listen with all her might to everything was told on Priderock.

It was embarrassing and very shameful to eavesdrop on own pride, even on own mother, but kitty believed she was doing good. Bidii told her almost nothing what happened, just saying that <queen needed a break>. So cub decided to believe in first place in what Dhahabu told her. “I must keep mom from doing something we all could regret.” Repeated n of Prideland. In memoriam of Zira and Scar!” Then she set of again, leaving shocked lionesses inside.

Nala was shocked too. In her boldest expectations she didn’t predict that queen could do such an enormous mistake. “She just had declared to be Outlander!” laughed inside queen-mother.

“Don’t take there Dhahabu!” called older lioness after leaving rival.

“Prince will do what princes have to.” Replied Vitani. “Loyal to his mother in everything. Just like my brother was.” Then she vanished after corner of rocks and started to go downslope. When she was sure no one from cave saw her, she turned to Dhahabu. “I’m sorry, my dear… But I need you at my side.” Cub nodded his head, however he wished to disagree with queen.

Whole procession: Vitani, Dhahabu, Kucha and Maitha came down to foot of Priderock. Two accompanying lionesses were looking on each other, uncertain how to start quite obvious rebuke. Finally Maitha said.

“My queen, it was very unwise, to mention about Zira and Nuka. Very unwise. I guess you couldn’t do more to enrage our pride.” Vitani stopped and turned right to Maitha.

“No, you’re wrong.” Said still with burning anger in her voice. She touched with front paw to her belly. “If that is a boy, I will call him Taka!”

“Yes…” nodded Maitha, gasping with a shocked voice. “You right. You still could do it better.” Finished with irony.

“You could always go back to them.” Said queen and in that second imagined how pitiful she would be if lioness left her.

“No, my queen.” Huntress shook her head. “I fully disagree with you, but it doesn’t change fact… you are my queen.”

Anasa still keeping her ears erected. She caught some words of lionesses and those were very disturbing ones.

“Sir!” Vinia called to Simba, who was lying on ledge of Priderock. “We all are waiting for you to make some decisions.”

“What decisions I should make?” asked surprised Simba.

“What we should do with… ma’am Vitani.” Explained lioness. She wanted to say just <Vitani> and only force of habit made her express more respect she actually felt.

“She went on the Outlands.” Replied Simba. “Why should we do anything about that?”

“Because she will be back here…” added Sorphi, standing next to friend. Ex-king for a moment lost his temper and replied with angry gasp.

“So what? Should we don’t let her in?”

“That is an order, my lord?” Asked Bidii, who passed next to ledge.

“Stars dammit!” gasped Simba, hitting his paw into rock. “Are you mad? You are going much too far!”

“You are in charge now, my lord.” Said Bidii. “Command us how you think is proper, sir.”
”Nala!” called ex-king, turning to cave and entering it. “Where are you?” Nala was in Royal chamber, so lion had to cross all caves of Priderock to get there. Stares of curious lionesses accompanied him there. “Nala, what you are going…” he started to see that his mate wasn’t alone.

Next to Tanabi, on his sides were two lionesses – ex-queen and Umeme, talking about something with a little muffled voices. Simba stopped on doorstep, they cease their talk, but then Nala said louder.

“No, don’t stop. Simba should know all about it. It’s after all his son… and from now on we are like a family to each other.” Umeme nodded hear head.

“I don’t know what you are talking about, but what is happening around is out of control!” said Simba with decisive voice.

“What happened, my dear?” asked Nala.

“We are here to keep order and cake care about Tanabi.” Explained Simba. “But I took an impression we are just kicked righteous queen out of her kingdom.”

“If she let us to do that, I would have some doubts about her righteousness.” Replied Nala with half-smile.

“Vitani went away according to her own will.” Added Umeme with growing anger in her voice. “She scorned tradition of our pride and chose to hail Outlanders heroes. That is not how Prideland Queen should act!”

“Don’t say anything like that about Vitani!” replied Simba quickly. “She is queen and Tanabi’s mate.”

Unwillingly ex-ruler hit the spot he shouldn’t. If anything would put her out of patience was a reminder about Vitani as her rival. Lioness replied hastly. “Sir, if anyone gave us example about leaving the throne, you did!” But then she stopped and turned her stare down to the ground. “I’m… terribly sorry, my lord!” she sobbed. “I didn’t mean to… I mean… for me, you are still king, my… king.”

“Nala, why you are encouraging her to say those things?” yelled terrified Simba. “We are not backing on the throne.”

