Nefertiti sat primly on her vanity. Her maid was busy putting her hair up in an elegant up do. she tried to pull her lips into a smile but no matter how hard she forced herself her face was hard set in a frown. She was getting married to Pharaoh Rameses. And she wasn't looking forward to it. She knew the price she had to pay as a Pharaoh's wife and a tear escaped her eye at the revelation. She had a part to play now. She had to be submissive to her husband, having her wings cuts before she could even fly and she had to be the perfect bride or else she was going to be killed.
Everyone knew the Pharaoh did not tolerate disobedience. He was a hard man. She had to find a way to always please him. What did a girl of ten and eight years know about being a wife? Had her father not been obsessed with being royalty or at least being related to it, she wouldn't have been in this position, feeling like a horse being sold at a fare.
And the King had other wives. She knew this because the Royal maids that were sent to get her ready for her wedding talked known stop about how the other wives and concubines were going to be jealous of fresh meat that the Pharaoh was getting married to.
She didn't particularly see any traits in her that will make other women jealous of her after all the Pharaoh had his pick of all the finest women in the land. How could she be any different how could she compare to the beauties that were living in palace?
The maids kept showering her with praises and just as they were about to put a white dress on her her mother bust into the room and dismissed them.
Once she was safe with only her mother in the room, she let out the breath she was holding and her composure shattered.
"Mother, I do not want to get married to him."
"I know you do not. I do not wish it for you as well, my child. But your father, inconsiderate as he is, has made up his mind."
"Please, I beg of you. Talk to him. I am sure he will see reason with you."
"I am sorry, my child. He does not listen to me anymore. He is more than content living with the wealth he has sold you for."
Nefertiti broke down in tears and her mother held her tightly.
"Listen to me, my child and do exactly as I say." Her mother spoke, holding Nefertiti's face in her palm.
"Do not anger your husband. Never speak back at him and always listen to him. In time, you will earn his trust. It is important that you earn his trust."
"I will try."
"Tonight, he will lay with you. When he invites you to his chambers, show no sign of fear. You will entice him, you will be brave but you will let him do whatever he wishes."
"But I will be with child after." Nefertiti's eyes were teary again and her mother reached forward to wipe a droplet away.
"This is the last advice I will give to you. You must try your best and make sure you are with child. It will make the other wives regard you with respect and it will secure your place at your husband's side. You may not love your husband but you will raise your children, they will give you comfort and your love for them will be greater than your hate for your marriage, I promise you. After all, it is why I have lasted this long with your father."
Just then, a maid came in to alert them that the ceremony had started and they were waiting on Nefertiti. The rest of the Royal maids came in and picked up the white dress to begin dressing her but Nefertiti's mother simply shook her head and instead brought out a gold dress that laid on top of a box and kept it for all to see.
"If the Pharoah wants to wed my daughter," she said, "then he will get her as a goddess."
ΩΩΩ
Rameses had been in a bad mood all day. And his new bride keeping him waiting with all the palace guests made his anger surge.
He turned to his Vizier, Nabil, and asked.
"You promised me your daughter would come willingly. My patience is running thin."
Red faced and embarrassed, Nabil replied, "I will fetch her, my King."
"There will be no need for that, Vizier. Our daughter is here." Anippe, the Vizier's wife said.
When she stepped aside to reveal her daughter, Rameses froze. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
He was lost in the heat of her soft brown eyes peering up at him, the little ridge on her firm nose and full set lips he had hoped to kiss. He wished to kiss her brown skin and to pull her long ebony hair away from her neck and kiss her there.
Her gold dress brought all the attention to her and he was enchanted by the way her body curved and dipped in the right places.
She was small, delicate, like a little flower. And when she knelt before him, he felt the need to be done with the ceremony and take her to his chambers and ravish her.
He regained his senses and cleared his throat.
"It appears I have been stunned. Never in my dreams could I have conjured up a vision like you. What is your name?"
"Nefertiti, my King." She said with a braven expression and something in his heart lept.
"I may be out of my mind from the sight of you but I believe not even the goddess Isis could hold a candle to your beauty."
"You flatter me, great king. Thank you."
"It was not meant to flatter you. I was merely speaking my truth." He held her gaze and up close, her features fueled up his desires even more.
He watched as she averted her eyes to look at the veiled dancers and he began to notice subtle things about her, like the rise and fall of her supple breasts, her slender neck and her long eyelashes that veiled those beautiful eyes that would not turn to look at him, even once.
Nothing about her seemed ordinary. He stole a few more glances at her and watched as her expression grew sullen.
"Is the food not to your liking? Or perhaps you will agree with me that the music is awful too?"
She simply responded by putting a piece of food into her mouth and flushing it down with the wine. Then she turned to him.
"The food is delicious, your Majesty. And no, the music is not awful. Forgive me if I have not taken to the floor to dance and celebrate with the others, it is just that I feel a little unwell."
She was evasive and apologetic. But even if she had spoken the truth, that she did not wish to be married to him, he did not think he would have gotten angry in the slightest. He was too enamored with her that he was willing to grant any wish she wanted.
She did not speak to him for the rest of the night, but she did manage to eat. No doubt to please him. Surely she could not let everyone think that the union scared her so much that she was willing to starve herself to get out of it.
Rameses smiled to himself. His new bride amused him. He could feel her shaking beside him but whenever he engaged her in a conversation, she always replied wittingly and bravely.
Tonight, when they would be alone in his chambers, he would see just how much her bravery was.
The shadows of noon began to lengthen and the celebrations were drawing to a close. Rameses took a goblet of wine and began to walk down from his tent to the open floor.
"Great people of Egypt. Thank you for joining me in this wonderful celebration, for what appears to be the fifth time now. Though I can say that some of you can recite my speech by heart now."
The crowd laughed.
"Although I never planned for so many, Nefertiti has been more than a pleasant surprise." Rameses looked back at his bride and held out his hand for her to join him on the floor.
She walked gracefully and extended her palm so that it was safely enclosed in his.
"They did not tell me I would be marrying a woman that would rival the beauty of a goddess but I am happy I brought a gift fit for one."
Four royal servants brought in a huge mare with mane so silver, it shone in the night. Looking at his gift, Rameses feared the horse would be too big for his bride and thought to give her a smaller one in its likeness much later but he could not help but be happy at the way she was pleased with her gift.
And for the first time that night, she smiled.