The Sheikh King's Chosen queen

0.9: Beauty and Isolation

" I have the same feeling. For what's it's worth thank you. I won't let you down". She smiled at him.

" I won't let you. Ahasif will be looking for ways to see this to blow up in my face"

" Yeah, I suppose so. But you're awesome. I doubt anyone has beaten uncle Ahasif before" he laughed.

She came to a pause.

"Uncle? "

What the hell!

" He's your uncle? "

Zarif backed up as she rounded on him. He was suddenly worried.

" Y.. yes. He's my mother's brother". Chanteel felt like cursing but refrain from engaging her basic instinct. Her head hurt suddenly.

"You've some explaining to do. I want to know everything. And Zarif, a word of advice you better not lie to me, I'm one b***h you don't want as an enemy " he swallowed fearfully, nodding his head.

Chanteel eyed the passe of robed men that climbed out of several black armored vehicles. They halted several feet away to the side of the jet, watching her speculatively. Another vehicle drove up then and Zarif motioned her towards it.

Glancing back at the jet she said.

"Wait, shouldn't I wait for Mur...I mean the king?". she corrected.

She hadn't seen him at all, not since that night in the lounge. Was he hiding from her?

"My instructions are to escort you and the Prince to the palace," Zarif said opening the door.

She didn't know how to feel about that. Was she hoping that maybe that Murat would treat her more than just a guest?

Perhaps.

And she was foolish for thinking otherwise.

There was sudden movement at the jet. The men seemed to gather in a distinct order as a tall man in a black dishdash and white keffiyeh stepped out. This man was in command. Regal in appearance. A powerful wealthy desert Sheikh.

Murat!

Heat swept through her belly at the sight of him. His broad muscular shoulders and wide powerful chest defined by the close-fitted robe.

Look at me!

She willed.

His entourage headed towards the vehicles parked across the private airstrip close to the jet.

Dammit. Look at me!

Disappointment filled her. It angered her. She watched as he entered. His people following in the remaining vehicles before they drove off.

Chanteel stared at them feeling like a fool.

And why? Cause she wanted him to feel at least something for her as she did him.

Chanteel joined Zarif in the black Audi. "Now talk!"

Zarif knew there's something about the woman that said she wasn't going to be easy. When he'd first spotted the available position as Assistant to the mother of the future King of Zazaar, he'd only seen a chance to for himself. His mother had argued and pleaded with him, hoping he would change his mind. He, however, had been adamant. After all, he'd seen how long his mother has been after twenty-nine years of longing for a home she would never see again. She had grieved. Hoped that by some stroke of luck her family would welcome her back.

No such thing would happen. The home that she once knew and loved, that had been bitterly and unjustly snatched away from her was forever lost.

And why? Because she fell in love with a man her family found unacceptable?

Zarif had grown up being taught the culture of Zazaar. His mother had been adamant in his and his siblings' education. As a result, they spoke fluent Zazaari, knew the in and outs of Zazaar's customs and traditions. They knew it's history, laws as if they had lived all their lives there instead of England.

Still learning about a place, growing up loving that place and never having to see it, step foot on its soil was heartbreaking.

So he'd defied his parents and came to Zazaar, knowing he would most likely to be escorted back out within minutes of his arrival.

Luckily his stay had been over a week long since Ahasif had been in America and unaware of his presence. No one knew exactly his history in Zazaar. Until now.

What Zarif hadn't anticipated was the buzz and speculation that greeted him on the first day in Zazaar. Everyone in the palace was whispering about the rumored Queen. The servants were in awe.

Everyone wanted to see the outcome. He was impressed. She was a force to be reckoned with. Beautiful and smart. He was a little bit in love with the woman who sat across from him glaringly.

"My mother, Salima bint Laman Carasi is the daughter of Elder Laman, a prominent and distinguished official on the King's Elder Council". He began " She was the youngest of five children and the only remaining daughter who was unmarried. She was 18 years old when the Council arranged for her to marry into another prominent Zazaari family that would've elevated the Carasi name and bring higher ranking within the Elders Council. "

Chanteel listened bouncing Beau on her knees as the vehicle sped towards the palace.

