I ran. As fast I could. My insides had turned to mushy and everything around me seemed to be a blur. I had confirmed it and I was so sure that Jonathan even saw it or not. He felt something for me and whatever that was, it was enough for me. It was good and I liked it. I couldn’t believe that the bet I took had worked, I had won.I didn’t try to think so hard why Jonathan had given me his permission, all that mattered was that he had given me and now I could get all the herbs and plants that I needed. I remembered the teasing moments we shared when I had walked in on him half naked.It was so sure and so true that we both knew that we felt something for each other but keeping quiet and pretending like everything was good was our best bet and I honestly didn’t mind. I was still trying to figure out everything and so we could take all the time we needed in the world.I pushed the door open and both Julianna and Serena turned to me with question marks all over their faces. I walked into
Early the next morning, both I and Julianna woke up early. Serena woke up with us but she was still too sleepy to accompany us. We laughed at her as she struggled with waking up. Julianna and I ended up leaving her in the room and we grabbed our sickles and baskets and headed out of the room. Serena liked or loved to sleep and unless it was a biological clock which was around 8am, she would never wake up and would even struggle to wake up at 8 am. That was the type of person she was.Julianna led the way as she walked out of the place, our baskets carried over our backs like medicine attendants as she walked towards the back mountain. Everywhere was still foggy and not clear yet Juliana walked with dexterity and I was quick and sharp to follow her with agility. It was something that had been honed from over time. Julianna and I exchanged one or two words as we walked towards the back mountain.It was an area I had never gone to at all so I tried to look curiously around if I could rec
I hadn’t expected to run into Masoma in the back mountains. I had imagined various times how it was going to be like if we ever ran into each other and especially at the king’s chambers but we never ran into each other and I was already slowly giving up the idea of even running into her. I had imagined and thought of the things I would say to her if she ever spoke to me but when I saw her, all those words had evaporated.I had planned to ignore her but I just couldn’t. A part of me still hated how foolishly I had accepted her friendship, I had liked her and yet it was all facade. It was all a lie.While Julianna had gone back to sleep, I had gotten to work, using a small part of the room that we had created the day before arranging the plants, herbs and barks in containers. Using the medicine books, I stored them in a way that would retain their use. I had to soak some in water immediately, had to store some in jars, had to spread some of them to air dry them and soon the smell in the
Tending to my herbs and plants became my all time favourite. Making pastes and concoctions to try out new things and sometimes forcing down my throat was both exciting and interesting but I got lucky every time and whether I had to spit it out or not, I never had the opportunity to be affected by the things I was making. Sometimes if the pastes and conctions didn’t look bitter or scary, Serena and Julianna didn’t mind helping me try them to see the different reactions it would give everyone.And after so many trails; I had successfully made a paste that stopped bleeding, I had sliced my arm with a knife to prove that point and the paste, thick and with a rather nude smell had stopped the bleeding and not only that, my skin had scalded over the wound in a few things so easier. The paste would be effective for soldiers in minor injuries, I couldn’t say if it would be effective if tried on deep wounds but I knew that it would at least do something but my discoveries and inventions were m
I didn’t run to my room, I knew that Serena would be there and that I would have to explain what happened to her and I honestly wasn’t ready to explain anything to anyone about what was wrong with me. I didn’t even know if I would be able to get the words out. Would they even understand? Before I even opened my mouth, wouldn’t I be looked at like I was crazy and that would be very valid, to look at me like I was crazy. I was very stupid and every single thing seemed to be reminding me of that. I found an empty abandoned room and hid in a corner, holding my face and hiding my mouth in my stomach as I sobbed, the tears wouldn’t stop, neither did the hurt and pain I felt from my chest.The mere thought of it brought a lot of ache to my stomach. I couldn’t believe that while I was enjoying the thoughts of his care and thinking that he definitely felt something for me, definitely or maybe liked me, he was there telling everyone else that I was a slave and I was leverage for his people.
