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A story set in Egypt that tells the tale of Ramses IV, a female pharaoh. She falls in love with a Hebrew slave named Sarah and her son, Samuel. It is the beginning of a new era in ancient Egypt and the first story about the love shared by these two women.

 

Ramses III had been buried for two months in the glory that was afforded all of Egypt's great kings. The statues and monuments he left behind would preserve Ramses's legacy for generations to come, but the greatest treasure that he left was his heir.

Ramses IV was born to the pharaoh and his queen in the second year of their joining, and from birth was the image of the king. Complications from the birth resulted in the queen's death two months later leaving Ramses devastated from the loss.

The child inherited her father's name since after her mother's death; the king would father no other children after losing his great love. A daughter would become the king of all of Egypt, so for the remainder of his life the pharaoh devoted his time into molding the child into a great warrior, leader and king.

The child grew and thrived under Ramses's tutelage leading his legions into war expanding the empire he controlled, and she would eventually rule. The soldiers had adopted the nickname her father had called her since childhood, so she was known throughout the empire as Hawk. The older Ramses had compared her spirit to the great bird, noble and in his opinion driven once the prey was in its sights.

Ramses III had taken great pride in having his daughter stand by his throne in his last days showing such strength, she would carry on his line and his name, of that the old man had no doubt. The tall frame that showed visible lines of muscle resembled her father's and measured almost six feet with black midnight hair. To honor her mother's memory the gods had given her striking blue eyes and a strong sense of compassion. The strength of her father and the caring of her mother would mark her rule.

This is her story.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Now in her twenty-second year, Hawk found herself alone without the champion and teacher that had guided her from birth. The battle lust had quieted some after her father's death so she turned her energies to improving the lot of the less fortunate within the city walls. Hawk along with some of her best architects started the process of rebuilding the housing units where the Hebrew slaves where kept. While the great temples and homes in the city were built to honor its leaders, they were constructed with the sweat and blood of its slaves.

"Sire, why waste so many resources on mere slaves, you must now start thinking of your own legacy to mark the city," Mendos the head architect addressed her. Hawk looked toward the slave encampment ignoring the older man. These constant little disagreements to her plans were starting to wear on her patience.

"Who will build my temples, Mendos, if all the slaves die of disease living in this filth? You?" asked Hawk pinning the man with a glare. "Your fragile build does not look like it could carry and pull the big stones it will take to build my legacy. How about we start here as my mark on the city my forefather's built? But if you prefer, I can send you to another project if you find this one so," Hawk paused for a moment and put her finger to her lips as if looking for the right word. "Distasteful. Perhaps the rebuilding of the wash house would be more to your taste?"

"Forgive me, sire, I meant no disrespect," hastened Mendos over the laughter of the royal guard.

"Of course not," replied Hawk turning to smile at the guards behind her.

The discussion on how best to approach the undertaking Hawk had in mind without displacing the families for too much time went on late into the afternoon and was witnessed by the gathering crowd. The workers where on their way home for the night from their back breaking jobs and were surprised to find the king there giving directions as to what had to be done. No royal had ever walked where they lived, just the soldiers and work captains that pushed them to work harder. From their knees they strained to listen trying to figure out what was going on. With the king here maybe they were to be put to death.

Above all the chatter flying around her, Hawk heard the whizzing stone and turned just in time for it to embed itself in her shoulder instead of her chest. The action caused a quick squirt of blood to rush down the fine white linen tunic that she was wearing sending the royal guard into action. The soldiers were in a frenzy trying to find the assassin in the crowd of slaves gathered around their party. Hawk pulled the sharp rock out and looked at it before motioning for silence.

"Whomever among you did this step forward now!" her commanding voice bellowed. Everyone but Hawk seemed to be frozen in place as she scanned the crowd of bowed heads looking for her assailant. The crowd murmured but no one stepped forward knowing that to do so would mean instant death from the pharaoh's guards who had now drawn their swords.

"Step forward now, coward, or I will have the lot of you killed!" screamed Philbus, part of the royal guard and Hawk's cousin. From between the prostrate figures stepped a small blonde headed boy with a slingshot trying not to look scared. "Have him whipped twenty lashes," ordered Philbus.

"Philbus, step away from him, and the first one to lift a whip to this child will earn a much crueler fate by my hand," said Hawk.

But, sire, he tried to kill you," complained the soldier.

"Really, Philbu,s do I look that feeble in your eyes? Come here boy," Hawk ordered as she dropped to a chair under the small field tent that had been set up for her comfort. The child dropped at her feet and started crying before anything else could be said. "Rise, boy, and let me look at you, I promise no harm will come to you. Now stop crying and tell me what you have against me that you were trying to kill me."

