☆•°♡●“A queen is a mother to her nation, her love overwhelming and powerful; she’d sacrifice herself for her children to live the best life she can give.”●♡°•☆

The morning cold slithered round my burning body, the sun had not even begun rising from its slumber and yet I had been up for hours, being once again tortured by the heartbreaking cries of a newborn baby, probably the ancestors preying on my fear of losing my son. I felt compelled to find the source of the crying child but I was convinced it was all in my head, a subconscious reminder that I could lose my child and yet the cries grew louder with each passing minute. 

My feet began to wander round the royal quarters drawn to the crying child and it was then that I realised that this was far from my imagination, the crying baby was real. Before me sat Vikali cradling a bawling child, even from the dim rays of the sun I could see the dark circles that embraced Vikali’s red puffy eyes. In that moment I couldn’t help feel pity, he had lost his wife and the mother of his baby and during his mourning he had the responsibility of taking care of his child... he had far too much on his plate. He needed some help.

“Vikali?” I called out to his seated figure which turned towards me.

“My Queen, “He managed to croak out. I could imagine the strength it took to control his pain; the elders always said ‘Men were never to cry.’ It was seen as weakness and yet I’d always argued against that, men were people too, they feel pain just like women and it’d be nothing but ignorant to assume that masculinity is determined by the inability to express emotions, it’s far from it.

“The sun is yet to rise from its slumber and yet here you are wandering round the quarters as if it were noon.” A sad smile crossed his cracked lips as he spoke, his eyes brimming with pain perfectly accompanied by his low voice; it was strained holding back the sobs.

“Vikali, my condolences about Asukumi. I apologise for not saying it earlier but I am here to assist you.” Sincerity was heavily powdered in my words as my eyes fell onto the wailing child his tiny hands bawled into fists and his slightly flushed face from all his crying.

“That is much appreciated, my queen yet I would have too politely decline the offer –“He had begun explaining before I interrupted him.

“I am helping you, with or without your consent. Let me do my duty as a queen, to help my people.” My words earned me a nod from Vikali as his focus fell back to the squirming newborn wrapped in white linens.

“Does he have a name?” I asked curiously as I stepped towards Vikali.

Another smile crossed his lips as he lovingly gazed at his child before he spoke once more. “Zithukuthuku.”

Zithukuthuku, meant to be strong an indeed this young boy had survived the death of his mother and now all he had to do was survive infancy. By this point I was now seated beside Vikali who was desperately trying to coo him and was failing miserably.”Have you found him a wet nurse yet?” I found myself asking because from the way Nkululeko was squirming and crying, my best guess was that he was hungry.

“Not yet my queen, he has refused four women from the tribe so far and Mazimele fears he shall die of  hunger.” His eyes fell to his son as he said that, it was a painful reality that could occur if he didn’t find a wet nurse as soon as possible, not only would Vikali bury his wife but his child too would follow his mother. My heart clenched at the thought, I felt attached to him already perhaps I could be his wet nurse. 

“May I?” I asked Vikali my arms directly stretched out ready to receive his son who he gently placed in my care without any hesitation and just like that, his heartbreaking cries turned into small sniffles as he snuggled deeper into my chest. It was surprising, even his large doe eyes were looking up at me in awe just like Runako’s son, Kanyaita had done and that’s all it took for me to suggest the impossible.

“Let me nurse him, as my own.”

“I beg your pardon, my queen?” Vikali choked out surprise carving itself deep into his worn face.

“I said that I will be his wet nurse, I’ll be his mother and raise him alongside my children.”

“B-bu-but you are a queen? You should have nurses for your son and not nurse the child of a commoner. It’s looked down upon.” He stuttered, mindful of the cultural tradition that was rooted in our society and he was right, but I was a queen, the mother of the tribe.

“Royalty or not a child has the right to life, what kind of queen would I be, having to watch a child starve to death because I refused to nurse him as my own flesh and blood. Had I been Asukumi today, my child left to the mercy of the world I’d expect a woman to understand and love my child as their own. A queen is a mother to orphans, a sister to widows and widowers and lastly the shield of her people. I’d rather die than watch one of my own perish at the sake of tradition.” That was the truth, I loved my people so much that I decided to be a sacrifice going against tradition to protect them; you can only imagine how far I’d go for a motherless child.

“And what of the king, would he allow for you to nurse a commoner’s child? Would it not be insulting that your child would come second to you, having him being nursed second to the child of a commoner? I’m sure he’ll have my head – “ I interrupted him once more.

“The king has a right to his own opinion but as I said it is an opinion, my body means my rights and he is no commoner he is the son of a queen, he is my son now and should the king disagree... he can find a new wife and queen. I will not watch him die at the expense of image and tradition, a mother is supposed to love and protect their child, you know Vikali there’s only so much you can do as a father and right  now feeding him and calming him down are not part of those things. Give me permission to nurse him.” It was a plea for Nkululeko’s life I’d take on the role of his deceased mother allowing him to grow in a family like environment because he deserved two loving parents and I intended to be one of them.

The sound of clattering beads sounded out of the kitchen hut, by the slow shuffling sounds I immediately knew it was Mazimele and maybe she had heard the entire conversation with Vikali and yet I feared nothing and I was ashamed of nothing; this was my role and duty as queen.

“A pleasant morning to you my queen.”She greeted whilst exiting the hut.

“A pleasant morning it is indeed Mazimele.” I greeted back slightly nervous from the way her eyes were reading through me like a page of novel, it made me feel queasy whenever she did that. It made me feel so uncomfortable.

“You offer yourself as a wet nurse for Nkululeko?” She questioned me, her stormy orbs boring into my soul.

“Yes I do.”

“The ancestors were right about you. A queen you are by nature and yet your heart is that of a mother, so quick to anger but equally as quick to forgive. You say love is your motivation, but just as one may mistaken sugar and salt so shall you.” She foretold me, her stormy eyes glazed over by a layer of tears. Her words always confused me but her last phrase left me in partial shock as she continued.

“Love will be your downfall, beauty of a rose lays in its thorns and not in its petals."

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With love from❤

Maniac_lunatic

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