forward dated one day to 3/16
@Satsu @Siptah @Tavina/belen/ramesses
no one tagged is obligated to join <3
The first 10 days of her life had been peaceful. She slept and ate, with soft affection and tender care from her mother peppered in between the two.
Today would be different. The princess woke and was immediately alarmed. Everything was so bright and there was a large, blurry blob moving in and out of the den. Ash cried out with obvious discontent at how her world had changed so drastically. She had been happy with how things had been, and now they were completely different.
She raised her head as much as she could and cried in her mother's direction. She clearly needed help.
always up for family threads! <3
His eyes opened, and he could see. The Prince blinked, and his eyes refocused on the foggy, fuzzy shape that was his sister as she cried out. He crawled over to her, displeased; why was she making so much noise? He whined, and even gave his first little growl of irritation.
One of the daughters cried, filling the royal chamber. Satsu had finally found some time to sleep and was jolted by the sudden change.
Shhh, my little kusa-fū,
her little reed was whistling, letting the wind fill her lungs. Satsu could not tell which of the twins it was at first, but comforted them all the same. Held close, with soft and sleepy kisses bestowed.
months earlier, a very thoughtful and intelligent woman had left a wedding gift for the pharaoh and his wife.
the organ meats were long gone and the herbs too had been used or dried in storerooms.
tavina had found a water-carved piece of wood beside the creekbed. it was wide enough for growing bodies, and the lip of it was lifted, creating a natural depression. with sayf's help she had dragged it back to the mesa, into satsu's bedchamber.
she used the mink furs to line this cradle, and with satsu's blessing, she moved the three children to their own bed.
but today they were back in her sleeping furs. tavina hovered close, smiling gently at the little ones.
Her brother's growl only intensified her distress. Why was he reacting that way? Why did everything look so different? She had no capacity to deal with so much change so young.
Then came her mother's comforting words and soothing kisses. She had no idea what was said, but she found comfort in Satsu's voice all the same.
Ash quieted down, emitting only a few quiet squeaks. Her stomach demanded food then, and she found nourishment immediately, forgetting about her distress for now.
Their mother appeased Ashikaga, and Siptah's sister settled down to nurse once more. He, however, had better things to do; he could see one another figure, neither his mother nor his sisters, and he gave another whining growl, as if to ask the wolf, why did she get attention and he didn't? He was still too young to know jealousy, but he, too, sought comfort.
Ashikaga latched to her.
The boy protested, and so Satsu looked to him and began to perform her duties as mother: cleaning, kissing, holding close. She had to adjust to the feeling of being supped upon by tiny mouths and it was disturbing to the queen, but she found comfort in the little faces she had borne, and their voices, and their smell.
But she was not only their mother — she was queen, as as such she could not always tend to them.
Do you think Ramesses wishes I return to court?
She asks the air, intending for Tavina to answer. The other woman was more versed with the way of Ramesses' world and what was to be expected. She had been one of the many voices calling for Satsu to name a nursemaid; but she had yet to do this, feeling so strongly connected to her children.
tavina looked up from where she had been cleaning a milk-stain from one of the mink furs.
"yes, highness," the sesh said plainly. "men left to their own devices will find pretty replacements. you do not want to wait so long that one of his diversions becomes a favorite."
belen was a natural choice but it was kasmut she most suspected. yet the woman voiced none of this. she only waited for satsu to speak again.
the queen listened, and lamented to herself.
her children were everything to her now that they had arrived, yet she knew she had to be present for her husband. she knew also that he had expectations - that her children be given over to a wetnurse, so that she could continue in her role. his traditions were not so far from those of her own people.
with a sigh, satsu nods.
do we have anyone who can feed my children while i am gone?
it would not be for long; they would soon grow in to their teeth and begin to eat what was offered from the storehouse. satsu looked upon their little bodies as she ruminated over what to do.
ahhhh not sure if i was supposed to be skipping
@Ashikaga and/or
@Siptah, but replying again for posterity, please kick me
the queen spoke.
tavina saw an opportunity for both herself and
@Jawahir. she would mend what was broken later, or live with the hebsut's new loathing for her.
"the jewel of akashingo has milk to spare." she would not elaborate.
"i have suggested that they take the role of royal wet-nurse for the time being." tavina hoped that satsu would not be so curious. she stepped forward to nose the young prince affectionately.
Siptah can be skipped <3
His mother tended to him, but he was in a mood, and would not settle at first. The stranger's presence interested him - the young Prince kept his gaze on Tavina, watching her while she and his mother conversed, and when she moved to nose him, he did not pull away. Eventually, however, he grew bored and tired, and settled down beside his sisters.
Satsu had expected an answer, and got one. She did not like the jewel in particular and upon hearing the woman speak of the vile creature, sucked in a breath too quickly, and then lay there glowering over the prospect of Jawahir being let anywhere near the royal children.
Tavina could have offered others, if there had been others. If this was the only option then Satsu would have to stow her animosity and make it work; she had duties to perform and a husband to keep happy, which was more important in the long run.
Then that is what we will do. Jawahir will be given the children to nurse - with a companion, always.
Her expression was sharper, harder. There was no room for compromise on this. The coyote may have been equipped to feed the children but that didn't mean she'd be left alone.
"it will be done, highness." there was no reason to argue and jawahir had much to gain back.
tavina bowed her head. if satsu needed her for nothing else she meant to withdraw into her own rooms and her own studies, though she would be available as anyone else for a single royal need.