Tiy and the Prince of Egypt

by Dee, Debbie

  Tama, on the other hand, was a strong supporter of the rebellion. She did not have friendly feelings toward Egyptians, a fact Tiy learned on one of the days she ventured onto the porch. They had heard news of the war, and with Wesi strolling among the trees, Tama felt free to express her ill opinions in his absence.

  “I hope our armies crush those pompous ‘Gypts,” she said as they lingered on the porch.

  “Oh!” was all Tiy could say. She was surprised by the venomous tones coming from such a sweet old woman.

  Tama narrowed her eyes and explained, “Many years ago I invited an Egyptian family into my home and they turned their noses at every meal I served them, even though it was the best I could afford. I was surprised, considering they had been traveling for so long. Their barge had sustained some damage and was being repaired by a local carpenter. I welcomed them into my home so that they could recuperate from their journey. They behaved as though my humble food was not good enough for them, picking at it and pulling faces. Their children ran amuck in my house, breaking pottery and even a window. And not once did they offer to compensate me.”

  “How horrible!” Tiy said. “But you don’t believe all Egyptians would behave this way, do you?”

  “I wouldn’t if this was an isolated incident, but I have heard enough stories to make me wonder if they are all rotten, slave-driving, arrogant, people.”

  “I promise you, there are many good people among the Egyptians. You should not let this one family taint your feelings of Egypt.”

  Tama narrowed her eyes further. “Why do you care? You aren’t Egyptian, are you? Because you don’t look it.”

  Tiy swallowed her old insecurities. It didn’t matter how she looked. She was Egyptian through and through. “I know I don’t. I don’t look Nubian either. But I come from Egypt. My family is from Egypt. My home is in Egypt.”

  Tama’s eyes grew wide and then she waved her hand toward her. “Humph. You must be the exception.”

  Tiy wanted to give Tama many examples of Egyptian goodness, but the woman rose from her chair and went inside. She would have joined her, but Wesi emerged from the trees with a beautiful girl, their behavior piquing her curiosity. The girl covered her mouth and giggled as Wesi held her other hand to his lips. He reached around her waist and drew her to him. Tiy felt as though she was intruding on a private moment, yet she couldn’t tear her eyes from them. He stroked her cheek before pressing his lips to her laughing ones. Her laughter ceased and she melted into his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning into his body.

  “Who is it you yearn for, my dear?”

  “Oh!” Tiy said, startled. She turned to find Tama leaning against the wooden doorframe.

  Tama chuckled at her surprise, her ample shoulders shaking as she laughed. “Forgive me, sweet one.” She pointed to Wesi and the lovely girl. “Who is it you love as Wesi loves his bride-to-be? I see passion in your eyes.”

  “You do?” Tiy squeaked. “I don’t think so.”

  “I have never seen such longing. So I ask, who do you yearn for?”

  Tiy crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. She turned back to glance at Wesi and his bride-to-be, but they were no longer there. In their place was a different couple locked in the same intimate embrace. Tiy’s chin jerked back and her brows crossed. She leaned forward, squinting in the sunlight to confirm what she was seeing.

  A man in very fine Egyptian attire had his arms around a woman, his head bowed to kiss her, his torso leaning into hers. Their arms were adorned in fine jewelry, their feet protected by gold leaf sandals. The man had golden, bronze skin that stretched over his strong arms. Covering most of his thick black hair was the Double Crown of Egypt.

  Tiy’s eyes bugged out. No one but Amenhotep could wear the Double Crown. She opened her mouth to call out to the imposter and make known his crime, but he leaned back and smiled at the sky and her heart ripped in two. It was Amenhotep.

  His arms were around a beautiful, tiny woman who pulled him closer to her, her hips pressing into his. Her face was covered by a long, lustrous wig, and it wasn’t until she tilted her head back in laughter that she saw the girl’s delicate features. She had blue eyes and fair skin with freckles dotting across her nose. She was no native Egyptian. The girl was her! Tiy squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. It wasn’t possible what she was seeing. She opened her eyes again and raised her head, her heartbeat thundering in her ears.

