Topic: A Fateful Attraction

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:21 EST

Alas for Nasir, his business was nowhere near as entertaining as what was going on in the harem courtyard. Safiya and Shahista had a perfect view of the ongoing interaction below - Sasha was running through sword drills, her grace growing with each cycle, and her face set in a thunderous expression of fury under tight control. And the reason for that expression' Idris, sat comfortably on a well cushioned couch, theoretically assisting her as she grew accustomed to the weapon again, but in reality flirting with an increasing crowd of unattached Suraans from the harem proper.

And why shouldn't he flirt' He was unwed, unattached, unspoken for. There was no reason he shouldn't enjoy the women's attention; after all, he had earned it. On his right, there was a pretty dark-haired beauty fanning him from the heat, while on the right, a brunette with chestnut-colored hair made sure his goblet was never empty. And while he relaxed and flirted and laughed, every now and then, he called over to critique Sasha's form or offer a bit of praise.

"You are so brave, commander," one of the girls gushed over him, daring to brush her hand against his wounded side. "But you need to be looked after. You need a woman in your bed."

Sasha flashed a glare at the girl as she spun into the next position, attempting to ignore the flirting but finding it frustratingly hard to do so.

"Ah, well ....One must be brave to be a soldier, Leyla," Idris explained. "Especially when one goes to battle. Sasha! Your center of balance is off! You must balance your weight or you'll be knocked off your feet!" he called, before taking another sip of his wine. Thankfully, the stuff had been well-watered, or he'd be drunk by now. "Do you have someone in mind?" he asked the girl, an amused smirk on his face.

"Your balance is off, Sasha," the woman in question muttered to herself as she widened her stance and tried again. "I cannot see you past my enormous manhood, Sasha. Obviously that is not your fault, Sasha." She scowled at nothing, sweeping the wide blade through the air sharply.

At Idris' side, Leyla beamed at being singled out, leaning close into his side. "I would make an excellent first wife," she offered boldly. "I would not even demand that you love only me, as others might."

"Would you now?" he asked, grinning back at the woman and pausing a moment longer than necessary to admire the view. "They say that variety is the spice of life. What do you think of that?" he asked, to no single woman in particular, but to whoever was bold enough to answer. He hadn't forgotten about Sasha or the fact that he was supposed to be watching her, but he couldn't deny he was enjoying the attention.

Tulin, the curvaceous redhead of the harem currently leaning on the back of his couch and picking her fingernails, laughed at the question he posed. "I should imagine that all depends on how large you expect your harem to be, my lord."

"I suppose that depends on the king, but I doubt I'd have much trouble keeping at least a few wives happy," he assured her, smiling with roguish pride and ego. What man wouldn't want a bevy of wives to grant his every wish' "What say you, Sasha" Would you like to be one of my wives, too?" he called over to the pretty blond as she slashed her blade at nothing but air.

"I would rather be one of your widows than one of your wives," was Sasha's response. She didn't even look at him, concentrating on whirling the sword to her back and around to her front en guarde once again.

Leyla leaned close to Idris' ear. "Sasha would make us all widows if you made her one of many."

Idris actually frowned at Sasha's response. He didn't want to admit it, even to himself, but he had grown rather fond of her - and he couldn't deny she was pleasant to look at. "You are just angry because I am drinking wine and you are sweating in the heat," he pointed out, gesturing toward her with his goblet. He watched while Sasha continued with her lesson, even as Leyla whispered in his ear, brows furrowed thoughtfully. Was that a hint of jealousy in the woman's voice"

Seething, Sasha took a moment to get control of herself. She was jealous. It had taken her by surprise, but a part of her desperately wanted to lay her claim on Idris and shoo all her close friends away from him, to declare him as her own. Yet she had no right to even think that, and thus, her temper was making itself known.

"I was not expecting to be made a spectacle for the amusement of my supposed sisters," she said pointedly.

Ester let out a sultry laugh. "But Sasha, dearest, you are so engaging to watch!"

"Did you not ask me to watch you practice?" Idris asked, not understanding what she was so upset about. After all, he was still recovering from his injury, and the women from the harem had been all too happy to assist him. "When I am better, I will spar with you. It was you who warned me not to tax myself or risk tearing my stitches," he reminded her, thankfully not going so far as to waggle a finger. "Sasha thinks she can best me in a fight," he told the women, with that amused grin on his face again.

"A fair fight," Sasha corrected him, ignoring his former comments. Her slash was vicious, almost as though she was imagining someone in particular on the end of her blade.

Beside Idris, Leyla laughed out loud at this. "Oh, Sasha," she exclaimed cheerfully. "No woman could ever best a man at men's work!"

"My thoughts exactly!" Idris agreed, lifting his goblet so that it could be refilled yet again. They had made a small wager regarding the outcome of that fight, but he did not think Sasha would be pleased with him if he spoke of it in front of her friends.

"Could a man best a woman at women's work?" Yasemin asked from where she sat quietly off to one side, reaching to pass the jug over to Leyla, who eagerly refilled Idris' goblet.

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:23 EST

Idris scowled. "Why would a man want to?" he asked. Cooking, cleaning, chasing after the children. That was work for women. He almost shuddered at the thought. Even if he wanted to cook and clean and sew, he wouldn't know how.

With a sharp whoosh of sound, suddenly Sasha was holding a blade at his throat again. "So you are a man who will not lift even a finger to help raise his own children?" she asked, aware that her harem sisters were staring at her as though she had lost her mind.

Startled by the sudden appearance of a blade at his throat, Idris dropped the goblet, wine spilling out onto the ground. Though startled, he met her gaze with a steady gaze of his own, brows furrowed, eyes flashing with some anger of his own. "To raise them; not to birth them," he said, pointing out the obvious, as his body was not made for birthing children, like a woman's was.

She held his gaze for a long moment, studying his eyes as though searching him for sincerity or otherwise. It seemed as though she liked what she found - one brow quirked ever so slightly, the corner of her mouth twitched into the hint of a smile, and she whirled away, resuming her drills as though nothing had happened.

Behind Idris, Tulin leaned over to Yasemin and whispered, "I think she likes him."

"What is the matter with her" That was a bloody damned waste of wine," Idris grumbled, scowling at Sasha's back as she departed before reaching for the goblet, wincing just a little at the pain it caused him to do so.

Leyla was looking back and forth between Idris and Sasha, her mouth hanging open. "Sasha never reacts to anything that annoys her," she said in astonishment. She looked past Idris to Tulin and Yasemin, not bothering to keep her voice down. "She really does, doesn't she?"

"She does what?" Idris asked, overhearing the women's chatter behind him, as he wiped any dirt from the goblet. He was a little annoyed himself now, in part that he'd allowed her to rattle him. He liked women well enough, but Goddess, they were confusing.

Seeing Tulin's cheeky grin and nod, Leyla laughed in delight, easing comfortably to Idris' side with more confidence than before. Strange that, seeing as she would never intentionally want to hurt Sasha, but she knew her sister Suraan would need a nudge or seven to make her preference known.

"Oh, nothing, commander," she purred into his ear. "Why should you focus on an angry fighter when you have an easy lover at your side?"

"Which of you would that be?" Idris asked, looking from one woman to another. Though he might be having fun flirting, he wasn't oblivious to the hints being thrown his way or to the fact that the women - Leyla, in particular - seemed eager to become one of his wives.

A shutter overhead opened, and the familiar sound of Lady Shahista's voice made itself known from her private apartments. "Suraans, remember that you are part of the royal harem," the king's mother said pointedly. "Draping yourselves all over the nearest male will not do anything for your prospects."

