Queen Maleeka

Chapter 3

Laugher filled the throne room. The council was shocked by the Queen’s reaction. The situation had nothing to do with joy, but here she is holding the gaze of a maniac. She came to an abrupt stop, her lips still lifting at the sides.

“Now you have spoken what is truly in your heart Godric” Her eyes ran cold “I almost thought you cared for Sarmatia, I was almost fooled”

Her words felt like fuel to Godric’s impatience, for he slammed his hand on his armrest standing in anger

“Maleeka! I am your uncle”

“And I am your QUEEN!”

She had respect for him, but it was thinning out. She was fed up with his nonsense. It's about time she behaved more like the Queen than his niece.

She turned to the council “That is why I have chosen my suitors from which you are to pick”

“Suitors?” Elder Maximus questioned confused.

“Yes, the law states the Queen can request suitors from other Kingdoms,” Elder Andras said nodding to his words “It was among the last things changed by the late King”

“That cannot be good." Godric was still trying to drag them against Maleeka. "Will the council choose an outsider to rule us?” Godric ridiculed, his face turning to scowl.

“Besides, what royal family will heed to your Majesty’s request?” Alias frained, which further affirms her suspicion that he is on Godric’s side. He had always been loyal to him.

Just then, Dalia quickly walked to Maleeka, handing her a scroll. While the council still debated a better option than welcoming a stranger to their land.

“What if they usurp the Queen?” Elder Neilan inquired

“That will not happen, I remain the Queen after marriage.” Maleeka refuted

“You cannot guarantee that.” Godric retorts

“Yes, that is why I have the council to ensure nothing of any sort happens”

She continues holding the scroll open.

It held the Sigil of the King of the West to Maleeka’s request.

The muttering died down, gasps were released. This was never in the imagination of anyone, the king of the West accepting to wed.

He had conquered territories and led the entire western kingdoms. Considering the nations he defeated, he is the most powerful king in the world.

This was the hope Maleeka prayed for; she watched as the countenance of Godric and his partisans changed, much to the face of those at the losing end.

Now the King was involved, it will be difficult to take over without bloodshed. Even though a little had been shed.

“This is amazing! An alliance with King Eric would put our kingdom at an advantage” one of the council commented

“King Eric is still spreading his tentacles, what good would it bring to reject such a suitor for our Queen?” Andras proposed

“My letter was sent to three kingdoms; King Eric is the first to accept my proposal.” She responded with a soft and authoritative voice. Godric sat quietly like his tongue was tied to the roof of his mouth.

“May I ask what this proposal entails?” Elder Maximus requested

She hands the scroll to an orator to read out to the council. It was customary to have orators read out the words written by royalty.

“The kingdom of Sarmatia is issuing an invitation to potential suitors of royalty to court the Queen with an understanding that her royal status will be retained following marriage. This arrangement will be codified in a formal treaty to be entered into by the prospective groom.”

The Orator rolled the scroll and bowed, giving it back to the Queen. Godric’s eyes glared daggers at her.

Her lips twitch up to the sides in relief. If she had expected a quick reply, King Eric was not the first on her mind. Maybe Prince Pedro of the Achaemenid Empire since his elder brother had taken the throne. That didn’t matter. Godric’s plan had dwindled, and she was happy about it.

“Make preparations! My suitors are coming”

---------

The feeling of defeat ached every fibre of his bones. His mind whirled around his decision. One he cannot change: he had gone too far, only to keep going further into the abyss. Desperate for light at its end, if there is any.

From early on, he wanted what was not his; now, he had laid the foundation to take it by force.

Godric planned not to stop now that he was close to his goal. Maleeka was difficult, just like her mother. He reminisced on the days when he was infatuated with his brother’s wife. She never saw his love.

While his brother could smell his rotten desires and snitched them before they grew.

Godric was sent to the borders of the nation, far away from the palace. He only returned when Maleeka was born, which unfortunately took her mother’s life.

Alias's presence dragged him out of his thoughts.

“Greetings Godric”

“Greetings”, he responded, eyes travelling along the tall trees in the forest at the far distance.

“We would have to wait before doing anything, the council is in high support of the Queen,” he said

I am your QUEEN!

He had not seen his niece as witty but her words have cleared the sympathy he had for her. She had crossed the line. He was leaving her out of the fight between him and his brother for her good— for her Mother.

He would not need to go through this if he had just seized power. But It would not take long for the council to impeach him if he had taken the road down that part

“We need someone more powerful than the council. One who could just turn things around” Godric smiled as all the scattered puzzles came together in his head.

“Who is greater than the council, my Lord?” Alias wondered what could be going through this man’s mind.

He chuckled lightly before turning to Alias, tapping lightly on his shoulder

“May your saviour not be your downfall, my friend.” Godric continued to laugh.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think King Eric is so desperate to find a wife that he immediately agreed to Maleeka’s request?” his eyes twinkled in mischief as he glanced at the puzzled look on Alias

“Sarmatia must be the next kingdom on his list, Maleeka just placed our nation on a platter of gold.” He continued his vanquishing laughter.

Standing by the balcony of her room, her lashes fluttered on her cheeks as she watched her uncle converse with Alias. Alias had chosen his side and it was with her.

“Why is he Laughing?” she asked herself trying to figure out what he was up to. She shook her head refusing to cloud her mind with negative thoughts.

“Nothing can go wrong.” She muttered more to calm her nerves. She grips the rails of the balcony tightly. Emotions flood through her: sad emotions. She misses her father dearly.

It isn’t over till it’s over

She recalled one of her father’s favourite quotes. He was a man of wisdom; non-stop, he gave her lectures on what life is. It is not always good, it isn’t a bed of roses. There are good days and bad ones; that is what makes it all beautiful.

But It seems he took everything good and beautiful from her life. Leaving her utterly alone. She looks up to the sky as the sun begins to hide, bringing hues of yellow and red.

“I wish you were here.”

A knock on her door brings her to reality; she wipes the lone tears that found their way down her cheeks and allows the attendant in. The girl gave her a letter. She recognised the golden seal on the red folded letter, with golden stripes that further emphasised the kingdom that had sent it. She took it and immediately opened it.

Prince Pedro accepted her request and was already at the borders of Sarmatia.