Chapter 8: The dissever Thebes, Egypt 1324 BC

Alexandria

A few weeks later Tutankhamun and I were relaxing by one of our favorite pools with the twins lying in our laps. Tiye was relaxing on her father's lap while her brother was on mine "I feel so happy, don't you?" Tutankhamun sighed

"Yes I do, and I also feel complete and content here with you, the twins and Ankhesenamun I smiled at him

"You know, we could go to the cliff tonight and watch the sunset"

"I think that's a wonderful idea, and we should bring Ankhesenamun and the twin's wit is tonight"

"I wouldn't see it any other way" he smiled. That night we had an early dinner and left for the cliff right after. When we arrived Tutankhamun and I helped Ankhesenamun up the cliff wall, while the twins were strapped to our backs. Once we reached the top we sat by the edge and watched the sun set while we talked. Ankhesenamun and I sat on either side of Tutankhamun, while the twins were sleeping in our laps "Beautiful isn't it?" Tutankhamun asked as he leaned back against his hands

"Yes it is, but I must say that the children are far more beautiful" Ankhesenamun smiled as she admired the sleeping infants

"Agreed, and I have the most beautiful family in all of Egypt" Tutankhamun called out to no one and everyone, and making Ankhesenamun and I blush

"Well, you're the most wonderful man that ever lived" I said in return, and making him blush in return.

Ankhesenamun

A couple days later it was finally time for the Opet festival. We'd just reached the temple that we were going to use right after lunch, and found one of the various priests waiting at the top of the stairs for us. "My lord and ladies, it's a pleasure to have you here with us today" the priest bowed

"Yes it is, and thank you for letting us use your temple" Tutankhamun nodded, sounding stern, but with plenty of thanks in his voice. Soon Alexandria and I were sitting outside of the inner most chamber, where only Pharaoh and a few selected priests were allowed. The day before the three of us had decided that we should fully take over Egypt, since Tutankhamun was Pharaoh only in name.

"I hope that nothing goes wrong once we take full control of Egypt" I said

"Me too, but we'll make sure that nothing bad happens to our beloved husband" Alexandria reassured me, and I smiled at her.

Alexandria

A few hours later Tutankhamun, Ankhesenamun and I were sitting in front of Smenkare who was telling us stories from his childhood, before everything had changed. When we were all getting tired, we went to our chambers except for Smenkare who silently followed behind me. When I realized that he was, I turned around and asked "Why are you following me?"

"I would much rather tell you in your chambers" he replied and we finished walking the rest of the way to my chambers in silence.

"Now tell me, why were you following me?" I asked as I set the twins into their bed

"Because I wanted to talk to you in private"

"Okay, what do you want to talk about?" I asked as I turned to him

"Well, I want you to leave Tutankhamun and become my wife"

"Why would I do such a stupid thing?" I asked

"Because I think that you don't belong with my weakling of a brother"

"Oh really, well Tutankhamun isn't a weakling, you are"

"How dare you call me a weakling!" he yelled as he slapped me.

"Then explain why you couldn't fight back when Aye accused you of killing Nefertiti and banished you?" I asked, and he was speechless "Now whose the weakling now?" I asked only to get slapped again. After I recovered my posture, Smenkare roughly kissed me. I tried to pull away, but the harder I tried the harder he held me

"Alexandria" I heard Tutankhamun say from the door, and Smenkare finally let me go, but didn't turn around

"Tutankhamun" I said as I ran to him

"Why" he asked, pain etched in his voice

"I didn't kiss him, he kissed me, and he hit me"

"Don't listen to her brother" Smenkare said as he walked over and I saw horror fill Tutankhamun's eyes

"My love, please I'm telling the truth, please believe me" I pleaded

"No" he said as he turned and left with Smenkare following right behind him.

Tutankhamun

3 months later

It has been 3 long months since I saw Alexandria kissing Smenkare, and I was still very upset about it. Yet I still had my obligations to teaching Alexandria the skills of riding chariots and shooting the bow and arrow. One bright afternoon we were riding chariots in the long silence that had been lengthening over the past few months. I was about to turn around when I saw Smenkare ride up next to Alexandria, I glared at him for stealing the woman that I had so deeply loved, but I was still mad at her for submitting to his kiss. I saw my brother draw a bow and knocked an arrow and aimed it at her heart, "You were always such a foolish woman" he yelled over the wind as he shoot the arrow and hitting her in the rib. Alexandria gave out a cry of pain and dropped out of the speeding chariot and tumbled away as Smenkare and I raced on

"You bastard" I screamed as I rammed my chariot into his

"Me, a bastard, I don't think so brother" he smiled wickedly; I saw something in his eyes as we speed on. I saw that he was the one who killed both Nefertiti and Meritaten, and had planted the lie that he was innocent

"You killed Nefertiti and Meritaten didn't you?" I yelled over the wind

"About time you figured it out, and I just killed your beloved wife as well" he laughed and I pulled out my sword and sliced it down his back, making him too, tumbled away from his racing chariot.

