Everything (including fic) Is now Illuminated

[ismenin]

I have ladysunrope here as a captive beta, so she has kindly done Part 8.

It has been a lovely weekend with <ladysunrope, salogel42 and my dear sis, pattilovesviggo at the cinema, and LSR as company at home. She is brill. We have laughed like hyenas. It was lovely. I will miss her when she goes home.
hope you enjoy this, ladies and any blokes who may be reading!

For your attention ...


Part 8 - Understanding


I could not believe Lij had returned to me. It was a miracle. I must admit to waking several times during the night to see if he had been magicked away by spirits. But there he was - or rather, there I was, lying with my head on his breast as it had always been, his arms wrapped about me.

Before we retired for the night, my wounded arm had been paining me, and he insisted I take some posset which Meri had brewed out of herbs from her garden. Moments after I had swallowed it, I thought there must be poppy juice in it, and I fell asleep almost immediately.

Some time later I felt his naked body resting against mine, so I moved into our accustomed positions and I heard him give a sigh of complete satisfaction as he kissed my head. Then sleep claimed me once more.


I woke in the dark before the dawn with a slight fever. The desert is no friend to wounds - the sun and heat dry the wound, making it more difficult to heal.

I heard his voice, low and sweet and I turned to the sound. In the darkness I saw Lij kneeling by the bed, facing the window, arms outstretched, invoking the sun.

I cannot tell of the pleasure it gave me to hear that voice, to feel the confidence in it that assured anyone who listened to it that the sun indeed rose on his command.

He came to the bed and kissed and caressed me. There were no words spoken. He claimed me, put his marks of love upon my body, for in very truth, I was his.


Later, Meri tapped on the door and brought food for us, as well as another posset that helped damp a fever. She assured me, with a grin, that there was no poppy in it.

We went out into the garden; there was no danger that we would be seen, after all. The road was quite removed from our location, and very few people ever came in our direction.

I sat on a chair in the shade and watched Lij tending his onions and garlic. It helped settle him, and I knew he needed that. I could see the tenseness in his shoulders, the cords in his neck tight and strained. I knew why he was thus. There was, after all, someone pretending to be him who had taken his throne, his name, his wife, his children - and me.

And all Lij knew so far was what Heleb had told him - "The Great One has gone to the Valley to see his tomb." He needed, as well as I did, time to think on it.

Now I had to tell him of the other man. I hated this man with a violence I had thought reserved for Ede. Whoever - or whatever - he was, he must be dealt with.

Whilst Lij worked on his plants I thought of the best way to tell Lij what I had to tell him.

After an hour or so, when the heat of the mid-day sun beat down upon us, we went inside to eat and rest. Lij wanted to hear my story, after all, and he had waited patiently until I was ready to tell it.

We went to the bedroom and closed the door. We sat on the bed, side by side holding hands.

"I am afraid, Dom, to hear what you have to tell me. I will not hide that from you."

Lij put his head on my shoulder. "But I will try to be silent whilst you recount your story. You have questions, I know - and so will I. We have time enough to ask and listen to answers."

He smiled at me, gesturing at the same time that I should begin.

I took in a deep breath and began. Almost immediately Lij gasped, because there he was - according to my tale - in the bed next to me, when it was obvious it was not he. But he did not speak. I determined to keep as little from him as I could, but there was one thing I would not - could not - tell.

How the other Lij had beaten me and then taken me so violently. When, in future, I lay naked under my own Lij, he could not help but see - so far he had not - the scars on my back. I had intended to tell him that it was love-play that went wrong. When he asked me, that is. I worried that would hurt him as much, if not more than the truth. I was not sure at all of what I should say.

I tried to make the telling as short as I could and tried not to inject any emotion into my voice, but it was there, nonetheless.

When I came to the part where the other Lij - what else should I call him? - told me about Liv and wanting more children, he clamped his lips together so tightly his mouth was a mere line in his face.

But when I came to recount the secrets of the sanctuary, my voice and my resolve failed me.

"The children, Lij! He was going to kill our babies!" My voice broke on the last word, and I fell into his arms, unable to continue. He soothed me with his voice and hands and lips, and it was only when I raised my head I discovered he, too, was weeping.

"My poor Dom," he whispered into my neck. "To have borne these burdens alone."

I swallowed thickly. "You bore yours alone, a hashkeh. I, at least, had help. Menkh helped me by getting them away, Lij. Nat is at the palace, and Imhotep is keeping his eye on - the imposter. I have not been alone, Lij, except in my yearning for you. He was not you, you see. There was always something ...missing."

He pushed my chin up so that he could see my face.

"And is he so like me, Dom, that even you could mistake him for me?" He sounded wistful at the very thought.

