Chapter One (Myth)

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem by the roes and the hinds of the fields, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love.

Afonja, Nigeria, 1983

Mirabel

Mirabel walked briskly towards the Ogbagu riverbank. She neatly tucked the tendrils that escaped from the donut bun of her blond mane behind her ears to allow the fresh evening air to cool her skin. Sometimes, Mirabel wished to cut her hair shorter to manage it better like the other maids in the palace, but her lover adored her hair. 

She giggled as she remembered how he usually coiled chunks of it around his forefinger whenever they talked and enjoyed each other's company. She would gladly walk over the moon for him if he asked her to; that's how much she loved Jade.

 Many will call her stupid for believing she had a chance at true love with royalty and agreeing to a clandestine meeting this evening in these parts of town. The myth is that the river deity of Ogbagu comes out to bathe around this time, so no one comes to the river to fetch water at this time of the day. Jade must have chosen the riverbank for them to meet so no one would spot them. She doubted the validity of that myth, though. It also says that if you dared to approach the river at such times, you either incur the diety's wrath or receive her benevolence, depending on her mood. Maybe Jade believed more in the benevolence part because that's the only reason he would want them to meet by the bank. Mirabel hoped the Ogbagu deity would bestow her benevolence; naturally, nothing comes from relationships like theirs except heartache. 

Someone like Shakira would give her unsolicited advice about not fooling herself into believing she would become royalty by sneaking around with the prince. Shakira already suspected she had something going on with Prince Jade. She wondered how Shakira got to know about her and the prince because they were always careful, except maybe her incessant disappearances from the maid's chamber almost every other night. Shakira was the oldest and the longest-staying maid in the palace. She had somehow developed a dislike for Mirabel since she observed the prince's interest in her. Mirabel wondered about Shakira's dislike, only to later hear from a reliable source that there was an inappropriate alliance between the prince and Shakira when the prince was just a sixteen-year-old boy. Mirabel was shocked when intimated about the tale because Shakira was almost ten years older. The source later told Mirabel that Shakira was the one who introduced the prince to sex. Mirabel hated thinking about it, so she didn't bother to confirm with the prince. Even now, Mirabel felt her heart constrict with jealousy. She quickly put the thought of Jade and Shakira locked in each other's arms from her mind. 

Mirabel hurried along the path, determined not to allow the thoughts of the affair between Prince Jade and Shakira to spoil her mood tonight; even though it was a long time ago, she felt uncomfortable thinking about it. She genuinely loved Prince Jade. She only hoped he felt as intensely about her as she did him.

Prince Jade was nothing like any man she knew, even though she didn't have the privilege of meeting many men in her twenty years, having grown up in an orphanage in a catholic convent. She often wondered what her life would be if her American/Latina missionary parents had not died of a cholera outbreak in Africa, leaving their five-year-old daughter alone to grow up in a foreign land. The parish cared for her to the best of its ability, but Mirabel still missed her mother daily. She often wondered if destiny would have somehow brought her in contact with the love of her life had she lived in faraway America. What if Jade was not a prince? Would she have loved him? Yes! Her heart screamed. She would love that very much because it means they wouldn't have to sneak around anymore.

All the other maids were envious of her because she was different, and Queen Ewaade preferred her services to the rest. She sometimes gave her preferential treatment, maybe because she was mesmerized by her looks or because she genuinely would rather have her services than the other maids. Whichever of the two, it doesn't matter. She was glad to be in the Queen's presence frequently enough to meet Jade. 

Before meeting him, she had never thought much of the prince's physical attributes; Mirabel was indifferent to the high praise doled on the prince, especially his looks. Every young girl in town gushed and cooed to her about how tall, dark, and handsome he was till she met him herself. The girls were not exaggerating one bit. Jade was one specimen of a man. Tall, dark, and very handsome. She was glad her skills and uniqueness led her to meet Jade. She learned from a young age to make herself indispensable and be outstanding at whatever she did. Adeptness at your skill opens doors to better opportunities, her mother of blessed memory would tell her from when she could make a sentence. When life offers you a lemon, instead of complaining, make a lemonade out of life, another one of her mother's words of wisdom. She was brought to the palace to work for the king because that's the most prestigious job she could get after leaving the convent walls behind her when she clocked eighteen. She planned to work for a while, then gather money to travel to the big city, then train to become a secretary so she could work and maybe someday find her way back home to America.

 For now, she was content with mastering the art of being a queen's maid so much that she included some value-adding services like brow-shaping, hair braiding, beauty regimen, and routine skills to attend to her duties. She remembered fixing Queen Ewaade's nails on an unforgettable afternoon, as no one could do it better among the palace maids. The prince walked in to speak with his mother, having just returned from England, where he went to school. Their eyes met, held uncontrollably, and their souls connected from that moment. She was never the kind of person who believed in love at first sight, but her encounter with Prince Jade changed her perspective entirely.