  Wesi and the girl stood before her, still wrapped around each other and lost in love. It had been them all along.

  Tiy gasped for air, her breath flowing in and out of her chest, but not fast enough. What had just happened to her? What had she just seen? She turned toward the door.

  “What is it, my dear?” Tama said, alarmed. “Your face is flushed.”

  “I….I think I better go lie down,” Tiy mumbled.

  She stumbled past Tama and collapsed onto her makeshift bed. She felt stir deep within her belly and knew it came from a place that hungered to feel Amenhotep’s arms around her, his lips pressed to hers. Just acknowledging the feeling made the stir intensify. A wall crumbled down inside her, one that she hadn’t realized was there until it turned to dust.

  She loved him. How could she be such a fool? How long had her feelings run deeper than friendship without her realizing it? She wondered if Amenhotep felt the same way, if it could be possible for him to have the same intense emotions for her. It seemed impossible until she recalled things he had said to her or the way he looked at her when he touched her. And the hundreds of gifts he showered on her. She had been so blind before, but now she could recognize every gesture for what they had been.

  He loved her too.

  She realized with shameful regret that he must have felt this way for a very long time but had been waiting for her to be ready to love him in the same way. She had wasted so many precious moments they could have shared because of her insecurities and unwillingness to see herself as someone beautiful. Or someone worthy of a pharaoh’s love. And now he was gone, in the clutches of war, risking his life without knowing how she truly felt for him. She was such a fool!

  A clatter of hooves interrupted her self-berating and a young man bolted into the house. Tiy’s mouth went dry. He had the face of the man she had seen in the tree. The one who had tried to kill Amenhotep. It had been several years, but his face had haunted her dreams. She’d never forget it.

  Wesi ran into the house, his girl close behind him.

  “Tama, you should be pleased!” The young man exclaimed.

  Wesi rolled his eyes. “Honestly Kamen, I’m growing tired of this rebellion. There are too many losing their lives over a ridiculous misunderstanding. Pharaoh is taxing us and we don’t think we should be taxed, yet we think we deserve all the luxuries of a properly governed people.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Kamen said. “We’ve heard your opinions.” He turned back to Tama. “An army from the Sudan desert is going to ambush Pharaoh’s fleet tonight while they sleep. Those ‘Gypts won’t see it coming; they are too busy watching the east banks.” His laughter pierced every cavity of the room.

  Tiy’s already weak legs gave way underneath her. She sat down on the bed with a hand to her chest.

  “How could you possibly know this?” Wesi asked. “If you were to ask me, Kamen, I’d say knowledge like this would be confidential and you’d be the last to know.”

  “I didn’t ask you,” Kamen said. “My father is the leader of the rebellion, in case you have forgotten. He told my mother over breakfast this morning. I don’t think he thought any of us were awake yet. Exciting, isn’t it! We are going to slaughter all the Egyptians and Nubia will take rightful ownership of the Nile lands again!”

  Tama’s eyes flickered to Tiy. “When did you say this was going to happen?” she asked.

  “Tonight. Aren’t you excited? I thought you would be more excited than this.”

  Wesi threw his hands in the air. “How could she be excited about mass
ive bloodshed, not to mention the chaos we will endure with the loss of pharaonic rule?”

  “Stop talking, Wesi,” Kamen said.

  Tiy had heard enough. Rubbish or not, she had to let Amenhotep know. She stood again, ignoring the rush of blood from her head. “I need to borrow your horse,” she said to Tama.

  “You are not fit to ride.” Tama said, her hands on her hip.

  “I don’t care. I have to warn my people.”

  “Your people!?” Kamen exclaimed.

  “Yes!” Tiy shouted in frustration. “My people. I am Tiy, Queen of Egypt and Great Royal Wife to Pharaoh Amenhotep, ruler of the Two Lands.”

  Several intakes of breath filled the room, but Tiy ignored them. “Please, allow me the use of your animal. I must warn Amenhotep.”

