the news.
I felt like a cornered beast at the hunt. Those who surrounded me looked harmless, but somehow I knew they weren't. I felt frightened by all the attention, and the feeling of unwelcome by the nobles. I was a stranger to them, and they seemed to think I was the dangerous one. I don't know how I knew they felt that way, but I knew it beyond a doubt. I looked at Amenutept, who smiled - but the smile wasn't in his eyes, and he pulled me closer as if he could feel it too.
The movement made me feel strangely safe, and gave me the strength to return the pleasant words of the nobles, regardless of their inward thoughts - or mine.
The celebrations in the towns I'd lived in paled in comparison to those of the capitol city. I was amazed by the sights and sounds of the festival, and I was stunned when - with an escort of guards - Amenutept took me into the city to enjoy it. Their were performances, competitions, and - to my delight - chariot races!
At first as I watched the races I was filled with joy. The competition was fierce - these were the best in the land - and I was in awe of the skill they displayed. Yet slowly the joy was replaced with regret. I could never again drive a chariot now. I could ride in them as often as I liked - but it wasn't the same thing.
If I became Pharaohess, I could never ride the wind again.
From the moment I agreed to marry Amenutept to the time I watched the chariot races I had had no doubts over my decision. I didn't understand why he wanted to marry me, and I was a little confused over who Amenutept was exactly or how he felt. I was even a little confused over how I felt, but I'd never doubted my choice. But standing there, watching the chariots whirl by, I did. I doubted, and I hesitated. To never hold the reigns in my hands again, and feel the wind in my hair while the chariot bounced over the rugged terrain. To never know the freedom of being in control of my destination ever again.
Suddenly the race seemed a cruel reminder of the past I couldn't reclaim, unless I ran again. But even if I ran, I doubted I could escape. Hevar hadn't. Still, could I live without the freedom I'd enjoyed all my life? Gilded or not, a cage was a cage...I glanced over at Amenutept, where he was talking to a guard. His words from our conversation about Hevar came back to me.
'The Pharaoh is a god. Unfallible and unquestionable, his word is law and every life in Egypt is his to command...But I, Amenutept, am a man. I am fallible, I do not know everything. But that is not what the people need, they need their god. And it is my duty to give them him. As my people have a duty to me, so I also have a duty to them.'
The weariness that I'd heard for the first time in my father's fields, that I'd seen in his eyes, they came from the very doubts I was wrestling with now. He had power over everything, except his own destiny. But could I live the same way? Could I sacrifice my freedom for duty?
'You have the spirit of a lioness. I've waited my entire life for a woman who I knew could be a Pharaohess. When you refused to bow to me last night, I knew I'd finally found her.'
Amenutept's words played in my mind again. And suddenly a new question formed in my mind. Could I leave him?
Just then he turned and met my gaze with a smile, and I found myself smiling back. He came over to me. "There's something I must go see to. Do you wish to stay a while longer?"
"If it's possible, yes." I admitted.
"I'll leave most of the guards with you then. I'll return after this matter is dealt with." He took my hand and kissed it before whispering, "Don't steal any chariots while I'm gone."
I blushed, and frowned at him. "Twenty years from now you'll still be saying that."
Amenutept smiled. "I hope so." And with that he turned away, heading off with only two guards.
I couldn't leave him, I realized. I turned my mind back to the race, I'd made my decision and I wasn't going to allow myself to dwell on it. Looking back I often wondered if it was because I was worried I'd begin to doubt it again, or if I was scared of facing why I'd made that choice.
Yshta
To Be Continued...
Yshta's falling in love! But is Amenutept? We'll have to wait and see, won't we?
I want to say THANK-YOU to those who reviewed this story. I'm glad someone's enjoying reading it, because I'm really enjoying writing it.
Salmon
A Mummies Alive! Fanfic
I sat in court as the nobles and peasants brought their grievances to the Pharaoh for judgement. Slowly they were growing accustomed to seeing me with Amenutept, and the nobles seemed to guess who I was. Some seemed openly hostile, while others went out of their way to be nice to me. But something in the way they acted seemed unreal, as if nothing they said or did was what they meant. It was all a well-planned act from days or atleast hours of planning, not what they really felt or thought.
I wondered how Amenutept could have become who he was from such surroundings - though he seemed to spend more time with his guards and army than the nobles. Sometimes he did plan what he said or did in advance, but even then he didn't seem as fake as the other nobles to me. But perhaps it was just me, I was beginning to realize I was strangely bias in his favor. I didn't understand why, but I was.
