The Queen of the World (private Accalia and Cheezeegriff)

[cheezeegriff]

The Queen of the World

Introduction:
Dharon Ilkhan has conquered nearly all the known world. He controls the largest pride in Africa, and the largest group of animals across the continents. Every enemy has fallen at his feet. There are none who stand against him.

But conquer is easier than control. There's rebellion in the air. In order to secure his position, Dharon must find a queen, lest his rule be toppled from within his own ranks. He sends a decree out to all his subjects: "Ready your fairest, healthiest and smartest lionesses so that he may choose a future queen. The pride that is successful will receive many gifts to show the supreme leader's thanks, including an servant leopard and five slave gorillas for every male, and a monthly tribute of food that will double should the queen bear a male heir."

The queens have now come in their thousands. But how will the king's servants pick the one queen who is more beautiful, more intelligent and most robust of health of any other lioness in the world? And the lionesses themselves: how will they cope with the pressure of performing? And do they really want to be queen of the most powerful lion on earth, or are they being forced to do so by power hungry oligarchs?


***


"Hear Ye, Hear Ye," cried the Peregrine Falcon in his whistling voice. "A proclamation from the Ilkhan! Ready your fairest, healthiest and smartest lionesses so that His Most Supreme Ruler may choose a future queen. The pride whose offering becomes bride will receive no less than enough food for all for one hundred years; a servant leopard and five gorilla slaves for every male lion, leopard and cheetah, and many other great gifts! Initial selections will take place on the first day of summer at his Most Supreme Leader's Summer Camp at the first branch of the Nile River Delta. All prides who submit no less than two applicants will become enemies of the Ilkhanate Pride! Those who submit more will receive two slaves for every submission over two!"
Then he drew a deep breath and repeated his cry, though as he did he looked down on the small pride of cream-coloured lions to whom he was delivering his message. 'Backwater people,' he thought to himself. 'Anyone they send would likely be an inbred simpleton at best.' Then, finishing his second proclamation, he pointed his beak towards the mountains. Perhaps he could capture a pigeon for dinner before night set in.

[Accalia]

The cries from the crow over-head stirred Taji from her quiet slumber. At first all she heard was the whistles of a bird, but she soon realised that it was a message, from the king?

