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Naturally, she was delighted to be among her friends and have a chance to indulge in some me time, though it frustrated her that she also felt a little guilty was it wrong to be that selfish as one of the handmaidens to the Queen? She was determined to work on the course of self-improvement that she had decided was important during her time in service to the Queen.
However, she was aware that it was largely in her head, so no one else needed to know about it. Sameera didn't count. As she had never been able to keep a secret from her twin, nor had she wanted to try. Some might assume that it made her weak or foolish after all the nature of life here was often about the keeping and seeking out of secrets. Safiya knew that and allowing someone that kind of power and knowledge could be dangerous but she trusted her sister as much as she trusted herself. Besides which, she didn't have that many secrets and none of them were all that interesting.
Well... none of them would be worth much at least.
"Calm down! There might only be one of me but I will happily spend the evening with you both... in fact, once Sameera is here..." she paused to try and look around, trying to make some sense of the gathering and where everyone was, however, both Nenet and her dear friend Neithotep were wonderful distractions from paying attention "How are you both?! Isn't this exciting to be able to relax and... gossip perhaps? I want to hear about everything! Though I doubt that anything to top my almost being your niece" she knew her throat closed up then, the idea of her uncle being married, even to her dearest friend was unsettling and actually did make her stomach clench as well with the sensation of sickness. She didn't like to even try and fathom how she might have coped if that had happened.
All those romantic fantasies abandoned.
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Naturally, she was delighted to be among her friends and have a chance to indulge in some me time, though it frustrated her that she also felt a little guilty was it wrong to be that selfish as one of the handmaidens to the Queen? She was determined to work on the course of self-improvement that she had decided was important during her time in service to the Queen.
However, she was aware that it was largely in her head, so no one else needed to know about it. Sameera didn't count. As she had never been able to keep a secret from her twin, nor had she wanted to try. Some might assume that it made her weak or foolish after all the nature of life here was often about the keeping and seeking out of secrets. Safiya knew that and allowing someone that kind of power and knowledge could be dangerous but she trusted her sister as much as she trusted herself. Besides which, she didn't have that many secrets and none of them were all that interesting.
Well... none of them would be worth much at least.
"Calm down! There might only be one of me but I will happily spend the evening with you both... in fact, once Sameera is here..." she paused to try and look around, trying to make some sense of the gathering and where everyone was, however, both Nenet and her dear friend Neithotep were wonderful distractions from paying attention "How are you both?! Isn't this exciting to be able to relax and... gossip perhaps? I want to hear about everything! Though I doubt that anything to top my almost being your niece" she knew her throat closed up then, the idea of her uncle being married, even to her dearest friend was unsettling and actually did make her stomach clench as well with the sensation of sickness. She didn't like to even try and fathom how she might have coped if that had happened.
All those romantic fantasies abandoned.
Naturally, she was delighted to be among her friends and have a chance to indulge in some me time, though it frustrated her that she also felt a little guilty was it wrong to be that selfish as one of the handmaidens to the Queen? She was determined to work on the course of self-improvement that she had decided was important during her time in service to the Queen.
However, she was aware that it was largely in her head, so no one else needed to know about it. Sameera didn't count. As she had never been able to keep a secret from her twin, nor had she wanted to try. Some might assume that it made her weak or foolish after all the nature of life here was often about the keeping and seeking out of secrets. Safiya knew that and allowing someone that kind of power and knowledge could be dangerous but she trusted her sister as much as she trusted herself. Besides which, she didn't have that many secrets and none of them were all that interesting.
Well... none of them would be worth much at least.
"Calm down! There might only be one of me but I will happily spend the evening with you both... in fact, once Sameera is here..." she paused to try and look around, trying to make some sense of the gathering and where everyone was, however, both Nenet and her dear friend Neithotep were wonderful distractions from paying attention "How are you both?! Isn't this exciting to be able to relax and... gossip perhaps? I want to hear about everything! Though I doubt that anything to top my almost being your niece" she knew her throat closed up then, the idea of her uncle being married, even to her dearest friend was unsettling and actually did make her stomach clench as well with the sensation of sickness. She didn't like to even try and fathom how she might have coped if that had happened.
All those romantic fantasies abandoned.
Nenet looked down into her cup when Rubiah told her that they were all mixed in together and felt a blush creep along her cheeks. Oh. She momentarily turned, realizing she probably did need Nia for this. Yet, of course, Nia was still self absorbed and doing anything other than rescuing her little sister! Hmph. By the time she looked back, Rubiah had invited Sameera to come sit with them. She looked down into her drink and back up at the other girl. There was nothing wrong with a mixed drink but Nenet shot her mother a look anyway. There was no telling what might set Iaheru off.
When Sameera finally decided to join them, she got her wish; Nenet did not notice Sameera’s own discomfort. She was too wrapped up in her own. How Rubiah had managed to attract such insecure women was either a testament to her prowess of gaining admirers or an unfortunate happenstance. It just depended on how one chose to look at it. Nenet smiled at Sameera but otherwise said nothing, listening as Sameera asked Rubiah about Alexandria.
“Is the drink any good?”
Nenet looked up to find Sameera asking her a question. She glanced back down at the drink in her hand as though shocked it was still there, then flicked her eyes back up again. “Mmmhmmm,” she hummed and nodded at the same time. The benefit of sounds like that was they didn’t come out as a horrendous stutter and she could get away with them a lot of the time. People generally liked to talk about themselves and Nenet was perfectly willing to let someone wax on and on if it meant she didn’t have to offer much in response.
All at once….
“As I live and breathe. How dare you return to Cairo without even telling me!” trilled a voice that made Nenet jump. “Fortunately for you, I’ll entertain forgiving you if you make this dull event pass faster,” Chione kept on as she settled onto the chaise. Nenet flicked her eyes over and caught Chione giving her that once-over that made Nenet look down at herself too just to make sure that there wasn’t anything awful on her dress. Nothing except little splatters of condensation from the cup she held.
Her eyes wandered to Nia, wondering why on earth her sister hadn’t scooped up Chione as well as the queen. If Nenet had known she’d attracted the queen’s attention, especially about her stutter, she would have decided to die right then and there from mortification or possibly pretended to throw up so she could go home. It was something she definitely did not want to talk about and definitely not in public. However, she would do whatever the queen wanted, as she assumed anyone in their right mind would.
“Impressive attire today ladies,” Chione then nudged Sameera, complimenting her especially which made Nenet look down yet again. See, this was why she didn’t leave the house. What in the name of Nephthys was wrong with her dress? Besides the fact that it didn’t suit her personality whatsoever. Whatever. She sighed and sipped her drink, glancing at Rubiah to see how the other would react to also not being considered the most well dressed.
A servant chose that moment to veer towards them, offering a huge platter of delicacies with an impressive flourish. He was the only male on the rooftop and, as most people tended to be, he was dressed in only a kilt and sandals. This establishment, trying to compete with higher end ones, happened to also only hire extremely good looking staff and Nenet blushed deep enough that her freckles stood out starkly across her cheeks and nose when the man smiled.
"Take whatever you like, my lady," the servant said.
Nenet snatched the first thing that she saw, which was a little bowl of pineapple chunks with mint sprinkled on top. Of course. She could both drink it and eat it now. Though, as the platter swung away, she saw a savory stuffed bread that she'd have liked better. Ah well.
The servant offered the platter to Sameera next, then Chione, and last to Rubiah.
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Nenet looked down into her cup when Rubiah told her that they were all mixed in together and felt a blush creep along her cheeks. Oh. She momentarily turned, realizing she probably did need Nia for this. Yet, of course, Nia was still self absorbed and doing anything other than rescuing her little sister! Hmph. By the time she looked back, Rubiah had invited Sameera to come sit with them. She looked down into her drink and back up at the other girl. There was nothing wrong with a mixed drink but Nenet shot her mother a look anyway. There was no telling what might set Iaheru off.
When Sameera finally decided to join them, she got her wish; Nenet did not notice Sameera’s own discomfort. She was too wrapped up in her own. How Rubiah had managed to attract such insecure women was either a testament to her prowess of gaining admirers or an unfortunate happenstance. It just depended on how one chose to look at it. Nenet smiled at Sameera but otherwise said nothing, listening as Sameera asked Rubiah about Alexandria.
“Is the drink any good?”
Nenet looked up to find Sameera asking her a question. She glanced back down at the drink in her hand as though shocked it was still there, then flicked her eyes back up again. “Mmmhmmm,” she hummed and nodded at the same time. The benefit of sounds like that was they didn’t come out as a horrendous stutter and she could get away with them a lot of the time. People generally liked to talk about themselves and Nenet was perfectly willing to let someone wax on and on if it meant she didn’t have to offer much in response.
All at once….
“As I live and breathe. How dare you return to Cairo without even telling me!” trilled a voice that made Nenet jump. “Fortunately for you, I’ll entertain forgiving you if you make this dull event pass faster,” Chione kept on as she settled onto the chaise. Nenet flicked her eyes over and caught Chione giving her that once-over that made Nenet look down at herself too just to make sure that there wasn’t anything awful on her dress. Nothing except little splatters of condensation from the cup she held.
Her eyes wandered to Nia, wondering why on earth her sister hadn’t scooped up Chione as well as the queen. If Nenet had known she’d attracted the queen’s attention, especially about her stutter, she would have decided to die right then and there from mortification or possibly pretended to throw up so she could go home. It was something she definitely did not want to talk about and definitely not in public. However, she would do whatever the queen wanted, as she assumed anyone in their right mind would.
“Impressive attire today ladies,” Chione then nudged Sameera, complimenting her especially which made Nenet look down yet again. See, this was why she didn’t leave the house. What in the name of Nephthys was wrong with her dress? Besides the fact that it didn’t suit her personality whatsoever. Whatever. She sighed and sipped her drink, glancing at Rubiah to see how the other would react to also not being considered the most well dressed.
A servant chose that moment to veer towards them, offering a huge platter of delicacies with an impressive flourish. He was the only male on the rooftop and, as most people tended to be, he was dressed in only a kilt and sandals. This establishment, trying to compete with higher end ones, happened to also only hire extremely good looking staff and Nenet blushed deep enough that her freckles stood out starkly across her cheeks and nose when the man smiled.
"Take whatever you like, my lady," the servant said.
Nenet snatched the first thing that she saw, which was a little bowl of pineapple chunks with mint sprinkled on top. Of course. She could both drink it and eat it now. Though, as the platter swung away, she saw a savory stuffed bread that she'd have liked better. Ah well.
The servant offered the platter to Sameera next, then Chione, and last to Rubiah.
Nenet looked down into her cup when Rubiah told her that they were all mixed in together and felt a blush creep along her cheeks. Oh. She momentarily turned, realizing she probably did need Nia for this. Yet, of course, Nia was still self absorbed and doing anything other than rescuing her little sister! Hmph. By the time she looked back, Rubiah had invited Sameera to come sit with them. She looked down into her drink and back up at the other girl. There was nothing wrong with a mixed drink but Nenet shot her mother a look anyway. There was no telling what might set Iaheru off.
When Sameera finally decided to join them, she got her wish; Nenet did not notice Sameera’s own discomfort. She was too wrapped up in her own. How Rubiah had managed to attract such insecure women was either a testament to her prowess of gaining admirers or an unfortunate happenstance. It just depended on how one chose to look at it. Nenet smiled at Sameera but otherwise said nothing, listening as Sameera asked Rubiah about Alexandria.
“Is the drink any good?”
Nenet looked up to find Sameera asking her a question. She glanced back down at the drink in her hand as though shocked it was still there, then flicked her eyes back up again. “Mmmhmmm,” she hummed and nodded at the same time. The benefit of sounds like that was they didn’t come out as a horrendous stutter and she could get away with them a lot of the time. People generally liked to talk about themselves and Nenet was perfectly willing to let someone wax on and on if it meant she didn’t have to offer much in response.
All at once….
“As I live and breathe. How dare you return to Cairo without even telling me!” trilled a voice that made Nenet jump. “Fortunately for you, I’ll entertain forgiving you if you make this dull event pass faster,” Chione kept on as she settled onto the chaise. Nenet flicked her eyes over and caught Chione giving her that once-over that made Nenet look down at herself too just to make sure that there wasn’t anything awful on her dress. Nothing except little splatters of condensation from the cup she held.
Her eyes wandered to Nia, wondering why on earth her sister hadn’t scooped up Chione as well as the queen. If Nenet had known she’d attracted the queen’s attention, especially about her stutter, she would have decided to die right then and there from mortification or possibly pretended to throw up so she could go home. It was something she definitely did not want to talk about and definitely not in public. However, she would do whatever the queen wanted, as she assumed anyone in their right mind would.
“Impressive attire today ladies,” Chione then nudged Sameera, complimenting her especially which made Nenet look down yet again. See, this was why she didn’t leave the house. What in the name of Nephthys was wrong with her dress? Besides the fact that it didn’t suit her personality whatsoever. Whatever. She sighed and sipped her drink, glancing at Rubiah to see how the other would react to also not being considered the most well dressed.
A servant chose that moment to veer towards them, offering a huge platter of delicacies with an impressive flourish. He was the only male on the rooftop and, as most people tended to be, he was dressed in only a kilt and sandals. This establishment, trying to compete with higher end ones, happened to also only hire extremely good looking staff and Nenet blushed deep enough that her freckles stood out starkly across her cheeks and nose when the man smiled.
"Take whatever you like, my lady," the servant said.
Nenet snatched the first thing that she saw, which was a little bowl of pineapple chunks with mint sprinkled on top. Of course. She could both drink it and eat it now. Though, as the platter swung away, she saw a savory stuffed bread that she'd have liked better. Ah well.
The servant offered the platter to Sameera next, then Chione, and last to Rubiah.
Unaware of her sister’s discomfort as she did her best to ignore her family entirely, Nia wasn’t sure she would have done anything about it, even if she had known. It could hardly be said that she was close to either of her sisters, even if Nenet was slightly more tolerable than Nefertaari. Had Nia been in pain or uncomfortable, she doubted either sibling would have done anything to help her, so why should she extend the same courtesy? Nenet was a big girl. She could take care of herself.
