Chapter 6: Crown Princess and Prince
Several hours later, the newborn heirs awoke to warm, gentle licks from their mother, Siva.
Hidaya was the first born and therefore was first in line to take over after Siva. She smiled up at her, feeling safe and warm as she wriggled her way to get a drink. She was so preoccupied with drinking her breakfast; she didn't notice the presence of a strange, new creature in the cave.
However, her brother, Harimu did. After waking up to his mother's beautiful face and warm licks, another face came into view--a bright colorful one. The infant gasped and let out a cry, retreating under his mother's large, protective paw. Then he heard a calming, rhythm begin to play, and lifted his head out from under his mother's paw, curious to see where the familiar sound was coming from. Harimu looked up and his eyes met a long stick with round noisemakers on the end. He became entranced by them and reached out, trying to grab them, despite their constant movement.
"There you go," came a feminine voice. It was in fact, Reekyo, and Kiara was with her. Kiara smiled warmly at her new grandson and then again at Siva. "Good morning, Princess Siva," Reekyo bowed.
"Reekyo, what are you doing here? I thought you and Rafiki weren't supposed to come until—
"Yes, until you got back to Pride Rock. I'm terribly sorry, Princess, but Rafiki won't be performing the ceremony, only I will. I came to see if you and your cubs were alright," she spoke softly.
Panic rushed through Siva for a second, and she looked to Kiara for an answer. But Kiara was studying the ground with a furrowed brow, deep in thought.
"Princess Siva?" Reekyo asked, bringing the young lioness back to reality. "Would you like us to help you back to Pride Rock now?" A smile spread across her face as she extended a hand to her. "The joyful news has spread like the rays of sun over the savannah," she explained as a soft wind blew past them, ruffling their fur.
"Oh, wow," Siva exclaimed softly. She bent down and picked up Hidaya, who was done suckling now and had crawled over to her brother, and was now trying to bat at Reekyo's stick as best she could. Siva handed her daughter to Kiara, and took Harimu in her mouth, as the three of them walked back to Pride Rock to prepare for the ceremony.
Back at the cave, everyone was bristling with excitement, awaiting the return of their princess, along with the two new heirs. Niru, Suvo, and Nahara were among the most anxious as they waited atop Pride Rock, scanning the area for any sign that Siva was coming.
"Oh, are you sure she's ok? She should have been here by now," Niru whined, digging his claws into the ground as he paced back and forth.
Then Suvo stepped into his path, causing Niru to fall backwards. "Niru, bro, listen. She'll come when she's ready, and when she does, you don't want her to see you acting like this, do you?" Suvo asked, raising an eyebrow.
Niru sighed, "You're right, I'm sorry, I'm setting a very good example for you two."
Suvo smiled and nuzzled his best friend. "Yes you are, you actually slept a few hours during the night, and well, I think you're doing a lot better than I would. Besides, you and Siva told us everything we need to know and be prepared for, and, well, you've done a great job so far. You've been a great example for us, you and Siva both, so thank you," Suvo replied emotionally.
Niru stared at his best friend for a moment and took a breath. "Wow, uh, you're welcome?" he gave a small smile, and they both chuckled and embraced as Nahara watched the scene, smiling. Then she smelled Siva's scent and looked down. Siva was ascending the steps of Pride Rock! Nahara gasped and gave a squeal of excitement. Finally her friend had returned!
"Siva's back!" she roared happily, and ran down to meet her.
Niru and Suvo ran over to the edge of the great rock, and watched as Nahara greeted Siva and joined the group as they ascended up Pride Rock.
Niru couldn't believe he was about to meet his new cubs. He only caught a few glimpses of their fur, because Nahara and Reekyo were blocking his view, as they were both cooing at them. The anxious new father wondered what the gender of his cubs were. The pairings flashed through his mind. "What if they're twin boys? Oh, I hope they wouldn't fight over wanting to be future king! But what if it's twin girls and they fight over the same thing, or not? What if it's a boy and a girl? I wonder which one was born first? What if neither one wants to be king or queen?"
