WIDA

Chapter 12: The Chieftain's Council

Several weeks passed, and the village slowly transformed. The walls were reinforced, the crops began to grow, and the people moved with a sense of cautious optimism. Wida had spent much of her time working with the villagers, overseeing repairs and discussing plans for the future. But she knew that the real test of her leadership was yet to come.

In the heart of the village, a large meeting hall had been constructed—a simple structure, built from wood and stone, but it symbolized something much larger. It was the place where the council of elders would meet, a place where decisions about the village's future would be made. But this time, it wasn't just a council of elders—it was a gathering of the tribes.

Wida stood at the head of the room, her brothers by her side. Obis had spent weeks reaching out to neighboring villages and tribes, inviting their leaders to come and discuss the possibility of an alliance. It hadn't been easy; many were suspicious of Wida, an outsider who had claimed land that others had been eyeing for years. But the victory over the Gadir had earned her a reputation as someone not to be trifled with.

As the tribal leaders filed into the hall, Wida felt the weight of their gazes. Some looked at her with curiosity, others with barely concealed skepticism. She knew that many of them had come not out of a desire for alliance, but to see for themselves whether this young woman, this runaway princess, could truly lead.

The leaders took their seats, murmurs of conversation filling the room. Wida waited for the noise to die down, her heart pounding in her chest. This moment was just as important as any battle she had fought—perhaps more so.

When the room fell silent, Wida stepped forward, her voice calm but steady. "I thank you all for coming. I know many of you have heard rumors about what has happened here, and I wanted to address them openly."

She paused, her eyes scanning the room. "I did not come here to conquer. I came here to build. To find a place where my people could live in peace, free from the oppression of the palace. But when the Gadir came, we had no choice but to defend ourselves."

One of the older tribal leaders, a man with gray hair and a scarred face, spoke up. "And you expect us to believe that you won't turn your spear on us next, when you grow hungry for more land?"

There were murmurs of agreement from several others. Wida met the man's gaze without flinching.

"I don't want more land," she said firmly. "I want to protect what we have. And I want to build something better—for all of us. The Gadir will return, and they will come for more than just this village. If we stand alone, we will fall. But if we stand together—if we form an alliance—we can protect our people and our land."

The room fell quiet again as the leaders considered her words. Wida could feel the tension in the air, the uncertainty that hung over the gathering like a storm cloud. But she also saw the flicker of hope in some of their eyes. They, too, had seen the devastation wrought by the Gadir. They knew what was at stake.

Another leader, a woman with dark braids and a fierce gaze, leaned forward. "And what do you offer in return for this alliance? What can your village give us that we don't already have?"

Wida smiled faintly. "We offer protection. Unity. And the chance to build something lasting. Alone, we are vulnerable. Together, we are strong. We can trade, share resources, and fortify our defenses. This is not just about survival—it's about creating a future where our children don't have to fight for every inch of land."

The woman studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly. "You speak well, Chieftain Wida. But words are one thing. We'll need to see proof."

Wida nodded in return. "You'll have it. In the coming weeks, I will show you what we can build together. And when the Gadir return, we will be ready."

The tribal leaders exchanged glances, the mood in the room shifting ever so slightly. There was still doubt, but there was also possibility. And for the first time, Wida felt that they were not just seeing her as a runaway princess—but as a leader, a chieftain who could forge a new path.

As the meeting came to a close and the leaders began to leave, Obis approached Wida, a smile tugging at his lips. "You handled that well. I think they're starting to come around."

Wida exhaled, the tension finally leaving her body. "I hope so. We need them if we're going to survive what's coming."

Obis nodded. "We will. You'll make sure of it."

Wida watched the tribal leaders leave the hall, her heart steady but her mind racing with plans. There was still much to be done, but she had taken the first step toward building something greater than herself. This was no longer just a fight for land—it was a fight for a future.

And Wida was ready to lead her people into it, the rise of a paradise. With this rise came a calling with herself to consider the conversations of fate

Days after the council meeting, Wida stood atop the village's highest hill, looking down at the valley below. In the distance, she could see the faint trails of smoke rising from the villages of their new allies. The days of forging alliances had only just begun, but she could feel the shift in the air—the cautious but growing trust between the tribes.

Obis joined her, his face more relaxed than it had been in weeks. He offered her a smile before speaking. "You've done it, you know."

Wida raised an eyebrow. "Done what?"

"Convinced them. Wida the Witcher is not just the runaway princess to them anymore. They're starting to see you as the chieftain we always knew you could be."

She shook her head, half-amused. "I'm not sure about that. Some of them are still wary. They're waiting for me to make a mistake."

"Everyone is wary when it comes to power," Obis said, his tone thoughtful. "But they're also smart enough to recognize strength when they see it."

Wida sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't just want them to follow me because they think I'm strong. I want them to believe in what we're building here. To see the future, I see."

Obis glanced at her, his eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. "And what future is that?"

Wida was quiet for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the land. "A future where we're not constantly at war over every scrap of land. Where people can build homes, raise families, and live in peace. Where we're not just surviving—we're thriving, a paradise, Mukega."

Obis nodded, but there was a glimmer of doubt in his eyes. "That's a beautiful vision. But you know as well as I do that peace doesn't come easily. Not in this world."

"I know," she admitted, her voice soft. "But if we don't try, what's the point? We have to give people something to hope for."

He was silent for a long time, then finally spoke, his tone gentle. "Wida, you're already giving them that."

She looked at him, surprised by the quiet conviction in his voice. Obis wasn't one for grand speeches or flowery words, but when he spoke with certainty, she listened. He had been with her since the beginning—when they'd fled the palace, when they'd fought their first battles, when they'd stood side by side against impossible odds. If anyone understood her, it was him.

"I hope you're right," she said quietly, the weight of leadership pressing down on her shoulders. "I hope I'm not just leading them into more bloodshed."

Obis's hand rested lightly on her arm, grounding her. "You're not. You're leading them to something better. They see it in you, Wida. That's why they're following."

She didn't respond immediately, but his words stayed with her long after he left her side. Obis had always been her anchor, the steady presence in the storm of her life. She knew she could trust him—his belief in her, in what they were building, gave her strength. But even with his unwavering support, Wida couldn't shake the sense that their challenges were far from over.

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