Love By The Nile

6

Ramses' p.o.v

I looked up towards the door as the feminine voice called, to see a figure behind the veil standing with a golden water jar on her head ,ready to serve me my morning bathe.  In the palace, you can never get used to a particular maid's voice.They were changed everyday and rarely saw one another time.

"Enter!" I tried to sound louder amidst my just awaken voice.  My Eyes popped up when i saw her enter, I didn't now if it was AMUN-ra that kept sending her my way but I felt my tongue dry up as she approached me. She didn't look up at me but I couldn't tell if it was shame or respect or anger.

She bowed as she held the bowl with one hand and tilted the jar with the other. I let the water gather in my hand before washing my head and face. The sudden consciousness of the shape of my head creeped in and I rushed the washing of my head and quickly wrapped it in the wash cloth before stealing a glance at her. She didn't seem to care but she looked off color and her eye lids seemed bigger.

She poured some more water in the bowl and knelt in front of me.  She lifted my feet with her soft hands and I felt the same vibrations run up my skin as she placed them inside the bowl and started washing them. I had done this every morning since I was born but this morning, it felt more sensual than a routine. Her hands were soft and slow as they caressed them than wash them and I don't know which I was trying to control my fast beating heart, or the blood flowing into the middle of my legs.

It was during this battle that I noticed her face fully, her eyes were dark ,and was swollen and for an instant I had the initiative to hold her again. "That's enough" she stopped abruptly and moved my legs from the bowl, and unto the wash cloth to pat them dry, never for once looking at my face.

"How's your brother?" I asked, I didn't know what else to say and when she rose up while delaying my answer, I feared she would not speak to me again.

"I do not know" she started bowing her head,"I was dismissed before the end"

"I can assure you, he is very much Alive" I felt the urge to assure her." You should know that Egypt doesn't do away with sins and his sins would have led to his death". She burst into tears, throwing me aback. I wasn't expecting that and neither did I expect myself to pull her into my embrace and pet her. She was so soft and fragile and smelled so nice, I was tempted to run my hand down her back and pull her closer to ease her pain and just hold her..

"My Lord Ramses your Mother wa (Abu's unannounced entrance had caused me to pull myself from her like she was hot)" She quickly cleaned her eyes, picked up the jar and bowl and carefully exited the room. "What just happened?"

"Nothing" the word sounded like it was squeezed so i cleared my throat "Nothing she had something in her eyes"

"Since when are eyes on backs? Because I saw your hand on her back and since when is your eyes on your chest? because her face was buried there" he questioned looking at me eerily but I didn't have an answer so I just moved to the window instead shaking my head in a disapproving manner. "Ramses she is a slave and I do not want to believe you have anything to do with her; A Hebrew!! That would be a blow at your father's eyes.

"Off course not!" I defended "I  told you there was something in her eyes". The pitch of my voice was higher than necessary, and Abu's eyes stared hard at mine as he showed his doubts, when I couldn't take it any longer, I rolled my eyes and broke away from his gaze. "Why are you here?"

He sighed. "Your Mother wants to see you" he paused, " NOW!!".

"Where is she?".

"In the upper gardens"

"Come with me", i ordered as we made way through the passages to the upper gardens. The smell of grapes where abundant, and the palace dog ran after the cat. I waved my hand occasionally at people as they bowed at me and greeted.