Naomi and Alonsa watch as Calankaiana stealthily creeps back to her room and changes her clothes, then reappiles her make-up, covering any scratches or cuts from her fall. The only thing that she couldn't hide is a big scratch that runs down the front of her left leg, still dripping a little blood. Just as Calankaiana tries to inspect it, Fukayna walks in, and gasps.
"My Lady, what happened to you?!" she yells as she runs over to Calankaiana's side.
"Oh, I tripped over my skirt and scrapped my leg on a corner of the step." Calankaiana lies, not wanting to get Heru in trouble.
Fukayna looks suspicious of the story, but doesn't question her Queen.
"Nenet, please call the doctor. The Queen needs some herbs to help cure a unserious wound." Fukayna calls to Nenet, who's watching from the door.
"Yes, Ma'am." Nenet says as she walks away.
When Nenet is truly gone, Calankaiana walks over to the large chair and sighs as she sits. Fukayna follows, takes off Calankaiana's sandals, and begins to massage her feet.
Calankaiana looks down at Fukayna.
"Fukayna..." she says.
"Yes, your Highness?" Fukayna asks.
"Do you think you have ever truly been in love?"
Fukayna looks surprised at first, then grins.
"I think."
Alonsa turns away, as if she doesn't want to hear.
"When?" Calankaiana asks.
"I was 15 years old, and I was being taught in the scriptures to become a holder of a position in your court when it came for you to be the Queen. His name was Gahiji and he was the most handsome boy I had ever seen. And I could tell he felt the same about me. At one time, we thought about running away together and getting married. But my father discovered my affair and banished him from our village, so I never saw him again. I was absolutely heartbroken. And I have not found anyone like him since." Fukayna explains.
"I am so sorry." Calankaiana says, feeling guilty that she brought up the memory.
Fukayna smiles bitter-sweetly.
"It is alright."
They keep quiet for a minute, before Calankaiana breaks the silence.
"What did it feel like to be in love?"
Fukayna thinks to herself, and chuckles.
"It was warm and light. I felt like I could die at any moment and that I would of had a complete life. He made me laugh and feel like a real woman. And I knew I could say anything to him and not be judge by what I said. He made me happy and comforted me when I was sad or injured. I never felt more complete in my entire life. I was happy as long as he held me close and told me he loved me."
"Yeah..." Calankaiana says, thinking of Heru.
Fukayna notices immediately.
"Why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason. I was just wondering."
"I am sorry, but I know when you are lying to me. I have known you since you were a mere child. Why did you really ask?"
"Um-uh-"
Suddenly the door bursts open, scaring even Naomi and ending the conversation.
"Calankaiana, why did you send that man away!?" a teenager yells as she enters the room.
Naomi looks over her. The girl wears elaborate jewelry and wears a dress similar to Calankaiana's, but isn't as showy. Her hair is the same color as Calankaiana's, and is up in a high ponytail, held by a gold cuff looking thing. Around her head is a gold band, something that no one had been wearing so far. And she has a striking resemblense to Calankaiana, a.k.a. herself.
"Who's that?" Naomi asks.
"Your younger sister, Princess Neema. She's 16 years old."
"I had a sister..." Naomi says.
"I sent him away because he cared for nothing but riches and looks." Calankaiana answers as Neema walks over to stand directly beside of her chair.
"He was rich, he would of been a great King to take the place of Father. But no, you had to send him off because you are too picky." Neema says.
"You and I know for a fact that Father would of never let that man have his throne-" Calankaiana starts.
"Father has been dead for three years! You have to stop living under Father's rules and make your own. Starting with allowing that man to take your hand!" Neema snaps.
Calankaiana's eyes widen and she gasps, shocked by Neema's words. Naomi does the same, not believeing Neema would say something like that about her own Father.
"My Lady, the Queen can choose who she wishes to. That is not your decision." Fukayna says as she rises, standing up for Calankaiana.
Neema looks over at Fukayna with beety, furious eyes and slaps her upside the head, causing Calankaiana to gasp.
"Don't you dare talk down to me, you filthy wench!" Neema snaps.
