Chapter 56

We come to the doors of the dining hall and everyone rises from their seats. I lean over to the guard, whispering the introduction I want announced as Hamza and I enter.

“Her Majesty, Queen of Nur and Sameer, and The Kingdoms’ Protector, Hamza.”

Some of the people exchange worried looks as Hamza and I pass them. Let them think what they want. Better they get used to him now. Two empty seats await us, and Hamza pulls mine out before sitting in his own. Maryam sits beside me, and Widad beside Hamza. Zaynah, Hud, Mikael, Mu’ath, and the other advisors fill in the remaining seats.

Hamza leans over as the first course is served. “Are you sure it is wise to have me here? My presence seems to make some uneasy.”

“You will always be by my side. I wouldn’t care if every person in this room disagreed with you being there,” I say.

He nods, leaning back in his seat, a small smile on his face.

A cake is rolled out of the kitchens, quite different from the cake that was in this room a few days ago. And the people filling this room are quite different as well. The nobles of both Nur and Sameer fill the room, but their faces are not joyous, some are nervous, as they should be. Others are sullen, bordering on angry. I make sure to remember whose faces bear which expressions.

At other tables are the people from the villages closest to the palace. Others who arrived are in the courtyard and beyond, all being fed, all hopefully seeing this for the new beginning I mean for it to be. And the women and children from Sameer fill a good portion of the room, looking at the cake in wonder, trying to get their children to stay in their seats. I smile at their futile efforts. Masood and his sister have taught them a game called tag, and it’s left all the children here unable to stay in their seats for long.

“After the feast, the council would like to have a brief meeting with you.” Maryam tells me.

“Okay.”

And then a whisper comes in my left ear as I turn my head straight, “And I will be waiting in your room for you when you return from your meeting.”

I smile while a slice of cake is set before me. When I enter Maryam’s office, she and the other advisors rise, bowing their heads before we all take our seats.

“Hunayn,” Maryam begins. “In trying to get back in your good graces, has told us of where your father hid the taxes he collected from the people. We have had it taken from his office and brought it here.”

She gestures behind her, to the corner of the room, and my eyes widen at the trunks full of coins. Anger fills me even as I see this for the opportunity it is. If my father had spent it on frivolous things, that could never be returned. But coins can.

“We will give them out to the people,” I state.

“All of it?” Bilal asks incredulously.

“We will take what the crown needs and no more. We still have the new taxes the people will soon pay, which I will see lowered, but this, this belongs to them. They suffered to pay the nobles these coins. That ends now. Every household will get back what it has given. A prosperous people makes Nur a prosperous kingdom. If only the crown prospers then we have failed. And I will not fail. Not in this.”

Maryam’s eyes fill with pride. “We will have the nobles bring their ledgers, showing what each household gave to determine what is owed.”

“And I will want to see accounts of the nobles’ as well. Any of them living off the poverty of their villages will answer for it.”

“Too much change will not be taken lightly by the nobles,” Zayd warns.

“I understand, but if things do not change now, they never will. I will be just like my father if I let all the things he set in place continue. I would rather the nobles dislike me for changing things than for my people to suffer because I was too afraid to make those changes that would better their lives.”

“And the council that will be set up in Sameer?” Medinah inquires. “How will women who have never governed be able to implement new laws. We train all our lives to take our seat on this council, to advise you properly.”

“I feel the people who were most affected by the wrongs of Sameer are the best to bring ideas of how to fix them. They do not have experience in governing, no, but they do know what it is to live in Sameer better than any of us. I trust them not to do anything that would bring the suffering upon others that they were subjected to. And that is why this council will be aiding them, advising them, guiding them as to how to do all that effectively. You will correspond through letters and messengers until we can arrange a trip where we all go to Sameer and can oversee things for a while.”

She inclines her head, and I look to Mu’ath, my uncle.

“Well, everyone has given me their advice. What is yours?”

He smiles and spreads his hands wide. “I have none. Without a word from me and those behind me, you have addressed our concerns, our wants. Other than getting you on the throne, we just wanted the poverty, the inequality, addressed. When they brought those trunks of coins in here, I wanted to see what you would do, would say. And I am filled with pride to hear what you desire to be done with it. I know that your mother would have been too.”

I have to swallow around the tears clogging my throat to speak.

“And all behind you, as you say, are happy to lay down their rebellion?”

“They are. We never wanted violence or an end to the crown. We simply could not endure your father wearing that crown any longer. Not when it caused such suffering. We knew that with you on the throne, things would change.”

“And how did you know that, Mu’ath? You had never met me before that day. You did not know me. Why was all hope placed in me?”

“I have known Maryam since childhood. When my sister died, she kept me informed about my niece, her upbringing, her training, her education.” His eyes soften. “Her kindness, her mercy, her sharp mind, her sense of justice. This is how I knew, Your Majesty. Then word began to reach us of the ways your father mistreated you. Of your engagement to a man even we in Nur knew was not fit to be a husband, let alone a king. That’s when I and people who felt the strain of living under Qarun’s rule decided to rebel.”

