Desert Princess Chapter 7
Preparing the Bride Part 4
Before Olivia can address Rachel's accusations, she hears a loud rustling sound coming from the tree tops above them. She looks up just in time to see a large object plummeting out of control from the branches headed straight towards them. She pushes Rachel out of the way, as she herself falls backward onto the ground. Olivia rises up on her elbows and is surprised to see the projectile crashing to the ground landing in between she and Rachel is actually a bird. There is an arrow in the bird's wing. Realizing it's not just any bird but a falcon, Olivia instinctively gets up on her knees and reaches down to pick up the impaled raptor only to be stopped by Rachel pulling on her shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Rachel exclaims shocked by Olivia's actions.
"I am going to help this falcon."
"No Olivia, it is too dangerous." Rachel warns tugging at Olivia's arm.
"I can save it." Olivia snaps.
"Olivia, this is bird of prey not a dove!" Olivia's recklessness befuddles Rachel.
Ignoring Rachel's statement, Olivia begins ripping strips of cloth from the bottom of her futah (skirt).
"Give me your scarf', Olivia yells as she removes her own.
"My scarf, why?" Realizing Olivia apparently possesses some form of falconry skill, Rachel hands over her scarf without further argument.
The injured predator flops around in the sandy dirt trying to right itself. Olivia puts her hand in front of the bird giving the stop command. The bird immediately settles down finding comfort in the familiar gesture. Olivia carefully takes a strip of cloth and wraps it around the eyes of the falcon. She then wraps her scarf around her arm to protect herself from the falcon's talons. Rubbing her wrapped arm on the belly of the winged hunter, she helps the falcon hop onto her arm. Next, she uses Rachel's scarf to swaddle the falcon leaving the injured wing free. She lays the falcon on the ground so she can remove the arrow from its wing. Breaking the head and tail feather sections off the arrow, Olivia pulls the resulting simple stick through the falcon's wing.
"How is it you are practiced in the care of dangerous birds", Rachel asks?
"A friend gave me a hatchling as a gift and taught me how to care for it and train it. His name was Azar. He died trying to protect me", Olivia recounts sorrowfully.
"Your friend was brave, Rachel comments sympathetically."
"Oh no, not my friend, my falcon", she says shaking her head wistfully correcting Rachel's presumption."
Rachel strokes Olivia's cheek, appreciative of her sharing something about her life. Preoccupied with observing Olivia's caring way with her new pennate ward, Rachel almost misses the leather straps dangling from under the swaddling.
"Olivia, the straps on the bird's legs, I know the markings."
"What about them?"
"Those markings are the Amir's. This must be his falcon."
"Who would want to shoot down the Amir's falcon?" Olivia asks as she tries to keep the injured bird calm.
"I don't know. It was probably an accident. Whoever did this is probably is unaware the falcon belongs to the Amir."
"A trained raptor is highly prized. Anyone willing to hurt or kill such a valuable creature is either a fool or up to no good." Olivia offers in a stern tone.
"I'll send someone for his handler."
"No, I can take care of the falcon. You may send someone to tell the Amir, but I need to do this. I want to do this for my Azar. Please let me do this", Olivia pleads.
"It is not my decision Olivia, the Amir will decide. It is his falcon".
After re-swaddling the falcon, Olivia instructs Rachel to run ahead and have Miriam gather the supplies she will need to mend the falcon. Olivia places the falcon in her basket, along with the pieces of the arrow and heads back to her tent.
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"Did you get all things I asked for?" Olivia asks Miriam as she places her basket down on the floor of her tent.
"Yes", Miriam says pointing to the table in the middle of Olivia's tent. Spread across the table are bowls with water, chopped raw meat, medicinal herbs and poultice dressings prepared to Olivia specifications. Olivia takes the swaddled falcon from the basket, sets it on the table and immediately gives the fatigued bird the raw meat and water. After letting the falcon has its fill, Olivia begins to tend to the falcon's wing. She uses an empty bowl and the back of spoon as a mortar and pestle to grind the medicinal herbs into a paste. She carefully cleans the wound applying the paste liberally and wraps the damage appendage with the poultice bandages. Satisfied the injured wing is secure, Olivia places the shrouded bird on a makeshift perch on the edge of the table.
