The Girl Between the Two Seas

Part 5: The Lion, The Cat and The Bear

The ships always came from the south now. That was where she waited for him. After that first, unexpected meeting it felt as if Arthur had found a second home in her land (a third, or forth perhaps? She suspected him to travel a lot.) He now came from the Persian Gulf, sly smile on his lips as he rode the waves on the bow of his ship, like a naughty pirate.

When the ship hit land and he jumped on the shore she was there to greet him. He ran to her, grabbed her in his arms, and they spun and laughed like two lovesick teenagers on a secluded beach.

"You seem extra happy today. Good news?" she asked as she linked arms with him.

"You bet. Wait until I tell you about America. He's getting cuter by the day. I'm so happy I have him as my colony. Just the other day…."

She tuned him out. The talk of his colonies was her least favorite of all, as much as it was his most beloved topic. She didn't see the appeal. Why would those nations want to belong to him, and why would he like to boast about it? It was bad enough that India was one of them, the nation that once took a man from her. It pained her to speculate his visits were mostly midway stops on his way to India.

"Hey Iran, you listening?"

She forced a polite smile. "Sorry, too much on my mind."

"I said how would you like to be included in the East India Company?"

She didn't know what the East India Company was but she loved the idea of being included in something he did so she shook her head in agreement.

"Ahh great," he said, "that means I get exclusive rights for trade routs and import/exports. Excellent." He wasn't looking at her, more likely thinking out loud. She didn't mind because he seemed happy.

"Let's not talk about trades and businesses any more and let me show you my new capital. You will love it."

He looked at her in surprise. "Your new capital. What happened to Isfahan? Did one of those Safavid kings change the capital in honor of their fifth wife, or something?"

She stared at him, a heavy pause weighing on her expression. "The Safavids are no longer my kings."

"Oh, that's right. How silly of me. Your king is, let me guess… one of the successors of that Nader guy, right? I heard about him while I was in India. He got to India's house and stole a whole bunch of her jewelry. She was very mad."

Iran laughed. She hadn't told anyone that she had secretly goaded King Nader to conquer India and take her treasures.

"That is true, and a very good story. But my king no longer belongs to that dynasty either. I have a new boss now. His name is Karim khan and he is the best man you want for a king. He's the one who chose this new capital. If you liked Isfahan, you will love Shiraz."

Arthur shook his head and sighed. "You know, I don't like to argue with you on your internal politics. But do you think this constant changing of bosses is really a good idea? It must mess up your household pretty bad."

Her smile disappeared and she looked away. "It's ok," she said, "It hurts a little, having to answer to a different person every time. Especially when they come and go in very bad ways. Did I tell you how one of the last ones beheaded all of his brothers, then hunted down his cousin and poked his eyes out so he wouldn't think about taking over?"

It was Arthur's turn to tune out the conversation. Iran was a very delicate and gentle creature. But sometimes the stories that came out of her house frightened him. God knew he had seen his share of brutalities in Europe and was no stranger to violence, but the aloof, almost flippant way the girl talked about heads being cut off, eyes being poked out and guts that were laid bare gave him the shivers. His guess was she had seen so much of it - being invaded by Arabs, Mongols, Tatars, Turks and Afghans – that her senses had become dull to those horrors.

They arrived in Shiraz and were soon having tea and enjoying the view at her new home.

"Hey, I like this new city."

"It's actually quite old. The ancient kings used to rule here, just a few miles away. Back when it was still Persia."

Arthur leaned forward and snuggled her hair. "Enough about your kings and rulers. What do you say we drink some wine and enjoy ourselves."

She gave a nervous laughter and eyed the wine jug she had specifically brought for him. Technically her religion forbade her to drink alcohol, but sitting so close to the handsome, green eyed man and feeling the seductive air she thought she could forgive one sin for the sake of another she was about to commit.

"I guess we could have some…,"she poured a small cup for him and a smaller one for herself and they both drank. Passion bloomed under the slightly leaning cypress trees and the constant song of the nightingales.

He was a gentle lover. In that he almost reminded her of Alexander. He moved slowly and smoothly against her, giving her unparalleled pleasure. She gasped as he cradled her head and placed butterfly kisses on her cheeks and neck. As he moved down her body toward her supple breasts he breathed, "Tell me you're only mine. Tell me you will only give in to me and no one else. Tell me."

She panted. "Yesss, Just you. Take what you want. It's all yours."

He rose back up to her face, his own face flushed and his thick eyebrows knotted. "If France comes to you kick him out. If Spain, if Russia…, kick them all out. Be with me. Only me."

"I promise. It will be only you. Always."

His next visit came sooner than he expected. He needed something and was already formulating a request in his head. He had seen the Portuguese lurking around and wanted unrivalled access to all the Southern ports, immediately.

