Bride of Elim

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5: MY QUEEN

We had been on the road for almost 30 minutes, it was Monday morning. I had spent the whole Sunday confined in my room, aunt gave me space to let everything sink in. although I did not agree with what was said, I still let my aunt talk me into accompanying grandmother to the palace which was quite stupid of me. I mean why would grandmother want to go with me anywhere, the woman hates me. 

Far ahead I noticed a wall and a huge steel gate. A few meters from the gate the was a board written in bold letters, "WELCOME TO THE ROYAL BAHAM HOMESTEAD" The place was isolated from the rest of the houses, two guards stood outside the gate and opened it as our vehicle approached. No questions asked they just let us in, I guessed that they were familiar with the car or rather with grandma.

The car packed next to a fountain in front of the huge building.... It was larger than the other buildings scattered all over the premises. I guess this is how royal houses are built then. We got out the car and as we advanced near the entrance two women came out and greeted & us. An old woman who was most likely older than grandmother and a middle-aged woman. They exchanged pleasantries while I awkwardly stood there like a statue and said nothing.

The old woman shifted her gaze to me and came closer. She held my hand and said, "And you must be Meera, you look so much like your mother." Her hands were soft, the smile she gave me was warm and sincere I couldn't help but return it as I nodded. "Last time I saw you you were just a little baby, now you've grown into a beautiful young woman." I didn't know what to say so I kept smiling with head bowed.

"You were too young to remember, I'm Malik's grandmother and she is your future mother-in-law Cassandra." Future mother-in-law. Huh! Getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we? I had not approved of the marriage yet. Mrs. Baham gave me a meaningful smile and said, "Let's go inside, look at us conversing on the doorway." they all chuckled and headed inside. I giggled too....a little.

The lounge was quite large and nicely furnished. Everything screamed posh in there, even the smallest details. All in all, it was a typical upper class lounge if there's even such a thing. They talked for a while and me, I just answered where I was required to. Grandmas seemed to go way back and aunt Liza was rather relaxed compared to the previous days. A servant brought tea and biscuits. Yummy chocolate chip biscuits, I know that because I kept munching on them while they talked and laughed.

After what seemed like hours, two Grey-headed women came in along with a man wearing a long robe. At the corner of my eye I could see the change of expression on aunt's face. She stiffened her facial expression was not serious. They all got up and greeted one another then we all sat down. "My Queen, I'm glad you're finally home." said the man in a robe. What I found strange was that he didn't look at the queen, he gazed at me and smiled faintly. I looked at the queen and she was also looking at me. Holly sh*t! My eyes widen.

"Me! Queen me? you mean me, like..." I blathered out. The two grannies chuckled. "Yes you dear." one of them replied. For a moment I was in loss of word. Didn't they need my consent before making such conclusions. Wait.... We didn't come here to have tea and biscuits then? "huh" I scoffed. What am I, dumb? From the moment we got here, it was all about the marriage. They had already made up their mind, no wonder no one asked what my thoughts were on that matter. My aunt was in on it. I was dumbstrucked, they continued talking about the marriage preparations as if I wasn't there.

I turned my head and looked at aunt Liza who gave me a guilty knowing look. Huh! I don't believe this.

I wanted to get up and leave but my aunt held me down before I could. "Meera, we talked about this." she whispered I my ear. Yeah we talked about it but I don't remember agreeing to it. I tilted my head. "You cannot run from this, let's discuss this later please." she said her voice breaking at the last word almost as if she was begging. I didn't realize the others when now staring at us. "Meera, are you alright dear?" Mrs Baham asked concern written all over her face.

"No I'm not, I'm not ready for this. I haven't thought about getting married and this is all too sudden for me. " I wanted to say that but grandmother beat me to it. "she's okay, she is overwhelmed after being called Queen." grandmother said shooting me a death stare. That woman really, she had the nerve to threaten me even in such a place. Defying her now would reflect badly on my aunt so I just kept my mouth shut.

Grandmother was right about one thing though. I was definitely overwhelmed, I mean why wouldn't I be? It's not everyday a girl finds out she's destined to marry a Prince or King or Whatever. My point is they were all inconsiderate of my thoughts and feelings, all that mattered to them was that I was alive and kicking.

Honestly I couldn't understand how my aunt could let them make such decisions concerning my life without my input whatsoever, especially my grandmother. Considering how she loathed me, aunt shouldn't have even brought me to this place. Unless I missed something in all this, an important detail that they themselves forgot to mention or purposely did not tell me about.

I suddenly felt the urge to use the ladiesestroom and so I asked to be excused. Luckily I had my phone with me so I decided to call Omar. Yes he hadn't called me since. The phone rang a couple of times but no one picked it up. That guy really, if he keeps going like this I might end up marrying the king then he'd have to bow to me and answers the questions I had about that woman and him going AWOL on me. I mean who would dare defy the Queen's order. I had to admit that thought kind of felt good. Hah!

Eventually I went into the restroom and did my business then headed back and believe had the place not been a palace, I would have ran away from there because honestly I didn't know how I felt about the alliance they were busy fixing.