Two hearts, a past and many obstacles. The storm rumbled and picked up stones in its path, as though joining the delirious woman tied up in the dungeon in her misery. As though mocking the world for its cruelty. “I should have known it was you Ya Habibi, all the lies, schemes and manipulations, I should have known that you were the master of it all.” She cackled at the end of her words in hopes of covering up the wounds in her heart. The wounds his betrayal has carved deep into her soul. “You have been accused of conspiracy to treason, do you plead your case Sayidati Hamama?” The woman scoffed. “treason?” she asked, ignoring every other man in the crowded dungeon as her eyes focused on only one man ‘Sultan Ibrahim khan’ the man behind her miseries. She observed him, his long hair neatly rolled and tied albeit messily on top of his head, his chests glimmering even in the darkness of the damp smelling dungeon, his eyes lined with kohl and staring back at her with anger, his stance with his hands forever on the hilt of his sword. That was enough to tell her all she needed to know. This man wasn’t hers, never was and never will be. “You insult me Habibi. For years I have labored at your side, cursed my father’s throne for your love, all that to end up as a prisoner tied up like a thief in your dungeon, fed like a pig and beaten like an adulteress, all that to be accused of treason?” “The Malika was poisoned and has lost the heir, you were the last person seen with her”. He decided to speak to her this time, his voice as accusatory as ever. He wasn’t asking, he had already condemned her. “Let us end this charade now Sayidi Ibraham khan bin Shroulf khan, I had no hand in your Malika’s poisoning nor in your unborn child’s death. I Hamama Farouk, daughter of Ameer Farouk, prince of the East, declare my innocence and ask you to avenge my name. however, Sayidi, from now onwards I am no longer a prisoner bound by your love. I free you from the debt of repaying my father’s kindness during your teenage years when he tended to your wounds and gave you a roof over your head in exchange of wedding his young naïve daughter when you finally take your brothers place as Sultan of the Caliphate. Only in death would I be in your arms.” With that she slowly removed the poisoned hair-pin from her hair. She had kept it as a protection from the schemes in the palace and now it will be her end. Before any of them could stop her, she lodged the pin deep into her neck and felt the poison mixing with her blood.She watched him watch her, his kohl eyes roaming over her appearance with some kind of reluctance, she chuckled as panic over took him and he rushed to her side, she couldn’t hear him, nor feel him anymore as her senses dulled and darkness over took her.She had freed him from the bondage of pretending to love her. No longer was she the Sultans woman.