Chapter 4
A week has passed quickly, and the king was still grim. She tried to busy his days to take his mind away, always goof around him and even though he sometimes pretended that she was successful in her quest, she knew it was only for her own sake. Even the servants and the members of the council she accidentally met. Their eyes were cold and calculating. She hated every moment, but used it as a motive to train more and push through her limits and building her confidence.
She huffed, evading Abasi’s hands which were trying to grape her arms to immobile her and threw her weight on in return, making him stagger back
“Good, but princess, don’t depend on your strength only. Your body is small and lightweight, so it will be an advantage for you. You will move quickly and easily to counter back and surprise your opponent. Instead of pushing me try to circle around and punch my kidney or something, again.” He straightened and stood repeating the same move, but this time she did as he recommended and he was right he fell groaning clutching his left side.
“That is better, but would it has killed you if you lessened the strength in your bunch, I'm not your enemy you know that.”
She offered him her hand to help him stand-up “I know, but Disa likes the view when you fall on your ass, your kilt opens and hitch up so she can see everything.” The tough warrior spluttered and his face flushed while her friend, on the other hand, stopped breathing completely.
“What?! I can see how you sneak some secret glances from now and then, I'm not blind besides I don’t mind it, and Abasi will make a great toy to pass the time. He is mmm……what did father call it before? A good steed, I too saw everything beneath you know.” The male squeaked like a little mouse and ran away without sparing them a second glance making her laugh so hard that she fell on her ass, her sister kicked her angrily “This was too much and when ever did you see me spy on him?” The princess smirked, “Hey be honest he is quite a specimen, even I like his ass.”
Mandisa gasped in outrage “What happened to you and who is this shameless person in front of me?”
“Hey, I only put what is running through your head in words don’t attack the messenger.” Mandisa sneered and turned on her back, leaving the training area
“Hey wait for me, I'm your future queen and I command you.”
“Future queen, my ass, you would be lucky if I didn’t kill you in your sleep soon before that happens.” Tiye gripped her from behind and hugged her back
“Aww you won’t ever do that because you love me, sis, and you can’t deny it.” Her companion kept grumbling under her breath, cursing her friend silently.
“Princess, where have you been we are out of time I came to wake you up early but I couldn’t find you, hurry the ceremony will begin before midday.” A troubled court lady met them midway, she palmed her face, she has forgotten all about it her father would be furious if he knew.
“Come, come I prepared everything in your quarters there is no time to bathe we will make do with a simple wet cloth cleansing.” The female held some stresses of her hair sniffing it “Ugh it needs to be washed but we have no time, you." she pointed at someone behind us "Go and fetish me some sandalwood oil and incense, move it.”
By the time she reached her room, she had a mighty headache and it got worse when she saw the beehive that was buzzing all over the place. It was as if every servant of the royal palace was here, it looked like a battleground of some sort.
The domineering female stripped her in a blur, then pushed her unceremoniously in the basin, commanding the people around her like a general “Hey you, female warrior go and get clean I suppose you will accompany the princess, don’t stand there wasting my time doing nothing, go.” Mandisa gaped at the small female, but complied when she sneered at her, she chuckled but stopped when those fierce eyes landed on her and kept giving orders to the other poor souls around.
After a long torturous time, she was impeccably clean, her hair was scented and done in mini little braids and small pieces of gold clung to the ends. The makeup was done then the blue gown followed, she looked at her reflection in the mirror wondering about this sorcery.
Someone knocked on the doors stopping all this action “Gods be praised I didn’t have faith that we will be done at the last moment, we were doomed because of your recklessness princess.” The female fell exhausted on the ground gasping for air as if she was running for her dear life. Tiye smirked, “You think, you won’t be punished after the way you treated me?”
“I will gladly accept my punishment with open arms and smiling face, but not before reciting everything to the king.” The woman glared challenging her; the princess shook her head entertained.