" According to my mother, she had spent that summer touring Europe and met my father while in Paris. She fell in love with him, they got engaged and she returned to Zazaar to inform her family only to learn that they had arranged for her to marry someone else. She refused of course, but it didn't matter. She ran away and eloped with my father on the day of her wedding"

"Bold move " Chanteel spoke for the first time." So she disgraced her family, brought scandal to Zazaar and was exiled? "

" Yes. Harsh but that's how things are in Zazaar. The slightest disgruntled official can demand imprisonment. Or worse death of anyone that crosses them".

" Seems like an abuse of power "

" Many would agree. But so it has always been within the council for centuries. They're considered the most powerful men in the country."

"And Ahasif is on this Council?"

Zarif nodded. "He is, and also the Kings most trusted advisor. The second most powerful man in Zazaar."

The very same man who I have and continually pisses off. She said to herself.

" Why did you take the job, knowing the kind of reception you were most likely to receive? "

" I may not have been born here but I'm Zazaari in all the ways that count. And my mother doesn't deserve the treatment dealt with her"

Chanteel could understand how love can drive someone to defy all expectations. Her cousin Kenya had done the very same when she'd eloped to Vegas to marry the love of her life. They had all been 17 at the time, Kenya, Chanteel and their three best friends plus Macadiah and his buddies. Kenya had broken all the rules and made a bold stand. She and her husband Macadiah had faced the consequences, that even today still brought a strained relationship to the family.

The point is, she understood.

"Somehow Ahasif warning makes sense. He expects trouble. And if your grandfather is any worse than his son, we've trouble on our hands"

"I'm sorry. It's not my intention to cause problems for you" Chanteel knew he meant it. She didn't want trouble. She just wanted to raise her son in comfortable peace.

Yet she couldn't turn her back on Zarif when he reminded her so much like herself. She admired his determined to face fire when he could've remained in England.

" We'll be fine." she reassured him and added for measure "Once you have my back of course"

Zarif sighed relieved . He grinned at her. " I've got your back." he assured her.

She laughed. Turning her attention to Beau who was waving a chubby fist at the glass. She stared out and saw the palace. Imposing. Gigantic. Magnificent. Like its King.

"Magnificent isn't it? " Zarif said following her gaze.

The approaching Palace loomed ahead in brilliant white." Very" Chanteel agreed.

"It's was first built in 1702 by the then King Kaliq the Defiler. He was spoiled, pampered beyond imagination." he said making her smile. "It's written in Zazaar's history, though it's a forbidden topic, that he was a private with a taste for beautiful things. A barbarian who plundered ships and lands at will. Until he encountered an tribe in Africa that wasn't too fond of him stealing their most prized procession and placed a curse on him. "

She listened with avid attention.

" What was it? "

" That he will love only one woman in his life. He got off too easily if you ask me. Then again he was known for his Harem of 300 concubines " Chanteel gasped and laughed. Zarif chuckled.

" Damn! And did the curse work? "

" He died at age 92 and fathered 17 children. Married once and his queen was said to be the only woman to share his bed for sixty years" he said looking at her.

" What do you think?"

Chanteel could only smile. Curse or not that wasn't a bad life.

" Look" Zarif pointed towards the palace as several aids waited for their arrival. He spotted Hashid bin Ganat head palace aid and his team of attendance. He pointed out each person to Chanteel and their roles. She listened and filed away the information. As the vehicle pulled up into a wide courted compound, people rushed toward. It occurred her that she never learned what King Kaliq stole that had earned him to be cursed. She asked Zarif who smiled, looking at her in away that puzzled her and caused an uneasiness to grow in her belly.

" He stole the chief's daughter, Princess Tazini. She was proclaimed to be a beautiful spirted girl. And a strong Queen of Zazaar."

Chanteel had no time to process the information as the doors open and she was ushered into the palace under a wave catered proficiency.

******************

The floors were made of marble, thick and polished. The ceilings were high, towering marble wrapped in gold . Boasting columns, and bejeweled windows lined long endless hallways, leading off into lavishly decorated rooms.

There was a sweet cool smell of jasmine and spices filling the air. Chanteel took it all in, her eyes roaming and widening ever so often. Zarif walked close behind her, Hashid leading the way. She caught several servants straining their necks for a glimpse of her. She figured her presence would bring some sort of speculation. As a foreigner, and mother of their future King. Especially the circumstances behind the conception of her son.

She did wonder what was being said about her.