"Alexandria" I called as I turned around and raced back to where Alexandria's body lay. When I finally reached her, she was laying motionless in a small pool of blood that surrounded her body, and the arrow that had hit her lay broken a few feet away. "Alexandria?" I said as I carefully turned her bloodied body over and she moaned with pain, she was still alive, and I gave out a sigh of relive. "Alexandria, can you hear me?" I asked as she slowly opened her eyes

"Tutankhamun?" she whispered hoarsely

"I'm here my love"

"I'm sorry" she whispered

"No you don't have to be sorry, I should have listened, and I should have talked with you about what happened" I said as I kissed her. I felt her starting to slip into the underworld, so I carefully picked her up, which caused her to hiss in pain. I paused for a moment for her to recover a little, and then started jogging all the way back to the palace, I would send for the guards to get my brother later.

Ankhesenamun

It's been three hours since Tutankhamun returned with a wounded Alexandria in his arms, and had sent guards to get Smenkare, who I later found out had killed my mother and oldest sister, Meritaten. I had immediately gotten our royal physician, Pentu, who was now tending to my friend's wounds while Tutankhamun and I waited outside her chambers with the twins on my lap, waiting to be called in. I was watching as Tutankhamun paced back and forth in front of the door and muttering to himself. When the doors finally opened and Pentu walked out Tutankhamun rushed over to him "How is she?" he demanded

"She's doing well my lord, the arrow wasn't near her heart, and her broken bones are all clean breaks, so they'll heal cleanly"

"Thank the gods" Tutankhamun sighed as he slumped into a nearby chair

"Oh, and my lord"

"Yes?"

"She wishes to see you, the queen and the children" so the two of us stood and with the twins still in my arms, entered Alexandria's bedchamber. When we entered we found her lying in her bed surrounded by soft pillows and cushions, and her arms, legs, chest and head were bandaged.

"Alexandria" Tutankhamun said as he rushed to her side

"How are you doing?" I asked as I went to the other side of the bed and placed the babies next to their mother.

"Better now that you four are here" she smiled, making our husband smiled as he stroked her cheek.

"I'm sorry" he said as he rested his head next to hers

"There is no need to be sorry my love; I've forgiven you for being angry with me a long time ago, and I should be the one who is sorry" Alexandria said, sounding ashamed.

"Alexandria should rest" Pentu advised from the door

"And we'll rest with her" I said

"Agreed, that is if it's okay with you?" Tutankhamun asked

"I would enjoy that very much" she smiled weakly.

Alexandria

When I woke up a few days later, I found my husband and best friend were still next to me, I saw that Tutankhamun was still awake while Ankhesenamun was still asleep. "Have you slept at all while I was asleep?" I asked as I put my hand on his warm, soft coppery skin and tenderly stroked

"No" he admitted.

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked

"A couple days"

"You should get some sleep"

"But what if you need something?"

"Then I'll call for one of the servants and besides Egypt doesn't need an exhausted Pharaoh, now do they?" I teased

"I guess not" he sighed as he put his head down

"Then rest my dear on" I said as Tutankhamun fell asleep. Shortly afterwards I too fell asleep. When I woke again Pentu was there checking on my bandages, I noticed that he'd also brought some food and drink

"Hungry?" he asked

"Starving" I smiled

"That's a good sign that you're eating habits are normal" he said as he helped me eat. After a few minutes of silence he said "Your arrow wound is healing very nicely my lady"

"Is it healing cleanly?"

"Yes it is, as are your bones, though they'll be slower in the healing process" I nodded and looked over to see if Ankhesenamun was still next to me but found that she wasn't

"Where is the queen?" I asked

"She has gone to see what she can do for Egypt"

"Thank you" I said as I turned my gaze to see if at least Tutankhamun was still next to me and found that he was still asleep

"He's been asleep for the past 9 hours, I tried to wake him but he remained asleep. He's still breathing and everything seems normal

"He's just tired" I smiled as I tenderly stroked his cheek. Once I'd finished eating, I was given more medicine and went back to sleep.

