LadyAthene
Supernova
- Joined
- May 12, 2015
- Location
- West Coast, USA
Alexandria, Egypt
385 B.C.
The chamber where Princess Ishizu slept was dark; not because it was night time, but she'd made it so the light was blocked out. Curtains were drawn in front of any and all windows. Several candles had been carefully but purposely placed on the floor. Ishizu had made it so they were the only source of light for a reason. With the room like this, she could focus and concentrate properly. Although she was the Princess as opposed to a Priestess, she always spoke with the gods, particularly Isis, whenever Egypt was going through trying times like now.
Slowly, Ishizu moved her head, making sure everything was in its correct spot. Against the southern wall of her room was an Ankh hanging up on an attached hook. Directly underneath the significant symbol was a small, golden statue of the very goddess Ishizu was about to talk with. A deep breath elicited from Ishizu as she cautiously sank to her knees, clasped her hands together, and bowed her head. A single, but powerful and important, set of questions rapidly rushed through the Princess' mind.
Isis? Have we angered you somehow? And if so, what can be done to fix the state we're in?
This was not the first time the Persians had tried to attack Alexandria, or even Egypt in general. However, it was the first time in a while that the Nile was late with its annual flooding. To say it was making many of the people worry was an understatement. It was one of the events that the citizens not only expected to occur, but counted on, as it immensely helped the country thrive and flourish. Without the Nile flooding, Egyptians would have a difficult time surviving.
There was simply no easy way to say it. It was just the honest and brutal truth. The Nile was what helped keep them alive; in some regards, one could say it was the life force for Egypt, as it not only provided them water, but aided with the harvest.
As such, it was easy to understand the true significance of why the Nile not yet undergoing its annual flood was a huge deal. And with the Persians having repeatedly continued to attack Egypt over the past months, plus trade dwindling from all of these conflicts? It was very much looking like Egypt was steadily, but surely, reverting to a darker era. And it was that much more terrifying when it didn't appear as if there was much that anyone - be it her father or his best high priests - could do.
" ... Ishizu?"
A bit of crimson painted the Princess' face as she opened her eyes and lifted her head. Standing behind her was Ishizu's childhood friend and handmaiden, Auset. On almost any other day, Auset would be flashing Ishizu a sly, knowing smirk.
Ishizu would see no such thing. Not today. There was but a solemn and worried look on Auset's face as she stared down at the Princess.
"Your devotion to the goddess truly is beautiful. But alas ... I don't really know if ... "
"I know," Ishizu interrupted, frowning slightly. "Truly. I do. In the end, actions are what we need. And for that ... we have to rely on father, his high priests, and his warriors. But, Auset ..."
Ishizu's hands stretched out, gesturing to the entire room before finally falling back down upon her knees.
"I can only do so much from here. And you know my father doesn't like me getting involved with the political talks."
Now the typical, coy grin that tended to adorn Auset's face appeared. After carefully moving the candles aside, she knelt in front of Ishizu, still smiling at the Princess. "Be that as it may, if Pharaoh Atem ever wants you to take over as Queen, he'll need to let you have certain liberties. How will he expect you to rule when you know next to none of the terminology or tactics that'll be needed to keep Alexandria - and all of Egypt, really - in a brighter, more golden era?"
Ishizu blinked ... taking the words in and repeating them several times over. There was silence for a few good moments and finally ... she giggled, causing Auset's head to tilt.
"Sorry, sorry. Remind me, though. Are we sure you're not Atem's daughter?"
"Last I checked, yes." Auset began to reach out and lay a hand gently atop one of the many ceremonial tattoos that had been placed upon Ishizu's flesh. But before her hand could find her friend's shoulder, it was blocked by Ishizu's right hand.
Auset lightly gripped her lower lip. This wasn't the first time she'd seen the Princess react in such a way. Nor was it an overly astounding reaction, in all truth. With her rank and position, Ishizu did tend to be overly self-conscious. Still ... this was one of the many other things that Auset found herself helping Ishizu with.
"They're nothing to be ashamed of, you know? Anyway ..."
Auset slowly got up to her feet, lowering her own hand down towards the Princess.
"The meeting hasn't yet begun. If you want to come on in, the best time is now."
As Auset saw Ishizu raise an eyebrow, she could practically hear the question that was about to accompany it. Before the Princess could utter the inquiry, Auset swiftly replied, "I'm not just your handmaiden, remember? I'm Atem's also. I recently finished preparing the room for him and his advisers, priests, and anyone else who is going to be attending. I also made sure you would be able to sit and join in."
"Auset, I ..."
Finally, a smile decorated Ishizu's face as she stood up and gave her friend a hug.
"You're right. About everything. I can't keep being naive like this. I ... yes. I do need to go. Thank you."
"Of course. I'll get your room fixed up, so don't worry about that."
Sure enough, even as Ishizu pivoted and darted out of her room, Auset was already going to work. After drawing the curtains open to give herself more light, she then proceeded to blow the candles out and put them away.
Thankfully, there were certain perks that came with being the daughter of the Pharaoh. Knowing the cities and castles was one of those blessings. Ishizu knew every inch of the palace, including the interior and where every single hidden passage was. As such, it didn't take her long at all to find the room that her father and the others would enter inside. A quick glance revealed Auset had been correct; the meeting still hadn't yet started.
Good. It gave Ishizu time. Probably not much, but at least more than enough to mentally prepare for her father's arrival. She'd need words, after all, to explain her presence. But just as importantly? She would need to keep and maintain her wits about her for when Atem did enter.
Not to say Atem was a cruel father. Far from it. But he was strict and, even when he meant well, he could be harsh. Even with his own daughter. It was never in a physical manner, mind you, but still ... it was something that everyone who worked for him had seen throughout the years. Many tried to assume it was a change of heart that came with the abrupt passing of his wife, who died quickly after giving birth to Ishizu. His heart had been hardened, or so that was how most of the rumors tended to go.
Ishizu knew better than most that was only partially true. In all honesty, some of it was her own fault. She had been stubborn with certain topics. Marriage, for example. And even though her father was correct with insisting she needed to find someone to marry, she was just as adamant that it was something to not rush into.
As the sounds of footfalls echoed throughout the nearby hallway, Ishizu took a long, deep breath. And when Atem did enter? She greeted her father, as well as the other men beside and behind him, with a genuine, albeit slightly anxious, smile.