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Jtechwriter
A Love Stolen
Chapter 9: Pure Joy.
King Usabi waited anxiously for his majordomo Kilpatra to come back. He would have to keep close watch because he had not told him that he and Fanity would make the journey at the same time he did.
The wind blew from the beautiful Pride Lands directly into Usabi's face he had waited a long time to get in contact with his daughter. Sarabi. She was all he could think about lately, his only child.
The king was getting impatient; he and the queen had arrived the same time as Kilpatra did, what was taking that bird so long to report back to him.
"I'm sure he'll be back soon, dear." Fanity's sweet voice came through. Usabi never knew how Fanity could read his mind, as if he was an open book. Yet he could do the same to her, not that he ever had to.
"I just want to know that she is safe." Usabi breathed deeply.
Suddenly Usabi could see a colorful bird in the sky. He new instantly that it was the majordomo.
Taking in all air that he could, Usabi yelled, "KILPATRA!"
The majordomo was shocked. "Sire, what are you and the Queen doing here? I thought you were waiting for my return!"
"Kilpatra, when have I ever waited in such important circumstances?" Usabi questioned.
Kilpatra thought back, it was true that if something really mattered to the king than he couldn't stand around waiting. He was a go-getter.
"Sire, would you and the queen like my report?"
Usabi gave him a look that said, "I've been waiting to hear it! Get started already!"
Kilpatra took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet African air before beginning, " Sire, Princess Sarabi is indeed in the Pride Lands. King Ahadi and Queen Uru, are a very nice couple, they told me to tell you, that you are more than welcome into the Pride Lands. What's more, Princess Sarabi is engaged to Prince Mufasa." Kilpatra paused; he knew that they would not like what he was about to tell them.
Fanity smiled. My daughter sounds truly happy. I should have no regrets.
The Queen was brought out of her thoughts when she saw Kilpatra's troubled expression.
"There is something your not telling us Kilpatra!" Fanity could not resist yelling.
"Well Your Majesties, Princess Sarabi is not well, it appears to me she's far from it."
A wave of terror and anxiety swept through the royal's body.
What does he mean? Usabi wondered.
"The Princesses heart beats way too fast, Sire. The shaman said that it was the reason for her purple and shaking appearance."
Usabi and Fanity couldn't wait any longer to see their daughter, and to make sure she was all right.
Usabi bounded across the border. "Usabi!" Fanity yelled after him but it was no use. She instructed the majordomo to warn the Pride Landers, before bounding after her mate.
Usabi had not said a word. All he knew is that he needed to get to his daughter. For years he had dreamed of nothing else, but to have his family complete. He couldn't lose her, not after waiting so long to find her. Please kings, let her be all right. Usabi thought. Tears spilled his eyes at the thought. No! She won't die; Sarabi has my blood, has she not? We Willow Landers are strong, but Sarabi's special, she can over come anything. Even his minds own comforting thoughts failed to calm Usabi. From behind him he could hear his mates frantic calls, stopping to wait for her.
Meanwhile in the Pride Lands, King Ahadi and Queen Uru called a meeting of the Pride. Uru walked with a noticeable limp. The queen never gave up on hope. She knew that she could not hunt, but she was confident that she could do all of her other queenly duties.
" Hello Everyone!" Uru greeted cheerily. Although she knew that the atmosphere would not be so happy when they told the pride the news.
"As you all know Uru was injured in an accident recently. Rafiki has delivered some bad news about the effects of the injury. I'll let Uru go on from here." Ahadi said, sorrow was evident in his voice.
" My foreleg has been permanently injured. I may not be able to continue my duties as Queen." Gasps echo throughout the crowd, tears slip from Ahadi's eyes.
"However, I know that I have to try and I'm asking your permission for this. I cannot hunt without doing more harm to my leg, but I don't use my legs for the other queenly duties; settling disputes, helping with expectant mothers, and birthing. If you would let me continue doing those duties until Ahadi is ready to step down, I'd be truly grateful." Uru finished. The lionesses would have it any other way.
She had been scared, and she wanted to stay Queen. Mufasa was not yet ready for the throne and Sarabi was not yet well enough for Queen, in matter of fact, she wasn't well at all. As the meeting progressed outside the den, Sarabi laid inside shaking violently like a leaf in the wind.
