Chapter 8

The Family you make is stronger than the one you leave behind

"Master, its dawn. We need to go." Much sighed. He hated to be the one to spot the first rays of dawn. Usually James would be the one to break up their gathering so that Noor could be smuggled back into the palace unseen. Tonight though James was guarding King Richard and emissaries from the Pope inside camp and couldn't go with them.

"Well Robin, Much, I guess I will simply have to finish my story the next time you come to see me." Noor said. "It's time for you to return this Princess to her bubble I'm afraid."

Robin stood and wrapped his arms around her and placed his chin on the top of her head. "One day, Noor. One day I promise I won't make you go back." Somehow sending her back into the harem got harder each day, not easier like he had first thought it would. Each time his dreams were tormented about what happened when he wasn't there. Many nights he had woken from nightmares of Salahadin holding her in the night, kissing her, telling her his hopes and dreams, planning their future together after Robin had returned to England.

"Robin?" Noor asked breathlessly.

"Hmm?"

"You're hurting me, could you squeeze a little gentler?"

"Hmm? Oh sure! I'm sorry Noor. I just can't seem to keep from wanting to be closer to you." Stupid! Robin thought to himself. Squeeze the woman you love to death, that's brilliant. That would be a way to keep her from Salahadin.

"It's alright. I wouldn't mind but we have one thing left to do before you return me to the palace. Much if you could excuse us?" Noor asked sweetly.

Much's eyebrows rose and he looked at Robin. A broad smile broke across Robin's face. "You heard Noor, Much, a little privacy please." Robin made shooing motions.

"Master, we really do not have time for this." Good grief, could these two keep their hands off each other for five minutes?

Noor laughed like the tinkling of bells. "Do you two ever think of anything else? I'm not sure which one of you has the dirtier mind. Robin, I have a gift for you that I wanted to give you in private but since you're both so suspicious – I guess I'll have to give it to you in front of Much." Both men traded shocked glances. "I'm sorry Much, I have one on order for you as well but the craftsmen cannot get it done until after Ramadan is over. I didn't want to ruin the surprise for you but I couldn't wait to give this one to Robin. I'm afraid someone will catch me with it." With that Noor reached into the traveling cloak that she had discarded earlier in the night. Turning she pulled out a beautifully worked Saracen sword with a silver scabbard. "What is the holiday you celebrate? Oh yes, Happy Christmas Robin."

Robin stared at Noor in shock. His eyes traveled between her and the sword and back to her again. This was a sword fit for a king. He had never seen anything like it besides the one the pope had given to King Richard. It made the bracelet he had bought her in the market look shoddy by comparison. "Noor, this must have cost you a fortune."

"That is irrelevant. It is a gift and you cannot ask how much I spent on it; that is the tradition here. Ana behibak, Robin. Now look at the sword and quit staring at the scabbard. How many times have I told you – it's the inside that matters, the outside is only a shell to protect it."

Robin stared at the woman in front of him. "I love you too Noor. I love you more than anything, including home." With that Robin pulled the Saracen blade from its scabbard. It was light in his hands and perfectly balanced. The blade was blackened, tempered steel with a vicious curve to it. On the blade were inscribed Arabic characters. The tang bore a raised symbol on one side and a cross on the reverse.

"The blade is protected by the inscription. As long as it is only pulled to defend yourself and those you love the sword should protect you."

Robin raised his eyebrows at Noor. "Witchcraft? Noor I thought you didn't believe in the stories of witchcraft from the market. Magic is entertainment, remember?"

Noor looked at Robin with a twinkle in her eye. "Robin, there are more things in Heaven and Earth than you could learn if you lived a thousand lifetimes. The magic used on this blade is far older than your religion and its silly claims about satanic witchcraft or my religion for that matter. Take the blade and its protection and don't be flippant. Who knows? The sword could turn on you. Now it's time to get me back to the palace, remember?"

Later, Noor could just make out Robin and Much as they headed away from the palace. Resting her head on her upturned palm Noor sighed. He was going to be trouble one of these days, she was sure of it. Waving her left hand, Noor muttered "al-Hammdm." Before Much and Robin's very eyes two large doves appeared and then disappeared.

"Master?"

"Hmm, Much?" Robin asked.

"Why can't you ever fall for a woman who's into things like cooking and cleaning? Marion wanted to be a warrior and this one is a sorceress. I'm not sure which is worse. Normal next time, please?"

"Sure Much, if there's a next time I promise I shall fall in love with a kitchen girl." Robin smiled.