Arshi's house walls glowed as soon as the sunlight kissed them making the whole building brighter than usual. It had rained for several weeks and the rays from it were warmly welcomed.
The serenity of that place made Hatim feel more relaxed than he usually was when at the palace. He needed that rest. He had too much on his mind and had no time for relaxing but Arshi gave him that chance to do so.
The serenity came to ruin after one of the chambermaids dropped a tray containing Hatim's breakfast and medication. She ended up getting scolded by the chief chambermaid that alerted Arshi who chose to intervene.
"What is going on?"
The chambermaids stood in shock not knowing how to reply. They had made a grave mistake by creating a commotion early in the morning and thought of the punishment that would befall them.
"My Sultana…" the young maid started but got interrupted by the head chambermaid.
"My Sultana, I was just about to punish this foolish girl."
Arshi stood there in silence watching how the woman before her was complaining and turned her gaze to the young girl who was being scolded.
"What is your name, young one?" she asked the young maid.
"Pardon?"
"I asked, what your name was?"
Both the young maid and the head chambermaid took short glances at each other, worried they will be punished after their commotion. Arshi's lips turned upwards and stretched her hand and patted the young girl's head. the young maid withered instinctively expecting a slap or a hit on her gaunt body.
"Nafisa―My name is Nafisa, My Sultana."
"You have a beautiful name." Arshi cupped her hand on Nafisa's cheek, staring through her eyes. "It means that you are valuable. You are so precious young one."
"Thank you, my Sultana." The young maid's face turned pink as she answered. Her clothes looked so unkempt and crumpled like she was being mistreated by the other chambermaids. Arshi took hold of the girl and walked away, leaving the head chambermaid still bowing in the hall on her own.
"How long have you lived?" Arshi asked as they continued walking towards the kitchen.
"I am eleven years of age, My Sultana."
They reached the kitchen and Arshi tied her hair up in a side bun with the help of Nafisa. Nafisa thought why she was not being punished instead the Sultana held her hand. A slave like her who was so used to different kinds of treatment never thought of interacting face-to-face with the Sultana one day.
Nafisa always watched Arshi whenever she passes by the halls every day as she mopped the floor since that was her major chore in that place. She was a slave from the Octavia Kingdom who was abducted and taken to Aleppo. She got separated from her mother when she was barely seven years of age and that was how she got captured by slave traders.
"Why did you pull my hand, My Sultana?" Nafisa gently asked.
"Why did you choose to follow me when I did so?" Arshi replied teasingly carefully surveying Nafisa's reaction. "You remind me of my little sister."
Nafisa's eyes widened. "Pardon?"
"I have a younger sister and you remind me of her. How can I watch a young girl such as yourself being bullied like that? That is why I pulled your hand because that is what a big sister should do."
Nafisa looked at Arshi not knowing what to do nor say next. She was still in shock as to why the Sultana herself would go as far as doing that just to protect her.
"We are done now. Shall we go?" Arshi said, holding a tray in her hands and continued teasingly, "Let us go and serve that annoying husband of mine."
"Let me help you with that, My Sultana." Nafisa rushed to take away the tray from Arshi's hands.
"No. I can handle this on my own." Arshi politely refused her offer, forcing an encouraging smile. "I have other work for you."
"But I have to go clean the mess I made in the hall, My Sultana."
"That is not your chore anymore. You are to serve me from now on or do you dare to disagree?" Arshi tightly gripped the tray in her hands avoiding looking at Nafisa, who was still following behind her. "Do not get me wrong. I do not intend to force you to do something you do not wish to do. A slave is also a living human being and currently, I wish for you to go and take a rest. That is an order."
**********************
Arshi walked towards the room Hatim was resting. She was still worried about Nafisa and how sickly she looked. How were people being treated in the palace? She wondered. Nafisa was only a small child, still in need of a mother's love and warmth and no one was there to give it to her.
