Pharaoh's First Love

62

She extended a small hand. “I am Amarie, it is a pleasure to meet and serve you, ma’am. The pharaoh said to tend to you as you get ready for today. A funeral I believe, if you don’t mind, I would be happy to dress and brush out your hair.” Shelyn cringed at hearing it. Shared the same man. It on it’s own was upsetting. Just a reminder that even that foul woman has had him. Surely, she could come up with some plan to at least get rid of her.
She nodded. Accepting the friendly hand in her own. “Shelyn...It’s nice to formally meet you. Um... can I ask you something? Do any of you see a doctor on a regular basis? I know it’s just Calion you serve … and all come as virgins to him...but have you seen a doctor for just a checkup?” She asked. This dated back to her first conversation about babies with Calion. And personally, she wondered how so many women couldn’t produce a single child. “Do you go if you get sick at least?” All this seemed nothing more than a concerned doctor asking questions. After all she was in a way.

“Hmm?” She rose a brow. “I suppose it would be different for you, not being a concubine. Despite us serving the pharaoh and fulfilling all of his wishes we take our orders from the head concubine.” She bit her cheek and shifted her eyes away. “I shouldn’t say much about it, but if you haven’t met her yet then Mirien has been Calion’s… I mean Pharaoh’s longest. She’s older than him and from what I know she took his first time. Some say she loves him; others suggest she lured in the young Pharaoh in hopes of tricking him into having a child although she is barren herself. A-anyway...” She switched subjects as it seemed there was much more to the story although it was risky for Amarie to bad mouth Mirien in front of Shelyn. After all she didn’t know if Shelyn was a friend or foe.

“All of us are tended to by Mirien. We are assigned duties around the palace, tend to her herself, and whenever the pharaoh calls upon us, we report to him to serve in any way we can. In any case, we don’t usually get checkups unless we spend a night with the pharaoh. We are administered herbs so as to make our bodies more presentable to him. We’re told it enhances his experience and for that we don’t mind.”
“No… I have and I’m not a fan of the...woman.” she admitted. Making her way up the steps as her long hair clung down her body to her calves as the water vanished. “However, as a doctor I ask. You shouldn’t fear discussing with anything you wish.” She explained. Truthfully, she didn’t want to bring in how her parents were, who they were or how the great soldier being buried was her very own older brother. She wanted to gain great status on her own.

“As long as you are all cared for properly, I won’t bother you on the topic. As long as it’s not effecting Calion.” She glanced back at her as she grabbed a towel. After all, Calion and her had discussed children. But medically she wondered if her thoughts on Mirien were true.

“If you don’t mind, I will be personally asking for you to be a servant of mine during my free time. I could use a friend during my stay, after all.”
Amarie let out the slightest of signs and smirks as Shelyn told her she didn’t like Mirien. Her eyes fixated upon Shelyn as the woman rose from the tub. It’s not as if she was jealous of Shelyn, but she simply liked to admire her body and was curious as to what had caught the Pharaoh’s eyes. After all she was inwardly saddened, she had not been used in some time now, although she would be more than happy to at least make friends with his current interest.
“That’ll be a little difficult.” she admitted, standing up from the bath barefooted as she followed behind Shelyn. “It’s not that I mind. If fact I would prefer it, simply I would humbly ask you clear it with the pharaoh. Mirien is rather strict and I would prefer not to get punished.” She chose her words carefully around Shelyn, wishing she could tell her more, but more trust would need to be developed between the two.

“If you’re a doctor then would you like to check on me? Not that I need to be considering the pharaoh is taken these days.” the girl asked, her heart ticking up a few beats. She wanted nothing more than to have attention. To be looked upon in any way, although she would be severely punished if she ever did such with another man, though it was permitted with other women. Shelyn offered a sweet smile. “I’m sure Calion would be more than happy allowed me someone to talk to and spend my time near. I doubt he would be angry, and I certainly doubt Mirien would even get a chance to protest.”

She explained. In truth in might seem she was overconfident that Calion would give her anything. But she truthfully felt he wouldn’t refuse her one servant that she may spend time with when he was busy, or she went to tend to the garden. A woman better than any man. Just someone her age to talk to.

After all no reason she couldn’t have one friend. Especially someone she can go to about Calion. “Would you mind? My brush is on the bedside table.” She asked politely. Making her way back into the room while wrapping her towel around her body. She kneeled at her trunk and opened it. No black dress but she had white ones and a sweater that matched the color she had Helm dressed in. Her bunny holding the brush. “Of course, ma’am.” Amarie took a few light steps to fetch the brush before coming to appear beside Shelyn. “No, I don’t think he’d protest either. He’s not quite as scary as one might initially think. I only meant that would prefer his permission so that should Mirien say anything about it I have proper leave to tend to you.” She sighed and checked the surroundings.

“To be perfectly honest she’s a monster. Power hungry and lashes out behind closed doors. She becomes easily jealous and is not above harming or humiliating us. Not that we dare say anything about it. Firstly, who cares about a bunch of concubines, and secondly most are her puppets anyway and would deny things. It’s much better to simply keep your head down and not make any waves.” She leaned down to feel the supple fabric of the dress. “This will look beautiful upon you.” She commented before turning away.

“I suggest you try and wrap the pharaoh around your finger if you don’t wish to get hurt. Once Mirien hears of you and Calion, to which I won’t tell anyone I promise, you will undoubtedly become a target. And there are ways of hurting another which doesn’t leave any marks. Nor does she have to do it herself… there are plenty of men… and women who would do her bidding and never confess even if their life depends upon it. And so, I beg you, please free the pharaoh from her grasp once and for all.”

Shelyn stood and held out the simple cotton dress of white. Dropping her towel and slipping it over her frame before settling it. Letting it fall to her knees in a flow. “You don’t have to tell me twice about how horrid she can be...but I think… Calion would trust me if I voiced concern.” She said, moving to her so she could brush her hair. Even though she stood two inches taller than Amarie. “After all she is old and can’t have a child for him. If anything, she is useless.” Again, she may sound overconfident, but she had to trust that Calion meant every word last and this morning. Yet all she had to do was become pregnant to have it. And since she was going to be his only for some time it’d be a matter of time, even if she didn’t feel ready.