Image by 鉂勶笍鈾○煉涒櫋鉂勶笍 Julita 鉂勶笍鈾○煉涒櫋鉂勶笍 from Pixabay
"Grand mother what is this that I hear", came the voice of Melinda from a distance.
Melinda is a teenage girl of seventeen years who lives with her grand mother in the village of Amaneke.
They live in an isolated area of the village, where they hardly come in contact with people. it is believed that Nnemenum, Melinda's grand mother is a witch who had sacrificed all her five children including Melinda's mother who was her only daughter.
An order was passed by the late queen after Melinda's mother died. She was driven out of her compound and was only allowed to live in that part of the village which was close to an evil forest,where those who are believed to be evil were buried once they
die.
Melinder was only seven years old when her mother died and they were driven away from the village. Years have past and it is ten years already since they started to live in isolation.she has been her grand mother's only companion.
Melinda had grown into a beautiful and vibrant young girl who loves hunting. Since she grew up in the jungle she has become so used to the jungle life.
She takes care of her grand mother, runs all errand from gathering firewood to cooking, fetching water from the stream and haunting for meat. It was all in her care
Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay
"Grand mother,have you heard the news? She asked when she got closer to their hut. Putting down the water pot from her head with her grand mother aiding with one hand
" What news, who will bring me news except you.
What did you hear this time.
" I heard the Queen's crystal has been missing since after the Queen's burial.
And nobody has been able to find it.
"How did you know about this, who told you"
" I heard about it at the stream, everyone was talking about it"
"Please let's mind our business and forget about the royal family. Don't go about saying what you don't know and don't invite trouble here".
"I'm going back to the stream, will be back soon.
" Be safe, come quickly okay, Nnemenum said and went back to her hut.
On the way to the stream she kept pondering over what she had just discussed with her grandmother..
" But without the crystal a new queen cannot emerge, does this mean the village will be without a queen? She thought to herself.
How is this happening, how can the crystal disappear, but it is normally found by the next in line the night after the queen have been laid to rest, why has it not been found after two weeks.
The sound of a chirping bird interrupted her thought as she realized she was almost at the stream.
As she bent to fill her pot she noticed a shiny white stone beneath the water, it was so attractive to be left behind so she picked it up and tied it in her headscarf and headed home.
Later that night after dinner with her granny, they said their good night and went to bed.
Not too long after they went to bed
She woke up panting heavily as though gasping for air.
" What's the matter ,granny asked puzzled at her grand daughter's sudden jerk.
" Grand mother, you are not sleeping"
" Yes, I wasn't feeling sleepy"
" You had a nightmare?
" Yes grand mother.
" What was it all about?
" I was walking alone in the path that led to the stream and it was dark.
As I got closer to a big tree, I saw another path by my right and yet another by my left. I stood there as though confused on which path led to the stream .when I felt a hand on my shoulder from behind, I made to turn but a voice came which commanded me to remain still, I was scared but had to obey.
I could remember her words but I don't know what they mean.
" Tell me, go ahead granny urged.
" she said, this white stone promotes inner healing, feelings of peace and self love.it has the power of protection as it absorbs stress or negative energy, it helps boost your confidence and help in encouraging positive energy while improving decision making. It is used as a symbol of recovering from grief.
This shiny white stone can also help to ground people and keep them centered.
The moment she said the last word she vanished and I ran as fast as my legs could carry, then I woke up
" What could this mean her grandmother thought for a while, could this be a form of communication about the Queen's crystal? But what's your connection to it and you don't have it.
It was at this point that she remembered the stone she got from the stream earlier. She quickly untied the stone in her scarf
"Grand mother I found this stone at the stream today she said placing the stone into her grand mother's hand.
" This is the stone, how did you find it .
You must go to the palace in the morning and return this.
" Yes grandmother
" Now go back to sleep.
" Good night grandmother
The next morning grand ma woke her up earlier than she expected
" I'm not going hunting today grandmother
" Who is talking about hunting, you need to go to the palace remember?
" Oh, I have to
She got out of bed did her chores and set out to the palace, on getting there the guards refused her in because she looked so tattered and unkept but she told them she brought news concerning the missing crystal and the gate was opened.
As she stepped into the compound,she met a small crowd , the princesses and some other people. She didn't want to distract them because they all paid keen attention to a man on the ground who seem to be doing some spiritual incantations.
She decided to signal a man who's attention seem divided, before she could make a move the man who was on the ground looked up and saw her.
Immediately he started smiling and everyone's attention turned towards her.
Image by bluemaroo3 from Pixabay
" I found the crystal she said raising it above her head.
" Who are you and how did you find it one of the princesses questioned.
Before she could respond , the soothsayer stood up and said she is the next queen.
" How can you say that, we don't know who she is and why she is here
" I am here to return the crystal and I am the grand daughter of Nnemenum, the one who lives close to the evil forest.
" How can she be the next in line,she is not even royalty
" But she is royalty replied the soothsayer
" How is that possible
"She is the first grand child of the late queen and she found the stone and you know who ever finds it becomes queen
" But who is her father
" I am her father, the late queens' only son said and fell to his knees
" Mother didn't support my affair with her mother,the love of my life, she did everything to keep us apart and she succeeded because I was too young to take a decision.
When her mother died,the queen made me promise not to disclose to anyone that she was my child,she said it will be a disgrace.
I'm sorry my child please forgive me.
" She has to be made queen as soon as possible said the soothsayer
" Melinda please accept the throne
" On one condition,my grandmother must regain her right as a daughter of this village, and must come back here
" Do as you wish my queen, you have all the power, what ever you say stands.
" Go at once and bring my grandmother here .she commanded the guards
" Yes my queen they echoed as they bowed to her.
"Wow! What is this confidence and positive energy I feel around me, indeed this white stone is all they say it is .she thought to herself.
