Queen of the Heavens (32 page)

“He’s too young to witness such carnage.”

“He is not too young. Ramesses passed through the rites of manhood with great bravery. He must see combat, and hear the wails and cries of men as they lie bleeding to death in the dust. Ramesses must learn not to flinch from the sting of battle, but to relish it.”

“This is madness.”

“No, Tuya. It is part of my son’s training to be Pharaoh.”

“Bring Ramesses back to me,” I shouted, “or I will hate you throughout eternity.”

I retired to my chambers, lay down on my bed and cried. Nebet brought me fruit, but my stomach was so roiled I couldn’t eat even this simple fare. When the tears ebbed, I paced and fretted as the red of anger passed before my eyes.

Suddenly, the red turned to indigo.

Even with all the misery visited upon her by Seth, Isis did not hate. Through love, Isis resurrected Osiris. Had hate filled her heart, Osiris would not have lived on and Horus would never have been born
.

I sat down on a stool and meditated. Calm soon settled upon me and my anger lifted. That night I slept soundly.

In the morning, I sent for Ramesses and asked him to walk with me through the garden. I could tell by his pout and clipped speech he still was angry.

“When does the army march?” I inquired.

“In two weeks. Father wants to wait for the days to cool off a bit more.”

“I will pray to Montu, and ask the god of war to grant the army great success.”

“Montu will be with us, Mother. Have no fear.”

We stopped under an acacia tree and faced each other, though Ramesses looked at the ground.

“I’m sorry about the way I spoke to you yesterday,” I said. “You are not a boy. You’re a man who must learn how to rule Egypt. I ask only that you be prudent in the months ahead.”

My son raised his head, and I noticed for the first time that our eyes met at the same level. Before long, he would be looking down at me.

“I won’t be reckless. I know Father doesn’t want me to join the fighting and that he’ll probably not allow it, although with my prowess with the bow I could kill my share of Hittites.”

“I’m sure you’re capable of fighting well.”

A smile crossed Ramesses’ lips. “Thank you, Mother. I’ll be a brave warrior.”

The two of us began walking side by side again.

“In the years ahead you’ll have ample opportunity to win glory on the battlefield, Ramesses. Remember, though, your responsibilities also include fathering many sons so Egypt will have a great Pharaoh to succeed you. This is no less important than slaying Hittites. In order to have many sons, you must survive.”

“I promise you, Mother, I will live up to this responsibility as well.”

I placed my arm around Ramesses’ shoulders. “I have no doubt you will, my son.”

Later in the day, I went to see Sety. He sat across from me at a table, stone-like, a scornful expression locked in place. “Please be quick, Tuya. I must leave in a few moments to meet with my Generals.”

“I apologize for the way I spoke to you yesterday,” I told my husband. “Great responsibilities will fall upon Ramesses, and I understand your desire to see him develop the skills needed to rule. My concerns are those of a mother, but I also am Queen and I realize our son must be treated differently than others.”

Sety accepted my apology with a nod. The scornful expression left him and he relaxed into his chair.

“Your motherly concerns are well-placed.”

“May I ask what you expect of Ramesses?”

“I want him to comport himself with dignity. This way, the men will see he is a worthy successor to me and begin trusting him.”

“You told me yesterday he will not fight.”

“That is correct. One of my best officers will be at Ramesses’ side to restrain him should he try to ride into battle. I’ve ordered a company of charioteers to flee with Ramesses and bring him back to Egypt should the fighting go poorly. Don’t worry. Ramesses will survive.”

I reached out and touched my husband’s forearm. To my surprise, he did not withdraw it.

“I wish for you to return to me as well,” I said.

Sety placed one of his hands over mine, but only for a moment. He rose, as did I.

“Egypt will triumph, Tuya. Have no doubt,” he said as he turned and left.

On the morning of the army’s departure, I sat with priests and dignitaries under a canopy on the top of the steps outside the main palace gate. It seemed as if all of Memphis had gathered around the great stone plaza beneath us to pay tribute to the army as it left on the campaign against the Hittites.