“Princess we are ready. The king will be meeting us at the first court.” She nodded and followed her friend silently.
Today was the Wepent-Repent Festival. The beginning of the New Year where the entire kingdom gather to celebrate it. They reached the first court by the time the king emerged too; she greeted her father respectfully and walked along with him, their entourage following behind.
By the outer gates, all the people of the capital were gathered and each one held his offering to the god Osiris. It was also the day of his rebirth. She curtseyed them by nodding her head while they kneeled respectfully to the pharaoh. They walked to the Nile which wasn’t far, because the palace was constructed by its bank.
The platform that was erected was grandly decorated with flowers and green plants and leaves of all kinds the king sat on his big throne and Tiye on his right then he raised his hand to give the high priest the permission to start.
The man of religion stood facing the Nile and started to recite The Lamentations of Isis and Nephthys at the opening of the festival to invite Osiris to the feast.
“Glorify his soul! Establish his dead body!
Praise his spirit! Give breath to his nostrils and to his parched throat!
Give gladness unto the heart of Isis and to that of Nephthys;
Place Horus upon the throne of his Father
Give life, stability, and power to Osiris Thentirti,
Born of the great forsaken one, she who is called also Pelses, the truthful--
Glorious are her acts, according to the words of the gods.
Behold now, Isis speaketh,--
Come to thy temple, come to thy temple, oh An!
Come to thy temple, for thine enemies are not
Behold the excellent sistrum-bearer--come to thy temple!
Lo I, thy sister, love thee--do not thou depart from me!
Behold Hunnu, the beautiful one
Come to thy temple immediately -come to thy temple immediately! Behold thou my heart, which grieveth for thee;
Behold me seeking for thee--I am searching for thee to behold thee!
Lo, I am prevented from beholding thee--
I am prevented from beholding thee, oh An!
It is blessed to behold thee--come to the one who loveth thee!
Come to the one who loveth thee, oh thou who art beautiful, Un-Nofer, deceased.
Come to thy sister—come to thy wife--
Come to thy wife, oh thou who makest the heart to rest.
I, thy sister, born of thy mother, go about to every temple of thine,
Yet thou comest not forth to me
Gods, and men before the face of the gods, are weeping for thee at the same time, when they behold me!
Behold now, Nephthys speaketh,
Behold the excellent sistrum-bearer! Come to thy temple!
Cause thy heart to rejoice, for thy enemies are not!
All thy sister-goddesses are at thy side and behind thy couch,
Calling upon thee with weeping--yet thou art prostrate upon thy bed!
Hearken unto the beautiful words uttered by us and by every noble one among us!
Subdue thou every sorrow which is in the hearts of us thy sisters,
Oh thou strong one among the gods,--strong among men who behold thee!
We come before thee, oh prince, our lord
Live before us, desiring to behold thee
Turn not thou away thy face before us
Sweeten our hearts when we behold thee, oh prince!
Beautify our hearts when we behold thee
I, Nephthys, thy sister, I love thee”
After the high priest finished, the music started, and the dancers performed, it was a magnificent sight to behold; it was their way of expressing their gratitude to the flooding of the Nile which replenished their farmlands with rich nutrients, bringing about new life; they, therefore, marked this flooding with incredible feasts and Celebration. As also it marked the rebirth of Osiris, the god of the underworld and judge of the dead. The people then did their own prayers and offered their tributes and gifts to the great gods.
The princess saw the young boy who she held dear to her heart walking tentatively among the gathered crowd clutching a small bundle tightly, looking shy and uncertain, she took her friend’s black cloak and followed him silently; he chose a distant empty area and kneeled when the water level reached his knees
“Exalted art thou on thy throne,
O Osiris! Thy strength is vigorous,
O Osiris! Thou hast heard fair things,
Thou art established the Bull in Amentet,
Thy son Horus hath ascended
Thy throne and all life are with him.
