The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen (60 page)

“I order you to stop!” I said with mounting anger. As I stepped into the alleyway, there he stood. His back was to me. Almost soundlessly, he turned around and looked me in the eye. It
was
him, a man I had once known. A man I had thought dead.

He raised his eyebrows at me, waiting on my next words. They were fine but wide over his deep-set eyes. All I could do for a moment was stammer. What could I say? He smiled, and two deep dimples appeared in his cheeks. He crossed his arms in front of him.

“Wahankh, you’re alive!” I finally spat out. I felt my arms and legs trembling at the realization.

“That I am, queen.” He bowed his head.

Waves upon waves of feelings rolled through me. I was overjoyed at his presence, angry that he never tried to make contact, upset at the time lost and the memories he stirred up, confused as to why I was told he was killed, angry again that he was forced away from me, confused as to what I should say and what was expected… what now?

“Where have you been all this time?” I started.

“I’ve been living here quietly since we last saw each other.”

He had been here this whole time? Anger swelled, “Why? Why did you leave me? Why did they say you were killed? I thought you were sworn to protect me with your life, and you ran away?” There was so much more I wanted to ask, but suddenly, all the questions jumbled together.

“Your mother feared for me. She ordered me to leave. She knew that I had been seen with your blond friend. She knew that Ay had plans for me. She sent me away.”

His voice was hushed in his response.

“And you just left me? I’ve had only one person left that I can trust. How… how could you just go away?”

“Because you do the things those you love ask of you. She asked me to leave, and I did. I have regretted it ever since. Perhaps she would still be alive if I had stayed to slay the evil one. She gave her life for it instead.” Sadness broke over his face. I was struck by how tender his expression became. Here was this strong man who had guarded me and my mother when I was younger. Usually stoic, now he was brought to tears by the memory of the woman he had loved.

“There was nothing you could have done. She wanted death. She wanted to see her daughters again in the next life.” I consoled.

“Then I could have killed Ay! He forced her into this. If it were not for him, Akhenaten’s children could have been mine!”

I felt very cold as I took in what he had just said. “It isn’t just your feelings you speak of, is it? She loved you too.”

All he could do was nod. Then he got down on the ground and prostrated himself in front of me. I felt sick at the image. He was once my trusted man, never my slave. Here he humbled himself before me, and I could not guess why.

“We loved each other. And I am sorry for my next words, but I think your mother would have wanted you to know…”

“Please, stand. Look at me. I cannot bear to see you like this.”

He got to his knees. He looked into my eyes. “There was a time when your mother was going to leave Pharaoh. He had hurt her. We made a plan. Together, we would run to the marshlands where we could settle quietly. The day came when we were to leave, but she never came. She felt a responsibility to her people. She could not abandon them to her husband, who was causing so much unrest and unhappiness.”

I looked away and my cheeks flushed. Wahankh took my hands in his at this reaction. They were warm and moist. His forehead was also beading sweat.

I heard a guard draw his sword. I twisted my head towards him, “It’s all right. But I need you to step back 3 paces.”

Once I saw my two guards had followed my command, I gave Wahankh my attention.

“Come back with me now. Ay has nothing over you anymore!” I said.

He shook his head sadly and stood up. “He does have something he can hold over me. It is the reason why he allowed you to live. It was not because Pharaoh requested you as his wife. It has always been about him.”

“He knew you escaped, and now he’s using me to manipulate you? It makes no sense!”

“After our plans to resettle were halted, Nefertiti fooled Akhenaten, made him think it was so, but he, Akhenaten, he was never your real father.”

I stepped away and took my hands back. All thought and reason abandoned me. My fingers curled up into tight balls which I held against my chest. I felt my heart pounding uncontrollably.

He continued, “I wanted you to be happy. I had hoped you would be able to escape. We were going to free you and try a new life. But then Ay turned on us. This was when he told you I was dead. He found out about the secret your mother and I shared. He sent men after me and halted the insurrection. He thought he could control Nefertiti if he got rid of me for good.”

“I knew he planned it all.”

