CHAPTER ONE
*The beginning*
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The birds chirping and the sound of the morning breeze was immaculate, as the one and only zeinah sprawled in her comfy royal bed. The touch of her room was all of ample royalty, that even her pajamas declares it all!
Her red sleeping gown swayed behind her, as she majestically walked into the privy. She took a warm bath, dressed into her lemon green gown, made her hair and went straight to the dining lounge. As she walked out of her room, she was greeted by her private maid who she gave a smile and sashayed ahead followed briskly behind her is Salma.
Immediately they reached the dining area, salma drew out the chair for the princess and she sat down. The king and the Queen were already seated, then Waziri his son Hadsan walked in and sat down in their respective seats.
"May you live long My King" Waziri greeted and the king smiled at him.
"Shall we? Queen Ameerah asked and the maids served the hot breakfast. Before they quickly exited, so as the royals could eat.
Zeinah, was a type who ate little and talks less. She's always known to be a quiet person, who only talks when it is necessary. Her parents had known this since she was little so they cope perfectly with her. Yet she was stubborn, sassy and a diva, she was one in a million. She's very pretty, elegant and adorable.
"Hadsan, how's the new army doing? The king asked his nephew who sat opposite him. Hadsan was a person who always wants to be noted. He was one who always brags about his strength and courage. But with all this he was only a commander but has never joined a single war.
"Everything is viable perfectly My king" Hadsan assured and the king nodded, Zeinah watched she was saying nothing but she was always aware of all the happenings of the kingdom, she only acts as if she's not interested and not her business.
"That's good son" His father Waziri praised and the queen smiled. She was also known to be generous and nice to whom so ever she comes in contact with.
But something was wrong about the present ruling of Balkan village, but no one dares to challenge a single decision.
"I'll make sure that everything's flawless Your Majesty" Hadsan added making the king to laugh heartily, while the princess rolled her eyes. She always thought that the reason he was always bloviate around her, was just to make her agree to the proposal, but she isn't that stupid* she rolled her eyes at the thought.
She slightly pushed the plate to the center of the table and stood up making everyone to look up at her.
"I'll be at the royal lawn" she announced and they all smiled at her. As she walked pass the long hallway, her maid followed behind bowing slightly before her.
"A cup of coffee" The Princess ordered as she sat on the rug which was just before her pond of fishes. She always enjoys sitting beside the pond after breakfast. She feels calmed by the breeze.
"Here my princess" salmah said and handed the coffee to the princess.
"Sit" the princess said to salmah as she kept standing.
"Yes My Princess" she sat down and began fanning the princess vaguely.
"Salmah" the Princess called, as usual with her serene voice.
"Yes my princess" salmah answered with much regards and respect.
"Do you think...all that is happening is equitable? The princess asked her hands gesturing in the pond. Giving her ebony ring a larger view.
"Who would dare challenge any of His Majesty's decision, my princess"
"Let's be straight salmah" the princess instructed and Salmah nodded apologetically.
"My Princess, it's not in some ways, but His Majesty is only saving the honor of our village" she answered and the princess raised her head and looked at salmah, for some seconds and she went back to playing with her fishes.
"You mean saving our honor by destroying the honor of others" the princess enthused, trying to say her father isn't doing the right thing at all!
"No my princess" she replied shaking her head negatively. Zeinah raised her cup of coffee and took a few sips then placed it gently back on the saucer.
"Then I think it's high time Waziri understand that peace is not always gotten, rather, it is owned" the princess said determination strict in her voice.
"My Princess, But you know how much Jallan village had been a strong competition" salmah reminded and Zeinah smirked.
"Yeah they're, but this war thing shouldn't always be the way out" Princess Zeinah quivered and salmah nodded in agreement.
"Yes you're absolutely right my princess" Salmah panegyrics and Zeinah smiled.
"And the most disturbing is slavery" salmah thought and bowed her head down as she remembered how she was brought from kallai -the small village under Jallan and enslaved by Balkan.....her parents are dead. She had always wanted to erase does harsh memories from her mind and face the reality but...
