"You see! Just like his uncle," hissed Shuku, "a sniff of power and look where it leads him! He wants us to do his dirty work. We can't fall for it again!"

My mother roared in my defence, "How dare you! How can you suggest my son is a tyrant without our interests at heart?"

Shuku's eyes narrowed and hunched her shoulders, before saying matter-of-factly, "Bad blood, what can I say?"

"Bad blood?!" cried Sarabi, "are you suggesting my husband was a tyrant too?"

Shuku avoided the question. "The point is, my dear, this golden boy of yours is manipulating us to his own ends. Doesn't it seem suspicious that he went away for all those years while we suffered here? Anyone with our interests at heart would have returned immediately."

"He was a CUB!" screeched my mother. There was a suppressed rage building inside her, the likes of which I'd never seen before. "He was tricked! And you have the audacity to hold that against him?"

"Ha!" replied Shuku, "that's as maybe, but I've seen the way he plots behind those eyes. A front he puts on. We've seen you and Nala out together, plotting. Isn't that right girls?"

There was a shallow murmur from some quarters, though noticeably subdued, I felt.

"You forget your place," said Nala simply. "You owe Simba your lives and this country. And what right have you to drum up support against one with such inexperience who has surpassed all expectations?"

"She speaks the truth," another lioness, Hulo offered. I gave her a supportive smile of admiration for her loyalty, but I was becoming worried by my inability to defend myself or even fight my own argument. Surely Shuku would pick up on it sometime soon, if the argument was not going her way.

"The truth? I haven't heard truth from a King in years. You promised us a hero when you went for help, Nala. And you brought back this? He can't even defend himself when the going gets tough!"

"I went for help against Scar's tyranny. And together, we fought it. All of us. United! Even you, Shuku. And you forget it. He's done more for this pride than you can possibly imagine."

"Pssh! Well, you should know. You're the golden boy's golden girl."

I roared in anger. She was surely overstepping the mark now. She looked at me in mock surprise.

"Hark! The traitor speaks. What has he to say in his defence?"

I thought for a moment. "You say I am a traitor and that I run the Pridelands poorly. Tell me, what would you have me do? What do I do wrong?"

"Oh, we've seen you. Border patrol he calls it, while he and his precious mate go and visit the enemy at the Eastern border! We wondered what it was you plotted about. Now's your chance to tell us!"

So I'd been spied on? I stood flabbergasted, unable to believe what I was hearing. After all the hard work I'd put in! How could anyone suggest I was a traitor with intentions like Scar? I was silenced once more, and had no reply. Shuku gave a smug smile of triumphant victory.

"C'mon girls. We'll leave the King to stew on his plans. Remember this, your majesty - we will forgive and forget in time. But for now, you stick to your duties and keep your distance!"

And with that, a number of lionesses left with her, heading for a small overhang at the foot of Pride rock. Around me remained about half of the pride, and I was unsurprised to see most of them were younger ones. Terema came and stood next to me, and said, voice quavering slightly, "We support you King. You are honest and true, and give us no reason to doubt you."

But no amount of support at that time could help with the dull feeling in my heart. My dreams of peace had been shattered in one horrible evening, and I had a feeling this incident was going to run and run.

The cave felt surprisingly empty and bereft of colour or character that night, such that I had never known. Nala told me it had been this bad under Scar, but I couldn't imagine it any worse than it was. For sure, the events had hit me worse than others, but for my part, I couldn't work up anger in my astonishment. In truth, I left my mother and Sarafina work up a sweat in such extreme anger, whilst I lay there feeling rather sorry for myself. I admit it, I was not displaying any qualities that was required of me, but for once, I was too depressed to care, and didn't know which way to turn; even Nala was not her usual pillar of strength.

Time seemed to stand still as the air thickened in the cave. Eventually I could stand it no longer. I decided to go for a walk. I knew no one would follow. I went out and walked in the grasses, and mused over what the future might hold.

How could I bring a cub into a world like this? As his father, I would be expected to be the role model whom he or she could look up to with respect and for guidance. They wouldn't understand. Poor thing. And yet at the moment it was nothing but a glint in Nala's eye.

I felt compelled to visit the Eastern border. I didn't doubt my reasons for doing it. I felt the need to confide in someone outside the Pride, and the rogue was the only one I could think of. Timon and Pumbaa wouldn't understand, and I couldn't rely on Zazu again. And who did that leave? My father? I didn't think I could face thinking about him. It would just leave me stowed in guilt that I couldn't continue his work, that I'd somehow betrayed his memory.