I thought carefully. "To look at, he is exactly like you, my love. Face, hands ...everything."

He struggled for a moment with a question he was longing to ask, but, in the end, said nothing. I knew it was a question for bed, and I had no doubt it would be asked later.

"He even had the king's cartouche on his inner thigh and the love-brand, Lij. Now the first would be common knowledge, every pharaoh is tattooed with it, but how he came to know of the second I cannot guess. He must have seen it to reproduce it. It was exact."

His brow furrowed in concentration. "I do not..." he began, but was interrupted by Meri tapping urgently on the door.

I opened it. "There is a horseman approaching from the desert - from the east, Dom," she said. "Who could it be?"

I sighed in relief. "It is Menkh," I said to her. "Do not tell him Lij is here, I want to surprise him. Show him here when he enters."

I turned to Lij. "Now you will see for yourself. Say nothing. Just stand there and look down your nose at him in the way you are used to when displeased."

Lij smiled at me. "Like this? he said.

"Precisely!" I grinned.

In a few more minutes I heard him at the door. I quickly knelt at Lij's feet. The door opened and Menkh barged in.

"Dom! I am weary..." he began, but said no more. He stared at Lij, who was doing exactly as I had asked, his face haughty, his demeanour outraged. Menkh fell at his cousin's feet. "Mighty One, forgive me...I did not know you had returned...I..."

Lij spoke. "Since when, Menkh, my friend, have you taken to grovelling before me in private? You have become as bad as Dom."

Menkh's eyes flew to Lij's face. "Oh, get up, man!" Lij smiled. I am getting a crick in my neck from holding this pose! But Dom insisted. I am glad to see you, Menkh. Very glad..."

As Menkh rose Lij threw himself into his cousin's arms. "Very glad indeed!" he said as he embraced the astonished Menkh.

Then Lij looked at me, and as Menkh seemed momentarily lost for words, said, "I see what you mean, Dom. This other me seems to have inspired terror in even the highest in the land. Come, we will go onto the terrace and drink some wine together."

We went quietly. The sun was less hot now - having moved across the sky, it was hidden behind Meri's house.

"How are they, Menkh?" Lij asked before either Menkh or myself could speak. "You have left them all well guarded? Our children? Liv? Poor Menep...how shocked she must be."

Menkh struggled to find his voice, as he sat by the small wooden table, and poured himself some wine Meri had brought. "Are you well, now, Lij? Has your memory fully returned?"

He sipped from the cup slowly, but like a man in need of wine. The wine was unwatered, and heady, but by the gods, we needed it!

"It is not as you think, Menkh. Lij, tell him your story."

Lij quickly told his cousin the basic facts of his tale. Menkh swallowed again. "Then if you have not been here, Lij, who is...?"

Lij sighed. "Indeed. Who is he?"

Menkh pondered. "It is true you had a twin brother, Lij, but he died before you were seven..."

"I had a twin brother, Menkh? We were twins? I did not know that." Lij thought back to his childhood. He had a very good memory.
"I remember Menep telling me my brother had died...I hardly saw him during his last year. I admit I did not like him. I remember he cut off the tails of the palace kittens and tortured them, angering the goddess Bast greatly. But...it could not be him."

I sat with my chin on the heel of my hand, thinking. "Semenue, Nat's daughter, is very like you, Lij. But she is a girl. Perhaps someone found a male relative..." I stopped. The idea was preposterous. I had seen this man unclothed. He was an exact copy of Lij. Maybe the Dark Arts had been invoked to conjure up this...person. I voiced this thought to my companions.

"Has Anubis said anything, Lij, to warn you?" I asked, handing Lij the wine so that he could fill his cup. I stopped, revelation hitting me in the gut. Handing Lij the wine instead of pouring it for him. This kind of behaviour had become second nature to us, here. Here there was no Pharaoh - just Dom and his Lij. I was so glad to remember this, as it had been missing from my life since the imposter had entered it.

The joy of our River House had just been returned to me tenfold. I contained the joy of it within myself. I would tell him of it in bed.

Lij shook his head. "Anubis has said nothing concerning this matter - no."

Menkh looked at Lij. He seemed puzzled at the thought of Lij conversing with a god. Of course I realised I had told him nothing of our new relationship with the jackal-headed deity - but that could wait for less troubled days.

I brought my mind back to the point in question. The palace Lij was different. I told my companions of my thoughts.

"He needs to be served. He needs people to show their fear of him. If Set has raised this...creature to serve him, and make him sole god in Egypt...we will find it hard to bring him down.

He is only like Lij in appearance, but when you consider that no common person is allowed to even look at Pharaoh, it is not unreasonable to suppose that he could get away with this imposture. Pharaoh is a god. It would be acceptable from a god if he suddenly became ...violent, proud, vicious. As this man has."

