Son of the SunList of players so far -Lij, the Pharaoh Knefer-Lijedefer- Elijah Sen-Adom, the harpist - Dominic Neferura-Ulive, Lij's wife and sister - Liv Menkh, Chief Advisor - Viggo Pen-Nekeb, A eunuch; body slave to Lij - Sean Astin Seti-Hop, a physician - Ian Mckellan Nefer-Aru, Lij's mother - Cate Blanchett Merit-Aton, Liv's mother - Miranda Otto Setep-Aton another royal physician - Chris Lee Orem, a eunuch, Liv's lover - Orli Captains of the Guard, Zeser-Amon - Sean Bean and His brother, Ankh-Aton - David Wenham Imhotep, the Royal architect - Billy Menep-Atifer-Ankh-Ra - Lij's Granny - An old woman with heart. Several friends, aquaintances and folks who merit mentioning, but no names, please! Part 5 � None so Blind The Pharaoh had a private garden. The walls around it were high, and it was not overlooked by any of the palace windows. It was a little haven from the demands of statehood upon him, which were many. A Pharaoh was a god. His word was wisdom, his will was law. Consequently people looked to him for answers, even if they were unsure themselves what the question really was. Knefer-Lijedefer, twenty years old, and a living god since his boyhood, Son of the Sun and Lord of the Two Lands knew much about men and statehood. Much about fairly ruling his demesne. Much about the prodigality of men and the inconstancy of women. Much about govermnent and enterprise ... but little about himself... and nothing of romantic love. Lij walked in his garden in the cool of the evening and thought wistfully of Dom. Dom was confined to his rooms by a trifling, but annoying ailment. He was finding Egyptian food difficult. The rich sauces smothering everything, the honeyed figs (which he loved, and consequently ate of too freely), and the prodigal servings of everything put into his dish by Pharaoh. Sometimes his stomach protested. It was protesting, now, stopping him from walking with Lij this evening. Lij vowed to refrain from offering Dom food, for how could he refuse what came from the king's hand? Lij sat on a stone bench edged with lions heads, and thought of what had happened two days earlier at the river. He and Dom were disporting themselves in the cool Nile water. Sixteen Nubian guards watched indulgently as their Lord and God splashed about like a small child, throwing handfuls of water at Dom, and diving under the surface to drag his friend off his feet. His friend, as he called Dom - his dear, dear friend. Dom escaped the onslaught, laughing, and climbed onto the wooden platform they used to jump from, and sat there, poking his tongue out at Lij, and indicating he joined him on the boards. Lij shook his head. He was hot, and the water was cooling to him. Dom waved, stood up, and jumped high into the air and into the water. Lij waited with a smile for him to surface. The river was deep here. Lij moved into the shallows, hoisted himself onto a reed tuft, and waited. And waited. The cold hand of fear descended on his belly, and he rose to his feet in alarm. Gods, where was he? Lij scanned the river frantically. There were rocks on the riverbed, large, jagged ones. Dom must have hit his head on one of them... a cry escaped from him. Even he was surprised at how alarmed he sounded. "Dom!" The Nubians were alert to his call. They ran up and down the bank, eight on each side, searching for Dom in the water. Another cry this time a cry of total loss. "Dom!" Unable to move his trembling legs he fell to his knees on the reed bed. "Dom!" He couldn't breathe. His Dom, his Dom had gone. He would travel life's stormy road alone. He would live alone and die alone... his life was over, if Dom was gone. He stared at the ground unable to raise his head. Terror encompassed him. Something touched his arm. "Lord?" He focused his eyes. Dom was standing before him, breathless in the water - smiling up at him. "Lord, I...". Dom's smile vanished as his gaze landed on Lij's white face. "My Lord? Great One?" Dom climbed onto the tussock, and heedless of the watching guard, drew Lij into his arms. He was cold and shivering with fright and... ...The blue eyes filled with tears, but didn't fall. "Dom?" the voice was unsure, as if it came from far away. Blue-grey eyes raked him, and a hand came up to cup his cheek. "Yes, Lord, it is I". Pharaoh leaned into that hand, and no words were spoken. It was enough to know he was