Chapter 1

On a beautiful morning in the land of Nadin the king sat on his throne while he sipped the wine brought to him by his guards, in few hours times he'd hold his new born in his arms. The gods have been faithful. He's waited for this moment for years and he was glad he'd finally have a child running around the compound be it male  or female.

King Aaadil had been married to his heartthrob Queen Dalia for over a decade and they where yet to have a child.

"The gods have finally smiled at us" he thought out loud while sipping his wine with merry in his heart.

The king and queen where long time lovers before they got married, despite his parents refusal for him to marry Dalia he stood against all odds and fought for there love until, he eventually got married to her. And ever since they there love grew stronger.

Not even her inability to give him a child made there love weaker, he kept encouraging her and stood by her and now they are having a baby.

Midwives and maid kept running to and fro with bowls in there hands and  fresh linens.

The child delivery was taking too long and so he became worried, he dropped his wine and headed to the hut to confirm what was causing the delay.

"Qabila, what is taking so much time" King Aaadil

"My lord , the queen is finding it so difficult to push, we are trying to aid her" she responded as she tried to sash back into the hut.

Before she could go he held her by her arms and said

"Nothing should happen to my queen"

And she entered back, just before he could get back to the throne room he heard a piercing cry. It sounds much like a baby's own and so he ran back to the hut. The midwife came out with the baby in her arms.

"My lord, it's a Girl" she said

The king noticed a frown from the midwives face and sensed something bad.

"What about my queen?" He asked

"My king ,I  ... I..." the midwife stuttered

"Stop with the stuttering woman and tell me something, how is my wife" he shouted making every one pause in fear.

The midwife was so scared to break the news to the king, knowing just how much the king loved his queen

"She died" it came  as a whisper for fear he might send her to join the queen.

He handed the baby back to the midwife and entered his chambers.

  King Aaadil mourned his queen for days, no food or water, he refused to speak to any one, he cried , he tried to look for ways to punish himself.

"I'm sorry Dalia, we where better off without the child, all I need beside me is you" he cried

That was all he did. Most times the maids and guard heard him shout but none of them could enter for fear of being slain.

  The midwife and maids catered for the child while the king mourned how late  queen.

King Aaadil Sawa his queen in his dream and in the dream she was so distant and kept waving at him, but he had a different dream, this time she came a bit closer and spoke to him.

"Our daughter needs you, Amirah needs you, take care of her" Queen Dalia said before she disappeared.

He had to fulfill his wife's wishes, Hos queen was so dear to him that he got moulders to build a statue of her just by the head of her grave as a reminder of what his queen looked like, it felt closer to her.

   He named his daughter Amira meaning princess just like his wife had called her in his dream and he raised Amirah single handed my till she was a grown woman.

Twenty-four years later

Amira had grown into a beautiful young woman, the best part was how much she looked like her mother.

"A splitting image of my queen" king Aaadil always said. She was a brave woman and sometimes it felt she knew a lot more than her age.

Amira has reached to be married, but she kept turning down suitors and that scared the king. She preferred hunting and hanging out with the guards to getting her hair done and adorning herself with beautiful robes and beads just like other women of her age do.

Her best friend Cara  would soon be a bride to a rich merchant. And she was going to be her maid of honor and Amira seemed so happy to assist Cara in the preparation of her wedding and The king couldn't wait to give out his daughter to a wonderful King as his bride someday.

The king and his daughter princess Amira had there moments when they'll talk about her mother the late queen.

"Father thank you for showing me what my mother looked like, she was beautiful" Amira said

"And you are just as beautiful as she is" the king replied

   "I can't wait to give you out in marriage  to a respectable king" he added.

"Oh papa, am I such a burden, you can't wait to give off? She said with a frown on her face

"No, my child. It is the joy off every parent to see their child get married and I'm sure your mother would have said same if she was alive" he responded.

The chatted till it was dark, he told his daughter stories his grand father told him and stories his father told him.

The king and his princess where interrupted by the chief guard Ejez

"My king. My king" Ejez dashed into the throne room panting

"Our community has been raided by the Vartell warriors, the community town hall has been burnt down and must of the people slain, the survivors are held captive and taken to the shores of the village to be sold, I was able to escape to inform you" Ejez said amidst pants

  Princess Amira dashed into her chambers and carried her sword.

"My child, this is not the fight for a woman, I'll handle this the King said

"Papa, you are not doing this alone, It's time to defend my people" she shouted