Shamma peeped into the Queen's private chambers the next morning in search of Nathan.He had left them playing the previous day and never came back
"Maam?"a small voice had the Queen turning to trace it.At the sight of Shamma her face cringed and Nathan was quick to hide behind her
"What do you want?!"
"Greetings your royal highness." said Sham fully imerging and bowing before the queen. Aurora stared at her with distaste while Nathan peeped from behind his mother
"What do you want you wretched commoner?! You want to trap my son too dont you?"
"No no no i would never. I just want to play. Xavier asked me to bring Nathan to play outside.Natty come lets go play."she said voice so pure and innocent
"No!I dont want to play with you you are bad!" snapped Nathan. At the sound of thag Aurora couldn't be more prouder as she patted his back with reassurance. Shamma at that young age had gotten used to the Queen's cold gesture towards her.She has practically been cold to her for as far as she could remember
"Natty,why would you say that? i'm not bad i just want to play come lets go.We will play all your favourite games today."
"What is taking you too long i want to play aready." Xavier's bored tone erupted as he emerged. His gaze found Shamma before landing on the queen then Nathan peeping from behind his mother
"Goodmorning mother."
"Goodmorning Xavier love how are you today?"
"I am well thank you. But mother, why is Nathan hiding we want to play."
"I am not hiding!" Nathan snapped getting off the bed to face the two.Aurora watched with amusement eager to watch the works of her manipulations
"Xavier,i want to play.But i dont want to play with her.She is bad!" Shamma took a step back as silence paralysed the room for a moment
"Nathan,what are you saying? Shamma is our friend we always play together.Now come let us go and play come Natty." Xavier took him by his hand but Nathan pulled away
"I will not play with a witch!" snapped Nathan shocking Xavier. He turned to look at Shamma who dropped a tear then at his brother before him
"Xavier,she is a witch and you should stop playing with her.Play with me and leave her.She is a commoner anyway." With that the Queen had never been so proud.She now had another weapon in her closet.She had vowed to do anything to seperate the two even if it meant using her son because in the end it would indeed benefit Nathan
"Nathan,stop saying that you are making her cry." Xavier said moving over to Shamma and wiping off her tears
"I dont like that Natty,you cant make Shamma cry i dont like it she is not a witch she is my friend!"
"She is not your friend she is a witch look at her hand!"
"Stop it!I command you to not say that about my Shamma!" Silence trapped the room again with the Queen looking shocked at what Xavier had just done. Catherine stood by the door having heard the arguments from a distance and to her dismay she had to hear her son make his first command.Xavier was a prince like Nathan,but he was the crown prince,the next king but the two ladies had never realised that Xavier knew he had the right to give commands.And he had just screamed the first one at his brother and to make the matter worse at the defense of Shamma
"Natty,i'm sorry i shouted at you."
"Xavier,if you continue playing with her then i will not play with you ever again.I am your brother so lets play together and let her go back to her poor mother."
"Stop saying bad stuff to her see she is crying."Xavier said wiping away her tears again.The tears of a commoner.
"Then choose Xavier,choose between Nathan and that girl.Nathan is your brother and she is just nothing.Choose." Aurora said fueling the fire even more.Although Catherine wanted to stop it all, she too wanted to see what her son would do especially after the outrageous command he had given.
"But Nathan is my brother.Okay i will play with both of you but at different times since you are fighting with each other
"No!Its either you play with me or that witch!"
"Stop it!I will not play with someone who calls other people bad names so play alone!" Xavier snapped before taking Shamma's hand and dragging her away with him completely oblivious of his mother who stood by the door.This left everybody short for words, the two women realising that the bond between the two children was actually stronger than they thought
"Why did you do that?" Catherine said entering the room
"Do what Catherine?You too scared of what is becoming of your son in the hands of that...witch?"she said after throwing a look at Nathan who was now sitting beside her.
"Look at your son Aurora just look at him.He is sad because of what you have just done.Cant you stop being selfish atleast for your son's sake?You are using him!"
"What do you want?"
"Shamma is Xavier's chosen one.She is his protector so stop making things hard for my son."
"Things hard for your son?I am actually doing you a favour."
"What favour can you possibly do for me Aurora...?"
"Of avoding history repeating itself."
"Stop trying to meddle into our matters and similarly Nathan is a little boy who needs to enjoy his childhood.We are not friends at all but do not come between Nathan and Xavier they are brothers."
"Catherine as you can see i was spending quality time with my son before your party came and ruined everything.Leave us."
"Stop with your mind games Aurora.Stop it." With that Catherine left her.She always managed to pretend as if she was fine with everything but she was not and there was nothing anybody could do about it.At that point she was now putting all her faith trust and hope into the creator.She was now trusting her son to not make history repeat itself
"Dont cry Sham,Nat was just being mean but he will apologise you will see." A voice snapped Catherine out of her thoughts. Xavier and Shamma sat by the stairs with Shamma still crying
"I am not a witch Xavier i promise i am not. This right here is just a birthmark mom said its my birthmark i am not a witch."she said opening her palms as she sobbed
"Sham,dont cry.You are not a witch at all you are my friend.I do not care what Nathan says we will always play together i will never leave you."
"You will not?" Catherine kept on watching the two realising that it was already too late but still hoping that once they actually get to know their roles in each other's lives all will be well.
