Chapter 3
It did not look like what a wedding in Alamut should. No streets were decorated, no flowers raining from the skies, no dignitaries from faraway lands with gifts of gold and no cheering crowds. It was just another day in Alamut but for Tamina, her whole world will change. The matter with a secret wedding is that it had to take place in the shadow of the night with no grand banquet to follow.
The high temple was empty save two high priests whose chanting filled the air already saturated with sandalwood incense. A figure draped in gold silk at still on a dais. While Dastan could not see her face, his heart stopped for a second in seeing her figure.
Dastan stood at Tamina's right flanked by his father, brothers and Bis. All banter and playfulness had seeped out of Tus, Garsiv and Bis who realised that this was actually happening. Moreover, they saw the longing and gentleness that had overtaken Dastan- this was the flamboyant, carefree and lack of a better word barbaric man dressed in fine silk now sincerely pledging his life to a princess who is far from his world. It was Alamutian tradition that the bride be veiled until the groom sets his eyes on her in the bed chambers. This however did not prevent Dastan from tracing her face through the ivory silk.
Tamina adorned an ivory robe richly worked with gold thread, crystals and pearls. It flowed down her slender figure and draped the floor around her. Fine jewelry covered her neck and hands making soft chimes at her every move. Dastan in his clumsiness around his goddess kept trampling the dress as he shifted oh his feet and at one point entangled his silk robe in Tamina's dress of pearls and stones. Bis had to come to his rescue as Garsiv used every ounce of strength not to laugh and Tus kept king Sharaman calm. Once offerings were made to the Gods, their right hands were joined. Dastan held her hand in his as if it was the most precious thing in the world and to him, she truly was. Tamina was more stiff and cold with no softness or feeling in her touch. As the chanting continued in the temple, the high priest started to bind the hands in cloth symbolising their bond. The end of the cloth would signify the end of their lives apart- they were husband and wife. As soon as it was over and before the cloth can be fully unwound, Tamina wriggled her hand out. She gestured the handmaiden to help her with her dress which was pooled at her feet. Still veiled, she turned to King Sharaman.
"King Shar...' before Tamina can finish, the King took her hands in his. "You are my daughter now. There should be no more formalities. I am a father to you now as you are a daughter to me."
It has been decades since anyone called her a daughter and Tamina jerked her head up at the words to look at the King. While all noticed her surprise, Tamina returned to her old form and continued "thank you for your kind words... I must retreat now" she said as she turned and walked off.
Dastan stood there stunned. "What the fuck just happened' Dastan exclaimed. "Language
Dastan! This is the high temple" King Sharaman reprimanded. "Sorry father, but seriously?'
They were lead out of the high temple after Tamina with Dastan still trying to see why Tamina left. They were married, were they not? Tus put a hand on Dustan's shoulder. "Congratulations Dastan. You are now a husband and will be King Consort of the holy city of Alamut. "Dastan smiled at the words as Garsiv and Bis wished him with embraces. "Oh stop looking Dastan,' Garsiv said with a smirk, 'your bride has left to your bed chambers to await you. You look for her now. Give it a year, you will do anything to get away."
For once, Dastan was unprepared and uninterested in a witty remark at Garsiv. Two words filled his head- bed chambers. His eyes caught the king's and he lovingly reached to Dastan. "My son, remember my advice from yesterday. Be well and be kind to her. I regret having to leave so quickly but I have to think of my people now. Persia, we are too fragile with what has happened as much as it pains me to leave my son, I must do so."
While the King spoke to Dastan, Garsiv stood behind the king making gestures of thrusting hips mimicking a sexual act. As the king embraced him, Dastan took the opportunity to gesture Garsiv-with his finger!
The Persian camp as decided was to leave that night itself leaving Bis and sufficient guards for Alamut and their prince. As they passed, Garsiv whisper to Dastan, "love you little brother but remember we brothers have a reputation to keep. Make sure your little pinky does not
disappoint."
Dastan was lead to the chambers which is now his. "Wait," he suddenly stopped, reached to a table and gulped a whole cup of wine and proceeded. He knew his decision but he also knew the longing he has in his heart for Tamina is going to overpower his mind.
At the same time, Tamina had been led to the chamber. It was her chamber before. Now it would be their chamber! This is where Dastan will visit, four nights a week as decided. She lifted her veil off with her hand, her bangles breaking the silence. The room seemed like it was lit with thousands of lamps giving it a beautiful amber glow. The wind moved the drapes at the opened balcony. Everything held in silence. She looked at the vast bed. The transparent canopy has been opened, jasmine streams rained from the four posters of the bed to the ground.
She was angry at her situation, she was desperate in her helplessness of this decision to marry and her fear of losing herself as a maiden to a man he knows of for two days. Tamina had decided that she would take the lead. Not be taken but lead so that she still felt that she controlled her own. Lost in her thoughts, Tamina barely heard the door being opened. She quickly stood next to the divan and placed her veil back. She took a deep breath, straightened her poise and chin up. She was determined not be the demure bride all and tradition expects.