Feeling the strong hands help him up, Samuel looked into the face of his king with watery green eyes. All the warnings his mother had issued on the use of the slingshot were screaming in his head now that his practicing had injured the one person everyone knew could kill you without question. "I wasn't trying to hurt you, King Ramses, I was just practicing I swear."

"What are you practicing for, boy?" asked the amused Hawk. She looked at the slingshot in his hand then to the boy that showed more courage than anyone in her royal court would have given the situation. His bright green eyes never wavered looking directly into hers through his tears.

"To be in your legions and serve you," Samuel told her.

"You will address your king as sire, slave," Philbus yelled. Before Hawk could react, Philbus struck the boy across the back with the cane in his hand. Hawk flew out of the chair and into her cousin's face. Pulling the ornamented cane out of the surprised man's hand she pulled back and hit him across the cheek with it. The blow knocked Philbus down and left a long cut from below his eye down to his jaw line.

"I do not like being disobeyed, Philbus, especially by one of my soldiers." Taking the cane and breaking it in two over her knee she threw it down at his chest. Recovering from the hit Philbus jumped to his feet in a defensive posture as if he were getting ready to attack.

"Even you can not be that stupid, cousin, but if you are then come on I'm waiting for you. I'll kill you and feed you to that crowd there." Hawk jerked her head toward the now intent looking slaves. They were still on their knees but many of them had raised their heads enough to see what was happening under the pharaoh's tent.

Remembering his position Philbus quickly backed down and bowed. "Forgive me, sire, I only acted with your safety in mind."

"Next time let me decide the punishment for any disrespect, now get out of my sight." Turning her attention toward the boy that was now howling in pain, Hawk knelt before him and lifted his shirt to check for damage. An angry welt was bleeding across his back and the bruising had already begun. Hawk sat the boy in the chair she had just occupied and tried to calm the child down so that the wound could be cleaned. "Corby, bring me a little wine and have one of those women bring a basin with water to clean the boy's back." Corby, the captain of the royal guard and Hawk's friend from childhood ran to get a cup of wine and the attention of one of the waiting slaves for water.

"Tell me your name so that I can stop calling you boy?" asked Hawk as she held the still crying child.

"Samuel, sire, my name's Samuel," the boy answered as he wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

"Well, Samuel, this has been an exciting day so far don't you think?" Samuel could see his friends looking at him from the edge of the crowd in awe that he was sitting in the tent of the Egyptian pharaoh.

"If you say so, sire."

"Samuel, who are your parents and where can I find them and explain what happened?" asked Hawk rising from the ground. Samuel followed the tall body until it towered over him, and he was sure Hawk was going to kill him.

"I wanna do that myself, sire."

"Why?" asked the amused pharaoh. She arched her brow at him and waited to hear his explanation. After the handful she had been as a child, Hawk was fairly certain where the boy's reluctance was coming from, but she wanted to see if he would admit it.

"Might get in less trouble that way, sire." With each admission the boy's head got closer to his chest.

"By what, leaving out the part where you tried to kill me with a stone?" asked Hawk, the brow going higher on her forehead.

"Yes, sire," admitted Samuel. The answer came out in a whisper, and the boy now looked like Hawk had sentenced him to death.

A sigh of relief swept through the crowd for Samuel when they heard the tall ruler let out a loud deep laugh. "I like you, boy, so stop calling me that, call me Hawk." Taking the cup that Corby had handed her, Hawk let Samuel take a sip to calm him and to numb the pain a bit. "Where's your father, Samuel?"

"Don't have a father, he's dead, sire, and my mother and me are slaves in the house of Larlis. I come here to practice my shooting with my friends once I'm finished with my chores." Samuel explained as one of the soldiers put salve and a bandage on his back.

"I think once I'm finish you won't be in too much trouble, Samuel, so come on before your mother starts to worry." Hawk picked the boy up and carefully arranged him in the circle of her arms to not bring any further pain to his back.

Stepping out of the tent with her charge she walked to the head of her guard who was still bleeding from the wound she had inflicted and told him, "Get yourself cleaned up and meet me back at the palace. You are to be relieved of duty and reassigned once I figure out where to put you. And before you think of harming this boy or his family for your troubles, Philbus, think of your face as only the beginning."

Philbus glared at her before bowing and heading in the direction of the palace healers. The crowd was in shock that the pharaoh herself had punished Philbus for what he had done to Samuel. For once they bowed with respect for their leader as she walked past them with the small boy. Maybe the future didn't look so bleak under this pharaoh's rule.

