The Queen's Magician

The Tale Of The Lamp

The days came closer to the day we leave for Alexandria. Still, it was a long way from the library trip and my chance to see Michael again. The days got lonelier if all Rameses did all day was have talk the other politicians of Egypt. The only company I had was the servants, Atum, and our three other small cats.

I already asked Chima to fetch me water at least three times, and it was all I could do since I was going to be trapped in the place like a prisoner until Rameses returned from his…well, whatever he did, which I had no idea about. Even if he planned to have an affair with me, I wouldn’t even care because I never was in true love with the Pharaoh. I would only act angry just to only see him squeal like a slaughtered pig.

“Do you want more water, your grace?” questioned Chima.

As I straightened Atum’s fur, I replied, “No. I’m finally done with it. I don’t wish to see anymore water until I decide to take a wake down the Nile River.”

My servant bowed his head. “Right. Should I send a messenger to fetch Rameses to return?”

“That will definitely not be necessary, Chima,” I hissed.

Chima bowed again. “I apologize.”

“Oh, stop that. It is actually irritating me. I’m sorry, Chima, but I am not in the mood for any nonsense.”

The younger slave blinked twice. “Oh. I can understand that.” He turned in a circle slowly. “You know, your majesty.”

“What do I know?”

“When you married the Pharaoh, I knew I would find a person in common with me.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

“You feel trapped, do you?”

My eyes widened.

“I do, too. I’ve been tending to the Pharaoh even before he became to be. Actually…” Chima sat down on a loveseat, gazing into space. “My parents needed the money.”

My mouth dropped. “A sold slave?” I never realized that confession. Rameses, of course, never told me everything that happened in the palace. Still, I was very surprised at the news. “Chima, I never knew…”

“Don’t blame yourself, your highness.”

“I should. I could’ve helped you achieve your freedom…”

“No…No, that is not possible. Not even the queen’s riches could set me free. My freedom comes with my death, and I do not wish to die in vain.”

“No one does. I can understand how you feel now, Chima. I just wish there was a way to rescue the both of us.”

Chima perked his head straight. “I do have a way to perk us both up. I shall return.” The servant dashed out of the room, which only gave me the impression that he was really excited in trying to cheer up the saddest queen of Egypt. Chima returned a moment later, carefully holding a manuscript in his hands.

“What is that?” I questioned, pointing to the scroll.

“A personal treasure from Asia. The king really hates it when I take his scrolls, but this is a brilliant story.”

“Do you read Chinese, Chima?”

“The older servants taught me, for the Pharaoh had sent me once. I almost didn’t come back alive…which I think was why he sent me in the first place. Still, my skills are beyond from weak. Prepare to be amazed, your grace.”

I cocked an eyebrow again. “Hmm,” I said, “if you say so, please read.”

He nodded once and looked down at the scroll. “It begins with a boy and an adventure waiting to happen.”

The story was titled Aladdin's Wonderful Lamp. The title made the plot completely simple, but I had to realize that each tale had a secret message for the reader to understand if he or she wanted to learn life lessons. It was said in society that women were only to learn what their fathers or husbands tell them, but I was more interested in literature than what men had to say about women.

I made sure to listen through Aladdin’s wishes through the ring and the lamp and his marriage to the princess, Badroulbadour. Though the wishes might have sound selfish to the person paying attention to the tale, I had to be open minded on why Aladdin did what he did to marry the princess. I had to realize that Aladdin, a street urchin who only had his mother to care for, actually had love for the princess, and Badroulbadour fell in love with Aladdin instead of marrying the vizier's son. Though I was still thinking about how unrealistic it was for a boy to find two genies and use them to rescue his wife, I understood that Aladdin was not just like every other man who wanted something. He had emotion. He had motives. He had a heart.

Now that I thought everything through, Michael was just the same. Ever since he left for Rome, he had pretended to be of royalty just to send me gifts and surprise me with birds in the sky. Then, I wondered, Does the lamp exist because he would’ve need one for so many gifts.

After finishing, Chima carefully rolled the scroll back to the way it was rolled before he laid his hands on it. He had to make the sides smooth if Rameses wanted to check his collection. “Well, your majesty, did you like it?” he asked innocently, batting his lashes at me.

I chuckled and replied, “Yes, Chima, I found it delightful.” I reached for Chima’s forehead and kissed it. “Thank you so much for reading to me. With you, I don’t feel as alone as I would.”

“Your majesty, you happen to be the only…” Chima coughed twice. “…friends I have in the…palace.” Chima coughed continuously, and they got harsher.

“Chima?” I asked worriedly. “What’s wrong? Can you speak to me?”

“Your grace, I’m sorry. I’m…I’m…” He continued to cough until he fell to the floor.

“Nurse!” I shrieked, “Nurse! I need help!”

I kept pacing the outside of the infirmary to get word on Chima’s condition. I had not received anything thus far, which brought my heart to rapidly beating. The other servants attempted to keep me away, for Chima was not a favorite in the palace, but I ordered them away before they would be harshly banished, and I would have to let Rameses deal with them later.

Speaking of Rameses, he returned after the messenger went out to fetch him due to the incident. As soon as he saw me, his face fell. “Madara, what happened?” he questioned in concernly.

I gasped. “I don’t know, Rameses,” I replied, becoming nervous. Not only was I worried about Chima, I had to lie to my husband about how my servant went into the horrid cough. “He was fetching a drink, but when he came back, he started to cough without halting.”

The Pharaoh shook his head. “Poor Chima. I knew he was the weakest link. If the nurse can’t do anything about it, we would have to end his misery.”

“Rameses!” I snapped, “There has to be a cure somehow.”

“Love, I cannot promise what cannot be fixed.”

Before I could speak, the nurse exited. “Your majesties,” she said, “Thank goodness. I have some news about Chima.” She sighed quickly. “He will survive this illness.”

I took a long, deep breath. “Thank Heavens.”

“However, he won’t recover so quickly. My Pharaoh, Chima would need more medicine if he wants to live, and on his behalf, he does.”

I gave Rameses a concerned look. Chima’s life was in my husband’s hands, and I swore to myself that if he refused to cure our servant, he was going to witness the wrath of Madara that he never saw coming.

Luckily for him, he told the nurse, “Then, I will supply the money for Chima’s medicine. I will send you to fetch it whenever it is available. I will not let him suffer more than he is hurting at the moment.”

The nurse nodded. “I will inform you on Chima’s further healing process,” she said, “Good night.” She dismissed herself back into the infirmary.

Rameses turned to me and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Do not fret, my sweet. Our servant will recover soon enough.”

I nodded once. “I am aware of that.”