"True!" Menkh pursed his lips, looking at Lij thoughtfully. "The servants certainly could not challenge him. It is only our dear Nekeb who dared to look you in the eye, Lij, as you know - but what about us, Dom - his supposed family? Lij's mother would surely have seen through the deception, if she were here. Or Menep - that must be why he forbade her to leave her rooms."

Lij touched Menkh's hand across the table. " I must hear your story, Menkh. And as soon as possible. Is she truly well, cousin?"

Menkh returned the grasp of Lij's fingers. "Very well, Great One!" he grinned at Lij. "Since we arrived at Basara she has been very thoughtful, but she is well."

His grin faded as he continued, "We sent a message from there warning your mother to meet us at Basara. We told her there was danger, but did not say what it was. That news was better told face to face. I shall send Menep a coded message as soon as I return to the palace. My messengers are safe and the family...the children... need to be put out of their misery...to know you are safe and well. Menep will be so relieved it was not her Lij."

"It is odd." I looked at my two companions. "What could she have done to cause this... imposter...great harm?" I was as puzzled as they were. It was an enigma. We sat there for hours talking, planning, devising, until the sun set in the west. Then we went inside to eat.

*****

After the evening meal, Lij and I sat on our bed, Menkh on the chair by the window. Menkh was ready to tell his part.

"Are you sure you want me here, tonight, Dom...Lij? We can leave this until later..."

I cut him short. "I have said all I can. There is no need for you to leave."

Lij smiled at his cousin. "You have always been a good friend to me, Menkh. I would have you remain to tell your part of this sorry tale."

He began where I had left off.


He told of Menep's shock and distress, and when they had received my message through Menkh, the preparations to leave were accomplished in one hour.

The children, of course, were not told why they were leaving. Their mother told them we were going on a river journey to inspect my new palace at Basara, and although they were by no means stupid children, they did not complain.

Menep was still shocked by her treatment, but became very quiet whilst on the river, and to any solicitous enquiry about her health she answered, "Go away, I'm thinking!" which was so like her, the inquisitor went away relieved.

Menkh said he had warned Imhotep about the death promises, and he said he would keep a very close eye on both Lij and Bithar. Nat was going to ask discreet questions about the palace and find out how the inhabitants felt about matters.

I told the two of them that Zeser was sounding out the palace guards, and that Garmen was willing to imprison the false king on his island retreat. They both seemed relieved at this solution.

"And we must remember, my friends, that no-one at the palace knows yet of the deception. When they know the real king is alive and well, and there is an imposter upon the throne of Egypt, things will go easier for us.

"I must return to the palace tomorrow," Menkh said, reluctantly. "I had it put about that I was suffering from an illness. I must get back before Lij...before he does. It would not do that all the family are missing, and so was I. Suspicion will fall upon me. As it is, Menep will probably take the blame for it."

Lij grinned. "She will revel in it, knowing her. Will you send the whole truth to Basara, or shall we wait until things are resolved?"

Menkh rubbed his face thoughtfully. "I think, cousin, we had better wait to tell everyone the whole story - just tell them you are safe and well. Until he is taken, I will not feel safe with the children or, indeed, Menep and Liv, in his presence. And imagine his fury on returning to find that all have escaped him...and Set. No, it is better thus. I shall tell Menep to keep her counsel."

We agreed, and we retired for the night weary from plotting and planning.

*****

As he left at break of day, Menkh promised to send Zeser to us to let us know of developments at the palace, and we watched him ride into the morning haze with happier hearts. Things were coming to a head. Lij would be restored to his people and once more sit on the throne of Egypt.

We awaited Zeser's arrival with eagerness. He came before the heat of the morning.

As he rode up, we resolved not to tease him as we had Menkh since his brother's death was still too raw. I went outside quickly to explain things to him, but I found that Menkh had already told him Lij's story.

We went into the house. Zeser, seeing Lij standing there went forward and knelt, laying his head upon Lij's foot.

"I never thought to look upon you with love again, Great One. But Menkh never lies, and I can see the joy that has returned to Dom's face. It is indeed you. Welcome home, my king."

Lij stooped and raised Zeser to his feet. The captain's head was still lowered.

"Look at me Zeser-Amon," Lij commanded, but gently.

Slowly the man's eyes came up and he stared Lij in the eye. Slowly a long sigh left him, and he began to tremble. "You loved him, too, Great One."

Lij put both hands on Zeser's shoulder. "I loved him and valued him as a true friend. You were always kind to me, even though, in the early days, I did not deserve it. He shall be sadly missed. I am sorry you were brought to think ill of me, but it was not me. Truly, my friend...it was not."

