THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 59

" You really do have a beautiful body," he said as he licked his lips.
Astrid backed away grabbing a towel and quickly wrapping it around herself.
" What are you doing here Smenkhhare ?" she asked in a panicky voice." Go away before I scream."
" Don't do that. I am only here to congratulate you for the brilliant suggestion you gave earlier."
" I don't need it. Leave before Seti gets here. Go away!"
" I don't think I will after seeing your body, "he said as he took two quick steps towards her and hugged her.
" Let me go!" she hissed as she tried to push him away." Leave."

" You must be proud Seti," Thutmose told him as they walked in the palace together." I will be blessed to have a wife like Astrid. She is really likeable and good."
" Don't compare Astrid to the wife you want. Just admit that it's Rashida. I know that."
" I didn't say so."
" Come on Thutmose. I know that you love her. Why not tell father about it and maybe he will grant you marriage."
" It is not that easy. She does not have feelings for me. She treats me how she does you and Smenkhhare and I can't approach Pharaoh to ask for it."
" I will plead it for you. You are the only worthy man I know who can make her happy. She is old enough to get married and so are you. She does not have any man in her heart and you may just be the one to be in it."
" I don't know what to say Seti. Give it time . I will bring the subject to Pharaoh and see if he agrees."
" Of course he will. He is your uncle after all. I need to retire for the night. Have a good night," Seti said and left for his room.

" Let me go Smenkhhare," Astrid fought back. He had once again cornered her against the wall and she had no escape.
" I love you Astrid. I want you."
" No. Go to your wife. She needs you now that you are expecting a child and just leave me alone. Go away."
" My lady!" Luciana gasped when she saw the sight in front of her. Smenkhhare backed off and walked out of the room. Astrid's breathing was fast and she was sweating. Luciana ran towards her to help her.
"Are you alright ?"
"I am feeling dizzy. Help me sit."

In the corridor just outside Astrid and Seti's room, Seti met Smenkhhare.
"What are you doing here ?" he asked.
"Nothing. I was passing by to see if you were in your room. There was something I wanted to discuss with you."
"But I had informed you that I was meeting Baka to solve a problem."
"It must have slipped my mind," he said patting Seti's shoulders." Have a good night."
He said that and left. Seti entered his room and saw Luciana try to help Astrid walk to the chair. She looked flustered and when she saw him, she passed out.
When she opened her eyes, Khafirin stood beside her and Seti sat beside her on the bed with a smile. Asenath and Luciana were also smiling. She looked around wondering.
"Why are you all smiling ?" she asked as she tried to sit up. Seti helped her and placed cushions behind her to support her back.
Khafirin and Seti looked at each other and Khafirin nodded.
"Astrid," Seti began as he held her hand."
Khafirin examined you after you fainted and from that, it seems that you are with child."
" What ?" she asked with disbelief as she looked at Khafirin." Is this true ?"
" It is my lady."
" Really ?" she asked further.
" Yes. I have examined many and you show the signs of being expectant. If you need to confirm it, I could arrange for the barley and wheat to be brought to you."
" I am with child," she murmured and hugged Seti happily with a big smile all over her face." I can't believe that. This is good news."
" Yes it is. I knew that you and Seti would have a child soon," Asenath said.
" I need to relay this message to Pharaoh,"Khafirin said." You will need rest. You were tired from today and that made you faint. I will prescribe some tonics for you. Asenath will deliver them to you. Excuse me."
" Well, we'd better leave you two to celebrate the news together," Asenath said." Let's leave Luciana."
They both curtsied and left the two in bed.
" You have a baby in there waiting to be born. It's so great."
" Seti, is it true ?"
" It is. Believe it my consort."
" I don't feel as if I am. I am so happy."
" Come now. Let's sleep. You need plenty of rest."

By morning, the news had spread so fast within the palace. Pharaoh had led prayers to the gods thanking them for the gift of the two soon to be born children. Many were happy for Astrid and Seti but some were not.
" I cannot believe that she had to vie for that with me," Meritaten told Bennu.
" Pharaoh will favour her more and forget about me and my child."
"He will not. All you have to do is ensure that your child is better than hers. There are plenty of things we can do to make sure that the child is not even born."
"You mean kill ?" she said as she stood up."
That is extreme. I haven't reached that point Bennu."
"Think about your future. It was hard for you to conceive in the first place because Prince Smenkhhare does not spend time with you. You must make sure to have a healthy child so you can live better days in future. You have struggled to get where you are now. Do not let a small and unborn child ruin your future for you. You need to act with a poisonous heart."
"Don't scare me Bennu."
"I am not. I may only be your maidservant but I mean well for you. You cannot go back to where you were before marrying into this family. Maybe she is also plotting against your child so be on guard."
"You are right. She cannot steal Smenkhhare away from me and have a child then the throne. That will happen over my dead body. I will pray to the gods to help me win against that woman."
" You must. Do not forget that Rashida will be the one in your way after Astrid."
" We can bring her down with the information I have about her and Baka. That will ruin her for sure and I will be the only one left. That will add goodness onto Smenkhhare and he will be Pharaoh."
" Good thinking my lady."