Chapter 3

|Chapter 3: Alone

Shuna brought her the clean clothing to the princess bed. She waited for her to get out from taking a bath. She was sure that the princess was very exhausted after the ceremony but the people and the nobles were the opposite of it. They still continued with the celebration.

“Shuna, you must retire to bed now. It will be late night soon.” Alminah remarked when she saw Shuna in her room still.

“I must wait till you sleep, princess.” She spoke reverently.

Alminah was able to change into clean and plain white clothing when she got to bed. She turned to Shuna.

“I cannot fall to slumber when somebody’s around. Now go.” She ordered.

“Please call for me when you need something.” Shuna then get outside her room.

The princess laid on the soft bed sheathed with fine line of silk and cottony pillows. This was pretty different from her bed which was made of dried hay covered with those soft animal skins.

She wanted to run away to that valley now. But remembering her responsibility, she thought it would be a selfish desire. She must know how to control her emotion- homesickness would be one of the toughest to be controlled. At least her father was already in the valley with his people.

The decree also mentioned that the tribe will be provided with large lands where the native people could till on the ground for living. The relationship between enemies would be renewed gradually if both will work on it. It will naturally radiate from the two people involve- the Prince and the Princess.

That night, a lonely song could be heard faintly throughout the land and it reached the valley where Teuton looked up in the sky, praying that his daughter would be led by good fortune.

~~~

The sun rose three days after the wedding. All nobles, town people, vassals, princesses and princes had gone back to their lands.

The kingdom, where the royal family resided was faced on lots of political issues about their recent alliance with the barbarians. Many adjoining countries doubted it to be one way of making their kingdom stronger. This shows a great threat to them.

“Know ye not that we hast faced the consequences of the marriage, my king?” The queen stressed out. “Our brother countries have doubted that we plot conspiracy against them!”

“My queen, do not be troubled. We had counseled with my wisest scholars on things that we shall do.” The king assured.

“Tell me then, my king. What good can that lady animal do to our kingdom!” The queen shouted stubbornly.

“Mother, ye shall not be pushing thy self. We have been counseled what we shall do to remove their doubts towards us.” Prince Jion joined. He was sitting with Alminah. She was all silent, taking in all the insults she heard from the majesty queen. Her void face was hidden by her veil as she bowed her head.

“Still, I cannot trust that animal our reputation. We need more influential to help thee in thy course.” The queen said.

“My queen, please be polite to the princess.”The king advised.

“I cannot be polite to that savage who cannot even removed her veil before us.” The queen hissed.

Alminah finally looked up. “Before you, I cannot remove it. You are not even worthy to see my face.”

“Thou speak poison!”The queen was enraged by her words.

“And you speak for yourself then.” Alminah said it. Prince Jion already got her by arm.

“Do not say another word.” He glared at her. “Forgive me, mother. I will let my wife be disciplined.” Prince Jion then dragged her out from the court to her room.

“You insolent!” He pushed her to her bed. Alminah plopped unto it but remained silent. “ You dared to speak those words before the queen of this country!”

“ A decent woman acts and speaks with manners. How come I cannot find it in here and even to the queen of this country?” She said in low voice.

“What say you?” He grabbed a handful of her hair. “Speak to me! What say you?!”

Alminah whimpered in pain but she chose to bit her tongue.

“Speak!”

But Alminah didn’t say a single word. Instead, she just stared at him blankly.

“You cannot find your tongue now? You stepped on the queen’s pride and this one considered being treason! Death could be equaled punishment on this, you understand that?!”

“Ami gashni luali daa. Tho art me baar…ami gashni luali daa.” She mumbled.

(I shall not defy thy words. you are my husband…I shall not defy your words.)

Prince Jion, not understanding any of it let go of her hair and was actually afraid by the mere thought that she might cursing him now.

“You are working your witchcraft on me now?” He asked.

“No. Just leave me. I will ponder on my own trespass.” She said.

Prince Jion left her grudgingly and went to the court to apologize in the stead of his wife.

~~~

The days went peaceful for Alminah as she stayed all days on her room. Shuna was serving her food for she cannot bear to dine with the royal family who never wished to have a meal with her. To them, she was a piece of a cannibal and nothing else.

“What news from the outside, Shuna?” Alminah asked after her chamber maid laid the silver tray.

Shuna bowed to her and speak. “ Thou wilt go with the prince throughout the lands to serve the people, princess.”

Alminah nodded. So it has been decided what they would execute to erase the doubts of the adjoining countries of the kingdom. “What shall we do then?”

“Feed and give alms to the poor ones.” Shuna answered.

“How pathetic.”She shook her head. “What other news?”

“I heard that princess Sue had arrived in the palace. She was summoned by the queen to go with the prince and princess.”

“Princess Sue?”

“She is a daughter of the monarch in the southeast kingdom. Her cause was to help poor people. She got good reputation on many people and she was supposed to marry prince Jion if not for the sudden declaration of the decree to stop the war.”

“He was supposed to marry her then?”

“I believe so, princess.” Shuna answered.

Just before Alminah could pull another question to her, the palace guards came in to inform her departure from the palace. They needed to travel now to start the cause.

“I must go.” Alminah said to her chambermaid.

“Please be well, princess.” Shuna bowed to her.