Beating drums announced the arrival of the soldiers, led by Sety, eyes fixed forward. Women of the
khenerit
scattered flower petals in front of the Pharoah’s war chariot drawn by two magnificent steeds, one black and one white. Those of us atop the steps rose and bowed from the waist as he passed.

The drummers followed, two hundred of them at least, sounding the cadence of a march. Behind them came my son in his chariot, drawn by two brown steeds. He appeared small compared to the full-grown men of the army, but he carried himself with dignity. All the officials and priests bowed to the Prince as well, save for me, since I was his mother. Ramesses turned his head and looked toward the top of the steps. I placed my left hand before my heart and reached out my right, sending Ramesses my blessing.

My son is destined for greatness few mortals will ever know
, I said to myself as he acknowledged me with a wave of his arm.

Behind Ramesses, ten abreast, came line upon line of chariots, each holding a driver and a bowman. Behind them, twenty abreast, marched the infantrymen carrying spears or battle axes and shields of wood and leather. Colorful standards, some of cloth and others of wood, marked the different units, giving the army a festive air.

Pride surged inside me for my husband and son and the men they led, but to my dismay, the flutter in my heart turned to pain.
How many of these men will die? How many wives and mothers will await the army’s return only to be heartbroken?

Silently, I prayed that I not be one of them.

After a while, the crowd around the plaza began to thin, but those of us atop the steps waited as the entire army of twenty thousand passed.

“Magnificent,” a government minister behind me said. “The Hittites will cower and run when they see Sety and his legion approaching.”

I turned toward him. “I hope you are right, but I expect many of our soldiers will die.”

“Perhaps, My Lady, but much good will come of the campaign. Think of the men who doubt themselves now, but will prove their courage in battle. Think of the loyalty men will demonstrate as they protect each other’s backs in the heat of combat.”

“Some will run from the fighting,” I said.

“No doubt, but does this not make the glory all the greater for those who do not? Honor and dishonor. Courage and cowardice. Loyalty and treachery. One cannot exist without the other.”

Neither can life and death,
I thought as I turned again toward the plaza and watched the last lines of soldiers pass.

As the weeks progressed, the days cooled off considerably, and often the nights became quite cold as the chill crept in from the desert. With all my children gone, I sometimes invited Renoutet to the palace to keep me company. She could hardly reject the invitation of a Queen, but I sensed a genuine affection from Renoutet toward me and a friendship began to grow.

“You seem distressed,” she said one day during a game of
senet
.

I tossed the sticks and executed my move. “Each morning, I awake to find little purpose in my life. The Neters entrusted me with the responsibility of bearing and rearing a son capable of being Pharaoh. Now that Ramesses has become a man, what more is there for me to do?”

“My Lady, there is much more. You are Queen. The people honor you as a symbol of Egypt’s goodness.”

“I find little satisfaction in being a symbol. Sometimes I envy you, Renoutet, for your dedication to Ptah gives purpose to your life.”

“A Queen should never envy anyone.”

“Why not? A husband who once loved me dearly now only tolerates me. My children have left the palace, and I may never see my favorite daughter again. If Ramesses were to be slain by the Hittites, I could no longer go on living.”

“Of course you could. If we did not know despair, we could not know joy and elation. We must look upon our suffering as a gift, for it enables us to cherish the good times in our lives.”

“All is divine perfection. All is as it should be. I know this in my heart, Renoutet, but sometimes I forget.”

“We all do on occasion, My Lady. We must trust the Neters always, especially when we feel torment. They won’t abandon us if we ask for their help and guidance.”

I took Renoutet’s words to heart. Since I felt closest to the Neters in Thebes, I decided to leave Memphis for a short visit to the sacred city. After a restful journey on the Nile, I secluded myself in the palace, where I spent most of my time praying and meditating.

In the morning and early evening, I made offerings of meat and wine to Sekhmet, asking her to protect Ramesses and Sety from the wrath of the Hittites. At midday and just before I slept, I offered fruit and grain to Thoth, requesting he imbue me with his wisdom.

Gradually my despair lifted. I did not feel joy, but I did sense the future was not all bleak.
I have not risen from commoner to Queen so I might wither like an unpicked grape
. I told myself.
The Neters have called upon me to play a great role in the Divine Pageant, and I will not betray their trust.