As Leyla blushed and pushed herself back a little, Sasha almost managed to bite down on her smirk, turning away so none of them could see her amusement.

Ah, but in Idris' opinion, he was the highest ranking male still in need of a wife, and each of the women of the royal harem was a potential mate; and yet, as lovely as they all were, his attention kept drifting to the fiery blonde.

"I am sure the king will find suitable husbands for all of you," he assured the women, though in truth, it was probably Lady Shahista who would be doing the matchmaking. If there was any woman who put the fear of the goddess in him, it was her. Though he had no real reason to fear her, that was one woman he didn't want to make an enemy of. "Sasha!" he shouted, suddenly surging to his feet to stalk closer. "Your stance is off again! Let me show you!"

Sasha sighed, not the only one of the girls not to have reacted to the queen-mother's interjection, but the only one about to be punished for it, it seemed. Behind Idris' advance, she caught sight of her sister Suraans - all of them - giving her encouraging signs and smiles, rolling her eyes at them before looking back to Idris himself.

"What is wrong with my stance this time, hmm?"

"It's just off, that's all," he said, without much of an answer. He blinked, scowling at her, hands on his hips. "Are you rolling your eyes at me?" he asked, catching the look she'd given her sisters and mistaking that it had been for him.

Rather than drop the others into trouble, Sasha met his gaze boldly. "And if I am?" she said, not answering truly. "You have been barking at me all afternoon, declaring that my stance is off, that my sword arm is wrong, and not once have to you told me what I should do in order to correct it."

"I have not been barking," Idris argued, though he probably had.

He wasn't even sure why he'd been barking at her. Maybe it was because he wanted any excuse he could use to get close to her again. Maybe it was because it irked him how perfectly she held her sword and herself - better than some of the seasoned men under his command. Then again, she was only practicing; battle was much different than practice. He looked over at the gaggle of women again, catching a few smirks here and there and then back at Sasha, as if he was just putting two and two together.

"A-ha!" He laughed, leaning close and lowering his voice for her ears alone. "You're jealous."

"Your powers of observation astound me," was her sarcastic response, yet unlike her sisters, she did not give any ground when he leaned toward her. This did mean that she ended up almost cheek to cheek with him, feeling his breath on her face as her eyes tracked his close to. "I am sure Leyla would be far more entertaining for you than my fumbling swordplay."

Idris grinned from ear to ear. "That is proof enough of your jealousy," he whispered back, close enough to kiss her, but not quite ready to do so yet, even if he wanted to. No, it was much more fun to tease her first. He looked over at her sisters again, looking each over in turn. "Leyla is lovely enough, but she is not for me," he murmured.

Sasha fought to keep her blush from reddening her face further than her exertions already had, glaring at him as he grinned. "It amazes me that you consider such words appropriate when I am holding a weapon and you are not."

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:23 EST

"Someone warned me not to spar for fear I might tear my stitches, remember?" he reminded her of her own words. As if he'd never had stitches before. His body was riddles with scars, some of which bore proof that he'd suffered far worse wounds than this one. He'd been lucky the blade hadn't gone deeper than it had, or he might not have survived it.

"Who said anything about sparring?" she asked innocently.

From the couch, Tulin called out to them. "You are not talking about swordplay!" she objected laughingly. "You are just arguing! If you aren't going to correct her stance, commander, at least argue at a volume we can hear!"

"You did, in not so many words," he told her, resisting the urge to poke a finger at her. He furrowed his brows in mild annoyance at Tulin's remark. "Women," he grumbled. He wasn't sure which of them was more annoying, and yet, as annoying as they were, he adored each and every one of them. Why, then, was he wasting his time on a woman who clearly didn't want him, even if he did think she was jealous" He grumbled again and stalked over to one of the guards, gesturing for the man to hand over his sword.

Realizing that Idris now intended to spar with her despite his injury, Sasha raised her eyes to Lady Shahista's window, appealing mutely for help in preventing the commander from hurting himself further. The queen-mother simply smiled and stepped away from the window, leaving Sasha to handle this herself.

"You do recall that our wager was made on the condition that the fight was fair, yes?" she said to Idris' back, ignoring the worried looks from the women on the couches.

"This is not a fight, Sasha," Idris pointed out. "This is practice."

It seemed there was a difference, at least, in his mind. He did not intend to put his whole effort into it; he only wanted to see what she could do with an actual opponent. He closed his fingers around the hilt of the sword, testing its weight in his hand as he turned to face her.

She nodded, reassured that he was not intending to overdo things, and backed up a couple of steps, flexing her fingers on her sword hilt. Unlike an amateur, she did not watch his blade as he faced her - she watched his eyes, waiting for him to attack.

"Come at me, then," he told her, waving her onward, as he took his stance. He wanted to see what she could do offensively, not only how she might defend herself from an opponent's attack. He gripped the sword in one hand, as he readied himself to defend.

Sasha's actual form of fighting was not pretty. She had learned to fight from pirates, men who didn't care what they looked like so long as they won. There was no flourish, no showing off. She closed the distance fast, aiming to knock his sword aside and grasp his neck with her raised hand.

He chuckled as she came at him, practically predicting what she'd do. He easily shoved his blade beneath hers and shoved her sword away to block her attack. "Come, you can do better than that. You fight like a pirate!"

Of course, it was pirates who'd taught her to fight, so it went without saying that she'd fight like one. He meant no insult by the remark, but he'd watched her enough to know she could do better.

He was lucky she wasn't trying to kill him. She actually resisted the instinct to slam her elbow into his nose before she backed away again, scowling at his goading. This time, her attack focused with blade on blade, testing the waters to see how firm his grip and stance were.

His grip was firm and his stance even and balanced. He was loose enough on his feet that he could move about as necessary without tripping, but he was careful to remain on the defense, merely testing her skills. His blade met hers and shoved her back. Injured or not, it was clear he was skilled with the sword and not an easy opponent.

"Again!" he demanded.

Straightening her shoulders, Sasha narrowed her eyes. He was testing her stance, she reminded herself, so she should stick to the drills she had learned through watching the palace guard. First, second, third, she advanced through all of them, daring him to tell her she was getting it wrong this time.

"Good!" he praised her at last, a smile on his face as he studied her moves.

She would make a fine swordsman, if only he had the time to retrain her. She knew the basics; he only had to polish what skills she already had and somehow rework what the pirates had taught her. It was really too bad she was a woman, and a pretty one at that. Too pretty to take into battle.

Just a little praise, and Idris got to see her smile. Sasha barely even realized she was smiling as she resumed the drills, pleased to be good enough to elicit a little praise. And, of course, as the commander praised her, the other suraans applauded, encouraging her to keep going.

"Now, come at me again!" he demanded, hoping to see some improvement. "And don't be sloppy about it!" he told her, in reference to the style of fighting she'd learned from the pirates - or more accurately, lack of style. Though style might not be much help in a battle, practice was essential in learning how to attack and defend, so that your blood didn't end up on your opponent's sword. He was willing to teach her, if she was truly willing to learn.

Just like that, the smile was gone, replaced with a fierceness that flashed in her eyes, showed in the set line of her jaw. With the grace she had shown off just running through the drills, she spun into his range, more like a dancer than a fighter to the watchers.

He couldn't help but smile at hearing her sisters applaud, knowing they were not encouraging him but her, and that smile only widened as she came at him again, showing a style that was hers and hers alone.

"Ah, now there it is! I knew you had it in you!" he praised her again, even as she came at him, their swords singing against the other, more like lovers than fighters.