I humbly beg you to lend your strength to Tiye of Egypt
And prevail her over her enemies, lead her way and calm her soul,
May your will grace us all O mighty god of life and death.”
He then opened his precious bundle and offered his gifts to the God which were some fruit and ale and continued praying. Tiye scurried away quickly before he can see her, but her heart felt heavy she wanted to go and hug him tightly to her chest and never let go, but she couldn’t do that at the moment. She vowed when the time comes she will treat him properly and will let no one demean him ever again.
The festival lasted for over seven days; the people were enjoying their time bracing themselves for the new year, hoping the flood of the Nile this year will bless them with more than the previous one, and quickly the time for The wag festival has come it was usually celebrated after the Wepent-Repent Festival. This festival is celebrated to mark the death of Osiris and the journey of the deceased to the underworld.
This time the king’s health prevented him from participating so it was Tiye’s responsibility to attend in her father’s name. She like everyone else made her paper boat and went to the Nile letting it float towards the west, she smiled at Nephi who was happily copying her every move, she secretly splashed some water on his face making the young boy giggle, but Mandisa cleared her throat warning her that people were eyeing them.
She watched her boat sail, praying to the god of the afterlife that it would reach her mother so she might find comfort in seeing it because that was the reason for this festival.
Her paper shrine followed the little boat not far ahead; its purpose was to honor the dead by carrying food to their tombs and offering it to them. At times like this she missed her mother and imagined how life would have been with her. Her mother died while giving birth to her, it was said it happened because of her higher status and her divine blood.
Her mother’s weak body couldn’t endure the stress and the agony; she barely completed her pregnancy to term. So at this festival, she felt the closest to her mother.
She stood and gestured to her friend that she is ready to leave, the boy happily followed them his movement is light and joyful.
“I don't need to ask to know if you enjoyed yourself these days or not my Nephi.”
He looked at her his eyes twinkling with joy “So much princess, these are my favorite two among all the god's festivals.”
“So you don't like Tekh Festival?” Mandisa asked while her sharp eyes taking everything around them.
“No this is my least favorite one, because everyone drinks and they become oblivious to everything around them and because I don’t like drinking I do a lot of work which is so annoying.” He grimaced at the memory but Mandisa chuckled making him look at her questionably
“So little Nephi hates your name day princess, it's the most hated day in the year for him.”
“What? No I didn’t mean that, I….I wait for it each year to wish the princess along prosper life I was just talking about my bad luck and…..and….” He stammered and his eyes watered like he was on the verge of crying.
Tiye stopped and caressed his cheek assuring then glared at her friend “It is ok Nephi I'm not offended and you have the right to hate that stupid festival. Even I hate it I wish it was another day.” The boy wiped his tears and looked up at her “Why princess you're fortunate to be born at the same day in which the strongest goddess who punished the humans for disrespecting the gods and their authority, it's a great honor.” He touched her hand tentatively
“You think so Nephi?” She asked him not sure of her feelings about this
“Yes princess, you are blessed, and this is the proof that you are meant for greatness.” He said with conviction, proudly making her smile “Then from this day forward I'll enjoy this day and hold it dear to my heart because Nephi said so.”
They were interrupted when a group of females introduced themselves to them
“Princess Tiye it's an honor to meet you here, we have been requesting a gathering with your highness but we were denied always, they said you are busy with matters more important than social meetings.” The female smile was fake, but when she eyed the little boy who was walking with her, it turned to disgust
“It was the truth I have been busy recently, the king was gradually easing me into the kingdom matters, so I won’t be overwhelmed, I’m sure your father has told you so” The female smiled sweetly before replying “Oh yes, but that wasn't the only thing I heard. But I guess the other issue is true too, we won’t waste more of your precious time princess.” They bowed and left making her grit her teeth. It was obvious what she was implying, but she has more urgent things to attend to. After her fight with her cousin, she will cut all those speaking tongues and make that a warning to anyone else who dares speak against her.