"I will not Sham so dont you ever cry again okay?This Xavier will never leave you.You are my Shamma." Now Shamma was grinning from ear to ear, as if nothing ever happened.
*****
Will this promise survive the ultimate test of time? Read on to find out!!
Aurora's carriage swiftly drove into Marcus' home.A neat well kept house clearly attributing its ownership to a noble,a high ranked official.The carriage came to a hault a short distance away from the door and the maids quickly ran off to stand by the carriage door as one of the guards opened it.Flowers were scattered on the well swept ground as the Queen made her way into the house"Her royal magesty,Queen Aurora is here!"a maid called out before a servant emerged.An old man in ragged clothing who quickly took to the ground at the sight if the Queen"Long live the Queen.""Old man,announce my presence to the inhabitants of this house,my feet are killing me already." The man did not need to be told twice.Soon a beautiful and well dressed lady around the queen's age emerged and gave a s
"Your highness." a girl came running the moment Aurora set foot into the palace"What?""The prince,we cannot find the Prince everyone is running about but he hasnt been found yet.""What?!Nathan has gone missing under your watch?""No no your magesty Nathan is still playing with lady Tamera.It is Xavier we cannot find.We cannot find Shamma either." Aurora's face softened at the sound of that report.Her Nathan was fine and safe,so how was Xavier her business"My Queen the guards have gone in search of them i promise they shall be found.""Ofcourse they shall be found i mean...who would dare place their hands on the crown Prince of L
Shamma tried to navigate her way around the unsettled crowd but she failed to find Xavier.The more she tried to follow the direction in which Xavier went the more she got lost.She was constantly shoved from one spot to another by the older people who were trying to catch a glimpse of King Roland "Xavier!" She screamed but her small voice went with the wind "Hey kid watch it!" A fierce looking man said pushing her away before she landed on the hard ground. "Xavier!"she cried out now rather sobbing her eyes looking up to these gigantinc looking people infront of her.It wasnt long before she felt a pair of hands caressing her hair and when she turned to look an old lady stooped low to her size and smiled warmly at her "Xavier...grand
That very night,Alex entered the palace in all haze and managed to dodge King Roland and Catherine as he made his way to see his sister.The news of Xavier and Shamma's dissappearence had him and Aurora putting their plan into motion and it was one opportunity they could not miss "Its open!" Aurora called out after the sound of a knock.She sat on the large bed carrying a bowel of apples,one apple already in her hand as she munched away.Alex was sure to lock the door before walking over to sit next to her,careful not to wake a snoring Nathan "How did it go?Got my message?" "I did and i sent the deadliest man after them." Alex whispered back picking an apple,"I'm glad i got your message before Roland sent out his men and i havent heard anything yet but i trust Rob,he will get to them b
"What are you two gawking at?!Get rid of those!" Rob said to the two men who immediately sprung to action.The last thing they wanted was to adhere to the same fate,they adored their lives.Shivering Xavier hugged his knees for dear life as his gaze fell on the rope tying his legs.He was not ready to follow the same fate.As traumatised as he was for having to witness such a gruesome event,it still dawned on him that he had to escape else he would die"Exc...excuse me sir." he stattered earning Rob's fierce look.He had never seen such a fierce looking man in his life,even the one at the market immediately turned out to be a better devil"I...i...please,i need to pee.""Why?" Xavier stared at him clearly stunned by the cold responce
Shamma sped through the dark bushy forest following what her instincts were leading her to.She could see herself running, she could see her palms glowing and although it was night time, her eyes allowed her to have a clearer vision.It wasnt dark at all on her part because her vision was daylight clear. The the more she tried to stop she just couldn't. There was a stronger force controlling her and she could only just but abide by it. The feeling was quite strange though it was not the first time she was feeling that way.It had happened some years back when they were around four years of age but by that time she was too young to unleash the glow. Xavier had happened to fall down the staircase.Shamma was playing alone outside and the feeling had made its fist appearance.She had involuntarily left what she was doing and ran into the palace only to find a crying Xavier being carried to his room.She had not heard him scream or anything but she
Without much of an effort, Shamma stretched out her right hand and defied the law of gravity. Xavier could only but stare at the stagnant sword inches away from his neck. Rob just glared at the same incident face registered with shock.He was at some point quite sure someone was going to die, but the odds were now fully stacked against him. Shamma twisted her hand, and in the same manner the sword turned, its tip now fully facing a stunned Rob"Please, please dont kill me it was not my idea plea..." but before he could say more his sword flew towards him piercing through his chest.He gasped for air as he sunk to the ground but it was too late. He died.Xavier upon seeing what had just happened could not move either.The events of that very night were becoming too heavy for him to bear such that he ended up letting the darkness envelope him."Xavier!" Shamma screamed running towards him"Xavier get up, Xavier!" she screamed but his eyes would not open.It was
Shamma woke up next to her mother the next morning. Shayne had rather refused to spend the night at the royal house and was accompanied back home.He was an adventurous teenager, old enough to be by himself."Goodmorning mommy.""Goodmorning my love how are you today?""I am fine mommy. Oh my i have to check up on Xavier!" she said jumping out of the bed and running towards the door"Be careful dont trip!""I wont!" she called out and in a moment she was gone, banging the door shut on her way out. Dora was left alone with her thoughts. She gave a silent prayer thanking her maker for life and for Shamma. She thanked Him for everything that had happened the previous night definitely gra