Arshi remembered she used to be a slave as well. How would life be if she was still one? She continued to wonder.
She reached the door and the guards bowed then opened the door. She entered as the door shuts behind her.
"Do you feel a little better, My Sultan?"
Arshi approached Hatim and placed the tray on the bedside stool then placed her hand on his forehead with the other on hers.
"Your temperature is okay," she said, flicking his head. "Why are you up so early?"
Hatim touched his forehead, smiling after seeing Arshi smiling. He enjoyed her company and loved seeing her smile. He watched as Arshi cleared up all the documents he had messily spread all over the bed. She picked, organized then placed them on the other empty bedside table.
"I was just having a bit of trouble sleeping."
"Oh my, is that so?" she replied, getting into bed and lying beside him.
Hatim stared at her as she got closer to him and placed her head on his shoulder. "What brings you here this early?"
"I am naturally concerned for my husband's health." Arshi shrugged. "Am I not allowed to be worried about you?"
Hatim smiled after hearing what she had said, "I have been doing some thinking. Do you not think that it is about time we go to the palace, together?" Hatim stroked her hair as he spoke. "I will not confine you within the palace if that is what you deeply fear, Arshi."
"I agree."
Hatim could not believe what he just heard. He moved to the side a little to properly see Arshi's face wanting to confirm if she really meant what she said. "Do you really?"
Arshi smiled and stared at him. He was the most handsome man she had ever met in her entire life. "I will go wherever you will go, Hathi."
"Are you certain about your answer, my flower?"
"Yes. I will be more than happy to be wherever you are as long as you keep your word."
"My word?" he raised a brow, confused. "I do not understand, my love."
Arshi stared at him before answering and sighed. "You will not confine me within the palace, Hathi."
Hatim smiled and laid comfortably on the bed and hugged Arshi closer to him. "I always keep my word." He kissed her temple.
"I almost forgot. I brought you your breakfast along with your medication."
"You are ruining the mood, My Sultana. I do not really feel like taking anything poisonous today. Please call someone to take it away this instant." He grunted.
"And why should I do that?"
"Because I hate bitter things, you are aware of that."
"Is that really the reason? Or were you not sick at all?"
Hatim chuckled and pulled her closer to him. "Do you want me to prove to you whether I was sick or not?"
Arshi drew a line using her finger on his chest and smiled sardonically. "I am the one who woke up very early and made that poison for you. I would be more than happy if you drink it before it gets cold."
Hatim got up defeated and poured himself a cup of medication and forced it down his system. After gulping the bitter and weird-smelling drink that left Arshi busting out into laughter, he ended up making a funny but disgusted look.
"There is something I am really curious about." Hatim scratched his throat as he spoke. "What was that concoction made of? The smell of it inside of my skin makes me feel like I have drunk a witch's poison instead."
"Did you just call me a witch?" Arshi pretended to frown.
"I was just curious about the ingredients, my flower. My tongue feels more bitter as I speak."
"You are being so overdramatic, Hathi. Every medication―
Before she could finish her statement, she had already been mounted on.
"Let us continue from where we left off that day. If you want to," he smiled, pressing his lower body firmly to hers.
His mouth covered hers, giving her a long warm passionate kiss, unable to resist that left her short of breath. She put her hands behind Hatim's backstroking him and exerted her own pressure as she returned his kisses wanting to feel more of his hardness on her.
"How sensitive you are. A kiss and you are already like this."
Arshi had no idea, when and how her clothes had been taken off. She remained completely naked but was aware of Hatim's touch on her skin.
She had an exquisite well-balanced bosom and hips. Her waist was perfectly defined and shaped that gracefully curved out her hips.
He landed a soft kiss on her lips exploring Arshi's body from her cleavage, going down to her belly and thighs. His fingertips moved gently over her pleasure pillows then slid down her belly and slipped between her legs. "I will be extra gentle this time," he mumbled.