Besides, her mother and sisters ought to be happy she was here, pleasantly socializing, rather than sleeping it off in the corner like she had tried to in the beginning. If she had her way, she wouldn’t have been here at all, but at least there were now a few friendly faces to take the edge off of the boredom. One of those friendly faces was Chione, Nia’s face lighting up the moment she saw her friend come through the door. Opening her mouth to greet the other woman, she closed it again and frowned when the Isazari lady just walked right on past her to join Nenet, Sameera, and Rubiah instead. What was up with that? Things had been a little strained between them lately, yes, but she hadn’t expected an outright snub.
Oh, well. There would be time enough later to pull Chione aside and talk to her, if need be. For now, she would simply take joy in Safiya’s embrace, laughing at the woman’s questions. As if Nia knew any of the gossip going around. She prided herself on staying out of shit like that, even if she had been the subject of such gossip a few times herself.
“Things have been blessedly peaceful,” she replied with the hint of a laugh. “Like you said, there isn’t much, I think, that can top a broken off wedding.” Even if the reasons for her breaking the engagement were particularly juicy. However, they couldn’t exactly be shared with the present company. Her sister might have been ashamed of the scandal, but Nia couldn’t care less. She would rather have a scandal than the consequences that were sure to come of the union between her and Narmer. Better to end it now before everything blew up in their faces.
Releasing Safiya, she turned to the Queen, the younger woman greeting her with a knowing smile. “I can only imagine how busy you must be now, Your Evening Radiance,” she responded with her own smile. “But I am glad to hear you are well, in spite of it. It must be wonderful to be able to have this day to yourself. Have you tried any of the food yet? You ought to conscript some of the cooks into the Palace,” she suggested with a grin, eyeing a passing tray with stuffed figs. Plucking two, she kept one for herself and offered the other to Hatshepsut so she wouldn’t have to get up herself.
Her smile deepened when the Queen asked how she was, complimenting her appearance. Nia’s thoughts ran along much the same vein as Hatshepsut’s; the young Queen, too, looked well, like a massive burden had been lifted from her shoulders, even if other responsibilities now pressed on her. “My loveliness pales in comparison to your own, my Queen, though thank you for saying so,” she offered in response with a deferent inclination of her head. “I am doing quite well, actually,” she added, the same knowing look on her face that rested on the Queen’s. “I was just telling Safiya how peaceful everything has been. An odd thing to say now, I realize, in wartime.”
She looked a little sheepish at that, momentarily forgetting how many of their collective loved ones were off battling on the front lines. It was a selfish peace she had found, her tormentor among those fighting, while her own lover remained safely behind. It was not a sentiment that could be shared amongst most of them, but Hatshepsut, at least, she knew understood.
“Thank you for arranging all of this,” she said belatedly, realizing that was probably the proper way she should have started this conversation, though she thought the Queen likely understood. The young monarch was much kinder and more compassionate than she would have expected, and each encounter she had with the woman only served to prove that further. “It’s nice for us all to be able to come together and comfort each other during such uncertainty.” Even if she would rather have been elsewhere, it was the polite thing to say. “Particularly after that dreadful incident in the temple. My family and I were fortunate enough to have gone before it happened, but I heard about it later. I could scarce believe my ears.”
Fire in Osiris’s temple almost seemed an omen from the gods themselves, and Nia shuddered at the thought. Hopefully, it was not as dark as she feared, or if it was… Perhaps it would be the sort of darkness she had prayed for that day, a blasphemous prayer of destruction that she could never speak aloud, but one she was sure her companion would have added her own voice to.
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Unaware of her sister’s discomfort as she did her best to ignore her family entirely, Nia wasn’t sure she would have done anything about it, even if she had known. It could hardly be said that she was close to either of her sisters, even if Nenet was slightly more tolerable than Nefertaari. Had Nia been in pain or uncomfortable, she doubted either sibling would have done anything to help her, so why should she extend the same courtesy? Nenet was a big girl. She could take care of herself.
Besides, her mother and sisters ought to be happy she was here, pleasantly socializing, rather than sleeping it off in the corner like she had tried to in the beginning. If she had her way, she wouldn’t have been here at all, but at least there were now a few friendly faces to take the edge off of the boredom. One of those friendly faces was Chione, Nia’s face lighting up the moment she saw her friend come through the door. Opening her mouth to greet the other woman, she closed it again and frowned when the Isazari lady just walked right on past her to join Nenet, Sameera, and Rubiah instead. What was up with that? Things had been a little strained between them lately, yes, but she hadn’t expected an outright snub.
Oh, well. There would be time enough later to pull Chione aside and talk to her, if need be. For now, she would simply take joy in Safiya’s embrace, laughing at the woman’s questions. As if Nia knew any of the gossip going around. She prided herself on staying out of shit like that, even if she had been the subject of such gossip a few times herself.
“Things have been blessedly peaceful,” she replied with the hint of a laugh. “Like you said, there isn’t much, I think, that can top a broken off wedding.” Even if the reasons for her breaking the engagement were particularly juicy. However, they couldn’t exactly be shared with the present company. Her sister might have been ashamed of the scandal, but Nia couldn’t care less. She would rather have a scandal than the consequences that were sure to come of the union between her and Narmer. Better to end it now before everything blew up in their faces.
Releasing Safiya, she turned to the Queen, the younger woman greeting her with a knowing smile. “I can only imagine how busy you must be now, Your Evening Radiance,” she responded with her own smile. “But I am glad to hear you are well, in spite of it. It must be wonderful to be able to have this day to yourself. Have you tried any of the food yet? You ought to conscript some of the cooks into the Palace,” she suggested with a grin, eyeing a passing tray with stuffed figs. Plucking two, she kept one for herself and offered the other to Hatshepsut so she wouldn’t have to get up herself.
Her smile deepened when the Queen asked how she was, complimenting her appearance. Nia’s thoughts ran along much the same vein as Hatshepsut’s; the young Queen, too, looked well, like a massive burden had been lifted from her shoulders, even if other responsibilities now pressed on her. “My loveliness pales in comparison to your own, my Queen, though thank you for saying so,” she offered in response with a deferent inclination of her head. “I am doing quite well, actually,” she added, the same knowing look on her face that rested on the Queen’s. “I was just telling Safiya how peaceful everything has been. An odd thing to say now, I realize, in wartime.”
She looked a little sheepish at that, momentarily forgetting how many of their collective loved ones were off battling on the front lines. It was a selfish peace she had found, her tormentor among those fighting, while her own lover remained safely behind. It was not a sentiment that could be shared amongst most of them, but Hatshepsut, at least, she knew understood.
“Thank you for arranging all of this,” she said belatedly, realizing that was probably the proper way she should have started this conversation, though she thought the Queen likely understood. The young monarch was much kinder and more compassionate than she would have expected, and each encounter she had with the woman only served to prove that further. “It’s nice for us all to be able to come together and comfort each other during such uncertainty.” Even if she would rather have been elsewhere, it was the polite thing to say. “Particularly after that dreadful incident in the temple. My family and I were fortunate enough to have gone before it happened, but I heard about it later. I could scarce believe my ears.”
Fire in Osiris’s temple almost seemed an omen from the gods themselves, and Nia shuddered at the thought. Hopefully, it was not as dark as she feared, or if it was… Perhaps it would be the sort of darkness she had prayed for that day, a blasphemous prayer of destruction that she could never speak aloud, but one she was sure her companion would have added her own voice to.
Unaware of her sister’s discomfort as she did her best to ignore her family entirely, Nia wasn’t sure she would have done anything about it, even if she had known. It could hardly be said that she was close to either of her sisters, even if Nenet was slightly more tolerable than Nefertaari. Had Nia been in pain or uncomfortable, she doubted either sibling would have done anything to help her, so why should she extend the same courtesy? Nenet was a big girl. She could take care of herself.
Besides, her mother and sisters ought to be happy she was here, pleasantly socializing, rather than sleeping it off in the corner like she had tried to in the beginning. If she had her way, she wouldn’t have been here at all, but at least there were now a few friendly faces to take the edge off of the boredom. One of those friendly faces was Chione, Nia’s face lighting up the moment she saw her friend come through the door. Opening her mouth to greet the other woman, she closed it again and frowned when the Isazari lady just walked right on past her to join Nenet, Sameera, and Rubiah instead. What was up with that? Things had been a little strained between them lately, yes, but she hadn’t expected an outright snub.
Oh, well. There would be time enough later to pull Chione aside and talk to her, if need be. For now, she would simply take joy in Safiya’s embrace, laughing at the woman’s questions. As if Nia knew any of the gossip going around. She prided herself on staying out of shit like that, even if she had been the subject of such gossip a few times herself.
“Things have been blessedly peaceful,” she replied with the hint of a laugh. “Like you said, there isn’t much, I think, that can top a broken off wedding.” Even if the reasons for her breaking the engagement were particularly juicy. However, they couldn’t exactly be shared with the present company. Her sister might have been ashamed of the scandal, but Nia couldn’t care less. She would rather have a scandal than the consequences that were sure to come of the union between her and Narmer. Better to end it now before everything blew up in their faces.
Releasing Safiya, she turned to the Queen, the younger woman greeting her with a knowing smile. “I can only imagine how busy you must be now, Your Evening Radiance,” she responded with her own smile. “But I am glad to hear you are well, in spite of it. It must be wonderful to be able to have this day to yourself. Have you tried any of the food yet? You ought to conscript some of the cooks into the Palace,” she suggested with a grin, eyeing a passing tray with stuffed figs. Plucking two, she kept one for herself and offered the other to Hatshepsut so she wouldn’t have to get up herself.
Her smile deepened when the Queen asked how she was, complimenting her appearance. Nia’s thoughts ran along much the same vein as Hatshepsut’s; the young Queen, too, looked well, like a massive burden had been lifted from her shoulders, even if other responsibilities now pressed on her. “My loveliness pales in comparison to your own, my Queen, though thank you for saying so,” she offered in response with a deferent inclination of her head. “I am doing quite well, actually,” she added, the same knowing look on her face that rested on the Queen’s. “I was just telling Safiya how peaceful everything has been. An odd thing to say now, I realize, in wartime.”
She looked a little sheepish at that, momentarily forgetting how many of their collective loved ones were off battling on the front lines. It was a selfish peace she had found, her tormentor among those fighting, while her own lover remained safely behind. It was not a sentiment that could be shared amongst most of them, but Hatshepsut, at least, she knew understood.
“Thank you for arranging all of this,” she said belatedly, realizing that was probably the proper way she should have started this conversation, though she thought the Queen likely understood. The young monarch was much kinder and more compassionate than she would have expected, and each encounter she had with the woman only served to prove that further. “It’s nice for us all to be able to come together and comfort each other during such uncertainty.” Even if she would rather have been elsewhere, it was the polite thing to say. “Particularly after that dreadful incident in the temple. My family and I were fortunate enough to have gone before it happened, but I heard about it later. I could scarce believe my ears.”
Fire in Osiris’s temple almost seemed an omen from the gods themselves, and Nia shuddered at the thought. Hopefully, it was not as dark as she feared, or if it was… Perhaps it would be the sort of darkness she had prayed for that day, a blasphemous prayer of destruction that she could never speak aloud, but one she was sure her companion would have added her own voice to.
Hatshepsut was very grateful for this respite from the duties she had assumed in the Pharaoh’s absence. She had doubted herself at first, but she was beginning to enjoy the challenges that every day brought. For the first time in her life, she felt like the ruler she was born to be, instead of just a puppet Queen. There was still a lot to learn, but she gained new knowledge each day that would help her in the future.
As a child, she had dreamed of becoming Pharaoh herself like her namesake. She had given up those fancies as she matured. Now, however, she wondered if it would be possible someday, if she proved to her people that she was a better monarch than her husband. She didn’t think that would be very hard. Her subjects already loved her for her kindness and compassion.
“Thank you,” she said as Neithotep handed her a stuffed fig. “One of my handmaidens is fixing a plate so I haven’t yet had the chance to enjoy the food.” Popping it into her mouth, she closed her eyes and savored the taste. “It is delicious.” Opening her eyes, she smiled up at the H’Sheifa woman. “Perhaps I shall send one of my stewards to lure the cooks to the palace.” Before she finished speaking, the handmaiden returned, set a full plate on the table beside the Queen’s chaise, bowed, and backed away to stand with the rest of her mistress’ attendants.
Something fluttered in her belly. Perhaps the cooks weren’t that skilled after all if the one fig she had eaten upset her stomach. No, she felt fine and the fluttering was gone. It was a strange feeling that she had never experienced before, and she wondered what had caused it. The next delicacy she chose was a cheese-stuffed fig wrapped in crispy bacon. Her stomach remained calm.
Hatshepsut thanked Neithotep again, this time for a compliment on her beauty. It was the right thing to say. Nobody would dare tell the Queen that they were more beautiful than she was, even were it true, as she thought it was in this case. The older woman was gorgeous. It was no surprise that she had caught Iahotep’s eye. Great beauty could be a curse if you attracted the attention of a man you could not say no to and live to tell about it.
The fluttering returned and quickly vanished again. “I’m glad to hear that,” she replied, understanding completely why she felt that everything was peaceful now. “This may be the calm before the storm,” Hatshepsut confided. “If the war doesn’t go our way, we may face hardships in the near future. I will be informed about how our men are faring. The gods will assure we will win, but they may test our faith before they give us victory.”
“Thank you for arranging all of this. It’s nice for us all to be able to come together and comfort each other during such uncertainty. Particularly after that dreadful incident in the temple. My family and I were fortunate enough to have gone before it happened, but I heard about it later. I could scarce believe my ears.”
The petite Queen nodded. “It is important that we stick together more than ever now. If this gathering goes well, there will be more.” Her dark eyes scanned the room. “Everyone looks like they are enjoying it so far.” And there it was again … another brief flutter.
