Encompassed with shadow did the Pharaoh become as the hulking Commander of the Medjay approached from the side.

"Exalted Pharaoh," he began, his voice gruff with the seriousness that laced his tone.

The Pharaoh, his gaze scanning over the frightened palace staff gathering in the courtyard's expanse, nodded with acknowledgment. The Heir Prince, who stood beside his father, stepped back a pace or two, intimidated by the hulk of a man that was his father's bodyguard.

"All of the palace staff have been assembled as ordered, Sire."

"Very well, Taharqa. You have my thanks. Stay near and allow no one to leave until I order it. I know you will keep a keen eye."

"Like a falcon, Your Majesty." The commander confirmed.

"Where do you find such beasts of men?" The Prince asked his father in a hushed tone.

Ramses, still not taking his eyes off the crowd, answered, "From Kush to the south, my son. From there they grow as tall and as wide as the Baobab tree."

"I can see that..." The young man shuddered.

"Watch and learn, my son," his father stated as he stepped forward on the high dais to confront the waiting staff of his palace.

"My loyal subjects," Ramses began, his voice projecting across the courtyard with minimal effort. "You are undoubtedly wondering why you have been pulled from your duties with such haste. I, your Pharaoh, master of Kemet and incarnation of Horus upon the Earth, must inform you that the harmony of Ma'at has been disrupted within these very walls!"

Collective gasps and whispers of confusion and worry echoed through the crowd. Ramses continued to scan them, especially those of the Hittite delegation, watching for any unusual behaviour to stand out like a thorn.

"A disruption which must be quashed and corrected immediately or risk this realm falling into chaos and despair! It is a disruption of which we are all responsible for weeding out."

He continued to watch over them as they began to shift uneasily, their glances darting from one person at their side, to the other and to those around them. The whispers of palace gossip became louder, and accusations began to fly.

"Silence!" Ramses' voice roared over the crowd like the lion that he embodied.

"Keep your petty grievances and gossip to yourselves, for I have not even told you what has occurred!"

The subsequent silence was so still, that one could hear the drop of a strand of hair. Some of the servants immediately threw themselves to the ground in apologetic obeisance, and soon everyone was to follow until the entire courtyard was bowed to their mighty leader in whatever way they were able.

"The maidservant of one of the royal wives was found severely beaten. So grievous are her injuries that her life is now in the hands of the gods, may they show her mercy and grant her their healing. Whoever committed such a heinous act is within these palace walls; Is amongst you!"

Ramses watched on as some raised their heads slightly to look at him and each other with surprise and horror riddled on their faces. 

"Such a crime to occur within these sacred walls is abhorrent and will be severely punished! Thus, I hope every single one of you understands the severity of the matter!"

Though his own expression had remained stern throughout, Amunherkhepershef could not feel but moved by how commanding his father's words were.

"I may be compelled to be more lenient if whoever committed this crime comes forward right here, right now."

Once more silence befell the courtyard.

Sighing, Ramses gave a slight flick of his hand. The Commander of the Medjay stepped forward once more with great strides befitting the giant.

"All stand before your Pharaoh!" 

The entire courtyard began to shift like the tides of the sea, yet many were too frightened and hesitant to move. Thus so the other Medjay who had been standing guard came forward to pull up those that hesitated, pushing and pulling them into straight rows before the Pharaoh's dais.

"You know what to do," Ramses nodded to the Commander, who, thumping his chest with his giant paw in respect, began to shout orders to those in his command.

The Medjay began to flood through the lines of those waiting. There was no escape from their rough clutches now.

Malawashina, wringing her hands behind her back, continued to pace the harem haphazardly. Nefertari, lounged on a sofa cushioned with goose-feather pillows to support the hugeness of the babe within her, fanned herself as she watched the younger princess sympathetically. Sutererey, Tiyamun, and Merytra were all present, Merytra almost in tears after having been told the news.

Shortly Henutmire, Pharaoh's older sister, entered with an air of deep concern, immediately going to Malawashina and embracing her. "Oh my dear, Mala, I am truly sorry for what has happened to your young maidservant. I came here as soon as I heard what had happened," she took Malawashina's damp, hair-streaked face into her hands and wiped away her tears.

"Thank you, Princess Henutmire, for your concern. It warms me that you are here."

"How is Utati?"

Alas, the mere question brought Malawashina to tears once more.

"Oh, Mala...I am sorry..." Henutmire embraced her once more before leading her to the space where the Queen patted. Nefertari shifted herself to put an arm around Malawashina's shoulders as she sat, offering her another handkerchief of pure, bleached linen.

"The Pharaoh, Mighty Bull of Egypt, Hand of the Law, will get to the bottom of this, sweet Mala, and severely punish the culprits." Nefertari soothed. "We have our best physicians working around the clock to care of her."

