AN: Well here it is! The next chatper. I don't have very much to say up here. Other than I hope that you can just enjoy the stoy and the characters that I try (granted with very few brain cells) to create. I know it won't be period acurate, but I hope that you can still like this version.
Disclaimer: This story is based of the book of Ester in the Old Testiment of the Bible. As such, any plot or characters who overlap are not of my own creation. Any others happen to be mine! Wahoo!
6
Harem
It was with a nervous heart that I entered the palace of the Killertian King. I wore my best head wrap a green silk intertwined with silver thread. My dress was a simple light blue that sparkled against my sun kissed skin. With my shawl covering my hair and my sun darkened skin, no one would believe that I was not Killertian.
I had barely taken three steps into the palace's outer courts when, with a rush of fabric, I found myself in the presence of an unusual man. His golden head band was prominent on the outside of his long golden hair that was tied in the back of his head. It signified him as one of the King's Chosen Men. Men whom I have heard serve the king for they cannot bear children.
"My, my!" He boomed in a lively voice that seemed to fill the very air. "Here is another! Swans keep gathering before the King!" He sing-songed as he focused on me.
"Good day, Sir." I said and bowed.
"Hmmmm…." He mused. I looked up confused as to why he did not return the greeting.
"Have I offended you, Sir?" I inquired wondering how I had already failed. His eyes twinkled as his personality bloomed again.
"OH! Of course not, Chosen Virgin." He began waving his arms out. My face blushed at his direct address to me.
"Welcome! Welcome! We welcome you to the harem of the KING!" He said waving to the servants who populated the courtyard. "Take her to the others! A wondrous day in the King's courts it is!" He said moving on to another who had entered behind me.
I watched him for a moment, completely surprised by his behavior. But I was not allowed to dwell on my thoughts.
"My lady?" Asked a young servant.
"Oh, excuse me." I smiled at her. For some reason, she seemed relieved and let out the breath she had been holding.
"Come this way, please." She said motioning to the left side of the palace.
I nodded and followed her closely as she took me to the harem. Harem! The Lord Almighty's wrath come upon me! I was hoping to win the favor of a man who held a harem!
The Yahn may not believe that only one man matched a woman, however, a wife was not to be shared with another man. It was a crime punishable by death. Yet, here I was being led to the very place our laws prohibited me from entering.
The harem was in the left quarter of the palace. White columns held the roof in place as marble caressed the feet of those who walked upon it. My breath caught at the sight. How glorious! I continued to follow my guide trying to restrain my head as it wished to see all that this building held. Yet, I did and was led to a side room.
Inside, long slit like windows let in the outside light as incense and candles filled the room with warm, relaxing scents. Silks draped from the ceiling to the floor separating the long length as pillows covered the marble floor completely. Women moved this way and that, busy with their work as others sat on the plump pillows.
My guide motioned for me to join the others on the floor. I did so thanking her for guiding me here. She gave a soft smile as if indulging in a treat and left silently.
"Another one already!" A woman exclaimed causing me to jump.
I looked around to see who had spoken and met the middle of a very robust woman. Her hair was pulled up into a bun behind her head. Uncovered hair! How bold this woman was. She looked down at me as I moved to stand.
"Good day, dear lady." I said. "I am in your care."
She looked at me funny then gave a burst of a smile. "Well, well. Girls take good care o' this one." She said still smiling as she moved back to the door.
Immediately, I was surrounded by serving girls.
"Please release your hair."
"We will need you to remove your clothes."
Embarrassed beyond belief, I took off my shawl and let my hair fall. I had never had my hair unbound in public. Only when washing was it removed from its restraints. It was shameful to our people.
Yet, I removed it, praying for forgiveness. As I shook my head, my dark hair cascaded down my back and I heard murmurs. I looked around. The serving girls were eyeing my hair in wonder.
"Oh." One said softly before touching it.
"How soft." Another said as she too touched by hair. Blush filled my face, and the girls took notice and smiled shyly.
"Your clothes too, dear Lady."
I nodded and removed my clothes allowing them to fall to the floor exposing my body to them. Thankfully, whatever Sir Marco's treatment was, it had healed my wounds quickly. Only thin white scars remained.
I stood still as they measured my body and murmured to each other. After some time, the poking ended and I was given a piece of silk to cover my body as they created my clothes. I sat down completely overwhelmed again.
"Back off! You slaves!" I heard a clear voice say.
I jumped slightly and looked over to see an exotic beauty. Her dark near black skin covered the most unusual body I had ever seen on a woman. I knew the woman to be that for her clothes were lying on the floor, yet any warrior would have envied her body.
Bands of strong muscles roped around her arms and legs. Her middle displayed six equal blocks of muscles. Her hair was tied at the top of her head as if she were prepared for battle. She held the servants off. Her dark eyes warning them to stay away.
