Days went by and the wedding day was approaching at a neck break speed. Her plans of running away from home had been aborted because she couldn't find it in her heart to leave behind the poor stranger who was still locked in the dungeon of the palace.
All these while she had been in a state of confusion; she had been experiencing vivid dreams whereby she would see herself taking food to the stranger and doing naughty things with him in the cell. In as much as she pegged them to be dreams, she couldn't understand why they were repeating themselves so vividly and on a daily basis for that matter.
She couldn't fathom what was happening to her lately. 'Is it because I have been thinking about him through out? no.. he has also been speaking to me in the dreams, his voice so real, telling me to hold on... wait! There was this dream I had sometimes back... where the two of us were clothed in very strange attires... what's going on? who is he? how are we connected? why does it feel like we once knew each other?'
A lot of questions were threatening to rupture her already tattered mind.
After she was done with the chores at home. She took a pot and headed to the stream. Having walked some distance away from her homeyard she looked around if there was any eyes following her moves because the prince had been shamelessly hovering around her for quite sometime, she hid the pot behind the bush and sprinted towards a certain direction.
"Welcome child I have been waiting for you," An elderly woman clothed in a plain maroon cotton fabric ushered her in. She was of medium height, fine white beads made from Nappier grass were beautifully embedded on her shoulders and around her waist, just by a single glance one could tell that she was a beauty "goddess" back in the days. She stood majestically holding a bamboo stick which was decorated with white and red strings was held on her left hand.
Sheshije smiled broadly at the old woman who she once met at the spring when she was in the first steps of turning from a girl to a young women, the time when her chest had started to develop "little mountains".
***
( In the past)
" My child please help me out. I want to this pot to my head by I lack the strength to bend please lift it for me" The old woman begged her.
" Koko (grandma) let it be easy with you, worry not for I will carry the pot for you to your house my clothes are yet to dry I have nothing much to do." Sheshije offered.
They made their way to the grandma's house.
"Thank you my good child, you are so kind. Izubha akutasie na akurongorie aha masangeni. ( may God bless and guide you in this world) please do make sure to visit me sometime I have wonderful stories that I usually see in my dreams." thanked the woman.
After Sheshije had gone back to the spring the old woman stared into the horizon and smiled happily. " She's such a wonderful girl." she whispered.
"Indeed she is." A woman glowing with clothes and jewellers made of gold appeared beside the old woman.
" My queen, Hail Mother goddess Selene!" The old woman bowed deeply.
"Rise my loyal servant," Spoke the woman calmly. "You have done a wonderful job, make sure you guide her into knowing who she is, don't be too soft on her,let her know the good and bad that's resides in the lands of the mortals, afterwards let her know her purpose and teach her to unleash her powers and control them . The prince on the other land has already been taught how to use and control his powers, let's wait for fate to take over.. just believe in the hands of time." Spoke the goddess.
" Noted my queen your servant is always at your service, "
The glowing woman disappeared into thin air.
***
Getting in the woman's hut that looked similar to a fairie's home she sat on a golden stool. "koko how have you been doing? are you fine? am sorry I never came to visit again ever since that day please forgive me I have been a bad grandchild." Sheshije uttered her sincere apologies amidst the greetings.
The woman smiled genuinely, " It is well with you child. I am doing fine am so happy to see you today, I understand it is hard for you to find time to come here without letting anyone know about it, look at you..you have grown up to be the most beautiful maiden not only in the Ukadama kingdom but also the entire land of Tubheta."
Cheered grandma.
Sheshije blushed profusely.
sipping kibulu made by grandma. ( a tasty porridge- like meal made by ripe bananas,maize and sour milk. a meal mainly cooked by the people of Tubheta land) Sheshije felt so much relaxed and at peace, here there was a serenity which was not found in her home.