I felt a breeze that made my cheeks feel cold. I slowly opened my eyes, It was bright. How long was I sleep. I slowly rise to see the clouds surround the sun. I looked down and instantly remembered the cub. Where was it. I looked around and started to get scared. With all that noise, I heard the little taps of feet. On my bed jumped the little cub. He purred and got closer to me. I was filled with ease. He crawled into my lap and I hugged it tightly. In the corner of my room were the two big panthers that stayed by Ratuk's side. I got a little nervous that they were here. Where was their owner. They both stood up from the ground and seemed to be waiting. The little cub jumped off my bed and playful pounced over to the bigger panthers. I see these were it's parents. I didn't see the cub when they first arrived. Maybe one was pregnant. Both panthers seemed gentle now. The little one came back to me and laid on my lap as if to take a nap. The bigger panthers came close to me and sniffed me. I still felt a good deal of fear of them. By the way the cub was relaxed, relaxed a bit. The then laid next to me. I can't tell if it's because of the cub or their comfortability with me. I saw shadow hover over my curtain. When it opened it was Ratuk.
"Oh she's up?" He said with a smile.
Behind him I saw Ahkmad peak from behind, along with Nezhii.
"Aza, you're finally awake." Nezhii came to run in the room and hugged me.
"Aza, what were you thinking being in the woods during an hunt." Ahkmad said rubbing the back of his head.
"Well I got lost, and the cub was hurt."
"That is no excuse for you to put yourself in danger." Ahkmad said in a serious tone.
I can't tell if that's how he really feels, or if father scolded him.
"It seems my gift found its way to you." Ratuk stated.
I looked and he was insinuating the cub.
"Why else would I bring a couple." He said.
I would have never guessed.
"So you're the reason Aza almost got killed." Everyone turned to see Ombte at the entrance to the room.
" I would have never." Ratuk said.
" It was your animal was it not?"
"Do you insinuate that I planned to hurt the princess that I will marry?" Ratuk walked closer to the entrance.
"Already thinking she for sure will marry you is quite offensive and disrespectful, almost the same as you even feeling comfortable stepping in her bedroom before marriage."
They are fighting each other with words as if no one else is here listening to them. Ratuk stood firm at the edge of the door staring at Ombte. Why are they so hostile towards one another.
"Enough, let's leave Aza to rest, I'm sure all this bickering is doing her no good." Ahkmad stating pushing the guys out of the room with Nezhii following.
The panthers stayed with me. Maybe it was to care for their baby that they sensed would soon grow attached elsewhere. Given the facts I believe this is a male.
"I think I'll call you, Thunder." He turned his head to the side as if trying to understand my language.
I heard one of the soldiers say king in the hall and I straightened immediately. Fastly hitting the corner was my father.
"Aza. You are awake." He came in with my mother.
"Daughter what were you thinking? Placing yourself in harms way, and on such dangerous grounds." My father scolding me wasn't new, I took as if it was a lesson to teach.
"Sefti, we can worry about that later." My mother sat gracefully next to me. "My dear how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." I said.
"Aza, we love you, We want you to be safe. What were you doing out there anyway?" My father questioned.
"I found flowers for mother and was trying to find my way back to give them to her." They both looked at each other as if they felt sorry for me.
" Aza we want you to be safe. Not only are you a daughter of statue but you are also one of our joys." My father said.
My father said it in a way I knew meant good. He will never lose that stern cold-like mindset, but at least I knew he cared for me. I received a hug from my mother followed by my father. I feel like crying. I feel like a burdened, owing reckless things I was taught better than doing. At least I wasn't hurt. Just some scuffles on my knees were left.
"Aza we can cancel the traditional dance for tonight if you wish to rest." My father said.
The traditional dance was the closing of the festival. It typically starts really late and ends when the sun rises the next morning. It is also where most people find their lovers, or well that was a typical rumor. Just to think it would be cancelled because of me sounded ridiculous.
"Oh no that wont be necessary, I am fine." My mother gave a painful smile.
"Well, if you think so. Make sure you see Hotep for your dress." My mother said.
And with that they both left me to rest. What about Ratuk? I did wonder why he was the only one that didn't give me a gift. Not that I was expecting one, but to know it was carefully thought out, that impresses me. No what am I thinking he totally has been a seductive snake since being here, slithering his way to me. Well calling him a snake would be a little harsh, maybe the company he keeps describes him better, those panthers. I feel he gave me a gift that I could never lose or forget. Was that the goal? Now every time I look at Thunder I will think of him. What a clever man he is.
Later I was given a bath by one of the servants and she was a mother herself telling me the different fairytales she heard when she was young that she told her daughter. Maybe those fairytales do exist, but for someone in my form of life will probably never experience it. I have to do what's good for my family, not myself. My mother herself had no say in who she would marry. I suppose her and my father just made it work. Seeing the different personalities clash together makes it impossible to see otherwise. I can say somewhere in my heart there is a little light of hope left that makes me believe I have control in the decisions regarding who I choose, I guess that's something to look forward to. After my bath Hotep kept me hostage in the wedding quarters using the good luck of the room to supposedly help make a good decision. The amount of stories we have around here I'm surprise the whole world doesn't know about us. I looked at myself strangely in the mirror as I saw how the dressed hugged me. Was I looking for a husband or a harem of men? Apparently my mother picked out this dress. It wasn't uncommon for us to dress so openly, but to do this as an auction for suitors, I feel I'm dressing for the wrong reason. I was swept with nervousness. The gold trim along this pearl colored dress was stunning. I can see why my mother picked it out. Hotep also laced me with jewelry on my thighs, arms, neck and head. If I looked like this just for a dance I can't imagine how they are going to dress me for my wedding, I'm lucky if I'm not in just jewelry and a towel. A smirk ran across my face at my own imagination.
