Chapter 105: Chapter 105

Happiness and joy filled the whole kingdom of Dark Star by the time the sun rose. The people danced and sang openly in their rags and with their empty stomachs.

The war that terrorized them was finally over. The ruins caused by the war were decorated with flower petals. Women danced around them with tambourines and men beat their drums for them.

In Gemhules, the villagers visited the ruins of Sharaina’s home and started to rebuild it. They did not rest until it looked the way it looked before the incident.

When they finished, word was sent out to Sharaina and she received the news with surprise. Sharaina took Emelinia with her and the children to Gemhules. The both of them couldn’t hold back their tears when they gazed upon the home they had lost hope of ever seeing again. It was just as they remembered. Akirexer’s garden of flowers was replanted and soon it was going to bloom.

The villagers stood around Sharaina and Emelinia, each looking at Sharaina with adoration. They, however, couldn’t get to close to her because of the body guards.

Precious tagged on Emelinia’s dress excitedly. Her eyes were bright with happiness. She couldn’t wait to go into the house. Emelinia’s firm hold on her hand secretly told her to behave herself and wait for the right time.

Precious obeyed her mother and looked on to the happy villagers. Naliya stepped out of the crowd. In her hand was a basket of flowers. She was accompanied by five other women and among them was Liss’s mother, Farali.

Naliya walked all the way up to Sharaina and halted with a bow. Sharaina felt uncomfortable with Naliya bowing to her. She felt even more uncomfortable when she saw the other villagers do the same.

Naliya slowly raised her head and approached Sharaina again. One body guard wanted to block her way but Sharaina stopped him. He obediently gave her way to Sharaina and when their eyes met, the two women hugged.

“Your mother and father would have been so proud to see what you have become Sharaina.” Naliya whispered to Sharaina’s ear.

Naliya pulled away from Sharaina and got a handful of the flower petals. She threw them over Sharaina and all the villagers cheered. Farali and the other women threw petals on Emelinia and her children.

When they were done, they gave way to the men to speak to Sharaina. Jenu was the first to approach her. He wanted to bow to Sharaina but she abruptly stopped him by holding his shoulders.

“No uncle, please don’t bow to me. You are like a father to me.” Sharaina sweetly told him.

Jenu laughed softly. “You are our queen. It is only natural for me to this.”

“I am not queen yet and even still, I cannot allow you to bow before me.” Sharaina smiled warmly at him.

“I always told your father not to worry about your future. How I wish he was here to see that I was right. I wasn’t going to give him any peace for at least a week.” Jenu’s voice cracked and he wiped a tear that escaped his eye.

Sharaina and Emelinia were taken aback by that. Naliya held his shoulder as support and he nodded his head at her.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that I really do wish he was here. I am really missing my friend. He would have been so proud. Sharaina my child, you have brought so much happiness to us. Gemhules will always be proud for having raised a queen.” Jenu said and Sharaina felt too overwhelmed with emotion to speak. She just gave him a warm hug.

Mr. Bayin stepped out of the crowd and straightened his jacket. He took off his top hat and bowed to Sharaina. Sharaina broke away from Jenu and smiled brightly at him with teary eyes.

“I take it that I will not be seeing you in my bar anymore.” Mr. Bayin said and everyone laughed.

“I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you. I am full of surprises.” Sharaina waved her eyebrows up and down at Mr. Bayin.

Sharaina and Emelinia walked to the front porch of the house. They anxiously got to the door and Sharaina held the door knob. She glanced over at Emelinia and Emelinia gave her a soft nod.

Sharaina opened the door to their clean living room. Everything was arranged the way her mother would have arranged it.

Precious ran upstairs immediately she set her foot into the house. Emelinia didn’t scold her because she was feeling so overjoyed as she looked around the house.

Sharaina and Emelinia went into the kitchen and smiled at how warm it looked. Sharaina pictured her mother cooking on the stove. The image faded and she felt a tight knot in her chest.

Sharaina walked away and went back to the living room. She was stricken by the portraits on the wall. She had seen them more than a hundred times but not once had she ever looked at them ever so longingly. It was like she was seeing them for the first time.

Her eyes moved from the picture when she was just a baby in her mother’s arms and her father holding Naian to a picture of her at her first day of school. She glanced over to the family portrait that was taken when Alainara was born. There was one of her with just Naian and another with Naian and Alainara.

Sharaina gazed upon her wedding photo with Light and then at Naian and Emelinia’s wedding photo. The last picture she looked at was the one that was taken at a breakfast inn in Perivion.

She couldn’t stop herself from smiling when she saw the smiles on Light, Naian, Emelinia and her face. They were all hangover that morning but the picture came out perfect.

“Sharaina, ” Emelinia’s soft voice cut Sharaina’s thoughts. She turned to give Emelinia her undivided attention.

“Yes Emelinia.” Sharaina answered.

“I have decided to stay here.” Emelinia said, her uneasiness was clear. “It’s just that -” She paused when Sharaina held her hand in midair.