She wasn't in Shiraz however. The capital looked deserted and gloomy, like a town after carnage. The places where they had made love were filled with dust and showed neglect, and the people's eyes had no light in them. He asked around about her and everyone pointed north. Apparently she no longer lived in beautiful Shiraz but in this tiny town called Tehran.

He rode all day until he got there.

The town was slightly bigger than a village. Nestled in a valley inside the Alborz mountains, it looked lonely and insignificant. Why had she moved here?

He found her sitting on her new house's front porch looking at an orchard in front of her. For a moment he dreaded going to her. Did he really have the nerve for this? He had enough on his mind with a newly independent America and a troublesome India. Did he care to add her to the list of his concerns?

I need to know what is going on. It may be important to the region.

He approached her cautiously. She didn't raise her head.

"Hi."

"Hi," she responded, not looking at him.

He walked closer and sat on the railing of the porch, a little to the side as to not block her view.

"What happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean why you are here? In this small, backwater town?"

"This is my capital."

"What? You must be kidding."

She looked at him then. "No, this is my capital."

"But… what happened to Shiraz?"

She looked away. "Shiraz is no more. My king changed."

Arthur felt a headache coming. "Again? But didn't you say just a while ago…?"

She cut him off, put her face in her hands and began crying. "I know, I know. But Karim khan died, and his great great nephew was blinded, raped and strangled (Arthur's face went pale,) by this eunuch who is now king, and he chose this city as the capital."

Arthur spoke in a choked voice. "Your new king is a eunuch?"

"That's not important," she snapped, "I had so much hope in Karim khan's dynasty. He was so peaceful and he united the whole nation. Now there's chaos again. This eunuch, Agha Mohammad khan, he's a warmongering tyrant. He's waging war everywhere. Did I tell you after he won the siege of Kerman he destroyed the city, blinded 10000 of its residents and made a pile of eyeballs in front of him?"

Arthur gave a nervous laughter. Enough of this already. He took Iran's hand and pulled her from the chair. "I think it's best we both go for a ride. A little fresh air should do us good. Shall we?"

She resisted at first, but with his insistent she got on the back of the horse and soon they were riding in the foothills of the mountains amidst fresh streams and green groves. Arthur was right and Iran's mood lifted at their first midday stop near a bubbling spring, where he kissed her and shared a piece of Persian shortcake with her. After that it was just a fun day in the sun.

They reached a small village in the afternoon and racing through its alleys laughing and flirting. Once they stopped near a wheat field and sat under a weeping willow Arthur whispered in Iran's ear, "Are you feeling better?"

She touched his face, "Of course. Much better. Looking at your bushy eyebrows always puts me in a good mood."

Arthur pouted and touched his brow. "That's how all gentlemen look in my neck of the woods."

"Sure dear, if you say so," she giggled.

Noticing her ease he decided to test the waters. "I wanted to ask you for something. The ports in the South…"

He searched for words that wouldn't sound inconsiderate, but she threw her arms around his neck and said, "Stop asking me for things. If you want something, just take it. It's all yours anyways. So just take it and let's not talk about it."

Arthur smiled and kissed her. He was infatuated with her but more so, with the power he held over her.

A few hours later, when she was left sitting under the tree and he had gone to gather firewood to cook dinner, she discovered they hadn't been alone. A woman knelt at a nearby stream, washing clothes and getting water. She must have felt Iran's eyes on her because she looked straight at her. Iran didn't expect the woman to say anything and her words surprised her more than her speaking.

"He's using you, you know."

The nation looked at her, stunned. For a moment she didn't comprehend what was said and the woman noticed it.

"That man, the Westerner, he doesn't have your best interest in mind. He is only using you to get what he wants. You are too blind with love to see it."

Her jug was full. She tied it to her back, gathered her stuff and started leaving. Iran snapped out of her stupor and yelled after her.

"Wait, what do you mean?"

"You should be smart when dealing with foreigners," the woman said, "This land is left to you by your grandfather. You should not throw its riches around like a bagful of sequin."

"But he is my lover. He helped me against Sadiq. He loves me. How can you say…hey, wait."

But the woman was leaving, her thin form sauntering along the dusty road that led to the village. Iran's good mood sank at her departure, the bitter words ringing in her ear.

Arthur was mad. He paced the floor and cursed himself for accepting his host's invitation when it was so clearly a summoning rather than an invite. He should have known the bastard would make him wait; make him look like a peasant client. The more he waited the more agitated he got so when the doors of the enormous office opened and he was led in his head looked like a giant tomato with two knotted brows.

Ivan was behind his ornate desk, looking over papers with the usual tranquil smile on his face. It always amazed the Brit how this man could remain calm and smile while dispensing the most horrifying fates onto other nations. It seemed the child-like man had no understanding of what expression went with what situation. He really should take some pointers from England whose current expression completely matched how angry he was.