Mirabel was lost in her thoughts that she got to the riverbank quickly enough. She looked around, whistling gently, their usual arrival code. Jade was not there yet. She hid behind the array of Banana trees, set to wait for her lover to arrive. Love will make you do stupid things like come a distance to remain by the riverbank at the time you were not supposed to. She wouldn't have visited the Ogbagu riverbank at this time, whether myth or not, even if her life depended on it. She has heard many stories about the deity of the Ogbagu river, and the hair at the back of her neck stood out just remembering them. She moved far enough from the river in case the deity wanted to bathe but kept waiting. 

She started pacing after a while, thinking the prince might not show up but still determined to wait a bit longer. The breeze picked up, causing her to wrap her arms around her midsection, rubbing at her arms to ward off the chilly night. The dusk gradually drifted to dark, and Prince Jade was nowhere around as he promised. She looked around her, thankful it was a bright moon night. Has he changed his mind? Maybe he finally realized they were from different worlds and that there was no future for her in his life. She was attacked by self-doubt as she stopped pacing, parting the branches of the banana tree whose leaves teased the river's edge. She sat down and started throwing pebbles into the distance, slightly turning away from the river to give the river goddess her privacy. 

She was about to take her leave disappointed when she heard his footsteps. She felt her lips split in a grin and quickly ducked behind the trees to tease him. Then she heard him whistling her name. His unique code for her.

"I know you are here, Mirabel, so come out of your hiding."

She decided to tease him a little more and remained in hiding.

"You know I can sense your presence, my love."

 Incapable of holding still longer, she moved away from behind the trees and threw herself into his arms. They've met at several different spots to avoid anyone following them. It is their first time beside the Ogbagu River. She prayed again that the river goddess would bless their union.

"I was worried, I thought you were not coming," she said to the crook of his neck, where she buried her head.

"Why would I not come for my love?" He smiled and spun her around, rousing giggles from deep inside her. "I don't know what you did to me, Mirabel. I can't seem to get enough of you. I'm content just looking into your sparkling blue eyes." He said when he finally set her down, looking deep into her eyes. Mirabel could see the pure love that must have duplicated hers, spiting from his eyes. Mirabel could not believe her luck. The prince was really in love with her, she thought.

 Her heart thudded against her chest, but she could also feel the fear creeping in. She had no doubts that Jade loved her, but she feared their love would be another sad love story ending in disaster just because of the difference in their race and status.

 She was most afraid of the Queen; Mirabel wondered what she would do if the Queen learned about their clandestine affair.

"Why do you suddenly look sad, My love?" She heard his voice tumbling deep from his chest.

"I think we are making a mistake?" Mirabel confessed her thoughts to him.

"S—shh" He placed a finger gently on her beautiful, luscious lips. "How can you even allow yourself to think this is a mistake? I have never felt this way about anyone in my twenty-four years on earth, not even while abroad. And I must confess I have met many beautiful ladies." The corners of his lips lifted in a small smile when she saw her reaction to his last statement.

"So, you mean you have slept with all those beautiful women," she pouted, folding her arms on her well-rounded bosom.

Jade erupted into a burst of massive laughter. "How did I know you were going to say that? My sweet, sweet Mirabel."

She half turned away from him, pretending to be upset by his disclosure.

He gently touched her shoulder, turning her to look back at him; all humor gone from his beautiful brown mocha eyes. His voice suddenly became deeper than she had ever heard. "I would be lying if I told you I didn't sleep with anyone before I met you. And it would be best if you didn't crucify me for that because I hadn't known you then. He sighed, throwing his hands in the air and allowing them to drop to his sides.

Mirabel remained transfixed by the potency of the emotion emanating from him. He wasn't close enough to touch her, yet Mirabel felt him all over her. 

The moonlight was so bright, making her see his expression clearly as if Mother Nature supported the beautiful thing happening between them.

"But I swear to you that from the moment I laid my eyes on you, you are the only woman I want to sleep with for the rest of my life."

A tiny smile curved Mirabel's lip. She knew he was telling the truth because his features spoke the exact words. Her mother once said that the eyes are the window to the soul. You can know a man's heart by simply looking into his eyes.

She threw herself into his arms again, her cheeks resting on his chest. "Oh, I love you so much, Jade."

"And I love you too, my own Mira."

She chuckled; you have not called me that in a while." She said, still resting her cheeks on his chest

"I'm sorry for that omission," he teased. "I will call you that as often as you want me to."

"You have made me a happy woman, Jade. I have never known happiness the way I have with you, Jade. It's now my turn to make you happy."

She pulled him gently, slightly away from the riverbank. She pulled at some banana leaves and spread them on the ground. She gave him a seductive smile as she gradually began to discard her clothes.

"What are you doing, Mirabel?" Mirabel could not recognize his gruff voice.

"I'm giving you a gift of my body," She whispered. Has she stripped to her undergarment; her smooth tanned skin glowed under the moonlight.

