Two Eyes Cenote nefertem

it was midday when she awoke in her bed. the air was crisp and cool, while the rest of her felt warmed by the furs, but otherwise there was nothing special about the moment. sunlight filtered in from the cracks in the wall that served as a natural window; the incense there, housed in a small shell rather than the stiff reeds she would have placed herself, smelled strongly of lotus flower.

as nazli's eyes opened for the first time in many weeks, she licked her lips. she felt how coarse they were, how dry her tongue. beside her and upon the nearest stone plinth there were medicines, and a small bundle that might've been a simple breakfast, the kind which was familiar to the often-sick woman. easy things to chew up and carefully feed to her, she reasoned.

how long had it been?

she shifts in the bed, and feels like something is missing. her body is sluggish as if still asleep, but light, and she doesn't hold as much of a paunch as when she had first laid down here. when had that been? why had that been? she had been sick, surely — and as nazli arrives to reality, she remembers being pregnant, and fighting to give birth.

aiesha, she finally gasps, trying to rise.

She wasn’t far. Quite literally near. Walking and exploring the room on her own.

It has been over a month since she was brought upon the earth as a miracle of a baby and so now, when strong enough, and with her nose pressed to the floor, her legs carry her where they can.

For some reason though, her little body felt unable to save energy and didn't last on foot for long; a bringing concern notice. Whenever she tried to stand or keep herself firm, it was always demanding. And yes, that age of hers didn’t honor her with strength yet, though the constant freeze, tremors and the small portions of meals swallowed surely did. Soon enough, a sneeze echoed throughout the room and brought more attention to her.

It wasn’t the first time hearing her mother’s voice, but this time, it brought euphoria.

the priest held a pristine heron's feather over aiesha's small head, encouraging her to reach for it with tiny jaws. he backed here along her path, walking as she toddled.

she was without the robust strength of an infant, a fact that had set her father to chanting and to prayers more than once. he did not allow himself to think of anything beyond the fact that she would grow into it. with joy he turned.

"ah! your mother wakes," and here he set down the feather on a low shelf, and went to lift aiesha back to the bedfurs in which nazli lay half-swathed.

his eyes sought her own with great affection, and he signalled a servant passing in the corridor beyond for water, and to send word to the sesh.

the child is placed near the mother, and when nazli looks to that bundle, she wants to feel the connection. she expects to feel the connection. before anything could even begin to flourish there between them, senmut draws her attention and she smiles to him; here, there is love, so much love.

nazli goes through the motions, reaching for aiesha and feeling the warmth of her small body there. is this her daughter? her dark eyes trace over the figure; the long but bundled legs, the uncurled ears, the bright eyes. how had she missed so many milestones? her daughter would have been newborn! her lip trembles, and she looks again to senmut.

how long? how long have i been asleep?

She doesn’t notice the concern nor the question asked, like the child she is. Cuddling her mother just for a second and then once again her childlish mind desires action. Thrill and excitement. Rubbing her head against Nazli’s chest, she struggles out of her hold, sneezing and pawing the sheets underneath out of curiosity; feeling arms readjust around her once again to pull her near.

And then she flops, on her belly. And then she rolls on her back, growling and kicking those little feet against one’s poor belly. A fighter, kicker, and a strong one, she is. Almost, she falls, if not caught. No concern in the world.

"a month, my lotus," senmut murmured, moving swiftly to catch the active aiesha and set her back down to roaming the floor with its strewn couches.

together hem and hemet watched their daughter, and then his attention belonged entire to nazli. "how do you feel? shall i bring tavina?"

so good to hear the sound of her voice!

a month?
it felt like longer; it felt like no time at all.

the child roamed the floor. nazli did not see them, but could hear them, and made no attempt to move. she was still very tired and — and hungry, a sensation that surprised her.

breakfast, please, or... something. what time is it? she was addled; her questions breathy and her eyes half-lidded, and as nazli looked to senmut she smiled a worried smile. you're here. i...

she felt like apologizing.

"mid-afternoon," senmut went on to assure. his voice moved then to call a servant, to detail a light respite of honey and young rabbit brought at once for the sustenance of their hemet.

"i am here. and here i will be, as long as i can, nazli." her forehead wreathed now in his kiss, he settled close, laughing as aiesha began to gnaw one of the many toys tavina had brought for her while nazli slept.

the comfort of his promise was not to be understated. she basked in his affection and his presence, wanting to be awake for as long as she could be. it felt as though nazli had missed so much!

but it was inevitable that, given enough calm, she would drift in and out while senmut remained, guarding the family.