It was funny that she had nearly as many siblings as Meketre had...once...but she struggled to keep all of his straight sometimes. "He's not the richest anything. Not anymore," she muttered, strongly tempted to just go and stab the old man herself for all the misery he'd caused. Ankhes didn't though, she knew it would be important to her husband to do that himself.
One of these days she was going to have to at least try and learn at least a basic phrase or two in their other language because it did get a little frustrating at times not being able to follow. Knowing her husband as well as she did though always helped, she could guess his intentions without words. "I said he wouldn't object, we've talked before about what we'd do someday when he made a mistake. Not remotely a price any of us wanted to pay, but now he'll never trouble anyone again."
She smiled at the fact that he seemed to have accepted it now, and nodded her head. "We'd never dream of such a thing. Horemheb will have to take on more when you're busy of course, but he's always been a decent man I think he'd be up to the challenge," she said, nodding at him, "And of course we will. Probably me most of all. After all, my parents used to care about us and we girls were never far from court functions. It's been my entire life, I may as well help put it to use. No offense meant to you of course, Pharaohing is all you" she teased, grinning at Tut.
"Though don't forget your new vizirness, I'm still in charge for now and I do very much expect my orders about resting to be obeyed. Or I swear by Amun I will find you the heaviest, most ridiculous hat to wear I can find."
“Considering how both of you were raised, I guessed most of it would have to come from you, My Lady,” Meketre said before trying not to have a visible reaction when pain shot through his stomach.
Tut could tell his friend needed a moment, so he looked at his wife with a tired and sad smile, “I…was…considered…less… than…human…” He said before closing his eyes for a minute, before she threatened to put Meketre through ridiculous headwear. “Have…mercy…hapepy.”
Just then, Ka knocked on the door before slipping in with his cousin Setka, Uncle Khaemwaset, and Uncle Ruia holding a firm stretcher. Setka and Khaemwaset were as tall as their father and eldest brother, so they could easily help Meketre move, and Ruia came in because he was one of the few people who could reach Meketre. “This is the one time we will give my stubborn twin a little slack for running himself into the ground,” Ruia said as his brother and their two nephews bowed before going over to the bed. “Thank the Gods, My Lord, My Lady.”
“Ruia…” Tutankhamun said, before pulling the woodworker into a hug, switching to Semitic-Canaanite again. “Sit…on…that…one…for…me.” He pointed to Meketre.
“My Lord, all I am trying to do right now is not bring up what Nepherhotep gave me and try not to scream because my back and stomach are on fire.” The soldier said in the same language since Ankhesenamun could understand very little of it. “I am not going to fight anyone.”
“You are not going to fight us now, but you are going to start to as soon as you feel a little better,” Ruia said as he looked directly at his twin. “I am not above tying you down and letting Herit and the kids sit on you.” He then smiled at the Queen as he said in Egyptian before starting for the side of the bed, Meketre. “The Shadow will behave, My Lady, but moving him will hurt.”
“I will do my best not to scream,” Meketre said in Egyptian as they got everything into position, and Setka apologized to his pharaoh before getting on the bed between his uncle and Tut. Tutankhamun tiredly squeezed his friend’s hand one more time before the soldier swore loudly in his native language as he was slid onto the firm stretcher.
Meketre then looked at Ankhesenamun sheepishly, considering even though she didn’t speak Semitic-Canaanite, she could probably guess the nature of what he had just said, “Sorry, My Lady.” He said in Egyptian before Setka and Khaemwaset carried him out of the room and across the hall.
“Forgive me, My Lord and My Lady,” Nepherhotep said to the royal couple as he gathered some of his things. “My brother’s condition is only a few steps above yours, and I need to get him settled, stabilized, and comfortable. I will be right across the hall if you need anything, but the main thing you both need is rest and peace.”
“Go…” Tut said just above a whisper before growing worried at what the physician just said. “Is…he…going…to…die?”
“No, not at all, my Lord,” Nepherhotep said kindly. “But he is very sick, and there might be some more permanent damage to his back, but I cannot be certain because he has not let me do more than the basic things when this happens.”
