The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen (20 page)

“How is Meket?” he asked. His voice was timid, and he almost never used her familiar name. I was too busy thinking over his choice of words to respond.

It was then that I was surprised more than I had ever been before. My mother appeared from the birthing room. She wore the robe of a nursemaid. She did not have any jewelry, but she was clearly still the most commanding force in the vicinity. I had not seen her. There had been so many people, and they were not of concern to me at that time. I thought of the woman who had stroked Meketaten’s cheek.

“She is dead, Pharaoh.” Her tone was accusational, and I was glad she was making him squirm.

Father finally looked up, and his eyes widened. “How did you get in here?”

“I came to see my daughter. I massaged her, gave her wine, tried to help her, but she has joined Ra on his journey.”

I wanted her to say more… more about how Meketaten’s ka was on
him
, how this was
his
fault… I wanted her to shout it all back in his face, but she waited calmly for him to speak. She stood perfectly still. Meanwhile, my body still trembled in anger.

Father dropped into a crouch and covered his face with his hands. “She was too young,” he said.

“Yes, she was,” mother agreed. Her voice was low and steady.

“I will raise the baby,” Merytaten said. She looked down at the girl who was now looking around with wide eyes. She had not cried yet. Merytaten sighed. “Beautiful.”

Mother came over next to her. “She looks like you when you were a baby. You should call her Merytaten Tasherit. It was Meket’s idea before she left us. She told me.”

Merytaten looked up at her and smiled. “I am glad she knew you were there.”

“I welcomed her into the world, and I gave her safe passage to Aaru this morning. She was born in the morning light too, just like
her
daughter.” Mother’s voice cracked. She coughed. “Now she blesses Aten’s court. He is lucky indeed this day.”

Merytaten nodded her response as tears poked out from her eyes. Mother came over to me next and gave me a hug. I had stopped crying, but my face was still wet.

“I’m sorry I did not see you.” I said to her, my voice that of a frog’s.

“I did not mean to be seen.” She kissed my forehead. “Be strong.”

Mother walked over to Pharaoh. “I’m sorry.”

And she left. She knew she could not stay, and she disappeared like the cool touch of the morning just before sunrise.

“She wanted to be remembered in the temple,” I said to him. “She wanted to be remembered in stone.”

I did not think Father heard as he stood up. He did not look at me. He looked at no one except the silent birth chamber.

His voice was hushed, “She will be.”

And he left.

Thou Fill the Two Lands
With Thy Love
1322 B.C
.

I made my way nervously down a road of god image casts, around ornate obelisks, and through a forest of pillars until the designated meeting place finally came into view. It was a smaller, older altar house surrounding the Great Temple of Amun. This house did not see many worshippers as its walls were chipped and cracked. It was just one of the many things that suffered neglect while my father dined in the City of Akhenaten.

I had bought my normal entourage with me so as not to arouse suspicion, but as prayer was a private matter, the two guards stayed outside of the room. They glanced quickly in the temple, but I refused to let them step inside, stating that it was a place reserved only for royalty. I was thankful for the shadows heavily painting the sides of the room. Then I got down on my knees and waited for my cue.

It did not take long. There was a faint rustling to my left. I looked up and saw Tia waving me over. She was dressed in a cloak just like my own. Swiftly, she exchanged places with me at the altar while I found privacy within a blackened corner.

He was there waiting for me.

As Tia lit a candle and began to chant out a prayer that only pharaohs and their wives are taught, I was greeted with sweet lips pressed into mine. We shared a moment of quiet passion, but like all moments, they last no longer than a finger snap. My heart beat heavily as we pulled away ever so slowly so as to keep our lips quiet. Even though it was too dark to see him yet, his scent filled me. His touch was familiar. It felt like where I belonged.

“Thank you for coming,” I whispered breathlessly. My heart was pounding against his chest. He tightened his hold around my waist.

“I will always come when you call,” he answered with desire in his voice. His lips brushed my ear. A tickle ran down my back and made me tremble.

“I must ask you to do something dangerous.”

I could sense a boyish smile playing on his lips as he spoke. “No problem.”

