That battle in the valley of Kadoon, when it seemed like there was no hope for me or my people.

That battle when all the neighbouring tribes ganged up and rose to destroy Kadoon and its inhabitants. We were fighting foes from every direction- and we were losing.

They had slain him, the bravest and strongest of Kadoon- My true love, my king and I was devastated.

There he lay among the fallen warriors of Kadoon, mighty men of war who had given their very lives trying to protect us all.

My people were outnumbered, but still they fought- fought for our land, and for me- their queen.

A queen who knelt by her lover's side and wept miserably for her loss. A queen who had laid down her sword in defeat.

"Get up!", I heard her say. It was the former queen and she stood over me- rigid and cold,her eyes devoid of sympathy.

"Queens do not cry", she said, they rise up and they fight- no matter what"

Her words were harsh- almost cruel. But they were true and she was right. I forced the choking tears down my throat. I was the Queen and my people needed me.

And I arose- a queen re-born. I picked up my sword and I fought.

And when the brave warriors of Kadoon saw the zeal of their queen, they fought like they had never fought before.

We fought for our lives, our families, our freedom- we fought for Kadoon! And we won.

All around us lay the dead- fallen warriors from every side. But even in death, there was victory.

And as I, queen Kaduna of Kadoon, stood with my sword raised up, covered in blood, I heard him- My true love, my king.

"I will choose you every time and in every lifetime", he whispered. And I felt the gentle brush of a kiss on my cheek.

And I woke up. Only I wasn't in Kadoon and I wasn't queen Kaduna.

I was a struggling single mom in a rental apartment, trying my best to raise three kids by myself.

Maybe it was a dream, or maybe it was a memory of a past life- a forgotten life.

Whatever it was, the message rang clear in my mind. "Queens do not cry, they rise up and they fight- no matter what"