The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen (24 page)

“How is your father?”

“His hand is better. He moves more slowly, but he is still able to melt the gold. I help him much more now.” His voice was heavy and tired.

“I am relieved to hear his attack wasn’t as serious as it could have been.”

“If I had not arrived home when I did, he might have been killed. The bastards who broke in still have not been found. I appeal to Mahu every other day to keep the search up, but he says the vandals have become like grains of sand. He finds many excuses.”

“It surprises me. He has not had to organize any processions. What else would Mahu have to occupy his time? Pharaoh has been very reclusive.”

“And so the chief of police sits at home getting fat and drunk and
fat
on wine.”

“I will put further pressure on him. Every other house was left alone, but yours was broken into, your father attacked. It seems as if someone meant to hurt you. I fear I am to blame. We are too close. Ay tries to keep me locked up in the palace. He says it’s because of the protesters, but I wonder what his true motivations are. If you had been there that night and caught unawares, you might have been killed.”

“If you wish it, I will take you away from here. You know that.” His voice was sweet and smooth like honey.

“And I also know that they would send ships out after us. Pharaoh’s ships are faster than any others. You would be killed, and most likely I would be killed after the child is born. You know it is forbidden.”

“I don’t care. Let me take care of you.”

I longed for it, and he was persistent, but I knew I could not abandon my people or family. I had a responsibility to more than myself. It was hard to explain these things to someone who had never felt such a responsibility on their life.

“Please know that I love you. I will send you a message when we can meet again.” I quickly turned and let Wahankh escort me out.

The sun boat had traveled to the top of the sky. There were no shadows, and everything seemed to glow in the light. But the glow was dull. This land was becoming brittle. Everything that Pharaoh had worked for was crumbling. The people no longer wanted to listen or worship. The priests reported how few offerings there were in the temples anymore. Still, Pharaoh would not give up.

Some nights when Pharaoh was busy with worship, I would escape. I could leave the grounds with Wahankh at my side and meet Amyntas somewhere secluded. It was not hard to walk the streets if you did not carry a full complement of soldiers with you as a pharaoh would. The carvings of our family were so exaggerated that I was never recognized unless I dressed the part. There were few busts of my likeness outside of the palace. Most times, the people saw me from a distance. A simple face covering was enough to escape with one person as escort as long as our track was carefully walked.

I shared everything with Amyntas. I was so scared, and Amyntas was all I had. But no matter how difficult it was, Amyntas always listened.

Sometimes we imagined what life would be like if I could step over his threshold. If my mother had not met Pharaoh, this could have been my life. I could have minded the home, washed clothes, made meals, watched our children grow, but that was not who I was. Instead, he held me in his arms and spun out a web of dreams with his tongue. When I was with him, I felt I could go one more day with this pain and grief.

Pregnancy changed my thoughts. I felt protective of the child growing inside me. I wanted to protect the baby from plans and schemes to manipulate its fate. I wanted it to grow up happy. I wanted it to find love naturally and gently. I now understood what made Mother truly leave. It was not Father; it was his plans for us. Plans she could not stop.

Amyntas was accepting of my pregnancy and promised to protect us both. This was not his child, but he would raise it as such if only I would come with him. These conversations could turn to arguments, which felt like ash in my mouth. So I would tell him I loved him, I would kiss him, and I would hold him as close as I could. But we could never be husband and wife, and we never pretended to be. I knew it was love, though. It didn’t have to be physical to be such a thing.

The further Wahankh and I walked, the more labored my breathing became. My chest would not fill with the comforting air as it once could. As Wahankh and I traveled back to the palace from the tombs, I saw Ay and his daughter, Mutbenret, ahead of us also heading in the same direction. Horemheb was with them, standing closely beside Mutbenret. They were talking and laughing.

Mutbenret was becoming more prominent in the council sessions. I feared what Ay had planned for her. I knew it was something but could not figure out what. Ay always seemed to have a plan. He did not let things slither past him, tossing errant thoughts or annoyances to the side. He was smooth with his talk and had many ideas for Pharaoh to consider. Pharaoh trusted him completely even though he had thrown Ay’s daughter out of his life. I wondered what loyalty Ay really felt for Pharaoh. He had never said anything when Mother had left. But I also remembered the argument between mother and Ay after the secret burial for the brother I never knew.

