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Description
Name meaning: apply, bear ; also "to bring about"
Residence: Pridelands
Title: Princess | Queen
Parents: Eeru
Siblings:
Mate: Gibali , Salehe
Children: Mohatu
History:
Tia's birth is not, at first, well received by her kingdom. Her mother had been betrothed, but the kingdom her affianced hailed from had broken it off due to his questionable honor- but not before he made the new queen Eeru another drop in the pond; one of many flings, and after his crimes were discovered he had fled his homeland in the night to avoid persecution by the Pridelands. He had courted her during the waiting period for their marriage and made the trip so many times she lost count. When Eeru hears of his many cubs and many infidelities, she's confused and heart broken, especially when she learns weeks later she and he weren't careful enough.
Tia is the result, and though Eeru loves her and is hard bent on the pride and subjects accepting the new bundle of red fur into their midst, it is slow going.

Tia is nearly six before the land finally relents and stops objecting to Eeru naming Tia her heir, and things proceed in the lands quietly, as dry and wet seasons come and go. When it comes time for Tia to become betrothed, her mothers disgust for the ritual is palpable. It didn't work for her, after all. And she had nothing but a broken heart and a daughter to show for it.
when Tia overhears her mother saying this, Eeru is quick to clarify- she loves Tia, and wouldn't trade her for the chance at a happy marriage. Having said that, Eeru admits the entire betrothal process still leaves a sour taste in her mouth, but she can do nothing to stop it. Her daughter hesitantly agrees, knowing that the kingdom has forever been uncertain whether she deserves her birthright. So she goes through with the challenges, eventually landing young Gibali from the Moto lands.
She heard the chattering from her peers, and of how handsome everybody found the young prince. Directly after winning the Tournament he moved in, thrilled to have won and eager to please her, and her mother.
Tia knows others may have found this sweet, as she often wakes to flowers at the mouth of the royal cave heavily laden with his scent, but she finds it revolting. He is a means to an end, nothing more. A way to ensure her family's propriety is never again questioned. But he's young still, and she believes he will learn in the three years they have before he reaches majority and they can be wed.
Shes both right and wrong, in a way.
He does learn- but he learns all her favorites, all her likes and dislikes. He discovers how she hates the thunder because it makes the ground shake, but she loves the rain because she loves the wet grass smell right after. He learns her favorite prey and the kind she'd rather not eat, and more than one occasion she finds her favorites at the den entrance. He's trying to woo her, and she knows it. And she also knows any normal feline would be impressed. And then as another year goes by, he tries harder, by means of education. He throws himself into their rules and laws, begging her mother for more lessons and constant review of the Prideland regulations. He's trying, Tia her mother says one evening, not long before his majority. I think if you gave him the chance he could be good for you. He's not like... your father. Hasn't even looked at another lioness since he came here. Open your heart, my love.

But Tia can't, or won't. Not enjoying the fact she knows she's about to hurt him, she pulls him aside before his birthday and his hopeful look nearly kills her. He thinks she's pulled him aside for so,etching good, and she flinches when she instead tells him all he's ever to be for her is a provider of heirs. That she doesn't love him -doesn't love anyone that way, really- and doesn't think she ever could. She's open to admit she's not sure she could love anyone that way, so it truly isn't him. That she sees and appreciate all he's done for her and her land, and that she wants a friendship with him, nothing more.
The poor lion practically deflates at her words, but he nods and sets his jaw, promising to tone down the affection and be what she needs, and not what he wants.

A few years down the line, Tia brings their first litter into the world, though it consists of only one cub, a little boy she lets Gibali name. Mohatu, he says warmly, nudging the crying infant in her paws. He's living proof we've done something right, at least. Gibali says nothing more, and goes for a quick patrol, leaving Tia to her thoughts. It had been many an empty night between them, and honestly a minor miracle Mohatu had been born at all. She knew that her lack of desire hurt him, made him feel even more unloved than he already felt, but she couldn't help her lack of enthusiasm for such activities. Her husband had needs, she knew he did. And to his credit -at this point he really should be given a lot of credit- she knew he wasn't seeking it elsewhere. Most males would be stressed and angry at this, but Gibali? He just shook his head and nipped her ear gently, telling her she was enough for him even if she had nothing to give.
The wet season that year is strange, violent and unrelenting in ways the land had never seen. The ensuing storms that take over the following weeks scare her, and they're like nothing the queen has ever seen before. Then the day comes when Gibali doesn't return from a patrol, and she dissolves into hysterics. She should have known he would be just like her father, shirking his responsibilities and leaving her out to dry. She sends out a search party, staying in the cave to calm her nerves while nearly vibrating with anger. She never loved him, but she'd trusted him and now he dares to just leave?

