Chapter 11

Possession

Robin, Much and James crept carefully into the garden. Just ahead they could hear Noor singing to Wafeyy. Stalking her silently from the trees Robin got just in front of her and then stepped into the cleared area of the garden. Wafeyy was so accustomed to Robin's presence that he simply purred at the sight of him.

"Robin! I didn't expect you to come so soon." With that Noor flew into Robin's arms and covered him in kisses. About this time James and Much stepped out of the shadows as well. Noor stepped back in shock. Robin had promised her a romantic few weeks and as much as she adored James and Much, they weren't exactly what she had in mind. "I also didn't expect for you to bring company. Please come inside though. The harem is empty except for Miriam, Nadira and I." With that Noor reached her hand out to Robin and started up the garden walk.

Robin waved impatiently at James and Much. They stepped back into the woods. "Noor I need to talk to you in private. I found something out and I want to know if it's true. Can we go into the rose garden?"

Noor nodded silently. How could Robin know already? The only people she thought knew were herself, Miriam and the doctor. Where had Robin heard about it from? Walking into the rose garden, Noor hoped he would take the news well and be excited; although with the gut shot look on his face it seemed that he wasn't giving her the response she had hoped for.

"Noor, is it true you invited King Richard to supper?" Robin asked her quietly.

Noor looked at Robin in shock. "What? Oh yes of course. I thought that it would be hospitable of me to invite him and his three best guards to join me for an evening – out in the open, in public. It would reinforce Salahadin's desire for friendship to your king and would give me a chance to see you without sneaking around. Why?"

"Noor, King Richard thinks that it is a private supper."

"Why would he think that? I specifically asked that you, Much and James be brought along."

"King Richard believes that you are simply choosing the honor guard to surround him. He doesn't think we are to be guests."

"Well, that's fine then. You'll simply have to eat in shifts. I'll still get to see you." Why was Robin being so silly about this?

"No, Noor, you don't seem to understand. King Richard thinks you want an intimate supper with him. Stress placed on the word intimate, Noor."

"Oh, wonderful then everything really is going to plan isn't it?" Noor was delighted. She had thought Salahadin was nuts when he suggested the idea of putting a spy in King Richard's bed. Just in case, he had told her. Noor couldn't have imagined that King Richard would come up with the idea on his own.

"What?!" Robin stuttered in shock.

"Robin, why do you look like that? Salahadin had the exact same idea; that's why he left Nadira here instead of taking her to Medina. He told me to invite your King to dinner and introduce him to Nadira so that she could seduce him. Then if the peace talks work everything is fine; if the peace talks fail though she can spy and if need be assassinate him. I'm sure your King has the same plan; just simply swapping out whom Nadira would kill, of course. It really is kind of brilliantly simple isn't it?"

Robin ran his fingers through his hair. This was becoming complicated. "Well Noor you're correct up until a point. King Richard does have the same plan as Salahadin except for the fact that he's not planning on using Nadira to spy. He intends to 'seduce' you."

Noor laughed to cover her shock. "Robin, don't be ridiculous. King Richard would have to know that I would refuse him. That would be suicide – if Salahadin didn't kill him you would. No, that may be his idea but I guarantee once Nadira is in front of him and available he'll completely forget me. Then we can spend the rest of the night together while their getting acquainted."

Robin was almost in tears. She simply wasn't listening to him or she didn't comprehend what he was saying; Robin wasn't sure. "Noor, please cancel tomorrow night. Salahadin is gone; we have six weeks and we can get very far before he even knows your gone. Please Noor; don't allow King Richard an audience with you tomorrow."

"Robin, you're overreacting. Your King is simply bragging like all men do. Besides if he's as determined as you're suggesting I have ways of handling him. A little eunuch's powder in his wine will end any thoughts he has of seduction. I promise if your king doesn't take to Nadira; I'll drug his wine." Why was Robin behaving like this? Didn't he know she found King Richard to be a repulsive man? The man was large, loud, and smelly and covered in fur like a bear. Why on Earth would she ever allow someone like that to seduce her? Did he not trust her? Noor was unsure, but her happiness from earlier in the day was rapidly evaporating.

Robin couldn't understand how Noor could be so flippant about this. Didn't she understand what he was saying? He had told her that his king intended to hurt her and she didn't bat an eyelash; she just said don't worry I can handle it! Why did she always blow off everything he said? Didn't she understand that every time he told her he loved her; every time he asked her to run away with him; every time he held her and kissed her he meant it with his entire soul? Robin dropped to his knees in front of her. "Noor, please, I am now begging you. Cancel tomorrow. Please, cancel it for me."

"Robin, please be serious. I cannot uninvite your King to dinner. What would people say? Why are you being like this?"

Why was he being like this? Why was he being like this? She really asked him why he was being like this. With those words all of Robin's anger from the last few hours boiled over. "Why? Why, Noor?" Robin jumped to his feet and screamed at her. "Because your mine Noor! Remember I love you, you love me; all those things we've said to each other. You hold my heart in my hands and you are mine!"

Taking a few steps Robin turned and stared at her. Gesturing toward the palace he continued. "How do you think I feel about this Noor? I love you and I have to share you already. How do you think I feel, knowing that I have to share you with Salahadin? I'm sick every time I see the two of you walking in the market holding hands like we'll never be able to do. My blood boils every time I think about him kissing you! I'm sick of being your bit on the side Noor! Now you tell me that it's alright that my King wants to share you as well. I am loyal to my King Noor, but I would say that sharing the woman I love with him is a bit of a stretch."

"Robin, you are not my bit on the side as you call it. I am sorry that you find this situation so distasteful. I do love you. But you are overreacting about tomorrow night. Please just come for yourself and see. I promise your loyalty to your King will not be called into question. Please just relax and try to act like an adult about this Robin." Kissing him, Noor stepped away. He wasn't calmer. He would need time to blow off steam and be angry; here was simply not the place or the time.

"Robin, go back to your camp. I will see you tomorrow night." With that Noor kissed him tenderly and walked away.