Banou is afraid to go to sleep. She shake her head and fan weakly. He sigh and take the fan away. He hold her wrist and drag her to bed. LI Jun takes out the blanket and cover her and remove her shoes. Banou watch him from her bed. Li Jun goes back to his book and sit across her to read. As she watches him read, her heavy eyes begin to close.
When she wakes up, she finds him on the bed with her. Li Jun is laying on top of the blanket and fast asleep. The candle in the room has already blown off. Even though the room is cold, she have a blanket that keep her warm. While he is curl up as if he is feeling cold. Feeling bad for him, she remove the blanket and place it on top of him. He looks like he never suffer before where else, she have suffer somethings that other people might not experience this life time. She try to forget it but when she close her eyes, she remember she in her wedding ceremony. The serf is reading the words of god when the soldiers storm in. The men and woman is separated. into two rolls. Everyone is wondering what is going on. She saw Ahmet walking in with his royal guard outfit. In his loudest coming voice, he informed that he was told to arrest as there is a traitor family who is growing his own army. The women wail loudly. While Banou try to get Ahmet's attention. Their eyes lock at each other's present but he choose to do his duty as a solider and arrest the whole party of people. "Ahmet!! Please it's me!! " She call his name numerous times but he choose to ignore and walk away. Banou's hands are tie up with a rope linking to the other woman. She keep turning around to see him but he is gone.
Banou lay on the bed and weep. She loved Ahmet since they met when he was training as a royal guard in the palace. They continue to see each other in the palace even though they did to speak much to each other. Until he moved up a few ranks, he take courage to talk to her. However she is not fated to marry the person she fell in love. They accepted that they are not fated to be together as the royal decrees comes from the Sultan. He watch her getting prepare to marry. Everyday their eyes met with sadness. There is nothing they can do.
Li Jun wakes up to the sound of a sobbing and someone shaking beside him. He finds the blanket on him and Banou tearing beside him. He got up and pour a cup of tea. He offer to Banou and when she takes the cup he use his sleeves to wipe her tears. After she drinks the tea, he place it on the table. Li Jun hop back to the bed. This time, he place the blanket to cover both of them. He even hug her and pat her gently. "Did you miss home? It is ok. The Great Tang is big, we have everything. I have some Arabic books you can read. I try to find some food other than vegetables for you. There is a muslim family living in the capital, i will find time to intro you. Shss it's ok. Go to sleep."
He continue to talk softy and pat her gently. Soon she got tired and drift off to sleep.
In the morning she wakes up in his embrace. Li Jun did not do anything she fear he would. Instead he pat her the night and talk even though she don't understand a word of it. She stare at his face. Unlike her, he have very white skin. almond shape eyes, short dark lashes that matches his eyebrow, His lips are long and thin. He has a long face with sharp chin. His hair unlike her's is straight and silky. Banou wonder why did he buy her from the trader in the desert. When he wakes up, she quickly close her eyes to pretend that she is awake at the same time. She feels no movement from him she open her eyes to see him staring at her. Banou's cheeks turn red and feel the heat from her body. Slowly she got up and pour the tea on the cup. She pass him a cup before she take another. Li Jun did not say anything till he put on his outer wear.
"We are going to an out post later. The soldiers there will take over the goods and you have to follow me. Don't walk anywhere that pleases yourself.... I feel like as if i am talking to myself. You can't understand a word i say. Never mind. Come my little lover."
He grab her wrist and pull her out of the room. Ah Mu is already downstair with Aylin.
The caravan move along the mountains trail over seeing the lakes and rivers. Banou watch the scenery and enjoy the ride. While Aylin is talking non stop to Ah Mu who is riving the caravan. Even though he doesn't understand, he smile and laugh when she laughs. Meanwhile Li Jun is laying down reading his book and occasionally spy on Banou. Everything is going smoothly soon, they reached the out post where the soldiers are stationed at. Banou panic and wonder why are soldiers around. She look at Li Jun who is dusting his garment and getting ready to alight from the caravan.
After the commander of the post greet Li Jun, Banou watch them exchange documents and the goods are hand over. Li Jun then give money to the men who had been following him. They each happily receive the money and walk out of the post house The commander in the meanwhile walk around Banou and Aylin. He Look at them from head to toe. "Your highness, are they your guest? I haven't seen Persian woman for a long time. I can't remember seeing girls like them."
"Yes they are exotic looking. Well that is enough of looking commander. Back to business, as always you will have a team to escort the good back to the capital. The spices, we have tried to keep them out of the water. So i trust you do that too."
"We will get the casing to be air tight as always. Your highness will you be heading back to the capital with us? We can escort you as well."
"I am thinking if i should or not. Maybe i should, i have been travelling out there for 2 years. Very tiring. It's time to go home and greet father emperor before he have me arrested just to go home."
"His majestic must be missing your present."
"Missing, i doubt it. More like where is the things he request from me."
Banou watch the 2 men talk. Aylin whisper to Banou
"Is master thinking of selling us to the soldiers? I hope not. This is such a dusty place to live in."
"Don't worry Aylin, i got a feeling that he will take us wherever he goes."
Li Jun at that moment turn around, look at Banou and wink.