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Set's rage drew him
more and more away from the comfort of his wife, Nephthys. This left
Nephthys alone for many nights. In his absence she would sneak into
the palace and look upon her sister in the loving arms of Osiris.
This would bring some comfort to her, listening to their loving vows, and
the sweet smell of Isis's perfume.
Although Isis was
her twin Nephthys wanted to be like Isis in more ways. Thinking that
if she was more like Isis, Set would love her and not vanish into
the desert. So it was that Nephthys put on one of her sisters dresses
and wore some of her sweet smelling perfume. Feeling beautiful she
waited for set to return. When Set came home he did not even notice
her new look, nor did he give her any attention.
So caught up in his own rage he soon left once again into the desert. Nephthys still dressed like her sister went to the village. The villagers mistaken her for Isis gave her honor and worship. Then Nephthys went to the palace to seek her sister for comfort. When she arrived the palace was empty, so she went to the garden and began to sob.
Osiris discovered
her in the garden and came up and held her. "Why are you so sad?
Come to your husband and I shall make you happy." Osiris said.
Nephthys did not
protest, or cry she did not betray her self when Osiris called her Isis.
After she fell asleep in the flowers dreaming of the happiness that made
her feel beautiful. Osiris placing flowers in her hair then went
in to get his lyre to play her music that would give her happy dreams.
While Osiris was
gone Nephthys awoke and ran home. Set was there he noticed
the flowers in her hair. "What are you doing with those flowers?"
Set asked.
Nephthys remained silent. "Those
only grow in the Palace of my brother." Set stated in anger.
She nodded. Set became even more
irate with anger and slammed the door as he went back to the desert.
When Osiris came
back to the garden he came upon Isis on her way to the palace. Osiris
asked " Did you have good dreams my love?"
Isis looked at him
confused and asked " where would I have been to have had dreams at all?
"
Osiris noticed their
where no flowers in her hair and began to realize what had happened. "
something terrible has happened. " He said. then turned away and wept.
The hardest part was that he had been with her in the dark for so many
thousand years and still did not know the scent of his own wife.
The moon came and
went many times, Nephthys hid her belly beneath flowing robes. In
the final months she would hide in her room. Telling her maid servant
to send Set and her beloved sister away, when ever they would visit.
Then when the time was near she snuck
out into the desert beneath a full moon. There alone amid the Howling
Wolves she gave birth. Fearing that if she returned home to Set with
the child that Set would kill her and the child. So she left him
there warped in a fine golden blanket. Where the wolves and jackals cared
for it.
In the morning the maid servant came to Nephthys with milk and honey. Seeing the soft belly and hearing no crying she know what had happened. Quickly she ran to the river where she knew that Isis would be. Begging the Goddess for mercy she explained what had happened. But she need not explain further because Isis already knew that the child was of Osiris. Cursing her self for her own bareness she quickly raced. With the help of a Jackal that Isis had tamed they found the boy child. Isis wrapped the child in her skirt and carried him home. There her Jackal had recently given birth to 4 pups. Isis left the child with the Jackal to nurse him. He grew strong part human part Jackal. Isis named him Anubis. Isis taught him her magick and the secrets of seeing the future, and the land of the dead. He became her guardian and called Isis mother and Osiris father. They called him " The opener of the Ways "
Although Isis knew of his true mother, and Nephthys knew that Isis knew, neither ever spoke of it. Instead they raised Anubis together. The bound of love they shared for the child brought the sister closer together.
When challenged by
Set as to the mother of the child, Isis responded. "Why brother when would
I have time to tell you that I was with child? You have been gone
these many months in the desert. As for Osiris, Isis had forgiven
him and that night was never spoken of again.