A shudder fell through her body as she continued to listen. Herself, her sister, her mother, her aunt, and little cub Pali were the only females in the pride. Despite there once being a surplus of females they had all either fled or fallen to illness, however most of them were taken as slaves by neighbouring prides. As this news sunk in, it took but a second for Taji to realise what was going to happen to her. She was going to travel south.. to the king. The King whom all feared.

~~~

The pale brute of a lion craned his head sky-wards, to see the Falcon as he carried his news to his pride. His eyes narrowed. He heard a shrill cry as his youngest crashed through the trees in the distance. His eyes snapped to the ground, and he quickly exited from his den to see around a dozen pairs of disconcerted eyes staring back at him. He was speechless as he simply stared back at his concerned subjects.

Elewa at that moment let out a pained rawr as she began to cry. She looked towards a member of the pride, pain filling both of their faces. A love that was shared, but was now to be doomed. She collapsed to the floor.

The leader simply watched as his daughter cried and looked towards his mate, her ever unchanging face displaying a tremor of pain.

At that moment Taji crashed into her fathers view and she stopped. His face was stern, and yet something told her that he was trying to apologise to her. "no...no.. don't make me go please" she thought to herself, wanting with all her body for her father to hear, but she couldn't bring herself to words and simply let tears fall down her cheek.

Her mother watched unmoving as Taji padded to her father, beaten and scared. Liaski looked at his young daughter as she bowed to him and as she rose he nodded and after a second pulled her in with his oversized paws into an embrace filled with sorrow and apologies. Taji simply let his emotions seep into her and she buried her face in his scared chest. Neither of them said anything as the pride watched stricken with shock.

Liaski raised his head and Taji moved to his side.

Liaski's booming voice filled the silence, "As you all know, we have very few of our females remaining. This message from the king shows us that we have no option but to surrender my two daughters to the king. I know some of you will hunger for war against him, but we are two small, and too far from his base to be capable of even thinking about rebuking.."

Taji knew this already. She looked towards the stone beneath her feet, and began to let her hate for the king fester. Her sister was courting a lion in the pride and they had hoped to become mates within the summer, but that would be impossible now. Taji even doubted their return. She had heard a great many foul thing about the king and presumed that even if they weren't picked as his bride they would either be used as weapons of war or slaves of pleasure.

"I ask at least one male to accompany the young lionesses on their long journey to the River Nile Delta." Only silence met the call.

She looked up to the faces surrounding them, Then the choked voice of Elewa filled the air, "Myself and Taji will travel alone. She and I are strong enough to travel alone."

Taji snapped her head to look at her sister, who was now standing tall. She was approaching adulthood and her face was short and muscular. Sorrow ran across her face, but still she looked like a brute.

"Sister, you know that we would barely be able to make it past the Kadubahli with only the pair of us." Her own voice sounded almost like that of a child's after her father's and sister's. Elewa shot her a look of desperation, and they both turned to the audience, their faces pleading for anyone to accompany them.

[cheezeegriff]

"I will accompany her," Mzee said, stepping forward. He was an older lion. Too old to challenge for the throne but still stocky and strong, if not quite as fast as he used to be. One canine was bent, and poked out of his grizzled face on the right. "It would be an honour to escort your daughters and protect them on their way." He turned, glancing sideways at Elewa with a lopsided grin and added, "Not that I believe they cannot take care of themselves. Should you wish it, my lord, I will travel with them and see to their safety."

[Accalia]

As a rugged voice echoed into the silence a great sense of relief flooded over Taji. She knew that if no one volunteered they would have ventured anyway, and there would have been no chance for the pair of them, there were a great many prides to pass to arrive at the kings camp, and they were both lionesses. The north is no place for lionesses alone.

Liaski bowed his head in thanks and as he rose his head a smile filled with relief lay on his maw. Elewa smiled in thanks at the lion, Taji lowering her head slightly in gratitude. She was shaken and scared, she knew it was a long journey they would have to partake in, and if they were to make the deadline then they would have to depart within the next three days. She looked to her sister. Her face was smiling, but her eyes were crying out in grief. She might be a brute, but she still felt emotions.

"Mzee, thank you my friend." Liaski smiled at his pride member, the pride was at a size where everyone knew everyone and cared for eachother. "You will set off in seven days." Taji stared at his father. That would be too late, but she couldn't simply say that they needed to go earlier, he would presume that she wanted to go. The three of them turned and began to enter the den, Jarrow following and beaconing for Mzee to accompany them.

[cheezeegriff]

Baagh looked out over the contrasting landscape of dry desert and lush Palm trees. The Delta was a beautiful place. The only water around for miles, with much prey on which to feast. It had taken his master several years to conquer the pride of lions that had lived here. Many years, and many lives, and Baagh's innocence. He'd killed for his master for this place. He'd seen blood and comrades fall on these very stones, under these very palms.

Now, it was filled with lionesses.