She's mentally planning a public punishment when the search party returns with grievous news- the excessive thunder and ground rumbling the night before had been an earthquake. And her husband had been killed when the ground went right out from under his paws.

Time stops for Tia. She curses her narrow mind, and her bitter heart, and for the first time, really looks at the small cub nursing at her side, oblivious that his father -a good lion, who deserved much better than me- has been taken from the world. She wonders what kind of mother will she be, with her bitter and angry outlook towards males, and resolves to change. Eventually, it does come- though the change takes her years of positive thinking and forcing her brain to retire itself. By the time Mohatu is 8, she's persuaded by her kingdom to look for another mate. They need a lion guard, and what if something should happen to Mohatu? She balks at the reasoning, but looks at her large kingdom and agrees she'd have a great deal more time with her son if she wasn't so busy all the time.

After a lengthy courtship, Salehe of the Mbao pride comes into her life, the younger brother to the king there. He's easy going, content to let her take control of the political situations and be directed in what she wants his nose in. He loves Mohatu like his own son, which is wonderful, as Tia can never seem to bless him with a litter of their own. Salehe's response is a quick and joyous "Why mess with perfection? We've got Mohatu, and I'm content."
Tia realizes she loves this sand colored lion with all her heart, and the feeling deepens as the years pass. She wishes sometimes that she had been able to feel this with Gibali, but keeps her mind tuned to the future and leaves the past behind.

A/N: Tia is Demisexual. Whether she didn't form the emotional bond with Gibali because of her feelings about arranged marriage or he just wasn't it for her, is up to interpretation.

Description
Name meaning: apply, bear ; also "to bring about"
Residence: Pridelands
Title: Princess | Queen
Parents: Eeru
Siblings:
Mate: Gibali , Salehe
Children: Mohatu
History:
Tia's birth is not, at first, well received by her kingdom. Her mother had been betrothed, but the kingdom her affianced hailed from had broken it off due to his questionable honor- but not before he made the new queen Eeru another drop in the pond; one of many flings, and after his crimes were discovered he had fled his homeland in the night to avoid persecution by the Pridelands. He had courted her during the waiting period for their marriage and made the trip so many times she lost count. When Eeru hears of his many cubs and many infidelities, she's confused and heart broken, especially when she learns weeks later she and he weren't careful enough.
Tia is the result, and though Eeru loves her and is hard bent on the pride and subjects accepting the new bundle of red fur into their midst, it is slow going.

Tia is nearly six before the land finally relents and stops objecting to Eeru naming Tia her heir, and things proceed in the lands quietly, as dry and wet seasons come and go. When it comes time for Tia to become betrothed, her mothers disgust for the ritual is palpable. It didn't work for her, after all. And she had nothing but a broken heart and a daughter to show for it.
when Tia overhears her mother saying this, Eeru is quick to clarify- she loves Tia, and wouldn't trade her for the chance at a happy marriage. Having said that, Eeru admits the entire betrothal process still leaves a sour taste in her mouth, but she can do nothing to stop it. Her daughter hesitantly agrees, knowing that the kingdom has forever been uncertain whether she deserves her birthright. So she goes through with the challenges, eventually landing young Gibali from the Moto lands.
She heard the chattering from her peers, and of how handsome everybody found the young prince. Directly after winning the Tournament he moved in, thrilled to have won and eager to please her, and her mother.
Tia knows others may have found this sweet, as she often wakes to flowers at the mouth of the royal cave heavily laden with his scent, but she finds it revolting. He is a means to an end, nothing more. A way to ensure her family's propriety is never again questioned. But he's young still, and she believes he will learn in the three years they have before he reaches majority and they can be wed.
Shes both right and wrong, in a way.
He does learn- but he learns all her favorites, all her likes and dislikes. He discovers how she hates the thunder because it makes the ground shake, but she loves the rain because she loves the wet grass smell right after. He learns her favorite prey and the kind she'd rather not eat, and more than one occasion she finds her favorites at the den entrance. He's trying to woo her, and she knows it. And she also knows any normal feline would be impressed. And then as another year goes by, he tries harder, by means of education. He throws himself into their rules and laws, begging her mother for more lessons and constant review of the Prideland regulations. He's trying, Tia her mother says one evening, not long before his majority. I think if you gave him the chance he could be good for you. He's not like... your father. Hasn't even looked at another lioness since he came here. Open your heart, my love.