"How dare you! Leave my chambers at once!" Calankaiana snaps at Neema as she stands from her seat to stand over Neema, fury and power in her voice, which causes Neema to step back.
"I would of punched her by now!" Naomi says, causing Alonsa to turn at her in surprise.
Silently, Alonsa gasps, seeing a glint of red flash over Naomi's eyes, indicating that she was truly Calankaiana's reincarnation.
Neema snarls at Calankaiana, but obeys and begins to walk out of the room. But, before she gets to the door she turns back.
"I promise you sister, if you don't get a husband in two days, I will take your place as Queen. Count on that!" Neema yells as she points at Calankaiana, then slams the door.
"Hold your tounge!" Calankaiana snaps.
But it's no use, Neema is gone. Calankaiana quickly turns back and runs over to Fukayna, who's on the ground where she landed after her slap.
"Fukayna, are you alright?" Calankaiana asks.
"I am fine. I do not think your sister has ever acted so vile." Fukayna says as Calankaiana helps her up.
"She is the true wench. I cannot wait til she finally marries that high priest Hakizimana. Then, we will be free of her until our pilgrimge to the other world." Calankaiana says as the doctor walks in with his herbs.
"True that is, but her last remark causes me worry."
"She is the one that should be in worry, for if she even tries to sit on my throne, I will have the guards after her so swift that she won't be able to say "Isis, save me"!" she says as she sits back in the chair and rests her injured leg on the foot rest for the doctor to see.
"You are merciless to your sister." Fukayna comments.
"Why should I not? She has in truth, threatened I, the Queen of Egypt, that she will dethrown me if I have no husband in two days. She has comitted treason!" Calankaiana says as the doctor gets to work on the scratch.
"Tis true what you say. But, before you order anything irrational, at least think it over." Fukayna advises.
"I promise to see to that." Calankaiana answers.
A knock at the door surprises everyone again, fearing that Neema has come back to stir more drama. But who comes through the door is the complete opposite. Instead of their temper, Calankaiana and Naomi find themselves trying to keep their heart beat down.
"Forgive me for intruding, but I wanted to inform her majesty herself that her horse, Lotus, is prepared and waiting in the palace courtyard." Heru says, bowing.
"Heru..." Calankaiana whispers, then suddenly feels a strange liquid sting her scratch, which Heru notices as he looks back up.
He looks guilty, but hides it from everyone else. But the act, just makes Calankaiana struggle not to blush. Same with Naomi. The doctor though, isn't too thrilled.
"Excuse me, but were you called?!" the doctor asks.
Heru looks surprised by the question.
"No, sir." Heru answers.
"Then you should not disturb her highness! Unless needed, stay where you are working!" the doctor snaps.
"I do not understand."
"You idiot, leave at-" the doctor starts.
"That is enough." Calankaiana says firmly as she stands.
"B-But my Queen-" the doctor stumbles.
"I said that is enough. Remember your place." Calankaiana instructs as she looks at him, her eyes as cold as ice.
"Y-Yes your Majesty." the doctor answers.
Calankaiana turns back towards Heru and smiles warmly, her eyes back to being calm, then turns back towards Fukayna.
"Will Nenet and yourself go to get ready?" Calankaiana asks.
"Yes, Queen Calankaiana." Fukayna answers, then walks out the door of the room, the doctor, following.
As soon as they can't hear their footsteps anymore, Heru and Calankaiana become more relaxed.
"What are you doing here?" Calankaiana asks, walking over to Heru.
"I, um, wanted to deliever the message personally." Heru answers.
"Why?" she asks.
"Uh...um..." Heru wanders.
"Well...?"
"I...well..."
"Heru!" she yells.
"I wanted to see you again!" he blurts, causing Calankaiana to shut up.
"OH MY GOD!! This is so overly romantic!" Naomi says, head over heels for the action below.
"Yes, it was truly your first romance." Alonsa remarks.
"Oh..." Calankaiana says, blushing.
"I am sorry, but it is just that, unlike any girl I have met, you actually act and think as your own person. And I love that. I might of just seen you for the first time today, but I can tell that you are different." Heru admits, blushing some himself.
