THE CROWN - EPISODE 10

I stood aside while they argued, Mmesoma was defending me and I rather didn’t have the strength.

We were in the main stream fetching what was left of the water.

The other maidens bounced on calling me all sort of names and Mmesoma got my back.

Chioma was quiet, she just stared at me and I didn’t want to know how she felt.

I have myself to bother about now

“How can an outcast rule us”

“We’re true maidens of this land and nobody should take our place let alone a gold digger from the west”

“I don’t get why she even participated at all”

“What else if not all this attention she’s getting now”

“Will y’all just stop, that’s enough for one person” Mmesoma tried to stop them

“We have little food and with time we’ll have no water and it’s all because of this girl”

I shrugged and turned to walk away with my pot.

“Where do you think you’re going to?”
Amaka ran to stop me, the others surrounded me

“Please let me be” I muttered almost under my breath

“Why should we do that?”

“I don’t want any trouble, please” I told them

“She’s acting all nice and calm”

Ijeoma, one of the maidens said

I attempted to walk away and they pulled me back, the pot fell from my head and it broke.

They’ve made me break my mother’s pot for the first time. I was angry but I sighed instead

Another dragged my arm forcefully

“You were saying something, you don’t want trouble? Why not”

They laughed

“You girls should stop this” Mmesoma raised her

voice

“Look at her, little rat trying to dine where tigers feed”

“Her mother probably didn’t teach her well”

“Don’t you dare bring my mother into this or else….” I fumed

“Or else what?”

“Ebube don’t dare me” I fired back

“You can’t do nothing, if your mother had gotten married to a man from this kingdom then you won’t have dirty blood running through your viens and…. ”

I landed my right palm on her cheek before she could even finish her unpleasant words

The others gasped, Chioma got up from where she sat

“You little….”

She raised her hand to hit me

“Enough!!!”

We turned and it was Emenike, he had four guards behind him.

The maidens started adjusting themselves and faking smiles.

He walked to us, he looked at me

“Are you okay?”

He asked and I nodded

“May you live long my prince” they bowed in unison

He looked at them

He took my hand and raised it

“Do you see this? What does it signify?”

He questioned them referring to the white bead I was wearing, given to me by the chief priest.

They all kept quiet except Mmesoma..

“Emenike, sorry I mean my prince”

She looked at him and smiled meekly

She walked forward

“The white bead signifies purity and peace, and only the Royal families wear it. It signifies respect and regard, anybody who disrespects a person with white Royal beads is always punished”

She said boldly looking at them in disgust, I was too sour otherwise I’d have burst out laughing

“Guardss!!”

“your highness please forgive us”

“Adenike please”

“Take them to the palace, tell the king that they were caught in violence with the soon to be crowned princess”

Emenike said loudly

The guards took them away including Chioma.

He sighed softly and turned to look at me, I looked away.

“I’m sorry about that” he said

“It’s fine”

I replied and silence took over. Mmesoma went to sit a bit far from us

“I don’t know what to do, the thought that you’ll be in my house soon but as my brother’s wife and not mine is hurting”

He broke the long silence

“Emenike I’m sorry”

“Sorry? We should be the one apologizing to you. The whole recent events has caused you a lot”

He replied.

“I’ve always wanted to get married for love but now the lives of so many people lies on this marriage, I don’t think I have a choice anymore”

I said sadly and started walking away

“Mmesoma let’s go”

We left and I headed straight home

My parents were outside talking about me

“Mother, Baami”

I said and they looked at me

“Ade, what happened my dear? Where’s the pot?”

She stood up to me.

“Mother….”

I broke down in tears

“Dear…”

She called sadly and lowly

She hugged me and I cried till I was okay.

I stopped and disengaged from the hug

Baami held my hand and led me to sit down

“Ifemi please get her water” he said to mother and she ran along

She came back and I drank water

“All this is my fault, I never should’ve participated at all”

I said

“It’s not your fault dear, whether you had participated or not you’d have been chosen, it’s called destiny.. the gods do not lie”

Mother said

“,Stop crying, we’re here for you and everything will be fine”

I hugged Baami

We disengaged when guards from the palace walked in

We stood up

“Greetings to you”

They said and bowed their head slightly

“We bring you message from the King”

One said

“Igwe would like to have you come with us to the palace now”

Another announced

We looked at each other before going with them quietly.

I wonder we were being summoned suddenly, is this about what happened at the stream?

We walked into the palace and it was a complete house. The elders, Queen, King and both sons were all seated

“May you live long your majesties”

Mother and Baami bowed

I simply looked around, everyone turned to me and I quickly bowed too.

“I have called you here to decide on the marriage between our children, the Ezemmuo will soon be here to tell us a date” Igwe said

We sat and in no time the chief priest arrived

“Welcome eye of the gods, great dibia” the king said

We looked around and smiled

“The day after the next Eke market day we will hold the ceremony” he said

“And after that?”

One of the kinsmen asked

He looked up smiling

“The gods will be pleased and restore our water and bless our soil with food”

The elders mumbled amongst themselves happily, except the onowu.

“Thank you Ezemmuo, I will have them start preparations soon. Tell the villagers to join us here the day after the next Eke market day for the ceremony” the king smiled

“I want it to hold at my father’s house” I said to everyone’s surprise

They all turned to me

I looked at Emenike and all he did was stare at me, sadly. I feel so sorry

I looked at the crowned prince and he looked sad as well.

“What do you mean?” The King questioned

I stood up

“Marriage rites are held in the maiden’s house, you can have your party after honouring my father” I told them

“What are you saying? You want the king and Queen to go to your father’s house?”

“That is the African culture, marriage rites are held in the bride’s house, my father’s honour matters to me”

I said honestly and they mumbled amongst themselves again. I looked at my parents and they had no word.

“A king never leaves his palace to honour anybody, who is this maiden?”

“It’s okay Onowu, we’ll come to you for the marriage rites and then return to the palace for the ceremony”

Igwe said and I nodded.

I sat back down and stared at Emenike, he smiled sadly.