“I fear even asking. The jackals will be at your heels if you agree.”

“I don’t care. If I can keep you safe from the evil spirits at the palace, I will.”

I pulled the rolled-up papyrus out from beneath my robes and handed it to him. “I need you to take this to King Suppiluliuma of the Hittites. It’s another plea for his help and an explanation that what happened was not of my doing. I fear how he will react to the death of his son.”

“So you can marry another one of them,” he responded quietly. His mood sounded as dark as the shadows we hid inside of.

“So his army can protect me from the scorpions trying to claw the crown from my head.” My eyes were adjusting to the dimness around us, and I could just make out his face, which was outlined in dolor. I put my hands on his cheeks and looked into his eyes. “You know it is forbidden.”

“I will never understand the laws here. You cannot marry a man you love, but you
can
marry your brother.”

“That is only for the families of the pharaohs. It does not bind you or anyone else in Kemet. But we, as Pharaoh’s children, must follow the example of Osiris and Isis.”

“Even when you do not worship them? Your gods are foolish and your people fickle!” he hissed at me with frustration, daring not to speak too loud and alerting my guards. Tia’s voice could just barely blanket us.

I knew what he was referring to, and I relented. “Yes, they are, but right now, I need to find a way to save my family. How can I stand by and let them be erased?”

“Even when they hurt you?”

“My father’s deeds cannot be erased, but that should not mean that my mother and sisters must suffer as well. I have one last chance, and I can only trust you.”

He met my eyes again. “I am sorry for my anger.”

“I’m sorry I cannot give you more, my love.”

“May I ask you something before I go? I would like to know in case my soul departs from this land.”

“Stop being that nervous young boy I once met. Of course you can ask,” I said playfully.

His face was again somber. “Do you love me as much as you loved your husband?”

My jaw clenched, the beating in my chest stopped. I knew one day I would have to answer this question. As I took in a breath, I hoped that Tutankhamun would forgive my true feelings.

“I loved my husband, yes. He treated me as a person with value. We were the best of friends. We grew up together. We suffered many things together. It is a love of familiarity. But what I feel for you, it fills my entire body. It makes my toes tingle and my nose tickle. I feel it bubbling all throughout me like too much wine. No one else has ever made me feel that way, and I miss it when we are apart. It is like a fire that does not consume but quenches me.”

He rested his forehead against mine. “Then in our hearts, we are husband and wife.”

“I could ask you the same thing,” I whispered gently, but then instantly hated myself for releasing the words.

“I never meant to hurt you, you know that. As the seasons passed, I betrayed you both. I could never love her as I love you. I pray for forgiveness for my weakness. I beg you to keep faith in me.”

“Be safe, my love.” I rested in his arms, breathing deeply, trying to soak him in.

“Of course. I have a princess waiting for me when I get back.”

I smiled at the mention of her. “How is my Tawaret?”

“She misses you. But I remind her how you are fighting for your people, and soon, when things are over, she can return to you. When it’s safe again.”

“It never was safe.” Tears poured out from my eyes. I could feel the thick kohl smearing my cheeks. “I miss her so. Please tell her I miss her before you leave. And tell her I have a wonderful gift for her eleventh year.”

“I will. My father will take care of her.”

I kissed him again. “I must go. Please, please come back to me.”

“Maybe I’ll have to place my heart up in a tree so you can find me again if anything should happen. Then we would not have to worry about death stealing one of us away.”

I suppressed a laugh at his reference. It helped to lighten the ever-present feeling of desperation I had. It took me back to when we were younger and did not have the worries of a kingdom weighing us down.

Finding a smile on my face, I responded, “But as you know, I cannot leave the palace, and you cannot enter it. You would just make things more difficult. What took one brother years to find could take us a lifetime.”

He smiled down at me. “Then I promise that I will find
you
no matter what happens, lifetime or not.”

I stepped away from our hiding place before I could think clearly enough to stop myself. I longed to let my feet sink into the floor, keeping me here with him for eternity. Tia took my cue and ran once more into the darkness. As she passed me, I whispered my thanks. Wiping my cheeks with the sleeve of my robe, I walked out the door my guards flanked and let them escort me out.

