Queen of Babylon, about a strong woman who must possess all the skills of a leader. A woman who must have the will, power and authority to Tame the greatest king who ever ruled, and to manage the great kingdom of Babylon to prevent it ruin.....
King Nebuchadnezzar was inside his study with his chief advisor Sybille and commanding head of Army Nebuzaradan. They were discussing matter of state when the door fling open and a young maiden enters.
"Uncle Nebuchadnezzar! Uncle!!" The voice shouts excited. Nebuchadnezzar recognized the voice as his only niece. He smile and dismiss the two men with him.
"Uncle?" Atalanta called.
"Yes butterfly" he answered for that is what he always calls her. Atalanta runs into her uncle open arms. Nebuchadnezzar smile and hug her tight, he surely missed her.
"How long have you been in the palace?" he ask her as they sit.
"Just arrived with grandma khan" she replied and went on to tell him of her journey and everything she did on her way to the palace.
"So uncle is it true you are getting married?" Atalanta asked. "How did you know?" he asked her.
"Well mother was telling grandma Khan today" she said.
Nebuchadnezzar nodded,if his grandmother knows definitely the whole world already knows. He wanted to reply when he heard a woman voice.
"Atalanta! Goodness maker, where did she run to? Atalanta??" the woman calls but stops when she see her with her grandson.
"Oh purdah my child." The woman calls with her arms stretched and tears in her eyes.
Nebuchadnezzar leaves Atalanta and walks to grandmother. She hugs him and check him from head to toe like he was her chick and she is mother hen.
"Purdah, look how big you have grown. Just yesterday you were so tiny. Now soon you will be king" Grandma Khan said wiping her eyes.
"But grandma Khan uncle is already king",Atalanta argued. "Don't interrupt me, you this little girl. What do you know???" Grandma Khan exclaim in rage.
She turns back you Nebuchadnezzar and smile.
"Where was I? Oh yes!! When will I meet your bride?" she asked.
"My bride?" "His bride?" Nebuchadnezzar and Atalanta asked at the same time.
"The maiden you betroth yesterday!" Grandma Khan said hitting Nebuchadnezzar playfully on his head.
"She is here in the palace" Nebuchadnezzar said. "Tell me about her" Grandma Khan said.
"But I don't know about her." Nebuchadnezzar said.
"How is that possible? You don't know about your queen?" Atalanta shook her head.
"No worries now my dear, that is why am here." Grandma khan said.
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Nephrite entered one of the royal gardens. She finally had time for herself. The gardens smelled fresh. According to the maids the place was made by the late Queen Amtrak. The gardens looked like a personal study.
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In the middle was a waterfall with a face of a man. Nephrite smile and sat down enjoying the serenity. In this place no one would know where she was. Finally she could think.
She closed her eyes and let events of the last few months pass her mind. Honestly speaking the last months have not been easy for nephrite. The stress, being late. Always tired.
Now all of it have come to an end. Her thoughts was disturbed by a rattling.
Nephrite slowly stood up and picked up a vine folded it into a whip. Slowly she crept to the other side of the garden. She was sure she heard the rattling from other here.
Nephrite tiptoed and raised her whip when she heard a voice.
"Wait!" the voice cried.
Nephrite hesitated. "Who are you?" She asked. "Show your face or I'll use my whip" she threatened.
Atalanta came out with a smirk. "Forgive me am sorry." She said as she straightened dress. "Who are you and why are you following me?" Nephrite demanded.
"I am princess Atalanta of Persia" Atalanta introduced. Nephrite dropped the whip, she is empress Avanti daughter. "Okay, but what are you doing here without your servants?" Nephrite asked walking back to her position.
"Oh I was about to leave when you entered, I wanted to know what you wanted to do here. So I spied. Am sorry" Atalanta apologized, she was so frightened when the maiden discovered her. "Can I join you?"
Nephrite nodded and continued reading. Atalanta looked at the maiden and thought of ways to talk to her. "You never told me your name"
"Nephrite." She said not looking up. Atalanta nodded and looked around.
"Where are your servants?" Nephrite asked again. "Where are yours?" Atalanta asked too. Nephrite shrugged.
"I hate them! I sneaked off my quarters, they always follow me around. They are pest!!" Atalanta bursted out.
Nephrite laughed. "Funny enough I hate mine." Nephrite says.
"Really?" Atalanta asked surprise, how can this beautiful woman hate her servants. Nephrite nodded.
"You are beautiful Nephrite, I see why my uncle chose you" Atalanta said as a matter of fact. "How will you know?" Nephrite ask.
Atalanta pointed at the golden bangles, "Only the next Queen wears aunt Amtrak bangles."
"Do you have another name apart from Atalanta?" Nephrite asked. "Aunt Amtrak calls me kitana, but no one knows. I love the name the way I love her." Atalanta says remembering her dead aunt.
"What if I call you kitana?"Nephrite ask smiling. "I would love it!" kitana replied.
____________________________________ A|N- There and then kitana and Nephrite became friends and inseparable allies. Even if kitana mother Empress Avanti tried to make kitana hate Nephrite, kitana kept liking her. On the other hand Melanie, Jeri Jin, Anyang remained in the palace.
___________________________________ UpdateonTheQueenofBabylon. *The next part of the story is about Nephrite preparations and rites.
*How kitana and grandma Khan worked together to make Nebuchadnezzar fall in love with Nephrite.
*Melanie and Empress Avanti works hard to make the king hate Nephrite
*Sybil and Grandma Khan trains Nephrite on how to become Queen
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Chapter 13
Note - The king was princess Atalanta cousin but she refers him to Uncle, she was only younger than Nephrite with two years. The Khan was the king's grandmother i.e mother of his father.
