The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen (12 page)

Again I took in a breath. The men standing across from us watched me. Their eyebrows were thick and tilted upwards. I could not glean their emotions from such an expression, but it looked to me like boredom.

I thought of my mother and how she looked when dealing with foreigners. I thought of her lips slightly pursed, her upturned chin, her deep and penetrating eyes, her face without lines of worry or fear.

I thought of my mother…

My voice was steady, “Noblemen, I have come to you, alone, unguarded, to show you that I can be trusted and that I trust you. I think we should combine our nations, and I offer myself to your people so that you may see that my wish is genuine. I am not my grandfather, and I am not my father. I can see a land where two countries become the largest and strongest in the entire world. Together, we will create an heir, next in line to the throne, who will carry this dynasty of our peoples into greatness the likes of which has never been touched. I beg you to take back to your king my offer.”

The chamberlain hesitated, “I am still wary of what you say. This could be your country trying to eliminate mine, bringing our men into your borders under the façade of peace and then murdering them too far away from home to get help. If we trust you, it could destroy my people.”

“Or it could be the greatest blessing your people have ever seen. Just think of what it would be like to no longer fight. Separated, we cannot defeat one another. But together? Can you even imagine what our people could accomplish? All I ask for is a husband to lead beside me and continue my family’s reign. He will be king, and I will be his loyal queen. He will rule over lands much larger than anything his father has ever looked upon. When you travel back to your home, look out across the desert. You will own it all. We will own everything.”

All was quiet.

“I will let my king know of your desires. But I am not of his mind. He could choose to reject your offer no matter what I say.”

It was my turn to bow. “Thank you, honored chamberlain. I will write another claim to show him of the urgency. We have little time. Once the rock is laid over my husband’s tomb, I will be married to someone else. Time is running out for us.”

“We depart from here tomorrow after the sun sets. We will not wait for your arrival. You will either be here or not. This will show us of your loyalty. I am afraid, Queen, that time is running out for you and you alone. The kings of Kemet grow weaker each passing year. Perhaps we should just wait out a few more pharaohs, and we’ll be able to conquer your lands on our terms?”

For a moment, my blood ran as cold as the Nile. “Then perhaps you do not know the story of Sekhmet and Ra. Ra, old and no longer respected by mankind, sent down Sekhmet whom he created from the fire, the anger, in his eye. She was created as a weapon, a warrior goddess, because of man’s disobedience. Her name means
to be strong, mighty, and violent
. She almost destroyed all of mankind. If not for the aged king’s pity, a woman would have drunk up your bloodline long before you were born. Do not be too caught up in the appearance of man. For behind a king, a woman waits ready to slay those who threaten. On her lips, your life tastes as sweet as wine. So fierce was Sekhmet, not even Ra could silence her. He had to trick her into a deep slumber. I would pray she does not reawaken on your journeys back to your homeland. If you hear the laughter of a lioness echoing around you as you travel, well, let this be your warning.”

The chamberlain smiled wickedly in return.

I spoke again, “You have my word, my trusted woman beside me will deliver the message into your hands well before you leave.”

Tia nodded to them. Then we turned and departed. As we came out from the trees, the air smelled fresher. Lights from the Great River in the sky above sparkled like a jeweled necklace decorating the flesh of Nut, my people’s goddess of the sky. In its center, Djehuty’s brilliant gem glowed. It cast light onto our boat still resting safely on the shoreline. As quick as we could, we pushed off and returned to the palace.

The waves were gentle as we traveled back. As I looked upon the palace, all I saw was an ornately sculpted prison sitting patiently and awaiting my return. How I longed to stay on the waters and feel life around me. Instead I had to re-enter my cage. Perhaps I was nothing more than a dog on a leash constantly being pulled wherever my keepers saw fit. Fed, pampered, but held tightly to the hip.

In my next letter, the king would not doubt my request or my sincerity. As the words formed in my thoughts, the fire in my heart burned hotter. Perhaps this too was from Ra, and something vicious was awakening inside of me.

