THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 36

"You shameless woman," Meritaten added as she charged towards Astrid and pushed her. Astrid fell to the hard ground with a thud. Meritaten was about to pounce on Astrid when Smenkhhare restrained her. He held her arms tightly as she tried to free herself.
"Stop it. Are you mad ?" he shouted at her.
"Am I mad ? I found you two getting intimate and I am the mad one for trying to protect our marriage huh ?"
Astrid groaned in pain and Smenkhhare let go of Meritaten and went to help Astrid.
"How dare you help her Smenkhhare ?" Meritaten screamed in anger. He turned to look at her with anger in his eyes and she kept quiet.
The impact was hard and Astrid had gotten her palms scratched and her back hurt. He helped her stand up and just then Luciana rushed towards Astrid.
"Help her back to her chambers and attend to her wounds," Smenkhhare told Luciana.
" Yes my lord."
She helped Astrid walk and Rashida walked in followed by Anippe.
" What's this commotion all about ?" she asked. The sight of Astrid being helped to walk and an angry Smenkhhare and Meritaten answered her question.
Smenkhhare huffed and left Meritaten and Rashida alone. Out of anger, Meritaten threw a pot away and it crashed near the pool with an ugly crash.
"By the gods, throwing the pot away like that cannot help you ease your anger Meritaten."
"I don't want to listen to anyone. That includes you Rashida. Keep your unwelcome thoughts to yourself. I need none of it."
" I am just being honest. Breaking a lovely pot such as that one won't help."
" And what do you suggest I do ? Your pathetic brother has feelings for that woman and you want me to calm down ?"
" Don't say that about him. You'd better not talk bad about her as well or else you'll be in trouble."
" You're defending them ? Come on Rashida. I know how much you hate Astrid for taking the spotlight from you so don't defend her."
"I am not defending her. I hate her for taking the love Seti, Smenkhhare and father had for me. I am now an option to them."
" See. We should join forces and bring her down Rashida. Two is better than one."

"You will be fine in two days," Asenath said as she massaged Astrid's back with some herbal balm." How did you get involved in this ?"
"It's nothing Asenath. Meritaten just found Smenkhhare holding and kissing my hands and she pushed me."
" That woman is only driven by jealousy."
" She is and that's why I shouldn't have agreed to stay and talk to Smenkhhare."
"He has always attracted trouble to himself since we were children. Stay away from him for Seti's sake. Seti could get furious over this."
" I wasn't doing anything wrong Asenath. I know it."
"I believe you Astrid. Come now Luciana and help your lady up. I need to rush back to help father prepare the offerings for Pharaoh."
With a bow, Asenath left the two. Luciana helped Astrid lie well in bed. That was one of the first dramatic events to follow the family within the next two years before Seti took the throne as Pharaoh. No one knew that that would be the beginning of a series of schemes, murder attempts and even deaths within the royal family. Survival would surely be for the fittest.

"Smenkhhare, why did you do that ?" Meritaten asked as she entered their room.
" Do what ?" he asked obviously uninterested.
" You know what I'm talking about. You defended Astrid earlier.
" So what ? You were the one who got violent with her and you expected me to take your side ? Don't ask me to do that."
"Smenkhhare, I only need you to love me. I know that you don't love me but I'm not that difficult to love," she said and a tear dropped from her eye." Just tell me what you want me to do and be and I will do that. Please love me Smenkhhare and forget Astrid. She was not meant for you. She is now married to Seti and I am here for you."
" I don't love you Meritaten and I will not."
" Why Smenkhhare. Why ? Was it because you were made to marry me for sleeping with me during the bride selection ?"
" That shouldn't have happened. I was drunk on that day. Astrid is the woman I love."
" Alright Smenkhhare. If that's what you want, then don't blame me for bringing harm upon her."
" If you dare harm her, don't blame me for what I'll do to you. Stay away from her."
"You need to remember who your wife is, Smenkhhare." With that she walked out of their room and he hit his fist against the table in anger.

In the Great Hall, the Pharaoh sat on his throne with Rashida seated on his right and Smenkhhare standing on his left. The courtiers stood in the hall awaiting the arrival of Seti who was back from Nubia. The doors were opened and in he walked in a black and gold armour.
"Welcome back, Prince Seti," Khafirin announced." May the presence of the god Amen- Ra continue to be upon you."
Seti walked in majestically closely followed by Thutmose and Baka. Astrid smiled brightly when she saw him and she couldn't take her eyes off of him. She had missed his company.
He walked up to Pharaoh and knelt before crossing his right arm over the left side of his chest.
"May my hands stay strong in your service, Pharaoh."
"It pleases me to see you my son. Rise up," the monarch answered.
Seti's eyes fell on his wife and from his look, it was evident that he had missed her dearly. He couldn't wait for the meeting in the hall to end for him to be with her.
"I welcome you my brother," Smenkhhare said with a smirk. He surely was sarcastic.
" Thank you my brother," Seti replied.
" I missed you Seti. Feel welcomed home," Rashida said with a smile. She really adored Seti.
" I think that that welcome is enough. We should let him and his companions to rest first and we'll meet and discuss their findings," Ramses said.
With a quick bow, Seti walked towards Astrid and they left together with Luciana behind them. Once in their room, he grabbed Astrid's hand and pulled her to himself. They hugged as he ran his hand through her hair.
" I missed you Astrid," he said after kissing the top of her head followed by her soft hands.
" I missed you as well Seti," she replied and  held him tighter.
" How have you been ?" he asked softly as he tilted her chin so she could look at him.
"I was good but I bet that I would have been better with you around."
" Don't worry. I don't think that there's another engagement for me that requires me to go away. How have you been treated ?"
" The Pharaoh had been gracious to me. I accompanied him some days ago to the temple when he was praying."
" How about the others ? How has Meritaten been towards you ? Smenkhhare, Rashida and Asenath."
" I got into trouble with Meritaten," Astrid said and bit her lower lip.
" Why ?"
" She found me talking to Smenkhhare and he kissed my hands. She yelled at me and Smenkhhare defended me. I think that I should avoid Smenkhhare."
" I wouldn't tell you to. You will bump into him because we're all living together. Just avoid being alone with him. I wouldn't want anyone slandering you. It's not good for your image and I don't want your run ins with him to strain our marriage. We are still new at this and I want us to work."
" I agree with you. I will be careful."
" Good."
He placed his lips on hers earning a smile from her and once more they got lost in a deep embrace.