Mufasa had not attended the meeting as Uru and Ahadi had already discussed it with him and Sarabi.
The whole pride was worried about her at times the princess would be okay smiling and talking with Mufasa, even taking walks, but most of the time she shook violently. No matter what the case, Sarabi's face was always purple.
Ahadi stood on the promontory of Pride Rock. The wind blew threw his mane, the meeting went better than expected and he felt as if the weight of one shoulder, but the heaviest weight still remained. What had happened to his beloved Taka?
The king in Ahadi had to exile his own son, but the father in Ahadi hated it. He knew that Taka had earned it. It just hurt so much.
Suddenly a colorful bird came into view. "Kilpatra what are you doing here so soon?"
Kilpatra bowed to the king. "Your Majesty, on my way to the Willow Lands, and while I was crossing over the boarder into the outlands, I heard him calling me. It seems that they were at the border already! When I gave them my report, they starting bolting towards here!"
"Oh my" Uru had appeared silently beside Ahadi.
"They should be here fairly soon, at the speed they were running."
"Very well, my pride has been preparing since we knew they would be coming."
Just as Ahadi finished, two lions came into view.
"Your Majesties!" Kilpatra called to them.
Soon the royal couple bolted up the stone steps to the promontory. Usabi and Fanity were met by Ahadi and Uru.
Ahadi and Uru bowed down low. "Welcome to the Pride Lands, we hope you'll enjoy it here." Ahadi said.
"We are truly happy to be graced by your presence, your majesties." Uru purred.
"The pleasure is all ours! Your kingdom is truly beautiful. You may call us by our names. I'm Fanity." Fanity introduced herself happily.
"We are sorry for popping up unexpected, we are just so anxious to see Sarabi. I'm Usabi." Usabi added, his light brown mane whirled around his head like a tornado.
"It's all right the pride started preparing the minute we found out that another royal couple would be visiting." Uru said, her eyes twinkling.
"How about we go see about Sarabi, she is probably in the royal den with Mufasa." Ahadi and Uru led the royals to the den.
Mufasa stood in the royal den worrying about Sarabi, she seemed to be getting worse at times and better at others.
"Son, come meet Sarabi's parents!" Uru called.
Mufasa walked to where they were, and bowed down respectively. Usabi immediately liked Mufasa, just from that gesture, Usabi could tell he would make a good mate.
"Sarabi just fell asleep, she really hasn't felt well today." Mufasa said, his tone depressed.
"You only thought I was asleep. Who's at the entrance?" A voice said from the middle of the den.
Usabi and Fanity rushed to their daughter. The first thing that they noticed was that she was her mothers color, but she didn't look well. Her face was dark purple.
Sarabi looked up, her eyes started to smile. "Mommy? Daddy? Is that really you?"
"We're here sweetie, we've missed you so much." Fanity smiled.
The three of them shared a loving embrace, while the Pride Lands Royal Family watched on.
"I've missed you even more." Sarabi said weakly. She was falling asleep.
"I think it's best we let her get her rest." Usabi said. He was sick with worry for his only daughter.
The sun had set; the hunt party arrived with the dinner.
The visiting royal couple was offered the meat first, they refused to eat by themselves. Ahadi and Uru joined them, while the rest of the pride feasted on the second wild beast.
The evening was thoroughly enjoyed.
However as the feast ended, both royal couples retired to the royal den.
Usabi and Fanity cuddled around Sarabi, sandwiching her between themselves.
Mufasa decided to do the same thing with his parents.
"Mufasa, son, your getting to big for this!" Ahadi exclaimed.
"Be quiet Ahadi! I've missed doing this with our son!" Uru purred. Mufasa had grown so much that there was almost not enough room for him between his parents.
Too embarrassed to admit it, Mufasa too felt the same way. He had missed cuddling with Taka and his parents.
Taka, what happened to him? I miss my brother. Tears slipped down Mufasa's cheeks as he fell into a comfortable sleep, comforted by his parents warmth.
The next day would turn out to be a mixture of happiness, anxiety, and a time for uncovering feelings in the royal families.