One night, as I was readying my offering to Thoth, I heard a whisper. “Prepare yourself, Tuya, for your greatest work lies ahead of you.”

“Who is it? Who speaks these words?” I asked, as I looked around and saw no one.

In a brilliant flash, indigo of a richness unknown in the earthy realm filled my chambers. It lingered for a bit, and then gradually began to dissipate, leaving a sense of peace and calm. I dropped to my knees and kissed the ground before Thoth’s statue.
Be with me, ibis-headed god of wisdom. Illuminate my path so I might fulfill my divine purpose.

Soon after, I lay down in bed and entered a deep and restful sleep.

In the morning, I awoke to a great commotion throughout the palace.

“What has happened?” I asked Nebet, as she entered my room to serve me tea.

“The Pharaoh has sent word, My Lady. The army met the Hittites in battle and won a great victory.”

I quickly dressed and summoned one of Sety’s chief ministers.

“What of my son and husband? Are they well?”

“I must assume so, My Lady. The Pharaoh’s message bore his seal and gives thanks to the Neters for victory, and for protecting the young Ramesses. Sety asks for all Egyptians to make offerings of thanksgiving to the gods.”

My heart filled with the joy and elation that had been eluding me.

“I must return to Memphis immediately,” I said.

“You probably will want to stay here,” the minister declared. “The Pharaoh is leaving the army and coming immediately to Thebes with Ramesses and a small contingent of troops. He wishes to give thanks to Amun for his victory. He will then return to Memphis to lead the army in the triumphal march to the palace.”

Immediately, I began preparing a suitable celebration to welcome the victorious Pharaoh and our son to Thebes.

I supervised the scribes as they wrote invitations on the finest papyrus, and discarded those with even the tiniest flaw in a hieroglyph.

I sought out the suppliers of food. “If you value your service to the palace, you will provide only unblemished fruit and the freshest meat for the victory feast,” I told them. “The food must be of a quality fit for the gods.”

I summoned jugglers, acrobats and dancers from throughout the city and had them perform before me, choosing only those with the most prodigious talent as entertainers for the celebration.

The palace tailor measured me for a new dress. I would wear the necklace Sety had given me on the day we became husband and wife, but I had the palace jeweler fashion new earrings for me out of lapis, turquoise, garnet and gold. I also had the wigmaker clean and refurbish the magnificent wig Sety liked so much, and which I first wore on the day he became Pharaoh.

Preparations were nearly complete when a courier arrived with a message that in three days Sety and his contingent would be arriving. My heart pounded in anticipation of soon seeing my son again, and my husband.

Late the next day, an officer of the Royal Guard approached me as I was sitting by a garden pond, enjoying the aroma of the lotus and chirping of the birds. He bowed. “My Lady, I must ask you to come with me.”

“Where?”

“To the Pharaoh’s chambers.”

“Why?”

“I cannot say, but the Pharaoh has ordered me to bring you there. He says it is of vital importance.”

“Sety won’t be arriving for two days.”

“Please, My Lady. Come with me.”

I did as requested. To my shock, when I walked through the door of the Pharaoh’s chambers I encountered my husband with several officers at his side.

“Sety!” I exclaimed. “Why are you here?”

Anguish contorted my husband’s face. He reached out his arm in the direction of the bed.

I rushed to it and looked down upon my son, eyes closed, ashen-faced and still.

“No. This cannot be,” I shrieked.

My knees weakened and I collapsed onto the floor, my joy and elation replaced by despair deeper than any I had ever known.

XXXII

Sety and an officer helped me into a chair. After my strength returned, I moved to the bed, sat down beside Ramesses and held his hand to my anxious heart. To my great relief, his hand was warm.

I looked up at Sety. “Thank the Neters, he lives. What happened?”

“An enemy clubbed him in the back of the head.”

“This cannot be. I prayed to Sekhmet and made offerings twice a day asking her to protect Ramesses and you from the Hittites.”

“Your offerings were not in vain. Sekhmet was with us in the great battle against our mortal foe. My son survived because of her.”