"I don't want you to do this... I want you, but you don't have to give me your body to prove anything. I can wait till when we are finally married. That is how much I love you. I can wait for eternity to make you mine."

"Jade, you are so sweet, and I love you so much I could burst from intensity of what I feel for you. But I want you to make me yours tonight, under this beautiful moonlight by the Ogbagu river. This will be our little oath, our covenant that we will remain true to each other."

"I'm impressed with your knowledge of my land." He teased, allowing a small smile to curve his lips. Then, his eyes took on an intensity so strong as he watched her gradually discard her cloth items that her body burned from his mere look.

"Oh, my Mirabel, what will I do with you?" He whispered.

Mirabel watched the desire and honor combat each other in his eyes. She was afraid he would deny her request. She saw he wanted her as much as she wanted him, but he wanted to be honorable about this whole affair, which made her want him even more.

He hesitated but finally took steps toward her, "I want nothing more than to take this oath with you, but I don't want you to feel obliged to do this."

"I don't; I just want you to be the man to make me a real woman. There is no better time than now in the heart of Mother Nature itself. Don't make me beg for this, Jade."

"I love you too much to hurt you, Mirabel."

"Then, prove it. And make me yours."

In two long strides, Jade grabbed her and devoured her lips with his.

Mirabel could hear the birds sing, the trees clapped, even the moon smiled, and the Ogbagu river danced as they celebrated the ancient dance of two lovers.

***

"Are you okay?" Jade asked after they had both drunk their fill of passion.

"Hmm…hmmm." She answered, stroking his chest.

"Are you sure I didn't hurt you?"

"You could never hurt me even if you wanted to. That's how much I trust you."

She felt him smile as his chin rested on her head.

"I'm glad you are my first," she whispered.

She felt his change of mood.

" What is it, Jade?"

"I just wished you were my first too."

"She chuckled, I'm not angry anymore and I'm happy you have enough experiences to pleasure me the way you just did."

He laughed out loud, "Is that so?"

"Yes, so long you promise me that I will remain the only one for you from now on."

"I promise you will be my only, and I will love no other."

"What if you break your promise? " You are only human," She asked, stroking his chest gently as they lay content on the banana leaves.

"Then may a curse be upon me and my seed if I did." He said, casually stroking her shoulder.

It suddenly became windy and a mighty thunderstruck, making the entire serene scene ominous.

Mirabel shuddered at the roar of the thunder, afraid that maybe the myth was true after all. Fear interrupted the afterglow moment she was experiencing in her lover's arms.

"I think we should head back. It is getting too cold out here." Jade quickly helped gather their discarded clothes.

"Yes, we should," Mirabel scrambled into her clothes as they dashed to safety before they got drenched by the rain that promised to pour heavily any moment now.

Just as they were about to run, Jade fished in his pocket for some coins.

"What are you doing?" Mirabel asked.

"My father told me that the Ogbagu River is not ordinary. There's this myth that it can grant wishes. So, I will test the theory by making a wish tonight."

He closed his eyes and hurriedly made a wish. He threw the coins into the river and watched it sink.

Mirabel draped her arm in the crook of Jade's arms. She asked, "What did you wish for?"

"It is a little secrete between the Ogbagu goddess and me."

"So, we are keeping secrets now?" Breathless, she asked as they hurried away from their small love nest to beat the coming rain.

"No. But you will soon find out what I wished for, if it came true because the wish is about us."

He kissed her on the lips, and they hurried away.

The wind picked up, and Mirabel felt a strange presence. She glanced back at the river and could swear she saw an image floating on it; she blinked, but it was gone.

It must be my imagination, she thought.

****

The rain just splattered a little, then stopped.

 She hurried into the maid quarters to ascertain that no one missed her when she was away. Thankfully, no one looked for her. Everyone was going about their business as usual. But Mirabel could not forget what she thought she saw. It could not be her imagination, or was it? She remembered what Jade said about the river when they were about to leave its bank.

She lay on the tiny bed in her corner of the room. Her mind wondered if Jade's theory was true. She asked if he wished for them to get married, and he had said during the night that he would wait for her to be his wife. Joy welled up in her heart. Her happiness lasted only a moment before Shakira came into the room singing a proverbial love song: "Under the banana tree where the lovers play and dance."

Mirabel almost jumped out of her skin with fear. Shakira must have seen her with the prince. If not, she wouldn't be that accurate in her spite. Mirabel could only pray and wish Shakira not to spill the beans to Queen Ewaade. She ignored her like she always did.

Shakira hated her for her looks. She was also the Queen's favorite maid, at least; she hoped so with the way the Queen requested her attention. And even hated her more when Prince Jade returned from the university abroad and started demanding Mirabel's company stylishly since their first meeting in Queen Ewaade's chamber; Shakira had almost run mad with envy. Now, there was no telling what she would do with the information at her disposal; the miserable girl could probably bury her alive if she had the chance.