Destiny Scorns

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  Alice like the rest of the delegates had arrived. Nathan came a little later hoping that the festival had already begun but was disappointed. Everyone was there except the guest of honor and his future wife. By the way the guards were moving back and forth they knew there was something going on but even to their queen, their lips stayed shut. Alice had left the podium that they were sitting on to go and inquire the state of things but it seemed Jared's rule over the guards had surpassed even hers. She was kept out of the house like everyone else. Now that Jared was coming towards her she was going to give him a piece of her mind.

  `Alice,' he said into her ear. `You have to continue the festival.'

  `What's going on?'

  Jared shook his head impatiently. `Sidney says the festival must go on.'

  `What? Are you taking orders from Sidney now?'

  `Yes, Gorham is incapable of giving orders at the moment but he's already recovering.'

  Nathan heard this. `Recovering from what?'

  `It's a long story, your Majesty but for now the people need this festival. As soon as King Gorham is ready he will join you,' he left them with that. The good thing about not being royalty was that you could run away and they will not run after you. He watched from a distance as Nathan and Alice debated on what to do but eventually she stood up and officiated the festival. That was what Sidney wanted.

  No pressure Gorham, he thought but he could see the unsure faces in the crowd. They wanted to see their king. They knew, as did the dignitaries that something was wrong. They went on but not with much enthusiasm as they earlier had. Jared went back to the little house but didn't enter. Whatever was going on he suspected that went on well without any interruptions.

  It was almost one hour before Gorham walked out of the door albeit supported by Sidney. Jared went to them. `Are you sure he's fine?'

  `He insisted.'

  `I'm right here. Stop talking like that.'

  `It's not good if the people see him like this.'

  `He says he has an announcement to make.'

  `Again I'm right here.'

  They walked towards the podium. Everyone's eyes were on them. `You look better,' Jared told Sidney.

  `Thanks, the shock wore off.' she smiled. When they got to the podium it seemed that Gorham had been conserving his energy for that moment. He guided Sidney to the seat that she was supposed to occupy then took the stage. There was no need to call for attention because there was a strange silence that descended upon the crowd.

  `King and Queen, my fellow royalties, dignitaries and delegates from other colonies and my people,' he paused as if in search of the right words, `This night has been a very eventful one especially for the woman who was supposed to be honored today,' He turned and smiled at Sidney who was quite confused. `For the thanksgiving festival, I wanted to open it with giving thanks of my own and as the time has not passed yet, I wanted to tell you all about it. Miss Sidney Storm had recently accepted my proposal.'

  He could see the smiles of acknowledgment from the crowd. They knew that already. `But I have more news that I thought I ought to be thankful for.' Sidney shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't going to tell the public about her pregnancy. `My fiancée was kidnapped this evening,' there were gasps from the crowd. `Thankfully, the people who did it weren't as better at their operations as our security is and I want to thank Alice for the work well done.' Alice beamed but had she been paying attention to the words she would have realized that the acknowledgment wasn't addressed to her. Instead it went to Jared.

  Gorham turned back to the crowd. `I wanted your approval for the woman whom I've chosen as my wife,' he said. This was also contrary to customs as he was normally required to ask the council's approval instead of the people. The cheering started from the guards and then it filtered down to the people and just like that the whole crowd was cheering as one. Gorham turned and held out his hand to Sidney. He smiled at how he had done earlier on. She took it and went to stand next to him. The people at the front took her presence in then went down as they bowed. The next line of people did the same until everyone was down.

  Then Gorham turned and did the unthinkable. He also went down to his knees and bowed his head. `My queen,' he said. Sidney as well as the others on the podium was dumbfounded. Sidney looked around not knowing what to do. The person who might have told her was the one who was kneeling. `Gorham,' she called.

  `Yes my queen?'

  `I have no right.'

  `What is right when you are the wisest person that I've ever met. Your grasp on the issues that affect us is remarkable for someone who was only introduced to our customs the other day.' She seemed unsure. `If you are going to marry me then you will deserve the title because there is no doubt that you will influence my judgment by some things you say.'

  Sidney looked at the crowd which was still down but they were watching intently. She turned to Gorham with a decision on her face. `I will be your queen.' Gorham got up and kissed her. It was a sign for the crowd and they all got up in cheer. Of all the people, it was Alice who was the most confused. If Sidney was to be a queen then what was she?

  Gorham and Sidney went to sit down. Nathan was to Gorham's right and Alice was on Sidney's left. She felt a sort of seething in herself because even the sitting arrangement was degrading her. The festival progressed well for everyone else except for her. She looked at the two and then she noticed something. As she herself was pregnant then she could see the small changes in herself as in Sidney. Then there was something that she could do.