Mehrunisaa

“I’ll tell you how you were found,” Priya, the chicken maid, said. A slight smile danced at the corner of her mouth. She knew I liked hearing it, although I never said so. To do that would do show a weakness, something exploitable. I nodded slowly, carefully, trying to keep a mask of ice on my face. One movement would crack it, or melt it. I kept very still. Priya smiled again, as though she could read my mind. “Milady, you’re a snake princess, not an ice princess!” she burst out, almost laughing. I thought of telling her off for her impudence - she was only a servant, after all! - but decided against it when I remembered who she was. She was one of the Old Ones, the ones who had been here since I came. Priya wasn’t that old, only twenty-five, but I had known her all my life. Sometimes things like that counted for something. But I didn’t allow a smile on my face, that would be too dangerous. Priya didn’t mind - she was used to no response from me. She started the story.1

“Once upon a time, there was a rich merchant. He was a favourite of the Great Emperor and wore lots of cloth of gold and many gems of precious value. He cared not much of all this wealth and preferred to keep travelling, rather than stay at home and languish in his wealth. Now this particular time, the rich merchant was travelling back to Hindustani, our beautiful land of the Great Emperor.
“This journey, he wanted to get home quickly. The journey from Persia was not that nice, the reception scorned him, the food was terrible and he couldn’t get a bed to sleep. He told the driver of his caravan to hurry the horse, so he would be home soon. But it was a hot and dry day, and the horses soon tired and would run no more. So to the rich merchant’s disappointment, they had to stop.
“The rich merchant decided to sit down under a tree. As he walked towards the tree, he saw a flash of white, and curious, he quickened his pace. When he got there, he realized somebody else had arrived before him. A beggar, a thief, wearing naught but rags. A expression of cruelty and greed mingled over his face as he leaned toward the flash of white, which the rich merchant now saw was a bundle of white cloth - with a baby inside!
“And what a beautiful baby it was. A smooth tuft of midnight black hair covered the baby’s head - but the eyes were what the rich merchant saw. Twin gems of emerald, soft as silk and filled with centuries of knowledge. And as the beggar picked the baby up, hard as diamond. The beggar was going to rob the baby, or kill it. The rich merchant ran forward, for some reason unable to bear the baby being hurt. He was not quick enough.
‘The beggar started unravelling the cloth the baby was wrapped in - a precious white silk decorated with gold zari embroidery. He made as to throw the baby to the ground, useless now he robbed it. Then happened the strangest thing.
“Out of the baby’s swaddling cloth, a snake appeared. It seemed harmless, only a grass snake. But it bit the beggar and a look of shock and extreme pain creased and crumpled his face. He fell to the ground and baby rolled happily out of his arms and lay there, a content look on it’s face. The snake retreated back to the baby, but did not bite her. The rich merchant watched all this is amazement and walked gingerly towards the beggar. He kicked him lightly. The beggar did not move. The rich merchant crouched down and touched him. He was dead.
“The merchant stared at the baby for what seemed an age, scared of even approaching her now. Then the baby smiled. It was not a gummy, baby-who-has-has-it’s-milk smile. It was a knowing, trust-me smile. So the rich merchant leaned forward and picked up the baby, holding his breath all the time. The snake did not bite him, but slid out of the baby’s swaddling and onto the ground. The merchant watched it go. Then he hugged the baby tightly, imagined she was his - even though it would always belong to the snakes. But he could bring the baby up, and so he did. He took the baby home and cared for her and loved her. The snake-princess lived happily ever after.” Priya finished and smiled at me. For once, I smiled back.
“I’ll go back to my duties now, if you don’t mind, milady,” Priya said. I nodded in agreement. She knew I wanted to be alone now, she knew me. I watched her go and then shook my head briskly. I can’t allow my guard down. You shouldn’t trust humans. 2

I walked towards the cellar and opened the door. Inside it were shelves and shelves, piles and piles of perfume, each one unique. I had made every one of them. Scents of jasmine, cardamom, star anise and cinnamon flooded the room. I sat down and allowed the smells to overwhelm my senses. All of my perfumes meant something, told my life. No humans but I could read them, only the snakes. Snakes drink perfume, smell with their tongues. But I don’t. To do that would destroy my life, my memories. Even if I do not like this life as a human, I must remember. People who forget are weak and vulnerable. I cannot be like that.3

