New Allies

Even though it was a marriage ceremony, the air surrounding the palace as Zeep fed her new husband, the prince, was sad like someone had died. While the prince beamed with pride, Zeep plastered a fake smile on her face that anyone who knew her could easily see through. Nena observed everyone casually as she sat amongst the few people to witness Zeep and Mayo's marriage. With her face lowered, she watched the king only to find staring intensely at her. She immediately lifted her head up and put a faint smile on it to avoid annoying the king. 

Soma was nowhere to be found but the queen was there, watching with no emotions on her face. And Nena wished she could know what was going through her mind then. 

"Zeep, this is your husband now. You belong to him and you will obey every word he says without questioning him. He's your lord. And Mayo, she's your wife, do with her what you please!" The king's insensitive words rang in the quiet gathering. And Nena wished she was as tough as Asha to speak her mind then. But she wasn't, so she remained meek and troubled over the words of the king. How could they marry off the daughter of an imprisoned man without his consent?

"You should be glad I married my dear Zeep. I had no reason to when I could have owned you as slave and do with you and your body what I wanted" Mayo asserted, softly gripping Zeep's jaw, his gaze intense. "You need to thank me! I have elevated you from the status of a servant to that of the second to the queen."

"Thank you, my lord" Zeep answered with a smile on her face. But beyond the smile was the desire to scream at the prince and harm him too. But it will happen all in time, she promised herself. 

"Come, we must go in. The evening sun is sinking low and I must have you as a man enjoys his newly acquired property"

He clasped her hand and together they walked into his chambers. Before departing, Zeep stole a glance back at her sister, who wore a sad but strained smile. She wished she could assure that she would be fine but she was equally afraid of spending her first time with the wicked prince. He finally owned her and could do whatever he wanted to her. 

As soon as the marriage was over and the king dismissed the remaining guests after the couple had gone into their chamber, Nena bowed to the king and hurried away to cry. The weight of it all was unbearable, and there seemed to be no escape from their family's plight. She trembled with sorrow.

But just before she could enter the servants quarter to restfigure blocked her path, and Nena's heart sank as she recognized Denna. His presence filled her with dread.

"My brother has acquired your sister, but maybe I should acquire you next. However, I don't need a wife. I don't want one. I just want a lover I can use as I please," he sneered slowly, his friends laughing along.

Nena's heart raced as he drew closer, his hands trailing where they shouldn't, invading her personal space. She could feel his cold hands up her thighs and she didn't know how to stop him. 

"Are you going to deny it? I know you are enjoying having a prince touch you! Every maiden does, so why shouldn't you? Perhaps I should take you to my room. As my lover, you won't have to do menial tasks like a mere servant. But if you refuse, I can still take you by force," he threatened

Nena's heart hammered in her chest as he continued taunting her. And she just couldn't forget that Asha had gone through a similar experience and told no one about it. The poor girl had suffered a lot in the hands of the royal house. She couldn't bear suffering the same. 

"But the Queen said you should let me be" she pushed Denna's hands. 

"How dare you? What makes you think my mother can tell me what to do?" He dragged her hair and was about pulling her into his room when Nemere's voice stopped him. 

"What?" Denna's fury was evident.

"I am sorry, my prince, but the queen has requested for her to wait in her chambers. There's an important assignment she must complete" Nemere explained politely, bowing to the prince.

"Not my mother saving you again from me! You know, one day I will get you alone, and being her little pet won't save you!" Denna shoved Nena away, but Nemere managed to catch her, preventing her from falling.

They quickly made their way into the queen's chambers to await her arrival.

"Why does the queen wish to see me?" Nena managed to ask, still shaken by Denna's abuse.

"She didn't request for you. I lied to protect you. I had followed you and I noticed what was happening between the two of you. I had to come up with a lie to save you" Nemere admitted.

"Why?" 

"Because..."

"You feel guilty for betraying my sister and want to make things right," Nena cut in.

"Yes,".

"Well, thank you for saving me! I don't understand why you've continued to follow me around, but at least you saved me today!" 

