Royalty

6

A Month Later

At the feast, Normani sat across from Dinah, who was seated next to her husband to be. They sat on the floor, with the food lined out in front of them. Dinah quickly glanced over at Normani who was eyeing her down. They hadn't spoken in a month, yet their attraction grew stronger and stronger. It probably didn't help that Dinah would watch Normani whenever he had the chance, making sure she stayed out of trouble and was always protected especially since Nela didn't necessarily like the presence of the New Caledonian.

What on Earth is she doing to me? Dinah thought to herself.

"Let's get started," Dinah said trying to distract herself. She held up the bowl of Kava and took the first sip, she then handed it to Nela. After he took a sip he handed it to the rest of the Tongan nobles. After they took a sip the Honored Guests were handed the Kava bowl. The New Caledonians took a sip of the earthy liquid, when it was Normani's turn she looked at Dinah seductively as she drank the last of it. When she was done she placed the bowl in the center, "Shall we eat?" she offered. Dinah nodded as she and everyone around her started filling their plates. She watched Normani eat a piece of mango which made her think back to when she fed her the same fruit. The moan she had elicited from the nourishing juices of the fruit was a distinct memory she wanted to hear over and over.

Dinah was taken out of her thoughts when Nela placed a hand on her thigh, "Everything alright my love?"

She nodded her head unconvincingly as she rose up from her position. Everyone stared at her curiously, especially Normani. "I'm sorry to leave so soon, but I am not feeling well," Dinah said as she walked off. When she was gone everyone went back to eating except Normani. She stared at Nela until he locked eyes with hers as well. "What?" He asked as he swallowed the last of his fish. "Shouldn't you go check on her? You know as her husband," she asked him. He shook his head, "Dinah doesn't like it when I'm with her at her spot. Says she gets an uneasy feeling," he answered continuing to eat. Normani narrowed her eyes at him before she turned to her family, "Je vais trouver la Reine Dinah. Pendant que je suis allé garder un oeil sur lui," she said motioning to Nela. They nodded their heads as she too left.

She followed the footprints in the sand, so it didn't take her long to find Dinah, who was in a spot on the beach not to far from her home. She sat on the shore, near a tree, with her knees hugged up to her chest. As she hugged her legs looking out towards the line where the sky meets the sea, her hair blew in the wind. Normani slowly made her way to the young Queen. She sat down next to her and placed her arm around her.

Dinah flinched at the contact, "Normani? What are you doing here?"

"We haven't talked since the kiss. I was worried, and I saw your husband to be wasn't gonna go after you."

"He knows I don't like him in this spot. This is where I go to feel better. My dad brought me and my family here once a month for a special meal. When Nela comes it doesn't feel the same. When he's here I feel nothing, and I don't like it. I love him but the feeling I get when I come here- It feels like they're still here with me..." She explained, "It's weird tho, I thought the feeling left because I wasn't alone. But you're here with me now and the feeling is somehow stronger."

"It's because Gordon knows it's me," she said with a smile as the ocean climbed up the shore and reached their toes. Dinah looked at the dark skinned girl skeptically, "Are you saying my father's here?"

Normani nodded, "Remember that gift I was telling you my people have? Well I wasn't kidding. The gift the creator gave us allows us to connect with the ancestors, all those who have passed. Right now Gordon's connection is the strongest. I can feel Milika too, and there's 6 other spirits I can sense, but they're not as strong," she explained. By this time Dinah had tears streaming down her face as she shook her head and covered her ears, "Stop, stop, stop. Don't bring up my family to justify your make believe gift! I have moved past grieving and I don't need you brining this make believe crap to me! Let my family rest in peace," she stated as she got up and started to walk away. "Your majesty I was only trying to-" Normani started.