Chapter 18

I gently pushed the door open to Ramesses's room and poked my head in. Ramesses was lounging on one of the couches in the room with head tilted up to the sky. His head snapped up when he heard me open the door.

"Nat," he smiled when he saw me, "I'd been wondered where you run off to?"

I didn't smile back.

"Is everything ok?" he asked suddenly serious.

I took a deep breath, Just like I rehearsed with the Queen and Nabneteru, I thought.

"Everything is fine, but there is something I need to tell you," I up on a smile for him. I watch his eyes study me. How many lies had I already told him? How many more would I have to tell in the future?

"What is it?"

I tried to decide which order to deliver the news. Figuring it would be easier to start with a truth and work my way into the lie, I forced the words out of my mouth.

"I'm pregnant," I froze waiting for his reaction.

His face was blank. He opened his mouth to speak just as the door was flung open.

"Your highness, pardon the..." servant started.

"How dare you enter without my express permission" Ramesses shouted turning on the man.

The servant fell to his knees please forgive me, but your mother sent me," he looked up at Ramesses, "the Pharaoh is has take ill."

Ramesses stood and grabbed my hand. He pulled me out the room without another glance at the servant still on the floor. He took me through a maze of hallways past servants, officials, and people who were clearly above my rank.

"Ramesses slow down," I said only to feel him increase his speed, "I can't keep up."

Ramesses kept pulling me down the hallway until we were in front of a door guarded by two soldiers.

"Open the door," Ramesses said.

One of the guarded pointed at me, "We are under stick orders not to let anyone but the Royal family in."

"Open the door this instant, and don't ever refuse my request again or it will be the last thing you do." The guard looked at Ramesses and then at the other guard.

The doors opened.

Ramesses, still holding onto my hand, approached the bed where the Pharaoh was lying. I had expected to see a dying man, but the Pharoah just looked tired liked he need a long rest. He studied his son as Ramesses approached the bed. I could tell me was also studying me.

Ramesses finally let go of my hand when knelt by his father slide. I tried to look anywhere but at this private exchange. My eyes found the Queen Tuya, and I quickly turned back to Ramesses and his father. They sat there for a while not saying anything just looking at each other.

Then Seti spoke, "My time in this world is coming to an end, my son. I will soon make the great journey become one with Ra." He took his son's hand, "but your time is coming, and you must decide what kind of leader you want to be."

Ramesses nodded, "I will make you proud father, I will leave a legacy so great that it will outlast all other civilizations," he paused, "but there is something I must ask you."

The Pharaoh looked at me, "What is it?"

"Let me take Natalie as my wife."

Now I wish I could tell you all how kept my cool and did not "overreact" as I am prone to do, but I can't.

"You want to marry me? Like forever?" I asked like an idiot.

Ramesses didn't look back at me. The Pharaoh looked told me he was also not particularly pleased with this request.

"My son," he started, "I know you are found of this girl, but could she no simply become part of your harem?"

That snapped me out of my thoughts. I had become a lot of things but the heram girl would not be my next title. This was my chance, it was now or never. "Your majesty," I spoke up and all the eyes in the room fixed on me, "as a member of one of the royal families of Egypt, I don't believe that would be acceptable." Now both Ramesses and Seti were giving me confused looks, but I continued spurred on by my fear of what would happen when I stopped speaking.

"I am the daughter of one relative of Akhenaten during his rain, I am told my mother escaped with me during the uprising and took me to the south to protect me. She died a few years ago leaving alone without family, but I am still of royal blood. So as you can see, I can not a simple put in the harem."

I held my head high as I had been instructed to do.

"I can vouch for what the girl says," the Queen spoke up.

I turned to see her, and what I thought might have been a smile on her lips. "I have been working to discover he past in the hope of helping her return. The girl is with child and, you know, as well as I, that a Pharoph must produce an heir to maintain power. I see no reason to not allow the union."

Seti turned back to me, "So the little, lost river girl, turns out the be a princess. Now I have truly seen it all."

I made my hands into fists to keep them from shaking, "Yes, and my name is Nefertari, your majesty."

I stood in the hallway and tried to calm my breathing.

"You've really done it now."

I saw Chione come out from behind a wall.

"Were you spying on us?" I asked.

'Of course, how do you think servants always know everyone's dirty secrets?" she said matter a factly.

I looked in her hands and saw the seeds I had peed on the night before. Each had a tiny little root growing out of it.

I felt my stomach turn over. I was really going to have to do this.

"Don't worry lady, I won't leave your side," Chione said with smile up at me.