Loud clacking filled the air from the metal chains as Lalzari was tightening them securely around her ankles as a symbol of strength. The chains and my legs, are pillars that are going to be my constant reminders of Mama, Melaniee, Jamshar, the warriors in dresses, the girl who is missed and now gone, the king and justice. The brave vixen chanted to herself. She had decided in that moment, she would no matter the odds go through with her mission. She had prepared herself for the raw, the ugly, and the terrifying parts of this journey.
Lalzari hadn't trained for years especially after losing Jamshar since he was the one who motivated her to train, but even so she chose to ask for the heavier chains, heavier than she had ever been able to carry. She had no time to waste, and if she believed she can do it, she'll transcend and do it. Lalzari was like the steam from boiling water, when heated enough she will float to the air.
Flashing images of the little girl who was sacrificed for the king's disgusting illusions circulate Lalzari's memories, trapping her in the moment of the bathtub. I can't stop thinking about her. Her body was so tiny and face so small, she couldn't have been more than five. She had been greatly dishonoured and Lalzari made it a plea to find her loved ones and let them know. That's what the determined Lalzari had wished someone had done when Jamshar went missing. He had vanished and no one ever came and told her if they had seen him or if he was dead. No I don't have time for these floating emotions. The weary femme quivers as the thought of her beloved Jamshar sends her in grief. She pushed the thoughts away as if they never existed. It's time to find the warrior women, it's time to escape again.
"Mareeb... I'm going to find some people so I'm leaving the castle. Cover for me" the adamant vixen said. Just as she was about to dash out past Mareeb he grabbed her wrist making her stop and turn towards him.
"Omid... Let me go with you. You plan all of this but I'm not apart of it. How am I supposed to help you take the king down?"
"I'll tell you everything once I get back. But the price of getting caught is too high. Mareeb... too much is going to be lost if I do get caught" Lalzari explained to the worried boy. Mareeb nodded understanding without a doubt that this is a battle they can't lose. He took off his black shawl that he always has drooping around his shoulders and wrapped it around Lalzari's hair bringing it in front and covering her face so only the eyes could be seen, just like a turban.
"Don't stop. Don't be scared. Think fast. And be quick. You can't get caught Omid" Lalzari nodded in approval of Mareeb's worries. How can a human who killed his own family still have so much love and care left for anyone else? Mareeb is another reason why I must succeed. The unwavering femme reminded herself.
No horses. No carriers. No powers. Just Lalzari's tiny legs accelerating as she ran out the cursed castle and into the deep and darkened forest. Unsure if it was the adrenaline, or if something had been awakened inside of her but even with the heavy chains around her ankles she was faster than she ever had been before.
The energetic Lalzari reached the river where she had previously thrown her pendant and remembered the direction the women went and through instinct ran in that direction. "No questions in mind, it's as if something greater than me is guiding me because how would I know which way to go? This is the exact reason I know this mission is for me. I feel it in my blood" the ambitious vixen roared.
Suddenly, a dreadful weep penetrated the wind and Lalzari could feel every atom of her body become sadden by the sobbing. She's close. Then her eyes fell upon a young girl not even hidden away, weeping her eyes out. Her short midnight blue hair with a string of hair stuck up blowing in the wind as if it's defying gravity. Without a sound, Lalzari approached her and when the young girl noticed, her gaze met Lalzari's with the sweetest teary bloodshot eyes, red lips bloated from excessively crying for who knows how long and a pink nose from the cold. The girl wasn't wearing much apart from a thick animal skin shawl that hung over her petite body. Her expression didn't even emote shock or suprise seeing Lalzari, it's as if she knew she would come.
Lalzari kneeled in front of her keeping her head down not to invade her private vulnerable moment and gently put out her hand in case the young girl sought comfort. Ice cold tiny fingers grabbed Lalzari's and she looked up to see the young girl crying all over again.
"Life hasn't been easy has it?" Lalzari asked in the softest of tones she could use for this delicate soul. The young girl shut her eyes as tears flew. She shook her head in approval of Lalzari's statement. I know her soul. I feel as if I have know her forever even though this is the first time seeing her. Perhaps our souls have met in a realm I don't remember. Or maybe a connection between us has been created for a reason only the future will tell. Whatever it is, these pillars are here for her too. Lalzari thought to herself.
"You feel all alone in this cruel world. No tears, no human ever understanding you or bringing you comfort" the young girl kept on sobbing and crying but Lalzari continued "but you know who sees you?" The young girl looked down at their hands and grabbed tighter as if she was gripping onto the potential sentence of hope that Lalzari would bring her.