But Tia can't, or won't. Not enjoying the fact she knows she's about to hurt him, she pulls him aside before his birthday and his hopeful look nearly kills her. He thinks she's pulled him aside for so,etching good, and she flinches when she instead tells him all he's ever to be for her is a provider of heirs. That she doesn't love him -doesn't love anyone that way, really- and doesn't think she ever could. She's open to admit she's not sure she could love anyone that way, so it truly isn't him. That she sees and appreciate all he's done for her and her land, and that she wants a friendship with him, nothing more.
The poor lion practically deflates at her words, but he nods and sets his jaw, promising to tone down the affection and be what she needs, and not what he wants.

A few years down the line, Tia brings their first litter into the world, though it consists of only one cub, a little boy she lets Gibali name. Mohatu, he says warmly, nudging the crying infant in her paws. He's living proof we've done something right, at least. Gibali says nothing more, and goes for a quick patrol, leaving Tia to her thoughts. It had been many an empty night between them, and honestly a minor miracle Mohatu had been born at all. She knew that her lack of desire hurt him, made him feel even more unloved than he already felt, but she couldn't help her lack of enthusiasm for such activities. Her husband had needs, she knew he did. And to his credit -at this point he really should be given a lot of credit- she knew he wasn't seeking it elsewhere. Most males would be stressed and angry at this, but Gibali? He just shook his head and nipped her ear gently, telling her she was enough for him even if she had nothing to give.
The wet season that year is strange, violent and unrelenting in ways the land had never seen. The ensuing storms that take over the following weeks scare her, and they're like nothing the queen has ever seen before. Then the day comes when Gibali doesn't return from a patrol, and she dissolves into hysterics. She should have known he would be just like her father, shirking his responsibilities and leaving her out to dry. She sends out a search party, staying in the cave to calm her nerves while nearly vibrating with anger. She never loved him, but she'd trusted him and now he dares to just leave?

She's mentally planning a public punishment when the search party returns with grievous news- the excessive thunder and ground rumbling the night before had been an earthquake. And her husband had been killed when the ground went right out from under his paws.

Time stops for Tia. She curses her narrow mind, and her bitter heart, and for the first time, really looks at the small cub nursing at her side, oblivious that his father -a good lion, who deserved much better than me- has been taken from the world. She wonders what kind of mother will she be, with her bitter and angry outlook towards males, and resolves to change. Eventually, it does come- though the change takes her years of positive thinking and forcing her brain to retire itself. By the time Mohatu is 8, she's persuaded by her kingdom to look for another mate. They need a lion guard, and what if something should happen to Mohatu? She balks at the reasoning, but looks at her large kingdom and agrees she'd have a great deal more time with her son if she wasn't so busy all the time.

After a lengthy courtship, Salehe of the Mbao pride comes into her life, the younger brother to the king there. He's easy going, content to let her take control of the political situations and be directed in what she wants his nose in. He loves Mohatu like his own son, which is wonderful, as Tia can never seem to bless him with a litter of their own. Salehe's response is a quick and joyous "Why mess with perfection? We've got Mohatu, and I'm content."
Tia realizes she loves this sand colored lion with all her heart, and the feeling deepens as the years pass. She wishes sometimes that she had been able to feel this with Gibali, but keeps her mind tuned to the future and leaves the past behind.

A/N: Tia is Demisexual. Whether she didn't form the emotional bond with Gibali because of her feelings about arranged marriage or he just wasn't it for her, is up to interpretation.