The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen (50 page)

My doors parted as Tia and a woman covered up in scarves entered. The second woman did not look entirely familiar, but there
was
something there. She was full-figured, the sign of a well-fed individual. Though servants were not starved, they received smaller portions of food and never anything that would fatten them up like beer and cheese would.

As my doors closed, the woman began to remove her veils. When I caught her eyes within mine, there was something long ago familiar in them. They were brown with long sweeping lashes. She was taller than me. Her nose was small with faded freckles about it. Her lips were full and pink. Her hair was brown…

Marahkaten!

I stood quickly, upsetting the side makeup table beside me. Marahkaten smiled and humbly bowed, but I stood her up and wrapped my arms around her.

Suddenly, I found myself crying. Marahkaten guided me to a couch, and we sat down together. Tia stepped out onto the terrace.

“Mara, my heart is glad to see you once again,” I began. Her face was shaded with shyness, as if we were awkward princesses again.

“My Queen…” she started.

“Oh, none of that! Please, Mara, we have grown up together.”

She smiled easier this time. “Ankhesenamun, I wanted to see you again and offer you my support. You have no more sisters beside you, so I thought I would lend you my ear if you needed it.”

Fresh tears poured down my cheeks, and in vain I kept trying to wipe them away.

“You are perceptive. I have longed for such a presence. But it is not safe. Ay’s heart has not softened since Akhenaten. If he finds another child of our father alive –”

“Yes, there is another matter of which I present myself to you. One in which I can no longer hide myself.” She began to flush as she spoke her next words, “I am in love with a rather prominent man.”

Everything inside of me felt as if it fell to the floor. Lightheaded, I leaned back on my hands to steady myself.

Did something happen to Amyntas?

Then an even deeper fear welled up inside of me: where was my daughter? The one girl I had left to me, was she safe? I desperately struggled to keep my emotions together, but my body needed more. My arms needed a child to hold. I could not bear to hear that two daughters were now lost to me!

“I don’t understand.” It was all I could manage to say. My mouth had gone dry, and my tongue felt thick.

“Amyntas and I were two people who came together by accident. He is a good man, but that fire that I once felt around him has been quenched.” She said it as if she was bartering for bread.

“What of the children?” This time, the urgency in my tone was clear.

“Oh, Ankhesenamun, everything is fine. I would not have left him if I thought your daughter was in any trouble. Amyntas’s father watches out for her during the day. He has never recovered from the robbery attack years ago. So he stays home and cares for the children.”

“You just left?”

Marahkaten looked me square in the face. “We got a divorce. He will keep the house, and I will walk away with enough to live on until I remarry. He will watch our son on certain days if he is not too busy with work, and I will watch him on others.”

So many thoughts were racing through my heart. All these years, she had tasted my desire, and now she tossed it back into the river like a fish too small to bother keeping. I felt guilty for the anger I had thrown toward Amyntas. While he tried to make her happy, her heart had strayed to another.

Was that so different from myself? Was she so different from me? Did she also have her sights on another man when she got pregnant? And who was I to judge such things? In my prayers I asked for the gods’ blessings, yet I had the same feelings in my heart that she was now dealing with. I stopped my judgmental thoughts and words before they could come into the light.

“So who is this man you will soon be seen publicly around the palace with?”

Marahkaten sucked in a breath and smiled at me. Her face seemed to glow just by thinking of his name. “Pa-ramessu.”

Pa-ramessu, Horemheb’s right hand. Yes, that would make hiding difficult. I saw him often around the palace though we rarely spoke. I had assumed him already married as he was as old as Horemheb if not older.

“I can provide you some new wigs and makeup. We could paint your face so that some of your features are manipulated. Certain features do remind me of your mother, if my memories are true, so there is still a danger of you being recognized.”

Marahkaten sighed easily. “I knew you could help. I wish there was something more I could do for you.”

Ideas rushed out of me. “You have raised my daughter. You are all that she knows as a mother. I ask but one thing. I will provide you a home within these walls. I ask that you live here with me… with her.”

Marahkaten put her hand on my shoulder. “It would be very dangerous for her here. Are you sure?”

