Dethroned episode 40 – end

DETHRONED
Episode 40 (Semi final)
By AMAH’S HEART

” That is how I went into the forest pregnant with Ammon.. it’s over there that I met your father and married him” I concluded my story and heaved sadly

” Oh, mother.. it must have been so hard for you. Now I understand why you are so tensed about me seeing a man” Olamma said feeling pity for me because of what I had to go through.

I could see tears cascading down my daughter’s eyes as she continued with a cracky voice mixed with sad emotions

“…I have grown to love Ejike.. mother. I was thinking his love for me is true but after hearing your story.. I don’t know if it’s actually true as he portrays. I’m scared for my safety and that of the people. I won’t want to make the same mistake you made by risking it all. It’s hard mother but I am willing to let go!”

I watched as my daughter broke down in tears afterwards.
She was practically choking in her tears such that it stung my heart and I had to pull her into a warm hug whilst patting her back soothingly.

” It’s okay Olamma. I have been there so I know how hard this must be for you… but trust me when I say that this is the best decision you will ever make” I said these words close to her left ear

” I know mother but then I’m wondering how I’m going to cope since he is here in this village. I will be seeing him no matter how I will try to avoid him. It will be truly hard to let go and move on” Olamma expressed her worries and I nodded in agreement to what she said

Her words also brought back memories of when I tried avoiding and letting go of Eze yet he kept coming back until I fell for his love tactics over again.

” You’re right Olamma. In a place of power it is necessary to recognize our weaknesses and discard of them hence I suggest you banish him tomorrow. Send him away from this village and use your powers to place a spiritual covering at the border. That way he will never be able to sneak back here no matter how he tries… it’s the best remedy I can think of which will guard you from mistakes” I uttered as I continued patting Olamma who was still crying heavily. If only I could take all her pains away then I will.

” Will I be able to do this mother..? Somehow I’m beginning to have doubts about this crown. I’m scared of failing in my assignment and many other things” Olamma said doubtfully.

I sighed sadly as I disengaged from the hug. I touched Olamma’s cheeks lovingly wiping her tears away with my hands.

” I told you that the crown isn’t so easy as it seems. You’ll have to compromise a lot for the sake of the people you are leading. I believe in you Olamma and I know you will be the greatest Priestess of all times…far better than I ever did as your mother. So be strong Olamma!” I answered smiling at Olamma who smiled back before nodding vigorously

” I believe so too mother. Thank you for your kind words, massive support and encouragement. You are my backbone and I will constantly thank the gods for making you my mother” Olamma said hugging me for the second time. My smile widened and I felt genuinely glad that my young daughter is happy again.

The following day, Olamma banished Ejike from the village and set a seal at the village entrance as I had suggested.

She further surprised me by lifting I and Nonso’s banishment decree making us freeborn bona fide villagers again.

I didn’t want it to seem like I’m always controlling or influencing my daughter’s decisions, so I stepped back and allowed Olamma rule in her own way without any more intervention from me.

A year down the line, I am glad for that decision I made because Olamma indeed makes me proud.
My daughter rules so well and it gladdens my heart that she is finally over her forbidden love history.

Afterwards, my son Ammon found a beautiful maiden in the village of Zada whom he took a liking to and the maiden goes by the name Ijeoma.

Ijeoma is a nice and well trained maiden so it was easy for everyone to approve of her.
We had immediately asked for her hand in marriage from her parents and after getting their approval, the marriage preparation begun in earnest.

As the groom’s mother it is the tradition that I chose the marriage date.
I picked this weekend and I made sure the date is the exact date with Olamma’s eighteen birthday celebration.

I had intentionally fixed it on that day so that it would be a double celebration for everyone in the family.
But despite all this endless celebrations, I am still weary and there’s something really bothering me.

It’s about my husband Nonso, he is yet to divulge his origin or who his family are.
Yes! I am aware that he is from the Land of Gada but till date I don’t know who his family members are nor do I know why he was banished or any tangible information about his kindred.

When we newly got married, I constantly queried Nonso about it on a daily basis but the only answer he gave me was that he is from the Land of Gada and that was it! From his body language, I knew he didn’t want to divulge further.

Since we were both banished, I felt it wasn’t important so I allowed it slide back then. But now we are back to the village with our banishment barge lifted, it has become essential that I at least know my husband’s origin before people would begining asking me of it.

I’ve been asking him for about a year since we returned to this village yet each and every time I raise the topic, Nonso will find a way of avoiding the questions until I eventually stopped asking him about it.

I’m feeling so worried again!
It’s our son’s traditional marriage by weekend and it will be absurd if no person from my husband’s family is present on that special day.

