WIDA

Chapter 11: The Promise of a New Dawn

As the days passed after the battle, the village settled into a tense but steady rhythm. The victory against the Gadir had brought a sense of fragile peace, but everyone knew it was only temporary. Wida, though victorious, understood that the presence of the Gadir was still a looming shadow over their hard-won land.

The villagers had begun rebuilding the structures damaged during the fight, reinforcing their homes and fortifying the village's defenses. Obis took charge of organizing watch patrols, ensuring that the village remained vigilant in case the Gadir returned. Yet amidst the rebuilding and the repairs, there was also a cautious sense of pride. They had stood together and defended what was theirs.

One evening, as the sun dipped low over the horizon, casting the village in a warm, amber glow, Wida sat alone on the stone steps of her small house. Her fingers absentmindedly traced the engravings on her spear—the very spear that had struck down the Gadir chieftain. The weapon felt heavier in her hands now, as if the weight of what she had done lingered long after the battle had ended.

Obis approached quietly, his footfalls soft on the dirt path. He settled beside her, the quiet stretch of the evening filling the space between them.

"You've been distant since the battle," Obis remarked after a few moments. "It's not like you."

Wida sighed, her gaze fixed on the distant hills. "I've just been thinking. About what comes next. About the people we've lost." She glanced at him. "And about what kind of leader I need to be."

Obis gave her a sideways glance, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "You've already proven yourself, Wida. You led the people through a battle, and you came out victorious. No one can question your leadership now."

"That's just it," she said, her voice quieter. "I didn't want this to be about war. I didn't want to prove myself through bloodshed. I thought..." She trailed off, her thoughts tangled.

"You thought what?" Obis prompted gently.

Wida rested her elbows on her knees, staring at the horizon as if the answers she sought were hidden in the hills. "I thought I could create something different here. Something peaceful. We came here to escape the violence and oppression of the palace, and now—here I am, wielding power the same way they did. By force."

Obis studied her, his expression thoughtful. "This isn't the same as the palace, Wida. You're not forcing anyone into submission. You fought to protect what's yours. What belongs to the people."

Wida was quiet for a long time, the weight of her thoughts pressing heavily on her. She understood what Obis was saying, but the memory of the battle—the blood, the loss—clung to her like a shadow. She had seen what unchecked power could do in the palace, and she feared what that same power could do to her if she wasn't careful.

"I don't want to be like them," she whispered.

Obis's hand rested lightly on her shoulder, his touch grounding her in the moment. "You're not like them, Wida. You're leading for the right reasons. But I think I understand your worry." He paused, then added, "Leadership isn't just about battle or control. It's about the choices you make when there's peace, too."

Wida nodded slowly, taking in his words. "I want to make the right choices."

"You will," Obis said with quiet certainty. "We'll rebuild. We'll reach out to other tribes. Show them we're not just fighters, but builders, too. People will follow a leader who builds something worth protecting."

Wida looked at him, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You always know what to say."

He smiled in return. "That's because I've been at your side since the beginning. I know you better than you know yourself."

The two sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching as the sky deepened from gold to violet. Wida felt some of the weight lift from her shoulders, her resolve hardening into something clearer. She could see the path ahead now, even if it was still fraught with challenges. She wouldn't let the village become just another kingdom built on violence and fear.

There had to be another way.

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