Bituin: Queen of Aourterde

TWO

Bituin

“Aouterde, the Kingdom of Delasai is based at the center of all of the East Kingdoms. There is the kingdom of the North of East, East Kingdom of the East and the kingdom West of East all of these kingdoms are under your sole rule, the South Kingdom of East however, has been a partially independent Kingdom for many many years. They had once brought forth the request to be an independent kingdom to your ancestors prior to the birth of your great grandparents. Your ancestors feared that if the South becomes independent the other kingdoms would want the same hence they refused the South’s request to be free. This almost brought on war, for many years the South acted out of the laws of Aourterde, they refused passage of anyone going through their lands, they restricted trade within their roads creating shortage of food and other goods of trade to the rest of the kingdoms, they even once attempted to murder the then ruling King of East. Fearing the total destruction of peace and to not let a full war break out the Kingdom of Aourterde sat down with the King of South East and they came to an agreement.”

“Why didn’t they just go ahead and fight them. Surely an army made of all of East would have been strong enough to take down the South?” Tala smiled at my question.

“A good leader always knows when to fight and when to back down. Back then, Aouterder was not as powerful as it was when your father took over, it took a long time for them to become strong enough. The South East Kingdom was not alone, during the early days the South were mostly in charge of the security of Aouterder so they were the most trained the most ruthless of all of East. They would mingle most with outsiders, a terrible strategy from your ancestors because the South built alliances with the outsiders to betray your people, they had allies with the people further up North and around the world from when they would voyage, they had mages with different types of magic from all places not to mention that the soldiers of South East are fierce fighters, trained like animals. Putting all of that into account all of East was not strong enough to pursue a war with the South.”

“If we weren’t strong then the South could have easily beaten us right or taken the reins of leading the East? And you said a mage? You mean people who do magic like you?” I asked surprised that there was more like her.

“I am not a mage my little one I am something more than that.” She smiled slightly which confused me more.

“But what could be more than-“

“If you do not stop asking such questions the lesson will be longer.” She raised a brow at me. I sat back further on my chair listening carefully.

“There is a curse put forth by your ancestors; The power to lead the East can only be taken when the last Delasai is killed. For as long as your blood line goes on Aouterder will only be lead by you and your descendants if anyone tries to take it before your death they will only end up killing themselves many have tried and many have died. That is why the South hasn’t taken over your kingdom and preferred to be freed.

“Now back to the history, many a times the South East kingdom was more trouble to Aourterde than it was of any benefit, the other kingdoms had been in many quarrels with the South as well so they fully supported their departure. In reality your people had more to lose than to gain from fighting a war with the South. The agreement was such that the South would pay annual taxes to the Kingdom of Aourterde and will let free pass for traders and travelers on the roads and seas. The kingdom would be independent but would still have to follow the core rules of Aourterde the rest they could do as they pleased. It was not full independence but it was something and the South accepted it.” She closed her book of the history of the kingdoms and gestured for the moving figures she conjured up in the air to disappear.

“I think we should end our lesson here for today. It is almost time for your other lessons I’m certain Annatalia has prepared the list of the rulers of the kingdoms and their descendants you need to learn that an-“ She stopped short as we heard the commotion outside. I saw Nimuel run into his room I caught a glimpse of his back; his shirt drenched in blood and torn in half. I glanced back at Tala and she nodded. I walked out of the study down the stairs to the kitchen to gather the healing herbs and a bowl of water.

I ran back up careful not to spill anything and walked towards Nimuel’s room but stopped short when I heard someone whispering.

“my beautiful boy” I peaked through the crack of the door and saw Annatalia crouched on the floor besides Nimuel's bed. She caressed his black hair softly afraid to wake him. There were many times I would catch her inside here. Sometimes she would just look at him, all sorts of emotions running past her and other times she would talk to him, like today.

“We are what our destinies allow us to be. This is your destiny my son. You think me cruel but one day you will see that only your strength will save us.” She kissed his head, “You will be better than your father.”

“You should come in Bituin he needs your medicines.” She got up from the floor as I pushed the door further open.

