Chapter 5: Complicated

One week later…………..


Aida sat with Lutalo trying to teach him how to read with all the other children his age when Busara approached her.

"Your father wishes to speak with you," she said.

Lutalo stood up and started to walk away.

"Not you, Lutalo," Busara said. "Aida."

Aida sighed and stood up. She and her father hadn't spoken since their "heart-to-heart" on the boat. Now, she was dreading this meeting with her father. He waited outside his hut for her. His expression was blank.

"You wanted to speak with me, father?" Aida asked.

"Yes," Amonasro said, going into his hut. "Come."

Aida followed him inside. For a moment he just stood there staring at her with disapproval in his eyes. Is this why he wanted to see me? Aida thought. I understand, father. You're ashamed of me. You don't need to call me in here just to stare at me.

"You're starting to come about the age where your supposed to find a husband," Amonasro said.

"Yes," Aida replied.

"I just wanted to let you know that your mother and I are going to arrange an engagement once we find the right man," he said.

Aida was shocked. Her parents were arranging her marriage? They didn't want to do that before she was taken to Egypt.

"Father, I thought that since you named me your successor that I was capable of finding my own husband," Aida argued.

"After your performance in Egypt, I don't think your capable of finding your own husband anymore," Amonasro said.

"Father, I lied to him so he'd have a boat waiting for me to escape," Aida said. "I helped you, Mereb, and Diallo escape. Isn't that enough?"

"I'm not discussing this any further," Amonasro's voice was harsh. "You proved yourself uncapable to be my successor. When the time comes for me to leave this Earth, I want to die knowing that if you fail, there will be someone to fix what you destroy."

Aida stood there dumbfounded. Her father didn't believe in her anymore and all becauseshe madeone mistake.

"What are you saying?" Aida asked. "You don't trust me anymore?"

"I don't know if I do, Aida," Amonasro said turning his back to her. "You may leave now."

"Father, I-"

"I said leave!"

Aida turned around and walked out of the hut and went back to Busara, who was with all Lutalo and the other children.

"Is your meeting finished?" Busara asked.

"Yes," Aida said. "Thank you for working with them."

"Your welcome," Busara answered.

She stood up leaving Aida alone with Lutalo and the other children.

"What did father want to talk to you about?" Lutalo asked.

"Grown-up things," Aida answered. "Nothing you would understand now."

Aida tried to focus on helping Lutalo, but she couldn't stop thinking about her father. He thought she would lead Nubia to ruin after what happened with Radames. But, I won't, Aida thought. I haven't changed. It was one incident.

"Why are you crying?" Lutalo asked.

"I'm not crying," Aida said.

"You have tears coming down your face."

Aida wiped her eyes.

"Was father mean?" Lutalo asked.

"No, he's never mean," Aida answered. "He can be a little harsh, but in the end it always makes us stronger."

I have to remember that, Aida thought. Amonasro was always tough with her, but in the end, it only made her stronger. It was his way of showing her that he had faith in her. But, this time he doesn't, she thought. He thinks I'm going to wipe out an entire country. I probably will. After all, I got someone killed.

Once again that brought her back to Radames. She couldn't stop thinking about him. She had everything she wanted with him and then she left him and got him killed. Why did I have to do that? Aida thought. Why couldn't I just get in the boat and leave? More importantly, why did I have to fall in love with him?


The waters were getting treacherous. They were throwing Radames from rock to rock. Finally, when it was dark, he found some calm water and crawled on shore and laid down on the sand. Every muscle in his body ached. He didn't even know they were hurting until he stopped swimming.

As he stared up at the stars his thoughts wandered back to when he first left. He felt so guilty about betraying Amneris and the rest of Egypt. How could I do that? He thought. How could I just destroy everything that was planned for a woman I barely knew?

But then he remembered, this was part of his father's sinister plot to dominate Egypt. It was a good thing to break it off. In the end, if he'd married Amneris and if Aida stayed, he would only end up making things worse by having an affair with Aida behind Amneris's back. It's a good thing I left, Radames thought. It was better this way.

But, Radames still thought he should've been rotting away under the sands of Egypt. He still betrayed everyone by letting Aida and the Nubian King escape. But, I had to, Radames thought. I love her. If he wasn't her father, he would've caught the king and had him executed on the spot.

But, instead, because he wanted Aida to be safe, he shoved her in the boat and let her go. Now, more than ever, he was determined to reach Nubia alive.


"It shouldn't be so complicated
Cause I've been looking for this for so, so long
And I can't believe that many things are overrated
So I will follow you down
"- Submersed


To Be Continued……


A/N: Chapter 6 is coming soon.