Either ways, I am planning to talk to him again today and at least for our son’s sake I believe Nonso will say something different from his usual monosyllabic responses.

” You’re here. I’ve been searching everywhere for you Obim. Wait! don’t tell me you’re thinking again..? I’m usually wondering what exactly you are always thinking about Obim”

Nonso words disrupted my thoughts as he caught me spacing out in our bedroom hut for the third time today.

” I’m fine my husband. I see you’re back from hunting… I hope it went well…?” I asked smiling at Nonso who shrugged nonchalantly

” I couldn’t catch anything Obim. It seems the animals went on a break today but I will try again by evening. I’m just so tired!” Nonso said laying tiredly on the bed and I laughed sarcastically

” You’re being dramatic my husband.. anyways I prepared Akpu and Oha soup for you. Should I bring it here…?” I said to Nonso and at the same time climbing his back to give him a soft massage

” I’m hungry but it’s not for solid handmade food. It’s for a different and special kind of food which is solely in my Obim’s possession” Nonso said in an attempt to play naughty games with me.

I beamed as I got the cue and I decided to play along since he is my husband.

” Really..? So tell me my husband.. what is stopping you from taking the ‘special’ food when it’s right behind you..? Oh! if only you know how the food craves for you as well then you’ll do the needful” I said with a naughty grin on my face

” Naughty wife. My Obim! come here let me eat you!!” Nonso said as he swiftly turned me around and laid on top of me

We continued laying in silence staring at each other for a while before we eventually clamped our lips in a passionate kiss and the rest of what we did is better imagined than said.

After our love making session, I laid on Nonso’s chest sexually satisfied. I was listening to his heartbeat with my mind focused on how to come up with a better way to raise the topic about his origin.

I won’t want to get him upset hence my mind was debating if it should stay quiet and just savor the beautiful sensual moment. Or if it should go ahead and talk to him about him regardless.

Nonso sighed heavily which made me lift my head to look at his face. I could see the conflicting emotions in his eyes which got me wondering what is wrong

” Are you okay my husband..? You look worried. Is something on your mind..?” I asked worriedly and Nonso nodded in affirmation and then he begun talking

” I know you too well Obim so I’m aware that I’m part of the reason you’ve been worried lately. I was reluctant to tell you anything about my family and our son’s marriage is coming…so it’s only natural that as a mother you are anxious!” Nonso said and exhaled as he continued after seeing the curious glint in my eyes

” Obim can I tell you a story…?” Nonso asked touching my cheeks tenderly and I nodded affirmatively whilst smiling in other to encourage him to go on.

” Please go on with your story my husband. You know I’m always ready to listen to you!”

Read – Married To a billionaire episode 53 – 54

DETHRONED
FINAL Episode
By AMAH’S HEART

” Have you heard of anyone with the name Priestess Odika..?” Came Nonso’s question and I searched my memory to see if I have ever heard of such a name.

Nothing came up so I shook my head back and forth indicating that I had no idea of who bears the name.

Wait a minute! Did I just hear of the title Priestess..? The Odika woman was actually a Priestess..? Quite interesting!

I was also wondering how this actually relates to what we were discussing earlier. I looked at Nonso with keen attention as he continued expounding.

” Priestess Odika is the first priestess whose reign was amongst the shortest before you eventually broke the record. By rating, I think she was the twentieth Priestess or there about. And I’ve never asked you… which was your reign…?” Nonso asked looking intensely at me

” I am the twentieth and six chosen Priestess to reign whilst Olamma our daughter is now the twentieth and seven…” I answered flippantly. Nene wasn’t chosen by the gods so I excluded her reign in the history of priestess.

I shrugged my shoulders still wondering where all this questions is likely going to lead us to.

“…but my husband why all this questions and how does it even relate to the discussion we had earlier…?” I asked slowly beginning to loose interest in the talk. I felt like it was becoming boring!

” Well I’m a direct descendant from Priestess Odika’s lineage. Her great grand son happens to be my late grand father.” Nonso revealed and I looked at him wide-eyed in shock and disbelief.

” You’re directly from a Priestess’ lineage…? Ho..how..how..how is that even possible when Priestesses are not allowed to have children..?” I asked with confusion clearly written on my face.

Just then, a memory instantly clicked!.
I actually remember that my parents once told of an historical tale about a certain priestess Odika.

According to my parents, she reigned for a period of eight years before she was dethroned because she ran away from the village.

Many believed that she ran away to a faraway land with a secret lover because she was nowhere to be found around the three communities.

She was eventually forgotten about and another chosen Priestess with powers was crowned.
Only for her dead body to be brought back to the village after a period of one year and yet nobody could truly ascertain what kīlled her.