“I thank you for your faith in me.”

He smiles, and my eyes go back to Maryam. Realizing more than ever all that she has done and risked for me. My love for her grows and swells.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Mu’ath says as he stands. “I must go terrify the young man who wishes to marry my daughter.”

“You’re going back to your village so soon?” I ask.

“My daughter is in the palace.”

My eyebrows furrow. “Who is your…” I pause as understanding dawns, the pieces of so many conversations coming together. “Zaynah.”

It’s not a question but he nods anyway. I open my mouth, but he speaks first.

“She did not know I led the rebellion until today. Only that we were both a part of it. Maryam and I helped her get the job here to give you someone you could trust by your side at all times.”

“Her companionship was much needed. She’s a true friend, and now I know, also family. Did… did she know she was my cousin all this time?”

He shakes his head. “I only told her that today as well. To which she replied that you were already her sister anyway.”

“She is correct.” I smiled, then add. “Please don’t be too hard on Hud. He’s a very good man, better than most, and truly loves her.”

“I know. But I still have to scare him just enough.”

“Enough for what?” I chuckle.

“Just enough.” He repeats. Then his eyes go to my crown. “It suits you beautifully. I know you will honor it.”

“I will.”

With that he leaves and Bilal steps forward.

“And what of Hunayn?” he asks. “He did give us the information that led to our discovery.”

“He will never be in my good graces. No one who has two faces ever will. You would do well to remember that.”

I rise from my chair and walk past him, towards where Maryam now stands by the door.

She smiles as I approach her. “The rest of the night is yours to enjoy. We will inform the nobles of what you requested of them before they leave the palace.”

“Thank you…for everything.”

She gives me another smile and I leave, walking down the hallway and removing the crown from my head as I go. The things from my room have been moved to the rooms my father occupied. All of his things were removed and burned and my things, and many new pieces, were brought in. I walk a little quicker, knowing that Hamza will be waiting for me when I reach it.

I open the door, and my steps halt. Blue rose petals lay all over the floor and bed. Candles in their holders burn on the surfaces of my new dressers, and at the foot of the large bed stands Hamza. Having removed his black tunic from earlier, his chest is bare, letting my eyes roam over every inch of skin until they hit the loose fabric of his pants.

“You have been very busy.” I smile.

“I tried to find as many roses as I could while you were gone,” he says.

“It’s beautiful.”

I close the door behind me and walk over to him.

“How was your meeting?” he asks.

I bring the tips of my fingers to his lips. “I don’t want to speak of that now. The only thing I want to hear is all the things you have been wanting to tell me.”

His lips curve up under my fingers. “I will start then, by saying I could not be happier than I am in this moment right now. Here, with you. Not having the feeling of disappointment that eventually I will have to leave again.”

“Never again.” I breathe.

Then he steps behind me, his hands untwisting my head wrap until it falls at my feet. His fingers thread through my hair, starting at the back of my head and rubbing up. A groan escapes me at how good it feels.

“I have wanted to tell you how much I love the feel of your hair between my fingers.” He begins unbuttoning my gown, opening it at the neck. “That I love when I push your hair to the side and kiss you here.” His lips come where my neck meets my shoulder and I shiver.

He pushes my gown down. It falls off my shoulders and down my arms. Below my hips and then to the floor. I turn around in the circle of fabric to find Hamza’s pants lowering. His eyes devour me, looking at every part of me that’s now exposed to him.

“Every single time I see you undressed, desire rushes through me so quickly and hard that I find it hard to breathe,” he continues. “Then I remind myself that I’m lucky enough to get to touch you.” He steps closer, hand going between my thighs. “To feel you.” My breath hitches as he brings his lips to mine for a quick kiss. “To have you until I watch you come apart beneath me.”

He picks me up, and my legs wrap around his waist. His hardness rubs against me as our mouths meet. He walks me the few steps to the bed, laying me on the rose petals there. The softness of them is like a cool kiss to my fevered skin. My legs hike up higher, and he settles between my thighs. His tongue slides against mine while his length applies pressure to a spot that has me moaning into his mouth already.

“I cannot tell you how many times I have dreamed I was inside you. Only to wake up and curse the sun for shining and bringing me back to reality,” he says gruffly against my lips. “But now, I don’t have to dream. I am here.”

He reaching down and lines himself up with my opening. When he slides inside me, I get the stretching and ecstasy I’d been waiting for all day.

“And I never want to leave,” he finishes.

“I never want you to. Never,” I pant as he thrusts into me.

His arms wrap under my back, keeping our bodies as close together as possible. He slides in and out of me, taking me higher and higher. My fingers grip his back tightly while my face goes to his neck, his beard scratching against my cheek. I lick along his neck and a violent shudder rakes through him.

“I love when you do that,” he pants haltingly.

“I know.” I lick again before sucking the skin into my mouth.

