Chapter 12 Promise

The next day Princess Adaeze was introduced to the entire pride. She met Scar's Lion Guard, their wives, the hunting party… Scar's Guard kept whispering to him how beautiful Adaeze was, she was the prettiest lioness any of them had ever seen. However Scar played his role as the detached, reserved Prince, not easily impressed by just a pretty face.

He showed Adaeze the Pride Lands. He learned about her family and her life. All of which was told in a very dull and shy voice. Scar attempted to interest her in his adventures as a rogue, but Adaeze became very distraught at even the most trivial things in his stories. She could not comprehend that there were prides that didn't follow the Circle of Life; that rogues would kill innocent cubs to be able to quickly breed their mothers, or that someone could starve to death out on their own…

"I just cannot understand how lions would allow such things to happen," she told him. "For all lions, not just those of noble birth, it is our responsibility to better this world. We are the top predators, we control how the land is shaped around us. To just disregard that, to live as if there was nothing else in this world but yourself… It is very disheartening…"

Such a privileged, sheltered life she must live, Scar thought. But innocence can get you killed… Luckily she herself will never have to worry about that.

He is so… Different, Adaeze thought. Handsome too. He's a bit thin but I'm sure he'll fill out with time. To live here, on these beautiful lands… What more could I ever want?

As the days rolled by and Adaeze became more familiar with everyone she realized that Chipo had a special friendship with Scar. She seemed to know so much about him so naturally Adaeze wanted to get to know this lioness better.

"How long have you known Scar?" Adaeze asked Chipo.

"Oh, not that long," Chipo replied. "I met him at the beginning of the dry season, when he came back from his adventures being a rogue…"

"Really? I would have guessed you had grown up together…"

"No… I come from a different pride. We met at the local gatherings for the young lions in the area…"

"Oh?" Adaeze inquired. "I've never heard of such gatherings. Usually royals just have arranged marriages for their cubs…"

"Well around here they're fairly common, especially now with the new advent of Lion Guards, more young lions will be in need of brides…"

"Very interesting…" Adaeze thought. "Outside of the royal family lionesses usually don't have mates. But this gives them that opportunity. Is that how you met Dejen?"

"Yes… Say Princess Adaeze," Chipo asked. "How about you accompany the hunting party out this afternoon? That way we can spend more time together…"

"Excellent idea!" Adaeze exclaimed. "I need to keep proficient in my hunting practice. My first hunt wasn't very long ago so I still have lots to learn…"

Scar requested Stone to come with him out on patrol one evening. Princess Adaeze had been at the pride for a week and would soon be leaving. She had invited Scar to come with her, to meet her family.

"You should go," Stone encouraged. "Meeting her family should be fun. Get to know her better, you can start to see if you guys would work together…"

"So much for you to say," Scar groaned. "I haven't seen you looking too hard to find a mate…"

"Ya I've already talked to Ahadi and Mohatu about that," Stone admitted. "I've offered to marry the mothers of my cubs, but they're all a bit older than me and well established. They don't want to leave their prides. But I just can't find anyone that… needs me…"

"You want to go off rogueing again in the wet season?" Scar teased. "You seem to find plenty of lionesses who need you then…"

"No, not like that. I just want to feel valued. I haven't really had that since becoming a rogue. No one cares about you from one day to the next. Yes, the young lionesses I've meet at the parties are nice but they just don't seem to need anyone. I think most of them would be perfectly happy regardless…"

"Ture," Scar reasoned. "I didn't think I would need anyone until I met Chipo…"

"See, this is why you need to go," Stone stated. "It will keep your mind off her and maybe then, Adaeze, can be in your thoughts…"

Scar sighed. "My grandfather told me to go too. I don't want to disappoint him, but it just feels wrong… Oh well I guess I'll go. What about you? I don't want you to be kicked out of the pride when I get back…"

