A/N: Italics represent...read to find out! :)
The lionesses stood silent and still outside of Pride Rock, the sun's rays dancing beautifully on their sandy fur. Sarabi seemed to be the happiest of the group now, the smile had not left her face since the unexpected "meeting" with her old mate. Her eyes that used to be dull with horrible loss now sparkled like gems; gems that held a precious secret.
She watched Nala, who was, she noticed gladly, doing a quick head count of the lionesses, just to make sure, Sarabi had heard her explain to Sarafina, that no-one had been taken hostage by the hyenas. This had been Nala's third head count.
The old Queen moved elagantly towards Nala and Sarafina. "I wondered if I could have a word, Nala?" she asked.
The young lioness nodded and when her mother opened her mouth to question the situation, she silenced her with, "It's fine, Mum. Could you please continue the count? I won't be long."
Sarafina rolled her eyes in amusement. "Darling, three head counts is one too many. I think it would be safe to assume that everyone is here."
Sarabi guided Nala a little further apart from the rest of the Pride. "I wanted to thank you properly for what you did," she explained.
As she thought, the soon to be Queen looked extremely modest. "I wasn't responsible for King Mufasa appearing," Nala reminded Sarabi. "I don't know who was."
"But you let me go to him," Sarabi urged, "You could've ran and pretended it was your imagination, but you didn't. You're not that kind of lioness. I'm so grateful for that Nala, so grateful."
Nala smiled shyly. "It was worth seeing him one last time, then?"
"Oh, it was," she sighed. "It was."
"I'd like to inform your Highness that the Pridelands seem to be safe and in order," a voice said that issued from below the two.
Nala looked down and saw the little blue hornbill, who for a creature so small still seemed to radiate an air of authority, standing by her paw. She barely managed to suppress a fond grin of the memories of Zazu ushering Simba and Nala out of trouble during her youth.
"Thank you, Zazu," Sarabi said, "But I wish you would stop burdening yourself with so much work. You already do so much for this Pride."
"A majordomo never rests."
There was a silence in which Sarabi and Nala exchanged private, furtive looks.
"Should we tell him?" Nala mouthed as Zazu's eyes were diverted from them.
Sarabi frowned in concentration. "Wait for now," she mouthed back.
Sarafina appeared hesitantly at her daughter's shoulder. "Do you want to return to the Pride, Nala?"
The young lioness blinked, forgetting for one moment that she was separated from the group. Mother and daughter made their way back to the other lionesses and Nala automatically began counting them again.
"Nala," Sarafina chided,"Enough counting."
"What else am I meant to do?" she almost growled in frustration.
"You could stop working for a few minutes."
"But, Mum...," Nala protested.
"I'm sure Sarabi has everything under control," her mother responded. "She is the Queen, after all."
"If I become Queen," she explained, "I will not let Simba deal with everything. Even a King shouldn't be left making difficult decisions and actions on his own. I want to help. I have to help."
Without Nala's realising, her body had arched into a stance of great determination, her slender legs planted strongly and firmly upon the Earth. Expecting to be scolded, Nala was half taken aback when Sarafina replied, "I know you do. And don't think I'm underestimating your abilities; I understand you're so capable of doing things well, independently. You finding Simba proved that, undeniably."
The young lioness's expression softened as her Mum said, "I only worry about you so because-"
"Because you're my mother," Nala finished lovingly, nuzzling Sarafina warmly. They stared at each other, both with friendly sapphire eyes, though perhaps Sarafina's were a touch darker.
"Promise me you won't work too hard, sweetheart," Sarafina said anxiously.
Nala giggled at her mother's over worried expression. "Okay, Mum. I promise."
She broke apart from Sarfina, saying, "I just need to ask Sarabi something."
"Alright. What did she want to talk to you about anyway?" her mother asked curiously.
"Um... only about how we'll soon witness herds coming back to the Pridelands now that Simba has returned," Nala said, trying to avoid answering truthfully as best as possible. "I'll be back soon!" she stated, avoiding Sarafina's very confused look.
