Warrior's Heart Part IV, Betrayal
Several weeks later, I had journeyed to settle a dispute within a village just beyond the desert city. After helping the people resolve their conflict, I returned to the palace to find many of the guards looking very distressed. One of the lieutenants, Agonu, saw me approach and hurried to meet me.
"What's going on, Lieutenant?" I inquired as he stopped in front of me and bowed.
"Your highness, something has happened," Agonu replied, but he stopped to raise a hand to his forehead. Agonu was squinting his eyes tight under his palm from what I could see. Once he composed himself, he said, "Perhaps you had best come and see, your highness."
Turning on his heel, the lieutenant strode swiftly down the corridor towards the throne room. I followed quickly after Agonu, becoming more and more anxious as we drew closer. I wondered what it was that sent the entire palace into such disarray, but I wasn't prepared for the sight that would greet me.
Two sets of guards were standing in front of the door leading into the throne room and all four soldiers wore grim faces. Swallowing hard as they allowed us access inside, I stepped into the room and nearly stumbled over in shock. Lying on the floor was my mother. Striding closer, I saw the wound inside her stomach going all the way through. My eyes widened in shock as I noticed her saber lying next to her with blood on its sharp tip.
"There was too little blood on the saber in order for us to try and identify who her majesty had wounded," Agonu informed me. "At least she didn't suffer long, your highness...or should I say your majesty?"
Frowning at this entire sight, I glared at him, saying,
"I haven't been crowned queen of Haadiak yet, Lieutenant. Until I go through the coronation, I am still the warrior princess. See that my mother's body is prepared...for burial."
Agonu stared at me for a moment before bowing and leaving the throne room. I clenched my teeth together as I shook my head, thinking, 'It shouldn't have been this way, Mother. I should have had the chance to face you in the Warrior's Challenge.' I knew I should feel sorrow, but my mother hadn't shown me love since I was four years of age. There was no way I could feel much more than the slight sorrow within me for one who was so harsh and cold.
Suddenly, I heard arguing outside and looked up to see the guards shoving their weapons in J-2LR's metal face. Pursing my lips, I called,
"Let J-2LR come inside!"
All five looked at me before allowing the android access inside the throne room. He slowly made his way towards me and stopped a few feet from where my mother lay. For once, the droid seemed lost for words, but he soon broke the silence, saying,
"Your highness, I am greatly sorry for your loss."
"I know I should be grieving greatly right now, J-2LR, but I just can't," I sighed. "Now, everyone will expect me to find the assassin."
"Well, if it helps, your highness," J-2LR began, "there is no blood around the floor where her majesty is laying, yet the wound goes all the way through her body."
Frowning, I scanned the area again, surprised I hadn't noticed that before when I first entered the throne room. Turning to J-2LR, I said, "Go on."
"In all my knowledge, your highness, only a few weapons can cause that amount of damage with little or no mess," J-2LR informed me. "A specialized blaster that has a beam so hot it seals the wound upon impact or...a lightsaber."
Hearing those last words, my eyes widened in utter disbelief. Shaking my head, I thought, 'It couldn't be that. No, I won't believe it...but, I must know.' Biting my lips, I strode towards the door and into the corridor towards the training sector. I opened the arena door, but found no one inside.
Sighing, I leaned against the door when Agonu came to my side, saying,
"Your highness, it would be best if you returned to a secured sector and remained there. We don't know who this assassin is, and he could still be lurking about the palace. I would rather not lose my princess along with my queen."
Staring at Agonu, I knew that in order to ease his mind I had to do as he advised. Nodding my head, Agonu led me up three levels to one of the libraries that had only the door and a small balcony for access. He turned towards me, saying,
"Please, stay inside here, your highness. I will make arrangements for your mother's burial, but then, we must crown you as warrior queen. It is in the best interest of our people that we have a leader."
After he left, I strode straight towards the balcony and looked around at the areas just below. I was five levels up from the ground, and even though my soldiers may think I was safe up here, I was glad to have my sai-blades with me. Turning back inside, I sat down on a cushioned chair.
Suddenly, I felt someone else in the room and rose to my feet, spinning around. It was Khameir. Although I was relieved to see him, my eyes skimmed over his clothes and discovered what I didn't want to find. There was a large rip in his right sleeve which he didn't even try to conceal from me.
