☆•♡~“Your mother is still your mother, though her legs be small.”~♡•☆

Laughter bubled throughout the hut as Azile, Runako and I talked about the incident before. I had come to learn a lot more about Runako, especially her absolute dislike for the other wives.

"My queen, I have never seen Netsai that scared before," she giggled. "She looked as if she'd seen a hunting lion." She continued, her eyes brimming with tears of laughter.

Azile howled in laughter struggling to catch her breath, "No, no, you should have seen Revai." She managed to speak through the fits of laughter that consumed her.

I couldn't stop myself from joining them, although the moment was far from funny but the wives facial expressions were priceless and absolutely hilarious. "I am sure they will be making it a point to behave themselves." I laughed out, my arm stretch towards the bowl popped maize kernels.

My gaze fell onto Azile's small frame as my lips curled into a mischievous smirk, "Azile, did you see the way Vikali was so..." Her playful glare cut me off, a bubble of laughter rippled through me. Her face was pulled into a shy smile as her eyes traced the floor. "Don't tell me you didn't see it, Runako please confirm that you saw it."

Runako's eyebrows quirked up with amusement, an identical smirk engulfing her plump lips as she cradled her sleeping son. "My queen, I saw it even a blind man would've have seen that." She added as she winked at me which earned us a disapproving look from Azile.

"There was nothing to see, my queen, honestly there wasn't anything." Azile denied, her small hands waving in the to emphasise her point.

"I haven't been here for long, my friend but even I can agree with the Queen, there was a lot to see." Runako chipped in her eyebrows wiggling playfully which caused me to choke back a laugh.

"It's not true," she groaned.

"The truth is within someone's actions, my friend." Runako pointed out, her words caused Azile to huff, before she rose from her seat on the cool slab.

"Forgive me, I must tend to the ceremony, my queen." She dipped her body into a bow before scampered through the hut.

She may have escaped me this once, but it surely was not over. My eyes turned towards Runako who's face was plastered with a grin, 'What was she thinking?' My question was quickly answered as she handed over her son. His dark innocent eyes traced my face as his tiny hand stretched towards my golden necklace that hung loosely from my neck.

In that moment, all my fears of becoming a mirror image of my mother and the fear of becoming a loving mother became nonexistent as he squealed in my arms. His toothless smile melted my iron heart moulding it into a desire to one day have my own children. I hadn't realised that Runako was still staring, she was carefully examining me as I cradled her son.

"You're very good with children, my queen." Runako's voice drowned my ears, flooding thoughts of motherhood into my mind. 'Could I really become a good mother?' The question sent delightful shivers down my spine as another one caused heat to spread through my cheeks. 'Would I be a good mother to our children?' That was a question I couldn't answer yet, but the weight of motherhood seemed more like a gift than a curse.

Mother had always emphasises how motherhood was a curse to all women, I couldn't blame her for the feelings she felt towards it, she had lost so many children due to infant moratlity but what had severed her sanity was the death of Kanyaita, my elder brother. The rest of her short life was invested in recreating herself in me, she had lost her motherly touch it was almost as if she was a shell of the woman I'd grown up calling my mother.

A tiny hand rested against my cheek instantly drawing me out of my thoughts, the big doe eyes innocently held my gaze as a small squeal escaped his lips. It was true what they said, children always give us a chance to be best we can be.

"My queen, you'd make a great mother just like my grandma always said, children give us a chance to be the best we can be." She smiled, her fingers gently rubbing her son's small back causing his toothless grin to widen.

Her words sounded as if she'd read my mind and yet I couldn't help but smile and nod in agreement. "What's his name?" I asked my eyes still focused on the bundle of joy that played with my copper bangles.

"Kanyaita," she responded causing his attention to turn to her. My breath hitched in my throat as the name registered in my mind, that was brother's name and that realisation caused tears to sting my eyes.

"My queen, did I upset you?" Runako asked her voice was gentle, I had hoped she wouldn't have noticed it but she did. A pained smile crossed my lips as I summoned the courage in my voice to answer her.

"No Runako, you did not upset me. It's just I knew someone with that name, I visited him in a while." I hoped she wouldn't question me further, I wouldn't have the strength to hold back my tears. "He's got a beautiful name and he will make a great king." I added.

A proud look crossed her eyes as she smiled revealing her pearly white teeth. "He'll surely become the greatest Karanga king, just like his father." She laughed as she took him from me. "Won't you be Kanya?" She asked him as she nuzzled his cheeks earning a giggle from him.

"My queen, please excuse me, we must go prepare for the ceremony tonight." She said, her body bowing as a sign of respect. I nodded my head in acknowledgement and with small wave of her hand she left heading towards the small cluster of huts as the sun began to set. A deep sigh escaped my lips as the memories of her stormed my mind, my mother was just another nightmare that I would never escape.
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