'When I woke a few days later, I found my head on Tutankhamun's lap, and he was stroking my hair. It wasn't till I was fully awake that I realized that he was actually brushing my hair. I saw Ankhesenamun next to me washing my hands with water while tears dripped down her cheeks, "What's going on?" I asked, but neither of them answered, and when I looked back up at Tutankhamun, there were tears in his eyes as well.

"My lord and lady, I am truly sorry for your lose. I wish that the arrow hadn't infected and killed Alexandria" I heard Mark say from the door. It suddenly hit me, I was dead.'

I woke with a start, and found myself with head on Tutankhamun's lap while, instead of brushing my hair, he was stroking it, almost like in my dream, "Am I dead?" I asked as I gazed at him

"No my sweet, you're still very much alive" he smiled,

"Thank the gods" I sighed.

"Are you okay? You seemed to be having a bad dream"

"I was. In it we were just as we are now, except that you were brushing my hair and Ankhesenamun was washing my hands, and you both had tears in your eyes, and Abasi told you two that he was sorry that the arrow had infected and killed me" I replied as I tried to get comfortable, and found that only a few places hurt. "How long have I been asleep?"

"A few weeks, Pentu said that only a few of your bones are still broken, but they're almost healed" he replied as he summoned a messenger to tell Pentu that I was awake

"I love you" I sighed as I put my hand on his cheek

"And I love you" Tutankhamun smiled as he kissed the palm of my hand.

"How did you sleep?" Pentu asked once he'd arrived

"Very good thank you" I smiled

"That's good to hear" he said as he started checking on the remainder of my broken bones.

Tutankhamun

A week later Alexandria had finally recovered from her accident. First with a party, then the two of us went on a little journey to the Step Pyramid, alone. Ankhesenamun had brought me there when I had been first been crowned Pharaoh, and now I wanted to show Alexandria. The sun was all ready setting in the west when we pulled up to the temple that we were going to be staying at. "Look, it's so beautiful" Alexandria said as she pointed at the setting sun

"Agreed, but not as beautiful as you, Ankhesenamun, or Tiye" I replied from behind her and I wrapped my arms around her slim waist and she rested her head on my shoulder and sighed.

"Come, I must show you around" I said

"Now"

"Well, there is this one spot that I must show you tonight" I laughed as I pulled on her hand

"As you wish" she smiled and allowed herself to be pulled to secluded pool.

"Want to have a swim?"

"What about snakes?" she asked

"There is no need to worry, there are no snakes here" I smiled

"Well then, I would love" she giggled. Soon we were splashing, I watched as she dove underneath the water, and came up somewhere else in the pool, so I swam after her and tried to catch her. When I finally did, she went into joyous laughter and little squeals,

"Caught you" I whispered into her ear and she turned around, and I saw that her hair was in her face so I moved it.

"Thanks" she smiled as she wrapped her long arms around my neck and began kissing me. I felt her legs wrap around my waist, so I climbed out of the pool with Alexandria still attached to me, and walked to one of the temple's various bedchambers. When we arrived Alexandria got off me, and very seductively started to remove her jewelry and clothing, when she was fully undressed, she came over and got me undressed. When she was finished I led her over to the bed and laid her down

"Ready?" I asked as I got on top of her

"Yes my love" she giggled. So all through the night Alexandria and I made joyous love together.

Ankhesenamun

It was early in the morning when I arrived at the temple near the Step Pyramid with the twins. I saw a lone figure sitting atop of the Pyramid so I raced over and swiftly climbed to the top and found my brother sitting cross legged, watching the sun rise in the east. "Where's Alexandria?" I asked as I sat next to him

"Still asleep" he replied

"Long night" I asked and he nodded

"Tutankhamun, I feel like you're starting to go stern again"

"Me stern, no, joyous yes" he laughed as I turned my head towards the temple, and saw a little figure veiled in a long white dress emerge from the walls and walk over to the Pyramid

"It seems that Alexandria is going to attempt to climb the Step" I said and Tutankhamun looked over and smiled. When she finally reached the top, she collapsed exhausted "You did a very good job on your first climb up here my friend" I smiled

"Thanks" she panted. I watched as Tutankhamun leaned over and tenderly kissed her, "Are we still going on the tour?" she asked as she sat up

"Yes we are" he smiled

"Mind if the twins and I come?" I asked

"Of course not" Alexandria smiled brightly.