Lion Head Mesa adoration

Toula listens in silence, thinking while the waters sluiced between her shoulder blades and descended from her crown. she trusts the counsel of her personal fellahin perhaps greater than any other. 
these names would continue to linger within her mind, all from Eset’s speaking of them. the power of a voice! it could move kingdoms. 
and perhaps this was why as of yet she has no words of her own. except as Eset spoke another. there was uncertainty present in the one eye she opened that turned toward the fellahin. that trust, there, too. soothed by the touch, and feeling her worries melt away even while that uncertainty seemed to mount, Toula asked, …passion? with plenty of wonder in the word. is that the same thing as love? she had heard the word, but had never taken its meaning—all these things danced around, for the sake of propriety perhaps. but Toula found she heard it again and again, in the place of where one might expect to hear the word she thought was meant.
and Toula was solemn; once, she might have had love! now she dreamt of it still, but the words of Senmut resonated. her choice… this king… they might well become Pharaoh. she could not be led by anything other than her mind—but Toula did not let this be something to dread. 
no—any who could help her in continuing building this place to greatness… they were worthy of her love, after all! even if that might come later!