THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 40

"Have you began your preparations for travel ?"
"Yes, Seti," she smiled.
" It's a long journey to and from. Make sure you have everything you need."
" Yes yes. I've heard that already my husband," she said as she placed her hands on his shoulders. " You worry too much. We're not leaving tomorrow."
" I just want my wife to have everything she needs," he said as he placed his hands on her hips." We've not spent much time together since yesterday. How about I take you somewhere special after taking you around the city."
" Mmmh, I love the sound of that. Where will we go ?"
" Uhm someplace with a river for my Astrid to swim in."
" The Nile ?"
" Yes. I know that you love to swim so we'll have a dip. It's much bigger as compared to this spot here," he said as he pointed at the shimmering part of the Nile flowing close to their room.
" I'll get ready then."
" Alright. I will wait for you outside."
He smiled at her and left the room to ready their horses and find some attendants for them.
Luciana entered the room and helped Astrid prepare her things.
"Don't forget my comb."
"Yes my lady. I wouldn't dare forget it."
"Here place this in the bag too," she said as  she handed a towel to Luciana." It's Seti's."
"Aaah, I see," Luciana said with a smirk.
"What Luciana ?"
"It seems that you are now in love with Prince Seti. I can feel the love."
"Well I am. Isn't he so wonderful ?" she gushed." Now let's go. I don't want to keep him waiting."
She grabbed Luciana's arm and dragged her out of the room. They walked through the long corridors and just then they heard Smenkhhare calling out to Astrid.
"Astrid!" he called out and ran towards the two women who were now looking back at him.
"Do excuse us Luciana," he said.
Luciana looked uneasy and curtsied before leaving with Astrid and Seti's things in hand.
"What do you want Smenkhhare ? We shouldn't see each other without someone else with us. You know what could happen."
"I do but why have you been avoiding me for the past few days ?"
"It's what's best. I don't want to upset Meritaten."
"But we're not doing anything wrong. We weren't on that day too. She took everything out of context. Don't mind her."
"We're not but I don't want trouble. Seti is waiting for me outside. I need to go."
"Seti ?" he said and licked his lower lip in frustration."Why love him and not me ?"
"Are you seriously asking me that ? You are a married man and I am a married woman. He is the one I love and will love. I  won't discuss my love life with you. Please Smenkhhare, don't bring this up. Ever."
She turned and was about to walk away when he pulled her back and pushed her to the wall. His tall and muscular body was like a cage adding to the fact that he had both his arms on the wall trapping her between them.
" But I love you. You know it. I only want you to treat me half as much as you treat Seti. I go mad when I think of you Astrid. I can't control myself when I see you and I want to make you mine."
" I need to go Smenkhhare. Leave me alone or I will scream."
" Go ahead. I dare you."
She opened her mouth to scream and he moved in for a kiss with her. She tried to push him away but he was much stronger than her. With a quick knee thrust towards his groin, she was free. He screwed his eyes shut as he groaned in pain.
"Don't you ever come close to me again Smenkhhare," Astrid said angrily as she wiped her lips."You're disgusting,"
She ran off leaving him in pain. When she was far away from him, she hit the wall using her fists and lay against it as she wiped her lips. "Damn Smenkhhare. Damn him," were the words in her thoughts.
What he had done could cost her marriage with Seti which was still blooming. She couldn't risk to lose it.
" My lady, are you alright ?"Luciana said as she walked fast towards Astrid." What happened ?"
" That man kissed me Luciana. He kissed me," she ranted.
" Oh my goodness. If this reaches the Pharaoh, you will get into trouble."
" I know that."
She was now crying in anger and her breathing was fast.
" I am worried for you. Stay away from him. I don't want you to lose what you have with Prince Seti."
" And you think I want to lose it ? I stayed away from him since Meritaten attacked me but he came for me. Seti is waiting for me outside. We need to hurry."
" Yes."
They walked outside and by the time they reached Seti, Astrid had regained her composure.
"What took you so long ?" Seti asked when she got onto the carriage.
" It's nothing. I had to find many things and prepare myself."
" Sure," he said." All women I know take a lot of time to prepare themselves or pick up things even when they're not going far. I hoped to marry someone different," he teased.
" I am Seti," she said with a forced smile to hide the guilt she had inside." I couldn't find some oils and we got late," she lied.
" That's alright. What matters is that we're finally going out together," he said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
The city was as lively as it was when she first set foot in Egypt. This time, she was more relaxed and could enjoy the whole city with Seti explaining details about some statues, buildings and streets there.
He looked so invested in everything and there was so much passion when he spoke of the people and the achievements of the land.
Seti did love the people and the kingdom. He would surely be a great Pharaoh if he was to succeed his father.