Tesni watched him, covertly but closely.
She lay in the shade amongst some attending lionesses, her blue eyes never leaving Niuserskhet. The golden lion had come into the temple gardens, drifted about, paying his respects to one of his teachers, stopping to laugh with another brother of theirs, before going to rest with his friends. She had been an adult already when he’d been a newborn. She had seen him and the rest of her younger siblings grow up into the adolescents they were today. However, Tesni had always watched over Niuserakhet especially because he was the eldest of her brothers.
For she was the crown princess and brought up to be a queen as there had been no male heir in /her/ litter. Yet there Niuserakhet lay now, the male heir to her father, born of her mother. Tesni excused herself from the females she’d been relaxing with and went in search of Johari.
The queen in question was just coming from checking on the lessons for the cubs, marveling a bit on how they were all growing so quickly. The two largest litters in the pride lands had already reached adolescence. It wouldn't be long now before they lost their plaits and were allowed to marry and mate. Their own second litter was among these...
"Time and sand have so much in common." Mused the lioness to no one in particular as she roamed out of the shade of the temple and between the lion statues lining the pathway.
Speaking of her children, her thoughts had been turning over them over and over in the last months. There were so many to keep track of now, and each one was so different! Sometimes it seemed enough to make her head spin.
She crossed from the garden entrance, slinked along the pillared side of the temple’s main yard and kept an eye out for her mother, the queen. Tesni finally spotted her along the walk where the statues lay as stone Guardians, two by two. Normally she’d go greet her affectionately (though, not too affectionately given they’d only seen each other recently and they were out and about). Instead, she looked a little tense despite her usual smile as she approached.
“Mother.”
Johari paused, looking the way of Tesni's voice, turning, and immediately noticing that her daughter was on edge about something. She pivoted on her paws easily to face the approaching heiress, nuzzling her gently in greeting.
"Tesni...! Darling, is there something on your mind...?"
“I wanted to get your opinion on something, before I raise the matter with father.” Tesni had always come to Johari for her take on things growing up. It wasn’t that she was not independent. She was an adult capable of making up her mind without having to run to mummy. She did however respect her mother has an elder, a monarch and a lioness who’d made her own way in the world, so who better to go to for their point of view?
“May we talk in private, please?”
"Of course dear..." Johari replied, reaching to rub her head against Tesni's in what she hoped would be a soothing matter. "Your father is still tending to his rounds, our den should be free."
The dual-toned female was ready to head that way then, but waited for her daughter to indicate that she was ready. She was always curious when she asked to speak. The both of them were exceptionally proud of their daughter, but sometimes Johari was still astounded by how much she had taken to heart her lessons and her dedication to the pride. Upepo and some of his siblings could certainly have taken a page from Tesni's book.
Tesni pushed back with her forehead, returning the gesture. She bobbed her head in both agreement and in deference before waiting until her mother was ready to walk before falling into step with her. Perhaps Tesni had taken too well to be role as crown princess. Even strolling back to the den with Johari, she still followed etiquette about how she should pace herself alongside the ruling queen (just a little behind but not as far back as her shoulder, mimic her every step to compliment and be pleasing to the eye). Things that were rarely noticed by most pride members nor enforced by either ruler.
When they reached the den however, the paler two-coloured lioness relaxed somewhat.
Once within the cool shadows of the den again her fur seemed to immediately cool. The sun absolutely baked out there. The shade was a god send. "Well then, Tesni, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Johari questioned, lowering her head to take off her head piece, picking it up carefully in her jaws aftewards and setting it up on the shelf of their quarters.
“Niuserakhet.”
Tesni smiled as her mother took off her finery, watching as she put it away. She had memories as a cub watching the same thing before bedtime on nights when she was still up. It was odd the little things that could make you smile. Her tenseness was starting to ease, now she’d decided to talk to someone about her thoughts.
“He’s growing into a fine young prince, isn’t he?”
Ah, yes.... No coincidence that he came up, in particular. Suddenly Johari was sure she suspected the topic of this discussion. Their eldest son, brought to attention by their eldest caughter, their eldest child, of course. "Yes... he's learned his lessons as thoroughly as you."
