"We've arrived, Your Highness" said Zara waking Amara out of her daydream. Amara slightly shift the window of the carriage and saw the palace coming into view. "Zara, advise our men to closely monitor the Sultana, and protect the Princess" she commanded. "It will be done as you have said Your Highness". 'I don't know why but I have a feeling that something will go wrong today' Amara thought. Upon their entrance to the Main Palace, the royal guards open the gates, the servants waited until the carriages were at the door. The servants set the stairs on the first carriage then the guard gracefully open the door and extend a hand to assist the Queen in existing the carriage. The servants bowed and said "We greet her Majesty, Queen Amara" Amara smiled in response and walked up the polished marble steps and entered the main palace. Zara following five steps behind.
It was Princess Safiya turn, after the first carriage departed the second carriage stopped at the entrance. Repeating in the same manner as they did with her mother. They open the carriage door and the guard extend his hand to assist the princess out of the carriage. And in the same likeness they bowed and said " We greet the first Princess, the Kingdom's first Star, Wishing her highness a long life and good health may all your wishes come through on this your birthday." Safiya face lite up with a smile as she spoke, "Thank you, you may rise". "Yes, your highness" they replied in unison as they stood up keeping their heads down. She walked up the polished marble steps and entered the Main Palace.
The Main Palace is not merely in name, The Second Queen and Princess's palace pales in comparison, everything in the palace was more intricate, dazzling and refine, made with the finest marble stone, gold, silver and precious jewels. The palace proudly portrays the kingdoms wealth with its several amount of gold, silver, diamond and precious jewel mines even marble quarries. This palace holds the prestige of royals, a worthy place for the Sultan, Sultana and the Queen Mother to resides, the other wifes of the Sultan lived in separate palaces built, adjacent to the Main Palace; along with there children.
The Sultan conduct regular visits to his wifes and children accordingly. The other palaces; athough not as grand as the main palace, would in no doubt maitain the prestige as royals of the Kingdom. The monthly allocation of funding for the household expenses of each palaces are handled by the Sultana; Salima Zubaida Najma Al The first Queen of the Kingdom of Meckkah.
The other four wifes endless tries to maintain a good relationship with the Sultana to gain favor, but sadly when it comes to Safiya's mother, the Sultana truly loathes her. Safiya dislikes visiting the Main Palace since if felt as if she was walking on thin ice. She recalls her mother telling her of the bad experience she had at the time she conceived her, how badly the Sultana treated her to the point of almost loosing her.
Her mother then fired all the maids in the palace that were secretly the Sultana's spies and handpicked new servants herself, with the wealthy dowry that was left by Amara's parents she used it and made a name for her self. While our people knew her as the Second Queen but everyone in nobility know her has the trade Queen. Her wealth was second only to the Sultan himself, worthy of his respect, thus made her in charge of all trade in the Kingdom and to date trade as been ever increasing, truly a Queen of trade.
Once Safiya entered the main palace all the servants of the palace stand in a endless line on the left and right of the entrance bowed their heads repeating "We great our first star, many blessings on this your brithday" Safiya walked down the path that was created for her by the servants, as she walked, they kept repeating the same phrase. The path leads to the dining room door; it opens to reveal the entire royal family including her Father, Mother and her Royal Grandmother; Queen Mother Ayla; Mother of the Sultan.
She walked over to them; bowed gracefully and then greeted the Sultan and Sultana, the queen mother, her mother, the other queens and her brothers and sisters respectively. The Sultana and the other Queens replied with a fake smile "Happy Birthday, Safiya". Safiya pretended not to have noticed the insincere wishes and accepted it politely.
Safiya's older brother and her younger brothers and sisters eached greeted her with a hug and warmly wished her a happy birthday. Safiya didn't dislike her siblings and always listen to the teachings of her mother and grandmother to build a good relationship with them, 'after all blood is thicker than water' her grandmother would often say.
"Alright alright... would you give this old woman a chance to greet her granddaughter now?." asked the Queen Mother. They stopped hugging her, and returned to their position; beside their respective mothers' gracefully. Ayla then walked up to Safiya and gentlely held her face in her hand, then hugged her saying "Happy Birthday my dear".
