Tiy and the Prince of Egypt (16 page)

“My good people of Egypt, the g
ods have smiled upon us this day and have given us a Queen to bring balance to the Two Lands. The sun has set and the moon has risen, but Egypt will forever rejoice!”

He lifted his cup
and drank until its contents were gone, signifying the end of the celebration. He took Tiy’s hand and kissed it, his eyes never leaving hers.

Tiy sat in front of her mirror and trembled with excess emotion. After the celebration, she had been taken to her new chambers in the center of the palace. She thought her chamber before had been luxurious, but it paled in comparison. Everything seemed to be made out of either gold or ivory, with linens woven from the finest silk. She smiled and relaxed into the memories of the day.

Nebety
a and Tiy’s new retinue of female servants removed her feather gown and placed it into the gilded chest. Nebetya hummed to herself as they removed the jewelry adorning Tiy’s body, returning only those that would be comfortable to wear while she slept. Their touch was as soft as a butterfly’s wing as they washed her body with sawabu paste, rubbing every surface of her skin with scented oils and perfumes.

Tiy
yawned and the girl’s efforts increased.

“Please don’t rush
on my account,” Tiy said sleepily. They had pampered her into such a relaxed state of mind that she didn’t mind the lengthy process they deemed so necessary. In fact, she barely noticed the silk night robe they used to cover her body. It was so light it seemed to hang from her shoulders like air. She yawned again and looked around, surprised to find her servants had already taken their leave. She wondered how long she had been sitting at her mirror, lost in her thoughts.

Tiy
removed the night wig her servants had placed on her head. She didn’t have the energy to deal with a wig while she tried to fall asleep. Her pale hair swept across her back and she smiled at the feel of it against her skin. It was the longest she had ever let it grow and it was so much softer than the coarse black hair of her wigs.

She f
elt so carefree and happy and tired. Glancing at the pillows of her new luxurious bed, she yawned and stretched her arms in front of her. She stood from the cushioned chair at the mirror and noticed the translucency of her night robe. Her nose scrunched up. She knew translucent fabrics were fashionable, but she had never felt comfortable enough in her own skin to wear them.

She considered removing her barely-there robe
in favor of a thicker one, but just the thought of the added effort made her limbs feel as heavy as stones. It had already been such a long day. No one would see her anyway, and it was too lovely not to wear at least once.

Crawling onto the bed, she
slid beneath the red embroidered sheets and sighed. They were made from the finest weave, caressing her skin like a morning mist. The day’s heat seemed to vaporize from her skin in an instant and she wiggled her toes in comfort. Settling in for the night, she let her thoughts flow as swift and free as the Nile. They traveled over and through her, washing her clean of anything but pure bliss.

A soft knock rapped on the door
. Rising in a happy daze, she turned toward the door, gliding as if still on the Nile. The cool gold of the handle added an extra sense of wonderment to her new home of luxury.

“Amenhotep!”
Tiy squeaked. The sight of him jolted her back onto solid ground. Flushing, she wrapped the thin robe around her body and crossed her arms across her chest. “What are you doing here?”

Amenhotep
chuckled and ran a hand through his hair as he looked over his shoulder at the guards. “My blushing bride!” The guards suppressed a chuckle, although their eyes were lit with mirth. Amenhotep leaned toward her and whispered. “Just let me in and I’ll explain.”

Tiy
stepped to the side, the heat in her face reaching the tips of her ears. If her hair could change from yellow to red, she was sure it would. Amenhotep had never been in her chambers before, and even if he had, she would have been more appropriately attired.

“
I need to put something on,” Tiy said as he closed the door behind him.

“Don’t worry about it, Tiy,” he said
. “I’ve seen plenty of courtiers wearing much finer linen than that.”

Tiy rolled her eyes and started toward the wardrobe room.
“I’m not one of those women.”

“No, you aren’t, and I’m glad, but this is how our people recognize wealth and prestige.
You are Queen now, and your linen should be the finest, and yes, the most translucent.”

Tiy
would have waved her hand in the air in mock dismissal had she not been holding herself so tightly. Instead, she rolled her eyes again and vanished into the closet. She found the thickest kalasiris and pulled it over her head.

“There are other ways to show
wealth, Amenhotep,” she said as she emerged. “Not that I believe proving such a thing is necessary. However, as you have mentioned, I am Queen, therefore, my wealth is assumed and I have nothing to prove.” She smirked, waiting for his retort.

Amenho
tep laughed. “You are a breath of fresh air, my sweet Tiy. You never cease to amuse me.”

Tiy
curtsied playfully before moving toward a set of cushioned chairs.