Encouraged by the praise, Sasha grew bolder, her footwork becoming lighter, less reliant on form and drill and more on keeping her agile despite the restriction of her flowing skirt. Her free hand remained up, as though shielding her chest, prepared to lose an arm rather than take a blade to her vital organs, but still her movement seemed more like a dancer than a fighter. Her eyes sparkled, enjoying the challenge of finding her own style amid a gentle sparring match, her face lit up with enthusiasm.

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:24 EST

He matched her movements, allowing her to dance around him, feinting and parrying, moving forward and back. It was more like a dance than a swordfight, but he was happy she was finding her own style, her own way of fighting. "Good!" he praised her further. "Find your own way. Unpredictable but deadly," he encouraged her further, ignoring the ache in his side.

"I feel as though I want another blade in this hand," she said, flexing the fingers of her free hand even as she continued to advance and retreat through the steps of the drills, making them her own each time.

"That can be done. Or a shield," he suggested, though he wasn't sure which she'd prefer.

It was unlikely she was ever going to need to use these skills, and yet, it didn't hurt to hone them. Neither seemed to notice the mild stir among the women as the king entered the harem, touching a finger to his lips to ask for their silence.

"A shield limits movement," Sasha objected with a shake of her head. "I need to be able to react with my body if you truly expect me to raise my skill. I have no desire to be weighed down with pounds of metal intended for me to hide behind."

"Point taken," Idris replied, lowering his sword and stepping toward her to offer it to her. "Try this," he suggested. "Though you may find it too wieldy. A little blade, I think. A knife perhaps, or a short sword." He stepped back in order to give her some space to give the blade a try.

"Commander," Nasir called, and Idris turned to find the king watching nearby.

Curling her fingers about the sword he offered her, Sasha frowned as she tested the weight. It felt clumsy in her left hand; heavier than she had expected to find it, suddenly aware that her left arm was not as strong as her right. She opened her mouth to agree that, yes, a small blade would be better, only to hear the king's voice. She instantly lowered the blades, lowering her gaze as well as she curtsied.

"Majesty."

"Sasha," Nasir acknowledged his wife's friend, as well as the other women gathered around. "I'm sorry to interrupt the lesson, but I would like a word with the commander," he explained, his gaze taking her in, as well as the pair of blades. "Try this instead," he said, drawing a dagger from the belt at his waist. He nodded to a guard to retrieve the sword, which Idris had borrowed.

Handing the sword back to the guard, Sasha took the dagger from the king, curtsying once again. "Your will precedes all else, majesty," she said, still addressing his shoes, it seemed.

"Yes, thank you, Sasha," Nasir said. "Please carry on," he told her, waving a hand at her, so that she would stop staring at his feet and continue with her practice. "That is something it seems some of my subjects need to be reminded of," he said, turning to face his friend with the hint of a smirk on his face.

"Nas-Majesty," Idris stammered. "I am only helping her sharpen her skills."

Nasir raised a hand to silence his friend. "A word, if I may," he said, stepping away from the group, far enough so that their voices wouldn't carry.

As the king stepped away, gesturing for Idris to follow him, Sasha cast a wide-eyed look over at the other girls. Meryem, the only one not to have joined in with the teasing and flirting, gestured to her to keep practicing - after all, the king himself had given her a blade to do just that.

The two men stood close together, their voices hard to hear, but their faces easy enough to read. The king's expression was calm as he spoke, while his commander's seemed to grow agitated, annoyed even. The pair was engaged in quiet but busy conversation for some minutes, before Idris' voice bellowed, "For goddess' sake, Nasir, that man is an old coot!"

The bellow was enough to bring Sasha to a stumbling halt, all eyes turning toward the king and his commander. A moment later, the door to the harem inner quarters opened, and the servants gestured for the women to come inside quickly. It seemed as though Lady Shahista had decided there should be no witnesses to what might be quite a rough conversation.

"You cannot! I will not allow it!" Idris was overheard saying, despite the fact that he was talking to the king - a man who could dismiss a man from his service for a lesser offense. A man who he also considered a brother.

"Calm yourself, commander, or do you forget who is king?" Nasir pointed out, though he'd expected and even welcomed just this reaction from the man.

As the conversation seemed to become even more heated, the Suraans hurried to slip inside. Sasha handed her sword to the guard who had loaned it to her, and hesitated, looking down at the dagger in her hand. She looked between the two men and the harem, where Hatice was gesturing with impatience for her to come inside, and abruptly skipped over to the men. She bowed hastily to the king, pressing the hilt into his hand, and turned to run away before she heard anything she shouldn't.

Nasir turned as Sasha returned the dagger to his hand, an amicable smile on his face. "Sasha, stay a moment," he said, as he returned the dagger to his belt. "I came here to announce that Lady Shahista and I will be arranging marriages for some of women to certain officers who have distinguished themselves in battle."

Prevented from escaping, Sasha paused, turning back to the king and the commander. "I should ....should I ask them to return, majesty?" she asked in a quiet voice. It was obvious that she did not consider herself to be one of those women whose future was being decided.

"No, I will speak with them later," Nasir replied, gesturing toward the cushions where Idris and the women had been relaxing only a short time before. "You should get off your feet, commander. You are looking a bit pale. Come, let us sit and talk."

"There is nothing to talk about," Idris replied, scowling, his voice dangerously low.

"My commander does not agree with the arrangement," Nasir explained.

Despite her uncertainty at being kept in this situation, Sasha turned a curious gaze onto Idris. "You do not agree that your men deserve a reward of this kind?" she asked, confused that he would deny his best waves from the royal harem.

In all truth, it was more likely the king's mother would address the harem women. Nasir's visit here was for a different reason altogether.

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:24 EST

Idris growled at Sasha's question, his rage barely under control. "No, I do not agree who is to marry whom."

Her eyes narrowed at his growl. "I am sure there is room for negotiation," she said, her voice tight as she considered what he might be objecting to. "If you wish Leyla for yourself, you need only be honest with the king."

"Leyla!" Idris bellowed. "I do not wish Leyla," he said, voice turning quiet again, the words spoken from between clenched teeth. "That woman is as wily as a fox. I wish a wife who will speak plainly, not try to wheedle her way into my bed."

"Ah, but I must reward the commander of my armies," Nasir said smiling. "And you must admit Leyla is a fine catch."

"If you would have the respect of any woman at all, perhaps you should learn not to shout like an entitled child when you do not get your own way," Sasha informed Idris firmly, annoyed that he seemed to be projecting his fury onto her just because she was there. Apparently he didn't want his men getting married before he did, she assumed. Hearing the king agree that Leyla would be a fine wife for the commander, however, brought a sharp pain to her chest, her eyes falling to the paved ground at her feet.

"She is smart and beautiful," Nasir pointed out.

"And yet, you are not making her one of your wives either," Idris pointed out. He could not deny that Leyla was smart and beautiful, but she was not what he wanted for a wife. He turned a glare at Sasha, his face flushing at her insult. "A child am I now" And here I am trying to save you from being married to a wrinkled old coot."

Sasha blanched, but she had been taught vehemently that her future was in the hands of those who watched over her. If marriage to an old man was on the cards, then she could not object. Idris' manner in speaking to her, however, was not going to go unpunished. "That is a dreadful way to speak about yourself, commander."

"I am not a wrinkled old coot," Idris pointed out, visibly bristling. "But if that is what you want, perhaps I won't bother objecting." He hadn't missed how her face had gone pale at the idea, but the fact that she'd insulted him was not encouraging him to help her cause, no matter how badly he wanted to.