The fire at Osiris’ temple. It was a very troubling occurrence. Not the first fire to blaze through the city lately, but it was the most worrying. Her investigators had given her their initial report. It had most likely been set deliberately and at least one priest had been murdered … stabbed through the heart. Who in her kingdom would dare harm a representative of the gods? It must have been a Greek trying to weaken the Egyptians by causing dissonance among those left at home.
“Your family was one of the lucky ones. The royal investigators are looking into it. If they determine that it was arson, the culprit will be found and punished. The temples of the gods should never be defiled in any way. I’ve set more guards to patrolling the city day and night to make certain that nothing like this happens again.”
The fluttering was back, a bit stronger this time. It felt as if something was pushing her skin from the inside. Ohhh! Hatshepsut grinned as she realized what was happening. Egypt’s heir had quickened! “I can feel the baby kicking!” she exclaimed, loud enough in her excitement that all of the women on the rooftop would be able to hear.
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Hatshepsut was very grateful for this respite from the duties she had assumed in the Pharaoh’s absence. She had doubted herself at first, but she was beginning to enjoy the challenges that every day brought. For the first time in her life, she felt like the ruler she was born to be, instead of just a puppet Queen. There was still a lot to learn, but she gained new knowledge each day that would help her in the future.
As a child, she had dreamed of becoming Pharaoh herself like her namesake. She had given up those fancies as she matured. Now, however, she wondered if it would be possible someday, if she proved to her people that she was a better monarch than her husband. She didn’t think that would be very hard. Her subjects already loved her for her kindness and compassion.
“Thank you,” she said as Neithotep handed her a stuffed fig. “One of my handmaidens is fixing a plate so I haven’t yet had the chance to enjoy the food.” Popping it into her mouth, she closed her eyes and savored the taste. “It is delicious.” Opening her eyes, she smiled up at the H’Sheifa woman. “Perhaps I shall send one of my stewards to lure the cooks to the palace.” Before she finished speaking, the handmaiden returned, set a full plate on the table beside the Queen’s chaise, bowed, and backed away to stand with the rest of her mistress’ attendants.
Something fluttered in her belly. Perhaps the cooks weren’t that skilled after all if the one fig she had eaten upset her stomach. No, she felt fine and the fluttering was gone. It was a strange feeling that she had never experienced before, and she wondered what had caused it. The next delicacy she chose was a cheese-stuffed fig wrapped in crispy bacon. Her stomach remained calm.
Hatshepsut thanked Neithotep again, this time for a compliment on her beauty. It was the right thing to say. Nobody would dare tell the Queen that they were more beautiful than she was, even were it true, as she thought it was in this case. The older woman was gorgeous. It was no surprise that she had caught Iahotep’s eye. Great beauty could be a curse if you attracted the attention of a man you could not say no to and live to tell about it.
The fluttering returned and quickly vanished again. “I’m glad to hear that,” she replied, understanding completely why she felt that everything was peaceful now. “This may be the calm before the storm,” Hatshepsut confided. “If the war doesn’t go our way, we may face hardships in the near future. I will be informed about how our men are faring. The gods will assure we will win, but they may test our faith before they give us victory.”
“Thank you for arranging all of this. It’s nice for us all to be able to come together and comfort each other during such uncertainty. Particularly after that dreadful incident in the temple. My family and I were fortunate enough to have gone before it happened, but I heard about it later. I could scarce believe my ears.”
The petite Queen nodded. “It is important that we stick together more than ever now. If this gathering goes well, there will be more.” Her dark eyes scanned the room. “Everyone looks like they are enjoying it so far.” And there it was again … another brief flutter.
The fire at Osiris’ temple. It was a very troubling occurrence. Not the first fire to blaze through the city lately, but it was the most worrying. Her investigators had given her their initial report. It had most likely been set deliberately and at least one priest had been murdered … stabbed through the heart. Who in her kingdom would dare harm a representative of the gods? It must have been a Greek trying to weaken the Egyptians by causing dissonance among those left at home.
“Your family was one of the lucky ones. The royal investigators are looking into it. If they determine that it was arson, the culprit will be found and punished. The temples of the gods should never be defiled in any way. I’ve set more guards to patrolling the city day and night to make certain that nothing like this happens again.”
The fluttering was back, a bit stronger this time. It felt as if something was pushing her skin from the inside. Ohhh! Hatshepsut grinned as she realized what was happening. Egypt’s heir had quickened! “I can feel the baby kicking!” she exclaimed, loud enough in her excitement that all of the women on the rooftop would be able to hear.
Hatshepsut was very grateful for this respite from the duties she had assumed in the Pharaoh’s absence. She had doubted herself at first, but she was beginning to enjoy the challenges that every day brought. For the first time in her life, she felt like the ruler she was born to be, instead of just a puppet Queen. There was still a lot to learn, but she gained new knowledge each day that would help her in the future.
As a child, she had dreamed of becoming Pharaoh herself like her namesake. She had given up those fancies as she matured. Now, however, she wondered if it would be possible someday, if she proved to her people that she was a better monarch than her husband. She didn’t think that would be very hard. Her subjects already loved her for her kindness and compassion.
“Thank you,” she said as Neithotep handed her a stuffed fig. “One of my handmaidens is fixing a plate so I haven’t yet had the chance to enjoy the food.” Popping it into her mouth, she closed her eyes and savored the taste. “It is delicious.” Opening her eyes, she smiled up at the H’Sheifa woman. “Perhaps I shall send one of my stewards to lure the cooks to the palace.” Before she finished speaking, the handmaiden returned, set a full plate on the table beside the Queen’s chaise, bowed, and backed away to stand with the rest of her mistress’ attendants.
Something fluttered in her belly. Perhaps the cooks weren’t that skilled after all if the one fig she had eaten upset her stomach. No, she felt fine and the fluttering was gone. It was a strange feeling that she had never experienced before, and she wondered what had caused it. The next delicacy she chose was a cheese-stuffed fig wrapped in crispy bacon. Her stomach remained calm.
Hatshepsut thanked Neithotep again, this time for a compliment on her beauty. It was the right thing to say. Nobody would dare tell the Queen that they were more beautiful than she was, even were it true, as she thought it was in this case. The older woman was gorgeous. It was no surprise that she had caught Iahotep’s eye. Great beauty could be a curse if you attracted the attention of a man you could not say no to and live to tell about it.
The fluttering returned and quickly vanished again. “I’m glad to hear that,” she replied, understanding completely why she felt that everything was peaceful now. “This may be the calm before the storm,” Hatshepsut confided. “If the war doesn’t go our way, we may face hardships in the near future. I will be informed about how our men are faring. The gods will assure we will win, but they may test our faith before they give us victory.”
“Thank you for arranging all of this. It’s nice for us all to be able to come together and comfort each other during such uncertainty. Particularly after that dreadful incident in the temple. My family and I were fortunate enough to have gone before it happened, but I heard about it later. I could scarce believe my ears.”
The petite Queen nodded. “It is important that we stick together more than ever now. If this gathering goes well, there will be more.” Her dark eyes scanned the room. “Everyone looks like they are enjoying it so far.” And there it was again … another brief flutter.
The fire at Osiris’ temple. It was a very troubling occurrence. Not the first fire to blaze through the city lately, but it was the most worrying. Her investigators had given her their initial report. It had most likely been set deliberately and at least one priest had been murdered … stabbed through the heart. Who in her kingdom would dare harm a representative of the gods? It must have been a Greek trying to weaken the Egyptians by causing dissonance among those left at home.
“Your family was one of the lucky ones. The royal investigators are looking into it. If they determine that it was arson, the culprit will be found and punished. The temples of the gods should never be defiled in any way. I’ve set more guards to patrolling the city day and night to make certain that nothing like this happens again.”
The fluttering was back, a bit stronger this time. It felt as if something was pushing her skin from the inside. Ohhh! Hatshepsut grinned as she realized what was happening. Egypt’s heir had quickened! “I can feel the baby kicking!” she exclaimed, loud enough in her excitement that all of the women on the rooftop would be able to hear.
Sameera was pleased to hear from Nenet, a highly trusted source, that at least the drink they spoke of was good. It wouldn't do, she thought with the slightest wrinkle of her nose, if the drink was horrible.
She let her eyes land on her sister for just a second, then tried to focus on her own conversation. Was it better for them to focus on separate things, and then come back for gossip at the end of the day, sharing secrets while falling asleep? Sameera did wish she could lend an ear on that conversation as well, however much she looked up to Safiya.
She startled just a little as the middle H'Isazari girl, Chione, exclaimed to Rubiah, though she offered a polite smile once she realized there was no danger coming to her. The discomfort of her current outfit was somewhat lessened by the compliment given to her by Chione, though the teasing and similarity of outfits went just a bit over her head, as she considered Chione to be the prettier among the two of them. Regardless, she cheerfully added, "You look quite pleasant as well."
She wished for a taste of the drink that had been mentioned, since it did seem that most were enjoying it, and she was much more willing to fill her mouth with a sweet taste than with words. She had never grasped onto the social intricacies as her twin sister had, though she was much happier to listen to the gossip traded than she was to spread it. She had a tendency to describe types of carpet sold in the area until she lost her train of thought on the gossip.
Sameera, noticing her friend's slight blush at the appearance of the servant who had appeared, quickly snatched up some bread that she was almost certain contained some dates, a favourite of hers, when the plate had been offered to her. Thank goodness, even if she hadn't been thinking about dates at the second, a smile lit across her face as she tasted the bread. Delicious.
She didn't have too much more time to ponder on the taste of the bread, though, for soon a sound came from the area that was currently occupied by the Queen, Neithotep, and Safiya, and Sameera wasn't even sure if she had heard the words properly, but nevertheless she hurried over to the Queen's side to congratulate her. That seemed the proper thing to do, and besides, she could hardly stand still for news like that, especially with how excited the young Queen's tone had sounded as she had announced to all on the rooftop. She gave her friend Nenet a quick squeeze on the hand as she stood.
"How thrilling, Your Evening Radiance," Sameera said, her eyes wide and her smile cheerful, "A sign of a strong baby, yes?" She was, admittedly, not the best at this sort of thing. The last baby she had met had been her younger brother Kissan, when she was two and it was an event she had hardly remembered. She glanced at her sister, who was already standing by, giving her a smile. It was truly an exciting event, though she had no idea what was going through the minds of the others. New life in the face of a war. How poetic.
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Sameera was pleased to hear from Nenet, a highly trusted source, that at least the drink they spoke of was good. It wouldn't do, she thought with the slightest wrinkle of her nose, if the drink was horrible.
She let her eyes land on her sister for just a second, then tried to focus on her own conversation. Was it better for them to focus on separate things, and then come back for gossip at the end of the day, sharing secrets while falling asleep? Sameera did wish she could lend an ear on that conversation as well, however much she looked up to Safiya.
She startled just a little as the middle H'Isazari girl, Chione, exclaimed to Rubiah, though she offered a polite smile once she realized there was no danger coming to her. The discomfort of her current outfit was somewhat lessened by the compliment given to her by Chione, though the teasing and similarity of outfits went just a bit over her head, as she considered Chione to be the prettier among the two of them. Regardless, she cheerfully added, "You look quite pleasant as well."
She wished for a taste of the drink that had been mentioned, since it did seem that most were enjoying it, and she was much more willing to fill her mouth with a sweet taste than with words. She had never grasped onto the social intricacies as her twin sister had, though she was much happier to listen to the gossip traded than she was to spread it. She had a tendency to describe types of carpet sold in the area until she lost her train of thought on the gossip.
Sameera, noticing her friend's slight blush at the appearance of the servant who had appeared, quickly snatched up some bread that she was almost certain contained some dates, a favourite of hers, when the plate had been offered to her. Thank goodness, even if she hadn't been thinking about dates at the second, a smile lit across her face as she tasted the bread. Delicious.
She didn't have too much more time to ponder on the taste of the bread, though, for soon a sound came from the area that was currently occupied by the Queen, Neithotep, and Safiya, and Sameera wasn't even sure if she had heard the words properly, but nevertheless she hurried over to the Queen's side to congratulate her. That seemed the proper thing to do, and besides, she could hardly stand still for news like that, especially with how excited the young Queen's tone had sounded as she had announced to all on the rooftop. She gave her friend Nenet a quick squeeze on the hand as she stood.
"How thrilling, Your Evening Radiance," Sameera said, her eyes wide and her smile cheerful, "A sign of a strong baby, yes?" She was, admittedly, not the best at this sort of thing. The last baby she had met had been her younger brother Kissan, when she was two and it was an event she had hardly remembered. She glanced at her sister, who was already standing by, giving her a smile. It was truly an exciting event, though she had no idea what was going through the minds of the others. New life in the face of a war. How poetic.
Sameera was pleased to hear from Nenet, a highly trusted source, that at least the drink they spoke of was good. It wouldn't do, she thought with the slightest wrinkle of her nose, if the drink was horrible.
She let her eyes land on her sister for just a second, then tried to focus on her own conversation. Was it better for them to focus on separate things, and then come back for gossip at the end of the day, sharing secrets while falling asleep? Sameera did wish she could lend an ear on that conversation as well, however much she looked up to Safiya.
She startled just a little as the middle H'Isazari girl, Chione, exclaimed to Rubiah, though she offered a polite smile once she realized there was no danger coming to her. The discomfort of her current outfit was somewhat lessened by the compliment given to her by Chione, though the teasing and similarity of outfits went just a bit over her head, as she considered Chione to be the prettier among the two of them. Regardless, she cheerfully added, "You look quite pleasant as well."
She wished for a taste of the drink that had been mentioned, since it did seem that most were enjoying it, and she was much more willing to fill her mouth with a sweet taste than with words. She had never grasped onto the social intricacies as her twin sister had, though she was much happier to listen to the gossip traded than she was to spread it. She had a tendency to describe types of carpet sold in the area until she lost her train of thought on the gossip.
Sameera, noticing her friend's slight blush at the appearance of the servant who had appeared, quickly snatched up some bread that she was almost certain contained some dates, a favourite of hers, when the plate had been offered to her. Thank goodness, even if she hadn't been thinking about dates at the second, a smile lit across her face as she tasted the bread. Delicious.
