Falling for the Pharaoh

Atemu - [A New Life]

The ceremony had taken much longer than I had anticipated. But I had actually hoped that it would take longer.

It was nice to see all those people when I looked out from the balcony. All of them shouting their prayers for my well being. It was a nice feeling... a great feeling really.

But that was all over and now was the time for the actual work.

I walked down the hall, only a little nervous but very tired. I felt my crown slip slightly to the left but ignored it... but then adjusted it the second I saw my mother.

She smiled warmly at me, her bright brown eyes still slightly red from all the crying. She still looked beautiful though, tall, thin, very black hair, pink lips, olive coloured skin and a gorgeous smile.

“My son...” She sighed as I took her hand and kissed it.

“Aren’t you going to bless me?” I asked with a teasing smile.

She smiled at that and placed her hands on both of my cheeks. “I have blessed you so many times already, my Prince, so much that the gods must be tired of hearing my voice.”

I laughed. “Thank you.”

She pulled my head down so she could kiss my forehead. “You must rule like your father did, my love.”

That made me sigh and pull away. “I’ll remember that for when I get married.” I said, as I started to walk away.

“Atemu.” My mother cooed as she turned to watch me.

I turned around, walking backwards and winked. “Only kidding.” I said, even though she already knew it.

She smiled and blew me a kiss and I did the same, a habit she had raised me with.

When I entered the throne room, I smiled at the crowd. I was glad that I was used to this, if I wasn’t I’d probably be shaking and scared.

I sat on the throne and the second I did, people were walking up the stairs to express their sorrows and tell me that I will be just like my father.

And that was really not what I wanted to hear.

It wasn’t that I disliked my father, no, not at all. I loved him very much. It was just that him and I weren’t very close. It’s hard to be close to your father when he was married to four other women and had twelve kids, including me.

My mother was his first wife and I remember how angry I was when he married another woman. Well, I actually was never angry until that woman, my stepmother, started to treat me poorly, like a servant, not a prince.

Actually, all of my stepmothers hated me. I was the first son of the Pharaoh, and that made me the real Prince.

But that wasn’t a problem for me... I didn’t like them either.

It was funny though, funny because they tried to make my brothers and sisters hate me too. That didn’t work though. They all love me, my personality and caring nature had gotten to them.

“My Pharaoh.” Salim, my mother’s father called.

I looked up at the old man. “Yes, grandfather?”

He was tall and built, but had started to shrink as the years passed. He had my mother’s brown eyes and grey hair on his head and face.

He jerked his chin to the entrance of the throne room. “Lord Asim has arrived.”

I turned my head and saw my father’s closest friend enter. I immediately got up and walked over to him.

“Son!” He smiled warmly as he held out his arms.

I walked into his embrace and patted his back.

“Forgive me, I mean, Pharaoh!” He said.

I pulled away. “Please.” I smiled. “I’d prefer son.”

He smiled. “Alright then, son.” He then led me out of the throne room, my grandfather followed behind us.

We walked silently for a moment, and eventually, I noticed his gaze.

“You know,” he started, “that crown... you have never resembled your father more.”

I smiled.

“It’s like he’s still here with us.”

I just kept smiling. I really didn’t know what to say to that.

We continued our conversation until we had arrived to the dining room where I sat down and Lord Asim stood in front of me. “Son, have you thought about marriage yet?”

I snorted. “That has been the last thing on my mind.”

“My daughter has started to think deeply about it, though.” My grandfather said.

Lord Asim looked at him. “Has she found anyone?”

“Not yet... shall we call her here? She would enjoy this conversation very much.”

Lord Asim laughed. “Yes, yes, please call my Lady.”

My grandfather left immediately.

Moments later, my mother walked in with half a dozen maids.

Lord Asim walked over to her immediately and bowed. “My Lady.”

My mother smiled at him. “Lord Asim. It is always nice to see you.”

He smiled. “We were discussing your son’s marriage.”

My mother’s eyes widened. “What magic! I was just thinking about that!” The sudden excitement in her voice worried me.

“Mother... do you really think I’m ready to get married?”

“My Love... I think you are more than ready for marriage. Especially now that you are a Pharaoh! All of Egypt is waiting for this.”

I frowned and crossed my arms.

“I know just the girl.” Lord Asim said.

“You do?” My mother and I said together. Except her tone was excited and my tone was bored.

Lord Asim laughed. “I do.” He said. “My gift to you, my Pharaoh.”

“I don’t want a girl as a gift, Lord Asim.”

“But believe me, son—”

“Lord Asim...” My mother interrupted. “Who is this girl you are referring too?” She had a small smile on her face and for some reason I had a feeling that a while back, maybe years ago, these two had already come to an agreement.

“Exactly who you are thinking.” He said, returning her smile.

Her face lit up. “Oh! I approve! I approve!”

I raised an eyebrow. “You cannot approve without my approval.” I muttered.

My mother jumped over to me. “Oh, Atemu, darling... she’s called the most beautiful girl in all of Egypt.”

“And who is this girl?” I asked.

“You have met her.” Lord Asim said.