"Ah! My dear England. Please take a seat. I'll tell dear Liet to bring us some tea."

"I don't want your tea. I want to know why you summoned me like a page boy and made me wait three hours outside your office."

Russia closed his eyes and grinned like a puppy. "Please, please sit down. We can't talk like that. There are many things to discuss but it's hard if you keep yelling and walking."

England decided to take the offer and sit down, if only to make Russia get to the point. He put his elbows on the armrests of the high backed chair and leaned back, throwing one leg over the other and staring at the Russian smugly.

"Fine, I'm sitting. Now tell me your urgent business."

Russia looked at him with a sinister glint in his eyes. His smile never wavered.

"I've heard you've achieved some conquests with my fellow neighbor in the south, haven't you?"

"If you ask have I invaded any of her vital regions I must sorely disappoint you, that's your forte."

"But you have become close with her. My sources tell me you're controlling most of the Southern ports, yes?"

England raised an eyebrow. "Your point?"

Russia's smile turned feral. "Nothing. I just wanted to inform you I'll be soon sending troops to claim the north."

England jumped out of his chair. "The north? You mean north of Iran, near Caspian Sea? That's her territory. You can't just march in there and take it."

"I think I can. Nobody is stopping me, are they?"

"What do you mean? What is your intention? Do you want to invade Iran? Is that your plan? If you think you can make her one with you you're delusional."

England's temper rose again as he stared at the Russian like a fuming bull.

Russia didn't lose an inch of his composure, simply looking up at the standing man on the other side of the desk.

"I don't want to make her one with me, no. She's too stubborn and I don't like her warm climate. That's more your thing. I'm a creature of the cold."

England eyed him suspiciously, knowing that wasn't all.

"But I want something. A piece of her, some part of her beauty and grace. I ignored her for too long and now I'm realizing my mistake. You must have made her really blossom because not a day passes that I don't smell her perfume or hear her laughter from here. You must admit, my friend, I deserve a part of that."

England slammed his hand on the table.

"No, you don't. I worked hard for it. I got her first. Do you know how many days, months, years I spent courting her? You think you can just waltz in there with your big armies and your crude ways and steal what's mine? If that's what you think you're a fool."

"Ahhhhh! So you are the knight in shining armor now. You've served at her temple and you want all the benefits for yourself, yes? Don't give yourself too much credit. After all, we all know why you are in the region and where your loyalties really lie."

England froze. He couldn't believe Russia had thrown that in his face. He had been internally fighting with himself over the issue of his feelings for Iran and his assets in the region. It angered him that Ivan had managed to read him so easily.

Turning on his heels, he began walking out of the room. Just before reaching the door he looked over his shoulder and said, "I dare you to attack Iran. I know her better than any of you. She is a fierce fighter and she'll slap you like the bitch you are, just like she did Sadiq. It would amount to nothing and will be a big waste of your armies and your guns. It will also make you the laughing stock of all the other nations."

Russia's only answer was a knowing smirk. Arthur walked out of the room and slammed the door behind him before he ran the risk of snapping and physically attacking the other man.

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First off let me say I know this chapter sucks. There was a lot of history I had to explain to get the story from the last chapter to where it got right now and I couldn't find any other way to narrate it. I hate exposition, believe me I do, but explaining all the events like they happened would have been exhausting and possibly boring. Now the story is at a point that it really gets interesting because I believe I have laid out the essence of Iran and England's relationship which the rest of the story will strongly revolve around.

Instead of giving you boring wikipedia links I'll try to give a short explanation on each of the historical points mentioned in this chapter:

- Nader Shah Afshar was a Persian king who did invade India. He took the infamous Koh-i-Noor "Mountain of Light", and Darya-ye Noor "Sea of Light" diamonds (two of the largest diamonds in the world,) from India, among lots of other treasures. Later the British seized Koh-i-Noor through the East India Company and added it to the British Crown Jewels.

-Karim Khan was one of the best kings of Iran and the first ruler to bring something resembling democracy to the region. He called himself Vakil e-Ra'aayaa, which in today's terms means the People's Representative, ie. President.

-Agha Mohammad Kahn was indeed a eunuch but a fierce and cunning fighter and strategist too. He easily gained control over Iran and called himself the king. His successors were a line of mostly incompetent rulers called the Qajar dynasty. More on them later.

-The British gained immense power in Iran at this time even to the point of deciding on key political measures. The Iranians were mostly confused and powerless against their political games. It got worse when Russians came into the picture. Again, more on that later.

-The title of this chapter is based on this famous picture in which Britain is portrayed as a lion, Russia as a bear and Iran is the poor little cat: h t t p : //en . wikipedia .org / wiki / File: IranUSSRBritain . jpg (don't forget to remove the spaces)

-I would like to ask all who read this story (few as they are,) to please review and let me know what they think. Thanks.