Johari looked to Tesni, wondering if she'd say it without prompting.
"He's got a good head on his shoulders, and kind." She smiled softly, but fell quiet then.
“True. But he’s never had to live up to any particular duty, beyond being a good example as a prince, and with so many siblings that’s not really distinguishing pressure. I mean no disrespect to my siblings, my littermates or those younger than us, but…”
It was different, being the crown princess to being a princess or a prince. Tesni would never have got away with – or even thought of trying to – some of the things that say, Acenath had got away with. There were extra lessons, more expectations of you, less freedom in some aspects of your life. Tesni was not complaining but these were the facts.
“Would he be able to handle it?”
"Are you asking, or suggesting, dear heart?" Johari asked with a small smile, but then seemed concerened. "You're not unhappy, are you? As the crowned princess...?"
She would be surprised (What mother doesn't think they know their child well enough to know such things?), but would do what she could to help their daughter. She was certain that Muroki wouldn't want her to be unhappy either.
“I don’t know yet. If I’m asking or suggesting.” She said truthfully, then sighed before meeting her mothers eyes. Tesni shook her head thoughtfully.
“I’ve never been unhappy with my rank. Not until I started to question it and wonder if it should be his have I really felt any worry. I have no ill will towards anyone, I just want what is best for our people, whether that means I rule after you and father have reached the beautiful west or Ni does”
Johari listened and processed what she was being told at the same time, moving to settle down, assuming the converstaion was going to last for a bit, not minding the rest from the heat.
"I see... well, Tesni, you know that your father and I both believe you would be a good ruler for these lands, but... if you feel that you'd rather give your brother his birth right as the eldest male... As long as you're happy. I'm sure that he wouldn't object to it, even if it does mean stricter training and lessons." If she was still unsure there was the possibility of asking Matifu his thoughts on the matter, but she'd avoid that if she could, simply because she was sure that if Tesni had wanted to speak with him about it she would have gone to him first. This wasn't the first time they'd spoken like this, though the first time about this subject.
“While it is traditional for the eldest male to rule, if it were just that, I’d question any claim he made to the throne and champion my own right – I’ve worked hard. But he has something about him that I don’t. He almost has that…spark about him almost like father does, that touch of the divine. I am more like you, mother. I would try to follow your own example and I’d be lucky to be half the queen you are for you are a great queen. But neither of us has that spark, and that is what makes a Pharaoh.” Tesni unloaded her thoughts, sharing them freely with Johari. She’d obviously been considering all this a long time, and her passion and worry showed as she spoke.
“You wouldn’t be disappointed in me? I am not giving up, I’ll do everything I do now, and more if Ni would take my advice. I’ll help him catch up with what he hasn’t been learning as a prince that he needs to know as heir.” Her tail flicked. It was a pretty empty worry. She’d had the most supportive parents all her life, yet it was a worry she couldn’t shake.
She smiled. Tesni certainly did take after her, but she also saw so much of Muroki in their eldest, maybe because he would always be the very embodiment of homage to these lands. She loved them as though she had been born there as well, but it was much easier to see it in others than it was in oneself.
“Oh, Tesni, no. Never disappointed." Johari stood up at that, moving closer to her oldest daughter to sit beside her, grooming her ear a bit. She was an affectionate mother, she couldn't help those bouts of tactile touches.
"You're hard working, dedicated, and you were already wise beyond your years, compared to most other's your age. Your insight on this matter is proof of that. I believe that your brother would be blessed to have you by his side as an advisor and mentor. We should speak to your father when he returns."
“Thank you.” She relaxed again, this time properly, and closed her eyes. Her mother was warm beside her and as supportive as ever, her worries of disappointment unfounded. Tesni felt deeply peaceful as always after talking to Johari. Even when they disagreed, they were very close as mother and daughter, so it always helped. It would be alright. They’d go talk to father together later and from there seek further council and plan if anything was to be done. Whether she remained crown princess or not, there'd always be work to be done.
For now, she just laid her head lightly against her mother’s shoulder and let it go.