“The bed is much more comfortable, d
on’t you think?” Amenhotep said.

Tiy
froze. She did her best to keep her face free of any emotion, but when she turned to face him, the sting of her unblinking eyes told her she wasn’t hiding anything. “The bed?” It came out as a squeak.

Amenhotep grabbed
his stomach and doubled over in laughter. All the heat in her body rushed up to her face for the thousandth time that day. But this time was different. Her feet were cold, her hands were cold, and her face burned with anger. The longer he laughed the angrier she became. Folding her arms, she turned her back to him and turned her nose into the air.

Amenhotep
silenced himself except for the few coughs she suspected he used to cover his remaining laughter. He strode over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Relax, Tiy,”
he said. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said it like that, but it was so funny. I couldn’t resist.”

Tiy shrugged his hand off
her shoulder and turned a quarter turn away from him.

“I really am sorry,”
He said as he took a wide sidestep in front of her. He ducked his head to her level. “I’m only here to keep up appearances. People would wonder why Pharaoh didn’t visit his bride the night they wed. Don’t you agree?”

She
didn’t answer. Instead, she turned another quarter turn.

“
I’m staying here for the entire night,” Amenhotep said, matching her step. He continued with a sly smile. “I suppose I always assumed you slept lying down, but apparently I don’t know you as well as I thought. I can see you prefer the more upright habits of elephants, am I right? I don’t have practice sleeping this way and you’ll probably find me in a heap at your feet by morning, but I’ll give it a try.”

He
grinned and Tiy knew he was trying to make her laugh, but she felt too foolish to show any mirth. How could she have believed their charade would be over the moment she left the throne? Of course people would expect Pharaoh to join his new bride in her bedchamber.

“
Tiy, don’t be upset with me.” Amenhotep said. “Will you let me stay?”

She
could think of no reply that wouldn’t betray how foolish she felt, so she waltzed to her ebony bed and crawled in between the blankets. She curled up on one side and waited for the heat to drain from her face. A few moments later Amenhotep crawled into the bed next to her.

“I’m sorry I laughed at you,” he whispered.

Tiy turned around to face him and propped her head up with a hand. “I’m sorry I assumed the worst.”

“The worst?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

He didn’t say anything else. He closed his eyes and she watched him tumble into sleep. He breathed deep into his chest, in and out, his eyelids fluttering with dreams. He whispered her name and rolled toward her, but his breathing remained deep. He was so close to her, but she didn’t want to wake him. She had never seen him look so content, so at rest. And strangely, she was comforted by his closeness, so she snuggled deeper into the covers and let sleep carry her away.

Tiy awoke with her head on Amenhotep’s arm. Her face flushed, and she sat up, careful to remove her legs that had somehow entangled with his the night before. She looked up and her heart beat just as it had the time her father found her stuck underneath his chariot—when she had crashed into the cattle yard. She’d been embarrassed to be discovered, but couldn’t say she felt sorry for having taken the chariot in the first place. Looking at Amenhotep, wide awake and grinning, she felt much the same. The morning sun splashed patterns of light across his face and cast a twinkle in his eye. He shook his arm.

“Sorry,”
Tiy said. “Is your arm numb?”

“I don’t mind
. You looked so peaceful sleeping. I didn’t want to wake you.”

Tiy smiled. S
he’d had the same thoughts about him the night before.

He jumped up off the bed, brushed off his wrinkled
tunic and ran a hand through his hair. “Well, I suppose we’ve met our pretenses,” he said glancing at her bed. “No one will be the wiser. Would you care to join me in the Assembly hall for petitions?”

Tiy
nodded. Hearing petitions was the one part of her new role she was happy about. Not only would she get to know the Egyptian people better, and hopefully feel more a part of them, but she would be near Amenhotep much more than she had before. It didn’t matter that they wouldn’t be able to talk much, or giggle and laugh and tease each other about whatever they wanted. Just being near him would enough for her. She could breathe easier with him at her side, as if her soul could finally settle into her bones and relax.

“I’ll be glad to have you there,” Amenhotep said. “I’m not alway
s sure about my rulings, so I could use a second opinion.”

“I doubt that.”

Amenhotep looked at her strangely and ran another hand through his hair. “I’ll be granting Ramose his vizier-ship today,” he said.

Tiy sat a little straighter. “Ramose? He’ll be so excited.”

“It’s time and he’s ready. And I can trust him.”

Tiy nodded, recalling all the efforts Ramose made to protect his friend. With a smile for
a goodbye, Amenhotep tousled her yellow locks and left her chambers. Within moments, Nebetya returned with the same retinue of women as the night before. Along with her usual tears, Nebetya’s eyes brimmed with questions she was too polite to ask, especially in front of the other servants. Tiy tried to give them a warm smile before surrendering herself to their brushing, poking, and painting.

