Jewel Of The Nile [COMPLETE]

Chapter Twelve

Nebt ran into my room. "Oh, Ankhesenpaaten- you are already awake," she stated, surprised.
I nodded. "I could not sleep. Do you have my dress?"
She held up a package in her arms. "Straight from the tailor."
I stood up. "Good. Can you help me get dressed please? When I was getting measured for it, the tailor said that it will be hard to get on."
"Yes, yes, that goes without saying."
The dress was Nile-blue, and similar to the purple one I wore four days ago - long, flowy ect. Nebt called in the hairdresser, and in no time, my hair was curled just enough to see big waves. My long hair was down to just past my shoulders, waved, and braided at the top. It sounds complicated but it looked gorgeous. I stared in the mirror in admiration.
"Thank you," I said in wonder to the hairdresser. He smiled and bowed.
"It is an important day; you need to look beautiful." With that, he quickly exited the room. I suppose he was right. But what good was looking beautiful, today of all days? If we are dressed all beautiful and stunning, it will show that we are careless and monsters, capable of showing no emotion! Should we not show our feelings, to prove we are just like any other family?
Nebt held out her hand and smiled warmly at me. "Let us go. The Pharaoh wants a word with everyone in the private game room before the ceremony. Quickly, now."

It was the first time I had seen Smenkhkre in two months. He had gotten thinner, and his hair had turned grey. Meritaten, standing next to him, had worry lines ceased in her forehead. They were growing older before my eyes. It was unnerving.
Everyone, including mother, was already there. Smenkhkre glared at me, and began talking.
"Alright, everyone, I just wanted to say that, well, today is going to be a hard day for all of us. But we are on display. Those of you who do not normally go into the public eye - the three younger children - you will be on display even more so than the rest of us, because the public will want to see you. We need to act well. And, it is going to be an emotional day, but we have to be strong. The people of Egypt want strong, proud, good leaders. We need to show them that that is what we are. No shedding tears unless absolutely necessary. Stepmother, for you that is different. In fact, I would be surprised if you did not cry. That will be all. We must go now. Remember, The Queen and I will go out first, then Tutankhaten and Nefertiti, then Ankhesenpaaten, Neferneferure and Neferneferuaten Tarsherit, and Ay will be at the back. We must go now."
We lined up and marched to the Palace Entrance, where we waited in silence for the all-clear to go into the courtyard. As much as I disagreed with Smenkhkre, he was the Pharaoh. His word was law. I had to do as he said, even if he was my brother.
An advisor ran up to Smenkhkre and whispered something in his hear. My brother nodded, and faced us. "Remember what I said. Everyone will be watching us." With held out his hand for Meritaten, and the walked outside into the courtyard. I could hear stupendous cheering and clapping. It seemed to grow even louder as mother and Tutankhaten walked out.
I was next. I took a deep breath. While I had attended many functions when my father was Pharaoh, I had never done one like this and with such an entrance. All eyes would be on me solely.
The advisor nodded at me and I walked outside into the sunshine.
The stark contrast almost blinded me, and I had to fight with myself to not block the glare with my hands. I smiled hard at my people as the cheered and clapped as I took my place next to Tutankhaten.
The crowd that had shown up was quite disheartening. While at Smenkhkre's coronation there had been upwards of 30,000 people there - almost the entire city - today, there was only probably a third of that number. I was appalled. One could argue that this event was even more important than the coronation. But the people did not seem to agree, obviously.
Where were Kahmose and Huy? My eyes scoured over the crowds. Yes, it was possible that I had missed them, but surely I would notice them straight away? And they would be here. They promised they would be here...right?
The High Priest of Aten began talking, and I realised I missed my sister's entrance. Oops. Everyone would have been looking and watching, and then there's me just staring straight ahead, daydreaming. It would have been quite funny to see! I stifled a giggle.