Dastan stepped into the room and closed the door using that as a shield to close his eyes and whisper to himself to keep it together. As he turned, his eyes directly went to the figure standing at the right of the bed. He cleared his throat before saying in a low soft voice, "Hello Princess."
"Prince Dastan," she acknowledged.
"The ceremony was nice...did not understand anything, did not actually care as long as it mmm... it was you I was marrying, " he smirked.
Dastan started to walk towards Tamina, "it is you under that veil is it not? Or have I been tricked to marrying someone else?' he joked and stopped in front of her, so close that she can feel his breath and warmth on her skin. Her chest rose and fell fast and her jewelry chimed against each other as Tamina nervously shifted.
"We Alamutians keep our promises prince, unlike Persians who swore never to attack a holy city, 'she replied.
Dastan let out a laugh as that retort was proof enough it was in fact Tamina. "So will you ever remove your veil?"
"It is an Alamutian tradition to be veiled. The groom has to remove the veil of the bride in the alcove on their wedding night. It is to signify a new woman in a bride and her beauty only saved for her groom's eyes," she concluded.
"Well then," Dastan said as he touched the edge of the veil at the two sides, "who am I to defy tradition." As his hands touched the cloth, she shivered which was amplified by the jewelry moving. This was the moment she dreaded. Dastan sensed this and whispered, "Can I?"
"I do not know can you?" she said in a sarcastic manner which reassured Dastan that she is herself.
"May I Princess?"
Tamina nodded and held her head down to help the veil up. His heart was pounding not out of fear but his heart would for sure explode when he sees her-for the first time- as his wife. The veil peeled off revealing her face. Dastan exhaled with his eyes gleaming with love as his hands rested the veil behind her shoulders. Tamina's face practically glowed amber, her beautiful doe eyes framed by long lashes. Tamina remembered her promise to herself. She would not be taken. She looked up to meet his eyes piercing blue.
At that moment, it was she who was caught by surprise. His hair was combed away from his face and a blade had been taken to it. He was not the scruffy rough man who he was known to be. He was dressed in dull gold and ivory court to match her and looked so handsome. Tamina's lips parted to say something but her mind was completely blank. Dastan eyes traced Tamina's lips and the kiss they shared in the catacomb came into mind. He longed to hold her and kiss her again but that time was gone along with the sands. His head tilted and moved to capture her lips but before far, he stopped.
Tamina knew that the time had come for them to consummate their marriage. She moved away from Dastan towards the bed. "I have to remove my...my jewelry for y..you ...for us to," before she could complete her sentence Dastan stepped forward and gestured to stop.
"Princess you do not have to," he searched for words. 'You wish to have me as I am prince Dastan? Fully dressed?' Tamina snapped.
"No..no princess I do not want to have you," as soon as the words left Dastan' s lips he heard how ridiculous he sounded. However, it was too late to take it back and he can see Tamina go red with anger.
"You do not WANT to have me? You refuse me? I am the Princess and High Priestess of the Holy city of Alamut. You Persian should be so lucky to see my face and you dare to refuse me," she raised her voice with authority. Dastan raised his hands to calm her down.
"Princess my words did not convey the meaning I wished to express. Please let me explain," he approached her.
"Tradition expects us to consummate this marriage tonight. But as I told you, I did not want our life from the beginning to be dictated. I know how difficult this is for you. To be married off to the man who violated your city. You know me Princess for two days. But we will be with each other for days upon days to come."
He moved to her and took her hand in his. "I will wait for you, my Princess, until you share in your heart the same feelings I have for you. On that day and time we can be one," he brought her hand to his lips as she watched in surprise. "We unfortunately have to be stuck in this chamber tonight. You take the bed. I will take the floor," he concluded.
Tamina nodded and turned to leave to change in the adjoining chambers.
"Prince Dastan," she turned.
"Princess?"
"Thank you."
Dastan bowed his head as a sign of acknowledgement and waited till Tamina had left the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, he exhaled deeply and bent down resting his hands on his knees.
"I deserve a decoration for not kissing you Princess," he said to himself and moved to sit on the bed. As he sat on the corner of the bed, the silk of his clothes and the sheets made him slide right off and he landed on the floor with a thud!
When Tamina came back in her night clothes, Dastan was already asleep on the floor using the lush carpet to sleep on. He has removed his coat; it was lying on the divan next to his boots. She looked at him rising and falling with each breadth, his linen tunic clinging to him. For the first time, she felt maybe this would work. She could not put her thoughts to it, but their union felt right and blessed by the Gods. He laid there so peacefully, calm and gentle. Tamina looked at his arms -muscular and ripped. Little did she know that he was pretending to sleep to make it easier for her.
Tamina moved the sheets to her surprise there was a red stain. She looked at it in disbelief and turned to Dastan to wake him. It is then she noticed the dried like of blood on his palm. It was clear to her then; Dastan has done this to avoid her shame of not consummation of the marriage or worse not being a maiden. She got into bed and laid her head on the pillow. The stress of the past days took over her and she drifted to sleep.
