THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 61

Luciana walked into Astrid's room looking flustered.
"What happened with you ?" Astrid asked as she moved a hound on the hounds and jackals board after taking a quick glance at her.
Luciana looked around uncomfortably since Seti was with Astrid.
"It's alright. You can talk," Seti said as he made a move on the board.
"Lord Baka touched me inappropriately on my way to take your clothes for cleaning. He has tried to do so a couple of times but I can't seem to evade him."
"That cursed bastard!" Seti hissed." I have always known that he is no good. I wonder why he is still the army general. I will have to take care of that."
"Calm down Seti," Astrid said.
"This is the third time I have heard of him handling maidservants and the women in the harem inappropriately. I can't tolerate this. The army demands chivalry and honour and that is the opposite of what he is doing. Do not worry Luciana. I will handle this."
" Thank you my lord," she replied with a curtsy.
" It's your turn," he told Astrid." Oh and by the way, some days ago, father mentioned that he would like to have Rashida married but he cannot seem to find the right man for her. Thutmose likes her. It would give me much joy if they got married."
" Mmmh. Thutmose is a good match for her. He is also a good man. She will be in good hands," Astrid said.
" But before that, I need you to go find out from her if she has someone in her heart. I have always wanted her to marry someone she loves."
" But she does not like me. We barely talk and I don't think she will open up to me like she would you. She adores you and she would talk to you and tell you that."
" That is something women should discuss with each other. Having that talk may bring you closer. She is a good person so don't worry. It will take a bit of coaxing to let her talk. It is my wish for you to get along."
" Alright. Alright Seti. I will do that but I don't think she will tell me anything."
" I believe in you. You are a god person and she will feel comfortable about it."
" I will do it then. Do not forget to deal with Baka."
" I won't," he said as he made a move and smiled," I win again."
" Not fair," she said as she faked a frown and he chuckled.

Rashida swam in the pool in the garden with Anippe waiting on her.
" I thought I would find you here," Meritaten said as she joined the two.
" It is very hot and taking a dip cools me,"she said before disappearing into the water.
" I would like to discuss something with you in private," Meritaten said as she fanned herself after Rashida came to the surface.
She walked up the steps and covered her body with a towel. Her short hair dripping with water.
"Leave us Anippe," she said and sat beside Meritaten."Tell me Meritaten what it is you wish to tell me."
"I will not go about it in circles so I will go for it. I would like it if you helped Smenkhhare become the crown prince. He is your brother after all and he is the eldest son of Pharaoh. You know that he is excellent in what he does but lately, he has been overshadowed by Seti."
"There's nothing I can do about it. It's up to father. Besides, I wouldn't choose between Seti and Smenkhhare. I love them both equally and both of them are great."
"But what if Astrid becomes the Great Wife in the case of Seti becoming Pharaoh ? Our days will not be peaceful."
" And they will with you ?" she laughed." Ever since you found out that you were pregnant, all you've done is brag about it and humiliate those in the palace. How about when you are Great Wife ?"
" Do not criticize me Rashida. I do that because I deserve that respect."
" You haven't given birth yet so you should  wait till then. I don't understand why you are this ambitious when you don't even have any claim to the throne. Smenkhhare can marry someone else and you will be stepped on. What will you do then ?" she said haughtily as she stood up.
" What are you trying to imply ?"
" Tame your ambitions because you can lose everything you wish for. You are not even a royal yet you are this greedy. Goodness. Know your place."
" Rashida, you are looking down on me and I will not tolerate you talking to me like that."
" Why ? What will you do ?"
" Do not underestimate me Rashida. I am warning you," she said and stood up in rage.
" I am not.You are nothing but a lowly concubine's daughter who got lucky by seducing a prince and married him. To think that you can easily sway me to support you. Know your place Meritaten," she said and turned to go.
" How about you huh ? The daughter of a murderer!"
Rashida stood still and her face became pale.
" I may be the daughter of a concubine but you are the daughter of the woman who killed the Great Wife. That is not enough. Your own father passed sentence for her to be killed. How better are you than me ?"
Tears welled in Rashida's eyes and she gathered courage and walked away to her room.
Once inside, she threw herself on the bed and began to cry. Memories of her crying when she saw her mother bing dragged away sentenced to death by her own father were still raw.
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" Mother! Mother! Don't take away my mother," she cried as she followed the guards dragging her mother away in the great hall.
" Rashida!" her mother cried out to her." Ramses, have mercy on me."
Her father turned his back on them and sat on the throne. Smenkhhare stood still in the hallway with his attendant behind him.
She ran after the guards as she cried demanding that they leave her alone. She held onto her mother's hand but she fell to the ground raising her hand up wanting to touch her mother once. Her maidservant came running and lifted her from the ground and could not manage to calm the weeping princess.
From a window in her room, she could see the smoke rising in the distance. Her own mother had been burned at the stake for killing the queen and for causing the miscarriages of two other lesser wives so she could have Smenkhhare be the crown prince.
She and Smenkhhare wept in each other's arms mourning their loss for days on end and Seti  joined in their mourning comforting them. From that incidence, they vowed to never covet the throne in order to avoid such a tragedy in the future.
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"Rashida," Baka said as he entered her room."What is wrong ?"
She sat up and her eyes were red from the crying.
"Go away from me," she said." I don't want to see you."
"We have not met for some days and I have missed you."
"Missed me ? You missed me yet I saw you kissing that maid and gave her the ring I gave you ? I must be foolish to even listen to you."
"My love, you know that I love you. She had me cornered and I had to act as if I love her. Believe me. She means nothing to me. You are the one who is important to me."
" I saw it all. I will never trust you again. Just leave," she said as she pointed towards the door and moved to open it but he grabbed her arm pulling her to himself. He kissed her and she did not pull away.
" See. You still love me. I can hear your heart pound madly like it does when I kiss your lips."
" That was a moment of weakness. Go."
" I won't. I need you as you need me," he said as he wrapped his hands around her tiny waist."I will never do that again. I swear by the gods. I will be true to you."
" You will ?"
" Yes my goddess. I will."
" Do not break my heart again Baka. You have never kept your promises. You keep messing around with women in the palace."
" Trust me Rashida. I will not do anything to break your trust again."
She leaned in for another kiss and just then, the door swung open.