THE KINGS CHOICE

It had been three weeks since Melissa his second wife was delivered of her baby girl as usual the king wasn't happy,it was his fourth girl child pain filled his eyes as he thought about his predicament,twenty years he thought... twenty years since he claimed the throne and non of his women had gave him a son. It was the early hours of the night as he wandered about in his chambers searching desperately for answers in his head but there was none,he got tired and sat on his huge bed as he pondered on what to do. He had two brothers who had no interest in the kingdom and he knew very well that they both weren't a threat to him but his greatest fear was losing his kingdom to an outsider. He was brought back to reality by Josephine his first wife who layed with him that night, "is there something bothering you my lord"she asked sitting up to get close to him with concern. "I am fine Josephine,I am just finding it difficult to sleep",He said closing his eyes and using his palm to cover his face . "It's been ten years since we got married and I haven't hidden anything from you, Josephine I think my ancestors have forgotten me" he said with pain evident in his voice. "it's been twenty years since I became king and I have been blessed with beautiful daughters,but how come I don't have a son. "Look at my brother Lancelot he has a sons Josephine I am tired".she hurriedly went to him and held him in an embrace,they haven't abandoned you they never abandon their children. "one day you will have a son I can assure you that"she said reassuring him,she didn't even know when a tear dropped from her eyes. She stroked his hair and whispered words of encouragement to him so as to calm him, Derek loves her so much because of her ability to encourage him and how she knew just the right word to say for any situation,he didn't know how much time passed as he drifted off to sleep. *A knock at his chambers woke him up,before he ushered his guard in he had made sure his wife was properly covered and that her body wasn't exposed. "come in Collin"he said to the guard as he tried to clear his eyes. "Your majesty the councils are gathered in the meeting hall requesting for your presence"the guard said with his head bent to the ground he knew that the queen was there and he knew the implications if he was caught staring at the queen. Derek knew why they were requesting to see and so he dismissed his guard telling him to notify them that he would be meeting them shortly, looking beside him and watching Josephine sound asleep he rose from his bed and tidied himself. It wasn't long before he got to the meeting hall were he saw all his councils seated according to their position and title,seeing him they all stood in respect with a bow and when he sat they followed. "Greetings my lord,we are sorry for calling you so early but Because of how urgent this issue on ground is and the fact that time is no longer on our side that is why we have called for this meeting"his prime minister said. He gave them the I'm listening kind of look,Cyrus had known him to be a man of little words,he only spoke when he felt the need to..Cyrus came into power when the king turned twenty,then he was the king's right hand man. Back then he knew the boy had a severe anger issues that he inherited from his father,which the royal family tried to correct. He and his brother Lancelot were of similar nature but he was more quiet compared to Lancelot,while their youngest brother duke was a completely different person from them. He knew he was taking too long so he cleared his throat and began. "Well" clearing his throat he continued, "my lord you and I know of the dangers surrounding a kingdom that has no heir and your reign as king is been threatened,that is why we have suggested with a pause he turned to his fellow nobles..that you take a second wife"he said looking at his fellow nobles who nodded in support. Cyrus was quick to notice his expression"umm its not a must you remarry right away you could take your time,it was actually a suggestion my lord" he concluded with a bow. Derek closed his eyes and so many thoughts flooded his mind,he signed which Cyrus believe was a sign that he was tired and confused. "I cannot take a fourth wife Cyrus,I have married three different women which you all know has yielded no good result.But still these women haven't given me an heir,so what is the guarantee the fourth one would bear me a son". "Cyrus I have thought about it for long now and I have come to a conclusion that I will groom my eldest daughter Amaya to take my place"he said which made the council protesting to his recent decision. It came as a shock to them all including Cyrus he knew Derek to be a tenacious person,if he puts his mind to something he wouldn't rest until he achieves it so what happened he thought as he looked at Derek as a sad expression enveloped his face. "Never in the history of mombana has it been recorded that a woman is king it is a taboo your majesty"one of the council member said and the others replied in support. Derek saw their reaction and how angry they all were they knew that going against his command would attract a severe punishment still that didn't stop them from expressing their