Neith

In the capital city of Amarna, a beautiful baby girl was born one rainy night. A single lamp lit the darkroom where the mother held this precious little thing in her feeble hands and looked up to her loving husband. "I want her to be called Neith, protector of women so she grows up to be a strong and brave girl just like you. Too bad I won't be able to see her grow up,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Please Akila don't say that you must live. How can a girl do without her mother?” He asked his dying wife as he held back a tear. She smiled at the man she had loved her entire life and said, “She has you and Ammon, so I don't have to worry too much. Besides, I will watch over her from where ever I am,” she said and kissed her baby girl. Tears rolled off her and onto the baby girl's forehead. She shifted a little in her mother's arms and went right back to sleep, not having a care in the world. “Ammon, promise me you will look after your sister as a mother would,” she asks as she looked at her eight-year-old son who was a sobbing mess. “I will, Mother,” he said, his voice hoarse.  This had been the night where the General had lost his wife and a son, his mother. The daughter slept though the thunders and pouring rain, soundly in the arms of her now-dead mother and she seemed to be at total ease. The moonstone her mother had put around her seemed to be working it's magic as she lie sleeping soundlessly through the dark night.    EIGHT YEARS LATER... “Brother! I challenge you to fight me. The loser gets to cook today's dinner, deal?” Neith asked as she pointed her wooden sword towards her brother. “Neith, it's your turn to cook today, no excuses. Besides I'm busy now so don't disturb me and go play with your friends,” Ammon said as he continued polishing his sword. “Aw! Come on brother, just one match, please. It's been a while since we sparred. You're always busy these days and you don't fight with me anymore,” Neith said with a pout. Ammon sighed. His sister could be a handful at times. He placed his sword on the wooden bench and walked towards Neith. Kneeling down so that he could be at the same level as his sister he said,"You know why I have been busy. The coronation ceremony of the new Pharaoh is in a few weeks. All soldiers need to be in top shape for it." "Well, I don't care about that. Lately, no one is around anymore. Even Father has abandoned me," Neith says looking disheartened.  "Don't say that. Father is working hard for you, for us. I need to do my part as well. After all, I am the General's son," Ammon said with a smile. He wanted to lift her spirits. Although a sad Neith was extremely cute it still broke his heart to see her that way. "What's the use of working if neither of you are around to play with me? I hate all of you." Neith said, crossing her arms around her chest angrily and looked away from him.  "Alright, I'll make a deal with you. Once the training is over I'll spar with you for a whole week. Does that sound like a good deal?" Ammon asks as he tries to control himself from pinching his sister's chubby cheeks. "Really? Will you really spar with me for a whole week?" Neith asked, her big brown eyes filled with astonishment at this new information.  "It's a promise," Ammon said smiling at her. He really couldn't understand why she would be so happy over something like this. Even though sparring with Neith was something he did for fun he never expected his sister to love it so much. "Yes!!! I get to become even stronger than before. This time I'll definitely take you down brother just wait and see," Neith declared as she pointed her wooden sword at Ammon. "We shall see about that soon enough. Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're my sister. Now go play. I'm already late," Ammon said as he messed up Neith's black hair.  Neith waved her brother goodbye as she saw him riding away towards the palace. She would get stronger soon. She would protect her family like how they protected her. She wouldn't let the law of the country bring her down. She will be the first girl to join the Royal Army and she would do whatever it took to make it happen and with that, she began her daily training.