"Mohatu trusts me more than the others seeing as I was raised in a Great Pride. He's allowing me more time, but still wants me to be mated by the end of the wet season…"

"I wish he had more faith in me…" Scar said. "I'll go, but make no promises…"

Adaeze's pride was a few days away. Her father was protective, her mother was kind. And her sisters were very rambunctious, eager to meet their sister's new prospective mate. Adaeze was the youngest of her sisters. Her oldest sister had a mate and would inherit the pride. Her middle sister was engaged, leaving Adaeze the only one not promised yet. The young lionesses fawned over Scar. He was the only lion they had ever seen with such a dark coat and solid black mane. Adaeze's father spoke of duty and honor to for the prides, should they be joined. Adaeze's mother spoke of her daughter's promising hunting skills.

After getting settled in, Adaeze took Scar for a tour of her Pride Lands. In the dry season there was not much to see. So Adaeze asked Scar about his plans for the future.

"I haven't really given much thought about the future," Scar replied. "I expect I'll lead the Lion Guard and do patrols with my brother…"

"I meant what do you want from your family life?" Adaeze inquired. "Do you want cubs?"

"Um… sure I guess so…"

"I want lots of cubs," Adaeze said fondly. "Having two older sisters, I just can't imagine life without them! Are you close to your brother?"

"No, not really," Scar said. "Mufasa has always been in training to be the king… And I haven't…"

"Well it's different with sisters I guess. We all learn to hunt together to provide for the pride. It will be hard to leave them… But everyone at your pride was so nice! Your friend Chipo especially…"

Chipo, Scar thought. Oh how I miss you…

"Your grandfather is very proud of you," Adaeze said. "He talked about how you are always thinking, always watching. I know it's had being the younger sibling. You're expected to support the pride, but it will never be yours to call your own…"

"Yes," Scar said sadly. "If I were the heir, things would be a lot different…"

"Yes. You sort of feel left out sometimes. Like no matter what you do, nothing is good enough in the face of your older sibling's success… But that's just how it is. They're older and get to do it first. It's not fair sometimes, but on rare occasion you can outshine them, if only for a moment… I think that moment for you was creating the Lion Guard…"

Scar turned to Adaeze and saw her now in a new light. She was just like him, the younger sibling of the heir, lost and trying to find her way, just like he was. She could understand what no one else could: the looming shadow over him his entire life had been his brother and his obligation to the pride…

"It just seems that everything is just so easy for Mufasa…" Scar stated. "He's just built stronger than I and he found his betrothed with little effort, and she adores him. For me… I just have had to deal with the scraps. When Mufasa is King I will have the Lion Guard, but other than patrolling and countering any threats, what else will I have in my life that is… mine…?"

Adaeze looked at Scar with understanding in her eyes.

"That is why we need each other Taka," she replied. "Our cubs will not be princes or princesses. They will just be commoners, but we will be there for them. And there for each other. Because family is the one thing that will always be yours…"

Scar reached down and gave Adaeze a small kiss. She was surprised, but accepting of his affection, and gave a small kiss in return. Her father's hornbill majordomo circled over the pair watching them with glee.

"You are right Adaeze," Scar replied. "Family will be the most important thing…"

After spending a week with Adaeze and her family, Scar headed back to the Pride Lands. He was now torn. His true love was Chipo, but he could never have a family with her. Never be in the open with her. He thought of Stone's words of wanting to be needed. Adaeze needed him, just like he needed someone. Even though he didn't love her the same way as he loved Chipo, maybe he could learn to love her…?

"So," Mohatu asked. "What do you think of Adaeze?"

"She's… like me in some ways…" Scar started.

"Yes, that's why I thought you might like her."

