Fall of a King ; Battle for Egypt Book 2

Chapter 11 Returning Home

     The darkness swirled around me like a roaring sea, like the Nile that flows the very heart of Egypt itself. But Ka's voice was calling to me. Pulling me from the darkness that enveloped me. His voice was like a light to me. He was begging me to wake up. To see him. To see our children. Slowly I opened my eyes. The torch light illuminates the dark chamber I was in. I was lying in a bed, and my body was draped with a silk blanket. I could feel a dull pain throughout my body. My lips were still cracked, and I felt as if I had not had a sip of water in a thousand years. I turned my head to see Ka sleeping in a chair beside me. His head lay by my arm. I reached out and ran my hand through his soft hair. He was here, this was not a dream, nor was it death. He stirred, and raised his head sleepily. His eyes dull in the torchlight. It appeared as if he had not slept in weeks. A beard was beginning to form on his once clean shaven face. 

"Hi," I whispered hoarsely. His eyes went wide and he jumped from the chair. And he sat by my side. He took my hand in both of his own. Pressing his lips to my hands.

"Makara, my darling. I have been so worried. You have been unconscious for a week now. The physicians feared that you would not wake up. That you were lost to me forever," he said. I felt tears pool in my eyes. Guilt racking my body. He had sat by me all this time. Worrying for my life, when we had much larger concerns. 

"I am sorry, I am so so sorry," I sobbed. He moved closer and took me into his arms. I buried my face into his shoulder. My body wincing from the bruises. The dull pain turning into actual pain. My guilt coming right up to the surface.

"Hush my love, hush. It is alright. It will be alright. You are safe now. Sutekh will never hurt you again," he whispered. I felt my body rack with sobs. But no tears were shed. My body is reeling from no water. Ka pulled away and left the bed. He walked over to a table and poured a small glass of water. He then returned to my side and helped me drink. The water hit my lips, and I greedily drank it. As if I had never drank before. When I finished Ka sat beside me and pulled me into his arms. I shut my eyes for a moment. Savoring the closeness. I had missed Ka, and worried for him. About his safety.

"How did you find me," I asked looking up into his face. He cupped my cheek and leaned down to kiss my forehead. He pulled away, with a smirk on his face. I felt a chuckle rise in my throat.

"I know you asked me not to. But I followed you when you ran from your mother's hut. I was worried for my wife, and her well being. So I followed you. I found you just as Amenhet found you," he said. 

"I tried to fight them, but someone hit me. And all I remember is blackness. When I woke up I was in the dungeon," I said shivering. He held me tighter. Pressing his lips to my hair.

"I will never let anyone hurt you or take you away from me again," he whispered. I looked into his eyes. We stared at one another, our eyes talking when our mouths could not. I then thought of my children. 

"Where are our children," I asked looking around. But there were no cradles. It was just us in this darkened room. I heard Ka chuckle and we snuggled closer together. 

"They are with a wet nurse and Tiye. They are in a nursery with other noble children," he said. I felt relief flood my body, they were alive and well. They had survived without me. 

"Can I see them, I have been worried for them. I felt guilt surge through my body every time I thought of them. In my anger I left them. And I feared that in my anger, I had killed them," I said. 

"No, do not think that. Your children are well cared for. Tiye has watched them every second of the day. She would not allow them out of her sight," he said. "And once you are healed, I will have them brought to you. They miss their mother. I missed their mother," he said.