“I am sorry I didn’t mean to eavesdrop I just didn’t want to disturb you.”

She looked up at me fondly kissed my forehead and smiled, “You are growing to be a wonderful young woman.

“I am less than a decade, “ I smiled shyly looking away from her, “I doubt I’m a woman yet.” She chuckled softly and walked towards the door ready to leave.

“Uh Anna uh Annatalia I’m uh I just wanted” I took a deep breath to compose myself,” I think, I feel that you should tell him that, you should tell Nimuel those words when he can hear you. It would um it would mean a lot to him.”

She stopped by the entry, she didn’t look back so I continued, “he believes that you do not love him a-as as a mother loves her child.”

“There are many ways to love a person, one day he will understand.” With that she closed the door behind her leaving me alone with Nimuel.

I turned to look at my dearest friend laying almost lifeless on the bed. I knelt in front of him and began to heal his wounds.

----

I stayed with him that night, he would twist and turn, groaning from the pain of the wounds that had not healed.

I changed his cloths once more taking away the soaked ones and placed clean ones on the wounds.

His shoulder was the worst. He always used his left hand to block attacks so that hand always received the worst blows.

I moved him to his left side to check the cut on his left shoulder. The paste I had applied was drying out and thankfully there were no infections.

“I wish you would stop.” I heard him croak out. I pulled him back laying straight so he could try to sit up.

“Do not say such things El, would I let you get hurt. If I don’t treat you then it would get infected.” I offered him water and he drank hurriedly spilling some onto himself.

“I can clean myself up Daisy just hand it to me” with a sigh I gave him the cloth and he cleaned himself.

“I am okay now, you may go. Thank you” he dismissed me and turned away from me but he moved too quickly that he strained his arm and cried out in pain.

I tried to help him but he pushed me away.

“Enough!” He shouted

“Nim-“

“Stop it Daisy, enough just leave me alone!. I want to be alone, why can’t you understand that I just want to be alone!” He shouted.

“What is going on in here? Why are you yelling at her?” Tala walked into the room.

“Get out of here, both of you, go away just go!”

His face was red from anger, sweat beaded the side of his face trickling down slowly just like the pained tears that formed in his eyes then flowed down.

I was not hurt by his words, I was hurt by the secret pain he kept inside of him and refused to let me share it with him. I was hurt that I could not bring him out of his darkness.

“Come with me dear, let’s give him some time alone.”

She held my shoulders and walked me out of the room. Tala lead me towards the staircase, “you have not had supper, let’s go down to the kitchen I have prepared something for you to eat and as a bonus we have Pitay milk ready made I know it will make you feel better in no time.”

As we reached the final step my feet gave out and I sat down. I covered my face with my hands and cried.

“Bituin”

“He is in so much pain Tala he is hurting. Yet, he-he refuses to let me help him.” My heart twisted in my chest as the tears followed.

Tala sits down next to me, she brought her arm around me drawing me towards her. “A man’s biggest responsibility in life is to protect. He is to protect his family and the ones that he loves from any type of danger. He will always stand forefront in any type of danger to protect, to lead and to provide. This is a natural instinct that all men are born with. Now, if he fails in the one thing that he knows he was born to do it is bound to break him. Nimuel is a growing young man, who spends his days training to protect you, knowing that your life is in his hands. This is a huge responsibility for someone still so young.”

“But I know how to protect myself, and he is not failing me. I am not in any danger yet why does he have to be so hard on himself?”

Tala smiled at me, she put both hands on my cheeks, “You are constantly in danger my little Daisy, but until he decides to speak out you need to let him handle his own battle.”

We walked into the kitchen and Tala made sure to force feed me even if it was only three spoons. Not having the energy to consume anymore Tala let me go to my chambers.

Upon arriving, my eyes landed on a bouquet of Daisies laying still on my bedside. They were wrapped together with my hair ribbon that has been missing for a while but I had suspected that I had forgotten it in Nimuel’s champers during one of the many times I stayed to heal him.

I smiled, happiness spreading through me, this was his way of apologizing and I knew no matter what he did he was still my special friend and I would always forgive him.