"Oh, how I love "love at first sight". You can just sense their connection." Naomi comments, a little giggly as she watches Calankaiana become redder.
"You certainly haven't lost your trait of being a romantic." Alonsa says under her breath.
"You really think that?" Calankaiana says as she begins to fiddle with some of her hair.
"Mukantagara, I would not lie to you." Heru says as he takes her fiddiling hand, calling Calankaiana by her birth name.
Naomi gasps slightly when she notices that Heru and Calankaiana have been getting closer to each other, just putting her on cloud nine. Gracefully Heru holds Calankaiana's arm parralell to the ground, leans over, then kisses her hand in the most gentleman and romantic way that Naomi has ever seen, causing her to begin giggling in pure ah as Calankaiana becomes as red as a blood red cherry.
"Heru..." Calankaiana says.
"Forgive me for being so foward about this. I just thought that you should know what I think." Heru admits as he begins to turn away.
"Wait!"
Not wanting him to go, Calankaiana grabs his wrist, so he can't leave. Heru is surprised and quickly turns back to face her.
"You were the first to answer perfectly. You are just as different as me. Thought you should know." Calankaiana says as she begins to smile.
Heru smiles back, then takes hold on her hands.
"After the feast tonight, please come down to the stable. I will have a surprise for you." Heru asks.
Calankaiana nods.
"I will." she answers.
"Man, I wish I was her." Naomi comments.
"You are her." Alonsa remarks.
"Shut up." Naomi says, then turns directly back to the love birds.
Heru takes Calankaiana's arm in his.
"May escort you to Lotus?" Heru asks.
"You may." Calankaiana answers, smiling big.
As they walk out, Naomi and Alonsa float down to the ground so that they can follow.
"Man, I'm loving this time so far." Naomi says as she follows Alonsa down the hall towards the spiral staircase.
"I can tell. You seem to be especially hung up on Heru." Alonsa says, flapping her orange wings.
"Why not? He's the absolutely perfect guy." Naomi remarks.
"Well, there's more behind this then meets the eye." Alonsa states.
"Huh?" Naomi says, confused by Alonsa's remark.
"You'll see." Alonsa says, pondering to tell Naomi what happens very soon...
"My Lady, what happened to you?!" she yells as she runs over to Calankaiana's side.
"Oh, I tripped over my skirt and scrapped my leg on a corner of the step." Calankaiana lies, not wanting to get Heru in trouble.
Fukayna looks suspicious of the story, but doesn't question her Queen.
"Nenet, please call the doctor. The Queen needs some herbs to help cure a unserious wound." Fukayna calls to Nenet, who's watching from the door.
"Yes, Ma'am." Nenet says as she walks away.
When Nenet is truly gone, Calankaiana walks over to the large chair and sighs as she sits. Fukayna follows, takes off Calankaiana's sandals, and begins to massage her feet.
Calankaiana looks down at Fukayna.
"Fukayna..." she says.
"Yes, your Highness?" Fukayna asks.
"Do you think you have ever truly been in love?"
Fukayna looks surprised at first, then grins.
"I think."
Alonsa turns away, as if she doesn't want to hear.
"When?" Calankaiana asks.
"I was 15 years old, and I was being taught in the scriptures to become a holder of a position in your court when it came for you to be the Queen. His name was Gahiji and he was the most handsome boy I had ever seen. And I could tell he felt the same about me. At one time, we thought about running away together and getting married. But my father discovered my affair and banished him from our village, so I never saw him again. I was absolutely heartbroken. And I have not found anyone like him since." Fukayna explains.
"I am so sorry." Calankaiana says, feeling guilty that she brought up the memory.
Fukayna smiles bitter-sweetly.
"It is alright."
They keep quiet for a minute, before Calankaiana breaks the silence.
"What did it feel like to be in love?"
Fukayna thinks to herself, and chuckles.
"It was warm and light. I felt like I could die at any moment and that I would of had a complete life. He made me laugh and feel like a real woman. And I knew I could say anything to him and not be judge by what I said. He made me happy and comforted me when I was sad or injured. I never felt more complete in my entire life. I was happy as long as he held me close and told me he loved me."