Could she be the same Priestess Odika Nonso is referring to…?
Following Nonso remarks earlier about her being the shortlived Priestess before me, it appears that she is the same one.

” Priestess Odika fell in love with a man and had to elope with him to a faraway land. Their union brought about the birth of my forefather which subsequently led to my descent. I was told she died during childbirth because she still had her powers in her possession” Nonso explained and this revelation left me in utmost awe.

My husband is from a Priestess lineage..? And the Priestess Odika had made the exact mistake I made!

Wow! this simply means that Olamma is from the lineage of two previous Priestesses.
No wonder our daughter was readily chosen and favored by the gods.

Probably the gods looked upon her lineage with compassion and after seeing that we were the most shortlived Priestesses, they decided to give us second chances to complete our reign using Olamma our descendant.

I sighed tiredly as everything gradually begun adding up. All the same, I’m really glad that my husband finally opened up about his origin to me at least my mind would be at peace now.

” Thank you so much my husband for finally telling me all this but then why did you hide it from me…? What were you so scared of…?” I asked staring at Nonso and he heaved heavily.

” I was scared of yet again bringing out a past that has long being buried because that is the reason I was banished in the first place…” Nonso said and seeing the pity in my eyes he stopped midway

” You were having trust issues…?” I asked softly and he nodded affirmatively as he continued his words.

” Yes Obim. I was banished for my mother’s sins because back at the village of Gada, I had confided in a friend of mine about this secret. To my utmost surprise he spilled the beans to the kinsmen and as expected they decided to punish my family and I for the sacrilege my mother committed by banishing us into the forest we met!”

” Oh no! that’s so bad of your friend. I pray he reaps the bad seeds he sowed. It’s okay my husband but then do you not have any members of your family who still lives…?”

” I don’t have any surviving family members Obim. My grandparents díed at old age in the forest and shortly afterwards, my parents followed them after the serious illness they suffered!” Nonso divulged and I became emotional after listening to his life story.

” I’m sorry for all you had to go through my husband and it doesn’t matter if you have no other family left. Just know that I and the children will always be here for you okay…?” I told Nonso in an assuring manner and at the same time touching his cheeks soothingly.

Nonso smiled as he nodded in understanding.
And for the very first time since we got married, he called me by my first name. Oh! How I love the sound of it in his lips.

” I know that Rana and I will always be here for you and the children too. Sometimes I thank the gods for allowing you default which brought you and Ammon to make my lonely life worthwhile again. I love you Rana and I will always do until dëäth do us part!” Nonso expressed whilst looking at me with so much love and admiration shown on his face.

” Thank you too Nonso for never judging me by my past. You took Ammon as your biological son despite knowing how despicable his father was to me. I wasn’t a virgin maiden yet you didn’t mind… you’ve always loved me for who I am and for that I am grateful. Thank you so much my husband. I love you now and I will keep loving you forever!” I said with all sincerity as I threw myself on Nonso in a tight passionate hug.

Five years gradually came by and I’m proud to say that my children are doing well in all their endeavors.

Ammon is now a father of two children and his wife Ijeoma is still expecting another baby on the way.
How time flies, the young maiden Rana of yesterday is now a grandmother!

Life moved on fine and Olamma’s reign as a Priestess brought many fruitfulness and laughter to the village. Every crops blossomed as harvest multiplied and people had surplus food to eat and marriages were lavishly celebrated.

Liveliness returned to the three communities as people were happy and went about their daily activities with constant smiles on their faces.
People sold their wares light-heartedly and children played around without a residual feeling of féar and insecurities.

My life was also going smoothly. I was living comfortably and Great Uba and Amarachi comes occasionally to visit me. I feel so lucky to have such a selfless father and sister figure in my life.

As for my Olamma; she is doing very fine physically and mentally.
She had later observed that she is talented in singing and dancing which she uses to entertain the village children whenever they visit for folktales.

Not just that, Olamma joins the maidens every weekend to have fun at the stream or other play centers.

My daughter’s simplicity lives everyone in awe as she keeps doing the fun things that makes her happy without neglecting her duty as the Priestess.
And I love the fact that she is maximizing her lifetime as the Priestess of the Land without feeling unhappy or left out.

For Olamma, happiness comes from within and self love brings about joy without the need of a man to avert loneliness. It’s a fact I wish I realized on time but either ways, I can say I am truly grateful to the gods for taking me this far.

Yes! life may not have been too fair to me at first but I’m glad that it isn’t so bad either. I’ll constantly remain thankful for the second chance I was given as well as the kind of family the gods blessed me with because with them by my side I have no regrets about my fate.

The End.