Chapter 17: The First Hunt The Black Lands, Egypt 1323

Alexandria

General Nakhtim, who'd come along on the hunt to protect Tutankhamun from any possible danger, had come into the tent to inform us of a small heard of animals, no lion though, but instead there was zebras, gazelle and other variates of wild animals “How far away is the heard?” Tutankhamun asked

“Not far my lord, they're a little ways off drinking at a small water hole”

“Thank you” Tutankhamun nodded and the general left

“How soon will we be going on our hunt my lord?” I asked from behind his golden traveling throne

“Soon my sweet, soon” he smiled, a few hours later we set off on the first hunt. There was me, Tutankhamun Nakhtim, Mark, and most of the camp had come with us in chariots. I also saw hunting dogs and a few cheetahs. When we arrived at the watering hole I saw several animals drinking from the water

“When shall we attack?” I whispered over to my husband

“Soon my love, soon” he smiled as a loud cry swept its way over the hunters and the hunted. Tutankhamun and I turned our heads and found that it was the hunt master and he'd just given the signal for us to strike, so I raced after Tutankhamun who'd all ready started racing towards the animals.

Tutankhamun

I fired the first arrow at a gazelle which fell immediately after the arrow hit its chest. When I looked over at Alexandria, I saw her aim an arrow and shot down an ostrich. When the hunt was over and everyone had calmed down from the hunt, and the cook had finished cooking the evening meal, we all settled down with some meat and some freshly brewed beer. But for Alexandria and I we each had a glass of wine and meat “I had a lot of fun today my lord” Alexandria said once we'd finished and she snuggled up against me

“I'm glad that you enjoyed your first hunt my love”

“When will we get the lion?”

“As soon as the trackers find any trace of a lion” I replied as I put my arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

“My lord” Nakhtim came over and bowed

“Yes general” I asked as I took a sip of Alexandria's unfinished wine

“One if the trackers would like to have a word with you sir”

“Then let him, I hope he has some good news for us tonight” I smiled and Nakhtim bowed again and let one of the many trackers come up

“My lord we've sited some lion tracks” the bowed low, and at those words the whole camp went silent

“Continue, how far away do you think the lion is?” I asked

“A few days my lord” I felt Alexandria stiffen in my arm, and I knew that she was scared, and I felt my gut clench with fear

“Thank you” I nodded and the tracker left. When Alexandria and I retired to our tent, we lay in bed unable to sleep

“Can't you take me to your time now?” I asked

“What about Ankhesenamun, the children and Ron?”

“You can come back for them” I replied and she sighed and sat up and looked at me, I saw tears starting weal up in her eyes “Now don't cry my love'

“You know that my father won't allow it”

“I know”

“And you people need their Pharaoh” I watched her turn away.

“Alexandria”I sighed as I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to me “Look at me my love” she slowly turned and let out a little whimper

“I don't want to lose you” she whimpered

“I know, and I don't want to lose you, Ankhesenamun and the children” I said as I pulled some hair from her face and put it behind her ear.

“I love you” she whispered as she kissed me when she let me go I smiled

“I love you more” I whispered back

“If you really do, then stay with me”

“I'll stay with you forever” I said as she smiled and hugged me tightly “That reminds me, I have something to give you” I said as I stood

“What is it?” I heard Alexandria sit up

“You'll see” I said as I pulled out a small box from one of my traveling boxes then walked back over to Alexandria “Close your eyes” I said and Alexandria did and from the little box I took out a necklace and wrapped it around her neck “Now open them” I whispered into her ear. When she looked down at the necklace she gasped as she turned around and hugged me tightly

“I love it, thank you” the necklace was a small oval, clay pendant with an Ankh carved on it, and it hung on a gold chain

“Turn it over” I said once Alexandria let me go. When she did, she gasped on the back was an engraving that read:

'To my beautiful Queen Alexandria, from your loving husband, Tutankhamun'

“Oh my love, it's beautiful” she smiled brightly as she hugged me tightly again.

Alexandria

“Tell me a story” I asked as Tutankhamun and I rode on a couple of horses towards where the trackers believed the lion to be the following morning

“What do you want to hear?” Tutankhamun asked

“I want to hear about Akhenaten”

“Akhenaten, let me see, I guess I should tell you about the time that my father started turning into a goat”

“A goat?”

“Yes a goat, so I was walking to one of my classes, I forgot which one exactly, and I bumped into my father on the way, now I hadn't seen him in a few weeks since he'd gone to look over the finishing touches of his tomb. I'd noticed how different he looked so I asked what was wrong and he told me:

'My child, someday I won't be here with you'

'What do you mean by that father?' I'd asked

'My child, I fear that I'm turning into a goat'

'What does that mean?' Now picture me as this little boy always asking questions

'You'll see in time my son' he smiled at me then stood and walked away, it was only then that I noticed that he was slouching a little little. I began getting nervous, so over time I watched closely to the changes that my father was going through, till one day Nefertiti told me that my father had been found dead in one of the gardens with grass in his mouth” Tutankhamun finished his story with a sad look in his eyes

“I'm sure that he was a good man” I said as I took his hand in mine. That night the two of us were sitting on a blanket and looking up at the stars “I wonder what Ankhesenamun, the children and Ron are doing” I sighed

“Probably worrying about us” Tutankhamun replied

“Do you miss them?” I asked as I turned to him

“Yes I do, do you miss them?”

“Yeah”

Tutankhamun

The following morning while Alexandria and I rode in front of the hunting party, the two of us talked of about the history of Egypt. First we talked about Hatshepsut and how she established trading with other lands through boats. Then we talked of Amunhotep III and how he managed to raid Nubia, conquer it, and get the gold from there and after that we talked some more about my father. That night I'd gone off alone on a short walk to think about the dream that I had the previous night. When I'd returned to camp, I saw Alexandria and Abasi talking near the edge of the camp, so I quietly walked over to listen in “You know how much your father would disprove of this” Abasi said

“Yes I know, that's why when we return to the Step Pyramid we'll send a messenger saying that Pharaoh perished in a chariot accident, then I'll take Ankhesenamun, the children and Ron back to the future were we'll stay”

“Now why would you do that, other then you love Tutankhamun?”

“Well part of it is because he wants me to, another is that I really want him to be with me and Ankhesenamun, and to raise the children. The last part is because I want him to be with me when I give birth again”

“You're pregnant again?” Abasi asked astounded

“Yes I am”

“Have you told him?”

“No, I found out the day before we left, and I was waiting for the right time to tell him” she sighed

“You just did” I said as I came out from behind the tent

“My lord” Alexandria said as she stood and turned around

“Abasi, can I please talk with Alexandria alone?” I said, trying to stay calm, even though my mind was reeling from the news of Alexandria being pregnant with our child again

“Of course my lord” Abasi said as he stood and left.

Alexandria

Why didn't you tell me that you were pregnant?” Tutankhamun asked

“I was going to wait till tonight to tell you over a special dinner and some”

“Oh Alexandria” he stopped and started at me with those dark and mysterious eyes

“My love please don't be mad at me” I smiled weakly

“Alexandria, I'm not mad, I'm so happy right now, I just don't know what to say” he smiled as he pulled me into his arms

“Then kiss me” I pleaded as he tenderly started kissing me, and when he let me go, I flushed

“I love you” he whispered

“I love you more” I whispered back

“I don't think that's possible my love” he said as I giggled and kissed him again

“We're going to have another baby, does Ankhesenamun and Ron know?” he asked and I shook my head and smiled

“No, just you and Abasi” I sighed as I rested my head on his shoulder.