Chapter 4
Inside the Harem of Salahadin
Robin stepped nervously onto the ledge, following the young woman. She turned to him and smiled. "Well come on, it's not like we're doing anything improper. Stand here on the ledge and I will go inside and send one of the maids for the things to clean your scratches up. Oh and give me your tabard and I'll have it sent to the laundry to be cleaned."
Robin nodded nervously at the young woman. He wasn't sure exactly what was going on. Perhaps he had hit his head harder than he had thought. All he knew for sure was that he was standing on the ledge entrance to Salahadin's harem and Salahadin's future bride was sending a doctor to look at his face. The only thing Robin could decide for sure was that he would need to remember everything. The lads who were still at camp would be dying to know what happened.
Peering, as unobtrusively as possible, Robin looked into the harem. In front of him lay a floor of hammered silver and lapis blue mosaics. High above him was a vaulted ceiling of the same design. The room appeared to have no interior walls and the ceiling was anchored to the wall by large columns of an almost black marble. The room was dimmed and cool, in its shadows Robin could just make out the shadows of young women peering at him from behind the columns. None of the women and girls was shrouded like those he had seen in Jerusalem. These women wore thin gauzy dresses in shimmering silk; alluring but much more modest than the dresses of the women he had seen in the back of the market.
Robin attempted to look as non – threatening as was possible standing there in full chain mail and helmet with a sword at his hip and his bow on his back. Putting his hands behind his back he began to whistle one of the tunes he had heard the fiddlers play at market day back in Nottingham. The women giggled quietly and the sound of rustling gowns and murmurs of approval acted as a background noise.
Just as Robin had accepted that this was the most uncomfortable he had ever been in his life, the young sorceress appeared again. She was carrying a basin of water and was followed by the old black crow carrying clean cloths. "Well it does no good for you to all stare at him like a circus animal. We've all seen men before so come out and make the Sultan's guest comfortable while I clean his wounds." Looking at Robin the young woman smiled. "Come sit on the palace steps I can clean your scrapes better in the light and the other ladies can join us to keep you company."
"Really princess you are to kind. They are simply a few scratches." Robin stammered. They had been warned about the harems before. King Richard's generals had warned the men that the women of any harem were off limits. If they were caught with one King Richard couldn't save them. Now Robin was going to be surrounded by Salahadin's entire harem. Yep, he was a dead man.
"Don't be an idiot. If they aren't cleaned they'll become infected in the dirt and filth you call a camp and you will take a fever and die. I'll not have it said that Salahadin showed so little hospitality that he allowed one of his guests to die of a fever. Besides it's entirely proper; we'll be in the open and there will be the entire harem as a chaperone. Also, I'm a very competent doctor when it comes to minor scrapes and scratches. Now sit down and let me clean them."
Robin stared at the young woman dumbfounded. He thought Marion talked to him like a child! He quietly sat down on the marble steps of the palace and allowed the harem women to surround him. He wasn't sure which one was more beautiful. He would look at them and think he had decided that this one was lovelier than that one and then the second lady would laugh or smile or move her head and he would be hopelessly confused again. The only thing he was sure of was that the sorceress was the most beautiful of them all.
"Now sit still, this is going to sting but it's necessary to get the wound clean." Noor dabbed Robin's forehead with a mixture of witch hazel, garlic and water. "Are you starting to get head or body pains from your fall?"
Robin nodded. He was starting to feel like he had fallen off of a wall and onto a marble walkway while weighed down with chain mail.
"Here rinse your mouth with this and then spit it into this bowl. Don't swallow it!" Noor said handing Robin a mixture of vinegar and St. John's root. "It will help cleanse any cuts you may have inside your mouth from the impact. When you're done with that Miriam will have you some tea that will help with the soreness."
Robin nodded and then winced as Noor touched a particularly nasty scrape. "Ouch!"
"I'm sorry! I told you it would hurt. Now swish and spit!" Noor said using her most commanding voice. The young man really was handsome if you were into the crusader type. Noor tried to ignore how blue his eyes were and how strong he seemed for such a slender young man. What entranced Noor the most though, strangely, was the way he held his tongue between his teeth every time she touched one of his scrapes.
Just as Robin was finishing his tea he heard the sound of deep laughter. As the young women looked up each of them hid looks of shock and salaamed deep wherever they were at. All except the sorceress. She simply looked up behind Robin and smiled sweetly.
"Oh Master Salahadin! How wonderful it is to see you!" Her eyes sparkled and she radiated sheer delight as she spoke to him.
"Well, my love, I sent to the harem for you to come so I could present you to King Richard. When no one returned I became alarmed. As King Richard and I made our way to the harem we heard laughter and decided to investigate. It seems you've decided to entertain King Richard's retinue as well?" Salahadin said with a hint of jealousy.
"Oh, Master, this diligent young Crusader thought he saw an ominous shadow following me and attempted to protect me from harm. In the process he fell from your walls and landed on the marble walkway. I thought that you would prefer that we clean him up so that he doesn't take an infection when he returns to camp."
"Well, that's very kind of your new wife Sultan. I'm sorry that my young guardsman was so inept at guarding you." King Richard said with mock gravity. "I trust you are all right, ma'am?" Leave it to the young Earl, not here two hours and he was already surrounded by Salahadin's entire harem. Waiting on him hand and foot no less! This bride of Salahadin's was certainly fetching wasn't she?
Noor watched as King Richard's eyes swept over her. She knew that look, Salahadin had it and so did this young Crusader. Bowing her head low Noor decided to play this silly heathen king's lust to her advantage. "Oh I am perfectly fine milord. It seems the ominous shadow was only that of a tree. One cannot fault your guard for being diligent though. I am most honored by his, and your, favor." With that Noor raised only her eyes and looked up at King Richard in a way that set her eyes off and emphasized the slenderness of her neck.
"Well, qalbee, if you're done tending this young Crusader perhaps I could persuade you to come with me and do us the honor of serving our dinner, personally." Salahadin smiled down at Noor and offered her his hand. She had managed to mesmerize not only this silly King but his guard as well. Noor truly was a powerful sorceress and would bring him great honor.
"Of course, irasanee, as you desire. I look forward to spending this evening with you before the ceremonies begin tomorrow." Noor smiled up at Salahadin. Tomorrow the wedding festivities would begin and soon she would no longer be a poor girl from the markets of Alexandria. Soon she would be the Princess Noor, wife of Salahadin. Perhaps if Allah smiled upon her she would give him sons, something none of his other wives had yet done, and he would make her Sultana rather than that horrid withered old Yemeni he currently had.
"You're right of course! I had forgotten that perhaps you would like to rest tonight?"
"No, irasanee, I wish to spend as much time with you as possible. Besides, I am much too excited to sleep."
"Well, in that case, please come and serve King Richard and I dinner." Turning to King Richard, Salahadin said in his most off hand manner; "of course you are most welcome at the ceremonies my friend. Tomorrow the festivities will begin with the preparation of the bride and groom for marriage. The actually ceremony, as well as the feasting will begin on Friday after morning prayers. I would be honored if you would attend."
"Of course, my friend, I would be delighted. It would also give your dear betrothed the chance to see that her diligent protector has not taken ill from her ministrations." King Richard smiled. Now he was invited to the Sultan's wedding? If he was very careful, peace would be just around the corner.