If the outside of the palace was magnificent, then there very few words to describe the inside.

Everything was beautiful. Opulent. Spectacular. The decadence of the palace reflected it's rulers rumored wealth. It was mind boggling. She felt somehow intimidated by such a wide array of luxury.

They entered into a wide lobby with several halls branching out of it. A bank of gleaming black glass elevators stood behind a paneled door, which opened up for them. Chanteel couldn't stop herself from smiling as Alicia Keys "Girl on Fire" began to play on the built in speakers. Zarif met her gaze chuckling a little. Putting her at ease. A little.

The elevator opened up into another hallway where in front of double doors a robed woman stood. She was the mid forties, small and pretty. Hashid introduced her as Amara. From there on it was Beau, Zarif and Chanteel following Amara through the doors. " This is your rooms" Amara informed. Chanteel stood transfixed at the room. As Amara toured her around, her head was spinning.

Damn! I could get used to this!

She thought.

Palatial in every sense, the suite of rooms were impeccably designed with opulent colour schemes of lush reds, vibrant purples, fushia to gold, forest greens and azure blues, sumptuous furnishings, tasteful selected to convey awe, and beauty and a wide list of exclusive amenities.

All the rooms feature sensational natural light from floor to ceiling windows and twisting terraces. Sublime uninterrupted views over the long endless gardens, and wild golden deserts. Built in heated floors and cooling system.

An exquisite majlis style lounge swathed in a brightly coloured paintbox palette opened up from the dramatic central staircase. There was an extensive library besides an office fully equipped with everything one would need to run an billion dollar empire.

A cinema room, sitting rooms, a private dining room that seated thirty comfortably and a kitchen with a staff that would rival that of the best restaurants in the world.

It was all utterly huge, with three bedrooms swathed in gold, marble, velvet and silk and three oversized marble bathrooms complete with a set of his and hers full-size Hermes amenities that ranged from full-size Jacuzzis to separate five-head rain showers.

The decadence didn't stop there. She was more speechless to discover that the room came with a 24 carat Gold Ipad. Wi-Fi Internet , two 21-inch iMacs, a range of 42-inch and 32-inch widescreen interactive HD TVs scattered throughout the suite. Bose Ipod and iPhone docking station and media hub. It was a high tech state of the arts remote controlled environment including curtains, TVs, in-suite music and lights.

Damn!

She thought of seeing it all.

"And this is your bedroom. I hope everything meets your expectations. If you desire any changes please say " Amara entered a bedroom and Chanteel grinned.

Her bedroom was the ultimate sleep experience: a selection of more than 15 types of pillows, Eiderdown duvets, exquisite Egyptian cotton linen and an Cali super king bed. A dressing room with open walk-in closets, that would make any shopperholic flip out. Literally!.

" I feel like I'm in heaven," she said to the smiling woman.

"It's quite expected at the palace. Shall I show you to the nursery?" she asked looking at Beau who like his mother stared wide eyed at the room.

"Perhaps later. I think we need a nap."

"Very well. I'll have a tray of refreshments brought to you. "

As she turned to leave Chanteel asked." What exactly are your duties Amara? "

The Zazaari smiled." I'm to serve you. What ever you need" then she left.

Serve?

*****

"I need to be pinched"

Chanteel said to Zarif who sat in the sitting room tapping away on his Ipad. He looked at her smiling.

"I can't blame you. When I first came here I pinched myself by the hour'

Beside him on the seat was a thick folder. She eyed it. He handed it to her. 'That's for your reading. Code and conduct regulations in and out of the palace. I have already enable your security clearance on to the palace website, everything you need is on the Ipad. " he pointed to it. Chanteel eyed the thing dubiously.

Gold. Really Murat?

" Thanks. Are you going to leave now? " she asked as he stood.

" Yes. But don't worry I'll be back in the morning at nine. We can discuss what you want done"

She walked him to the doors and waved goodbye.

Peeping down the hallway she watched him disappear into the elevator. Stepping out she looked left. Long hallway, a dead end.

Right. Long hallway, a dead end.

And.....

Silence.

Why did she feel that uneasiness again?

Did Murat intend to isolate her and keep her hidden away?

Chanteel didn't know about that. Yet it was something she would find out.

Later, right now she was going to let out her inner little girl and get acquainted with her new home.

Yay!