Olivia is about to remove the strips of cloth cloaking the falcon's eyes when she hears a ruckus outside of her tent. People are shouting something about the Amir. Olivia runs to the entrance of her tent but is startled as Rachel charges in unexpectedly.
"Olivia put on this robe, quickly, no time for questions. The Amir is coming." Olivia quickly complies.
"Now go stand by the table." Rachel orders.
Before she has a chance to return to her position back at the table, Olivia hears his commanding baritone voice ordering the jondi to wait outside her tent. As if on cue, Olivia turns around and locks eyes with Fitz as he enters her tent. Olivia takes a deep breath, her eyes widen at the sight of him. His tan skin, scruffy cheeks and penetrating grayish blue eyes make her shiver. She unconsciously tugs at her robe desperately trying to do something to break their ocular bond. Fitz returns Olivia's gaze, adding a subtle smile that conceals the desirously confounding feeling he is experiencing being in her presence. Needing to regain control of his faculties, he closes his eyes and takes a step back before his gawk turns decidedly immoderate. He opens his eyes inhales deeply and advances toward her. Rachel witnessing the palpable attraction between the two nimbly steps in front of Fitz, blocking him from proceeding further into the tent.
"Rachel," Fitz says halting his advance, slightly tilting his head to the side, perplexed by her move to block his entry.
"Amir, you honor us with your presence. How may I help you?" Rachel asks as she bows to Fitz.
"I'm not here to see you Rachel."
"I know Amir but it is inappropriate for you to be here. Olivia is not yet your wife."
"Be careful of your words Rachel", Fitz snipes back.
"I mean no disrespect Amir. There are customs to follow. Did you not assign me the task of making sure the wedding traditions are upheld by both you and Olivia? I only wish to maintain what is fit and proper." Rachel explains, her words laced with an air of piety.
"Yes, I did, but what have I done so far that is inappropriate? Have I asked you to leave me alone with Olivia?"
"No, my Amir."
"Have I said or done something since entering this tent to lead you to believe I intend to behave in a manner that will bring shame or dishonor to the maiden?"
"No...butt..." Rachel stutters and struggles to redeem herself, as she sees Fitz is not pleased with her display of self-righteous crowing.
"I am here to see about my injured pet and to thank the person who saved it and is nursing it back to health. If this is inappropriate behavior, then by all means judge my actions inappropriate."
"Amir, I beg your forgiveness. I am sorry if it seems I question your intentions. I meant no impertinence." Fitz gives a forgiving nod, takes off his kufiya (headdress) and hands it to Rachel. He also removes his sandals. Olivia is standing by the table with the perched falcon uncertain of what to do next. Fitz approaches her.
"Salam (hi)" he says. His smile and eyes beaming with controlled excitement.
"Salam, Olivia replies. Her heart flutters from nervous excitement. She cannot believe he is in her tent. He is so close to her she can feel his warm breath on her face. She bites her lip and blinks slowly, trying to clear her mind of the memory of seeing his flawless naked body the day she was brought before him.
"They tell me you rescued Haade." He says softly.
"Haade?" She repeats aloud, her mind's fixation with the memory of his muscular backside, momentarily eclipses her ability to form constructive thought.
"Oh, your falcon", she blurts.
"Yes…m-y… f-a-l-c-o-n", he replies slowly with a grin and a nod. Happy to see he affects her the same way she affects him.
"He fell from the trees. Someone shot him with an arrow." Olivia reaches into the basket next to the table and hands Fitz the arrow pieces. He examines the pieces, his brow furls when he recognizes the arrow markings. Fitz excuses himself and makes his way to the tent entrance to call to his jondi.
Rachel, not wanting to offend the Amir again, remains stationary and silent at her entrance post.
Fitz calls to Ahmed one of his jondi. "Take more men to the herds." He hands Ahmed the arrow pieces. Ahmed grimaces recognizing the markings on the arrow pieces. He nods to Fitz and runs to carry out Fitz' instructions.