"Of which I am thankful for," Malawashina sobbed, resting her head gently on Nefertari's shoulder and taking up Merytra's hands as she knelt before them.

"But one of us is still absent, which makes me even more convinced of who the culprit could have been."

"Who could have been the culprit now?" Came Isetnofret's heartless tone as she entered the harem. All turned to look at her and the servants that had joined her.

"Who else?" Malawashina seethed as she glared at the older Princess.

"You've had it out for me ever since I arrived here, ever since I took your position, which I had no say in, of course!"

"Oh, as if I care about that!" Isetnofret rolled her eyes as she took a grape from the fruit platter on the central table.

"Stop being so petty, Malawashina. It is not befitting of an Egyptian. On the other hand, please continue. No matter what titles are bestowed upon you, you are no Egyptian, nor will you ever be one."

Nefertari hardened her grip upon the younger princess' shoulder to prevent her from launching off the sofa in a rage.

"Please, swear on the life of your eldest that you had nothing to do with this," Malawashina pleaded.

"I had nothing to do with it," Isetnofret flicked her hand dismissively.
"You should not be so quick to blame me!"

"Why not?" Henutmire shot at her. "You are spiteful and jealous of anyone who is above you, going so far as to steal their husbands!" 

A collecting gasp escaped all those within earshot, and Isetnofret's obsidian glare flared into a turbulent storm.

"How dare you..." She seethed.

"The both of you, stop this right now..." Nefertari forced herself to stand, not wanting any more commotion to bother them in their already troubled situation. Alas, emotions were already running severely high.

"Even I know this to be true, Isetnofret." Malawashina jumped in bitterly.

"You know absolutely nothing!" Isetnofret barked back.

"Is it not true that a Hittite, one of my kin, had been the cause of the death of the one you had fallen for? One that was not yours to love in the first place?"

Isetnofret's embarrassed rage shot again at Malawashina. "Shut your mouth, you Hittite dog!" She hissed through gritted teeth, her knuckles whitening as they balled at her sides.

"I will not!" Malawashina shot back, despite Nefertari and the other wives' pleas and commands to stop.

"I learnt of your circumstances behind this forbidden relationship and almost found pity for you... but for you to go so far as to have my maidservant, my best friend, beaten to an inch of her life? You are abominable and cannot be forgiven!"

"I did not touch your little whore!"

"Then who did?"

Limbs were yanked, and clothes torn as the Medjay bore through the crowd like a khamsin, searching for any signs that would lead them to the culprit; Blood stained clothes, cuts and bruises, a strange reaction - anything to give them a clue. The Pharaoh demanded answers, and he was going to get them by any means necessary.

"I do not care if we have to beat every single one of them, father, we need to find who did this," Seethed Amunherkhepershef as there were fewer and fewer servants to inspect due to lack of results.

"Calm yourself, Prince. I understand your rage, but one must always keep a level head."

Grumbling, the Prince crossed his arms as his gaze scanned the frightened gathering.

The young servant girl, Quibilah, shivered with fear as a beast of a Medjay barged his way toward her. Her breath rasped in her throat, and her heart beat wildly within her ears, drowning out the cries of panic of those around her. Before she could blink, the Medjay soldier took her roughly by the wrists. He twisted her around to inspect her clothing and turned her hands to inspect her skin. His eyes widened with what he saw.

"Here, I have found one!" He shouted over the ruckus.

In a panic, her bladder almost giving way in horror, she pulled down as hard as she could, ripping her wrists from his grasp as she turned and bolted. No sooner did she make but a few strides did she feel a severe, sharp pain as he grasped her by her lock of youth and yanked her back.

Ramses, sighing that the girl is so young, motioned to the Medjay to bring her forth. The Pharaoh, holding his fist high, called for all Medjay to cease searching. Thus, they let their charges slump to the limestone underfoot.

Locking both of her arms tightly behind her back, the Medjay dragged her towards the dais.

Amunherkhpershef shrivelled his nose in disgust. "She is so small. There is no way she did all those grievous things to Utati alone."

"Indeed," Ramses agreed as the girl continued wailing in pain and fear.

The Medjay pushed her effortlessly down to her knees and shoved her head to bow before their Monarch and Prince.

"Tell me your name," Ramses demanded, his expression stern, his voice chilling.

"Q-Quibilah, Your Majesty," she stammered.

Her name sounded familiar.

"And how does a mouse overcome the feline, Quibilah?"

The young girl, fighting back her sobs, tried to conjure a legitimate answer.

"I-It does not, Your Majesty. It is far too feeble a thing."