She didn't have too much more time to ponder on the taste of the bread, though, for soon a sound came from the area that was currently occupied by the Queen, Neithotep, and Safiya, and Sameera wasn't even sure if she had heard the words properly, but nevertheless she hurried over to the Queen's side to congratulate her. That seemed the proper thing to do, and besides, she could hardly stand still for news like that, especially with how excited the young Queen's tone had sounded as she had announced to all on the rooftop. She gave her friend Nenet a quick squeeze on the hand as she stood.
"How thrilling, Your Evening Radiance," Sameera said, her eyes wide and her smile cheerful, "A sign of a strong baby, yes?" She was, admittedly, not the best at this sort of thing. The last baby she had met had been her younger brother Kissan, when she was two and it was an event she had hardly remembered. She glanced at her sister, who was already standing by, giving her a smile. It was truly an exciting event, though she had no idea what was going through the minds of the others. New life in the face of a war. How poetic.
This may be the calm before the storm. If the war doesn’t go our way, we may face hardships in the near future. I will be informed about how our men are faring. The gods will assure we will win, but they may test our faith before they give us victory.
“May the gods protect and keep us all then,” she murmured with due deference, even if there was one man she specifically excluded from that overarching sentiment. “Hopefully within a few months, we’ll all be together again, celebrating our victory and the birth of our little prince or princess.”
She and the Queen went on to speak of other things, chief among them the horror in the temple of Osiris. Expressing how grateful she was that she and her family had escaped the incident before anything dire had occurred, the Queen agreed, telling her how lucky they were to have been gone. Nia was glad to hear they already had investigators on the task, nodding sagely as Hatshepsut asserted the offender would be found and punished.
“It is hard to think anyone would damage such a holy place,” she replied with a shake of her head. Thinking also of the priest who had been murdered, her jaw tightened. “Or such a holy man. Surely, they will be punished in this life and the next for their transgressions. I can’t think the gods would stand for such a thing.”
The tone soon lightened, however, Hatshepsut’s face brightening with a sort of shocked happiness. I can feel the baby kicking! Nia’s own eyes widened in surprise, unsure whether she ought to smile or frown. Smile, of course; this was Egypt’s heir, and everyone ought to be happy that the child was healthy and well enough to start moving. However, it was hard to feel any sort of joy where it concerned Iahotep’s offspring, royalty or not.
She knew what was expected of her, though, and in spite of its parentage, a new child ought to be celebrated. Bringing a pleased smile to her face, Nia exclaimed, “Oh, Your Evening Radiance, how wonderful! Even in the face of such hardship, the gods bless us today!”
There, that was the right to say, wasn’t it? Proper deference to the Queen, proper deference to the gods… maybe Nia wasn’t so terrible at this Court thing, after all. Smiling at Sameera as she came over to where she and Hatshepsut conversed, Nia took a couple steps back to let the other ladies fawn over the Queen, as well.
This was a happy day. In spite of the fires, in spite of the battles, the gods smiled down on them, and all would be well.
All would be well. Wouldn’t it?
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This may be the calm before the storm. If the war doesn’t go our way, we may face hardships in the near future. I will be informed about how our men are faring. The gods will assure we will win, but they may test our faith before they give us victory.
“May the gods protect and keep us all then,” she murmured with due deference, even if there was one man she specifically excluded from that overarching sentiment. “Hopefully within a few months, we’ll all be together again, celebrating our victory and the birth of our little prince or princess.”
She and the Queen went on to speak of other things, chief among them the horror in the temple of Osiris. Expressing how grateful she was that she and her family had escaped the incident before anything dire had occurred, the Queen agreed, telling her how lucky they were to have been gone. Nia was glad to hear they already had investigators on the task, nodding sagely as Hatshepsut asserted the offender would be found and punished.
“It is hard to think anyone would damage such a holy place,” she replied with a shake of her head. Thinking also of the priest who had been murdered, her jaw tightened. “Or such a holy man. Surely, they will be punished in this life and the next for their transgressions. I can’t think the gods would stand for such a thing.”
The tone soon lightened, however, Hatshepsut’s face brightening with a sort of shocked happiness. I can feel the baby kicking! Nia’s own eyes widened in surprise, unsure whether she ought to smile or frown. Smile, of course; this was Egypt’s heir, and everyone ought to be happy that the child was healthy and well enough to start moving. However, it was hard to feel any sort of joy where it concerned Iahotep’s offspring, royalty or not.
She knew what was expected of her, though, and in spite of its parentage, a new child ought to be celebrated. Bringing a pleased smile to her face, Nia exclaimed, “Oh, Your Evening Radiance, how wonderful! Even in the face of such hardship, the gods bless us today!”
There, that was the right to say, wasn’t it? Proper deference to the Queen, proper deference to the gods… maybe Nia wasn’t so terrible at this Court thing, after all. Smiling at Sameera as she came over to where she and Hatshepsut conversed, Nia took a couple steps back to let the other ladies fawn over the Queen, as well.
This was a happy day. In spite of the fires, in spite of the battles, the gods smiled down on them, and all would be well.
All would be well. Wouldn’t it?
This may be the calm before the storm. If the war doesn’t go our way, we may face hardships in the near future. I will be informed about how our men are faring. The gods will assure we will win, but they may test our faith before they give us victory.
“May the gods protect and keep us all then,” she murmured with due deference, even if there was one man she specifically excluded from that overarching sentiment. “Hopefully within a few months, we’ll all be together again, celebrating our victory and the birth of our little prince or princess.”
She and the Queen went on to speak of other things, chief among them the horror in the temple of Osiris. Expressing how grateful she was that she and her family had escaped the incident before anything dire had occurred, the Queen agreed, telling her how lucky they were to have been gone. Nia was glad to hear they already had investigators on the task, nodding sagely as Hatshepsut asserted the offender would be found and punished.
“It is hard to think anyone would damage such a holy place,” she replied with a shake of her head. Thinking also of the priest who had been murdered, her jaw tightened. “Or such a holy man. Surely, they will be punished in this life and the next for their transgressions. I can’t think the gods would stand for such a thing.”
The tone soon lightened, however, Hatshepsut’s face brightening with a sort of shocked happiness. I can feel the baby kicking! Nia’s own eyes widened in surprise, unsure whether she ought to smile or frown. Smile, of course; this was Egypt’s heir, and everyone ought to be happy that the child was healthy and well enough to start moving. However, it was hard to feel any sort of joy where it concerned Iahotep’s offspring, royalty or not.
She knew what was expected of her, though, and in spite of its parentage, a new child ought to be celebrated. Bringing a pleased smile to her face, Nia exclaimed, “Oh, Your Evening Radiance, how wonderful! Even in the face of such hardship, the gods bless us today!”
There, that was the right to say, wasn’t it? Proper deference to the Queen, proper deference to the gods… maybe Nia wasn’t so terrible at this Court thing, after all. Smiling at Sameera as she came over to where she and Hatshepsut conversed, Nia took a couple steps back to let the other ladies fawn over the Queen, as well.
This was a happy day. In spite of the fires, in spite of the battles, the gods smiled down on them, and all would be well.
All would be well. Wouldn’t it?
The subject of the baby was inevitable.
Even though Safiya knew nothing about babies, young children or becoming a mother and so it had managed to limit her conversation topics and was one of the main reasons that Safiya had been pestering her mother about it all. Which might have resulted in worry, until the older woman remembered just how these things ended up working when it came to her daughter's mind.
"I will only take it as a positive. My mother told me we kicked rather fiercely all the time. Not that she knew it was two children she carried" and that had been a rather interesting shock. One that Safiya was not all that sure she would have ever coped with half as well as her mother had managed to do anything like that but that didn't mean that she would ever need to even think about worrying about or over.
After all, she was a woman who was a rather practical kind of one. At least sometimes when it was supposed to count.
Well, she wanted to try and be one.
"It just shows the depth of their depravity and cruelty ..." she might not have much to add to the conversation as it seemed to be switching to the war and then back to the babies, but she could throw in a few comments and also spend some time on making sure that she was paying the right kind of attention to the woman she had sworn to serve as her lady in waiting and that meant making sure that her needs were met but also watching out in case there were any of those subtle signs of stress present that might mean Safiya needed to provide some way for her to escape.
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The subject of the baby was inevitable.
Even though Safiya knew nothing about babies, young children or becoming a mother and so it had managed to limit her conversation topics and was one of the main reasons that Safiya had been pestering her mother about it all. Which might have resulted in worry, until the older woman remembered just how these things ended up working when it came to her daughter's mind.
"I will only take it as a positive. My mother told me we kicked rather fiercely all the time. Not that she knew it was two children she carried" and that had been a rather interesting shock. One that Safiya was not all that sure she would have ever coped with half as well as her mother had managed to do anything like that but that didn't mean that she would ever need to even think about worrying about or over.
After all, she was a woman who was a rather practical kind of one. At least sometimes when it was supposed to count.
Well, she wanted to try and be one.
"It just shows the depth of their depravity and cruelty ..." she might not have much to add to the conversation as it seemed to be switching to the war and then back to the babies, but she could throw in a few comments and also spend some time on making sure that she was paying the right kind of attention to the woman she had sworn to serve as her lady in waiting and that meant making sure that her needs were met but also watching out in case there were any of those subtle signs of stress present that might mean Safiya needed to provide some way for her to escape.
The subject of the baby was inevitable.
Even though Safiya knew nothing about babies, young children or becoming a mother and so it had managed to limit her conversation topics and was one of the main reasons that Safiya had been pestering her mother about it all. Which might have resulted in worry, until the older woman remembered just how these things ended up working when it came to her daughter's mind.
"I will only take it as a positive. My mother told me we kicked rather fiercely all the time. Not that she knew it was two children she carried" and that had been a rather interesting shock. One that Safiya was not all that sure she would have ever coped with half as well as her mother had managed to do anything like that but that didn't mean that she would ever need to even think about worrying about or over.
After all, she was a woman who was a rather practical kind of one. At least sometimes when it was supposed to count.
Well, she wanted to try and be one.
"It just shows the depth of their depravity and cruelty ..." she might not have much to add to the conversation as it seemed to be switching to the war and then back to the babies, but she could throw in a few comments and also spend some time on making sure that she was paying the right kind of attention to the woman she had sworn to serve as her lady in waiting and that meant making sure that her needs were met but also watching out in case there were any of those subtle signs of stress present that might mean Safiya needed to provide some way for her to escape.
“I can feel the baby kicking!” The queen’s exclamation drew Nenet’s eye and for once, she was actually interested. The talk that had been going on in this corner right that second was not all that riveting. Chione had basically ignored her, save for a small smile. Which was completely typical. Nenet wasn’t entirely sure why Nia was friends with Chione. The woman was such a whore. Well...so was Nia. ...hmm...mystery solved, then, wasn’t it? But that still didn’t soften Nenet to Chione, no matter how alike Nia and Chione were. Though she liked to be forgotten, she didn’t really like to be snubbed and to give Rubiah, who was lesser in rank by far more attention? W o W.
Nenet was broken out of her squinted glare by Sameera, who stood quickly, giving her hand a light squeeze. Nenet’s mouth opened but not because any sound was forthcoming. Just in a silent question but she realized where Sameera was going, which was towards the queen. Oh, yes, right. Taking the lifeline, Nenet made a beeline after her, leaving Rubiah and Chione to congratulate themselves on their own finery. Hmph.
“How thrilling, Your Evening Radiance,” Sameera was saying to Hatshepsut and Nenet nodded along, internally willing all that well said good cheer on her own behalf into Sameera’s words. Flawless plan. Couldn’t go wrong. “A sign of a strong baby, yes?”
“S-s-s-o h-h-h-ealth-th-y,” Nenet finally chimed in, blushing hard when the words stammered out in shaky tones. Well...what else did anyone expect? She hid her shame by drinking deeply from her cup. The pleasant tang of the fruit did little to soothe her, however. She was now blocked into this little group with no quick means of escape and she wasn’t about to look to her mother to rescue her because Iaheru wouldn’t.
Nia chimed in with, to Nenet, inane comments, but they were smoother than she herself had made, which naturally made her all the more jealous of her older, more beautiful, better spoken sister. She sipped loudly in her cup, squinting at Nia. Safiya, meanwhile, offered her own recollections of her and Sameera’s time in the womb. Nenet had nothing really to add, unfortunately. She’d never asked her mother about it before. It had never occurred to her to ask about pregnancy, but now she thought that a little strange that she wasn’t the least bit curious. Of course, she didn’t plan on marrying, so children weren’t going to be part of her life. She would enjoy other people’s children. Like Nia’s, because her sister, if she continued on like she was, would DEFINITELY end up with some hobo’s baby.
At that moment, a servant spun back around into view, like an orbiting moon around a planet, offering more delicacies. Nenet sniffed, done with her drink, and aimed to put it back on the tray. Except she more like slammed the cup on the tray. It shattered in her hand, the tray flipped straight out of the man’s grasp. Cups of juice and alcohol arched through the air in gorgeous streams before splattering literally everyone in that little circle. Fired clay shattered at their feet, Nenet let out a little shriek and jumped. Shards skittered across the deck and Nenet was then looking at her palm as a fountain of red snaked down her palm, mingling with juice to vein down her arm.
“N-n-nia?” she asked, now in a very childlike way of wanting comfort from someone familiar, despite the acid thoughts of earlier that had made this mess in the first place. Her face paled, and suddenly she dropped like a stone onto the ground, out cold.
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“I can feel the baby kicking!” The queen’s exclamation drew Nenet’s eye and for once, she was actually interested. The talk that had been going on in this corner right that second was not all that riveting. Chione had basically ignored her, save for a small smile. Which was completely typical. Nenet wasn’t entirely sure why Nia was friends with Chione. The woman was such a whore. Well...so was Nia. ...hmm...mystery solved, then, wasn’t it? But that still didn’t soften Nenet to Chione, no matter how alike Nia and Chione were. Though she liked to be forgotten, she didn’t really like to be snubbed and to give Rubiah, who was lesser in rank by far more attention? W o W.