"Princess, you are ready." Hotep said as if it was her proudest moment.
I faced the door as I was prepared. When the doors to the room opened I heard laughter and music. This was really happening. My nerves were definitely stopping me from moving forward. Hotep walked with me down the hall and she reminded me multiple times to keep my back straight, and remember what I was taught when dancing, and basic royal manners. Her words seem to make me more nervous. Before I knew it we were in front the hall and there was a dramatic stop in the music.
"Princess Aza has entered the dancing hall!" Everyone turned like hawks to me.
I somehow felt the judged, was I dressed too fancy. My father walked up to me.
"With my daughter's release into society, congratulations Princess Aza!" My father started the first clap of many.
With a smile and nod he rejoined my mother and the music again started. I felt so awkward standing by myself.
"Princess Aza, It is nice to finally get to talk to you." A woman of high noble status spoke.
"I'm actually grateful to be introduced into such esteemed figures." She flashed her hands across her cheeks.
"My you do have a way with words my dear, do enjoy yourself, and whenever you need help picking out that wedding dress of yours, do come see me just west of the sunset there is a little village outskirt, ask for Mo-ad." And with a bow to end.
"Of course Mo-ad." I nodded back.
"Aza." I turned to see Ombte.
"Oh, how nice to see you attend these things." I said in a nervous tone.
Surprisingly when I looked up he was smiling at me with a warm look.
"May I?" He took one knee with his hand out.
I placed my hand in his arm and we flowed to the dance floor. He carefully wrapped his hand across the mid section of my back. He didn't force me into him but instead searched for approval by my reactions as if he was a sweet helpless dog. I found it cute that he cared.
"Ombte?" I asked.
"Aza?" He said my name back.
"Why haven't you found a bride yet?" I asked.
"Well, about that, I never really found one for me." He said it as if it was normal.
"You get to choose and say no?" I asked admiringly.
"Well yes, don't you?"
It was hard to believe those words with that innocent reaction. Though he was not a man of our same mannerisms, nonetheless less he was one of the kingdom and royalty. To hear even he as royalty got to pick his bride almost seems to be unfair. We stand on different grounds. He comes to these events with a chance to walk away and go back home and find who he wants if at all. Where's me, I get put up or bidding with no choice to say no. I feel the only reason I get to choose is so my father can say he gave me choices, but of course his choices.
"Not exactly." I spoke with a lowered head.
"Aza, your choice is just as important as you are in the kingdom." He said in a caring tone.
"Is it my turn yet?" We looked over to see Shahadi.
Surprisingly, I didn't expect him to take initiative. I looked towards Ombte who seemed to guide my hands already to Shahadi. He took my hands nervously and started to dance with me. To be honest he was quite clumsy. Maybe dancing is not his strong suit.
"If you feel more comfortable Prince Shahadi we can rest along the balcony, I'm feeling a little hot anyway." He gave me a worried smile and nodded.
We made our way out to the balcony and I looked up to the stars and breathed in the air.
"Princess?" I heard Shahadi's shaky voice.
"Yes?" I answered opening my eyes to focus on him.
"What is it that you are looking for in a husband." He said loud and nervously.
His question itself made me nervous.
"What is it that I? I said half sentenced. "I guess I would want someone strong, someone nice, and someone who likes to smile." I said.
"Is that so?" He said defeated.
"Princess Aza, I know I haven't put forth much effort but, would you kindly consider me to be your husband? I will strive to be strong, nice, and even smile for you everyday." He grabbed my hand and pulled me in close.
I felt uncomfortable as he was desperately requesting me.
"Now now why don't you keep your hands to yourself." I felt a tap on both of our hands.
"Ratuk." I said pulling back.
He had such a fake smile on his face, as if he was trying to keep his cool.
"Um, excuse me, Your bring rude." Shahadi said.
"Well, I think your pathetic groveling was also rude, you even selfishly grabbed her with both hands." He said leaning into him.
Shahadi leaned back guarded.
"well what do you have here? Princes Ratuk!" We all turned and Shahadi's father approached us.
"Ah, of course." Ratuk turned his attention to him.
"son, why don't you introduce yourself to King Sefti." Shahadi nodded and did such. "Now, Ratuk I was hoping to possibly do some business with your people."
"You don't say." Ratuk grabbed his chin.
This was no conversation for me. When the men speak of business, It was always my cue to leave. As I turned away to sneak my way out of the conversation, I felt my hand get tightly squeezed. I looked back to see that Ratuk took hand in me behind him to stop me. Once I stopped he loosened his grip. What was this feeling. I felt shy all of a sudden, and a thump that radiated in my chest. Almost like everything was calm and my heart was going to jump out of my chest. Why? Why does he always do things that make me look at him with hope?