THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 43

"The palace is full of beautiful women my lady. Do you think you'll stand a chance ?"
"I have to Bennu so that I can leave home. I can't stand it there anymore and father as well."
"I will help you."
"We now need to find a place to keep our belongings then enter the great hall and mingle."
The two women asked around and found their way around and found their way to the harem.
"Wow!" Meritaten said," This is the harem and it looks this beautiful ? Imagine how the royal family's chambers must look like. I could give my all to live in the harem. It's much better than the pathetic room I have at home."
"I agree. We could live a better life here."
Meritaten walked around the place admiring the lovely architecture and well painted ceilings and walls.
"Rashida!" a man shouted as he walked inside and caught sight of Meritaten."Who are you and what are you doing here ?"
"I uhm. I'm Meritaten."
"You're supposed to be in the great hall and not in the harem."
"I'm sorry," she said with her eyes on the ground.
He walked around her assessing her. A beautiful body, that she had. She was not the most beautiful woman but she had a likeable face with the loveliest of eyes.
"You are one beautiful woman," he said as he passed his hand through her waist and she held her breath. No man had shown desire for her and for him to touch her that way, she felt really beautiful." I'll see you later," he whispered to her ear and left.
As soon as he was gone, Bennu went closer to Meritaten.
"Who was that man ? Did you see how he touched you ?"
" Of course I did Bennu. He was touching me. By Isis, he touched my waist. He looked so handsome. I've never seen such a good looking man in my entire life."
" He looked like a noble. Maybe you should try your luck with him."
" Don't you think we're being a bit too desperate ?"
" We are but this is for your own future. You need to ensure that you have a good life."
" Let's go to the hall."
They left for the hall but met Abasi on their way there.
" There you are Meritaten. I need to send your maidservant back to the house to fetch me some of my things."
" But she will get back tomorrow if she leaves now."
" I know that. You can manage without her for the night, won't you ?"
" Yes father," she answered. She knew that she shouldn't push him.
" Good," he said." Now go home and get me some of my priestly garments. There will be prayers tomorrow after Pharaoh selects wives for his sons. I wasn't aware of it."
" Yes my lord," Bennu replied.
" Leave now," he dismissed her.
" Keep safe Bennu," Meritaten said.
" I will my lady," she replied with a small bow and left both father and daughter standing alone.
"Now make sure that you find a prince for yourself and make me proud. Do you understand ?" he whispered into her ear.
"I will father."
"Good. Now go to the hall. I am going to the temple to see Lord Khafirin."
She walked towards the hall and met with some servants who were bringing in wine for the guests.
"Move quickly! The guests shouldn't wait for long to have their drinks," a man shouted at the servants. He looked like he was the one in charge of them.
Meritaten walked on and just as she was about to enter the hall, she spotted a servant stagger.
"Are you alright ?" she rushed to help her.
"I'm feeling dizzy," the servant explained.
"Are you ill ?"
"No. I'm just expectant," she said as she placed her hand on her belly.
"What are you doing lazing around ?" the servant manager said angrily as he approached the two.
"She is expectant. You should treat her well," Meritaten said.
"Who do you think you are to tell me what to do ?"
"I am...," she began but the maidservant held her hand and shook her head as a sign for Meritaten not to argue with the man.
"You are delaying the service," he said.
"Go and rest. I'll take your tray inside,"Meritaten said and took the tray on which filled wine cups stood.
She entered the hall and saw how full it was. There were many people. All of noble ranks. Some were court officials while others were priests and their daughters. Each girl trying to vie for the attention of either of the two princes or find their match with an official. Maybe the man she'd seen in the harem was there. She looked around trying to find him and that's when she heard someone calling out to her.
" You there," a man pointed at her."Come and serve wine. Don't just stare."
It dawned on her that she was still holding the tray. She wasn't a servant but it wouldn't hurt to pass some wine to the man and his company of another man and woman. She would place the tray away and find someone to talk to.
They took the wine to them and just then, others called her to serve them. This was getting too much for her.
"Bring some wine here," a well dressed lady signalled her. She stood beside two well dressed men. They were three and they would finally take the three remaining cups and she would be relieved of the duty that had befallen her.
The lady took a cup so did the other man. The other man was looking elsewhere.
"Here brother," she said to the man. He turned to look at her with a smile on his face. He looked at Meritaten and she could feel her heart beat faster. He was the same man she'd seen in the harem. She was serving wine and he would think that she was a servant. That was embarrassing.
"Well well well," he began in his deep voice that she loved." We meet again," he said as he took the last cup on the tray.
"Do you know her," the lady asked.
"Yes Rashida. This is Meritaten. I just met her in the harem."
"Oh I see."
Meritaten blinked nervously. She didn't know what to do or say.
"A pleasure to meet you," she said to the three.
"Why don't you join us for a drink ?" the other young man said.
"I uhm...," she stammered.
"Thutmose, she's a servant. She possibly can't join us," Rashida said with arrogance.
"Why not ? She looks like a fun person to be with," Thutmose said.
" I am not a mai....,"
" Prince Smenkhhare, Prince Thutmose and Princess Rashida, Pharaoh is calling for you," a man said.
Oh no! She was serving the royals. The man she felt attracted to was the one and only Prince Smenkhhare.
She looked at him and saw him approach the Pharaoh who was sitting on the throne looking at the people in the hall.
"What are you doing with that tray ?" her father asked her harshly startling her.
"It's nothing," she shrugged.
"Let me introduce you to Khafirin," he said as he placed his hand on her shoulders. He really was good at pretending to be the perfect father."This is Meritaten."
"I finally meet your daughter," Khafirin said with a smile."Here is my daughter Asenath," he said as he smiled at his daughter. She smiled back at him and placed her hand on his arm. They looked like they had a wonderful father- daughter relationship that she could only dream of.
"I am pleased to meet you Asenath," she smiled.
"Pleased to meet you as well Meritaten," Asenath said.
Their fathers began a talk on religion and that was when she turned to look for Smenkhhare. He looked dashing as he spoke and when he smiled, it felt great inside her heart. He turned and looked towards her direction and their eyes locked for a bit and he smiled before turning to talk to the Pharaoh. Did he like her ? Would she win him over ?