BORNO EMIRATE COUNCIL.

Her Royal Majesty Hajiya Fareeda Dan Maliki stared deeply at traditional maroon carpet spread around her living room watching as the maids try clearing the tea she spilled all over it. She just got the news from her grandson that he go married to a Chadian because she forced him to marry her. It was an interesting story for her to hear seeing as Chadians, most especially the women are quite egoistic and would never bow down to propose to a man, that is uncalled for so imagine her surprise after hearing the news.

"I got married." Her favorite grandson had said just few minutes ago which result to her spilling the tea from her old fashioned ancestral golden cup embroidered with ruby beads.

"Get Jakadiya here right now." She gestured with her finger at one of the maids waiting beside at her beck and call.

"Yes, your Royal Majesty." And she bow before sprinting out of the Chamber to get the said woman from her own Chamber.

In the Castle, there are chambers for the court ladies because they are most trusted and loyal servants to ever exist having seen they've been together with the royalties for so long. There quarters should be close to the royalty they serve so that it won't take them long to get where they are needed just like that moment. There are so many urgent times when she would want her court lady to live with her but she needs to look after her granddaughter for the day.

She needs to leave her for more important stuff. The first grandson in the palace and not to forget, her most preferred that. Even though he's caused himself trouble by getting married without anyone's consent, she is always there to help and this time is no different. She will stand though all the thorns he is supposed to pass through, she has his back like always. Everyone knows her grandson is never wrong, he is always right with the best reasons behind his actions.

Even his mother won't be there for him like she's been, she was too busy getting something that will belong to her no matter what. Her royal majesty Fareeda happened to be lonely in those days and when her first grandson graced the world, she couldn't keep her hands to herself. He is always there to spend the nights in her chamber, keeping her company while she feed him when his mother wouldn't

She is actually happy that he got to marry someone from Chad, that has always been his grandfather's wish to have his sons and grandsons married to a woman from his country. Things happened that shouldn't and the King was mad at her preferred grandson so he decided to do what his grandfather loves most which is building a school in Chad. They both know how much the Shehu of Borno adore his homeland, everything is about Chad. The home he had to leave for responsibilities that fell upon his family, he still wants to live there and see it grow.

He wouldn't have to go through the trouble of building the school because the news of his marriage with a Chadian will make every ounce of fury dissipate like it was never there. But she won't break the news so early, she will wait to see his reaction upon sighting another being from his homeland. There is going to be ton of drama in the palace the next day, she will have to keep so much energy for explanations and also traditions. A lot is going to happen, some will be heartbroken while the other are going to be hysterical.

"Your royal majesty..." She heard Jakadiya calling. She smiles at the seventy year old healthy woman that kneel in front of her.

She's told her not to do all those formalities but she never stopped neither would she since it has been thirty five years since they've been together. The woman is from the village of Gombe and she came looking for job with her daughter who was very young then, seeing the adorableness in the lass, she gave her the job as a mere maid. But with the years passing through bleeding to decade, she has all her trust in the woman, she knows everything about her including her own thoughts.

She needs people like Jakadiya for her sharp brain and quick solutions to her problems.

"Jakadiya, I need you now. Sa'd got married in Chad because the woman blackmailed him into doing so. You know his Majesty would love it that he got married to a woman from his side right?" Jakadiya nodded with a mischievous smile surfacing on her face indicating that she knows where her royal majesty is going with her words.

"I don't want Umar nor Halima to hear about this till tomorrow morning. Make sure to send away Salma from the castle for a few weeks since there are things we need to do without her here. And also, make sure the chamber in the north wing is empty for her family." She explained further watching as the maids in the room turn deaf ears to everything they are saying. Her words are powerful that none of them could repeat it even with a knife set to slit their throats.

"I will have everything under control, your majesty. Can this lowly servant suggest-?" She didn't finish her words when she got cut off by the royal majesty.

"You can suggest anything, Jakadiya. Don't make me repeat myself all the time." Her voice was calculated laced with utter power that would have the leafs drying during summer.

"Why don't you tell his royal majesty about it? He won't like this surprise of his first grandson being married without his knowledge. He would feel like he is not in control which he despise and will look like a fool seeing people trudging into his home whilst he is not aware of what is going on. That is what I think, your majesty." She bowed her head again like she always does after suggesting her point of view.

"You are right. Tell the chief of palace that I will be with his royal majesty now." She ordered another maid who bowed and sprint down the long hallway that leads to the Shehu's chamber more like the shortcut her royal majesty can use when she wants to see him and vice versa.

"I shall take my leave to get all traditions ready. Should the invitations be taken out?" She asked when she was about to stand but bowed back awaiting the answer.

Her royal majesty is thinking about what will happen, weighing the cons and pros of what she is about to do. She needs to make sure everyone in the royal family is present without making it look like something they should be suspicious about. She can easily close the fact that he is married but she wants to see some people's face after hearing the news about his marriage. They are going to have to make a story for that to get people off their necks for now.

She has everything planned for what her Sa'd will say to everyone when he is asked so that will be left behind till he comes but for now, people would want to know about the delay of sharing invitation and the sudden marriage. She also needs to ask for the girl's name before the papers get printed out to everyone. There are so much to do in such little time but she is not a quitter like her grandson had said, they will go through everything if they are together.

