After Mutapa's body had been burnt to ashes, the warriors took his ashes and threw them outside the kingdom. A feast was organized and they all celebrated the death of Mutapa.
Ten bulls of cattle were slaughtered on that very same day and were prepared for everyone to eat. Traditional brewed beer was also brought. Fruits were also gathered for the occassion. Young women and girls sang and danced.
Some of the young men joined them in the dance. Those who had recently lost their loved ones during the war finally found comfort in the feast.
The kings sat together as the chatted and laughed. They exchanged a calabash of beer amongst themselves and continued to talk about the way they had finally put Mutapa to a stop. They also apologized to each other for the battle that Mutapa had caused amongst them.
Mhare and some warriors were also enjoying the sour liquid as they chatted about their bravery in the battle. Many women and children gathered around them as they began telling tales of their encounters with Mutapa in the battlefield.
The Queen, Princess Ruva and other women also celebrated their involvement in the war against Mutapa. Never before in their kingdoms had women fought in a battle. They were always protected and hidden during a war. The Bantu women had broken the barrier and became the first to help successful in a war of men.
The Queen was already having plans to have women warriors who would escort her and the Princess. She had always hated the idea of being followed around by men trying to protect her.
The feast continued until the sun was about to go down. By that time, the majority of the people were drunk. Some had already fallen. Others were still gathered around fires whilst roasting the meat.
Changamire Zama rose to his feet and tried to balance for a moment because the beer was also working within him. "My people!" He shouted and everyone looked at him.
"My people, the Manyika, the Zezuru and the Karanga...I have an important announcement. When Mutapa took my daughter, I made a decree that whoever finds her was going to marry her. And today I fulfill that promise by declaring that Mhare is going to marry my daughter," the king said.
The people shouted in joy and some began congratulating Mhare as they lifted him up and threw him in the air. Mhare felt like he was dreaming when the king gave his daughter as wife to him.
He had always imagined how the king would approve of their marriage but he never thought it would be in front of everyone from all kingdoms. Ruva looked at him through the crowds as she smiled.
"Now! Today we celebrate the defeat of our enemy, Mutapa. And tomorrow, we will have Mhare and Princess Ruva's wedding!" Changamire Zama announced.
The people jumped in joy and began singing songs. Mhare and Ruva were brought together and people began congratulating them. They went before the king and sat down.
"My children, I give you my blessing to become husband and wife. I know you have loved each other since you met each and you managed to control yourselves. I can't think of any man in this kingdom to marry my daughter than you Mhare. Your bravery makes me proud and I know my daughter will always be safe," Changamire Zama said.
"Thank you, baba," Mhare and Ruva said altogether.
"You know our tradition, Mhare. You will have to pay roora before the wedding. I will need two hoes, a spear and two cows from you," Changamire Zama said.
"I will bring them tomorrow in the morning," Mhare said.
"Very well. Now, enjoy yourselves you have a big day tomorrow," Changamire Zama said.
Mhare took Ruva by the hand and the women began the traditional play whereby drums were pounded and those who were supposed to be marriage had to dance in a way that told their story.
In the dance, Ruva invited a man who acted as Changamire Zama. The dance potrayed how Mhare always wanted to reach for Ruva's hand in marriage and how he was afraid to do so. It also potrayed how he bravely took Ruva from the cave where Mutapa kept her.
The people ululated and cheered at them when they finally made contact, a sign that there was no separation for them from that day onwards. The crowds dispersed from the dance and began soaking their dry throats with more beer.
Some of them were tired and began helping each other back to their villages. Slowly, the king's compound began to be silent as people left. Ruva took Mhare to the rock where her father always stood to watch the villages below his compound.
"I told you that my father would come around. He had plans to publicly announce our wedding. I don't know why you were nervous," Ruva said and laughed.
"I still can't believe he did that. I always expected to be called before all the elders and be questioned for wanting you as my wife. He surprised me today," Mhare said and chuckled.
"Expectations always bring disappointment. I know you as a brave man who doesn't fear me but I have noticed that I am your weakness," Ruva said.
"You are not my weakness," Mhare said.
"Mhare, my father taught me that this kingdom matters. There comes a time when you will have to choose between me and the kingdom...don't choose me. Your love for me might be your greatest fall. Remember you have always fought for this kingdom. Don't stop because you have a family," Ruva explained.
Mhare nodded and looked down at the villages as people walked to their homes. "Protect the people and always make them happy..." He said Changamire Zama's words as his own.
"Yes. I will always be by your side. All I want is to become your source of strength, not your weakness. Tomorrow we start a new phase in our lives. I hope you will keep all the promises you said to me," Ruva said.
All I ever wanted was to have you as my wife forever. I intend on keeping my promises to the end," Mhare said as he wrapped his arms around the Princess.
They watched the villages in silence until it was dark. They were lost in their imaginations of how their wedding was going to turn out. They later separated to prepare for their day.
The following morning, Mhare gathered all the things that were needed for the roora. He went with them to the king's compound and all the elders gathered to witness the roora negotiations.
The king accepted his items and they began preparing for the wedding. Women began cooking and more cattle were slaughtered. It was during mid-morning when people began to slowly gather in the king's compound again.
When everything was set, the people got divided into two groups leaving a small path between them. Mhare stood at the end of the path. The Queen took the Princess and stood at the opening of the pathway.
Princess Ruva looked at Mhare who stood at the end of the pathway and saw him smiling. The eyes of the crowds made her insides to knot in nervousness as her mother began to lead her slowly.
Her heart began pounding the walls of her ribcage as she took baby steps towards Mhare. At the end of the pathway, Ruva stood infront of Mhare. His muscular body towered hers and a smile spread across his face.
Danda came forward with a small calabash of beer and said, "Today we are gathered to witness these two becoming adults."
He gave the calabash to Princess Ruva who held it gently in her hands. Princess Ruva gently lifted the calabash to Mhare's lips and he sipped the beer. After sipping, Mhare took the calabash and lifted it to her lips and she sipped the sour liquid as well.
Danda took a small cloth and put their hands together. He tied their hands and said, "From now on, Princess Ruva is Mhare's wife and Mhare is Princess Ruva's husband. As husband and wife, you must be as one."
Danda lifted their hands for everyone to see and the crowd broke into cheers, whistles and ululation. Princess Ruva walked through the pathway and began dancing as was the custom.
Tanaka joined her and helped her to boost her confidence. Soon the drums began pounding and the king's compound turned into a feasting place again.
Mhare later joined the dance and their hands intertwined as they walked towards the seats made for them. They sat there as people brought them gifts and food. The whole day was spent as people celebrated the wedding and many had hopes for a better future especially now that the war was behind them.
Changamire Zama sat with the other kings as he noticed his daughter's happiness. Everyone around them was happy and he was satisfied because happiness in his kingdom was all he ever wanted.
***
Roora/lobola is a traditional African custom whereby the groom brings something as brideprice to the parents of the bride.