Nasir held up a hand to silence them both. "Perhaps we can come to an arrangement that would be agreeable to you both," he suggested.

Sasha bristled, swallowing hard to keep the words in as she looked to the king. "Might I have your permission to speak plainly, your majesty?" she asked, daring to chance her arm.

Nasir wasn't quite expecting that from the girl, but he was curious now as to what she might say. "You may," he said, with a nod of his head. For his part, Idris kept silent, only glowering silently at the pair of them.

She drew in a slow breath. "Had my opinion been asked before the commander displayed how poorly controlled his temper truly is, I would have asked to be considered in Leyla's place, as a candidate for his bride," she said quietly. She hesitated, and raised her chin almost defiantly. "I fear very little," she went on. "But what I do fear is to be at the mercy of a man who will give vent to fury before thinking. I already bear the scars from one such man."

Idris' expression changed several times in a matter of moments - from fury to shock to something almost like shame and then back to anger again, but angry at the thought that anyone had dared hurt her.

Nasir frowned. This was not going how he'd expected or hoped. He had expected Idris to be angry, but he had not expected Sasha to offer herself up as a bride and then in the same instant, decline, because of something in her past neither of them knew anything about.

"Who is it?" Idris asked, eyes narrowed. "Who is it that hurt you and I will make him pay."

Sasha was silent for a long moment before she answered. "He was my father," she said, still in that quiet tone. "The pirates who took me from him did so because of how they found me." She raised her eyes to Nasir. "Forgive my lie, your majesty. I did not think that anyone would wish to know of my life before the sea, and I did not wish to talk of it."

"There is no need," Nasir assured her. "You did not ask for this life, Sasha. You did not come here of your own will, but I would like you to be happy here. Safi and Teres would like you to be happy here," he told her gently, before turning to Idris. "And you, my friend and my brother. You two are more alike than you know, but that is not my story to share. I do not only wish to reward you because you are my commander, but because you are my friend. I had thought to give you your choice of women." Nasir frowned, looking from one to the other. "But now I am not so sure."

Idris furrowed his brows, frowning in confusion. What exactly was the king trying to tell him' "I am not sure what you mean, Majesty," he said.

Sasha bit her lip, wondering if she had somehow managed to talk herself out of not only a marriage, but a home as well. Nasir was known for wanting to please his household, but she would not be able to object if he decided to turn her out "for her own good". She lifted her chin again.

"Majesty, I ....before your decision is made, may I ....may I speak with the commander?"

It was Nasir's turn to arch a brow, surprised not only by this turn of events but by the fact that Sasha wanted to speak with Idris, presumably alone. "Yes, of course," he replied. "I will be in my chambers. You may both come see me when you are finished here."

"Thank you, majesty." Sasha curtsied once more, her eyes downcast again as she tried to calm herself. She had never thought she would ever tell anyone of exactly how she had come to be with the pirates who had raised her, but it seemed that if Idris was to understand why his temper was such a deciding factor for her, she would have to confess.

Nasir inclined his head to acknowledge Sasha's gratitude before turning to Idris. "Commander," he said, before turning to find his way out of the harem.

Unfortunately, the poor commander was beside himself with worry, self-doubt, and loathing. Though the other women in the harem seemed willing enough, why would she want someone like him; and yet, the thought of her with any other man made his blood boil with rage and jealousy.

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:24 EST

There was silence for a long moment after the king took his leave, a silence in which Sasha was palpably gathering her courage to speak. When she finally did, her voice was soft, filled with shame for the past she was about to relate.

"I assume that you know I was taken from pirates and sold into slavery when I was thirteen," she began. "That I was fortunate enough to catch the eye of Lady Shahista, and she brought me into the harem."

Idris shifted, wincing just a little at the stitch in his side as he waited for her to tell him whatever it was she wanted to tell him. He did not think he'd taxed himself that much with the drill, but it was probably a little too soon to be wielding a sword. He frowned as she started to tell her tale, glancing to where the guards stood, as still and silent as statues, before holding up a hand to stop her before she went any farther.

"This is not the place to speak of such things," he told her, knowing there were likely to be far more ears than just his listening. "Let us go someplace where we can speak in private," he suggested.

Silenced, she nodded obediently, seeming to have retreated into herself a little for the time being. "As you command."

There were few such places in the middle of the day, but she had been seen coming and going from his quarters already. There was hardly any scandal in it. "Are you hungry' You must at least be thirsty from practice," he told her, his mood shifting, or at least, his demeanor.

"A drink, perhaps?" she suggested, glancing at him with mild uncertainty. The only reason she was not fidgeting was her own stubbornness - she had no idea what was going to happen now.

"Well, I'm hungry!" he said, a faint smile flickering briefly as he led the way from the harem. He stopped briefly along the way to request a simple meal be brought to his quarters - enough for two. The servant, thankfully, only nodded and hurried away with only the briefest glances at Sasha. "There are too many ears in the harem," he told her, hoping she trusted him enough to not question where he was taking her.

"There are ears everywhere in the palace," she agreed softly, trying to ignore the curious glances of the guards and servants they passed. Whatever happened in the next few hours, her reputation as a Suraan was going to take quite a firm hit.

"Not everywhere," he replied.

There were no ears in the king's quarters or in his own chambers, unless there were guards about. He'd made sure of that. There was always the chance someone had a hidey-hole somewhere where they could eavesdrop, but it was more private than most other places in the palace. He came to a halt there in the corridor, only partway to his quarters.

"Where would you prefer to go, then?" he asked, leaving the decision to her. He did not wish to sully her reputation, but if she wanted to speak to him in private, their choices were limited.

She considered this for a time, thinking over what she knew of the palace. "There is a fountain, in the palace gardens," she said finally. "Even with ears to hear, they may not hear all there."

"Very well," he said, looking for a servant again to instruct them that they were have their afternoon meal in the palace gardens, rather than his rooms. Once that was settled, he gestured with a hand for them to continue on their way. "As you wish."

That was something else that set him apart from the other men in the palace, though he did not seem to realize it. Allowing, even encouraging, a woman to take the lead instead of following meekly behind him was all but unheard of. Sasha felt a tiny smile twitch at her lips as she turned to lead him toward the palace gardens, and the fountain that sprayed water noisily from the mouths of what she had been assured were demons.

Ah, but he had another reason for allowing her to lead the way. Not only did it allow him a nice view of her backside, it allowed him to wince and stretch his side, without her noticing and scolding him for it. Not only did the damned wound ache, but it was starting to itch enough to drive him mad.

The sun was shining warm on the gardens, yet the area she lead him to was shaded beside the fountain, overhung with the boughs of trees whose canopy dappled their skin with sunlight and shadow. There was no one in sight; even if there were hidden ears, it was unlikely they would hear anything over the sound of water and leaves. Sasha paused, lowering herself to sit on the edge of the fountain.

"You should sit, commander," she said quietly. "You do not need to pretend that your injury does not pain you."

"I am not pretending anything of the sort," he argued, and yet, he did not hesitate to make himself comfortable - or at least as comfortable as he could for a big man perched on the edge of a fountain. It would be a little while before the servants arrived with refreshments, and so he thought it was safe enough to encourage her to continue her story. "You were saying."

She bit her lip, taking a deep breath in before beginning again. "You know I came from the sea," she said quietly. "What no one knows is how I came to be a part of the pirate crew. I have spent years denying that I remember anything from the time before the ocean, but that is a lie. I remember enough."

He furrowed his brows at her again, a little confused. "But why do you feel this is something I should know, when you have told no one before?" he asked, curiously.