Never had he seen so many lionesses in one place. There were literally thousands of them. They lay over rocks or on grass or sand below Palm trees, or swam and splashed in the water. All were beautiful according to some culture's standing, from stretched ears and lips and tribal scars from the prides from the heart of Africa, to huge cows lying side-by-side with their stomachs on litters carried by a dozen gorillas. Some covered their faces with veils of grass. Others weaved grass in their hair or on tassels about their ankles. One, he had seen, was from an isolated pride that chopped off their ears and tails. So much culture all in one place.

And so many enemies.

Enemies of the king, enemies of each other. It was good the delta was separated by many waterways. They could put the members of one warring tribe well away from those with whom they would seek conflict. But still there were many watchful eyes to make sure no conflicts broke out, both on the part of the Ilkhan's private guard, and on the personal guards of the lionesses themselves. But with so many thousands of lionesses in one place there had already been fifty attempted assassinations, five of which were successful, and more than a dozen executions for those who failed to keep the peace. Like always, the Ilkhan's rules were clear, and the consequences of breaking them were harsh.

Eagles flew overhead. Nobody knew, but it was their job to catalogue the most beautiful, the most social, the most exotic. They would pick the hundred and one lionesses who would pass the cut for the next round. Very soon, the rest would go home.

He looked up, between the dunes of sand, and noticed a trio emerging from the passage by the riverside. A wary old lion and two lionesses, all cream-coloured. A gorilla with an old eagle on his shoulder and flanked by two lion guards were already approaching them. Baagh knew what he would say:

"Welcome to the Nile Delta, my lord and my ladies" the old eagle said to Mzee, Elewa and Taji. "Please state your names and your pride, so that you may be announced."

[Accalia]

Taji carried her weary feet towards the destination. They had made it. They had made it to the Delta River. 

Around her ankle lay her pride token, and a delicate jewel was fastened with string around her tail. At first she had found the weight almost unbearable, but now she could barely notice it. Though she doubted she would sense much of anything at this point, she was in desperate need of a rest.

Beside her, her sister was beginning to be slightly aggravated already and Taji nudged her shoulder playfully. Mzee just gave a relieved sigh and looked at the lionesses with an approving smile. He was a little younger than her own father, who was beginning to become extensively sick for long periods. It was almost his time to join the great kings in the sky, though she hesitated to think about that, her pride needed him. She was thankful for Mzee's presence, it comforted her just that little bit more in this strange situation.

Taji had been graced with several weeks of travel and quiet to think about what she should do about her situation. She knew that there were two options to do about the king; either give up and not try, and hope she'd be sent home, or be the most likeable and well balanced lioness and bring her pride great strength and wealth. She knew her father's pride strongly disliked the king, and she could feel her stomach churn every time she though about being his queen, but she was a young adult now, she had to make decisions for herself, and she wondered that due to her fathers old age that maybe it would be the best thing to try her hardest to be his bride..

The chatter of lionesses engulfed them as they dawned ever closer to the centre of the meeting place. Her sisters aggravation grew, but beneath it all Taji saw a glimmer of excitement. It had been years since they had met any lionesses their age.

As a gorilla approached them, an eagle on his shoulder and lion guards at his either side, the dishevelled voice of the eagle spoke;"Welcome to the Nile Delta, my lord and my ladies. Please state your names and your pride, so that you may be announced."

Taji smiled gracefully and took a small bow "I am graced to be here. I am Taji, fith born of Liaski of the Taskurian pride based in the north. This is my sister, Elewa, and our escort, Mzee." Mzee didn't move, keeping a steady eye on the eagle. Elewa, however reluctant, followed her sisters lead and bowed.

She flicked her tail ever-so slightly, letting the jewel glisten in the sun-light, her mouth spread in a very gentle smile. On the inside, though, she was scowling. All of this was so un called for, she was from a pride barely known by the ones surrounding it, let alone the King. Even if she did end up being the most well balanced lioness, marrying her would give no political benefits. Anyway, she knew she was far from attractive and well balanced, but she owed it to her pride to try.

Taji was careful not to look around just yet. She needed to make sure the eagle knew she was focused on her chance to be the kings bride. Herself and her sister were going to need all the help they could get just to avoid being 'lost' within the thousands of lionesses.

[cheezeegriff]

"Thank you. Your names will be recorded for later use. It is good that you joined us. We were beginning to wonder if we would have any entries from the pride of cream lions," the old eagle said, not bothering to mention the implication of what would happen if they didn't turn up. "The selection process has already started, howevever we can fast-track your process so that you may be at the same level as the other lionesses. Please, feel free to mingle. Sample any of the prey animals we have - they will gladly sacrifice themselves for the good of the pride." He waved a wing at a zebra walking between the lounging lionesses without fear, ready and willing to become someone's lunch. "Soon I will send someone to include both of you in the selection process." He pecked the gorillas head, who began walking away, back towards a cluster of loose boulders atop a sandy bank rimmed with palm trees.

Mzee said, "We should choose our company wisely, my wards. Some of the applicants here will be from our enemy tribes, and if we are seen associating with one pride, we will incur the wrath of THEIR enemies." Still, he began walking into the crowd of lionesses, eyes darting carefully to ensure his charges were safe.