"What's the problem?" The larger woman said as she returned.
The servants said nothing, looking to the ground.
"Cannot none of yeh speak?" She pried.
"Oh, calm your anger, large one." The Amazon said.
"So ya caused this disturbance, Serh?" She said.
A Serh! The forest dwellers who were well know for their fighting skills had recently been conquered by the Killertian king. Their skill with the bow had managed to protect them for far longer than most other tribes. It was amazing to see one. Yet, I wondered why she spoke so oddly.
"I will not be clothed in Killertian rags! I am a Serh warrior!" She exclaimed as her eyes narrowed and she almost hissed. "Your king does not hold my favor."
I gasped and prayed she would not loose her life for such an offense. Yet, the larger woman merely grinned.
"Oh? Then why ya here?"
"Cowards attacked me in my sleep stealing me from my people. I demand to be taken back to them."
I was certain that I had never head a woman speak so much like a man. It frightened me to see her boldness even if a man was not present.
"Napoleon, our Prince, will bring wrath upon you if you do not release me." She said standing, if possible, taller.
"Why you think that?"
"Napoleon, the bear of the forest, will take me, Xyleena, to be his wife." She exclaimed as if to a crowd of witnesses.
"Truly. Well, rest assured, girl. The King wilt not take ya for his beloved, that's sure. Soon you'll be back in you woods." She snorted. "If'n he doesn't take you life for that mouth you got." After she spoke, she turned and returned to her post at the door. The Serh, Xyleena, glared at her back then sighed.
"Get this over with quickly." She said to the girls who cowered around her.
They began just as my clothes arrived. Three girls came to help me put them on.
The shirt was made of red silks and looked little less than what young boys wear. I could not wear this! I looked up at the three and asked, slighted appalled. "Surely this is not all?"
They nodded solemnly and put it on my body. No sleeve covered my arms, leaving them bare. The back was a full piece of the soft silk, yet I almost gasped as it stopped only half way down my back. The front was clasped in three places leaving an inverted triangle of my chest exposed for everyone to see.
The bottom, a silk skirt of the same deep red, thankfully flowed from my hips to the floor. It's weightless material flowing gracefully down my body. I was given seven silver bracelets for my right arm. They brushed my hair and stepped back. Smiling, they nodded and one took my hand to lead me to the front.
How could this be all? Oh Urian! No one would dare believe me to be a Yahn wearing these few clothes.
One of the servants whispered to the head Lady. She nodded and turned around. My appearance gained an odd sort of grin from her.
"Am I decent for the King?" I asked while looking at the marble floor.
"Dear Lady," she said drawing my gaze, "course ya are! You're wearin' my design aft'r all."
With not a moment more to spear on me, she sent me away with one of the three who had dressed me.
We entered a larger circular chamber. Columns studded the room, keeping the ceiling from collapsing. Plants filled the room obscuring my vision. More pillows in all colors imaginable were pilled to cover the floor. Incense burned from high platforms along the walls filling the air with their spices.
Then, I noticed the main purpose of the room. It was to hold the others. Each of them exotically beautiful. Too much to take in at once. I stood and marveled. The servant left me, yet I did not notice.
I began to feel overwhelmed again. How was I to win the favor of the king if I was to compete against these women? I felt a hand land on my shoulder. I turned to see Xyleena. She gave me a knowing grin.
"You better buck up girl." She pointed to the others. "Those girls can be more vicious than a forest bear. Serhs do not associate with them." She gave them a disgusted look. "Besides, you have one less competition."
"What do you mean, Xyleena?" I asked.
"I mean, wait. If you know my name what's yours, girl?" She asked leaning her head to the side.
"Eleni, meaning light." I said with a small bow. "It is an honor to meet you, Xyleena."
"Well, I don't know about honor." She said looking confused. She shook her head as if to clear it and looked down at me.
"What I meant, Eleni, is that I will support you to win the King. I don't want Killertian trash." She gave me the same look as earlier, as if she knew a secret. "If you truly wish for him, though I cannot understand why, I will give you my help."
"Why? I am Killertian as well." I asked, knowing how obviously she despised Killertian people.
She snorted.
"You are as much Killertian as I am. But do not fear. Serh eyes are sharp from battle. Our lips tighter than those of the trees. Come." She said as she grabbed my head, leading me towards the rest of the women.
I was too confused by her words to react. I merely allowed her to lead me towards the awaiting crowd of contestants or as Xyleena had called them forest bears. A small shiver of fear ran across my spin.
There you go! Another chapter completed. I would love to know what you thought. Critism is gladly accepted. I am always trying to become a better writer. Thanks so much for reading!
