PART THREE: Cont'd
Lost and Found:
"It is indeed you Hanad!" Shrieked a quivering Ashea. As he grabbed her arm and pulled her behind a make shift shade provided by hanging shrubs. "What happened?! Where were you?! We thought you were dead!" The girl was hysterical at this point. "Ssssshhhhh......" Cautioned Rifra (who was really Hanad) as he pressed his index finger to his lips. "I am obviously not dead. I was gravely wounded and thought dead but I survived." He sounded eternally grateful. "But you?" He accused with pain in his eyes. "I heard you had gotten married to Rogah." "Rogah?" Who in the world is that?" Ashea was aghast to say the least. "How could I have gotten married to someone else if I loved you and was waiting for your return?" Said Ashea as her voice rose in anger. "Did you lose your mind along with the battle also? And who told you I had married.... what's his name again?" "Rogah is his name." Finished Rifra, who was now also reeling from the shocking revelation of the moment. "And it was your friend Berah who told my sister Kasida, to tell me that you had married another." The man was as aversed as he was appalled. "Berah?!" Ashea thought she would faint. "How could she have said that, if she more than anyone else saw me wallow in misery?"
The show must go on:
As expected, the queen was besides herself in preparation for the 'princess ball'. Though she ethically did not and would not have to lift a finger nor a feather, she had somehow managed to work herself into an animated frenzy. She would leave no stone unturned she vowed. The whole province and its unconquered neighbours would know she had a princess. Fate had finally smiled on her, the child of her heart had come to stay. Found by none other but her very own precious seed. Her Amil was a gift that kept giving indeed. The servants already knew what to do, but they welcomed the queen's sparsely scheduled interruptions. Interruptions in which she would recount, that Amil had indeed not come alone but also brought her a blessing. They indulged her with the same level of zing the umpteenth time, as the first time they heard the story. They loved their queen and shared in her joy. The king on the other hand, grabbed his son and kept a safe distance. He did not want any of them tripping over loose linen and decorative ornaments, or better still giving the wrong answers to the right questions. The king wanted her to have her moment without distraction.
Areinah the new princess surveyed her equally new room with a mixture of incredulity and trepidation. Everything was happening so fast, it was getting harder and harder to grasp. In the twinkling of an eye, she had acquired two mothers. The one who birth her and so dilligently sought her good even if it meant detrimental consequences to her very being. And now the one who would receive her into her heart and life, thereby changing the course of her life forever. And then there was the prince of course, the agent of change and the catalyst of all things hopeful. Who looked over his threshold and gallantly reached out to her predicament. Today she would be introduced to the whole province as the princess, today she would be one step closer to the cajoling call of destiny.
The atmoshere was pumped up with an air of extravaganza. Bustling and busy servants expertly wound and wove their way around regaling chatters and festive feasting. The royals looked on gladly and held court as subjects paid their respects and congratulatory greetings. The princess had already been introduced and presented. There had been not a little applause and approval as the beautiful story of rags to riches, slave to sovereign inspired and enthralled the masses. Of course, there would be the expected buzz and cynicism from the perpetually doubtful and purposely dubious. But the king had spoken, and so it was.
The king and the queen sat on their thrones immediately flanked by the prince and princess on both sides respectively. The queen gently leaned over to the king and whispered something. The king could be seen nodding his approval with a broad smile. Then the queen stood up as one of the king's guards called every one to attention with the dinner gong. Everyone turned towards the throne as the stream of chatter began to ebb and die down. It was in that state, as all looked upon the beautiful queen and anticipated her speech that they observed a rather shocking episode instead.
The beloved queen started to speak, and then slumped to the ground.
All that glitters....:
Ethia dusted herself off rapidly and in irritation, as she pulled bamboo splinters from the shawl on her head. She swung around to yell at her maid, but that one was turned the other way pretending to look for something on the floor. Serving Ethia was hard labor mingled with emotional, verbal and mental abuse. Those assigned to her, saw it as a slow death sentence which their predecessors always willingly confirmed. "So have you finally dropped your useless brain?!" Yelled Ethia as the distraught and teary-eyed maid straightened up and ran to her side.
They had come to the head witch of the province. The sun was barely up yet, as the roosters and critters strove to match each other in volume. Ethia had chosen the crack of dawn on purpose. The less people saw her in these parts, the better. It was needful, for the sake of her numerous operations. These were now desperate seasons that called for equally desperate and devious measures.
"Good morning my dear friend, you are finally here. It has been a while now, hasn't it?" The witch greeted, as she stooped to a near crawl while entering the meeting area from her private quarters. Ethia turned towards the dark and mostly hidden archway with a ready sneer. "Please save the pleasantries and familiarity for another time. Today I am here as your former queen." Ethia answered tartly. "Okay then, as you wish." Responded the witch with a forced grin and a slight bow of her head. "The weapons you requested, are trained, polished and ready for work." Continued the witch. "Good, can I see them now?" It was more of a demand than it was a question coming from the queen mother. "Yes your highness." The witch's tone was heavily tinged with sarcasm. "This way please," requested the witch. As she headed outside to a nearby and partially adjoining hut, with Ethia and her maid in tow.
As they walked into the other hut, six beautiful females stood up and lowered their heads at the queen mother in greeting. They were beautiful, flashy in adornment and maquillage. Not one hair was out of place while their poise spelt ready, set and cold. As the queen mother perused the line-up, the lead female stepped forward in lithe and suggestive steps and courtsied before the queen. Her eyes were cold and determined as they met those of the queen. "We are ready your majesty," she said with a sly smile. "Indeed you are, indeed you are." finished Ethia with an equally knowing and sly smile.