Love Is Blind

Author’s Note: I do not own The Lion King or any of the characters. This means the characters Simba, Nala, Kovu, Kiara, Zazu, Timon, Pumbaa, and company belong to Disney. I do, however, own my own characters and they are not to be used without my permission. The events in this story are also mine.

Rated PG

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Name Translation of my characters:

Baraka ‘Blessings’, Arif ‘Knowledgeable’, Kadiri ‘Capable’, Mabaki ‘Balance’, Dailia ‘Gentle’, Hasira ‘Anger’, Saada ‘Help, assistant’, Adisa ‘One who makes his meaning clear’, Adabu ‘Good manners’, Njozi ‘Dream’, Sharif ‘Noble’, Sabiha ‘Beautiful, bright-faced’, Dhani ‘Accept, belief’, Kahuni ‘Law’, Weusi ‘Darkness’, Dharau ‘Insult’, Adila ‘Justice’, Jelani ‘Mighty’, Takata ‘Pure, clean’, Etana ‘Strong’, Nishati ‘Strength’, Hidaya ‘Precious Gift’, Jabari the second ‘Brave’, Nyota ‘Star’

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All right, now that I’ve bored you with all that, on with the show!

Prologue: The New King

The sun slowly rose over the darkened land, now coating everything in brilliant orange and red colors. A wind spread over the land, going to all corners as if saying, ‘Awaken and go to Pride Rock. A special ceremony is about to take place’.

            All the animals that lived in the Pridelands felt the wind blow and they rose, leaving their territories and headed to the home of the lions. Herbivore, insectivore and carnivore traveled together, not caring that they were not among their own species.

            As they walked, a roar sounded, splitting through the quiet air. Heads were sharply lifted and ears were erect. They knew. It was the roar of the second Prince of the Pridelands. After a while the animals in front, looked up at the stone of Pride Rock, seeing a lion with a mane of pitch black color and a slightly large brown colored body. At his side was a dark blue grayish mandrill and it was easy to recognize who they were. They were the shamans.

            The mandrill and his lion apprentice raised their heads to the sky, feeling the winds gentle touch. The lion stretched his neck as the winds blew through his mane and he turned to his teacher.

            “They’ve all gathered, Rafiki,” he said softly.

            “Yes, Arif,” the mandrill replied, wrapping an arm around the lion’s neck. “Now, you go and make sure de pride and de guests are prepared.”

            The prince nodded and walked down the stone. When he reached the cave, the lionesses were coming out. He smiled and dipped his head. They bowed in respect and sat down, splitting themselves into two lines that started at the entrance of the cave. Arif watched and noticed two lions, a lioness, and three very young cubs with spots on their backs, each hanging from the adults’ mouths. After them, a lion with a dark brown pelt, and a pure white colored lioness followed.

            When they took their spots, the prince saw a cheetah come up the steps. Arif shook his head. “Kahuni, shouldn’t you be with your family?” he asked in slight amusement.

            The cheetah laughed. “As the royal advisor it is my place to be among the royal family, Prince Arif. Zazu did it for years and has his successor I intend to carry on the traditions.” Kahuni gave a bow and walked to the guardians. A white lion gave the majordomo a gentle head nuzzle. Arif’s smile grew. Even the new majordomo left his family to be with them.

            As he headed towards the den, the brown lion left his mate’s side and came up to him. Arif noticed and bowed. The lion touched the prince’s shoulder with a paw. “Lift your head, Prince Arif. When I am in your lands, I am your guest. You do not need to pay me or my mate homage.”

            The shaman slowly did as told but he tried to tear himself away from the lion’s eyes. “King Seth,” he said in a soft yet respectful voice. “Whether I am in your lands or you in mine, all respects to another leader must be paid.” He paused. “If I may ask, did you and Queen Kendra sleep well?”

            Seth chuckled. “Yes, we did, thank you. It was a little weird but we managed. I thank you and your brother for all the hospitality and I am still deeply honored he sent us a messenger to inform us of his coronation. I only wish your cousin, Nishati, could’ve been here.”

            “Yes, I wish he could have come but the Northlands are far from here. I do know that my father has been missing my aunt, but they are with us in spiritual presence, which is almost as good.”

            Seth smiled and kindly turned, going to his mate, who nuzzled him as he sat beside her. The Queen of the Eastlands nodded to the prince and the leaders turned their attention to the beginnings of the celebration.

            Seeing everyone settled, Arif went into the den. The guardians watched and a gray lion rose. The lioness looked at him with concern. “You’re not worried about Arif, are you?” she asked.

            “No, it’s Baraka,” the lion replied, sighing. “I mean, I know he has no mate but still…” He dipped his head, his eyes to the ground but a smile came upon his face as his one of his cubs wrapped its small body around his forelegs. He lowered his head and kissed the cub’s cheek, purring fatherly. He would worry about his friend after the ceremony. This was no time to feel depressed.

            “Baraka’s choice was his own,” said the white lion. “We can’t change it, but we can support him and be there when he needs us, which he will… now more than ever.”

            Kadiri smiled. “Well said, Mabaki.”

            The lion smirked while Kadiri’s mate, Dailia, looked down at her cubs, her ears filled with the sound of the animals.

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Arif stopped at the end of the cave. He turned to the left, his eyes shining in the dark, a smile on his face. “Akase, bring the cubs out to see the ceremony. Kadiri and Dailia brought theirs.”

            The light brown lioness lay on the floor of the den, looking at the three cubs that rested beside her. They still had spots on their backs and, like Kadiri and Dailia’s they managed to get around the cave without trouble. The cubs lifted their heads, staring at their father with curious eyes.

            Akase thought for a moment. “Arif, are you sure? They’re so young …”

            “Be at peace, my dear,” the prince whispered. “I’m sure Baraka would like it… And maybe my - our - ancestors will bless them as they did when they were presented.”

            “It doesn’t seem long, does it,” she said in reply. “But, you’re right.” She looked up at him with a more relaxed expression and nodded. “I’ll take them out.”

            Arif smiled. “Okay. I’ll be out soon. I have to see my brother and parents.” He hated to leave her in charge of their children alone but as a shaman, he had a duty to fulfill.

            Akase nodded and licked his muzzle. “Alright…” She watched him look at their cubs one more time and depart to the back entrance. She rose to her feet, the cubs turning to her, confused. She gently nudged the cubs up from off the ground and walked to the front entrance, the cubs following close.

            The moment she came out, the pride bowed. Akase sighed. Even after a year of being in the Pridelands she still wasn’t used to the attention she received as Arif’s mate. Though she was a princess by marriage she was not royalty. She smiled as she thought of how much her life had changed and she wished her mother had been alive to see how far she had