"Every day, I regret betraying my friend Asha and causing such suffering for your family. The prince coerced me. I'm deeply sorry," Nemere apologized.

"There's no need to apologize. This is my family's fate now. Zeep is married to the prince, and Denna won't leave me alone. But I forgive you on behalf of Asha, and you can be my friend," Nena assured her.

"You don't know how much burden you've lifted from my heart. Thank you!" Nemere expressed gratefully, touching Nena's hands as they waited in the Queen's chambers. With little to say, they sat in silence, anticipating the queen's arrival, until a loud cry erupted from the Prince's chamber.

"It's Zeep! I fear what he's doing to her. We seem unable to escape this dreadful fate," Nena lamented, finding solace in Nemere's comforting presence.

"This has been the plight of servants like us for years. All we desire is an end to the king's reign," Nemere remarked solemnly.

"I understand, but let's be cautious of who hears such sentiments," Nena cautioned.

"I know. I know who my true friends are and how to tread carefully," Nemere reassured her.

"I used to think the king would one day pardon us and let Asha come home. But the more I live here, the more I believe that this will be our fate forever. And it's painful"

Just then, the queen entered, finding Nena in tears, and instructed Nemere to give them some privacy.

"My queen, I apologize, I didn't see you enter," Nena said, embarrassed.

"No need for apologies, Nena. Please, rise from the floor and join me," the queen said gently, pulling a stool closer for Nena to sit on before she could offer her assistance.

""I know you must be unhappy about what's happening to your family. And I want to assure you that I understand. I have been exactly where you are, and I don't think I have recovered from the pain," the queen empathized.

"I don't think there's any hope for my family. Asha may never come home, or she may be found and killed by the king. Zeep is now married to Prince Mayo, and we know she's no better than a slave. And as for me, Denna constantly harasses me, and I am afraid of the king," Nena lamented, tears streaming down her face as the queen offered her comfort. However, her tears only reminded the queen of her own.

"Wipe your tears because I have something to tell you… something I have never told anyone," 

"Is it about the rumors concerning you and the king?" Nena's curiosity shone through her glistening eyes.

"Yes, I must tell someone of my story because I can no longer bear the burden alone," 

Paying close attention to the queen, Nena listened as she told her about how her husband was killed by the king because he lusted after her. She described how she was quickly married off to the king after her husband's death and how their only child was sent away.

"So, I have been a prisoner to a man I detest longer than you have been.And the worst part of thing is that I don't know how long I will continue to live like this. I want a change but I don't know how to get it!"

"The king is a powerful man. Escaping from his evil clutches is not an easy task"

"Yes. But seeing you this way makes me want to do something for you and everyone my wicked husband has harmed. It pains me when I remember he's out there, with no home, running for his life just like your sister is now"

"Who? My queen "

"My son, the man who tried to kill the king and the same man who helped your sister escape!"

Nena's eyes widened at the revelation, while tears streamed down the queen's face. The queen knew the identity of the person who had attempted to kill the king? It was her own son, and Asha was with him? How? Maybe all hope wasn't lost and Asha would find her way home one day. 

"I know you have many questions, but you must promise to keep everything you've heard to yourself. Don't even breathe a word of this to your sister," the queen urged.

"Yes, but how do we bring our loved ones back home? Are we going to silently endure this torment at the hands of the king?"

"We must tread cautiously in whatever actions we decide to take. But we must start making plans of vengeance for their sake and for yours," the queen insisted.

Their conversation was interrupted by a loud knock at the door, startling them both. The queen approached the door slowly and opened it to find a guard waiting outside.

"The king requests your presence in his chambers, my queen," the guard announced.

"I will be there," the queen responded, closing the door behind her. Before leaving, she applied some fragrant oil to her body and forced a fake smile onto her face.

"You don't need to return to the servants' quarters. You can stay here tonight," the queen offered abruptly, her expression suddenly shifting to one of coldness as she exited the room. Nena couldn't help but marvel at how the queen managed to maintain her composure despite the pain she must have been feeling inside.