"Pharaoh Akhenaten lived a long life and had a long reign, ruling for seventeen years. He accomplished many massive feats in his life, and we can only pray to Aten that he has a blissful afterlife, just like he had a blissful life. However, the best we can do is lay him in his tomb, in the best possible way, as soon as possible. Now for the procession. Bring out the sarcophagus!" commanded the High Priest. From somewhere behind me, a door swung open and more priests were carrying my father. Meritaten, Smenkhkre and mother walked directly in front of the coffin while the rest of us walked behind. Followed by us were the hired mourners, the dancers and the musicians. And behind them, were a long line of servants carrying objects that would be placed in my father's tomb from his life. It was quite a long procession.
The audience cleared a path straight down the middle. Some people just looked on with a grace face, others weeped and others still prayed. Suddenly a felt someone grab my hand. I turned around in alarm, only to see that it was Huy. She let go and gave me a weak smile, which was all she could do before she was shoved out of the way by a large and clearly wealthy man.
I turned back around and kept walking. I could not hold up the procession.
We walked up a small hill, further to the west of the city. Everyone except those carrying the sarcophagus stood off to the side, while they went before the High Priest and stood the coffin upright for the Opening of the Mouth ceremony.
The priests performed the elaborate ritual which involved the purification of my father's body, anointing and reciting the appropriate prayers and spells. I would go through exactly what happened, but it took almost an hour as it is, let alone retelling it.
The High Priest took out his specific ritual implement and touched nose, mouth, and eyes of the coffin. Now, my father could use all of his senses in the afterlife.
After that, other servants came forth and placed clothing and food on an offering table for my father.
"Please, mourners, you may participate in the funerary banquet," the High Priest called out, inviting us to come forward.
The Pharaoh and Queen stepped up the a smaller table with more food nearby, and ate first from that. Next, my mother came forward, then Tutankhaten, and then I was called up.
I slowly felt my feet moving forward towards the small table. Even though I did not feel like eating anything, I knew I had to. I had to pay my respects to my father, who was watching my every footstep.
I quietly picked out some dates, nuts, and a small chunk of bread, then walked back to where I was standing. My sisters went after me, and after that, the rest of the procession ate.
Once everyone had finished, one of the priests bought forward a baby calf to my father. I looked away, since I knew what was going to happen next. I heard the calf cry out in pain as the calf was quickly killed. I heard the knife hacking rapidly at the chest, trying to get the beating heart out to offer to my father before it stopped. I heard cheering, and assumed the priest had accomplished that. Then, the gut-retching sound of the knife began again as he sawed off one of the calf's legs, and again offered it my father.
The elaborate ceremonies were over. The priests picked up the sarcophagus and, along with those servants carrying tomb goods, went inside the chamber and placed my father in his resting place. We were not allowed inside there. You could hear the thud of the massive granite sarcophagus placed on the ground. I saw mother wince.
It was a while before everyone came outside again, but that was to be expected. All the items had to be placed and the priests had to place protection spells and curses so that nobody would rob the late pharaoh's tomb. They had to conceal the King's Chamber with hidden doors to prevent tomb robbers, as well.
Finally, we saw them walk up the steps leading up into the desert. Without saying a word, the High Priest walked over to the pile of jars, jugs and bowls that were used in the banquet and proceed to smash them with his bare hands. A servant quickly gathered up the remains whenever he broke one, and buried them next to the tomb, for the afterlife.
Then the funeral was over. We were all permitted to return to the city, and most of the procession did, but our family lingered around a little longer. We watched in silence as the priests and their servants cleaned up the area around. We watched as they soon left. Us, and our guards, were the only people left. Smenkhkre had his head bowed and his eyes closed. He was praying, but what? And why? Was he praying for himself? For guidance? Or for father? For a safe trip in the afterlife?
He looked up at us in shock, as though he had forgotten we were there. "What are you still doing here?" he snapped. Nobody answered. "Go back to the palace. I will follow you shortly. Sete and Timous, stay here with me. The rest of the guards, go with them."
We had to obey Smenkhkre. Everyone, even mother, trudged their way slowly back to the palace. It was a long walk, and none of us were in good spirits. Not that I expected we would be, of course.
A funeral is nothing to be glad about.