Epilogue - We Will Know
Logic deduction gives us only logic certainty. After all it comes down to irrational fears and hopes to check if abstractive formula gives the real succession. So Kunga could be sure of his logic chain of premises, but the final result – although seemingly obvious – was still obscure. Greymaned admitted that he was nervous. But she came.
Uru was walking slowly, hobbling due to injure of her hind-leg. But she kept marching decisively to Windy Hill – place where she hoped to meet her love. It was a mild evening, sun was setting calmly. Warm breeze was blowing from the south. Some crickets were playing their songs, but save for that savannah was silent, as it was waiting for words of lovers.
She stopped in front of him and they both smiled at once. Uru sat down, restraining Kunga from helping her. She gently laid on right side, to keep her injured thigh on the top. Greymaned looked on the oedema and gulped. He knew what that meant. But he had to smiled again, as she did so.
"Welcome back, my love." She said.
"Uru…" He just uttered.
"Ahadi is dead." She said. "I think you should know."
"And you…" Started Kunga.
"Well, I guess I will follow him soon. It's a cancer, nasty, affecting also bone matter." Kunga came to her and started to examine the tumour. "Rafiki gave me his predictions." Added the former queen. "About six months, which it doesn't have to be bad. With good herb therapy, I won't feel much pain, remaining conscious almost till the end."
"Stars…" Whispered Kunga. "So we have just few months."
"For what, my love?" She asked. Then she understood. "But Kunga, it's too late for that."
"Oh, don't worry, I'm prepared for that." Laughed greymaned. "While I was around I did my lessons and I learned a bit. I remember every single word of the oath you made to Zari. I asked all legal tutors I met, including master Sicco… Don't worry, I referred him our case without any personal data."
"What do you mean, my love?"
"Until death do you apart." Reminded greymaned. "You are widow, free now, Uru."
"Yes, I am…" Said queen-mother. "But I can't go away with you. Even if I were able to physically, I must stay. Taka will be back in few weeks, I must make sure that Mufasa will let him in… and you can't enter the kingdom officially…"
"Well, but if you invite me…"
In spite of pain, she stood up and came closer to the rogue. Her eyes were full of emotions, varying from love and joy to fear. She tried to look in the soul of her love and read his thought. She was afraid to see a drastic answer in his mind.
"Kunga, please… I love you with all my might, but don't start it. It is too late for us to begin again. I'm ill, I'm not pretty anymore."
"You never were just pretty. But you are most beautiful creature I ever seen." Interrupted her greymaned. "Then and now, it's all the same."
"I will be gone in few months…"
"It's still longer time to be together than we actually have."
"But you can't interfere so severely into kingdom matters." He yelled. "I know you and I think that after you depose Mufasa, you would make Taka you heir. I know maybe it's fair, but Muffy is also…"
"Wait, wait…" Stopped her Kunga. "All I need is you. You are no longer the queen. Leave all those issues to one who's turn is now. Enjoy your retirement, especially that you are most gorgeous retiree I have even met." He smiled. "I love you. As Uru, not as a queen. If you are afraid what pride would tell, we even don't have to show ourselves to them. Just let us enjoy the time we still have."
"No challenge?" He shook his head.
"We may even meet only here, for no one would interrupt us."
"My love, I would like to, as anything on this word." Said Uru with shivering voice. "But my mourning, my duties as queen mother and…"
"Why do you think, I wish to become a king? Being king without you as a queen is not appealing to me at all… and if I am with you, all sorts of royal matters are just background details." Finished Kunga, stepping closer to her. "Let the queen mourn Ahadi. I just hope that lioness I love will finally tell she loves me back."
"But Kunga…" Voice of Uru was trailing. "You mean that… No one will know?"
"WE will know!" Replied lion and closed her lips with a kiss.
TakaPL
August-Semptember 2008