“Maybe I’m selfish then.” I stood up and started to pace the room. “Putting her in such a place, in close proximity to one who would kill her if he got the chance, but I need her close. I need my daughter…”

“Will you claim her as your daughter?”

The words were soft, and when I met Marahkaten’s eyes, there was sadness present. And fear. It was a mother’s fear. I recognized the look. But finally I could have my daughter near me. I could see my child once again and perhaps forget the one who had been stolen from this world.

I was putting them both in an unfair position. I knew that.

“To see her laugh and grow will be my sustenance. I cannot claim her as mine. I would seal her tomb by doing so. No. She is and always will be your daughter.” I said with gentleness.

Tears trickled down her face. “Thank you,” she whispered with gratitude.

I stopped in front of the mirror and looked at my reflection in bronze. “There is one more issue. That of your name. What do you go by now?”

Marahkaten stood with a sniffle. “Yes, I had pondered that. Most of the villagers just know me as Mar-akt.”

“There is a name I had picked out. Though we expected a boy, well, I had a feeling I should pick out a girl’s name…”

She came beside me and hooked her arm within mine, both of us looking into each other’s reflection. While there were many differences, we also had similarities. I never noticed before, but now as we stood as two women, I could see much more. Our eyes were alight with passion, determination. Our hair was the same color brown. Our faces were shaped the same. We both had long arms and legs. Our necks were also long and graceful. Our lips seemed to shape the same smile. As I looked, I realized we could pass for full-blood sisters.

She spoke to me with confidence, “I would be honored to take such a name as my own in her memory.”

*****

The party was in full swing, and she sat across from me as we dined. My heart had leapt up into my throat and had stayed there all night. Only wine trickled past my lips during the meal.

My daughter sat at Pharaoh’s table.

Tutankhamun was in an exuberant conversation with Horemheb and Pa-ramessu. Next to the latter sat his new wife, Tia-Sitre.

Tia-Sitre radiated confidence and ease at the table. At first, I was concerned this would alert others to her royal upbringing, but the evening had passed smoothly. Her face was accented using green-tinted malachite with black kohl outlines around her eyes. The air around her smelled of rich cinnamon. Her straight wig framed her face, highlighting the subtle cheekbones that sometimes were missed among her features. Her lips were colored a deep pink, almost red, which hid well-cared for teeth in between her smiles. Her gown was long and pleated, pure white in color, and framed with a translucent, slightly brown-tinted overcoat.

I wore as many different colors and styles as I could from my sister. My face was painted with muted colors while my wig was filled with plaits. An electrum circlet wrapped around my head and rested comfortably at the top of my forehead. My gown was crimson with gold trim and fastened with a belt decorated in lapis lazuli.

As the celebration feast moved into late evening, my eyes continued to sway around to my daughter, Tawaret. She was 8 now and was growing tall. Her youth lock was braided with ribbon and a few blue stones. Her eyes were in the shape of almonds, her nose was small and pointed, her upper lip was thin while her bottom lip was full, and her ears stuck out a bit. She scratched them often through the dinner, and I figured this to be a nervous twitch. I could not see the color of her eyes though.

“I would like to thank your wife --”

I jerked my mind to the conversation at hand and what Pa-ramessu was saying. My ears had learned always to keep alert in the presence of others.

“Thank you, Queen, for the house, garden, and servants you have given us. Your generosity is as great as your beauty.” He raised his goblet toward me.

I nodded my head in response. “My foremost concern is the safety and sanctity of family. May you continue to bless this land with strong sons and loving daughters.”

Everyone at the table clapped. The gift was given only for myself, and I felt guilt at accepting praise for it. I caught Tia-Sitre’s brown-eyed gaze, and she smiled at me warmly. It was then that I realized this was the second home I had provided for her. While I knew her heart was not that of someone who took advantage of others, I could not help but feel slightly used. Still, was that not what a family was for? Supporting each other? Mine had been destroyed early in my life, so I could not be sure.

Her son, Amyntas’s son, was tugging on her overcoat. He was 7 and had sandy blond hair and green eyes just like his father. His face was freckled around the nose as his mother’s had been.

