The Princess Of Egypt

7. Truth And Lies

Not wanting to go straight to bed, Anai decided to sit up on one of the high walls of the palace, watching the rest of the Egyptian people go about their business down below her.
Following Bastien around had turned her into a good acrobat, and she was able to balance on thin walls and beams with ease. She was also able to sneak about the palace, unheard, and unseen.
Anai was about to turn in for the night when she saw Moses running through the palace holding a torch.
Moses looked troubled, so Anai hopped down off the wall and followed him at a distance so that he couldn't see her. And since she knew her way around so well, she didn't need a torch to light her way.

She continued to follow Moses until he stopped opposite one of the large walls that was covered in a huge painting.
The image showed the pharaoh ordering his soldiers to throw babies into the river, where hungry crocodiles were waiting.
It was a painting that Anai hadn't really thought much about until then. She had always assumed it depicted an event from the past, but hadn't wanted to look at it too closely, as she didn't like what it showed.
Moses knelt to the floor and placed one of his hands on the wall.
It wasn't long before he was joined by their father, who rested his hand on Moses head.
Anai moved further around the corner when her father arrived, as she didn't want him to see her.

"Father. Please tell me you didn't do this" begged Moses.
Seti sighed, "The Hebrew's were growing too great in number. I had no choice. I had to act. They could've risen up against us".
Anai frowned and looked back around to stare at the painting. This time she looked closely at the face of the pharaoh, which is when she noticed how alike it was to her own father.
Moses stood to his feet, and placed his hand over one of the babies that was being thrown into the river.
"I can't believe that you did these things" admitted Moses.
"As pharaoh I must do whatever it takes to protect my kingdom" replied Seti.
Moses lowered his head, as if he were ashamed.

"They were only slaves, my son" reminded Seti, as he wrapped his arms around Moses.
"Why do you call me that?" Questioned Moses, as he recoiled from Seti's touch.
"Moses" Seti called out, as Moses turned and ran off back the way he had come.
Anai was about to make a move, when she heard her father sigh deeply.
"Princess's shouldn't sneak around the palace like rats" he said.
Anai bit her lip awkwardly, and stepped around the corner of the corridor to face her father.

"How did you know that I was there?" She asked.
"A father always knows when his children are present" admitted Seti.
"I'm sorry for eavesdropping" apologised Anai.
Seti waved his arm for Anai to join him, so she made her way over to him, allowing him to place his arm around her shoulders.
"You are forgiven" Seti announced.
"Did you really have all those babies killed, father?" Asked Anai quietly.
"I had no choice my love. I had to keep us all safe. The Hebrews are dangerous if given power, which is why we keep them as slaves, and keep their numbers low. I did not enjoy giving the order, but I had no choice... You understand why I did it, don't you?"
"Yes father"
"Good".

"Why did Moses come here though? And why did he ask you why you called him son?" Questioned Anai.
"It's complicated" admitted Seti.
"I'm smart, I'm sure I can keep up" reassured Anai.
"Moses must have found out the truth somehow, and he came here to see if his suspicians about me were correct"
"What truth?"
"It's too much to get into tonight. Ask your mother in the morning"
"Eugh, fine".

"But be warned. If you do ask questions, nothing will ever be the same again" warned Seti.
Anai frowned, not understanding what her father meant.
"I want to know now then" she insisted.
"No. It is too late to get into it all. Ask your mother in the morning, if you still want to know the truth. But right now, it is time for you to go to bed" Seti instructed.
"But I-"
"Bed now".
Anai sighed and nodded her head, accepting defeat, before making her way back to her bedroom.

****
Anai woke up early the next morning, to find her mother, but unfortunately she was not alone, as Moses too had sought out Queen Tuya, and he had found her beside the Nile.
"So, this is where you found me" Moses said quietly to his mother.
Anai hung back behind a nearby plant, hoping to listen to their conversation.
"Yes. You came delivered to me in a basket by the Nile, and I took you in" revealed Tuya.
"So, everything I knew was a lie?" Questioned Moses.
"No. You are my son, and I love you... Now you know the truth, you must accept it, and move on... This is your home, remember that".

"But why did you choose me?" Asked Moses.
"We didn't. The gods did. This gods sent you here, because they wanted this to be your home. And when the gods send you a blessing, you don't ask why it was sent" answered Tuya.
Moses hugged Tuya, and she held him tight to her.
"I love you, mother" he said softly.
"And I love you" replied Tuya.
Moses then released her, before getting up and heading off into the palace.

Anai waited a few moments, before making her way over to her mother.
"I don't understand" admitted Anai.
Tuya sighed, and patted the space at her side.
Anai approached and sat down next to her.
"Moses was not born to me. I found him abandoned in a basket, here on the Nile. He couldn't have been more than a few days old. I knew that he had been sent to us by the gods, so I took him in and made him my son" explained Tuya.

"And father was O.K with you bringing up someone elses baby, and making him a prince of Egypt?" Questioned Anai.
"Your father would never dare go against the gods wishes" admitted Tuya.
"Moses was looking at the painting of father killing Hebrew babies, last night. Is Moses a Hebrew?" Anai asked curiously.
"We do not know where he came from before us, and we do not wish to know"
"But this means that Moses isn't really my brother"
"No it doesn't. Moses is as much my child as you or Rameses. Just because I did not give birth to him, it doesn't mean that he's not my son. I raised him, which makes him mine. So Moses is your brother, even though you do not share the same blood".

"Does Rameses know the truth about Moses?" Asked Anai.
"No. He was too young when it happened, to remember the event" answered Tuya.
"He needs to know though" admitted Anai.
"I agree. But it is not really our story to tell. It is up to Moses. I expect he's going to find Rameses now to tell him. Perhaps you should join them"
"Where is Rameses?"
"He woke up early this morning and headed straight for the outskirts of the city, muttering about a vision that the gods had sent him... Go, join your brothers"
"I can go to outskirts on my own?"
"Yes. But be careful"
"I will. I promise".