Chapter Four

The Unique One of Ra

1338 B.C.

My grandmother arrived on a cool day. There was a grand ceremony at the palace quay. We then rode our golden chariots to the temple to offer prayers and thanksgiving for her safe travels. Mother was there but followed in the back of our group. Her sister, Mutbenret, was by her side. Ay had moved her into Mother’s room. I was not sure if it was for company, protection, or to keep her under watch.

Mutbenret was the same age as Meketaten, a year older than me. She did not look much like Mother as she was her half-sister. She was tall and thin. Her face matched that of her father’s. She had high cheekbones and deep-set eyes with thick eyebrows above. Her ka was one that was calm and sympathetic, so she proved a good companion for my mother at this time.

But even her kindness and peace could not stop the discourse that was about to erupt.

I had been sitting by the pool six days after Grandmother’s arrival. Everyone was busy with preparations. There would be yet another feast for Grandmother’s visit, but here in the pool area, all was quiet. My feet were swirling in the water, creating small waves and bubble trails. The fish shied away from my toes. I thought of how I was disrupting their morning meal and wondered how the fish saw me. I bet I appeared as big as an obelisk to them. Did they think me a god as my feet, larger than their bodies, stirred up the waters as a storm? The thought made me laugh.

Lost in these thoughts, I felt my ka jump out of my flesh when I heard a twig sharply snap from behind me. I twisted around and saw my little brother standing in the tree’s underbrush. It had been a while since I had taken a good look at him. He was nearing his fourth year and was ready to start school with us.

“Come out, brother, don’t be scared.” I called over to him.

Slowly, he came closer. Suddenly the rant of my father came back to me:
Maybe you should take a look at your brother for once. He can never be ruler
.

What I saw surprised me. His spine was slightly curved forward, so he had a stoop as an old man would have. His left foot was rotated inwardly at the ankle, and he walked on its side with a limp. The middle toe in his foot was also much shorter than the rest of his toes. On his face, his upper lip seemed to have a small triangular piece cut out as if a great cat had attacked him and taken the flesh with its claw. He was short for his age. His skin was also much lighter than mine, evidence that he spent most of his time in his room.

So this is what father meant. He was ashamed of his son. But there was more to him. His blue eyes were large and bright, and his cheeks were full and round. His fingers were long like Father’s. He looked at me expectantly, as if he were waiting for a rebuke about his appearance.

“I would be happy if you would sit by me,” I offered.

“Aren’t you afraid?” His voice was colored with youth, clear and high-pitched.

“Why would I be afraid?”

“They told me demons took my mother and cursed me. That is why I look this way.”

I looked down into the water at my reflection. I hoped he had not heard those words from Ay’s lips as I had. “Please come and sit. I have no fear of you.”

Slowly he made his way over to me. Carefully, he sat down and crossed his legs. Then he too looked down at my reflection.

“You are lucky. You are very beautiful,” he said.

I could not help but laugh. I think my reaction startled him. “I’m sorry, I was not laughing at you. Here, why don’t you put your feet in the water?”

“Why?”

“Because I think you’ll like it.” I reached over and pulled his legs straight. After doing so, I was afraid I had hurt him, but he did not flinch. Then I carefully guided his feet into the pool’s shining depths.

He shivered, then he smiled. “You are right!”

I laughed again, “You should come out more often, then. I like to come out here.”

Brother’s face became serious. “I’m sick a lot. I’m not sure if I will be able to.”

That explained why I had not seen him much before. “Well, when you are not sick, you can probably find me here if you’d like.”

He looked up at me, the smile returning to his face, “I’d like that!”

Just then, we heard a door from Pharaoh’s private chambers burst open. We sat rigid as Father barreled though the courtyard and into the water garden with my mother, Merytaten, and his mother trailing behind. Mutbenret was following Mother like a tail that follows a lioness. They would not be separated.

“Why do they not get it? It’s so simple!” Akhenaten yelled. His mother, Tiya, was the last to come out of the room, and she shut the doors quietly as her son paced out his frustration. “How can there be idols of other gods found in the village?”