Just as he was about to wonder about what their personalities might be like, Siva's soft, kind voice broke his train of thought. He gasped and turned to see her standing in the middle front of the group. To her right was his mother, who was holding, what appeared to be a girl cub! A proud smile spread across Niru's face and he padded quickly over to his beloved mate and new cubs.
"Oh Siva," he whispered as he embraced her.
"Niru," she licked his cheek, and gently broke the embrace. "Niru, I'd like you to meet your new," she paused and nodded to Kiara. "Daughter, Hidaya," Siva finished, beaming.
"I was right; she's a beautiful girl cub. Hidaya, my daughter," Niru said aloud this time, as he gazed into her bright green eyes. His own eyes, he had passed onto her! She had Siva's beautiful golden fur, but she had Kiara's nose, a light, creamy underbelly, but she didn't have the traditional light colored paws. Her paws were the same color as the rest of her fur—a trait of her own and Niru loved it. She also had light colored outer eye fur, and Niru's mahogany tail tip. He loved everything about his new daughter.
Then the most amazing thing happened—she smiled at him, and reached out to paw at his face. He gasped, as it was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen, and gently leaned over and nuzzled Hidaya's tiny, soft belly. He then looked up at his mother, and nuzzled her as well. Then he remembered his second cub and looked back over to Siva, and noticed Reekyo was to her left, holding his second cub.
"Niru, our second beautiful new cub..." she motioned to Reekyo, as the young baboon gently turned the cub onto his back in her arms. "Our son, Harimu," she beamed at her son.
Niru gasped. "My son, Harimu," he beamed as he took in his new son's features.
Harimu stared curiously up at him, wide-eyed. He had Siva's pure blue eyes and Niru's golden-orange fur. He had a light, creamy underbelly just like his sister, but his paws were the color of Siva's fur, a golden-yellow. He had a light tail tip like Siva, and her dark outer eye coloring. He couldn't believe how blessed he was to have both a son and a daughter. He was also a bit relieved knowing that they wouldn't fight over who would be queen or king, or at least not as much as if he had two females or two males.
"Harimu," he whispered to the tiny newborn, and nuzzled him.
Harimu gasped as his father's wet nose touched his belly, but then giggled and returned the nuzzle as he discovered he liked the feeling.
"I should start preparing them for the ceremony now, as the sun is beginning to rise," Reekyo announced, breaking the silence. The group gasped and looked out to the horizon, to discover the sun had indeed begun rising.
"Reekyo, not to be rude, but why isn't Rafiki performing the ceremony?" Niru inquired.
Reekyo turned and smiled at him. "Rafiki said he's getting too old for it, and that it is my turn to prove myself worthy of being a shaman, by taking over ceremonial duties. I have been studying ever since you were born, Prince Niru. And now, I must say I am honored to be presenting your cubs, the crown princess and prince today," the young baboon smiled and bowed to Niru.
Niru gaped, surprised and touched by her response, and stepped forward and gave Reekyo her first, official traditional royal embrace. Reekyo grinned happily and then peered down at a now squirming Harimu in her arms.
"Oh, would you mind holding him while I mark Hidaya first?"
Niru nodded and carefully took hold of Harimu in his mouth and lay down, and placed his son carefully in between his paws. "I love you, Harimu, and I always will," he breathed as happy tears sprang to his eyes.
By now, the lionesses and lions had made their way quietly out of the cave and were standing in their positions on the side ledges of Pride Rock, watching the other animals gather in front of them.
After Hidaya was ready, she was handed to her mother, and Harimu got his turned to be marked.
Then both cubs were handed to Reekyo, and Niru and Siva rose to their paws, and smiled to each other before proudly walking to the tip of Pride Rock.
(Drums begin, light at first then gradually increasing as Niru and Siva reach the tip of Pride Rock)
Day is breaking
Creatures are waking
To come greet the day
They hear spirits say
They say, "Oh oh iyo"
"Mamela oh oh iyo"
The spirits of the past
They join with us at last
On this joyous day
We hear them say "Have faith because we live in you"
(They live in you)
They live in me
They're watching over everything we see
Everyday, everywhere
Look inside yourself, they are there
Oh oh iyo
Niru and Siva roar to announce the birth of their daughter and son, the crown princess and prince.