Fitz returns to Olivia to check on his falcon.
"Shokan", his says softly, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"You are welcome Amir. It is my honor to care for your noble tiercel. Your handler has done well with Haade. Was he a passager or an eyas? Is he for sport or purpose?" Olivia asks timidly.
Fitz pets Haade and makes a clicking sound with his tongue. Haade bobs his head up and down in response. "Eyas, he has been with me since he was a hatchling and he is for purpose." Olivia looks on admiringly.
"How long do you think it will be before he can fly again?"
"I honestly don't know Amir. I will do my best to make sure he recovers fully."
"Benjamin, his handler can help you."
"If you wish Amir", she says with disheartened acceptance.
Sensing her disappointment, Fitz takes Olivia's hand. He can see out of the corner of his eye Rachel shaking her head at his boldness.
"Olivia, I do not doubt you ability to take care Haade. Lest you forget, we are to wed three days hence. Do you not think it best to focus on our wedding", he says with a sly smile.
"Of course, you are right. I am sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for. I am thankful you found Haade and want to use your skills to restore him to health."
"Shokan Amir.
"Olivia his message anklet is missing. Did he have it on when you found him?"
"No, he only had on his leashing straps."
"May I ask a favor of you?"
"Anything, my Amir."
"Will you walk with me in the cool of the day and show me where you found Haade?"
"It will be my pleasure to accompany you in the cool of the day Amir."
Fitz squeezes her hand. He so wants to kiss her, for his hands to rove over her body. "I will call on you a few hours before sunset. Ma'a salama Olivia." (Good-bye)
Olivia nods in agreement. "Ma'a salama Amir".
Fitz puts on his sandals, takes his kufiya from a clearly flustered Rachel, and exits Olivia's tent.
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Fitz is about to leave his tent to retrieve Olivia when Mellie arrives at his door.
"Fitzgerald, I will have a word with you", she demands.
"What do want Amira", he asks using the same tone.
"Am I to understand you entered Olivia's tent before the fifth day?"
"Yes I did, she rescued Haade and I went to thank her."
"Amir you know it is not proper custom to enter her tent before the fifth day regardless of the circumstance!"
"Mellie, watch you tone and words. I have already chastised someone today for implying my actions will bring shame or dishonor to Olivia. Rachel was in attendance the entire time of my visit and the jondi were right outside Olivia's tent. No impropriety took place." Fitz barks.
'If this is all you want to discuss, I believe we are done". Fitz begins to leave but turns to address Mellie.
"Amira, make this the last time you challenge me or my actions. Am I understood, he asks?" She bows her head but says nothing.
Mellie watches Fitz leave. Pleased with her work she lets loose a devilish smile. He is falling in love with her.
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She is clad in desert field-wear, a muted colored long sleeve tunic and pant set. Her hair pulled into a ponytail and covered with a white scarf held on by a braided cord of black cloth. "Is what I am wearing acceptable? Do I look presentable?" Olivia asks as she paces back and forth unable to calm herself down. "Am I to talk to him on the way there? What am I supposed to talk to him about? Rachel, Olivia gasps; what if he does not want me to talk at all?" Olivia eyes fill with worry. "What if I say something stupid or, worse yet, inappropriate? My father used to say; "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." What if I bore him? Rachel, you are coming with us are you not? I need not worry then, I am sure there is some custom requiring you to escort me. He is after all an amir, don't I have to walk twenty paces behind him anyway? Yeah, yeah, I won't have to talk to him at all except to point out where we found Haade'." The revelation of the twenty paces seemed to calm Olivia's nerves. She stopped pacing and her breathing steadied. But her reprieve was short lived. Suddenly another thought invaded Olivia's mind, the dinner! "Oh god, I forgot about tomorrow, the dinner!" Olivia's thirty seconds of calm vanished, replaced by a new onslaught of babbling. Rachel let Olivia ramble on until she was out of breath.