Nenet was broken out of her squinted glare by Sameera, who stood quickly, giving her hand a light squeeze. Nenet’s mouth opened but not because any sound was forthcoming. Just in a silent question but she realized where Sameera was going, which was towards the queen. Oh, yes, right. Taking the lifeline, Nenet made a beeline after her, leaving Rubiah and Chione to congratulate themselves on their own finery. Hmph.
“How thrilling, Your Evening Radiance,” Sameera was saying to Hatshepsut and Nenet nodded along, internally willing all that well said good cheer on her own behalf into Sameera’s words. Flawless plan. Couldn’t go wrong. “A sign of a strong baby, yes?”
“S-s-s-o h-h-h-ealth-th-y,” Nenet finally chimed in, blushing hard when the words stammered out in shaky tones. Well...what else did anyone expect? She hid her shame by drinking deeply from her cup. The pleasant tang of the fruit did little to soothe her, however. She was now blocked into this little group with no quick means of escape and she wasn’t about to look to her mother to rescue her because Iaheru wouldn’t.
Nia chimed in with, to Nenet, inane comments, but they were smoother than she herself had made, which naturally made her all the more jealous of her older, more beautiful, better spoken sister. She sipped loudly in her cup, squinting at Nia. Safiya, meanwhile, offered her own recollections of her and Sameera’s time in the womb. Nenet had nothing really to add, unfortunately. She’d never asked her mother about it before. It had never occurred to her to ask about pregnancy, but now she thought that a little strange that she wasn’t the least bit curious. Of course, she didn’t plan on marrying, so children weren’t going to be part of her life. She would enjoy other people’s children. Like Nia’s, because her sister, if she continued on like she was, would DEFINITELY end up with some hobo’s baby.
At that moment, a servant spun back around into view, like an orbiting moon around a planet, offering more delicacies. Nenet sniffed, done with her drink, and aimed to put it back on the tray. Except she more like slammed the cup on the tray. It shattered in her hand, the tray flipped straight out of the man’s grasp. Cups of juice and alcohol arched through the air in gorgeous streams before splattering literally everyone in that little circle. Fired clay shattered at their feet, Nenet let out a little shriek and jumped. Shards skittered across the deck and Nenet was then looking at her palm as a fountain of red snaked down her palm, mingling with juice to vein down her arm.
“N-n-nia?” she asked, now in a very childlike way of wanting comfort from someone familiar, despite the acid thoughts of earlier that had made this mess in the first place. Her face paled, and suddenly she dropped like a stone onto the ground, out cold.
“I can feel the baby kicking!” The queen’s exclamation drew Nenet’s eye and for once, she was actually interested. The talk that had been going on in this corner right that second was not all that riveting. Chione had basically ignored her, save for a small smile. Which was completely typical. Nenet wasn’t entirely sure why Nia was friends with Chione. The woman was such a whore. Well...so was Nia. ...hmm...mystery solved, then, wasn’t it? But that still didn’t soften Nenet to Chione, no matter how alike Nia and Chione were. Though she liked to be forgotten, she didn’t really like to be snubbed and to give Rubiah, who was lesser in rank by far more attention? W o W.
Nenet was broken out of her squinted glare by Sameera, who stood quickly, giving her hand a light squeeze. Nenet’s mouth opened but not because any sound was forthcoming. Just in a silent question but she realized where Sameera was going, which was towards the queen. Oh, yes, right. Taking the lifeline, Nenet made a beeline after her, leaving Rubiah and Chione to congratulate themselves on their own finery. Hmph.
“How thrilling, Your Evening Radiance,” Sameera was saying to Hatshepsut and Nenet nodded along, internally willing all that well said good cheer on her own behalf into Sameera’s words. Flawless plan. Couldn’t go wrong. “A sign of a strong baby, yes?”
“S-s-s-o h-h-h-ealth-th-y,” Nenet finally chimed in, blushing hard when the words stammered out in shaky tones. Well...what else did anyone expect? She hid her shame by drinking deeply from her cup. The pleasant tang of the fruit did little to soothe her, however. She was now blocked into this little group with no quick means of escape and she wasn’t about to look to her mother to rescue her because Iaheru wouldn’t.
Nia chimed in with, to Nenet, inane comments, but they were smoother than she herself had made, which naturally made her all the more jealous of her older, more beautiful, better spoken sister. She sipped loudly in her cup, squinting at Nia. Safiya, meanwhile, offered her own recollections of her and Sameera’s time in the womb. Nenet had nothing really to add, unfortunately. She’d never asked her mother about it before. It had never occurred to her to ask about pregnancy, but now she thought that a little strange that she wasn’t the least bit curious. Of course, she didn’t plan on marrying, so children weren’t going to be part of her life. She would enjoy other people’s children. Like Nia’s, because her sister, if she continued on like she was, would DEFINITELY end up with some hobo’s baby.
At that moment, a servant spun back around into view, like an orbiting moon around a planet, offering more delicacies. Nenet sniffed, done with her drink, and aimed to put it back on the tray. Except she more like slammed the cup on the tray. It shattered in her hand, the tray flipped straight out of the man’s grasp. Cups of juice and alcohol arched through the air in gorgeous streams before splattering literally everyone in that little circle. Fired clay shattered at their feet, Nenet let out a little shriek and jumped. Shards skittered across the deck and Nenet was then looking at her palm as a fountain of red snaked down her palm, mingling with juice to vein down her arm.
“N-n-nia?” she asked, now in a very childlike way of wanting comfort from someone familiar, despite the acid thoughts of earlier that had made this mess in the first place. Her face paled, and suddenly she dropped like a stone onto the ground, out cold.
Nia was barely paying attention to what was going on around her any more, now that the polite niceties were out of the way. For a moment, she glanced over to where Chione and Rubiah conversed, a certain kind of longing in her gaze. Had Chione already found someone to replace her so soon? What could she do to get the woman back, to convince her that her recent distance had nothing to do with her? She couldn’t tell her the truth, but surely there was something that could repair the quickly growing rift. She hated feeling like this; she and Chione had always been so close, a closeness that rivalled even that of her and Hena. But now? It was like they were strangers, and she could hardly bear it.
A million miles away as she was lost in contemplation, she was only startled out of it by the sound of a loud ‘pop’, a shattering of clay and glass that soaked everyone within its vicinity, including herself. “What the fuck…?” she muttered under her breath, looking down at her now soaked and sticky gown in annoyance. Really?! What was up with the clumsy servants at these events? They ought to vet the staff better if this was going to be such a regular occurrence…
Her own discomfort was forgotten in the next moment, turning at the sound of her stuttered name. Eyes widening in alarm as she took in the paling face of her sister, Nia was quick to react as the other woman crumpled to the ground. “Nenet!” she cried as she rushed to catch her before she had too hard of a collision, only managing to make sure her head didn’t strike the stone below.
Kneeling down and cradling her sister’s head in her lap, she looked at her gushing hand in horror. Oh gods, was that blood?! “A healer! Someone get a healer!” she shouted to whoever might be listening, her eyes lingering briefly on the nearby twins with a silent plea for help before ripping a length of fabric from her gown to press against the flowing wound. Nia herself knew next to nothing about patching wounds, but she couldn’t just let Nenet bleed all over the place.
Glancing around the room with a frown, she wondered where her mother and older sister had ended up, and how she was the one dealing with this. It could hardly be said Nia was the most loving of siblings, but she wasn’t going to just abandon Nenet to her fate, either. It sure would be nice to have a little help though…
“Nenet?” With the free hand that wasn’t holding the wadded cloth to her injury, she lightly tapped her sister’s cheek. “Can you hear me?” There was a line of worry drawn across her face, tapping Nenet’s cheek again. “Wake up. Please wake up.”
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Nia was barely paying attention to what was going on around her any more, now that the polite niceties were out of the way. For a moment, she glanced over to where Chione and Rubiah conversed, a certain kind of longing in her gaze. Had Chione already found someone to replace her so soon? What could she do to get the woman back, to convince her that her recent distance had nothing to do with her? She couldn’t tell her the truth, but surely there was something that could repair the quickly growing rift. She hated feeling like this; she and Chione had always been so close, a closeness that rivalled even that of her and Hena. But now? It was like they were strangers, and she could hardly bear it.
A million miles away as she was lost in contemplation, she was only startled out of it by the sound of a loud ‘pop’, a shattering of clay and glass that soaked everyone within its vicinity, including herself. “What the fuck…?” she muttered under her breath, looking down at her now soaked and sticky gown in annoyance. Really?! What was up with the clumsy servants at these events? They ought to vet the staff better if this was going to be such a regular occurrence…
Her own discomfort was forgotten in the next moment, turning at the sound of her stuttered name. Eyes widening in alarm as she took in the paling face of her sister, Nia was quick to react as the other woman crumpled to the ground. “Nenet!” she cried as she rushed to catch her before she had too hard of a collision, only managing to make sure her head didn’t strike the stone below.
Kneeling down and cradling her sister’s head in her lap, she looked at her gushing hand in horror. Oh gods, was that blood?! “A healer! Someone get a healer!” she shouted to whoever might be listening, her eyes lingering briefly on the nearby twins with a silent plea for help before ripping a length of fabric from her gown to press against the flowing wound. Nia herself knew next to nothing about patching wounds, but she couldn’t just let Nenet bleed all over the place.
Glancing around the room with a frown, she wondered where her mother and older sister had ended up, and how she was the one dealing with this. It could hardly be said Nia was the most loving of siblings, but she wasn’t going to just abandon Nenet to her fate, either. It sure would be nice to have a little help though…
“Nenet?” With the free hand that wasn’t holding the wadded cloth to her injury, she lightly tapped her sister’s cheek. “Can you hear me?” There was a line of worry drawn across her face, tapping Nenet’s cheek again. “Wake up. Please wake up.”
Nia was barely paying attention to what was going on around her any more, now that the polite niceties were out of the way. For a moment, she glanced over to where Chione and Rubiah conversed, a certain kind of longing in her gaze. Had Chione already found someone to replace her so soon? What could she do to get the woman back, to convince her that her recent distance had nothing to do with her? She couldn’t tell her the truth, but surely there was something that could repair the quickly growing rift. She hated feeling like this; she and Chione had always been so close, a closeness that rivalled even that of her and Hena. But now? It was like they were strangers, and she could hardly bear it.
A million miles away as she was lost in contemplation, she was only startled out of it by the sound of a loud ‘pop’, a shattering of clay and glass that soaked everyone within its vicinity, including herself. “What the fuck…?” she muttered under her breath, looking down at her now soaked and sticky gown in annoyance. Really?! What was up with the clumsy servants at these events? They ought to vet the staff better if this was going to be such a regular occurrence…
Her own discomfort was forgotten in the next moment, turning at the sound of her stuttered name. Eyes widening in alarm as she took in the paling face of her sister, Nia was quick to react as the other woman crumpled to the ground. “Nenet!” she cried as she rushed to catch her before she had too hard of a collision, only managing to make sure her head didn’t strike the stone below.
Kneeling down and cradling her sister’s head in her lap, she looked at her gushing hand in horror. Oh gods, was that blood?! “A healer! Someone get a healer!” she shouted to whoever might be listening, her eyes lingering briefly on the nearby twins with a silent plea for help before ripping a length of fabric from her gown to press against the flowing wound. Nia herself knew next to nothing about patching wounds, but she couldn’t just let Nenet bleed all over the place.
Glancing around the room with a frown, she wondered where her mother and older sister had ended up, and how she was the one dealing with this. It could hardly be said Nia was the most loving of siblings, but she wasn’t going to just abandon Nenet to her fate, either. It sure would be nice to have a little help though…
“Nenet?” With the free hand that wasn’t holding the wadded cloth to her injury, she lightly tapped her sister’s cheek. “Can you hear me?” There was a line of worry drawn across her face, tapping Nenet’s cheek again. “Wake up. Please wake up.”
Had she not lingered around the perimeter of the hall, perhaps she would’ve been more attuned to the younger, unseasoned, women. Iaheru was waiting on the servants to bring the queen her much awaited third shipment of oysters and other delicacies saved for the event. If it wasn’t for reputation, it was for wealth, and the throngs of courtesan regulars that Iaheru chose to mingle with best not forget the prominence she wielded in her marital and societal exile.
She wondered when exactly her daughters had taken to bare chestedness. Iaheru could and would never, the desire evaded her along with judgement. It was Egypt, after all, and she was an anomaly tenfold. Though, today, in the company of women, she elected to stick out even more. A tight, semi sheer kalasaris stretched over a figure one would hardly describe as matronly due to rose wraps and constant movement along the ports of Cairo. The linen that one may even describe as poor was bleached white, a square, silk ribbon neckline tucked into a matching silk ribbon belt and silk trimmed hem. A sheer cape split at her bare arms side and a hairwrap created a cylinder of mystique. It was strange attire for Iaheru, devoid of jewels or demarcation of wealth, but her presence was tenfold among women lesser.
Her hands rest against fine clay, wine sweetly wafting to her nostrils in such heat. The glee of a kicking child was rampant among the women. It even brought a smile to the mother’s lips before the reality behind the child washed it all away. The Queen knew, she had to. And it was then that Iaheru mourned her daughter, her son, the Queen, and herself. Had she not lied, Iahotep would remain a peasant general. And she’d be Queen Mother.
A heat of embarrassment washed over her as she watched Nenet topple over a tray. Of course it was Nenet, Iaheru cursed under a steely exterior. It was always her crippled. Iaheru calmly brisked over to the scene, where older sister Neithotep panicked and scrambled about the faux pas. Iaheru may have once done the same, before life had seasoned her and attuned her to the serenity that led to her unfastening a hair pin and unraveling the binds that held her hair hidden from the world.
Each fold would reveal long black braids oiled into submission, decorated with golden rings and with the faintest smell of frankincense. “Don’t pluck any shards from her arm,” Iaheru sighs, pressing her wrap into her daughter’s arm. “That is for the physician to do.”
Blood sept up Iaheru’s cape and soiled her silk. It was a true shame, she liked the outfit that bordered on her former retainer garb. “Neithotep, you’ve done well, just take one moment to yourself,” Iaheru beckoned to her second eldest.