safe. *** Clutching his stomach, trying hard to alleviate the cramps, Dom was thinking the same thing, had he known it, as his Lord. They had been playing in the water. Dom had climbed up and jumped from the platform, high above the river, and he had swum underwater to hide in a reed bed from Lij. This will teach him to splash me! Dom had thought, gleefully. He swam a little further away, intending to reach the bank, and sneak up on Lij from dry ground. He had seen the Nubians run. His heart had stopped in fear. Lij must have fallen in - he could be hurt or attacked by a crocodile surmounting the barriers.... he went cold. He scanned the riverside, and could see Lij kneeling on a reed tussock. The blood started to flow again. Thank the gods! He smiled. His Lij was safe. How silly he had been to think... Lij hadn't moved. He was shouting something. Dom swam as fast as he could down the river. He was an excellent swimmer. He surfaced feet from Lij, who was kneeling, his head bowed, and trembling. He moved closer. "Lord?" Gods of my Mother! Why had he looked beyond hope? I was only playing. Dom thought, as he massaged his aching belly. Dom thought of the king, lying in his arms on that night, quieter than usual... subdued would be the word. Subdued, yes. Dom had run a gentle finger over the still pale cheeks, and his Lord had kissed the finger tenderly. He had turned his face into Dom's shoulder, and stayed there for a long time, until he fell asleep, breathing in Dom's scent, revelling in Dom's skin. Dom's chest filled with an acute desire to find the Pharaoh, and to hold him close. He felt an urge - stupid and ineffectual as it was - to protect the Living God from every chance wind that blew on him. To keep him safe, and to cherish him in the keeping. To hold him, just hold him, nothing more, in his arms. And, yes, very well - to kiss him, smiling... to kiss him, sad. To kiss him. To love him. He would teach Lij how to love him. He would, somehow. Dom moved to his bed to rest. He felt tired and lonely. Tonight he would sleep alone. He cursed the rich food that had given him the belly ache that prevented him from spending the night in Lij's arms - his soft skinned yet firmly muscled arms. Dom smiled. There was always tomorrow. *** A cool breeze stirred around Lij's head as he shifted on the bench. Night had come, as she always did, like a thief sneaking around dark corners. He hadn't noticed. He was thinking of Dom, lying on his couch, not - thanks be to all the gods! - lying in the House of the Dead awaiting the priests. Lij shivered, and went to his apartments. There Nekeb was waiting with a hot tisane - he knew his master well - and a warm bath. Lij settled into the waters and allowed the bath girl to sponge his tired body with comforting oils. Nekeb wound a large soft sheet around him as he rose from the water, and handed him another cloth for his face. Without the kohl and the paint and the trappings of kingship, Lij looked so much younger and far more vulnerable than when he was dressed in his august state regalia. Nekeb snorted inwardly. He might look like a kitten, but by the gods, kittens can bite! he thought, as he helped his king into his sleeping robe. Still, I would have no other master. I am his to command, Nekeb thought, adoring his Lord from afar. * Lij was alone in his bed. The night was cool, and he had dispensed with his fan slaves, and lay there, quietly thinking of Dom. Why am I always thinking of that man? Lij shifted restlessly in the crumpled sheets. I wonder if his belly has settled? A soft scuffling from the doorway reached his ears, and a familiar voice landed on them like a benison. "Lord?" Lij smiled. "Dom." Dom climbed into the bed, and into the warm arms held out to him. He was tired, it had been a long uncomfortable day, the muscles of his belly ached. Dom imparted this information to his Lord, who snorted with laughter, then murmured in sympathy at Dom's affronted glare. Lij dropped a tender kiss on Dom's tight lipped mouth, and smiled. They slept, contented and safe in each other's arms, each one resting quietly in the presence of the other. One of them realising why this might be. Both men happy just to lie there and be held. Both men thinking that this was complete happiness. One not recognising love when he saw it, or held it or smelled it or tasted it. He would learn. |