Testing the Waters [Nebet]

[Isis]

Running her hand across the linen blanket as she hummed beneath her breath, the maid servant smiled, smoothing the fabric until not a line remained. A woven reed basket rested at her feet and held a few sheets of white cloth.

She was a pretty woman, if a bit tall, with rich caramel skin and eyes that shone green and blue like the trickling waters of the Nile. Dressed simply in white cloth that hung over her generous curves and enunciated her pronounced hips, one might not think her an extraordinary person. She was pretty enough of course, but a maid was a maid and while a few soldiers would have eyed her with curiosity, she was nothing out of the norm.

Of course, in that, most would be wrong.

Tucking the last corner of the sheets into place with a quirk of her lips, Isis hummed deep in her throat. It wasn’t often she allowed herself to do this-to actually go out and frolic with the people. Well, not exactly frolicking. Oh no.

Isis was a goddess with a mission.

And that mission lied currently with the princess of whose bed she was currently making.

Nebet.

The youngest, the poor heartbroken girl. If anyone would be able to convince Nailah that she was making the wrong choice, it would be the darling child. Of course, Mesta wouldn’t have been to difficult but seeing as the rumors among the gods spoke that the child was spoiled, well, Isis wanted to try on a more companionable opponent first- if opponent was the word.

Nebet surely didn’t seem like a smart mouthed little child-quiet and more than a bit shy, she seemed to be the easiest of the princesses to deal with and seeing as the girl was loved by both her older sisters well, what better a person to choose?

Lips curling into a smile that held more kindness then the light in her eyes, Isis tilted her head to the side, finishing the final pleat before she stepped away and wiped her hands on her shift. There was no dirt on her hands of course, they were clean as could be-one of the perks to being a goddess one could say-but still, it was the little things that counted.

Eyes straying towards the door with a smile, Isis rested her basket of blankets on her hip.

If her intuition was right-and it always was-the young princess would be stepping in right about…now. At the sound of a door opening, Isis’s demure smile widened and she inclined her head slightly-let's see how aware the little darling was.

“Princess.”

[Nebet]

Nebet looked around the gardens. She had left Darius to his thoughts after they had talked and she had finished her sketch. She bit her lower lip as she looked down and at the handsome man. She had only seen him before their meeting, and yet she had developed a crush on him. She tucked a puece of her long white hair behind her ear as her quiet gentle voice hummed a tune she had been working on. The young artist smiled softly as she grew more excited.
She couldn't wait to add this sketch to her other works, including one she had done of Barates. She thought of her friend and the grin grew. She had made him a promise, wanting to help him get something to his family to let them know he was alright. She had been able to talk to a trader, so she hoped she could smuggle out a picture and a letter. She needed to find Barates and ask him if he wanted to include a letter first, but she hoped he would as she finally entered the palace.
Nebet looked up from her sketchbook as she noticed the woman in her room. She wondered who she was for a bit as she set her skechpad down and offered the woman a friendly smile. "Hi," She said as she look at her, then asked,"your not the normal girl who does my bed." She finished adding her new sketch with the ones she did of Barates and Alcaeus, her blue eyes curious until she turned and got a better view of the woman. She froze as she recognised her and immediatly sid,"Isis?" Her tone betrayed her curiousness as she offered the goddess a soft smile and asked,"may I ask why you decided to grace me with your presence?"

[Isis]

Isis hardly batted an eyelash as Nebet looked up from her sketchbook, if anything, her smile widened and when the small girl gave her a curious look before freezing, the grin on Isis’ face grew wider yet-the picture of a pleased mother. Inclining her head as the young princess guessed correctly-though truly, it wasn’t that hard to figure out, Isis placed the basket of blankets by her feet but made no move to approach the girl.