"But in others she's so… different," Scar continued. "She doesn't seem to have found herself yet… She's very nice and polite, but she doesn't have much of a personality…"

The old lion chuckled. "That's because she's young and inexperienced. Just a little over a year and a half ago when I sent you out with Bitrus, you were much the same way… Lost, aimless. You didn't know who you were either. But time has changed you, your experiences have brought you into your own. You can help Adaeze find herself. You can help shape the lioness she is going to become. Together, you can find your way in the Circle of Life…"

"I've spent over two weeks with her," Scar contemplated. "But we've never actually been alone together to talk. It's just had to know how someone really is when everyone is so intently watching…"

"That's what being in the royal family is about," Mohatu reasoned. "You will always be in the spotlight, you will never be alone in public. Besides the two of you will have plenty of time to be alone once you are married. You honestly can't expect a king to trust a lion with your worldly experiences to be left alone with his innocent daughter without the promise of marriage…"

Scar glared at his grandfather. It's what you wanted… he thought. And now I'm being scrutinized for it…

"Mufasa was alone with Sarabi dozens of times before he proposed to her…" Scar scoffed.

"Yes, but Mufasa is harmless," Mohatu stated. "He will learn on his wedding night what you already have…"

"But isn't that what you wanted?" Scar asked agitatedly. "You purposely sent me out with Bitrus during the wet season so I would have that experience… Did you really expect me to remain innocent afterwards?!"

"No," Mohatu defended. "I wanted you to be more like me not Mufasa… I was not supposed to be king! There are none alive now that remember the tragic death of my brother, but he was supposed to be the heir and the next king. I was sent out rogueing because I was expected to become a rogue! I couldn't stand my brother, he and I fought constantly. So my father sent me away, half hoping that I wouldn't come back. Then when my brother died my father had to practically beg me to come back. And I acted like a pompous fool in the face of the Pride Land's despair, I was arrogant and self-righteous. I did not treat my family with kindness, as I had been shown none when I was out with the rogues. But I quickly learned that despite everything I was needed. I was loved. And that even though I had been such an ass in my youth, that they still cared for me and wanted the best for me. I brought a new prospective to the royal family, one that had not been seen in many generations: the ability to appreciate the simple things we have. That is what I wanted for you. I didn't want to cast you out or demoralize you, I wanted you to see for yourself the cruelty of the world, so you could understand what we have is worth protecting…"

"There can be cruelty here too…" Scar said flippantly. Scar closed his eyes and thought of Chipo and Adaeze. They were both so different.

"That is why you need Adaeze," Mohatu said calmly. "My wife helped me see center myself in this world. Yes, life is never truly fair… But you can make it better, with the options we have available to us, we can try…"

Scar sighed. I must try, or I will end up with nothing…

"Now," Mohatu continued. "You need to make a decision and let Adaeze know. If she's not the right one for you, then fine. But you must tell her, so she and her family don't waste time waiting for you. The wet season is almost upon us. Adaeze's family want her settled before it starts. I want the same for you. You need to have a direction in your life. Not just a string of affairs. You need a family of your own…"

The stars were starting to come out in the sky as the sun had already set for the day. Scar wanted so desperately to be told everything would work out, that the conflict within himself between the lioness he loved and the one he was supposed to be with would resolve itself. But he knew that everything was ultimately up to him. He was not entirely sure he could trust himself with his own future. Adaeze needed him. He needed Adaeze. His grandfather strongly supported their union as did her family. Scar desperately wanted his life to be as simple as what Stone had envisioned: marry, have cubs, protect the pride. Life would only be harder for him, if he resisted…

"I will send Zazu at first light tomorrow to tell Adaeze of my proposal," Scar stated.

"Very good!" Mohatu said joyfully. "I can rest easy now knowing the fate of my two grandsons is secure…"

Scar nuzzled his grandfather. All he wanted in his life had been the king's approval. And now he had it, all of it…

Scar made the announcement to the pride. They were all overjoyed. Zazu could not wait to be sent on such an important errand, the most important so far of his position. Mohatu stiffly limped into the main den. He settled down for the night with everyone else. A sharp pain pierced his chest. He was at peace as his journey ended on the Circle of Life…