"Precisely," Ramses stepped forward and took her roughly by the chin, forcing her to look up into the clouded storm of his gaze.

"Unless you wish to have your body torn limb from limb before the entire court, your flesh and sinew left to be devoured by Nekhbet and her kin, I suggest it wise that you tell me exactly who your accomplice was. Or accomplices were."

With a shaking arm, the young girl immediately pointed out into the middle of the exhausted crowd, just by where she had been standing. "Her. The Nubian girl, Amunet, be her name. She was there too."

"Anyone else?"

"No, Your Majesty, I swear it. We were the only ones."

The Medjay Commander signalled to have the other girl brought over. She did not come as easily, for she struggled, kicking and screaming her innocence until she was dropped into a pitiful mess at the foot of the Pharaoh.

Amunherkhephershef saw clearly the marks and bruises on the girl's knuckles, and it took all his willpower not to lift her and stab her through with his dagger.

"You dare deny any wrongdoing though the evidence is clearly against you?" The Prince seethed.

"I swear I had nothing to do with it. She is mistaken!"

"I am not!" The younger girl wailed.

"I swear!" The older girl threw herself down to the dais. "I work the kitchens. My knuckles are always like this from kneading dough throughout the day, my Prince!"

"You lie!" He shouted, silence once more befalling the courtyard as all below the dais looked at their young Prince in shock.

"I have seen you and this wretch countless times within the Royal Harem! Who do you serve?!"

"I simply bring the food..."

Now, his rage so bare, Amunherkhepershef yanked the girl up effortlessly by her shoulders.

"Tell me who you serve under, or I will cut off your hands myself!"

"It is Princess Isetnofret, your Highness!" Cried the younger girl. "Please, have mercy!"

Amunherkhepershef's gaze went blank as he dropped her.

He turned to his father, whose gaze, too, was void of emotion. Yet behind those gleaming eyes was a rage no remedy could soothe.

Though the others had tried to stop them to no avail, Isetnofret and Malawashina hurled insult after insult at each other, even ignoring their Queen.

"The little whore deserved it!" Isetnofret shouted. "Gallivanting about with the Heir Prince! Who on this very Earth does the little slut think she is?"

"Do not call her that!" Malawashina screamed. "I will drag you to Ammit's jaws myself!"

"Do not sully the Great Goddess' name with your mouth!"

Isetnofret's nails dug into Malawashina's scalp as she ripped off her wig in a rage, throwing it straight back into the Hittite Princess' face. Malawashina felt the jewels and gold clasps knick at her skin as they made an impact. Screaming once more, Malawashina launched herself at Isetnofret, despite Merytra and Tiyamun trying to restrain her, and connected her fist with Isetnofret's finely chiselled jaw.

"That was a grievous mistake," Isetnofret growled.

Regardless of the shouting from the others, the pair would not stop their brawl.

Isetnofret, using all the strength she could muster, took Malawashina by the arms and hurled her as far back as she could manage. Little did she realise, however, that Nefertari was in the direct path of the throw.

Malawashina, unable to steady herself, fell straight into the Queen, causing both to tumble to the hard limestone flooring and the low cedarwood table behind them.

Having seen the event unfold just as he entered the harem, Ramses hurtled himself over the sofas until he stood between Isetnofret and Malawashina, who was attempting to stand.

The clap of his palm across Isetnofret's cheek resonated over the ruckus, causing all within to freeze.

"Cease this madness at once!" He shouted as he spun around to face Malawashina, who was now staring down at the Queen with a mortified expression painting her face.

Immediately she raced to help the Queen, but Nefertari, too frustrated, shoved her hand away. Ramses, too, shoved the Princess aside as he went down to his love, fear and worry striking his expression now.

"M-My Majesty, I-I did not mean to..."

"You do not dare touch her, Malawashina. You have done quite enough as it is!"

"I-I am alri..." Nefertari strained to speak. Yet, before she could finish her words, she let out a loud wail of pain, stumbling back into Ramses' arms with the intensity of it. She felt a deep heat and sudden wetness gush from between her thighs. All gasped in horror at the crimson yellow which now stained her once bleached linen dress.

Malawashina, gasping again, clasped her hands to her mouth. Even Isetnofret, who was clutching her jaw, appeared full of worry. Alas, The Pharaoh's gaze fell upon the younger princess. His voice, so low that only she could hear, growled, "Get out of my sight."

Nefertari began to moan in pain as Ramses gently put her arm around his shoulders to lift her from the floor.

"It will be alright, my beloved star," he whispered to her like a gentle caress.

"It is too soon..." She whimpered, her vision blurring suddenly as the world began to whir around her.

"Ramses..."  All blackened then, and her body became limp within her husband's arms.