"Yeah..." Calankaiana says, thinking of Heru.
Fukayna notices immediately.
"Why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason. I was just wondering."
"I am sorry, but I know when you are lying to me. I have known you since you were a mere child. Why did you really ask?"
"Um-uh-"
Suddenly the door bursts open, scaring even Naomi and ending the conversation.
"Calankaiana, why did you send that man away!?" a teenager yells as she enters the room.
Naomi looks over her. The girl wears elaborate jewelry and wears a dress similar to Calankaiana's, but isn't as showy. Her hair is the same color as Calankaiana's, and is up in a high ponytail, held by a gold cuff looking thing. Around her head is a gold band, something that no one had been wearing so far. And she has a striking resemblense to Calankaiana, a.k.a. herself.
"Who's that?" Naomi asks.
"Your younger sister, Princess Neema. She's 16 years old."
"I had a sister..." Naomi says.
"I sent him away because he cared for nothing but riches and looks." Calankaiana answers as Neema walks over to stand directly beside of her chair.
"He was rich, he would of been a great King to take the place of Father. But no, you had to send him off because you are too picky." Neema says.
"You and I know for a fact that Father would of never let that man have his throne-" Calankaiana starts.
"Father has been dead for three years! You have to stop living under Father's rules and make your own. Starting with allowing that man to take your hand!" Neema snaps.
Calankaiana's eyes widen and she gasps, shocked by Neema's words. Naomi does the same, not believeing Neema would say something like that about her own Father.
"My Lady, the Queen can choose who she wishes to. That is not your decision." Fukayna says as she rises, standing up for Calankaiana.
Neema looks over at Fukayna with beety, furious eyes and slaps her upside the head, causing Calankaiana to gasp.
"Don't you dare talk down to me, you filthy wench!" Neema snaps.
"How dare you! Leave my chambers at once!" Calankaiana snaps at Neema as she stands from her seat to stand over Neema, fury and power in her voice, which causes Neema to step back.
"I would of punched her by now!" Naomi says, causing Alonsa to turn at her in surprise.
Silently, Alonsa gasps, seeing a glint of red flash over Naomi's eyes, indicating that she was truly Calankaiana's reincarnation.
Neema snarls at Calankaiana, but obeys and begins to walk out of the room. But, before she gets to the door she turns back.
"I promise you sister, if you don't get a husband in two days, I will take your place as Queen. Count on that!" Neema yells as she points at Calankaiana, then slams the door.
"Hold your tounge!" Calankaiana snaps.
But it's no use, Neema is gone. Calankaiana quickly turns back and runs over to Fukayna, who's on the ground where she landed after her slap.
"Fukayna, are you alright?" Calankaiana asks.
"I am fine. I do not think your sister has ever acted so vile." Fukayna says as Calankaiana helps her up.
"She is the true wench. I cannot wait til she finally marries that high priest Hakizimana. Then, we will be free of her until our pilgrimge to the other world." Calankaiana says as the doctor walks in with his herbs.
"True that is, but her last remark causes me worry."
"She is the one that should be in worry, for if she even tries to sit on my throne, I will have the guards after her so swift that she won't be able to say "Isis, save me"!" she says as she sits back in the chair and rests her injured leg on the foot rest for the doctor to see.
"You are merciless to your sister." Fukayna comments.
"Why should I not? She has in truth, threatened I, the Queen of Egypt, that she will dethrown me if I have no husband in two days. She has comitted treason!" Calankaiana says as the doctor gets to work on the scratch.
"Tis true what you say. But, before you order anything irrational, at least think it over." Fukayna advises.
"I promise to see to that." Calankaiana answers.
A knock at the door surprises everyone again, fearing that Neema has come back to stir more drama. But who comes through the door is the complete opposite. Instead of their temper, Calankaiana and Naomi find themselves trying to keep their heart beat down.
"Forgive me for intruding, but I wanted to inform her majesty herself that her horse, Lotus, is prepared and waiting in the palace courtyard." Heru says, bowing.
