THE CROWN - EPISODE 9

AT THE PALACE (WRITER’S POV)

The king sat with his Queen, chewing on his own confusion.

A bothered man who had his children’s best interest at heart and a bothered king worried about his subjects…

A husband who had to listen to his wife talk though he wanted to be left alone

“My king, I’m really worried.. I don’t want my sons to fight over nothing, please you have to do something about this”

The Queen said worriedly

A young boy would be seen running into the palace

“Igwe! Igwe!” He screamed as he ran…. The king’s guards held him back

“Let him in” the King told them and they did

He ran into the chamber panting hard

“Son of our fathers, what bothers you?” The Queen questioned

“May you live long your majesties” he bowed

“Bless you” the King replied

He stopped panting and stood upright to speak

“The main stream of Umuagwo is almost dried up and the chi nwanyị stream is dried up”

He said

The king stood up in a haste

“Igwe o! Igwe”

A woman and man ran into the palace too

They bowed. The Queen stood up

“Our crops are decaying even before harvest”

The man said

“Two of my goats slumped this morning, I thought it was something they ate till I heard I wasn’t the only one whose animals died”

The woman cried

“We also heard that the streams are drying up” the man added

The King and Queen looked at each other

“Guards!!!!”

“Yes your majesty”

Guards came to respond

“Summon the Ezemmuo and all my kinsmen immediately. Tell them it’s urgent. Go quickly!”

He yelled and walked away to be alone. Confusion in the land.

Men, women and children talked about the new take of the land. Crops and animals were dying, streams drying up.

Two of the king’s kinsmen hurried their way to the palace

“What do you think is the issue? What could be so urgent? Isn’t it too early?”

One of the kinsmen questioned

“Like you’ve not heard of the strange calamities that has befall the land. I’m sure the Ezemmuo has been summoned as well”

“Could this be a matter of the gods chosen maiden?”

“If it is then we have no choice than to get them married” he added

“Let’s hurry up”

They hastened their steps

Back at the palace the kinsmen could be seen assembled and waiting for the chief priest.

“Your Majesty, I suggest we get the prince married to the gods chosen maiden”

One of the kinsmen said

“Let’s wait for the eye of the gods”

“He is here”

The chief priest walked into the king, he looked around and laughed in mockery.

“Eye of the gods, The man chosen to dine with the gods. My people are crying, our animals and crops are dying and our streams are drying”

The King said

“When a mother warns a child about fire and the child still puts his hand in fire, the outcome is no longer the mother’s fault cause the child was warned” the Ezemmuo replied instead

The kinsmen glanced at each other

“When a child is injured out of disobedience, it’s still the mother who nurses the child. Ezemmuo what is this about?” Onuwu asked

“The maiden chosen by the gods must marry the crowned prince otherwise more calamities will befall the land”

He told them

The King sighed

“What Can be done to change the gods decision?” Igwe asked

“Nothing. It is destiny and nothing can change it”

The elders mumbled amongst themselves.

||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

ADENIKE

My body here yet my mind so far, wandered into wild thoughts and confusion.

So many questions answered and problems unsolved.

The calamities have befall the land just like the chief priest said.

Where does this believe me?

What will be my fate now? To marry the crowned prince?

“My dear?”

I flinched at her touch

“Mother, you’re here”

She sat beside me and smiled at me.

“I don’t know whether to be happy because my daughter will be the next Queen or to be sad because you’ll be in a loveless marriage”

She placed her hand on mine

“Mother I’m confused, the villagers must be cursing me now for all the calamities in the land”

I looked down

She touched the beads in my hand

“They have been worn on you, it can’t be taken out”

“Mother?”

“I’m sorry dear, that’s just how it has been since our fathers fathers”

“The fact that the crowned prince has never picked the wrong maiden is also law but look at it today.. mother I want to believe things have started to change so these beads will have to be taken off me”

I said even though I was uncertain, the calamities only means the Ezemmuo is right.

“what about Emenike?”
She asked and I looked at her

“What about him?”

I expected her not to have the same opinion as Mmesoma cause my problems will worsen if true

“The woman he’s in love with has been chosen by the gods to marry his elder brother, he must feel so devastated”

She said sadly

“In love? You also think Emenike is in….”

I sighed

“Don’t you look at his eyes? Don’t you feel it? His actions and all. Dear I know it’s going to be hard but your Father and I are here for you”

What if he is indeed in love with me? I will be caught in the middle of two brothers?

“Mother excuse me, I have to go somewhere”

I told her and ran along.

I went to the place where he usually likes to hunt.

I walked further inside, I heard gunshots and I walked towards the sound.

I have to be careful

Our fathers say… You don’t go to a hunter’s hunting field without his knowledge.

“Ahhhh!!” I screamed and fell down when he shot at my direction

“Adenike??!” He rushed to me

He panicked and started looking to see if I’m fine. Could they be right?

I stared at his eyes and for few minutes he only cared about my safety

He kept apologising and warning me about doing it again

“Have you fallen in love with me?”

It came out like a shock to us.

It was almost like I didn’t think before blunting it out

He said nothing but stared

I stood up and he did too.

“What?”

He uttered

“I asked if you’ve fallen in love with me”

I asked again

“Emenike you’re not saying anything”

“My silence should give you a answer” he gazed deeply

I moved back from him a little

“I want to hear you say it”

“Yes, Adenike I’m in love with you. I love you and I want you to be mine”

He finally confirmed

They were right. I opened my mouth to say something but no words came out.

“Adenike please don’t get married to my brother, please”

I moved back bit by bit, turned and started walking away

Two brothers, two princes…. One is in love with me, I’m to get married to the other.

If I’m to marry the crowned prince that leaves me in the same house with Emenike who is in love with me.

gods of our land, have mercy on me.