[Accalia]

Taji followed the eagles gesture with her eyes to see the zebra, simply waiting to die. As the eagle left she bowed once again, before turning towards Mzee as he gave them advice. "I agree, thankfully I've always been interested with the prides and have been gathering all the information I could from a young age. I advise that we become friends with the Quilan pride. They aren't particularly large, but they have always prided themselves with being peaceful lions, and so their enemies are only the violent prides who are in it for themselves." She took a moment to search the surrounding area, "I've heard that they paint themselves with berry juice in small markings.." She took a step closer to Elewa and in a hushed, rushed voice "I am going to try my best to become the king's bride, to bring wealth and glory to our pride. So you just.. You need to be careful.. Please don't be violent. Remember the lioness training we had as a cub." She continued walking past her, so that it appeared to anyone outside of the pair of them as if she had just paused.

As she slowly walked, she looked to Mzee and said "We should also try to find a pride close to the king. Everyone has their favourite children," she said referencing the many gathered prides, "and so if we become friends with his favourites he might be more likely to notice us."

She looked over to a large collection of similarly coloured lionesses, all adorned in similar, luxurious adornments, "Well, it looks like we found the favourites." She wore a friendly smile and continued walking, making sure to pay very close attention to everything she could see. Assassination attempts would be a constant worry from now on.

[cheezeegriff]

"Ah! Heelp," came a cry from among the lounging lionesses, in a voice that could only be a child's. Mzee looked up to see a male, barely an adolescent, running between and around and over the Kings guests. He had a look of panic in his eyes. Before he could do anything the little frightened lion cub turned and crashed straight into Taji's foreleg, sending him sitting back on his rump, dazed, and looking up to her with big blue eyes.
"There he is," came the call of a gruff male. He was flanked by two other lions. Mzee pushed at his charges hastily and said, "My ladies. Walk away. Now." He pushed past the little cub, who looked up at Taji with big blue eyes. Mzee held his breath, wondering what his charges would do...

[Accalia]

The desperate cry of a child caused Taji's ears to prick up, and her eyes shoot towards the young adolescent. His mane was just a tuft on his head and a small clump of longer hair on his chest. His eyes were dazzling, and as he looked up at her Taji didn't move, transfixed in the frightened blue of his eyes. The call of the gruff man made her exhale a heavy sigh of air.

As Mzee beaconed to the pair of them Elewa went willingly, she wasn't one for cubs other than her own prides. Infact, she wasn't for much outside of their own pride.

Taji refused to move for a moment, the three lions dawning ever closer. She looked to the three muscular males, then back to the cub before clamping her paw down on his tail, making sure he wouldn't move. She wanted to know what he'd done to deserve being chased by three males.

She looked away from the cub who was squirming under her grip, but she didn't move, and as the lions approached them she lowered her head and once she had raised it again, asked curiously, "I am not here to intervene with your pursuit, but please, tell me what this child has done to deserve whatever you plan to do to him?" She didn't want to anger these people, and what she was doing was a massive risk to her plan, but curiosity had gotten the best of her, as it often had the habit of doing. She could feel the disapproval from her sister burning into her shoulder, but she hoped her sister knew better than to come closer. The last thing she wanted was for these men to feel that they were being messed with.

[cheezeegriff]

Baagh slowed down as he approached the tan lioness, raising his paw to command his guards to halt. He tried not to look in the cub's eyes, or the lioness', for it was easy to get distracted by beauty or the appearance of innocence. Instead he fixed his eyes on Mzee. "This boy was caught stealing pearls from the Second Princess of Zambezi. He was being led to the execution stone when he escaped."
"S'not true," the cub said, wide-eyed with panic, breathing rapidly. He fixed his eyes on Taji. "I didn't do nothing like that. I just deliver messages. S'what I am - a messenger boy. Please..."
"Thank you for apprehending the boy," Baagh said. "If you please, my lady, I'll take him off your hands now."
"No..." the cub shrank back against Taji's flank, shaking.

[Accalia]

Taji listened intently, she then looked to the cub shaking against her. Hesitantly she lifted her paw, if this cub really was a thief he would most certainly run, the issue was that it isn't uncommon for non-guilty of people to run too.
She knew she couldn't take the side of this possible thief if she wanted to even get close to the King. Her ear flicked as she heard the exasperated exhale of air from her sister, and she looked to the male lion. "Please sir, its just for my conscious, but can you please listen to what he says before you put him down. Its awful to see such young lions cut down before their time, and I'd hate to find out I helped in the punishment of a non-guilty lion." She had to be careful about how she said things, she was most certainly not in control here, and she should probably just hand the cub over, but her moral sense couldn't help but try to save this cub.

She gave an elegant drop of her head and said quietly "Sorry for wasting your time my lords." She gave a final look to the cub before turning to Elewa and Mzee.

[cheezeegriff]

"It's no trouble," Baagh said, his expression neutral and tone as flat as a tack. "We have listened to what he has had to say. He denies everything, however the princess of Zambezi herself testifies against him. The word of a cub matters little to that of a princess."
