One Choice (11 page)
Authors: Ginger Solomon
In the background Cahri heard a soft clearing of a throat.
Prince Josiah released her as though she burned him. “I am sorry. I have forgotten myself and been too forward. Please forgive me.” He called to Anaya and Matthias then slipped from the room.
They walked with her back to her room. No words were spoken. The memory of the almost-kiss and the revelation that the prince was indeed the one who watched her in the mornings presided over her thoughts.
Anaya sighed when they'd reached Cahri's room. “Be careful of your heart. If you give it away too soon, it may come back broken. The prince likes you and is attracted to you as he demonstrated tonight, but his feelings and inclinations are not the sole motivation for his choice. You have done well, but there are many tests yet to come.”
“I understand.” But in reality the admonishment came too late. His kindness overwhelmed her and she was on a downhill slide to being in love with him. A slide she wouldn't stop even if she could.
“Goodnight, Cahri.”
“Goodnight, Anaya. Good night, Matthias.” She did not receive a response from him, but she didn't expect one.
Her roommates, those who remained, slept. She changed clothes and lay in bed. What a long and tiring night, but also exciting. She'd danced with the prince, twice. What would happen next?
She'd been here over two months. What could be left to teach?
Would her next encounter with him be as exciting?
****
“Father, I have made my choice.” Josiah stood before his father's desk once again, praying the outcome would be different this time. He wanted Cahri as his wife, and soon.
“We have had this discussion before. I know you think you have made up your mind, but you must finish the Bridal March. Fifteen women remain. It is time for you to spend time with them individually. Get to know them. I will not allow you to choose on a whim. You do not know any of them well enough to make an informed choice.”
Josiah left his father's office discouraged. He didn't want to continue on with the Bridal March. He'd made his choice already, and gone so far as to make some preparations for their wedding, but his father didn't need to know about those yet. They would be kept hidden until the right time.
Anaya knew and agreed with his choice. He trusted her judgment. She knew him better than anyone else.
He'd play his father's game, but in the end he'd still make the choice he wanted. He'd watched her for weeks. He knew her. She just didn't know him yet. Which would be rectified as soon as possible.
****
The next morning Cahri woke just past her normal time. Though still tired, she'd slept well. She anticipated her time in the garden, sitting on the bench. Stormy joined her today, opting for a dip in the pool, evidenced by the splash she heard.
The curtain in the second story window remained motionless. Would he sleep late?
Day 78â
Last night we attended a banquet. The food was so bad I got sick, but the food isn't what I remember most. I danced with the prince, twice. He almost kissed me. It was exciting, yet frightening. I wanted him to, but I didn't know what to expect. Then Anaya cleared her throat, and he backed away so fast, I thought he would fall. It embarrassed me to have wanted his lips to touch mine so much I ached.
Anaya told me I needed to guard my heart. It's too late for that. At least a portion of my heart already belongs to the prince.
He's so handsome. Last night he wore all black. He reminded me of a bad boy, but the dark colors brought out his brown eyes. I still just want to jump in those luscious pools of chocolate and drown. He gave me a new handkerchief too. It smells like him just like the other one.
I wonder if he'll choose me. He seemed to like me last night, but he could have been that way with everyone. I wanted to watch him as he interacted with the others, but I didn't.
I looked up a verse this morningâ¦
“
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Such a hard thing.
She laid her notebook on the bench and meandered through the garden. She stopped and stretched. What a beautiful morning. A smile formed as she moved her gaze around the garden.
God's imagination in creation impressed her so much. The varieties of plants alone was incredible, let alone everything else He'd created. She sniffed a rose, inhaling its scent. God's perfume. It reminded Cahri of her mom, who'd loved roses.
Almost four years since she had died, along with Cahri's dad, but it wasn't often a day passed when Cahri didn't think about her and miss her. She'd been such a vibrant woman and such a godly example of a wife and mother.
She wandered toward the steps and sat down. Stormy's body slipped through the water in the pool with ease.
So much had changed in her life over the last two and a half months.
The first week had been horrible. Her world had collapsed around her, and no one had been able to save her. She'd packed, donated, and cried. Then she'd arrived at the palace, and isolation had become her friend. As time passed, she'd accepted this as one of those times uncertainty would reign. A time when life was lived one day at a time, sometimes one step at a time.
She remembered Pastor Phillip's last words, “God loves you, even when you're angry with Him.” The verses resonated in her heart. She just couldn't accept that her parents' death was the act of a loving God.
The few weeks after arriving she'd spent learning all she could about life in a palace, though she hadn't had any notion of being picked as the prince's bride, still didn't in fact. It didn't stop her from dreaming about him though.
She'd never been under the illusion she was special â different, yes, but special, she didn't think so. God thought she was special because He made her, but the world in general didn't think like God.
Her thoughts seemed to stray to God more and more often. Someone must be praying for her. God called her; she heard it. His presence was near; she felt it. It wasn't easy to forget or ignore once it had been experienced.
How had Adam and Eve felt when they realized they had disappointed God â that they had been duped by the devil? Everything she used to dream about they had: personal fellowship with God every day, the beauty of a garden made just for them, the companionship of many, if not all, of the animals God created, unlimited food, and each other. They messed it up for the rest of mankind, who couldn't even imagine life lived that way. Two people who gave it all up for a piece of fruit which they thought would give them the knowledge of good and evil. Why would one want to know about evil anyway?
A hand on her shoulder startled her out of her reverie.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Anaya.” Cahri stood.
“You are up early after a late night. I thought you might sleep in.”
“I did, about fifteen minutes.” Cahri laughed. “I've never been one to sleep in, even after staying up late. I will just turn in earlier tonight. What are
you
doing up?”