Zeser clutched Lij to his chest. A thing unheard of. But here, in our river retreat, Lij was just Lij, as men were beginning to realise.

Zeser was such a tall, commanding presence and Lij's slighter form was engulfed by Zeser's stature, but it did not seem incongruous. Lij patted Zeser's back a little, and whispered words of comfort, and soon the captain shook himself out of his reverie and bowed low to Lij.

"I shall serve you until my death or yours, my king. Be it soon or late, I swear to go with you into the Otherworld. This I would have. Grant me this boon."

Zeser knelt again, but this time looked up into Lij's face. "Say that if I go before you I may be buried at your burial chamber entrance. Even Anubis will not pass by me to harm you, this I swear."


Lij lifted Zeser up once more. "It shall be as you say, friend. And I shall have Ankh-Aton placed there too. Your loyalty and suffering deserve rewards both in this life and the next. You shall both lie with me. You shall guard my mortal remains until the ending of the world."

Zeser's face showed his deep emotion. "Thank you, Great One. I never thought to be worthy of such an honour."

Lij smiled at him, and walking to the table, poured out some wine and offered it Zeser, who took it with a bemused grin.

We sat outside in the sun. Heleb had strung an awning up to protect us from the fierce morning heat, and as a slight breeze was blowing in from the river, it was pleasant sitting there.

Meri had pressed Lij some pomegranate juice which he preferred above wine, and we had watered wine.

"Zeser, what of the palace guard?" I asked, anxious to know all. "Are they with us?"

Zeser put down his cup with an audible thump. "They are. Bound by oath to silence and to serve the Great One, they were not totally willing until Menkh came to talk to them yesterday. What they heard astonished them. They are with you, my lord. All of them. They wish to serve you as they have been bound to do."

He played with the foot of his clay cup, not looking either of us in the eye. "Before that one left, he sentenced two of the guard to death. Their crime? Not holding his horse steady enough. He had the horse killed, too. The men were angry and afraid. They said there would be none of the guard left soon, if he carried on like this. They were glad to know it was not you, Great One."

Lij's mouth thinned with anger, and he rose from his chair and walked up and down the short terrace with agitated steps.

"When can we go, Dom? I cannot allow my rule to be usurped. I cannot allow my name to be besmirched any longer and I cannot allow my faithful men to suffer so."

He sat back down, clasping his hands in front of him. "How will you get me in? I shall not go in a carpet again, I am telling you. I sneezed for days after it!"

I smiled at him. "There is no need for such extreme measures, muh chree."

His eyes softened at the endearment. "Then how, my love? Tell me!"

I grinned. "Do you remember a few years back when I was at Kishlan sorting out that tribal uprising with Garmen?"

He nodded, smiling at the remembrance. "I do."

Zeser looked puzzled so I enlightened him. "Lij had been down to the river to bathe in the heat of the night and came out hungry.
He thought it quicker to go to the kitchens to get some food rather than return to his chambers and send a servant."

Lij smiled at the memory. "The cook looked down his nose at me when I asked for some of the bread he was turning out onto the table. He said who was I, an upstart scribe or lowly servant, to come there demanding bread meant for the Great One's breakfast?"

I reached over the table and grasped his hand. "He also said, if I remember what you told me, Lij, that one could see you were of low estate because proper, high-ranking people sent servants to fetch their food, and did not crowd, wet and naked, into his kitchens like a ravening wolf taking food out of the king's very mouth."

Lij laughed. "He did! I was sent off with two cinnamon rolls from the day before and a couple of figs to keep me going until breakfast arrived. I laughed about it all morning."

His smile disappeared. "If he'd done that to this other Lij, he'd have lost his head, no doubt. I must get back, Dom. He cannot be allowed to continue. We must leave now!"

I rose from my seat. I had meant for us to have another night together before we had to go, but I could see the urgency of the situation as well as he.

"There is no time like the present, Lij. Just let me tie up your hair like a groom, and you find a plain tunic in the chest, and we can walk in before all the grooms and you will not merit a second glance. You will see!"

Within an hour we were riding to the palace and to our destiny.

Comments

[laeliacatt.livejournal.com]

Lovely, lovely chapter. I found it so touching that Zeser wished to be buried at the royal tomb's entrance with his slain brother at his side to guard their beloved pharaoh.

So Lij had a twin brother who died as a child, eh? Oh, my! You keep sticking surprises like this here and there to keep us guessing and wondering, don't you? Hehe!

I can't wait to see if Lij and the imposter will meet face to face! Especially after Lij notices what was done to Dom's back. If there's a whip within Lij's reach when he sees his evil doppelganger, oh my!!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I love ole Zeser. Good old Sean Bean. I can see him with his head on Lij's foot. :O

Glad you're still enjoying it, my love! Keep up the good work. xx