Chapter 6: The night before

“You’ve been awfully quiet.” Xavier pointed out as he stopped writing on his scroll and set the feathered ink on the table next to it. He looked up with eyes of curiosity at Mia, who had been staring at him without uttering a word.

She jerked back and her eyes met his worried ones. Sighing, she shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

Perhaps if he hadn’t seen the lost look in her eyes, he would have believed her, but these were the looks she had worn at distinct times in the past. “We’ve been married five summers. I can tell that this isn’t nothing.”

He knew her better than anyone at this point. “I’m just thinking.”

He rose and moved toward the bed, stopping when he was at the foot of it. “About the wedding or something else?” he raised a brow.

She wonders if telling him about the prophecy Julia gave her would be a good idea. At first, she thought it was a parable, but after thinking through everything, she had reasons to believe it was more of prophecy. This too threw her into further confusion, and she was still dabbling in it.

Julia looked as clueless as ever when Mia told her about the prophecy her shaman being had told her. She knew Julia couldn’t help her with this. The magic in her blood had surged onto the surface and taken captive of her. It had a message for her and she had delivered the message but left no clues that would clarify the prophecy.

She barely kept a clear head throughout the maiden’s council meeting. Julia’s word stayed on her mind and became a plague and disoriented her day. Even now, it still did havoc within her and left her with thought and queries.

Whatever it was, she would not find the answer alone, and she glanced up. Perhaps both of them could, “Do you remember the man I told you I saw on my way to Reading over five summers ago?”

“Kai, the Shaman?” he said, recalling the name faster than she expected.

She nodded, “Julia is his daughter and I think she has the same gifts her father does. Only she does not know or control when it takes over. It did today, and she gave me a prophecy.”

He climbed onto the bed and took her legs in his hands, placing them on his lap. He began to massage them and the coldness she had felt in them for a while now vanishes. 

“What did she say?”

She hesitated, looking away from him, and this made him grow even more suspicious. “Is it something bad?”

She shook her head, feeling lost. “I don’t know what it means.”

Mia then moved to recall the event that had taken place to him. He listened through, not interrupting her until she finished. 

Her lashes fluttered. “The prophecy has bothered me since the morning.”

His countenance fell. “Why didn’t you tell me then?”

“You had duties and preparations, and adding to that felt wrong.” She answered in all honesty, then stared at him. “What do you think the prophecy means?”

He stayed silent again, and she could tell he pondered about everything she had revealed to him. “I don’t know, Mia, but I have a feeling that the prophecy is speaking about me.”

“I don’t think that’s true.” She protested, not liking the conclusion he just drew. 

He gave her a look that told her to not bother coating up the truth and he set her legs down from his. She didn’t want him to stop massaging her, but something equally important was happening, and she needed to focus on that.

“The older shall not seat on the throne of Wahala to rule or doom shall befall us all? It’s obvious I am the one being spoken of. I’m the older son of Robb and the prophecy says the kingdom will be doomed in my reign.” he got off the bed and moved towards the window.

She chuckled but realised he wasn’t joking with what he was saying. “Xavier you’re reaching with your insinuations.”

“Am I? You received this prophecy this morning, and it took you all day to relay it to me. You wouldn’t have spoken about it if I didn’t persist. I think you already knew the truth of the prophecy.” He turned to her and spoke in an accusing voice.

His words hurt her, and her heart clenched a little. “Why would you say that to me?” her voice came up small. 

He realised the error of his outburst and he turned to her. She tried to mask the hurt look on her face away so he wouldn’t see them, but she couldn’t and he saw what he did to her.

Remorse dawned in his eyes, and he ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

She rose from the bed and stepped towards him. “Why would you even think the prophecy was about you? You’re the king and you’ve been king for over eight summers and all wahala has had has been peace, prosperity and unity. No reign has had that in the last five hundred years. Besides, your brother has never wanted the throne. I first thought it could have been about you, but after taking into consideration a lot of things, I knew it wasn’t. I now believe it could be for our children. It would make sense why the prophecy came to me and not you, but still, it bothered me.”

“But what if it is about me? What if this means I would bring the ruin of Wahala?” he asked, terrified, and his eyes searched hers.

She placed her hand on his chest. “You have a good heart to be selfish with this kingdom.”

Her assurance gave him hope, and he leaned in and took her lips in his for a deep kiss.

She pulled back and gave him a guilty look, and he groaned. “What’s it this time?”

“I don’t know if this is the right time to say this but, I think I might be with child.”

His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at her. He gasped and his gaze dropped to her small belly hidden in her gown, then back to her. “When did you find this out?”

“A few hours ago, while I was in the bathroom. Since we got together after your return two weeks ago, I’ve felt different and today further confirmed it. I didn’t want to rush to conclusions and I don’t want to make any grand announcement like the last two times.” Pain flashed over her face as she recalled the last two they lost at the early stages. “I just think I might be with child, but I feel the same way I felt in the last two times.”

They had promised to stop trying after the second loss and just go with the flow and love each other faithfully. She could tell many wanted to ask questions and intrude on their childlessness, but king Xavier always had her back with the elders and shut down those discussions before they could take root. He told them when the baby comes, they would hear the news. It’s been three summers since they stopped trying and now it felt right.

The joy that clouded his face was surreal, and his eyes grew glassy immediately. He dropped to his knees and covered her stomach up with his palms.

“I will give you the world, I promise.” he gushed as if whatever was in there could hear him and this made her giggle. 

He looked up at her. “I can’t wait to be married to you tomorrow.”

“Me too and about that,” her eyes narrowed, “I thought we are not supposed to see each other on the wedding night as it brings bad luck and disaster?”

“One, we are already married and two, do you believe that?” his brow furrowed at her. 

She wagged her head. “No, I don’t, but I wanted to ask.”

He helped himself to his feet. “Good, then nothing is going to happen.” His eyes glittered with loving emotions as he continued to speak. “By this time tomorrow, you will be my wife again and we will be far away from here on our honeymoon where I would make love to you endlessly.” he reached out and caressed her face.

“I certainly cannot wait.”