Avoidance.That was the path I took in dealing with the situation. I couldn’t sort out my feelings even after sleeping and I couldn’t face Jonathan either so I avoided him perfectly. I waited till I was sure he was out of the room before cleaning, I made sure that I was gone before he even thought or imagined that I was in the room. I stopped cleaning the store room for now since I didn’t want to overhear something else.The room had successfully left a shadow on me and I was just generally tired. Cleaning the store room meant that I was allowing myself to run into Jonathan and I certainly didn’t want to see him. I was avoiding him. I couldn't pretend that everything was fine when I saw him.And so I spent my time n the medicine room he had found someone to give me. At first, I was too hurt to use it, I didn’t want to use it but I didn’t have a reason not to. It was easier to work in and I could make whatever sort of mess in there. It gave me ease and made me calm down. Working with t
I didn’t know how long I struggled against Jonathan but at a point, I just stopped, allowing tears to run down my cheeks in torrent. I was sad. I was hurt. I was in pain and my heart ached badly. Even worse now that I was in his arms.The familiar comfort cloaked over me as he hugged me tighter. I didn’t hug him back and I just stood in his arms, allowing him to hug me. His head pressed tightly to head and I sobbed slowly.“Do you hate me so much, your highness, that you wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice me for your people?” I asked slowly and that made Jonathan slowly let me go. He stepped back as he stared into my eyes and swallowed.“No, no, Princess, you’ve got it all wrong” He replied softly. It was the softest voice ever. I had never heard Jonathan use this voice with anyone ever.“I don’t hate you” he replied as he met my eyes and I froze.“I promise you, I don’t hate you” he repeated again pausing a bit, “I can’t” he added quietly but I heard him clearly and I chuckled.“Of cours
The way the truth co-exists was such a weird way. Just because you don’t agree with it doesn't make it any less of the truth and that was the case scenario in my case. I didn’t know how long I stayed in Jonathan's arms that day. How long he held me because he didn’t have an answer to my question, and because even I didn’t know if I was ever going to leave. It was an unforgettable ache in my heart and there was nothing I could do about it.Juniper sighed softly as he rubbed my arm, "You look terrible Ami” he said softly and I chuckled.“You can't blame me” I replied and he nodded his head rubbing my back.“Nobody is blaming you. I don’t dare” he replied and I turned to him with a small chuckle.“I’m tired Juniper, really tired” I replied and Juniper’s eyes softened.“I don’t know what to say Ami, I’m as tired as you but I have to be less tired than you so that I can be strong for you” he replied and I chuckled.When I realized that Jonathan couldn’t answer my question that day, I had a
“I was shocked as well when he requested to see me and then he told me a story about a young boy who had been in love with someone all his life, he watched her grow up into someone he even fell in love more and I was getting honestly invested curious where the conversation was going and then he told me that the boy was him and the girl was Masoma” Jonathan said and Amira’s eyes widened.“SO they had met several times before?” she asked and Jonathan nodded her head.“But since Masoma can’t remember, I guess she has forgotten” Jonathan replied and Amira laughed.“He’s a strong man, he’s trustworthy” she replied and Jonathan nodded.“I sent it to his father the very next day and then we talked. He's like her since he was 15 and his mother had a lot of things to say about him and the way he followed her” Jonathan continued and Amira laughed.‘So we can say that he has been waiting for her?” she asked and Jonathan nodded.“Yes. H’es quite patient you know” Jonathan replied and Amira hummed
“I was shocked as well when he requested to see me and then he told me a story about a young boy who had been in love with someone all his life, he watched her grow up into someone he even fell in love more and I was getting honestly invested curious where the conversation was going and then he told me that the boy was him and the girl was Masoma” Jonathan said and Amira’s eyes widened.“SO they had met several times before?” she asked and Jonathan nodded her head.“But since Masoma can’t remember, I guess she has forgotten” Jonathan replied and Amira laughed.“He’s a strong man, he’s trustworthy” she replied and Jonathan nodded.“I sent it to his father the very next day and then we talked. He's like her since he was 15 and his mother had a lot of things to say about him and the way he followed her” Jonathan continued and Amira laughed.‘So we can say that he has been waiting for her?” she asked and Jonathan nodded.“Yes. H’es quite patient you know” Jonathan replied and Amira hummed
Night had fallen before any of the women in the room decided it was time to go back to their houses. They slowly walked out of the room talking and laughing, their voices filling the ears of everyone around while the rest of them looked on with both respect and healthy envy.“So have you decided how you are going to host the bouquet?” Masoma asked and Amira shrugged.“Well I have no idea yet but we never can tell” she replied rubbing her chin.The Berg kingdom had a lot of traditions, traditions that Amira wanted to bring back, there was an upcoming bouquet where everyone in the kingdom would eat together, dance and laugh together. It was more of aftering bonding kind of festival and event and it was always richly enjoyed and Amira wasn’t about to stop that anything soon but planning it had been proving a little bit hard for her as she wanted to try something different.“You know we’ll always be available to help,” Serena said and Amira smiled.“Yeah, like I would forget that” she rep
