THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 66

"You look beautiful like Isis, my lady. You make a very beautiful bride," Anippe praised Rashida who looked at herself in the mirror.
Rashida scoffed with a roll of her eyes and passed her fingers through the gold beads on her wig.
"Who would have thought that I would marry Thutmose. I had always thought that my groom would be Baka but things took an unexpected turn," she said. She stood up and fell back on the chair groaning in pain.
" My lady," Anippe rushed to help her." Are you alright ?"
" My head hurts," she said as she rubbed her temple.
" You have been like this for days. I will call a physician."
" I am alright Anippe."
" No. You have been having headaches and you keep feeling nauseous. I worry for you."
" It's alright Anippe. I will be fine. Don't worry."
"Why are bad things happening to you ? First, you were caught when eloping then locked in your room. Now you'll marry a man whom you have no feelings for."
" You are right. I remember the day I was ordered to marry him.

Days ago.....
"What are you doing here ?" Rashida asked as she stood up once Meritaten entered her room.
"I bring with me a decree by the Living Horus. Read it," she said haughtily to the scribe beside her.
" I Ramses, the Living Horus, the son of Ptah, decree that the Princess Rashida Amenmeit, shall marry the Prince Thutmose in fourteen days. The soon to be married couple are to make preparations for the nuptials," the scribe read out.
Rashida lost balance and supported herself with the table next to her as she tried to come to terms with what she had heard.
"Won't you accept the decree ?" Meritaten said as she rubbed her belly.
"I.... I," Rashida stammered.
"Show your gratitude to Pharaoh for granting you to Thutmose after everything you did. Don't be an ingrate."
" I accept the decree."
" Leave us," Meritaten told the scribe who bowed and left.
"You must be happy about everything that is happening to me."
"Quite the contrary Rashida. I pity you. You are in this plight because of Astrid. She suggested this marriage to Pharaoh and as usual, Seti backed her up. That has brought us here."
"Why would she still do this to me ?" Rashida screamed as she threw away a goblet.
"She was obviously not satisfied with leaking the news of you eloping and bringing Pharaoh to catch you. Now, she has successfully schemed for you to marry Thutmose. You are so pitiful Rashida. I really pity you. You are going through so much and..."
" Enough! I don't need you to repeat all that has befallen me."
" All I am telling you is that you now need to know who is true to you and who is not. You and I may have had some differences before but as you know, we both have the same enemy. We need to work together and bring her down."
" You're right. We both have Astrid as our enemy and we need to bring her down as soon as possible."
" Good. I am glad that we are friends again," Meritaten said with a smile and Rashida smiled back.
" She mistook my captivity as my downfall but she won't see what will get to her."
" I love that attitude. I need to leave before Pharaoh finds out I stayed longer than I was supposed to. I will see you soon Rashida."
She left the room and Rashida walked to her bed and sat on its edge burying her face into her hands.
"I can't believe that this is happening to you."
"Me neither Anippe. Me neither."
"Will you really help Meritaten and take Lady Astrid down ?"
" Of course not. I am not foolish enough to fall into Meritaten's trap. She wants me to do all the dirty work for her and only then will she rise but I cannot allow it. I hate her as much as I hate Astrid. The both of them are the reason why I am in this predicament."
" What is your next plan ?"
" I have no choice but to do as father wishes. I will get married to Thutmose. Luckily it's him and not another person. I can tolerate him. Staying within this room has given me a good plan that will take out two birds with one stone and only then shall we see who will have the last laugh. I will need your help Anippe. Nothing should go wrong."
*******************
The doors were opened and Pharaoh entered the room. Rashida stood up with the help of Anippe.
"Daughter," he said as he walked towards her. He held her hands with tears in his eyes and so were hers. He embraced her and she wrapped her hands around him.
"How are you ?"
"I am well father."
"It is your wedding today. The decision I made was the right one for you and I am sure that you will see it in future. Thutmose will treat you well. He is honorable unlike Baka."
"Yes father. I believe that you make the best decisions for me."
" I have not seen you for long. Let me take a look at you," he said as he pulled away from the embrace and looked at her.
She wore a long white dress with an open back. The straps were decorated with silver bands and a silver belt on her tiny waist. On her neck was a huge necklace decorated with lapis lazuli, carnelians and gold. On it was a scarab beetle decoration. She wore many golden bracelets and silver rings on her fingers. She wore a wig with beautifully crafted beads and amulets. Her eyes were coloured with blue eye shadow and her nails painted red.
" Look at you. You look beautiful."
"Thank you father. Here, help me with this veil."
He took the net and placed it over her head.
" You are the most beautiful bride I have seen," he praised his daughter." Everyone is waiting in the great hall. Let's go."
She nodded and held his hand and she faltered.
"Are you alright ?"
"Yes father."
"My lady, you.."
"Enough Anippe."
"Have you been unwell ?" Ramses asked.
"I have been unwell but I am sure that it is nothing serious."
"You need to be checked by Khafirin."
"Not now father. The guests are waiting. I will have a physician check up on me after the wedding."
"Are you sure you will make it through ?"
"Yes father. Come on. I am alright."
She took his hand and they walked towards the hall with servants behind them.