“Ahh, life in a palace does not stop because of a late night. Today Josiah and I have to take care of some business in another town. Our father has asked that we also ride to one of our more secluded homes to check on it. It is accessible by helicopter or horseback, so we decided to ride horses and enjoy the time away. We must get started in a few minutes in order to be back before dark. I just thought I would mention that today is a scheduled day off. Relax. Enjoy yourself. Laugh. I will see you tomorrow.”
“Be careful and enjoy yourself as well. Give my regards to the prince.”
“Did you think about what I said last night?” Worry laced Anaya's tone.
“Yes, but your admonition comes a little too late.” Cahri paused and flashed a smile at her friend. “Though before our talk I didn't even know it. My heart is not my own anymore, and if it comes back to me broken, then I will manage somehow.”
“I see. Well, I will pray it does not come back to you broken then. I would enjoy having you as a sister.”
“And I, you.”
“We'll continue this discussion tomorrow, I must go now. My brother waits.” Anaya moved away, but then twisted back and gave Cahri a hug.
It startled Cahri at first, but she returned the hug and joy bubbled up inside. A friend.
She spent the morning among the others, trying to enjoy their company. Conversation revolved around the previous night's banquet and those who'd left. Fifteen of the original fifty remained. The numbers dwindled a great deal last night, between those who went with the nobles and the ones the king decided were unacceptable. How could the Bridal March last another three months?
After lunch, she took a nap. Then the garden enticed her to wander. She needed a few minutes of peace in her favorite place. An intense urge to pray for Anaya and Prince Josiah invaded her thoughts. The weight upon her heart continued, and even though she hadn't prayed an intercessory prayer in years, she had no choice but to submit. She stayed in prayer for over an hour. Though she remained estranged from God, a certain peace overshadowed her. While all was not well, she had done her part by praying for them. She awaited news, but didn't expect any until morning. The trip took all day already, and if they'd had trouble, it would be longer still.
Prayer remained her closest friend that evening as she lifted them up over and over. She retired before her normal time, but sleep eluded her. She was not worried, well, maybe a little. Concerned described her thoughts better, but she knew they were in the hands of God because she had placed them there many times.
The gallery, another of her favorite places, beckoned. None of the others ever went there, so she'd be alone. She walked around the room caressing the framed portraits. She came to the place where Prince Jonathan's picture had hung and found a new one in its place. Prince Josiah. She sighed and sat to stare at it. Her prayers became more fervent until she could no longer control the tears which cascaded down her face.
Cahri returned to her room emotionally, spiritually, and physically spent. Sleep claimed her weary body. Dreams invaded her mind.
Anaya and Prince Josiah rode a path surrounded by trees and bushes, and then they trotted along a sandy plain filled with scrub brush. They joked and laughed. Then their faces changed as if they were in great pain. No longer on their horses, the prince lay sprawled on the ground as Anaya and two others knelt over him, weeping and calling his name.
Cahri woke with a start, soaked with sweat, sheets twisted, and Stormy meowing his complaint. Her heart knew the prince was injured, but Anaya remained unharmed.
The clock declared the time to be just before six. She got up and went to the garden, unable to sleep. The moon, still almost full, rested just above the horizon. Its other-worldly glow cast shadows all around her. The light shone forth almost as bright as the sun. She wished she had a camera or could draw, so she could capture the image. Peace and quiet clothed the landscape. The whole garden seemed to hold its breath, as if it too awaited news of the prince.
She sat on the bench to pray. Things would change today, again. She didn't know how, but they would. Her heart lifted Prince Josiah up in prayer. She noticed a light glowed from his room, even at this hour. He must be here. Maybe his injuries weren't too severe.
She replayed the dream over and over in her mind. Had it happened that way, or was it just an incentive for her to pray? She didn't know if she added details to the dream each time she relived it or whether she remembered more of the dream. The more she tried to remember, the fuzzier it became.
The sky morphed from darkness to pink and then yellow. She walked to another part of the garden and watched as the sunlight bathed the flowers and trees. A gentle peace settled in her heart, something akin to hope.
Another hour passed before the others moved around inside. She went back to her room to straighten up and prepare for the change to come.
Breakfast was served as usual.
“Could I have your attention please, ladies?” Ashura waited for everyone to be quiet. “Yesterday Prince Josiah was in an accident. Due to the time needed for his recovery, the king has decided to cancel the Bridal March.”
The remaining ladies gasped and gazed at each other. A few had tears in their eyes.
“Two options are available to you. The nobles still looking for wives have been summoned and will assemble in the banquet hall in an hour. If you are not chosen or choose not to participate, you may return to your homes.”
Cahri's heart thudded in her chest. She didn't wish to marry a noble, and she had no home to return to.
She glanced around for Anaya, but expected it to be in vain. Cahri approached Ashura and asked to speak to her. He told Cahri it wasn't possible. Her family needed her, and she couldn't be disturbed.
“I understand. Can I send her a note? It's urgent I contact her.”
“Yes. I will see she gets it before you leave. Go write your note. I will wait here for five minutes. Hurry.”
“Yes, sir.” She rushed to her room, thinking over her words as she went. In her room, she wrote as fast as she could without being too messy.
Dear Anaya,
Ashura informed us the Bridal March has been canceled due to Prince Josiah's accident. As you know, I have come to care a great deal for the prince, and I am appealing to you as my friend.
Since I have nowhere to go, I request I be allowed to become a servant or a companion to you. I know this is most unusual, but I pray you would consider my offer.
I will not to take a noble for a husband, so if your family refuses my request, I will be leaving the country. It has been my plan from the beginning, if I were not chosen to be Prince Josiah's bride, to move to France to be with my brother and his family for a time. Afterward, I don't know. I have always assumed Belikara would be where I would live and someday die.