Not even a raise in heartbeat, Iaheru was unfazed by the entire situation. Experiencing it more from outside her body than in. It was then, as her luck would have it, that Sheifa servants came bearing gifts of oysters and delicacies from afar. She was supposed to present the Queen, but, instead, she passes the headwrap to Neithotep and approached the reclining Queen from a distance, still sopped in juice and blood.
“I… I apologize Your Evening Radiance.”
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Had she not lingered around the perimeter of the hall, perhaps she would’ve been more attuned to the younger, unseasoned, women. Iaheru was waiting on the servants to bring the queen her much awaited third shipment of oysters and other delicacies saved for the event. If it wasn’t for reputation, it was for wealth, and the throngs of courtesan regulars that Iaheru chose to mingle with best not forget the prominence she wielded in her marital and societal exile.
She wondered when exactly her daughters had taken to bare chestedness. Iaheru could and would never, the desire evaded her along with judgement. It was Egypt, after all, and she was an anomaly tenfold. Though, today, in the company of women, she elected to stick out even more. A tight, semi sheer kalasaris stretched over a figure one would hardly describe as matronly due to rose wraps and constant movement along the ports of Cairo. The linen that one may even describe as poor was bleached white, a square, silk ribbon neckline tucked into a matching silk ribbon belt and silk trimmed hem. A sheer cape split at her bare arms side and a hairwrap created a cylinder of mystique. It was strange attire for Iaheru, devoid of jewels or demarcation of wealth, but her presence was tenfold among women lesser.
Her hands rest against fine clay, wine sweetly wafting to her nostrils in such heat. The glee of a kicking child was rampant among the women. It even brought a smile to the mother’s lips before the reality behind the child washed it all away. The Queen knew, she had to. And it was then that Iaheru mourned her daughter, her son, the Queen, and herself. Had she not lied, Iahotep would remain a peasant general. And she’d be Queen Mother.
A heat of embarrassment washed over her as she watched Nenet topple over a tray. Of course it was Nenet, Iaheru cursed under a steely exterior. It was always her crippled. Iaheru calmly brisked over to the scene, where older sister Neithotep panicked and scrambled about the faux pas. Iaheru may have once done the same, before life had seasoned her and attuned her to the serenity that led to her unfastening a hair pin and unraveling the binds that held her hair hidden from the world.
Each fold would reveal long black braids oiled into submission, decorated with golden rings and with the faintest smell of frankincense. “Don’t pluck any shards from her arm,” Iaheru sighs, pressing her wrap into her daughter’s arm. “That is for the physician to do.”
Blood sept up Iaheru’s cape and soiled her silk. It was a true shame, she liked the outfit that bordered on her former retainer garb. “Neithotep, you’ve done well, just take one moment to yourself,” Iaheru beckoned to her second eldest.
Not even a raise in heartbeat, Iaheru was unfazed by the entire situation. Experiencing it more from outside her body than in. It was then, as her luck would have it, that Sheifa servants came bearing gifts of oysters and delicacies from afar. She was supposed to present the Queen, but, instead, she passes the headwrap to Neithotep and approached the reclining Queen from a distance, still sopped in juice and blood.
“I… I apologize Your Evening Radiance.”
Had she not lingered around the perimeter of the hall, perhaps she would’ve been more attuned to the younger, unseasoned, women. Iaheru was waiting on the servants to bring the queen her much awaited third shipment of oysters and other delicacies saved for the event. If it wasn’t for reputation, it was for wealth, and the throngs of courtesan regulars that Iaheru chose to mingle with best not forget the prominence she wielded in her marital and societal exile.
She wondered when exactly her daughters had taken to bare chestedness. Iaheru could and would never, the desire evaded her along with judgement. It was Egypt, after all, and she was an anomaly tenfold. Though, today, in the company of women, she elected to stick out even more. A tight, semi sheer kalasaris stretched over a figure one would hardly describe as matronly due to rose wraps and constant movement along the ports of Cairo. The linen that one may even describe as poor was bleached white, a square, silk ribbon neckline tucked into a matching silk ribbon belt and silk trimmed hem. A sheer cape split at her bare arms side and a hairwrap created a cylinder of mystique. It was strange attire for Iaheru, devoid of jewels or demarcation of wealth, but her presence was tenfold among women lesser.
Her hands rest against fine clay, wine sweetly wafting to her nostrils in such heat. The glee of a kicking child was rampant among the women. It even brought a smile to the mother’s lips before the reality behind the child washed it all away. The Queen knew, she had to. And it was then that Iaheru mourned her daughter, her son, the Queen, and herself. Had she not lied, Iahotep would remain a peasant general. And she’d be Queen Mother.
A heat of embarrassment washed over her as she watched Nenet topple over a tray. Of course it was Nenet, Iaheru cursed under a steely exterior. It was always her crippled. Iaheru calmly brisked over to the scene, where older sister Neithotep panicked and scrambled about the faux pas. Iaheru may have once done the same, before life had seasoned her and attuned her to the serenity that led to her unfastening a hair pin and unraveling the binds that held her hair hidden from the world.
Each fold would reveal long black braids oiled into submission, decorated with golden rings and with the faintest smell of frankincense. “Don’t pluck any shards from her arm,” Iaheru sighs, pressing her wrap into her daughter’s arm. “That is for the physician to do.”
Blood sept up Iaheru’s cape and soiled her silk. It was a true shame, she liked the outfit that bordered on her former retainer garb. “Neithotep, you’ve done well, just take one moment to yourself,” Iaheru beckoned to her second eldest.
Not even a raise in heartbeat, Iaheru was unfazed by the entire situation. Experiencing it more from outside her body than in. It was then, as her luck would have it, that Sheifa servants came bearing gifts of oysters and delicacies from afar. She was supposed to present the Queen, but, instead, she passes the headwrap to Neithotep and approached the reclining Queen from a distance, still sopped in juice and blood.
“I… I apologize Your Evening Radiance.”
Sameera was not the only one to fawn over the Queen's delighted exclamation, a fact she noted with comfort. For a second, she had been worried that she might have acted in a manner that was unladylike, which would've been embarrassing. She smiled enough to let herself fade into the background enough to listen to other praises, like Nia's, and Sameera's own twin, Safiya's.
Sameera had no doubts that Safiya had been the stronger kicker, though perhaps it had been their combined efforts that had made it seem like they were strong. Sameera wondered what would happen if the Queen was having twins. Maybe she would want advice from Safiya and Sameera about it. Oftentimes Sameera felt proud when she could speak on something she did know.
She was glad that Nenet had chimed in as well, especially since she relied so much on her friend. Everyone always felt so more experienced in life than Sameera did, but with Nenet, Sameera didn't feel as bad about it due to their shared love of books. Most of the women present, save the Queen, had some years on Sameera and her twin, but even the Queen made up for it in the sheer amount of things she would have experienced simply by being who she was.
It fascinated Sameera just a little to know of what things came to a person just because of their birth. If she had been a boy, maybe she would've had a whole different experience. They certainly didn't have to deal with elaborate network pieces stuck in uncomfortable places, as far as Sameera knew. Or she could've been born Bedoan. Her mother spoke of her life as a Somalu sometimes, if Sameera begged her with questions or thoughts about how the sands might look different.
Sameera was startled out of her thoughts enough to recognize a disaster. She hadn't caught the start of it, but a shard of clay had grazed her foot, leaving her with a small scratch as if she had bumped into the sharper end of a table, and her outfit was now somewhat damp due to the alcohol or juice, Sameera couldn't tell which. More dire, however, was Nenet's wound and fainting.
Sameera was not very good in medical emergencies, no matter what she liked to think. She glanced between all of the parties present, eyes flicking between the servant, Nenet's sister, Nia, and the Queen. Oh, the Queen! Nothing bad should happen to her, especially as she was expecting a child, a special child, a royal child.
Listening to Neithotep's words, Sameera nodded her head and ran out, calling for a physician, a healer, anyone who could assist in the situation. She hoped to return in success, though she was comforted to see the woman she recognized as Iaheru, the mother of the young Sheifa girls, heading in the opposite direction as she ran out to fetch a healer.
If it was her choice, Sameera would never have to see blood very violence or injury. That was why she remained her, in the comfort of rooms and friends like these, instead of out on battlefields, though she tried to keep informed when things happened.
What a turn of events! She thought, slightly distressed. Was it a bad sign for the Queen's baby if someone passed out not an hour after it had kicked at its mother? She wished she had listened to Hathor's priestesses more often, perhaps then she would know. Unknowing of whatever Iaheru was doing to manage the situation, she grabbed the arm of a healer she recognized and led them into the room, describing what had happened quietly.
"and then she fainted, so I ran to get a healer." Sameera finished, standing at the doorway with the healer, realizing somewhat awkwardly that Iaheru was now making apologies to the Queen. She glanced around the room, uncertain if it would be appropriate for her to burst in with a healer now that Iaheru seemed to have gotten the situation under control.
Sameera felt distinctly glad that someone had calmed things down. She felt nervous, as though she might mess up simply by trying to help her friend, and her heart was pounding as she simply stood in the door.
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Sameera was not the only one to fawn over the Queen's delighted exclamation, a fact she noted with comfort. For a second, she had been worried that she might have acted in a manner that was unladylike, which would've been embarrassing. She smiled enough to let herself fade into the background enough to listen to other praises, like Nia's, and Sameera's own twin, Safiya's.
Sameera had no doubts that Safiya had been the stronger kicker, though perhaps it had been their combined efforts that had made it seem like they were strong. Sameera wondered what would happen if the Queen was having twins. Maybe she would want advice from Safiya and Sameera about it. Oftentimes Sameera felt proud when she could speak on something she did know.
She was glad that Nenet had chimed in as well, especially since she relied so much on her friend. Everyone always felt so more experienced in life than Sameera did, but with Nenet, Sameera didn't feel as bad about it due to their shared love of books. Most of the women present, save the Queen, had some years on Sameera and her twin, but even the Queen made up for it in the sheer amount of things she would have experienced simply by being who she was.
It fascinated Sameera just a little to know of what things came to a person just because of their birth. If she had been a boy, maybe she would've had a whole different experience. They certainly didn't have to deal with elaborate network pieces stuck in uncomfortable places, as far as Sameera knew. Or she could've been born Bedoan. Her mother spoke of her life as a Somalu sometimes, if Sameera begged her with questions or thoughts about how the sands might look different.
Sameera was startled out of her thoughts enough to recognize a disaster. She hadn't caught the start of it, but a shard of clay had grazed her foot, leaving her with a small scratch as if she had bumped into the sharper end of a table, and her outfit was now somewhat damp due to the alcohol or juice, Sameera couldn't tell which. More dire, however, was Nenet's wound and fainting.
Sameera was not very good in medical emergencies, no matter what she liked to think. She glanced between all of the parties present, eyes flicking between the servant, Nenet's sister, Nia, and the Queen. Oh, the Queen! Nothing bad should happen to her, especially as she was expecting a child, a special child, a royal child.
Listening to Neithotep's words, Sameera nodded her head and ran out, calling for a physician, a healer, anyone who could assist in the situation. She hoped to return in success, though she was comforted to see the woman she recognized as Iaheru, the mother of the young Sheifa girls, heading in the opposite direction as she ran out to fetch a healer.
If it was her choice, Sameera would never have to see blood very violence or injury. That was why she remained her, in the comfort of rooms and friends like these, instead of out on battlefields, though she tried to keep informed when things happened.
What a turn of events! She thought, slightly distressed. Was it a bad sign for the Queen's baby if someone passed out not an hour after it had kicked at its mother? She wished she had listened to Hathor's priestesses more often, perhaps then she would know. Unknowing of whatever Iaheru was doing to manage the situation, she grabbed the arm of a healer she recognized and led them into the room, describing what had happened quietly.
"and then she fainted, so I ran to get a healer." Sameera finished, standing at the doorway with the healer, realizing somewhat awkwardly that Iaheru was now making apologies to the Queen. She glanced around the room, uncertain if it would be appropriate for her to burst in with a healer now that Iaheru seemed to have gotten the situation under control.
Sameera felt distinctly glad that someone had calmed things down. She felt nervous, as though she might mess up simply by trying to help her friend, and her heart was pounding as she simply stood in the door.
Sameera was not the only one to fawn over the Queen's delighted exclamation, a fact she noted with comfort. For a second, she had been worried that she might have acted in a manner that was unladylike, which would've been embarrassing. She smiled enough to let herself fade into the background enough to listen to other praises, like Nia's, and Sameera's own twin, Safiya's.
Sameera had no doubts that Safiya had been the stronger kicker, though perhaps it had been their combined efforts that had made it seem like they were strong. Sameera wondered what would happen if the Queen was having twins. Maybe she would want advice from Safiya and Sameera about it. Oftentimes Sameera felt proud when she could speak on something she did know.
She was glad that Nenet had chimed in as well, especially since she relied so much on her friend. Everyone always felt so more experienced in life than Sameera did, but with Nenet, Sameera didn't feel as bad about it due to their shared love of books. Most of the women present, save the Queen, had some years on Sameera and her twin, but even the Queen made up for it in the sheer amount of things she would have experienced simply by being who she was.
It fascinated Sameera just a little to know of what things came to a person just because of their birth. If she had been a boy, maybe she would've had a whole different experience. They certainly didn't have to deal with elaborate network pieces stuck in uncomfortable places, as far as Sameera knew. Or she could've been born Bedoan. Her mother spoke of her life as a Somalu sometimes, if Sameera begged her with questions or thoughts about how the sands might look different.
Sameera was startled out of her thoughts enough to recognize a disaster. She hadn't caught the start of it, but a shard of clay had grazed her foot, leaving her with a small scratch as if she had bumped into the sharper end of a table, and her outfit was now somewhat damp due to the alcohol or juice, Sameera couldn't tell which. More dire, however, was Nenet's wound and fainting.
