His Queen

Chapter 44

Chapter 20

General Nihal Jaan’s POV

Once again I found myself unable to fall asleep, I stood up and put on my shirt, taking a deep breath, I walked out of my chambers and decided to take a stroll in the garden, while I was walking towards the gardens, I hoped that somehow I will see the lady from the previous night, I had thought of her many times throughout today and I had no reason to tell myself that I hadn’t been thinking of her when I lay on my bed unable to sleep.

I had left my chambers with one thought in mind, I was hoping I would see her in the gardens again and this time I will be very careful with my manners, during our first encounter, I wasn’t sure why i had such poor manners but if I ended up seeing her, I must surely be on my best behavior and besides I meant to apologize to her for rudeness.

I arrived at the garden and it was quiet and peaceful just like it normally was, it was undisturbed unlike the previous night when the sobbing of a woman filled the night, it was quiet, just the way I liked it but somehow that disappointed me, it meant she wasn’t here.

Letting out a deep breath, I walked in and decided that I might as well enjoy the cool breeze and the soothing calmness it offered, I took a bend to sit in my usual spot and there she was, sitting on the same stump she had sat the previous night, this time she was not crying and sobbing but she was staring at the night sky with a deep concentration, she was completely unaware of my presence.

I felt she was being reckless, this was not a place for a woman to be alone at night, anything could happen but as I looked at her sitting there staring into the far distance, she looked a lot different from the night before, last time, I hadn’t really paid attention to the fact that she wasn’t dressed in the usual clothing of the women of Atrabad, there was something different about her clothes but I couldn’t really say what it was exactly, she was dressed in a soft blue dress and she had a matching veil atop her head, I also noticed that she had a long pointed nose and her complexion was quite unique, her huge eyes were filled with thought, for just minute or two, I wanted to know and understand the thoughts that went on in her mind.

Then she stood up, I watched as she looked around, it looked like she was searching for someone, a small smile crossed my face when I thought that perhaps she was looking for me but it seemed highly unlikely judging from the way I had behaved last time.

Then she turned around, her huge eyes fell on me, they went up in surprise and that made me smile and say something I had never planned on saying but it came out all the same,

“A pleasure seeing you here Laylah” I said, the smile never leaving my face,

I watched her eyes widen at the name, I had no idea why I had called her that but somehow I felt it was just right for her,

Her face suddenly looked serious and confident “I am afraid you have mistaken me for someone I am not” she said,

Her voice was soft and in great contrast to the confident exterior she displayed, I looked at her more closely, her features were soft and delicate.

“I don’t think so my lady because I believe it is you I seek” I said,

“And might I ask why it is you seek me out?” she said, the air of confidence still surrounding her,

I found it funny because I honestly thought she was putting on a show, she didn’t want to feel intimidated by me and I really wished she would just relax because I had no intention of intimidating her, I just really wanted to have a simple conversation with her and get a chance to apologize for behavior thus far.

“Because I wish to apologize for my behavior on the day of our first encounter, I have no excuse for my behavior, I was not supposed to act as I did to you and for that, I kindly apologize” I said and bowed my head a little,

My eyes remained on her, I watched as surprise registered on her face, she must not have expected an apology from me and now she seemed like she didn’t know what to say,

She nervously cleared her throat and subconsciously shifted her veil “I have no reason not to accept your apology, now that you have said what it that you wished to say, I believe I must take my leave, I have stayed out for too long, I must return to the queen” she said,

It was when she said this that I realized why her complexion was a little different and why she dressed slightly different and I also knew why I hadn’t seen her in the palace before, she must be Junnut, queen’s Banafsha’s maid,

“You are lady Junnut” I said, it wasn’t a question, I knew she was already because I remember briefly seeing her the royal wedding, she had come in with the queen but somehow, I hadn’t really paid attention to her, I had a lot of important noble to greet at the wedding.

She looked at me, she looked puzzled “I wish to know how you know who I am and I will very much like to emphasize that I am no lady” she said,

Another smile passed my face “I believe the handmaiden to queen Banafsha, I knew this because you mentioned that you work at the queen’s palace” I said,

She looked unsure but she said nothing.