Wahankh smiled at me. “Yes, you have always been intuitive like your mother.”

There were sounds emerging behind me. Someone was calling my name. I had been gone for too long. My husband must have noticed my absence from the procession.

I turned swiftly to my guards and hoped they had not heard. “Stop anyone from getting closer to us. I will be along in just a few moments. Go!”

They turned around and marched down the path from which the voices were amplifying.

When they were out of sight, I turned back towards Wahankh. “You mean… you…”

“Yes, my beautiful queen, me. And I am sorry to have told you this way.”

“Akhenaten was never my…”

“No. Ay learned the truth, and it is the only reason you live. All other children of his were ordered killed.”

“But I look like Akhenaten’s other daughter, Marahkaten! How can that be if he is not my father?”

“Nefertiti and Akhenaten were cousins. You are still of the same blood even if he was not your father.”

“You must come with me. Protect me now. Together, we could stand against him.”

“Ay controls most of the offices under Pharaoh. He could order us both killed if he saw us together again. Pharaoh is saddened by his losses and is not keeping a close eye on you. It would be all too easy for Ay to do away with you. Pointing fingers at both a man who served the heretic and his wife along with the queen believed to be Ahkenaten’s daughter who is harboring that person? We would both be executed.”

“But my daughter, he does not know about her. You could take her and protect her!”

He smiled at me, but it was a smile that did not reach his eyes or dimple his cheeks. “I am grateful she is safe. But I have no doubt he knows of her.”

“She lives! The only explanation is that he does not know.”

“He needs something from you still. That is why she lives. Everyone is his tool.”

A mass of footsteps was approaching from behind. Wahankh began to back away. “I am sorry for all of this, but it brings me joy to see you today. You look so much like your mother, and you can still do great things for your people, just like she did. You are so much alike.”

I felt tears sting at my eyes. “No, do not leave. Please, I need you.”

“You are strong. Perhaps one day, when will meet again, I will embrace you like the father I should have been. The father Aten never allowed me to be.”

He stepped back into shadows and then turned. Quietly, he disappeared as guards came up behind me.

A hand came down on my shoulder, and I jumped at the touch. Turning around, I saw that it was Tutankhamun. I tried to wipe away my tears, but he saw.

“What has upset you, and what are you doing?” He voice was a mixture of confusion and concern.

“I’m sorry to have troubled you. I thought I saw someone I knew, but it was just a shadow.” I looked pointedly at my guards. They nodded in response. “The remembered someone, the memory it gave life to, well it brought on my tears. I asked my guards to leave me in peace so I could compose myself again.”

“We must get back. The streets are no longer safe.”

I nodded. As I began to walk back, Tutankhamun leading the way back out, I remembered hearing that warning long ago in a city now forgotten. Were things ever safe? Could danger ever leave me alone?

*****

I sat in my room that night alone and made up my mind. My mother had chosen the people, and she had died for them. I would choose life. I had given enough of myself, I decided. I would choose Amyntas. I would take Tawaret and we would leave this place. Seeing Wahankh made me realize that my mother had chosen the nameless faces surrounding her, and all that she loved had died because of that choice. I would take my daughter, take the man I loved, and we would leave all of this. Her survival was all I needed in life anymore. I would insist on returning to Waset. Then I would disappear.

I knew I had to break a heart to do it, but for my daughter, I would do anything.

I began to pack my things. I would leave as soon as I could, and I would be prepared. I did not choose the finest linens. I chose the things that would keep me warm during a cool night and cool during a hot day. I would live simply. I remembered visiting the workmen’s village and how the women looked. I would look as they did. I would no longer paint my face every morning; I would only paint it for special occasions. I would keep house and watch over my daughter… perhaps daughters and sons one day. My heart fluttered excitedly at the pictures it created from my hopes, dreams almost alive as they awaited my actions…

As I was finishing up my first bag of belongings, I heard my doors open. Looking up like a thief in the night, I saw my husband approaching. An image flashed across my eyes of his face when he learned of my disappearance. I could picture his face falling in sadness. I remembered the look from when he was a child. Guilt washed over me and made my heart feel like stone.

