QUEEN AMINA

CHAPTER 2

This is how it all began. 

(The legend of Princess Amina)

The kingdom of Awilla were famous for their warriors and skillful dancers. The men of course were the only gender allowed to fight and young girls were adorned with waist beads and body paintings, with their mothers making sure to educate them on the importance of a flexible waist and the rules of being a good dancer which they all held sacred. In fact it was a taboo for any young girl of 13 to not know how to move her waist, mothers would line their kids up each time the moon was out for healthy competitions, teasing them about how their great husbands would adore and be proud to have them as wives, the best dancers were often chosen by the great warriors as wives. But...Princess Amina was different, whilst the young maidens strived to learn the latest dance moves so they could find, good, strong husbands, she craved to be a warrior. There was even a popular gossip among the village women that whilst the Queen was with child, she had secretly longed for and prayed to the gods for a male child, resulting in the confusion they said Amina faced in her personalities. When it came to beauty, princess Amina stood tall above her sisters, the maids who worked in the palace and had the privilege of seeing the faces of the princesses would gossip to the villagers who would marvel, as the princesses always wore veils as tradition demanded. 

Hannah, Amina's nanny walked into her room where Amina was enjoying the view of the men who were training from her room window, she was 10 years old. 'Princess Amina' Hannah said with a smile and Amina turns around and walks to her 'yes Hannah' 'it's time for your dance class' 'Hannah I have no desire to do it, I thought i informed you already' Amina said with little interest and Hannah shakes her head bringing out Amina's dancing outfit from her closet 'i'm afraid you don't have an option, it's the law... now put this on' 'oh oh no' Amina says complaining whilst she reluctantly puts on her dress, after which she turns around for Hannah to zip her up 'Amina if you keep on missing your dance classes how would you find a good man? Hannah says as Amina rolls her eyes 'you are just so stiff! Her maid says rubbing her shoulders 'arrgh Hannah! easy' 'oh be quiet and let me help you, imagine the beautiful princess with wild dreams of becoming a warrior' Hannah says with a chuckle'yes that's what I'll really love to become' 'that's foolish Amina, that is not the destiny of a woman, especially not a princess, Amina' Amina sighs and turns around 'Hannah I am tired of everyone telling me this, why can't I be different? 'because you are a beautiful young lady, look at you' Hannah says admiring Amina's features in the mirror 'OK Hannah, I will take my dance class you win' 'good girl' Hannah says with a smile 'now let me wrap your scarf beautifully and all eyes would be on you when you walk in'    

Amina hurried downstairs into her father's chambers. He was on the throne, having a meeting with some elders 'father, father' she called out excitedly as she walked in. He turned to her and hushed her with a frown, she obliged and quietly moved to sit at his feet. After the elders were gone, he gestured to her and she moved to the small stool beside him 'Amina' 'yes father' 'how many times have i told you that my chambers are prohibited for your childish games' 'i'm sorry father, we just got back from the dance class and i wanted you to tell me a story' she said sulking 'don't you rather want to rest? 'no father, tell me about the great warriors of our land, they were out training today by the field' she said with a huge smile and he chuckled at the seriousness in the tone of her voice'OK, now listen attentively' 'OK'  Amina smiled expectantly with her hands on her chin'we originated from two brothers, Eugene and Aois who were the greatest men of war for decades. They instilled fear into all our neighboring lands and brought peace to the land. Now Eugene had two daughters and Aois had a son. Eugene's daughters were very fair to long upon and men from different tribes and kingdoms came seeking their hands in marriage but their father had put a degree that whosoever wanted to marry his daughters had to defeat Aois's son Feran in a battle. All the young men were afraid because Feran was a brutal warrior,he was trained by the best and had never lost a battle. His nieces cried out to their father pleading that they be given out in marriage on fairer grounds but their father remained adamant. Kera the eldest daughter had fallen in love with a young man from our land but he was of lanky stature and was a musician not a warrior. She would sneak out to meet him at night,dancing to the tunes he played for her. People even say that it is because of the way she danced that he so desired to make her his wife at all costs. She had made up her mind though to run way with him and marry him regardless but being a man of honor, he declined saying he would marry her the right way. He went on a journey for thirty days, isolating himself and training alongside offering sacrifices to the gods. He returned back and challenged Feran,saying he wanted Kera's hand in marriage, of course every one was scared for him even Kera told him not to but he insisted and battled Feran on the appointed day her father had set for the great event. It was a battle of five stages and for the first two stages Feran floored him effortlessly, but whilst Feran was a better warrior, this young man had agility and stamina. And on the third round of the battle, he floored Feran, because Feran's muscles were beginning to give out and couldn't bear his weight anymore. Kera who had run to the back to hide from shame,came out when she heard the crowd cheering him on. She joined the crowd in cheering and also twisting her waist with pride, encouraging him on. No one knows where he got the strength from but people say the gods favored the union, calling them a perfect match 'a determined warrior and a skillful dancer' and for the remaining two rounds, he effortlessly flawed Feran. Eugene was so pleased that he gave him his warrior beads and of course Kera's hand in marriage and a decree was passed on that all eligible young men of Awilla were to be warriors and the young maiden were to be dancers.  

'hmmm' Amina smiled 'what is the name of this man father? she said curled up on her father's leg 'his name was Sire Linus the great and he was my great grand father' the King said with pride 'these beads with me here are the warrior beads' he said showing Amina the beads he wore around his neck. 'it has been passed on from generation to generation, Amina marveled at them with curious eyes 'I need you to remember this OK? the moral of this story is 'most times it is not who starts well but who finishes well, because some are born great, some stumble on greatness but others acquire greatness through preparation and determination' Sire Linus never came from a lineage of warriors but he earned his place in history by training to be one' He laughs heartily 'i will stop here today because it seems like i have lost you some where along the line' he said stroking Amina's hair playfully.

When Amina learned to write, those were the first words she wrote of course, she painted in unto the wall in her room with a black charcoal stick 'some were born great, some stumble on greatness but others acquire greatness through preparation and determination' she smiled reading the words to herself over and over again, wondering in what category she fell in 'father never said i couldn't be a warrior, he never did' she said quietly to herself. She pulled the curtains aside and marveled as the men trained 'how can i fit in with no one noticing me? she thought biting her lower lip