Confessions
I know that it is only chapter eleven, but I do need to wrap this story up, or it will become weird and irrelevant. I don't want to stretch things out. I think that there will only be one more chapter.
I gripped Hiram's hand tightly. I was afraid of what could happen to me here. I didn't like surprises.
'There's nothing to fear, Aiya. My parents won't kill you for falling in love with me.'
Of course they wouldn't, but they could kill me for other reasons.
He kissed me on the forehead.
'Come on, let's go in. If we want to be in the favour of the council I suggest we be on time.'
He wrapped his arm around my waist and opened the door. We were the last ones there.
'Just on time, Hiram. I'm glad you could make it,' Said the man I had identified to be King last time.
He saw me. 'Hiram, who is this?' I could tell he wasn't happy.
'This is maid Samaiya. Aiya, this is my father, Oscar and my mother Hana. Next to her are Queen Aza and Prince Ijori.'
I curtseyed to each in turn.
'Master Isai is a commoner from Amonta. Next to him is Sir Enza, our choirmaster.'
Once again I curtseyed to everyone.
Prince Oscar was not happy.
'Why have you brought her here? You are to be married tomorrow, to a princess. Standing before us is a peasant, a farmer.'
'But the difference is that I love the latter. Surely that must count for something?'
'We would gain nothing from you marrying Samaiya.'
Just as in the first meeting, it was Queen Aza who interrupted.
'Hiram would. He would gain love.'
'Our nation wouldn't. I'm sure Samaiya wouldn't even have a decent dowry.' I f only he knew.
'Is money all this comes to? Is rank really of importance? Remember the civil war, Your Highness. We fought to put someone like me on the council, why couldn't we let Hiram marry a commoner?' I could see why Master Isai was chosen to be put onto the council now.
'Your mother and I married only for love,' said King Ijori.
'That's right. I was only an innkeeper's daughter. I don't even know who my parents are.'
'We were going to unite Ayorthaia and Pu for the good of everyone,' said Sir Enza. 'We wanted to avoid war and remain friends. Perhaps if we refused the princess, a war would commence.'
How ridiculous it was that the only thing keeping them from letting me wed my beloved was my status, which in all truth was better than Arae's.
'Tell us about yourself, Samaiya. Where are you from? Who is your family?'
I closed my eyes and hoped I would not make a mistake. One slip up could be fatal.
'I come from a small town, right on the edge of the border. My mother died when I was seven, leaving my father and older brother Mubdi to work the land. Meanwhile I took charge of my three sisters –Kiara, Arae and Amille.'
'You family don't have traditional Ayorthaian names.' In truth, I had decided to go with names I would remember, and might allow an excuse for me if I slipped up.
'Neither do you, or Hiram, or Princess Hana. Things have changed since my grandparents were born.'
Queen Aza smiled.
'We lived there until I saw princess Anidori riding past on her beautiful horse. I told Kiara, who is only slightly younger than me, to care for the others, and that I would return soon. Since then I have written and they know I will not soon return.
After following the princess, I came here and was given a job, of which I am very grateful for.'
'Your story has holes in it, Samaiya. We have failed to learn much about you.'
'I can't see what else you would need to know. Weather I should be allowed to marry Hiram shouldn't be defined by how often I went to town before arriving here, or what food I eat.'
'Very well, if that is all you can tell us. Please stay here until we make our decision.
For the first time, it struck me how odd it was that the prince was controlling the matter rather than the king.
Everyone left the room to vote. Hiram lingered behind.
'I know there are holes in your story, Aiya. Everyone does. You have secrets, secrets that are best not kept from my father.'
'I want to tell someone, I really do, but I can't.'
'This is hurting you, isn't it?'
'More than you can imagine.'
He kissed me quickly on the lips.
'You can't tell anyone? You have to tell someone, you can't hide this forever.'
'I wouldn't have to. I just can't tell anyone yet.'
He smiled sadly.
'Okay. But if you can't tell someone, try to tell something. The potted plant, or the wardrobe. It would help.'
'Okay.'
He turned and left the room, leaving me alone again.
I felt ridiculous, more so than ever before, but I decided to take Hiram's advice and tell the wardrobe. I would then stay by so I could escape via it if there were any trouble.
I told the wardrobe everything, about the ogres, about Arae, Falada and Mubdi. Of course, I also told it about Mubdi. I talked about how Lucinda had given me Southwind, about Conrad, about my spells.
I even told it about Kiara, and everything bad I had done in my life. I told it how I thought I had changed, what I thought I had done with my life that was better.
When I finished, I sat down resigned by the wardrobe to wait.
I must have waited about thirty seconds before the door opened. Hiram ran in and kissed me.
'Aiya, I heard your story! Ana, Aiya, what do I call you?'
'You listened?'
I was mortified. Of course in some ways I was relieved, he knew my story and I wouldn't have to tell anyone. He knew that I was the rightful princess, and he and I could marry, and live happily ever after.
Except….he also knew everything about me. Would he want to marry me after he knew about what I had done, how horrid I had been?
'You've changed,' he said, answering my thoughts. 'You're a good person; all those things we said in the meadow apply here, too.'
'I'm sorry, I really am.'
He put a finger to my lips.
'Shhh, I know. But you haven't really done anything wrong.'
''You're very good to me.'
'That's because I love you.'
'I love you too.'
He stroked my hair.
'Anidori, Aiya, we were meant to be marrying tomorrow. I still want that to go ahead, but I want it to be your choice.
'Aiya, will you marry me?'
I kissed him.
I know his chapter is short, but what more can I write? Like I said, I'm not stretching this story out. I only have one more chapter to go, so enjoy the story while it lasts.
