He looked up from his place, the pain in his shoulder refusing him sleep any longer. He gingerly reached up to touch the wound and was shocked to find it bound tightly with clean cloth, the faint scent of healing salve on it. He groaned, using his other arm to push himself into a sitting position. He felt almost unnaturally cool, his aching muscles yelling complain as he rose. The sun shone off some reflective surface, blinding him and causing him to lose what little balance he had. He sunk back onto his cool seat, trying to remember.
A battle. The bandits were by far more numerous than reports had shown. The battalion of guards he had brought were outnumbered three to on. Any one else would have turned tail, returning perhaps with greater forces. But he had seen what they refused too. If they left now, the farming village would be over run with the brigands. They would return to smoldering ash and bones bleached white by the sun. He armed the peasants themselves, knowing the salvation of their home meant more to them than their own lives. They swarmed forward against hopeless odds, the vultures gathered. For no matter who lost, they would win.
He shook himself, his eyes focusing in the piercing light. He put both legs solidly on the ground and stood again, a bit more firm than before. His surroundings seemed familiar, almost home like, but for the darker look to them. Instead of the warm, inviting blue and gold décor, various shades of purple and silver stared back at him as he rose his head. "Hello?" He called out, his voice echoing off the palatial architecture. "Hello? I would like to thank whoever has rescued me." He looked around the dome ceiling, and was amazed by what hung above him.
A mural, done by some fabulously talented artist, covered his vision. A piece like this must have cost a fair fortune to have done! The tourniquet was soft and fluid with long, languid strokes fitting the theme. It was in fact, like looking in a mirror. It was the same room he was in now, only more occupied. Three women seemed to be the main focus, each more lovely than the next. They were surrounded by a fair group of men and even other women half clothed, serving them with platters bending under the weight of rich foods. "By Allah."
"You admire the piece?"
Aladdin spun around and suddenly felt embarrassed about his appearance. He stood there, still caked in dirt and sand, his hair having grown scraggly and unwashed, his fine chin covered in beard stubble and his flesh sunburned. He looked far different from the regal, battle armed Sultan who went to defend his people. But before him was a creature of beauty.
Her olive skin was smoothed around a supple, curvaceous frame that spoke of a life at ease. She was a healthy size, not too skinny not with too much around the middle. Her curly light auburn hair was done up in a complicated bun with beads and ribbons tied through out. "Welcome to Strigori, I am the Second Queen Pandora." She put out her hand, and stared up at Aladdin with warm eyes the color of liquid gold.
"Second Queen?" Aladdin asked, taking her hand and proving his status in a single grace filled kiss to her knuckles. "You are the second wife then?" That was quite an honor. A poor dirty beggar (or at least someone who looked like one) being greeted by the Sultan's second bride.
Queen Pandora laughed, a high, flirty sound like little horse bells. "Not at all. We run a matriarchal system in this part of the world. I am the Second Queen in rule at this time. For us, that means I see to judicial matters both native and foreign. Including the greeting of ambassadors from other lands."
Aladdin gave a secretive grin. "I your majesty? An ambassador? Look at me. I am plainly the lowest of the low, a slave set adrift for disobedience on the sands. Clearly you are mistaken."
Pandora smiled at him, altogether pleased at his remark. "Well then beggar, I see you are also a thief! For the cloth you wear, though torn and badly damaged, bares the seal of the Sultan of Agrabah on it's belt." She indicated the cobalt colored belt with the golden Agrabah insignia on it. "So which are you then? Sultan or thief?"
"Would you believe both?" Aladdin found his smile returned as she extended her hand again, taking his hand leading him up the stairs of the harem.
"I know quite well who you are Sultan Aladdin, even in our remote land we have heard of your exploits and heroic actions. Indeed we are deeply honor to receive you here." She adjusted the straps on her dress, a distinctly Greek fashion that suited her frame and color. "Please. Take all the time you wish to prepare yourself. These are your suits for the remainder of your stay here and my fellow monarchs are most eager to hear of your exploits. Especially the one which has brought you to our door." She clapped her hands and a plethora of servants appeared, dressed nearly as well as she herself. "These slaves will be your own. Please, use them at your will." She arched an eye brow as a buxom young blond smiled shyly at him.
"I…" A little of his old self returned. "I thank you for your gifts Queen Pandora. But I only require a bathing servant and a dressing attendant. I am…eager to return home to my wife…" He hesitated, not know how they might receive his other 'spouse' in this part of the world. "And my people."
Pandora nodded and all but two left the room as quietly as they had entered. "You are a strong willed man Sultan. But please, should you wish for companionship, do not hesitate to ask. Your desire to return home will be discussed tonight in presence of the High Queen and our Third." She turned towards the door, the lighting showing that her dress was not as solid as he had though. A shapely behind flashed in his view as she turned the handle. "Fell free to enjoy the gardens and remember, our staff is at your disposal."
"Your generosity is great Queen Pandora. When I return to Agrabah, I will see it is greatly rewarded." Aladdin bowed and turned to the bathing attendant, a middle aged woman with a pleasant face. "You really don't need to help me, I was just being polite…"
"Off to the bath you young scoundrel." She shook her finger in a false scolding manner. "The Queens have ordered me to attend you and I'll not be one to disobey." Aladdin laughed, following the woman's orders and making his way to the bathing hall.
"Well?" A second woman joined Queen Pandora as she exited the guest quarters. "Is he who we thought?"
"Does it matter? He is male, he will do well enough no matter what his name." Pandora sneered at the woman as the drew from the shadow of the arch way into the sunlight. The other woman was as striking as the her friend, with pearl colored flesh under a mass of straight raven hair. She was femininely muscular, not so much as you would notice unless she flexed, which she was now doing with adamant frustration.
"It matters for this!" She argued. "Everything has to be perfect. Everything has to be observed in just the right fashion."
"That's just your military mindset Kali." Pandora turned to face the woman dressed in bright Indonesian skirts, baring both her mid drift and breasts. The skirts themselves were designed to allow swift and precise movement at any time. "Everything doesn't have to be as rigid as your phalanx in battle."
Kali scoffed and set her hands on her hips. "Bah, your still young, you don't yet understand what it means to be…"
"Ladies." A third voice joined, winding around the corridors with languid efficiency. "Please. Kali, go make sure that the dinner preparations are going well. We treat our guests with opulence, not a pig trough." There was a strange, unidentified accent when she spoke, drawling her worlds out as if she was being bothered to move her lips. Her words, however, were obeyed. Kali made a quick bow and headed off to do as she was told.
Pandora shivered as the High Queen appeared. Young she might be, but she was not immune to the power held within this woman's body. "My Queen." She began to bow but she chin was held up by a thin, nimble fingered hand with amazing strength.
"Pandora. The lad is who I predicted yes?" Pandora didn't hesitate, she whispered a yes and the High Queen nodded. "Then all is well." She looked over the younger woman with jade green eyes so sharp they could have seen down into her essence. "What troubles you my little one?" she said with concern. "You have done this before…"
"Yes High Queen…but. There is something about this one. He makes me nervous." Pandora said.
"You are afraid? You did not show it."
"No. Not afraid. He is not like the other men we have found before. There is something more…controlled about him. Even when the blond slave smiled at him he did not waver from though of his home." Pandora tried to meet her Queens eyes but faltered and turned away.
"I have heard rumors from certain sources…perhaps they are true and he does not enjoy the company of our sex." She shook her head. "But he has a wife, and unlike most royal marriages this one was supposed to be for love." She shook her head, shaking out thick burgundy locks around her fine boned face. "We shall find our soon enough, weather or not he wants us too."