"Calm yourself Olivia. You look fine. Yes, I am coming with you. The Amir may ignore some customs but he will surely not take you away from the encampment without a chaperone." No sooner had Rachel finished her sentence was Fitz at the door of the tent. He told one of the handmaidens to announce his arrival. Rachel comes to the entrance and waves him in. Olivia is standing in the middle of her tent trying to appear relaxed and at ease.
"Salam", he grins.
"Salam", she grins back.
"Are you ready Olivia?"
"Yes Amir."
Fitz holds out his hand palm up for her to take. She shyly places her hand in his. Fitz' mildly calloused skin meets her soft supple skin, his long thick fingers gently caress her smaller delicate digits. His light touch sets her body a quiver. "What is this power he has over my body?" She thinks to herself. These unfamiliar but welcomed sensations excite her. Fitz's body likewise responds in-kind to the feel of her silky flesh.
Their hands joined, Fitz escorts Olivia out of the tent. Olivia thinks to herself, what happened to the twenty paces? As the budding pair pass by her, Rachel throws her hands up in surrender recognizing the futility in trying to make Fitz adhere to traditional protocol. She can tell Fitz is determined to find ways or reasons to touch Olivia and there is no custom she can cite or words she can say to dissuade him.
Fitz leads Olivia, with Rachel following closely on their heels, to the edge of the encampment to where Benjamin and several jondi are waiting. Fitz introduces Olivia to all present. After exchanging pleasantries the group returns to location where Olivia and Rachel found Haade.
"This is where the falcon fell to the ground." Olivia says pointing to the spot directly in front of them. Fitz instructs Olivia and Rachel to stay put while he and the others search the area looking for clues and the message anklet.
Fitz and his men fan out. They beat the bushes, turn over rocks and search the tree branches. Their efforts were yielding nothing. Fitz realizes the group will have to head back soon, for dusk is quickly approaching. Sensing Fitz' frustration, Olivia goes to him, wanting to help but having no idea as to what to do or say.
"Amir may I help?"
"I don't think there's anything you can do Olivia but thank you for offering."
"When Haade fell from the trees he came from up there."
Fitz looks to where Olivia is pointing. He stares at the clump of branches, meticulously going over every inch hoping to see something, some clue explaining why Haade was targeted. He was about to give up and head back when he sees something. There dangling from one of the branches is the anklet. He calls to his men. He points to the anklet hanging high in the branches. Benjamin bends down to pick up a stone, he then pulls his slingshot from his pocket. He places the stone in the sling, raises the sling to the side of his face, pulls the sling back to his ear, aims and releases the sling. With precision accuracy he dislodges the anklet from the branches in one slot. The anklet spins and twirls as it glides to the ground coming to rest at Olivia's feet. She picks the leather case and hands to Fitz. He opens the case, pulls out the note and reads the message. Benjamin and a young jondi named Isaiah are standing next to him. Fitz turns to Isaiah.
"Isaiah run ahead, have Ahmed gather the captains of panj and meet me back at my tent."
"Amir, what is it?" Benjamin asks.
"The infidel Doyle is regrouping", Fitz whispers.
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The search party returns to camp as the horizon swallows final embers of daylight. Little is said during the journey back to camp. Olivia and Rachel walk together while Fitz walks and talks with Benjamin and his jondi. Fitz leaves Benjamin and the jondi at his tent, while escorts Rachel and Olivia back to theirs.
He takes Olivia by the hand. "Shokan Olivia", he says softly stroking her hand.
"Is everything alright Amir? The note, is it bad news?"
"Maybe, only time will tell. Do not worry. Everything is and will be fine. I am looking forward to tomorrow. I hope you are as well."
"I am."
"Good. Until to tomorrow then."
"Until tomorrow Amir."
Tosbeheena ' ala khair Olivia (Good night).
Tosbeho ' ala khair Amir (Good night to a male).
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Olivia enters her tent and is shocked to see Miriam and her bridesmaids. She turns to Rachel, "what now?"
"Forgive me Olivia, in the excitement of the day I forgot about the threading ceremony."
"The threading ceremony? What is that?"
"Tonight we will remove hair from certain places on your body in preparation of your wedding night."
"What do mean remove hair from certain places? What places exactly?" Olivia asks scrunching her face.
