Chapter 6
Decisions
Getting in to see Noor was much easier than Robin had expected. She really had thought their clandestine meeting through. King Richard was set to meet again with Salahadin and took Robin and Much along as part of his guard. James of Essex, a good friend of Robin and Much's was also part of the retinue and Robin let him in on the scheme. Laughingly, he agreed to help Much stand watch so that Robin could rendezvous with Noor.
Noor paced her chambers nervously. What was she doing? She had been married to Salahadin a scant six months. Each night he visited her chambers, each day he sought her out between his morning prayers and his first meetings so that they could share breakfast. Anything she desired he procured for her. Members of the court frequently remarked that the Sultan acted like a love sick puppy around her. So why was she doing this?
Noor wrung her hands. She wouldn't go. It was foolish for her to go. That's it, she'd decided! She wouldn't go tonight. She would never see Robin again.
No, that wasn't fair. Robin had risked everything to come and see her. She would go and see him tonight and tell him that it couldn't be. That was it, she would tell Robin it couldn't be and then she would turn around and walk away. That was how she would handle it.
Noor stopped pacing abruptly and sat in front of her vanity. Methodically she began to brush her hair out. Outside she could hear the muezzin call the time. Dabbing perfume behind her ears; Noor reached for her coverings and prepared to leave.
Just as Noor prepared to step into the garden, Miriam stepped into the room. "So you are going? Well then you are a fool and you endanger us all."
Noor hung her head. She adored Miriam; the woman had been her nursemaid since she had been small. If Miriam commanded her, Noor would obey.
"Well, perhaps Allah has a soft spot for young fools in love. Regardless, be careful, otherwise your heart will be the last thing you worry about losing. Salahadin is not a man to play the cuckold." Miriam turned from Noor in disgust. The girl was reckless and foolish but Miriam knew she could not stop her. She remembered having that look herself once and knew that it would simply need to run its course for good or for ill.
Robin paced the rose garden silently. Wasn't it 1 yet? Would she not come? Eventually someone would notice that he was guarding a well protected rose garden. Where was she? Behind him Robin heard a rustle from the far side of the walled garden. Turning, he saw a slight, shrouded figure coming toward him. She moved so gracefully she appeared to float above the ground.
Robin stood dumbfounded as he stared at the night vision before him. He was still staring at her gape jawed as she stepped into his arms and put her mouth to his. Entwining her fingers in his hair, Noor's head began to swim as Robin pulled her close and began to kiss her passionately.