Nathifa - [I Hurt Him]
1747 Words
I sat to the left of the Pharaoh’s mother in a spot where we could see the Pharaoh clearly. “I’m sure you know a good deal about how the court works... am I right?” The Pharaoh’s mother asked me as she took my right hand in hers.
“No, actually.” I said, feeling a little strange because she was always so close with me. “I never really took note of these things.”
She smiled warmly. “Of course.” She said, starting to laugh. “You probably didn’t realize you were going to be a queen back then!”
I forced out a smile.
“But don’t worry. I will teach you everything you need to know.” She looked back at her son. “Our court works in an organized manner. Every day we have meetings where Lords and Lady’s come to talk to the Pharaoh one by one about concerns they may have. Or they may come to talk to the Pharaoh about the successes of new policies, or the successes of changes that were made.”
I nodded my head.
She then pointed to the opposite side of the throne room. “Do you see all those people crowded over there?”
I nodded.
“Those are the observers.” She said. “An audience who has come to see what decisions the Pharaoh makes.”
“I see.”
“Most of them are usually noblemen. High classed... and you know, somewhat snobby.”
I smiled.
The crowd suddenly split as someone walked through.
Her face suddenly brightened up. “Ah, look, it’s Whati.”
I looked up and saw the Pharaoh’s best friend walk in. The men around him bowed and some saluted him as he walked over to the throne.
“What exactly is he?” I asked.
The Pharaohs mother laughed. “You won’t believe it, but he’s the Supreme Commander of the Egyptian Military.”
My eyes widened. “He doesn’t seem that mature...” At least that’s what I thought from our encounter in my room before my wedding.
The Pharaohs mother nodded in agreement. “You’re very right. But no matter how immature Whati is... he knows when to push that immaturity aside and be a man. Much like how his father was.”
“Really... how long has he and the Pharaoh been friends?”
“All their life!” His mother said. “Whati is two days younger than my Atemu.”
“They must be very good friends.”
“They are.” She smiled. “At such a young age, they were already able to simply look at each other and know what the other is thinking.” She sighed. “It was hard to raise those two.”
“You raised Whati as well?”
She nodded. “They are both like my sons. Whati’s mother, my best friend, died when he was a year old. And though his father was alive... he wasn’t very good with children.” She laughed, looking like she was remembering some funny memories.
I turned and looked back at him as he stopped right before the staircase that led to the throne and bowed. When he looked up, he and his friend grinned widely at each other.
They did look like good friends.
“My Pharaoh.” Whati smiled. “I just came to inform you that we are recruiting men for our military. We hope to have ten thousand men in two days.”
The Pharaoh chuckled. “Poor Lord Abasi.”
Whati grinned and shrugged. “We need to be on our toes.”
The Pharaoh nodded. “You’re right.”
“My Lady.” I heard Anat say.
I turned around and saw her bowing. “Anat, there you are!” I scooted over in my seat. “Sit down.”
Anat frowned. “I’m not allowed to, my Lady.”
“It’s an order, silly. Sit.”
Anat looked at the Pharaoh’s mother, who smiled at her. “Your Lady gave you an order.”
Anat smiled back and sat down next to me.
She leaned over to whisper something in my ear. “I have something important to tell you.” She said. “I think I need to tell you now.”
“Does it involve the bruise on your neck?” I whispered back. “And your swollen lips?”
Her eyes widened as her cheeks turned unbelievably red. “No.” She said.
I frowned at her. “Nothing is more important than your love life, Anat.”
She nudged me. “Nathifa.” She said softly. “I have no love life.”
“Don’t be silly An—”
“It’s about Ausar.”
I froze.
“Whati!” I heard the Pharaoh’s mother call.
When I turned my head, I saw Whati look over at us. He walked over to us, and as he did I noticed his gaze meet Anat’s. She turned her head, looking angry.
A smirk formed on Whati’s face.
“Are we to be worried, Whati?” The Pharaoh’s mother asked.
“No.” He said. “We’re just doing thing to stay on the safe side.”
“Ah, I see. Just like what your father would have done.” She smiled at him.
He smiled back at her. “Anyways, I must be on my way. A minister in the Nubian region requested to see me.”
“The Nubians?” The Pharaoh’s mother seemed shocked. “Whatever for?”
Whati shrugged. “I have no idea. The messenger said it was urgent though.”
“I see. Then hurry along now.” She got up and kissed Whati’s forehead and he bowed.
He then looked at me. “My queen.”
I nodded my head.
Before he left though, he gave Anat a smile, she didn’t return it. And I had confirmed that something was up between them.
“Nathifa.” Anat called softly. “I must speak with you, now.”
I looked at her and then got up. “Alright.” I turned to the Pharaoh’s mother, bowing, as she got up too. “I am going to go with my maid, she wishes to speak with me.”
She nodded. “As you wish.” She then sat back down as I turned around and walked away with Anat by my side.
When we arrived in the palace garden she turned and looked at me. “Ausar was here yesterday.”
My eyes widened. “He was?” I asked. “What did he say? Did he—”
“Nathifa... you must forget him.”
“What?”
“He isn’t worth your time.”
I raised my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“He’s a horrible person and someone—”
“Anat! I do not want to hear it.” I turned around and started to walk away.
Anat ran in front of me and held her hands out, stopping me from walking any farther. “He told me he wants nothing to do with you!”
My heart stopped.
“Whati was there... he knew, because of this, that you two had a relationship and that’s how the Pharaoh found out! That’s how the Pharaoh found out about how you didn’t approve of the marriage!”
“You...”
“The letters you sent him... he brought them back and told me to give them back to you.”
My eyes began to tear up. “What did you do with them?”
“I burned them.”
I took a deep breath. “You’re lying.”
“No.” I heard another voice say.
Both Anat and I turned our heads and saw Whati walk towards us. “She’s telling the truth.”
I started to panic. What was he doing here?
He crossed his arms. “And I must say... I suggest you listen to your maid and forget about him. A man like him is not worth your time.”
I looked away. “Who are you to—”
“I am a man. And I know what men like him are like.”
I refused to look at him.
“I was serious when I spoke to you last time.” He said. “You chose not to listen to me and now you’ve hurt him. My best friend.”
There was a pause, as if he was waiting for me to say something. When I didn’t he continued. “And for that... you’ll have to pay the price.”
“What?” I heard Anat ask, she sounded disgusted.
“Your father is going to hear about this.” He said. “You know that right?”
I turned my head, eyes wide. “No. You can’t tell him!”
“Atemu has already decided that he’s going to question your father. Ask him why he made you marry Atemu when you didn’t approve.”
I shook my head. “He can’t—”
“I’m going to add something in though, as my way of getting you back for hurting my friend.” He smirked. “I think your father should know some specifics, like names, maybe?”
Anat’s hands balled up into fists. “You wouldn’t—”
“Your father has a right to know.” Whati said as he turned around.
“You can’t do that!” I yelled as he walked off.
He shrugged. “You would have told him anyways.” He muttered so softly that I could barely hear him.
The second he disappeared, I fell to my knees and began to cry. Anat ran to my side and rubbed my back. “Nathifa... it’s okay...”
“My life can’t get any worse, can it?”
- Writer