"You will understand when I am done," she told him, hoping that was the case. "I do not remember who I was, but I remember my father. He was an angry man, and I was a very small child. I learned to be afraid of a raised voice, because when his voice was raised, so was his hand. When the Wayfarer's Lady attacked the ship we were travelling on, I was frightened. I cried, I wanted my father to protect me. Instead, he beat me. The pirates found me bleeding and unconscious at his feet. I do not know what they did to him, and I do not care." She was silent for a tense moment before she added, "I was three years old. That is my first memory. Angry words, a violent temper, and pain from someone who should have protected me. I am still afraid of a voice raised in anger, because I fear the beating that will come after."

Idris listened to all this in silence, listening not only with his ears but with his heart. For a man who was seemed accustomed to the harsh reality of war, he was not cold and unfeeling. The expression on his face softened, and though she could not know it, his heart ached for her, once he was over his initial anger at the thought that anyone would dare harm a helpless child - especially someone who should have been protecting her. He sighed, realizing why she was telling him this, though he still didn't really understand why it should matter where he was concerned.

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:24 EST

"I am sorry, Sasha. No child deserves such violence, especially not from a parent. But I am not your father, and I swear on my honor that I would never cause you harm."

"And do you understand now why your temper made me harsh?" she asked, tilting her head to look at him. "I am grown now, I know how to defend myself. I will not be the victim of any man's temper again."

"I am what I am, Sasha. I am what the world has made me, but you have my word that I would never raise a hand to you. I would never harm you," he told her, as gently and solemnly as he could. There wasn't much more he could do than that. "But ....Why does it matter to you that I know this" Nasir wants to give you to Altan - a man in his seventies. He is rich, yes. He could offer you much, but he's old, and you are young. You should have a husband who is closer in age. Someone you can grow old with, not someone who is already ancient."

"I had ....I had thought that, perhaps, you might want me for a wife," she admitted, her words coming faster as she admitted her thought. "But I understand that I am difficult and not what a man like you would want in a wife. You, you clearly wish for a harem of your own, and I would not be happy as one of many, and I would make you very miserable with my jealousy. I-I can endure marriage to an old man. Perhaps, even at his advanced age, I might still have a child to be family with when he was gone."

"A child" With that old coot?" Idris practically growled, his own jealousy flaring. He only realized too late that he'd raised his voice again and had to struggle to contain his anger. He had to backtrack a moment before the rest of what she'd said caught up with him. "Just what do you think I want in a wife" Do you think I want someone like Leyla, who will tell a man what he wants to hear to his face, and laugh at him behind his back?"

"What else am I supposed to hope for in life?" Sasha shot back, anger rising to hide her fear despite the confession of its existence. "I am not of this land, I will never be the perfect wife for any man. The best I can hope for is to bear a man a son, so that I am not banished from his house upon his death! And Leyla would not do that to you! She is a sweet girl and a loyal friend, and if you growled at her as you do at me, she would cry!"

Idris rolled his eyes, not because of what she had told him of her past, but because she was so naive about Leyla and perhaps the other women of the harem. Either he was wrong, or she was far more innocent than he'd figured her to be. "A sweet girl who is making no secret of the fact that she'd like to be my first wife," he pointed out.

"As would any woman of the royal harem," Sasha pointed out sharply. "You are a finer man than any of us could have dared to hope for." She abruptly closed her mouth, realizing what she had given away.

"I am not ..." He broke off, mouth open, ready to argue, brows furrowing as he could find no fault with her statement. "And you do not give yourself enough credit," he told her. "May I ask you something?" he said, as gently as he could manage.

"The worst I can do is give you no answer," she responded, one shoulder rising and falling in an inviting shrug. "I do not expect I will be allowed to stay in the palace after the events of today. You had best ask what you wish now, before I am gone."

"And why is that?" he asked, looking confused. "Because you dared pick up a sword in the harem' Because you come from another land" Anyone who looks at you can see that you come from another land, Sasha. It has never mattered before."

"I spoke back to you before the king," she reminded him. "I left the harem without the permission of the king or the queen-mother." She shook her head. "Ask what you will of me."

"You are with me. No one will question you," he assured her, and anyone who did could answer to him. He lifted a hand, with the thought to reassure her by taking her hand, but thought better of it. Even if no one could hear them, guards and servants had eyes to see. He frowned a moment, a little afraid to ask her the question he had in mind. "Very well. I will ask." He paused a moment to clear his throat, as if he was a little nervous. "Um, if you could, what fate would you choose for yourself?" Would she wish to return to the pirate ship and sail the seas she so seemed to love or would she want to stay here, with her friends, with him"

She went very still, staring fixedly down at her hands. "I don't ....I don't want to be alone," she whispered. "I have no one but Safi and Teres, and they do not need me any longer. The Wayfarer's Lady is gone, sunk these past seven years. All I can hope for is that someone may wish to wed me and keep me close to the palace and the people I love."

It was not likely Nasir or even Idris would be taking a second wife. He had never considered himself the kind of man a woman might want, and yet, marrying Sasha would solve both their problems. And he couldn't help but admit that he liked her - more than liked her. If Nasir was so set on giving him a wife, there was only one he'd choose for himself, and she was sitting right beside him. He couldn't help but smile a little at that.

"Sasha," he said, daring at last to reach for her hand. "Perhaps I have a solution."

Her head snapped up, dark eyes seeking his with curious concern, though she could not hide the heat in her cheeks at the sensation of his hand covering her own. "I cannot enter the army," she said, making an attempt to inject a little humor into the situation. "Someone would be bound to see me wash at some point."

"No, no," he said, chuckling a little. "That is not what I had in mind, though I must admit, you could probably put some of them to shame." He couldn't help adding that last part, an amused smirk on his face, especially because it was true.

She couldn't help a faint smile, shaking her head at what she believed was nothing more than empty praise to make her smile. "You are kind to say it, though I doubt I could hold my own against any man trained by you."

"Perhaps. There is room for improvement, but have skill," he told her honestly, but that wasn't what he was going to suggest. "Perhaps I could talk to the king about arranging a marriage to a man you might find more ....suitable," he suggested.

"There is only one such man, commander, and I do not think he would have me," Sasha told him, trading honesty for honesty. Her smile was regretful as she squeezed his hand and slipped hers from his grasp.

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:25 EST

"And who is that?" he asked, clearly not thinking it might be him. After all, she had already told him she couldn't abide a man with a temper and he clearly had one.

"You should not ask me such things," she tried to demur, trying to laugh it off with a shake of her head. "Surely it is your own happy future you should care for, not mine."

"And what if it is the same thing?" he asked, though she had not yet answered his question. Would she understand what it was he was getting at, or had she guessed already"

She stared at him, her eyes wide once again as she seemed to catch the meaning he was trying to convey. "Commander, I ....I dare not be so bold as to assume, but ..." She swallowed, biting her lip. "Would you truly consider me for a wife" Even knowing that I could not bear to share you with another?"

"I do not want a harem, Sasha," he confessed, chuckling a little. "Truly, I am not sure I would be able to keep more than one woman happy." Though he had enjoyed flirting with the women in the harem, he truly only had room enough in his life for one wife.

"And of all the women who would have you, you would voluntarily choose me?" she asked, her disbelief blatant in her eyes and voice. "But ....I have threatened you with weapons, I have insulted you!"

"And you were not afraid to do so. How many other women can say that' How many women do you think would have the courage to speak with me the way you have" To be honest with me," he asked her. "Do you really think all I want is a woman like Leyla who is more interested in status than in being a wife?"