When I realized she wasn’t going to say anything, I cleared my throat, I suddenly realized this was the first time I had nothing to say when speaking to a woman, conversation had always been easy for me but today, I had nothing to say, I just kept staring at her making me feel like a complete fool,

“I must take my leave now, I have been gone for too long” she said and started walking away,

She had gotten to the bend when I called out to her “I bid a pleasant night lady Junnut” I said with a smile,

She stopped and turned around “A pleasant night to you as well” she said and then she was gone.

The night was suddenly quiet again and I found that I wouldn’t mind a little disturbance after all.

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King Humair’s POV

I closed the last of the documents that sought my attention for the night, I was in my chambers, I didn’t need to look outside to know that it was very late, it must be well after midnight by now and yet I felt I wasn’t ready to retire for the night, I was not ready to go to sleep just yet.

I stood up and slipped on my robe, I believed I needed some fresh air, I walked out of my chambers, my guards were standing by the door as usual, they bowed when they saw me,

“Is there something you need your majesty?” one of the guards asked me,

I gave him a little smile and said “I just want to get some fresh air, you don’t need to worry”

They bowed their heads and took their positions behind me, I wanted to ask them to just let it be I knew it was no use, they were as stubborn as a mule, they followed me around all the time so I just let it be and began my stroll,

I knew where I was going, I knew the reason I hadn’t been able to fall asleep, I always visited the queen’s chambers twice a day but today I hadn’t been able to make the second visit, I had been busy and now, I had no choice to visit her chambers and she how she was doing or I might not be able to sleep comfortably tonight,

I finally arrived at her chambers, her maids greeted me and quickly opened the door for me to enter, the room was empty except for a maid seated by her side, when she saw me she quickly stood up and bowed her head, I signaled for her to leave, she quietly left, leaving me alone with queen Ifza.

I sat beside her bed, she lay on the bed unmoving, the only evidence that she was still alive was the occasional rise and fall of her chest indicating that she was still breathing, her skin was still pale and her lips were losing their color, her maids had brushed her hair to her back, she looked almost lifeless, her face looked so peaceful like this, the pride and arrogance was gone, instead she just looked like a gentle sleeping beauty but somehow, I missed the pride and arrogance, I wanted to hear her voice even if it was her rude comments, seeing her look so helpless on the bed didn’t feel right, I was to the arrogant queen of Marwa.

I really hoped she woke up soon, I didn’t want her to die, I really wanted her to live, a deep breath escaped my lips, I looked down at her hand beside her on the bed, it was covered with henna decorations, I hadn’t really paid attention to it before, i remembered when I had first met her, she was a woman dressed in armor and in her hands were a sword, her fierce looking at me with disdain and contempt, that woman looked very different from the woman lying on the bed before me, that one had looked strong, so strong I had thought she was intriguing and I hadn’t been wrong, she was a woman that anytime she opened her mouth to speak, the words that came out always left me in awe, the fact that she spoke with confidence and courage was the first I found I liked about her,

I had always wanted my queen to be a strong woman and I had gotten exactly what I wanted, though she treated me with scorn and disdain, I found myself still attracted to her, I knew that she thought very little of me but I will surely make sure that changed, I will have her heart no matter what, I was a king and was it not said that the king always got what he wanted, I will do my hardest to attain the heart of this arrogant woman.

I took her hand in mine, it was small but not at all delicate, she had the scars of a warrior that wielded the sword, I imagined if we had a sparring contest, what will the outcome be? Knowing queen Ifza, she would go for my head immediately, I realized I was smiling, it was funny to think that I found it amusing to imagine having a sparring contest with queen Ifza, I gently placed her hand beside her, I looked down at her face and wished she would wake up soon.

I stood up, I needed to return to my chambers, it was getting really late, I looked at queen Ifza once more and on impulse, I leaned down towards her, she smelt of roses and honey, I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before whispering “Wake up please”

Then I stood up and walked out of the room.