I picked up one of my more recent perfumes. In my spidery calligraphy the words ‘Snake Day’ is written in Persian. I am the only one in this house, apart from the Master and his Eldest Son, who can read Persian. The Master’s Wife is from Rajasthan, and forbidden to learn to write. The servants all write Hindi, as Persian is too noble a language for them. They all say I am lucky to learn to write at all, but I am not lucky. It is part of my destiny, no chance involved. 4

The perfume bottle was glass, the best holder of smells. The glass was a filmy white/pink, not clear like diamond. A little silver cork fitted in the neck of the bottle. I pulled it out and breathed deeply, releasing the memory inside it.5

I walked out into the garden. The garden was beautiful, worthy of a princess like me. It was not one of those formal, ugly gardens, all white stone and square bushes. No, my garden was more with nature. Dewy, wild-forest flowers were everywhere. Wispy trees sung all around me. Dark rose trellises, soothing on the eyes. But the true garden was deeper and no human knew of it. Only me and my snakes. I spin around three times and stop. A path appears in front of me, softly trampled moss. I walk slowly down it. Weird trees loomed around me, covered in gnarled bark. As I walk, the path gets darker and darker, until I can see nothing. But that does not matter, as I know the way by heart. Even if a human got this far, they would soon stray off the path and be caught by the evil and ancient things that live here. The snake’s power only protects the path. Bravery won’t save you out there. It is a hidden world, a magical world, a world of gods. 6

I reached the end of the path, obstructed by a tree. Unlike the other trees, this one is different. It is ancient - you can tell by looking at it - but it is not old and deformed. It is long, sinuous and elegant, like a proud old lady, who never allowed her beauty to vanish. I span around six times, faster at every turn. At the last turn, I jumped towards the tree. Suddenly, the barriers of this material world seemed to vanish and I go right into the tree. Then I fall, and tasted the air with my now snake-tongue. I turned my emerald eyes downwards, to where I am falling. Bright lights stung my eyes as I stared to the scene below. I fall softly, into a mass of snake bodies. I have arrived at the kingdom of the snakes.7

Candles of gold hang from the magnificent ceiling, spreading light onto the floor. Sparkling jewels dance around me, dazzling my eyes. Chains of precious metal, this world and the next, covered the floor as closely as the snakes. Red, purple, night-blue and moss green silk swathes of cloth hang from every spare spot. None of the original tree can be seen. A diversity of snakes and colours are there, every type in the world. Adders, cobras, rattlesnakes.... and darling grass snakes. When I looked down at myself, I see that I have changed. I am now a snake. I wriggled happily, and started towards the higher thrones.
“Daughter!” a voice cried out. “You have come!”
“Of course I came,” I replied. “King of Snakes, Father.”
“Daughter....” another voice murmured and I headed to it in happiness. I wrapped around the snake that spoke and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
“Mother, dear,” I said “How nice to see you.”
“Come...” she said and showed me to my throne. I lay upon it. Other snakes placed my silver crown on my head. Many dances were danced and cloth swirled. It was a fantastic time and I treasured every second of it.8

The time passed quickly, to my disappointment. I would have liked it to carry on forever. But
slowly, the candles burnt down, until mere flickers were left. I had to go now or be trapped here
forever. This year, unlike all the others, I decided to challenge it. To stay in the world of snakes. But
my Mother and Father refused.
“You must go, Daughter. Your place is in the human world.”
“My place is here!” I protested. “I am a snake!”
“You are not, Daughter,” my Mother said sorrowfully. “Ever since you were born for the first time, you had human spirit in you. Not-”
“Can’t I have changed after ten reincarnations!?” I shouted in anger, interrupting my Mother.
“No!” thundered my Father. “Even if you think you are the same, you are different. It is your curse to stay in the human world.” So I bowed my head in front of his power and turned to leave. All humans think snakes cannot cry, but I know better. If I had turned around then, I would have seen a tear in every snake’s eye. For they knew then, although I did not, that they would not see them for half a century. 9

There the perfume ended, whispered back into its bottle. I popped the silver cork back in, and sat down. Looking at memories was exhausting. But there was one more memory I had to look at before I fell asleep. I had made it only today and it the calligraphy on it simply said: After. I could hardly remember this one, as I was so blank of everything at that time. Thankfully though, my fingers knew the perfume, even if my mind did not. This bottle was a cloudy grey crystal, tampered with by whatever rock it grew near. The cork was a pebble. I pulled it out and smelt. 10