  The room was silent. All eyes were on her, and yet she didn’t flush with embarrassment. She stood firm, unwilling to retract her words. Amenhotep’s life was in danger, nothing else mattered. She glanced at Tama and could see the hint of betrayal flit across her face.

  “I’m sorry Tama, I would have told you,” Tiy said with less severity. “I didn’t know how you would react if you knew I was Queen.”

  “You thought I would hurt you?”

  “No. Well, I don’t know. Please, don’t let this further taint your opinion of my people. My people are your people. We are all the same. We are all good.”

  Tama stared at Tiy for several long moments, her eyes thick with indecision. Finally, she let out a long breath and let her shoulders relax. She wrapped Tiy in her arms like a mother consoling a child.

  “There now,” Tama said. “Ssshhh. We’ll save your Pharaoh. It’s okay.”

  Tiy couldn’t figure out why Tama was consoling her until she felt her shoulders shaking, a surprising realization considering she felt solid as a rock on the inside. “I need to leave now,” she said.

  “Let Wesi go, your leg cannot take the journey,” Tama said.

  Tiy shook her head. “He may not be able to get close enough, and if he did, they may not believe him. I need to go. They’ll let me through to Pharaoh.”

  “What!” Kamen shouted. “We are going to let her warn the enemies? Just like that?”

  “They aren’t the enemies.” Tama said with fierce finality. “Wesi is right, this war is foolish.”

  “Well I’m not going to let her go!” Kamen said. He grabbed Tiy’s upper arm and twisted her toward him.

  “Kamenwati!” both Wasi and Tama shouted. Tiy gathered it was his given name because for a moment Kamen looked like a little boy awaiting chastisement. But he recovered and his expression turned hard again.

  “I don’t care what you say,” Kamen said. “We deserve to take the country back. I’m going to tell my father. He needs to know the Queen is here. We can use her as leverage.”

  Tiy squirmed in his grasp. Precious time was being lost. She needed to leave soon, or she’d never make it in time. With a deep breath and using all the strength she could muster, she twisted in Kamen’s grasp and hurled her fist into his face. Her fist alone may not have brought him down, but the fist of another struck him in the same moment. Tiy glanced up to see Wesi’s future bride heaving with exertion, her fist out in front of her.

  Tiy grinned, “Thank you,” she said between breaths.

  “Don’t thank me, just go!” the girl said.

  Tiy stumbled toward the stables just as Kamen jumped to his feet.

  “You watch me,” he shouted out the door as Wesi held him back. “I swear on my brother’s grave that I will be the first to slay Pharaoh!”

  Tiy shuddered and mounted a horse with renewed fervor, urging it into a long-striding gallop toward the Nile. She’d take the blade if she had to, but Kamen would never harm Amenhotep as long as she was alive.

  Chapter 39. Late Warning

  Tiy wasn’t exactly sure where she was headed, but she knew the general direction. She followed the Nile south, her leg throbbing as it slapped against the horse. She tried to support it and hold it out from the galloping horse, but that slowed her down, something she could not afford to do. She couldn’t keep up with the sun disk as it lowered into the sky and into the Underworld. It seemed Ra was racing against her.

  Thirsty, tired, and numb with pain, she rode with only the moonlight and rushing water as her guide. The horse’s pace faltered and she knew she wouldn’t be able to push it much further. She tried to encourage the horse and give it strength through the few words she could form from her parched lips, but for most of the journey, her lips were pinched between her teeth. It was all she could to do keep her cries of pain from warning anyone of her presence.

  The moon had reached its peak by the time she saw the first signs of Kerma. She passed a villa or two and then saw the flicker of candlelight in the city windows. She rounded a bend and came into full view of the royal fleet. Reigning in her horse, and without thinking, she jumped from the saddle. Her weakened leg buckled beneath her and she tumbled to the banks of the Nile. With the memory of the crocodile still fresh in her mind, she jerked back to her feet and looked around for the safest place to reach the fleet.

