👑MARRIED TO THE PRINCE👑👻
Episode 9
Written by Adelaide Clara Asamoah.
(In the dungeon).
Sheena arrived in the dungeon and saw two body guards standing in front of the dungeon. The dungeon was quite far from the palace, but it was in the palace. The guards stood there, holding their swords and frowning their faces like someone was owning them. They were breathing heavily, and they had scorpion tattoos on their chests,which proved that they were guards,and they looked scary,which made Sheena think whether she should still go or not. She had her red maiden vale on her face and she got in front of the dungeon.
'' What do you want here maid? ''.
'' How is Preeta? ''. Sheena said.
'' We gave her water some minutes ago and she fell asleep ''. One guard replied.
'' What?! She is sleeping... but then,Avni told me she was crying ''.
'' She only cried when we brought her here. Listen,you have to leave now...because it is late and we can't allow you here ''.
'' Please.... I just want to talk to her for a little while ''.
'' Do you want to join her here or what? Leave now... She has not being granted the permission to receive visitors ''.
'' But is she fine? ''.
'' Yes she is fine....now go! ''.
Sheena left the dungeon and walked into the tall building and entered the kitchen. When she arrived, she saw that Avni had set the food on a tray and she carried it and went straight to the chambers.
Queen Meerah's chamber).
Queen Meerah had finished taking her bath and just like Sheena and the queen mother, she was also very worried about the judgement the king and his wise men were going to make the next day. She layed on her bed and took the elephant necklace given to her by Bhavna and she put it on her neck. Queen mother sat besides her and took a tumeric tonic in a bowl from a table close by and started massaging Queen Meerah's feet with it.
And she starred at the necklace on her neck and smiled.
.
.
.
'' Ever since you arrived from the wishing stream, you've been wearing this necklace... did you buy it at a cheap price? ''.
'' No. This necklace is much more expensive than the food we eat,the money we spend, the clothes we wear mother. This necklace has the power to protect anyone from an evil spirit ''.
'' Oh is that so? And where did you get it? ''.
'' A young lady. As I wa going to the stream, the donkey became thirsty, and I gave of water near the forest ...then a snake came to us and tried to attack me and all of a sudden, a girl arrived in the forest... she was also on her way to the stream to wish and she saved me from the snake, she was wearing one of this necklace and I saw the necklace light up when it faced the snake, it disappeared ''.
'' Hmmm,a snake? You don't say ''. Queen mother said suspiciously.
'' Yes mother. Even my golden coin got missing and so she and I both wished on her coin. And when we were done,she gave me one of her necklace. She told me her father made it for her mother, she also said her father was the former priest ''.
'' Oh I see. Well,I knew the former priest, but I never knew his family. But he was very powerful. If it were to be him that as our priest today,am sure he would have exposed Dorah to everyone... I wonder why this priest of ours is always running away from the truth ''.
Outside the chamber, they heard a knock and the Queen mother stood up to open the door.
'' Queen Meerah's maid is here with her food your highness ''. A guard said.
'' Okay,let her in ''. She said and entered back into the chamber.
(Sheena entered the chamber with the food and closed the door behind her,she served everything in front of queen Meerah's bed).
'' Mmmm... smells delicious ''. Queen Meerah said and washed her hands in a small pot.
'' Sit down Sheena ''. Queen mother said.
'' I know how you must be feeling now my dear... but we don't have anything to do for now. The king will call the wise men and the priest tomorrow..and see what punishment they will give Preeta ''.
'' They will kill her your highness! Speaking against a queen equals a death sentence! How will I wat h this happened, Preeta is innocent ''.
'' Sheena, did you really also see the black powder under Queen Dorah's bed? ''. Queen Meerah asked.
'' No your highness... but I know that Preeta saw it and....
As soon as Queen Meerah put her hand in the food,the necklace burnt her chest and she screamed in pain and her leg hit the table, making the food fall from the table.
'' Are you okay? ''. Queen mother asker as she checked on her.
'' The necklace, it urn my chest...but why? It has never done this to me ''.
'' I have to clean up the food from the floor your highness... please I will be back with soap and water ''. Sheena said and left.
'' You haven't even tasted anything since this afternoon ''.
'' Forget it mother. I loosed my appetite...I will eat something tomorrow ''.
(Queen Dorah's chamber).
She couldn't stop laughing with both her maids. They laughed their head off as she thought that finally, something had happened to Queen Meerah and that Faruk was going to be the one and only heir of Ujani.
(Next Day=In the kingdom=Meho's house).
Bhavna woke up early in the morning to get ready and go to the temple. She wore her saree and put a Vail on her hair as a married woman and she put her vermilion her forehead. She stepped outside and started saddling her horse to ride it to the temple. And she suddenly saw three men coming towards the house.
She tried making them out but she had no idea who they were because they looked like foreigners and they were also in suit and tie which were foreign clothes. They arrived at the compound and one of them stretched their hand to greet her but she had no idea how it was done,because in their custom, they bend down to greet their elders or put their hands together to greet their colleague, so that's what she did. She put her hands together and looked down.