When I got back to the house - I could not call it home - I was tired and weary, both emotionally and physically. The path was a long one and I had not had such a horrible argument with Father and Mother for such a long time. I only got to visit them once a year, and I had messed this year up.
“Mehrunisaa!” someone shouted. “Where have you been?!” It was the cook. “Here I am, working my skin off and all Your Highness can do is sleep in the garden!” I remained quiet, too sad to even send an icy look over to him. He was the only one who challenged me like this. “Lazy little brat.” he said, adding to the effect, when he realized I wouldn’t retaliate. He pulled me towards the kitchen and placed a knife and some vegetables in front of me. “Hurry up, work, princess!” he said scornfully. I fumed inside that he could act so disrespectfully towards me, but had no strength to say it. I started cutting, mechanically, numbly. Dewsa, my nurse-maid, came into the kitchen. She glanced around, saw me working, and raised a shocked hand to her mouth.
"Princess! You can't work!" she gasped and turned towards the cook. "How could you allow this?"
"She can work and she will. She's lazy enough already." he said. Dewsa ignored his reply.
"Imagine what the Master will think of this," she whispered loudly to herself. "His darling adopted daughter being treated as a slave! Her hands are sore and red, and being in the kitchen... well, that fire. Far too dangerous for our little princess, what if she touched it! Oh, the fury the Master would feel then..." she muttered, making sure the cook could hear. She faced him again and said. "Of course, it's your choice. I can do nothing; I am only a simple woman. This means I am too simple to be punished if any accidents happen. Well, I'll -”
"Take her and GO!" the cook shouted. "Stop bothering me with your twitter. Anyway, she's useless at cutting." he added rudely.
"If you say so," Dewsa said with a smile, knowing that she had won. "Come on, princess."11

I followed her up to my room and sat on the bed. She smiled her little smile and said;
"Now, princess, what's wrong? Did something happen?" I said nothing. "Come on, you can tell me, princess. I've always been with you. You can't keep a secret from me." No, you can't, I thought, you old gossip. "Tell me!" she said, probably savouring the idea of a new piece of gossip, from the Snake Princess too.
"Go away," I said quietly.
"What was that?" she asked.
"Go away," I replied, fixing her with a scornful look. "I hate you. It has nothing to do with you, you nosy old woman."
“Mehrunisaa!” she cried in shock, no wonder thinking of how she would tell everyone else how rude I was.
“I am a Snake Princess, not a commoner you can call by name.” I said.
“Oh Princess,” Dewsa whined. “How can you be so cruel? I spent all my life looking after you and this! This is what I get! Oh ungrateful child, o-” She was trying to make me feel guilty.
“You’re the ungrateful one,” I interrupted. “You don’t seem to realize who I am. You should be thankful I allow you to serve me.” A mean scowl appeared on Dewsa’s face.
“Stop all the high and mighty stuff, girl.” she said. “I’m in control of whatever you do, the Master gave me that power. Now get out of those ridiculous clothes and get into something more suited for an abandoned girl-child.” she ordered. “You’re worth nothing; the Master only keeps you out of pity.” I knew what she was trying to do, but I was not going to fall.
“I’m worth nothing, am I?” I asked silkily. “Well, this ‘nothing’ will not follow your orders.” Dewsa’s face turned red. She was used to things being under her power, mostly by learning other peoples secrets and telling them.
“Well, you’re going to stay in here until you learn some manners!” she said, turning around to lock the lock. I sat on my bed and whispered a word.
“What was that?” Dewsa asked sharply.
“Nothing,” I replied. She looked at me hardly, and then turned to go. She screamed. “I am a Snake Princess,” I said. “I did warn you.” For there in the doorway, swayed a cobra, the mightiest of snakes.
“Mehrunisaa,” Dewsa whispered, her voice scared. “Send. It. Away.” I just smiled. The cobra came closer to Dewsa, mouth open, fangs sharp. Dewsa watched it, slightly mesmerized, although she was sure she should run. The cobra stopped an inch from her face and hissed. Suddenly, Dewsa seemed to break free of its hypnotism and ran. I could here her screaming all the way. She would not bother me for a while.
“Thank you.” I whispered to the snake and it slithered away. The crushing of Dewsa gave me little satisfaction, though, as my mind returned to my Mother and Father. I could not cry, although I felt like it. I fell asleep and descended into darkness. 12

Now it was a week later and I was recovering. I could always apologize next year, see if they would only back among them. But a year was a long time. And that year never passed, not for a long time.