To Be A Queen✔️

Chapter 1

Twelve years later

Edikan's POV
The sun was shining so bright. So bright I am sure it wouldn't rain in the next two nights, unlike home it could rain slightly for seven days straight without stopping.

I also noticed that they had shallow streams compared to ours back home. The fact that I saw a stream and not even a river was so strange. How would they fish in such a shallow stream?

It was when I thought this that I finally recalled that I didn't see any boats or men laying nets in the stream. I only saw maidens fetching water with their pots and few older maidens washing their wrappers.

But it was so nice seeing the sun this bright by this time of the year. Or is their time of the year different from ours? I couldn't help but make a loud snort. Of course it wasn't because if it was, then today wouldn't have come or maybe it would have come and gone before I reached this land. And that brought me back to why I was here in the first place.

If only my father hadn't decided to make decisions for me.

Flashback
It's being three nights since I last saw father. I understand that being a King makes him absent.

My mother the Queen used to make sure that I didn't feel his absence. She always played with me when ever I finished my wrestling lessons and wasn't tired. That will be after she had made sure I had eaten. She always said that I had to eat well and healthy if I wanted to grow up strong and rule like father does.

But not any more. Because she's gone and according to father she is not coming back. But I know mother would not leave neither father nor I, so I realized that something bad might have happened.

I waited for seven nights and she still didn't return. I didn't cry in front of father because he said that Kings don't cry. I only cried myself to sleep when they maids had left my hut and gone to sleep for the night. I was had seen just 10 harvests and would soon be ready to start my lessons as a King so I had to act like one.

It was after the fourth night that I was summoned to father's hut by one of the warriors who my father sent. Father said I would inherit his hut when I become King.

I didn't like that I would have to leave my hut at first but I became excited when he told me that every King to ever rule our land slept in this same hut. So I always take my time to admire the hut whenever I had an opportunity like this one to go in it.

I have always found the crafts hanging on the walls intriguing. Father said each craft was a symbol for each of the Kings that have ruled our land.

If my counting was correct the craft's numbers were more than my age. The last one below was a wooden sword. It's father's craft. He once told me it symbolizes strength, justice and lastly a warrior. Mother had once said that father could beat all the men in our land and beyond even Uncle Mfon in a wrestling match, which surprised me because I have seen Uncle Mfon wrestle with other warriors.

That brought to mind the reason I was here in the first place. I turned to were I knew father will be sitting, on the chair close to his bed. He looked amused that I was so entranced by the crafts on the wall since I entered his hut. I composed myself immediately "Greetings father"

But he just smiled at me and motioned for me to come over. That was when I finally looked at him closely, he looked... different, thin to be precise. Something was wrong. But he was smiling. So he must be tired then. I assumed. "My son you remember that you are to take lessons that will help you be a King".

How would I forget, mother drilled it into me that there would be time when I will start taking lessons so as to learn how to be a proper King. "Yes father. When I have seen 13 harvests"

"That is true my son but we cannot wait till you have seen 13 harvests. You are to start your lessons three nights from now." I couldn't help but widen my eyes. I have always wanted to start my lessons to help me be a King, but not this soon. I wanted to shout that I wasn't ready but I know better. Father always said that a King should be ready for anything. So I replied "Yes father" instead.

"Son, promise me you will learn quickly how to rule our lands" " I promise father." "You also have to promise me that once you are old enough to take the throne you must marry the princess I have chosen for you. She is to be your wife and queen. Mfon will tell you all that you need to know once you have ascended the throne. Son, you must marry the princess! Promise me that"

He looked very serious. The last time he looked this serious was when I almost hit one of our playmates who was a girl after the warrior that took me out to play reported me to father. I didn't see why he was so serious thou. Mother had told me that I was to take a wife once I ascend the throne. One who would be my Queen just like mother was to father. He must have taken my silence as a no so he continued. "Promise me son. Even if am not around anymore that you will marry this princess" It was my duty as King to have a Queen and father has already found one so I was happy that father had helped me in that part so I answered with all seriousness "I promise father that once I ascend the throne I will marry the princess that you have chosen for me." I replied.

We ate roasted fish together with palm wine that night. That was the first time I tasted a palm wine. Father said it was alright to take one since I will become a man soon, after which I showed him my new wrestling moves and he made some corrections and adjustments.

For a few moment I forgot about mother not coming back and enjoyed this moment with father for it was rare. By the time I was back in my hut I was smiling. That night I prayed to the gods that every night would be like tonight.

End of flashback

But every night wasn't like that night afterwards because he died the following morning. And I didn't shed any tears because I was to be King and that will make me look weak before my people. If only I knew what he meant when he made me promise to marry the princess even if he wasn't around.

I wish I hadn't made that promise but somehow I was happy I did because it was a wish of a dying man.