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me Emelinia. This is your husband’s house. Your place is here.” Sharaina smiled at Emelinia and her anxiety left her. “Moreover, they have to find their house the same when they return.” Sharaina continued.

“It amazes me how quick you are to understand me.” Emelinia happily confessed.

“If I don’t, who will?” Sharaina winked at her. “You don’t have to worry about expenses. With Naian gone, you and the children are my responsibility.”

Emelinia dropped her eyebrows at this. “No Sharaina, you don’t have to burden yourself.”

“I have accepted your decision to stay here therefore you must accept my decision to care for your needs and wants.” Sharaina said, her voice was firm.

“I still insist,” Emelinia stopped speaking when Sharaina shook her head.

“What do our traditions say in cases such as these?” Sharaina asked Emelinia.

Emelinia folded her hands. “They say that in the absence of the husband, father in law and mother in law, the immediate sibling of the husband takes care of the wife and children.”

Sharaina nodded her head at Emelinia’s response. “They also say that the wife is to submit to the immediate sibling.” Sharaina added and laughed softly at Emelinia.

Emelinia laughed with Sharaina. In the midst of her laughter, she paused and had a thoughtful look on her face. “Will you be okay in Cherilisia?” She asked, concerned.

“Yes I will. I will have my son and husband with me to keep me company.” Sharaina quickly answered.

“Your coronation is tomorrow. Are you ready?” Emelinia asked again.

“One can never really know when it comes to such.”

*****

The night went by and the morning of the Sharaina’s coronation arrived. The whole kingdom was in a celebratory mood. The people in Cherilisia and those in neighboring towns flocked to the royal castle just to witness the long awaited crowning of Sharaina.

The invited guests were seen arriving at the castle in carriages and they were dressed in the finest clothes. Light’s family got out of their carriages and the crowd cheerfully called after them.

'Look, they are Queen Sharaina’s in laws.'

'They are so fortunate!'

'I wish I was related to royalty.'

'They are already a noble family. Now they are royal!'

Nami fanned herself as she took in the crowd’s words with a proud smile on her face. Velan held out his elbow to her and she gladly took it. Their daughters walked right behind them. They all wore beautiful puffy dresses and were adorned in expensive jewelry.

When the family finally got into the castle, they were welcomed by a butler who escorted them to were the coronation was going to take place. Nami set her eyes on Panima and Sariba. The three women embraced each other. Velan smiled at them and he was joined by Alamva.

“It is indeed a proud day for all of us.” Velan said to Alamva.

“Oh yes, Yolin is finally going to achieve her goal of been a commander. Sariba and I are feeling over the moon.” Alamva answered blissfully.

Lalina entered the ball room and looked around for Emelinia. She saw her talking to Channy, Chief Malov Chalov and Fidaphra. Lalina made her way to them and announced her presence by clearing her throat. Malov Chalov excused himself and took his wife with him.

“How are you doing Lalina? Are your wounds all better now?” Channy softly asked Lalina.

“I am all better now ma.” Lalina answered with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. “I feared that I was running late but turns out that I am in time.” Lalina confessed with a giggle.

“Oh Sharaina is still getting ready but she should be down here soon.” Emelinia looked around for Sharaina as she spoke. “Any minute now.” She winked.

Panima looked around for Lalina. She had a worried look on her face. "Lalina is always s slow at preparing herself. I only hope she doesn’t come late."

She caught a glimpse of Lalina’s back and sighed in relief. “Excuse me ladies.” She said to Nami and Sariba and they nodded politely at her.

Panima hurried her way to Lalina. She was walking so fast that she nearly tripped a waiter carrying glasses of wine on a golden tray. She apologized to the waiter and slowed down her steps.

Panima, however, came to a complete stop when she caught sight of Emelinia and Channy. Her eyes set on Channy and both women felt awkward.

Lalina couldn’t understand the sudden look of discomfort on Channy so she turned to see what was causing it. When she saw her mother having the same look on her face, she became tensed.

“Mama?” Lalina began, desperately trying to break the ice.

Having no other choice, Panima approached them. She held her dress and tried her best not to look directly into Channy’s eyes. Channy was also doing the same. Lalina and Emelinia raised their eyebrows at each other and gestured to each other to excuse their mothers. Without the girls there, Channy and Panima were forced to confront each other.

“How are you doing?” Panima broke the awkward silence.

“I am doing okay, and you?” Channy replied with a faint smile.

“I am doing fine. I can safely say that I am happy especially now that Holan is out of my life.” Panima returned the faint smile and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“I heard that he has been sentenced to life imprisonment.” Channy added.

“Yes, he was sentenced yesterday in the morning.” Panima quickly answered and there was another moment of silence between them.

“I am sorry about what I did to you.” Channy apologized and felt a heavy load lift from her shoulders.

Panima looked at her with wide and surprised eyes. Channy felt tensed and took a step back hoping that Panima wasn’t going to cause a scene. The two women did not take notice of Emelinia and Lalina spying at them from afar.

