Chapter 5: Feelings Thebes, Egypt 1325 BC

Tutankhamun

A month later I was sitting in my office looking over the finishing touches for the festival when Aye came in unannounced “What do you need?” I asked, not looking up from the papers

“It’s about the golden haired princess that you are allowing to live in your palace for the past several months Aye said as he sat in a chair in front of my desk

“What about her?” I asked, feeling my heart race just thinking about Alexandria

“Well you know how she just dropped in?”

“I’m going to have to stop you there; Alexandria didn’t just ‘drop in’, she arrived here with Abasi

“Yes but then he left shortly afterwards, and leaving that woman here”

“Well ‘that woman’ will be” I stopped

“Will what? Be your bride? Come on you worthless

“Guards” I yelled as I stood, and they rushed in

“My lord?” one asked

“Take him to his chambers, and keep him in there for the rest of the month, and make that food only gets to him by door”

“Yes my lord” the guard bowed and gave the order to the others

“Wait” I said, and the guard turned

“And can you please tell Alexandria to come here?” the guard bowed again. While I waited for Alexandria to arrive I thought back to when she’d told me that she’d found my lost brother, Smenkare. I’d sent out a search party, who quickly found him, cleaned and feed him, then brought him to me. Smenkare told me everything that happened while Nefertiti ruled and after she died, which I all ready knew, and when he’d accidently bumped into Alexandria while on the search for food. I lied and told him that I believed that he hadn’t killed my step-mother, and that I believed him to be a good man, and released him from his banishment, but he had to remain under constant guard.

Alexandria

When I arrived at Tutankhamun’s office, he motioned for me to sit and I did “You needed to talk with me?” I asked

“Yes, Aye was here earlier and said that he didn’t believe what Abasi said about you”

“But it is true, I swear”

“I know I believe you, but we must convince that foolish man that you and Abasi are telling the truth about your arrival” just then Aye rushed in with a team of guards right behind him “What happened, why did you? Tutankhamun growled as he stood

“He kicked one of the guards in the crotch my lord” Tutankhamun glared at the old man

“Yes, and I saw the golden haired woman walking over, and I had to follow”

“Abasi did tell the truth about me” I yelled as I stood

“Oh yeah, well I don’t believe you or that stupid Abasi of yours” Aye snapped.

“Abasi isn’t stupid, he’s my most trusted advisor” Tutankhamun said as the guards took of the old man again and led him out of the room. Once Aye was gone we sat back down

“He scares me” I sighed

“I know, he scares me too” Tutankhamun said as he put his head on the his desk

“Is there anything else that you wanted to talk about?” I asked, I saw him hesitate

“No” he replied after a minute, so I silently rose and headed for the door, but before I left I turned to him

“I hope to see you at dinner”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be there” he smiled and I left. Once in the hallway I saw Aye standing pinned by the wall by the guards

“He said that he needed to talk to you” one guard said

“Thank you, what do you need Aye?” I asked nervously

“I want you to tell me the truth” he growled

“Abasi all ready told you the truth I replied and he glared at me

“Abasi is lying, and besides, the Gods know that you don’t fit in with our people”

“Well I all ready know that” I said. I watched as Aye unexpectedly pulled free of the guards hold and stalked over and slapped me

“Don’t talk back you foolish girl”

“I’ll tell Pharaoh about this” I yelled, only to get slapped on the other cheek and the guards grabbed the old man again and pulled him towards his chambers. Once he was gone, I ran to my chambers and hid for the rest of the day. When it was time for dinner that night, I stayed in my room, not wanting anyone to see my bruises. When Tutankhamun finally had to come and get me, I just laid there, the blanket covering my cheeks and my back facing him

“Come on Alexandria, why won’t you come to dinner?” he pleaded

“Because I’m not hungry”

“Alexandria, did something happen after you left my office?” Tutankhamun asked, I felt him sit on my bed.

“No” I lied

“Alexandria, I know that’s a lie, now please turn over”

“No”

“Please” I sighed and turned around, but kept my blanket over my cheek “Now pull the blanket from your face” I shook my head “Alexandria” Tutankhamun said sternly, I shook my head again. He then reached forward and grabbed the blanket from my hands and pulled it down to my neck revealing the bruises, I saw the anger and frustration cover his face and fill his eyes “Who did this to you?” he growled

“Aye” I squeaked.

“I should have known” he snarled as I then got up and began getting ready, “What are you doing?”

“Getting ready for dinner”

“But”

“Hey, I thought that since you saw my bruises why not show everyone else, and besides we should have our revenge on the old man” I interrupted him, and he smiled.

Ankhesenamun

When Tutankhamun and Alexandria arrived in the dining hall, I felt relieve that my friend was oaky, but then I saw the bruises on her cheeks, as did everyone else in the room “Alexandria, what happened to your pretty face?” I called as they slowly walked over

“Aye did this because he doesn’t believe in Pharaoh’s most trusted vizier, Abasi” Alexandria called back. She seemed to bear her marks proudly; I would have guessed that if Aye were in the room, he would’ve been very embarrassed and very angry. Once everyone had settled in their seats and dinner was served I looked over at Alexandria

“You know my friend, ever since you arrived here; we know nothing about your life before you joined us” so we spent the rest of dinner and several hours in Alexandria’s chambers talking about her previous life before she arrived in Thebes.

The following afternoon Tutankhamun and I were walking in one of the various palace gardens talking, “Ankhesenamun” he said after a moment of silence

“Yes Tutankhamun?” I asked as we sat on a bench

“You know how when Alexandria first arrived, you said that I was getting to stern, even in private, and that she would cheer me up?”

“Yes, what about it”

“Well, she has cheered me up, and so have you, but I feel like I’ve been hiding something from you for the past few months, so I want to tell you”

“Let me guess, you have very strong feelings for Alexandria?’ I asked

“Yes, how’d you know?”

“Tutankhamun, I’ve known for a while about the feelings that have been rather quickly growing between you two”

“Really, then what should I do? When should I tell Alexandria about my feelings for her?”

“I would suggest waiting till she tells me about her feelings for you”

“Why?” he asked, and I smiled at the question that he’d always ask when he was younger.

“Because, I want to help in some way for you two to be together, just trust me”

“As you wish” he smiled.