Eyes demure as Nebet questioned her presence, Isis sighed, running a hand through her hair as she sent the girl a wounded look. “Need I a reason? It is not strange of a goddess to visit royalty, is it not? Particularly one so young as yourself during a time as trying as this.” Vaguely referencing the death of the Pharaoh, Isis sighed and then shook her head with a pitying feel. “Perhaps I just wish to see how the youngest princess is doing-there is speak in the land above of how hard you are hit by this sudden tragedy.” Tone light as she gave the girl a soft look, Isis’s lips quirked into a reserved smile-nothing like the pleased grin she held before.

The look in the goddess’s swirling eyes was kind as she reached down to brush the hem of her dress, “You don’t have to worry though dear one- I can at least assure you that your father passed the test of Ma’at and is quite happily enjoying the afterlife-though he is wanting for you and your sisters, I can assure you.” Glancing up to pin the girl with a stare like sapphires and emeralds combined, Isis paused, her brow creased with motherly concern. “Do you want to talk dear one? I will be happy to lend you my shoulder- after all, your mother is so busy and you have been such a great follower-worshipping….” Isis’s eyes darkened slightly, but the smile on her face remained, “…all of the gods, even in your hardship. Some would cry foul-but you my dear haven’t.” Standing up gracefully with hardly a cloth out of place, Isis leaned down to peer into Nebet’s eyes-even in this human guise of her’s, she was much taller than the tiny princess.

Staring into the girl’s eyes, Isis’s smile softened, though her mind whirled with possibilities-testing the girl’s composure came first and foremost. Temperament after all, was quite important in deciding how the goddess would proceed.

[Nebet]

Nebet smiled softly and said,"o itt is not strange goddess." She smiled softly and then looked away as she listened to her reference about her father. "Yes, I miss him very much." She looked at Isis and then smiled again as she said,"He was a kind man and a great pharoh. Me and my sisters miss him dearly." She looked down at her feet as the goddess continued to speak, nodding her head.
She smiled softly as she heard her talk of her father being happy now. "I am happy to hear that. I hope that when it comes our due time we can join him." She bit her lower lip as she let her eyes meet Isis'. The goddess had beautiful eyes Nebet thought to herself. She then went and got her sketchpad and flipped through it to a drawing she did of the goddess not too long ago. "Pen and papyrus don't do you justice," she said as she smiled a bit softly and then looked away again.
When the goddess offered her a shoulder, Nebet had to blink back tears as she said,"I am ok." She bit her lip as she closed her eyes and then looked down at her feet. She looked up again when she heard her talk of praising all of the gods, she had an idea. "Goddess? May I draw your picture?"

[Isis]

Blinking at Nebet’s compliment, Isis paused before she smiled. My, my-wasn’t this girl quite the charmer? The goddess would be hard pressed to hate her. Oh yes- it had been a good choice to pick this princess-Isis doubted Mesta would be so complimentary. Spoiled children, though cute, did tend to grate on the goddess’s nerves slightly.

“My, what a kind thing to say darling.” Running a hand through her hair in a vain movement, Isis quickly stopped the smug cast her smile was taking, muffling it until it was nothing more than the kind look it had been before. The smile, beautiful as it was, wavered however as Isis caught the young princess blinking back tears and the goddess’s motherly instincts-warped as the might be by her intentions, swam up into place.

Settling a gentle hand on the girl’s shoulder, Isis said not a word of the action but merely smiled softly before she perked up. “Draw me?” Amused as her voice was at the girl’s bluntness-usually mortals tended to waver about it, perhaps on fear of offending her, Isis paused before she nodded her head thoughtfully.

It would give her more time with the girl. Better to test her with-to figure out which words to use to see if she could be turned.

And well, to put it lightly, Isis was never one to turn down a picture-free or not, though this one was happily the former. Besides, few dared to charge a goddess. Settling down on the sheets she had just pressed, Isis inclined her head slightly before she glanced at Nebet from half-lidded eyes, the look on her face a coupling of amused and thoughtful vanity. “Of course dear-I'll not object to that.”