In Messea. After the ceremony was over, Prince Uriah visited his bedridden father in his bedchamber. King Demetrius has been sick for a very long time, so sick that death became his only cure.
King Demetrius lay in his bedchamber day after day, praying to meet his maker because the affliction felt quite unendurable. Even the physicians lost faith in him because his illness deteriorated with time.
Once Uriah walked into the bedchamber, the chambermaid who was cleaning up the bedchamber, and the physicians took their leave. They meant no interruption.
The king had his eyes shut, although he wasn't asleep. He might be praying for death, mourning his fate. And even praying for mercy. However, the king lived a life of righteousness.
Uriah sat on the king's bed, staring pitifully at him. " Father." he called. " I finally chose my future wife today." he told. On hearing Uriah's voice, the king slowly opened his eyes.
" This woman you picked, did you feel a little attachment the moment you rose her veil?" King Demetrius asked with a weakened tone.
Disheartened, Uriah answered, " Never."
" Why then did you pick her?"
" I was being considerate."
" Uriah. Being considerate does not apply to a lifetime decision. Marrying a woman your heart does not beat for will only bring pain to the both of you. Marriage is better with the woman your heart chose."
" My heart chose no woman, Father."
" It is regretful that not one of those women caught your eyes" The king said.
As soon as the king's words fell on Uriah's ears, his mind traveled back to the woman with sapphire eyes. That young woman caught his eyes, but never his heart. Had Uriah not been steadfast to his disciplines, perhaps he would have chosen the Abothorn who caught his eyes for the purpose of warming his bed and crushing his enemies. But Uriah would rather let the innocent woman go instead of using her against her will.
" Perhaps, there was one of them who did. But I felt nothing for her. I only found her attractive and nothing more." He said, looking as though he was thinking.
" If I were you, I would have picked the woman who caught my eyes. It is from my eyes… to my heart."
**********
The royal concubine was being shown around the castle by Queen Abigail and her court lady. Queen Abigail felt delighted walking with the woman her son had chosen. It was the duty of the maidservants to show places in the castle to the royal concubine, but out of joy the queen took it upon herself.
At the castle hallway. The queen's daughter, Irene was approaching towards the queen and the concubine when the queen saw her. The queen walked over and hugged Irene.
" We should talk, Mother." Irene demanded, smiling.
Queen Abigail gave Zainab a disappointed look, she preferred not to leave Zainab behind, and Irene demanded to have a private talk which might require leaving Zainab. Zainab gave her an approving nod braced with an assuring smile. Queen Abigail smiled and went with Irene.
Once Queen Abigail left, and Zainab was left alone. Zainab's eyes met a young woman in her early twenties approaching towards her.
This woman was extremely gorgeous. She walked elegantly with a walking stick she held as per fashion. Her dress code was one in a million, she was definitely a noble. Her eyes were blue, and her hair as dark as ebony. She was fashionable. Looking at her, one would refer to her as a smug.
She stood before Zainab. Her scent was so captivating. Two of her court ladies stood at her back, they also looked highly fashioned. She examined Zainab from head to toe with her eyes. " Hmm." She scorned. She lifted some strands of Zainab's hair with her fingers.
" Red hair." She dropped Zainab's hair. " Green eyes." she smacked her tongue in scorn, shaking her head. " You are the worst. You are nothing near His Highness' desires. I wonder why he picked you. You are not even worth his plaything. Just go home."
" And who are you?" Zainab asked, slightly irritated.
The elegant lady leaned over, whispering in Zainab's ear. "His Highness' desire, that is who I am. Blue eyes, ebony hair." She drew back. " You should have done some inquires on His Highness before attending the ceremony…
" That does not answer my question." Zainab interrupted crossly.
The elegant lady came too close to Zainab, slowly caressing the walking stick she held. Then she started speaking with a low seductive tone.
" You have no idea what His Highness is like in bed. So rough, tough, adventurous, savage, randy, unrelenting, hard enough that even an unchaste could barely walk after the thrusting of his shaft. Can you handle His Highness? The answer… No." She licked her lips lasciviously.
Zainab saw the elegant lady as an unchaste, literally a prostitute. One thing was clear to Zainab, this young lady sleeps with the crown prince. If not, how could she have been able to describe his qualities in bed. Zainab felt slightly jealous of the young lady, also angry.
