In a cold deluge night, the mizzling of the rain was so calming, lashing and hammering of thunderstorm was so terrifying. The wind blew so hard shaking trees and carrying light objects it find on its way. Small curved grounds were drenched with water .
As others were enjoying the precipitating night, Maria was deprived of sleep as she couldn't take it but to continuously think about prince Odeke.
"Was l too harsh on him? Anyways,he deserves it!
She kept murmuring the whole night, turning on her bed from east to west , left to right. At some point she had to sit , stand and even sat on the floor. As hours go by, the more she becomes over obsessed .
" What's going on? Why am l thinking about that b*stard? All her questions didn't have answers as she felt like seeing the prince so much but due to pride and egos , she strived herself from approaching him .
Left with one choice of using her position to command prince Odeke. She called Okirror and ordered him to transfer the prince to her palace for father treatment. Okirror was so surprised as to the same Odeke she had left to died and now she wants him in the palace!
But he understood her , ever since the death of Akello, Maria's mental state wasn't so stable as she blames herself of incompetent that she failed to protect Akello instead she had to lose her life protecting her instead of the other way round.
He rushed back to his home and told the prince about the whole situation but the prince also held grudge at her for his father. But at the end he accepted to go since it was more of a command that even Okirror couldn't resist.
Reaching Maria's palace , the prince was so terrified with fear of what Maria could do yo him. Immediately she saw him, Maria stood from her chair, with a jovialous smile on her face yet tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn't know whether to be happy or annoyed.
Un able to control her emotions she ran and hugged him but at the same time, she whispered in his ears .
"Welcome to earthly hell".
That made Odeke more horrified especially after knowing how far Maria can go when punishing someone. Left with no options he had to comply with the situation at that moment.
"Hey ! Why are standing there like a statue? Came give me a massage. She shouted at the dump stamped Odeke who was lost in deep thoughts. Me? He asked bewilderedly but was given a harsh reply instead.
" No.., not you, it's me.... Idiot! Who else is in this room other than you?
As day falls prince Odeke kept on starring at Maria and noticed her different from the one she knew.
Sitted under dark quite night with the harmonious sounds of crickets, katydids and cicadas. The gentle chirping of crickets, the melodic serenades of katydids and the rhythmic buzzing of cicadas in the distance created a calming ambiance, that help Maria forget her painful and sorrowful journey of life.
Lost in words , Odeke didn't know whether to hate or be a comfort zone for her , but remembering how she nicely treated him even not knowing who he was, he couldn't take it but to think that he was wrong on attacking Maria's kingdom.
"She deserves to be there king and not me nor my father , he thought has his eyes glanced at a sorrowful young lady sitted in the cold ." When l needed someone , she was there for me , now, it's pay back time . Slowly he approached Approached Maria with a scarf on his hands , he covered her from behind.
Maria was so surprised cause she never expected any one to know where she was at that time . Only to glimpse back and saw prince Odeke standing behind her.
"Don't be surprised! I know when your troubled you look for a secret quit place and that how l found you. He said, he already knew that she would ask how he found her.
He slowly sat next to her and asked for her forgiveness. "Am sorry for attacking you, l don't know what come over me! Unfortunately it was of no use to a mentally exhausted Maria. She only stared him on the face and continued to look at the stars as usual.
The dispatch of Akello and the betrayal of prince Odeke made Maria more introvert , the villagers become more worried about her health yet there was nothing to do since almost all the closest people around her are dead except for Okirror who is busy with the warriors and now even the she warriors and Maria nephew the young prince, the the elder chief who become the guardian of the jungle village and his family. Leaving her with no one to comfort and help her .
Am so..so tired! The burden is to heavy for me! And..and my shoulders are wearing out. She wailed while crying with her eyes up in the sky as if she was talking with someone else up the sky. Slowly a hand aproached he shoulders and hugged heras she bursted intears. Anyone who knows what she went through would understand her pains.
"I promise l will never leave you again Maria! The prince couldn't control himself but rather, join in crying . "I will never leave you again Maria, because l ...l ...l love you .
Maria's eyes widen, tears stop rolling and she pushed him away , "what..what did you just say! The last thing that she wanted was n her life was to fall in love, yet in actual sense, she's already obsessed with the prince only that she's not yet ready to accept her feeling for him. She stood up quietly and when back to her hut after warning the prince never to bring love issues in her ears again for peace to reign.
But prince Odeke wasn't ready to let it go just like that. Running after maria, he pulled her hand and kisses her lips.