Myshuno! prompt 1: Too many wives.
Oct. 1st, 2013 11:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fuzzysporkPrompt: "I think I might have too many wives." (from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
leilia)
Rating: Teen, because of the subject matter (mild woohoo references)
Word Count: 874
Notes: This is a scene I planned to happen in chapter 3 (but that could change... my outlining process sucks). The prompt fit the situation so well that I felt compelled to finally write this one out! This is definitely a spoiler.
My Card
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Edfu put down the papyrus and sighed. “Narmer, as your vizier it’s my duty to report important business and receive your mandate. I am confident with the choices I made on your behalf, but you could at least pretend to have some interest.”
The young king blinked and turned his eyes toward Edfu, “Hm? Oh, that’s fine, little brother.” But immediately the crease in Narmer’s brow returned as his attention drifted back to the far end of the pond and the group of women there.
Edfu followed Narmer’s gaze and he contemplated the women sitting in the shade beyond the water lilies. The distance was such that he could not hear their conversations, nor vice versa, but the scene was easy enough to translate. Two of the royal wives, the slender one and the exotic one, were smiling and speaking amiably with each other while twisting out threads of linen and winding them onto bobbins. Their entourage of servants lounged directly behind them, playing musical instruments and lazily waving fans to keep the flies off their mistresses. The queen, Esi sat at a measured distance away from the others with only one elderly handmaid who was dozing next to her. The Grand Wife was the picture aristocratic beauty and cultured poise as she gracefully fanned herself with a single ostrich feather. However, one of the other two wives let out a peal of laughter causing Esi to halt the fan and throw a fiery glare in that direction. This suggested to Edfu that her physical separation from the others was quite intentional.
Then it occurred to him, “With so many beautiful flowers in his pasture, no wonder the young bull can’t concentrate on politics!”
Edfu chuckled, “We have one more matter to settle, brother, before I take my leave and leave you to your ... entertainments.” He winked and tilted his head toward the women across the pond. “But I believe this one will excite you.” Edfu nudged the king with his elbow.
Narmer raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re bordering on annoying, little brother. Get on with it.”
“Now that we have a trading agreement with Punt, the king is sending you his prettiest daughter as a consort to solidify the partnership.” Edfu smirked, “He also offered his prettiest son in case that was more your taste.”
“Another wife?!” Narmer bellowed. The music from across the pond stilled and all those eyes were on the two men for several moments, and then slowly went back to their own business.
The king lowered his voice, “Another wife? The three I already have are going to be the death of me, Edfu. A forth woman in my life will very likely send me straight to Seth.” Narmer rubbed his temples.
“Then,” Edfu snorted, “You'd prefer the pretty son?” Narmer growled at him.
“Narmer, I assure you that even the Punt king’s ugliest daughter is dazzling to a man’s senses. I've seen those daughters myself! Besides, regardless of which one you get you can’t refuse her because this marriage is the contract.” Edfu clapped a hand down on Narmer's shoulder, “By the gods, brother! To have such a pleasing harem of young wives to choose from every day. You are the luckiest man I know!”
“Lucky.” Narmer rolled his eyes. “There is no ‘choosing’ on my part, Edfu. I am not in control of anything in my own household anymore, and certainly not my own bed. “ Narmer thrust his arm toward the group of women across the pond in an agitated way, “One of them would not hesitate to put a knife in my back if I even so much as hinted that we should share a chamber after dark! And then there’s the one who is trying to kill me with copulation! I have to keep a priest and several servants near me at all times just to keep her from mounting me at every turn, and sometimes even that doesn't stop her! Then there’s the one who only comes to me when she’s staggering drunk! She lays there like a corpse except for the uncontrollable weeping, but she won't let me remove myself from that misery until I've completed the act!”
Narmer made an exaggerated “so-you-see-my-dilemma!” expression and slumped back with a huff.
Edfu snapped his gaping mouth shut. This was not exactly the reaction he expected. He watched the women across the pond for a few minutes while Narmer’s strange confession spun around in his head. Then he wondered tentatively, “So, uh... which one is trying to copulate you to death?”
The dark look he got from his brother made Edfu shrink. “Just kidding.” He clumsily moved some of the papyrus sheets around and cleared his throat, “I’ll, uh, need your mark on this one and then I’ll be on my way. The king of Punt’s daughter will arrive at the end of the month, “ Edfu cringed in case this brought another outburst, but Narmer seemed resigned and simply waved a hand.
“All right. Well, I’ll return with more business in the morning. “ Edfu gathered his things and walked towards the palace.