With these thoughts occupying my attention, I at first did not notice the person suddenly in stride next to me. I looked over, and
she
was there. It was as if my thoughts had given rise to her being! Her eyes were bright and perfectly almond-shaped. She looked at Wahankh, and we made a quick detour to the garden area just outside of the main entrance. Under a great tree, we stood.

I reached up and embraced her. I think she was startled at first because her arms remained at her side for a time, but then she embraced me as her daughter.

“Mother, why have you come?”

Mother separated herself from me and looked first to Wahankh. Her voice was sharp. “Where have you been? Didn’t I tell you not to let her see him?”

“Nefernefruaten, why do you ask questions when you have the answers?” His voice was firm but not sharp. I was surprised he would speak to Mother in this way! And he had called her by her adopted name, Most Beautiful One of Aten. While it was meant to address my mother, I could not help but think of NeNe, my sweet sister…

“I thought we had agreed --” Mother’s voice yanked me back out of my memories; her voice was rising in anger.

“You agreed. I only wish for her to find some happiness after what Pharaoh has done to her. You do not hear her crying at night.”

I felt very small just then. I had never thought of Wahankh as much more than occasional company that I would try out a joke on or ask to accompany me somewhere. I trusted him, but that was not a deep emotional attachment, not something that would make me speak against a queen for. Here he was defending my decisions and my feelings… to my mother! I felt my face flush a little. Why had I always garnered such attention from Wahankh? I had never given him so much as even a token of appreciation. Here he was talking about me to the former queen of the country!

I put my hand on his arm, and both adults looked over to me. “Do not get in trouble for me, but thank you.”

He smiled. How I loved his smile! When I was a child, I had questioned it. Now it brought my heart joy. I felt a small portion of my debt to him repaid. I would make sure more thanks would come to him for all he had done for me.

Mother spoke, “An, you must be told.” I caught her glance, and there was worry lining the skin around her eyes. “There are plans to place Smenkhkare on the throne. The people hope that he will bring back stability. I do not trust this thought. Smenkhkare is untested and quick to anger like Pharaoh himself. But a change must happen soon if we are to prevent an uprising.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you are in danger. Whatever you do, stay out of Pharaoh’s bed tonight.”

I blanched at her wording. “Mother, I never stay there. I am in your room. He only visits me when he is angry and needs to, needs to…”

Mother caught me in her arms before I could finish. I sank into her strong arms, let it fill me as my own strength was sapped. It helped to belay my tears. I knew I had to be stronger. Merytaten would never cry. I had to control my emotions better. I focused on Mother’s scent, her lithe arms, her delicate dress cascading around her body.

“I am sorry, my dear. He has put you in much danger as you carry his child now.” She whispered. “I never wished for this for any of you.”

“I know, Mother, I know. But now is what it is. Pharaoh tries to control the gods, but they make a fool of him instead. He just does not see it.”

Mother tilted back and looked down at me. She had a smile playing on her lips. “You are wise already. I am very proud of you. I see you have been paying attention.”

I smiled back. It was rare to receive a compliment, even rarer to spend time with Mother. I wished that the sun boat would drop a golden anchor and give us more time. Surely Ra could spare a moment.

Mother continued, “Listen, something is going to happen. Please, stay away from the upper apartments if you can. Is there anywhere you can go and stay?”

“Yes, but will my sisters and brother be safe too? What is going to happen?”

“I will be taking the girls tonight. Of your brother, I cannot say.”

“He must be protected. It’s not his fault that he is crooked! He’s worth more than his appearance.” My voice was dipped in anger. As always, he was forgotten.

“Then I will ask my father to intercede. Mutbenret could gather him up too, but I cannot make guarantees. It is
you
must leave before tonight’s banquet is over. Please, my smart daughter, promise me this.”

“Ay knows you are here?”