“No, sir!” said Umeme, still in deep bow. “You are just slowly understanding you have never left it!” Then Nala said with decisive voice.

“By leaving our land and her mate - our son, Vitani broke her oaths to Prideland and Tanabi. She went to Outlands to celebrate Outlanders. That’s is a treason, she can be no longer considered as a queen… and mate to our son.” She pointed on Umeme. “She, as once chosen as Tanabi’s spouse, should be a new monarchess.”

Simba was so shocked by sudden turn of situation that he even didn’t feel able to argue. He just looked on unconsciousness son and asked himself, if Tanabi would let that madness last even for minute. One-eyed king would stand up and with one decisive sentence choose between given possibilities. Whatever he decide – to agree with mother, or ask her to be silent, he would do it. “But I can’t.” thought Simba. “Since day I hurt you, my son, I’m sure of any of my decision. But if I stay silent now, someone will be hurt again.”

“Why do you assume that Tanabi would agree on that?” asked ex-king.

“That is not point of decision, but of law.” Replied Nala. “Vitani left Prideland. We can’t let her return here.”

In that moment Anasa barely repressed yell of fear. She waited about five heart-clatters and started to crawl back to main chamber. She had been listening to that talk since very beginning, but then understood that there was no time to loose. Queen and Dhahabu had to be warned, whatever it would took.

Kitty got of safe distance, then stood up and started to sneak out from cave, carefully not to be spotted by any lioness, even own mother. That why she didn’t hear rest of talk with king.

“I don’t want to have anything to do with that.” Said Simba harshly.

“You won’t.” said Umeme with much calmer voice. Explained Simba. “But I took an impression we are just kicked righteous queen out of her kingdom.”

“If she let us to do that, I would have some doubts about her righteousness.” Replied Nala with half-smile.

“Vitani went away according to her own will.” Added Umeme with growing anger in her voice. “She scorned tradition of our pride and chose to hail Outlanders heroes. That is not how Prideland Queen should act!”

“Don’t say anything like that about Vitani!” replied Simba quickly. “She is queen and Tanabi’s mate.”

Unwillingly ex-ruler hit the spot he shouldn’t. If anything would put “Just let us act and soon pride will proclaim you as our king again.”

“Tanabi is alive and he is king.”

“She meant <regent>, my love.” Explained Nala. “We will just take the upbringing of Dhahabu in our paws, until Tanabi is sick.” Then she turned back to Umeme. “My child, you must take prince back on Priderock. He is in danger, wandering on that desert soil.”

“But if Vitani doesn’t let him back?” asked goldenfurred.

“Just tell her that we decided he should be here.” Replied Nala. “We, regents of Prideland.”

Umeme nodded her head and Simba nudged Nala in side. He whispered something with angry voice to his mate’s ear, so queen-mother added. “Excuse us, my child, we must discuss some matters alone.” They both turned to exit. “So say goodby to king and go for prince.” Added Nala, exiting royal chamber.

Goldenfurred stayed over motionless body Tanabi. After about minute of silence in both air and mind, Umeme bended down to lion and gently licked his lips. Then she laid down and nestled to his side.

“I’m terribly sorry, my lord.” She whispered. “I’m doing it for you. Vitani is not proper queen at your side. I’m still not worthy of you, but at least I’m Pridelander and I could hide my pride in order to serve… pride. I would have never left you.” She stroked red mane of king. “I wish you were here and order me what to do. But if you can’t… I believe your mother is right. That way will be better for all of us.” She raised up and turned to exit. “I’m going for prince Dhahabu.” She said to unhearing king. “I will make sure he is safe.” Then she went away, leaving incapacitated ruler in his sleep.

*

About midnight Vitani, Dhahabu, Kucha and Maitha reached the Golden Hall. Queen was exhausted and first thing she did inside was to laid down under Golden Throne and just fall asleep. Her companions just put already sleeping prince at her side and took places near to queen.

They still weren’t sure if place where they were was a memorial shrine or a permanent keep of exiled monarchess.

 

 

VII. In Her Majesty Service

 

 

Let’s say it clearly and decisively – Bidii wasn’t a bad mother. She loved Anasa deeply and would do anything for her daughter. But events on Priderock wrapped up focus of all lionesses, including greyfurred. That why she missed the absence of Anasa, thinking that cub was still in main cave under protection of Simba.

And let’s add one thing more – Simba wasn’t considered as a baby-sitter. Just lionesses were thinking that ex-king and regent-to-be had nothing particular to do, but waiting for

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