An hour later
Tiy entered the Audience Chamber just as Amenhotep declared Ramose as the vizier of Thebes. A long cloak draped over Ramose’s shoulders while the other viziers and officials murmured their approval. Tiy scowled. She would have liked to have been present for the entire ceremony. She would have to talk to her ladies-in-waiting on speeding up her grooming process.

Amenhotep addressed Ramose in a voice Tiy liked to think of
as his
king-voice.
It was a way of speaking he had adopted since becoming Pharaoh to give the people confidence in their young king, and to appease the officials who would have to take orders from a mere child. She teased him about it, without mercy, and he laughed along, teasing himself in the process. Only when they were free from the eyes and ears of Egypt could he speak like
her
Amenhotep.

Amenhotep’s voice rose.
“Be watchful over your office and everything done in its name for it supports the whole land. Indeed, the office of vizier is not sweet, but is truly as bitter as gall.”

The present viziers nodded knowingly
and Ramose beamed in pride. He was ready for the challenge. With a low bow, he took up his scepter and left the chamber.

Tiy
emerged from behind the column and the viziers, priests, officials and servants bowed in respect, their arms outstretched. She stumbled a little in surprise, forgetting for a moment that she was Queen of Egypt. In an effort to regain some semblance of dignity and grace, she stepped onto the dais with exaggerated formality. All the bowing and special treatment would take some getting used to.

Amenhotep stood to take
her hand. “I’m glad you came,” he whispered.

“I am too.”

After several orders of official business were attended to, the waiting petitioners were allowed to enter one by one. Most of them were neighbors unable to settle a squabble, or debtors unable to collect, but many more were destitute farmers with poor crops, or penniless merchants facing the consequences of bad decisions. Amenhotep was generous, granting anything his poorer citizens requested and often giving them additional resources beyond what they were seeking. A few of the vizier’s eyes bulged with reluctance to give so much, but none voiced their opinions. It was as it should be, Tiy thought. The people should be well-cared for and taught to trust their king.

Tiy
joined Amenhotep in the Audience Chamber the next day and every day the following year. Each petitioner brought something new and interesting to consider, each vizier providing fascinating reports of conditions both foreign and local. Dignitaries visited from far away countries, bringing exotic gifts and tales of heroism from their people. Tiy followed the proceedings with rapt attention, her mind filling with so much more of the world than she thought possible. And she watched Amenhotep grow into a pharaoh even greater than his father.

***

During the growing season of Peret, a year after she had become Queen, Ramose burst into the Assembly Chamber, the balls of his feet skimming the floor as he rushed to the foot of the dais. A pair of farmers continued squabbling over irrigation shares, each one too engrossed in their own argument to take note of the other farmer, let alone Ramose fidgeting next to them. With a flash of impatience, Amenhotep leaned forward and caught the attention of the two farmers.

“
I understand the disagreement you share has been passed to you by generations before,” Amenhotep said
.

The farmers nodded.

Amenhotep continued. “Until you have learned to share water with integrity and fairness, and have proven an ability to exist in peace, you will share half your crop with the other. Your ensuing motivation may be to only secure a healthier half from your neighbor, but it is of no import as long as you are permitting the other an equal share. That is all.”

The
faces of the farmers turned white, their eyes taking on a look of rounded horror. Ramose rocked back and forth on his feet, his impatience to speak leaking from every pour.

“Welcome
, Vizier Ramose,” Amenhotep said as soon as the farmers exited the Assembly Chamber.

Ramose knelt and bowed his head
, his entire frame trembling with hidden news. “Greetings, Pharaoh Amenhotep, beloved of Amun,” he said. He straightened and glanced at the remaining officials in the chamber, his eyes speaking of a need for privacy.

Amenhotep
waved an arm, excusing all others from the room. Tiy stood to leave, but Amenhotep brushed his fingers along her arm, stopping her.

“
Where are you going?” he said once the room was empty except the three of them.

Tiy glanced at Ramose who seemed to be choking on the words he could not yet release. “It seems Vizier Ramose has important news he wishes to discuss alone. I only wished to
give him leave to speak freely to you.”

Amenhotep chuckled
. “You are using my
king-voice
on me.”

Tiy
smiled and shrugged. “So I am. I must have caught the disease, I’m afraid.”

A strange sound came from Ramose’s direction
, and both she and Amenhotep turned to find him with a face as red as a pomegranate.

“
What is it, Ramose?” Amenhotep said.