Sameera was not very good in medical emergencies, no matter what she liked to think. She glanced between all of the parties present, eyes flicking between the servant, Nenet's sister, Nia, and the Queen. Oh, the Queen! Nothing bad should happen to her, especially as she was expecting a child, a special child, a royal child.
Listening to Neithotep's words, Sameera nodded her head and ran out, calling for a physician, a healer, anyone who could assist in the situation. She hoped to return in success, though she was comforted to see the woman she recognized as Iaheru, the mother of the young Sheifa girls, heading in the opposite direction as she ran out to fetch a healer.
If it was her choice, Sameera would never have to see blood very violence or injury. That was why she remained her, in the comfort of rooms and friends like these, instead of out on battlefields, though she tried to keep informed when things happened.
What a turn of events! She thought, slightly distressed. Was it a bad sign for the Queen's baby if someone passed out not an hour after it had kicked at its mother? She wished she had listened to Hathor's priestesses more often, perhaps then she would know. Unknowing of whatever Iaheru was doing to manage the situation, she grabbed the arm of a healer she recognized and led them into the room, describing what had happened quietly.
"and then she fainted, so I ran to get a healer." Sameera finished, standing at the doorway with the healer, realizing somewhat awkwardly that Iaheru was now making apologies to the Queen. She glanced around the room, uncertain if it would be appropriate for her to burst in with a healer now that Iaheru seemed to have gotten the situation under control.
Sameera felt distinctly glad that someone had calmed things down. She felt nervous, as though she might mess up simply by trying to help her friend, and her heart was pounding as she simply stood in the door.
Hatshepsut beamed at the comments of the noblewomen on the heir of Egypt’s quickening. They seemed as pleased as she was. This rooftop gathering had now become a momentous occasion. While they still worried for their husbands, fathers,and brothers, they now had cause for celebration.
The young Queen’s heart swelled with love, and her look of surprise was replaced with contentment. The baby was kicking. He was alive and healthy and wanted his mother to know it. The flutters continued, light and brief and endearing. As Neithotep had said, the gods had blessed them. All of them. Egypt’s legacy would continue. She carried its future in her womb. Maybe this was also a sign that the gods would give them victory over Greece.
Letting the conversation drone on around her, she became lost in her own little world, imagining how it would feel to hold her child in her arms, to present him … or her … to her people. Even a girl would be a reason to rejoice. If Hatshepsut had no other children, her daughter could inherit the throne, just as she had. However, she believed that she would have many more offspring, both sons and daughters.
While this one was almost certainly Iahotep’s, she hoped the rest of them would be fathered by her beloved Osorsen. And if her hated husband were to suffer an untimely death, whether in war or after he returned, she would appoint Osorsen as the baby Pharaoh’s regent, along with herself. A dreamy smile curved her lips. She was so happy now she felt as if her heart might burst with utter joy.
A sudden shattering sound brought her sharply out of her daydreams. Her maidservants stepped in front of her to protect her and they were immediately soaked with wine and juice. Hatshepsut was shielded by most of the deluge though a few drops splashed upon her. Her guards rushed over to her, their weapons drawn and their eyes alert. Telling her maidservants to stand back, she rose just as Nenet H’Shiefa fainted. Blood was running down one of her arms and the Queen could see the shards stuck in her hand.
Neithotep ran over to her sister and knelt beside her, shouting for a healer. “Fetch the royal physician," she ordered one of her guards. “Use my sedan chair to bring her here quickly.”
Involving herself further would just make things worse so she sat back down and waited for Skylla to arrive. As if sensing her distress, the baby fluttered more rapidly within her. She watched as Sirdsett H’Sheifa rushed over to her daughters, and unfastened the wrap she wore around her head to stop the bleeding. She always kept her head covered and Hatshepsut had always wondered what her hair looked like. It was quite beautiful.
Brushing away a slave who was trying to wipe some wine from her arm, Hatshepsut’s eyes widened as servants filed in with the oysters she craved and other delicacies, obviously a gift from the Sirsett. She had been supplying her with oysters since she had first revealed that she craved them. Normally, her stomach would have rumbled in anticipation, but she was too concerned for Nenet to be hungry.
Sirdsett H’Shiefa approached her and apologized. “It was an accident,” the Queen replied. “I have sent for the royal physician. If she thinks you daughter needs treatment that cannot be done here, I hope you will allow her to be moved to the palace. You and you other daughters can, of course, stay with her.”
Sameera appeared in the doorway with a man whom she said was a healer. Hatshepsut stood again and the healer bowed. “Attend her,” she ordered, indicating the young woman lying on the ground. “When my personal physician arrives, you will defer to her and assist her.”
Turning to the H’Haidaddad twin, she nodded regally. “Thank you, Sameera, for your quick reaction.”
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Hatshepsut beamed at the comments of the noblewomen on the heir of Egypt’s quickening. They seemed as pleased as she was. This rooftop gathering had now become a momentous occasion. While they still worried for their husbands, fathers,and brothers, they now had cause for celebration.
The young Queen’s heart swelled with love, and her look of surprise was replaced with contentment. The baby was kicking. He was alive and healthy and wanted his mother to know it. The flutters continued, light and brief and endearing. As Neithotep had said, the gods had blessed them. All of them. Egypt’s legacy would continue. She carried its future in her womb. Maybe this was also a sign that the gods would give them victory over Greece.
Letting the conversation drone on around her, she became lost in her own little world, imagining how it would feel to hold her child in her arms, to present him … or her … to her people. Even a girl would be a reason to rejoice. If Hatshepsut had no other children, her daughter could inherit the throne, just as she had. However, she believed that she would have many more offspring, both sons and daughters.
While this one was almost certainly Iahotep’s, she hoped the rest of them would be fathered by her beloved Osorsen. And if her hated husband were to suffer an untimely death, whether in war or after he returned, she would appoint Osorsen as the baby Pharaoh’s regent, along with herself. A dreamy smile curved her lips. She was so happy now she felt as if her heart might burst with utter joy.
A sudden shattering sound brought her sharply out of her daydreams. Her maidservants stepped in front of her to protect her and they were immediately soaked with wine and juice. Hatshepsut was shielded by most of the deluge though a few drops splashed upon her. Her guards rushed over to her, their weapons drawn and their eyes alert. Telling her maidservants to stand back, she rose just as Nenet H’Shiefa fainted. Blood was running down one of her arms and the Queen could see the shards stuck in her hand.
Neithotep ran over to her sister and knelt beside her, shouting for a healer. “Fetch the royal physician," she ordered one of her guards. “Use my sedan chair to bring her here quickly.”
Involving herself further would just make things worse so she sat back down and waited for Skylla to arrive. As if sensing her distress, the baby fluttered more rapidly within her. She watched as Sirdsett H’Sheifa rushed over to her daughters, and unfastened the wrap she wore around her head to stop the bleeding. She always kept her head covered and Hatshepsut had always wondered what her hair looked like. It was quite beautiful.
Brushing away a slave who was trying to wipe some wine from her arm, Hatshepsut’s eyes widened as servants filed in with the oysters she craved and other delicacies, obviously a gift from the Sirsett. She had been supplying her with oysters since she had first revealed that she craved them. Normally, her stomach would have rumbled in anticipation, but she was too concerned for Nenet to be hungry.
Sirdsett H’Shiefa approached her and apologized. “It was an accident,” the Queen replied. “I have sent for the royal physician. If she thinks you daughter needs treatment that cannot be done here, I hope you will allow her to be moved to the palace. You and you other daughters can, of course, stay with her.”
Sameera appeared in the doorway with a man whom she said was a healer. Hatshepsut stood again and the healer bowed. “Attend her,” she ordered, indicating the young woman lying on the ground. “When my personal physician arrives, you will defer to her and assist her.”
Turning to the H’Haidaddad twin, she nodded regally. “Thank you, Sameera, for your quick reaction.”
Hatshepsut beamed at the comments of the noblewomen on the heir of Egypt’s quickening. They seemed as pleased as she was. This rooftop gathering had now become a momentous occasion. While they still worried for their husbands, fathers,and brothers, they now had cause for celebration.
The young Queen’s heart swelled with love, and her look of surprise was replaced with contentment. The baby was kicking. He was alive and healthy and wanted his mother to know it. The flutters continued, light and brief and endearing. As Neithotep had said, the gods had blessed them. All of them. Egypt’s legacy would continue. She carried its future in her womb. Maybe this was also a sign that the gods would give them victory over Greece.
Letting the conversation drone on around her, she became lost in her own little world, imagining how it would feel to hold her child in her arms, to present him … or her … to her people. Even a girl would be a reason to rejoice. If Hatshepsut had no other children, her daughter could inherit the throne, just as she had. However, she believed that she would have many more offspring, both sons and daughters.
While this one was almost certainly Iahotep’s, she hoped the rest of them would be fathered by her beloved Osorsen. And if her hated husband were to suffer an untimely death, whether in war or after he returned, she would appoint Osorsen as the baby Pharaoh’s regent, along with herself. A dreamy smile curved her lips. She was so happy now she felt as if her heart might burst with utter joy.
A sudden shattering sound brought her sharply out of her daydreams. Her maidservants stepped in front of her to protect her and they were immediately soaked with wine and juice. Hatshepsut was shielded by most of the deluge though a few drops splashed upon her. Her guards rushed over to her, their weapons drawn and their eyes alert. Telling her maidservants to stand back, she rose just as Nenet H’Shiefa fainted. Blood was running down one of her arms and the Queen could see the shards stuck in her hand.
Neithotep ran over to her sister and knelt beside her, shouting for a healer. “Fetch the royal physician," she ordered one of her guards. “Use my sedan chair to bring her here quickly.”
Involving herself further would just make things worse so she sat back down and waited for Skylla to arrive. As if sensing her distress, the baby fluttered more rapidly within her. She watched as Sirdsett H’Sheifa rushed over to her daughters, and unfastened the wrap she wore around her head to stop the bleeding. She always kept her head covered and Hatshepsut had always wondered what her hair looked like. It was quite beautiful.
Brushing away a slave who was trying to wipe some wine from her arm, Hatshepsut’s eyes widened as servants filed in with the oysters she craved and other delicacies, obviously a gift from the Sirsett. She had been supplying her with oysters since she had first revealed that she craved them. Normally, her stomach would have rumbled in anticipation, but she was too concerned for Nenet to be hungry.
Sirdsett H’Shiefa approached her and apologized. “It was an accident,” the Queen replied. “I have sent for the royal physician. If she thinks you daughter needs treatment that cannot be done here, I hope you will allow her to be moved to the palace. You and you other daughters can, of course, stay with her.”
Sameera appeared in the doorway with a man whom she said was a healer. Hatshepsut stood again and the healer bowed. “Attend her,” she ordered, indicating the young woman lying on the ground. “When my personal physician arrives, you will defer to her and assist her.”
Turning to the H’Haidaddad twin, she nodded regally. “Thank you, Sameera, for your quick reaction.”
"Excuse me, what?" Skylla asked less absently than before, her dark brows furrowing at the servant who stood in the doorway of her workshop. Honestly, being a personal physician to the queen was literally leading to her babysitting actual children. If they couldn't even have a pretty little court session without someone getting hurt or sick. Honestly, this was a little ridiculous, and Skylla felt nothing but scathing annoyance for whoever had gotten hurt and pulled her from her actual work. Not the queen, however. She could never fault the queen. The vapid little ladies who shadowed the queen's every step, though, them she could resent to the ends of the Earth and more.
Sighing very deeply through her nose, Skylla did a quick walkthrough of her workshop to gather everything she needed for the wounds that the guard had described to her. Then she was throwing her pack over her shoulder and following the man out, her steps almost violently annoyed by this situation. Were all of the ladies of the Egyptian court so accident-prone? She couldn't remember the Greek royalty or nobles being so absolutely hopeless, which only made her long for home more than she was right then.
The ride in the sedan chair was quick, but it gave the Physician enough time to compose herself so that she might please the queen rather than disappoint her. She liked Hatshepsut rather well and had grown wildly protective of the woman. Skylla knew that it wasn't her that was hurt, but she couldn't help the inkling that maybe something had happened to her to lead to the situation at hand.
Arriving in the Ghani district where the ladies were all gathered, Skylla stepped down off the chair and navigated her way to the rather sizable group of ladies. Her feet carried her a little faster when she noted that one of the ladies was laying on the ground, bleeding and passed out. Skylla let her brows knit almost ferociously together, approaching swiftly and nudging one of the lingering ladies out of the way so that Skylla could get down by Nenet. "What happened?" she asked, then glanced back toward the queen, "Evening Radiance?" she asked, only really wanting to hear from her and her alone about what had happened.
Skylla's hands were on Nenet with a gentleness that did not match her outward demeanor of quiet annoyance. But her fingers wrapped around Nenet's wrist, bringing it closer so that she could move the scarf out of the way of the wound. Some of the glass shards were embedded deeply and there would be little that Skylla could do out here. She needed better light, fewer people, and quiet to focus. Extracting glass could be dangerous by itself, but trying to avoid vessels and nerves? That took silence and skill.
"I can do little here," Skylla admitted, her brows furrowing, "I need more supplies than I brought. It would be better to remove the young Lady to the palace's infirmary so that I might work easier," she noted, wrapping Nenet's hand tighter than before so that maybe some of the blood would staunch and not continue to spill onto stone. "With your permission, Evening Radiance," Skylla deferred softly.
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"Excuse me, what?" Skylla asked less absently than before, her dark brows furrowing at the servant who stood in the doorway of her workshop. Honestly, being a personal physician to the queen was literally leading to her babysitting actual children. If they couldn't even have a pretty little court session without someone getting hurt or sick. Honestly, this was a little ridiculous, and Skylla felt nothing but scathing annoyance for whoever had gotten hurt and pulled her from her actual work. Not the queen, however. She could never fault the queen. The vapid little ladies who shadowed the queen's every step, though, them she could resent to the ends of the Earth and more.
Sighing very deeply through her nose, Skylla did a quick walkthrough of her workshop to gather everything she needed for the wounds that the guard had described to her. Then she was throwing her pack over her shoulder and following the man out, her steps almost violently annoyed by this situation. Were all of the ladies of the Egyptian court so accident-prone? She couldn't remember the Greek royalty or nobles being so absolutely hopeless, which only made her long for home more than she was right then.
