Azalea The Queen

Azalea

"Ndlovukazi," Samkelo sighs, a grim look over his features. I sit on the other side of the bed facing Grandma. I take her shaken hand in mine and smile down at her. "MaZulu, unjani?" Despite his calm exterior, I could see just how his eyes shone with unspoken pain. My husband was hurting and I just wanted to hug him.

How are you?

But more than anyone, ugogo was the one who was in more pain, physically. Mentally, our very own Queen was so at peace. It took strength and courage to accept such a fate. Being the crybaby that I was, I was already sniffling.

"As good as a horse." She laughed at her own joke, whereas Samkelo clamped down his jaws. I looked down at the clasped hands between her and me and tried to keep my tears at bay. "Izingane zam, konke okwenzekayo, kwenzeka ngesizathu." She smiled at the both of us, squeezing a little at my hand.

My children, everything that happens, happens for a reason.

"Don't ever let anyone come between the two of you. You are the future of this kingdom. And don't I know it, that you will make me proud." You could hear the pride in her voice. As if she knew what was going to happen in the future.

I looked over at my husband and smiled. He extended his hand. Putting mine on top of his, he squeezed my hand softly. Maybe he was seeking comfort for what was to come. It was sinking into him slowly.

After spending some time with her, my husband and I left her chambers. We held hands as we walked beside each other, I didn't know where we were going but it was nice to walk around the palace hand in hand with him.
It was silent at first, the comfortable kind of silence.

I watched as maids went up and down, occasionally bowing when passing us. Of course, I noticed the murmurs around the corners when they thought I couldn't. They were stunned by the prince casually walking around with me. I am not going to lie, I knew what people said about me, some good and some not so much.

Some of the people inside these gates felt that their prince and future king deserved someone better than me, more thin, rich, or more beautiful than me. Honestly, I didn't care at first. I didn't care that they thought I wasn't good enough for my husband or that they thought I wasn't going to last. At first.

But after what Grandma had said, I was more apprehensive about the future I held in my hands. I was to be entrusted with the kingdom. Leading people, alongside my husband, made me think about whether I was worthy enough. Was I, a girl from the township with barely a good background able to lead these people?

"Your thoughts are so loud, sthandwa sam. Kwenze'njan?" His deep baritone calmed my nerves for a bit. I found warmth in his presence, in the way he circled his thumb in motions over my hand.

"Don't you wish that your family could've chosen someone better for you to marry?" I could not look up at him as we halted by the main house. However, I could feel his piercing gaze on me. I couldn't have helped it, maybe I was a little insecure, but who wouldn't be? Coming from where I came from, to royalty, I thought anyone in my situation would've been insecure.

Not to mention the kind of man I married. He was so beautifully sculpted. He was charismatic when he wanted to be though. He was every girl's dream man.

"Ufun'kthini maKhumalo?" He was so patient with me. It made my heart flutter just thinking about how tender he was being with me. Despite the turmoil going on in my head, one thing was clear, that I loved this man.

"Ngish'ukuthi- baba mina angis'uyena umuntu mhlampe ngathi uyazi ngezobukhosi. Mina sthandwa sam, anginalo ulwazi ngokuhola abantu. I don't think I'm the right woman for you, to be beside you while you lead." I tried to distract myself by playing with his fingers. His rough and yet soft hands enveloped my small ones in his big ones. 

I mean that- baba, I'm not someone that I could say knows about royalty. My love, I don't have any knowledge on how to lead people.

"Look at me," He said while taking my chin in his fingers and holding my face up. My eyes fixated upon his. My resolve crumbled. I melted, just by looking at him. The intensity of his eyes kept me in place.

"Angina ndaba ngolwazi onalo, noma ubangangi tshela ukuthi waqeda ukfunda kwa one." I managed to giggle even in that situation. My smile didn't waver as I gazed up at him. "Ngiyakuthanda mina, uyangizwa? Ngikuthanda noma sulele, urhona." Tears welled up in my eyes the minute he said those words.

I don't care about what knowledge you have, even if you tell me that you finished school in grade one

I love you, you hear me? I love you even when you're snoring.

Samkelo wiped my cheeks, removing the tears that spilled down. He held my face in place and kissed my forehead, his lips lingering there. I wrapped my arms around his torso. I hugged him tightly, relishing in the embrace of his warmth.

I didn't say it back, because at that moment the doors opened.

"Well, ain't this sweet?"