“I have?” I asked, placing my elbow on the arm of my chair and my chin on my palm.

Lord Asim nodded. “Do you not recall, the girl who handed the priest the crown?”

My heart stopped. “Your daughter?”

Lord Asim smiled proudly.

“Do you not remember her Atemu?” My mother asked, getting down on her knees so that she could look me in the eyes.

“They looked so wonderful up there together.” Lord Asim said. “My wife and I watched in awe.”

My mother nodded. “Yes! I noticed that too.”

I shook my head, letting out a laugh. “You have got to be kidding me.”

My mother frowned. “Do you not like her?”

“Like her? How can I like her if I don’t even know her?” I asked, getting up.

“But you saw her, darling.”

“And I can barely even remember her face. I had too many worries floating through my head this morning to notice the face of a girl.”

My mother continued to frown as she got up. “Well then you must come see her.” She took my arm. “You will fall in love instantly!”

I pulled my arm away. “Mother.”

“Come now, my Pharaoh. Your mother is right and I believe my daughter is well suited for your needs.”

“My needs?” I asked as I looked at him. “What exactly are my needs?” To be honest, I had no idea of what he was talking about. Really, what exactly were my needs?

“To have a loving, caring and beautiful wife?” He tried. “To... fall in love...”

“To have a wife who will stand by your side through thick and thin and love you with all her heart and care for you and your children like you’re all that matters.” My mother smiled. “A wife who all our people will love... who will love all our people too. A woman who is respected not only because she is beautiful, but because she is kind hearted, independent and good natured. Is that not what you want, Atemu?”

“And you think your daughter is all of this?” I asked Lord Asim, trying to ignore the heat in my face since my mother had stated exactly what I wanted in a woman.

He nodded. “And more.”

I looked away. The thought of that was nice... but how could I believe. How could they think of making me believe in such fantasy?

I’d have to meet her first.

“Perfect timing, my Love.” I heard Lord Asim say.

When I looked up, I saw Lord Asim’s wife, Lady Umi, walk into the room. I bowed my head. “My Lady.”

She smiled at me and then turned to my mother who had rushed over to give Lady Umi a kiss on the cheek. “It is so great to see you!” She said to her.

My mother smiled too. “I am so glad you came... have you brought your children?”

“Every one of them.” Lady Umi said with an amusing smile. She then held her hand out. “Nathifa dear! Stop playing with animals and come here, child!”

My mother walked back over to me. “Nathifa, the eldest daughter.” My mother whispered to me.

It felt very strange to look at her, knowing that she may soon be my future wife. But when I did see her, I noticed her... and felt like ripping my eyes out for not noticing her earlier today.

She wore a simple white dress that draped her body beautifully, falling straight down to her feet, and she wore pointy toed slippers. Her dress also had simple embroidery on it, and shaped her curves perfectly.

She had thick, black and long hair that was braided and fell over her left shoulder, with a flower in each braid. Her olive coloured skin looked soft to the touch, she had pink lips that smiled beautifully and a pointed nose which was identical to her fathers. Her eye’s, I’d say, were the most beautiful I have seen, light brown and framed nicely with eyeliner.

She stood there elegantly, her hands clasped together over her belly and with a slight tilt in her body which made her look somewhat fragile.

“Is that any way to treat a Lady?” I heard my mother ask teasingly.

I looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

“Go kiss her hand, you can’t keep a young lady waiting like that. Did I not teach you better?” She gave me a little hand by pushing me forward.

The girl held her hand out and I took it, bending down to kiss it.

“The young Pharaoh was raised well.” I heard her say, she had a nice voice, I wondered if she sang.

When I looked up, she was smiling teasingly at me.

I smiled back. “My mother did a good job.”

“A very good job, I think.” I heard Lord Asim say.

I dropped her hand then and turned around to look at him.

Suddenly, I heard loud laughter as three little girls in white dresses ran into the room, followed by a young man, maybe a little older than me.

The young man, tall and looking almost identical to Lord Asim, bowed and I nodded my head.

When the three little girls saw me, they all exchanged multiple gasps and then bowed.

It made me chuckle.

After freezing in a bow for about a minute, all three girls began to fight over who got to hold Nathifa’s hand.

Nathifa smiled, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“Girls.” Lady Umi called.

The girls stopped right away and stood still, putting their hands behind their backs.

My mother laughed. “Such beautiful young ladies you have here!” She said as she walked back over to Lady Umi. “Come now, let me show you around the palace, I have done a lot of decorating since you last came.”

The two began to walk out, and the half a dozen maids I had completely forgotten about followed after them.

The three little girls seemed to get excited when they heard what my mother said and followed after the two women. Nathifa turned too, but her father called her.

“Nathifa. Come here.”

She turned around and walked over to her father, her brother by her side.

“Why don’t you keep the young Pharaoh company while your brother and I look for his grandfather. I wonder where he went...”

Oh no. I thought.

She nodded her head. “Yes papa.”

He smiled. “Good.” He then walked away, putting his hand on his sons back. “I really do wonder where Lord Salim has gone... did you see him?”

“No father, I didn’t” The brother said.

And then I was alone with the girl.