The ride in the sedan chair was quick, but it gave the Physician enough time to compose herself so that she might please the queen rather than disappoint her. She liked Hatshepsut rather well and had grown wildly protective of the woman. Skylla knew that it wasn't her that was hurt, but she couldn't help the inkling that maybe something had happened to her to lead to the situation at hand.
Arriving in the Ghani district where the ladies were all gathered, Skylla stepped down off the chair and navigated her way to the rather sizable group of ladies. Her feet carried her a little faster when she noted that one of the ladies was laying on the ground, bleeding and passed out. Skylla let her brows knit almost ferociously together, approaching swiftly and nudging one of the lingering ladies out of the way so that Skylla could get down by Nenet. "What happened?" she asked, then glanced back toward the queen, "Evening Radiance?" she asked, only really wanting to hear from her and her alone about what had happened.
Skylla's hands were on Nenet with a gentleness that did not match her outward demeanor of quiet annoyance. But her fingers wrapped around Nenet's wrist, bringing it closer so that she could move the scarf out of the way of the wound. Some of the glass shards were embedded deeply and there would be little that Skylla could do out here. She needed better light, fewer people, and quiet to focus. Extracting glass could be dangerous by itself, but trying to avoid vessels and nerves? That took silence and skill.
"I can do little here," Skylla admitted, her brows furrowing, "I need more supplies than I brought. It would be better to remove the young Lady to the palace's infirmary so that I might work easier," she noted, wrapping Nenet's hand tighter than before so that maybe some of the blood would staunch and not continue to spill onto stone. "With your permission, Evening Radiance," Skylla deferred softly.
"Excuse me, what?" Skylla asked less absently than before, her dark brows furrowing at the servant who stood in the doorway of her workshop. Honestly, being a personal physician to the queen was literally leading to her babysitting actual children. If they couldn't even have a pretty little court session without someone getting hurt or sick. Honestly, this was a little ridiculous, and Skylla felt nothing but scathing annoyance for whoever had gotten hurt and pulled her from her actual work. Not the queen, however. She could never fault the queen. The vapid little ladies who shadowed the queen's every step, though, them she could resent to the ends of the Earth and more.
Sighing very deeply through her nose, Skylla did a quick walkthrough of her workshop to gather everything she needed for the wounds that the guard had described to her. Then she was throwing her pack over her shoulder and following the man out, her steps almost violently annoyed by this situation. Were all of the ladies of the Egyptian court so accident-prone? She couldn't remember the Greek royalty or nobles being so absolutely hopeless, which only made her long for home more than she was right then.
The ride in the sedan chair was quick, but it gave the Physician enough time to compose herself so that she might please the queen rather than disappoint her. She liked Hatshepsut rather well and had grown wildly protective of the woman. Skylla knew that it wasn't her that was hurt, but she couldn't help the inkling that maybe something had happened to her to lead to the situation at hand.
Arriving in the Ghani district where the ladies were all gathered, Skylla stepped down off the chair and navigated her way to the rather sizable group of ladies. Her feet carried her a little faster when she noted that one of the ladies was laying on the ground, bleeding and passed out. Skylla let her brows knit almost ferociously together, approaching swiftly and nudging one of the lingering ladies out of the way so that Skylla could get down by Nenet. "What happened?" she asked, then glanced back toward the queen, "Evening Radiance?" she asked, only really wanting to hear from her and her alone about what had happened.
Skylla's hands were on Nenet with a gentleness that did not match her outward demeanor of quiet annoyance. But her fingers wrapped around Nenet's wrist, bringing it closer so that she could move the scarf out of the way of the wound. Some of the glass shards were embedded deeply and there would be little that Skylla could do out here. She needed better light, fewer people, and quiet to focus. Extracting glass could be dangerous by itself, but trying to avoid vessels and nerves? That took silence and skill.
"I can do little here," Skylla admitted, her brows furrowing, "I need more supplies than I brought. It would be better to remove the young Lady to the palace's infirmary so that I might work easier," she noted, wrapping Nenet's hand tighter than before so that maybe some of the blood would staunch and not continue to spill onto stone. "With your permission, Evening Radiance," Skylla deferred softly.
This was one of the moments when Safiya really wished that she had the ability to do something slightly more than a really good impression of a kind of goldfish in this case.
However, Safiya wasn't about to stand around. If Sameera could do something so could she as well. It wasn't really her fault, if there was a fault, did pregnancy cause fainting and if it did was it really a bad sign? Safiya wasn't really sure that she needed to be concerned about trying to make that assessment or anything like that.
Safiya instead swallowed, nervous on two fronts. From not being there and also for not knowing what to do either.
As she tried to figure things out, she noticed the approach of the chair for the queen as the servants addressed their command, Safiya had been closer, moving with some speed toward the distressed queen - but she'd not closed in too much, as she had decided that being fussed over needlessly wouldn't be the sort of thing that her queen would want.
Stepping alongside it, she started to walk closer now, using it as a valid excuse to break through some of the others gathered around the queen "Can we get her to chair then?" she questioned, looking to the older women, they were the ones likely to have had children before, therefore that meant that it would be probable that they had a better idea about these matters. Safiya wasn't interested in spending her time making assumptions or pretending either authority on the subject. But she did want to help.
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This was one of the moments when Safiya really wished that she had the ability to do something slightly more than a really good impression of a kind of goldfish in this case.
However, Safiya wasn't about to stand around. If Sameera could do something so could she as well. It wasn't really her fault, if there was a fault, did pregnancy cause fainting and if it did was it really a bad sign? Safiya wasn't really sure that she needed to be concerned about trying to make that assessment or anything like that.
Safiya instead swallowed, nervous on two fronts. From not being there and also for not knowing what to do either.
As she tried to figure things out, she noticed the approach of the chair for the queen as the servants addressed their command, Safiya had been closer, moving with some speed toward the distressed queen - but she'd not closed in too much, as she had decided that being fussed over needlessly wouldn't be the sort of thing that her queen would want.
Stepping alongside it, she started to walk closer now, using it as a valid excuse to break through some of the others gathered around the queen "Can we get her to chair then?" she questioned, looking to the older women, they were the ones likely to have had children before, therefore that meant that it would be probable that they had a better idea about these matters. Safiya wasn't interested in spending her time making assumptions or pretending either authority on the subject. But she did want to help.
This was one of the moments when Safiya really wished that she had the ability to do something slightly more than a really good impression of a kind of goldfish in this case.
However, Safiya wasn't about to stand around. If Sameera could do something so could she as well. It wasn't really her fault, if there was a fault, did pregnancy cause fainting and if it did was it really a bad sign? Safiya wasn't really sure that she needed to be concerned about trying to make that assessment or anything like that.
Safiya instead swallowed, nervous on two fronts. From not being there and also for not knowing what to do either.
As she tried to figure things out, she noticed the approach of the chair for the queen as the servants addressed their command, Safiya had been closer, moving with some speed toward the distressed queen - but she'd not closed in too much, as she had decided that being fussed over needlessly wouldn't be the sort of thing that her queen would want.
Stepping alongside it, she started to walk closer now, using it as a valid excuse to break through some of the others gathered around the queen "Can we get her to chair then?" she questioned, looking to the older women, they were the ones likely to have had children before, therefore that meant that it would be probable that they had a better idea about these matters. Safiya wasn't interested in spending her time making assumptions or pretending either authority on the subject. But she did want to help.
Sameera looked gratefully at the queen, pleased that she had been a good help to her. It wasn't often she felt strictly necessary. She felt a strong fear for Nenet, though. Would her friend be okay? She really did hope that everything was going to be alright, but she couldn't help but fear for the worst.
"I am pleased to help, your Evening Radiance." Sameera admired the way the Queen conducted herself, her head seemingly clear in a catastrophe. Already Sameera's mind was whirling with possibilities of danger and destruction, and she wondered if Nenet would be okay, or if there was too much blood.
This was the type of thing she had been glad to avoid. If she'd been a man, she most certainly would be off fighting in the war right now. To her best guess, she would see a blade and instantly be killed, so it was not a thought she liked to think about. In fact, even more than normal, she felt terrified at the idea of war coming to her home, though she passed it off as extra stress from what had happened to Nenet.
She looked at the Queen's healer, no, the Queen's physician, who must certainly be capable if the Queen trusted her. Still, Sameera was extraordinarily nervous about the whole situation, almost enough to wonder if she should just leave and deal with it later. As it was, she watched the healer she'd brought in defer to the Queen's physician from a distance, and wandered over to a servant, asking for a drink and a snack. While she hated eating while looking at blood, she felt she would be more comforted with a fuller belly.
The servant seemed nervous as he handed her a simple snack, likely due to what had happened with Nenet. Sameera was equally as careful, leading to a rather slow exchange of food and then empty cups. Nevertheless, as Sameera was beginning to believe more and more, it was better to be safe than sorry, judging by Nenet's condition. She hoped that her friend would be safe, and she looked towards her sister, a little afraid that Safiya would also end up bloody and passed out with the Queen's physician herself tending to her.
Well, that last part wasn't so bad, but Sameera would've hated for any more people to be bloody or losing consciousness at this gathering, so she muttered a warning to continue being careful to the servant which came out much harsher than the younger H'Haikaddad twin's voice was used to coming off. Most around her might've been a little shocked to hear the change, but Sameera couldn't help but feel a little edgy, more scared than was usual even for her. Was it too dramatic to run to Nenet's side and ask the physician how she could help? Sameera would've felt almost frozen had it not been for the snack she had just grabbed, and soothed the urge to do something by taking a bite out of a date.
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Sameera looked gratefully at the queen, pleased that she had been a good help to her. It wasn't often she felt strictly necessary. She felt a strong fear for Nenet, though. Would her friend be okay? She really did hope that everything was going to be alright, but she couldn't help but fear for the worst.
"I am pleased to help, your Evening Radiance." Sameera admired the way the Queen conducted herself, her head seemingly clear in a catastrophe. Already Sameera's mind was whirling with possibilities of danger and destruction, and she wondered if Nenet would be okay, or if there was too much blood.
This was the type of thing she had been glad to avoid. If she'd been a man, she most certainly would be off fighting in the war right now. To her best guess, she would see a blade and instantly be killed, so it was not a thought she liked to think about. In fact, even more than normal, she felt terrified at the idea of war coming to her home, though she passed it off as extra stress from what had happened to Nenet.
She looked at the Queen's healer, no, the Queen's physician, who must certainly be capable if the Queen trusted her. Still, Sameera was extraordinarily nervous about the whole situation, almost enough to wonder if she should just leave and deal with it later. As it was, she watched the healer she'd brought in defer to the Queen's physician from a distance, and wandered over to a servant, asking for a drink and a snack. While she hated eating while looking at blood, she felt she would be more comforted with a fuller belly.
The servant seemed nervous as he handed her a simple snack, likely due to what had happened with Nenet. Sameera was equally as careful, leading to a rather slow exchange of food and then empty cups. Nevertheless, as Sameera was beginning to believe more and more, it was better to be safe than sorry, judging by Nenet's condition. She hoped that her friend would be safe, and she looked towards her sister, a little afraid that Safiya would also end up bloody and passed out with the Queen's physician herself tending to her.
Well, that last part wasn't so bad, but Sameera would've hated for any more people to be bloody or losing consciousness at this gathering, so she muttered a warning to continue being careful to the servant which came out much harsher than the younger H'Haikaddad twin's voice was used to coming off. Most around her might've been a little shocked to hear the change, but Sameera couldn't help but feel a little edgy, more scared than was usual even for her. Was it too dramatic to run to Nenet's side and ask the physician how she could help? Sameera would've felt almost frozen had it not been for the snack she had just grabbed, and soothed the urge to do something by taking a bite out of a date.
Sameera looked gratefully at the queen, pleased that she had been a good help to her. It wasn't often she felt strictly necessary. She felt a strong fear for Nenet, though. Would her friend be okay? She really did hope that everything was going to be alright, but she couldn't help but fear for the worst.
"I am pleased to help, your Evening Radiance." Sameera admired the way the Queen conducted herself, her head seemingly clear in a catastrophe. Already Sameera's mind was whirling with possibilities of danger and destruction, and she wondered if Nenet would be okay, or if there was too much blood.
This was the type of thing she had been glad to avoid. If she'd been a man, she most certainly would be off fighting in the war right now. To her best guess, she would see a blade and instantly be killed, so it was not a thought she liked to think about. In fact, even more than normal, she felt terrified at the idea of war coming to her home, though she passed it off as extra stress from what had happened to Nenet.
She looked at the Queen's healer, no, the Queen's physician, who must certainly be capable if the Queen trusted her. Still, Sameera was extraordinarily nervous about the whole situation, almost enough to wonder if she should just leave and deal with it later. As it was, she watched the healer she'd brought in defer to the Queen's physician from a distance, and wandered over to a servant, asking for a drink and a snack. While she hated eating while looking at blood, she felt she would be more comforted with a fuller belly.
The servant seemed nervous as he handed her a simple snack, likely due to what had happened with Nenet. Sameera was equally as careful, leading to a rather slow exchange of food and then empty cups. Nevertheless, as Sameera was beginning to believe more and more, it was better to be safe than sorry, judging by Nenet's condition. She hoped that her friend would be safe, and she looked towards her sister, a little afraid that Safiya would also end up bloody and passed out with the Queen's physician herself tending to her.
Well, that last part wasn't so bad, but Sameera would've hated for any more people to be bloody or losing consciousness at this gathering, so she muttered a warning to continue being careful to the servant which came out much harsher than the younger H'Haikaddad twin's voice was used to coming off. Most around her might've been a little shocked to hear the change, but Sameera couldn't help but feel a little edgy, more scared than was usual even for her. Was it too dramatic to run to Nenet's side and ask the physician how she could help? Sameera would've felt almost frozen had it not been for the snack she had just grabbed, and soothed the urge to do something by taking a bite out of a date.