" You royal prostitute. Who are you?" Zainab asked with an offended tone.
" Well… I am Ellieze, daughter of a Baron, Lord Steven, father of Legolas." Ellieze introduced and stretched forth her hand to Zainab.
Zainab became confused, what should she use Ellieze's hand for? Had she been a man, she would have kissed the back of Ellieze's hand. But she is a woman. Zainab tried to hold Ellieze's hand, but Ellieze quickly withdrew her hand.
" So unprofessional." Ellieze mocked. Seeing that Queen Abigail was approaching, Ellieze and her court lady quickly took off. Queen Abigail stood before Zainab, glaring at Ellieze who was walking away without turning back.
" That wench! Did she bother you?" Queen Abigail asked Zainab. Zainab smiled and shook her head.
**********
Then came a great feast in Messea by night, at the Great Hall. Lots of entertainment from the Minstrels and Jesters. The crown prince was being celebrated for finally choosing his future consort. Few nobles and royal courts were present in the banquet, including the royal concubine.
Uriah gave his full attention to the fool's joke, nothing else mattered to him besides the entertainments. The fact that the banquet was for celebrating his future consort made no sense to him or whatsoever. Perhaps, he had forgotten that he picked a consort earlier.
For some certain reasons, Prince Terrence glanced amorously at the royal concubine sporadically. Whenever Zainab caught Terrence's glance, her fear increased. Sadly, the crown prince gave no attention to the royal concubine which stirred up uneasiness in her.
Irene noticed everything that was happening. Irene caught the amorous glance Terrence was shooting the royal concubine, also the uneasiness Uriah's ignorance caused Zainab.
" We should talk." Irene whispered in Uriah's ear and walked off immediately. She gave no room for Uriah to think about her request, or even ask questions. Uriah followed her to a quiet corner in the hall.
" Have some feelings for Zainab." Irene said immediately. Uriah jeered regarding her words. "If you must marry this woman you have chosen… Then you must give her every bit of the attention she deserves, otherwise another man would steal her away."
" I have no problem with another man stealing Zainab. I will only let fate decide for Zainab and Me. Moreover, you failed to keep your promise." he said and smiled amiably.
" You know it is not in my power to choose your future wife. Otherwise, I would have done so."
" But you promised you will do so no matter what happens."
"I know, but you chose a beautiful woman already…
" Hah. For beauty… you know I do not find women with red hair attractive. They do not raise my spirit." he said, sipping from his goblet.
" Zainab needs your attention, Uriah." Irene said, worried that Terrence might be harboring something evil in his mind for Zainab. Uriah nodded. Uriah hung Irene's hand across his arm, and walked her back to the dais.
Back to the high table. Uriah tried getting himself to discuss with Zainab. Meanwhile, Zainab longed for his attention earnestly. Uriah didn't want to initiate any conversation with Zainab, but he had to since it started seeming imperative.
Uriah locked a blank gaze on Zainab. Zainab caught his gaze and locked her desperate gaze on his face. Uriah was just too handsome for her to endure staring at, so she looked away.
" Tell me about yourself." he insisted.
" I do not have much to say. I am both the first daughter of my family, also the heiress to the throne of Jevins. My father only has female children, there is no male born among us. Wherefore, it is my duty to marry a prince who will rule over the kingdom after my father."
" It does not have to be me, does it?" Uriah asked. His question aroused a sad feeling within Zainab.
" I am grateful that you chose me." suppressing the bad feeling, she said.
Staring into Uriah's seductive green eyes, Zainab felt an inrush of affection. She felt like Uriah was not only her luck, but also a blessing from God. She was beginning to fall for the crown prince in only a matter of hours. The crown prince seemed quite charming, sage, and dreamy, albeit he looked standoffish. The passion she felt towards him prompted her to lose her guards.
Zainab enclosed his toned beefy biceps with her hands and said, " It has to be you, and you alone."
Uriah understood that look on Zainab's face. He thought she might have started feeling passionate towards him. However, he hated himself for thinking that she had fallen for him. Perhaps, she was only being eager to make Jevins a better place. He hopes that Zainab won't fall for him because it would hurt when she realizes that he doesn't love her just after falling for him.