"I do not know what you want," Sasha said uncertainly. "I have never known what it is that makes one woman more desirable than another. Would the king allow it' You have said he wishes to give me to another."

"Yes, he also mentioned something about offering me the woman of my choice," Idris reminded her. In the heat of the argument, at least he had caught that much. His smile softened as he reached for her hand once more to take it in his own. "Do you think you could ever learn to like a man like me, Sasha?"

She let out a soft huff of breath, her face softening with a smile of her own as he took her hand once again. "I already like you, commander," she told him softly. "You are brash and impulsive and heedless of your own life, but there is something in you that calls to me."

He smirked, as his closed his fingers around hers. "You forgot bad-tempered," he teased. "In truth, I never really thought to seek a wife. I did not think anyone would have me, and if they did, it would more than likely only be because the king arranged it."

"If I did not like you, I would not speak so boldly to you," she offered, still a little wary of believing that she could be this lucky. "I do not share my spirit with those I have no time for."

"Then you will be my wife?" he asked, simply enough. Of course, it was still up to the king to decide, but considering he and Nasir were practically brothers, he didn't think there would be any objections.

"If ....if the king will allow it, then ....it would be my honor to be your wife, commander." Sasha bit her lip, trying not to let her smile run free without restraint.

"Oh, I don't think that will be a problem," Idris said, his turn to smile. He lifted her hand to his lips to brush it with a kiss, a brief touch, but soft and warm and all too romantic for a man who prided himself on being a warrior.

She gasped softly, a flicker of tension rippling through her form at the softness of a touch she had never before experienced. Was that what Teres and Safiya had been talking about' "Perhaps, perhaps we should not ....be alone together just yet," she stammered, shy of losing herself to that feeling.

"Perhaps," he admitted, though for a man who seemed the type to take what he wanted, he would wait until the time was right - until she was ready to give him what he wanted. And just then, the servant arrived with their refreshments, as if they'd been lurking and waiting for the right time.

With the arrival of their meal, Sasha took the opportunity to reclaim her hand with a shy smile, moving to help set out the cushions and blankets before turning back to him. "Will you join me, commander?"

"Yes, of course," he replied, not bothering with a sarcastic response, but a sincere one. He winced just a little as he rose from where he was perched against the fountain, wondering how hard it was going to be to get back up from the cushions once he was settled there.

Sasha frowned at the sight of his wince, holding up a hand to still him from trying to sit down on the cushions. She turned to the servant, murmuring something, and the man scurried off.

"One moment, commander," Sasha told Idris, shaking her head with a faint smile. "You have done too much today."

A few minutes later, the servant returned with several others, carrying a couch and table that were swiftly set up for the commander and his companion.

Idris laughed to find a couch and table being brought out to the gardens and knowing it had been Sasha's doing.

"Not even married yet, and you are already trying to take care of me," he teased her, once the servants had left them alone and he was settled on the couch.

"It is my duty to ensure you survive to wed me," she countered innocently, loading a plate and handing it to him so he would not have to strain his side with stretching. "And perhaps even the wedding night."

"Do not fear the scratch in my side will stop me from wedding or bedding you," he assured her with an impish smirk, dark eyes dancing with mischief. Now that he was settled on the couch, he looked far more comfortable, not to mention relieved they were no longer arguing. He popped a hunk of cheese into his mouth, followed by a slice of sausage. All that sparring - verbal and otherwise - had evidently worked up his appetite. "So," he said, with a mouth half full of food, "Does this mean we should forgo our wager?"

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:25 EST

"Certainly not," Sasha informed him easily, pouring wine into goblets before taking up her own plate. "It was made in good faith. Unless you have no wish of a wife who can best you in a fair fight?"

He laughed again. "I have no wish to be humiliated in front of the entire court, if that is what you mean, but I do not intend to lose," he remarked, as he tore off a hunk of bread.

"I will make sure your battle is hard won, and your reward is earned," she answered sweetly, filling her mouth with folded meat to keep herself from blushing and giggling at the thought of that reward.

"So I must fight to earn the right to take my own wife into my bed" Is that how it is to be?" he asked, unsure if he was very fond of this wager anymore. Then again, Nasir had not yet given his permission, and he knew he should not assume he would.

"As I said, the wager was made in good faith," Sasha told him. After all, a soft agreement to wed was not the same as a declaration of affection, and she would still prefer time in which to learn about this man whom she hoped would be her future. "Or do you think me so willing to give up the only part of me that is truly my own simply in exchange for a promise?"

"I do not ask or expect you to give up anything," he replied, perhaps surprising her again. Was he different from the other men in Valentia" Perhaps, but there was good reason for that.

"It is not that I will deny you for all time," she said, her voice gentler now. "But that I should like to connect with you at a level deeper than mere physicality, if that is possible."

Of course, she would obviously be giving up her virginity, but that went without saying. He would never ask her to give up her friendships or her fondness for training. In point of fact, her skill in combat was one of the things that fascinated him about her, and it was something he might be able to help her improve on.

"Ah, I see. We are talking about sex," he said, her meaning finally dawning on him.

His blunt clarity brought forth the blush she had been trying so hard to keep hidden, unable to hold his gaze in that moment. She lifted her goblet to her lips, desperately trying to think of something more to say and coming up empty.

He smiled, amused that he'd managed to make her blush, but also admiring the way the pretty pink flush colored her cheeks. "Now I have embarrassed you," he said. "I am not sure I should apologize, as I'm not really sorry," he teased.

"I am not ....unaware ....of relations between men and women," she assured him, albeit awkwardly. "The pirates ....they were not subtle men, but they guarded me like hawks. And there are lessons in the harem, but not with ....not with men."

"Lessons?" he asked, arching a curious brow. If the rumors of relations between harem sisters was true, could they be part of these lessons" Or did the women merely seek to give each other pleasure because it was so rarely offered by a man"

"We are taught how best to please a man," she explained. "Not simply through ....sex ....but in other ways, as well. Our only value is in giving pleasure."

"Is that what they teach you?" Idris asked, narrowing his eyes to indicate his disagreement with that statement. "You have far more value than just to give a man pleasure, Sasha," he told her, ripping off another hunk of bread.

"A daughter or sister of the king does, perhaps, but we were brought into the harem purely for his pleasure," she reminded him in amusement. "You seem discomforted by this information. Is it not well known?"

"I have not spent much time in Iska of late," Idris said, which once again went without saying. Not much was known of the man's past, other than the fact that he and the king were like brothers, and that Nasir had made him Valentia's commander. "And I was not raised in the harem, like Nasir and Ezra," he added, though she probably knew that already.

"But I was told that all the women of the harem unrelated to the king were intended for his pleasure, and that everyone knew it," she said in confusion. "I do not think they lied to me, but ....perhaps I was too much trouble for the whole truth when I arrived."

"No, that is true. Or was true," Idris replied, reluctant to reveal all of Nasir's plans, and yet, this was the woman who he hoped to make his wife, and he did not want to keep any secrets from her, especially when such secrets might help ease her mind. Could it be she did not yet know that Nasir intended to make Safi his only wife and queen"

"Of course, that is not now the case," Sasha went on, unaware that she was reassuring him with her knowledge. "With his marriage to Safi, the harem will become more a place where the women of the court may be educated and socialise when their men are at work. But we were raised to be little more than pleasure tools for the king, commander. There are fears among those in the harem still that no man will want us if he believes the king has had us all."

Idris chuckled. "The king has not been back long enough to have had you all," he pointed out, though he supposed that if Nasir took a different women to his bed each night, it was possible to believe so. "I have only been here a few days. Tell me, does he love her as much as he seems?"