“Mother, I’m tired. Can we go home?”

She leaned over and kissed him on the nose. Then she bumped her nose against his. The boy giggled.

“Soon, my sweet. I will tuck you in soon,” she said.

My daughter… Tia-Sitre’s daughter… yawned. Pa-ramessu put his arm around her, and I felt my blood chill as she rested her head on his muscled leg. Why could that not be my husband comforting her? Why could that not be me sitting where Tia-Sitre was, sitting between my children?

“A wife and two children for you all in one day, Pa-ramessu, it’s too easy!” Tutankhamun said with a very subtle tremor in his voice. I doubt anyone else picked up on the sound, which my own voice echoed. “General, we need to make sure this man hasn’t become soft. Some extra laps around the track perhaps? Without horse?”

Horemheb nodded with the mockings of a serious expression lining his face. “And a few more days of hard labor lifting would do this pampered boy some good. He needs to remember that things aren’t always just going to be handed to him, beautiful wife and all the trappings.”

The men laughed long and loud, mostly from the wine. But they were a close trio. They shared a bond that seemed to make life in general more humorous. I was glad Tutankhamun had this release. I knew I had not been a support for him ever since our daughter was placed in her tomb. Each night, Horemheb placed a trusted guard outside of the tomb. No one would disturb our daughter. She had not been buried with jewels or gold, and some believed she never had a ka. They asked why would we bother to waste resources and protect an empty shell. It gave me peace that Tutankhamun requested the protection.

“What is your name?” I asked the boy.

“Tushari.”

“And what do you think of your new home inside the palace walls?” My eyes flicked over to Tawaret as I spoke. I could see her mounting interest in our conversation.

“Welllllllllllll… we’re escorted by servants everywhere, and it’s… it’s very different from my old house,” he said.

“Tushi, you are so rude sometimes!” Tawaret hissed at him. She got up from her seat between Pa-ramessu and Tia-Sitre and plopped down between Tushari and me. “I apologize for my brother, Queen. He can be as dense as a rock.”

“I am not!”

I held a finger to my lips and was surprised at how quickly they calmed down.

“It is all right,” I began. “I can respect a man who is honest. But you should know, good sir, that it is best to charm your hostess with praises if you want a few extra honey cakes.”

Tushari sat up straight as an arrow, and Tawaret’s eyes became almost as round as the moon. I laughed and waved a servant over. He quickly left to retrieve my request.

“While we wait for our treats, let’s share some stories.”

Tawaret crossed her legs underneath her bottom. “Father loves stories!”

Quick as a whip, Tushari slapped her on the arm, and she lowered her face.

“Oh, but it is all right. I know the stories of Adonai,” I said to them in a whisper. Tawaret’s eyes rose again to mine like the sun boat over the morning’s horizon, bright and sparkling.

Her eyes were blue, the deepest shade of blue I had seen. They twinkled like the stars above. They glowed with excitement. I noticed my vision blurring. I grabbed a table linen and dabbed the wetness from my eyes as the honey cakes were set before me.

As soon as the plate was set down, the children began to grab for the pile.

I interrupted them, “
First
we share a story. Then we get a treat. The better the story, the more honey cakes you get.”

“Kind of like a game!” Tawaret deduced.

“Yes, and since you figured that out, you can go first.”

Tushari began bouncing in his seat. He kept staring at the warm cakes radiating sweet scents around us, wrapping around us like a warm blanket. Tawaret rolled her eyes.

“Might as well let my brother go first. He may die of hunger if he doesn’t fill his belly again! It’s only been a few water drops since he shoveled something down!”

He clapped his hands and scooted to the edge of his seat. But his eyes quickly dimmed as he tried to think of a grand story to tell. He scratched the part of his head which was covered by his blond youth lock.

“I know now! The great flood! It’s my favorite.” Tushari cleared his throat dramatically, “Many, many years ago, there was a man named Noach. When Noach was six-
hundred
years old, Adonai was upset with all the bad people of the earth and decided to send a giant flood to destroy all the wickedness. But Noach and his family were good. So Adonai told Noach to build a ship and save his family.