************************************************************************

As they walked through the streets headed toward the nobleman's house that owned Samuel and his mother, the boy pointed out the homes of his friends and their parents. Hawk heard the sadness in the boy's voice for the conditions that surrounded them, and wondered where such a young boy had learned such wisdom for the world around him in so little time.

"Can you keep a secret for me, Samuel?" she asked.

"Yes, sire, I mean, Hawk." The boy leaned back in her arms to look once again at the eyes that reminded him of the sky.

"I am going to build new homes for your friends so that when you come to visit, they won't look so sad. That means I'll be here more often to make sure it's done properly, and they're happy. How does that sound?"

"Thank you, sire." His arms went around her neck again in more of a hug than in an attempt to keep himself in place.

Their walk took them out of the slums and into the more affluent section of the city. The great homes belonged to the traders and noblemen of the city, and behind the grand walls lived those that had grown rich with the assistance of the throne.

Larlis, the man whose home they were headed toward, was a slave trader by profession and the wares he traded could be found in almost every home that lined the street they were on. Hawk was familiar with the man and found him to be a parasite that was cruel to those in his possession. She was having a hard time picturing Samuel in his care.

One of the guards that marched in front of them broke from the formation as they came up to the house to announce the pharaoh's arrival. Larlis came running down the front walkway once he realized that the pharaoh was indeed in the group that had stopped in front of his home.

"Sire, my apologies for not coming sooner." He bowed toward the king and noticed that she held one of his slaves. "This slave will be punished at once for causing you to have to come out of your way. Sarah, come and take this boy away, I'll deal with him later."

Hawk ignored the man groveling in front of her and looked to the young woman coming to collect the small boy. Her blonde hair shone in the sunlight, as did her eyes in the brief glimpse Hawk got of them before the woman ducked her head. She was naked under the thin tunic she wore and the outline cast by the sun displayed a beautiful figure.

"How old is your son, Sarah?" asked Hawk stopping the young woman's steps.

Sarah couldn't believe that the pharaoh had addressed her. When she saw the tall figure of the king holding Samuel she was afraid that her precocious child had gotten himself in trouble. "Five, sire, but how did you know he was my son?"

"His eyes, lady, are like your own. Tell me, are you as mischievous as my little friend here?" asked Ramses. The smile on Hawk's face was mirrored by the one on Samuel's when she had referred to him as a friend.

"Please, sire, I'm just a slave and don't deserve for you to address me as lady. I hope my son hasn't caused you any problems today. He was supposed to be playing with his friends, and not be anywhere near the palace. If he is to be punished then I ask you to let me bare it for him." Sarah had not looked up from the time Hawk had handed back her son, so she missed the teasing look in the pharaoh's eyes when she asked the question.

"He didn't cause me any trouble, Sarah, your son Samuel just agreed to take a walk with me to show me his home. He also was considerate enough to show me the homes of all of his friends as well along the way. Young Samuel here is a very wise and gracious guide, so I'm honored that he's my friend and keeper of my secrets isn't that right, my boy?" asked Hawk looking at the boy in the young slave's arms. Hawk had kept her voice light in an attempt to get Sarah to look at her again.

"Yes, Hawk, it is. Mama, meet Hawk, she's the king you know." The boy introduced his mother to Hawk like he had known her his entire life.

"Insolent, boy," hissed Larlis as he raised his hand to strike Samuel. Before the slap could be delivered, Larlis found his hand caught in an iron grasp and two blue eyes glaring at him. Sarah's head came up just a little in time to see Hawk stop her master's hand. A part of her cheered the pained look on Larlis's face, but another greater part knew who the man would take his humiliation out on later.

"Hit this boy for something that I told him to do, and I will cut this off." She said squeezing his hand. Larlis bent at the knees from the pain shooting up his arm and was quick to answer.

"My apologies, sire, I had no idea."

"Sarah, please go inside and gather you and your son's possessions, you are coming with me." The slave looked at Hawk with confusion so she added, "I have come to pay your price to Larlis, so go on."

The group watched the girl run to do as she was directed with Samuel following close behind with a huge smile on his face. "Corby, give Larlis four gold coins for the woman and her son."

"But, sire, the girl alone is worth at least two hundred gold pieces," complained Larlis.

"Larlis, let me explain something to you, so that even you will understand. You are mine, as is your house and everything in it. It is my birthright, or have you forgotten who I am? The gold is for the little trouble and consideration you have shown to the two of them, the rest you can consider a gift to the throne."

"Yes, sire." The man bowed his head and tried to graciously accept his fate. To complain any further now would lead to his losing a lot more than two slaves.

