THE CROWN - EPISODE 37

*She’s a curse to our land*

*The gods must’ve made the wrong decision on choosing her to be the next Queen*

*Abomination! nwa a bụrụ ọnụ*

*She shouldn’t be spared*

*Never! Kill her!”

*Kill her! Kill her!*

“Ahhhh”

I screamed out of my sleep.

I looked around me quickly and sat up in a haste.

It was a nightmare, Ikenna? Where’s Ikenna?.

I looked and he was there on the floor, sleeping.

I sighed heavily and rested my back on the wall. What kind of dream was that?

Why did I….? Baami, mother

My parents, u have to check on my parents.

I stood up quickly and walked outside, the guards were asleep.

There were no stars in the sky anymore which means it was almost dawn.

I took one last look around before taking on my heels.

I ran as fast as I could, I needed to see my parents and I was rather impatient about it.

I stopped, the path was lonely, extremely quiet and dark

I suddenly realized how dangerous it was for me to be here all by myself.

I looked around me

“Whoooohoo”

A big looking bird suddenly flew over me, I quaked out of fear. I ran again, still headed for my parent’s.

“Baami, mother”

I called lowly, almost breathless.

The crows were awake by the time I got to the house and they were crowing as usual.

The morning was mild bright now

I bent my head over into the hut to my parents

“Adenike, omo mi” they called surprised and getting off the bed.

They still looked sleepy but obviously more concerned about me. I jumped on me in a hug

Mother held me tightly

“Kedu ihe ọ bụ? Why did you head you before dawn?” She asked worriedly

“kini o jẹ? Kini o lepa rẹ? Tell me” Baami questioned too.

I raised my face and stared at their faces.

If I tell them about the dream they’ll get so worried, mother’s blood pressure might not be able to take such thinking.

I forced a smile and hugged them again

“The night was taking too long, I missed you and couldn’t wait to see you”

I giggled but they obviously weren’t having it.

Their faces still wore a frown and noticed the dark circles around mother’s eyes.

“Why are your parents, we gave birth to you so you can’t lie or pretend around us” Baami said

My smile died down.

Mother burst out crying “we’ve heard the news of your execution if you don’t stop your parade on the….”

She stopped talking to avoid saying the name

“on the Ikeanja sacrifice. What are you all so afraid of?” I asked, confused and disgusted with the fear i see whenever the sacrifice is mentioned.

“Of losing you, ki omo mi ma ku niwaju mi. Tahhh! I will not let that happen, you’ll stop that parade of yours”

Baami spoke.

I stood up, my eyes closed from the pain in my heart.

I knew I’d be disobeying my parent’s for the first time

“I’m sorry but I will do no such thing”

I told them

“Eh! wo ọmọ kekere yii, you’ll listen to me and that is final”

“Yes, Adenike you will not disobey I and your father. We didn’t bring you up that way”

Mother added. Imagine what telling them

about the dream would’ve cost me.

I fell down on my knees

“Baami Ma binu. Mother Biko gbaghara m, but I will not stop until the sacrifice is abolished.”

I looked at them, the tears in my mother’s eyes and the worries in Baami’s.

I didn’t mean to be this type of child but this is the kind of Queen I want to be to my subjects.

This is the type of princess I will be.

“Adenike..Adenike…”

Mother called continuously, I bowed my head

“Adenike!!! Princess Adenike!!”

We heard from outside. Ikenna? Why is he here?

“Isn’t that the prince?” Baami asked.

I got off my knees and on my feet

I walked outside, it was an army of guards.

They were scattered all over the compound, I looked and Ikenna wasn’t…

“Princess Adeni….”

He walked out from the back of house, he sighed loudly and dropped the weapons he held.

Mother and Baami walked out too from behind me. I started walking towards Ikenna slowly, still confused on why he looked a mess.

He walked hastily to me and grabbed me in a tight hug, my feets waggled off the floor as he lifted me.

