Lion Head Mesa winged sun

this is going to be a very long, three part meeting to cover several bases and provide segues into side threads. attendance strongly encouraged but not mandatory! feel free to reply as many times as u want <3

set for tomorrow morning (7.20.22)

the time to bury the queen had come.
queen satsu's body which had been prepared for seventy days was now taken down from the top of the mesa. there was weeping as the mazoi bore her between them, upon the main red artery which led through akashingo and out once more. @Akhtar and @Qiao helmed the procession. @Siptah walked just behind, flanked by @Ashikaga and @Makono.
@Charles, @Maegi, lilitu, and @Gucci were all expected to be there if possible. the only one truly excused was @Jawahir, for their service as meshkenet. ramesses knew little of the children borne by maegi, but if @Midas and @Medusa were ready to walk, he would see them there as well.
today, escorted by @Sokha, raimo and jakoul, would be treva, @Toula, and @Sethnakht. it was their first appearance as royal family. tavina would follow them, casting encouraging looks toward the little pharaonic pair.
bringing up the rear were the fellahin, where under the instruction of @Sayf, nazli and @Zakariya were expected to help the others carry the sun-withered body of maggie. she would be buried at satsu's feet, and when both passed to the afterlife, maggie would be the eternal servant to the lotus queen.
weeping was encouraged if not commanded. sihaya and sayyadina moved behind the procession. 
both the queen and the dead fellahin had been wrapped in new bindings, which held the heavy scent of flowers crushed below the earth.
everyone who was able would be asked to carry the red desert blossoms which grew in profusion outside the palace.
ramesses walked beside the procession. his voice rang out in song.

you are anointed with oil
your steps are light
go now to the land of reeds
i will not forget the dance of our wedding
i will not forget your face
Ra waits to embrace you
i will wait to kiss your face
i will join you in the land of the dead
i will see you as a goddess
when the river is high we all will remember your goodness
and how you shaped us into gold

he sang as they crossed the summer-shallow river, the water warm to touch the ankles. the island spread out before them, and there was the grand labour of love: a great pile of stones, the tomb at its top. each flower would be thrown in to match many others and many more. satsu and maggie would rest their bones in a sweet-smelling place. good foods and delicate meats had been packed for their journey to the afterlife. pharaoh stood at its top with siptah, and watched as each body was lowered.
"goodbye, my love."
his voice was hoarse and carried in the dry air.
"akashingo's history will carry your name."
stones were shifted by all of their efforts, then, to enclose the top of the tomb.
it was done.
"this place will be known as the Valley of Queens." a serpent slithered across his paw as he spoke. he did not move. asps were sacred and they would guard this place.

set for tomorrow afternoon

ramesses retired with them all to his throne room.
he motioned treva and toula and sethnakht forward.
"these are my children, the second prince and princess of akashingo."
he lifted his chin above any murmurs that might sound. his lazuli eyes fell to their mother. "treva and i are to be married before wintertide. you will henceforth from this moment on recognize her as your queen."
this time it felt rushed, but he supposed it was only the ending of their long mourning. "treva. name the son and daughter of akashingo."
and he would cast his gaze among them for any disapproval. any misuse. any threat or suggestion that anything was amiss. this was right and good in the sight of the gods. akashingo must have its balance. and through ramesses, his son and daughter, and treva herself, were divine.
"she is your princess. he is your prince," ramesses said, standing when she had said their names.
he would hear nothing else.
"bring food," he told the fellahin. he motioned sokha forward to sing or to dance, if she would. anyone who wished to leave at this time was dismissed, otherwise ramesses would break their long fast with entertainment and rich food and overripened berries prepared for this moment.

set for tomorrow evening

siptah, ashikaga, and makono gathered with ramesses in the open-air throne room. with them were the guard from mereo and the young servant whom his daughter had chosen for this. "send word," he reminded his young princess, "once you have settled."
his eyes were cold upon @Glaukos. "the roman may trust you, but this is a test for my own."
and then to makono again, softer. "you are a divine daughter of akashingo, my lotus flower. ensure all who look upon you may know it."
he would stand with ashikaga and siptah, and the three of them would watch over makono until she was gone from sight.