Late that night near mid-moon, he looked at his resting consort and said, “Isha, my lover, can I ask you a favor?” She smiled and said, “Again, my little brush fire?” She licked her paw and groomed her face. “Let me prepare myself.”
“No, not that. When I face Aiheu, I want to face him as your husband. Would you please pledge to me? Please? I hear you’re not the marrying type, but when they ask me who I’m praying for, I want to say it’s my wife.”
She was stunned. She’d never been asked quite that way before. She only had to think a moment. “That’s the only thing that could make this night any better. I’d be glad--no--honored. And when I go into the east, I’ll sit next to you throughout eternity.” She nuzzled him and kissed him gently on the cheek, between the eyes, and then rubbed his face with her own. “Maybe I was saving myself all along for my little Baba. My heart is swift prey, and no one else could catch it.”
He smiled warmly and nuzzled her. “I don’t want to catch it. I want to set it free the way your love set me free.” He put his paw on her shoulder. "Before the gods, before the stars, before the assembled host I swear to give you my protection, my life, and my comfort forever."
She pawed his face and kissed him. "Till the last beat of my heart, to the last breath I sigh, our lives are one, so help me gods." She kissed him again. “It is done, husband.”
A moment went by when neither of them spoke. Then, almost abruptly, Isha said, “I HAVE to teach you how to survive out there! I won’t let it end like this! I can’t!”
“No more lessons. These memories have to last me, my wife. Let’s lose none of this time together.”
Tears began to stream down Isha’s cheeks. “Baba, I love you!”
“I love you too, but please don’t cry. I’ve known love all my life, first from my mother, than from my King, my friend and my lover. I have no enemies, and no one I’ve loved has ever left me. I’m the luckiest lion in the world, and you should be glad for me.”
She kissed him and nuzzled him. “I am. I love you so much, Mabatu! Who in heaven or earth wouldn’t envy me tonight!”
“I’ll come back within the year. If I don’t, then consider yourself free to remarry. Only death can stop me.”
She wept again. “You must come back! I’ll pray for you each night--you can’t die! You mustn’t break my heart!”
“Please don’t cry.”
“Don’t forbid it. It makes me feel better.”
He pawed her. “But I don’t want to remember you sad. Can’t I make you happy? Just for a little while? Be sad tomorrow, but not now--this night belongs to us.”
She said, “Yes. Make love to me. Let me feel you next to me once more.”
He nuzzled her passionately. “Habusu am I, a prisoner of your love.” He rose to his feet and awash with mixed pride and passion he tenderly mouthed her throat.