He closed the doors after himself and walked over to me. His expression was muted as he wrapped me up in a hug.

“I am sorry, An, for ignoring you. I may let down my people, but I should never let down the person I love.”

I closed my eyes as my heart seemed to drop to the floor. “You have more than me to worry about. You should forget me and focus on what is best for our country. They need you.”

He pulled me back and looked in my eyes. “But you need me too. I have forgotten that in my absence. I pray that you have not given up on me as I was the one who chose to leave. I did not give you a say in anything I did.”

“I… I understand your duties as Pharaoh. The crown was heavy upon my head, and I know how difficult this is for you. Please, think not of me. The people need you.”

“An, you are so good at thinking of others before yourself. It is why I have always loved you so.” Just then he dashed back over to the door and knocked loudly. Stepping back, the doors parted, and a table laden with food and wine was carried in by slaves captured from a previous campaign.

My entire face and chest flushed. How could I have been so selfish only moments before? But was it selfish thinking of my daughter’s life? Wanting to ensure her safety? I could not tell myself, honestly though, that this was all for her. I wanted it as well.

The table was set in between my bed and my vanity. I could smell the rich aromas of duck, pomegranates, date bread, and honey. Tutankhamun was given a chair by a servant, and he placed it at the table. Then he held out his hand toward me. I came over, took it, and he sat me down gently. Then he leaned over and kissed me warmly on the crook of my neck. I felt heat coursing inside of me at the touch of his lips.

Instead of sitting across from me, he set his chair beside me. Then he poured some wine in my glass as the servants left.

“This night, An, is all for you.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Then say nothing.” He stated innocently as he filled up my plate with meat and dates. “Let me entertain you. And I also wanted to give you a promise, a promise to protect your daughter. She is in danger with Ay near. I’ve had some thoughts about this, and I was hoping we could discuss her future. As long as you are happy about it, I plan to raise her as
our
child. Consider it an apology for running away from you. I was your family, and I left you alone. Now I will give you the family you should have always had.”

Tears misted up my eyes. “I would like that very much.”

“I also have many stories to share of my time in the Red Lands including some exciting hunting tales. I wanted to tell you about them before the workmen write them up in stone.”

“Weren’t you always fighting out there? I thought the enemy was so close that you could smell them night and day.”

Tutankhamun laughed. I laughed at his response. “Now you sound like Horemheb! Oh no, we had to travel many nights to reach them. There was one night we went out hunting lions.”

“You hunted a lion? Were you trying to get yourself killed?”

“Ah… there is my wife, overly concerned.”

I smiled brightly at this comment.

He reached up and touched my cheek. “Did you know you have the most beautiful dimples when you smile? I don’t think I ever told you that. I love your smile.”

We locked eyes before he spoke again. There was nervousness peppering his voice as if he was unsure what to do with me anymore. He was unsure of me still.

“Would you like to hear of my prowess with the bow? I think I have bested even my throw stick kills!” he began playfully.

“No.”

Tutankhamun stopped. His smile faded -- until I leaned over and kissed him. I felt a passion that I thought had died within me long ago. Here it was again ignited by his kindness and gentleness. All I wanted that night was him. I kissed him fiercely.

And it felt perfect.

*****

I did not leave the next day, or that week, even that month. I stayed with my husband and kept close watch over my daughter. Tutankhamun sent Ay back to Waset to supervise and report back on how progression of the temple was going. I felt safe, and I stayed. I knew with Ay gone, Tawaret was also safe. So her studies continued at the temple.

She talked excitedly over dinner about all that she had learned. We all sat together. She loved the attention of Pharaoh. I was proud to see her overcome her shyness as she began to talk with him as easily as family members would talk to each other. She told us that she was invited join the temple ranks and began duties as a full-time priestess apprentice. While I rejoiced at this news, I also felt saddened to let her go to another’s house. Here I finally had some time with her, and she was ready to start
her
life! So we waited to tell her. We decided to let her live a quiet life. The truth of her bloodline remained with us.