"The one who turns day into night and night into day sees your soul and hears your weeping" a smile appeared on the young girls face as she looked up to the sky nodding and wiping away her tears. They sat in silence for Lalzari let her be however she wanted to be in a safe and comforting space. Sometimes, and most times that's all what one needs.
Some time passed with their souls just being in the daylight sun under the frozen sky and frosty sir, perhaps Lalzari needed to be still for a moment too.
"I'm Husayrah" the young girl finally spoke with one of the lightest voices that had ever been heard. Lalzari wanted to reply with the same but she didn't know her name and Lalzari wasn't it. Suddenly, Lalzari was reminded of her mission as the weights on her ankles pinched her tender skin. She was once again reminded that there was no time to waste and the time is ever ticking. She can't afford to be weak and stay in this moment, she has to keep going.
"Where can I find the warrior women?" Lalzari directly asked watching Husayrah's face change.
"You mean The Khanhawar women? The ones in niqabs and abayas? The fighters? They don't have a place because they keep themselves hidden and only come out when they need to. Come with me and meet my tribe. We are The Sirs." Husayrah pleaded and Lalzari could see it in the sad damsel's eyes, she wanted company so badly. This soul finally felt seen and feared it was going to disappear once Lalzari leaves. Perhaps I'm being lead to The Sirs for a reason. The insightful Lalzari thought to herself whilst nodding and agreeing to go with her.
Lalzari hadn't known there were so many tribes outside the castle. Husayrah's tribe was filled with women, men and children dressed in thick animal skin and almost all of them carried big cannon guns, even the children. The men were huge and with the animal skin they looked like bears. Husayrah leads Lalzari to one of the huge bear looking men and when he speaks the ground rumbles with the deepness of his voice.
"You're from the kingdom I see, what are you doing here?" Husayrah grabbed the man's arms and whispered to him, to be kind. Perhaps Husayrah and this man have some kind of relationship? She seems to know him very...very well.
"I'm from the kingdom but for the people. I have a mission and I'm trying to find the warrio- I mean The Khanhawar women" the bear-like man nodded and started walking around Lalzari. What is it with all these men testing me? Can't they just be as pure as Husayrah? It's starting to really piss me off.
"Name?" he roared with dominance, every word he said almost sounding as if he's constantly shouting. It doesn't even sound like a question, more so as an order. Even though his attitude is annoying Lalzari has a mission and needs to complete it before sunset.
"I don't have one" he nodded knowing she's from the unknown. The feeling of humiliation overtakes Lalzari from the question asked by this man, that her face started to turn red in anger.
"I'm not trying to dishonour you. Many of the women here have been where you are. In fact, some men too. The king has DRAWN SO MUCH BLOOD" the raise in his voice scared Lalzari so much she jumped back in shock losing her composure. He looked at Husayrah and she immediately understood what his eyes emoted. She took Lalzari's hand and lead her into one of their tents built from hay and branches.
A warm herbal tea is placed in front of Lalzari and a chatty Husayrah asking her to drink up and if she's comfortable. Suddenly the sad young girl she saw moments ago has vanished and turned into a bubbly bean. Husayrah wrapped blankets on blankets around the shivering Lalzari, and as Lalzari took her shawl off Husayrah gasped "Omo!!! You're so beautiful!!!" Even a serious girl like Lalzari couldn't help but smile at Husayrah's loving personality.
"Don't worry about Zunaid. He has a lot of rage for the king. A few years back the king's men... They... Murdered our daughter...." Husayrah muttered almost choking on her words and fighting to hold back her tears. "They had come to invade our home and we all went to fight. Zunaid had kneeled in front of the king and begged him to stop because of the children and he would give himself up. But then our baby girl ran in front of him. All she wanted to do was hug him once... And they shot her. She died in my arms as Zunaid raged and slaughtered most of the men but the king like the coward he is ran away with some of the other men. Ever since... We've been planning on taking the king down."
Husayrah's fiddling fingers told Lalzari that there must be so much more to her than what meets the eye. I know my plan is important, and I know I have no time to waste but in this particular moment I see Husayrah and no one else ever sees her, the conflicted vixen conversed within herself.
"You've been through a lot haven't you?" Lalzari asked as Husayrah caught her glance with her soulful sweet eyes yearning for an embrace to keep her safe. Oh Husayrah, how I wish I could do so.
"I can show you it all in a few moments, do you want to see?"
"How?" Husayrah elegantly moved her hands creating a ball of gold light. She didn't even let Lalzari answer the question, is that how eager she was to show her everything? She must be lonely. Extremely lonely.
"Magic?" Lalzari questioned as Husayrah nodded with a smile filled with tears. She washed the ball of gold light over Lalzari and at that moment, Lalzari named Husayrah the weeping willow.