Masooma frowned as she slowly dubbed the wound in front of her with care. She had spent a really long time trying to stop the incessant bleeding. The man in front of her had a frown on his face and even though he wasn’t saying anything, his face told her that he was showing great restraint and she knew because she had opted for an herb that stung the blood cells but was the fastest way to stop the bleeding and make it heal.“Can you be more careful?” he finally spoke and Masoma turned to him with a frown.“Careful?” she barked at him, “More like you are the one who needs to be careful because how do you use your sword to very conveniently slice yourself? Weren’t you looking?” she barked back at him and he stared at her speecles.s'I injured myself and you are blaming me?’ he questioned and Masoma was the one who was now speechless. She dropped the herbs in her hands and glared at him.“Who asked me to be careful?” she yelled at him, suddenly irritated.“You injure yourself and you wit
THIRD POVKareem’s hand slowly slid away from the door and he turned to see that the Queen was right, Serena was standing right behind her, based on how she was looking, she had obviously been tricked there as well.“Kareem” she whispered and ehr voice carried so much pain and hurt that it almost made Kareem crumble.Amira’s words echoed in his head and he didn’t know what to do. What happened between the two of them was something that no one had seen coming, it was something that neither of them could control. It had been over four months since he found out Serena's true identity and he still couldn’t wrap his head around it. Not that she deceived him, contrary to what everyone and including her believed he was way past that.He could see clearly that she didn’t look good, her voice was so small, so quiet that he could barely hear it. He knew that his actions had also hurt her and on the spot he regretted it. He had been avoiding her, refused to speak to her or even do anything with
AMIRA’S POV“Is it ready?” I asked and Elora nodded her head.“Ready my queen” she replied and I smiled mischievously.“They have to settle whatever is wrong today” I said and Elora shook her head.“Hopefully it doesn’t backfire” she commented and I snorted.“More than anything what they both need is this. He needs to listen to her, that’s how they get past what happened” I responded.Holding a crying Serena in my arms two days ago that totally broke my heart. I knew she was hurt and I also knew that Kareem was hurt and I also knew that they loved each other. I had caught Kareem throwing a few glances at Serena in the throne room during meetings each time she wasn’t looking so I knew that he didn’t hate or despise her, he was just angry and maybe there was some other emotions for him but that exactly wasn’t my business, the both of them could sort it out themselves.Serena had been a support and pillar for me, while I was a slave, in my earliest days here as a girl who loved and as Jo
THIRD POVSerena closed her eyes as Julianna kept fanning her. She was tired, metally, physically and emotionally. There were a lot of things happening with her but the most important was Kareem’s obstinate decision not to speak to her unless he had no other choice and all of her efforts had proved abortive.She didn’t think that hiding her identity from him would cause something like this and would make him so angry. It wasn’t her choice to keep or hid her identity is secret, It was something that was very important to her, it was for her safety, for the safety of Jonathan so that no one would think she was trying to usurp the throne, she was also trying to protect herself, she just didn’t know that this was what was going to happen. She had thought several times about how she was going to tell him but the time was never right and besuche f what happened to Amira, she had to come out and show her true identity and surprisingly, Amira hadn’t even bothered to hold it against her, it h
I left the Zadok kingdom with the greatest fanfare anyone could leave with. Everyone was both excited and elated to see me go, it was such a beautiful sight and by the time the carriages were rolling out from the gates of the Zadok, I had tears in my eyes and Jonathan merely held my hand tightly and tighter.“You can always come back whenever you want” he said softly and I nodded my head softly. It is very comforting to hear people tell me that I could always come back. It had been a long time since I left home but luckily for me I experienced how it felt for home to be called home. It was a sweet feeling and I loved it but luckily for me, I have more than one place to call home.I used to think that whenever I got married, I wouldn’t cry when leaving Zadok, that my parents wouldn’t cry or even be bothered but I saw my mother’s red eyes as I left, I knew her status was the only reason why she was trying her best to hold her composure and I didn’t blame her, deep down we both knew the
I was now a married woman.The feeling was too much and I just couldn’t help but keep smiling, my smile was about to tear my mouth to the back. The wedding lasted till late in the night where I and Jonathan danced so hard and we retired to our beds in the early hours of the morning. I snuggled into Jonathan’s arms as we slept as husband and wife. It was beyond my imagination, the excitement I was feeling as Jonathan’s wife.By the next morning, we were done packaging and we were about to leave. I walked back to my room to stare at the place I had lived for so many years. I didn’t know how hot it would feel to leave. Of course I knew that Zadok would always be home but leaving in this way made it look as though I wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon and it made me laugh. The Zadok kingdom held a lot of memories for me and I was going to leave those memories behind. Luckily for me, the last few months I had lived in Zadok were full of happy memories and my terrible and worse memories w