He held me so tight that I was struggling for air

“I can’t breath” I whispered.

He let go and held my face in his palm, a drop of tears dropped from his left eyelid.

“I thought I lost you, I thought they took you away from me. I was losing my mind ”

His voice was shaky and it was almost like he was about to burst into tears..

he kissed my forehead and my nose

“Please don’t ever do this again, don’t leave me. Tell me before you go anywhere”

“You were sleeping and I didn’t want to….”

He kissed my lips, cutting me off

“I don’t care, wake me up. Biko don’t do this again”

He rubbed his forehead on mine and hugged me again.

I am scared too, I am scared of leaving you alone.

I am scared for my parents and I am scared for the innocent maidens soon to be chosen and killed for some silly sacrifice.

I am scared that I might not get this sacrifice abolished,

I am scared knowing that you’re scared of failing your promise to protect me.

I am scared because I know my parents will have sleepless nights.

I am scared that my best friend and everyone that loves me are suffering too out of worrying. I am scared but I won’t stop

“Greetings your highness”

Ikenna let go of me,

I moved to his side and be took my hand and walked to my parents.
He bowed

“I’m sorry for barging into you like this, my wife suddenly disappeared at mild dawn and I was a chattered man already”

He held onto me firmly. Baami nodded in a smile, it was forced.

Mother walked closer to him, she raised her head up to him. Ikenna is a really tall man

“My son, please tell her to stop her parade. I don’t want to lose my only child” she whined..

He turned to glance at me, I looked away.

He let go and held her hands

“I promise you today again just like I did the day I came to take her as my wife, I will protect her. I won’t let any harm befall her, in two eke market days and more to come, you’ll still have your daughter” I watched him talk.

Mother nodded, he hugged her. Tears streamed down my cheeks, I wiped it quickly.

“Can I take her now?” He smiled.

We headed back to the palace, the entire occupant of the palace stood outside waiting for us.

The village war front warriors were even present.

“The princess is fine, she was at her parents” Ikenna announced and they sighed in relieve.

The Queen didn’t look pleased, she handed her horsetail to the maid beside her and walked to me.

I looked at her, her eyes were angry and she wore a frown

“How dare you?” She raised her hand to hit me, Ikenna held it.

I looked up at her hand held in the air,

“you disrespect your own mother for this woman?” She looked at me with displeasure.

What is it with this woman? What have I done to her to deserve her attitude towards me?

“That’s my wife, you taught me better than what you’re portraying” he let go of her and bowed his head to her.

“Crowned Princess, why did you leave without informing anyone? We were all worried” the king said.

“I’m sorry Father. I apologize to everyone, I’m sorry”

“It’s fine, go and rest” he added and walked away with his guards.

The Queen too, angrily.

I dismissed everyone and they left, I smiled at Emenike

“I searched every compound, so this is what it feels like to have a sister, women and their drama” he teased.

We laughed and he walked away after hugging his brother. I looked and Chioma was still standing there.

She walked to us

“Greetings my Prince” she said

“You have not even come to see me and your son since we moved in, rather you’re busy chasing shadows and scorpions” she eyed me.

“Oh! Greetings my princess”

I chuckled at her tackiness.

“Greetings Chioma, my personal maid seems to be missing in Action. Come with me, you’ll fill in for her today”

“What? I can’t do that, I’m also a princess” she rolled her eyes.

I laughed.

“You’re a what? Don’t flatter yourself and come with me immediately or pack your things and get out of my husband’s house”

She turned to Ikenna

“You won’t possibly stand there and do nothing, I’m carrying your son, the next king of Umuagwo”

Ikenna turned to me, kissed my lips and walked away. Her face fell flat

“Hurry up, I need a warm bath”

Things are fine with Emenike now, I have a brother. Even if the Ikeanja sacrifice gets abolished without me losing my life, I will still have to live with my husband’s big mistake.

I will have to accommodate my husband’s child with another woman.

I just want things to fall into place, I’m getting exhausted.