Coming out of the house with only a small bag in one hand and her son in the other, Sarah waited for the pharaoh's next directions. Hawk looked at her and smiled to ease the woman's mind to her intentions then unclasped her half cape to wrap it around the thin tunic Sarah still had on.

"Come here, lady," she said softly "I can't let you walk to the palace like that."

"I'm sorry, sire, if it displeases you, but it's the only one I own." Sarah's head now went down in shame and not respect for the pharaoh.

"It doesn't displease me, Sarah, I just don't want people staring at you and bringing you any discomfort in doing so," said Hawk as she stood still holding up the cape.

When Hawk had pulled the cape away from her shoulder, Sarah noticed the large blood stain on the front of the stark white tunic as well as the little grimace when Hawk put her arm up to wrap the red cape around her.

"Sire, you're hurt."

"Yes, dear lady, it's one of the pitfalls of being king. Someone is always trying to kill you. Just today a fierce soldier made an attempt on my life here in the city. Perhaps you know of him?" asked Hawk. She looked over Sarah's head to the blushing face of the young woman's son. If Hawk didn't know better, Samuel looked like he was looking for a place to hide before the next part of the story came out.

"I'm sorry, sire, but I would not know of such things. Was he captured?" asked Sarah.

"No he actually surrendered, but he told me that it was all a mistake and he was just taking target practice. Maybe I proved to be an easier target than the stick he was aiming for," answered Hawk sweeping her hand down her body.

"Oh God, please tell me Samuel wasn't the one that did this to you?" asked Sarah in a small voice, her hands going up to her mouth.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Sarah, your son is a good shot. I apologize for what happened to his back but I assure you that the person was punished, and that while you are in my care no harm will come to you and your son," Hawk promised the small slave. As the guards and the others gathered in the yard watched with fascination at Hawk's treatment of mother and child, Hawk turned her attention to the slave trader. "Larlis, I'll be coming into this area more often in the future so I trust you'll have sandals on the feet of all your slaves. I also expect the clothes the women will be wearing are not so that I can read a parchment through."

"Yes, sire," answered Larlis still rubbing his wrist where Hawk had grabbed him.

Hawk had noticed that both the child and his mother were barefoot which would make the walk back to the palace painful for them even though the sun wasn't in the middle of the sky any more. "Corby, could you please carry Samuel back for me and be careful of his back. And send one of the boys for my chariot, I've walked more this afternoon than I do during a battle."

"Yes, Hawk, I would be happy to." Corby thumped his closed fist to his chest and ran to carry out Hawk's requests.

Taking care not to aggravate her own wound Hawk picked up the small woman and started back toward her home. "Please, sire, I can walk. You don't have to trouble yourself, and you're hurt."

"All this concern today on my behalf. Perhaps I need to get out in the sun more often so people won't think that I am at death's door. Are you uncomfortable?" asked Hawk looking down into eyes like Samuel's.

"No, sire."

"Do I frighten you?" the pharaoh persisted.

"No, sire."

"Do you really want to walk in the hot sand for the two leagues it will take us to get back to the palace?" Hawk asked her last question.

"No, sire."

They walked after that in silence listening to Samuel's conversation with Corby. Sarah looked at her new owner through the corner of her eye wondering what life held for her and Samuel now. Larlis wasn't great, but usually after taking his nightly pleasure with her he left them alone for the most part. What would the pharaoh want from them, and would Samuel be made to pay if the pharaoh was displeased. As if reading her thoughts the pharaoh started talking to her and eased her mind.

"Don't worry, Sarah, I don't want anything from you, or your son. After what happened today he stood before me with the courage of a warrior to accept whatever punishment I wanted for what had transpired. That is hard to find in one so young, you've done a good job so far in his upbringing."

"I just thought that with me he would have a better time of it once he becomes a man than he would under the roof of Larlis. If you so desire, I can send you back if you can not bare the thought of being with me."

"No, sire. Thank you for your kindness."

"Sarah, call me Ramses, or call me Hawk, but the title sire will drive me into the desert if I hear it too often."

"Yes, sire," answered Sarah quickly. After the word had slipped out the guards were treated to their second deep laugh from the pharaoh.

The chariot was waiting for them along with two others once they reached the wide main road that lead to the palace. Large statues of past pharaohs lined the sides, forever keeping watch over their heirs who now ruled in their stead. Hawk motioned for Corby to bring Samuel and place him in her chariot along side his mother. Four gleaming black stallions stood prancing in place waiting for their master's touch that would send them racing down the road. The beautiful animals had a large crest in the shape of a hawk across their broad chests, which made Sarah think that they probably could fly as big as they were.

"Ready, Samuel?" asked Hawk.