"Salmah, are you okay? Thou look disconsolate" the princess asked and salmah faked a smile.
"I'm fine my princess" she answered.
"Are you sure?
"Yes My Princess"
She had heard hearsay's the first day she was brought to the palace, that was 3yrs ago but all she heard seems to be mere rumors. They say the princess is so full of herself, that she doesn't even appreciate a single thing anyone does trying to please her, she always ends up ignoring it. They also say things like being arrogant but salmah saw all the opposite of the accusations. Well they might be true but the princess had always been nice to her since their first encounter, in fact she's her best friend who she shares everything with without hesitation.
"Would you like something else My Princess" salmah asked and Zeinah shook her head negatively, salmah then continued to converse with the princess, until it was lunch time.
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Sayyada and her cousin Farha played around the garden. They made sand castles, and wanted someone to complement them. Sayyada stared at her not that good looking castle and pouted, while Farha laughed briskly at her disappointed expression.
"What are my lollies up to? Shaheedah asked placing her hands on Farha's shoulder.
"We built sand castles mummy" Farha informed and shaheeda smiled. But then laughed as she looked up at her niece.
"Sayyada what's wrong?" She asked and they all sat down on the grasses With their gowns flowing afterwards.
"My castle looks like poop" she declared making her Aunt to chuckle slightly. Well, when royal blood swirls in you, you always have to maintain that calm demeanor no matter what.
"No, it doesn't, it looks great" she reassured and sayyada smiled.
"Thanks" she appreciated.
"Come on" shaheeda said and raised the two girls up, let's go your bath tub is ready. She informed and they went back into their quarters. Shaheeda is the kings sister, and she got married 4yrs ago, her daughter Farha, was three and a half while the orphan Sayyada was 5. Her father Nuoh died two years ago, after he was badly injured during a war, but unfortunately he couldn't survive it, his wife Maria died due to shock of loosing her husband and after that Sayyada has been living as part of shauran's family(shaheeda's husband)
As they walked into the large living room heading towards the kids room, they met up with the queen and the two adorable girls ran up to her giving her a bone crushing hug, making her to laugh.
"Oh my You girls again" she uttered but they really have no care! They'll surely gain some sweets later.
"Where to Shaheeda?" The Queen asked and her sister in-law smiled at her.
"They haven't bathed yet, I told Tanna to make the bathroom ready" she informed and the Queen only nodded pushing the two pins stuck to her.
"Go take a bath and I have a nice dessert for today" the Queen promised and they jumped happily rushing down to their cute bedroom.
As they walked upstairs, the princess walked in and sat on the shafa(rug) , while salma stood behind her.
"Good day to you My Queen" salmah greeted and Queen Ameera smiled at her.
"Bring us fruits" the Queen ordered.
"Yes my Queen" Salmah answered as she walked out heading straight to the kitchen.
"My Dearest daughter, what brought you here today? Queen Ameerah asked as it was very unusual for ZEINAH to be seen in the common room.
"It's nothing My Queen" she replied but from the mere thought, there's something she wants to say.
"Come on, speak up" she said and zeinah's facial expression changed.
"My Queen it's about Hadsan" Zeinah finally spoke and her mother sighed.
"Yes My daughter, what about Hadsan?" She asked and Zeinah looked up at her, her face emotionless.
"He's still standing his grounds" she informed and the Queen smiled.
"But so are you My daughter, you ain't ready to change your mind at all" the Queen said and zeinah was quiet for awhile...
"Yes Mother. I don't think I'll, ever" she added, but her mother chuckled slightly before she looked at her daughter.
"Okay, I've heard, but the decision is for the elders to make Zeinah" The Queen reminded but still, her daughter's face held no emotions, as always. It was always hard to understand her. She tends to act so bizarrely.
"I get it" she said in a whisper, rose up majestically and made her way to the exit, while salma who waited at the door, followed behind immediately.