"But your mother has long been gone Nala, and your father, who has just died in war.." The few painful words had been left hanging on her uncle's mouth. He didn't wish to carry on and bare witness to the sorrow in the little girl's eyes.
"I still cannot grasp the death of Father. He was afterall the Master bestowed with the heavenly army, how could he-?" Nala's eyes had suddenly felt weak, as she went on to her younger brother's corpse, whom she had been caressing as if he might just wake up from the slumber.
"You do know, the heavenly army perished along when your father drew his last breath, and-" her uncle had tried to continue to bring her back to the present. Maybe he did not wish for her to sink in grief and forget her duties as the young Master of Arnol.
"I understand State Uncle," she had drew her eyes from her dead brother and made the most determined contact with her only remaining family in that world. Maybe she was trying to tell him to trust her, that she would do all in her will to unburden the troubles of her country.
However, as the Queen swiftly took small gulps of her tea. She wondered why she suddenly thought of the past. All that had occured had already been gone. She would no longer be the sacrifice to save her country any longer. She was safe.
"Mother, are you alright?" her youngest only daughter had questioned as she took ahold of the tea in her mother's hands. The Queen's hands had been shaking thus leading to the young princess fearing it causing her mother harm.
"What has been in your mind today?" she had questioned, lightly, afraid of what she would hear. Wondering if she would be able to unburden her mother's worries if she knew of what was in her mind.
"Ania, the Northern tribe has agreed to marry you off to their future Negus, the crowned prince, Ifiok." She had suddenly boldly told her.
"Mother!?" out of fear and terror, Azania had quickly kneeled, begging the Queen to rethink her decisions.
Azania's maidservant had kneeled along with her, afraid of what was to come, and fearing to experience the occurrence that was oncoming.
"Come now, Azania, get ahold of yourself, you already are of age. What did you expect was to come?" Her mother reprimanded her for losing her cool.
"Stand," she fiercely told her, hating to see her daughter at the begging end.
Azania slowly rose from her feet, saddened to see there was no getting out of her situation.
"You might not understand my decisions. You might tie a knot across my name in your heart. But, all I am doing is for you." Her mother had explained, yet with the same coldness and distance. Not once trying to explain her actions or as to why she would suddenly send her only daughter to the worst sufferings.
"You must not waver, nor should you forget who you are. Kneeling so weakly and not standing your ground causes my heart to ache," she had once again lectured Azania with the same stern voice.
She had already been a few feet from the door, preparing to departure and leave her child's chambers. She had felt her legs wobble and her heart beat faster once she was out of her daughter's sight.
Azania was her only daughter afterall. With such a kind heart and attentiveness. Such a bubbly girl who had always been as obedient. Could she really stand to survive in that world of the Northern Tribe? The Queen had wondered, before she prepared to take another dreadful steps.
Then, again, she wondered, if her daughter's future seemed a little familiar to her past.
"The young Master of Arnol has taken it upon herself to bear the failure in which we harvested. Agreeing to marry the first Prince of the Wolf tribe. She shall be bestowed the title of the Second Master of Arnol." Nala had bowed to thank the king for his graces.
She knew how weakened her state was. And because she had long hoped to marry her childhood sweetheart Ekon, she had begged her father to wait for another successor for her rightful throne as the Mustafa chosen by the great spirits.
However, amongst her spirit and belief in abandoning her birthright for Ekon, she had not foreseen her father's sudden death.
Nala, would of course abandon her birthright because, the Mustafa of the Great Spirit could only marry whom the heavens had chosen for her. She had read and already seen her fortune, her taking on her rightful throne, would mean leaving her love.
Yet, afterall the sacrifices, she still could not get him in the end. There she was, getting married off to the neighbouring country of Gamba. Known to be vile hooligans who were unfaithful.
"Your majesty," Nala's thoughts were brought back to the present by a wavering tone of fear, calling out to her as if something had happened.
"You should be at the great Hall. I fear-" before the lady kneeling infront of her could finish her words. she had already been running to the throne room, fearing what she would hear.
A few minutes later, a young lad who had been one of Moti's generals was kneeling at the centre of the throne room.
"Where is Moti?" Nala had questioned as soon as she had realised it was the general who had went off with Moti.
"He- he," the lad stumbled upon his words, finding it hard to finish the sentence.
"Speak!" She had managed to scream without having her voice have the slightest crack.
"He is trapped with the young Lord of the state Uncle and the Gambian Prince at the cave." he had suddenly cried out.
"you mean my nephew is stuck in the caves with them?"
the lad had nodded his head slowly. Lwazi would obviously have had the young boy he had long kidnapped as the bargaining price. He had had a blade across his neck, telling Moti that if his army and him tried anything, he would have the boy's head rolling on the floor.
"The only option you have is to protect me, and make sure I reach my destination." Lwazi was really wicked. Only him would force his enemy to surrendering themselves and protecting them in the end.
But, Amidst the news, why did the Queen seem to only be worried about her nephew. What about her son who's whereabouts were unknown.
"The Gambian Prince along with the Young Lord and His highness entered the cave successfully, yet, after they entered. it disappeared from our sight." The young general had risen from his feet, tired of kneeling as if he had done something wrong. Their future Ruler was gone, why were they all so calm.
"This means then, they will have to go through the heavenly trials," Ekon had muttered before standing up to stretch his arms.
Great fear had suddenly entered Nala's heart, what if Lwazi or Moti succeeded on succeeding the throne? Would Lwazi ever forgive her? Would he not want his revenge?
She could suddenly hear those thunderstorms of that dreadful night, as the pain in her abdomen got worse as time went on.
A few maid servants had been praying as the kneeled at the direction of the sea. "We wish for our Princess consort for a safe delivering," they had been muttering as the bowed and prayed outside in the rain.
Nala had been screaming her lungs out, the pain getting much worse. "Your majesty, her highness won't stop bleeding I am afraid," The doctor had went on to whisper to the reigning Queen of Gamba.
The Queen had went on to hold Nala's hand with her own, begging her to not give up.
Four hours later, a scream had been erupting across the hall, as it fearlessly struck through the ears of anyone near.
"Congratulations on your highness for having a Prince," people had kneeled and cheered for his highness. As thunderbolt continued to strike through the dark sky.
Nala on the other hand who had been holding on to her mother in law's hands had whispered as her breath wavered and weakened.
"I have fulfilled my duty Mother. I have fulfilled my duties," She had cried, feeling drained and used. How could her existence going from being so mighty, to her worth only being that she could safely deliver their Gambian Prince.
The first Prince had entered the chambers holding the young boy in his arms. Who's eyes had already been open as he looked straight at his father's eyes.
"what shall be the name Mother?" the lad questioned.
"A child of such a fierce stare and painstaking cry. He will be wise, I can sense. Let him be Alarick Lwazi." she laughed with joy as she searched for her grandson's face, finding it that it looked similar to the mother's.
"A great name my dear. A great name indeed," The reigning King had laughed with joy as he embraced his wife. Such a good name it really was.