As the last of the cases finished for the day, Amenutept stood. He glanced at me, and I knew it was time. "My nobles, my people." He rose his voice above any conversation that was going on - the hall quickly fell silent. "I have a proclamation to end this day's court on. One that will no doubt bring you great joy. At long last, Ra has sent to me the woman who is destined to be Pharaohess of all Egypt." Whispers began, and they grew louder as Amenutept turned to look at me. I rose to my feet, feeling unsteady as I went to his side. He took my hand, and turned to the court. "I present to you the Lady Yshta - the future Pharaohess."
The peasants cheered loudly, and I resisted the urge to step back from the sudden noise. The nobles pressed forward, vying to be the first to congratulate Amenutept and be the first to introduce themselves to me. But despite the pleasantness of their words, there was no happiness in their eyes. It was obvious the nobles were displeased at the news.
I felt like a cornered beast at the hunt. Those who surrounded me looked harmless, but somehow I knew they weren't. I felt frightened by all the attention, and the feeling of unwelcome by the nobles. I was a stranger to them, and they seemed to think I was the dangerous one. I don't know how I knew they felt that way, but I knew it beyond a doubt. I looked at Amenutept, who smiled - but the smile wasn't in his eyes, and he pulled me closer as if he could feel it too.
The movement made me feel strangely safe, and gave me the strength to return the pleasant words of the nobles, regardless of their inward thoughts - or mine.
The celebrations in the towns I'd lived in paled in comparison to those of the capitol city. I was amazed by the sights and sounds of the festival, and I was stunned when - with an escort of guards - Amenutept took me into the city to enjoy it. Their were performances, competitions, and - to my delight - chariot races!
At first as I watched the races I was filled with joy. The competition was fierce - these were the best in the land - and I was in awe of the skill they displayed. Yet slowly the joy was replaced with regret. I could never again drive a chariot now. I could ride in them as often as I liked - but it wasn't the same thing.
If I became Pharaohess, I could never ride the wind again.
From the moment I agreed to marry Amenutept to the time I watched the chariot races I had had no doubts over my decision. I didn't understand why he wanted to marry me, and I was a little confused over who Amenutept was exactly or how he felt. I was even a little confused over how I felt, but I'd never doubted my choice. But standing there, watching the chariots whirl by, I did. I doubted, and I hesitated. To never hold the reigns in my hands again, and feel the wind in my hair while the chariot bounced over the rugged terrain. To never know the freedom of being in control of my destination ever again.
Suddenly the race seemed a cruel reminder of the past I couldn't reclaim, unless I ran again. But even if I ran, I doubted I could escape. Hevar hadn't. Still, could I live without the freedom I'd enjoyed all my life? Gilded or not, a cage was a cage...I glanced over at Amenutept, where he was talking to a guard. His words from our conversation about Hevar came back to me.
'The Pharaoh is a god. Unfallible and unquestionable, his word is law and every life in Egypt is his to command...But I, Amenutept, am a man. I am fallible, I do not know everything. But that is not what the people need, they need their god. And it is my duty to give them him. As my people have a duty to me, so I also have a duty to them.'
The weariness that I'd heard for the first time in my father's fields, that I'd seen in his eyes, they came from the very doubts I was wrestling with now. He had power over everything, except his own destiny. But could I live the same way? Could I sacrifice my freedom for duty?
'You have the spirit of a lioness. I've waited my entire life for a woman who I knew could be a Pharaohess. When you refused to bow to me last night, I knew I'd finally found her.'
Amenutept's words played in my mind again. And suddenly a new question formed in my mind. Could I leave him?
Just then he turned and met my gaze with a smile, and I found myself smiling back. He came over to me. "There's something I must go see to. Do you wish to stay a while longer?"
"If it's possible, yes." I admitted.
"I'll leave most of the guards with you then. I'll return after this matter is dealt with." He took my hand and kissed it before whispering, "Don't steal any chariots while I'm gone."
I blushed, and frowned at him. "Twenty years from now you'll still be saying that."
Amenutept smiled. "I hope so." And with that he turned away, heading off with only two guards.
I couldn't leave him, I realized. I turned my mind back to the race, I'd made my decision and I wasn't going to allow myself to dwell on it. Looking back I often wondered if it was because I was worried I'd begin to doubt it again, or if I was scared of facing why I'd made that choice.
Yshta
To Be Continued...
Yshta's falling in love! But is Amenutept? We'll have to wait and see, won't we?
I want to say THANK-YOU to those who reviewed this story. I'm glad someone's enjoying reading it, because I'm really enjoying writing it.
Salmon