Chapter 3 - Consequences
It had all gone horribly wrong, Tiye knew. She'd watched from her window as Imhotep had arrived with the body of the woman he planned to resurrect. She'd watched as other chariots arrived, and the Medjai had rushed into the city. She'd waiting several hours, wondering what had happened before the door to her chamber had been unlocked and a member of the Medjai had stepped in. He'd recognized her immediately, bowed and left. Since then she'd been alone except for Horemheb, who had been returned to her care. The Medjai guards had brought them meals, but they would not talk to Tiye at all.
Five days after the Medjai had arrived, a large, opulent chariot had pulled up and Tiye had been astonished to see Ramses II, Pharaoh of Egypt alighting. Soon afterward, Tiye's door had opened and two members of the Medjai appeared to escort her to the Pharaoh's presence.
As befit the daughter of a King, Tiye kept her face expressionless and her head high as she was escorted to the large hall. She carried Horemheb on her hip, the child sensing her solemnity and remaining quiet and sober. Inwardly she was quaking with fear. What would Ramses do with her? Possibly she would be hustled back to Thebes and immured in the harem for the remainder of her life. At best he might marry her off to a trusted man who would overlook her lack of virginity for the honor of marrying a princess.
The guards stopped just outside the door of the hall. From there, Tiye could see Ramses sitting before Imhotep, who was kneeling in chains before Pharaoh. Tiye could clearly hear Ramses's deep scornful voice accusing Imhotep of blasphemy. Tiye could also hear the voice of Imhotep taunting Ramses. She shuddered involuntarily. Imhotep was making no effort to plead for mercy. He was practically daring Ramses to have him executed. "Enough!" Ramses shouted. "I sentence you to endure the Hun-die!" A sudden gasp swept the hall and even Imhotep went silent. "Medjai! Take him and load him down with so many chains he will be unable even to move until preparations can be made!" Pharaoh's bodyguard grabbed Imhotep and hustled him from the room. The Medjai guarding Tiye stepped aside to let them pass. As Imhotep drew level with Tiye, he smiled evilly. "Death is only the beginning," he hissed to her. Tiye stepped back involuntarily, her eyes wide and frightened. Imhotep laughed without mirth, the sound fading as the Medjai pushed him down the corridor.
Still shaken, Tiye fought to keep her composure as she and her Medjai escort approached the large throne-like chair Ramses occupied. She knelt before him, and setting the child on the ground, bent to prostrate herself, forehead to the floor. Closing her eyes she waited, scarcely breathing. At last Ramses spoke. "Sit back, Tiye."
She sat back on her heels and placed her hand on her heart. "Divine Pharaoh," she murmured.
Ramses narrowed his eyes. "Why do I find you here at Hamunaptra?"
Tiye answered, "Lord Imhotep forced me to accompany him when he fled Thebes, Your Majesty."
"Why?"
"He told me he wished me to look after the child."
Ramses looked at Horemheb as though he were looking at a particularly foul blot on the floor. "He confessed that the child was his."
"So he told me, Your Majesty."
"I'm told you were married to that filth."
She kept her eyes lowered. "Against my will, Your Majesty. I would not have willingly done so."
"Was the marriage consummated?"
Tiye flushed and bit her lip. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Are you with child?"
Tiye flushed even darker. "It is very likely, Your Majesty."
Ramses glared at his half sister. "I cannot allow any seed of that blasphemer to exist on this earth.
Tiye looked up, but Ramses was not looking at her, but at Horemheb. "Your Majesty, you cannot mean to..." she broke off aghast. "Ramses, brother, I beg you!"
"Silence!" Ramses snapped. He nodded to one of the Medjai, who came forward and lifted the boy. "Take care of it now."
"No!" Tiye screamed, flinging herself forward and grasping Ramses's ankle. "I beg you, my lord, do not do this! Do not murder a child!" She raised her golden eyes to his, hers brimming with tears. "He is but a baby, and innocent, no matter who his father."
Ramses kicked her off, his foot connecting hard with her cheekbone, knocking her to the floor. "You," he thundered, "that foul man's whore, has no right to ask anything of me." He stood over her as she lay sobbing hysterically on the floor. "If you are so anxious to look after that bastard, you may do so with my blessing. Look after him you will. For all eternity." He jerked his head toward the Medjai guards and stepped back as they came forward. They lifted Tiye from the floor and half dragged and half carried her from the room.
When the Medjai escorted the priest into Tiye's chamber the next day, she had regained her composure. He smiled at her kindly, and she managed a slight smile in return. "What must I do, my lord?"
The priest set a cup onto a low table in front of Tiye's chair. "Drink, my child. Drink it all, and quickly. There will be no pain." Tiye nodded and took the cup. After draining it, she set it carefully on the table again. The priest smiled encouragingly. "Rise and walk around. When you begin to feel tired, lie down upon your bed."
Tiye nodded again, and rose, pacing aimlessly around the room. She paused once to gaze from the window, watching the sun as it sunk toward the horizon. "Will you tell my sister Nefertari I bear her no ill will?" Tiye asked the priest.
"I will, Your Highness. Rest now."
Tiye crossed to the bed and lay down. Carefully she arranged the folds of her gown and smoothed her hair. She crossed her arms on her breast and concentrated on breathing deeply. The priest watched carefully. Tiye's breathing became slower and slower, until at last, it stopped. The man waited for several more minutes before placing his hand on her throat. He felt no pulse.
Author's notes:
I had no idea how to spell the curse that was put on Imhotep, so I just made something up. My apologies to anyone who actually knows how it's spelled.
I've vilified Ramses pretty seriously in this story so far, and will continue to do so, probably without justification. The reign of Ramses II or Ramses the Great was actually marked by much prosperity. He was a great builder, creating many monuments and temples. He also was the first king in history to sign a peace treaty with his enemies (the Hittites). Most of the Pharaohs in the 20th dynasty took Ramses's name as their own when they became Pharaoh. Most Pharaohs were considered at least semi-divine, but pilgrimages continued to be made to temples and shrines in his name for centuries after his death. He reigned for 67 years, and died at the age of 96. He outlived many of his heirs. His successor, in fact, was his 13th son. The first twelve didn't outlive their father.
Ah well. Artistic license, you know. Perhaps Ramses is used to being vilified. He is thought to have been the Pharaoh who dealt with Moses over the Hebrew slaves leaving Egypt – the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, etc.