Two Eyes Cenote tungsten

her loneliness had become a bitter knifepoint that cut her gut when she woke in the morning.

tavina had begun drinking tincture of hollyhock to deal with the malady. even now she bent over the different portions of the plant, muttering to herself. 

idly the sesh wondered if any of the children newly wandering the halls might find medicine a suitable diversion, one day.

a sour taste lingered on nazli's tongue all day, every day. she thought she had brought back a sickness from akashingo and—well, better it was her and not the divine one! but she kept to herself more often as the weeks progressed, and by the month mark things had not gotten better.
she had sought out remedies without bothering any of the fellahin.

it wasn't until nazli noticed a tenderness to her belly that she became concerned.

nazli found the sesh tending to a collection of hollyhock.
tavina, she called, shuffling in to the woman's space.

she did not want to draw attention—but.
quietly, the woman took a breath to steady her nerves—and something inside of her moved.
ough...!

the purpled eyes were narrow with concern and something like disbelief.

had she known? and only ignored? "come in, nazli," tavina murmured, bustling to the door and ushering the young hemet into the examination room standing in green fragrance with newly cut yamroot off to one side.

"how many weeks?" but she knew, did she not?

she knew.

she had seen queen treva turn gravid and now saw these signs within herself, and she knew.

now, tavina saw.

the blessing— it had been meant for toula! and yet, she had anointed herself with extra, sacred oils and made her wish.

tavina, what do i do? it was all she wanted; but she was hemet. and the father—senmut, surely?

but he acted the part of a God.
i won't be rid of this. i can't. her features drawn now, and eyes glossy. wasn't this a blessing? would she be forgiven?

"then you become a mother, nazli."

there was no questioning of what was to be done if it was what she desired. "you conceived with a priest, in an act of godliness. this pregnancy will be seen as their blessing."

a dark paw moved to cover that of the young woman's own. "are you certain this is what you want, nazli?" the purpled eyes were deeply searching, asking for the fullest truth.

yes, she answered so quickly and so fully, with that one word.

i—i want to be a mother. i want this. i've prayed for this every night for moons upon moons!

a gasp, and the brimming of happy tears! and then she thinks of senmut. i know it is not right for a hemet. i ask, can i devote my heart and soul to the gods and to children? and in the question i feel the answer. this was an act of god, tavina had confirmed as much.

—i trust in Them.

vibes

"we will help you, nazli, eset and i and inji. you are surrounded by those who think highly of you and will help you to raise these young ones."

she cupped the chin of the young priestess in her palm; "the gods have answered your prayers, nazli. they would not give you this blessing if you could not handle it. and look where your children will be born! among altars, in a sacred palace."

tavina smiled, joyous for the girl who had become her daughter despite her physician's fears.