THE VERY BEGINNING

Centuries ago,

The young girl began to play her favourite tune and after some minutes, another guard was asked to go into the cell.

When he got closer, everyone watching was expecting Kamaz to pull him in but nothing happened.

“Get closer!" The King encouraged.

The guard did as ordered but nothing happened still.

After the passing of three successive heartbeats, the guard courageously spoke up.

“The Fifth Prince seems to be asleep!" He said.

That day, the Physician and his daughter went back to their homes unscathed and with a good sum of money.

The physician was grateful, he and his daughter were freed from such a difficult moment but their freedom did not last as the anomaly in the Prince showed up again.

They were sent for again and Zelda played her Pipa and he calmed visibly and slept off.

When they were about to leave this time, the King ordered for Zelda to be held back.

“She will begin to stay in the palace and stay by the side of the Prince" The King said.

"Please, Your Majesty, she is all I have.

It was her late mother’s wish that…” The Physician said as he threw himself to the floor.

"I do not care to hear your sad story.

She is the only thing close to a solution to the Prince. You should be grateful that your daughter will serve in the palace. Many people would kill for such an opportunity.

Zorah escort him out of the palace!” The King commanded.

"No, I have to be with my father.

You cannot do this to us My King.

Please your Majesty, I'll come running to the palace whenever it is that you need me. Nothing will happen to the Prince.

Pleaseeeee My King” Zelda begged but her pleas fell on deaf ears as the King and his soldiers walked out of the Prince’s room, leaving her there.

She scurried to a corner of the room as she bled her eyes out and she cried so much that she became tired of crying and slept off on the cold floor.

A few hours after his demon had been placed at bay, Lord Kamaz woke up to the knowledge of another heart beating in his room.

He saw a young woman lying on the floor at the far end of his room.

He recollected seeing her just before he closed his eyes the other time. ‘The attack happened again’ He thought.

He walked over to her huddled frame on the floor and stared at her.

Her lips were opened and soft air was escaping her mouth. Her hands were under her head and she had drawn her knees almost to her chest region.

Her eyes suddenly flew open and she threw a kick at the Prince before he could move away. She rolled away from her lying position and drew out a dagger she had hidden in her garments.

On recognition that it was the Prince, she went on her knees.

“Forgive me My Lord. I had no idea it was you" Zelda said regretfully.

"It's alright. Why are you still here?” Lord Kamaz asked.

"I…I have been ordered to be your maid My Lord" She said, her voice cracking at the end as she remembered her predicament.

‘Maid? I have always had no need for a personal maid apart from the general maids meant for all royals alike’

Lord Kamaz did not want to keep her in his room and so he directed her to the conjoined room that leads to his.

It was a room created for a maid.

It was smaller than his and didn't have most things that his had and was everything suitable for a maid.

The only thing separating their rooms was a door.

“You can stay here" He said as he stood up and opened the door for her to go through.

As she was passing by him, her eyes stuck to her feet, he noticed a thread in her hair.

He stretched out his hand to remove it but she flinched before his hand could touch her.

“Do you need anything My Lord?” She asked quickly, her head still bowed and arms before her.

“No. Nothing at all" He said.

‘Just like the other ladies that they had asked to be his maid in the past. They were all scared of him.

She must have heard of the rumours. In fact, she had seen him when whatever in him had acted up and reared its ugly head.

She was obviously disgusted by him!’

When he was sure that the door was properly locked, he changed into a different outfit in search of his father.

********************

The King was in the garden discussing with one of his generals when the Fifth Prince suddenly strode in.

“I'd like to speak with you, Father," Lord Kamaz said, interrupting the conversation.

“We’ll continue this some other time. Welcome once again" The King said. The General bowed deeply before casting a glance at Kamaz. Then he walked out.

"Father." Kamaz said.

“You must be filled with joy knowing that you will not have to endure teases from your brother for the rest of your life!" The King said.

Kamaz decided to ignore the statement completely.

“I came to thank you for helping me out once again. I promise that this will not repeat itself again" Kamaz said.

“That's funny because those were the exact words you used the last time. You have no idea what it is that is in you and yet you think there is something you can do…” The King said but Kamaz interrupted him.

“I know you are not pleased with what this is and I am also very confused but I cannot keep that girl with me. She would not be able to live with me

She…she is already terrified of me” He complained.

Today can be regarded as one of the few days he has spoken for this long with his father.

The King was always seeking an opportunity to flee his presence, even before he knew that his son had something in him…something no one can name.

“You have no choice.

She has no choice.

You need her and she must be seen going wherever it is you are going.

It is too risky for you to be on your own.

This would be what your mother would want” The King said.

The King stood up, ready to leave the garden and migrate to another place in the palace where the Queen would not think they were conspiring something devious.

"What would you want for me Father?

Is this what you want?" Kamaz asked, his heart breaking.

The King said nothing as he walked out on his son, refusing to answer a question that could lead to more questions.