Wolf RPG

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It was midday when the first of the wedding guests arrived, were received by the fellahin, and welcomed in to the mesa. As they recouperated from their travel, more began to make their appearance; the leadership of the nearby Caldera pack, followed by the Fen wolves.

By the late afternoon the halls were alive with conversation among these wolves and the fellahin who attended them. They had not been greeted by either the Pharaoh or his betrothed - nor would they - until it was time for the event to take place. Some of the fellahin worked together to shepherd the visitors outside when it was appropriate, and would help them get situated. Others stayed back to continue preparing for the night's events, as the party had yet to commence. It would not be right if they ran out of food or drink as the night progressed — to anger the royals in this important moment would certainly lead to great punishments, and so everyone was being diligent with their duties.

While that transpired, the Pharaoh of Akashingo made his appearance. He moved to the plinth of stone that served as his overland throne. He stood there with the sun at his back, resplendent. Satsu had seen him; she had glimpsed his figure departing the palace just as she finished her own preparations, the sight bringing heat to her cheeks, a dizzying sweep of feeling through her chest that made her a touch light-headed.

Tamar had returned to her in time to help with the last of her tidying, to make Satsu look perfect on this, her wedding day. If she saw anything amiss she said nothing about it; but the woman's presence helped to steady Satsu nonetheless.

As the girl moved to exit her small quarters she turned to regard the space, and sighed. She knew it was not going anywhere, but this room had been her space, and only her space, for a long time. When the sound of Ramesses' booming voice carried through the palace walls, she knew she did not have time to worry, or to reminisce.

She moved to the small corridor that linked Ramesses' quarters to the overland throne, hidden from the eyes of others, from the tread of the fellahin. Tamar now saw her, and turned away - gone to the storehouse to prepare for the night's feasting after.

Taking a breath, Satsu put on the airs of a queen and emerged in to the light, proceeding with a dancer's finesse to the plinth where Ramesses stood waiting and beaming, the center of the universe.

It had been some time since Satsuki, the child, had been placed before a congregation and made to dance; these first steps across the limestone stage set before these strangers, and this is what crosses her mind. She has always known how to carry herself as a dancer — but now it is with a queen's stride that Satsu closes the distance.

She stands beside the beacon of a man as he proclaims his titles, as he names her, as he bestows upon her layers of importance that feel weightless; she does not know the importance of these phrases he declares or this person he has deemed her to be.

Satsu has heard these names and these words before. She has known this was coming, has planned for it. Yet having Ramesses here now, declaring this before a court of loyal mazoi and dutiful fellahin, even a collection of rivals and potential allies, all of it begins to feel a touch overwhelming.

The show would go on. Puny Satsu, standing proudly beside this man who claimed to be blessed by the sun itself; she had chosen this life for herself. She had decided to become a queen and to take Ramesses as her husband; it was not the way of her people or a choice by her father, but that did not matter. She made her own way.

The time for vows would quickly be upon them — but for now Satsu stared wholly upon Ramesses as if he were the only being in all of creation.

He stepped to her. his head bowed, to kiss her. to make motions as if to kiss her cheeks, she thought; no, her paws.

Wadjet, crook and the flail.

The eruption of Ramesses' voice helped to stave off any nervousness within satsu. The more he went on, the more he played up his part, the less focus she felt was drawn to herself, and so she could relax before the courtyard of strangers.

His eyes were on her. That was all that mattered; eye to eye, now. He proclaimed love, honor for her, and promised eternity.

I have only myself to give. Satsu answered.

The gods now bless me, make me right, so that I may be with you. It felt wrong to speak of gods when she knew so little about them; but it did not matter in earnest, because Satsu felt strong in the moment, swept up in the performance of it all.

I will honor no other man but you for as long as the sun may rise; from dawn to dawn again, and beyond the veil of night when we have perished.

She could not hold her eyes upon him any longer. Her face was warm. She felt spot-lit before the eyes of the strangers and exposed, so made to bow her head and hide, as her assumed pride faltered.

This mesa was vastly different from the home she had grown up within. Ramesses was unlike any suitor her father would have chosen, which is perhaps why she fell so willingly in to place here, upon this stage. This was to be her own choice.

The vows were not a vastly different thing either, come to think of it. A wife was meant to produce strong sons; that resonated between their cultures. Satsu would find a way to give Ramesses everything that he desired as they were now unified in their partnership, as their guests had witnessed.

Gone was Satsuki the girl, and Satsu the dancer; in her place stands Sobekneferu to all of Akashingo — turning to face the crowd as Ramesses declared this new title, and bowed as he bowed.

Together they would depart the stone stage — as it was time for the festivities to begin.