Silence filled the room like a heavy curtain as Tus continued to hold my wrist not once looking away from my eyes. The servants stood by the door, studying the floor, broken plaster, or anything that was not really going on in front of them. It was strange, I had felt the tears, but now, now everything was numb. My stomach dropped to the floor and a sense of dread crept over me; it was only Tus' firm grip on my wrists that kept me from falling onto to the floor along with all of the other broken things. For that was what I had become- broken.

"Yes…" I laughed lightly at the irony. "I am trapped." Once again…it is a man who'll determine my fate… Tus gave no reply to my muttered statement, only his soft hand against my wrist relaxed their grip slightly. Taking a deep breath, I knew everyone was waiting on me. "You may release me, Prince Tus. I am calm."

Unsure at first, Tus once more searched my eyes looking for a confirmation of my serenity. A small smile flirted on my lips, a façade to hide the true feelings hiding below, and a façade that Tus seemed to buy into. His large hands released their grip on my wrist and my arms slowly fell to my side, but Tus' eyes continued to search mine. I could tell he knew I wasn't being a hundred percent honest with my feelings, but had enough sense to not press the issue. I mean honestly, who would be okay with having their freedom given away? Probably many women, if it meant spending the rest of their lives with a Persian prince. I scoffed in my head as I thought of gluttony of greed of the many women who had paraded themselves around the last few nights. Well one thing is for certain; I made more enemies than friends tonight.

"I believe we have a Prince to prepare for, do we not?" I uttered finally before Tus could ask me any questions about my strange behavior, because, for a supposed "goat-farmer" I was able to do things that a normal "goat-farmer" couldn't do- like disappear from a crowded room without being noticed or sink a blade hilt deep into a stone wall. I pushed past Tus and into the center of the room, basically the blast center of the debris. "First things first, we should probably relocate to another room, or by some miracle redecorate this room. Secondly, I need a change of clothing, and can some please do something about the make-up? It's smudged, and I looked like I haven't seen daylight in years. And my hair- eh, well, best to leave my hair the way it is. It's past the point of no return."

Tus blinked for a few moments, trying to keep up with the sudden redirection of my emotions. The servants didn't move, and stared past me, looking at Tus for his approval. Numbly he nodded and muttered something about women under his breathe. In a flurry of movement the gold clad women weaved into the room, expertly avoiding the broken debris on the floor, gathering up myself and the prince and moving out of the room. As those gold doors closed once more behind me, I cast a glance backward and out the balcony into the night sky, the stars shining brightly in defiance of the darkness surrounding them. The door sealed and in that moment I knew, truly, I too was trapped in an enveloping darkness.

Tus had me ushered into a room down the hall, almost identical to the previous one with the exception to which the balcony was set. Now, instead of looking out over the market places, I had a stretching view of the military barracks and in the distance the rolling sand hills of the desert. Without needing to be told, the servants got to work fixing my make-up and attempting to control my hair. Tus was ushered out of the room as my clothing was changed into a sheer black gown cinched at my waist with a thin golden rope. The dress plunged downward on my chest, revealing my hints of my cleavage and my muscular stomach. A hood adorned my head, the black fabric contrasting against my blonde hair and pale skin. My hair had been uncontrollable the second time, and had reformed itself into its semi-curly mess, much to the discontent of the servants who had fussed with it for hours earlier. A light oil had been applied to my skin to give it a soft glow in the torch light, a sweet fragrance of wild flower mingled in the air around me; it was a pleasing scent, one the servants were positive would please the prince.

As a servant went to treat the cuts on my feet with warm water and bandages, I recoiled at her touch.

"That is not necessary." I smiled at her as she stared at me in confusion. "I am in no pain. Do not waste clean bandages on such small cuts as these please. Save them for a time when they'll be needed." I wasn't in pain, despite the many cuts that littered the bottom of my feet. Zolm had always insisted that a hassansin must be prepared for pain at any moment, so he would regularly place broken bits of pottery, glass, and anything sharp in the paths throughout our hideouts. One of his lesser desirable traits. Nothing said "good morning" like a piece of metal the size of your hand sticking out of your foot.

I glanced back out the open balcony as the servants continued to fuss about themselves in their native tongue. Fire blazed down in the barracks as men laughed and drank to their hearts contents. I guess for them it is a night to celebrate. They believe their prince is taking a woman to bed. In earnest, I smiled at the thoughts of comrades sharing drinks and laughing…

"I think that's the first time you've honestly smiled this evening." Startled back to reality, I sent a sideways glare at Tus who had managed to sneak into the room without my detection. "Ah, there you are, back to your normal self I see." I turned my head away from him and the balcony, my face returned to its emotionless smooth exterior.

"Your Highness, you startled me."

"Oh, I doubt that very highly." Tus moved forward, ushering the servants away from me with a casual wave of his hand. "At any rate…I have just received word that Garsiv is on his way here now." Standing behind me Tus placed his hands on my shoulders, his strong grip clinging to my bare skin. With a sigh, I slid out from underneath his hands to stand in front of the Persian prince.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me, Prince Tus." I bowed my head low in gratitude. "While this night, did not go as planned, if not for you and your generosity I would probably still be stuck in that cage, or worse, been discovered by another group of slavers." Balthazar's face flashed in the back of my mind.

"Laleh…" Tus spoke softly, placed his hand underneath my chin and raising my head so I was looking him in the eye. "You are, without a doubt, the most interesting woman I have had the pleasure of meeting." Gently he leaned down and place a kiss upon my forehead; his lips rested there for a moment before he pulled away. "Truly…you are a sight to behold. Garsiv is a lucky man, and a smart one too."

At the mention of his name, my stomach did a flip and I thought back to the moment in the great hall as our eyes made contact. His brown eyes, searching mine as I helplessly fell deeper and deeper into his eyes. Everything that I could see, and couldn't see, drew me into him…it was a strange sensation…to feel like I was falling. I had always been so sure footed, and this one glance, from a single man, ruined me. I could feel myself smiling as I thought of Garsiv's face and the kindness I knew to be there. "I'll be back for you soon I would think…" Once more Balthazar's face and voice dragged through my being like a vicious cold. It must have affected me physically, because I felt Tus' hand on my shoulders, his strong grip holding me up right.

"Laleh? Laleh, are you alright? You look like you've just seen a ghost." I felt myself shiver slightly.

"No…no I am fine. Really. Just nervous." I played off the sudden onset of fear quickly, but I could feel the icy hands of my past creeping forward and enveloping me. Balthazar…he would kill everyone here…Tus…Garsiv…just to claim me… I looked up and smiled at Tus, hoping he wouldn't see my fear. I knew deep in my heart that as much as I longed to grow close to Garsiv my past would always haunt me and no one would be safe if I remained. I cannot stay here.

Shout out to my readers! You guys are awesome and I am loving the feedback! I know it has been a while since I have updated my stories, but fear not, I have not forgotten them, or you. So stick with me as I work through getting more chapters out and developing this story to be even better. Love you guys!

-TheBrokenLady