They hid behind a pillar and peeped at them. Their behavior stunned the guests that saw them. Liss and Mayla saw them too and they were surprised. Both of them approached Emelinia and Lalina. Liss tapped Lalina and she got startled.

“Damn Liss, don’t you know that it is impolite to sneak up on people?” Lalina aggressively whispered to Liss.

“Who are you two spying at?” Liss asked and stretched her neck to see but she was pulled back by Emelinia.

“Our mothers, don't blow our cover.” Emelinia told and Liss took Lalina’s place behind the pillar.

“Hey!” Lalina protested.

“Shush!” Liss shushed her. “I can’t hear what they are saying.”

Mayla used her good hand that wasn’t bandaged up to pull Emelinia away from the pillar and she peeped. “I hope they don’t start drama.” She remarked and Liss snickered.

Emelinia and Lalina folded their arms in annoyance. “Can you believe these two?” Emelinia asked Lalina

“We are the ones who should by spying. I mean this is our business.” Lalina hissed.

“SHUSH!” Both Liss and Mayla shushed them.

“Oh shush yourselves.” Lalina retaliated.

Liss suddenly chuckled. “Your mom is walking towards Emelinia’s mom.”

Emelinia felt her heart skip a beat and she pulled Liss away from the pillar. Mayla heard Lalina clear her throat and she backed away. Emelinia and Lalina’s hearts raced as they watched Panima go to Channy.

Emelinia’s eyes widened while Lalina bit her finger. When Panima was close enough, she smiled warmly at Channy and gave her a surprise hug. Emelinia and Lalina’s jaws dropped at that.

“What is going on?” Liss asked them.

“SHUSH!” Emelinia and Lalina aggressively shushed them and Liss backed away with a smirk on her face.

Channy was completely caught off guard by Panima's hug. For a minute she didn’t know what to do. She just stood there frozen and dumbfounded.

“You don’t have to apologize to me. I know everything.” Panima softly said to Channy. She pulled away from Channy and sniffed. “You are just a victim as I am. To be honest, I have been wanting to meet you because you are…the only one who can fully relate to how abusive Holan was. Just the thought of having someone to talk to was all I wanted.”

Panima wiped a tear quickly before it smudged her make up. Her tears made Channy feel emotional too and she repeatedly blinked her eyes in order to avoid messing her own make up.

“I never pictured that our first meeting would be like this.” Channy smiled with teary eyes. “Oh my goodness if we continue like this, we will have to the powder room. Sharaina will be down here soon and it won’t be okay to miss out on any part of her coronation.” Channy ended with an infectious giggle.

“You are right.” Panima carefully poked her eyes with a white handkerchief while giggling. “I think two glasses of wine will do.” Panima suggested and Channy cheerfully agreed with her.

Panima saw a waiter walk a few feet away holding up a tray of wine. She called out to him and he immediately turned. Emelinia looked at him and her heart leaped with excitement. She rubbed her hands and let out a hefty laugh that puzzled Lalina, Liss and Mayla.

Emelinia wiped her hair behind, dramatically lifted her dress and went over to Channy and Panima. The waiter went over the ladies and presented the wine tray with a sophisticated bow.

Panima quickly picked her glass but Channy had a smug look on her face. She picked her glass too and the waiter raised his head to leave but when his eyes met Channy’s, he got so startled that he dropped the tray to the floor. All the glasses shattered on the floor. He got down and started picking up the broken glasses.

“Careful, you don’t want to hurt your finger, Erny.” Channy said and sipped on her wine.

“Oh my, you know him?” Lamilta asked Channy.

“He is someone I used to know.” Channy happily took another sip.

Erny felt so out of place. He wasn’t expecting to see Channy much less at such a prestigious event in the V.I.P area. He was feeling even more shocked at her beautiful and expensive clothing.

He wondered how she was even able to afford everything she had on. She was glowing and looking even more beautiful than he remembered. Erny decided to get away from her as soon as possible. He finished picking the broken glass and stood up only to lock eyes with Emelinia.

“Hello Erny.” Emelinia greeted him and he gave her a tight lipped smile. “Fancy seeing you here. When did you get out of jail?” Emelinia asked him. Her voice was soft but Channy and Erny knew that there was mockery behind it.

“Some time before the war.” Erny answered with his eyes on the floor.

“Oh that’s nice. I am not happy that you have broken all the wine glasses. Be a dear and get me some wine. I want to be able to give a toast when my sister in law is crowned queen of this kingdom.” Emelinia proudly said and Channy hid her smirk behind her wine glass.

What?! So that’s why these two are among the rich! Erny was astonished.

“I am going to need another one too. I have just finished my glass.” Panima added. She was completely unaware of what was happening.

“I should be finishing mine too. Bring me glass as well.” Channy ordered Erny.

A look of defeat took over Erny’s face. He shamefully gave a bow to the ladies and made his way back into the kitchen feeling so stupid. Channy and Emelinia remained giggling to themselves.