anger,seeing their reaction he knew he had crossed the line,and in other to calm them he agreed to their proposal and dismissed them to their various homes with smiles on their faces. After he saw the last person leave he didn't return to his chambers instead he sat there lost in his own thoughts at the end he came to a conclusion that he was going to pay Gaius the kingdoms chief priest a visit. Derek had come to a conclusion that he was willing to do anything to have a son,he stood from his throne that held so much powers and authority and headed for gauis home . His personal guard Collin saw him leaving the palace and went after him to escort him to his destination,they got to the priest abode as they approached the temple one of the royal servant announced the king's presence,without wasting time the door was opened. Stepping inside Derek could see different molten,some looked like human skull while some had the shape of animals and the one that caught his attention was the one he needed to pay his respects to before stepping in. It wasn't the first time he was here so he did the needful and went in,gauis stood at the entrance with a smile on his face. Derek noticed how the man smiled and returned the smile,if there was one thing he noticed it would be the wrinkles on his face "the man was really getting old" he thought as he went in. "So glad to see you,your majesty" he said bowing,"its great to see you too"the king replied with no expression, gauis saw this and immediately smiled. "I know what troubles you and we will find solutions to it now that you are here". Gauis ushered him in and gestured for him to sit,he went over to the huge tree that almost occupied the shrine and chanted before he bent to pick up seashells from the root of the tree.He took this shells and asked Derek to use it to touch the tip of his tongue which he did. As soon as the shells got to gauis he went stiff with his eyes becoming white and no trace of the darker parts of his eyes after touching the shells,it took a while before he regained consciousness. After his vision he didn't say anything instead he plucked leaves from the tree and began to chants words that Derek couldn't understand. He turned to Derek "what I have seen is that you would be blessed with a son"he said looking he said as his expression didn't show that he was happy at the latest discovery. Derek who had been hoping for a positive result became overjoyed as his face lit up,but it wasn't for long as he discovered the old man wasn't happy telling him the good news. "Gauis you don't seem happy at all is there any other thing I need to know" your sudden question jolted the old man out of his thoughts "umm ofcourse I. I am happy,after all this is what we all have always wanted isnt it " he stuttered while trying to hide his facial expression. "Do you know what baffled me the most"he said looking intently at the king "was the fact that your first son would come from a servant girl"he said as shock filled the king's face. Derek had no expression other than total shock "why would the spirits want me to marry a maid and who is this maid did they tell you who she is?. "No your majesty that was what I was trying to confirm before I came out of my trance,be rest assured my lord I will get answers for you"gauis said and returned the shells back to the tree. Derek knew that was all he could get and if there was any other answers gauis wouldn't hesitate to notify him so he stood up and headed for his castle. Getting to his bedroom he instructed Collin not to let anyone in that he doesn't want to be disturbed,"including your wives" Collin asked not wanting to get into dispute with the king's wives especially his youngest wife Matilda. "Yes,that includes them Collin" he said and went in,inside his bedroom he undressed and took a cold bath to cool himself after he was done,he dressed up and headed for his study but unfortunately what gauis had told him kept ringing in his ears,he couldn't get it off his head so he decided to lay his head but he had no idea when he slept off. * * * * Josephine sat with Matilda in her bedroom,she had been with her consoling and reassuring her that she would be fine,ever since she put to bed and discovered she had a daughter she would cry her eyes out without eating or even taking care of her daughter. "I am sure he hates me now he wanted a son but I gave him a daughter,I don't think he would love me anymore* Melissa said to the queen who in turn tried to console her with her kind words. "You know being a mother is a blessing Melissa,any woman who could bear children is blessed" Josephine said as she realized how meaningless her while existence was,if only she could have a daughter she would be the happiest woman on earth she thought as tears threatened to fill her eyes.she had spent half her life visiting witch doctors for solutions but it proved futile as the dark reality struck her,which is knowing she was barren. A knock at the door interrupted their conversation,"come in the door is opened" the younger queen said without looking at the door to know who it was. "Your highness" Katherine said bowing,"what do you want" Melissa asked turning her head in other for Katherine not to see her crying. "I am