We walked back to the palace through beauty. Every inch of the temple, floor to ceiling, was covered in the Kemet script. Pictures represented objects which represented words and names and deeds and memories. My husband and I had helped restore some of the walls in the temple, which had also been left neglected from my father’s reign. There was a sea of pillars which possessed a mixture of lotus and papyrus styles. They wove together in perfect harmony and on them held many names and stories. The obelisks erected by Queen Hatshepsut were so tall you could not see the tops of them without being blinded by Aten. So many pharaohs of the past had left their mark here…

…except for my family. Our marks were being chiseled out and broken into obscurity. By the next inundation, I doubted we would be remembered at all.

Chapter Seven

Thou Living Aten, The Beginning of Life!

1335 B.C.

It was no longer a sickness. It was a plague, and it was everywhere.

Father tried to stop the spread by not allowing us to leave the palace grounds, but slaves and nurses carried it in. At first, those carrying it looked normal, but within a few days, the disease consumed them.

I was kept shut in with the rest of the children. We were rarely allowed out of our rooms. The farthest we could venture from our rooms was the water courtyard, which was just a few steps away. Anything further was forbidden, and no one else was allowed in.

As the eldest child, I had to supervise my younger sisters. Neferneferuaten Tasherit loved the animals’ houses, which were connected to the water court. Our daily walks usually included a visit there. She would always find something new to capture her attention.

Neferneferuaten was almost five. Her name meant Beauty of the Beauties of Aten. We called her Baby Beauty sometimes to tease her. Other times, we called her NeNe since her name was so close to Neferneferure (whose name meant the same but referenced Ra instead of Aten). She preferred NeNe.

NeNe was very curious and was always asking questions about the animals. I could answer some questions and made up answers I thought plausible for others. She had collected pictures of different animals and would sometimes bring them along to compare.

We were never alone in the animal house with so many of us crammed in the apartment space. Today, Tutankhaten was there. He was 6 now. He walked taller but had to use a cane. His foot was bent inward, and it looked like he walked on his ankle even if it was a little straighter than when I first saw him hiding by the pool. His skin was more tanned, which meant he wasn’t inside and sick as much. Maia was behind him holding a cup of water. He walked over and joined us. He proved to be good at answering questions NeNe posed as we walked together.

We were walking to the aviary when it began. NeNe’s throat had bothered her all day. As we walked, she developed a light cough. We were just a few paces away from the bird house when her coughing attacked her. She fell to her knees and was sick. When she sat back up, there was blood on the ground and staining her lips.

Maia snapped her up and started to back away from us. “Both of you, wash yourselves now. I have to get your sister out of here.”

“Maia, no!” Tutankhaten pleaded, “If you leave, you can’t come back. You might get the disease!”

“My duty is to protect you. Tia will get you clean. Go with An. She will care for you now.” She stepped away even further.

Tutankhaten tried to follow, but I caught his arm as I realized what Maia was doing.

“No! You can’t leave me! Mother, no!” he cried.

“Take care of yourself, Prince.” Maia then turned and ran from us with Neferneferuaten limp in her arms.

Tutankhaten tried to follow, but I held him back. He called out to Maia as she disappeared from view. “I love you! Don’t go!”

He was light enough so I could pick his feet up off the ground. I half carried, half dragged him inside. He had stopped trying to get away from me by then. I told Tia that NeNe showed signs, and she quickly got us showered off. We were scrubbed and our bodies shaved.

Father sent Ay to check on us. He said that Neferneferuaten Tasherit was confirmed to have the plague and would spend her final days in the slave quarters. We both cried, but I knew Tutankhaten cried more about Maia’s departure.

I looked outside to the courtyard as Grandfather reiterated what signs to watch for in ourselves. I saw a papyrus strip floating along the breeze. Focusing closely on it, I realized it was the one NeNe had with her today. I could see the outline of a lioness on it. Part of it was red, probably from when she threw up. I watched it roll around in the breeze like a gentle flower bud that had escaped from its branch.