  The night was silent and the barges rocked like dark shadows of emptiness. Terror flooded through her body. Was she too late? She limped toward the center of the fleet where she guessed Amenhotep’s boat would be. Thrashing through the leafy shrubs and thick underbrush, she came upon two soldiers who stood at the bank, spears and shields in hand. She nearly cried out in happiness. They were Egyptian soldiers and they were alive!

  Half limping, half running, she stumbled the final distance toward the two soldiers.

  “There is an army coming!” She whispered, although by the echo coming off the water, she knew her voice carried further than it should.

  They glanced at one another, their faces in a scowl. “We are the army,” the taller of the two said. “Now go away, wench.”

  Tiy straightened her back and squared her shoulders. “How dare you speak to me in such a manner?” Despite her anger, she managed to keep her voice low; although she wasn’t sure it did any good. The wind swirled around her ankles, picked up the ragged edges of her humble dress and carried her voice across the river. She realized with a start that they probably didn’t recognize her. With her yellow hair exposed and not a single piece of adornment on her body, she looked nothing like a queen.

  “We will speak to you any way we wish. Be gone you foreign piece of filth or you’ll meet the hilt of my sword.”

  Tiy reeled back on her heels. “No wonder the Nubians think of us as pompous blockheads. You won’t look past your upturned nose to see the truth before you!”

  They glanced at each other again, their scowls deepening. One of them reached for his sword and Tiy clenched her fists. “If you raise your sword to me, Pharaoh will have you eating sand at the bottom of the desert before morning. Now, fetch me a raft!”

  The soldiers smirked. “Who are you to command us,” the shorter one asked.

  “You fool. I am your Queen!”

  Both of them didn’t quite react the way she thought they would. They doubled over in laughter, their shields shaking in time with their shoulders.

  She didn’t have time for their confusion. The Sudanese army could be moments away from joining the Nubian rebels and no one had been alerted. She thrust her face forward to allow them a better look. “Take me to Pharaoh at once.” she said with more force.

  “There is no need,” a voice called from the dark river.

  Tiy knew that voice and her heart did a flip. The soldiers fumbled around, murmuring excuses and pleading for forgiveness. She heard nothing of what they said, her ears trained on the only voice she cared to hear.

  “I was sitting on deck when I heard you,” Amenhotep said as his papyrus raft met the banks. “I had to see for myself that it was really you.” His grin spread across his face as he leapt off the boat and opened his arms for her. She hobbled up to him and threw her arms around neck, burying her face into his shoulder
.

  “What are you doing here, Tiy?” he asked, holding her tight to his chest. “Are you limping?” He pulled her back and bent his face to her level, his eyes searching hers. She wished they had all the time in the world to be together and not have to worry about wars and armies.

  “There is no time to explain,” she said. “The Sudanese army is on their way from the western desert. They plan to ambush you tonight. I rode all day to warn you.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Yes, a son of a rebel leader told the woman I was staying with. I believe he is telling the truth, or at least he believes he is telling the truth. I didn’t want to take any chances.”

  “Hmmm,” Amenhotep said with a nod. “I received similar intelligence yesterday but was told we should expect them from the eastern desert, not the western. What you say makes more sense, strategically. We have had our sentinels watching the east, not the west.”

  “Exactly.”

  Amenhotep squeezed her closer to him and rubbed her back, his chin on top of her head. “I’m so glad you are here,” he said. “You can’t image how hard it has been for me to not know if you are safe.”

  Tiy swallowed. She could imagine his pain very well.

  “Those few weeks when we heard nothing from you were agony. I thought I’d really lost you this time.” He breathed into her hair.

  Tiy kissed his bare shoulder, surprising them both. “I’m here now,” she said. “Everything is as it should be.”

  “Except for the blasted war. He searched the black desert and then barked several commands to the soldiers. Within moments, the sound of horns filled the air and the entire fleet lit with anticipation, preparing themselves for an attack in any direction.

  “Merymose and Ramose won’t reach us in time. They are on foot and have been fighting battles of their own,” Amenhotep said as he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the raft.