Mother ignored my question, “Take nothing with you. It will draw suspicion. You do not want followers, and tell no one.” She looked back to Wahanhk, “You know where to find me. Be sure you are there at the appointed time!” He nodded back.

“Thank you.” I said. She started to walk away.

“Will you be safe?” I called after her.

She turned around and flashed a smile at me.

“I see that you have my eyes, always open and alert,” she answered. Her glance moved to Wahankh. There was something there, some glint of emotion in her eyes. Then she walked off into the lengthening shadows. I looked up at Wahankh, whose eyes were moist, and he escorted me quickly to my room. I wanted to say something to him, thank him further for what he did for me today, but he shook his head and closed the door to my room behind me. He stood quietly outside as I prepared for the banquet.

My fingers were shaking as I tried to apply the kohl. When Tia came in, she took over and got me ready.

“You are a flustered one. Are you feeling okay? Is the baby doing well?” she asked me.

“Tia, if I tell you something, will you promise to do it and not ask questions?” I asked seriously.

“Of course, my queen.”

“No, don’t call me that. I do not deserve to be called that. An, please. Just An.”

“Then of course, An. What is it?”

“Go home. Stay home for the next two days. Don’t come back until I summon you.”

Tia stared at me for a moment. She looked at me as if I had dismissed her for life. But she had been my companion throughout this difficult journey, and I could not leave her fate to chance. I wanted to explain, yet I knew I could not. I had promised that. I simply nodded my head at her. Slowly, she turned around and left the room. I could only hope this would not be our last moment together. I hoped that she trusted me.

As I stepped back out, I told Wahankh to again find Amyntas and tell him of our need. He walked me downstairs and across the bridge before we spoke again.

“You loved my mother, didn’t you?” I spoke quietly, but my voice seemed to echo off the ceiling in the tall, pillared entrance hall.

Wahankh did not look at me. His eyes glossed over as he answered, “I still do.”

“Do you love her because she is beautiful like all the other citizens do?”

His head turned to me. His expression was like a thunderstorm. “I loved her because she is a woman who is kind, smart, and vulnerable. Not because she was queen.”

“I am glad.”

“You should know that I have helped her into the palace to see her daughters. I am sorry she has not been able to come to you during all this, but --”

“I understand. Pharaoh has claimed me. I am no longer my mother’s child. I am a wife. I appreciate what you have done.”

Wahankh bowed to me and turned to leave.

“Before you go, promise me that you will make sure my brother also escapes tonight. He could use someone like you.”

Wahankh nodded and then took his leave.

Walking to the Great Hall, I tried to keep my movements steady and calm. I felt stiff, which only brought on a sore back from the baby weight. I would sit next to Pharaoh tonight, but our time would have to be brief.

Nearing the hall, I heard a great wailing peal out from the room. There was commotion all around me as people flocked to get away from the noise as frightened sheep would clamor. I could not see who, but the sound was from a woman’s cry.

The screams were approaching, and people dispersed quickly. It was a scream of anguish. The cry was heavy and thick with emotion. But not just anguish, there was also uncontrolled rage. It was high and piercing and ringing.

A figure emerged, ripping at her hair and clothes. It was Tadukhipa.

Pharaoh came up behind her. He tried to get close, but she cursorily smacked him across the face with the back of her hand. Each of her fingers was decorated with rings.

“You could have saved him, but you refused!” she screamed at him. “You sit here with gold on your chest, your arms, your tables, but you refuse to protect your
people
!”

Pharaoh offered up an excuse, the cuts on his face bleeding down his chin and onto his pectoral. “Kiya, I never thought the Hittites could possibly --”

“They murdered him! My kin has stood beside yours for generations, and this is how we are repaid? The rape and murder of my people! Your father would be ashamed.”

It was then that the chord was struck. Pharaoh returned a slap to her, but his was hard enough to knock her on the floor. I flinched as the memory of that night, the one memory I tried to keep caged up, but it flashed across my thoughts. I could feel the sting on my cheek burn anew as I watched Tadukhipa slowly pick herself up. As she did so, she spit out a tooth.