"So, it's true," I stated. "You killed my mother."
His eyes flicked to the floor before returning to mine as he strode closer towards me, saying,
"Yes, it is, Amira. I cannot lie to you."
Shaking my head as I backed away from him, I asked,
"Why? What did she do to deserve that?"
"According to my master, she knew far too much about us," Khameir replied. "I had no choice but to carry out his command."
"And now what?" I asked, glaring at him, tears in my eyes. "Will you kill me just as easily as you killed her?"
Shaking his head, Khameir declared,
"I could not...even if I was commanded to do so. I couldn't kill you, Amira."
Bringing my hands to my face, I couldn't stop the tears flowing from my eyes, and I felt his hands on my shoulders. Swallowing hard, I inquired,
"What did she know about you that would make Lord Palpatine want to destroy an ally?"
Sighing, Khameir brought a hand to my face, replying,
"It's best you know as little as possible, Amira."
"Because of this, I am to be crowned queen of Haadiak," I said, trying to calm myself. "But, I don't know how to rule. I do know this much; I don't want to be like my mother."
Lifting my chin up to where I looked directly into his eyes, Khameir declared,
"Then, be a better ruler than Volaria. Be a better mother for your own child than she was for you."
Widening my eyes in surprise, I couldn't believe what I thought I heard Khameir say. But, as I stared into his face, I knew it was true as I placed a hand on my stomach. Then, I felt his hand against mine on my stomach as he said,
"You must be both parents for our child, for my master has told me we shall leave Haadiak tonight."
"You're leaving?" I asked. "Why?"
"As I said, it's best you don't know anything, Amira," Khameir told me as he wrapped his arms around my body, drawing me closer. "Accept the crown and throne of Haadiak, and become queen." Then, he kissed me softly before releasing me and leaving however he came inside.
Within the next few hours, my mother was buried along with so many other warrior queens before her. My coronation was brief but somewhat formal, considering it was after a burial. The sun had set already when my mother's trusted councilor, Doreth Kunn, placed the crown upon my head. I wore a royal violet robe over my blue warrior gown since I didn't have the queen's color in clothes.
After the coronation, I strode towards the balcony of my new chambers and watched as the dark, sleek ship rose into the sky and vanished into space. My heart went with that ship as I knew I would probably never see Khameir again.
At that moment, someone knocked on my door, and I called,
"Come in."
J-2LR strode inside the room, saying,
"Good evening, your high...I mean, your majesty."
"What is it, J-2LR?" I inquired, sighing sadly.
"Well, your majesty, I was helping to organize your wardrobe so that you might have them changed into the queen's colors," J-2LR told me. "But, when I crossed the room, I noticed this on your bed."
Glancing over at the droid, I saw what looked like a voice transmitter. Taking the small circular device from him, I bade the droid good evening and immediately played the letter once J-2LR was out of my chambers. As I expected, it was from Khameir. In his voice, it said:
'My Warrior Princess,
I cannot say all that I want to say in person because we are
leaving tonight. Before I came to Haadiak, all my thoughts
were on a goal that I am not fully proud of now. However,
when I met you, there was something about you that I knew was
unique. That was why I chose to train you. But, you taught
me much more than I could ever have taught you. At first, I
was hesitant in being with you because I believed it to be a
sign of weakness. Amira, I was wrong, for it was your love
that made me realize what I saw in you at our first meeting.
A woman of less strength wouldn't have shown me what you
did, and I love you all the more for it. Although you may be
nervous about becoming the queen of Haadiak, I believe in
you. You are the greatest hope of this planet...and the
greatest love in my life. Forgive me for having to leave you.
Teach our child as I know you will. Always know this:
I love you, Amira. I will never forget you.
Khameir'
Looking at the device as it finished the letter, I stifled a sob rising in my throat. I knew I had to be strong especially for the child growing within me at this moment. My people needed me and I would serve them to the best of my extent. As my elder historics teachers told me before, don't forget the past, but don't dwell upon it either. Gazing up into the sky, I would remember Khameir, but I would concentrate on the future of raising my child along with ruling Haadiak as warrior queen.