"Thank you, Grandmother" replied Safiya as Ayla released her. "You look absolutely radiant today my darling... like a true star", said her grandmother. "Ah.. I see you've decorated you hair with precious pearls.. how beautiful!" she continued. "I thank grandmother for her kind words, but I hope you give the praise to my mother, this is her gift to me" replied Safiya. Ayla turn her head towards Amara and said "the pearls added enhanced her beauty tremendously, did you made the design yourself?" she asked.
Amara replied and said "Yes mother, if you like I will gift you them as well". The Sultana scoffed under her breath and whispered "how pretentious", unbeknownst to her Amara heard her and retaliated by saying. "Mother as a good eye and can tell that these are my latest jewelry designs and of course are of premium quality unlike the REST". The Sultana upon hearing that tightly folded her hand into a fist looking furious knowing fully well what Amara was implying.
""Safiya, come" said the Sultan as her father stretch out his hands as he beckons her to come to him. The Sultan then hugged and kissed her on her forehead saying "Happy Birthday my beloved daughter", "Thank you father" as she reciprocate the hug. "I had the royal chef cook all your favorite, eat and enjoy" her father said as they started to take a sit around the dinning table for the morning breakfast.
The butler of the Main Palace clapped his hands twice then a total of twenty servants came in with trays of food, utensils, beverages containers, and plates. They began to set the table and serve the dishes, once completed the Sultan gave the order to eat. Safiya could not take her eyes of the display of food in front of her and had a hard time choosing what to eat first since they were all her favorites.
She finally made up her mind and started with something light as she wanted to thoroughly enjoy her breakfast by eating a bit of everything. Once they completed their meal, the servants started cleaning the dinning table. The Sultan got up first, then they all rise seconds after, "Lets go to the Royal Garden it is time for parading of gifts" he said. The Sultan began to walk in the direction of the garden with the royal family walking behind him. The servants open doors on cue and bowing their heads gradually until they arrive to the door leading to the royal garden. The servants open its majestic doors, the image display was breathtaking, a wonderland in itself. It was filled with over a hundred different flower, unique plant and herbs scattered in the north, south, east and west of the garden, however that wasn't the most enchanting, in the center of this massive garden was a rose maze completely filled with the various shades of roses.
As they walked through the garden, Safiya felt nostalgic as memories of her younger self begin to play in her mind, images of herself playing in the maze with her mother and father when she was young displayed as she looks at the maze, stopping in place, a smile slowly appearing on her face. Amara upon noticing that Safiya stopped, looked at her daughter staring at the maze, with a bittersweet expression on her face, she gentlely tapped her shoulder and said, "Safiya, let's go dear" waking her out of her daydream. Safiya and Amara rejoined the group as they continued to the east side of the garden, were they had a rock that was sculpted by using marble and silver depicting an image of the kingdom crest with water continuously flowing out it in to a large pond.
Three tall trees position to the
west of the pond, created canopies that made the surroundings cool. Under the trees the servant prepared seats for the royal family, their was also a very large scale in the center of the procession. "Safiya, come and sit dear" The Sultan beckons, Safiya obeyed and went over to him who was standing beside the scale. She sat on the right of the scale as it began to move placing her downwards. "Oh my, I see that you have been well taken care of" her father teased as he wink at Amara, which cause her to laugh meanwhile Safiya felt so embarrassed she hid her face in her drape.
"Alright... Alright I'll stop teasing... lets begin the ceremony" The sultan proclaimed. Safiya was then presented with many gifts, which they circle around her head three times before placing it on the left side of the scale, they continue until the treasures weighed the same as Safiya; and balancing the scale. The servants then carefully assist the princess off the scale, Safiya then thanked everyone for the gift showing heartfelt gratitude.
In that moment a royal guard came bowed respectfully to their highnesses then discreetively spoke to the King's Chamberlain, once finished the guard bowed then left promptly. The Chamberlain swiftly went to the Sultan's side, bowed then beckons to the Sultan whispering the message so that only he could hear it. The Sultan said "Splendid" in response then sent away the Chamberlain.
The Sultan beckons to the Sultana and Amara, they understood the gesture and immediately went to him. "The guest has arrived, it is time to greet them" The Sultan said. "Yes, You Majesty" They both said in unison as they bowed. The Sultan then went to Safiya and patted her head then said "Forgive me Safiya, I must attend to an urgent matter, I will see you at the afternoon meeting my dear". "Why don't you spend the rest of the morning with your siblings and enjoy the garden to the fullest". He continued. "Yes father" Safiya replied with a warm smile. "Mother, I leave them in your care", said the Sultan as he walks over to his mother and kissed her cheek. "Alright... go do your duty" Ayla said as she patted his shoulder. He smiled then proceeded to leave the garden with the Sultana and Amara, everyone bowing in respect except Ayla.