Reekyo comes up behind them and hands Harimu to Siva while she holds Hidaya up first.
Oh come bless these two new lives
We stand before them and we thrive
On knowing they will rule someday
And as they grow and love and play
We will guard them with our love
As you're watching from above
The animals make their own joyous exclamations and jump up and down in jubilation for their crown princess, Hidaya, the first-born and next in line to be queen.
Hidaya glances around, wide-eyed, as Mufasa and the other great kings and queens shine their light onto her. She smiles, feeling their warmth, and continues looking out at the animals into the distance, unaware that her other grandmother, Vitani, and her grandfather, Kunta, and Rafiki are farther off to the side, watching her proudly. Her eyes fall onto them for a moment, as they seem to stand out from the other animals, unaware who they are. Just then they disappear from her sight as Reekyo lowers her and hands her to her father. Then she gathers up Harimu and thrusts him up into the air, so he is overlooking the whole kingdom.
Oh come bless these two new lives
We stand before them and we thrive
On knowing they will rule someday
And as they grow and love and play
We will guard them with our love
As you're watching from above
Harimu gasps excitedly at the new sights around him, and relishes being held up in the air as a warm breeze encircles him, and the great kings and queens shine their light onto him. He lets out a small laugh and waves his paws up and down, like a bird. Reekyo then lowers him and hands him to Siva.
We come together in the great Circle of Life
On this joyous day
We can hear you say "We live in you"
(They live in you)
They live in me
And they're watching over
Everything we see
In the Circle The Circle of Life
The sun was now fully risen, and the animals gave a final shout of rejoice before slowly dispersing and going back to their homes in the Pride Lands.
The lionesses and lions rushed up the steps to congratulate Niru and Siva and to see the newest editions to the pride. However, after living through two generations of blocked views of cub presentations, Timon and Pumbaa had found their own spot off to the opposite side of the lionesses and gotten clear views of both cubs, and now raced to be the first ones to meet them.
"Congratulations both of you! I couldn't be prouder of you both, especially you, Siva. You brought them into the world," Timon smiled genuinely at her.
"Oh thank you, Timon," Siva nuzzled the aging meerkat.
Niru set Hidaya down at his feet for a moment. "Yes indeed thank you Timon and Pumbaa for being there with me the whole night," Niru hugged them both again.
"Hey, like I said, we're always here for you, and Siva, and you cubs—by the way, what are the little girl and guy's names?" Timon asked.
"This is our daughter, Princess Hidaya," Niru said motioning down to Hidaya, who was now asleep against his front right paw.
"Aww, the little darling's asleep," Pumbaa cooed.
"And this is our son, Prince Harimu," Niru spoke softly as to not wake his daughter.
"Harimu and Hidaya," Pumbaa repeated to himself.
"I like it!" Timon exclaimed, clasping his hands together.
Then the rest of the lionesses arrived at the scene, followed by Vitani, Kunta, and Rafiki.
"Siva, Niru!" Vitani cried out.
"Mom, Dad!" Siva replied.
"Vitani, Kunta! Rafiki?" Niru blinked, surprised and happy to see all three of them.
They all came over and greeted each other and were introduced to their new grand cubs.
Reekyo gasped, startled by Rafiki's presence, and bowed respectively to her uncle. "Uncle Rafiki, I didn't know you were going to be here," she said, both surprised and happy to see him.
"Reekyo, my niece," he began as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "I wanted to congratulate you on proving yourself worthy of taking my place as the new shaman to the Pride lands," he smiled toothily at her.
She gasped, and stared wide-eyed at him. "But, but what about you?" she asked.
"Oh don't worry, Reekyo, I have decided to reside her with you in the Pride Lands as a retired shaman until my time comes when I must leave this earth, but you know I'll never leave you, my beloved niece," he whispered to her.
She smiled and nodded to him and he turned towards Prince Niru and Princess Siva, and went to give pay them and the new heirs his respects before he retired to his and Reekyo's acacia tree.