1302 AH
(More than 130 years ago)
"Promise me, promise me oh brother, that you will take care of Sultan. Promise me you will rule this Emirate justly and truthfully in my absence. Promise me you will guard the throne for him, and when he reaches the age of 21, promise me you will marry a righteous woman for him and make him Emir"
Those were the parting words of the Emir, Lamido Ibrahim Mahdi to his brother, the Waziri on the battle field, before he died.
The Emir, along with his Waziri and the Army of Pawa Emirate had gone to War with the neighbouring Kingdom. While on the battle field the Emir, although fought wisely and fearlessly as usual, only human and could not help but worry and think about his ailing Queen, whom he left behind on her sick bed and his newly born child. All he wanted to do was to be with them, to protect them, and for a moment, he lost concentration. The opposing Army took advantage of that, seized the oppotuinity and stab him!
Although the Pawa Army won the battle atlast, they went back home with a heavy heart, not knowing how to announce the Emirs death to his Queen and the people.
They head into the palace and the guards bow in greetings on seeing them. The Waziri went straight into the Queen's chamber.
"Assalamu alaykum"
" Waalaykumus salam " replied the Queen while he signaled to the servants attending to her to step out, as he had something very important to tell her.
"How are you feeling Sarauniya?"
"Alhamdulillah"
"And Sultan?"
"He has not been doing well at all, he's been crying since morning. I don't blame him though, he has not gotten my full attention ever since he was born, as a result of my illness."
"You will get well soon enough and nurse your son, In Shaa Allah"
"I pray so Waziri, I pray. This illness is really taking a thole on me, I don't think I can make it" she wept.
"You have to be strong Sarauniya, you will In Shaa Allah, you are all he has" he replied worriedly
"And what do you mean by I am all he has?"
He kept quiet and looked away, unable to answer
"Answer me Waziri" She still got no answer, she tried to get up but she couldn't as she gave out a cry of pain.
"Calm down Sarauniya, I want you to have fate, believe in Qadr of Allah and lastly, be strong"
"I dont understand what your saying Waziri, what is going on..." and as if remembering something she jerks her head up
"Where is my husband?"
Waziri got up and paced around the room. She tried to get up again but failed as she wept out of frustration. She felt pain in her legs, her back, all over her body.
"Answer me, where is Abu Sultan" she wept
"I am sorry Sarauni..."
"What's happening?"
"Take it easy, you know your condition"
"Just tell me, where is he?" She was crying hysterically by now
"He..he was st..sta..stabbed, on the bat..battle field" he stammered. The Queen gasped, her mouth hung open for a whole minute as she looked at him in shock and the room spun around her. And finally, she muttered "Innalillahi wainna illayhi rajiun" slowly and painfully while staring away absently.
"Sarauniya! Sarauniya! can you hear me?" he asked alarmed but got no response. It was then that Sultan, as if knowing what's happening, let out a loud shriek of cry. The Waziri could not take it anymore.
He broke down and wept for the death of his brother.