The Birth of Rekiya in Gabatha kingdom.

The sky became dark blue as heavy wind blew in the kingdom of Gabatha very early in the morning. Men who were already on their way to the farm turned back to avoid the disaster lurking around the kingdom. It was never seen. It was never heard that everywhere turned into darkness that including the strong men of Gabatha missed their way home. The men whom fear thought it could bully but left with heartbreak. These same men were left powerless. And their swords weren't even capable of guiding them back to their families.

Gabatha women were stunned by the mystery that started early in the morning when they were planning to leave their huts and sell at the market. Fear gripped them, including everyone in Gabatha town. This has never happened. Oh no! Thunder struck with lightening in the sky that they began to recite the names of their gods. The day was evil, they all cried out to their gods.

"Close the window!" A woman yelled, her heart gripped with fear when she saw the wind carrying a young boy in the sky instead of pieces of paper. 

When she didn't hear the crack sound of their wooden window whose sound could wake a corpse from the grave, she turned, seeing her beloved son struggling in the air. Her heart almost left her body at the strange sight. What manner of evil is this?  Her voice went out to their gods in desperation. 'gods of Gabatha kingdom! Are you sleeping? Save my son! Please save my only son!'.

Maybe the gods have no ears or were still sleeping, because her son kept dancing with the wind and never did he come back.

A sudden shout went out in the air, knocking on every door of Gabatha kingdom. Today, two women were giving birth according to the time submitted to his majesty. Before this day, no evil had ever befallen them in the kingdom. Not this kind of evil where everyone lost their strength to do anything.

In Otula's home, Reba cried out in pain. Her legs spread out wide as she endured the pain she had only heard about from other mothers. She was so attentive, eager to hold her own baby too. Her sweat was turning thicker and reddish like that of blood. Her reaction was putting fear into the delivery women. Why was her sweat becoming very thick?  They wanted to run and cry out to the world what was happening to Reba, but her tears shot through their veins for they knew how precious this baby was for Reba. They had to deliver this baby before anything else.

For twelve good years, Reba was never pregnant in Otula's home. Not even a sign of pregnancy in the morning, and later lost during the day. The women hated Otula for marrying other wives to compete with Reba despite how big Reba's love for him was.

She was the reason why Otula became the right hand man of the King. She was the reason why Otula the son of a palm wine seller became a wealthy chief in the Kingdom of Gabatha.

Reba was loved by many for her kind heart, and bravery.

She was said to be the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom of Gabatha with her splendid, light skin colour that drove many men insane to bless her father with money and properties.

The sound of baby reached Otula and his other wives. While Otula jumped shamelessly, dancing outside the delivery room, jealousy sprang up from his three other wives. They mocked him with their eyes that spoke malicious thoughts without shame.

"See all the wonderful sons he has already. Why are Gabatha men so shameless, especially this one! Jumping up after eight sons as if he has never given birth before." One of the wives said.

Since no one could come in yet, the delivery women yelled from inside. "The gods have blessed Gabatha with a son. He will fight for our land and bring victory. Victory! Victory! Victory!" The delivery women yelled with enthusiasm in their voices, smiling.

"I have a son! It's a son! The gods have blessed me with a son. My dear loving wife delivered a son after our 12years of marriage!" Otula confessed, beaming with joy outside his house. His eyes shone so brightly like that of the sun and he was bursting off laughter upon laughter without anyone cracking jokes.

The wind again was calm. The men who were trying to find their way home saw Otula and all they could do was stare at him, few rejoiced with him as they hurry to get back to their families.

Reba fell into labour again, but this, no sound of pain was coming from Reba. It was just a realization that she had another baby coming. The delivery women who were still in awe of how handsome Reba's baby looked, admiring him, wrapping the little boy gently with a piece of white clothing paused as Reba caught their attention again. When they looked down to see what was going on, another baby struggled out by himself. They were left amazed as Reba wasn't screaming or disturbing the whole  place with her yell this time around. Which means, only them knew there was another baby.

"Reba, you are blessed! The gods never forgot you. See, our God's of Gabatha Kingdom cherish you." One of the delivery women rushed to her side, her smiles lifting the pain on Reba's face out of the wooden window that was slightly opened. "Reba, you are the one the gods have blessed!" She repeated again, and this time, a tear rolled down Reba's face, her heart burst with joy. Just by watching the excitement on the woman next to her, she realised how big, and miraculous the gifts the gods of Gabatha gave her. She was fulfilled. No one ever gave birth to two babies at once. No one, since her days in Gabatha Kingdom.

When the other delivery woman carried the baby lieing in between Reba's thigh and was about to shout….the gods of Gabatha kingdom have blessed us with our another son. Her breath seized. It was as if her throat dried up and she had to fight for her life first. Her ability to talk was taken within a second. Both Reba and the delivery woman beside her looked up when they heard the loud thud. Thank God, the baby landed on Reba's thighs.

The sight of the baby caused her to feel frightened.

Abomination! An abomination in Gabatha kingdom.

The baby in her hands was not a boy.

A girl.

A girl child in Gabatha Kingdom!

Abomination!

The type of child whom their King hated, and could cause deaths of the whole generation of any delivery woman who ever delivered such child.

Death was knocking. What would they do? The two delivery women stared at each other. Fear written on their faces. Sweat building up in their palms. The baby stared at them with fire burning in her eyes. Her hair was longer. Very dark and extremely soft. It was curly and different from the hair they had ever seen in Gabatha kingdom. She was the definition of incomparable beauty. Her beauty could never be compared to anyone. Not even with her Mother who gave birth to her.

In amazement, they watched a pretty smile sat on her face. She was warm and calm. It was like that of the sun blessing the whole of their Kingdom. They were lost in the power that shone from her eyes. The colour of her eyes were different. They weren't brown. They weren't dark. They weren't dark brown. She had grey eyes.

From Reba's hands, the baby's left hand moved slightly, but before it could go any further, the delivery woman next to Reba found a tiny piece of clothing and tie it around her tiny wrist. Almost immediately, the baby's smile was gone, she dropped her hand, and was back with her eyes closed. A new born baby who just want to eat and sleep.

Reba looked up at the delivery woman next to her who kept quiet.

Truly, had she really given birth to an evil child?

✨A/N
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