Chapter 21

Urmah groaned and hid his face, trying to go back to sleep again. He felt exhausted and drained, body and soul, after last night’s events. He held the warm body that clung to his chest and inhaled deeply. The smell of fragrant oils surrounded him and eased his troubled mind.

He didn’t know what it was, but it reminded him of flowers. It was delicate and sweet, but sharp too. His hands moved to caress Tiye’s dark hair. He would identify this scent anywhere.

Remembering the other day what happened in the palace, then her reaction had troubled him, but what clenched his heart in a tight grip was when he found her on the tent floor in pain.

He felt his soul had been shattered and left his body. It was the first time in his life to be this scared; it was the first time he felt small and useless. Her pain hurt him as if it was his. He felt as if he was the one suffering. This female invoked those deep feelings inside him. She made him feel as if he was someone else.

Never in his entire life had he thought that he would want to be this close to a female and share his life with her to love and nourish. Yes, he has a duty. He must have an heir to his throne, but to him it was like a mundane work.

Something he was forced to do because he believed, no because he knew there is no such a thing as love. But Tiye made him change all of his beliefs in a few days after knowing her.

She made him question his decisions. With her, he wanted more; he needed more. He could ask for more. She would make a perfect queen for him. A great ruler to his people.

The princess stirred her nose, which was rubbing against his chest, breathed in his scent. He looked at her confused face when she opened her eyes.

“Good rising, digir-gu.” He whispered softly, not wanting to startle her.

Her dark eyes rose to his. “What happed? Why am I in your bed?” She tried to move away, but he held her tighter.

“You need to rest Tiye last night you....” He didn’t finish. He didn’t know what to say, even though Mandisa told him about the goddess’s power and her relationship with the princess, the real one.

He still couldn’t believe any word. When Tiye mentioned before that Egyptians were gods literary, he wasn’t convinced but that night he started to grasp the concept of it.

Tiye tried to sit so he let her. She held the fur to hide her bare body. “What happened? I don’t remember.” Even though her voice was groggy, her eyes were glowing with emotions.

Among them was fear. He could see it and feel its smell wafting out of her in waves. He wasn’t sure if he should tell her the truth, but she deserved it.

“I still don’t understand what occurred myself, but I think you are coming into your powers your.....” He swallowed loudly.

“Yesterday, your body was fighting your divinity, the power that you are starting to obtain.” He watched her carefully, gouging her reaction. How her breath hitched and how she sat stiffly. Then her eyes widened in realization.

“Yes, I remember the pain that crippled me and how my body was aching everywhere. I felt as if my soul was sucked out of my body and then you came, you....y...” He nodded his head, then held her hands in his reassuringly.

“Yes, your name day is coming soon. Mandisa told me that, then you will be someone else. You will be truly a goddess. Is that the truth Tiye?” She withdrew her hands and left the fur bed, pacing the tent naked in deep thinking.

He wanted to go and embrace her to dispel her fears, but he stopped himself when she started to talk. “I told you before about us being gods and how I am different from the others...” He nodded. “I’m something else, Urmah. I didn’t lie when I said that I was a goddess.

Yes, now I’m a mere mortal, but after my eighteenth name day, I will be something else. I don’t know what I will be, but I know I won’t be the same. I will share my body with the goddess and we will be one whole entity.

I don’t know if she is going to take over my life permanently or I will be there with her I.....I...” When her whole body shook and her voice cracked, Urmah went to her and covered her small body with his.

“I gave you my word, queen of Egypt that I will be with you and for you. And that include your.. Change. You won’t suffer alone Tiye and I promise you that you won’t be lost to whatever is happening to you, godhood or not. You are, after all, TIYE THE QUEEN OF EGYPT.”

They stood there in each other’s hands for a while, lending of each other strength and when he felt her body relax again, he wanted to stir her mind away.

“So you remember everything that happened between us?” She didn’t reply, but he got his answer when she stiffened. He chuckled and continued.

”I didn’t know, but are all Egyptian females bare down there? It was a shock to me.” Tiye glared at him, he laughed heartedly and drew her to him again when she tried to move away.

The tent flaps opened and her friend Mandisa rushed in with Adadanu on her heels. “I told you, you can’t enter the tent unannounced like this. You are such a shameless female.”

They froze in their place when they saw Tiye and Urmah standing naked in the middle of the tent in each other’s arms.

“What the fuck is going on here?” His angry voice boomed, breaking the heavy silence.

“Forgive me, my prince, but this infuriating woman wouldn’t listen to anything I say.” His friend said while averting his eyes away. On the other hand, Mandisa stood there, all big eyes and mouth open aghast widely.

Tiye sauntered to the fur bed and grabbed one and draped it over her body. Even though she didn’t look as much as disturbed as her friend. “Calm yourself, sister. I’m ok now, it was nothing.” The girl stood there and didn’t talk.

“My prince, the palace has sent a messenger to let you know you are needed today.”

“Yes Ada, I will get ready.” His friend bowed and dragged the stunned female with him out of the tent. He kneeled in front of the female that sat on the furs. His hand moved and held her cheek, making her face him.

“Tiye I... I want to explore further that thing between us if you would like to.” She observed him for a while; not saying a thing, then stood and began to get dressed.

He sighed and did the same. He didn’t know why he said that now this wasn’t the time to complicate his life further, but at the same time, it felt right coming out of his lips. As if this was the correct thing to do.

“I will be waiting for you outside, prince Urmah.” She bowed her head and left him alone in his tent.