Chapter 13

I found Isetnofret seated among a sea of scrolls.

"You wanted to see me?"

She looked up hurriedly grabbing scrolls. "Yes, you are well versed in translation, right?" She tossed me a scroll. "I can do Babylonian, but Assyrian had always given me trouble."

I picked up one of the scrolls up and began to read. "This one is discussing a land dispute over where the trade routes should be located, and this one is about a debt owed to a group of farmers in the south."

Isetnofret leaned back making her already pronounced stomach look even larger. "Why must everyone constantly complain?"

"Because the more you have the more there is to complain about," I said not looking up from my task.

She thought for a moment, "I had never considered that." Isetnofret rubbed her back as she reached for another scroll.

"Should you be putting this kind of stress on yourself," I eye her stomach.

"The baby won't come for another month, and I can't let this stuff pile up"

"Aren't there other people who could take care of this for you?" I asked looking at the large pile of scrolls.

"Yes, but I am still capable of being queen regardless of my," she looked at her stomach, "condition."

"I don't think anyone would think less of you?" I said trying to help.

"But you don't know that." she snapped back.

I turned my attention back to the scrolls trying not to let her words string. I knew she only spoke out her own worries and fears.

"Does Ramesses know about the baby?" I asked hoping to turn to the conversation to a happier subject.

"No," Isetnofret said perking up a bit, "I wanted to surprise him with it when he returned." She paused, "I hope its a boy."

Not sure if the last part was to me or just herself. I continued to read the scrolls silently. "A lot of these can be answered fairly quickly. How to handle grievances is already laid out in the law. A few might require the parties in question to come before the council. A message will need to be sent to those that do."

"For someone who has been here only a year, you seem to have a better grasp of the politics of this country than some nobles."

"One can not challenge the rules of a game if they do not know how to play it first." The scream of the mother in the streets echoed in my ears. I turned my attention back to Isetnofret. "I can help you with your petitions from time to time if you want?

She thought for a moment. "I mean," she wrung her hands, "if you don't mind."

"Not at all," I was thrilled to have something to do with my overabundance of time.

And so I spent the next few months reading and translating court documents and letters. It was one of the few times in my new life when I had now fears about what the next day would bring. And I felt I had finally found a friend in palace. If I only had know how special those early days were.

A roar went up from the crowded as the golden chariots paraded through the streets. The harsh sunlight made them look as if they were ablaze with fire. I stood next to Isetnofret as we watched the men march through the streets of cheering citizens.

Isetnofret squeezed my hand as another loud roar erupted. Ramesses's chariot passed in front of the palace, and he looked up to the balcony where Isetnofret and I stood watching the spectacle.

My pulse quickened remembering the words he had told me all those months ago.

Ramesses greeted his parents, then turned to speak to the crowd.

"I will need to go great him," Isetnofret said.

She walked away leaving me alone on the balcony watching the people from above.

"I don't understand, why you weren't invited to the banquet?" Chione said as she brushed my hair.

"Because I am not royal or a noble."

"But the prince loves you," Chione said aggressively pulling the brush trough a knot, "I remember the night you two got all..."

My hand was over her mouth before she could finish. "That is a secret," I looked around the room.

"There is no one here but us lady."

"I know that," I say turning back after I had scanned the room. "But you never know who could be listening."

As if to reinforce my claim, a knock came into the room. My heart raced. I remembered the sounds of screams and chanting I had heard when Rania has performed her ritual.

The door was slowly pushed open.

"Your highness, I was just leaving," Chione said as she quickly headed for the door. She gave me an encouraging smile before leaving me alone with Ramesses.

We both remained silent for a moment. He was tanner now, and I could see a few new scars on his arms.

Suddenly Ramesses pulled me up from my seat and into his arms. He wrapped his arms around me. "You don't know how much I have thought about this moment." His mouth trailed down my neck.

"Are you going to ask me how I have been?"

He stopped his journey over my neck and shoulder and pulled me closer. "How my you been my most beautiful one?" he asked.

I placed my hands on his chest, I tilted my head, "Busy making sure your wife didn't work herself to an early death."

"On behalf of my unborn child, I thank you. Now," he said, "I believe I made you promise. And I always keep my promises." His mouth continued his journey down my neck as his hand followed the contours of my back. My breath caught as I felt him pick me up and carried me to the bed. My heart was pounding against my chest. His lips were only inches away from mine as he set me down. I reached up to close this distance. His kiss was soft at first but grew more aggressive as I responded back.  I felt his hand as they pushed the fabric of my shift up my legs. I gasped at his touch.

"Shhh.." he said calmly, "just relax."

His mouth traveled to my breasts as the shift was discarded. I closed my eye enjoying the sensation. Then his mouth was back on mine. I pulled him closer to me not wanting an inch of space between us. My head fell back as he thrust into me, and I melted into the hot dry night.

I awoke a few hours later with Ramesses's arm draped over me. I shifted from under his weight to try free myself, but he pulled me closer into him.

"I have fought off a hoard of invaders just to get back here," he turned to face me, "you aren't going to leave me alone tonight."

My hand traced a scar on his hip, "How did that happen?"

"Ah, I forgot to cover my blind slide."

I lay their quietly as I felt the raised skin thinking of the vision I'd had of a blood-soaked battlefield.

"Were you afraid?"

"So many questions tonight," he pulled me on top of him so my head rested on his chest. "I'm not afraid of death, but what comes after for those left behind."

"I was once told it is not death we fear but being forgotten."

I looked intently at me, "are your memories coming back?"

"No, it was just something that came to mind when you spoke," I said to cover my slip up.

Ramesses's hand traced my spine, "You've changed Natalie. I don't know how, but something is different."

"Is that a bad thing?" I looked into his eyes.

"No, I guess. I just realized how long I had been gone. Isetnofret is about to give birth, and you seem older somehow."

We were silent.

"A lot can happen in eight months. I saw a woman lose her hand because her child was starving and stole a piece of bread."

Ramesses's fingers stopped tracing. "Where did you see that?" he asked not looking at me.

"In the market outside the palace," I tensed waiting for his reaction.

"I thought you were told not to leave the palace."

I could feel his anger.

"What if some had tried to hurt you!" he sat up pulling me closer.

"I wasn't alone," I said. But I knew why he was upset. I had not seen Rania since that night, thought of her still unsettled me.

"You can't keep me locked away, I want to see your country and meet its people, so I can help learn how them," I said as I looked down at the sheet that separated us.

Ramesses held my face in his hand. "Can't I have you all to myself for one night at least before you go off the save the world?" He placed a kiss on my lips before pulling me down to bed.