Sedik's Forbidden Ecstasy

It was the first day of my first visit to the palace of Pharaoh. I had just turned eighteen and it was time for me to go on a pilgrimage and pay homage to the Gods, but instead of going north towards Heliopolis, I would be visiting the temple of Amun at Karnak. Although I was excited to finally catch a glimpse of the Pharaoh in person and see the grandeur of this grand city, I was terrified. My father had told me that all who worked at the court were envious because Pharaoh had an insatiable appetite for beautiful women and young men.

"Be wary of your words and actions," he said as he waved goodbye, "You are now a woman, so speak with a woman's melody and walk with a woman's grace." He kissed my forehead and wished me well.

I would be staying in the royal harem for my two-week stay in Egypt, but it wasn't anything like what I had heard about. The palace was vast and sprawling with large gardens and courtyards. There were large columns that soared towards the sky like trees and statues of Gods everywhere; it was truly breathtaking. However, when I arrived at my chambers, I was horrified by what awaited me.

The room was decorated with pink silk curtains and there were daisies strewn across the floor. There were toys everywhere: dolls, wooden animals and toy soldiers made in the shape of horses, cats and birds. When I opened one of the drawers in my chest, there were even baby clothes! What sort of joke is this? I thought as I slammed it shut angrily.

"I am here by order of His Majesty," A voice suddenly announced from behind me as if reading my mind. "He wishes you to dress up like a child during your stay."

I whirled around, shocked at her announcement. She wore the traditional high collared robe with a garment bound tightly around her waist covering everything but her face. Her hair was covered by a scarf that fell down to her chin; she looked like she could have been my older sister or even mother!

"But why?" I asked her confused by her strange request. "You do not understand," She said taking off her scarf revealing perfectly straight black hair that reached all the way down to her waist. She then untied her robe so that it hung loosely off one shoulder revealing smooth olive skin on which rested a simple necklace made up of blue stones shaped into small flowers. "This is how you are expected to dress while you are here." Her tone was sharp yet soothing as she gazed directly into my eyes without blinking once. "These are not just clothes but symbols of your submission to His Majesty." She then took out some underwear from within her robe before handing them over to me gently saying "You must wear these too." "Wait!" I shrieked as she walked towards the door looking back at me with an amused smile playing on her lips when she saw that I hadn't taken off my robes yet. "What will happen if I refuse?" She grinned gleefully before laughing uncontrollably for a few seconds before regaining control over herself again. "Nothing bad will happen," she replied coolly after composing herself once again, "But His Majesty has many ways to make you do what he wants." As soon as she finished speaking those words, there was a knock on my door signalling that our meeting had ended abruptly.