THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 68

"Get me more pomegranate juice Bennu," Meritaten said.
"But my lady, you have had four cups already. That is too much."
"I can't help it. I just want to have some. Ugh!"
" Are you alright my lady ?"
" I just feel some cramping on my stomach. I wonder why I feel the pain yet I had Khafirin check on me."
" We will have to check on that after the feast. The royal life in you is sacred."
" I will have Khafirin check up on me. Send a message to my father so he can come check on me as well. I can't only trust the physicians in the palace. They could be plotting against me."
" I don't think they would dare to. Please don't be paranoid."
" How can I not ? We all know how dangerous life is in the palace. Now go get me what I want."
"Alright, I will find some for you," Bennu said as she stood up.

"Astrid, I am getting dizzy from the wine I have had. You don't want a drunk woman to be by your side," she chuckled.
"You really have had too much to drink. It's alright Asenath. Go get some rest."
"Will you be alright ?"
"Yes. Luciana is here with me. I shall be fine."
" Enjoy your night," Asenath said as she yawned.
" You too Asenath."
Luciana curtsied as Asenath left. She knelt beside Astrid and fixed the tiara on her wig.
" I shall retire to my chambers as well. It is night now and I feel tired as well. Of course you would. You are with child. You did dance a bit and talk with many people today so you are bound to be tired."

" There is no more pomegranate juice. The kitchens have run out of it. You could have grape juice instead."
" No Bennu. I only want pomegranate juice. Do what you must but bring it to me now."
" Yes my lady."

" What do you mean it will take time to prepare it ?"Bennu questioned a butler.
" The juice was not much and it just ran out. Do inform your lady that I have ordered someone to prepare it soon."
" You know that she is expecting and so she craves for it. We have to attend to her needs and she is getting impatient. What shall we do ?"
" Is everything alright ?" Astrid asked as she looked to the side where Bennu and the butler stood.
" We have run out of pomegranate juice and it will take some time for it to be ready. I do not want to upset the lady." the butler said.
" Is Meritaten asking for it ?"
"Yes my lady," Bennu said.
"I have some in this jug," Astrid said with a sly smile as she traced her finger on it."Give it to her. I have had enough."
"Thank you my lady," Bennu said as she quickly took the jug.
" It has been a while since I saw my husband. Will you find him and inform him that I shall retire for the night ?" Astrid told Luciana.
" I will. Wait for me here."

"I feel lightheaded. I need to go out for some fresh air," Rashida told Thutmose.
"May I come with you ? You look unwell."
"No need."
"Where is Anippe ? Let her accompany you."
"I said that I will be fine!" she snapped. Luckily it was too noisy for the guests to hear it."I am sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you."
"I understand."
She walked slowly towards towards the doors and began to stagger then lost balance. She was about to fall over but held onto Bennu who was walking across the hall to serve Meritaten.
There were gasps in the hall as all eyes were on Rashida who was holding onto Bennu for support.
"Are you alright my lady ?" Bennu asked as she held onto Rashida with her other hand. Anippe rushed over and helped support Rashida.
"Rashida!" Thutmose shouted as he ran towards her.
"Khafirin!" Pharaoh shouted as he joined the crowd that was circling his daughter.
Thutmose carried her up and took her to her room where upon examination by Khafirin, was given some tonic.
"It is only headache my sovereign," Khafirin said with a worried expression on his face."With the tonic I have given to her, I believe that she will be alright."
" Daughter, how do you feel ?"
" It's just a headache father. We should head back to the hall. The guests are waiting.
"You need to rest," this from Thutmose.
"The tonic given to me by Khafirin will surely work. We cannot let the guests down when they came all the way to celebrate my wedding."
Anippe helped her stand and escorted her to the hall.

" You are lucky that we got some juice for you. The kitchens would surely take time to prepare it."
" I really needed it,"Meritaten said as she took a sip from it." Where did you get it from ?"
" I uhm..."
" Speak Bennu!"
" I got it from Lady Astrid. She had some left and heard me tell the butler that we had run out of it so she offered it to me."
" And you dared to accept it ?"
" Pardon me my lady," she said as she knelt down quickly." I wanted to see to your needs."
"Get up. There are many people. I will punish you when we get back. I don't need anything from that woman. Look, it seems that Rashida is well again,"she said as she looked at the king's daughter walk in with her husband and the Pharaoh.
" She must really want to prove herself. She was ill but she is all recovered now."

The feast went on as before with continued entertainment and feasting. A little while later, some guests began to leave and Astrid was among them. The others continued to make merry.
Meritaten clutched at her stomach and began to writhe. She began to sweat and she took in deep breaths.
"B..Be....Bennu," she groaned. Bennu heard her call and immediately bent to see what was happening.
"Are you alright my lady ?"
"My stomach hurts and I....."
"My lady! My lady! I will help you to your chambers immediately," she said as she helped Meritaten stand up.
Meritaten felt a sharp pain and could not hold it in.
"Smenkhhare!" she said with a scream as she clutched at her stomach earning everyone's attention. Rashida who was talking to her father stood up quickly to see what was going on. Ramses looked on looking confused trying to put together what was happening. Smenkhhare who was talking with Seti and Thutmose turned to look at her. He saw her leaning onto Bennu.
"Meritaten!" he called out and ran towards her.
"Smenkhhare," she cried out to her husband when he held her." It hurts. I am in pain."
"Summon Khafirin and all the physicians!" he barked." Help me take her to our room."
"Yes my lord," this from an already panicked Bennu.
Once Meritaten stood up, Bennu went behind her to smoothen the back of her dress but she felt that she had touched something warm. She looked at her hand and opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"Blood!" she shrieked.
"Blood ?" Meritaten asked and turned to see the big bloody spot on her dress." Why is there blood ?"
"Oh no!" Smenkhhare said and lifted her off the ground and rushed her to their room as she groaned in pain. He quickly lay her on the bed as Khafirin followed by a group of other physicians walked in the room. By the time, she was bleeding as she complained of pain on her stomach.
The physicians began to chant prayers invoking the gods' protection on both mother and child.
Her pain carried on throughout the night with a worried Smenkhhare praying in the temple.
By morning, the unborn child's fate bad been sealed.