THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 72

"She what!" Ramses shouted as he stood up from his throne."How could this happen ? It has been misfortune after misfortune here in the palace. I just can't believe the nerve of the perpetrators. Have you found them ?"
Rashida held her father's hand and began to rub his shoulders as she listened to the conversation.
"Yes father. My men and I have managed to kill three of them."
" Smenkhhare, you killed them ? You should have tortured them until they confessed about whoever sent them."
" It was in defence father."
" You have failed me. You know very well that up until now, I have wanted to find out who was behind the killing of your and Meritaten's child and now you killed those two ?"
" They were thieves and it was better that way. I will find a way to find the rest."
" How is Astrid and Seti ?"
" She fainted but is still under the care of the physicians. I left Seti outside their chambers waiting for more news with Thutmose."
" I can only imagine the pain Seti feels in his heart. He really loved his unborn child. It was all he spoke of," Rashida said in a sad tone.
" How am I to look at Meritaten and Astrid in the eye after all of this ?"he said as he buried his face in his hands and sat on the stair leading to his throne." I have been a successful ruler of the nation but I have failed my family."
" We have to find a way to ensure this does not happen again," Smenkhhare said as he sat beside his father.

Luciana pulled the sheet so it could cover her some more. Seti sat beside his wife and took in her face as she slept on their bed. She had been badly battered and his tear fell on her busted lip. He moved his hand to touch the once swollen belly that had their child but now had no life in it. How fast one could lose something very precious. the image of their lifeless son still haunted him. He was a small child with a tiny nose and pink lips. How tiny his fingers were. His hair as dark as his mother's. He then remembered how he and Astrid were happy earlier. How he rubbed her stomach as she cupped his face with her soft hands as she looked into his eyes. How he had placed a kiss on her stomach telling her that he would protect them with his life. She smiled at him as she professed her undying love for him. Would she blame him when she woke up for not keeping his promise ?
He could not hold in the pain and sniffled in his cries. She opened her eyes slowly and writhed in pain and he looked down at her after quickly wiping off his tears.
"S..Se...Seti," she tried to talk but it only came out as a whisper.
"You're awake," he smiled."How do you feel ? Are you in pain ? I will go get Khafirin."
"Where is the child ? Bring the child to me."
No one answered her and she looked at Luciana who looked sadly at her. She placed her hand on Seti's thigh after some time.
" Seti, where is our child ?"
" Astrid," he started and paused briefly to gain the courage to tell her of the news."Our child was not fated to be with us in this life."
" What do you mean ?" she asked as she tried to sit up but couldn't move much.
"Our child is gone."
"How is that possible ? Khafirin and the other priests told us that it would be a blessed child. I tried to protect it when they were beating me up and prayed for our child's safety."
"Yes Astrid. Those people harmed you and it led to the death of our son."
She lay her head back on the bed and blinked continuously for a while before turning to look at Seti.
" Where... where is the child ? I want to see our child," she choked.
"They took Amenophis for burial preparations."
" Ameno....."
" Amenophis. I named him Amenophis."
After he said that, she burst into tears and Luciana knelt beside her. Seti pursed his lips into a line and closed his eyes trying to be strong for her. He held her in his arms and she held herself onto him as she cried uncontrollably. Only in his arms could she feel some solace.

"Meritaten," Rashida called Meritaten who was standing before the statue of the goddess Bastet.
"I am praying Rashida," she said with her eyes closed and her palms put together.
"Praying ?"
"Yes Rashida. There have been many evils within the palace and asking for protection is the best thing to do."
"I agree that there have been many evils indeed but they were caused by man. I have reason to believe that you are behind what happened to Astrid. That was not a coincidence."
Meritaten opened her eyes and turned to look at Rashida.
"Am I the only one who is capable of evil here ? Whenever there is a problem, everyone rushes to accuse me. I won't have it anymore."
" I know you well Meritaten. You are vicious and capable of anything. How you did this, I don't know but I know that you did it."
" I did not harm her. I don't have time to waste on such a woman and her useless child. I have better things to do. Now leave me Rashida."
Rashida looked at her and the statue before walking out of the room. She entered the garden and touched her wig only to realize that she had lost her silver beads. She had to find them as they were gifts from Seti. She had lost them on her way to Meritaten's room and surely, they would be somewhere near her room.
She spotted the beads on the ground on the corner leading to Meritaten and Smenkhhare's room. Upon bending to pick them, she saw Baka enter Meritaten's room followed by Bennu. She hid behind the wall I confusion.
Could Baka have had a hand in what happened to Astrid ? Was it Meritaten ?
She had to find out.
She walked to her room and prepared for bed. Thutmose had not yet arrived.
Anippe carefully took out her wig after removing all jewels on it as Rashida looked at herself in the mirror lost in thought.
"Are you alright my lady ? You have not spoken a word since you came."
" I am just worried about what has been happening in the palace lately. I cannot fathom how those men entered the palace, knocked Luciana off before taking Astrid away and really beating her up. I feel scared for myself."
" Yes. What happened was scary. Luckily lord Smenkhhare found her and saved her life. I don't want to even think about what would have happened had he not found her in good time."
" All of this began with me. I am the evil one. I still cannot believe that I could lay a finger on my brother's own child,"Rashida said as she looked at the mirror with glossy eyes and put her fingers on her image." When did I become a murderer like my mother and kill Smenkhhare's son ?When did I become a monster ?"
" Please do not say that."
" I have to admit it Anippe. I really lost myself long ago. I wasn't this way. I cannot forget how we even schemed against Meritaten so she could lose her child and still instigated her to do the same to Astrid."