He is going to get married again in front of everyone even though he is married already, they must make it traditional in front of many important breathing species. A Prince like himself can't be married without the presence of the Shehu and many relevant people, that won't happen. He is their pride even though he isn't at the moment to the Shehu. The Shehu himself won't like the fact that he eloped to get married but will come around easily after finding out who he married.

No one will know about him already married apart from the people in the family circle, royalties. Everyone is just going to be there and won't know that he has been married already, he is as fresh as new. To everyone out there, her grandson is not married but will be in a day or two. They are going to take in each and every step of traditional wedding, nothing can stop them from doing that. It's actually against any royalty to get married without the traditions taking place, it is a must to each and every royal blood in the emirate.

"Yes, the invitations should be taken out. I will get the bride's name so we can give her a nickname." With that, she stood up and made her way down the long blood red traditional royal carpet to the Shehu's chamber after the return of the maid she sent.

The hallways is long and narrow, it lacks light even in the afternoon the sun blaring it's bright hues. The maids behind her took it upon themselves to turn on the gigantic candles placed on the walls for when the hallway will be used by either of the royalties.

Her obsidian alkayabba that is embroidered with ginger orange flounce itself behind her as she walks with gait, elegance and royalty dripping with each step. From miles away you would know that she is no regular person you see on the road, she has charisma that makes you wish you were in her shoes. Her graceful movement is divine, you wouldn't think she is a day older than forty with her fragile figure

Even with her small figure and old age of fifty, she has so much energy of a horse like her husband says, sharp mind too. She took care of all her grandchildren because her daughters in-law have more important things to do than having their children beside them. She didn't mind doing that in those days but not now when she feels like all the responsibilities of the castle is on her and the fact that her preferred grandson eloped, not really but to everyone it will look like he did that.

"Her royal majesty is coming through." The eunuch called out from the doors of the Shehu's chamber upon sighting her majesty along with her maids methodically orchestrated behind her in their perfect uniform of plum and parchment.

She made her way inside the chamber that is much expensive than hers starting from the priceless portraits lined up against the powder white walls striped with golden. The empire chandeliers that shone with golden and white lights adorn the cotton white ceiling. The Persian mahogany carpet spread around every inch of his tea room making it look the whole more intimidating or maybe even to scare you. His casement window sat by the two ends of the room letting sun rays drink up the entire room apart from the lights ceiling lights.

Two ming vases are sitting by the coffee chairs that are sitting on two endings of the room illuminating it's emerald beads. There is a golden tray, a jug and five China cups inside waiting for her to arrive, she knows that. He always ask one of the eunuchs to set up tea for them knowing they would need it for any of the talks they are about to do. She is never one to want to be with him during the day, she always waits for the evening to avoid unnecessary so this means something.

Sighting the Shehu on his king sized royal bed with canopies bedecked with golden and white silky bedsheets. His legs are on the soft small cushion of mahogany velvet embroidered with gold but it is only meant for him to place his legs when he feels like. His Narwhal cane, walking stick made from the strongest north american hardwood is hand making him look like one of his portraits.

He is wearing sky blue alkyabba embroidered with indigo in the most complicates way no one will bother trying to see where it ends nor starts since you will never know. His blue turban sat on his head probably done by an expert like always. A graceful royal smile is marring his face, his eyes wrinkling by the edge showing just how much he has aged. He is seventy years old but he is very beautiful right from the part where he came from Chad. His skin is fair, it is like blood could drip down from it anytime he gets a small bruise down to his thin nose and pitch small mouth.

"Your majesty." She greeted sitting herself on the Ron Arad sofa placed before the bed making the coffee table stand in between her and the bed.

"Areedah." He nodded in greeting too, the name that got stuck in his mouth the moment she introduces herself to him. He has never called Fareedah in their entire fifty four hears of marriage.

"I hope you won't be mad about this new. Sa'd is married and is coming back tomorrow with his bride." She dropped the bomb taking it upon herself to serve them the tea seeing that the Shehu has dismissed the servants.

"What?! Why would he do that? And why didn't he tell me about this but you? Please don't tell me you are supporting him this time again because this is punishable." The fury is there in his voice making it much more powerful than his aristocratic voice.

"Calm down now because I won't like myself being a nurse when there is a wedding coming up tomorrow. I am supporting him because he has a very good reason why he is doing so, he will tell you about it." He cut her off with a glare which she defiantly returned.

"You shouldn't support him in this or his siblings and cousins will end up doing the same thing." He shook his head in annoyance because his wife never sees the fault in everything which is really dumb.

"I have to! And this is not punishable since he wants forced, he got married himself. No one needs to know about this, everyone should think he is eager to get married which is why it came as shock." She narrowed her eyes when he rolled his in annoyance. Who would've thought the ruler would do this?

"I am in no way going to support this and he shall be punished because I hate this." He elegantly stood up from the bed with his walking stick stuck in his hand while his other hand is hidden behind his back in a royal way.

"You have to accept this, Areej. If we don't support him then who would? I have it all planned up now all you need to do is call for a meeting. After the wedding takes place, you can punish him all you want but he needs us now. The tradition will start taking place as soon as they land. I will share the details with you later in the evening, I should be with Jakadiya now." She excitedly stood up taking a swift drink of her tea.

She calls him Areej because it means pleasant smell, the Shehu always smells nice no matter the situation.