here to pick up your worn dresses for cleaning" Katherine said with her head to the ground "you know where it is" Melissa said granting the maid access to her room. She turned to the queen and gave her a heart warming hug not minding the maid that was with them as far as Matilda knows Josephine has the key to the king's heart,if she wanted Josephine could put in words for her. * * * * Katherine returned home looking all stressed all she wanted was a hot bath and good massage from her mom she smiled as she got to her home,she came to a halt as she saw Adrian's guards standing outside...oh god this is the last person I wish to see she said as she walked into her home. Adrian was her betrothed,he is the son of one of the nobles in mombana she has been betrothed to him since she was fifteen,Katherine knew in few months she would be twenty and would be married to him. If there was one thing she hated about him was his pride she hated this marriage thing and she was willing to do anything to get away from him. Inside she met her parents and her supposed husband to be seated like a king and grinning like he won a price,she greeted her parents and walked into her bedroom. Adrian wasn't surprised at her action because it wasn't the first time she was doing that..."I am so sorry sir Adrian it could be because she was tired from the day's work" Katherine's mother pleaded,"but I thought we agreed that she would stop working at the palace". Her mother still begged him to forgive their daughters action,well he had no choice but as soon as she became his wife he would teach her to respect him he thought as he stood up to leave. * * * * The king returned to his home thinking about what gauis had said,he was happy that at some point he was going to have a son,"I think gauis is hiding something from me" he thought looking up to the sky opening his mouth to say something but words failed him as he closed his mouth. Getting into his castle,he almost bumped into his youngest wife Matilda "oh I am deeply sorry my lord" she said as she apologized with her head bent low,"it's fine"he said raising her head to meet his. she smiled at his warmness towards her he had actually saved her during the war they had invaded her village and her entire family died in the war,he wasn't ready to sell her off so he decided to make her his wife. After their marriage she took in and also had a daughter,she followed him to his chambers but was shocked when he told Collin that he didn't want to be disturbed. Matilda knew he was bothered and wanted to be with him,but she was so disappointed that he asked her to leave. As she returned back to her bedroom she overhead some servant discussing about the king taking a fourth wife. She was shocked to hear this she couldn't believe her ears,she wanted to go back to the kings room but remembered his instructions. King Derek was in his study trying to go through the affairs of the kingdom,he needed to sort out governmental issues that had piled up on his desk,the past few days had been frustrating as he had been thinking about a lot of things,he didn't know he had so much work waiting for him at his table. He got busy with work but everything gauis told him came replaying in his head,he paused and relaxed on his chair. "There are so many maids in this palace,how do I know"he thought as he rubbed his forehead.These days he had developed a kind of headache that never goes away. "But how would my people react to it" he thought,he couldn't take it anymore just then Collin came in to inform him that the queen was around,oh! he had so needed her so he asked that he let her in. Josephine looking so elegant in her dress walked in smiling "your majesty" she said bowing "come"he said extending his hands to her as she came closer,she was barren he knew and because he didn't want her to feel it he made sure he showered her with love . "How are you?my lord" she asked sitting on his legs,"I was told you visited gauis today,what was the outcome" she said fondling with his long gray hair,he stared at her for a while before he adjusted holding her to make sure she doesn't fall off. "There was positive result my dear but it's a little bit hard for me to do it"he said as he signed and looked at the window "you know,he told me that I was going to have sons". "oh! bless the spirits"Josephine said smiling,he looked at her as she smiled "do you know my first son would have to come from a maid" he said not taking his eyes off her as he noticed the smile disappear from her face. She opened her mouth to speak but words failed her,the king saw this and smiled "If I really wanted a son then I guess I have to really lay with a maid then".he said gesturing for her to stand as he walked majestically to his window. "You know I wonder how the council would take this" he thought as he felt Josephine's hands around him. "I don't think there is anything wrong in marrying a maid as long as she would bare a son and besides you are not the first king to ever have s****l relationship with a maid,king's in the past have done it including my father. listening to her voice he closed his eyes as the evening breeze swept through his face,"and I know you are a wise king I am sure you would make the right choice".