"Yes, Hawk, ready, mama?" asked the little boy.

"Would it make a difference if I said no." The look on her face was not one of anticipation like that of her son's, Sarah was terrified of what came next.

"Trust me, Sarah, this is the best part of being king," Hawk told her.

With a loud yell and a flick of her wrist the four black animals took off with a roar. Corby and Dennu followed in their own rides daring Hawk into a race. Knowing that their path was straight cutting down the risk to her passengers, Hawk let the child like spirit in her out to play. Corby and Dennu not only guarded her, they were her oldest friends.

From the time they could walk, their names where screamed by every palace inhabitant at one time or another for the trouble the three caused. Adulthood had not calmed the adventurous souls they were as children and the palace maids fully expected to see them racing along that main avenue for many years to come.

As they neared the vast building that was the palace they started to slow having all decided to call it a draw. They gained a new member into their club in Samuel, who stood in front of Hawk holding on and cheering the king on. His mother had never heard anything more wonderful than when the black demons started to slow their pace. When she did finally open her eyes the sight of her future home brought tears to her eyes. The king of Egypt truly does live like a king. The rich laughter coming from the tall body next to hers brought her out of her thoughts. Weren't kings supposed to be solemn and serious?

"Close, Corby, but not close enough, you should thank Sarah and Samuel for weighing me down giving you a chance. Come on and let's get you two settled," said Hawk to her two riders.

Hawk entered the palace and was instantly surrounded by servants, all of whom were having a melt down after noticing the blood coming from her shoulder. Getting most of the older women that had met them to settle down, Hawk sent them to prepare rooms for Sarah and Samuel. Along with the rooms, clothes, sandals and other essentials that were ordered, Hawk added trays of food for them to snack on until dinner.

Sarah watched as the women led Hawk away to her private rooms leaving her and Samuel standing with the remaining maids. She had to fight the urge to ask Hawk to take them with her to wherever in the palace she was headed. Fear of the future was still there, but Sarah suddenly found that she didn't want to be without her newfound protector.

************************************************************************

The rooms they were given were not what Sarah expected, in that they were lavish and the bedrooms opened to the Nile River. Such accommodations verified her suspicions in that she was to be the pharaoh's new pleasure slave. She has shown Samuel and I nothing but kindness, so maybe this won't be so bad. The king has to be better than Larlis, thought Sarah as she examined her new gowns and the other items she found on the bed in the room.

One of the maids cleared her throat from the door to get Sarah's attention and not startle the young woman. "Child, the pharaoh is expecting you and the boy for dinner, so would you like my assistance in getting ready?"

"Yes, if it is no bother to you. My name is Sarah and you probably saw my son earlier, his name is Samuel," answered Sarah. Nina didn't miss the total look of confusion on Sarah's face as she took in her new home.

"Then he would be the one taking shots at Ramses's fish with his slingshot off the steps leading into the river." Sarah turned to go out and get her son before he broke something or injured someone else. "No don't bother going out there to scold him, the bigger child of the two is out there cheering him on," said Nina.

"There are other children that live in the palace?" asked Sarah. The lost look on her face only grew as she gathered in more information.

"Yes, but just one, her name is Ramses IV, Pharaoh of Egypt. Now come, Sarah, let's get you into a bath, those chariot rides can get dusty. My name is Nina and I'll be here to assist you and Samuel in your rooms." Nina gently took her arm and led Sarah to the bathing chamber.

"I can take care of the rooms, Nina, so you don't have to trouble yourself. Can you tell me of my new master?" asked Sarah. The warm water looked inviting as they entered the bath. It seemed strange to her that they would waste all these fineries on her thought Sarah as she looked to the white milky water that smelled light Night Jasmine.

As Nina helped her into the perfumed bath, she told her of Hawk and her life. The story Nina told her included the part of the death of Hawk's mother and how her father had raised her.

Sarah listened as Nina told her of Hawk's victories on the battlefield for her father, and of the devastation she felt when the old man had died. She and all the maids Sarah had seen that afternoon had been with Hawk since her birth, and where the only mothers the woman had ever known. Nina confessed that she had been Hawk's wet nurse and her two sons, Corby and Dennu, were now heads of the palace guard. They were no longer slaves, but the palace was the only home they ever known so they stayed and cared for Hawk.

"She'll be kind to you and your son, so don't fear her. You just ask me if there's anything you need and I'll see to your comfort. Now are you ready to go out to the river? You are dining on the royal barge tonight." In the new gown she had on and after the bath, Sarah was truly breath taking. Nina could easily see what had caught Hawk's eye, the young woman had a natural elegance about her.







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