Sasha laughed a little. "He adores her, and she him," she told him. "Has he told you of the assassins a few months ago' One came at him with a knife, but Prince Felipe and Lord Ezra prevented it from finding the mark, yet at the same time, Safi was poisoned by a rival who had been banished to the Old Palace. He was distraught with concern for her. They did not even know she was with child - his fear was all for losing her."

Idris arched his dark brows, surprised by this news. There was clearly a lot Nasir had not told him yet. "And Ezra? He seems equally besotted." He frowned a moment as he realized how he'd interrupted his friend's nuptials, but made no comment on it. He only took a swallow of his wine, as much to hide his shame as to numb the pain of it.

"As I understand it, they were friends as children, and took to one another swiftly when they were reunited," Sasha said with a shrug. "I do not pretend to understand this instant connection they share, but I will not deny that there is something there deeper than mere desire. He only smiles with his whole being when he smiles at Teres."

"As Nasir with his intended," Idris mused quietly. Perhaps there was hope for him yet, but he was not Nasir or Ezra. He was cut from an entirely different cloth, as evidenced by his appearance and demeanor. "So, his intended is with child." Idris sighed. "There is much I have missed."

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:25 EST

"Not so very much," she assured him. "Nasir has been king for barely four months, and it is only in recent weeks that the Pomeran prince left to return to Carib and his own wife. I ....I understand from Safi that the king has been impatiently waiting your return. He has missed you."

That statement got the big man's attention. "Has he?" he asked, looking a little surprised by that claim. "I can't help but wonder if the Pomerans are hoping to win back our loyalty." Of course, there were worse things than being a vassal of Pomerania. He only hoped the rest of the nation would remain loyal to Nasir. If there was one thing they didn't need it was civil war. He had only just put down such a revolt a few days before his arrival in Iskra.

"They are cousins," Sasha said quietly. "Lady Shahista is the half-sister of the Queen of Pomerania. I believe the prince's presence was declared as being support for a cousin taking a throne unexpectedly."

"Nobles and their bloodlines," Idris grumbled under his breath as he took another swallow of his wine. "So long as it benefits Nasir, I have no objections, but I do not wish to see us lose our independence to Pomerania."

"Then you approve of the old king cutting all ties with Pomerania to the point of disowning his own sister?" Sasha asked, shocked to think he would approve of the first signs of Clovis' madness.

"No, of course not!" Idris assured her. "I just do not wish us to become a puppet state of Pomerania. We have our own culture, our own customs. Allies, yes. We need allies, if we are to survive. Especially against the threat of Lotharingia."

"I do not know of the negotiations," she said with a shake of her head. "The harem is not privy to affairs of state. If you wish to know more of what is planned, perhaps you should ask the king, or Lord Ezra."

"Yes, I will have to," Idris murmured thoughtfully to himself. He'd barely been back more than two days. There was much he had to catch up on and to catch his friends up on, as well. Somehow, he'd become distracted with pleasanter matters, as evidenced by present company. He had intruded upon his friend's wedding, as it was; he didn't want to risk doing so again, but at some point, he would have to sit down with his friends and discuss business.

Sasha watched him for a few moments, setting her plate aside, her appetite sated. "I think, perhaps, you should rest, commander," she suggested. "You will not heal sound if you do not respect your body's need for rest."

"Everyone keeps telling me to rest, when we might be on the brink of war," he said, frowning with worry. And that wasn't even considering the threat from those who'd been loyal to Clovis, though Idris had done his best to defeat as many as he could find.

"And if war should break out and you have not given yourself time and peace to heal, you will be less than useless in the fighting," she said sternly.

"It does not tax me to sit here with you," Idris assured her, the stitches in his side forgotten for now, at least, until he got up. He couldn't deny that it had cost him a little to pick up that sword in the harem. Had he done it because he'd wanted to help her or because he'd simply been showing off" Even he wasn't sure.

She smiled, ducking her head for a moment. "I do not think the physicians will accept that my mere presence is conducive to your speedy healing."

"To hell with the physicians. What do they know?" he asked, grinning. He did not mean that, of course, but at least her company kept him off his feet and from doing anything too stupid. "Shall I escort you back to the harem, then?" he asked, reluctant to leave her presence just yet.

Sasha looked thoughtful for a long moment. "You should speak with the king," she said, leaning toward him. "If he agrees, we will be betrothed, and there will be no shame in my visiting your rooms. I believe I have a way for you to rest and not be bored at the same time."

"I have a better idea," he said, doing a masterful job of hiding any pain he was feeling as he shoved himself to his feet and reached for her hand. "Come with me. We will ask him together." After all, the king did say he would be with Saifya, and she and Safiya were friends, just as he and Nasir.

It spoke of her trust in him that she allowed him to take her hand, allowed servants and guards and workers of the palace see their joined hands as they walked through the gardens and back into the palace. Sasha had made her choice; if she could not be Idris' wife, then she would be no man's wife. It was as simple as that.

While it was true, the pair of them elicited some glances and even some stares as they made their way from the gardens and through the palace, but Idris didn't care. He openly tucked her arm into his as he led the way, confident Nasir would grant him - no, them - their wish. He had granted Ezra's, after all, and Idris had no reason to suspect his friend wouldn't do the same for him.

The look they got from the guards on the king's door was startled, to say the least, the elder of the two knocking on that door to announce to those inside that there were people wishing admittance. Sasha bit her lip, torn between pulling her arm from Idris' grasp and clinging tighter to him in hope.

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:32 EST

In all his years of knowing Nasir, Idris had never once used their friendship to ask for any favors. Not before Nasir had become king and not now, but he'd be damned if he would not be granted the one and only request he had ever made solely for selfish reasons. There was no way for him to know that Idris and Sasha were doing exactly what Nasir and his mother had been hoping for. A voice called from inside the room to usher them inside, and Idris drew a deep breath before leading the way into his king's chambers.

They entered to find the king and his Teliran sat together comfortably, sharing wide smiles that could only have come from laughter. In this setting, the small swell at Safiya's waist was more easily discernible as she sat up, her smile softening in delight at seeing Sasha on the arm of the only man she had thought might be able to handle her friend.

"Majesty," Idris greeted the king and his Teliran cordially, as his presence here and his request were of a serious nature. He noticed the fact that they seemed to have been laughing and enjoying each other's company, and felt a strange and unexpected stab of envy.

"Idris, Sasha," Nasir greeted the pair without getting up, one hand laid protectively and possessively upon the swell at Safi's waist. "Please, do not stand there looking as if the sky was about to fall. We are, all of us, friends. Join us. Sit! Relax!" the king urged, waving them to nearby couch - the only other seating available besides the floor.

A little surprised to be invited to sit when Safi and her king were clearly so comfortable together, Sasha glanced toward Idris, allowing him to take the lead. Safi bit down on a wider smile, avoiding Nasir's gaze. She could not wait to tell Teres about this.

Idris made no move toward the couch, feeling suddenly uncomfortable in his friend's presence - or perhaps it was the request he had in mind that was making him nervous. "I ....would prefer to stand," he said, lifting his chin, evidence of the man's pride. "I - we - have a request," he said, looking from one to the other, assuming Safiya had some sway over the king.

"Please do not give me to an old man," Sasha burst out suddenly. Only Idris' grasp on her arm kept her from falling to her knees in front of the king to beg.

Safiya raised her brows, looking over at Nasir in surprise. She hadn't heard this part of the plan.