'' Please, how may I help you? ''.
'' We are looking for Mr Meho ''.
'' Yes,that is my husband... please is there a problem? ''.
'' We were sent here by Mr Raul ''.
'' What?! ''.
Mr Meho quickly stepped out of the house and joined them on the compound. He was a little uncomfortable as Bhavna was also standing. He then took the men aside while Bhavna went to saddle her horse, but she kept on starring at them suspiciously.
'' What is it boys? ''.
'' Mr Raul has asked us to bring you is gold coins ''. One of them said and handed a small red sack, full of coins to Meho. '' He said that,you should remember the agreement you two made yesterday...and come to his mansion to inform him as soon as your wife becomes pregnant ''.
'' Okay okay...you can go now ''.
The men left and Meho tied the sack on his shorts. He turned and tried entering the house without saying anything.
'' What business do you have with Mr Raul? Don't act like nothing happened here ''.
'' Well,Mr Raul hired me among his worker Bhavna, isn't that a great news? ''.
'' Oh really? I don't believe you ''.
'' Don't you think you are already getting late for the temple? You've been cleaning there right? ''.
Then they heard the very loud ringing bell from the temple which rings every single morning for the kingdom to go and offer their offerings to the god Ujani. Bhavna quickly jumped on her horse and pulled it to the out direction.
'' We are not done talking Meho, you are going to explain why Mr Raul has sent his boys to give you money ''.
'' How do you even know it is money? ''
(Bhavna rides the horse away).
(In the royal palace=Court room).
The king, his wise men and ministers, some maidens were all present in the court room except Queen Meerah. And that made Queen Dorah smile widely. Maybe something had happened to Queen Meerah. But then she also thought, if something had happened, then Queen mother wouldn't be in the court room. All the wise men and ministers were served with traditional wine in a golden cup while they waited for the king to speak.
Queen Meerah, in her beautiful glory, stepped into the court room and everyone got to their feet and hailed her. Queen Dorah was absolutely shocked. But Queen Meerah was not wearing the necklace this time and that made her smile very evilly. She then had a great idea. By all means, Queen Meerah had left the necklace in her chamber. Queen Meerah sat on her queenly seat besides Queen mother. The arrangement was,the king's throne was high above everyone else in the court room, one had to climb ten stairs before reaching him. But the queens seat were beneath. They sat on their seats down the stairs with all the wise men and priests. Even though theirs were separated from the wise men and elders and their chairs were also made of gold. And the servants stood at the gate. The court room was the largest room apart from the chamber in the palace.
'' Now! It is time to finally start the court. Wise men and ministers, has anyone got anything to say before we start this? ''.
(One wise man stood up and faced the king, and the priest of the kingdom also got to his feet).
'' Your Highness, I don't think we should make this meeting any long...proclaim judgement, because with what he heard yesterday, the maid had no evidence to show ''.
'' Your Majesty, I agree with Meer... It will the best option. Do this to show the servants, that they should know their limit. If you are a servant,you don't have any rights at all...to compare themselves to royalty.
'' Guards...bring the offender ''.
(Two guards walked out and later came back with Preeta who was chained on her hands).
'' Maid!!! Do you have anything more,to say to defend yourself? ''.
'' I still stand on my grounds your Highness. I know what I saw. And am not lying I swear ''.
'' By the laws of Ujani... which has thought us what's right from the days of our forefathers... anyone who accuses someone without evidence, and disgraces their integrity... shall be hanged on a rope in the forest. And if it is a member of the royal family, that person who accused shall beheaded. By the power invested in me,the maid in question shall pass through the same faith. Executors, take her way and do your job! ''.
Queen Meerah couldn't control her tears. Queen mother comforted her and looked at Queen Dorah on her seat with resentment. Sheena wouldn't let them take her away...she tried her beat to get to her friend when the executors got her to the entrance of the palace.
'' Preeta! This is not fair,let's go back to the court room and plead you innocent Preeta please! ''.
'' Sheena ''. Preeta whispered. '' Sheena listen,I a! Not sad for saying the truth. I am sad everyone else is blind. Make me a promise Sheena ''.
'' No no no..this is not happening, I hope am dreaming ''.
'' Promise me Sheena, that you won't rest until you expose Queen Dorah to everyone... promise me. Don't let !y death be in vain please! ''.
'' Yes...oh God save us ''.
'' Promise Sheena, promise!!! ''.
'' Yes I promise ''.
'' Enough talk ''. One of the executor said and pushed Preeta out of the palace and took her away.
Most wise men and ministers were leaving the palace to their various homes and Sheena couldn't step out because a servant can't leave the palace unless they are given permission. She knelt at the entrance and cried her heart out. Queen Meerah and the queen mother quickly got to her and got her up. She didn't want tone stopped from crying. But they took her to the garden.
Queen Dorah walked out of the court room with her maids in all smiles and she saw the kingdom's priest down on the compound, while she was on the balcony. The priest looked up and Queen Dorah gave him a sign....