Atemu - [The Great Dancers]
1499 Words
I held my arms up as the designer measured my waist. It was hard to ignore her reddening cheeks as her hands touched my bare skin. I knew exactly what she was thinking, imagining too, and if I weren’t getting married tomorrow, I would have probably made some of her fantasies a reality. And then I would have told Whati about it, and he would have been absolutely jealous and I would have laughed at him.
I was surprised when Whati opened the door and walked in, grinning. His grin then faded as he looked at the girl, who was writing down the measurements. He looked at me, widening his eyes. I knew what he was asking, so I shook my head.
He rolled his eyes and walked over to me. “You’re too good to be true.”
I laughed.
“Guess who I talked too.”
“Who.” I asked.
“Your queen.”
I smiled.
“My Pharaoh.” The girl said, bowing her head as she picked up her scrolls.
“Thank you.” I said.
She smiled and turned. Before leaving she bowed for Whati, who winked at her. She blushed and rushed out.
I scratched my head as I sat on my bed.
“And have you met that maid of hers?” Whati asked.
I looked at him. “I have.”
His eyes widened. “Oh god, she’s gorgeous. You should reward me for all my troubles and help me get that girl into my bed.” He sat on my bed and lied down.
I laughed. “That’s going to be hard. She’s very modest.”
He rolled his eyes. “All the beautiful girls are.” He sat back up. “You know, that’s one thing I hate about girls. Why do they have to be so modest? If girls could just throw themselves at men, we wouldn’t have to worry.”
“That’s why we have prostitutes, my friend.”
He froze. “Oh, yeah.”
I chuckled. “Plus, doesn’t the whole modest part make the chase that much more fun?”
He shrugged. “It’s a lot of work.”
“It helps distinguish between a playmate and a wife.”
He pointed at me and nodded. “This, my friend, is why you are the smart one.”
I grinned and got up. After a short moment, I sighed.
“Nervous?” He asked.
I nodded. “I cannot believe I’m getting married tomorrow.”
“Why?” Whati asked. “Your younger brother got married last year, and he’s fifteen. What’s so shocking about marriage?”
I sat back down next to him and put my arm around him. “Think, Whati. Nine months from tomorrow I’m probably going to be a father.”
Whati grinned. “And tomorrow night, you’re going to be at the mercy of that beautiful lady.”
I smacked his head. “Whati!”
“It’s true, Tem! Aren’t you excited for that?”
I tried to hold back my grin.
His mischievous grin exposed itself. “She’s going to be riding you like—”
“Whati!” I hit his head again. “You better not be imagining my future wife naked.”
His eyes widened. “No! Of course not.”
We stared at each other for a moment, and he began to smile.
I laughed as I went to hit him again, but he jumped away. “You get me the maid and I swear I’ll stop.” He grinned.
I grabbed the small statue on my side table and pretended that I was going to throw it. Whati ran out of the room, laughing.
I put the statue back, leaned forward, put my elbows on my knees and shook my head, letting out a laugh. I was so glad that I had a best friend like Whati.
But after a conversation like that, I couldn’t help but wonder how Nathifa would look without clothes.
For the rest of today, and the next, Whati spent his time chasing after the maid, Anat. I spent all that time being nervous, but the ceremony was faster than I thought it would be.
Nathifa looked as beautiful as always, but she didn’t dare look at me. I thought it was cute, she was probably shy.
Even when the ceremony was over, and we were watching all the performances.
That evening however, is when I realized that my life would never be the same.
I sat on the new, large throne, with Nathifa sitting closely to the left of me on the same throne.
She wore jewellery that was worth a fortune and even the silk she wore was imported from some far off land. A light blue scarf was loosely draped around her head, covering most of her face from my view.
I leaned to my right and looked at Whati, whose full attention was given to the belly dancers who were performing for us.
I took my hand and gave him a smack.
He was startled by that, but looked at me. “What?”
I used my eyes to show that I was talking about Nathifa. “What do I do?” I whispered.
Whati bent forward. “Just do your thing. You know exactly what you’re supposed to do.”
I rolled my eyes. “I can’t treat her like the other girls—”
“She’s going to be in bed with you in a short while.” He said. “Get ready for that.”
I frowned at him. “Seriously Whati.” I said. “I can’t—”
“Just put your arm around her, at least!”
That was a good idea.
When the music got louder, I saw a bunch of the guest begin to join in on the dancing. Soon, my mother was dancing too.
I found myself smiling, my mother was having a great time.
I was then shocked when I saw Anat dancing too, and I knew, moments later, that Whati was going to make a move.
“And that’s my queue!” He said as he left my side.
Most of the ministers were gone to dance, so it was just Nathifa and I near the throne.
I took this chance to put my arm around her waist, but got a little worried when her whole body stiffened.
I took a deep breath and gently removed her scarf, revealing the side of her face.
“You seem more nervous than I am.” I said with a chuckle.
Her smile was forced.
I leaned in and kissed her cheek.
She looked at me, eyes wide in shock.
“Don’t be nervous.” I said, smiling. “I promise that everything will be fine.”
We continued to look at each other for a moment, and then she looked away.
When I looked back at the dancers, I noticed that Whati had already gotten his hands on Anat.
The noblemen and women surrounded them and clapped as the two danced.
I began to clap my hands too as Whati spun Anat around and when her back was to him, he stopped her, his right hand in the air and her left palm pressed against that, his left and around her waist and her right palm pressed against that.
They both knew exactly what they were doing.
“Anat is an excellent dancer!” I said.
“She is.” She responded, speaking for the first time today. “She spends a lot of her free time learning to dance.”
“Well that seems quite clear.” I said.
I saw a small smile form on her face, as if she was pleased.
That made me happy, at least some of the stress was relieved.
But suddenly, the night started to slow down.
But it was amusing.
Amusing because it was interesting to note that Whati kept his eyes on the maid. He didn’t even turn his head to the other girls who were waiting for him to ask them to dance.
I wondered what that meant.
I remembered what he had told me earlier. “Getting with a maid is like a dangerous adventure.”
When I had asked what he meant, he responded with: “Noblemen aren’t supposed to be with maids! I’d get in so much trouble.” But instead of sounding scared, he grinned, excited. “You get what I mean.”
I laughed at him. “Good luck with your dangerous adventure.” I said.
He was clearly trying to get the treasure.
- Writer
