Chapter Four

Outside The King’s Chamber

“Don’t keep the king waiting, my queen” Abena said and curtsied to Eniola who had been standing at the entrance of the king’s chambers for over ten minutes.

“No ma, please don’t bow to me.” Eniola said quickly, embarrassed at the level of respect the woman had been according her for the past hour, washing her as though she was a very high-priced delicate glass, and massaging perfume oil into her skin as though she wanted to transform her into a princess overnight.

“May I find favour before you Queen Eniola, and may the gods strike me down if I do not accord you the respect of the throne. Until I find you a maid and the Queen Mother returns from mourning, it will be my duty and honour to serve you.”

Abena bowed again and Eniola sighed.

“How did my life change in the space of a few hours? Just this morning, I was crying by the well because my fetcher fell into it, now a woman of your status is my maid.”

Abena smiled.

“Favour makes the difference, my queen. It opens doors we are not qualified for, but wisdom must support favour, so that you can manage this opportunity effectively and continue to enjoy grace.”

Eniola nodded in understanding, grateful to have the support of such an amazing woman. She decided to be honest with her, hoping for some more advice.

“I don’t know how to be a wife.”

“My queen, the king doesn’t know how to be a husband either, you will figure it out together. No matter the difference between two people, if they choose to figure things out together, nothing can stop them from achieving what they set their minds on.”

“What if the king doesn’t want to figure things out together?”

“Then you must learn patience, and continue to be your best self, so that your good heart will win him over.”

Eniola nodded in understanding, and Abena was so delighted to be of guidance to the young queen. She continued:

 “But more importantly, make sacrifices and pray to your god to help you. In the end, it is not what man does that brings success, but what the gods allow.”

Eniola smiled. Abena was right and wrong.

“There is only one God. The Lord God Almighty, the trinity; God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Abena looked confused.

“But you are right, I will take my fears to God, and He will perfect all that concerns me.”

Abena still didn’t understand Eniola, but couldn’t argue with the queen, so she gave the last piece of advice before letting her go.

“You will suffer some pain tonight, when the king plays with you, and maybe most nights if he is like his father, but take heart, it is the curse that a woman must suffer in order to have the joy of having her own child, or in your case, the heir to the throne.” 

Eniola’s previous confidence waned. 

“Suffer pain? What pain?”

Before Abena could give an answer, Abe came out of the king’s chambers where he had prepared the royal bedroom and kept the king company, as he waited for his queen.

Abe, unable to face the queen, turned to Abena.

“Abena, don’t make the queen keep the king waiting.”

“I am sorry sir.” Eniola said and timidly walked into the room.

“Nothing to be sorry about, Your Highness. Good night.” Abe responded after her, but she simply nodded as he shut the door.

“She’s special.” Abena said smiling, and Abe cradled her face.

“You are special too, Abena.”

Abena put her hand on his and said: “Indeed I am, to have served two queens.”

“You are a queen too.”

Abena raised her brows confused.

“You are my queen” Abe said and kissed her hands.

Abena smiled, understanding his meaning.

“Maybe in another life.”

Abe sighed, he looked in the direction of the king’s room.

“I hope those who have been empowered to fulfil their dreams, do all in their power to achieve it.”

Abena pulled Abe’s hands and they walked away.

“I have a good feeling about them,” she said.

The King’s Chambers

Azari felt her before he saw her. Her presence was tangible, and he had felt it briefly when he held her this evening.

“Good evening, Your Highness,” Eniola said, kneeling down and bowing her head so that she wouldn’t look him in the eye.

Azari rose from his sleeping position and walked up to her, raising her up.

He had dreamt of this moment all year long; his wedding night, but it had been with a different woman, and now he was beginning to wonder if he made the right decision.

The woman kneeling before him was so nervous. He had wanted a strong and bold woman, who could rule by his side, that was why Vabifat had appealed to him. Now, he had chosen her exact opposite, a woman who couldn’t even look at him.

“Look at me,” Azari said, raising her chin up so she could meet his gaze.

Eniola tried to look at him for a few seconds before she looked away.

What she lacked in courage, she had excessively in beauty, Azari noticed.

“Have you ever been alone with a man?” Azari asked and allowed his hand to glide down, caressing her shoulders. Eniola shivered, as though exposed to cold.

“Are you cold?”

Still not looking at him, Eniola answered.

“No, my king.”

“Answer my question then. Have you been with a man before?”

“Yes, my king!”

Azari’s eyes opened wide in shock, he pulled down her wrapper.

“You are not a virgin?”

Eniola quickly picked up the wrapper to cover her chest, shocked and embarrassed by the accusation.

“I am a virgin”

Azari stared at her for a few seconds, confused.

“Do you know what it means to be with a man?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Eniola responded. Sensing that she was distressing him, she knelt down again.

Azari was trying not to be irritated, the girl looked like she would burst into a puddle of tears if he raised his voice, so he walked towards the window.

“How do you know what it means to be with a man?”

“My parents died when I was a little girl, so I stayed with my uncle since I was five years old, and we have lived in our hut alone.”

“Oh!” Azari said, her innocence unimaginable that he burst into laughter, but it was cut shut by a knock on the door.

Azari frowned, knowing that whatever reason someone was bold enough to knock on his door this first night with his wife had to be very grave.

“Who is it?” Azari asked, but already pulled out his sword from the corner where he kept it, ready for battle if it called for it.

“It is Abe,” the person said.

“Why are you disturbing me?” Azari called out, irritated.

“I am sorry my king, but the council of chiefs is seated. A royal murder plot was circumvented, and the council must pass judgement tonight, Your Highness.”

Eniola gasped at the revelation of a murder plot. “Oh my God,” she said, still on her knees.

“Is my mother safe?” Azari asked.

“Yes, Your Highness, her guard has sent word.”

“Good” Azari said, dropping his sword and picking his cap to leave the room, but before he left, he turned to face Eniola.

“Stay here, don’t leave. I will be back shortly.”

Eniola watched the king storm out and she breathed a sigh of relief. Still on her knees, she covered her hands with her face.

“Oh Lord, help me! I can’t believe the king is my husband. How will I make it work? Please God, help me. Teach me how to be his wife. Teach him patience as he gets to know that I am a clueless captive who doesn’t know much about the world.”

Have you forgotten the words of the psalmist, surely the Lord is your helper, He is the One who sustains you. Psalm 54:4

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