Two Eyes Cenote calling the scarlet sands

much work had gone in to this moment. the cenote was cleansed of spirits by priests, and the temple nazli hoped to build was thusly found and made ready. she was pleased to be of use; pleased to make those around her happy, and give the heir her perfect moment.

nazli did as she wished in the evenings leading up to this. she basked in the starlight and spoke quiet hymns to the moon, trying to reach out with her faculties and become something - someone - that Akhtar and Senmut would approve of. in the daylight she rested, or worked reeds in to prayer mats, or gathered plants and ran little errands; but night became her favorite time, and by studying the sky she thought she could learn the pattern of the clouds and the winds, so that the best day would be picked for Toula.

as the sky now began to rebel against the ceremony it was nazli who grew sullen, cursing under her breath at her own ineptitude. her studies would take more effort to make up for this blunder! where had this wind come from? why did the gods obscure the moon on this night of all nights? she prayed, and listened to Senmut through her prayer, and upon opening her eyes beheld Toula and her chosen.

a part of her wished it was Makono she looked upon. an ache deep in her chest begged for this; and in that instant, she did not see Rashepses standing there but herself, and her beloved royal sister. it was there and then it was gone; Toula in her finery, Rashepses kissing her brow.

the crowd having gathered now rapt with their attention. they would not notice the deflation of the hemet, her sulking, her slinking back out with attentions front-facing. all her love for Akashingo was there of course; she would be present for the resulting celebration - but for now, slipping away from the thick of it, she would mourn.