“T
here are wild bulls in the desert region of Shetep,” Ramose said with hungry anticipation. “Hundreds of them,” he added with a grin.

“
Hundreds?” Amenhotep said, coming to his feet. “In the flatlands or hills?”

“The hills.”

“Perfect.” Amenhotep practically purred the word. He smiled and nodded in rhythm to Ramose’s bobbing head. Tiy wanted to laugh at their boyish enthusiasm, but Ramose’s expression turned serious.

“This is just what we need to prove to the people you are the rightful
Pharaoh,” Ramose said to Amenhotep.

Tiy’s
brows knit together. “What are you talking about? Why would Amenhotep need to prove himself?” Amenhotep had grown up considerably since taking up the flail and crook two years before. He had been an unsure boy at fourteen, but now, nearly sixteen and at the end of his second regnal year, he carried himself like a ruler, like a king.

Amenhotep reached for
her hand. “Ramose, we will discuss the bull hunt in greater detail before the sun sets. Thank you for your haste in bringing this news. That is all.” He had slipped back into his
king-voice.

Amenhotep
took hold of Tiy’s hand and led her behind the massive thrones and toward a door hidden by a rug hanging from the wall. Woven with more gold thread than wool, it had the weight of a hippopotamus, or at least seemed to from the strain it caused the men to hang it. But, as a wedding gift from the Mitannian King, whose daughter still resided in the palace as the late Pharaoh’s widow, there was no option for it to be used as an actual floor rug. It had to be displayed with honor.

Amenhotep’s ar
m flexed as he pulled the heavy rug aside. Tiy couldn’t help but notice that his arm seemed thicker than she remembered, strong enough to carry all of Egypt. She stepped into the hidden chamber and Amenhotep let go of her hand as they settled on the cushions strewn about the room.

“We should remove the thrones and
receive our subjects here,” Tiy said as she leaned back with a comfortable sigh.

Amenhotep lay
next to her and echoed her sigh. “I agree. After ten minutes, those thrones are about as comfortable as an old log.”

Tiy
laughed. “I didn’t think you’d noticed.”

He shrugged,
and they curled up nearer to each other, slipping into a comfortable silence as they stared at the painted ceiling. After a year of waking up next to Amenhotep, it no longer felt strange to lie so close to him, with her head on his chest or her feet entangled with his. He wrapped an arm around her and squeezed her closer.

“So are you going to tell
me why you need to prove your authority?” Tiy asked.

“
When my father died, I pulled the troops from Nubia.”

Tiy nodded, she knew this. He was hoping the rebellion would calm down if the Egyptian soldiers weren’t breathing down their throats. She had thought things were going well because they hadn’t hear
d much from the Nubian viceroy, who seemed to think the rebels were satisfied enough to have taken Egypt’s king.

“Many
think I was weak not to avenge my father’s death,” he said.

Tiy wrinkled her brow. “But the proclamation said he died of natural causes.”

“Yes, but truth spreads quickly. In fact, many of our people are upset that I tried to hide his true death. They feel I have dishonored his name.”

“You wer
e only trying to prevent a full blown war.”

Amenhotep
sat up and ran a hand through his hair. “I know that, but they don’t.”

They sat in silence for a
while, Tiy leaning back and Amenhotep leaning forward with both his hands caught in his hair. She watched the back of his shoulders as they rose and fell with each breath. Her eyes traveled across his back, over his arms, and up his neck. When had he lost all his boyish roundness to the leaner, muscular features of a man? Couldn’t Egypt see what she saw? Why did he have to risk himself to prove something that seemed as plain as day to her. He was Pharaoh. Nothing and no one was greater, or stronger, or more capable than Amenhotep.

“
I don’t think a bull hunt is the answer to this.” Tiy said.

“No,” he
said with a hint of sadness in his voice. “But my father said a true Pharaoh is swift and strong. You have seen how accurate I am with an arrow, even on a fast chariot. If I can show my people how strong I am while hunting, then they will know I can use that same strength as I rule Egypt. I will reestablish my divine authority and regain their confidence.”

Tiy
nodded without blinking. She felt strange, an unfamiliar feeling stirring inside her. “It sounds dangerous,” she said after she found her voice again.

“It sounds fun,
” Amenhotep said with a glint of excitement in his eyes, a bit of the boy returning.

Tiy
raised her eyebrows. “Fun? Herds of stampeding beasts, each weighing at least seven thousand deben, sounds fun?”

Amenhotep shook with laughter
. “I’ll admit, their unpredictable natures make them excellent fighters, but if I conquer them, then the people would have no reason to doubt me. It takes several lions to bring down a single wild bull; think of the power I could demonstrate when I, a single being, take down an entire herd.”