The Unlikely Queens

11

My husband comes back to our tent for the first time since last night. My new ladies in waiting have just helped me into a fragrant rose bath. I told them I wanted to relax for a while, so they keep themselves busy with embroidery, knitting, and talking. 

"May I speak with you privately?" Mohtali asks. 

I play with a rose petal, "What do we have to speak about?"

"Dahlia, please. Let's be reasonable."

I sigh, "Ladies, will you leave us?"

They all stand and curtsy before quickly filing out. I avoid his gaze and sling my upper body over the top of the tub, letting my arm dangle. 

"Where did you sleep last night?" I wonder. 

"Were you worried about me?"

"Perhaps." I say stubbornly.

"I slept here on the floor. I did not think I would be welcome."

"I would have not kicked you out of our bed." Guilt stabs my heart. 

"I was not so sure of that."

"I apologize." I mumble. 

"No need," He comes over and kneels on the floor in front of me. "My love, please do not stay angry with me. I am not a bad man, you know that. I know I insulted you and Masika's family and I will apologize to them, but I was just so consumed with how much I loved you I could not think of anything else. Please believe me."

"Mohtali, I know that you did not mean to hurt anyone. We had to get married before I was forced to court Charles. There was no time to explain the circumstances to Masika and her family. I did not care who I hurt either." I confess. 

He smiles, "So...do you forgive me?"

"I suppose," I smile back. "For the most part."

"That is more than good enough for me." He beams before kissing me. 

I cup his face, "I love you."

"I love you." He kisses me again. "What will you do today, my beautiful Queen?"

"Nothing exciting, I'm afraid. What about you?"

"Council meetings and hunting with my brother and some of the men later on. I should be back before sunset so we may have dinner together." 

"I will see you this evening then, husband."

"Wife." He kisses my hand before standing and leaving, instructing my ladies to come back in. 

Jahzara pulls up a chair beside the tub with her embroidery, "I have never seen His Majesty so happy. He is certainly in love."

"As am I." I smile before lowering my voice. "Have you seen Masika today? How did she seem?"

Jahzara shakes her head and grimaces, "I saw her when we came to wake Your Majesty this morning. She and her mother looked very displeased. I heard Galel will not attend council today and he might dismiss himself all together."

"I feel so awful for them. Especially Masika. Mohtali said she is in love with him."

"That is no secret. Maybe now that she is free to marry another man, she will catch someone's eye. She will be fine." 

I nod, praying my friend is right. I notice one of my ladies get up, poking her head outside of the tent. Kenda speaks quietly for a moment before turning to me. 

"Majesty, the scribe is here. Should we dress you?"

"Tell him I no longer need him. Thank you." 

She tells him and takes her seat with the others, continuing on a shirt for her husband. I am mostly content with my decision not to tell my parents about where I am. Getting a letter to them is too risky and they might convince themselves I've been kidnapped or brainwashed and send King Vincent's men to retrieve me, which would ignite another war. Anything to keep from admitting their only daughter decided to abandon them for the savages. I'll visit them soon and tell them everything myself, make them understand. I have to. 

~

I spend the next month madly in love with my husband, being showered with new dresses and jewelry, and learning how to return false smiles. Mohtali makes up for that. Thanks to him, I am happy. 

"Will you tell His Majesty the news?" Kenda smiles as she and Jahzara dress me for the Akuwa Ceremony. 

Akuwa is the goddess of health and beauty and the most favored daughter of the king of the gods. The third Monday in October is her celebration day. 

"Should I? I don't want to take his mind off the hunt." I joke. 

The men of the tribe hunt for the main dish of the feast, which is presented to the woman after the ceremony. 

They laugh, adjusting my new yellow dress. It's a simple cloth, like a brocade, with a square neckline and my opal pin clipped to the front. Jahzara places my crown on top of my head. 

"He will be very excited to hear you are pregnant, Your Majesty." Jahzara says softly. "You will make him even happier than he already is. If that is possible." 

Kenda agrees. I nod and decide that when he returns from the hunt and we sit down to feast, I will tell him. We go out to begin the ceremony. I breathe a sigh of relief that I only have to sit on my throne and look like a queen. 

After my ladies and I watch the other women of the tribe dance, sing, and dedicate a possession to Akuwa, who is represented with a recently created shrine of white flowers, the men arrive with a large deer. 

"Well done, husband." I curtsy to Mohtali as he approaches me, everyone applauding the hunting success. 

"Thank you. How did you enjoy the ceremony?" He takes my hands in his.

"Yes, it was nice. Um, may we talk for a moment?" 

"Of course."

We take a few steps away from everyone and Mohtali wraps his arms around me. 

"I have good news," I murmur. "I am...well, we are--"

"Mohtali," Nuhanu calls as he walks toward us. "I must speak with you."

"Can it wait? I am with my wife." He says.  

"You will want to hear this now." Nuhanu casts a glance at me as if to ask why I'm still standing there, as if he did not interrupt one of the most important conversations of my life.

My husband sighs, "What is it?"

"Masika and her family wrote to their friend Chief Sekani and told him what happened. He was voiced his dislike and informed some of the other chiefs of your marriage and now all fourteen of them have sent you their letters of disapproval. Some even feel personally offended."

"Fine. I will answer them in the morning." Mohtali says dismissively. "Although, I do not know what they hoped to gain by doing that. I will not end my marriage. Is that all?"

"Chief Sekani has also offered to rectify the situation for Masika's family by marrying her." Nuhanu adds. 

"That is wonderful for them." Mohtali pulls me against his body and kisses my cheek. "Is that all, brother?"

"I suppose." He does not hide his disdain for me before turning and walking away. 

"He still hates me." I smile. 

"That is his problem, my love. What were you going to tell me?"

I beam, "You are going to be a father."