Read Fanfic : The Golden Queen 2/3 (Page 11)

know, why you and Sarabi were so ill-disposed towards me and my pride. Now I know, why Nala turned her heart so quickly, from adore to anger. It doesn’t justify you, but explains a lot.”

“No, you are wrong.” Said Sarafina, but her voice was suggesting something opposite. “This wasn’t an personal matter, just worry about pride.”

“And this honest feeling made you to plotting?” asked Zira with irony.

“I think that Hawaa hasn’t to hear this.” Said old lioness with weak voice.

“I can ask her to leave, but don’t speak any secret to me. I have no secrets to her, as well as to rest of our pride. I’ll tell her everything, you tells me.” Said Zira with serious voice.

“Watch your steps!” called Hawaa and in last moment she caught Sarafina, who stumbled on some rock. Lioness regained balance and whispered.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank her.” Said Zira. “You are her guest. She has an obligation to guard you. But...” she looked behind the edge of track, into abyss. “Good, she caught you. You would be dead right now.”

“Nice path.” Muttered Sarafina.

“I have been playing here in my cubhood.” Said Hawaa. “It was unlike like Prideland. Rough and harsh like Outlands itself. But so fascinating... A real trial.”

They came down to Golden Valley. Main Outlander’s keep was ahead and they walked through training place. Hawaa suddenly reminded aim of this talk and stopped. She toughed Sarafina’s shoulder, so old lioness stopped as well.

“Cease that argument... I see, we will find no common ground. Let talk about, what we came here.”

“I’m listening.” Said Sarafina, sitting on the ground. Zira came there too and sit next to Hawaa, almost touching her favourite.

“I ask... no, I beg you, to give up.” Said young lioness with serious voice. Before Sarafina managed to reply, she added. “Listen to me... Understand me! I know lot about past. You said, that are lies, but in my heart, I see, that is truth. I heard, that you, with Sarabi, incited Pridelanders against us.” Old lioness narrowed her eyes, hearing that Hawaa felt herself as Outlander to core. “And you corrupted Nala, to disown her king and benefactor... But it’s done. I... we all... even Zira.” Zira narrowed her eyes, but she nodded. “Are ready to forgive you all that. We want only two things – to restore memory of king Scar and to judge Simba for high treason.” Sarafina dropped her jaw in amaze. “And maybe, his guilt is no so obvious. If you confess, that you start a mutiny...” But Zira growled quietly in darkness. Old lioness understood, that Golden Queen would never forgive Simba. “Just admit, here and now, that you were wrong and bow before memory of Scar. And then we would start a new, shining era of unity and absolve. We will as we once were... We...”

But then, in silence of nightly Outlands, sounded laughter. It was laughter of Sarafina.

“Hush!” gasped Zira. “You will wake my pride!” But lioness was laughing aloud with no restrains.

First curious lionesses went out from mound, to see giggling Pridelander, their queen and friend, standing altogether. Strange view.

“A prisoner, my lady?” asked Danthi with sleepy voice.

“No. Just a rude guest.” Replied Zira, so Outlanders stood in amaze.

“I can ask her to leave, but don’t speak any secret to me. I have no secrets to her, as well as to rest of our pride. I’ll tell her everything, you tells me.” Said Zira with serious voice.

“Watch your steps!” called Hawaa and in last moment she caught Sarafina, who stumbled on some rock. Lioness regained balance and whispered.

“Thank you.”

“Nice path.” Muttered Sarafina.

“I have been playing here in my cubhood.” Said Hawaa. “It was unlike like Prideland. Rough and harsh like Outlands itself. But so fascinating... A real trial.”

“Cease that argument... I see, we will find no common ground. Let talk about, what we came here.”

“I’m listening.” Said Sarafina, sitting on the ground. Zira came there too and sit next to Hawaa, almost touching her favourite.

“We’ve just proposed her to give up.” Explained queen. “I guess that was useless effort.

Sarafina finally calmed down and where most of lionesses went out to see her, she answered.

“Hawaa, are you lost your mind?” she said with more serious tone. “Listen to yourself!” young lioness turned her stare into the ground and closed her eyes. She was burning with shame. She really had hoped, that her caretaker would have regret for old crimes. But now... “My dear... You have no idea, what are requesting from me!” Then, old lioness noticed circle of angry Outlanderesses round. “So, you killed me, anyway?” asked, faking irony, but in hear she was really scared.

“No, you are guest.” Replied Zira. “We have no right to hurt you, unless you break you laws.”

“So, maybe I’ll go, before I’ll do that.” Proposed Sarafina. “I can’t even listen to your madness! You are rebels against the rightful king! You claim throne without any single reason.” She looked on ashamed Hawaa. “I ask you for last time: Will you return with me, or stay here?” Young lioness replied with breaking voice.

“I will stay where I belong... Pridelander!” she pronounced this word with so clear scorn that Sarabi froze.

“What I have done?” she thought. “I hurt her. I...” she wanted to say something, but Zira nudged her in side.

“Come on, we have to back to river.”

“But I...” yelled Hawaa. In her voice cry could be heard.

“She is my quest as well.” Interrupted Zira, loud enough for whole pride to hear. “Come on, Sarafina.”

Outlands queen and Pridelanderess started to walk uphill in silence. Sarafina noticed, like some light built lion male ran to Hawaa and hugged her. But Zira was hurrying her with gently nodes. They left Golden Valley.

“Zira, I didn’t mean to...” Zira answered with angry voice.

“Hawaa loved you once deep. Tonight, she sacrificed her pride to save you... to try to save you. It was helpless, but remember it.”

They silently came to river bank. Zira hugged Sarafina and whispered.

“There are no friendly caresses. I must take care, you won’t drown. I’m doing it only for Hawaa.”

“Who is Hawaa for you?” asked Pridelanderess, when they went to water.

“Beloved subject. She is almost like daughter to me... I learned from Scar to love once, that fate gave into my power. And Hawaa soon will became my daughter-in-law.” She added with cold voice. “Maybe even queen of Priderock?” That they started their swim.

Sarafina was slowly walking in Priderock’s direction and crying. She was crying over that false turn of the Circle of Life, that made her enemy of beloved friend. She was cursing her pride that hurt Hawaa so deeply.

“Maybe she is right?” she thought. “Maybe we are those cruel ones? We never see, where we are stomping. How many lives, like Hawaa’s, we have stomped on.”

Zira ordered all pridemates to back and rest. In few minutes, Outlanders just forget about strange event, maybe considering unusual talk before Golden Hall for just a funny dream. On place stayed only queen herself, Nuka and sobbing Hawaa. Zira went to pair of lions and said with gentle voice.

“Nuka, could you leave us for a while? I must talk with her...”

Lion licked lioness in forehead and silently drew back into Hall. Queen sit before Hawaa and waited, until she finish her cry.

“My queen.” Yelled young lioness. “Please, forgive me! That was a moment of weakness. It won’t happened again, I promise.”