His thrusts get faster, him driving into me, whispering my name into my ear again and again. It is, without a doubt, the best sound I have ever heard. He sits up, his dark eyes looking down on me with lust swirling in them and brings his hands to my thighs. Widening them, he slams into me and grinds against me. My hands fly to his forearms, needing something to hold onto as I explode.

His eyes close when I spasm around him. The strain on his face tells me how hard he’s trying to hold back, but I don’t want him to. I clench my quivering thighs to his side so I can rise up. He falls down to his hunches, and his arms wrap around my waist. I rise and fall on him, my head falling back at the pleasure of having him inside me. Of having him here. Of never having to fear him leaving again.

His hands grip my hips so tightly, I can tell how close to the edge he is. And I want to go over with him. When I feel my own bliss hurdling towards me, I lean forward, making my sensitive spot rub against him. Then I lick his neck again. I smile when I get the shiver I wanted, but then continue up his neck, to his ear. And just as I go over the edge, I whisper his name and lick along the shell of his ear.

“Ameera,” He gasps.

He follows me into the pool of pleasure that is only for us. Only ever when we are together. Only ever when our bodies meet and our hearts pound against each other’s and our moans and groans fill the room. We slump against each other while I try to catch my breath, our arms still keeping our bodies close together. Neither of us lets go, and I don’t want us to.

When we finally do move, it’s only so Hamza can lay down, and I can curl into his side. I trail my fingers down his chest and stomach as his run along my hair. Just when I start to drift to sleep, content that I’ve done all I have to for today and can rest now, Hamza moves below me, sitting up.

“I know you’re tired, but there’s one more thing I wanted to show you tonight,” he says. “It could wait, but I don’t think you’ll want it to.”

“It had better be good to have gotten me out of this bed, lying on you,” I grumble.

“It is.” He smiles, standing from the bed.

He puts just his pants back on, so I figure we’re not going anymore too formal. I put on a sleeping dress and quickly tie my head wrap at the back of my head as Hamza opens his arms to me.

“Don’t let go,” he states when I wrap my arms around him.

“What?”

One moment I’m in my bedroom, and the next I’m on the coast of Nur. I know if I turn around and look up, I’ll be able to see where Hamza used to live. A boat waits in the sand and Hamza walks to it, extending his hand to me when he reaches it. I don’t think for a single second, my feet quickly closing the distance so he can help me into the boat.

We’re silent as he rows. All the beauty around us demands that we savor it instead of speaking. The waves are gentle, barely rocking the boat as Hamza brings us closer and closer to a shore I have never seen. Then we’re there, our boat colliding with the white sand of the Shams beach. Awe still growing in me, Hamza helps me from the boat and then turns me in his arms, until my back is to his chest, and we’re both looking out at the azure blue water as it crashes gently against the sand.

The moon casts a glow on the water, making the blue shine like the jewels in my crown. My hands come to my mouth as realization sets in that I’m in Shams. Somewhere I never thought I would be, never be free to be. Hamza kisses my cheek and I feel his lips curve up into a smile.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he asks.

“There has to be another word for how this looks. None of the ones that come to my mind right now are doing it justice.”

“I wanted you to see the spot where I stood so many times and thought of you, hoped for you. Longed for you. I wanted you to stand here and know how I looked across this sea, wishing that I could cross it and be with you. And love you.”

“And now we’re here together.” I turn around and hug him. “Thank you Hamza.”

“I love you.” He kisses me. “Let’s get in the water.”

“I’m in my sleeping dress.”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing there’s no on here to see you,” he whispers and grins.

I let him pull me to the water. When it caresses my feet, the warmth of it, even at night, surprises me. He leads me in until the water laps at my navel and then turns around, taking me into his arms. My legs wrap around his waist, and I cling to him as the waves rock us back and forth.

“You’re all I ever wanted,” he whispers, looking at me with softness and adoration.

“You are everything my heart desired,” I reply.

We kiss, our lips soft against one another’s, coming together and breaking apart over and over until I lay my head on his shoulder. He walks me so deep into the water that it begins to lap at my neck, but I never fear for a second. I am safe in his arms. Utterly and completely. I bring my head back then, looking into his eyes.

“Tell me my love, what would you think of being king?”

“I can honestly say I never imagined myself a king.” He chuckles.

“Well when we marry, you will have to just accept that that is what you are.”

He arches a brow. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

“Yes.” I breathe. “What is your answer?”

“What could it ever possibly be besides yes? But… I don’t know if the people will accept a Hamza as their King.”

“I think they will accept that I chose a good.” A kiss. “Wise.” Another. “Kind man to rule beside me.”

He gives me a soft smile. “Then, yes. I will be king because it means I get to be with my queen forever. To protect her, to watch her rule like none has before her, to…”

“To love her?” I smile.

“To love her. Like none has before me.”

The waves of a long hoped for dream rock us as the dream of having Hamza agree to always love me comes true.