"Eyebrows, legs, underarms and around your flower."
"My flower? What!" Olivia screeches and her eyes bulge.
"Don't worry we have salves and ointments to take care of the pain and irritation. You need to be soft as silk on your wedding night." Rachel takes Olivia's hand and pats it.
"Have you people not heard of a blade? Why rip the hairs from your body when you can shave them? Why inflict this ritual torture on yourselves?" The women looked at each other perplexed by the question.
"Your women use blades?" Rachel asks.
"Yes. If it is good enough for a man to use, it is good enough for a woman to use as well."
"Even on their eyebrows?"
"No, we do not touch our eyebrows. What is wrong with my eyebrows?"
Rachel looks at Olivia's eyebrows. Olivia is right her brows are already perfect. "Nothing daughter. Absolutely nothing."
"Hair grows back. Are you telling me you women endure this ritual forever? Olivia asks out of curiosity.
"Yes", they all say in unison. Olivia shudders.
"I do not wish to mock your tradition but this one I cannot abide". Olivia says adamantly.
"We can use a blade if you prefer. Maybe it is time to update the ritual? Miriam offers. Rachel sends one of the handmaidens to get a blade from one of the jondi. Olivia continues to conceal her blade.
When the young maid returns, Rachel has Olivia remove her clothes and lay down on the ceremonial cloth spread on the floor.
The bridesmaids rub the ceremonial oil all over Olivia's naked body. They recite the fertility prayers and break a raw egg on Olivia's stomach. This will ensure she is impregnated on or shortly after her wedding night. They place her arms above her head and use the jondi blade to remove the small patch of hair under her arms. They then apply a fragrant ointment for the irritation. Since Olivia has very little body hair, Miriam moves to pubic area. She adeptly trims and shapes the spot. More ointment is applied and a final blessing offered. They redress Olivia and share a gourd honey wine before leaving.
"Rachel it has been a long day. I wish to retire for the evening."
"Yes it has been. Go to bed daughter. Miriam and I will clean up."
"Shokan khala."
"You are welcome daughter. Tosbeheena ' ala khair."
"Tosbeheena ' ala khair."
Olivia gets in her bed and immediately falls asleep. Olivia is sleeping peacefully when she feels someone get in the bed with her. She feels a strong hand grab her breast from behind. She's about to scream but another hand quickly covers her mouth. She turns to see who holding her only to discover it is Fitz. He looks into her eyes and whispers lustfully, "I love you Olivia. I need to make love to you. I cannot wait any longer. I say you are my wife as of this moment." He takes his hand away from her mouth and replaces it with his lips. He slowly sucks her bottom lip while rubbing his rough hands up and down her stomach. He kisses the side of neck, her chest and her belly. He slides his tongue between her breasts, up her neck, over chin and along her lips. He kisses her on the lips again and again. "Open your mouth". She opens her mouth and his tongue jostles with hers. She tastes of honey wine. He tongues her soft palate then returns to kissing her neck. Olivia strokes his chest, committing to memory every hair, every contour. The sensation of his body next to hers is causing moisture to gather in her nether region. She wants him do what a man is suppose to do the woman he loves. His hand drops to her thigh. He draws his fingers ever so gently and slowly from her knee to her core. She begins to moan his name, F-i-t-z uhm, F-i-t-z uhm. Habebee (my love), I want you too. U…h…m.
"Olivia, Olivia, wake up. Olivia wake up!" Rachel shouts.
What? What is happening? Olivia sits up alarmed and confused.
"You are dreaming. Dreaming rather loudly. Rachel informs with raised eyebrows.
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A/N – Terms used: A passager is a falcon, less than a year old caught in the wild. An eyas is a falcon chick, downy stage. A tiercel is a male falcon (because only one in three hatchings are male). Panj=5k
Okay, I promise the next chapter is all Olitz; the dinner on the fifth day and the wedding. Okay maybe a little Mellie thrown in to shed light on the days ahead. LOL
How many vote for Olivia getting pregnant on the wedding night?
Oh, I almost forgot. Bonus points to the person who can guess the origin of the adage quoted by Olivia's father.