Uriah somehow felt unpleased with Zainab holding his biceps. For some certain reasons, Uriah didn't like people touching his body. He glanced at her hand as a signal for her to hands off. She realized herself, and quickly took her hands off Uriah's pythons.
" Sorry." she apologized.
" Never mind." Uriah said, and took a sip of his wine. Zainab believed he didn't want her holding him like that, and that was why she apologized. Uriah didn't want Zainab feeling odd despite being with him, he wanted her to feel loved. " Hold me however you want. You are my woman after all." he reassured.
Even though it was Zainab's intention to hold Uriah, she became discouraged to do so. But when she met Terrence's amorous glance again, she cuddled Uriah's arm. She wanted to prove Terrence wrong in whatever he had in his mind.
********
Fortunately, Eleanor survived the predicament and arrived at the boundary wall of Messea by night. Eleanor knew she had reached another dead end, and must find a way to successfully escape the boundary wardens. She was still walking in the forest which was situated few meters away the boundary wall.
Eleanor had no idea that the guards also secured the forest, until when she oversaw the gleams of light traveling by her right. The guards were approaching from the right with wooden torches they carried. Eleanor quickly hid behind a tree which stood at the darker side of the forest.
She hid there, watching them pass. Eleanor took the decision, but she forgot to give countless thoughts on executing the rest of the plan. Perhaps, she was afraid that thoroughly thinking into her decision would delay her actions and land her in Abothorn.
She peeked at the boundary gate and saw the guards torturing some people from Abothorn who tried to stealth into the city of Messea. A few meters away from the boundary gate was a prison, and very near to the gate was a large cell where Abothorns that are to be sold for slavery are kept. Some of the Abothorns were being thrown into the large cell, both men and women were there. But no children. Eleanor kind of feared that someone amongst the prisoners might recognize her.
Abothorns were easily identified by the soldiers guarding the boundary wall because the wall the kingdom of Abothorn was in the east, and whoever came from the east was assumed to be an Abothorn.
Eleanor started giving new thoughts on how to escape the guards. Should she attack one of the guardsmen, and collect his clothes from him in order to disguise as one of them? Such an idea didn't sound great to her. She had no idea what to do, no matter how much thought she gave, nothing came through. Eleanor believed that regardless of what might eventually happen, she would escape.
Eleanor already dumped her ornaments by the side of the river, and was left wearing a green kirtle dress. She stood on her feet, gathering the momentum for executing the plan. She intended not to hide away from the guardsmen anymore, rather she was going to lie to them.
Eleanor emerged from the forest, walking towards the gate with the audacity. While she approached, every guardsman stared motionlessly at her. They found her beauty quite mesmerizing. Nevertheless, they saw her as a weapon to gull them. Just when she neared the boundary gate, a soldier blocked her way with his sword. All other soldiers already got ready to war.
" And who are you?" the leader of the guardsmen asked.
" My name is Eleanor. Eleanor of Abelak." She introduced with lies. The place she mentioned prompted the soldier to put down his sword. A good and friendly relationship existed between Abelak and Messea, they had no enmity amongst themselves.
" With whom do you work?" the leader asked.
" I am a servant. I work for the royal concubine…
" The royal concubine." the leader repeated, exchanging a questionable glance with other soldiers who were just as confused as him. " The royal concubine has no maidservant." he said. " Who are you!" he snarled, and surrendered Eleanor with his sword pointing to her throat. Few more soldiers surrendered Eleanor with their sword.
" I am Eleanor. I come from Abelak." Eleanor answered with a dithering tone because she realized that the soldiers caught her.
" You must be an Abothorn because you are coming from the East. You are in big trouble, Young Woman. Guards! Imprison this imposter. And by tomorrow, she would be taken to Abelak for slavery." he commanded.
Immediately, two muscular men seized Eleanor's arms and started frogmarching her to a cell. Eleanor tried to struggle, but these men were just too strong. The fear in Eleanor intensified as she started breathing heavily in fear. Eleanor doesn't want to be imprisoned, that wasn't the plan.
" I should speak with the royal concubine, she knows me. Please." Eleanor pleaded with the leader in fear, hoping it would help. Her words annoyed the leader even more.
" Too many lies." Furiously, he drew his sword out of the baldric and thrust the sword against Eleanor.