“It was merely a goddess who blesses childbirth. Women ask for all the help they can get, from any god, to deliver them a safe and healthy baby,” Tiya said. “Women are fickle like that, my son.”

“I want those women punished,” he snarled.

“If you punish your soldiers’ women, they may not remain so faithful.” My mother cut in. Her voice crackled over each word as it fought back the emotions of recent days.

“Their husbands are currently in Nubia attending to those who would speak ill of me,” Father retorted. “By the time they found out, it would be too late.”

“You cannot take out your frustration on those that bring life into the world!” Akhenaten’s mother shot back. The edge to my father’s voice did not seem to bother her one bit. She was his mother and was used to all his fits of rage since his childhood. She did not fear her king.

“He’s right there!” Akhenaten snapped and dramatically pointed to the sun peeking above us as if the city was paying attention. “He arrives every morning and rests every night. Where are the other gods they wish to worship? Where are they?” Father said as he advanced on my mother, almost as if he blamed her for their desertion. “Nowhere. Aten makes His presence known to us. Surely, any reasonable man or woman would realize this! And how quickly they forget the might of my brother’s deeds--”

“STOP IT!” Tiya yelled. There was a ferociousness there that had suddenly pounced on all of us. Everyone was stunned except for Father. Grandmother’s anger seemed to bring about a smile to his face.

Akhenaten calmly looked up to bask in the sunlight which poured down onto his anger-riddled expression. “Amun’s priests were only in it for gold. They all were, but Aten remained silent and devoted to His children. He is the only pure God left. He showed us His mercy so we would know the truth.”

“But you cannot force people to do your will. That is what the people are feeling,” Mother replied gently.

“Merytaten, what say you?” he asked more calmly than before, turning toward his eldest daughter. “Why are the people not listening?”

Merytaten paused for only a moment to consider her response, “You will make the people feel no better than the slaves you gather from foreign lands. I fear that they will revolt against you if they are ruled so rigidly. Our people are proud and do not like to be kept on a taut rein.”

Merytaten looked over at grandmother, and I noticed Tiya smile very subtly, but there was no warmth touching her features.

“Merytaten is learning well, but your father, my husband, was a living god,” his mother purred, which quickly developed to something more serpent-like as she went on, “You are now the living god. Your Will should be followed without question as was your father’s. I think that if the people do not see, you need to show them more forcefully. They forget their place.”

Mother quickly responded, “Do not give them cause to gather against you. Give them a concession, a compromise. Mayati is right, give them back their right to choose. The people of Mernefer are the most prominent population here from our outlying cities. Maybe not a temple, but allow them a statue to pray to. Give them Mut back--.”

“Mut? The
wife
of Amun? Have you not heard me? Amun tried to empty the treasury and leave my father stripped of all power. You should know better. The one God spoke to us both that day.” Father stopped abruptly. He took a few breaths to calm his heart. “No, those false gods have had their time. I am Pharaoh.”

His voice was now slow and thoughtful. A plan was brewing in his mind. “If these women and men insist on clinging to the past, then they should be venerating me as the living god. That was how it was in the days of Amun. The people forget their place. They cannot have one part without the other…”

He glanced over at Tutankhaten. A scowl crossed his features. “I think we should remind our people how powerful Aten is. They will see how strong our family is. The people will listen. I must go to The Great Temple. Aten will give me the wisdom I need.”

Mother took his hand, looked in his eye. “Your brother’s God showed us mercy on the day you speak of. I know you want to lead like
he
did, but he put God first. All his people could pray to God, and all people were connected. The people under our leadership do not feel that relationship. They have not heard His word. Please, give them something… Even if it’s under a different name, it’s still the One God. It’s just in another form that they might understand…”

Father could not hold her gaze; his thoughts were too busy with recourse for his people. Mother could tell she was not getting through to him. I could not even tell if he heard her. He departed with his mother Tiya close behind. Mother nudged Merytaten along and bade her to participate in the prayers with Father. So they left to board their chariots and pray for enlightenment.