The morning ended on a high note, as it was filled with joy and laughter as Safiya enjoyed the gardens with her siblings playing all the games that she loved since childhood while her grandmother and the other wifes engage in conversation. Mid-day was approaching and it was almost time for her meeting with her father. Her Grandmother dismiss the other wifes and her siblings and allowed her to have a bath in the Main Palace and change clothes in her quarters, she decided on wearing the clothes and jewelries that her grandmother gifted her.
She wore light blue and silver silk clothes with intricate design of the Kingdom's crest embroidered on it with golden and silver tread and wore diamond jewelry that matched the attire splendidly; her hairstyles kept in the same likeness as before adorned with pearls and hairs accessories that has the kingdom crest.
After the servants finish assisting the princess in getting dresses, she returned to the royal garden; the Chamberlain greeted her and advise the princess that the Sultan would arrive momentarily, he then lead her to the meeting area which was the Pavillion in the center of the rose maze. The Pavillion there was twice as big as the Pavillion in her palace and by far more exquisite with more silver, diamond and precious stones. Once they arrived, Safiya went in and sat on a soft cushion chairs around a marbled table and waited patiently.
A few minutes later; the Sultan arrived with the Sultana walking one step behind him. 'what is she doing here? wasn't this a meeting with my father alone? she thought. Safiya arose and greeted them. "No need for formalities my dear, quickly rise" said the Sultan. "Yes father" replied Safiya. "Sit" he command; Safiya then waited for the Sultan and Sultana to sit then immediately sat after.
"Safiya, congratulations on your coming of age, my dear daughter is no longer a child... you have now become a young lady...my, my, where did the time go?" the Sultan said in a melodramatic tone. "Indeed your Majesty, before we knew it she is already at a marriageble age, and soon will be married off", said the Sultana as she continued in the same likelihood as her father, pretending as if she cared deeply for the princess but Safiya knew better than to be swoon by her words.
"You jest Elder Mother, I am still quite young, I agree that today is my coming of age but the talk of marriage now is a bit abrupt don't you think?" Safiya replied. "Furthermore, to find a suitable candidate to be my Prince Consort will undoubtedly take sometime...but Elder Mother it appears to me as if you have someone in mind" Safiya blatantly said with a gentle smile on her face. The Sultana who was bewildered by the sudden question looked at Safiya with a dumbfounded expression.
The Sultan looked at the Sultana with a dissatisfied look on his face, the Sultana tried to say something to ease the tension but was stopped by his majesty. "Enough! let's not talk about that right now" The Sultan ordered causing the Sultana to hold her tongue begrudgingly. "Safiya I have a gift for you, for your coming of age ceremony" said the Sultan. The Sultan beckons to the Chamberlain, he then called a maidservant with a golden tray that had a red silk fabric covering what was on it. The maid gave it to Chamberlain bowed and went in the same position she was before.
Safiya didn't notice the maid before since she was preoccupied with the Sultana being present. The Chamberlain then bowed in front of the princess lifting the tray in his hands. Safiya then looked at her father for permission which he gave her by giving her a gentle nod, she then removed the silk cloth to reveal a paper that had her name on it with the title land deed. Safiya picked up the paper and read it slowly. Her eyes widens as she goes through it.
"This is the deed to your very own Princess Mansion that Amara and I prepared for you, it will be added to your dowry along with many lands and mines. This is only a fraction of what will be added on your dowry, my dear". Upon hearing the news, the Sultana slowly clench her fist while holding her cloths, trying desperately hard to hide the hatred that was evident on her face. Safiya quickly stood up, went over to her father and bowed to him in gratitude. Without letting her knees touch the ground her father stood up and stopped her. She then gave her father a big hug saying "Thank you father...I love it, I am so happy", and he replied with a soft chuckle, "You are most welcome my dear", while hugging her and kissing her forehead. Unbeknownst to them the Sultana looked at Safiya with cold eyes like a venomous snake looking at it's prey she thought 'be happy while you still can wench, once the night falls you will be wishing you were dead' she smirked.