Chapter 92 - The Beginning...

I know you all have been curious about the curse. What happened that made the witch to unleashed such a curse on Sargon. This is the beginning, where it's all started.

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The Author's POV.

It all started during the reign of king Lincoln , the great grandfather of Emperor Sargon. He was also a conqueror but not as powerful as his great grandson was. He captured few towns and villages to make Akkad , a big kingdom.

This era was when Male children were considered to be more important than the female. When a queen was pregnant, in stead of being happy, she would spend those nine months praying that the child should be a boy. You must wondering what happened when it is a female?

The child together with her mother we're thrown out of the palace. Sometimes , they would send them on exile, never to returned back with their bad luck. "They are cursed that was what" the royal mothers would said.

Women became afraid to marry from the royal family in Akkad, because of the lack of respect they had for a girl child. Another person who helped in who causing problem for the married women in the family was the king's mother who was know as queen mother Daria.

She was a tall woman who was in early fifties. Her face was covered with scars, because of the way her own mother in law treated her. She was always on black dress which defined mourning. – for women who decided to marry her son. She had a look that could scared away even a lion.

This morning in the old palace of Akkad. There was a loud scream of a woman who was in labor. She was heavily sweating as the maids took her to a room. The royal midwives we're summoned immediately. When they came , the queen mother stopped them.

"I want to be the first to hear the news do you get that?" The women nodded they understood what the queen meant by that. "I will be  in the court yard. Her screams are too much for me to bear" she said leaving the area. The women entered the room and began their work.

When the queen Mother got to the courtyard, she found her two sons there. She saw how nervous and restless they were. She understood with king Lincoln because he was the father of the child but for her second son prince Stefan, She didn't get it.

"Good morning mother" they greeted, when she came closer to them. This was the first time they saw today. It's was still early if not for the loud screams of that woman , they would all been in bed by now.

She kissed each of them on the cheeks and uttered a prayer of success and long life. Her children were the only people she got. Queen mother Daria lost her husband six years ago and Lincoln eldest of her children ascended the throne.

"How is she doing mother? I am very worried" king Lincoln asked his mother. He was sweating ever since his wife went in to labor. The fear of losing a male child gripped him tightly.

"Do not worry, she will be fine. It is a normal thing" she said, holding his hands. "She will overcome this. The problem now is whether it's a boy or a girl!."

"Mother , there is no difference between a boy or girl. They are both his blood, its will be better if you stop laying emphasis on It" prince Stefan corrected his mother. He wasn't happy with the way the royal family treated girls. They were sent away from their family because of gender inequality.

"Don't talk to mother like that" his elder brother snapped at him. He was his mother favorite and would support her no matter what she did. "There is a clear difference between the two Stefan, one will grow in to a strong warrior conquering cities while the other is going to enjoy all the benefits of being a royalty and after that she will zoomed off to other family to continue being a liability."

Prince Stefan was not surprised hearing those words from his brother. Their mother had poisoned his mind as soon as he ascended the throne. He had watched him many times being violent towards women. Whenever he interfered , his mother would block in his way, with silly talks that he had to respect his elder brother.

"Prince Stefan, your brother is going through a lot right now. Please do not add to the problem at hand" Queen Daria pleaded folding her hands in front of her. She hates seeing her two sons fighting each other over women that we're not important. She had managed to keep peace in the palace for years and war began after her younger son clocked twenty – two. If she knew from the beginning that this child will be a problem and threat to their reign, then he would have been born much later.

"I hate when you side with him on this mother. You are also a woman like them, don't forget" prince Stefan reminded. He knew his mother would scold him. How dare he compare her with other women around?

"Do not let me curse you Stefan. I am your mother and you should listen to me always. Don't be like your stubborn father because you might follow him to the grave" His mother threatened. The words were understood perfectly because their late father died of a sickness in which he refused to accept a cure.

Prince Stefan was about to say something when one of the midwives entered the courtyard with her head bowed. She wanted to greet but the queen mother told her to go straight to the point.

"Your highness, It's a strong boy" she said.

"Thanks the gods, my enemies won't laugh at me" Their mother raised both of her hands in the air as she prayed. "Congratulations to you Lincoln. We have another prince in the family."

"I wished it was a girl instead" prince Stefan said leaving the courtyard.  Instead of arguing with his mother, it would be better to go have some fun with his friends in the village. As for the newly born and his mother, they will get their gifts later at the party.

At the stable, he picked one of the royal black horses and headed for the village. Prince Stefan was glad that he could go there any time he wanted without the queen mother stopping him. She hated when commoners associated with her children. During his childhood, he remembered an event that took place where his mother washed their hands with a lot of water because they played with the children in the village. That night, she quarreled and  punished all the guards and the maids who went with them. "How dare you allow my children play with those rats from the village?" She would asked, when ever the whip landed on their backs. ????????

When he got to the village, the kids were playing around. Women were trading and the men were at the farm. This was what life actually meant, living together in peace with each other, irrespective of genders. He preferred living in the village than in that castle which was based on his mother's rules.

"Do you want to buy water?" A little girl of six came to him with a jar and a cup. Prince Stefan understood the way of life of the village people. The poor girl was doing this to support her mother or father whatever the case may be.

"Yes, give me please" he said, coming down from his horse. The girl was excited that the young man wanted to buy water from him. Quickly, he poured water in to the cup and handed it to the prince.

He didn't drink much because he was not thirsty. "Thank you my child. How do you want me to pay you?"

"Any amount will do my prince. I just want to give my mother the money to buy food" the little girl said to him. Prince Stefan was pleased to hear that. Who said the girl child was not important? (Your mother , bro????).

"Okay. Take this" he removed one of the gold rings on his finger and handed it over to the little girl. "Give this to your mother, she will know what to do with it."

She thanked him and received it. The people who were watching started clapping for him. He hated when they took noticed of such things because there were threats to his brother's reign as many preferred he rule instead.

"Our prince Stefan" he heard voices behind him. There was no need for him to worry who they belong to.

"Mustapha and Sigurd, what took you so long?" He asked them.

"Turn around let's see how the most handsome prince of Akkad" Sigurd said to him. Prince Stefan laughed and turned around. Before he were his two best friends Sigurd and Mustapha. They have been friends since childhood.. Although , their family background differs, the three didn't were still together.