"Heru..." Calankaiana whispers, then suddenly feels a strange liquid sting her scratch, which Heru notices as he looks back up.
He looks guilty, but hides it from everyone else. But the act, just makes Calankaiana struggle not to blush. Same with Naomi. The doctor though, isn't too thrilled.
"Excuse me, but were you called?!" the doctor asks.
Heru looks surprised by the question.
"No, sir." Heru answers.
"Then you should not disturb her highness! Unless needed, stay where you are working!" the doctor snaps.
"I do not understand."
"You idiot, leave at-" the doctor starts.
"That is enough." Calankaiana says firmly as she stands.
"B-But my Queen-" the doctor stumbles.
"I said that is enough. Remember your place." Calankaiana instructs as she looks at him, her eyes as cold as ice.
"Y-Yes your Majesty." the doctor answers.
Calankaiana turns back towards Heru and smiles warmly, her eyes back to being calm, then turns back towards Fukayna.
"Will Nenet and yourself go to get ready?" Calankaiana asks.
"Yes, Queen Calankaiana." Fukayna answers, then walks out the door of the room, the doctor, following.
As soon as they can't hear their footsteps anymore, Heru and Calankaiana become more relaxed.
"What are you doing here?" Calankaiana asks, walking over to Heru.
"I, um, wanted to deliever the message personally." Heru answers.
"Why?" she asks.
"Uh...um..." Heru wanders.
"Well...?"
"I...well..."
"Heru!" she yells.
"I wanted to see you again!" he blurts, causing Calankaiana to shut up.
"OH MY GOD!! This is so overly romantic!" Naomi says, head over heels for the action below.
"Yes, it was truly your first romance." Alonsa remarks.
"Oh..." Calankaiana says, blushing.
"I am sorry, but it is just that, unlike any girl I have met, you actually act and think as your own person. And I love that. I might of just seen you for the first time today, but I can tell that you are different." Heru admits, blushing some himself.
"Oh, how I love "love at first sight". You can just sense their connection." Naomi comments, a little giggly as she watches Calankaiana become redder.
"You certainly haven't lost your trait of being a romantic." Alonsa says under her breath.
"You really think that?" Calankaiana says as she begins to fiddle with some of her hair.
"Mukantagara, I would not lie to you." Heru says as he takes her fiddiling hand, calling Calankaiana by her birth name.
Naomi gasps slightly when she notices that Heru and Calankaiana have been getting closer to each other, just putting her on cloud nine. Gracefully Heru holds Calankaiana's arm parralell to the ground, leans over, then kisses her hand in the most gentleman and romantic way that Naomi has ever seen, causing her to begin giggling in pure ah as Calankaiana becomes as red as a blood red cherry.
"Heru..." Calankaiana says.
"Forgive me for being so foward about this. I just thought that you should know what I think." Heru admits as he begins to turn away.
"Wait!"
Not wanting him to go, Calankaiana grabs his wrist, so he can't leave. Heru is surprised and quickly turns back to face her.
"You were the first to answer perfectly. You are just as different as me. Thought you should know." Calankaiana says as she begins to smile.
Heru smiles back, then takes hold on her hands.
"After the feast tonight, please come down to the stable. I will have a surprise for you." Heru asks.
Calankaiana nods.
"I will." she answers.
"Man, I wish I was her." Naomi comments.
"You are her." Alonsa remarks.
"Shut up." Naomi says, then turns directly back to the love birds.
Heru takes Calankaiana's arm in his.
"May escort you to Lotus?" Heru asks.
"You may." Calankaiana answers, smiling big.
As they walk out, Naomi and Alonsa float down to the ground so that they can follow.
"Man, I'm loving this time so far." Naomi says as she follows Alonsa down the hall towards the spiral staircase.
"I can tell. You seem to be especially hung up on Heru." Alonsa says, flapping her orange wings.
"Why not? He's the absolutely perfect guy." Naomi remarks.
"Well, there's more behind this then meets the eye." Alonsa states.
"Huh?" Naomi says, confused by Alonsa's remark.
"You'll see." Alonsa says, pondering to tell Naomi what happens very soon...
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