Nala rushed to Sarabi, nearly laughing as she saw that Zazu was giving her a lengthy speech on how much the Pridelands would progress in the future.
"And the waterhole will obviously-"
Sarabi noticed Nala waiting and said hurriedly, "Zazu, I'm sorry but Nala would like to speak with me alone, for a moment."
The bird ruffled his feathers in importance. "Don't worry, I'll be observing the area. And, that reminds me, once the antelope have come back-"
Sarabi gestured to Nala to come closer and she whispered, "It's getting harder to keep King Mufasa returning a secret."
The old Queen bit her lip. "I know," she replied. "I don't know how to tell the Pride... I'm sure he won't stay for much longer-"
"What makes you say that?"
Sarabi looked up at the azure blue sky, looking slightly saddened. "If Mufasa is the lion I remember him to be, he will not want to wait here for more than a day."
"I don't underst-" Nala began but the older lioness interrupted: "He only wants to say goodbye, Nala. He never got the chance to when he..."
Sarabi didn't seem a bit tearful and Nala thought that she was merely trying to accept the fact that her mate hadn't returned alive. King Mufasa was still the late King Mufasa and no miracle could alter that.
"I'm so sorry, Sarabi," she said.
The Queen dragged her gaze down from the sky to look at Nala, smiling now. "Don't be, Nala. I got to see him- that's all I need-"
"Night. And the spirit of life calling, mamela."
Sarabi looked around, bewildered. "Did you hear that?"
Nala nodded. "Ssh," she replied, ears pricked for the source of the song.
"And a voice with the fear of a child asking."
They silently made their way back to the Pride, where everyone was looking equally puzzled.
"Oh, mamela."
Sarafina joined them. "Where is it com-"
"It sounds like..." Sarabi mumbled, listening in wonder.
Nala's mother raised her eyebrows. "You're not making any sense."
"Wait. There's no mountain to great. Hear these words and have faith. Have faith."
King Mufasa's mate turned and stared into Nala's eyes. "It is," she exclaimed breathlessly, cheeks glowing in delight, "Oh, Nala, it is!"
Sarafina's suspicious glances darted between the two. "Can someone please tell me what on earth is going on?" she said, tail flicking in slight agitation.
"Please, Mum," Nala pleaded, saving Sarabi from an awkward explanation. "I'll tell you later. Please let us listen."
She thought the Pride would be whispering by now but they were quiet, every lioness letting the song wash over them.
"They live in you. They live in me."
Nala craned her neck to look at Pride Rock and saw something very familiar.
"Sarabi."
But the Queen was already looking upwards and they both witnessed the same thing: the silhouette of two lions.
"They're watching over everything we see."
Nala watched them all and some were crying happily and some were simply standing there with a dazed expression- but every lioness experienced some strong, wonderful emotion just because of the beautiful song and what the lyrics meant to them.
"In every creature. In every star. In your reflection... they live in you."
Not a single animal moved, it seemed as if the voice had cast a spell on them all. The last powerful note still lingered in the morning air.
And for some reason, Nala was fighting back tears. After she'd heard that song, it was as if a great knowledge and been blessed upon her. It was so clear now.
Even though she knew it was impossible for the old King to see her, Nala bowed her head in respect. "Thank you, King Mufasa," she whispered with feeling.
All the hardships she'd gone through- the years of loneliness- only after hearing the old King sing did Nala realize:
Everything had been worthwhile.
IMPORTANT: The song that Mufasa sings is called, "They live in you." It is performed in The Lion King Musical, when Simba asks his father if they will always be together. We all know that he tells him to look at the stars- in the musical he also sings this song.
Type "They live in you" into Youtube, I really thing it's a gorgeous song- you can imagine it in a more lullaby-ish feel for this fanfic . ;)
Mamela, I think is a word used in many South African languages. Translated, it means "listen" which makes sense in the song. :)
Please tell me what you thought- review, review, review! :D