𝐑𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐈: 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑦𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑛

Chpt 19

The Kano empire was bustling with the arrival of the new couple, their future leaders; The yarima and new gimbiya.

Sarauniya Fatima felt as though every fibre in her was laid across the kolta that led the path into the vast palace grounds.

She was seething at the sounds of the melodious algaita which announced the arrival of the couple when a maid came in to ask which food flask she should take to the main kitchen.

The glare sent her way assured the maid that this would probably be her last day in the palace.

"Is it my son that is getting married?!". Sarauniya Fatima enquired and the shivered and fell to her knees, her head bowed in fear.

"Allah ya hucci zuciyar ki, sarauniyar Mata. Ki yi hakuri". She said a few praises to calm the queen a little.

It did nothing to calm sarauniya Fatima but she didn't feel like wasting time on the girl.

"Out of my sight". She said and the girl scurried away before the queen changed her mind.

Sarauniya Fatima tried to keep calm and keep her cool together as she joined her friends and relatives in the living room. The conversation was revolving around how Nasir's wife was beautiful and she was the daughter of a close friend of the king and just the remembrance of Usman's daughter, fadimatu being Nasir's wife had her loosing her mind again. As if she didn't have enough on her plate already.

**********

Fadimatu paused in her steps before she had to. Her stop, caused Nasir and the others behind her to stop.

The man, the king that sat before her right now was definitely not the one she visited months ago.

He looked frail and fragile, like the life had been drained out of him and her heart went out to him. When she heard he was sick, she didn't expect him to look lifeless.

Though, even with how he looked, he had the usual gentle yet firm look in his eyes. She didn't think it was okay for him to be sitting, but he had insisted on welcoming his new daughter like he was supposed and not on a bed.

Nasir's hand which hadn't left hers since they got in the car from the airport pulled her, urging her forward and she left him help her walk.

It was just sarauniya zaheera, gimbiya maimunatu, yarima Haruna-Rashid and the couple that were let into the king's private chambers. So, fadimatu long discarded the hood of the alkyabba that had concealed her face since they got on the plane to leave Gombe. She was thankful for the freedom.

The new couple squatted before the king and he smiled as he reached for both their hands and prayed for them, advising them and telling them to always trust eachother.

They left him to rest and moved to sarauniya maimunatu's chamber which had most of the guests; her daughters, grandchildren, sisters, friends and any other person that belonged in her chambers.

"Ah, mara kunya. Za Ku shigo mun gida kun time hannu kaman Yara?". The old woman said from where she sat and the members of the room laughed while fadimatu tried to pull her hand from Nasir's, but he only held on tighter.

"Hajiya stop it, you'll scare her away". Nasir said as he pulled fadimatu further into the room until they were squatting before the woman.

She lifted the veil teasingly only halfway then dropped it, and action which she repeated three times and each time the occupants of the room complained and urged her to reveal the bride to them.

She finally did and a chorus of prayers and praises went round the room.

"Welcome to the family my dear". Sarauniya maimunatu said fondly and held both of fadimatu's hands.