Before exiting the garden, he paused to glance back at the three royal women and sighed, “Lucky bastard.”
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leilia)Rating: Teen, because of the subject matter (mild woohoo references)
Word Count: 874
Notes: This is a scene I planned to happen in chapter 3 (but that could change... my outlining process sucks). The prompt fit the situation so well that I felt compelled to finally write this one out! This is definitely a spoiler.
My Card
-------------------------
Edfu put down the papyrus and sighed. “Narmer, as your vizier it’s my duty to report important business and receive your mandate. I am confident with the choices I made on your behalf, but you could at least pretend to have some interest.”
The young king blinked and turned his eyes toward Edfu, “Hm? Oh, that’s fine, little brother.” But immediately the crease in Narmer’s brow returned as his attention drifted back to the far end of the pond and the group of women there.
Edfu followed Narmer’s gaze and he contemplated the women sitting in the shade beyond the water lilies. The distance was such that he could not hear their conversations, nor vice versa, but the scene was easy enough to translate. Two of the royal wives, the slender one and the exotic one, were smiling and speaking amiably with each other while twisting out threads of linen and winding them onto bobbins. Their entourage of servants lounged directly behind them, playing musical instruments and lazily waving fans to keep the flies off their mistresses. The queen, Esi sat at a measured distance away from the others with only one elderly handmaid who was dozing next to her. The Grand Wife was the picture aristocratic beauty and cultured poise as she gracefully fanned herself with a single ostrich feather. However, one of the other two wives let out a peal of laughter causing Esi to halt the fan and throw a fiery glare in that direction. This suggested to Edfu that her physical separation from the others was quite intentional.
Then it occurred to him, “With so many beautiful flowers in his pasture, no wonder the young bull can’t concentrate on politics!”
Edfu chuckled, “We have one more matter to settle, brother, before I take my leave and leave you to your ... entertainments.” He winked and tilted his head toward the women across the pond. “But I believe this one will excite you.” Edfu nudged the king with his elbow.
Narmer raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re bordering on annoying, little brother. Get on with it.”
“Now that we have a trading agreement with Punt, the king is sending you his prettiest daughter as a consort to solidify the partnership.” Edfu smirked, “He also offered his prettiest son in case that was more your taste.”
“Another wife?!” Narmer bellowed. The music from across the pond stilled and all those eyes were on the two men for several moments, and then slowly went back to their own business.
The king lowered his voice, “Another wife? The three I already have are going to be the death of me, Edfu. A forth woman in my life will very likely send me straight to Seth.” Narmer rubbed his temples.
“Then,” Edfu snorted, “You'd prefer the pretty son?” Narmer growled at him.
“Narmer, I assure you that even the Punt king’s ugliest daughter is dazzling to a man’s senses. I've seen those daughters myself! Besides, regardless of which one you get you can’t refuse her because this marriage is the contract.” Edfu clapped a hand down on Narmer's shoulder, “By the gods, brother! To have such a pleasing harem of young wives to choose from every day. You are the luckiest man I know!”
“Lucky.” Narmer rolled his eyes. “There is no ‘choosing’ on my part, Edfu. I am not in control of anything in my own household anymore, and certainly not my own bed. “ Narmer thrust his arm toward the group of women across the pond in an agitated way, “One of them would not hesitate to put a knife in my back if I even so much as hinted that we should share a chamber after dark! And then there’s the one who is trying to kill me with copulation! I have to keep a priest and several servants near me at all times just to keep her from mounting me at every turn, and sometimes even that doesn't stop her! Then there’s the one who only comes to me when she’s staggering drunk! She lays there like a corpse except for the uncontrollable weeping, but she won't let me remove myself from that misery until I've completed the act!”
Narmer made an exaggerated “so-you-see-my-dilemma!” expression and slumped back with a huff.
Edfu snapped his gaping mouth shut. This was not exactly the reaction he expected. He watched the women across the pond for a few minutes while Narmer’s strange confession spun around in his head. Then he wondered tentatively, “So, uh... which one is trying to copulate you to death?”
The dark look he got from his brother made Edfu shrink. “Just kidding.” He clumsily moved some of the papyrus sheets around and cleared his throat, “I’ll, uh, need your mark on this one and then I’ll be on my way. The king of Punt’s daughter will arrive at the end of the month, “ Edfu cringed in case this brought another outburst, but Narmer seemed resigned and simply waved a hand.
“All right. Well, I’ll return with more business in the morning. “ Edfu gathered his things and walked towards the palace.
Before exiting the garden, he paused to glance back at the three royal women and sighed, “Lucky bastard.”
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