Chapter 3

As the sun rises and sets, days, weeks, months even years passed. The four years old Zendaya grew and grew. Fifteen years after the incident of the Evil forest, it was announced that the crown prince was ready to take his first wife. By announcing this, the royal family was inviting all the maidens of Amari to an Amari royal dance.

***

At this time, I'm 19 years old and it seems that my destiny is closer.

After the announcement of the Amari royal dance, all the maidens of Amari were busy preparing for the big day. Every maiden wanted to the future Queen of Amari. They did know that I was once lost in the Evil forest. They did know about our legendary belief and according to this belief, I'm going to be a queen. Yet every girl believed that they will be picked. Perhaps they wanted to test this legend or somehow they didn't believe it.

As part of the preparation of the Amari royal dance. The maidens would meet at the same place and practice their dance moves along with songs that they will sing.

Masego and I went to this practice every day and most girls were rude towards me. Even those who I've once called my friends changed their behavior towards me. Perhaps, they didn't realize that it is my destiny to be queen until now.

The only person who supported me except for my family was Masego. She didn't change any behavior and she was still the same Masego I knew when I was young.

***

Finally, it was the day of the Amari Royal dance. The maidens were looking beautiful with their colorful embroidered wrap-around skirt and crop top. To match their attires, they wore beaded necklaces and bracelets. On their heads, they wore a beaded hairband, which matched with their attires.

I was wearing a red skirt and crop top which were embroidered with gold, black and white colors. My beaded bracelets and necklaces were a mix of these colors. A red and gold beaded hairband was around my coily hair.

I looked very beautiful and so did Masego. She was wearing a gold skirt and crop top embroidered with black and white colors, with matching necklaces, bracelets, and hair bands.

On the way to the palace, I could finally vision it. The prince holding my hand, taking me to his father so that we could receive blessings. Holding my hand to show everyone that I'm his bride-to-be. My enemies applauding yet knowing that inside they're hurt.

***

We have arrived at the palace. Villagers of Amari are gathered outside the colorful palace, wearing their traditional attires and ready to witness their future king selects a wife. The Royal family was seated in front of the people, on their royal chairs. Food and beverages were plentiful, while drums gifted us with a rich sound.

While people are rejoicing, I can see a man wearing an embroidered man's skirt and a rectangular cloth over his shoulder, with lots of beaded necklaces and bracelets. This man is holding a horn and after a while, he starts blowing the horn and suddenly the drums stop.

After the man finished blowing the horn, he started to render a poem. He was praising Amari and its beauty, people, and Kings. The people of Amari are poetry people. Each person in Amari has a poem and every family name has its poem. l also had the poem that described me and my lineage.

After he finished the poem about Amari, he started to introduce the Royal family while praising them.

This is the first time I see our King and his family. After the man introduced the crown prince, it was the first time I laid my eyes on him.

He is tall, dark, and well build. His heard shined like most of the men in our village. Unlike most men in Amari, he didn't have a beard. Although he was very handsome, he did look a bit older than me.

"Burrrrr!" the sound of the horn.

"People of Amari now let's welcome our beautiful maidens so that our future King can select our future Queen." The man announced loudly, then we started dancing and singing with the rhythm of the drums.

As we continued to dance, the prince stands up from his seat. Looking very serious, he walks towards the maidens. lt is hard to concentrate as I'm looking at his every step. l can see him passing some maidens, heading towards my direction.

My heart is beating very fast and my destiny is seconds away. It is happening, the Prince is getting closer and closer.

Closer, yet the Prince didn't stand in front of me. He didn't hold my hand, nor did he took me to his father to receive his blessing.