"Taji," Mzee said, his eyes wide emphatically. "I urge you. Follow this young Lord's instruction and hand over the child. He is not your responsibility."

[Accalia]

She looked to Mzee, then back to the cub. "I'm sorry child." she nudges the cub towards the lions "No thief should be permitted to live." her expression was light and as graceful as ever. She didn't seem particularly phased by this whole ordeal, but within, her sense of justice was screaming out. It was unfair for this cub to simply be put down because a princess said he stole. However, she could not voice these opinions, not here, not at all if her plan succeeded and she became the kings queen, though as the minutes drew out she began doubting this ever happening more and more.

She lowered her head in a bow, and once lifting it taking one last look at the placid male. It wasn't until now that she realised his looks. A strange pang of emotion erupted from her stomach, but it was soon gone, the only change in her expression was a small double blink, which none other then those highly observant would pick up on.

[cheezeegriff]

"Thank you, my lady," the lion says, as his guards grab the cub. First the cub cried, then he growled in his kitten-like shriek, then he wailed as if in horror. "Enjoy your stay." He turned to march away, following his two comrades.
Mzee sighed, watching the guards retreat. The guard that had been on Baagh's left bumped into a gorilla slave, who turned about as if to chastise, but upon seeing the guard he fell on his face. Mzee's eyes widened. It had looked as if the gorilla had mouthed 'majesty.'
The lion guard hurried off, leaving the gorilla face down in the mud. Odd.
"Well done, my lady," he said. "Come. Let us find ourselves that Quilan pride." But he looked over his shoulder at the gorilla, who was, only now, climbing to his feet.

[Accalia]

"Thank you Mzee. Yes that would be wise." she had already turned her back on the male, but she could see the questioning in Mzee's eyes. She would inquire about it later, when there was less threat of being heard.

She padded onwards, Elewa walking startlingly close to her. She looked up to her sister, her face displaying her discomfort in a way only she would notice; the muscles around her eyes were knotted together slightly, and she looked startlingly grave. Then she noticed her own expression, plain and calm, she was surprised by her lack of fear, it wasn't often Elewa to be the scared one.. She looked to the ground and bumped her shoulder slightly into Elewa's. "I'll get you out." she whispered, Elewa nodding in reply, and letting out a heavy sigh.

The vibrant red appeared out of the corner of her eye, and she quickly readjusted her view to be doubly sure. There was a group of lionesses, all wearing light, happy expressions, simply enjoying lounging around in the mid-day sun. "Mzee, look. Over there by the small wash pool." Elewa looked too, her face now less troubled. "I can't tell if they're painted or not. Could it be the Quilan pride?"

[cheezeegriff]

"I don't know," Mzee replied. He then reached out a paw and lay it on the shoulder of a passing female gorilla. "Excuse me. That pride by the pools. Who are they?"
"The Quillian Pride," the gorilla said, without raising her head.
"Thank you." Mzee withdrew his paw, then smiled at the girls. "I suppose we have our answer."

[Accalia]

Elewa and Taji both smiled in return. Step one had been done; find the Quilian pride. Now they needed to actually talk and socialise with the strangers. The group walked towards the painted lionesses, many smiling at each other. "They seem nice enough.." Taji whispered to the two.

As she neared a lioness on the outskirts of the gathered pride, she gave a friendly smile and bow, "I hope im not interrupting anything. I was just looking for some company to enjoy this wonderful camp with!" She looked up then and was taken a back at how beautiful she was. It threw her off. How could she hope to beat that at being the kings queen? granted she was intelligent, but she had little beauty in comparison to this lioness, and this was just one of the Quilian pride.

She realised her tail was a little too close to the ground, too submissive. She raised it a little and her head too. She wasn't going to be a push over.

She turned to face Mzee and Elewa, "I know we aren't nearly as respectable as your own pride, but this is my sister, Elewa, and our escort Mzee. I hope we can form a close acquaintanceship."

[cheezeegriff]

Mzee frowned at the lioness Taji was addressing. She gazed back with barely-hid repulsion. But then a voice from further in their gathering said, "Oh, Emwa, let them through. They only want to say hello. Are we going to turn our noses up at everyone?"
Emwa stepped aside, revealing a fascinating sight. On a pile of soft, thick leaves, being fanned by two female lion attendants and fed by another, lounged another more beautiful than even the first. It was hard to determine her age under the swirls of body paint and the crown of feathers poking from her head. Discs of coloured stone had even been inserted into her ears. "Come, travellers. Join me for some refreshment. Make yourselves comfortable. I am Oceli, Queen of the Quilian Pride."
Emwa gasped. "Highness. You must not introduce yourself. It is beneath you."
Queen Oceli rolled her eyes. "Do they look like they would care for such formality? This is Emwa, my aide and confidant. She makes a better Queen than me in the field of elocution and social graces, I'm afraid."

[Accalia]

Taji gave a low bow, "Your Highness, This is Elewa my sister, and I am Taji. We are the princesses of the Tuskurian pride. Mzee is our escort. I'm afraid I am not very skilled at introductions. Although I am graced to be in your presence.

Elewa followed lead, and bowed, "Your Highness."

Taji felt speechless. "We only just arrived, so please excuse our rather bedraggled states." She looked to Emwa as if to ask if she could walk closer, but she just huffed and refused eye contact, so Taji took a cautious step forwards. It was as if she had forgotten all her training. Elewa besides her had clearly not, her head was high, but tail low, submissive, but still displaying self-respect. Never before had she displayed her training quite like this, it took Taji a bit off guard.