Nasir patted Safi's hand as if to tell her all would be well, but only arched a brow at Sasha's outburst. Inwardly, he was laughing, as his mother's plan seemed to be coming to fruition. "Do you have an alternative?" he asked, looking from one to the other.

Idris, too, looked surprised at Sasha's outburst, but inwardly, he was beaming with pride that his instincts had been correct, even if she had claimed she would be happy with whatever the king decided for her. The faintest of smiles touched his lips, though he had not yet realized this had all been part of Nasir's plan. "I am the alternative," he declared. "You said yourself that you wished to give me my choice of wives, and I have chosen Sasha."

"What of you, Sasha?" Safiya asked softly, doing her best not to smile as she did so. This was exactly what they had been hoping for. "Would you be content with the commander?"

Sasha drew in sharp breath, unable to even glance at Idris as she answered. "I would be more than content, Safi."

Idris laid a hand against Sasha's, grinning like an idiot. It hadn't occurred to him yet that he'd barely known the woman a few days before claiming her for his wife, but oh, how much fun it would be getting to know her in every way. This wasn't just about keeping him entertained while he healed; it was about making match that would last a lifetime.

"And you, Idris" Are you sure Sasha is what you are looking for in a wife?" Nasir asked, though the man had already stated his wishes.

"Yes," Idris replied without hesitation. Nasir would know that the big man would never be content with a soft woman from the harem who would fuss over him continually and be more decoration than companion.

"There will be days you regret your choice, but not for long," Sasha muttered to Idris. She knew herself well enough to be able to predict that, at least.

"I am not the easiest man to live with," Idris replied, letting her know the same could be said for him. Perhaps that was what had attracted them to each other, in the first place, as both seemed to be looking for an equal, not simply someone to share their bed.

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:32 EST

Safiya looked to Nasir, finally letting herself smile with warm approval. She nodded to him, trusting that Sasha knew herself and her wishes, but had to add one small caveat. "Not until we are wed," she asked softly. "I do not want to be alone in the harem."

Sasha caught that and raised her hand, unwilling to burst out once again.

Nasir mirrored Safi's smile, knowing they were of the same mind and heart. They had allowed Ezra and Teres to marry first because the pair had been so obviously enamored of each other, but Nasir and Sasha would have to wait. It was not so much to ask, after all.

"It will not be long to wait," he whispered back, touching his brow to Safi's before turning back to their friends. He arched a brow upon seeing Sasha's hand in the air. "Yes?"

Lowering her hand, Sasha seemed to brace herself before she spoke. "There will be nights when you keep Safi by your side, even before you are wed, majesty," she pointed out. "Nights when I will be alone in the harem. Would ....would it be possible to make agreement that the commander will wed me sooner, but I will stay in the harem every night that Safiya does?"

Nasir looked to Safi, as if it was up to her to grant or deny this request. In all truth, it mattered very little to him who got married first. Ezra and Teres's wedding had been a small, private affair. There was no reason the same couldn't be done for Idris and Sasha.

"You are both certain?" he asked, though he could very well demand that they wed, if he so desired.

The answer he got from Safi was a very slight nod, her own agreement to the plan if he approved of it. The only thing that alarmed her was to be all alone in those vast concubine quarters on the nights when Nasir did not call for her, after all.

For her part, Sasha nodded firmly, her mind made up.

"And you, as well?" Nasir asked, looking to his commander expectantly.

"I am certain, Majesty," Idris replied, uncharacteristically solemn. "I am sure I will find no other woman like Sasha," he said. At least, not among the women of the harem, and he did not have the time to search for a wife elsewhere. Why should he do so when there was one so eager and willing standing right beside him"

"You had better not," Sasha told him, not quite under her breath.

Safiya's eyes widened, but she had to fight a giggle. Of course Sasha would not change, even if she fell head over heels in love.

Idris' mouth twitched in the hint of a smirk at Sasha's possessive remark, which he found strangely endearing. He'd had other women before, of course, but no one had matched him so completely as did Sasha. "I will consider myself warned," he murmured back.

Safiya did giggle on hearing this, glad that the pair were evenly matched. "When should we expect the happy occasion, then?" she asked in a curious tone.

Idris shrugged and looked to Sasha. "How soon can you be ready to leave the harem?" he asked. It didn't matter to him if he married her today, tomorrow, or in a few weeks from now. He wasn't going to change his mind.

Nasir remained quiet through all this, allowing the couple to decide for themselves. That was, after all, what all this had been about to begin with.

Sasha blinked, a little surprised at his haste but not minding it so much. With a tiny smile on her lips, she had an answer within moments. "Less than an hour."

"That soon," Idris remarked, shrugging again. "Very well." He turned back to Nasir and Safiya. "Would this evening be too soon?" he asked them. He might be rushing things a bit, but he saw no reason to wait when they were both so sure.

Safiya looked to Nasir, who had been very quiet for the last few minutes. "Shall I send for Teres and Ezra?" she asked in a tone that was only innocent if you didn't know her.

Nasir nodded. "I hate to interrupt so soon after their own wedding, but I would hate for either of them to miss this," he told her. He turned back to the pair before them, smiling warmly and affably. "I only wish you both to be happy," he told them.

"Happiness is something that must be worked at, majesty," Sasha said quietly. "But I believe the work will not be so hard with the commander."

"Well said," Nasir replied. "Well, then, I expect we should not delay further. There are arrangements that need to be made, and the day is growing late." He offered Safi a hand as he moved to his feet to face the other couple.

Helped to her feet, Safiya didn't even try to hide her smile. "The chapel then, in one hour," she suggested, glancing at the new couple thoughtfully. "And no banquet tonight, I suppose?" She knew Sasha was not fond of being the center of attention.

"No, but a private meal among friends," Nasir said. And one that he hoped would not be interrupted this time. It didn't have to be anything fancy; just a simple meal in the company of friends.

"Thank you, Nasir," Idris said stepping forward to clasp the king's arm in friendship and gratitude. He had never asked for anything before, and it warmed his heart that his friend has been so eager to please him.

Given permission to cross that divide. Safi let out a delighted squeal and bounced across the room to envelop Sasha in her embrace, overjoyed to feel her friend's tension sweep away with a low laugh against her ear.

"We must take you to the harem and you must pack, and while you are doing that, I will fetch out Teres to come and help me with your dress," she declared excitedly.

"I am happy for you, kardes," Nasir told his friend, naming him brother. And he was equally happy that he was able to do this for his friend and his wife's friend. He only hoped they would find the kind of love in each other that he had found with Safiya.

Idris · Date: 2019-06-09 13:32 EST

"Why do I get the feeling you hoped for this all along?" Idris asked, narrowing his eyes at his friend.

Nasir only laughed and slapped his friend on the back. "It is time you settle down, don't you think?"

"Perhaps it is time we all settle down," Idris replied. He could not deny it would be good to have a place to call home again and a woman to share it with.

Sasha let out a quiet yelp as Safi seized her hand, turning to curtsy quickly to Nasir. "With your permission, my king," the raven-haired Teliran said sweetly, her energy level suddenly through the roof. She was fizzing with excitement, making the tall blonde beside her roll her eyes with fond exasperation.

Idris sighed at the sight of Sasha being bustled away by Safi. "She is lovely, is she not?" he asked, not expecting an answer.

"That she is," Nasir replied, smiling as he watched the two women hurry away.

His eyes, however, were not on the fair beauty, but the darker one, who had stolen his heart. Was it any wonder he would do anything she asked to make her happy' And what was the point of being king if he could not use his influence to make his friends happy, after all" It made him smile to think of it.